Patent Publication Number: US-2021186402-A1

Title: Electrocardiogram measuring device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 108217130, filed on Dec. 24, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     This disclosure an electrocardiogram measuring device, and in particular to an electrocardiogram measuring device with a fool-proof function. 
     Description of Related Art 
     The heart is composed of muscles capable of spontaneous beating and rhythmic contraction. The activity of the myocardium is dominated by electrical current generated by the sinoatrial node and the atrioventricular node. The current will also be reflected to the body surface through conductive tissues and body fluids around the heart. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a graphic in which changes in voltage of the heart tissues are recorded using microelectrode technology. 
     Currently, most people have to go to the hospital if they wish to measure the ECG, where trained professionals will operate an ECG apparatus to obtain the ECG results. An ECG equipment provided for the general public or an untrained personnel to measure the ECG on their own is relatively rare. This is because during the measurement of the ECG, multiple electrodes have to be placed on the body and the measurement results may be affected because of wrong placement of the electrodes by the untrained personnel. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure provides an electrocardiogram measuring device, which has a fool-proof function and can be operated by a general user. 
     An electrocardiogram measuring device according to the disclosure includes a first machine body, a second machine body, a third machine body, a circuit module, and two connecting members. The first machine body has an exposed first electrode. The second machine body has an exposed second electrode. The third machine body has an exposed third electrode. The circuit module is disposed in one of the first machine body, the second machine body, and the third machine body. The first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are connected to the circuit module via an electrical signal. One of the connecting members is located between the first machine body and the second machine body, and connected to the first machine body and the second machine body. The other connecting member is located between the first machine body and the third machine body, and connected to the first machine body and the third machine body. A non-zero included angle is formed between the two connecting members. Relative positions of the first machine body, the second machine body, and the third machine body are fixed through the two connecting members. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the two connecting members are two transmission lines, and the first machine body, the second machine body, and the third machine body are electrically connected to each other through the two transmission lines. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the non-zero included angle formed between the two connecting members is between 60 degrees and 120 degrees. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the non-zero included angle formed between the two connecting members is 90 degrees. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the two connecting members have a same length, which enables the second machine body and the third machine body to be symmetrically disposed on two sides of the first machine body. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the electrocardiogram measuring device further includes at least one battery, which is disposed in at least one of the first machine body, the second machine body, and the third machine body. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one battery includes two batteries, which are disposed in the second machine body and the third machine body, and the circuit module is disposed in the first machine body. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the circuit module includes a processor and a Bluetooth chip electrically connected to the processor, and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are electrically connected to the processor. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the circuit module includes a processor and a gyroscope electrically connected to the processor, and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are electrically connected to the processor. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the circuit module includes a processor and an artificial intelligence chip electrically connected to the processor, and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are electrically connected to the processor. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the length, width or diameter of any one of the first machine body, the second machine body, and the third machine body are respectively between 2 cm and 8 cm, and the length of any one of the two connecting members is between 2 cm and 8 cm. 
     Based on the above, the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the disclosure uses the two connecting members to fix the relative positions of the first machine body, the second machine body and the third machine body. The relative positions of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode are fixed correspondingly too. Compared with the conventional electrocardiogram, in which the operator has to place the electrodes one by one, and the relative positions of the electrodes may be wrong, causing the measurement result to be distorted, the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the disclosure provides an alternative that can be operated by the general user by himself/herself, while being quite convenient to use. 
     To make the above mentioned features and advantages of the disclosure more comprehensible, exemplary embodiments in concert with drawings are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the electrocardiogram measuring device in  FIG. 1  during measurement. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. With reference to  FIG. 1 , an electrocardiogram measuring device  100  of the embodiment uses a six-lead electrocardiogram measuring device as an example. The electrocardiogram measuring device  100  of the embodiment includes a first machine body  110 , a second machine body  120 , and a third machine body, a circuit module  114  and two connecting members  140 . 
