EP2603135A1

EP2603135A1 - Ecg hand-held device

Info

Publication number: EP2603135A1
Application number: EP11746473.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Henning BÖGE; Meinhard Schilling; Martin Oehler
Original assignee: Capical GmbH
Current assignee: Capical GmbH
Priority date: 2010-08-12
Filing date: 2011-08-10
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: US20130211272A1; CN103167827B; DE102010034192A1; WO2012019760A1; KR20130098319A; CN103167827A; US8831715B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an ECG device (1) designed as a portable hand-held device, comprising a housing (2), which has a gripping region (3) and/or gripping elements, wherein the gripping region (3) and/or the gripping elements are designed for an operating person to hold the ECG device (1), and the ECG device (1) has a sensor region (4) arranged outside the gripping region (3) and the gripping elements, wherein in said sensor region a plurality of ECG sensors (5) in the form of capacitive electrodes is provided. The ECG sensors (5) are at least partially embedded in a foam block (6) fastened to the housing (2), and the ECG sensors (5) are retained by the foam block (6) and elastically supported in said foam block.

Description

ECG handset

The invention relates to a portable handheld ECG device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Generally, the invention relates to the detection of electrocardiograms (ECG) using ECG sensors in the form of capacitive electrodes. Capacitive electrodes allow the measurement of an electrocardiogram with the same results as with conventionally used galvanic electrodes. The advantage of capacitive electrodes is that no direct skin contact is required, so that even through garments can be measured through.

From the publication by Martin Oehler, Meinhard Schilling and Hans Dieter Esperer, Biomed Tech 2009; 54: 329-335, a capacitive ECG system for measuring standard leads and body-surface potential maps is already emerging.

The present invention has for its object to improve the ECG device described in the aforementioned publication in view of its practical applicability in everyday medical use.

This object is achieved by the invention defined in claim 1. The dependent claims indicate advantageous developments of the invention.

The invention generally relates to an ECG device designed as a portable handheld device. Such a hand-held device has the advantage that it can be handled in a simple manner and can be used everywhere, and in particular can also be transported to places of accident. Such a hand-held device also has the advantage that it can be permanently carried along with correspondingly compact training of doctors or in ambulances and ambulance vehicles. Such a portable hand-held device is further developed according to the invention in that the ECG sensors, which are provided in the form of capacitive electrodes, are at least partially embedded in a foam block fastened to the housing. The ECG sensors are from the

CONFIRMATION COPY Held foam block and stored elastically therein. It has been found that the use of such a foam block can solve a large number of problems that arise for a particularly practicable realization of an ECG device with capacitive electrodes. Thus, the foam initially causes the desired isolation of the electrodes against each other. In addition, the electrodes are already fixed by embedding in the foam block and thereby held, so that it can be dispensed with further fasteners that could affect the function and accuracy of the capacitive electrodes. In addition, can be realized by the foam block in a simple and elegant way elastic storage of ECG sensors, which has a high adaptability to the breast shape of a human. By contrast, the ECG device which emerged from the publication mentioned at the beginning exhibited capacitive electrodes arranged individually suspended in a housing via spiral springs, which has proved unfavorable in practice, since the adaptability of the electrode field to the chest of a human was inadequate and the spring plane nism also often led to jamming between the electrodes and the surrounding housing part.

All of these problems can now be solved in a cost effective and elegant manner with the invention according to claim 1.

The foam block may be disposed in a recess of the housing, e.g. in a housing breakthrough. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the foam block is mounted on a housing surface of the ECG device. This allows a simple attachment of the foam block to the housing without major housing breakthroughs. There is only a small opening in the housing to carry out the connection cables for the ECG sensors required.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ECG sensors are arranged on the side facing away from the housing of the foam block. This has the advantage that the distance between the sensors and the human chest area to be detected is minimized, resulting in improved signal acquisition. - -

The ECG sensors may be completely embedded in the foam block or only partially, i. something protruding from the foam block. If the ECG sensors are completely embedded in the foam block, the ECG sensors may also be covered by a foam layer.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ECG sensors are not covered by the material of the foam block, i. visible from the outside in a plan view of the foam block, so to speak. This has the advantage that the detection sensitivity of the ECG sensors is maximized.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ECG sensors are arranged on the side facing away from the housing side of the foam block at approximately the same distance from the housing surface facing away from the foam block. As a result, a uniform signal detection over the majority of ECG sensors can be ensured.

