Body electrode holder

Abstract: A body electrode holder (11b) includes a holding member to be disposed on an outer surface of a living body, and a plurality of perforations (12) formed in predetermined positions of the holding member, through which perforations a plurality of body electrodes (16) pass respectively, the holding member (11b) being formed of a sheet material. The predetermined positions correspond to portions of the living body in which portions bioelectricity is to be measured. The body electrode holder makes it possible to a plurality of body electrodes (16, 42) at once and easily to predetermined positions without requiring special technic or knowledge regarding positions to attach the body electrodes.

Description: The present invention concerns a holder for a body electrode used, in particular, for portable electrocardiograph, pulsimeter, etc. and it concerns a holder capable of easily attaching a body electrode to a correct position on a living body and improving the feeling of a patient in use. For measuring bioelectricity, a body electrode comprising an electrode prepared by shaping metal or plastic material and plating silver or silver/silver chloride on the shaped material, and a disc-like adhesive tape for attaching the electrode on a living body is individually attached at a predetermined position of the living body, the electrode is nipped by a clip and detected bioelectricity is sent by way of a lead wire and a connector to an inspection instrument. However, such a conventional constitution is troublesome since a plurality of body electrodes have to be attached correctly to predetermined positions determined by respective measuring methods, etc., and, in addition, determination for the positions is difficult and requires expert's knowledge. Further, since a plurality of lead wires are used for connecting the respective electrodes to the inspection equipment, they cross with each other, which often leads to erroneous connection, or the lead wires are entangled to each other and pulled to thereby exert unnecessary force on the clip that seizes the electrode. This causes malcontact between the electrode and the clip to generate noises, which lead to incorrect measurement. In view of the above, lead wires have usually been fixed to a living body by means of a medical tape, etc. but this gives uncomfortable feeling to a patient. In order to overcome the foregoing problems, Japanese Utility Model Publication 63-44010, as a related invention, discloses a body electrode holder which comprises a holder having a plurality of holding rods disposed side by side and each made of a flexible material insulated at the outer circumferential surface, a fixing portion for fixing a longitudinal end of the holder, a plurality of over-fitting members each of which is fitted over each of the holding rods of the holder, disposed at a predetermined gap and made movable in the longitudinal direction of the holder, and a plurality of body electrodes each disposed between adjacent over-fitting members and between the fixing member and the over-fitting member, in which lead wire of the electrode is inserted through the over-fitting member. The body electrode holder is so adapted that a plurality of electrodes can be attached by a single attaching operation and lead wires can be prevented from entangling with each other. According to the foregoing prior invention, troublesome operation of individually attaching a plurality of body electrodes or disadvantages caused by the crossing and entanglement of the lead wires can be avoided. However, an expert having a knowledge for the attaching position of the body electrode has to properly bend the flexible holder and dispose the body electrode at a predetermined position. Further, electrocardiogram may some time be measured continuously while attaching a portable electrocardiograph to the living body continuously for several days. In such a case the body electrode holder according to the prior art invention also gives a much burden to the patient. EP-A-0 284 943 describes a structure, attachable to a living body, having a plurality of electrodes arranged in a line. EP-A-0 293 068 describes an elastic belt, attachable to a human body, having holes for the insertion of electrodes. The object of the present invention is to provide a body electrode holding device which can easily attach body electrodes to respective predetermined positions without requiring special technique or knowledge and which can improve the user's feeling at the time when body electrodes are attached. The present invention provides a body electrode holding device comprising: body electrode holding means adapted to be disposed on an outer surface of a living body; and a plurality of body electrodes arranged, in use of the device, at respective predetermined positions of said holding means, said predetermined positions corresponding to portions of said living body in which portions bioelectricity is to be measured; said body electrode holding means comprising respective elongate first and second electrode holders for holding said plurality of body electrodes, each formed of sheet material or non-woven fabric and adapted to be arranged, in use of the device, in a substantially flat condition on said living body; characterised by a connecting member connected at one end thereof to an intermediate portion of said first electrode holder and connected at the other end thereof to an intermediate portion of said second electrode holder; and by said second electrode holder having a length which is greater than that of said first electrode holder. