Electrode structure

#1. Field of the Invention

#Field of the invention relates to an electrode structure for measuring a biosignal from a living body, which electrode structure comprises a contact surface intended to be placed against the body.

#2. Brief Description of the Related Art

#In the following the invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which

#FIG. 1 shows a belt-like measuring and/or transmitter unit from the area of an electrode by means of a chart illustrating the shape of a contact surface of the electrode,

#FIG. 2 shows a belt-like transmitter unit at a person's chest, comprising two electrode structures, and a receiver unit at a person's wrist,

#Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, it is to be stated that the invention is particularly applied to a non-invasively measuring personal heart rate measuring arrangement 1, 2, which is used by e.g. sport enthusiasts and athletes or other people 3. The heart rate measuring arrangement comprises two units: a heart rate information transmitter unit 1, generally of a transmitter belt type, comprising EKG electrodes 11 to 12, i.e. electrode structures 11 to 12, and a receiver unit 2 formed e.g. as a wristband, including e.g. a microprocessor, display and user interface (not shown) and being in a telemetric inductive connection or an optical or other connection, e.g. in an RF connection, with the heart rate information transmitter unit. The transmitter belt 1 does not transmit a heart rate value, but burst-like information on the heart rate, and using this information, the receiver 2 calculates by means of a microprocessor some other calculating unit the value of the heart rate to be shown on the display.

#The present invention relates thus to a transmitter unit 1. On the other hand, if the calculating unit, such as a microprocessor, and possibly the display were integrated to the same entity as the electrodes 11 to 12, it would not actually deal with a transmitter unit 1 any more, but, expressed with a more general term, with a measuring unit 1. The invention is applicable to both of the above versions, independent of whether the heart rate measuring arrangement is a conventional one with two units or whether it is integrated to one entity. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an opening 5 is a locking case for a locking projection 7 at the end of the strap 6 of the electrode belt 1.

#In the following mainly the electrode 11 is discussed, as the electrode 12 is exactly similar.