The surface of the foam block facing away from the housing may be e.g. just be.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the foam block is convexly formed on its side facing away from the housing. The convex shape of the foam block on its side facing away from the housing can e.g. by a corresponding convex shaping of the mounting surface on the housing of the ECG device, which serves to attach the foam block, are generated. It is also possible to form the foam block itself correspondingly convex.

According to a further advantageous development of the invention, the ECG sensors are arranged along a convex-shaped surface, in particular along the same convex shape of the foam block on its side facing away from the housing.

The convex shaping advantageously allows an improved adaptation of the sensor region of the ECG device to differently shaped breasts. - -

areas of people. In particular, both an adaptation to concave breast forms and, in accordance with a softer design of the foam, to convex breast shapes can thus be made possible. According to an advantageous development of the invention, a protective cover is stretched over the foam block and the ECG sensors arranged therein, which is liquid-tight, washable and wipe-disinfectable. This has the advantage that the ECG sensors and the foam are protected from liquids, e.g. are used for cleaning and disinfection are protected. In addition, the protective cover allows easy cleaning and disinfection of the ECG device. Advantageously, the protective cover is wipe-disinfectable, i. it can already be disinfected by wiping with a disinfectant according to the medical requirements.

The protective cover may be made of a textile material, e.g. consist of a fabric or a non-woven, made of leather or a non-porous closed plastic material. Suitable materials for the protective cover are e.g. Latex, microfiber fabrics or Goretex.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protective cover consists of a non-statically chargeable plastic material. This has the advantage that unwanted effects on the signals of the ECG sensors as a result of static charges are reliably avoided. The protective cover can z. B. consist of a polyurethane film. It has been shown that patch material, which is also used for wound plasters, is well suited for this purpose.

The invention therefore also relates to the use of a polyurethane film as a protective cover for protecting the foam block of an ECG device.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protective cover by means of releasable adhesive and / or Velcro on the housing of the ECG device can be fastened. For this purpose, the protective cover and / or the housing may have corresponding adhesive dots or adhesive strips.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protective cover is designed as a disposable disposable article. This has the Part, that a quick change of the protective cover is possible and no cleaning is required.

In principle, any flexible foam can be used for the foam block, e.g. PE foam. It is possible to use both soft and harder foam materials. For harder foam materials, the requisite resiliency and flexibility required for a necessary adaptation of the ECG sensor region to different human breast forms may be made, for example, by incising or slitting the foam material.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the foam block has a compression hardness in the range of 2 to 30 RG. As a result, the foam block on the one hand soft enough for flexible adaptation to different breasts of people, on the other hand, the foam block is still stable enough for secure mounting and storage of ECG sensors.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the foam block has a density in the range of 25 to 45 kg / m ³ . This allows the use of sufficiently stable yet flexible foam materials.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the foam block consists wholly or partly of viscoelastic foam. As viscoelastic material z. B. latex can be used. The use of viscoelastic foam has the advantage that on the one hand the foam block can adapt well to the body shape of a patient and because of the special properties of the viscoelastic foam as a result of the body heat, it retains the once taken form for a relatively long time and thus adapts itself to the body shape Body shape adapts. This has the advantage that the ECG device is easier to handle and can be held with less force on the patient after appropriate form adaptation of the viscoelastic foam. In addition, viscoelastic foam is easy to work, especially at low temperatures. - -

