Biological signal transmission apparatus

• US 6,161,036 A
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumura, Fumiyuki, Hosaka, Hidehiro, Sakata, Hiroshi, Sekiguchi, Tetsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/220,751
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 607/152, 607/60, 600/372, 600/382-384, 600/393, 600/509, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An electrode 4 for detecting a biological signal and a loop antenna 3 are integrally mounted on a support 2 placed on the surface of a living body and a transmitter 5 is placed on the support 2. A biological signal detected on the electrode 4 is input through a connector 11 to electric circuitry 10 of the transmitter 5 and an electric signal processed by the electric circuitry 10 is output through connectors 12 and 13 to both ends of the loop antenna 3 from which the biological signal is emitted to a receiver. At this time, the opening face of the loop antenna 3 is in a direction almost perpendicular to the surface of a living body for improving sensitivity.

Claims

1. A biological signal transmission apparatus comprising:

at least one electrode for detecting a biological signal;

a support for supporting said electrode, said support operative to be placed on a living body surface;

a transmitter having electric circuitry for processing the biological signal detected on said electrode; and

at least one loop antenna electrically connected to said transmitter for emitting the biological signal processed by the electric circuitry to a receiver, said loop antenna having an opening face and disposed so that said opening face is positioned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the living body surface when said support is placed thereon.

2. The biological signal transmission apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said loop antennas is contained in said transmitter.

3. The biological signal transmission apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least one loop antennas is divided into two parts, wherein one loop antenna division part is disposed in said support and the other is disposed in said transmitter, such that when said transmitter is attached to said support, the loop antenna division parts are connected into one piece.

4. The biological signal transmission apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support and said transmitter have connection members for connecting to each other and, wherein said loop antenna is integral with said support and is connected to an output of the electric circuitry through said connection members when said transmitter is placed on said support.

5. A wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus for detecting a biomedical signal of a living body comprising:

a living body placement section comprising, a support member, a loop antenna having an open face, and an electrode which detects said biomedical signal and emits a detected biomedical signal, wherein said loop antenna is disposed on said support member such that when said living body placement section is placed on a surface of the living body to detect the biomedical signal, said open face is substantially perpendicular to said surface of said living body;

a transmitter comprising circuitry including, an amplification section, a modulation section connected to said amplification section, and a transmission section connected to said amplification section; and

a connecting unit to removably connect the living body placement section to the transmitter such that, when connected, said electrode is electrically connected to said amplification section, and said transmission section is electrically connected to said loop antenna.

6. The wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting unit comprises a plurality of conductive hooks protruding through a top surface of said living body placement section, and a plurality of holes in a bottom surface of said transmitter, each of said plurality of holes corresponding to respective hooks of said plurality of conductive hooks.

7. The wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said living body placement section further comprises two insulating sheets, one of which serves as said top surface of said living body placement section, and the other serves as a bottom surface of said living body placement section, and wherein said two insulating sheets are connected together at peripheral edges such that said loop antenna and said electrode are enclosed therein.

8. The wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transmitter is adapted to receive signals from external sources in addition to the detected biomedical signal electrode in the living body placement section.

9. A wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus for detecting biomedical signals of a living body comprising:

a living body placement section comprising, a support member, a loop antenna having an open face, and a first and second electrode each of which detects said biomedical signals and emits detected biomedical signals, wherein said loop antenna is disposed on said support member such that when said living body placement section is placed on a surface of the living body to detect the biomedical signals, said open face of said loop antenna is substantially perpendicular to said surface of said living body;

a transmitter comprising circuitry including, an amplification section, a modulation section connected to said amplification section, and a transmission section connected to said amplification section; and

a connecting unit to removably connect the living body placement section to the transmitter such that, when connected, said first and second electrodes are electrically connected to said amplification section, and said transmission section is electrically connected to said loop antenna.

10. The wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said connecting unit comprises a plurality of conductive hooks protruding through a top surface of said living body placement section, and a plurality of receiving holes in a bottom surface of said transmitter, each of said plurality of receiving holes corresponding to respective hooks of said plurality of conductive hooks.

11. A wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus for detecting biomedical signals of a living body comprising:

a living body placement section comprising, a support member, a loop antenna having an open face, and a transducer which detects said biomedical signals and emits detected biomedical signals, wherein said loop antenna is disposed on said support member such that when said living body placement section is placed on a surface of the living body to detect the biomedical signals, said open face of said loop antenna is substantially perpendicular to said surface of said living body;

a transmitter comprising circuitry including, an amplification section, a modulation section connected to said amplification section, a transmission section connected to said amplification section; and

a connecting unit to removably connect the living body placement section to the transmitter such that, when connected, said transducer is electrically connected to said amplification section, and said transmission section is electrically connected to said loop antenna.

12. The wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said connecting unit comprises a plurality of conductive hooks protruding through a top surface of said living body placement section, and a plurality of receiving holes in a bottom surface of said transmitter, each of said plurality of receiving holes corresponding to respective hooks of said living body placement section.

13. The wireless biomedical signal transmission apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said transmitter is adapted to receive signals from external sources in addition to the detected biomedical signal emitted by said transducer.