Apparatus for measuring one or more physiological functions of a body and a method using the same

• US 20070299323A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brainquiry B.V.
• Original Assignee: Brainquiry B.V.
• Inventors: Kleinnijenhuis, Dirk Henry, Arns, Martijn Wilco, Slootweg, Gerardus Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/476,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20070299323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measurement of a physiological function of a body comprising; physiological function detection means responsive to a physiological signal and capable of generating an analog output signal corresponding to the physiological signal; an analog-digital converter capable of receiving the unamplified analog output signal and capable of generating a digital output signal corresponding to the unamplified analog output signal and control means capable of receiving and communicating the digital output signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measurement of a physiological function of a body comprising;

physiological function detection means responsive to a physiological signal and capable of generating a universal output signal corresponding to the physiological signal;

an analog-digital converter capable of receiving the unamplified analog output signal and capable of generating a digital output signal corresponding to the unamplified analog output signal;

control means capable of receiving and communicating the digital output signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising movement detection means capable of generating a movement signal corresponding with movement of the body or a part thereof and the controls means are further capable of receiving the movement signal.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analog-digital converter is a high resolution analog-digital converter of 16 bit or higher.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analog-digital converter is a high resolution analog-digital converter of 24 bit or higher.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unamplified analog output signal is directly communicated to the analog-digital converter.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unamplified analog output signal is indirectly communicated through a low pass pre-sampling filter to the analog-digital converter.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physiological function detection means are suitable for detecting pulse oximetry and/or (phot)plethysmography and comprise an infrared or red light emitting source and a photodiode capable of detecting infrared or red light.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, comprising two or more, preferably five or more, and most preferably seven photodiodes capable of detecting infrared or red light.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physiological function detection means are suitable for detecting the galvanic skin response and comprise two or more electrodes capable of measuring the resistance of the skin between the two or more electrodes.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising two or more physiological function detection means each responsive to a different physiological signal, two or more analog-digital converters corresponding with the two or more physiological signal detection means, and receiving means capable of receiving and communicating the two or more digital output signals.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 comprising first physiological function detection means suitable for detecting pulse oximetry and/or (phot)plethysmography comprising an infrared or red light emitting source and one or more photodiodes capable of detecting infrared or red light;

and second physiological function detection means suitable for detecting the galvanic skin response comprising two or more electrodes capable of measuring the resistance of the skin between the two or more electrodes.

12. Method for measuring one or more physiological functions of a body comprising measuring of the one or more physiological functions using an apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

13. Method according to claim 12 wherein the measuring comprises multiple or continuous measurements of the one or more physiological functions.

14. Method for analysis of one or more physiological functions of a body comprising multiple or continuous measuring of the one or more physiological functions using an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, communicating the measurements to an external source and analyzing the measurements using the external source.