Universal electrocardiogram sensor positioning device and method

• US 6,006,125 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unilead International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unilead International Incorporated
• Inventors: Wenger, William K., Kelly, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/022,730
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 600/386, 600/388-393, 600/382
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287

Abstract

A universal disposable ECG sensor positioning device and method for use with electrocardiogram diagnostic equipment in which the mask has nine sensors, six of which can be used at any one time to provide three different sizes to accommodate varying sized human torsos.

Claims

1. A method for sensor placement of six precordial sensors, V₁, V₂, V₃, V₄, V₅, and V₆, typically used for performing twelve lead electrocardiograms, the steps comprising

providing a universal ECG multiple sensor dermal chest mask formed for clinically efficacious placement of said six precordial sensors on a patient'"'"'s chest irrespective of torso size, said mask having at least nine sensors which are arranged in a specific geometric pattern which can be utilized to serve as sensors for at least three different classes of sizes of human torsos, said mask including first indicia for aligning said mask on both the centerline of the patient'"'"'s sternum and the fourth intercostal space, and second indicia for determining which of said sensors correspond to three choices for said V₆ sensor, whereby at least three sets of sensors formed by said nine sensors on said mask comprising six sensors each accommodate three different classes of sizes of human torsos,

placing said mask on a patient'"'"'s chest with said first indicia aligned with the corresponding anatomy of the patient,

selecting one set of six of the nine sensors for performing an ECG from said second indicia depending upon which of said V₆ sensors lies closest to said patient'"'"'s midaxillary line, and

connecting sensor lead wires from ECG test apparatus to said six selected sensors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein nine sensors are arranged geometrically in three different sets of six sensors each in which certain of the sensors serve the same function in each of said sets and at least one of said sensors serves as a different designated sensor in said different sets.

3. A method of sensor placement for performing twelve lead electrocardiograms by means of a universal ECG multiple sensor dermal chest mask formed for fitting or accommodating different sizes of adult human bodies with repeatability and clinical efficacy of sensors V₁, V₂, V₃, V₄, V₅, and V₆ placement irrespective of the varying human body torso sizes and the different distances between the human body anatomical landmarks, said method of sensor placement comprising the steps of

providing a mask having at least nine precordial sensors disposed in a specific geometric arrangement rather than in predetermined fixed arrays of individual sensor groups or an arbitrary individually located array of six precordial sensors needed for a resting ECG, said arrangement of nine sensors forming three sets of sensor groups including three positions for each of said V₅ and V₆ in which one sensor serves for either V₅ or V₆ in two different sensor sets whereby three sets of six sensors each are provided by said nine sensors to position six of said sensors proximate to the anatomical landmarks of three different classes of sizes of human torsos, said mask including first indicia for positioning said mask on a patient'"'"'s sternum centerline and the fourth intercostal space and second indicia for determining which sensors correspond to said three sensor sets,

placing said mask on a patient'"'"'s chest and aligning said first positioning indicia on said mask with said patient'"'"'s corresponding anatomy,

ascertaining from said second indicia which of the three V₆ sensor positions lies on or closest to the patient'"'"'s midaxillary line, and

connecting sensor lead wires from ECG test apparatus to the corresponding set of sensors which include said closest midaxillary V₆ sensor.

4. A universal ECG multiple sensor dermal chest mask for fitting or accommodating different sizes of adult human bodies for performing twelve lead electrocardiograms with repeatability and clinical efficacy of sensor V₁, V₂, V₃, V₄, V₅, and V₆ placement irrespective of the varying human body torso sizes and the different distances between the human body anatomical landmarks, said mask comprising

a flexible sheet of non-conductive material carrying nine sensors in a single pattern rather than in predetermined fixed arrays of individual sensor groups or an arbitrary individually located array of six precordial sensors which are needed for a resting twelve-lead ECG, said sheet having said nine sensors positioned on said sheet in a specific geometric arrangement with said V₁ -V₄ being utilized for all sizes of bodies, said V₅ position having two independent sensor positions and sharing a third with said V₆, and said V₆ having two additional positions whereby

when said mask is utilized for a small size torso, the alternate V₅ position closest to said V₄ position is utilized along with said shared V₅ and V₆ position,

when said mask is utilized for a medium size torso, the middle alternate V₅ position, disposed between the first alternate V₅ disposed closest to said V₄ position, and between said shared V₅ and V₆ position, is utilized along with said V₆ position disposed between said shared V₅ and V₆ position and the other remaining V₆ position, and

when said mask is utilized for a large size torso, said shared V₅ and V₆ position is utilized along with said remaining V₆ position.

5. The mask of claim 4 wherein

said V₁ and V₂ are disposed to lie on opposite sides of a patient'"'"'s sternum equidistant therefrom and on the fourth intercostal space, the center of said V₁ being located approximately two inches from the center of said V₂ on the 270 degree radial therefrom,

the center of said V₄ being located approximately 3.5 inches from the center of said V₂ on the 125 degree radial therefrom,

the center of said V₃ being disposed on a line and equidistant between said V₂ and said V₄,

said V₅ and V₆ having three alternative positions each, all of said positions being disposed on the 90 degree radial from said V₄, the centers of said V₅ positions being located 1.75, 2.5, and 3.5 inches therefrom and the centers of said V₆ positions being located 3.5, 5.0, and 7.0 inches therefrom whereby the centers of said V₅ and V₆ which are both located 3.5 inches from said V₄ share a common sensor in the different sets of sensors.