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a plurality of perforations is formed in the first and second electrode holders at the predetermined positions respectively, each of the body electrodes passing through a respective perforation. The body electrodes may alternatively be formed integrally at the predetermined positions. In the body electrode holding device according to the present invention, since body electrodes are beforehand disposed integrally, or perforations for attaching the body electrodes are disposed in bioelectricity measuring positions, the device of the present invention serves as a so-called template that indicates the measuring positions. Accordingly, a plurality of body electrodes can be attached all at once and easily to predetermined positions without requiring special technique or knowledge regarding positions to attach the body electrodes. The first and second electrode holders may be provided with lead wire holders for fixing thereto lead wires connected to the body electrodes. Also, a portion of a lead wire connected to a body electrode may be formed integrally with the associated electrode holder. In this way, the lead wires do not entangle with each other and cause no erroneous connection with the inspection equipment, thus enabling rapid measurement. The second electrode holder and the connecting member may be respectively provided with first and second length adjusting portions for adjusting longitudinal lengths thereof. In one arrangement, each of the second electrode holder and the connecting member can be bent to permit adjustment of longitudinal length. Also, each of the second electrode holder and the connecting member may be provided with a graduation so as to define a size of each of the first and second length adjusting portions. The second electrode holder may be divided into two portions so that one of the two portions can be superimposed on the other of the two portions through an adhesive to adjust the length of the second electrode holder. Also, one of the two portions may be provided with a graduation so as to define the length of the second electrode holder. These features enable the distance between the body electrodes to be adjusted depending on the user's figure and, in addition, if the adjusted position is recorded on graduations provided on the device, anyone can attach the body electrodes to the identical positions repeatedly by merely setting the size of the adjusting portion to the recorded value, thereby enabling exact measurement. The second electrode holder may be provided with recesses or rows of perforations disposed transversely at portions of the second electrode holder so as to enable division of the second electrode holder into a plurality of portions along the recesses or rows of perforations, the portions being adjacent to regions where the body electrodes are to be arranged, and the connecting member provided with two recesses or rows of perforations disposed transversely at end portions of the connecting member so as to enable disconnection along the two recesses or rows of perforations of the connecting member from the first and second electrode holders. These features enable the body electrodes of the device to be first precisely positioned and attached to the body and then freed at each recess or row of perforations, so that the fitted device gives less uncomfortable feeling to the living body and less burden to a user even when the device is continuously attached for a long period of time. Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional body electrode; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view showing a state in which the conventional body electrodes are used for measurement; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a body electrode holder Fig. 4 is a front elevational view showing a state of mounting the body electrode for using the body electrode holder; Fig. 5(a) is a side elevational view of an electrode connector; Fig. 5(b) is a bottom view illustrating the electrode connector, Fig. 5(c) is a cross sectional view of the body electrode; Fig. