PULSE SENSOR, PULSE METER, OXIMETER, JOYSTICK, AND HELMET

• US 20090227852A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eckard Glaser
• Original Assignee: Eckard Glaser
• Inventors: Glaser, Eckard
• Application Number:
  US12/093,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor

Abstract

This invention relates to a pulse sensor, comprising a radiation source (21, 22; 61, 62; 81, 82; 131, 132, 141, 142; 151, 152) for emitting photons and a photodetector (23; 63; 83; 133; 143; 153) for detecting the photons. The pulse sensor further comprises a holder (2, 3, 4; 53, 54; 130; 150) for fixing the radiation source and the photodetector to a person. Moreover, the pulse sensor comprises a connection (55; 165) to a pulse meter, wherein the pulse meter controls the radiation source (21, 22; 61, 62; 81, 82; 131, 132, 141, 142; 151, 152) and reads out the photodetector (23; 63; 83; 133; 143; 153) via the connection (55; 165). The pulse sensor finally comprises an stimulus generator (15, 16, 24, 41, 43, 44, 45; 52, 64; 75, 76, 84, 85; 134, 135, 144, 145; 156) attracting the attention of the person when the stimulus generator is activated by the pulse meter because the pulse of the person is outside a permitted range (107). Also, this invention relates to oximeters, joysticks and helmets.

Claims

1. A pulse sensor, comprising:

a radiation source (21, 22;

61, 62;

81, 82;

131, 132, 141, 142;

151, 152) for emitting photons;

a photodetector (23;

63;

83;

133;

143;

153) for detecting the photons;

a holder (2, 3, 4;

53, 54;

130;

150) for fixing the radiation source and the photodetector to a person; and

a connection (55;

165) to a pulse meter, wherein the pulse meter controls the radiation source (21, 22;

61, 62;

81, 82;

131, 132, 141, 142;

151, 152) and reads out the photodetector (23;

63;

83;

133;

143;

153) via the connection (55;

165),

characterized by

an stimulus generator (15, 16, 24, 41, 43, 44, 45;

52, 64;

75, 76, 84, 85;

134, 135, 144, 145;

154, 155, 156) for generating an stimulus attracting the attention of the person when the stimulus generator is activated by the pulse meter, wherein the stimulus generator (15, 16, 24, 41, 43, 44, 45;

52, 64;

75, 76, 84, 85;

134, 135, 144, 145;

154, 155, 156) is activated by the pulse meter when the pulse of the person is outside a permitted range (107).

2. The pulse sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulus generator is a buzzer (16, 52, 76).

3. The pulse sensor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimulus generator is a loudspeaker (156).

4. The pulse sensor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimulus generator is a bright LED (15;

75;

135, 145;

155).

5. The pulse sensor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimulus generator is a vibrator (43, 44, 45;

85).

6. The pulse sensor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimulus generator comprises two electrodes (24;

64;

84;

134, 144;

154) giving the person electric shocks.

7. The pulse sensor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation source comprises two different light sources, viz. an LED (21;

61;

81;

131, 141;

151) and an IRED (22;

62;

82;

132, 142;

152).

8. A pulse meter, comprising:

a pulse sensor according to claim 5 or claims 6 or 7, in as far as these are referred back to claim 5;

an evaluation circuit (25) supplied with the output signal of the photodetector (23;

63;

83;

133;

143;

153), for determining whether the pulse of the person is outside a permitted range (107), for controlling the radiation source (21, 22;

61, 62;

81, 82;

131, 132, 141, 142;

151, 152) and for activating the vibrator (43, 44, 45;

85) if the pulse of the person is outside the permitted range;

a housing (2, 3, 4) for accommodating the pulse sensor and the evaluation circuit, wherein the housing defines a battery case; and

a spring (43) fixed to one end of the battery case for pressing a battery (41;

47, 48) against a contact (46) on the opposite side of the battery case.

