ELECTRODES APRON FOR ECG

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrodes apron for ECG which is comprised of an apron cast from flexible material to be placed over the chest of the patient, ten electrodes inlaid within the apron in predetermined places wherein six of the said electrodes are located at predetermined distances between the ribs, two under each shoulder and two at both sides of the stomach. Either curved or spiraled conductors are cast within flexible material and each conductor is connected to an electrode. A multiple-pronged cable feeds each of the conductors and includes a connector for connecting the apron to any standard ECG measuring device. The apron also has straps and a belt for tightening the apron on the body of the patient, locating the electrodes of the apron in their required locations for ECG tests. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electrodes apron having two bracelets for attaching to the arms of the patient. Instead of straps for tying, the two bracelets on both sides of the apron are attached to the arms of the patient and when the arms of the patient are brought to their regular position parallel to the body, the apron is tightened over the chest of the patient.

Description: ELECTRODES APRON FOR ECG The present invention relates to the field of accessories used in devices for medical testing. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrodes apron for use in the electrocardiogram (hereinafter called ECG) medical testing. An ECG test is a test which is performed by means of an appropriate testing device. The device measures the potential differences between various selected points on the body of a person to be examined (hereinafter called "patient"). These potential differences mirror the electronic activities of the heart muscle. The measurement is done by way of attaching electrodes to the body of a patient in predeteπnined places. These electrodes then transfer the electromc information to the testing device. The electrodes are placed around the heart at points between the ribs, known as points VI to V5, two are attached on the arms and two are attached on the legs. In the present, well known ECG tests, 10 separate electrodes are attached to the patient's body. In order to attach the electrodes to the body of the patient, disposable electrodes are attached with special glue or with suction buttons which cause discomfort to the patient. Furthermore, a special gel is spread over the attachment points in order to improve the electromc conductivity. When the patient is a male, it is sometimes necessary to shave off hair at the point of attachment. The present situation, in which ten separate electrodes are attached to the patient, is awkward because of the use of ten separate conductors, which have a tendency to interfere with each other, and because of the need to glue them to the body of the patient. Discomfort is also caused because of the need to use suction buttons, or to shave the hair prior to placing the conductors on the patients body. The placement of the electrodes on the patients body requires experience and anatomical knowledge which is not always found among the medical staff. As a result, often the electrodes are improperly positioned. When the attachment to the body is not accurate, electronic noises are caused together with disruptions of electronic conductivity. These occurrences cause difficulties in the interpretation of data received. The present invention relates to an electrodes apron for ECG which is comprised of an apron cast from flexible material to be placed over the chest ofthe patient, ten electrodes inlaid within the apron in predetermined places wherein six ofthe said electrodes are located at predeteπrxined distances between the ribs, two under each shoulder and two at both sides of the stomach. Either curved or spiraled conductors are cast within flexible material and each conductor is connected to an electrode. A multiple-pronged cable feeds each of the conductors and includes a connector for connecting the apron to a measuring device. The apron also has straps and a belt for tightening the apron on the body of the patient. The two electrodes positioned on the two sides of the stomach are those placed on the legs in the state of the art methods. The two electrodes placed under each shoulder are those placed on the hands in the state of the art methods. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is an apron having two bracelets for attaching to the arms of the patient (hereinafter called electrode bracelet apron). Instead of straps for tying, the two bracelets on both sides ofthe apron are attached to the arms ofthe patient and when the aims ofthe patient are brought to their regular position parallel to the body, the apron is tightened over the chest ofthe patient. This embodiment has several advantages. The electrode bracelets apron enables quick wearing of the apron, particularly in emergency situations, since there is no need to bring the straps around the back or the neck. Attaching the bracelets to the arms ofthe patient and straightening his arms so they are parallel with his body, causes the apron to tighten over the patient's chest and the electrodes to be placed in the required spots. It is possible to immediately connect the connector to the testing device and to receive results. Furthermore, It is possible to connect tl e electiodes bracelet apron without completely undressing the patient but by raising the shirt and placing the apron under tlie shirt or bra. The bracelets can be made from metal, thus the bracelets are used as left and right arm electrodes positioning them most accurately on the arms. The present invention is described in detail by figures 1, 2 and 3. These drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and