Electrocardiogram measurement system comprising patch-type electrocardiogram measurement apparatus

An electrocardiogram measurement system includes a patch-type electrocardiogram measurement apparatus; a first device connected to the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus by means of a first communication and configured to store electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus; and a second device connected to the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus by means of the first communication and configured to store electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus. The electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus includes measured time information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electrocardiogram measurement system comprising a patch-type electrocardiogram measurement apparatus, and more particularly, to an electrocardiogram measurement system comprising a patch-type electrocardiogram measurement apparatus capable of being connected to an external device to store electrocardiogram data.

BACKGROUND

Products related to storage of the electrocardiogram (ECG) data known to date are largely divided into products in which data is stored in an embedded memory in a patch-type measurement apparatus itself and products in which data is transmitted to a smartphone through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication and stored in a memory in the smartphone, while an ECG signal is output in real time onto the screen of the smartphone.

For a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus using an embedded memory, it is necessary to secure a memory space, which is disadvantageous in that miniaturization of the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus and memory reuse are not allowed. Furthermore, a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus that stores data in the memory of the smartphone has a limitation in that the smartphone must always be carried and connected.

In the prior art, exemplified is an electrode patch for ECG measurement and an ECG measurement device using same disclosed in Korean Application Publication No. 10-2012-0084950 (published on Jul. 31, 2012).

SUMMARY

Provided is an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement system comprising a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus in which ECG data is to be stored. Accordingly, it is possible to miniaturize the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus, and is not necessary to always carry a smartphone.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrocardiogram measurement system includes: a patch-type electrocardiogram measurement apparatus; a first device connected to the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus by means of a first communication method and configured to store the electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus; and a second device connected to the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus by means of the first communication method and configured to store the electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus.

Furthermore, the electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus may include measured time information. A first time period in which the first device stores the electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus, and a second time period in which the second device stores the electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus may be at least partially at different times.

Specifically, the first device may receive and store the electrocardiogram data stored in the second device that has been measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus. the first device may combine the electrocardiogram data stored in the first device and the electrocardiogram data received from the second device using the measured time information included in each piece of the electrocardiogram data.

In addition, when the second device is connected and the first device displays the electrocardiogram data through an application program installed in the first device, the first device may combine and display the electrocardiogram data stored in the first device and the electrocardiogram data received from the second device using the measured time information included in each piece of the electrocardiogram data.

Furthermore, in a state where the second device is connected with the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus by means of the first communication method, the first device may be characterized by instructing the second device to release the connection from the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus when the first device is in a state of being able to be connected with the electrocardiogram apparatus.

In a state where the second device is able to be connected with the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus by means of the first communication method, the first device may be characterized by instructing the second device to be connected with the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus.

In addition, when there is no external device that is able to receive the electrocardiogram data measured in the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus, the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus may generate a warning signal. Furthermore, when the first device is unable to receive the electrocardiogram data measured in the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus, and the second device is also unable to receive the electrocardiogram data measured in the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus, the first device may generate a warning signal.

According to the electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement system comprising the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus of the present disclosure, a device in which ECG data is to be stored may be selectively used, and thus, it is possible to miniaturize the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus and is not necessary to always carry the smartphone and keep in connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement system comprising a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to embody the present disclosure, but not to limit or restrict the scope of the present disclosure. From the detailed description and embodiments of the present disclosure, all techniques easily conceivable by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can be easily interpreted as belonging to the scope of the present disclosure.

First,FIG.1is a configuration diagram of an ECG measurement system100comprising a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known fromFIG.1, the ECG measurement system100according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ECG measurement apparatus10, a first device20, and a second device30.

FIG.2is a configuration diagram of the ECG measurement apparatus10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known fromFIG.2, the ECG measurement apparatus10may be configured by including a plurality of electrodes E1, a channel connection unit11, a data processing unit12, a first processor13, and a first communication unit14.

