Device and method for detecting a vital parameter

• US 9,681,830 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V., ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V., ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Haevescher, Rainer, Ciancitto, Fabio, Weigand, Christian, Gassmann, Hans-Josef, Couronne, Robert, Ershov, Sergey
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US13/081,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 600310, 600322, 600323, 600324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars

Abstract

A device for detecting a vital parameter is described, comprising: an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the vital parameter by means of light remission at a finger, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement has a first light source for generating light in a visible wavelength range, a second light source for generating light in a non-visible wavelength range and a light-sensitive element; and a controller which is implemented to switch on the second light source in temporal intervals, execute an evaluation of the light received from the light-sensitive element in the invisible wavelength range of the second light source with respect to whether a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and to switch on the first light source as soon as the evaluation indicates that a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a vital parameter, comprising:

an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the vital parameter by means of light remission at a finger, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first light source for generating light in a visible wavelength range, a second light source for generating light in a non-visible wavelength range and a light sensitive element; and

a controller which is implemented to switch on the second light source in temporal intervals, execute an evaluation of the light received from the light-sensitive element in the invisible wavelength range of the second light source with respect to whether a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and to switch on the first light source as soon as the evaluation indicates that a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement;

wherein the controller is implemented to execute an evaluation over a temporal course of the light received from the light sensitive element in the invisible wavelength range of the second light source to detect a pulse parameter when a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and to switch on the first light source when a pulse wave is detected.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is implemented to switch off the first light source as soon as the evaluation indicates that no finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source and the light sensitive element are arranged so that the light received from the light-sensitive element is a portion of the light generated by the second light source remitted by the applied finger.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulse parameter is a pulse wave, a pulse frequency or a pulse amplitude.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vital parameter is an oxygen saturation of the blood.

6. A method for detecting a vital parameter by means of an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the vital parameter by means of light remission, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first light source for generating light in the visible wavelength range, a second light source for generating light in a non-visible wavelength range and a light sensitive element, and wherein the method further comprises:

switching on the second light source in temporal intervals;

evaluating the light received from the light-sensitive element in the invisible wavelength range of the second light source with respect to whether a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement; and

switching on the first light source as soon as the evaluation indicates that a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement;

wherein an evaluation over a temporal course of the light received is executed from the light sensitive element in the invisible wavelength range of the second light source to detect a pulse parameter when a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and to switch on the first light source when a pulse wave is detected.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising:

switching off the first light source as soon as the evaluation indicates that no finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement.