Multi-channel biological signal telemetry systems

• US 7,336,991 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Imajo, Kaoru, Yanagihara, Kazuteru, Ishikawa, Takahisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAIDI, AZADEH
• Application Number:
  US10/948,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 600/544, 600485-503, 600/300, 600529-542, 600345-350, 600/60, 340/539.12, 340/3.21, 340/3.3, 340/3.31, 340/870.28, 340/636.1, 340/636.19, 375/240, 607/60, 607/32, 607/16, 455/574, 455/127.5, 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.5, 128/903, 128/905
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system for performing telemetry of multi-channel biological signals obtained from electrodes attached to a subject, is provided with a transmitter and a receiver. In the transmitter, a converter converts the multi-channel biological signals to digital data, and a storage stores the digital data. In the transmitter, a first transceiver is operable to transmit a prescribed amount of the digital data stored in the storage, and a battery is operable to supply a battery voltage to the first transceiver. In the transmitter, a switch places the battery in either a first state where the battery voltage is supplied to the first transceiver or a second state where the battery voltage is not supplied to the first transceiver, so that the first transceiver intermittently transmits the digital data. In the receiver, a second transceiver is operable to receive the digital data transmitted from the first transceiver. The received digital data is to be reproduced multi-channel biological signals at an output device.

Claims

1. A system for performing telemetry of multi-channel biological signals obtained from electrodes attached to a subject, the system comprising:

a transmitter, comprising;

a converter, which converts the multi-channel biological signals to digital data;

a storage, which stores the digital data;

a first transceiver, operable to transmit a prescribed amount of the digital data stored in the storage;

a battery, operable to supply a battery voltage to the first transceiver; and

a switch, which places the battery in either a first state where the battery voltage is supplied to the first transceiver or a second state where the battery voltage is not supplied to the first transceiver, so that the first transceiver intermittently transmits the digital data; and

a receiver, comprising a second transceiver operable to receive the digital data transmitted from the first transceiver, the received digital data operable to be reproduced as multi-channel biological signals at an output device,

wherein the transmitter further comprises a detector which detects the battery voltage;

the first transceiver is operable to transmit battery information indicating the detected battery voltage together with the digital data, and the second transceiver is operable to receive the battery information;

the receiver further comprises a timing information provider, which prepares timing information defining a timing for placing the battery in the first state, on the basis of the battery information received by the second transceiver;

the second transceiver is operable to transmit the timing information and the first transceiver is operable to receive the timing information; and

the switch places the battery in the second state after the digital data and the battery information are transmitted, and places the battery in the first state at the timing on the basis of the timing information received by the first transceiver.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the timing information provider prepares the timing information so as to delay the timing in a case where the battery information indicates that the detected battery voltage becomes lower than a threshold value.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the biological signal includes electroencephalograms.