Patent Description:
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 <CIT>). <CIT> describes an ECG monitoring system including a disposable multi-electrode patch that adhesively attaches to the chest of a patient. A reusable battery-powered ECG monitor clips onto the patch and receives patient electrical signals from the electrodes of the patch. A processor continuously processes received ECG signals and stores the signals in memory in the monitor. The processor also analyzes the received ECG signals for predefined arrhythmia. If an arrhythmia is detected, a bi-directional wireless transceiver in the ECG monitor transmits the event information and an ECG strip to a cellphone handset. The cellphone handset automatically relays the event information and ECG strip to a monitoring center for further diagnosis and necessary intervention. <CIT> concerns apparatus for monitoring cardiac activity using a conformal cardiac sensor device including a flexible substrate for coupling to the user, and a heart sensor component embedded on/in the substrate. A microprocessor, which is embedded on/in the flexible substrate, is communicatively coupled to the heart sensor component and biometric sensor component and operates to execute microprocessor executable instructions for controlling the measurements of electrical data and physiological data. A wireless communication component is embedded on/in the flexible substrate and is operable to transmit data indicative of the measurements obtained by the sensor components.

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 includes 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 are at least partially at different times.

Specifically, the first device is configured to receive and store the electrocardiogram data stored in the second device that has been measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus. the first device is further confiured to 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.

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> is a configuration diagram of an ECG measurement system <NUM> comprising a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known from <FIG>, the ECG measurement system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, a first device <NUM>, and a second device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a configuration diagram of the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known from <FIG>, the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> may be configured by including a plurality of electrodes E1, a channel connection unit <NUM>, a data processing unit <NUM>, a first processor <NUM>, and a first communication unit <NUM>.

The ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> has 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 apparatus <NUM> is 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 unit <NUM>. As the channel connection unit <NUM>, an input terminal form may be exemplified which enables the measurement data from the external electrodes E2 to be used as an input of the data processing unit <NUM>.

The ECG data measured by means of the electrodes E1 of the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> itself or the external electrodes E2 is amplified by the data processing unit <NUM> and then converted into a digital signal. To this end, the data processing unit <NUM> preferably includes an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter.

Furthermore, the ECG data output from the data processing unit <NUM> is inserted with time information at which the ECG data has been measured by the first processor <NUM>, namely, a time-stamp, and then transmitted to an external device by means of a first communication method through the first communication unit <NUM>. Specifically, the first communication method may be exemplified by a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication. The ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> may transmit the ECG data to the external device and receive data from the external device through the first communication unit <NUM>. 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> is a configuration diagram of the first device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known from <FIG>, the first device <NUM> may be configured by including a second memory <NUM>, a second processor <NUM>, a second communication unit <NUM>, and a third communication unit <NUM>. As an example, the first device <NUM> may be implemented using a mobile terminal, which can bea smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like.

The second memory <NUM> may store the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>. The first device <NUM> is installed with an application program, and thus the second processor <NUM> may execute the application program. When the application program is executed by the second processor <NUM>, the ECG data stored in the second memory <NUM> may be processed to be displayed on a screen of the first device <NUM>.

The second communication unit <NUM> receives the ECG data from the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by 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 unit <NUM> is stored in the second memory <NUM>. The ECG data received from the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> is characterized by being inserted with the time information at which the ECG data has been measured, namely, the time-stamp.

The third communication unit <NUM> enables 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 (<NUM>) may use a WiFi communication as another example. Naturally, the second device <NUM> and the first device <NUM> may be directly connected through a USB terminal of the first device <NUM> and then data is input from or output to the second device <NUM>. The ECG data input from the second device <NUM> through the third communication unit <NUM> or a direct connection is stored in the second memory <NUM>.

<FIG> is a configuration diagram of the second device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As may be known from <FIG>, the second device <NUM> may be configured by including a third memory <NUM>, a third processor <NUM>, a fourth communication unit <NUM>, and a fifth communication unit <NUM>. As an example, the second device <NUM> is preferably implemented with a device miniaturized by mounting a communication function onto a dongle memory.

The third memory <NUM> may store the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>. The third processor <NUM> may execute processing or the like for the ECG data.

The fourth communication unit <NUM> receives the ECG data from the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by 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 unit <NUM> is stored in the third memory <NUM>. The ECG data received from the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> is characterized by being inserted with the time information at which the ECG data has been measured, namely, the time-stamp.

The fifth communication unit <NUM> enables transmission and reception of data with the first device <NUM> by means of a wireless communication method other than the first communication method. The fifth communication unit (<NUM>) may use a WiFi communication as an example. Naturally, the second device <NUM> and the first device <NUM> may be directly connected through a USB terminal of the first device <NUM> and thus data transmission and reception with the second device <NUM> become possible.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be provided about a method for storing the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, in the first device <NUM> and the second device <NUM>.

