Pulsimeter provided with or without a pedometer

• US 5,539,706 A
• Filed: 02/02/1995
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Nishida, Satoshi, Yoshimura, Manabu, Hasegawa, Maki, Yamasawa, Tsutomu, Takenaka, Masaaki, Hirano, Masatsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/383,504
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 368/11, 368/10, 368/276, 368/278, 128/633, 128/664-667, 128/677-689
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02422 within occluders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1433 Fixation on items of clothing, e.g. with clips button watches G04B37/12; brooches, or the like A44C1/00; other similar fixation means, in general A45F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/063 measuring physiological quantities, e.g. pedometers, heart-rate sensors, blood pressure gauges and the like

Abstract

A pulsimeter includes a main body having a front face and a back face that is opposite the front face. A finger insertion section, into which a finger may be inserted, is arranged on the back face of the main body. Also included is a pulse sensor which is configured to sense pulses from a user'"'"'s finger that has been inserted into the finger insertion section. A display, which is arranged on the front face of the main body, is configured to display the pulses sensed by the pulse sensor. The display and the finger insertion section are arranged such that the display may be observed by the user while the user'"'"'s finger is inserted into the finger insertion section.

Claims

1. A pulsimeter comprising:

a main body having a front face and a back face opposite the front face,

a finger insertion section disposed on the back face of said main body into which a finger is insertable,

a pulse sensor for sensing pulses of a user'"'"'s finger inserted into said finger insertion section, and

a display disposed on the front face of said main body and configured to display the pulses sensed by said pulse sensor, wherein said display and said finger insertion section are arranged such that said display may be observed by the user while the user'"'"'s finger is inserted into said finger insertion section.

2. A pulsimeter according to claim 1, wherein said finger insertion section is arranged to have a finger insertion direction aligned in a vertical direction and slanted with respect to a horizontal direction of said main body.

3. A pulsimeter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said main body further includes a board therewithin, said display being mounted on one side of said board and said pulse sensor being directly mounted on an opposite side of said board.

4. A pulsimeter according to claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a member that facilitates portable use of said pulsimeter.

5. A pulsimeter according to claim 2, wherein said main body comprises a member that facilitates portable use of said pulsimeter.

6. A pulsimeter according to claim 3, wherein said main body comprises a member that facilitates portable use of said pulsimeter.

7. A pulsimeter according to claim 1, wherein said finger insertion section is oriented with respect to said display such that said main body blocks ambient light from entering said finger insertion section when the user holds said main body to observe said display.

8. A pulsimeter comprising:

a main body including a housing member, said main body having a front face and a back face opposite the front face,

a finger insertion section disposed on the back face of said main body into which a finger is insertable,

a pulse sensor for sensing pulses of a user'"'"'s finger inserted into said finger insertion section, and

a display disposed on the front face of said main body and configured to display the pulses sensed by said pulse sensor, wherein said display and said finger insertion section are arranged such that said display may be observed by the user while the user'"'"'s finger is inserted into said finger insertion section.

9. A pulsimeter according to claim 8, wherein a portion of said finger insertion section opposing to said hood has a configuration having a recessed cross section.

10. A pulsimeter according to claim 9, wherein said hood is sandwiched by said housing member of said main body.

11. A pulsimeter according to claim 8, wherein said elastic material of said hood comprises a material having a smooth contact surface against which the finger rests.

12. A pulsimeter according to claim 9, wherein the elastic material of said hood comprises a material having a smooth contact surface against which the finger rests.

13. A pulsimeter according to claim 10, wherein the elastic material of said hood comprises a material having a smooth contact surface against which the finger rests.

14. A pulsimeter according to claim 8, wherein said finger insertion section is oriented with respect to said display such that said main body blocks ambient light from entering said finger insertion section when the user holds said main body to observe said display.

15. A pulsimeter comprising:

a main body having a front face and a back face opposite the front face,

a finger insertion section disposed on the back face of said main body and configured to receive a finger,

a pulse sensor configured to sense pulses of a user'"'"'s finger inserted into the finger insertion section,

a display disposed on the front face of said main body and configured to display the pulses sensed by said pulse sensor, said pulse sensor being airtightly held by an elastic pressing member and a sensing surface member, wherein a sensing surface of said pulse sensor is exposed to said finger insertion section, and wherein said display and said finger insertion section are arranged such that said display may be observed by the user while the user'"'"'s finger is inserted into said finger insertion section.

16. A pulsimeter according to claim 15, wherein said finger insertion section is oriented with respect to said display such that said main body blocks ambient light from entering said finger insertion section when the user holds said main body to observe said display.

17. A meter for counting pulses and steps, comprising:

a pulse sensor for sensing pulses and for outputting a pulse count,

a vibration sensor for sensing steps and for outputting a step count,

a display, and

a controller for displaying on said display at least one of (i) the pulse count outputted from said pulse sensor, and (ii) the step count outputted from said vibration sensor.