Stress level measuring device

• US 5,267,568 A
• Filed: 09/26/1991
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atsunori Takara
• Original Assignee: Atsunori Takara
• Inventors: Takara, Atsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARKE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US07/765,763
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 128/689, 128/687, 128/703, 128/706, 128/707, 128/702, 128/704, 364/413.03, 364/413.05, 73/865.1
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0255 Recording instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A stress level measuring instrument compares a base-line pulse value with other pulse values of the subject. The instrument includes a device for calculating the mean pulse frequency, a device for determining the basic pulse frequency, a device for comparing the basic pulse frequency and the base-line pulse frequency, a device for calculating the stress level, and a display.

Claims

1. A stress level measuring instrument comprising:

(a) first calculating means for continuously calculating a mean pulse frequency per unit time from a cycle time of a unit of pulse signals detected by a pulse detector,

(b) second means for deciding a basic pulse frequency wherein a value of said mean pulse frequency obtained by said first calculating means is compared with a succeeding value of said mean pulse frequency, a lower value of said means pulse frequency being stored temporarily in a memory as a tentative lowest value of said mean pulse frequency, said tentative lowest value of said mean pulse frequency being replaced every time a new lower value of said mean pulse frequency appears, said tentative lowest value of said mean pulse frequency being finally determined to be a basic pulse frequency measured for a day,

(c) third means for replacing a lowest limit value of said basic pulse frequency wherein a value of said basic pulse frequency obtained by said second means is compared with a lowest limit value of said basic pulse frequency measured over a long term period before said day of determining said basic pulse frequency of said day, said lowest limit value being replaced when a value of said basic pulse frequency measured for said day is less than said lowest limit value of said basic pulse frequency measured over said long term period,

(d) second calculating means for calculating a stress level wherein a value obtained by subtracting said lowest limit value of said basic pulse frequency measured over said long term period from a value of said basic pulse frequency measured for said day is stored as said stress level, and

(e) fourth means for displaying a stress level wherein said stress level obtained by said second calculating means is displayed with a series of stress levels measured in a past predetermined period.

2. The stress level measuring instrument claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for removing error data wherein a new value of said mean pulse frequency is rejected as an error data when said new value of said mean pulse frequency is less than said tentative lowest value of said mean pulse frequency stored temporarily in said memory and a difference between said new value and said tentative lowest value is larger than a predetermined threshold value.

3. The stress level measuring instrument claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

sixth means for sounding an alarm on an appearance of replacement data wherein a tone informing a subject of replacement of said lowest mean pulse frequency whenever said tentative lowest value of said mean pulse frequency stored temporarily is replaced when a new tentative lower value of said mean pulse frequency is inputted.