EARPHONE SENSOR SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ELECTROCARDIOGRAM SIGNALS

• US 20080027340A1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cheryl C.H. Yang, Enjoy Research, Inc., Terry B.J. Kuo
• Original Assignee: Cheryl C H Yang, Enjoy Research, Inc., Terry B J Kuo
• Inventors: Yang, Cheryl C. H., KUO, Terry B. J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

An earphone sensor system for measuring electrocardiogram signals provides convenient and comfortable noninvasive electrocardiogram signal measuring for a subject. The electrocardiogram signal measuring system includes an electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus and an earphone sensing apparatus. The electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus includes an amplifier module, a microcontroller, a display, a radio module and a housing having conductive contacts. The earphone sensing apparatus includes an earphone and an electrode. The electrode is disposed in the earphone, and can be electrically connected to the subject for collecting the weak electrocardiogram signal at the head of the subject. By contacting the body surface of the testee with the housing having conductive contacts and the electrode, a basic loop for collecting the electrocardiogram signals is formed. The earphone sensor system can be associated with commercial gadgets and used for musical treatments and bio-feedback.

Claims

1. An earphone sensor system for measuring electrocardiogram signals, the sensor system comprising:

an earphone sensing apparatus collecting an electrocardiogram signal from a head of a subject; and

an electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus electrically connected to said earphone sensing apparatus, performing a digital signal processing on the electrocardiogram signal to generate a digital electrocardiogram signal for monitoring.

2. The earphone sensor system of claim 1, wherein the earphone sensing apparatus comprises:

an earphone; and

an electrode disposed in the earphone for being electrically connected to the head of the subject so as to collect the electrocardiogram signal.

3. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus comprises:

an amplifier module amplifying the electrocardiogram signal to generate an amplified electrocardiogram signal;

a microcontroller performing digital signal processing on the amplified electrocardiogram signal; and

a housing having conductive contacts, serving as a ground electrode, wherein a basic loop for collecting the electrocardiogram signal is formed by contacting the body surface of the testee with the housing having conductive contacts and the electrode of the earphone sensing apparatus.

4. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein the electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus further comprises:

a display for the digital electrocardiogram signal on a screen of said display.

5. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein the electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus further comprises:

a radio module for the digital electrocardiogram signal, the modulated digital electrocardiogram signal being transmittable to a remote monitor in a wireless transmission manner.

6. The earphone sensor system of claim 5, wherein the radio module receives a wireless signal from the remote monitor.

7. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein the amplifier module comprises a pair of input stage filters respectively electrically connected to the electrode of the earphone sensing apparatus and the housing having conductive contacts for filtering the noise.

8. The earphone sensor system of claim 7, wherein the input stage filters are a resistor and a capacitor.

9. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein said amplifier module comprises a differential amplifier for the electrocardiogram signal, generating an amplified electrocardiogram signal, being in accordance with a voltage range of analog-to-digital conversion of said microcontroller.

10. The earphone sensor system of claim 9, wherein the differential amplifier is comprised of an integrated circuit operational amplifier or an instrumentation amplifier.

11. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein the amplifier module comprises an output stage filter for a signal having a frequency higher than twice sampling frequency in analog-to-digital conversion of said microcontroller.

12. The earphone sensor system of claim 11, wherein the output stage filter comprises a resistor and a capacitor.

13. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein an impedance of an input end of the amplifier module is larger than 200 kΩ

.

14. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein said microcontroller comprises:

an analog-to-digital conversion unit connected to said amplifier module, performing analog-to-digital conversion on the amplified electrocardiogram signal with the voltage resolution and the sampling rate, and generating said digital electrocardiogram signal; and

a microprocessing operation unit connected to said analog-to-digital conversion unit, performing Fourier Transform and digital signal processing of spectrum analysis on the digital electrocardiogram signal, and calculating heart rate variability data.

15. The earphone sensor system of claim 5, wherein said radio module comprises:

a modulator/demodulator for the digital electrocardiogram signal to become a modulated electrocardiogram signal; and

a wireless transceiver sending said modulated electrocardiogram signal to said remote monitor in a wireless transmission manner.

16. The earphone sensor system of claim 5, wherein the radio module performs radio transmission and receiving in a 2.4 GHz Industry Science Medical (ISM) frequency band.

17. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the earphone is of single-ear type or double-ear type.