Patent Publication Number: US-2018035908-A1

Title: Electrocardiogram measuring device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-154434, filed Aug. 5, 2016. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an electrocardiogram measuring device with which a subject can take an electrocardiogram by him/herself. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Generally, as an electrocardiogram, a 12-lead electrocardiogram is used as an industry standard. When the 12-lead electrocardiogram is taken, a subject lies on a simple bed, and a measurer attaches electrodes for limb lead measurement to four positions, both wrists and both ankles, and electrodes for chest lead measurement to predetermined six positions of a chest of the subject, respectively. 
     In this way, since it is necessary that the measurer attaches the electrodes to the predetermined 10 positions of the subject&#39;s body for taking the 12-lead electrocardiogram, measurement of the 12-lead electrocardiogram can only be performed at a medical institution such as a hospital. Thus, the measuring operation becomes restrictive, and the subject is forced to have some conscious tension. For this reason, it is difficult to measure the 12-lead electrocardiogram at home. 
     In recent years, as the aging progresses, there is a desire to make it possible to measure the 12-lead electrocardiogram at home. However, a general subject generally does not know exact attachment positions of the electrodes, and thus depends only on measurement at a hospital. An electrocardiograph that the subject him/herself can attach a plurality of electrodes is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-49195. However, even if this electrocardiograph is applied, it is difficult for the subject to make it possible to measure the 12-lead electrocardiogram by him/herself. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is made to solve the problems of the conventional electrocardiograph, and has an object to provide an electrocardiogram measuring device with which a subject can take an electrocardiogram by him/herself. 
     An electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present invention for achieving the above object, includes: chest measuring electrodes that acquire electrocardiographic signals of a chest; a garment having attachment holes of the chest measuring electrodes opened; a chair on which limb measuring electrodes that acquire electrocardiographic signals of limbs are arranged; and an electrocardiogram generating unit that generates an electrocardiogram of a subject from the electrocardiographic signals of the chest and the limbs respectively acquired by the chest measuring electrodes attached to a body surface of the subject through the attachment holes of the garment and the limb measuring electrodes with which both hands and feet of the subject are brought into contact. 
     According to the present invention, since the subject him/herself can attach the chest measuring electrodes to optimal positions and the limb lead electrodes are arranged on the chair, the subject can unconstrainedly and unconsciously measure the electrocardiogram by him/herself. Thus, measurement of the electrocardiogram can be easily performed at home other than a medical institution, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a configuration of a garment of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram in which chest measuring electrodes of the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment is attached to a subject. 
         FIG. 3  shows a configuration of the chest measuring electrode. 
         FIG. 4  shows a use mode of a chair of the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows a configuration of the chair shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a configuration of a conductive sheet used for the chair in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a control system of the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing a measurement procedure of an electrocardiogram using the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Next, an electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows a configuration of a garment of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a diagram in which chest measuring electrodes of the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment is attached to a subject. In the present embodiment, a T-shirt  100  is used as a garment. However, in addition to the T-shirt, a Y-shirt, a polo shirt and the like can also be used as a garment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the present embodiment, in order to attach six chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F that acquire electrocardiographic signals of a chest, a general T-shirt has attachment holes  112 A to  112 F (white portions in the figure) opened, as shown in  FIG. 1 . An opening diameter of the attachment holes  112 A to  112 F is equal to or larger than a size of the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F. 
     The attachment holes  112 A to  112 F opened in the T-shirt  100  are arranged at predetermined positions of the subject by measurements, for acquiring optimal electrocardiographic signals of the subject. Optimal positions of the respective chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F are different depending on the subject. Accordingly, the positions of the attachment holes  112 A to  112 E are determined so that the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F are attached to the positions optimal for the subject. The attachment holes  112 A to  112 F serve as guides when the subject him/herself attaches the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F. It is to be noted that, in the present embodiment, six attachment holes  112 A to  112 F opened in the general T-shirt are illustrated, but attachment holes other than six attachment holes (for example, 1 to 5, 7 or more attachment holes) may be opened in the T-shirt to correspond to an electrocardiogram other than a 12-lead electrocardiogram. 
     The T-shirt  100  has a garment pad part  110  that bundles lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL (corresponding to chest measuring electrode lead wires) connected to the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F on a shoulder part of the T-shirt  100 . A garment pad part connector  120  to which the bundled lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL are connected is attached to the garment pad part  110 . Since the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL are bundled by the garment pad part  110 , they are loosened when not attached to the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F. To prevent the above situation, the garment may be provided with a stopper part that restrains each lead wire  116 AL to  116 FL. 
     The chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F have male connecting parts  117 A for connecting the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL, and the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL have female connecting parts  118 A for connecting to the male connecting parts  117 A. 