The ECG measurement apparatus10has the shape of a patch type, and is attached to a human body to be able to measure ECG data of one or more channels by means of the plurality of electrodes E1. In addition, the number of ECG measurement channels of the ECG measurement apparatus10is possibly extended by receiving the ECG measurement data of the one or more channels, which is measured by means of the external electrodes E2, through the channel connection unit11. As the channel connection unit11, an input terminal form may be exemplified which enables the measurement data from the external electrodes E2to be used as an input of the data processing unit12.

The ECG data measured by means of the electrodes E1of the ECG measurement apparatus10itself or the external electrodes E2is amplified by the data processing unit12and then converted into a digital signal. To this end, the data processing unit12preferably includes an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter.

Furthermore, the ECG data output from the data processing unit12is inserted with time information at which the ECG data has been measured by the first processor12, namely, a time-stamp, and then transmitted to an external device by means of a first communication method through the first communication unit14. Specifically, the first communication method may be exemplified by a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication. The ECG measurement apparatus10may transmit the ECG data to the external device and receive data from the external device through the first communication unit14. Here, for convenience, the description is provided only with the ECG data, but it is natural to include a necessary control signal together with the data.

FIG.3is a configuration diagram of the first device20according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known fromFIG.3, the first device20may be configured by including a second memory21, a second processor22, a second communication unit23, and a third communication unit24. As an example, the first device20may be implemented using a mobile terminal, which can be a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like.

The second memory21may store the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10. The first device20is installed with an application program, and thus the second processor22may execute the application program. When the application program is executed by the second processor22, the ECG data stored in the second memory21may be processed to be displayed on a screen of the first device20.

The second communication unit23receives the ECG data from the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method. The first communication method may be exemplified by the BLE communication. The ECG data received by the second communication unit23is stored in the second memory21. The ECG data received from the ECG measurement apparatus10is characterized by being inserted with the time information at which the ECG data has been measured, namely, the time-stamp.

The third communication unit24enables transmission and reception of data with the second device by means of a wireless or wired communication method other than the first communication method. The third communication unit (24) may use a WiFi communication as another example. Naturally, the second device30and the first device20may be directly connected through a USB terminal of the first device20and then data is input from or output to the second device30. The ECG data input from the second device30through the third communication unit24or a direct connection is stored in the second memory21.

FIG.4is a configuration diagram of the second device30according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known fromFIG.4, the second device30may be configured by including a third memory31, a third processor32, a fourth communication unit33, and a fifth communication unit34. As an example, the second device30is preferably implemented with a device miniaturized by mounting a communication function onto a dongle memory.

The third memory31may store the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10. The third processor32may execute processing or the like for the ECG data.

The fourth communication unit33receives the ECG data from the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method. The first communication method may be exemplified by the BLE communication. The ECG data received by the fourth communication unit33is stored in the third memory31. The ECG data received from the ECG measurement apparatus10is characterized by being inserted with the time information at which the ECG data has been measured, namely, the time-stamp.

The fifth communication unit34enables transmission and reception of data with the first device20by means of a wireless communication method other than the first communication method. The fifth communication unit (34) may use a WiFi communication as an example. Naturally, the second device30and the first device20may be directly connected through a USB terminal of the first device20and thus data transmission and reception with the second device30become possible.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be provided about a method for storing the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, in the first device20and the second device30.

The first device20preferably operates as a master device that may transmit a command to the second device30to control the operation of the second device30. In other words, the second device30is characterized by operating as a slave device. Accordingly, the first device20may not only receive connection status information about the second device30with another device, but also transmit a command for connecting the second device30with the other device or a command for releasing the connection of the second device30from the other device. Here, the other device may be the ECG measurement apparatus10.

When the first device20is connected to the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method, the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10is stored in the first device20.

In addition, when the connection of the first device20with the ECG measurement apparatus10through the first communication method is released, the second device30may be automatically connected to the ECG measurement apparatus10when the second device30is present around the ECG measurement apparatus10. Accordingly, the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10is stored in the second device30.

