BIOLOGICAL-SIGNAL MEASUREMENT DEVICE, BIOLOGICAL-SIGNAL MEASUREMENT METHOD, WEARABLE ACTION ASSISTANCE DEVICE, AND ACTION ASSISTANCE METHOD

• US 20170127962A1
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cyberdyne Inc., University of Tsukuba
• Original Assignee: Cyberdyne Inc., University of Tsukuba
• Inventors: SANKAI, Yoshiyuki
• Application Number:
  US15/320,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20170127962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

According to the present invention, various biological signals can be measured at an appropriate position without depending on an expert. A biological-signal measurement device includes a sensor 1 that is in contact with a nerve fiber N and detects a nerve action potential generated in the nerve fiber N, a signal processor 2 that is connected to the sensor 1 via wiring 5, the signal processor 2 obtaining a signal based on the nerve action potential from the sensor 1 and wirelessly transmitting the obtained signal, and a receiving/transmitting unit 3 that receives the signal from the signal processor 2. The sensor 1 and the signal processor 2 are embedded in a body. The receiving/transmitting unit 3 receives the signal from the signal processor 2 via skin S.

Claims

1. A biological-signal measurement device comprising:

a sensor that detects a nerve action potential generated in a nerve fiber;

a signal processor that is connected to the sensor via wiring, the signal processor obtaining a signal based on the nerve action potential from the sensor and wirelessly transmitting the obtained signal; and

a receiving/transmitting unit that receives the signal from the signal processor.

2. The biological-signal measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stimulation sensor that provides an electrical stimulus to biological tissue,

wherein the receiving/transmitting unit transmits, to the signal processor, an instruction about a timing or strength of the electrical stimulus that is to be supplied to the biological tissue, and

wherein the signal processor generates a stimulus signal on the basis of the received instruction, and provides the electrical stimulus to the biological tissue by using the stimulation sensor.

3. The biological-signal measurement device according to claim 2,

wherein the instruction for the electrical stimulus is determined on the basis of the nerve action potential detected by the sensor.

5. A wearable action assistance device comprising:

a frame that is worn along a skeleton of a wearer;

a driving source that supplies power to the wearer through the frame;

the biological-signal measurement device according to claim 1 that measures a nerve action potential generated in accordance with an instruction from a brain of the wearer;

a detecting unit that detects an angle of a joint of the wearer; and

a control unit that produces, in the driving source, power according to the nerve action potential and the angle of a joint.

6. An action assistance method using the wearable action assistance device according to claim 5, the method comprising:

detecting, from the sensor, the nerve action potential at a position located between the brain and a torn portion of a spinal cord of the wearer, the nerve action potential being generated in accordance with the instruction from the brain;

by using the signal processor, obtaining the signal based on the nerve action potential from the sensor via the wiring;

by using the signal processor, wirelessly transmitting the obtained signal to the receiving/transmitting unit located outside the body;

by using the receiving/transmitting unit, outputting the received signal to the control unit; and

by using the control unit, producing, in the driving source, the power according to the nerve action potential and the angle of a joint.

4. A biological-signal measurement method comprising:

bringing a sensor into contact with a nerve fiber and detecting a nerve action potential generated in the nerve fiber;

by using a signal processor in a body, obtaining a signal based on the nerve action potential from the sensor through wiring; and

by using the signal processor, wirelessly transmitting the obtained signal to a receiving/transmitting unit located outside the body.