DE8911113U1 - Medical hand-held device - Google Patents

Description

Medical hand-held device

The invention relates to a handheld medical device in pocket format for testing and/or monitoring body functions.

Devices for simple medical examinations are known. If more complicated functional examinations, e.g. cardiac currents, were to be evaluated, if later checks and comparisons were to be possible during the course of the examination or if other people were to be informed, extensive, stationary devices were required.

The invention is based on the idea of designing a hand-held medical device in such a way that it is easy to transport and can therefore be used quickly at the scene of an accident at any time and with which the acoustic signals received can be converted into readable signals.

In a device of the type mentioned at the beginning, according to the invention, the device housing is designed at least approximately in the shape of a large pocket calculator and has a microphone connected to an amplifier for recording acoustic sound signals audible on the surface of the body and at least one headphone connection connected to the amplifier output. With such a device, heart sounds and noises in the lung area can be recorded and reproduced as visible signals.

According to another embodiment of the invention, in a handheld medical device of the type mentioned at the beginning, the device housing is at least approximately designed in the shape of a larger pocket calculator and carries on one side surface several,

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preferably three electrodes connected to the input of an amplifier for recording electrical cardiography signals occurring on the body surface. The device housing can also have a microphone connected to an amplifier for recording acoustic sound signals audible on the body surface and a headphone connection connected to the amplifier output. Such a device is then suitable for recording both cardiography signals and body sound signals, with the sound signals obtained being reproduced as visual signals.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device is provided with a storage device (main memory) for the signals recorded in a specific time interval. The signals recorded during an examination process can thus be stored, played back repeatedly if necessary and/or transferred to another part of the device. For example, the body signals recorded from the heart at intervals of 3 to 10 seconds, preferably about 5 seconds, can be stored, or the signals recorded from the lungs at intervals of 10 to 60 seconds, preferably about 20 seconds. The start of an interval to be stored can be entered manually, e.g. using a key. It is also possible to continuously feed the recorded signals for a specific interval to an intermediate memory and to permanently transfer them to the main memory by means of a call-up signal given, e.g. by pressing a key. And so it is possible for the investigator to observe the signals for a longer period of time and then have them transferred from the circulating memory to the main memory if he has made a finding important for the investigation in a previous interval.

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and/or alphanumeric data. The &eegr; data recorded by the patient or already stored can then be converted into a graphic display that runs or stops over time using a control device.

The signals from the main memory can also be reproduced acoustically via headphones and/or visually via the display panel in response to a specific control signal given, e.g. by pressing a button.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the hand-held device works together with a base part, which contains an output memory with an associated control part for the transfer of data from the main memory housed in the device housing. In this way, the data recorded during an examination can be transferred out of the hand-held device, and the hand-held device is free for another examination.

The basic part can be completed after appropriate further training

also contain a printer with an associated control unit, in order to save and reproduce the recorded data from the main memory of the handheld device or from the output memory of the base unit on a paper strip or similar. This is particularly important for the cardiography signals, where three curves are usually displayed one above the other in the display field and also by means of the printer. When examining sound phenomena, only the acoustic memory has been addressed so far. Thanks to an additional graphic display, sound phenomena can now also be optically recorded on an outpatient basis.

A particular advantage is that the device is easy to transport and can therefore be used quickly at any time during a home visit or at the scene of an accident.

The base unit is suitably provided with at least one connection, e.g. a plug, for the transmission of data from the output memory in the base unit to the outside, e.g. to a stationary computer. In this way, the data recorded with the handheld device can ultimately be fed into a data package created for the patient in question.

Preferably, the base part is provided with a charger for rechargeable batteries arranged in the handheld device, whereby connections for the charging current are provided between the handheld device and the base part. In this way, the handheld device can be kept charged at all times when it is not in use or can be recharged after use. The charger can be powered by the mains power; however, it can also be used in a doctor's car or ambulance.

the vehicle battery. In order to set the desired operating states, e.g. for recording and/or playback in the display field of structure-borne sound signals or electrocardiography signals, the hand-held device and/or the base part can be provided with at least one switch, e.g. a rotary switch, a slide switch or a push-button switch.

In order to ensure good contact with the body, it is advisable to make the electrodes elastically flexible. At least one electrode can be provided with a contact for a flexible connection for a separate electrode. Such a separate electrode can also be attached to the leg or wrist if necessary.

It may also be useful to provide the hand-held device with a connection for an earth connection, which may have to be established locally in order to divert any interfering external voltages.

