Biosensor device

• US 8,897,859 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Shimuta, Toru, Takahashi, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US13/283,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 600/301, 600/509, 600/513
• US Class Current: 600/509
• 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 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/263 characterised by the electrode materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards

Abstract

A biosensor that includes a light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode and a light transmissive insulating film that detect an electrical signal relating to an electrocardiographic signal through capacitive coupling that are disposed above light emitting elements and a light receiving element that detect an optical detection signal relating to a photo-plethysmographic signal. When a user brings a finger into contact with a contact surface of the light transmissive insulating film, the electrical signal relating to the electrocardiographic signal is detected by the light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode. At the same time, reflected light emitted from the light emitting elements after being reflected from the user'"'"'s finger are received by the light receiving element to detect an optical detection signal corresponding to the received reflected lights so that biological information is generated based on both the electrocardiographic signal and a photo-plethysmographic signal.

Claims

1. A biosensor device comprising:

at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes that detect electrical signals of a living body;

a respective insulating film disposed on each electrode of the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes, each respective insulating film having a living body contact surface;

a light emitter configured to emit light to the living body;

a light receiver configured to receive reflected light from the living body; and

a processor circuit that generates an electrocardiographic signal by differentially amplifying the electrical signals of the living body, and generates a photo-plethysmographic signal based on the light emitted from the light emitter and the reflected light received by the light receiver,

wherein at least one electrode of the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes is a light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode comprising an electroconductive material having light transparency in a wavelength range of the light emitted from the light emitter, and the insulating film disposed on the light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode is a light transmissive insulating film comprising an insulating material having light transparency in the wavelength range of the light emitted from the light emitter.

2. The biosensor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes detect electrical signals of a living body through capacitive coupling.

3. The biosensor device according to claim 1, wherein the processor circuit includes:

an electrocardiographic signal detection unit that generates the electrocardiographic signal; and

a photo-plethysmographic signal detection unit that generates the photo-plethysmographic signal.

4. The biosensor device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter includes at least two light emitting elements that each emit light in different wavelength ranges.

5. The biosensor device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter, the light receiver, and at least part of the processor circuit are mounted on a base plate.

6. The biosensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a peripheral wall reflector positioned around each of the light emitter and the light receiver.

7. The biosensor device according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral wall reflector is a solder fillet.

8. The biosensor device according to claim 3, further comprising:

at least one clamp circuit including at least one high-impedance element connected to the electrocardiographic signal detection unit,

wherein the at least one clamp circuit is configured such that a potential at a connected end of the at least one clamp circuit is held constant, and an impedance of the electrocardiographic signal detection unit at the connected end of the clamp circuit is larger than an impedance of the clamp circuit.

9. The biosensor device according to claim 1, wherein a first electrocardiographic electrode of the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes and the processor circuit are contained in a first housing.

10. The biosensor device according to claim 9, wherein the respective insulating film covering the first electrocardiographic electrode contained in the first housing is exposed at a surface of the first housing.

11. The biosensor device according to claim 10, wherein a second electrocardiographic electrode of the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes is contained in a second housing and is electrically connected to the processor circuit.

12. The biosensor device according to claim 11, wherein the respective insulating film covering the second electrocardiographic electrode contained in the second housing is exposed at a surface of the second housing.

13. The biosensor device according to claim 12, wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are contained in the second housing,

the second electrocardiographic electrode is the light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode, and

the respective insulating film disposed on the second electrocardiographic electrode is the light transmissive insulating film.

14. A biosensor device comprising:

at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes that detect electrical signals of a living body;

a respective insulating film disposed on each electrode of the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes, each respective insulating film having a living body contact surface;

at least two light emitting elements configured to each emit light in different wavelength ranges to the living body;

a light receiver configured to receive reflected light from the living body;

a processor circuit including an electrocardiographic signal detection unit that generates an electrocardiographic signal by differentially amplifying the electrical signals of the living body detected by the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes, and a photo-plethysmographic signal detection unit that generates a photo-plethysmographic signal based on the light emitted from the light emitter and the reflected light received by the light receiver;

a base plate on which the at least two light emitting elements, the light receiver, and at least part of the processor circuit are mounted;

a peripheral wall reflector positioned around each of the at least two light emitting elements and the light receiver; and

at least one clamp circuit including at least one high-impedance element connected to the electrocardiographic signal detection unit, wherein a potential at a connected end of the clamp circuit is held constant, and an impedance at the connected end of the electrocardiographic signal detection unit is larger than an impedance of the clamp circuit, wherein

at least one electrode of the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes is a light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode made of an electroconductive material having light transparency in a wavelength range of the light emitted from each of the at least two light emitting elements,

the respective insulating film disposed on the light transmissive electrocardiographic electrode is a light transmissive insulating film made of an insulating material having light transparency in the wavelength range of the light emitted from each of the at least two light emitting elements.

15. The biosensor device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one pair of electrocardiographic electrodes detect electrical signals of a living body through capacitive coupling.

16. The biosensor device according to claim 14, wherein the peripheral wall reflector is a solder fillet.