The first device <NUM> preferably operates as a master device that may transmit a command to the second device <NUM> to control the operation of the second device <NUM>. In other words, the second device <NUM> is characterized by operating as a slave device. Accordingly, the first device <NUM> may not only receive connection status information about the second device <NUM> with another device, but also transmit a command for connecting the second device <NUM> with the other device or a command for releasing the connection of the second device <NUM> from the other device. Here, the other device may be the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>.

When the first device <NUM> is connected to the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by means of the first communication method, the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> is stored in the first device <NUM>.

In addition, when the connection of the first device <NUM> with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> through the first communication method is released, the second device <NUM> may be automatically connected to the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> when the second device <NUM> is present around the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>. Accordingly, the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> is stored in the second device <NUM>.

In other words, a time period in which the first device <NUM> stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, and a time period in which the second device <NUM> stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> are different from each other, and thus the time periods do not overlap. In other words, the time period in which the first device <NUM> stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, and the time period in which the second device <NUM> stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> are 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 device <NUM> and the second device <NUM> simultaneously 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 device <NUM> stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, and the time period in which the second device <NUM> stores the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> may be at least partially at different times.

The first device <NUM> may receive and store the ECG data that has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> and stored in the second device <NUM>. The first device <NUM> and the second device <NUM> may be exemplarily connected by means of a wireless communication method other than the first communication method, or a direct connection.

<FIG> is an illustration of a combination of the ECG data in the first device <NUM>. Here, for convenience of explanation, the ECG data is shown not overlapping, but it is natural that the ECG data stored in the first device <NUM> and the ECG data stored in the second device <NUM> at 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 device <NUM> combines the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> and stored in the first device <NUM>, and the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> and stored in the second device <NUM>, using the measured time information included in each piece of the ECG data, and then newly store the combined ECG data in the first device <NUM>.

In detail, when the second device <NUM> is connected and the ECG data is processed (displayed as an example) through an application program installed in the first device <NUM>, the first device <NUM> is characterized by combining the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> and stored in the first device <NUM>, and the ECG data, which has been measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> and stored in the second device <NUM>, 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 device <NUM>.

The first device <NUM> may select one of the first device <NUM> or the second device <NUM> and allow the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> to be stored therein. Hereinafter, a method in which the first device <NUM> selects one of the first device <NUM> or the second device <NUM> will be described.

In a state where the second device <NUM> is connected with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by means of the first communication method, when the first device <NUM> is in a state of being able to be connected to the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by means of the first communication method, the first device <NUM> instructs the second device <NUM> to release the connection from the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>. Accordingly, the connection between the second device <NUM> and the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> is released, the first device <NUM> is connected with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, and thus the ECG data measured in the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> is stored in the first device <NUM>.

In addition, when the second device <NUM> is in a state of being able to be connected to the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by means of the first communication method, the first device <NUM> may instruct the second device <NUM> to be connected with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>. As an example, in a state where the first device <NUM> is connected with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> by means of the first communication method, when the first device <NUM> intends to stop the storage of the ECG data, the first device <NUM> may release the connection of itself from the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, and allow the second device <NUM> to be connected with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>. However, when the first device <NUM> releases the connection of itself with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, the second device <NUM> may be automatically connected with the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> when the second device <NUM> is present around the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>.

When there is not any external device including the first device <NUM> or the second device <NUM> that may receive the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> generates a warning signal to inform a user of a situation in which the ECG data is not possibly stored.

Furthermore, when the first device <NUM> is not able to receive the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, and the second device <NUM> is not also able to receive the ECG data measured by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM>, the first device <NUM> may generate a warning signal.

In other words, the warning signal in the present disclosure may be generated by the ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> and/or the first device <NUM>.

As the foregoing, according to the ECG measurement system <NUM> comprising a patch-type ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure, any one of the first device <NUM> and the second device <NUM> may be selectively used as a device in which the ECG data is to be stored. Accordingly the patch-type ECG measurement apparatus <NUM> does not require a separate and embedded large-capacity memory, and thus may be miniaturized.

Claim 1:
An electrocardiogram measurement system (<NUM>) comprising:
a patch-type electrocardiogram measurement apparatus;
a first device (<NUM>) configured to receive first electrocardiogram data and measured time information from an electrocardiogram measurement apparatus (<NUM>) by means of a first communication method and configured to store the first electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus (<NUM>) for first time period; and
a second device (<NUM>) configured to receive second electrocardiogram data and measured time information from the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus (<NUM>) by means of the first communication method and store the second electrocardiogram data measured by the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus (<NUM>) for second time period, wherein the first time period and the second time period are at least partially at different times,
characterised in that the second device (<NUM>) is automatically connected to the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus (<NUM>) when the connection of the first device (<NUM>) with the electrocardiogram measurement apparatus (<NUM>) is released, and
the first device (<NUM>) is configured to receive the second electrocardiogram data from the second device (<NUM>) via the second communication unit (<NUM>), store the second electrocardiogram data, and generate combined data by combining the first electrocardiogram data and the second electrocardiogram data using measured time information included the first and the second electrocardiogram data.