BIOINFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE

• US 20090270698A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Shinji, Shioi, Masahiko, Miyamoto, Yoshiko
• Application Number:
  US12/067,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal

Abstract

A bioinformation measurement device that enables further accurate bioinformation measurement is provided. The device includes an insertion portion 104 to be inserted in an ear cavity 200; a first light inlet 105 and a second light inlet 106 provided at the insertion portion 104, for introducing the infrared light irradiated from the ear cavity 200 to the insertion portion 104; an optical guide path provided in the insertion portion 104 for guiding the first infrared light introduced from the first light inlet 105 and the second infrared light introduced from the second light inlet 106; a dispersive element for dispersing the first infrared light and the second infrared light guided by the optical guide path; an infrared ray detector 108 for detecting the first infrared light and the second infrared light dispersed by the dispersive element; and a computing unit for computing bioinformation based on the intensities of the first infrared light and the second infrared light detected by the infrared ray detector 108.

Claims

1. A bioinformation measurement device for measuring bioinformation based on an intensity of infrared light, the bioinformation measurement device comprising:

an insertion portion to be inserted in an ear cavity;

a first light inlet and a second light inlet provided at said insertion portion, for introducing infrared light irradiated from said ear cavity into said insertion portion;

an optical guide path provided in said insertion portion, for guiding first infrared light introduced from said first light inlet and second infrared light introduced from said second light inlet;

a dispersive element for dispersing said first infrared light and said second infrared light guided by said optical guide path; and

an infrared ray detector for detecting said first infrared light and said second infrared light dispersed by said dispersive element.

2. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a computing unit for computing bioinformation based on intensities of said first infrared light and said second infrared light detected by said infrared ray detector.

3. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said optical guide path comprises:

a first optical guide path for guiding said first infrared light introduced from said first light inlet; and

a second optical guide path for guiding said second infrared light introduced from said second light inlet.

4. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second light inlet is configured so that infrared light irradiated from an eardrum is not introduced.

5. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1,

wherein said insertion portion comprises:

an end portion directed toward the eardrum upon being inserted into the ear cavity; and

a side face,

said first light inlet being provided in said end portion of said insertion portion.

6. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second light inlet is provided at said side face of said insertion portion.

7. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a shielding portion provided at said insertion portion, for shielding said second light inlet from the infrared light irradiated from the eardrum.

8. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an optical path control unit for controlling an optical path of infrared light reaching said infrared ray detector.

9. The bioinformation measurement device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing unit further comprises a warning output unit for comparing the absolute value of the intensity difference between the intensity of said first infrared light and the intensity of said second infrared light with the threshold, and

outputting a warning when said absolute value of said intensity difference is smaller than said threshold.