ECG Data Acquisition Device

• US 20100042008A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ticker Medical, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Assaf Amitai, David Amitai
• Inventors: Amitai, Assaf, Amitai, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

An apparatus for generating ECG recordings and a method for using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a handheld device and a controller. The handheld device has first, second, third, and fourth electrodes on an outer surface of the handheld device. The controller records signals from the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes and generates an ECG recording from the signals. The controller also provides placement information regarding locations on a user'"'"'s body that are to be brought into contact with the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes while the controller records the signals. The handheld device can include a cellular telephone or a PDA. The controller stores an exemplary normal ECG recording, and compares a newly generated ECG recording with the stored ECG recording and generates an indication that indicates whether the newly generated ECG recording is consistent with the stored ECG recording.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld device having first, second, third, and fourth electrodes on an outer surface of said handheld device;

a controller that records signals from said first, second, third, and fourth electrodes and generates an ECG recording from said signals;

wherein said controller provides placement information regarding locations on a user'"'"'s body that are to be brought into contact with said first, second, third, and fourth electrodes while said controller records said signals,

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handheld device comprises a cellular telephone or a PDA.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adapter that connects 4 ECG leads to said apparatus, said controller utilizing said four ECG leads in combination with said fourth electrode to measure a conventional ECG recording.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said controller disconnects said first, second, and third electrodes when said 4 ECG leads are connected to said adapter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller stores an exemplary normal ECG recording and wherein said controller compares a newly generated ECG recording with said stored ECG recording and generates an indication that indicates whether said newly generated ECG recording is consistent with said stored ECG recording.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said exemplary normal ECG recording comprises a previously recorded ECG recording.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said exemplary normal ECG recording comprises an average of a plurality of previously recorded ECG recordings.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises a communication device that sends and receives messages from an external facility and wherein said controller communicates said newly recorded ECG recording to said external facility if said indication indicates that said newly generated ECG recording is inconsistent with said stored ECG recording.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a microphone and speaker, wherein said controller communicates instructions to said user via said speaker and receives communications from said user via said microphone while said controller generates said ECG recording.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mode switch operable by a user of said apparatus to communicate which of a plurality of measurements are to be made next.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vibrator that causes said apparatus to vibrate when said vibrator is activated and wherein said controller actuates said vibrator when said controller is generating an ECG recording.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a circuit for determining if said first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are in contact with said user'"'"'s body.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said circuit comprises a pressure sensor associated with one of said electrodes, said pressure sensor measuring a force associated with said user gripping said apparatus at that electrode.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said circuit comprises an impedance measuring circuit that measures an impedance between pairs of said first, second, third, and fourth electrodes.

15. A method for generating an ECG recording of a patient comprising:

providing a handheld device having first, second, third, and fourth electrodes on an outer surface of said handheld device;

causing said patient to grip said handheld device such that said first and second electrodes are in contact with a first hand of said patient such that said first and second electrodes contact different locations on said first hand;

simultaneously causing said patient to contact said third electrode with a predetermined location on said patient'"'"'s other hand;

simultaneously causing said patient to contact said fourth electrode at a predetermined point on said patient'"'"'s body, said predetermined point depending on said ECG recording;

measuring signals as a function of time between said first electrode and each of said second, third, and fourth electrodes; and

converting said measured signals to said ECG recording.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said first and second electrodes are in contact with the thumb and finger on said patient'"'"'s first hand.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said third electrode is contact with a finger on said patients other hand.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said fourth electrode is in contact with a predetermined point on one of said patient'"'"'s legs.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said fourth electrode is in contact with a Precordial measurement point on said patient'"'"'s chest.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising comparing said generated recording with an ECG recording stored in said handheld device and generating an indication that is receivable by said patient, said indication indicating whether said generated ECG recording is consistent with said stored ECG recording.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising communicating said generated ECG recording to a location remote from said handheld device if said indication indicates that said generated ECG recording is not consistent with said stored ECG recording.

22. A method for measuring Precordial ECG signals from a patient, said method comprising:

placing a first electrode in contact with one of said patient'"'"'s hands;

simultaneously placing a second electrode in contact with the other of said patient'"'"'s hands;

simultaneously placing a third electrode in contact with a Precordial point on said patient'"'"'s chest;

averaging signals from said first and second electrodes to provide an averaged signal; and

measuring a potential difference between said averaged signal and a signal from said third electrode.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said potential difference between said averaged signal and said signal from said third electrode is correct by subtracting a signal derived from a standard leads measurement made previously on said patient.