Pulse wave detecting apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
- a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel;
a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject;
an actuator located entirely on the support member provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said actuator deforming, upon application thereto of an electric current, thereby providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, including a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which the pressure sensing element is provided, the press surface of the pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against the arterial vessel of the subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects the pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel; a support member supporting the pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, the support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on the subject such that the press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to the body surface of the subject; and a polymer actuator provided between the support member and the pulse wave sensor, the polymer actuator producing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against the arterial vessel of the subject via the body surface of the subject. The polymer actuator may be replaced by a piezoelectric actuator, a bimetal actuator, or a shape memory alloy actuator.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel; a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject; an actuator located entirely on the support member provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said actuator deforming, upon application thereto of an electric current, thereby providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel; a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject; and a mass of polymer provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said mass of polymer deforming, upon application thereto of an electric current, thereby providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel; a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject; and a piezoelectric actuator provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said piezoelectric actuator deforming upon the application thereto of an electric current, thereby providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel; a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject; and a bimetal actuator provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said bimetal actuator deforming upon the application thereto of an electric current, thereby providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel; a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject; and a shape memory alloy actuator provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said shape memory alloy actuator deforming upon the application thereto of an electric current, thereby providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a living subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor including at least one pressure sensing element and having a press surface in which said pressure sensing element is provided, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said subject via a body surface of the subject above the arterial vessel, so that the pressure sensing element detects said pressure pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel, said pulse wave sensor producing a pulse-wave signal representing the detected pressure pulse wave; a first signal wire which transmits the pulse-wave signal; a support member supporting said pulse wave sensor such that the pulse wave sensor is advanceable away from, and retractable toward, said support member, the support member being adapted to be worn on said subject such that said press surface of the pulse wave sensor is opposed to said body surface of the subject, the support member comprising a frame member including two temples which are adapted to be supported by two ears of the subject, respectively, and a front rim which connects between said two temples and which is adapted to be supported by a nose of the subject, wherein the first signal wire is operationally associated with said pulse wave sensor; at least one physical-information sensor which detects, from the subject, a physical information different from said pressure pulse wave, and produces a physical-information signal representing the detected physical information; at least one second signal wire which transmits said physical-information signal, said physical information sensor being attached to said frame member via said second signal wire; and an actuator provided between said support member and said pulse wave sensor, said actuator providing a pressing force to press the pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel of said subject via said body surface of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification