Skin potential measuring sensor

• US 6,718,191 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medikro Oy
• Original Assignee: Medikro Oy
• Inventors: Pohjolainen, Olli, Eloranta, Mikko
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/877,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/393, 600/395, 600/546, 600/547, 128/903, 128/902
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/902 Biological signal amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A skin potential measuring sensor includes a measuring electrode to be placed on the skin and a signal transfer element attached thereto. The elements which measure, handle and digitize the signal in order to convert it into a digital signal are placed close to the measuring electrode.

Claims

1. A skin potential measuring sensor, comprising:

a measuring electrode configured to be placed on the skin at a measurement point to provide an analog signal;

a data processing system placed on and connected directly to the measuring electrode at the measurement point, wherein the data processing system is configured to measure, process, and digitize the analog signal provided by the measuring electrode to provide a measured digital signal, the data processing system consisting essentially of a buffer amplifier connected in series to high pass and low pass filters connected in series to a non-inverting amplifier connected in series to an analog to digital converter connected in series to a digital processor; and

a signal transfer element connected to the data processing system and configured to transfer the measured digital signal.

2. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 1, further comprising a data transfer network, wherein the signal transfer element is configured to interface with the data transfer network to transfer the measured digital signal in a digital form to the data transfer network.

3. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 2, wherein:

the data transfer network is configured to transfer to the signal transfer element a synchronous signal; and

the data processing system is configured to begin measuring, processing, and digitizing upon receiving the synchronous signal.

4. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the signal transfer element is configured to transfer to the data processing system a synchronous signal; and

the data processing system is configured to begin measuring, processing, and digitizing upon receiving the synchronous signal.

5. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is connected directly to the measuring electrode such that the analog signal can be converted to the measured digital signal without using analog electrode cable.

6. A skin potential measuring sensor, comprising:

a measuring electrode configured to be placed on the skin at a measurement point to provide an analog signal;

a data processing system placed on and continuously connected directly to the measuring electrode at the measurement point, wherein the data processing system is configured to measure, process, and digitize the analog signal provided by the measuring electrode to provide a measured digital signal and the data processing system is connected directly to the measuring electrode such that the analog signal can be converted to the measured digital signal without using analog electrode cable; and

a signal transfer element connected to the data processing system and configured to transfer the measured digital signal.

7. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 6, further comprising a data transfer network, wherein the signal transfer element is configured to interface with the data transfer network to transfer the measured digital signal in a digital form to the data transfer network.

8. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 7, wherein:

the data transfer network is configured to transfer to the signal transfer element a synchronous signal; and

the data processing system is configured to begin measuring, processing, and digitizing upon receiving the synchronous signal.

9. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 6, wherein:

the signal transfer element is configured to transfer to the data processing system a synchronous signal; and

the data processing system is configured to begin measuring, processing, and digitizing upon receiving the synchronous signal.

10. The skin potential measuring sensor of claim 6, wherein the measuring electrode is a single use electrode.

11. A distributed architecture system for measuring skin potential, comprising at least two skin potential measuring sensors and a main processor, wherein each of the skin potential measuring sensors comprises:

a measuring electrode configured to be placed on the skin at a measurement point to provide an analog signal;

a data processing system placed on and continuously connected directly to the measuring electrode at the measurement point, wherein the data processing system is configured to measure, process, and digitize the analog signal provided by the measuring electrode to provide a measured digital signal; and

a signal transfer element connected to the data processing system and configured to transfer the measured digital signal, wherein;

the main processor is configured to simultaneously sample, collect and/or analyze the measured digital signal from each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors.

12. The system for measuring skin potential of claim 11, further comprising a data transfer network, wherein the signal transfer element of each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors is configured to interface with the data transfer network to transfer the measured digital signal in a digital form to the data transfer network to the main processor.

13. The system for measuring skin potential of claim 12, wherein:

the data transfer network is configured to transfer to the signal transfer element of each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors a synchronous signal from the main processor; and

the data processing system of each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors is configured to begin measuring, processing, and digitizing upon receiving the synchronous signal from the main processor.

14. The system for measuring skin potential of claim 11, wherein:

the signal transfer element of each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors is configured to transfer to the data processing system of each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors a synchronous signal from the main processor; and

the data processing system of each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors is configured to begin measuring, processing, and digitizing upon receiving the synchronous signal from the main processor.

15. The system for measuring skin potential of claim 11, wherein the main processor simultaneously samples, collects and/or analyzes the measured digital signal from each of the at least two skin potential measuring sensors synchronously and independently to allow numeric calculation and/or formation of new signals through calculation without additional electronics.