The ECG device may already be equipped with input and display means, e.g. to enter the necessary settings and to display the ECG signals. However, it has been found that the ECG device can thus be relatively heavy and unwieldy, so that it is advantageous for an application as a portable handset to form the ECG device as a pure ECG signal acquisition device without its own display unit for displaying the recorded ECG signals , In this case, the ECG device can be operated wirelessly and has an integrated power supply. This allows maximum flexibility in the application and handling of the ECG device in practical medical use.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ECG device has a wireless data interface, via which the recorded ECG data can be transmitted to a separate evaluation computer or a separate display unit. By way of example, the ECG device can be equipped with a memory which allows storage of the recorded ECG signals for a complete ECG acquisition. The stored ECG data is then transmitted to an evaluation computer or to a separate display unit following detection, e.g. via the wireless data interface or a cable. In this case, an evaluation of the recorded ECG signals can be carried out subsequently on the evaluation computer or on the separate display unit. According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ECG device is set up for wireless data transmission of the recorded ECG data via the wireless data interface during ECG acquisition. This allows a display of the recorded ECG data on a separate evaluation computer or a separate display unit simultaneously with the detection, i. Real time.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the housing on the side facing away from the ECG sensors on at least one control element and / or a signal display element, which is not set up for ECG signal presentation. Among other things, the signal display element can be used to indicate to an operator whether the ECG device is correctly aligned for ECG detection on the thorax of a human being. The signal display element can be designed, for example, in the form of a light-emitting diode or fewer light-emitting diodes, for example light-emitting diodes in different colors, via which, for example, a red / green LED is used. A distinction is made to indicate to an operator whether the ECG device is correctly aligned for an ECG acquisition on a human chest. The signal display element can also be an alphanumeric LCD display. The control element can be, for example, a switch or a push-button, via which certain settings such as sensitivity and display mode can be set.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, one of, part or all of the ECG sensors has a cylindrical cup-shaped metal part with a substantially closed bottom and a crown-like area facing away from the bottom with snap-fastening elements. Further, a sensor plate is provided with at least three insulated against each other conductor tracks, which can be inserted and snapped into the cup-shaped metal part.

The invention further relates to an ECG sensor in the form of a capacitive electrode having the advantageous structure described above. Such a structure of an ECG sensor has the advantage that the sensor can be manufactured simply and efficiently and is particularly suitable for cost-effective mass production.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor plate at its to the cup interior, i. to the interior of the cup-shaped metal part, the side facing an annular strip on which, after the snapping of the sensor plate into the cup-shaped metal part, an electrical contact between the sensor plate and the cup-shaped metal part is made. The cup-shaped metal part serves as a shield against external interference signals. This has the advantage that the required for the shield electrical contact between the sensor plate and the cup-shaped metal part can be made in a simple and fast manner, namely by simply snapping the sensor plate in the cup-shaped Metall- metal part. As a result, the mass production of the ECG sensor can be further optimized.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ECG Device on at least one electrical connection element for connecting at least one external ECG sensor. The electrical connection element may be formed, for example, as a socket for receiving an electrical connector. This has the advantage that the ECG device can be extended in terms of its function by external ECG sensors. The external ECG sensor can, for. B. be designed as a capacitive electrode or as a conventional galvanic electrode.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ECG device has at least one electrical connecting element for connecting an external clamping electrode. By means of the clamping electrode, for example, an equipotential bonding can be established between a patient on whom an ECG is to be recorded and the ECG device. According to an advantageous development of the invention, the staple electrode has both an equipotential bonding contact and an external ECG sensor. The external ECG sensor and the equipotential bonding electrode can be connected to the ECG device via a common multi-wire connection cable. This allows an expansion of the function of the ECG device via an external ECG sensor as well as the equipotential bonding electrode without the need to connect a large number of connecting cables. In this way, a "Kabelverhau" can be avoided. The invention also includes an external clamp electrode having both a potential equalization electrode and an external ECG sensor. The external ECG sensor is advantageously also designed as a capacitive electrode. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one external ECG sensor is connected via a cable fixed to the ECG device. The ECG device has a roll-up mechanism for the cable in the housing. This allows a simple and quick stowage of the cable, possibly together with the external ECG sensor, in the housing of the ECG device. As a result, the ECG device is handy and easy to transport when not in use. Another advantage is that the external ECG sensor and the connecting cable are always carried and can not be forgotten. - -

According to an advantageous development of the invention, at least one satellite electrode arrangement can be connected to the ECG device which has a plurality of ECG sensors in the form of capacitive electrodes. It can z. B. the capacitive electrodes are used according to the embodiments described above. For this purpose, the ECG device has a connection which is set up for contacting the plurality of ECG sensors of the satellite electrode arrangement. The advantage of the satellite electrode arrangement is that it specifies a type of external sensor pad with which additional possibilities of ECG signal acquisition are given, in particular with additional flexibility in the handling and arrangement of the satellite electrode arrangement. The satellite electrode arrangement may be configured similarly to the ECG sensors arranged in the sensor area of the ECG device, eg. B. embedded in a housing of a satellite electrode assembly in a foam block attached thereto. Advantageously, the satellite electrode assembly is structurally designed slightly smaller than the ECG device.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments using drawings below.