       FIG. 3  shows a configuration of the chest measuring electrode  113 A. As shown, an electrode part  114 A that directly contacts a body surface of the subject, and an adhesive part  115 A for bringing the electrode part  114 A into close contact with the body surface are provided on a back surface of the chest measuring electrode  113 A. The electrode part  114 A penetrates through the adhesive part  115 A to be connected to the male connecting part  117 A. The male connecting part  117 A of the chest measuring electrode  113 A engages with the female connecting part  118 A provided on a tip end of the lead wire  116 AL (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Since the T-shirt  100 , the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F, and the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL are configured as described above, when measuring the 12-lead electrocardiogram, the subject can complete measurement preparation of the chest lead by simply wearing the T-shirt  100 , attaching the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F into the attachment holes  112 A to  112 F, and attaching the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL to the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F. 
       FIG. 4  shows a use mode of a chair of the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. Furthermore,  FIG. 5  shows a configuration of the chair shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a chair  200  has armrest parts  215  on which both arms of a subject  230  are placed, and a footrest part  225  on which both feet of the subject  230  are placed. Limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B that acquire electrocardiographic signals from both hands of the subject  230  are arranged on the armrest parts  215 . Limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B that acquire electrocardiographic signals from both feet of the subject  230  are arranged on the footrest part  225 . Note that when the electrocardiogram of the limbs are taken with the posture as shown in  FIG. 4 , it is sufficient to place the foot of the subject  230  on the footrest part  225  as in  FIG. 4 . However, when the electrocardiogram of the limbs are taken with the reclined posture as in  FIG. 5 , the footrest part  225  cannot be used, so that a clip electrodes are attached to ankles of the subject  230 . 
     The chair  200  has a chair pad part  210  that bundles lead wires ( 216 AL and  216 BL shown in  FIG. 5 , corresponding to limb measuring electrode lead wires) that are connected to the limb measuring electrodes  212 A,  212 B,  214 A, and  214 B (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), and a chair pad part connector  220  to which the bundled lead wires are connected is attached to the chair pad part  210  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The lead wire  216 AL connects the limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  214 A with the chair pad part  210 . The lead wire  216 BL connects the limb measuring electrodes  212 B and  214 B with the chair pad part  210 . The lead wires  216 AL and  216 BL are routed within a structural material of a chair  200 A from the respective limb measuring electrodes  212 A,  214 A,  212 B and  214 B to the chair pad part  210 . 
     Since the chair  200  has a reclining function, the subject can relax during measurement. 
     The limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B of the armrest parts  215  are flat, and have an area to the extent that the entire palm of the subject  230  can be placed. The limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B of the armrest parts  215  have surfaces on which conductive sheets (not shown, corresponding to armrest part conductive sheets) are mounted, and acquire electrocardiographic signals by putting of the palm of the subject  230  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, the limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B of the footrest part  225  are flat, and have an area to the extent that the entire foot sole of the subject  230  can be placed. The limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B of the footrest part  225  have surfaces on which conductive sheets (not shown, corresponding to footrest part conductive sheets) are mounted, and acquire electrocardiographic signals by putting of the foot sole of the  230  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the chair  200  has the chair pad part  210  that bundles the lead wires connected to the limb measuring electrodes  212 A,  212 B,  214 A, and  214 B on a shoulder part of a backrest part of the chair  200 . The chair pad part connector  220  to which the bundled lead wires are connected is attached to the chair pad part  210 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a configuration of a conductive sheet used for the chair in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The conductive sheets is mounted on the limb measuring electrodes  212 A,  212 B,  214 A, and  214 B. 
     A conductive sheet  145  has a quadrangular shape when viewed from the plane according to a shape of the limb measuring electrodes  212 A,  212 B,  214 A, and  214 B. The conductive sheet  145  is a gel-like sheet having a thickness of about several millimeters when viewed from the side face. When the palm or the foot sole is put on the conductive sheet  145 , the conductive sheet  145  deforms and adheres to conform to a shape of the surface of the palm or the foot sole. The limb electrocardiographic signals of the subject is transmitted to the limb measuring electrodes  212 A,  212 B,  214 A, and  214 B via the conductive sheets  145 . 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a control system of the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. An electrocardiogram measuring device  400  according to the present embodiment includes the T-shirt  100 , the chair  200 , and a control unit  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the T-shirt  100  includes six chest measuring electrodes  113  (the general name of the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F in  FIG. 1 ), and the garment pad part connector  120  connected to these chest measuring electrodes  113 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the chair  200  includes four limb measuring electrodes  212  and  214  (the general name of the limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B and the limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B in  FIG. 2 ), and the chair pad part connector  220  connected to these limb measuring electrodes  212  and  214 . 
     The control unit  300  includes an electrocardiogram generating unit  310 , an information input unit  320 , an information storing unit  150 , and a display unit  160 . A first generating unit connector  140  for collectively connecting garment connecting electric wires connected to the electrocardiogram generating unit  310  to the garment pad part connector  120 , and a second generating unit connector  240  for collectively connecting chair connecting electric wires connected to the electrocardiogram generating unit  310  to the chair pad part connector  220  are attached to the electrocardiogram generating unit  310 . 
