Wearable physiological signal detection module and measurement apparatus having the same

• US 7,395,106 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Seunghwan, Song, Yoon Seon, Nam, Seung Hoon, Ryu, Chang Yong, Kim, Yun Tae, Shin, Seung Chul, Kang, Jae Hwan, Yim, Tae Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S
• Application Number:
  US11/085,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 600/388, 600/395, 600/396
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

Provided are a wearable physiological signal detection module and a measurement apparatus having the same. A physiological signal detection module including a measuring electrode implemented by a dry electrode having good conductivity to detect various physiological signals is detachably disposed inside the clothing closely adhered to user'"'"'s skin. The measuring electrode can be in stable contact with the user'"'"'s skin as well as the detection module can be conveniently worn for a long time. The various physiological signals detected by the measuring electrodes are wirelessly transmitted to an external device, thereby conveniently monitoring the physiological signal of the user in real time.

Claims

1. A wearable physiological signal measuring apparatus comprising:

a clothing having flexibility to be closely adhered to user'"'"'s skin;

at least one physiological signal detection module detachably disposed inside the clothing comprising;

at least one measuring electrode adapted to closely adhere to the skin for detecting various physiological signals of the user;

a body having a space portion with an open end for containing the at least one measuring electrode and a given passing-through hole at one face for exposing a part of the at least one measuring electrode; and

a supporting member provided in the space portion of the body to support the at least one measuring electrode; and

a physiological signal measuring module electrically connected with the at least one measuring electrode to convert the various physiological signals into digital physiological signals and to process the digital physiological signals to obtain various physiological information data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring electrode is a dry electrode formed of any one metal of Au, Pt and Ag/AgCl.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a loop surface of hook and loop fastener is formed in a predetermined region inside the clothing, and a hook surface of hook and loop fastener is formed at the other face of the body to detachably engage with the loop surface of hook and loop fastener.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is made of fiber material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member having a predetermined elastic restoration force between the at least one measuring electrode and the supporting member to closely adhere the at least one measuring electrode to the user'"'"'s skin.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is a helical spring.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cushion members provided in the body for maintaining overall elasticity and surrounding the space portion to improve close adhesion to the skin.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cushion members each has a predetermined elastic restoration force and is made of fiber material.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physiological signal measuring module comprises:

an amplification unit for amplifying the various physiological signals received from the at least one measuring electrode;

a filtering unit for removing various noises from the various physiological signals amplified through the amplification unit to obtain desired physiological signals; and

a control unit for receiving the various physiological signals from the filtering unit, converting the various physiological signals into digital physiological signals, and processing the digital physiological signals to obtain the various physiological information data.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a wireless communication unit for transmitting the various physiological signals and the various physiological information data to an external device under the control of the control unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a display unit for displaying the various physiological signals and the various physiological information data obtained by the control unit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a memory unit for storing the various physiological signals and the various physiological information data obtained by the control unit.

13. A wearable physiological signal detection module comprising:

at least one measuring electrode adapted to physically contact a user'"'"'s skin for detecting various physiological signals of the user;

a body having a space portion with an open end for containing the at least one measuring electrode and a passing-through hole at one face for exposing a part of the at least one measuring electrode; and

a supporting member provided in the space portion of the body to support the at least one measuring electrode, wherein the wearable physiological signal detection module is adapted to be detachably disposed inside of a clothing having flexibility to be closely adhered to the user'"'"'s skin.

14. The module according to claim 13, wherein a loop surface of hook and loop fastener is formed in a predetermined region inside the clothing, and a hook surface of hook and loop fastener is formed at the other face of the body to detachably engage with the loop surface of hook and loop fastener.

15. The module according to claim 13, wherein the body is largely made of fiber material.

16. The module according to claim 13, further comprising an elastic member having a predetermined elastic restoration force between the at least one measuring electrode and the supporting member to closely adhere the at least one measuring electrode to the user'"'"'s skin.

17. The module according to claim 16, wherein the elastic member is a helical spring.

18. The module according to claim 13, further comprising cushion members provided in the body for maintaining overall elasticity and surrounding the space portion to improve close adhesion to the skin.

19. The module according to claim 18, wherein the cushion members each has a predetermined elastic restoration force and is formed of fiber material.