Show it:

Figure 1 - an ECG device in exploded view and

Figure 2 - another embodiment of the ECG device and an evaluation computer in a schematic representation and

Figure 3 - an ECG sensor and

Figure 4-6 - Details of the structure of the ECG sensor.

In the figures, like reference numerals are used for corresponding elements.

1 shows a perspective view of an ECG device 1, which is designed as a portable hand-held device. The ECG device 1 has a housing 2 with a grip region 3. On one side of the case is outside the Gripping area 3 a Sensierbereich 4 is provided. In the Sensierbereich 4 a foam block 6 is arranged. The foam block 6 is fastened to the housing 2 on a surface of the housing 2 facing away from the grip area. In the foam block 6 a plurality of ECG sensors 5 is embedded, for example in the manner of a matrix. As can be seen, the foam block 6 of the housing 2 is curved away, ie, convex, formed. About the foam block 6 and the electrodes 5 embedded therein a protective cover 7 is stretched. In the housing 2 are already all necessary for the recording of ECG signals via the ECG sensors 5 components, such as an evaluation, an interface for data transmission, in particular a wireless interface, and a power supply. On a side wall of the housing 2, an electrical connection element 12, for example, a connection socket is further provided via the external components such as an external ECG sensor to the ECG device 1 is connected.

2 shows a further embodiment of the ECG device 1 in a schematic representation in the manner of a block diagram. Incidentally, the ECG device 1 according to FIG. 2 has the same structure as the ECG device 1 according to FIG. The ECG sensors 5 are shown schematically in the figure 2 and only by way of example with reference to four sensors.

The ECG device 1 according to FIG. 2 has an integrated power supply 8, e.g. an accumulator, on. The accumulator can be charged via a arranged on the housing 2 charging port. Alternatively, it is possible to charge the rechargeable battery 8 instead of via a separate charging connection by inductive coupling of electrical energy into the housing 2. In this case, an induction-receiving coil is provided in the housing 2.

In the housing 2, an evaluation circuit 17 and a wireless interface module 9 are also provided. The evaluation circuit 17 evaluates the signals of the ECG sensors 5 and transmits the evaluated information via the wireless interface module 9 via a wireless data transmission link 18 to an evaluation computer 20. About the Wireless interface module 9, which may be formed as a Bluetooth module, for example, bidirectional data between the ECG device 1 and the external evaluation computer 20 can be exchanged. For example, recorded ECG signals can be transmitted from the ECG device 1 to the external evaluation computer 20 and, for example, measurement settings can be transmitted from the external evaluation computer 20 to the ECG device 1. The received ECG data can then be displayed graphically on the evaluation computer 20 by appropriate software.

The ECG device 1 further comprises e.g. display element 1 1 arranged on the rear side of the housing as well as three e.g. in the form of buttons trained controls 10. About the buttons 10 certain settings on the ECG device 1 can be made. By means of the display element 11, certain functional states of the ECG device can be displayed, such as, for example, Operational readiness, insufficiently charged accumulator 8 or the correct alignment of the electrodes 5 on a patient. The ECG device 1 can also be used e.g. have a larger, graphics-capable display on the back, where the recorded ECG signals can be displayed directly. Advantageously, the display can be part of a tablet PC arranged on the rear side of the ECG device 1, which, in addition to the display of the ECG signals, also permits extended setting possibilities of the ECG device.

The ECG device 1 according to FIG. 2 furthermore has the electrical connection element 12. It is shown in FIG. 2 that an external clamping electrode 14 is connected to the connecting element 12 via a multi-core electrical line 16. The clamping electrode 14 has an external ECG sensor 13, which may be constructed comparable to the ECG sensors 5, and an equipotential bonding electrode 15.

