LIVING BODY INFORMATION DETECTION APPARATUS AND BLOOD-PRESSURE METER

• US 20100298665A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Koizumi, Hiroshi, Mino, Shinji, Aihara, Kimihisa, Oguchi, Taisuke, Hayashida, Shoichi, Tatara, Naoe, Shimada, Junichi, Tochikubo, Osamu, UENISHI, Yuji, Naganuma, Kazunori, Sudo, Shouichi, Higurashi, Eiji
• Application Number:
  US12/847,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02208 using the Korotkoff method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound

Abstract

A living body information detection apparatus including a pair of arms opposed to each other. The apparatus including a spindle for connecting between the arms of the pair at each end of the arms. The apparatus further including a distance variable mechanism, provided in the spindle, for adjusting an interval between the other ends of the pair of arms. The apparatus also including a detection part, for detecting living body information, attached to the other end of at least one arm of the pair of arms on a side opposed to another arm.

Claims

1. A living body information detection apparatus, comprising:

a pair of arms opposed to each other;

a spindle for connecting between the arms of the pair at each end of the arms;

a distance variable mechanism, provided in the spindle, for adjusting an interval between the other ends of the pair of arms; and

a detection part, for detecting living body information, attached to the other end of at least one arm of the pair of arms on a side opposed to another arm.

2. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a rotation mechanism for rotating at least one arm of the pair of arms around the spindle as a center axis.

3. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection part is mounted on the top of an adjustment screw attached to a screw hole passing through the other end of the arm.

4. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one arm of the pair of arms is variable in length from the spindle to the other end.

5. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of arms is configured so as to pinch a part of an ear part of a human body with an arm placed on one side of the part of the ear part and an arm placed on another side of the part of the ear part.

6. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the part of the ear part is a part of an auricle and a periphery of the auricle.

7. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the part of the auricle is a part of a tragus and a periphery of the tragus.

8. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one arm of the pair of arms has a shape, on an opposite side of a side opposed to another arm of the pair of arms, that follows the concha auriculae or the cavity of the concha of the human body

9. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one arm of the pair of arms is provided with a cushion on an opposite side of a side opposed to another arm of the pair of arms.

10. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an ear suspension for suspending the living body information detection apparatus from a base of the auricle of the human body.

11. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ear suspension is detachable from a main body of the living body information detection apparatus.

12. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ear suspension and the cushion pull against each other using a force of magnets.

13. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a light shielding cover for shielding at least the detection part from the outside.

14. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a light shielding cover for shielding at least the detection part and the part of the ear part from the outside.

15. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure applying part.

16. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressure applying part is for applying a pressure on the part of the ear part.

17. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressure applying part includes a mechanism using an air pressure or an actuator.

18. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the detection part includes at least one of a photoelectric sensor including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, a pressure detection mechanism, a vibration sensor, and a Korotkov sound detection mechanism.

19. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a speaker, in the pair of arms, for transmitting a sound signal.

20. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection part is a light-emitting element for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of the auricle and a light-receiving element for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue.

21. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressure applying part is attached to the other end of at least one arm of the pair of arms on a side opposed to another arm.

22. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pressure applying part is a cuff, and the living body information detection apparatus further comprises an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the cuff, and the air pipe is shaped like an ear suspension for suspending from the base of the auricle of the human body.

23. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising a pinching part, on the air pipe, for fixing the air pipe to the earlobe.

24. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure applying part includes at least one cuff, and a projected shape obtained by projecting the cuff to a contacting part of the ear part is round, elliptic, or rounded quadrangular.

25. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the at least one cuff includes a cuff in which the diameter or the minor axis of the round shape or the elliptic shape is equal to or less than 11 mm.

26. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the part of the ear part is a part of an auricle and a periphery of the auricle.

27. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the part of the auricle and the periphery of the auricle is a part of a tragus and a periphery of the tragus.

28. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pressure applying part is a cuff, and the part of the ear part is a tragus, wherein the cuff includes the detection part on the inside of a surface contacting the tragus, and a part, of the cuff, contacting the detection part is composed of a transparent material, and other parts of the cuff are composed of a light-shielding material or a dark material.

29. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pressure applying part is a cuff, the part of the ear part is a tragus, and the detection part is fixed to a surface of the cuff contacting the tragus.

30. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cuff for applying a pressure on a tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of an arm, in the pair of arms, placed on the inside or the outside of the tragus of the human body, and on a side opposed to another arm placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body;

a light-emitting element, that is a part of the detection part and that is provided in the cuff, for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of an auricle;

a light-receiving element, that is a part of the detection part and that is provided in the cuff, for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue; and

an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the cuff.

31. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cuff for applying a pressure on a tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of an arm, in the pair of arms, placed on one side of the inside and the outside of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body;

a light-emitting element, that is a part of the detection part, for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of an auricle, the light-emitting element being provided on the other end of an arm, in the pair of arms, placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the one side of the tragus of the human body;

a light-receiving element, that is a part of the detection part, for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue, the light-receiving element being provided on the other end of an arm, in the pair of arms, placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the one side of the tragus of the human body; and

an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the cuff.

32. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cuff for applying a pressure on a tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of an arm, in the pair of arms, placed on one side of the inside and the outside of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body;

a light-emitting element, that is a part of the sensor and that is provided in the cuff, for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of an auricle;

a light-receiving element, that is a part of the sensor, for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue, the light-receiving element being provided on the other end of an arm, in the pair of arms, placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the one side of the tragus of the human body; and

an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the cuff.

33. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cuff for applying a pressure on a tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of an arm, of the pair of arms, placed on one side of the inside and the outside of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body;

a light-emitting element, that is a part of the detection part, for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of an auricle, the light-emitting element provided on the other end of an arm, of the pair of arms, placed on the other side of the tragus of the human body, and provided on a side opposed to another arm placed on the one side of the tragus of the human body;

a light-receiving element, that is a part of the sensor and that is provided in the cuff, for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue; and

an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the cuff.

34. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first cuff for applying a pressure on a tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of the arm, of the pair of arms, placed on the outside of the tragus of the human body, and on a side opposed to another arm placed on the inside of the tragus of the human body;

a second cuff for applying a pressure on the tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of the arm, of the pair of arms, placed on the inside of the tragus of the human body, and on a side opposed to another arm placed on the outside of the tragus of the human body;

a light-emitting element, that is a part of the detection part, for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of an auricle, and a light-receiving element, that is a part of the detection part, for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element being provided in the first cuff or the second cuff; and

an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the first cuff and the second cuff.

35. The living body information detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first cuff for applying a pressure on a tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of the arm, of the pair of arms, placed on the outside of the tragus of the human body, and on a side opposed to another arm placed on the inside of the tragus of the human body;

a second cuff for applying a pressure on the tragus, the cuff being provided on the other end of the arm, of the pair of arms, placed on the inside of the tragus of the human body, and on a side opposed to another arm placed on the outside of the tragus of the human body;

a light-emitting element, that is a part of the detection part and that is provided in one of the first cuff and the second cuff, for causing output light to enter a living body tissue of an auricle;

a light-receiving element, that is a part of the detection part and that is provided in the other cuff, for receiving scattered light from the living body tissue; and

an air pipe for supplying and releasing air in the first cuff and the second cuff.