Physiological information processing system

• US 10,159,442 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L
• Application Number:
  US15/281,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20170100077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal

Abstract

First and second sensors attached to a living body are connected to first and second input connectors respectively. An analog-to-digital converter converts a first analog voltage signal input from the first sensor through the first input connector into a first digital voltage signal. A first voltage-to-current converter converts the first digital voltage signal into a first analog current signal. A first interface connector outputs a second analog voltage signal and the first analog current signal, the second analog voltage signal being input from the second sensor through the second input connector. A physiological information processing apparatus has a second interface connector through which the first analog current signal and the second analog voltage signal are input to the physiological information processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A physiological information processing system comprising:

a first input connector to which a first sensor to be attached to a living body is connected;

a second input connector to which a second sensor to be attached to the living body is connected;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert a first analog voltage signal into a first digital voltage signal, the first analog voltage signal being input from the first sensor through the first input connector;

a first voltage-to-current converter configured to convert the first digital voltage signal into a first analog current signal;

a first interface connector configured to output a second analog voltage signal and the first analog current signal, the second analog voltage signal being input from the second sensor through the second input connector;

a physiological information processing apparatus comprising;

a second interface connector through which the first analog current signal and the second analog voltage signal are input to the physiological information processing apparatus;

a first signal processor to convert the first analog current signal into a first physiological information signal; and

a second signal processor to convert the second analog voltage signal into a second physiological information signal, the second physiological information signal being a digital voltage signal.

2. The physiological information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first physiological information signal is a digital voltage signal.

3. The physiological information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first interface connector is provided at a distal end of a cable and is connected directly to the second interface conductor.

4. The physiological information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first voltage-to-current converter comprises a resistor device.

5. The physiological information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a decoupling circuit provided between the analog-to-digital converter and the first voltage-to-current converter.

6. The physiological information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a housing on which at least one of a third input connector and a fourth input connector is provided,

wherein the first voltage-to-current converter is disposed inside the housing,

wherein the third input connector is connectable to a first output connector configured to output the first digital voltage signal, and

wherein the fourth input connector is connectable to a second output connector configured to output the second analog voltage signal.

7. The physiological information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second voltage-to-current converter provided inside the physiological information processing apparatus to convert the second physiological information signal into a second analog current signal to be output from the second interface connector;

a current-to-voltage converter configured to convert the second analog current signal into a second digital voltage signal, the second analog current signal being input from the first interface connector; and

an output terminal configured to output the second digital voltage signal.

8. A physiological information processing system comprising:

a first input terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being an analog signal;

a second input terminal configured to receive a second signal, the second signal being an analog signal;

a switch configured to output one of the first signal and the second signal as an analog output signal;

a first interface connector configured to output the analog output signal;

a physiological information processing apparatus comprising;

a second interface connector through which the analog output signal is input to the physiological information processing apparatus;

a signal processor to convert the analog output signal into a physiological information signal;

a signal selector to output a first selection signal to select one of the first signal and the second signal, the first selection signal being a digital voltage signal;

a voltage-to-current converter to convert the first selection signal into an analog current signal and to output the analog current signal from the second interface connector; and

a current-to-voltage converter configured to convert the analog current signal into a second selection signal, the analog current signal being input through the first interface connector, and the second selection signal being a digital voltage signal,

wherein the switch selects one of the first signal and the second signal based on the second selection signal.

9. The physiological information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the first signal is an output signal from a first sensor attached to a living body, and the second signal is an output signal from a second sensor attached to the living body.

10. The physiological information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the first signal is an output signal from a first device of a sensor attached to a living body, and the second signal is an output signal from a second device of the sensor.

11. A physiological information processing system comprising:

a first output terminal configured to be electrically connected to a first device of a sensor attached to a living body;

a second output terminal configured to be electrically connected to a second device of the sensor;

a physiological information processing apparatus comprising a first interface connector;

a device driving section provided inside the physiological information processing apparatus to output a device driving signal from the first interface connector, the device driving signal being an analog signal that drives the first device and the second device;

a second interface connector configured to receive the device driving signal;

a switch configured to output the device driving signal from one of the first output terminal and the second output terminal, the device driving signal being input from the second interface connector;

a signal selector provided inside the physiological information processing apparatus to output a first selection signal, the selection signal being a digital voltage signal;

a voltage-to-current converter provided inside the physiological information processing apparatus to convert the first selection signal into an analog current signal and to output the analog current signal from the first interface connector; and

a current-to-voltage converter configured to convert the analog current signal into a second selection signal, the analog current signal being input through the second interface connector, and the second selection signal being a digital voltage signal,

wherein the switch selects one of the first output terminal and the second output terminal based on the second selection signal.