KR102848027B1 - Device for monitoring multi channel bio signal - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, a device for monitoring a biosignal is provided, comprising a main body and an electrode part detachably coupled to the main body, wherein the electrode part includes two or more electrodes for obtaining a biosignal and a circuit part for electrically connecting the electrodes and the main body.

Description

Device for monitoring multi-channel biosignals

The present invention relates to a device for monitoring multi-channel biosignals.

Advances in science and technology are leading to the development of various technologies for monitoring biosignals. These biosignals include not only electrocardiograms but also various signals collected from the body, such as blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and body temperature.

Meanwhile, electrocardiogram signals among biosignals can provide useful information for determining whether there is a heart disease, so technologies for collecting and monitoring electrocardiogram signals are being developed.

Conventional wearable electrocardiogram monitoring devices either use pre-made Ag/AgCl disposable electrodes or are configured as an integrated body that combines a main body containing circuitry for electrocardiogram monitoring and an electrode unit. Therefore, most wearable electrocardiogram monitoring devices can only collect electrocardiogram signals by connecting electrodes of the same structure and a limited number of electrodes, and cannot collect electrocardiogram signals by changing the position of the electrodes or increasing the number of electrodes, which has the problem of making it impossible to obtain detailed information about the three-dimensional structure of the heart.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve all of the problems of the above-mentioned prior art.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a device for monitoring a biosignal, comprising a main body and an electrode part detachably coupled to the main body, wherein the electrode part includes two or more electrodes for obtaining a biosignal and a circuit part for electrically connecting the electrodes and the main body.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to collect various bio-signals and accurately identify a patient's heart disease by including an electrode unit including various electrode arrangements or two or more electrodes depending on the patient's condition.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a wearable monitoring device capable of collecting various bio-signals from a single main body by enabling electrode parts of various shapes to be combined into a single main body.

A representative configuration of the present invention to achieve the above purpose is as follows.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a device for monitoring a biosignal is provided, comprising a main body and an electrode part detachably coupled to the main body, wherein the electrode part includes two or more electrodes for obtaining a biosignal and a circuit part for electrically connecting the electrodes and the main body.

In addition, other devices according to the technical idea of the present invention are further provided.

According to the present invention, a wearable monitoring device can be provided that collects various biosignals and accurately identifies a patient's heart disease by including an electrode unit including various electrode arrangements or two or more electrodes depending on the patient's condition.

In addition, according to the present invention, a wearable monitoring device can be provided that can collect various bio-signals from a single main body by combining electrode parts of various shapes to a single main body.

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a main body (100) and an electrode part (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a main body (100) and an electrode portion (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a main body (100) and an electrode portion (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily illustrating a situation in which biosignals are stored by channel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The following detailed description of the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, while different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be modified and implemented from one embodiment to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components within each embodiment may also be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is to be construed to encompass the scope of the claims and all equivalents thereof. Like reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar elements throughout the several aspects.

Hereinafter, various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily practice the present invention.

Device configuration

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a main body and an electrode section according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a main body (100) and an electrode part (200). Here, the electrode part (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include two or more electrodes (210), a circuit part (220), and a pad (250). Hereinafter, after examining the detailed components of the electrode part (200), the main body part (100) will be examined.

First, the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include two or more electrodes (210) for acquiring a biosignal. Here, according to one embodiment of the present invention, at least two electrodes (210) may be formed at a predetermined interval, and preferably, three electrodes including a reference electrode may be formed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode (210) may form a contact point with the patient's body to acquire a biosignal such as an electrocardiogram signal, and the biosignal acquired from the electrode (210) may be transmitted to the main body (100) through the circuit unit (220). For example, one of the two or more electrodes according to one embodiment of the present invention may be formed at the lower end of the coupling unit (230) to acquire a biosignal.

In addition, the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a circuit unit (220) that electrically connects the electrode (210) and the main body unit (100). Here, referring to FIG. 1, the circuit unit (220) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a circuit trace for transmitting a biosignal acquired from the electrode (210) to the main body unit (100).