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating the state of the body electrode holder in use; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view illustrating a body electrode holder in which lead wires are integral with the holder; Fig. 8 is a front elevational view illustrating a body electrode holder in which body electrodes are integrated with the holder; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the body electrode taken along a line A-A' of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a front elevational view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention in which the holder is formed as a sheet in an inverted T-shape configuration; Fig. 11(a) is a plan view showing the adjusting portion for adjusting the length of the holder; Fig. 11(b) is a cross sectional view illustrating a portion taken along a line B-B' of Fig. 11(a); Fig. 12 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention in which recesses are disposed on the holder; Fig. 13(a) is an enlarged front elevational view illustrating a portion of the holder having the recess; Fig. 13(b) is a cross sectional view taken along a line X-X' of Fig. 13(a); Fig. 14 is a front elevational view illustrating the body electrode holder having the recesses shown in Fig. 12 in a state of using portions of the holder, which portions are left after cutting the holder along the recesses ; Fig. 15 is a bottom view of a body electrode holder having an adjusting portion; Fig. 16(a) is a top plan view showing another design of the adjusting portion; Fig. 16(b) is a bottom view of the adjusting portion shown in Fig. 16(a); Fig. 16(c) is a cross sectional view of the adjusting portion shown in Fig. 16(a); Fig. 17(a) is a top plan view showing a further design of the adjusting portion; Fig. 17(b) is a bottom view of the adjusting portion shown in Fig. 17(a); Fig. 17(c) is a cross sectional view of the adjusting portion shown in Fig. 17(a) ; and Fig. 18 is a front elevational view showing a state in which a body electrode holder is actually used. For better understanding of the present invention, prior art will be first described while referring to Figs.1 and 2. For measuring the bioelectricity, a body electrode comprising an electrode 1 made of metal or plastic material which is shaped and plated with silver or silver/silver chloride, and a disc-like adhesive tape 2 for attaching the electrode 1 to a living body as shown in Fig. 1 is attached individually to a predetermined position of a living body M as shown in Fig. 2. Then, the electrode 1 is nipped by a clip 3 and detected bioelectricity is sent by means of a lead wire 4 and a connector 5 to a inspection equipment. In the following description, those portions or members carrying identical reference numerals in the drawings represent identical constituent portions and, therefore, duplicate descriptions are omitted. Fig. 3 shows a front elevational view of a body electrode holder, in which perforations 12 for attaching body electrodes are disposed to holders 11a, 11b. The holders 11a, 11b are made of material giving less feeling of attachment to a living body upon use such as paper or non-woven fabric. The perforations 12 are perforated at predetermined positions on the holders 11a, 11b in such a manner as to conform with positions for leading out bioelectricity, which portions are determined depending on the measuring method. Then, a plurality of perforations 12a, 12b, 12c are disposed to predetermined positions on the holder in such a manner as to correspond to the variation of position for leading out bioelectricity depending on the difference of user's figure. A lead wire holder 13 is disposed at each of suitable positions of the holders 11a, 11b. When the body electrode holders 11a, 11b are used, a body electrode 16 shown in Fig. 5(c) and an electrode connector 17 shown in Fig. 5(a) are used. Fig. 5(c) shows a cross sectional view of a body electrode 16 which comprises a living body contacting portion 22 composed of foamed material such as sponge containing electroconductive gel, an electrode 21 made of electroconductive flexible material such as carbon fiber, electroconductive rubber, silver plated or deposited film, etc., an adhesive 23 (annular fixing portion) disposed around the periphery of the electrode 21 for fixing the electrode portion to the living body, a sheet 24 for securing the electrode, and a snap 20 to be connected to the electrode connector 17. Figs. 5(a) and 5(b) show, respectively, the side elevational view and the rear elevational view of the electrode connector 17. A slide portion 19 opens into a complete circle when a knob 18 is picked up and returns to the initial half-opened state by a spring not illustrated when the knob 18 is released. Then, by inserting a snap 20 of the body electrode 16 into the slide portion 19 the snap 20 is nipped by the slide portion 19 and the electrode connector 17 is connected to the electrode 16. Fig. 4 shows a state in which the body electrodes 16 are respectively mounted to the holders 11a, 11b. The body electrodes 16 are arranged at the back of the holder 11a, 11b (on the side to be brought into contact with the living body). After passing the snap 20 of each of the body electrodes 16 through each of the perforations of the holders 11a, 11b, the snap 20 protruded over the surface of each of the holders 11a, 11b is nipped by the slide 19 of the electrode connector 17. Then, the lead wires 14 are bundled by the lead wire holder 13 and then connected by way