Multielectrode ECG sensor

1. A multielectrode sensor for use in obtaining electrocardiograph measurements of a patient, the sensor comprising:

a substrate, at least a portion of the substrate being stretchable; and

a plurality of electrodes coupled to the substrate, the plurality of electrodes including V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , and V 6 electrodes;

wherein a distance between at least the V 1 and V 2 electrodes and between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes is adjustable by stretching the substrate between the V 1 and V 2 electrodes and between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes;

wherein a first thickness of the substrate between the V 1 and V 2 electrodes is less than or equal to a second thickness of the substrate between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes such that a first stretchability of the substrate between the V 1 and V 2 electrodes is greater than or equal to a second stretchability of the substrate between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes; and

wherein the first thickness is less than a third thickness of the substrate between the V 2 and V 3 electrodes such that the first stretchability is greater than a third stretchability of the substrate between the V 2 and V 3 electrodes.

2. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a silicone material.

3. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein the V 1 electrode is adapted to be positioned on a first side of the patient's sternum and the V 2 electrode is adapted to be positioned on a second side of the patient's sternum.

4. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes is adjustable by stretching the substrate between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes.

5. The multielectrode sensor of claim 4 , wherein the first thickness is less than or equal to a fourth thickness of the substrate between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes such that the first stretchability is greater than or equal to a fourth stretchability of the substrate between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes.

6. The multielectrode sensor of claim 5 , wherein the second thickness differs from the fourth thickness.

7. The multielectrode sensor of claim 5 , wherein the second thickness is equal to the fourth thickness such that the second stretchability is substantially the same as a fourth stretchability.

8. The multielectrode sensor of claim 5 , wherein the first thickness is less than at least one of the second thickness and the fourth thickness.

9. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a backing sheet removably attached to a patient-contacting side of the substrate.

10. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein each electrode comprises an adhesive on a patient-contacting side of the electrode.

11. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes is connected to a wire, the wire being at least partially disposed in the substrate.

12. The multielectrode sensor of claim 11 , wherein a distal end of each wire opposite the electrode is adapted to be connected to at least one of an electrocardiograph machine and a connector.

13. The multielectrode sensor of claim 12 , wherein each wire is adapted to be connected to at least one of the electrocardiograph machine and the connector off of the patient's torso.

14. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a tether between adjacent electrodes.

15. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are attached to a single substrate component.

16. The multielectrode sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first thickness is less than a fifth thickness of the substrate between the V 3 and V 4 electrodes such that the first stretchability is greater than a fifth stretchability of the substrate between the V 3 and V 4 electrodes.

17. The multielectrode sensor of claim 16 , wherein the third thickness is equal to the fifth thickness.

18. The multielectrode sensor of claim 17 , wherein a distance between each of the V 2 and V 3 electrodes and the V 3 and V 4 electrodes is substantially the same when the substrate is in a stretched position and an unstretched position.

19. A method of positioning a multielectrode sensor on a patient, the method comprising:

providing a multielectrode sensor comprising:

a stretchable substrate and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the substrate, the plurality of electrodes including V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , and V 6 electrodes;

wherein a distance between at least the V 1 and V 2 electrodes and between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes is adjustable by stretching the substrate between the V 1 and V 2 electrodes and between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes;

wherein, in an unstretched state, a first thickness of the substrate between the V 1 and V 2 electrodes is less than or equal to a second thickness of the substrate between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes such that a first stretchability of the substrate between the V 1 and V 2 electrodes is greater than or equal to a second stretchability of the substrate between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes; and

wherein, in the unstretched state, the first thickness is less than a third thickness of the substrate between the V 2 and V 3 electrodes such that the first stretchability is greater than a third stretchability of the substrate between the V 2 and V 3 electrodes;

positioning the V 1 electrode on the patient's torso;

positioning the V 2 electrode on the patient's torso;

positioning the V 3 electrode on the patient's torso;

positioning the V 4 electrode on the patient's torso;

positioning the V 5 electrode on the patient's torso; and

positioning the V 6 electrode on the patient's torso.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising stretching the substrate between at least the V 1 and V 2 electrodes and between the V 4 and V 5 electrodes.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein in an unstretched state, the first thickness is less than or equal to a fourth thickness of the substrate between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes such that the first stretchability is greater than or equal to a fourth stretchability of the substrate between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising stretching the substrate between the V 5 and V 6 electrodes.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising attaching each of the V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , and V 6 electrodes to the patient's torso.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first thickness is less than at least one of the second thickness and the fourth thickness.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the multielectrode sensor comprises a removable backing sheet on a patient-contacting side of the substrate, wherein the method further comprises removing the backing sheet prior to positioning the V 1 electrode.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

positioning the V 1 electrode comprises positioning the V 1 electrode to a first side of the patient's sternum; and

positioning the V 2 electrode comprises positioning the V 2 electrode to a second side of the patient's sternum.