Device for recording a multi-channel-ECG and a method there for

Abstract

A device, an electrode and method for recording a multi-channel-ECG. The device includes a housing; a processor configured to record a multi-channel-ECG; at least two electrodes that can be operatively connected with the processor; and a connection module configured to connect the at least two electrodes and/or processor with a data processing element. The device is configured to be handheld.

Claims

1. A device for recording a multi-channel-ECG, comprising: a housing; a processor positioned in the housing and configured to record the multi-channel-ECG; at least two electrodes configured to be operatively connected with the processor, wherein the at least two electrodes are provided on the housing; a data processing element; and a connection module configured to connect the at least two electrodes and/or processor with the data processing element, wherein the device is configured to be handheld; and wherein the device further comprises adjusting means configured to adjust and move the positions of the at least two electrodes relative to the housing, the adjusting means including elongated grooves to allow shifting of the at least two electrodes along a surface of the housing.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise at least four electrodes, and wherein the multi-channel-ECG is a 9-channel-ECG.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing element is a smartphone and wherein the connection module is operatively connectable with the smartphone.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise one or more contact structure enlarging means, further comprising a contact surface which has a shape, and wherein the shape of the contact surface is adjustable to conform to a chest shape of the end-user.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the device is configured to perform a number of the multi-channel ECG scans of a patient at a sample rate in the range of 50 Hz-650 Hz.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise four electrodes.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means are configured to adjust and/or move the at least two electrodes in a height direction of the housing and/or a width direction of the housing and/or a length direction of the housing.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact surface that is connected to the housing and has a shape.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the contact surface is adjustable to conform to a chest shape of the end-user.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is portable and further comprises an energy storage system positioned within the housing.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a screen operatively connected to the housing.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes are made of and/or have a coating comprising silver and/or silver chloride and/or graphene and/or stainless steel and/or polymer and/or any other fast conduction material.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes have a round top and/or flat shape and/or rounded shape and/or cone shape.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise one or more contact structure enlarging means.

15. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification system positioned in the housing to present an advice and/or warning, the notification system comprising a transmitter configured for at least one of sending an e-mail, sending a notification to an app, sending an sms, calling a third party, and generating a physical alarm.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to perform a number of the multi-channel ECG scans of a patient at a sample rate in the range of 50 Hz-650 Hz.

17. A method for recording a multi-channel-ECG, comprising the steps of: providing a device for recording a multi-channel-ECG, the device comprising: a housing; a processor positioned within the housing and configured to record the multi-channel-ECG; at least two electrodes configured to be operatively connected with the processor, wherein the at least two electrodes are provided on the housing; a data processing element; and a connection module configured to connect the at least two electrodes and/or processor with the data processing element, wherein the device is configured to be handheld, and the device further includes adjustment means for adjusting and moving the position of the electrodes relative to the housing, the adjusting means including elongated grooves to allow shifting of the at least two electrodes along a surface of the housing; performing a measurement using the electrodes; and adjusting and/or presenting and/or analysing the measurement.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising applying the device and/or the electrodes using a contact surface.

Description

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an action potential of a heart on a ECG;

(3) FIG. 2 shows different anatomical surfaces of the heart;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a medical device for multi-channel-ECG;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a medical device for multi-channel-ECG which can be connected to a data processing element;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a configuration of electrodes;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a position of the handheld medical device on the chest;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a 9-channel-ECG registered in two anatomical surfaces, frontal and transversal; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a 9-channel-ECG when ischemia is detected.

(10) It will be understood that the terms anatomical surface and anatomical plane are interchangeable.

(11) Action potential 10 (FIG. 1) shows a P-QRS-T complex 12 with P wave 14, PR segment 16, QRS complex 18, ST segment 20, T wave 22, and U wave 24. P wave 14 and PR segment 16 together form PR interval 26. QRS complex 18, ST segment 20 and T wave 22 together form QT interval 28.

(12) Orientation of heart 30 (FIG. 2) shows different anatomical surfaces of the heart. The surfaces are defined as sagittal surface 32, transversal surface 34, frontal surface 36 and median surface 38.

(13) Medical device 42 (FIG. 3) comprises housing 44. In the illustrated embodiment housing 44 holds four electrodes. These are electrodes 46A, 46B, 46C and 46D. Input is provided by input module 48 and connection module 52 can connect to external device 66 using connector 54. Housing 44 further comprises energy storage system 55, processor 56, memory 58, notification system 59 and adjustment means 60. Adjustment means 60 can adjust and/or move electrodes 46A and/or 46B and/or 46C and/or 46D preferably in all directions, for example in height direction 62 and/or width direction 63 and/or length direction 64.

(14) Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment external device 66 comprises screen 68 and input module 70.