In other words, a time period in which the first device20stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, and a time period in which the second device30stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10are different from each other, and thus the time periods do not overlap. In other words, the time period in which the first device20stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, and the time period in which the second device30stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10are characterized by being at different times. This is caused by the characteristics of the BLE communication in which only one device may be connected to one communication module. Furthermore, even when a communication in which many devices are connected at the same time is used, namely, even when the first device20and the second device30simultaneously store the ECG data, overlapping ECG data may be discerned by means of the time information, namely, the time-stamp. To sum up, the time period in which the first device20stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, and the time period in which the second device30stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10may be at least partially at different times.

The first device20may receive and store the ECG data that has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10and stored in the second device30. The first device20and the second device20may be exemplarily connected by means of a wireless communication method other than the first communication method, or a direct connection.

FIG.5is an illustration of a combination of the ECG data in the first device20. Here, for convenience of explanation, the ECG data is shown not overlapping, but it is natural that the ECG data stored in the first device20and the ECG data stored in the second device20at least partially overlap. This overlapping portion may be discerned by means of the time-stamp that is the characteristics of the present disclosure.

The first device20combines the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10and stored in the first device20, and the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10and stored in the second device30, using the measured time information included in each piece of the ECG data, and then newly store the combined ECG data in the first device20.

In detail, when the second device30is connected and the ECG data is processed (displayed as an example) through an application program installed in the first device20, the first device20is characterized by combining the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10and stored in the first device20, and the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10and stored in the second device30, using the measured time information included in each piece of the ECG data, and displaying the combined ECG data on the screen of the first device20.

The first device20may select one of the first device20or the second device30and allow the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10to be stored therein. Hereinafter, a method in which the first device20selects one of the first device20or the second device30will be described.

In a state where the second device30is connected with the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method, when the first device20is in a state of being able to be connected to the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method, the first device20instructs the second device30to release the connection from the ECG measurement apparatus10. Accordingly, the connection between the second device30and the ECG measurement apparatus10is released, the first device20is connected with the ECG measurement apparatus10, and thus the ECG data measured in the ECG measurement apparatus10is stored in the first device20.

In addition, when the second device30is in a state of being able to be connected to the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method, the first device20may instruct the second device30to be connected with the ECG measurement apparatus10. As an example, in a state where the first device20is connected with the ECG measurement apparatus10by means of the first communication method, when the first device20intends to stop the storage of the ECG data, the first device20may release the connection of itself from the ECG measurement apparatus10, and allow the second device20to be connected with the ECG measurement apparatus10. However, when the first device20releases the connection of itself with the ECG measurement apparatus10, the second device30may be automatically connected with the ECG measurement apparatus10when the second device30is present around the ECG measurement apparatus10.

When there is not any external device including the first device20or the second device30that may receive the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, the ECG measurement apparatus10generates a warning signal to inform a user of a situation in which the ECG data is not possibly stored.

Furthermore, when the first device20is not able to receive the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, and the second device20is not also able to receive the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus10, the first device20may generate a warning signal.

In other words, the warning signal in the present disclosure may be generated by the ECG measurement apparatus10and/or the first device20.

As the foregoing, according to the ECG measurement system100comprising a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus10of the present disclosure, any one of the first device20and the second device30may be selectively used as a device in which the ECG data is to be stored. Accordingly the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus10does not require a separate and embedded large-capacity memory, and thus may be miniaturized.

In addition, according to the ECG measurement system100comprising the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus10of the present disclosure, it is not necessary to always carry the first device20of a large size like a smartphone, and the ECG data may be stored in the second device30of a small dongle type. Furthermore, according to the ECG measurement system100comprising the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus10of the present disclosure, pieces of the ECG data stored in different devices at different times are combined to one piece of data using the measured time information and thus the entire ECG data may be constructed, which increases the convenience of use.