Electrode arrangement for taking electrocardiograms

• US 4,033,333 A
• Filed: 12/10/1975
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Combined Scientific Resources Corporation
• Original Assignee: Combined Scientific Resources Corporation
• Inventors: DeSalvo, Ernest J., Zarlengo, Marco D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/639,368
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.06 E, 128/2.06 R, 128/2.06 B, 128/2.1 E, 128/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287

Abstract

There is disclosed an electrode arrangement for taking electrocardiograms, suitable for use when limited information must be determined rapidly. The arrangement consists of a small rigid plate having four electrode posts mounted thereon. Three of the posts are secured in slots which extend radially outward from a fixed central post, the positions of the outer posts depending on whether the patient is an infant or an adult. In an emergency, the apparatus is simply pressed against the chest of a patient, and conventional ECG leads are attached to the posts. The right-leg lead is attached to the center post, and the left-leg, right-arm and left-arm leads are attached to the outer posts. Preferably, the arrangement is left permanently attached to the leads of an ECG machine so that, in case of an emergency, the set-up time (which includes the application of electrode jelly to the electrode posts) takes only several seconds. The outer contour of the plate has the general shape of a "Y" for fitting between the breasts of an adult female patient; this allows all of the posts to make good skin contact.

Claims

1. An electrode arrangement for use in the taking of electrocardiograms comprising a rigid nonconductive plate having three slots extending radially outward from the center thereof;

a first electrode post fixed in the center of said plate;

second, third and fourth electrode posts each mounted for movement within a respective one of said slots, each of said moveable electrode posts including means for enabling said post to be moved within its respective slot and to be secured in a desired position;

all of said electrode posts projecting outwardly from one side of said plate for connection to electrocardiographic machine cables and projecting outwardly from the other side of said plate for contacting the skin of a patient; and

means in each of said electrode posts on that part thereof which projects outwardly from said one side of said plate for securing thereto a cable from an electrocardiographic machine;

the angle between a first and second slot being in the range 80°

-100°

, the third slot being symmetrically disposed relative to said first and second slots, and two edges of said plate having the general contour of the left and right edges of a Y.

2. An electrode arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between the inner end of each of said first and second slots and said first electrode post is at least one inch, and the distance between the inner end of said third slot and said first electrode post is at least 0.25 inch.