Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PATCH TYPE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM SENSOR
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a patch type electrocardiogram sensor which
can be
easily attached to body skin and measures a bio-signal.
Discussion of Related Art
As an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is one type of typical bio-information,
records action current generated when a myocardium contracts and relaxes due
to a cardiac
impulse, electrodes are attached to body skin, action current is measured
according to
myocardial contraction, and the data of the measured current is described in a
graph.
Specifically, an active potential occurring when a myocardium contracts and
relaxes
due to a cardiac impulse generates a current transmitted from the heart to the
whole body, the
current generates potential differences according to positions of portions of
the body, and the
potential differences can be detected and recorded by electrodes attached to
the body skin.
Such an ECG is used to check cardiac abnormalities and is used as a basic
measurement method for diagnosing cardiac diseases such as angina, myocardial
infarction,
and arrhythmia.
Generally, an electrode induction method, which is used in clinics to measure
an
electrical anomaly of the heart by attaching two or more electrodes to the
body skin,
measures bio-potentials, which are generated when an electrical stimulation
generated in a
sinoatrial node of the heart is transmitted to left and right ventricles and
the atria,.
Electrodes of an ECG measurement apparatus can be divided into wet and dry
electrodes according to whether a surface of the electrode contains an
electrolyte.
When an electrode is a dry electrode, the electrode is typically attached to a
chest
region using a flexible band. In such a case, there is a problem in that it is
difficult to wear
the electrode for a long time because a feeling of tightness in the chest
occurs when the
electrode is attached to the chest.
Meanwhile, when an electrode is a wet electrode, the electrode is attached to
a
human body using an adhesive material and a separate band is not needed.
However, a
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conventional wet electrode has problems in that pain accompanies the
attachment or
detachment of the electrode to or from the skin due to the adhesive material,
it is difficult to
closely contact with a human body part that is severely curved because the
electrode is
attached to the body using an adhesive pad, and thus, the quality of a cardiac
impulse signal
is lowered.
In addition, since a conventional ECG measurement apparatus is big and has
many
wires (electrical lines), there is a problem in that the use is cumbersome due
to the wires
becoming entangled and the like, and since a conventional ECG measurement
sensor
includes a protrusion-type knob formed at an attachment site thereof, there is
a problem in
that a patient feels uncomfortable when the sensor is attached to a back of
the patient and the
patient is lying on his/her back.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing a patch type electrocardiogram
(ECG)
sensor capable of being easily attached to a human body that is severely
curved and including
simplified wiring.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a patch type ECG sensor is
provided
including: a base layer having a pad form; a flexible printed circuit board
(FPCB) layer
formed on the base layer and having a film form; a sensor formed on the FPCB
layer and
including a plurality of electrodes configured to detect ECG signals and a
plurality of
electrode circuit parts which are constituted in circuit patterns and the end
thereof are
individually connected to the plurality of electrodes; a main body formed on
the FPCB layer
and connected to the other ends of the plurality of electrode circuit parts to
converge the
plurality of electrode circuit parts; and an adhesive layer formed on the FPCB
layer such that
the plurality of electrodes are exposed and configured to attach the sensor to
a human body,
.. wherein a connection part configured to transmit the ECG signals to the
outside is installed at
and connected to the main body, and the main body and the connection part are
connected by
a single wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The description above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present
invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by
describing
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exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in
which:
FIG 1 is a plan view of a structure of a patch type electrocardiogram (ECG)
sensor
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the patch type ECG sensor shown
in FIG.
1;
FIG 3 is a view of the patch type ECG sensor, which is attached to a human
body,
according to one embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG 4 is a block diagram illustrating a main body of the patch type ECG sensor
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a patch type electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor
which
is easily attached to a human body, improves convenience during an operation
by simplifying
the wiring structure, and measures a bio-signal.
Here, an ECG represents a picture in which electrical activity of a heart is
amplified
and recorded, and such an ECG is used for measuring a heart condition or
diagnosing the
extent of heart damage.
The present invention relates to a patch type ECG sensor including: a base
layer
having a pad form; a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) layer formed on the
base layer and
having a film form; sensors formed on the FPCB layer and including a plurality
of electrodes
configured to acquire ECG signals and a plurality of electrode circuit parts
which are
constituted by circuit patterns and the ends thereof are individually
connected to the plurality
of electrodes; a main body formed on the FPCB layer and connected to the other
ends of the
plurality of electrode circuit parts to converge the plurality of electrode
circuit parts; and an
adhesive layer formed on the FPCB layer such that the plurality of electrodes
are exposed
and configured to attach the sensors to a human body, wherein a connection
part configured
to transmit the ECG signals to the outside is installed at and connected to
the main body, and
the main body and the connection part are connected by a single wire.
Here, the main body may include: an amplifier configured to amplify the ECG
signals to be transmitted through the plurality of electrode circuit parts;
and a filter
configured to filter the amplified ECG signals.
