Pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer

• US 10,105,068 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nano-Second Technology Co Limited (Nano-Second Technology)
• Original Assignee: Nano-Second Technology Co Limited (Nano-Second Technology)
• Inventors: Chuang, Pei-Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): WEARE, MEREDITH H
• Application Number:
  US15/218,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20170340210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/023 the pressure transducers comprising a liquid column
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units

Abstract

A pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer includes a wearable element, a first fluid strip, a second fluid strip and a control module. A first side of the wearable element is for contacting with a wearer. The first and second fluid strips are arranged in parallel on the first side and spaced apart for a predetermined distance. The control module is disposed on the wearable element and includes a first pressure sensing element, a second pressure sensing element and a processing unit. The first and second pressure sensing elements communicate with the first and second fluid strips, respectively, and are configured to sense a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure in the first and second fluid strips, respectively. The processing unit is electrically connected to the first and second pressure sensing elements and configured to analyze a difference between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure.

Claims

1. A pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer, comprising:

a wearable element;

a first fluid strip, disposed on a first side of the wearable element, wherein the first side is for contacting with a wearer;

a second fluid strip, disposed on the first side, wherein the first fluid strip and the second fluid strip are arranged in parallel and spaced apart for a predetermined distance; and

a control module, disposed on the wearable element and comprising;

a first pressure sensing element, communicating with the first fluid strip and configured to sense a first fluid pressure in the first fluid strip;

a second pressure sensing element, communicating with the second fluid strip and configured to sense a second fluid pressure in the second fluid strip; and

a processing unit, electrically connected to the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze a difference between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure and to issue an operating instruction, and the operating instruction comprises;

prompting the wearer to exert a force on the wearable element and thereby pressing against the first fluid strip and the second fluid strip; and

prompting the wearer to gradually release the exerted force when both of the first fluid pressures and the second fluid pressure are greater than a predetermined value and, concurrently the difference between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure falls within a predetermined range.

2. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid strip is closer to a heart of the wearer than the second fluid strip is when the wearer wears the wearable element.

3. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises:

a housing, disposed on a second side of the wearable element, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, and the processing unit, the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element are disposed in the housing;

a first tubular member, wherein two terminals of the first tubular member are connected to the first pressure sensing element and the first fluid strip, respectively; and

a second tubular member, wherein two terminals of the second tubular member are connected to the second pressure sensing element and the second fluid strip, respectively.

4. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 3, further comprising a display panel, disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the processing unit, wherein a display surface of the display panel is exposed from the housing.

5. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 3, wherein the control module further comprises a wireless transmission device, disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the processing unit.

6. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 3, wherein an accommodating groove is formed on the second side of the wearable element, the housing is disposed in the accommodating groove, the first fluid strip comprises a first branch tube, the first branch tube passes through the wearable element from the first side, extends into the accommodating groove and is connected to the first tubular member, and the second fluid strip comprises a second branch tube, the second branch tube passes through the wearable element from the first side, extends into the accommodating groove and is connected to the second tubular member.

7. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 6, wherein the accommodating groove has a bottom wall and a side wall connecting to and surrounding the bottom wall, a concave structure is formed on the side wall, and an edge of the housing is engaged with the concave structure.

8. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 7, wherein an engaging hole communicating with the concave structure is formed on the side wall of the accommodating groove, a projecting structure is formed on a side wall of the housing, and the projecting structure is inserted into the engaging hole.

9. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 6, wherein the first tubular member is inserted into the first branch tube, and the second tubular member is inserted into the second branch tube.

10. The pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the wearable element comprises a wrist band.