of a connector 15 to an inspection equipment not illustrated. Description will now be made of the method of using the body electrode holder of Figure 4 referring to Fig. 6. At first, the holder 11b is positioned at both of the base ends of a collarbone and the body electrodes 16a, 16b are attached. Then, the body electrode 16d is attached in a position of a stomach pit, the holder 11a is extended rightward and leftward on both sides of the electrode 16d as the center and the body electrodes 16c, 16e are attached. Then, the lead wires 14 are fixed to a living body by means of an adhesive tape 25 and then connected to the inspection equipment by way of the connector 15. In Fig. 6, an electrode arrangement of bipolar induction employed in a Holterelectrocardiograph is shown, but the electrode arrangement is different depending on the induction system and, accordingly, an external form of the body electrode holder and the position of the perforation may be changed in accordance with the induction system. Fig. 7 shows a body electrode holder not requiring a lead wire holder for bundling lead wires by using lead wires 34 integrated with holders 31a, 31b instead of using lead wire holder in the foregoing design. The lead wire holder and the lead wire may be integrated, for example, by overlaying a paper tape on the surface of each of the holders 31a, 31b and interposing a lead wire between the paper tape and the holder to thereby constitute a laminate structure. Fig. 8 shows a body electrode holder in which lead wires 46 and body electrodes (described later) are integrally formed with holders 41a, 41b. This makes the operation of connecting the electrode connector 17 to the body electrode 16 unnecessary, to enable easier measurement. Fig. 9 shows a body electrode 42 integrated with the holder 41a, in the cross section taken along a line A-A' of Fig. 8. The integrated type body electrode 42 comprises a living body contact portion 45 composed of foamed material such as sponge containing electroconductive gel, an electrode 44 made of electroconductive flexible material such as carbon fiber, electroconductive rubber, silver plated or deposited film, etc., a lead wire 46 made of carbon fiber, copper, stainless steel, etc., and connected to the electrode, and an adhesive 43 disposed at the circumference of the living body contact portion 45 for securing to the living body the electrode portion, and these components are constituted integrally with the holder 41a. In Fig. 9, 43a represents a protection paper for protecting the adhesive 43, which protection paper is removed at the time when the body electrode 42 is applied to the living body. Fig. 10 shows an embodiment in which the holder is not divided into two sheets as in the previous designs but constituted as one sheet of holder 11. For finely adjusting the position of the body electrode 42 depending on the difference of the user's figure, a length adjusting portion A (described later) is provided and the lead wire is slackened at B for preventing the disconnection caused by the adjustment of length. In a case where the holder is constituted as in this embodiment, since the body electrodes are integrated with the holder at predetermined positions, the user can attach the body electrode more easily. In a case where a body is moved while attaching the body electrode for continuous measurement, the attached body electrodes tend to move according to the movement of the body. However, since the positional relationship between the body electrodes is fixed by the holder, the movement of the body electrode is regulated, thereby giving sometime a feeling of constraint or clamping to the user. In view of the above, another embodiment shown in Fig. 12 is provided. The holder according to this embodiment is so adapted that a holder for fixing the positional relationship between each of the electrodes can easily be disconnected in accordance with the requirement so that each of the body electrodes can freely follow the body movement after attachment of the body electrodes. In this embodiment, recesses 60 are formed at portions of the holder 11, each of which portions is adjacent to a position where each of the body electrodes 61 - 65 is disposed. As shown in an enlarged view of Fig. 13(a) and a cross sectional view of Fig. 13(b) taken along a line X-X' of Fig. 13(a), each of the recesses 60 is formed by applying recessing to the surface of the holder 11. Then, the holder 11 can easily be disconnected, and a portion of holder which portion is situated between two adjacent recesses 60 can be removed along the recess 60 by fingers. The recessing fabrication may be performed, for example, by using a hot blade adjusted to appropriate temperature and pressure and scanning the surface of the holder, in a case where the holder is made of material capable of being thermally cut. In addition to the recessing fabrication, similar effect can also be obtained by forming a row of perforations in the holder. With the constitution as in this embodiment, body electrodes can easily be attached to predetermined