Biological information collecting device comprising closed pneumatic sound sensor

• US 7,048,697 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: M.I. Laboratories Corporation
• Original Assignee: M.I. Laboratories Corporation
• Inventors: Mitsuru, Takashima
• Primary Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/018,676
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/481, 600/484, 600/500, 600/508, 600527-529, 600/534, 600/552, 600/587, 600/595, 128/897, 128/898, 381/150, 381/355, 381/360, 340/573.1, 340/665, 340/666, 5/1, 560/0, 563/0, 565/2, 565/4, 571/3
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

Conventionally, when a biological information collecting device is used for measurement, an electrode is directly attached to a human body, accurate information cannot be collected and measurement through a lead wire is performed, for long time constraining the human body because of the lead wire. A device proposed to solve the problem comprises a capacitive sensor used for detecting a signal from the human body, and therefore the temperature characteristics are not good, bringing out a drawback that the signal varies in a low-frequency range. A biological information collecting device according to the invention comprises a closed pneumatic sound sensor having a gas-tight air bag made of soft rubber, plastic, or cloth or a cabinet made of metal, rubber, plastic, or wood. Biological information about the respiration, the cardiac rate (cardiac cycle), and the body movement due to, e.g. a cough or a snore is collected by a microphone of a pressure sensor to perform measurement without constraining the human body, thereby solving the problem of the conventional devices.

Claims

1. A biomedical information collection apparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of closed compartments, spaced apart and made of an airtight flexible material, each of the closed compartments having a variable internal volume;

a spring member placed inside of each of the closed compartments;

(b) a plurality of air pressure sensors each including one or more of a non-directional microphone or a pressure sensor, the air pressure sensors in communication with respective closed compartments for detecting and converting air pressure in each of the closed compartments into an electric signal; and

(c) a plate-shaped member placed on the plurality of closed compartments, such that when a living organism is placed on the plate-shaped member placed on the plurality of closed compartments while air remains in the closed compartments and in the air pressure sensors, the air pressure in the closed compartments is detected by the respective air the air pressure sensors to measure biomedical information including breath, heart rate, and body movements including a cough and a snore of the living organism;

wherein a microscopic pinhole is provided in each of the closed compartments to establish an air leak countermeasure to minimize an influence upon the air pressure sensors.

2. The biomedical information collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air pressure sensors are mounted inside of each respective closed compartment.

3. The biomedical information collection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plate member is rigid.

4. The biomedical information collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air pressure sensors are mounted at an end portion of a hose connected to the closed compartments.

5. The biomedical information collection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plate member is rigid.

6. The biomedical information collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate member is rigid.