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In addition, the adhesive layer may include a hydrogel component, and the
electrode
circuit parts may be formed by forming a conductive paste in circuit shapes on
the adhesive
layer through one method among silk screen, vacuum deposition, and sputtering
deposition
methods.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to
accompanying drawings. Before the embodiments are described, terms and words
used in
this specification and claims are not to be interpreted as limited to commonly
used meanings
or meanings in dictionaries and should be interpreted with meanings and
concepts which are
consistent with the technological scope of the invention based on the
principle that the
inventor has appropriately defined concepts of terms in order to describe the
invention in the
best way.
Therefore, since the embodiments described in this specification and
configurations
illustrated in the drawings are only exemplary embodiments and do not
represent the overall
technological scope of the invention, it should be understood that the
invention covers
various equivalents, modifications, and substitutions at the time of the
filing of this
application.
FIG 1 is a plan view of a structure of a patch type ECG sensor according to
one
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view
illustrating the patch
type ECG sensor shown in FIG. 1, FIG 3 is a view of the patch type ECG sensor
according to
one embodiment of the present invention, which is attached to a human body,
and FIG. 4 is a
block diagram illustrating a main body of the patch type ECG sensor according
to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the patch type ECG sensor according to the present invention will
be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and the embodiments.
The present invention relates to a patch type ECG sensor 100 which is easily
attached to a human body and improves convenience during an operation by
simplifying
wiring to measure a bio-signal.
Here, an ECG refers to a picture in which electrical activity of a heart is
amplified
and recorded, and such an ECG is used for measuring a heart condition or
diagnosing the
extent of heart damage.
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In addition, wiring refers to a circuit configuration in which parts included
in an
apparatus are connected by electrical lines to form paths through which a
current may flow.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the patch type ECG sensor 100 according to
one
embodiment of the present invention includes a base layer 110, a FPCB layer
120, an
adhesive layer 170, sensors 130 having a plurality of electrodes 131
configured to acquire
ECG signals and a plurality of electrode circuit parts 132 connected to the
electrodes 131,
and a main body 140 connected to the other ends of the plurality of electrode
circuit parts
132 to converge the plurality of electrode circuit parts 132, which are formed
on the FPCB
layer 120.
In addition, a connection part 160 configured to transmit the ECG signals
acquired
by the main body 140 to the outside is formed installed at and connected to
the main body
140, and here, the main body 140 and the connection part 160 are connected by
a single wire
150. A more detailed explanation will be described below.
The base layer 110 according to one embodiment of the present may be formed in
a
pad form, made of a flexible synthetic resin film, and may form an external
surface of the
patch type ECG sensor 100.
In addition, the FPCB layer 120 may refer to a general FPCB and refer to an
original
board of a circuit board coated with a flexibly bent copper foil (copper
film). Meanwhile,
since the FPCB layer 120 according to one embodiment of the present invention
is formed to
suitably bend along a curved skin surface to which the FPCB layer 120 is
attached, adhesion
to the skin can be maximized.
In addition, the adhesive layer 170 according to one embodiment of the present
invention may include a hydrogel component which is a conductive fluid capable
of being in
electrical contact with the body.
The adhesive layer 170 may include any transparent and viscous material, which
has
characteristics of maintaining adhesion even after being washed and reused,
other than the
hydrogel component and may be attached to or detached from the human body,.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the FPCB layer 120 according to one embodiment of
the
present invention includes the sensors 130 and the main body 140.
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First, the sensors 130 include the plurality of electrodes 131 configured to
detect an
action current of a heart and acquire ECG signals and the plurality of
electrode circuit parts
132, constituted by circuit patterns, individually connected to the plurality
of electrodes 131.
More specifically, the sensors 130 may acquire the ECG signals through the
plurality
.. of electrodes 131 configured to acquire the ECG signals from the human
body. That is, the
plurality of electrodes 131 included in the sensors 130 are attached to the
skin of the human
body, and potentials generated at the skin by action currents generated from a
myocardium
may be detected through the plurality of electrodes. Accordingly, an ECG
signal acquired
from a sensor 130 may be in the form of potential difference.
For reference, although a magnitude of the ECG signal may be different
according to
the position with which an electrode 131 is in contact, a shape of the ECG
signal is the same
and a time delay of the ECG signal is very small.
Snap electrodes made of a conductive metal may be used for and applied to such
electrodes 131, and in addition, the electrodes 131 may also be made of a
biocompatible
material.
Here, the biocompatible material electrode obtained by stirring and curing a
biocompatible silicone with a conductive material (carbon nanotube (CNT)), is
utilized to
induce bio-potential by being in direct contact with the skin. The
biocompatible material
electrode may have a thickness of several millimeters.
In addition, a biocompatible material, which is a polymeric material which
does not
adversely affect human body tissue or a biological material even when being in
contact
therewith for a long period of time, may be used as equipment in a medical
field including
dialysis films for artificial kidneys, artificial blood vessels, artificial
teeth, blood storage bags
for blood transfusion, and tubes used for blood circuits, and as the material
in a medical field
including polyvinyl chloride, silicone, Teflon, or the like.
Particularly, the electrode circuit parts 132 according to one embodiment of
the
present invention are used to connect the plurality of electrodes 131 and the
main body 140
which will be described below, and are insulated except for both ends thereof.