     The first machine body  110  has an exposed first electrode  112 , the second machine body  120  has an exposed second electrode  122 , and the third machine body  130  has an exposed third electrode  132 . The circuit module  114  is disposed in one of the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130 . In the embodiment, the circuit module  114  is disposed in the first machine body  110 , but in other embodiments, the circuit module  114  may be disposed in the second machine body  120  or the third machine body  130 . The disposition position of the circuit module  114  is not limited by the drawings. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , one of the connecting members  140  is located between the first machine body  110  and the second machine body  120 , and is connected to the first machine body  110  and the second machine body  120 . The other connecting member  140  is located between the first machine body  110  and the third machine body  130 , and is connected to the first machine body  110  and the third machine body  130 . A non-zero included angle θ 1  is formed between the two connecting members  140 . In the embodiment, the non-zero included angle θ 1  between the two connecting members  140  uses an example of 90 degrees, but it is not limited thereto. 
     Compared with the conventional electrocardiogram, in which the operator has to place the electrodes one by one, and relative positions of the electrodes may be wrong, causing the measurement result to be distorted, the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120  and the third machine body  130  fix their relative positions through the two connecting members  140 . The relative positions of the first electrode  112 , the second electrode  122  and the third electrode  132  are fixed correspondingly too. 
     Since the relative positions of the first electrode  112 , the second electrode  122 , and the third electrode  132  of the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  are fixed, a user only has to place the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  on the chest during operation. More specifically, the user only has to make sure that the first machine body  110  is placed beside the left breast near to the armpit (a horizontal position level to the armpit), and the connecting member  140  connecting the first machine body  110  and the second machine body  120  is approximately horizontal, then the positions of the second machine body  120  and the third machine body  130  may be determined. Therefore, the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  of the embodiment can effectively eliminate the need for the user to place the electrodes one by one, therefore providing an alternative that can be operated by the general user by himself/herself, while being quite convenient to use. 
     It is worth mentioning that length, width or diameter of any one of the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130  are respectively between 2 cm and 8 cm. Length of any one of the connecting members  140  is between 2 cm and 8 cm. Therefore, the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  has a small size, making it very convenient to carry around and easy to place on the body. In the embodiment, the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130  are oblate shapes, but the shapes of the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130  are not limited thereto, and may also be rectangular, polygonal or other shapes. 
     In the embodiment, the first electrode  112 , the second electrode  122 , and the third electrode  132  are connected to the circuit module  114  via an electrical signal. In other words, the signals measured by the first electrode  112 , the second electrode  122 , and the third electrode  132  are transmitted to the circuit module  114 . In the embodiment, the two connecting members  140  are two transmission lines, and the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130  are electrically connected to each other through the two transmission lines. Therefore, the signals measured by the second electrode  122  and the third electrode  132  may be transmitted to the circuit module  114  in the first machine body  110  by the two transmission lines. 
     Certainly, in other embodiments, the connecting member  140  may not have the transmission function, and only have the function of fixing the relative position. In such an embodiment, the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130  may all be disposed with communication units to transfer messages in a wireless manner (such as Bluetooth). 
     In addition, in the embodiment, the connecting member  140  may be slightly flexible to provide convenience during storage. However, the connecting member  140  has to be slightly hard overall to facilitate fixing of the relative positions of the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130 . Certainly, in other embodiments, the connecting member  140  may also be rigid, and is not limited by the above. 
     In addition, in the embodiment, the two connecting members  140  are of equal length, and the second machine body  120  and the third machine body  130  are symmetrically disposed on two sides of the first machine body  110 . Certainly, in other embodiments, the lengths of the two connecting members  140  may also be designed to be different according to requirements, and is not limited by the drawings. 
     On the other hand, to provide ease of use to the user, the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  further includes at least one battery, such as two batteries  124  and  136 , which are disposed in at least one of the first machine body  110 , the second machine body  120 , and the third machine body  130 , and electrically connected to the circuit module  114 . The batteries  124  and  136  are configured to store power. Therefore, the user may directly use the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  after charging, without having to supply additional power through a power transmission line. 
