Physiological signal collection unit and detector thereof

• US 9,420,961 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Chiou, Jin-Chern, Huang, Yu-Chieh
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fardanesh, Marjan
• Application Number:
  US13/473,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 600310-344
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A physiological signal collection unit is for use with a physiological signal measuring apparatus to measure physiological signals from an anatomical part of a test subject, in which the anatomical part is covered with hair. The physiological signal collection unit includes a detector and a wearable member. The detector includes a circuit substrate defining a substrate-through-hole to permit hair strands to extend through, an electrical connector, and at least one signal collecting component. The wearable member is to be worn on the anatomical part of the test subject, and is formed with a through-hole having a size smaller than size of the circuit substrate. The through-hole permits the hair strands extending through the circuit substrate to extend through the wearable member.

Claims

1. A physiological signal collection unit for use with a physiological signal measuring apparatus to measure physiological signals from an anatomical part of a test subject, the anatomical part being covered with hair, said physiological signal collection unit comprising:

a detector including

a circuit substrate having one side to be disposed proximate to the anatomical part and an opposite side opposite to said one side, and defining at least two substrate-through-hole with each substrate-through-hole being adjacent each signal collecting component,

an electrical connector disposed on said circuit substrate and configured to permit electrical connection between said detector and the physiological signal measuring apparatus, and

at least two signal collecting components disposed on said circuit substrate and responsive to control from the physiological signal measuring apparatus for measuring the physiological signals from the anatomical part of the test subject; and

a wearable member configured to be worn on the anatomical part of the test subject, to be disposed at said opposite side of said circuit substrate, and formed with a through-hole that is to correspond in position to said circuit substrate and that has a size smaller than size of said circuit substrate;

wherein said substrate-through-holes are configured to permit hair strands on the anatomical part that correspond in position to each of said signal collecting components to extend therethrough;

wherein said through-hole of said wearable member permits the hair strands extending through said circuit substrate to extend through said wearable member.

2. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit substrate is in a form of a ring, and said electrical connector includes a connector housing disposed adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of said circuit substrate.

3. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit substrate is C-shaped and has a first portion formed with a notch in spatial communication with said substrate-through-hole and a second portion opposite to said first portion, said electrical connector including a connector housing disposed at said second portion adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of said circuit substrate.

4. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit substrate is U-shaped and has a first portion formed with an opening in spatial communication with said substrate-through-hole and a second portion opposite to said first portion, said electrical connector including a connector housing disposed at said second portion adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of said circuit substrate.

5. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal collecting component is an electrical signal sensing electrode.

6. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising two of said signal collecting components, one of said signal collecting components being a light emitting component, the other one of said signal collecting components being a light sensing component disposed adjacent to said light emitting component.

7. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising three of said signal collecting components, a first one of said signal collecting components being a red light emitting diode, a second one of said signal collecting components being a near infrared light emitting diode, a third one of said signal collecting components being a light sensing component disposed adjacent to said red light emitting diode and said near infrared light emitting diode.

8. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light sensing component is disposed between said red light emitting diode and said near infrared light emitting diode.

9. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising four of said signal collecting components, a first one of said signal collecting components being a red light emitting diode, a second one of said signal collecting components being a near infrared light emitting diode, a third one of said signal collecting components being a light sensing component disposed adjacent to said red light emitting diode and said near infrared light emitting diode, a fourth one of said signal collecting components being an electrical signal sensing electrode.

10. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said wearable member formed with said through-hole is stretchable such that said circuit substrate is extendible through said through-hole when said portion of said wearable member is stretched while said wearable member is worn on the anatomical part.

11. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wearable member is in a form of a headgear.

12. The physiological signal collection unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said headgear is one of a head cap, a kerchief and a headstrap.

13. A detector for contacting an anatomical part of a test subject to measure physiological signals therefrom, the anatomical part being covered with hair, said detector comprising:

a circuit substrate having one side to be disposed proximate to the anatomical part and an opposite side opposite to said one side, and defining at least two substrate-through-holes with each substrate-through hole being adjacent each signal connecting component;

an electrical connector including a connector housing disposed on said circuit substrate; and

at least two signal collecting components disposed on said circuit substrate and controllable to measure the physiological signals from the anatomical part of the test subject,

wherein said substrate-through-holes are configured to permit hair strands on the anatomical part that correspond in position to each of said signal collecting components to extend therethrough.

14. The detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said circuit substrate is in a form of a ring, and said connector housing is disposed adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of said circuit substrate.

15. The detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said circuit substrate is C-shaped and has a first portion formed with a notch in spatial communication with said substrate-through-hole and a second portion opposite to said first portion, said connector housing being disposed at said second portion adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of said circuit substrate.

16. The detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said circuit substrate is U-shaped and has a first portion formed with an opening in spatial communication with said substrate-through-hole and a second portion opposite to said first portion, said connector housing being disposed at said second portion adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of said circuit substrate.

17. The detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said signal collecting component is an electrical signal sensing electrode.

18. The detector as claimed in claim 13, comprising two of said signal collecting components, one of said signal collecting components being a light emitting component, the other one of said signal collecting components being a light sensing component disposed adjacent to said light emitting component.

19. The detector as claimed in claim 13, comprising three of said signal collecting components, a first one of said signal collecting components being a red light emitting diode, a second one of said signal collecting components being a near infrared light emitting diode, a third one of said signal collecting components being a light sensing component disposed between said red light emitting diode and said near infrared light emitting diode.

20. The detector as claimed in claim 13, comprising four of said signal collecting components, a first one of said signal collecting components being a red light emitting diode, a second one of said signal collecting components being a near infrared light emitting diode, a third one of said signal collecting components being a light sensing component disposed adjacent to said red light emitting diode and said near infrared light emitting diode, a fourth one of said signal collecting components being an electrical signal sensing electrode.