Method and device for measuring biological information

• US 7,333,186 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Shinji, Shioi, Masahiko, Oshima, Kiyoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauchman; Layla G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skovholt; Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/081,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 356/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement

Abstract

In order to precisely determine a stable measuring region appropriate for a measurement of biological information, and to measure a concentration of a specific component, i.e. biological information, without inconsistency, a biological information measuring device is provided with, a measuring region determining means for determining a measuring region in between an eponychium and a distal interphalangeal joint; an information detector for applying a light to measuring region; a light source for entering a light to information detector; a light detector for detecting a light which exits from the information detector; and a processor for measuring specific component based on information obtained from light detector.

Claims

1. A biological information measuring device for measuring a concentration of a specific component included in a living body, comprising:

a measuring region determining means for determining a measuring region in between an eponychium and a distal interphalangeal joint, said measuring region determining means determines the measuring region at the proximal nail fold,

an information detector for applying a light to said measuring region and detecting a light which exits from said measuring region, said information detector includes a portion for contacting the measuring region,

a light source for entering a light to said information detector contacting said measuring region, said light is applied to the measuring region through said portion for contacting the measuring region,

a light detector for detecting a light which exits from said information detector contacting said measuring region, said light enters the information detector through said portion for contacting the measuring region, and

a processor for measuring said specific component based on information obtained from said light detector.

2. The biological information measuring device in accordance with claim 1, comprising an abutting means for abutting said information detector to said measuring region.

3. The biological information measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said measuring region determining means determines said measuring region based on a difference between signal information of light applied to a nail and signal information of light applied to a skin.

4. The biological information measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said measuring region determining means has a visual identification means capable of identifying a certain position.

5. The biological information measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said measuring region determining means determines said measuring region by detecting an elevation change which exists due to skin structure.

6. A biological information measuring method for measuring a concentration of a specific component included in a living body, comprising the steps of:

(1) determining a measuring region in between an eponychium and a distal interphalangeal joint;

said measuring region is at the proximal nail fold;

(2) detecting a light which exits from said measuring region, after an entrance into said measuring region, with an information detector;

said information detector includes a portion for contacting the measuring region;

said light is applied to the measuring region through a portion for contacting the measuring region; and

said light enters the information detector through said portion for contacting the measuring region; and

(3) specifying a concentration of a specific component of said measuring region based on the light detected in said step (2).

7. The biological information measuring method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said measuring region is determined based on a difference between signal information of light applied to a nail and signal information of light applied to a skin in said step (1).

8. The biological information measuring method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said measuring region is determined visually in said step (1).

9. The biological information measuring method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said measuring region is determined by detecting an elevation change which exists due to skin structure in said step (1).