The
electrode circuit parts 132 may be made by forming patterns with a
biocompatible material,
and also be used by forming a conventionally used circuit which is short.
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In addition, the electrode circuit parts 132 may be formed by forming a
conductive
paste in circuit shapes on the FPCB layer 120 through one method among silk
screen,
vacuum deposition, and sputtering deposition methods.
Next, the main body 140 according to one embodiment of the present invention
is
provided so as to converge the plurality of electrode circuit parts 132, and
the connection part
160, which will be described below, and the main body 140 may be connected by
the single
wire 150.
That is, since the plurality of electrode circuit parts 132 are converged and
integrated
into the single wire 150 from the main body 140 according to one embodiment of
the present
invention, there is an effect in which convenience during operation is
improved.
Meanwhile, in the patch type ECG sensor 100 according to one embodiment of the
present invention, the plurality of electrodes 131 may be formed on the FPCB
layer 120 by
referencing the chest lead electrodes.
As illustrated in FIG 1, ten electrodes 131 may be formed on the FPCB layer
120
according to one embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, six
electrodes
(V1 to V6), which are chest lead electrodes, among the ten electrodes may be
formed to be
positioned according to a unipolar chest lead method. More specifically, the
electrode V1
positioned at a fourth intercostal space to the right of the sternum of a
patient, the electrode
V2 positioned at the fourth intercostal space to the left of the sternum of a
patient, the
electrode V3 positioned midway between the electrodes V2 and V4, and the
electrode V4
positioned on a mid-clavicular line at a height of a fifth intercostal space
may be formed on
the FPCB layer 120 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In
addition, the
electrode V5 may be positioned on an anterior axillary line (the front side of
the armpit) at
the same level as that of the electrode V4, and the electrode V6 may be
positioned on a mid-
axillary line (the middle of the armpit) at the same level as that of the
electrode V4 may be
formed on the FPCB layer 120 according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
In addition, the remaining four electrodes RA, RL, LA, and LL) may be formed
to be
attached to the left and right upper portions and left and right lower
portions of the chest of
the patient.
FIG 3 is a view of the patch type ECG sensor 100 according to one embodiment
of
the present invention, which is attached to a human body.
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Referring to FIG 3, an ECG may be measured through the chest lead method using
the patch type ECG sensor 100 according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
That is, it takes a long time to individually attach the plurality of
electrodes 131 to a
patient, and it is difficult to find accurate attachment positions. However,
in the patch type
ECG sensor 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the
FPCB layer
120 includes the plurality of electrodes 131 thereon, the ECG signals may be
measured
quickly and accurately even when making a response to an emergency situation.
However, the positions of the above-described electrodes 131 are assigned
according
to one embodiment and are not limited thereto.
In addition, referring to FIG. 4, the main body 140 according to one
embodiment of
the present invention includes an amplifier 141 configured to amplify ECG
signals acquired
through the electrodes 131 and a filter 142 configured to remove noise signals
from the
amplified ECG signals.
Particularly, the ECG signals (current signals) measured by the electrodes 131
are
transmitted to the main body 140 through the electrode circuit parts 132, the
transmitted
current signals are amplified by the amplifier 141 in the main body 140,
filtered by the filter
142, and transmitted to the connection part 160 which will be described below.
More specifically, the amplifier 141 according to one embodiment of the
present
invention amplifies the ECG signals acquired from the electrodes 131 and may
combine and
amplify the ECG signals in the form of potential difference detected by the
plurality of
electrodes 131.
In addition, the filter 142 according to one embodiment of the present
invention is
for removing the noise signals from the amplified ECG signals and may remove
the noise
signals from the ECG signals caused by various bio-currents.
Meanwhile, in the patch type ECG sensor 100 according to one embodiment of the
present invention, the connection part 160 may be installed and connected to
the main body
140. Here, the ECG signals processed by the amplifier 141 and the filter 142
in the main
body 140 are transmitted to the connection part 160 through the single wire
150.
Here, the connection part 160 is a type of connecter capable of being in
contact with
and being connected to an external device, and the connecter may transmit the
ECG signals
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to a computer, a medical device, or a smart device (a smart phone, a smart
pad, etc.) through
a wired method, and thus the ECG signals may be monitored.
However, the connection part 160 is not limited thereto. As another aspect, a
wireless communication device may be connected to the connection part 160 to
transmit
ECG signals to an external device through a wireless communication method such
as
Bluetooth, a wireless local area network (WLAN), or ZigBee.
As described above, a patch type ECG sensor according to one embodiment of the
present invention is miniaturized by forming electrodes configured to detect
action currents
of a heart and circuit patterns on a FPCB layer and has an effect in which
convenience during
operation is improved by integrating a plurality of electrode circuit parts
and the like into a
single wire from a main body.
In addition, since a plurality of electrodes according to the embodiment of
the
present invention are formed on a single patch, various waveforms of ECG can
be
simultaneously measured, and even an inexperienced user with respect to ECG
measurement
can simply attach the electrodes to accurate positions of a patient.
In addition, a patch type ECG sensor according to the present invention can be
fonned in a patch type and attached to a chest or back region to measure ECG.
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