| 摘要 |
<p>A patient (1) is provided with a sensor patch (2) which is worn on the skin of the chest of the patient. The sensor patch (2) includes a central structural support member (8) formed of a flexible, but rigid, plastics material. The structural member (8) is surrounded by an adhesive gel (9) which is preferably a hydrogel compound. The patch (2) is provided with a number of electrodes (10), for example four, which are positioned on the gel (9) so as to contact the skin of the patient (1) when the gel (9) adheres to the skin. The electrodes (10) are either metallic, such as stainless steel, or formed of a silver chloride compound and are electrically connected by connections (11) to an electronic package (12), which includes a power supply, circuitry for receiving ECG signals from the electrodes (10), for conditioning the signals to provide a conditioned signal and a short range radio transmitter to transmit the conditioned signal to the portable monitor unit (3) which is nearby. The portable monitor unit (3) includes circuitry for interfacing with a telephone line (4) to send the ECG data signals to a central monitoring station (5) by the telephone line (4). The portable unit (3) preferably also has monitoring circuitry for monitoring the incoming ECG data signal to determine whether there is any abnormality and to alert the patient if an abnormality in the ECG data signal is detected. The central monitoring station (5) includes a part (6) that decodes the ECG data signals received from the portable unit (3) via the telephone line (4) and performs beat and rhythm analysis for classification of the ECG data. Periodically, data is reviewed by a professional skilled in the field and a report generated (7).</p> |
