Heart rate monitoring unit

• US 20060149158A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Fujii, Kazuhiro, Suzuki, Toshikuni, Irie, Yoshinori, Shiraishi, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/519
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A heart rate monitoring unit including a heart rate monitor and a belt. The heart rate monitor includes a base having a length defining a longitudinal axis, an electronics unit portion, a first electrode portion, and a first belt connection portion. The electronics unit portion has a first end proximate the first electrode portion and a second end distal from the first electrode portion. The first electrode portion has a first end proximate the electronics unit portion and a second end distal from the electronics unit portion. The first belt connection portion is disposed between the second end of the electronics unit portion and the second end of first electrode portion. The base includes a first electrode secured to the first electrode portion, and an electronics unit secured to the electronics unit portion.

Claims

1. A heart rate monitor comprising,

at least one electrode,

an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit is in electrical communication with the at least one electrode, and

a base, wherein the electronics unit and the at least one electrode are supported by the base, the base includes a first bridging portion defined between the electronics unit and the at least one electrode, and the first bridging portion includes at least one belt connection portion.

2. The heart rate monitor of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode comprises first and second electrodes, the base has a length defining a longitudinal axis, the electronics unit is disposed between the first and second electrodes along the longitudinal axis, the first bridging portion is defined between the first electrode and electronics unit, and the base further comprises a second bridging portion defined between the second electrode and the electronics unit.

3. The heart rate monitor of claim 2 wherein the at least one belt connection portion comprises first and second belt connection portions, and the first belt connection portion is disposed on the first bridging portion and the second belt connection portion is disposed on the second bridging portion.

4. The heart rate monitor of claim 1 wherein the at least one belt connection portion comprises an opening defined in the first bridging portion and the opening includes a notch defined therein.

5. The heart rate monitor of claim 3 wherein the first and second belt connection portions comprise first and second openings defined in the first and second bridging portions, and wherein the first and second openings each include a notch defined therein.

6. The heart rate monitor of claim 1 wherein the base is conformable to a user'"'"'s body part.

7. The heart rate monitor of claim 1 wherein the base has an arcuate shape.

8. The heart rate monitor of claim 1 wherein the first bridging portion includes a constricted portion.

9. The heart rate monitor of claim 3 wherein the first and second bridging portions each include a constricted portion.

10. The heart rate monitor of claim 8 wherein the at least one electrode defines a first width, the constricted portion defines a second width, and the first width is greater than the second width.

11. The heart rate monitor of claim 3 further comprising a belt having first and second opposite ends, wherein the first end includes a first belt connector and the second end includes a second belt connector, and the first and second belt connectors are coupled with the first and second belt connection portions, respectively.

12. The heart rate monitor of claim 11 wherein the first and second belt connection portions comprise first and second openings that each have a notch defined therein, and the first and second belt connectors each comprise a cylindrical portion having a flange extending therefrom, and

wherein the cylindrical portion of the first belt connector is received by the first opening notch and the cylindrical portion of the second belt connector is received by the second opening notch.

13. The heart rate monitor of claim 11 wherein the first and second belt connection portions each comprise a cylindrical portion having a flange extending therefrom, and the first and second belt connectors comprise first and second openings that each have a notch defined therein, and

wherein the cylindrical portion of the first belt connection portion is received by the first opening notch and the cylindrical portion of the second belt connection portion is received by the second opening notch.

14. The heart rate monitor of claim 1 wherein the heart rate monitor is secured to a user'"'"'s body by a belt, the belt includes at least one belt connector that is coupled to the at least one belt connection portion of the base, and the at least one electrode is positioned between the belt and the user'"'"'s body.

15. A heart rate monitor base comprising,

first and second electrode portions,

an electronics unit portion disposed between the first and second electrode portions, wherein a first bridging portion is defined between the first electrode portion and the electronics unit portion and a second bridging portion is defined between the second electrode portion and the electronics unit portion, and

wherein the first bridging portion includes a first belt connection portion and the second bridging portion includes a second belt connection portion.