     More specifically, in the embodiment, the two batteries  124  and  136  are disposed in the second machine body  120  and the third machine body  130 . Since the second machine body  120  and the third machine body  130  are symmetrically disposed on the two sides of the first machine body  110 , by disposing the two batteries  124 ,  136  in the second machine body  120  and the third machine body  130  may enable weight to be distributed uniformly. 
     Certainly, in other embodiments, the number of the batteries is not limited thereto, and a designer may adjust the number according to the requirements. It is also possible that only a single machine body is disposed with a battery or all three machine bodies are respectively disposed with a battery. In addition, it is also possible to dispose more than one battery in a single machine body. The disposition manner of the battery is not limited thereto. 
     In addition, the third machine body  130  has a charging contact point  134 , which is electrically connected to the batteries  124  and  136 . The electrocardiogram measuring device  100  may be electrically connected to an external charging stand (not shown) through the charging contact point  134 . The third machine body  130  and the external charging stand may also be disposed with two magnetic elements (not shown, such as magnets) to facilitate quick alignment and fixation during charging. 
     The circuit module  114  further includes a processor  115 , and the first electrode  112 , the second electrode  122 , and the third electrode  132  are electrically connected to the processor  115 . In addition, the circuit module  114  may selectively include a Bluetooth chip  116 , a gyroscope  117 , or/and an artificial intelligence (AI) chip electrically connected to the processor  115 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the electrocardiogram measuring device in  FIG. 1  during measurement. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  is disposed on a human body  10 . The Bluetooth chip  116  ( FIG. 1 ) may be configured to transfer the signal measured by the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  in the wireless manner to an external electronic device  20 , such as a mobile phone, or a computer. The electronic device  20  may subsequently transfer the measurement results to a cloud system  30 . The cloud system  30  may have an AI interpretation system that may be configured to interpret the measurement results, and the cloud system  30  may then return the interpretation results to the electronic device  20 . The AI interpretation system may continuously learn new measurement results and interpretation results to increase accuracy of interpretation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  again, the gyroscope  117  may be configured to detect a movement state of the user and return the information back to the processor  115 . The processor  115  may compensate for the noise caused by the movement of the user or ignore signal fragments with too much noise by calculations. 
     In addition, the artificial intelligence chip  118  is, for example, an AI edge computing chip. The designer may input learned AI calculations into the artificial intelligence chip  118 . In this way, the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  may use the artificial intelligence chip  118  to interpret the measurement results by itself, without requiring a network connection to an external interpretation system. 
     In the embodiment, the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  may also include a warning device, such as a buzzer or a warning light. A warning may be directly issued to the user to remind him/her when the results is determined by the artificial intelligence chip  118  determines to be in need of warning. In an embodiment, the electrocardiogram measuring device  100  may also include a storage medium, such as a memory (flash), to record the measurement information. 
     It should be noted that in the embodiment, the non-zero included angle θ 1  formed between the two connecting members  140  uses the example of 90 degrees, but it is not limited thereto. The non-zero included angle θ 1  formed between the two connecting members  140  may be between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, and good measurement results would still be obtained. 
     For example,  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to another embodiment of the disclosure. With reference to  FIG. 3 , in the embodiment, a non-zero included angle θ 2  formed between the two connecting members  140  of an electrocardiogram measuring device  100   a  is between 90 degrees and 120 degrees.  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an electrocardiogram measuring device according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure. With reference to  FIG. 4 , in the embodiment, a non-zero included angle θ 3  formed between the two connecting members  140  of an electrocardiogram measuring device  100   b  is between 60 degrees and 90 degrees. Both the electrocardiogram measuring devices  100   a  and  100   b  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  may have good measurement results. 
     In summary, the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the disclosure uses the two connecting members to fix the relative positions of the first machine body, the second machine body and the third machine body. The relative positions of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode are fixed correspondingly too. Compared with the conventional electrocardiogram, in which the operator has to place the electrodes one by one, and the relative positions of the electrodes may be wrong, causing the measurement result to be distorted, the electrocardiogram measuring device according to the disclosure provides an alternative that can be operated by the general user by himself/herself, while being quite convenient to use. 
     Although the disclosure has been disclosed with the foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is not intended to limit the disclosure. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.