Sphygmograph and signal processing method

• US 9,138,153 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Narusawa, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendmagegn, Girumsew
• Application Number:
  US13/426,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 348/77, 348/E7.085
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger

Abstract

A sphygmograph includes: a first signal processing unit and a second signal processing unit that process pulse waves obtained from a pulse sensor unit; a signal processing selection unit that determines whether or not to cause the second signal processing unit to also operate at the same time as the first signal processing unit; and a save data generation unit that saves, of the signal processing results from the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit, the signal processing result selected by the signal processing selection unit.

Claims

1. A sphygmograph comprising:

a photoelectric sensor unit that detects an amount of light emitted from a human body and outputs an electrical signal;

a first signal processing unit that performs a signal process on the signal outputted from the photoelectric sensor unit;

a second signal processing unit that performs a signal process on the signal outputted from the photoelectric sensor unit in a different process from that of the first signal processing unit;

a signal processing selection unit that determines whether or not to cause the second signal processing unit to operate along with the first signal processing unit in parallel at the same time; and

a signal processing result saving unit that saves, of signal processing results of the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit, a signal processing result selected by the signal processing selection unit.

2. The sphygmograph according to claim 1,

wherein the signal processing selection unit includes:

a motion sensor unit that detects a motion amount of the human body and outputs a signal; and

a motion signal processing unit that performs a signal process on the signal outputted from the motion sensor unit, and

the signal processing selection unit determines whether or not to cause the second signal processing unit to operate along with the first signal processing unit in parallel at the same time in accordance with a value outputted by the motion signal processing unit.

3. The sphygmograph according to claim 1,

wherein the signal processing selection unit includes:

a shift sensor unit that detects an amount by which the photoelectric sensor shifts from the human body and outputs a signal; and

a shift signal processing unit that performs a signal process on the signal outputted from the shift sensor unit, and

the signal processing selection unit determines whether or not to cause the second signal processing unit to operate along with the first signal processing unit in parallel at the same time in accordance with a value outputted by the shift signal processing unit.

4. The sphygmograph according to claim 1,

wherein the signal processing selection unit includes:

an analysis unit that analyzes the signal processing result of at least one of the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit, and

the signal processing selection unit determines whether or not to cause the second signal processing unit to operate along with the first signal processing unit in parallel at the same time in accordance with a value outputted by the analysis unit.

5. The sphygmograph according to claim 1,

wherein the first signal processing unit extracts a characteristic point from the signal outputted by the photoelectric sensor unit;

the characteristic point is taken as the signal processing result of the first signal processing unit; and

the second signal processing unit converts the signal outputted by the photoelectric sensor unit into a digital signal and takes a signal amplitude value series as the signal processing result.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a program that causes a computer to function as:

a first signal processing unit that processes an output signal outputted from a photoelectric sensor unit that detects an amount of light emitted from a human body and outputs an electrical signal;

a second signal processing unit having a different processing format from that of the first signal processing unit;

a signal processing selection unit that determines whether or not to cause the second signal processing unit to operate along with the first signal processing unit in parallel at the same time; and

a signal processing result saving unit that saves, of signal processing results of the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit, a signal processing result selected by the signal processing selection unit.