With the device designed according to the invention, the acoustic (sound) signals received during examinations are also made visible on an LCD display, which appeals to the doctor's audio and visual memory; recognizing auscultation is made easier, because when auscultating the lungs with conventional stethoscopes, the doctor is dependent on his acoustic memory and simultaneous listening by a beginner is not possible. Due to the additional graphic display of the heart sounds, this device is expected to improve diagnostics, even if phonocardiographs are available for auscultating the heart, but these are only available in the

inpatient area, whereas the device according to the invention makes the work of the outpatient doctor, in particular the family doctor, but also the hospital doctor, considerably easier during rounds, since it is small in size, easy to handle and can be carried around without taking up much space, especially since the device also includes the additional option of taking an ECG. All findings can thus be saved with the device, printed out on a printer and documented in the patient's file.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the drawing. It shows >

Fig. 1 a hand-held device according to the invention in perspective view of the front,

Fig. 2 and 3 the device in top view and in side view,

Fig. A the device from the back,

Fig. 5 the device from the back with the structure-borne sound microphone pointing upwards, and

Fig. 6 the base part into which the device .-.in Fig.5 can be inserted from above.

Fig. 1 shows a medical hand-held device according to the invention in a non-scale representation in a device housing 1. This has on its front on one side a display panel 2, preferably as a LIQUID

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CRISTiL DISPLAY (LCD) and on the other hand a rotary switch 3 with which the individual desired functions can be set using a rotating actuator 4 that can be directed to the settings indicated on a scale 5. There are also buttons 6 and 7, which can be used to trigger certain functions. On the long side of the device housing 1, which can be seen in the perspective view, there is a socket 8 into which the plug 9 of a headphone 10 can be inserted.

A structure-borne sound microphone 11 is mounted on the top of the housing 1, which is slightly curved in relation to the relevant housing surface so that it can be more easily placed on a body surface while holding the housing 1 in one hand.

Fig. 2 shows a housing 1 according to Fig. 1 in plan view, so that the body-sound microphone 11 can be seen directly. The front of the housing 1 is directed downwards, whereby only the button 6 protruding from this surface can be seen. On the back of the housing 1, according to Fig. 2, three electrodes 12, 13 and 14 can be seen in side view, which can serve as leads for the recording of cardiography signals.

Fig.3 shows a housing 1 in a side view of the side surface visible in Fig. 1 in an oblique view. On the front shown on the left, the buttons 6 and 7 can be seen in a side view, while on the back the electrodes 12 and 13 can be seen, seen from the side.

Fig.4 shows a housing 1 according to Fig.1 in opposite representation such that in the sign? !"»ne the

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The rear side carrying the electrodes 12, 13 and 1 is shown. The narrow side is shown at the top, which is at the bottom in Fig. 1 and on which a plug part 15 for data transmission from the hand-held device and a plug part 16 for supplying a charging current for the rechargeable batteries ^ ~ indicated by dashed lines are shown. The core microphone 11 with the associated connection 5 for the earphone 11S is also shown in dashed lines on the narrow side below, the output of which is connected to the socket 8 for the headphones 9, 10. Also indicated is an amplifier part 19, to which the electrodes 12, 13, 14 are connected on the input side (not shown) and whose output is connected on the one hand to the plug part 15 and on the other hand to the display 2, the function of this amplifier part 19 being set by means of the switch 3 shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 5 shows a device housing 1 with a structure-borne sound microphone 11 pointing upwards, whereby the rear side is in the plane of the drawing compared to Fig. 1 and the front side with the display 2 and the switch 3 points backwards and is not visible. In Fig. 6 a base part 21 is shown, which shows surrounding walls with a rear part 22 and a side part 23. Opposite the rear part 22 a front part of lesser height (not shown) is attached, and opposite the side part 23 a further side part (also not shown) is arranged. The side parts mentioned form a kind of box into which the hand-held device in its housing 1 can be inserted from above, as indicated by the dashed lines 26, 27 and 28 between Fig. 5 and 6. On the side opposite the microphone 11

On the narrow side, the device housing 1 has a first plug part 29, which interacts with an associated plug part 30 on the bottom of the box 22, 23 and allows a connection to be made for the transmission of data from the device housing 1 of the handheld device to the base part 21. The underside of the device housing 1 has a further plug part 31 according to Fig. 5, via which current can be transmitted from a plug part 32 in the base device 3 to a charger 33 to charge the batteries 17 in the handheld device.