The satellite electrode arrangement described at the outset can be connected to the ECG device 1 in a manner comparable to the previously described clamping electrode 14 via an electrical line. For this purpose, the electrical connection element 12 has additional electrical contacts for contacting the plurality of ECG sensors of the satellite - -

electrode arrangement on.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of an ECG sensor 5 in the form of a capacitive electrode with further details. The ECG sensor 5 is constructed from a cup-shaped metal part 30 and a sensor plate 33. In this case, the sensor plate 33 is inserted into the cup-shaped metal part 30 by means of a snap-fastening in an end region 32 of the cup-shaped metal part 30. The sensor plate 33 has, on its side disposed within the cup-shaped metal part 30, a signal processing circuit 34 which may be e.g. an impedance converter, an amplifier and a filter circuit. The signal processing circuit 34 is connected to the evaluation circuit 17 in the housing 2 via a connecting cable 36, which is passed through an opening 35 arranged in a bottom 31 of the cup-shaped metal part 30.

4 shows the cup-shaped metal part 30 of the ECG sensor 5 and the sensor plate 33 before it is inserted into the cup-shaped metal part 30. As can be seen, the cup-shaped metal part 30 is formed with a substantially closed bottom 31, wherein the passage opening 35 for performing of the cable 36 is provided. In an end region 32, the cup-shaped metal part 30 has snap-fastening elements 40, which are arranged in the end region 32 in the manner of a crown. The sensor pad 33 has an outward, i. not to the interior of the cup-shaped metal part 30, facing electrode layer 50, e.g. may be provided with an insulation. The electrode layer 50 serves as a sensor surface of the capacitive ECG sensor. The cup-shaped metal part 30 serves as a shield against external interference fields.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show in further detail both the snap-action mechanism and the more precise construction of the sensor plate 33. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the side wall of the cup-shaped metal part 30 and the sensor plate 33 are shown in fragmented form.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the sensor plate 33 has an at least five-layered construction. Starting from the top of the sensor - -

After mounting in the cup-shaped metal part 30, the sensor plate 33 has the electrode layer 50, including a first insulating layer 51, including an electrically conductive shielding layer 52, including a second insulating layer 53 and finally an electrically conductive contacting layer 54 underneath , The sensor plate 33 can be produced, for example, particularly cost-effectively as a circuit board formed with three printed circuit traces. In this case, the layers 50, 52, 53 are formed as traces of the printed circuit board, the insulating layers 51, 53 as layers of the printed circuit board material, e.g. made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy.

The signal processing circuit 34, which is not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be formed directly on the underside of the second insulating layer 53 with further strip conductors and corresponding electronic components arranged thereon.

The electrode layer 50 is connected to the signal processing circuit 34 by means of plated-through holes. Similarly, the shielding layer 52 is connected by vias to the contacting layer 54. The contacting layer 54 is advantageously formed as an annular conductor, which surrounds the intermediate elements of the signal processing circuit 34.

In the figure 5, the basic shape of the snap elements 40 is also shown. Starting from the open side of the cup-shaped metal part 30, in which the sensor plate 33 is inserted, the snap element 40 initially has a beveled short portion 55, the chamfer facing Bechereinwärts. This is followed by a second chamfered region 56 with opposite chamfering direction, which is slightly longer in the insertion direction of the sensor plate 33 than the first chamfered region 55. This is followed by a spring region 57, in which the wall thickness of the snap element is approximately constant. However, it does not matter. It is important that the wall thickness in the spring region 57 is sufficiently low in order to ensure a sufficient spring effect for the snap-in effect of the sensor plate 33. The spring region 57 is followed by an approximately horizontally extending abutment surface 58. - -

FIG. 6 shows the cup-shaped metal part 30 with the sensor plate 33 inserted. As can be seen, the snap-fastening element 40 is bent slightly outward due to the snap-fastening and thus under a prestress by which the sensor plate 33 is held in the cup-shaped metal part 30. In this case, the sensor plate 33 bears against the stop surface 58, which offers a defined stop for the sensor plate 33. Due to the arrangement of the contacting layer 54, this contacting layer 54 simultaneously produces an electrical contact via the abutment surface 58 between the shielding layer 52 and the cup-shaped metal part 30. As a result, the shielding layer 52 is electrically connected to the cup-shaped metal part 30. As a result, a Faraday cage is formed around the signal processing circuit 34 in practice.

