ECG diagnostic pad

• US 5,224,479 A
• Filed: 06/21/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Topy Enterprises Ltd. (TOPY Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Topy Enterprises Ltd. (TOPY Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Sekine, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US07/718,757
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639, 128/644, 128/695, 128/696, 128/798, 128/799
• US Class Current: 600/389
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

An ECG diagnostic pad having upper fit portions with upper limb lead electrodes, central fit portions with unipolar precordial lead electrodes and lower fit portions with flank lead electrodes is fitted onto the chest wall of a human subject. Only by attaching the pad onto the chest wall of the subject, the lead electrodes can readily be brought in close contact with the desired locations prescribed anatomically on the chest wall with accuracy.

Claims

1. An ECG diagnostic pad comprising:

a pad base having a pair of upper fit portions extending aslant upward and each having an upper limb lead electrode for detecting a limb lead ECG current, a pair of central fit portions extending horizontally, and a pair of lower fit portions extending aslant downward and each having a flank lead electrode for detecting a lead ECG current, said upper, central, and lower fit portions being attached to a central portion of said pad base so as to form an asterisk shape;

one of said pair of central fit portions being provided with unipolar precordial lead electrodes for detecting precordial lead ECG currents, and the other of said pair of central fit portions being provided with an ECG control unit connected to said lead electrodes for receiving ECG currents from the lead electrodes and for deriving ECG data signals for diagnosis from said ECG currents; and

a fastening means attached to said upper, central and lower fit portions for fixing said pad base onto a subject.

2. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises two sets of fastening belts connected to said upper fit portions, each set of fastening belts being wound on an upper arm of a subject to which the pad is attached to, one set of fastening belts connected to said central fit portions, and two sets of fastening belts connected to said lower fit portions, each of said fastening belts having a free end with a surface fastener.

3. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 1 wherein said lead electrodes on said upper, central and lower fit portions each comprise a conductive holder, a movable conductor mounted in the holder, and a spring for urging said movable conductor outward.

4. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 1 wherein said ECG control unit comprises an ECG input circuit including buffers for receiving the ECG currents from said lead electrodes, an amplifier for amplifying said ECG currents from said ECG input circuit, a time-constant setting circuit for controlling low-frequency characteristics of said ECG currents, a multiplexer for feeding out said ECG currents from said amplifier one by one in serial order, an analog-digital converter for converting said ECG current to digital signals, a demodulator for distributing said digital signals into twelve ECG data signals, digital-analog converters for converting said ECG data signals to analog ECG signals, an output-stage multiplexer for synthesizing said analog ECG signals, and a sound driver for driving a sound generator.

5. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 4, further comprising a recording means electrically connected to said ECG control unit for recording said ECG data signals.

6. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 5, wherein said recording means is mounted on said fastening means.

7. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 6, wherein said recording means is provided with a power battery unit.

8. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 1, further comprising a recording means electrically connected to said ECG control unit for recording said ECG data signals.

9. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 8, wherein said recording means is mounted on said fastening means.

10. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 9, wherein said recording means is provided with a power battery unit.

11. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 1 wherein said pad base is provided in said upper and lower fit portions with guide slits in which said upper limb lead electrodes and flank lead electrodes are fitted movably.

12. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 11 wherein said lead electrodes on said upper and lower fit portions each comprise a conductor, a nonconductive knob member, and a conductive connector rod connecting said conductor to said knob member.

13. The ECG diagnostic pad according to claim 12 wherein each said guide slit has a width somewhat smaller than said connector rod in diameter and has rest holes larger in diameter than said connector rod.