Handheld electrocardiographic device
A handheld electrocardiographic device for perform an ECG signal acquisition is provided. The ECG device includes at least two electrodes for obtaining ECG signals from a user's skin, an analog signal processing module, an analog/digital converter for digitizing the ECG signals, a processor, which controls the ECG device and processes the ECG signals, a display unit for displaying a processed result of ECG signals and other related information, a memory for data storage, a battery for providing power, at least a contacting interface having at least one of the electrodes mounted thereon, and a detecting unit for sensing a physical condition of the contacting interface, wherein the processor compares the physical condition to a preset criterion, and takes the result as a reference for processing the ECG signals.
1. A handheld ECG (electrocardiographic) device for performing an ECG signal acquisition, comprising:
at least two electrodes, for obtaining ECG signals from a user's skin;
an analog signal processing module;
an analog/digital converter, for digitizing the ECG signals;
a processor, which controls the ECG device and processes the ECG signals;
a display unit, for displaying a processed result of ECG signals and other related information;
a memory for data storage;
a battery, for providing power;
at least a contacting interface, having at least one of the electrodes mounted thereon; and
a detecting unit, continuously sensing a physical condition of the contacting interface to be an input to the processor while acquiring the ECG signals,
wherein the processor compares the inputted physical condition with a preset criterion, and then takes the comparison result as a reference for processing the acquired ECG signals.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the physical condition is a pressure, illumination and/or temperature.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contacting interface further comprises a structure surrounding the electrode mounted thereon.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the detecting unit senses the physical condition of the electrode and/or the surrounding structure.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit is implemented to be a tact switch or a push button.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit is implemented as a piezoelectric transducer for converting a pressure on the contacting interface into an electric signal so as to be the reference for the processor to process the ECG signals.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the physical condition matches the preset criterion, the processor starts the ECG signals acquisition.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor stops the ECG signals acquisition.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor receives and saves the obtained ECG signal without further processing.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor executes an alternative process to the ECG signals.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor marks the ECG signals for reminding the user and/or for further processing.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an impedance detecting unit, for sensing an impedance condition between the electrode and the user's skin.
13. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a notifying unit for being driven by the processor to send out a notification signal to notify the user the information of a contact condition between the contacting interface and the user's skin.
14. The device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the notification signal is an acoustic, a visual, and/or a tactile signal.
15. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrodes is implemented to be removable for being exchanged.
16. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are implemented to be dry electrodes and/or wet gel electrodes.
17. A handheld ECG (electrocardiographic) device for performing an ECG signal acquisition, comprising:
at least two electrodes, for obtaining ECG signals from a user's skin;
an analog signal processing module;
an analog/digital converter, for digitizing the ECG signals;
a processor, which controls the ECG device and processes the ECG signals;
a display unit, for displaying a processed result of ECG signals and other related information;
a memory, for data storage;
a battery, for providing power;
at least a contacting interface, having at least one of the electrodes mounted thereon; and
a detecting unit, connected to the contacting interface,
wherein the detecting unit detects a pressure for contacting said contacting interface to the user's skin, and alters a physical condition thereof when the detected pressure matches a preset criterion, so as to conduct the circuitry for ECG signal acquisition; and
a notifying signal is further generated and employed, during the ECG signal acquisition, to notify the user of a contact condition between the contacting interface and the user's skin when the detected pressure matches the preset criterion.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the contacting interface further comprises a structure surrounding the electrode mounted thereon.
19. The device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the detecting unit is connected to the electrode and/or the surrounding structure.
20. The device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the detecting unit is implemented to be a tact switch or a push button.