positions at the time when the body electrodes are applied to the living body and a portion of the holder may be disconnected, as required, along the recesses to be removed, etc. in using the body electrodes, by which the user is free from feeling of constraint or clamping even if he moves his body during continuous attachment of the holder. Then, Fig. 14 shows a state in which the body electrode holder 11 having the recesses shown in Fig. 12 is attached to the living body and then a portion of the holder 11 is disconnected to be removed along a recess 60. Although body electrodes 61 - 65 are attached at predetermined positions on the living body, since the holder 11 is disconnected between each of the electrodes, the movement of each of the electrodes 61 - 65 is not restricted but the electrodes can be freely moved in accordance with the movement of a user's body. Accordingly, the patient can be free from the feeling of constraint or clamping. Reference numeral 66 denotes a tape for securing a lead wire 14 to the living body. Fig. 11(a) shows the front elevational view of the length adjusting portion A and Fig. 11(b) shows the cross sectional view thereof taken along a line B-B′ of Fig. 11(a). The holder 11 is divided into two portions 11x, 11y in the length adjusting portion A, in which the portion 11y is superimposed on the main body 11x of the holder 11 through an adhesive P by which the portion 11y and the main body 11x are bonded to each other. Adjustment for the length is conducted by increasing or decreasing the amount of portions which overlap each other and graduation C is appended as an index to one of portions 11x and 11y. Once the length is adjusted, the positioning can be reproduced again subsequently by merely setting a leading end of the portion 11y to the numerical value on the graduation C. The method of adjusting length shown in Fig. 11(a) and Fig. 11(b) will be explained referring to Fig. 15 with regard to the case where the method is applied to the body electrode shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 15, body electrodes 73-1, 73-2 are formed integrally to the holder portions 11x, 11y respectively. 74 represents an adhesive for attaching the electrode to the living body. Bioelectricity detected from each of the electrodes is sent through the lead wires 75 by way of the connector 7 to an inspection equipment (not illustrated). The position for the electrode 73-2 is adjusted by changing the size of the adjusting portion A. That is, when the adjusting portion A is greater, the distance D between the electrodes 73-1 and 73-2 is shortened, whereas when the adjusting portion A is reduced, the distance D is increased. For avoiding the lead wires of the electrode 73-2 from disconnection at the time of adjustment, the lead wire is so arranged as to have a slack portion 76. An actual case of using the body electrode holder according to this arrangement will be described referring to Fig. 18. At first, the holder 11b is disposed on both base ends of a collarbone and the body electrodes 71, 72 are attached to the living body. Then, the body electrode 73-1 is attached to a portion of a stomach pit, the holder 11a is extended rightward and leftward on both sides of the electrode 73-1 as the center and then the body electrodes 73-2, 73-3 are attached to the living body. Then, the lead wire 75 is secured by means of the adhesive tape 79 to the living body and connected by way of a connector 7 to an inspection equipment. In the foregoing arrangement, the longitudinal distance between the electrodes 73-1 and the 73-2 is adjusted by varying the adjusting portion A of the holder portions 11x and 11y in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the holder 11y can also be displaced rotationally with respect to the holder 11x as shown in Fig. 16. In this case, graduation S' in the direction of ϑ is appended to the holder 11y in order to define the size of the adjusting portion A for adjusting a position of the electrode. In the case of this arrangement, the adjusting portion A is defined by an index T as: (X.Y.ϑ) = (1.2.1), when the index T takes a coordinate value (1, 2) on X-Y system attached on the holder 11x and the value ϑ = 1 in which the graduation in the direction of ϑ is in parallel with X-axis. Fig. 17 shows a further design of the electrode holder length adjusting portion. The holder 11 is continuous and the adjusting portion A is provided by bending the holder 11 in the position of the index T and picking it up by fingers. Then, the size of the adjusting portion A is defined on the basis of the value which the index T takes on the graduation S. Accordingly, in a case where the adjusting method described above is used for the body electrode holder, the distance between the body electrodes can be adjusted depending on the user's figure and, in addition, if the adjusted position is recorded on graduation, the same attaching position can be obtained repeatedly by any person by merely setting the size of the adjusting portion to the recorded value, whereby exact measurement can be conducted.

