Biometric measuring device

• US 6,529,754 B2
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kondo, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KREMER, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US09/403,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309-311, 600/316, 600/322-324, 600/326, 600/334-335, 600/340, 600/344, 600/364-365, 600/502-503, 600/473-480, 224/170-178, 368/281-283, 368/286, 368/300
• US Class Current: 600/344
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

A watch-type biometric measuring device having a pulse wave sensor unit for detecting a pulse rate by a reflective optical sensor, a housing 10 storing therein the sensor unit, and a wristband 20 is improved. The wristband 20 has short band pieces 21 and 23 near the housing 10, and long band pieces 22 and 24 far from the housing 10. The band pieces 21 and 23 have high flexibility, and permit movement of a living body. On the other hand, the band pieces 22 and 24 have low flexibility, and secure holding ability against the living body. With this configuration, it is possible to mount the biometric measuring device on a measurement site of the living body with high adhesion while minimizing the sensation of pressure.

Claims

1. A biometric measuring device, comprising:

a light-emitting means for applying light to a detection site on a living body;

a biometric information detection means for receiving reflected light from said living b9dy of the light applied by said light-emitting means to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received;

a support body for supporting said light-emitting means and said biometric information detection means;

a band connected to said support body to be wound around said living body near said detection site to fix said support body to said living body;

wherein said band includes an outer support strap fixed to said support body and a resiliently compressible insert attached to an outer surface of said strap so that said insert is in contact with, and between, said living body and said strap when said band is wound around said living body, said insert being detachable from said strap without requiring removal of said strap from said support body; and

a living body pressing means adapted to be disposed on a portion closer to a heart of the living body than said biometric information detection means and adapted to adhere to the living body to press the living body, said pressing means being effective for applying a restraining pressure to said living body sufficient for mitigating blood flow fluctuations within said detection site irrespective of movement of said detection site by said living body during a period of dynamic activity by said living body.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said insert is effective for maintaining said support body in substantially uniform surface contact with said living body irrespective of movement by said living body.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said strap includes one of a plurality of holes and a plurality of projections, and wherein said insert includes the other one of said plurality of holes and said plurality of projections for mating with, and attaching to, said strap.

5. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said band further includes at least one clip for securing said insert to said strap.

6. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said strap is not stretchable.

7. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said insert is made of polyurethane rubber.

8. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said insert includes at least one retaining loop into which said strap is inserted for securing said insert to said strap.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said strap is fixed to opposing sides of said support body and said insert spans under said support body across said opposing sides, said support body having a protrusion on its underside alongside part of said insert, said protrusion making contact with said living body when said band is wound around said living body.

10. A device according to claim 9:

wherein said insert has a through hole positioned under said support body; and

wherein said protrusion houses said light-emitting means and said biometric information detection means and is inserted in said through hole.

22. A device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 6 and 14, wherein said band includes plural band pieces, and a connecting member for connecting said plural band pieces to each other, a position to connect said plural band pieces with said connecting member according to a size of the living body which is variable, and a display part for displaying a position to connect said plural band pieces by said connecting member is provided on an outer surface of said band.

2. A biometric measuring device, comprising:

a light-emitting body for applying light to a detection site on a living body;

a light-receiving body for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said light-emitting body to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received;

a support body for supporting said light-emitting body and said light-receiving body;

a band connected to said support body to be wound around said living body near said detection site to fix said support body to said living body;

wherein said band includes an outer support strap fixed to said support body and a resiliently compressible insert attached to an outer surface of said strap so that said insert is in contact with, and between, said living body and said strap when said band is wound around said living body, said insert being detachable from said strap without requiring removal of said strap from said support body; and

a living body pressing member adapted to be disposed on a portion closer to a heart of the living body than said light-receiving body and adapted to adhere to the living body to press the living body, said pressing member being effective for applying a restraining pressure to said living body sufficient for mitigating blood flow fluctuations within said detection site irrespective of movement of said detection site by said living body during a period of dynamic activity by said living body.

11. A device according to Claim 2, wherein said strap is fixed to opposing sides of said support body and said insert spans under said support body across said opposing sides, said support body having a protrusion on its underside alongside part of said insert, said protrusion making contact with said living body when said band is wound around said living body.

12. A device according to claim 11:

wherein said insert has a through hole positioned under said support body; and

wherein said protrusion houses said light-emitting body and said light-receiving body and is inserted in said through hole.

13. A biometric measuring device, comprising:

a light-emitting means for applying light to a detection site on a living body;

a biometric information detection means for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said light-emitting means to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received;

a support body for supporting said light-emitting means and said biometric information detection means; and

a band connected to said support body to be wound around said living body near said detection site to fix said support body to said living body;

wherein said band comprises a base material to be wound around the living body and an elastic member attached to an outer surface of said base material so that said elastic member is in contact with, and between, said living body and said base material when said band is wound around said living body, said elastic member having a flexibility higher than that of said base material, said elastic member being detachable from said base material, said base material being not stretchable.

15. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said elastic member is effective for maintaining said support body in substantially uniform surface contact with said living body irrespective of movement by said living body.

16. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said base material comprises one of plural holes and plural projections wherein said elastic member comprises the other one of said plural holes and said plural projections.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein when said projections are inserted into said holes, said projections are secured to said holes whereby said elastic member is detachably attached to said base material.