In the easel 21, between the charger 33 and the measuring connection point 34, there is a printer 35 from which data recorded on a paper strip 36 can be taken. The printer can be started or stopped with an operating button 37 .

The base part 21 also contains parts for data processing (not shown in detail), in particular an output memory, to which the data recorded with the hand-held device and transmitted via the plug connection 29, 30 can be fed. With a further connection (not shown), the recorded data can be fed further outside, e.g. to a stationary computer.

Fig. 7 and 8 show the arrangement of the parts belonging to the electrical circuit, whereby Fig. 7 refers to the handset and Fig. 8 to the base part.

The dashed line indicates the outer surface of the devices.

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In Fig.7, the electrodes 12, 13 and 14 are connected to an amplifier part 41, at the output of which the differential currents or differential voltages occurring between the electrodes appear. These are fed via a multiple line 42 to a filter 43 and then to a switch 44. The resulting analog signals are fed to a selector switch 44, which can be operated using the rotary switch 3. In the position of the selector switch 44 shown, the cardiography signals reach an analog-digital converter 45 and from its output to a data collection line (BUS) 46.

The recorded signals from the structure-borne sound microphone 11 are fed to an amplifier 47, the output of which is connected to a filter 48, the frequency range of which, e.g. from 0 to 150 Hz or from 50 to 2000 Hz, can be set by means of a hard switch 49.

The data fed to the bus line 46 can be further processed in data processing stages connected to this bus line, e.g. in a central program stage (CFU), in a read-only memory (ROM), in one or more writeable and readable data memories (RAI), in a number of driver stages for the output of data, e.g. to the headphone connection 8 or to the connector strip 29. In conjunction with a control device, the recorded and preferably stored data can be reproduced on the display field 2, e.g. the three related curves of an electrocardiography recording, as is indicated in Fig. 1 in the display field 2. However, the recorded body sound oscillations can also be displayed, preferably as a mixture of sinusoidal

curves. The playback can take place one after the other in time according to the recording, so that the curves shown move across the display screen. It is also possible, however, to first record the vibrations recorded from the outside and then display them in sections as a still image. It can be useful to play back the incoming vibrations continuously, e.g. acoustically, or on the display screen and at the same time to store them in a buffer that records at a certain interval and is then stored again. When the examiner has then heard or seen a part of the interval that is important for the medical assessment, he can record the signals or data that arrived in the last interval and have them displayed as a still image on the display field 2. He can also have this selected data area transferred via the data collection line to a main memory 54, from which individual sections can later be selected and transferred or forwarded externally.

It may be useful to provide the handheld device with a keypad (not shown) with which certain commands can be given, preferably in coded form.

The hand-held device according to Fig. 7 also contains a rechargeable battery 17, the negative pole of which is grounded and the positive pole of which can supply the individual amplifier and data processing stages in a manner not shown. The poles of the battery 17 are connected to a plug device 31, to which charging current can be supplied from the outside.

The handset is designed for mechanical mounting at

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When not in use, a base part 21 is assigned to charge the battery and to store the recorded data. This contains a charger 33, which can be connected to a power supply network, preferably the general AC network, or to the power supply in a vehicle, via a cable 34. The charging current generated is fed with both polarities via a line 61 to the plug part 32. M-JJiIi ₁ J.* which works together with the plug part 31 in the hand-held device and the battery 17 arranged there.

The data transmitted by the hand-held device via the plug part 29 were received in the base part by the plug part 30 and transmitted to a data collection line 62 consisting of a plurality of wires, to which the data processing stages 63 are connected. Furthermore, a control device 64 is connected to the collection line 62, with which the printer 35 can be controlled, which prints the recorded examination data as well as time data and personal data and/or sound vibrations in the form of sine curves on a paper strip 36.

The data transmitted from the handheld device and possibly obtained by processing in the base unit, including from several examination cases, can be stored and made available in an output memory 65. Such data can be further transmitted from the base unit via a plug part 66, e.g. to a larger computer with which a data collection for a specific patient can be created.

The charger 33 also carries a supply terminal 67 from which the various components and circuits

stages in the base part can be supplied with power.

^The body sound microphone 11 is arranged in the housing 1 in such a way that it can be rotated by 180, which makes listening easier. For other functions or when not in use, the body sound microphone 11 would be rotated back again. If the body sound microphone 11 is an integrated part of the housing 1, then, for example, the tip I. rip? Howl I^ which carries the body sound microphone 11 can be arranged so that it can be pivoted on the other housing part, so that the edges are always flush when the housing part with the body sound microphone 11 has been pivoted back from the pivoted position to the starting position.

