RU187279U1 - Long-term electrocardiogram monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for long-term monitoring of an electrocardiogram, comprising a recorder in a flat case with electronic units for receiving and converting analog signals from body electrodes attached to the body, connected directly to the recorder using built-in snap buttons electrically connected to the unit for receiving and converting analog ECG signals, and attached to its upper plane for supplying voltage through the spring contacts, a replaceable battery pack connected to the housing the recorder by means of magnetic mechanical fastening, thanks to pairs of different-pole magnetic elements integrated in the mating planes.

Description

The utility model relates to medical equipment, namely, devices for long-term monitoring of electrocardiograms (ECG) and other human parameters, such as respiration, pulse, movement activity, etc., remotely continuously, in the conditions of its free activity (outpatient), and , first of all, to ECG monitoring devices with its wearing on the body.

24-hour ECG monitoring (see EPIC: Evaluation of Palpitations in the Community, by Intelesens Ltd.) is essential in improving the diagnosis of tachy and bradyarrhythmias, in identifying various types of “rare” arrhythmias, such as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and other clinically significant types of arrhythmias (pauses of more than 2.5 seconds, AV blockade of the 2nd degree, etc.), especially in the postoperative period. Compared with implantable devices commonly used in medical practice, they do not require an implantation operation, they are much cheaper from an economic point of view, they are reusable and allow continuous, rather than fragmented, ECG recordings. Wearing the device on the body (a week or more), makes special demands on its design and electronic components, in terms of overall dimensions (miniature, power consumption), tightness (sweat, shower), minimizing wired and detachable connections (their absence is better), quality recordings (interference, artifacts), remote data transmission without interrupting the monitoring session (possible loss of “rare” arrhythmias).

From the prior art, solutions are known related to ECG monitoring devices worn on the patient’s body in remote monitoring systems of human physiological parameters. These technical solutions include an ECG monitoring device (mutually complementary US patents WO 2011077097 A1, authors D. Anderson, D. Francey, copyright holder Intelesens Ltd, 06/30/2011, A61, and US 8332009 B2, authors J. McLaughlin and others, 06/24/2010, copyright holder Intelesens Ltd.), adapted to be worn on the patient’s body, including special wearable electrodes in the form of a flexible patch and attached to one of them, a microprocessor device with blocks for converting and processing signals from these electrodes and transmitting information to the local network and further through the glo a ballistic Internet network to the server for processing and storing patient data, to which medical specialists have access. A significant feature is the presence of a removable battery pack (two in the kit) and an external device for recharging it. The disadvantage is that changing the battery to a backup one as part of the kit requires removing the device as a whole from the body electrodes and, therefore, interrupting the monitoring process, leading to the possible loss of significant diagnostic information. In addition, the presence of the patient’s cable with electrodes on the body complicates the patient’s daily behavior when wearing the device (activity during the day, water procedures, sleep, etc.).

In new developments of such ECG monitoring devices, worn on the human body (see "New devices for very long-term ECG monitoring", S.S. Lobodzinski and others), preference is given to execution options - without a patient cable (cable lessen lead less). They are light in weight and small in size, can be easily and simply installed by the patient at home without the help of medical staff, are convenient for 24 hours a day and do not limit freedom of movement; the patient’s cable is the most vulnerable part, it wears out easily (changes several times a year) and significantly increases the cost of the kit as a whole. The desire to reduce the size and weight of the device limits the capacity of the power source, imposes stringent requirements on energy consumption and, as a result, reduces the functionality of these devices.

In known technical solutions, in currently existing ECG monitoring devices without cable type:

the capacity of the power source should be designed for the entire continuous cycle of recording (session), which limits the duration of monitoring, and, therefore, the quality of the diagnosis in identifying clinically significant pathologies; in the presence of a removable power source, its replacement requires interruption of the session, which leads to the loss of significant diagnostic information;

stringent requirements for energy consumption limit functionality, namely, frequency characteristics (for example, pacemaker analysis requires switching to 1000 Hz), online transfer of patient data (for example, conducting online ECG analysis to determine pathologies that require the attention of a doctor), etc. d.

The objective of the proposed technical solution is to eliminate these drawbacks and create a comfortable for wearing on the body of a device for long-term ECG monitoring of a cableless type, smaller in size and weight, hermetic, moisture-resistant when dripping water showers, with reduced requirements for power consumption and power supply capacity, with extended functionality, primarily in terms of a significant increase in duration, while maintaining continuity, an ECG monitoring session, and as accepted s signals.

This task is achieved due to the fact that the device for long-term monitoring of the electrocardiogram consists of a recorder in a flat case with electronic units for receiving and converting analog signals from body electrodes attached to the body, processing, storing and transmitting it wirelessly to a local area network and adjacent to its upper planes for supplying voltage through spring contacts, one of two interchangeable cases of rechargeable battery power sources, while connecting the housing This battery source with the recorder case is made by magnetic mechanical fastening, thanks to pairs of different pole magnetic elements built into the mating planes, and all the body electrodes necessary for taking the cardiogram are connected directly to the lower plane of the recorder using the built-in snap buttons, electrically connected to the receiving unit and conversion of analog ECG signals.