16. A heart rate monitoring unit comprising,

a. a heart rate monitor, the heart rate monitor including

i. a base, wherein the base has a length defining a longitudinal axis, and is conformable to a user'"'"'s chest,

ii. an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit is supported by the base,

iii. first and second electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes are supported by the base, the electronics unit is disposed between the first and second electrodes along the longitudinal axis, and the first and second electrodes are in electrical communication with the electronics unit, and

iv. wherein base includes a first bridging portion defined between the electronics unit and the first electrode and a second bridging portion defined between the electronics unit and the second electrode, the first and second bridging portions have first and second openings defined therein, respectively, and the first and second openings each have a notch defined therein, and

b. a belt having first and second opposite ends, wherein the first end includes a first belt connector and the second end includes a second belt connector,

i. wherein the first and second belt connectors each include a cylindrical portion having a flange extending therefrom, and

ii. wherein the cylindrical portion of the first belt connector is received by the first opening notch and the cylindrical portion of the second belt connector is received by the second opening notch.

17. A heart rate monitor base having a length defining a longitudinal axis, the base comprising:

a. an electronics unit portion,

b. a first electrode portion, and

c. a first belt connection portion, wherein the electronics unit portion has a first end proximate the first electrode portion and a second end distal from the first electrode portion, the first electrode portion has a first end proximate the electronics unit portion and a second end distal from the electronics unit portion, the first belt connection portion is disposed between the second end of the electronics unit portion and the second end of first electrode portion.

18. The heart rate monitor base of claim 17 further comprising:

a. a second electrode portion having a first end proximate the second end of the electronics unit portion and a second end distal from the electronics unit portion, and

b. a second belt connection portion disposed between the first end of the electronics unit portion and the second end of the second electrode portion, wherein the second belt connection portion projects away from the electronics unit portion.

19. A heart rate monitor comprising:

the heart rate monitor base of claim 17,

a first electrode secured to the first electrode portion, and

an electronics unit secured to the electronics unit portion.

20. A heart rate monitor comprising:

the heart rate monitor base of claim 18,

a first electrode secured to the first electrode portion,

a second electrode secured to the second electrode portion, and

an electronics unit secured to the electronics unit portion.

21. A heart rate monitoring unit, comprising:

a. the heart rate monitor of claim 19, and

b. a belt having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the belt is connected to the first belt connection portion.

22. A heart rate monitoring unit, comprising:

a. The heart rate monitor base of claim 20;

and

b. a belt having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the belt is connected to the first belt connection portion, and the second end of the belt is connected to the second belt connection portion.

23. The heart rate monitoring unit of claim 22

wherein at least a portion of the first belt connection portion overlaps with at least a portion of the first electrode portion along the longitudinal axis, and at least a portion of the second belt connection portion overlaps with at least a portion of the second electrode portion along the longitudinal axis, and

wherein the second ends of the first and second electrode portions are each connected to the belt at a point between the first and second opposite ends of the belt.

24. The heart rate monitoring unit of claim 22 wherein the first and second ends of the belt include first and second belt connectors, respectively, and the first and second belt connectors are connected to the first and second belt connection portions of the base, respectively.

25. The heart rate monitoring unit of claim 24 wherein the first and second belt connectors each comprise a disc, and the first and second belt connection portions each comprise an opening defined therein for receiving the discs of the first and second belt connectors.

26. The heart rate monitoring unit of claim 23 wherein the second ends of the first and second electrode portions are adjustably connected to the belt.

27. The heart rate monitoring unit of claim 22 wherein the first and second electrode portions are pivotable with respect to the electronics unit portion and the first and second belt connection portions, respectively.

28. The heart rate monitor base of claim 17 wherein the base is comprised of a flexible rubber.

29. The heart rate monitor base of claim 17 wherein the first belt connection portion is secured to the electronics unit portion.

30. The heart rate monitoring base of claim 17 wherein the first belt connection portion overlaps the first electrode portion along the longitudinal axis.

31. The heart rate monitoring unit of claim 21 wherein the belt overlaps the first electrode portion.