PERIPHERAL PHYSIOLOGY INSPECTION APPARATUS AND PERIPHERAL AUXILIARY APPARATUS OF SMART PHONE

• US 20120116184A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Cheng KUNG University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Cheng KUNG University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Shieh, Dar-Bin
• Granted Patent: US 9,241,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• 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 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone is connected with a smart phone having a TRRS socket for performing a physiology inspection. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus includes: an inspection main body including a first physiology sensing unit; a plurality of signal transmission units; and a TRRS terminal for connecting with the inspection main body via the signal transmission units. The TRRS terminal is corresponding to the TRRS socket for allowing the inspection main body to be electrically connected to the smart phone, thereby enabling the smart phone to analyze and process physiology signals inspected by and delivered from the inspection main body.

Claims

1. A peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone, which is connected with a smart phone having a TRRS socket for performing a physiology inspection, the peripheral physiology inspection apparatus comprising:

an inspection main body including a first physiology sensing unit;

a plurality of signal transmission units; and

a TRRS terminal for connecting with the inspection main body via the signal transmission units, the TRRS terminal being corresponding to the TRRS socket for allowing the inspection main body to be electrically connected to the smart phone, thereby enabling the smart phone to analyze and process physiology signals inspected by and delivered from the inspection main body.

2. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a signal conversion interface disposed between the inspection main body and the smart phone for converting the physiology signal inspected by the inspection main body into an audio signal, so as to allow the smart phone to receive the audio signal through the TRRS socket.

3. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inspection main body further includes a second physiology sensing unit, and an electrode plate disposed on the second physiology sensing unit.

4. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second physiology sensing unit is disposed on a switch.

5. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and the second physiology sensing units are connected with each other by the signal transmission units.

6. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first physiology sensing unit is an earphone-type physiology sensing unit comprising:

at least one earphone main body;

a conductive surface disposed on the earphone main body; and

a temperature-sensing element disposed in the earphone main body for sensing a body temperature of ear cavity of a human body.

7. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 6, wherein the temperature-sensing element is a thermistor, a thermal resistor, a thermal coupler, a thermal IC, a P/N junction, or an infrared temperature-sensing element.

8. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first physiology sensing unit is an earphone-type physiology sensing unit comprising:

at least one earphone main body;

a light emitting element disposed on the earphone main body for emitting a reference light; and

a light receiving element disposed on the earphone main body for receiving the reference light reflected by ear cavity skin of a human body.

9. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light emitting element is a pulse oximetry LED, and the light receiving element is a light sensor.

10. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first physiology sensing unit is an earphone-type physiology sensing unit comprising:

at least one earphone main body defined therein a channel space;

an infrared transparent drum membrane disposed inside the earphone main body and facing to the channel space; and

an NIR sensing element disposed inside the earphone main body and facing to the channel space through the infrared transparent drum membrane.

11. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the earphone-type physiology sensing unit further includes a fiber for connecting the earphone main body to the NIR sensing element.

12. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second physiology sensing unit is an oral-type physiology sensing unit.

13. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second physiology sensing unit further includes at least one auxiliary element.

14. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a terminal receiver for connecting to the inspection main body via the signal transmission units.

15. The peripheral physiology inspection apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an accommodation element for allowing the peripheral physiology inspection apparatus to form a closed shape.

16. A peripheral auxiliary apparatus of smart phone for use with a smart phone having a TRRS socket, the peripheral auxiliary apparatus comprising:

a shell having a receiving part for receiving the smart phone, a TRRS terminal, and a TRRS terminal receiver;

a battery unit disposed inside the shell;

a power management unit electrically connected to the battery unit;

a first conductive unit disposed on the shell;

a second conductive unit disposed on the shell for contacting the first conductive unit correspondingly, the second conductive unit being electrically connected to the power management unit; and

a signal conversion unit disposed in the shell and electrically connected to the first conductive unit,

wherein the TRRS terminal and the TRRS terminal receiver are electrically connected with the signal conversion unit, and the TRRS terminal is inserted into the TRRS socket of the smart phone correspondingly.

17. The peripheral auxiliary apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 16, wherein the battery unit is a Li-polymer battery.

18. The peripheral auxiliary apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shell further includes a connection port, and the connection port is a 30-pin connection port.

19. The peripheral auxiliary apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shell further includes an USB connection port electrically connected with the connection port.

20. The peripheral auxiliary apparatus of smart phone as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shell includes an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell and the lower shell are combined correspondingly to form the receiving part.