Wrist band transducer support and tensioning apparatus

• US 4,307,727 A
• Filed: 10/15/1979
• Issued: 12/29/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald L. Broadwater Sr, Tech Engineering and Design Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ronald L. Broadwater Sr, Tech Engineering and Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Haynes, Russell R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US06/084,947
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 128/644, 128/687-690, 63/5 R, 63/9, 2/311-312, 2/317, 2/319, 2/325, 2/337, 24/31 R, 24/33 R, 24/31 H, 24/32
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

A digital watch is utilized to measure blood pressure or heart rate by means of a pressure transducer that contacts the wrist adjacent the radial artery of the wrist and generates electrical pulses corresponding to the blood pressure pulses of the radial artery. A support member is pivotally connected at one end to the watch band and the member supports the transducer at its other end. The support member engages a sliding switch in a first position to hold the transducer in contact with the wrist. The switch engages the hinged member in a second position to hold the transducer out of contact with the wrist. A micro switch supplies power to the blood pressure pulse analyzing circuitry of the watch when the transducer contacts the wrist. The tension of the wrist band is adjusted by a housing that connects two ends of the band and that slidably supports a cam follower and rotatably supports a cam. The cam follower has a tab that engages a spiral groove in the cam. When the cam is rotated, the tab of the cam follower moves along the groove and the cam follower is thereby caused to slide in the housing. The sliding movement of the follower in response to the rotation of the cam either shortens or lengthens the band, thereby adjusting the tension of the band with respect to a wearer'"'"'s wrist and the corresponding contact pressure between the engaged transducer and the wrist.

Claims

1. In a pulse analyzing apparatus of a type wherein the blood pressure pulses of the radial artery of the wrist are sensed by a transducer and the transducer and an associated casing containing electrical circuit elements are supported by a band fitted around the wrist, the improvement of transducer support apparatus, comprising:

transducer support means pivotally connected at one end to said band and supporting said transducer means at an opposite end;

positioning means for engaging said transducer support means in a first position to hold the transducer in contact with the wrist adjacent the radial artery and for engaging said transducer support means in a second position to disengage the transducer from the wrist; and

switch means responsive to the engagement of the transducer with a portion of the wrist adjacent the radial artery for energizing at least a portion of said electrical circuit elements.

2. In a wrist watch of a type wherein a watch casing containing electronic circuit elements and a transducer for measuring blood pressure pulses of the radial artery of the wrist are supported on the wrist by a band fitted around the wrist, the improvement of transducer positioning and tensioning apparatus comprising:

housing means linking a first and a second end of said band, one end of said housing means being affixed to the first end of the band;

cam means rotatably supported in said housing means, the cam means including a curved cam track means and a slot means for rotating the cam means;

cam follower means slidably supported in said housing means and affixed to the second end of the band, the cam follower means having means for engaging the cam track means of said cam means to follow a path defined by the cam track means when the cam means is rotated, the rotation of the cam means causing the cam follower to slide in said housing means to adjust the tension of the band and the contact pressure between the transducer and a portion of the wrist adjacent the radial artery;

transducer support means pivotally connected at one end to said band and supporting said transducer at an opposite end;

positioning means for engaging said transducer support means in a first position to hold the transducer in contact with the wrist adjacent the radial artery and for engaging said transducer support means in a second position to disengage the transducer from the wrist; and

switch means responsive to the engagement of the transducer with a portion of the wrist adjacent the radial artery for energizing at least a portion of said electrical circuit elements.