Data transfer

• US 9,066,664 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Karjalainen, Markku
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hankins, Lindsey G
• Application Number:
  US13/202,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 600/508, 600/509
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A data transfer component receives cardiac data from a heart sensor while the data transfer component is electromechanically coupled with the heart sensor sensitive to heart activity. A standard electromechanical interface of the data transfer component and a counterpart of the heart sensor are repeatedly connectable and disconnectable. The received data is stored in the data transfer component. The stored data is transferred from the data transfer component to an external device while the data transfer component is electromechanically coupled with the external device by using a coupling between the standard electromechanical interface of the data transfer component and a counterpart of the external device which are repeatedly connectable and disconnectable.

Claims

1. A data transfer component for transferring cardiac data, the data transfer component comprising:

a heart sensor connector which is configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected by an electromechanical coupling with a counterpart of a heart sensor detecting heart activity of a person, wherein the data transfer component is configured to receive and store cardiac data representing the heart activity while the heart sensor connector and the counterpart of the heart rate sensor are coupled; and

a standard electromechanical interface configured to communicate the cardiac data stored in the data transfer component to an external device, the standard electromechanical interface comprising the heart sensor connector and configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected to the external device by the electromechanical coupling, the standard electromechanical interface coupling the data transfer component with either the counterpart of the heart sensor, thereby enabling reception and storage of the cardiac data using the heart sensor connector, or to the external device, thereby enabling communication of the cardiac data to the external device using the heart sensor connector, wherein the data transfer component comprises a multiplexer coupled with the standard electromechanical interface, wherein the multiplexer reconfigures connections associated with the standard electromechanical interface in response to whether the data transfer component is coupled with the heart sensor or with the external device.

2. The data transfer component of claim 1, wherein the data transfer component comprises an electric power source configured to energize the operation of the data transfer component.

3. The data transfer component of claim 2, wherein the standard electromechanical interface is configured to enable an electromechanical coupling with a counterpart of an external power source for charging the electric power source of the data transfer component.

6. The data transfer component of claim 1, wherein the data transfer component further comprises an amplifier for amplifying signals carrying the cardiac data.

7. The data transfer component of claim 1, wherein the data transfer component further comprises an analog-to-digital converter for converting a signal carrying the cardiac data from an analog form into a digital form.

8. The data transfer component of claim 1, wherein the data transfer component further comprises a controller for processing the cardiac data.

9. The data transfer component of claim 8, wherein the controller encrypts the cardiac data.

11. The data transfer component of claim 1, wherein the counterpart of the heart sensor is further coupled to at least one additional sensor configured to measure a measurable variable different from that provided by the heart sensor, and the data transfer component is further configured to receive and store data on the measurable variable from the at least one additional sensor while the heart sensor connector and the counterpart are coupled.

12. The data transfer component of claim 11, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises at least one of a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an altimeter, a hygrometer for measuring a variable relating to surrounding environmental conditions, a receiver for receiving satellite positioning data, an accelerometer, and a magnetic sensor.

14. The data transfer component of claim 1, wherein the standard electromechanical interface comprises two poles for reception of operational power and two poles for receiving and storing cardiac data while the heart sensor connector and the counterpart are coupled and for communicating the cardiac data stored in the data transfer component to an external device while the heart sensor connector is coupled to the external device.

4. A data transfer component for transferring cardiac data, the data transfer component comprising:

a heart sensor connector which is configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected by an electromechanical coupling with a counterpart of a heart sensor detecting heart activity of a person, wherein the data transfer component is configured to receive and store cardiac data representing the heart activity while the heart sensor connector and the counterpart of the heart rate sensor are coupled; and

a standard electromechanical interface configured to communicate the cardiac data stored in the data transfer component to an external device, the standard electromechanical interface comprising the heart sensor connector and configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected to the external device by the electromechanical coupling, the standard electromechanical interface coupling the data transfer component with either the counterpart of the heart sensor, thereby enabling reception and storage of the cardiac data using the heart sensor connector, or to the external device, thereby enabling communication of the cardiac data to the external device using the heart sensor connector, wherein the data transfer component comprises an electric power source configured to energize the operation of the data transfer component, wherein the electric power source feeds electric power through the heart sensor connector to the counterpart of the heart sensor coupled with it.

5. A data transfer component for transferring cardiac data, the data transfer component comprising:

a heart sensor connector which is configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected by an electromechanical coupling with a counterpart of a heart sensor detecting heart activity of a person, wherein the data transfer component is configured to receive and store cardiac data representing the heart activity while the heart sensor connector and the counterpart of the heart rate sensor are coupled; and

a standard electromechanical interface configured to communicate the cardiac data stored in the data transfer component to an external device, the standard electromechanical interface comprising the heart sensor connector and configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected to the external device by the electromechanical coupling, the standard electromechanical interface coupling the data transfer component with either the counterpart of the heart sensor, thereby enabling reception and storage of the cardiac data using the heart sensor connector, or to the external device, thereby enabling communication of the cardiac data to the external device using the heart sensor connector, wherein the data transfer component comprises at least one additional sensor that measures a measurable variable different from that provided by the heart sensor, and the data transfer component stores data on the measurable variable.

13. The data transfer component of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises at least one of a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an altimeter, a hygrometer for measuring a variable relating to surrounding environmental conditions, a receiver for receiving satellite positioning data, an accelerometer, and a magnetic sensor.

10. A data transfer component for transferring cardiac data, the data transfer component comprising:

a heart sensor connector which is configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected by an electromechanical coupling with a counterpart of a heart sensor detecting heart activity of a person, wherein the data transfer component is configured to receive and store cardiac data representing the heart activity while the heart sensor connector and the counterpart of the heart rate sensor are coupled; and

a standard electromechanical interface configured to communicate the cardiac data stored in the data transfer component to an external device, the standard electromechanical interface comprising the heart sensor connector and configured to be repeatedly connected and disconnected to the external device by the electromechanical coupling, the standard electromechanical interface coupling the data transfer component with either the counterpart of the heart sensor, thereby enabling reception and storage of the cardiac data using the heart sensor connector, or to the external device, thereby enabling communication of the cardiac data to the external device using the heart sensor connector, wherein the data transfer component further comprises a controller for processing the cardiac data, wherein the controller forms user authentication data on the basis of the cardiac data and incorporates the user authentication data into the cardiac data.