The technical result provided by the given set of features is:

a significant increase in the duration of a continuous ECG monitoring session, due to the possibility of a multiple change during the session, directly by the patient, almost instantly and with the correct positioning, of one battery pack to another - backup in the kit; the capacity of the battery pack is usually calculated for a minimum (daily) session;

expansion of functionality due to reduced energy requirements, for example, the introduction of continuous online transmission of patient data, which allows online analysis of his condition and attract, if necessary, the attention of medical staff;

ergonomic design, without cable, with disposable standard electrodes attached directly to the body, convenient for long-term wearing on the body, taking into account natural needs (daily activity, soy, washing, etc.), thanks to the miniature size associated with reduced requirements for the capacity of the battery power source and the absence of wired and detachable connections, which, in turn, reduces “muscle” and other distortions in the received ECG signals, and ensures tightness and moisture resistance awn device design.

The essence of the utility model is illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3:

fig. 1 is a General view (above and below) of the elements of the claimed device with attached standard electrodes;

fig. 2 - General view (side-bottom) of the elements of the claimed device;

fig. 3 - General view (side-top) of the elements of the claimed device.

The inventive device (Fig. 1) as part of the recorder 200, the battery pack 300, is mounted on the patient’s body on four standard disposable body electrodes 101, 102,103, 104; these electrodes are attached to the snap buttons 201, 202, 203, 204 on the lower plane 210 of the recorder 200 (Fig. 2), which are electrically connected to the electronic module 400 built into this recorder with analog signal conversion blocks removed from these electrodes, their processing, storage and transmission to a wireless network. The housing of the replaceable battery pack 300 with the lithium-polymer battery 500 is adjacent to the upper plane 220 of the recorder 200 with its lower plane 310 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3); The electrical connection for supplying voltage from the battery 500 to the electronic module 400 is provided by a group of spring contacts 205 and 301 (Fig. 3) through the mating planes 220 and 310, respectively, of the recorder 200 and the battery pack 300. In the case of the recorder 200 and the battery pack power supply 300 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3) two pairs of magnetic elements 206/302 and 207/303 are built in (the second pair is not shown in Fig. 3), which provide, based on the force of magnetic attraction in each pair, a strong mechanical and, accordingly electric esky in releasable contact connection 205/301; pairs of magnetic elements 206/302 and 207/303 differ in polarity, which ensures correct positioning when changing the battery pack 300 to a backup one.

The utility model works as follows. In the initial state, before the start of the monitoring session, four standard electrodes 101,102, 103, 104 are attached to the latch buttons 201, 202, 203, 204 on the lower plane 210 of the recorder 200; to the upper plane 220 of the recorder is tightly pressed, thanks to the forces of magnetic attraction, a replaceable battery pack 300 (pre-charged); the device is superimposed on the patient’s body (the place is usually indicated in the instructions) of the patient and, thanks to the sticky standard electrodes, fits tightly (sticks) and holds during a long session (at least 7 days, if necessary).

The session parameters are configured, including the format for transmitting information about the measured physiological parameters from the device, externally, via a two-way communication channel, from the playback equipment (computer / mobile tablet / smartphone, or other) by the medical staff, or by the patient himself, and the ECG monitoring session is started. The analog signals from disposable electrodes on the body are fed into an electronic module for conversion, processing, filtering, storage in accordance with the built-in algorithm and program and, further, in the appropriate format, for certain periods (periodically, continuously or at the end of the session, in accordance with setting) the time is transferred to the wireless network (doctor’s computer, diagnostics, cloud server, etc.). When the battery pack is discharged (usually charging should provide a session time of at least 24 hours) 300, an audible / light indication appears that attracts the patient’s attention and requires its replacement with a backup one (usually the battery pack supplied to the patient contains two identical battery packs and a device charging); removal (change to backup) of the battery pack 300, structurally held by pairs of magnetic elements 206/302 and 207/303, is easy (with 2 fingers) for 15-20 seconds, without interrupting the continuous monitoring cycle; the different polarity of the pairs of magnetic elements 206/302 and 207/303 eliminates the improper installation of a backup patient power source. The removed battery pack goes into the “recharging” mode by installing it on the charging device as part of the patient’s kit. During a long session (several days), the change of the battery power supply to the backup one can occur repeatedly.

The following should be noted:

for a short period of changing the battery pack (typical time ~ 15 sec), the supply voltage is maintained in the device, which is built into the electronic part of the recorder-ionistor;

when changing the battery pack at the beginning of the session or during, the recorder pre-sets the information reception mode from the outside, and if it is absent for a fixed period of time (~ 30 sec.), it switches to the working data transfer mode; the reception mode is necessary to obtain information from the outside, from the playback equipment (smartphone / tablet / computer), about the parameters of a custom ECG monitoring session.

Claims (1)

A device for long-term monitoring of an electrocardiogram, characterized in that it consists of a recorder in a flat case with electronic units for receiving and converting analog signals from body electrodes attached to the body, processing, storing and transmitting it wirelessly to a local area network and adjacent to its upper plane for supply voltage through the spring contacts one of the two replaceable cases of rechargeable battery power sources, while the connection of the battery The power supply with the recorder case is made by means of magnetic mechanical fastening, thanks to pairs of different pole magnetic elements built into the mating plane, and all the body electrodes necessary for taking the cardiogram are connected directly to the lower plane of the recorder using the built-in snap buttons electrically connected to the reception and conversion unit ECG analog signals.

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