Claims

claims

1. Designed as a portable handheld ECG device (1) with a housing (2) having a handle portion (3) and / or handle elements, wherein the handle portion (3) and / or the handle elements are designed to hold the ECG device (1) by an operator, and the ECG device (1) has a sensor region (4) arranged outside the grip region (3) and the grip elements, in which a plurality of ECG sensors (5) in the form of capacitive electrodes is arranged , characterized in that in the sensor area (4) on the housing (2) a foam block (6) is fixed and the ECG sensors (5) are attached to or in the foam block (6) and elastic by means of the foam block (6) are stored.

2. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foam block (6) on a housing surface of the ECG device (1) is attached.

3. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ECG sensors (5) on a housing (2) facing away from the foam block (6) are arranged.

4. ECG device according to claim 3, characterized in that the ECG sensors (5) on the housing (2) facing away from the foam block (6) are not covered by the material of the foam block (6).

5. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foam block (6) is convexly formed on its side facing away from the housing (2).

6. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that above the foam block (6) and the ECG sensors (5) arranged therein, a protective cover (7) is stretched, which is liquid-tight, washable and wischdesinfizierbar.

7. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that via the foam block (6) and the attached therein arranged ECG sensors (5) a protective cover (7) is stretched, which consists of a non-statically chargeable plastic material.

8. ECG device according to claim 7, characterized in that the protective cover (7) consists of a polyurethane film.

9. ECG device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the protective cover by means of releasable adhesive and / or Velcro on the housing (2) can be fastened.

10. ECG device according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Foam block (6) has a compression hardness in the range of 1, 5 to 5 kPa.

11. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foam block (6) has a density in the range of 0 to 45 kg / m ³ .

12. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, character- ized in that the foam block consists wholly or partly of viscoelastic foam.

13. ECG device according to claim 12, characterized in that the

Foam block has a layer formed of viscoelastic foam on the side facing away from the housing of the foam block.

14. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ECG device has a wireless data interface (9) via which the recorded ECG data to a separate evaluation computer (20) or a separate display unit are transferable.

15. ECG device according to claim 14, characterized in that the ECG device (1) is designed as a pure ECG signal acquisition device without its own display unit for displaying the recorded ECG signals, which is wirelessly operable and has an integrated power supply (8) ,

16. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) on the sensor area (4) off facing side at least one operating element (10) and / or a signal display element (11), which is not set up for ECG signal presentation.

17. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of, a part or all ECG sensors (5) a cylindrical cup-shaped metal part (30) with a bottom (31) and a bottom (31) facing away Crown-like with Schnappbefestigungs- elements (40) formed end portion (32) and a sensor board (33) having at least three separated by insulating layers interconnect levels (50, 52, 54), which can be inserted and snapped into the cup-shaped metal part (30).

18. ECG device according to claim 17, characterized in that the sensor board (33) has an annular conductor track (54) on its side facing the interior of the cup, via which, after snapping the sensor board (33) into the cup-shaped metal part (30 ) an electrical contact between the sensor board (33) and the cup-shaped metal part (30) is made.

19. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ECG device (1) has at least one electrical connection element (12) for connecting at least one external ECG sensor (13).

20. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ECG device (1) has at least one electrical connection element (12) for connecting at least one potential equalization electrode (15).

21. ECG device according to claim 20, characterized in that a potential equalization electrode (15) and an external ECG sensor (13) in the form of a clamping electrode (14) can be connected and the external ECG sensor (13) and the equipotential bonding electrode (15 ) via a common multi-wire connection cable (16) to the ECG device (1) can be connected.

ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one external ECG sensor (13) via a cable (16) fixed to the ECG device (1) is connected to the ECG device (1) in the housing (2) has a roll-up mechanism for the cable (16).

23. ECG device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one satellite electrode arrangement can be connected to the ECG device which has a plurality of ECG sensors in the form of capacitive electrodes.

24. Use of a polyurethane film as a protective cover (7) for protecting the foam block (6) of an ECG device according to one of the preceding claims.