Claims: A body electrode holding device comprising: body electrode holding means (11) adapted to be disposed on an outer surface of a living body; and a plurality of body electrodes (42;61-65) arranged, in use of the device, at respective predetermined positions of said holding means, said predetermined positions corresponding to portions of said living body in which portions bioelectricity is to be measured; said body electrode holding means (11) comprising respective elongate first and second electrode holders for holding said plurality of body electrodes, each formed of sheet material or non-woven fabric and adapted to be arranged, in use of the device, in a substantially flat condition on said living body; characterised by a connecting member connected at one end thereof to an intermediate portion of said first electrode holder and connected at the other end thereof to an intermediate portion of said second electrode holder; and by said second electrode holder having a length which is greater than that of said first electrode holder. A body electrode holding device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of perforations (12;12a, 12b,12c) is formed in said first and second electrode holders at said predetermined positions respectively, each of said body electrodes (16) passing through a respective perforation. A body electrode holding device according to claim 2, wherein said first and second electrode holders are provided with lead wire holders (13) for fixing thereto lead wires (14) connected to said body electrodes. A body electrode holding device according to claim 1, wherein a portion (46) of a lead wire (14) connected to a said body electrode (42) is formed integrally with the associated electrode holder. A body electrode holding device according to claim 2, wherein said second electrode holder and said connecting member are respectively provided with first and second length adjusting portions (A) for adjusting longitudinal lengths thereof. A body electrode holding device according to claim 5, wherein each of said second electrode holder and said connecting member can be bent to permit adjustment of longitudinal length. A body electrode holding device according to claim 6, wherein each of said second electrode holder and said connecting member is provided with a graduation (C) so as to define a size of each of said first and second length adjusting portions. A body electrode holding device according to claim 2, wherein said second electrode holder is provided with recesses (60) or rows of perforations disposed transversely at portions of said second electrode holder so as to enable division of said second electrode holder into a plurality of portions along said recesses or rows of perforations, said portions being adjacent to regions where said body electrodes (63-65) are to be arranged, and wherein said connecting member is provided with two recesses (60) or rows of perforations disposed transversely at end portions of said connecting member so as to enable disconnection along said two recesses or rows of perforations of said connecting member from said first and second electrode holders. A body electrode holding device according to claim 2, wherein said second electrode holder is divided into two portions (11x,11y) so that one of said two portions can be superimposed on the other of said two portions through an adhesive (P) to adjust the length of said second electrode holder. A body electrode holding device according to claim 9, wherein said one (11x) of said two portions (11x,11y) is provided with a graduation (C) so as to define the length of said second electrode holder. A body electrode holding device according to claim 2, wherein each of said body electrodes (16) comprises: a living body contacting portion (22) adapted to be contacted with said outer surface for taking out bioelectricity from said living body, said living body contacting portion being of a disc-like shape; an electrode portion (21) received in said living body contacting portion for detecting said taken-out bioelectricity; an annular fixing portion (23) concentrically disposed around a periphery of said living body contacting portion for fixing said electrode portion and said living body contacting portion to said living body; a circular sheet (24) connected to an annular end face of said living body contacting portion and an annular end face of said annular fixing portion for securing said electrode portion; a snap portion (20) connected to said electrode portion in such a manner as to penetrate said circular sheet to thereby protrude in a direction opposite to said electrode portion with respect to said circular sheet, and having an outer diameter capable of being inserted into each of said perforations; and an electrode connector (17) adapted to nip said inserted snap portion, and connected to a lead wire (14) for sending said detected bioelectricity to an inspection equipment. A body electrode holding device according to claim 1, wherein each of said body electrodes (42) comprises the following components formed integrally with the associated electrode holder: a living body contacting portion (45) adapted to be contacted with said outer surface for taking out bioelectricity from said living body, said living body contacting portion being of a disc-like shape; an electrode portion (44) received in said living body contacting portion for detecting said taken-out bioelectricity and having a lead wire (46) connected thereto; and an adhesive ring (43) concentrically disposed around a periphery of said living body contacting portion for fixing said electrode portion and said living body contacting portion to said living body.

Inventors: IGUCHI YOSHINOBU, SUZUKI TAKASHI, WADA YOSHIHIRO, IGUCHI, YOSHINOBU, SUZUKI, TAKASHI, WADA, YOSHIHIRO
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61B5
IPC codes: A61B5