     The electrocardiogram generating unit  310  generates an electrocardiogram of the subject from the electrocardiographic signals of the chest and the limbs respectively acquired by the chest measuring electrodes  113  attached to the body surface of the subject and the limb measuring electrodes  212  and  214  with which both hands and feet of the subject are brought into contact. A conventional generating method of the 12-lead electrocardiogram is used for generation of the electrocardiogram. 
     The information input unit  320  inputs subject information such as sex and age of the subject. The display unit  160  displays the electrocardiogram generated by the electrocardiogram generating unit  310 . The electrocardiogram generating unit  310  and the display unit  160  are wirelessly connected to each other. The information storing unit  150  stores the subject information input by the information input unit  320  and the electrocardiogram generated by the electrocardiogram generating unit  310 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing a measurement procedure of an electrocardiogram using the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the present embodiment. The operation of this flow chart will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . In this flow chart, the procedure from step S 1  to step S 7  is performed by the subject. Next, the procedure from step S 8  to step S 10  is performed by the electrocardiogram generating unit  310  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     When the subject tries to take an electrocardiogram, the subject first wears the T-shirt  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 , and sits on the chair  200  or  200 A as shown in  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  (S 1 ). 
     The subject attaches the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F into the attachment holes  112 A to  112 F of the T-shirt  100 . Since the positions of the attachment holes  112 A to  112 F are the predetermined positions of the subject, the subject can take the optimal electrocardiographic signals of the chest by simply attaching the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F into the attachment holes  112 A to  112 F (S 2 ). 
     The subject connects the female connecting parts  118 A of the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL to the male connecting parts  117 A of the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). As a result, the lead wires  116 AL to  116 FL are attached to the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F (S 3 ). 
     Next, the subject couples the garment pad part connector  120  of the T-shirt  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the first generating unit connector  140  shown in  FIG. 7 , and connects the chest measuring electrodes  113 A to  113 F of the T-shirt  100  to the electrocardiogram generating unit  310 . Furthermore, the subject couples the chair pad part connector  220  of the chairs  200  and  200 A shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  with the second generating unit connector  240  shown in  FIG. 7 , and connects the limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B, and the limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B to the electrocardiogram generating unit  310  (S 4 ). 
     Next, the subject attaches the conductive sheets  145  shown in  FIG. 6  to the limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B arranged on the armrest parts  215 A, and to the limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B arranged on the footrest part  225  of the chairs  200  and  200 A shown in  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  (S 5 ). 
     Next, the subject inputs the subject information such as sex and age of the subject from the information input unit  320 . The subject information is input so that an accurate electrocardiogram according to the sex and age can be generated (S 6 ). The subject turns on a measurement switch (not shown) of the electrocardiogram measuring device  400  (S 7 ). 
     The subject puts the palms on the conductive sheets  145  of the limb measuring electrodes  212 A and  212 B, puts the foot soles on the conductive sheets  145  of the limb measuring electrodes  214 A and  214 B, and performs measurement of the electrocardiogram in a relaxed state. 
     The electrocardiogram generating unit  310  acquires the electrocardiographic signals of measurement sites of the subject from the chest measuring electrodes  113  and the limb measuring electrodes  212  and  214  (S 8 ). The electrocardiogram generating unit  310  creates the electrocardiogram using the acquired electrocardiographic signals (S 9 ). 
     Based on cardiac potentials detected by 10 electrodes attached to the subject, the electrocardiogram generating unit  310  calculates limb 6-lead waveforms (I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF) of a standard 12 lead and chest 6-lead waveforms (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6) of the standard 12 lead. 
     Generally, a relationship between the lead waveforms for obtaining a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram and the cardiac potentials at the measurement sites is as follows. 
                                                    I   lead:   vL − vR           II   lead:   vF − vR           III   lead:   vF − vL           aVR   lead:   vR − (vL + vF)/2           aVL   lead:   vL − (vR + vF)/2           aVF   lead:   vF − (vL + vR)/2           V1   lead:   v1 − (vR + vL + vF)/3           V2   lead:   v2 − (vR + vL + vF)/3           V3   lead:   v3 − (vR + vL + vF)/3           V4   lead:   v4 − (vR + vL + vF)/3           V5   lead:   v5 − (vR + vL + vF)/3           V6   lead:   v6 − (vR + vL + vF)/3                        
Where, v is a potential detected at an each electrode attaching position.
 
     Then, the display unit  160  displays the electrocardiogram generated by the electrocardiogram generating unit  310  (S 10 ). 
     As described above, according to the electrocardiogram measuring device of the present embodiment, the electrocardiographic signals of the chest and the electrocardiographic signals of the limbs can be acquired respectively by the chest measuring electrodes attached into the attachment holes of the T-shirt and the limb measuring electrodes attached to the chair. Accordingly, the subject can acquire the electrocardiogram by simply wearing the T-shirt, attaching the chest measuring electrodes, and sitting on the chair, and thus the subject can take the electrocardiogram by him/herself. 
     Accordingly, the subject does not need to go to a hospital for taking the electrocardiogram, and can comfortably perform measurement at his/her home.