Medical electrode assembly and medical equipment provided with the medical electrode assembly

• US 5,947,897 A
• Filed: 11/19/1996
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsutomu Otake
• Original Assignee: Tsutomu Otake
• Inventors: Otake, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/752,625
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/696, 128/702-704, 128/734, 607/46, 607/74, 607/115, 607/148, 607/149, 607/152, 600/301, 600/372, 600/382, 600/386, 600/388, 600/389, 600/509, 600/522
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0532 specially adapted for acupuncture or moxibustion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/02 Devices for locating such points

Abstract

A electrocardiographic electrode assembly is attached on a spot of the body that is roughly inside an electrocardiowave-appearing region, and an optimum signal discriminating circuit of an electrocardiograph discriminates an electrode that is most suitable for an electrocardiographic measurement out of the plural electrodes of the electrocardiographic electrode assembly. The electrocardiograph receives electric signals (electrocardiowaves) captured by the discriminated electrode, and stores the electric signals in a memory. The electric signals stored in the memory, after a measurement of the electrocardiovaves finishes, is given as an electrocardiographic pattern to a doctor for diagnosis. In this manner, in the electrocardiographic measurement, the electrocardiographic electrode assembly is only needed to be attached on a spot of the body that is roughly inside the electrocardiovave-appearing region. Therefore, even an amateur or nonexpert can easily perform an electrocardiographic measurement.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a medical electrode assembly attachable to a human body and including a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes; and

a measuring unit connected to the medical electrode assembly, the measuring unit including;

an electrode detector coupled with each of the plurality of electrodes, the electrode detector discriminating a suitable electrode for measurement among the plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrode detector comprises structure that stores standard data relating to an optimum result, performs test measurements of each of the plurality of electrodes when detecting the suitable electrode, compares test measurement results with the standard data, and discriminates the suitable electrode by selecting an electrode that deviates the least from the standard data as the suitable electrode, and

a storage device communicating with the electrode detector, the storage device storing a measurement result in accordance with data from the suitable electrode.

2. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode detector comprises an indicator that indicates when the suitable electrode has been detected.

3. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode detector comprises an indicator that indicates that the suitable electrode cannot be detected when the difference between the test measurement results of each of the electrodes and the sample data is not within a specified range.

4. A medical device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the indicator comprises one of a buzzer, lighting by an LED, display by a CRT or LCD that the suitable electrode cannot be detected.

5. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the electrode detector compares the sample data with the test measurement results every time the test measurement is performed for one of the electrodes and the difference is within a specified range, the electrode detector selects the one electrode as the suitable electrode.

6. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode detector comprises structure that performs detection of the suitable electrode repeatedly over predetermined time intervals, and the suitable electrode is changed based on the detection result.

7. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electrode detection switch coupled with the electrode detector, the electrode detector detecting the suitable electrode every time the electrode detection switch is operated.

8. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled with the electrode detector, the sensor sensing a change of electrostatic capacity of the medical electrode assembly, wherein when the sensor detects a change of electrostatic capacity, the electrode detector detects the suitable electrode.

9. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring unit is an electrocardiograph and the electrocardiograph is connected to the medical electrode assembly to form an electrocardiographic measurement unit.

10. A medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medical electrode assembly and the measuring unit are self-contained in a single portable unit.

11. A medical device comprising:

a medical electrode assembly attachable to a human body and including a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes; and

a measuring unit connected to the medical electrode assembly, the measuring unit including;

an electrode detector coupled with each of the plurality of electrodes, the electrode detector discriminating a suitable electrode for measurement among the plurality of electrodes and comprising structure that stores standard data relating to an optimum result, performs test measurements of the plurality of electrodes when detecting the suitable electrode, compares test measurement results with the standard data, and discriminates the suitable electrode, wherein when the difference between the test measurement results from a currently detecting electrode and the standard data is within a specified range, the electrode detector stops further detecting and discriminates the currently detecting electrode as the suitable electrode, and

a storage device communicating with the electrode detector, the storage device storing a measurement result in accordance with data from the suitable electrode.

12. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the medical electrode assembly and the measuring unit are self-contained in a single portable unit.

13. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrode detector comprises an indicator that indicates when the suitable electrode has been detected.

14. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrode detector comprises an indicator that indicates that the suitable electrode cannot be detected when the difference between the test measurement results of each of the electrodes and the sample data is not within a specified range.

15. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrode detector comprises structure that performs detection of the suitable electrode repeatedly for every predetermined time internal, and the suitable electrode is changed based on the detection result.

16. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an electrode detection switch coupled with the electrode detector, the electrode detector detecting the suitable electrode every time the electrode detection switch is operated.

17. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a sensor coupled with the electrode detector, the sensor sensing a change of electrostatic capacity of the medical electrode assembly, wherein when the sensor detects a change of electrostatic capacity, the electrode detector detects the suitable electrode.

18. A medical device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the measuring unit is an electrocardiograph and the electrocardiograph is connected to the medical electrode assembly to form an electrocardiographic measurement unit.

19. A medical device comprising:

a medical electrode assembly attachable to a human body and including a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes; and

a curing unit formed of a low frequency current generator connected to the medical electrode assembly, the curing unit including;

an electrode detector coupled with each of the plurality of electrodes, the electrode detector discriminating a suitable electrode for curing among the plurality of electrodes repeatedly over a predetermined time interval, and

a curing device communicating with the electrode detector, the curing device performing a curing operation with the suitable electrode and flowing a low frequency current to the suitable electrode in accordance with output from the electrode detector, wherein the curing device flows a low frequency current alternately into the suitable electrode and an electrode adjacent the suitable electrode to perform a low frequency curing.

20. A medical device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the medical electrode assembly and the curing unit are self-contained in a single portable unit.

21. A method of operating a medical device including a medical electrode assembly having a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes and a measuring unit having an electrode detector and a storage device, the method comprising:

(a) discriminating, with the electrode detector, a suitable electrode for measurement among the plurality of electrodes, the discriminating step including;

(a1) performing test measurements of each of the plurality of electrodes;

(a2) comparing test measurement results with standard data; and

(a3) discriminating the suitable electrode based on results of step (a2) by selecting an electrode that outputs a measurement that deviates the least from the standard data as the suitable electrode; and

(b) storing, in the storage device, a measurement result in accordance with data from the suitable electrode.

22. A medical device comprising:

a medical electrode assembly attachable to a human body and including a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes; and

a curing unit formed of a low frequency current generator connected to the medical electrode assembly, the curing unit including;

an electrode detector coupled with each of the plurality of electrodes, the electrode detector discriminating a suitable electrode for curing among the plurality of electrodes repeatedly over a predetermined time interval, and

a curing device communicating with the electrode detector, the curing device performing a curing operation with the suitable electrode and flowing a low frequency current to the suitable electrode in accordance with output from the electrode detector,

wherein the plurality of electrodes are formed in a strip of tape and arrayed in a grid-form.