HANDHELD, REPOSITIONABLE ECG DETECTOR

• US 20100081913A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Fong, Shannon, Gehman, Stacy E., Solosko, Thomas A., Hansen, Kim J., Cross, Brett, Hugh, Steven C., Herleikson, Earl C., Lyster, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

An ECG monitoring device comprises an integral handheld device including a ECG electronic module and an electrode patch having a plurality of electrodes which contact a subject by conductive hydrogel. A release liner covers and protects the hydrogel prior to use and is removed to expose the hydrogel. A second release liner is removed to expose a pressure sensitive adhesive by means of which the device is attached to a subject. The first and second release liners may be parts of a single release liner layer. After use the electrode patch is disposable and the ECG electronic module is detached from the patch for reuse.

Claims

1. An ECG monitoring device comprising:

a handheld electrode patch including a plurality of electrodes which make contact with the body by separate, electrically conductive areas of hydrogel;

a removable release liner covering the areas of hydrogel prior to use; and

an ECG electronic module which attaches to the electrode patch in electrical communication with the electrodes.

2. The ECG monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive located on a body-facing side of the electrode patch which adhesively attaches the monitoring device to a subject.

3. The ECG monitoring device of claim 2, wherein the areas of hydrogel are located on the body-facing side of the electrode patch and the pressure sensitive adhesive is around the areas of hydrogel,

wherein the removable release liner covers the areas of hydrogel and the pressure sensitive adhesive prior to use.

4. The ECG monitoring device of claim 3, further comprising a second removable release liner having apertures aligned with the areas of hydrogel, the second removable release liner covering the pressure sensitive adhesive prior to use.

5. The ECG monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the electrode patch further comprises an electrical contact area providing electrical communication with the ECG electronic module when the module is attached to the electrode patch.

6. The ECG monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the electrode patch is disposable and the ECG electronic module is reusable after use.

7. The ECG monitoring device of claim 2, further comprising a retention seal having apertures aligned with the areas of hydrogel which acts to retain the areas of hydrogel in contact with the electrodes,

wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on the body-facing side of the retention seal.

8. The ECG monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electrode patch further includes an alignment edge which may be used to align the electrode patch on a subject.

9. The ECG monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the alignment edge is part of an alignment aperture of the electrode patch.

10. The ECG monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the removable release liner includes a first area which may be removed to expose the areas of hydrogel and a second area which may be removed to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. The ECG monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the ECG electronic module and the electrode patch are reusable and the areas of hydrogel are disposable after use.

12. The ECG monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the removable release liner further comprises a sheet of nonconductive material having conductive areas aligned with the areas of hydrogel.

13. The ECG monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the ECG electronic module further includes a communication link adapted to transmit received ECG data to a storage and/or display device.

14. The ECG monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the ECG electronic module further includes a display adapted to display received ECG data.

15. A method for acquiring ECG data of a subject comprising:

attaching an ECG electronic module to an electrode patch having a plurality of electrodes each having an area of conductive hydrogel;

removing a release liner to expose the hydrogel; and

placing the electrode patch and hydrogel areas in contact with a subject.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

removing a second release liner to expose a pressure sensitive adhesive; and

attaching the electrode patch to the subject by means of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

marking the location of the electrode patch in relation to the subject.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein removing a release liner to expose the hydrogel further comprises removing a first portion of a release liner layer;

and further comprising;

removing a second portion of the release liner layer to expose a pressure sensitive adhesive.

19. A method for acquiring ECG data of a subject with a handheld device including an ECG electronic module and a plurality of electrodes having conductive hydrogel, the hydrogel covered with a release liner comprising a nonconductive layer having conductive areas aligned with the hydrogel, the method comprising:

placing the release liner of the handheld device in contact with the subject to acquire ECG data;

removing the release liner to expose the hydrogel; and

placing the hydrogel in contact with the subject to acquire ECG data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein removing the release liner further comprises exposing a pressure sensitive adhesive;

and

attaching the handheld device to the subject by means of the pressure sensitive adhesive.