Earphone sensor system for measuring electrocardiogram signals

• US 7,769,435 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheryl C.H. Yang, Enjoy Research, Inc., Terry B.J. Kuo
• Original Assignee: Cheryl C.H. Yang, Enjoy Research, Inc., Terry B.J. Kuo
• Inventors: Kuo, Terry B. J., Yang, Cheryl C. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark W
• Assistant Examiner(s): So; Elizabeth K
• Application Number:
  US11/737,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/523, 600/528, 327/561
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

An earphone sensor system for measuring electrocardiogram signals provides convenient and comfortable noninvasive electrocardiogram signal measuring for a subject. The electrocardiogram signal measuring system includes an electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus and an earphone sensing apparatus. The electrocardiogram signal analyzing apparatus includes an amplifier module, a microcontroller, a display, a radio module and a housing having conductive contacts. The earphone sensing apparatus includes an earphone and an electrode. The electrode is disposed in the earphone, and can be electrically connected to the subject for collecting the weak electrocardiogram signal at the head of the subject. By contacting the body surface of the testee with the housing having conductive contacts and the electrode, a basic loop for collecting the electrocardiogram signals is formed. The earphone sensor system can be associated with commercial gadgets and used for musical treatments and bio-feedback.

Claims

1. An earphone sensor system for measuring electrocardiogram signals comprising:

an earphone;

an electrode disposed in the earphone suitable for being electrically connected to the head of the subject so as to collect an analog electrocardiogram signal from a head of a subject, said earphone and said electrode being integrally formed together; and

an electrocardiogram signal analyzer electrically connected to said earphone, said electrocardiogram signal analyzer suitable for performing a digital signal processing on the electrocardiogram signal so as to generate a digital electrocardiogram signal, said electrocardiogram analyzer comprising a display suitable for displaying the digital electrocardiogram signal on a screen of said display.

2. The earphone sensor system of claim 1, wherein the electrocardiogram signal analyzer comprises:

an amplifier module suitable for amplifying the electrocardiogram signal to generate an amplified electrocardiogram signal;

a microcontroller suitable for performing digital signal processing on the amplified electrocardiogram signal; and

a housing having conductive contacts suitable for serving as a ground electrode, said housing and said electrode forming a collecting loop when connected to the head of the subject.

3. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the electrocardiogram signal analyzer apparatus further comprises a radio module suitable for modulating the digital electrocardiogram signal and transmitting the modulated digital electrocardiogram signal to a remote monitor in a wireless transmission manner.

4. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the radio module is for receiving a wireless signal from the remote monitor.

5. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the amplifier module comprises a pair of input stage filters respectively electrically connected to the electrode and the housing, said pair of input stage filters suitable for filtering noise.

6. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the amplifier module comprises a differential amplifier for differentially amplifying the electrocardiogram signal to generate the amplified electrocardiogram signal so as to conform with a voltage range of an analog-to-digital conversion of the microcontroller.

7. The earphone sensor system of claim 6, wherein the differential amplifier is formed by an integrated circuit operational amplifier.

8. The earphone sensor of claim 6, wherein the differential amplifier is formed by an instrumentation amplifier.

9. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein the amplifier module comprises an output stage filter suitable for filtering the signal having a frequency higher than twice a sampling frequency in an analog-to-digital conversion by the microcontroller.

10. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein an impedance of an input end of said amplifier module is larger than 200 kΩ

.

11. The earphone sensor system of claim 2, wherein said microcontroller comprises:

an analog-to-digital conversion unit connected to the amplifier module, said analog-to-digital conversion unit suitable for performing analog-to-digital conversion on the amplified electrocardiogram signal with a voltage resolution and a sampling rate so as to generate the digital electrocardiogram signal; and

a microprocessing operation unit connected to said analog-to-digital conversion unit, said microprocessor operation unit suitable for performing a Fourier Transform and a digital signal processing of a spectrum analysis on the digital electrocardiogram signal, so as to calculate a heart rate variability (HRV) data.

12. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein said radio module comprises:

a modulator/demodulator for suitable modulating the digital electrocardiogram signal into a modulated electrocardiogram signal; and

a wireless transceiver suitable for sending the modulated electrocardiogram signal to said remote monitor in a wireless transmission manner.

13. The earphone sensor system of claim 3, wherein said radio module is suitable for performing radio transmission and receiving in a 2.4 GHz Industry Science Medical (ISM) frequency band.

14. The earphone sensor system of claim 1, wherein said earphone is a single-ear earphone.

15. The earphone sensor system of claim 1, wherein said earphone is a double-ear-phone.