Claims (1)

1. Pocket-sized handheld medical device for testing and/or monitoring body functions, characterized by that the device housing (1) is designed at least approximately in the shape of a larger pocket calculator &igr;&eegr; rl α δ ε η α ... nan Were M9\ Body-borne sound microphone (11) for picking up acoustic sound signals audible on the body surface and at least one headphone connection (8) connected to the amplifier output, whereby the audible acoustic sound signals can be converted into visual signals 1. Pocket-sized handheld medical device for testing and/or monitoring body functions, characterized by that the device housing (1) is designed at least approximately in the form of a larger pocket calculator ""c on a side surface several, preferably three, electrodes (12, 13, 14) connected to the input of an amplifier (19) for receiving electrical signals occurring on the body surface. diographic signals^where the audible acoustic sound signals can be converted into visual signals. 3. Medical hand-held device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the device housing (1) has a microphone (11) connected to an amplifier for picking up acoustic sound signals audible on the body surface and a headphone connection (8) connected to the amplifier output. 4. Medical hand-held device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a storage device (20) (main memory) for the signals recorded in a certain time interval. 5. Medical hand-held device according to claim 4, characterized in that that the specific time interval for signals originating from the heart is 3 to 10 seconds, preferably about 5 seconds. 6. Medical hand-held device according to claim 4, characterized in that that the specific time interval for signals originating from the lungs is 10 to 60 seconds, preferably about 20 seconds. 7. Medical hand-held device according to claim 4 to 6, characterized in that the signals for a specific interval are continuously recorded in a buffer (20a) and are fed to the main memory (20) in response to a specific retrieval signal, e.g. by pressing a key. &bull; fr fr > · , 8- Medical hand-held device according to claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the time and/or date are also fed to the main memory (20) with the recorded signals. 9. Medical hand-held device according to claims 4 to 8 ^, characterized in that in addition to the signals , a patient core is also fed to the main memory (20). .Medical hand-held device according to claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the recorded signals also include a running number is fed to the main memory (20). .Handheld medical device according to claims 4 to 10, characterized in that it contains at least one converter (45) which converts the signals into digital form. 12.Medical hand-held device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a display field (2) for graphic and/or alphanumeric data. . Medical hand-held device according to claim 12, characterized in that it contains a control device (19a) for a time-running graphic display of the recorded or stored data. 14.Medical hand-held device according to claim 12, characterized in that it contains a control device (19a) for a stationary, graphic display of the recorded or stored data. 15. Medical hand-held device according to claims 4 to 14, characterized in that the stored signal from the main memory (20) is reproduced via the headphones (8,9,10) and/or via the display panel (2) in response to a specific control signal, e.g. given by pressing a button. 16.Medical handpiece according to one of the preceding claims, jicharacterized in that it has at least one plug part (15, 16) on the housing surface (1) which is connected internally to lines for data transmission. 17. Base part for a hand-held medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains an output memory (38) with an associated control part for the transfer of data from the main memory (20) accommodated in the device housing (1). 18.Base part according to claim 17, characterized in that it contains a printer (35) with an associated control part for printing data from the main memory (20) or from the output memory (38). 19.Base part according to claim 17 and 18/ characterized in that it is provided with a connection, e.g. a plug part (66) for extracting data from the output memory (38). 20. Base part according to claim 17 to 19, characterized in that it contains a charger (33? 'Or "m handheld device (1) arranged rechargeable batteries (1?). .Medical hand-held device and base part according to claim 20, characterized in that they are provided with associated connections (31, 32) for the supply of the charging current from the base part (21) to the hand-held device (1). .Medical hand-held device and/or base part according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by at least one switch, e.g. a rotary switch (3), a slide switch or a Push button switch for selecting and setting a specific operating status. .Medical hand-held device according to one of claims 2 to 22, characterized in that at least one of the electrodes (12, 13, 14) is designed to be elastically compliant. .Medical hand-held device according to one of claims 2 to 23, characterized in that at least one of the electrodes (12, 13, 14) is provided with a contact for a flexible connection for a separate electrode. 25. Medical hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that it is provided with a connection for an earth connection. · .· ■ t si : S , 26.Medical hand tool according to one of claims 12 to 25, characterized in that the structure-borne sound microphone (11) arranged on the housing (1) is designed to be pivotable by 180°, either alone or with a part of the housing (1).