WIRELESS PLETHYSMOGRAM SENSOR UNIT, A PROCESSING UNIT FOR PLETHYSMOGRAM AND A PLETHYSMOGRAM SYSTEM

• US 20120022382A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Terumoto, Koji, Tanaka, Masahide, Nakahara, Ken, Daisuke, Niwa, Oguchi, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,795,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/481
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/164 Lie detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger

Abstract

A wireless plethysmogram sensor unit is capable of obtaining a plethysmogram from a living tissue of a measuring object and of transmitting the plethysmogram to a processing unit outside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a light source to emit measuring light into the living tissue and a light receiving element to receive light emerging from the tissue, which is accompanied by pulsation caused by absorption by arteries in the tissue. A memory stores a plethysmogram obtained in accordance with the light received by the light receiving element. A short range wireless communicator transmits the plethysmogram to the processing unit. A power source provides power to other elements in the sensor unit, and a controller controls the elements of the sensor unit.

Claims

1. A wireless plethysmogram sensor unit capable of obtaining a plethysmogram from a living tissue of a measuring object and of transmitting the obtained plethysmogram to a processing unit outside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit comprising:

a light source provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to emit measuring light into the living tissue;

a light receiving element provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to receive light emerging from the living tissue which is the measuring light in origin and accompanied by pulsation caused by absorption by arteries in the living tissue;

a memory provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to store a plethysmogram obtained in accordance with the light received by the light receiving element;

a short range wireless communicator provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to transmit the plethysmogram stored in the memory to the processing unit;

a power source provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit to power elements provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit; and

a controller provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to control the elements provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit.

2. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to transmit information for identifying the plethysmogram sensor unit.

3. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to transmit information for identifying the measuring object.

4. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 wherein the power source includes a rechargeable battery and a charging arrangement capable of receiving electric power from the outside.

5. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 4 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of whether or not the charging arrangement is in a condition for receiving electric power from the outside.

6. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 5 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of whether or not the charging has been completed with the charging arrangement in a condition for receiving electric power from the outside.

7. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to receive an instruction from the processing unit related to one of the measurement and the transmission of a plethysmogram.

8. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 further comprising an environmental change sensor provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit, wherein the controller is arranged to autonomously control the light source and the light receiving element so as to carry out a measurement in response to the environmental change sensor.

9. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 further comprising a timer provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit, wherein the controller is arranged to autonomously control the light source and the light receiving element so as to carry out a measurement in response to the timer.

10. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of the condition of the power source.

11. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of whether or not the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit is attached to the measuring object.

12. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to receive information relating to a plethysmogram obtained by another wireless plethysmogram sensor unit.

13. The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the plethysmogram is of a human being and utilized for any one of monitoring a training approach in a gym, confirming safety for a solitary life, and conditioning the progress of an amusement device, to which a human being relates.

14. A processing unit capable of receiving plethysmogram from a plurality of wireless plethysmogram sensor units including the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to claim 1 comprising a short range wireless communicator arranged to receive a plethysmogram from a wireless plethysmogram sensor unit.

15. A processing unit capable of receiving a plethysmogram from a plurality of outside plethysmogram sensor units, the plethysmogram being a measurement of living tissue in a measuring object, comprising:

a communicator arranged to receive a plethysmogram from one of the plethysmogram sensor units; and

a processor arranged to process the received plethysmogram.

16. The processing unit according to claim 15 further comprising a receiver arranged to receive information for identifying a plethysmogram sensor unit, wherein the processor is arranged to process a plethysmogram regardless of the plethysmogram sensor unit by compensating for the data spread inherent to each plethysmogram sensor unit.

17. The processing unit according to claim 15 further comprising a receiver arranged to receive information for identifying a measuring object, wherein the processor is arranged to process a plethysmogram from the identified measuring object regardless of the combination of plethysmogram sensor unit and measuring object by compensating for the data spread inherent to the specific measurement of the identified measuring object by the identified plethysmogram sensor unit.

18. The processing unit according to claim 15 further comprising a charger commonly used by the plurality of outside plethysmogram sensor units.

19. A plethysmogram system comprising:

a plethysmogram sensor unit capable of obtaining a plethysmogram of living tissue in a human being; and

a controller arranged to utilize the obtained plethysmogram for conditioning the progress of an amusement device, to which the human being relates.

20. The plethysmogram system according to claim 19 further comprising:

a visual signal generator relating to the progress of an amusement device, and

an audio signal generator relating to progress of an amusement device,

wherein the controller is arranged to control either one of the visual signal generator and the audio signal generator using the obtained plethysmogram incorporated into the condition for progress of the amusement device.