9. The pulse sensor according to claim 8, characterized in that the vibrator comprises:

a motor (44) driven by the evaluation circuit;

an eccentric (45) driven by the shaft of the motor (44); and

the contact (46) rotatably mounted on the eccentric (45) to press, if a battery (41) is inserted, the inserted battery (41) against the spring (43) so that, if a battery (41) is inserted and the eccentric (45) rotates, the spring (43) is periodically pressed together and the inserted battery (41) moves with respect to the battery case.

10. The pulse sensor according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the vibrator comprises:

a coil (49) generating a magnetic field when the coil (49) is flown through by a current, wherein the evaluation circuit (25) supplies an alternating voltage to the coil (49) if the pulse of the person is outside the permitted range (107); and

a magnet (50) on which the magnetic field of the coil exerts a force.

11. A pulse meter, comprising:

a pulse sensor according to one of claims 1 to 7;

an evaluation circuit (25) supplied with the output signal of the photodetector (23;

63;

83;

133;

143;

153), which controls the radiation source (21, 22;

61, 62;

81, 82;

131, 132, 141, 142;

151, 152) and is constructed to perform the following during operation;

determining the pulse of a person;

comparing the pulse with a total of four thresholds, viz. a lower warning threshold (105), a lower alarm threshold (106), an upper warning threshold (103) and an upper alarm threshold (104);

activating the stimulus generator (43, 44, 45;

85) in a warning mode if the pulse of the person is between the lower warning threshold (105) and the lower alarm threshold (106) or between the upper warning threshold (103) and the upper alarm threshold (104);

activating the stimulus generator (43, 44, 45;

85) in an alarm mode if the pulse of the person is above the upper alarm threshold (104) or below the lower alarm threshold (106).

12. An oximeter, comprising:

a pulse sensor according to claim 7;

an evaluation circuit (25) supplied with the output signal of the photodetector (23;

63;

83;

133;

143;

153), which controls the radiation source (21, 22;

61, 62;

81, 82;

131, 132, 141, 142;

151, 152) and is constructed to perform the following during operation;

determining the oxyhemoglobin content in the blood of a person;

comparing the oxyhemoglobin content with a threshold (94, 95);

activating the stimulus generator (43, 44, 45;

85) if the oxyhemoglobin content of the person is below the threshold (94, 95).

13. The oximeter according to claim 12, characterized in that the stimulus generator is a vibrator and that the vibrator comprises:

a coil (49) generating a magnetic field when the coil (49) is flown through by a current, wherein the evaluation circuit (25) supplies an alternating voltage to the coil (49) if the pulse of the person is outside the permitted range (107); and

a magnet (50) on which the magnetic field of the coil exerts a force.

14. A joystick (130), characterized by:

a radiation source (131, 132, 141, 142) for emitting photons;

a photodetector (133;

143) for detecting the photons, wherein, by holding the joystick by a person, the radiation source (131, 132, 141, 142) and the photodetector (133;

143) are fixed with respect to the fingers of the person; and

a connection (146) to a pulse meter, wherein the pulse meter controls the radiation source (131, 132, 141, 142) and reads out the photodetector (133;

143) via the connection (146).

15. The joystick according to claim 14, characterized by an stimulus generator (134, 135, 144, 145) for generating an stimulus attracting the attention of the person when the stimulus generator is activated by the pulse meter, wherein the stimulus generator (134, 135, 144, 145) is activated by the pulse meter when the pulse or the oxyhemoglobin content of the person are outside a permitted range (107).

16. A helmet (150), characterized by:

a radiation source (151, 152) for emitting photons;

a photodetector (153) for detecting the photons, wherein the radiation source (151, 152) and the photodetector (153) are fixed by the helmet with respect to the head of the person; and

a connection (165) to a pulse meter, wherein the pulse meter controls the radiation source (151, 152) and reads out the photodetector (153) via the connection (165).

17. The helmet (150) according to claim 16, characterized by an stimulus generator (154, 156) for generating an stimulus attracting the attention of the person when the stimulus generator is activated by the pulse meter, wherein the stimulus generator (154, 156) is activated by the pulse meter when the pulse of the person is outside a permitted range (107).