Portable biological information monitor apparatus and information management apparatus

• US 20050075553A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakashima, Tetsuya, Inokawa, Kazuya, Sakai, Kazuhiro, Nishii, Katsuyoshi, Kimura, Teiyuu
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms

Abstract

In a portable biological information monitor apparatus, a pulse wave detection signal obtained by light emission from a green LED and a body motion detection signal obtained by light emission from an infrared LED are detected as biological information. This biological information is analyzed to compute various barometers. In a wake normal mode of a set generation mode, body motion and pulse are calculated as wake evaluation barometers for evaluation of a test subject'"'"'s status in wake. In a wake steady state motion mode, body motion, pulse, and pitch are calculated as motion evaluation barometers for evaluation of the test subject'"'"'s status in steady state motion. In a sleep mode, body motion, pulse, and autonomic nervous function are calculated as sleep evaluation barometers for evaluation of the test subject'"'"'s status in sleep. Necessary barometers are thereby generated regardless of the test subject'"'"'s action using the portable monitor apparatus alone.

Claims

1. A portable biological information monitor apparatus which is attached to a body of a test subject when it is used, comprising:

biological information detection means for repeatedly detecting biological information reflecting at least one of pulse, body motion, and autonomic nervous function of the test subject;

barometer generation means that has a plurality of generation modes corresponding to the test subject'"'"'s actions and operates in any of the generation modes, wherein the generation modes include at least a first generation mode to generate a sleep evaluation barometer as a barometer for evaluation of a test subject'"'"'s status in sleep based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means and a second generation mode to generate a wake evaluation barometer as a barometer for evaluation of a test subject'"'"'s status in wake based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; and

storage means for storing the barometer generated by the barometer generation means.

2. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the barometer generation means changes timing for generation of the barometer in accordance with the generation mode.

3. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

action mode selection means for actuating the biological information detection means in one of a continuous action mode to always perform detection of the biological information and a limited action mode to perform the detection of the biological information only in a designated period, in accordance with a command from outside.

4. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

action determination means for, when the action mode is the continuous action mode, determining one of the generation modes corresponding to the test subject'"'"'s action based on the barometer generated by the barometer generation means; and

generation mode automatic selection means for selecting the generation mode of the barometer generation means in accordance with the result of determination by the action determination means.

5. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

generation mode manual selection means for, when the action mode is a limited action mode, selecting the generation mode of the barometer generation means in accordance with a command from the outside.

6. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

evaluation means for evaluating the test subject'"'"'s status based on the barometer generated by the barometer generation means.

7. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according claim 6,

wherein the evaluation means includes individual action evaluation means for evaluating the test subject'"'"'s status in each generation mode.

8. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the individual action evaluation means performs evaluation by using barometers generated in a predetermined period from all the barometers generated in a generation mode subjected to evaluation.

9. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the individual action evaluation means performs evaluation of sleep abnormality including at least one of arrhythmia, apnea, and hyperanakinesia, as the test subject'"'"'s status in sleep, from the sleep evaluation barometer.

10. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the sleep evaluation barometer for evaluation of the sleep abnormality includes at least one of a mean value of a coefficient indicating nonsingular fluctuation in pulse regardless of time order, and a ratio of appearance of the coefficient equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

11. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the evaluation means includes comprehensive evaluation means for comprehensively evaluating the test subject'"'"'s status based on the result of evaluation in each generation mode obtained by the individual action evaluation means.

12. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information detection means includes an optical pulse wave sensor to detect a pulse wave by utilizing a light absorbing characteristic of a blood component.

13. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information detection means includes an optical body motion sensor to detect body motion by utilizing reflected light from a surface of the body.

14. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

display means for displaying at least information generated in the apparatus.

15. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the storage means stores a past result, and

wherein the displaying means displays by retrieving the past result stored by the storage means.

16. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

communication means for performing communication with an external device.

17. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information detection means includes a biological status detection apparatus including:

a pulse wave sensor including a light emission unit to generate light being emitted to the test subject and a photoreception unit to receive reflected light from the test subject, wherein the pulse wave sensor outputs a pulse wave detection signal and a body motion detection signal, wherein the pulse wave detection signal includes a pulse component synchronized with pulse and a body motion component synchronized with body motion while the body motion detection signal includes the body motion component emphasized in comparison with the pulse wave detection signal;

analysis means for frequency-analyzing the pulse wave detection signal and the body motion detection signal outputted from the pulse wave sensor;

body motion determination means for determining occurrence and nonoccurrence of body motion based on at least a detection signal from the pulse wave sensor or the result of analysis by the analysis means;

steady state determination means for, when the body motion determination means determines that body motion occurs, determining a steady state of the body motion based on a result of analysis by the analysis means; and

pulse component extraction means for extracting the pulse component from the pulse wave detection signal, based on the result of analysis by the analysis means, a result of determination by the body motion determination means, and a result of determination by the steady state determination means.

18. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the light emission unit includes:

a first light emission device to emit light when the pulse wave sensor outputs the pulse wave detection signal; and

a second light emission device to emit light when the pulse wave sensor outputs the body motion detection signal.

19. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the first light emission device emits light including a wavelength to cause light absorption by blood component at a higher level than that of the second light emission device.

20. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the first light emission device emits light in a green area, and the second light emission device emits light in an infrared area.

21. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the pulse wave sensor includes:

a casing, accommodating the light emission unit and the photoreception unit, and including an opening in a portion through which light emitted from the light emission unit and reflected light to the photoreception unit pass; and

a light transmitting plate, provided in the opening of the casing, to transmit light,

wherein in the light transmitting plate, a first portion to transmit at least emitted light based on the first light emission device is projected outward from the casing.

22. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the pulse wave sensor includes:

a casing, accommodating the light emission unit and the photoreception unit, and including an opening in a portion through which light emitted from the light emission unit and reflected light to the photoreception unit pass; and

a light transmitting plate, provided in the opening of the casing, to transmit light,

wherein in the light transmitting plate, a first portion to transmit emitted light based on the first light emission device is projected outward from the casing further than a second portion to transmit emitted light based on the second light emission device.

23. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 22,

wherein in the casing, a peripheral portion of the opening is projected outward further than other portion in a surface where the opening is formed.

24. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the photoreception unit is a single photoreception device.

25. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the body motion determination means includes a first body motion determination means for, when amplitude of the body motion detection signal or a difference value of the body motion detection signal is greater than a preset threshold value, determining occurrence of body motion.

26. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the body motion determination means includes a second body motion determination means for, when an intensity ratio between a highest peak frequency component and a second highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal, within a frequency area including a fundamental wave of the pulse component, is equal to or less than a preset ratio, determining occurrence of body motion.

27. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the body motion determination means includes third body motion determination means for, when intensity of the highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal, within the frequency area including the fundamental wave of the pulse component, is equal to or less than that of a peak frequency component in the body motion detection signal including the same frequency as that of the highest peak frequency component, determining occurrence of body motion.

28. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the steady state determination means includes first steady state determination means for, when an intensity ration between a highest peak frequency component and a second highest peak frequency component in the body motion detection signal is higher than a preset ratio, determining the steady state of the body motion.

29. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the steady state determination means includes second steady state determination means for, when a highest peak frequency component and a second or third highest peak frequency component in the body motion detection signal are in relation of a fundamental wave to a second harmonic wave, determining the steady state of the body motion.

30. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the pulse component extraction means includes first pulse component extraction means for, when nonoccurrence of body motion is determined by the body motion determination means, extracting a highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal as the pulse component.

31. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the pulse component extraction means includes:

body motion component specifying means for, when the steady state of the body motion is determined by the steady state determination means, specifying a fundamental wave and a harmonic wave of the body motion component; and

second pulse component extraction means for, within the frequency area including the fundamental wave of the pulse component, an intensity ratio between a highest peak frequency component and a second highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal, except components corresponding to the fundamental wave and the harmonic wave specified by the body motion component specifying means, is higher than a predetermined ratio, extracting the highest peak frequency component as the pulse component.

32. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the pulse component extraction means includes:

overlap estimation means for estimating existence and absence of overlap between the pulse component and the body motion component, based on the highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal within a preset search range including a frequency of a pulse component specified in previous measurement as a central frequency, and the fundamental wave and the harmonic wave of the body motion component specified by the body motion component specifying means; and

third pulse component extraction means for, when absence of overlap is estimated by the overlap estimation means, extracting the highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal within the search range as the pulse component.

33. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 32,

wherein the pulse component extraction means includes fourth pulse component extraction means for, when existence of overlap is estimated by the overlap estimation means, estimating a frequency component corresponding to the pulse component, from the result of analysis by the analysis means within a preset range including the highest peak frequency component in the pulse wave detection signal within the search range as a central component.

34. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 33,

wherein the fourth pulse component extraction means standardizes intensity of the result of analysis of the pulse wave detection signal and the body motion detection signal, and estimates a frequency component including a maximum intensity difference between the both signals as the pulse component.

35. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 33,

wherein the fourth pulse component extraction means calculates a correlation value between the result of analysis of the pulse wave detection signal and that of the body motion detection signal by a preset section, and estimates a frequency component including a maximum intensity in a section where the correlation value is minimum as the pulse component.

36. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the biological status detection apparatus further includes barometer calculation means for calculating a barometer including at least one of a pulse rate and a pulse interval based on the pulse component extracted by the pulse component extraction means.

37. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the barometer calculation means obtains a weighted mean frequency, based on frequency components of the pulse wave detection signal in a preset frequency range including the pulse component extracted by the pulse component extraction means as a central component, with intensity of frequency component as weight, and calculates the barometer from the weighted mean frequency.

38. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the biological status detection apparatus further includes light emission intensity control means for controlling light emission intensity in the light emission unit based on amplitude of the pulse wave detection signal outputted from the photoreception unit.

39. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information detection means includes a pulse wave detection apparatus including:

light emission means for emitting light to the body;

photoreception means for receiving at least reflected light of the light emitted from the light emission means;

a light transmitting plate provided to face a light emitting side of the light emission means for transmitting light; and

a light shielding plate provided to cover a peripheral end of the light transmitting plate for blocking light,

wherein a pulse wave of the body is detected by making contact between a skin of the body and an outer surface of the light transmitting plate and the light shielding plate, wherein the outer surface is opposite to a surface that faces the light emission means and the photoreception means, and

wherein the light shielding plate restricts the photoreception means from receiving light emitted from outside of the pulse wave detection apparatus via the skin of the body.

40. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein material of the light shielding plate includes a light absorbing characteristic.

41. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein the outer surface of the light shielding plate is coated with light absorbing color.

42. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein the material of the light shielding plate includes a flexible characteristic so as to bring the outer surface of the light shielding plate into contact with the body'"'"'s skin without gap when the pulse wave detection apparatus is fixed to the body'"'"'s skin.

43. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein the outer surface of the light shielding plate includes unevenness so as not to be regarded as a mirror finished surface.

44. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein a light shielding convex member to cause a depressed portion in the skin when the pulse wave detection apparatus is fixed to the body'"'"'s skin is provided on the outer surface of the light shielding plate.

45. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 44,

wherein material of the light shielding convex member includes a flexible characteristic so as to bring the light shielding convex member into contact with the body'"'"'s skin without gap when the pulse wave detection apparatus is fixed to the body'"'"'s skin.

46. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 45,

wherein the light shielding convex member is arranged to surround the light transmitting plate.

47. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 46,

wherein a plurality of light shielding convex members are provided.

48. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 47,

wherein the plurality of light shielding convex members are arranged at random intervals.

49. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 46,

wherein each of the light shielding convex member is a projection line including a head end and a tail end.

50. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 49,

wherein at least one light shielding convex member is provided on a line connecting a gap, formed between the ends of the line projection of light shielding convex member in a position most distant from the light transmitting plate, among the plurality of light shielding convex members, with the light transmitting plate.

51. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein the photoreception means outputs a photoreception signal corresponding to a photoreception amount of received light, and

wherein the pulse wave detection apparatus further includes:

external light detection means for detecting external light that is emitted from outside of the pulse wave detection apparatus and received by the photoreception means, and for outputting an external light reception signal corresponding to a photoreception amount of the external light; and

pulse wave detection means for detecting the body'"'"'s pulse wave based on the external light reception signal and the photoreception signal upon light emission by the light emission means.

52. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information detection means includes a pulse wave detection apparatus including:

light emission means for emitting light to the body;

photoreception means for receiving at least reflected light of the light emitted from the light emission means, and outputting a photoreception signal corresponding to a photoreception amount of the received light;

external light detection means for detecting external light that is emitted from outside of the pulse wave detection apparatus and received by the photoreception means, and outputting an external light reception signal corresponding to a photoreception amount of the external light; and

pulse wave detection means for detecting the body'"'"'s pulse wave based on the external light reception signal and the photoreception signal upon light emission by the light emission means.

53. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 52,

wherein the pulse wave detection means detects the pulse wave based on a differentiated signal obtained by differentiation of the external light reception signal from the photoreception signal.

54. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 52,

wherein the external light detection means detects the external light when light emission by the light emission means is stopped.

55. The portable biological information monitor apparatus according to claim 54,

wherein the light emission means emits light intermittently, and

wherein the external light detection means detects the external light upon each stoppage of light emission by the light emission means.

56. An information management apparatus comprising:

first communication means for performing communication with a portable biological information monitor apparatus that is attached to a body of a test subject when it is used, wherein the portable biological information monitor apparatus includes,

biological information detection means for repeatedly detecting biological information reflecting at least one of pulse, body motion, and autonomic nervous function of the test subject,

barometer generation means that has a plurality of generation modes corresponding to the test subject'"'"'s actions and operates in any of the generation modes, wherein the generation modes include at least a first generation mode to generate a sleep evaluation barometer as a barometer for evaluation of a test subject'"'"'s status in sleep based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means and a second generation mode to generate a wake evaluation barometer as a barometer for evaluation of a test subject'"'"'s status in wake based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means, and storage means for storing the barometer generated by the barometer generation means, and

second communication means for performing communication with the first communication means;

information accumulation means for accumulating information obtained from the portable biological information monitor apparatus via the first communication means;

evaluation means for evaluating the test subject'"'"'s status based on the information accumulated in the information accumulation means; and

display means for displaying at least one of the information accumulated in the information accumulation means and the result of evaluation by the evaluation means.

57. The information management apparatus according to claim 56, further comprising remote control means for controlling operation of the portable biological information monitor apparatus via the first communication means.