APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL

• US 20130261405A1
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Hun, Cho, Jae-Geol
• Application Number:
  US13/855,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261405A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• 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 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for easily and accurately measuring a biological signal by using a wristwatch-type measurement module. After a band of the wristwatch-type measurement module is tightened to wear on a user'"'"'s wrist, the band is further tightened to make the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contact the user'"'"'s wrist. An operation mode of the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contacting the user'"'"'s wrist is switched from a normal mode to a measurement mode, and a user'"'"'s biological signal is measured from the user'"'"'s wrist through the wristwatch-type measurement module in the measurement mode. The user'"'"'s biological signal is then displayed through the wristwatch-type measurement module.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a biological signal, the apparatus comprising:

a first tightening portion for tightening a band of a wristwatch-type measurement module to wear on a user'"'"'s wrist;

a second tightening portion for further tightening the band to make the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contact the user'"'"'s wrist;

a button unit for switching an operation mode of the wristwatch-type measurement module;

a sensor unit for measuring a user'"'"'s biological signal from the user'"'"'s wrist which the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contacts; and

a display unit for displaying the user'"'"'s biological signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button unit switches the operation mode of the wristwatch-type measurement module from a normal mode to a measurement mode when the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contacts the user'"'"'s wrist.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor unit measures a user'"'"'s Electrocardiogram (EKG) or Photoplethysmography (PPG) signal from the user'"'"'s wrist when in the measurement mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor unit measures at least one of a number of heartbeats, blood pressure, a blood oxygen saturation level, a heart rhythm, a number of breaths, blood sugar, and a body temperature of the user from the user'"'"'s wrist when in the measurement mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the user'"'"'s biological signal to a server for exercise management and healthcare of the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the button unit switches the operation mode of the wristwatch-type measurement module from the measurement mode to the normal mode when the sensor unit completes the measurement of the user'"'"'s biological signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when in the normal mode, the second tightening portion loosens the band of the wristwatch-type measurement module, and

the wristwatch-type measurement module displays the time on the display unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second tightening portion is moved on predetermined saw-toothed grooves formed in the band in a first direction to further tighten the band, and is moved on the saw-toothed grooves in a direction opposite to the first direction to loosen the band.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second tightening portion moves a lever on the band in a first direction to further tighten the band, and moves the lever in a direction reverse to the first direction to loosen the band.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second tightening portion injects air into an inner side of the band to further tighten the band and exhausts the air injected into the inner side of the band to loosen the band.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second tightening portion rotates a Boa mechanism button in a pushed state in a first direction on the band to further tighten the band and pulls the Boa mechanism button to loosen the band.

12. A method for measuring a biological signal by using a wristwatch-type measurement module, the method comprising:

after tightening a band of the wristwatch-type measurement module to wear on a user'"'"'s wrist, further tightening the band to make the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contact the user'"'"'s wrist;

switching an operation mode of the wristwatch-type measurement module closely contacting the user'"'"'s wrist from a normal mode to a measurement mode;

measuring a user'"'"'s biological signal from the user'"'"'s wrist through the wristwatch-type measurement module in the measurement mode; and

displaying the user'"'"'s biological signal through the wristwatch-type measurement module.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein measuring the user'"'"'s biological signal comprises measuring a user'"'"'s Electrocardiogram (EKG) or Photoplethysmography (PPG) signal from the user'"'"'s wrist.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein measuring the user'"'"'s biological signal comprises measuring at least one of a number of heartbeats, blood pressure, a blood oxygen saturation level, a heart rhythm, a number of breaths, blood sugar, and a body temperature of the user from the user'"'"'s wrist.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the user'"'"'s biological signal to a server for exercise management and healthcare of the user through the wristwatch-type measurement module.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein switching the operation mode comprises switching the operation mode of the wristwatch-type measurement module from the measurement mode to the normal mode when the wristwatch-type measurement module completes the measurement of the user'"'"'s biological signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

loosening the band in the normal mode; and

displaying the time through the wristwatch-type measurement module.