Apparatus for measuring, recording and transmitting electrocardiogram measurements

• US 8,219,184 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ziehm Imaging GmbH
• Original Assignee: Ziehm Imaging GmbH
• Inventors: Stelzer, Gunter, DiGregorio, Vincent, Zobel, Hans, Warburton, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US12/392,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/520, 600/513
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6888 Cabins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a monitoring device and method for measuring, recording and transmitting a pre-determined set of electrocardiogram measurements. The device provides for an unassisted six or twelve channel measurements of heart and vascular functions using a visual graphical output. Results of the measurements are charted and can be reviewed and analyzed by an authorized health care provider.

Claims

1. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measuring device comprising:

an electrically adjustable support structure configured to have a patient seated thereon during an ECG measurement;

a plurality of hand grips operatively coupled to the support structure, the plurality of hand grips including first tactile-sensing ECG transducers for measuring ECG signals from hands of a patient, the hand grips being spaced apart and being engageable with a patient during an ECG measurement;

a plurality of foot plates including second tactile-sensing ECG transducers for measuring ECG signals from feet of the patient, the foot plates being spaced apart from each other and from the hand grips and being engageable with a patient during the ECG measurement

a back rest extending from the seat in a substantially vertical manner and a longitudinally extending shaft disposed on a side of the back rest;

a hinged arm operatively connected to the support structure via a bearing, the bearing enabling the hinged arm to be displaced vertically, the hinged arm configured to be manually moved from a parked upright position to a measuring position radially about the longitudinally extending shaft, the hinged arm configured to rest above the patient'"'"'s thorax and upper chest region during the ECG measurement, the hinged arm including a plurality of tactile-sensing ECG transducers disposed on an inflatable cell, the inflatable cell configured to inflate during the ECG measurement to force the tactile sending transducers of the hinged arm outward and away from the hinged arm to facilitate sufficient contact between the tactile-sensing transducers and the patient for performing the ECG measurement, the hinged arm including a locking device for securing the hinged arm in a measurement position and retaining a patient between the back rest and the hinged arm to facilitate contact between the tactile-sensing transducers of the hinged arm and the thoracic region of the patient;

a system configured to provide at least one of visual and audio instructions to the patient for replacing the need for the presence of a medical attendant during the ECG measurement; and

an ECG analyzer unit in communication with the hand grips and the foot plates to receive both said ECG signals from the patient in contact with the first and second transducers, the ECG analyzer unit compiling and generating a chart of ECG information based on at least one of the ECG signals received.

2. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, wherein the support structure includes an arm rest configured to include at least one of the hand grips.

3. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, wherein the hand grips have at least one of a spherical, hemispherical, and bar-like configuration.

4. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ECG transducers are made from silver silver chloride (Ag—

AgCl).

5. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, wherein the system includes a video display unit to display the visual instructions to the patient, the video display operatively connected to the ECG analyzer.

6. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, wherein the system includes at least one speaker to communicate the audio instructions to the patient, the at least one speaker operatively connected to the ECG analyzer.

7. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning unit for dispensing a cleaning fluid on at least one of the foot plates and hand grips to disinfect the at least one of the foot plates and hand grips upon completion of the ECG measurement.

8. The ECG measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning unit in proximity with the foot plates, the cleaning unit applying a cleaning fluid to at least one of the foot plates to substantially disinfect the foot plates upon completion of the measurement.

9. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measuring device comprising:

an electrically adjustable support structure configured to have a patient seated thereon during an ECG measurement;

a plurality of hand grips operatively coupled to the support structure, the plurality of hand grips including first tactile-sensing ECG transducers for measuring ECG signals from hands of a patient, the hand grips being spaced apart and being engageable with a patient during an ECG measurement;

a plurality of foot plates including second tactile-sensing ECG transducers for measuring ECG signals from feet of the patient, the foot plates being spaced apart from each other and from the hand grips and being engageable with a patient during the ECG measurement;

a hinged arm operatively connected to the support structure, the hinged arm including a plurality of third tactile-sensing ECG transducers in communication with the ECG analyzer unit, the hinged arm configured to engage a thorax of a patient during the ECG measurement;

a back rest extending from the seat in a substantially vertical manner and a longitudinally extending shaft disposed on a side of the back rest, the hinged arm being operatively coupled to the shaft; and

an ECG analyzer unit in communication with the hand grips and the foot plates to receive both said ECG signals from the patient in contact with the first and second transducers, the ECG analyzer unit for compiling and generating a chart of ECG information based on at least one of the ECG signals received, wherein the shaft includes a channel formed therein and the hinged arm operatively engages the channel to facilitate vertical movement of the hinged arm along the channel.

10. The ECG measuring device of claim 9, wherein the hinged arm is configured to pivot radially about the shaft.

11. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measuring device comprising:

an electrically adjustable support structure configured to have a patient seated thereon during an ECG measurement;

a plurality of hand grips operatively coupled to the support structure, the plurality of hand grips including first tactile-sensing ECG transducers for measuring ECG signals from hands of a patient, the hand grips being spaced apart and being engageable with a patient during an ECG measurement;

a plurality of foot plates including second tactile-sensing ECG transducers for measuring ECG signals from feet of the patient, the foot plates being spaced apart from each other and from the hand grips and being engageable with a patient during the ECG measurement; and

an ECG analyzer unit in communication with the hand grips and the foot plates to receive both said ECG signals from the patient in contact with the first and second transducers, the ECG analyzer unit for compiling and generating a chart of ECG information based on at least one of the ECG signals received, the support structure including a seat for receiving the patient seated thereon, wherein hand grips are pivotally coupled to an underside of the seat via arms, the hand grips being configured to be pivotally positioned about the seat, each arm having a telescopic configuration to facilitate lateral extension of the hand grips away from the seat.

12. A method of measuring and recording electrocardiographic (ECG) signals, the method comprising:

providing a support structure including a seat on which a patient is seated, the support structure being electrically adjustable by the patient;

adjusting, electrically, a position of the support structure in response to input from the patient to achieve a comfortable, relaxed position, the support structure including a plurality of hand grips and a plurality of foot plates, the hand grips and foot plates operatively coupled to the support structure, the hand grips being pivotally coupled to an underside of the seat, the adjusting of the position of the support structure including pivoting the hand grips about the seat;

acquiring ECG information representing a heart function of a patient from the plurality of hand grips in contact with hands of the patient and from the plurality of foot plates in contact with feet of the patient, the hand grips and foot plates including tactile-sensing ECG transducers, the foot plates and hand grips being spaced apart from each other;

storing the ECG information to a database; and

charting the ECG information received from the hand grips and foot plates to display a result of the ECG measurement.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the electrocardiographic signals to a host computer, the host computer displaying the result of the ECG measurement.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

reading patient information from a patient ID card before commencement of the ECG measurement; and

linking the patient information read from the patient ID card with the ECG information that is acquired.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising acquiring ECG information representing a heart function of a patient from a plurality of tactile-sensing ECG transducers engageable with a thorax region of the patient during the ECG measurement.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a cleaning fluid to at least one of the ECG transducers upon completion of the measurement.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising telescopically adjusting an arm supporting the hand grips.