18. A device according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising a clip to secure said base material to said elastic member.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said elastic member comprises a groove in which said clip is located.

20. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said elastic member includes a retaining loop into which said base material is inserted.

21. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said band includes plural band pieces, and a connecting member for mutually connecting said plural band pieces, a position to connect said plural band pieces with said connecting member according to the size of the living body which is variable, at least one of said plural band pieces comprises a second elastic member, and said second elastic member controls movement of another one of said plural band pieces.

24. A device according to claim 13, wherein said living body pressing means is constituted by said band.

14. A biometric measuring device, comprising:

a light-emitting body for applying light to a detection site on a living body;

a light-receiving body for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said light-emitting body to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received;

a support body for supporting said light-emitting body and said light-receiving body; and

a band connected to said support body to be wound around said living body near said detection site to fix said support body to said living body;

wherein said band has a base material to be wound around the living body and an elastic member attached to an outer surface of said base material so that said elastic member is in contact with, and between, said living body and said base material when said band is wound around said living body, said elastic member having a flexibility higher than that of said base material, said elastic member being detachably attached to said base material, said base material being not stretchable.

23. A biometric measuring device comprising:

a light-emitting means for applying light to a detection site on a living body;

a biometric information detection means for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said light-emitting means to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received;

a support body for supporting said light-emitting means and said biometric information detection means;

a band connected to said support body to be wound around said living body near said detection site to fix said support body to said living body; and

a living body pressing means adapted to be disposed on a portion closer to a heart of the living body than said biometric information detection means adapted to adhere and adhering to the living body to press the living body, said pressing means being effective for applying a restraining pressure to said living body sufficient for mitigating blood flow fluctuations within said detection site irrespective of movement of said detection site by said living body during a period of dynamic activity by said living body.

25. A biometric measuring device comprising:

a light-emitting body for applying light to a detection site on a living body;

a light-receiving body for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said, light-emitting body to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received;

a support body for supporting said light-emitting body and said light-receiving body;

a band connected to said support body to be wound around said living body near said detection site to fix said support body to said living body; and

a living body pressing member adapted to be disposed on a portion closer to a heart of the living body than said light-receiving body and adapted to adhere to the living body to press the living body, said pressing member being effective for applying a restraining pressure to said living body sufficient for mitigating blood flow fluctuations within said detection site irrespective of movement of said detection site by said living body during a period of dynamic actvity by said living body.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein said band has a base material to be wound around the living body;

and an elastic member attached to an outer surface of said base material so that said elastic member is in contact with, and between, said living body and said base material when said band is wound around said living body, said elastic member having a flexibility higher than that of said base material, said elastic member being detachably attached to said base material; and

said living body pressing member being constituted by said elastic member of said band.

27. A device according to claim 25, wherein said living body pressing member is constituted by said band.

28. A device according to claim 25, wherein said support body comprises a protuberance, and said band comprises a portion into which said protuberance is fitted.

29. A biometric measuring device for use during dynamic activity by a user having a living body, comprising:

a light-emitting means for applying light to a target area on the living body of said user;

a light-receiving means for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said light-emitting means to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received; and

a living body pressing member adapted to be disposed on a portion closer to a heart of said living body than said light-receiving means, and adapted to adhere to said living body to press said living body sufficiently for mitigating fluctuations in blood flow within said target area irrespective of movement of said target area by said living body;

wherein said body pressing member includes a display module attached to a band to be wound around said living body, said band having an outer support strap fixed to said display module and a resiliently compressible insert attached to an outer surface of said strap so that said insert is in contact with, and between, said living body and said strap when said band is wound around said living body, said insert being effective for maintaining pressure contact with interior blood vessels of said living body irrespective of twisting motion by said living body.

30. A biometric measuring device for use during dynamic activity by a user, comprising:

a light-emitting body for applying light to a target area of the living body of said user;

a light-receiving body for receiving reflected light from said living body of the light applied by said light-emitting body to produce a biometric information signal according to the reflected light received; and

a living body pressing member adapted to be disposed on a portion closer to a heart of said living body than said light-receiving body and adapted to adhere to said living body to press said living body sufficiently for mitigating fluctuations in blood flow within said target area irrespective of movement of said target area by said living body;

wherein said body pressing member includes a data processing module attached to a band to be wound around said living body, said band having an outer support strap fixed to said data processing module and a resiliently compressible insert attached to an outer surface of said strap so that said insert is in contact with, and between, said living body and said strap when said band is wound around said living body, said insert being effective for maintaining pressure contact with interior blood vessels of said living body irrespective of twisting motion by said living body.

31. A biometric measuring device according to claim 30, wherein:

said display module receives as an input said biometric information signal produced by said light-receiving body and processes said biometric information signal; and

wherein said light-emitting body and said light-receiving body are attached to a finger-fitting body adapted to be fitted on a finger of said living body.

32. A biometric measuring device according to claim 31, wherein said band comprises a circumferentially flexible material and flexibility thereof partially varies in a circumferential direction.

33. A biometric measuring device according to claim 31, wherein said band comprises a base material to be wound around the living body and an elastic member disposed inside of said base material and having a flexibility higher than that of said base material.

34. A device according to claim 33, wherein said living body pressing member is constituted by said elastic member of said band.

35. A biometric measuring device according to claim 30, wherein:

said data processing module further functions to support said light-emitting body and said light-receiving body.