In addition, the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a pad (250). The pad (250) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be placed around the electrode (210), and when the pad (250) is attached to a patient, the electrode (210) may form a contact point with the patient's body, and the electrode (210) may acquire a biosignal. Here, the pad (250) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an attachment pad that is electrically connected to the circuit unit (220) and attached to an appropriate position for acquiring a biosignal of the patient, and a double-sided tape for attaching to the patient. For example, the biosignal according to one embodiment of the present invention may be acquired by the electrode (210) from the body of the patient that forms a contact point with the attachment pad. Therefore, the pad (250) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be attached to a patient and perform a function of enabling a biosignal to be acquired from the electrode (210). Meanwhile, the attachment pad according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform a function of assisting the electrode (210) in obtaining the patient's bio-signal by forming a contact point with the patient's body instead of the electrode (210).

In addition, the coupling part (230) according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform a function of allowing the main body part (100) and the electrode part (200) to be detachably coupled. When the main body part (100) and the electrode part (200) are coupled by the coupling part (230) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a biosignal obtained from the electrode part (200) can be transmitted to the main body part (100), and the main body part (100) can store the biosignal.

Additionally, a biosignal according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. However, the biosignal according to the present invention is not limited to an ECG signal, and may include various biosignals (e.g., blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, or body temperature) within the scope that can achieve the purpose of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a main body (100) and an electrode part (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, for example, the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include three electrodes. Here, referring to FIG. 2, one electrode may be placed at the lower end of the coupling unit (230), and the remaining two electrodes may be placed at positions appropriate for acquiring an electrocardiogram signal. At this time, a channel according to one embodiment of the present invention may be defined by one electrode (i.e., one monopole) or two electrodes (i.e., a pair of electrodes) using a Wilson central terminal (WCT), and when the electrode unit (200) includes three electrodes (e.g., electrodes placed at positions associated with the RA (Right Atrium), LA (Left Atrium), and LL (Left Leg) of the ECG 12-lead in the chest), a biosignal associated with two channels (a channel associated with the RA to LA direction and a channel associated with the RA to LL direction) may be acquired. Additionally, a channel according to one embodiment of the present invention may be defined by a lead specified by two electrodes.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that one of the electrodes (210) according to the present invention does not necessarily have to be placed at the bottom of the joint (230), and may be placed at various points to achieve the purpose of the present invention.

An extension connection part (240) may be further formed in the electrode part (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, an extension connection part (240) electrically connected to the electrode part (200) may be further formed in the electrode part (200), and an additional electrode for acquiring the biosignal may be connected to the extension connection part (240).

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a main body (100) and an electrode part (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, an additional electrode for acquiring a biosignal may be connected to an extension connection unit (240) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and in this case, the additional electrode may be electrically connected to the extension connection unit and the circuit unit (220). Here, in order to acquire a biosignal from the additional electrode, an additional pad (251) may be placed around the additional electrode according to one embodiment of the present invention, and the additional pad (251) may form a contact point with the patient's body to acquire a biosignal. For example, when the biosignal according to one embodiment of the present invention is an electrocardiogram signal, the additional electrode may be placed at at least one position among V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6 of the patient among 12 leads of the ECG, which are known to be suitable for acquiring an electrocardiogram signal, to acquire an electrocardiogram signal. In this case, since more diverse electrocardiogram signals can be acquired, the electrocardiogram signal can be confirmed in three dimensions, and an accurate heart disease of the patient can be identified.

Next, the main body (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include various components for driving the device (10), such as a battery, a PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), and a memory for storing biosignals.

The main body (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform a function of acquiring unique information of the electrode unit (200) in response to being coupled with the electrode unit (200). Here, the unique information according to one embodiment of the present invention can include information regarding the number or arrangement of electrodes. For example, when the main body (100) and the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention are coupled and the electrode unit (200) includes three electrodes (210), the unique information can include at least one of information that the electrode unit (200) includes three electrodes and information that each electrode is arranged at a position associated with RA, LA, and LL.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily illustrating a situation in which biosignals are stored by channel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the main body (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform a function of specifying at least one channel implemented by the electrode part (200) coupled with the main body part (100) and storing bio-signals obtained through the electrode part (200) by dividing them by channel.