are solely for purposes of clarification and description. Figure 1 describes a frontal view ofthe electrodes apron Figure 2 describes the conductors in the said apron. Figure 3 describes a frontal view ofthe electrode bracelets apron. Figure 1 describes a frontal view ofthe electrodes apron. The apron (1) is made from flexible material such as rubber with a strap for wearing on the neck (2) and two straps for closing and tightening (3) (4). On these two straps are two buckles, the tension buckle (5) and the locking buckle (6). Ten electrodes are inlaid within the apron. Two electrodes (7) (8), are located at the upper most part of the apron for attachment under each shoulder (the "arm electrodes") and two electrodes (9) (10) are positioned on the two sides of the stomach (the "leg electrodes"). Six electrodes (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) are positioned in the spaces between the ribs. From each electrode curved conductors extend (17), cast within the flexible material such as rubber and capable of tightening without damaging the conductor and each conductor is connected by a cable (18) to a connector (19) which is connected to the measuring device. Figure 2 illustrates the conductor (17a) with its curvature (17b) within an envelope (17c) cast from flexible material such as rubber. It is possible to tighten the conductor, up to a certain limit, together with the cased envelope, without over-tightening or causing damage to the conductor. Figure 3 describes a frontal view of the electrodes bracelets apron, the apron is comprised of the apron body (1) made from flexible material and capable of being tightened, two bracelets (7) and (8) on the two sides of the apron for the attachment to the arms of the patient. Together with the straightening of the arms ofthe patient in parallel with his body, the apron is tightened over the chest of the patient. These two bracelets serve, at the same time, also as the right and left arms electrodes. The additional electrodes are located v/ithin the cast apron electrodes (9) and (10) provide the right leg and left leg electrodes and six additional electrodes, (11), (12), (13), (14), (15) and (16) provide the pericardial electrodes vl to v6 . From each electrode emerges a coiled, spiral or zig-zag shaped conductor (17) which is cast within flexible material such that it is capable to tighten the conductor without damage being caused to it. The conductors are connected to a connector (18). A suitable multi-pronged cable (19) connects the connector to any standard ECG device. For conducting an ECG examination, the bracelets are attached to the patient's arms, and the arms are pulled to the side of the body, and thus the apron is tightened to the chest and by connecting ofthe apron to the measuring device, a full 12 leads ECG examination is performed within seconds. In accordance with this invention, the apron is worn on the body of the patient and tightened by means of the tightening buckles or by bracelets. As a result, there is no need for suction buttons, gel, or shaving hair. The electrodes are located at the appropriate positions required for testing and the data received from those very same locations is in a manner which assists in the quahty of the examination. The apron is tightened according to need and adapts itself to the body of the patient and the electrodes are positioned according to the tension in the accurate anatomical places required for examination and the distance between them changes proportionally according to the size of the patient's body. The structure of the apron enables medical testing of both males and females and there is no need for different aprons. At the time of tightening, no damage is caused to the conductors because they are protected by their special structure, as described in the figures. Wearing an apron, according to the present invention, instead of positioning, one by one, ten electrodes, makes the apron simple to wear and allows it to perform a rapid ECG test, which is of substantial importance in times of emergencies.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An electrodes apron for use in ECG testing, comprised of a flexible apron cast to be worn over the chest ofthe patient, electrodes inlaid within the said apron in predetermined locations, conductors cast within the apron flexible material and each conductor is connected to an electrode, a multiple-pronged cable connected at one end to each conductor, and at the other end to an ECG measuring device, and a strap for tightening the apron on the patient's body. 2. An electrodes apron for use in ECG testing according to claim 1, wherein ten electrodes are inlaid within the apron, six electrodes at spaces between the ribs, two under each shoulder and two at both sides ofthe stomach. 3. An electrodes apron for use in ECG testing according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are curved or spiral. 4. An electrodes apron for use in ECG testing according to claim 1, comprising two bracelets for grasping the arms of the patient, a flexible apron cast tightened over the patient's chest with the straightening of the patient's arms, electrodes inlaid within the apron so that tightening of the apron will locate them in predetermined locations, coiled conductors cast within the apron flexible material and each conductor is connected to an electrode, a multiple-pronged cable connected at one end to each conductor, and at the other end to an ECG measuring device. 5. An electrodes apron for use in ECG testing according to claim 4, wherein the bracelets are made of metal and are for use as additional two arm electrodes.

Inventors: AKIVA SHARON, AKIVA, SHARON
Applicants: AKIVA SHARON, TAPUZ MED TECH LTD, AKIVA, SHARON, TAPUZ MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61B
IPC codes: A61B5