Sphygmometer for determining a pulse rate in combination with a pen

• US 5,215,097 A
• Filed: 09/05/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winners Japan Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Winners Japan Company Limited
• Inventors: Watabe, Yusaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US07/759,801
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 128/680, 128/681, 128/686, 128/687, 128/689, 128/690, 128/691, 128/693, 128/709, 128/710, 128/713, 128/714
• US Class Current: 600/502
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0418 Pen-shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient

Abstract

A sphygmometer digitally displays a pulse rate merely by bringing a sensor into contact with skin covering an artery. The sphygmometer includes a main body, pulse sensing device for sensing pulse in such a manner that the pulse sensing device is directly or indirectly brought in contact with skin covering an artery, a display provided in the main body for digitally displaying pulse data and a microcomputer provided in the main body for arithmetically computing the pulse rate per minute on the basis of pulses in predetermined seconds sensed by the pulse sensing device and transmitting a signal corresponding to the computer pulse rate to the display.

Claims

1. A sphygmometer device for measuring a pulse rate, said device comprising:

a casing in the form of an elongated cylindrical main body having opposite axial ends, said body being divided into first and second axially spaced body sections;

said first body section having an opening at the respective said main body axial end;

pulse sensing means, positioned within said first body section adjacent said opening and adapted to be brought directly or indirectly into contact with skin covering an artery, for sensing pulses through such artery and for generating signals representative thereof;

display means, within said first body section, for digitally displaying outwardly of said first body section data relating to pulses sensed by said pulse sensing means;

microcomputer means, within said first body section and operatively connected to said pulse sensing means and to said display means, for receiving said signals from said pulse sensing means, for computing a pulse rate per minute based on pulses detected by said pulse sensing means for a period of time different than one minute, and for transmitting to said display means a signal corresponding to said computed pulse rate, such that said display means may digitally display said computed pulse rate; and

pen means, positioned within said second body section and operable through the respective main body axial end, for enabling a user of said device to selectively write information relating to data displayed by said display means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pen means includes a pen point connected to an ink tube.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pen means includes a pen point projectable from and retractable into said second section.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising operating means connected to said first and second body sections for enabling projection and retraction of said pen point.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said operating means is operable upon relative rotation between said first and second body sections.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulse sensing means comprises a vibration detector.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said vibration detector comprises a piezoelectric element.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulse sensing means comprises an infrared photosensor.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a battery, positioned removably in said first body section, and operatively connected to said pulse sensing means, said display means and said microcomputer means for powering the same.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcomputer means includes means for computering a time from a preceding pulse to a following pulse and for transmitting to said display means a signal representative of said computed time.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising switch means in said first body section for inputting to said microcomputer means instructions for display of information on said display means.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said switch means comprises a first switch for instructing said display means to display pulse rate and a second switch for instructing said display means to display a time from a preceding pulse to a following pulse.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a skin contact member positioned within said opening in said first body section.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a clip on a cap positionable on said casing for enabling said device to be clipped onto clothes of a user.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means is visible laterally through said casing.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said micrcomputer means includes means for computing a mean value of a plurality of said computed pulse rates and a number of said plurality of computed pulse rates higher and/or lower than said mean value, and for transmitting to said display means signals representative thereof, such that said display means may digitally display said computed means value and said number.