For example, referring to (a) of FIG. 4, when the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes two electrodes and is positioned at positions associated with RA and LL, respectively, the number of channels implemented by the electrode unit (200) can be one, and an electrocardiogram (Single Channel ECG) signal by one channel can be acquired. At this time, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the main body (100) and the electrode unit (200) are combined, the main body (100) can acquire unique information that the electrode unit (200) has two electrodes and that the placement of the corresponding electrodes is at positions associated with RA and LL, and the main body can store an electrocardiogram signal by one channel.

Continuing with an example, referring to (b) of FIG. 4, when the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes three electrodes and each electrode is positioned at a position associated with RA, LA, and LL, when the main body unit (100) and the electrode unit (200) are combined, the main body unit (100) can obtain unique information that the electrode unit (200) has three electrodes and that the positioning of the electrodes is at a position associated with RA, LA, and LL, and the main body unit can obtain a biosignal from two channels (for example, a channel associated with the RA to LA direction and a channel associated with the RA to LL direction).

When storing a biosignal through one channel, there is little need to store the signal separately because the biosignal is acquired from the same point. However, when a biosignal is acquired from two channels as in (b) of FIG. 4, monitoring the biosignal may become difficult or impossible if the acquired biosignals are not organized separately. Therefore, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 4, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a biosignal is acquired from two channels, the main body (100) may perform a function of storing the acquired biosignals separately by two channels by referring to the acquired unique information (e.g., information on the number or arrangement of electrodes). For example, the main body (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may store the acquired biosignals in chronological order, but may store them alternately by channel. For example, in a case where signals a1, a2, and a3 are sequentially acquired from electrodes associated with channels associated with the RA to LA direction according to an embodiment of the present invention, and signals b1, b2, and b3 are sequentially acquired from electrodes associated with channels associated with the RA to LL direction, the main body (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention can store the biosignals in the order of a1, b1, a2, b2, a3, and b3. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when biosignals are stored alternately through channels in this way, biosignals can be stored for each channel in the main body (100) without performing separate additional computational processing, biosignals acquired from electrodes associated with various channels can be stored in one data file, and the structure of the device (10) can be simplified.

Referring to (c) of FIG. 4, for another example, when the electrode unit (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes three or more electrodes, as described above, the main body unit (100) obtains information on the positions and arrangements of the electrodes included in the electrode unit (200) as unique information, and when a biosignal is obtained, the biosignal can be stored by distinguishing it by channel as described above.

Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present invention, biosignals are encrypted and stored, thereby enabling personal health information to be safely stored.

Finally, the biosignals stored in the main body (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can be transmitted to a PC by connecting the main body (100) to a USB terminal and electrically connecting the main body to an external device (such as a PC). In this case, the transmitted biosignals according to one embodiment of the present invention can be encrypted to safely protect the individual's health information.

Meanwhile, the term "patient" as used herein should be understood to include not only patients with heart disease but also patients who wish to determine whether or not they have heart disease.

Although the present invention has been described above with specific details such as specific components and limited examples and drawings, these are provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and changes based on this description.

Therefore, the idea of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and not only the scope of the patent claims described below but also all scopes equivalent to or equivalently modified from the scope of the patent claims are considered to fall within the scope of the idea of the present invention.

10: Device
100: Main body
200: Electrode section
210: Electrode
220: Circuit section
230: Joint
240: Extension connector
250: Pad
251: Additional pad

Claims (7)

As a device for monitoring biosignals,
Main body, and
It includes an electrode part that is detachably connected to the main body part,
The electrode part includes two or more electrodes for obtaining a biosignal and a circuit part for electrically connecting the electrodes and the main body part,
The above main body part specifies two or more channels implemented by an electrode part combined with the main body part, and classifies the biosignals obtained through the electrode part by channel.
The above main body part alternately stores bio-signals classified by channel by channel.
Device. In the first paragraph,
The above biosignal includes an electrocardiogram signal.
Device. In the first paragraph,
Pads are placed around the electrodes, the pads are attached to the patient, and biosignals are acquired from the electrodes.
Device. In the first paragraph,
The above main body part acquires unique information of the electrode part in response to being combined with the electrode part.
Device. In paragraph 4,
The above unique information includes information about the number or arrangement of the electrodes.
Device. delete In the first paragraph,
In the above electrode part, an extension connection part electrically connected to the electrode part is further formed, and an additional electrode for obtaining the biosignal can be connected to the extension connection part.
Device.