(15) Connection 54 can, for example, but is not limited to, be a cable and/or a wire and/or WiFi and/or Blue Tooth and/or infrared.

(16) Energy storage system 55 can, for example, but is not limited to, be and/or a battery and/or super capacitor and/or accu and/or storage cell and/or fuel cell.

(17) Adjustment means 60 can, for example, but are not limited to, be a spindle and/or a groove and/or ball joints and/or hinges and/or swivels.

(18) In a preferred embodiment, all electrodes are fitted with adjustment means.

(19) External device 66 can be for example, but is not limited to, a computer and/or a tablet and/or a mobile phone and/or a server.

(20) Medical device 72 (FIG. 4) comprises a processing module 74 and a scanning module 78.

(21) Processing module 74 comprises connection element 76A and 76B. Scanning module 78 comprises connection element 80A and 80B. The assembly of connection element 76A and 76B engage with respectively connection element 80A and 80B. Processing module 74 and scanning module 78 can be separated 84.

(22) In a preferred embodiment medical device 72 shows scanning module 78 having a chest shape 82.

(23) FIG. 5 shows surface 86 of medical device 42 which connects with the skin of the end-user. Surface 86 holds grooves 88 to adjust electrodes 46A, 46B, 46C and 46D. Electrodes 46A, 46B, 46C and 46D having contact structure enlarging dots 89.

(24) Similar applies to scanning module 78.

(25) Body 90 (FIG. 6) shows the placement of medical device 94 on chest 92. Medical device 94 can be medical device 42 (FIG. 3) or medical device 72 (FIG. 4) or another embodiment according to the invention.

(26) The embodiment of the above mentioned medical device 94 is easy and straightforward to use. The electrodes of the device are pushed against the chest, preferably at the bottom of the sternum in a vertical orientation. The electrodes can contact the skin free of gel or conduction solution. Furthermore, the electrodes are attached to the medical device.

(27) FIG. 7 shows a 9-channel-ECG, wherein four electrodes are used to provide an ECG in two anatomical surfaces, the frontal surface and transversal surface. Providing such an ECG results in a spatial image of the heart stimulus. The 9-channel-ECG is of a healthy human, wherein channels I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF provides diagrams in the frontal surface and channels V1, V2 and V3 provides diagrams in the transversal surface. The X-axis is defined in 25 mm/s and the Y-axis is defined in 10.0 mm/mV.

(28) FIG. 8 shows a 9-channel-ECG, wherein four electrodes are used to provide an ECG in two anatomical surfaces, the frontal surface and the transversal surface. It becomes clear that the biphasic T-waves indicate that ischemia is present. The 9-channel-ECG is of a pig with induced ischemia, wherein channels I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF provides diagrams in the frontal surface and channels V1, V2 and V3 provides diagrams in the transversal surface. The X-axis is defined in 25 mm/s and the Y-axis is defined in 5.0 mm/mV.

(29) It will be understood that the anatomical surface, frontal surface and transversal surface also refers to anatomical plane, frontal plane and transversal plane respectively.

(30) In use, the device can be operated by the end-user, which may be a patient or another user that is not skilled in medical science. Naturally, the device may also be used by skilled medical personnel. The end-user has to press the device against his or her chest. Preferably, the device has a shape that conforms with the shape of the chest, such that the device exactly follows the contour of the chest to which it is held. Subsequently, the end-user activates the device, which performs a measurement and provides an ECG. The device is, during each of the consecutive measurements, placed at the same location against the chest of the end-user. Preferably, this place is at the bottom of the sternum, wherein the device is placed vertically on the sternum. This is made easier when the shape of the device conforms with the shape of the chest of the end-user. However, in any case, slight deviations in the position of the device on the chest or in the position of the chest itself (due to for example breathing) may be compensated by gyroscopes that are built into the device. As a result, the consecutively made ECGs are easily comparable and provide a timeline of ECGs.

(31) In a specific example, the device is a smartphone or similar device that is operated by the end-user. The end-user places the rear side of the smartphone against his or her chest. The rear side of the smartphone has a shape that conforms with the shape of the chest and thus exactly follows the contour of the chest to which it is held. Due to the fact that the rear side of the smartphone has a surface conforming to the chest contour, placing the smartphone at the same location for each time of use is easy. Moreover, the built-in gyroscopes of the smartphone correct for slight deviations in the measuring position of the smartphone at the chest or in the position of the chest itself (due to for example breathing).

(32) Optionally, the user may adjust electrodes, use an intermediate surface and/or adapter to improve the contact between electrodes and the skin.

(33) The output can be analysed by the device and/or end-user. The output can be automatically send to, for example but not limited to, a hospital and/or GP and/or ambulance service.

(34) The present invention is by no means limited to the above described and preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.