Pulse-wave processing device

• US 5,735,799 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Baba, Norimitsu, Amano, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): YARNELL, BRYAN KEITH
• Application Number:
  US08/295,748
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 128/672, 128/677, 128/687, 128/690, 600/485, 600/490, 600/500-503
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02108 from analysis of pulse wave characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A device includes a pulse wave detection device that detects pulse waves; a pressure detection device that detects a pressure; a pulse wave processing device; and a display of displaying pulse wave processing data and pressures. It is provided with a pulse wave detectability test device that determines the pulse wave detectability from a pressure; a pulse wave detection state notification device that notifies the operator of the pulse wave detectability status; a pulse wave/pressure storage device that temporarily stores pulse wave and pressure data; and a pulse wave/pressure comparison device that compares pulse wave and pressure data by comparing temporarily stored past data and the current data. These devices enable the operator to easily determine the pressure to be applied when measuring pulse waves, and provide improvements in the efficiency of pulse wave measurement. Further, because it can store optimal pressure values and the pulse wave data at the time of storage, and can compare present data with past data, the device allows the operator to obtain health data.

Claims

1. A pulse wave processing device, comprising:

pulse wave detection means for detecting a pulse wave from a part of a living body that applies a pressure at said pulse wave detection means;

pressure detection means for detecting the pressure applied at said pulse wave detection means by the living body;

pulse wave processing means for processing an output of said pulse wave detection means and an output of said pressure detection means to generate an output signal selectively representative of said detected pressure and said detected pulse wave, said pulse wave processing means comprising;

testing means for testing whether the pressure detected by said pressure detection means is within a first predetermined range for determining detectability of the pulse wave of the living body,

computing means for computing a pulse count of the living body, based on the pulse wave detected by said pulse wave detection means, if the pressure detected by said pressure detection means is within the first predetermined range,

memory means for storing past pulse wave data and past pressure data,

comparison means for comparing current pulse wave data from said pulse wave detection means and current pressure data from said pressure detection means, respectively, with the past pulse wave data and the past pressure data stored in said memory means, so that an optimal pressure and an optimal pulse wave are determined, and

analyzing means for analyzing the current and past pulse wave data and pressure data for determining the health status of the living body;

display means for displaying the output signal of said pulse wave processing means, said displayed output signal selectively representing said detected pressure and said detected pulse wave; and

notification means for providing a first notification if the pressure detected by said pressure detection means is outside the first predetermined range and for providing a second notification if the pulse count computed by said computing means is outside a second predetermined range.

2. The pulse wave processing device of claim 1, wherein said display means includes means for notifying an operator of pulse wave detectability based on an output of said testing means.

3. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein the display means includes means for indicating the pressure detected by the detection means in analog fore.

4. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein said display means includes means for indicating the pressure detected by said pressure detection means in digital form.

5. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein the display means includes means for indicating the pressure detected by the detection means in the form of color changes.

6. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein the display means includes means for indicating the pressure detected by the detection means in the form of sound changes.

7. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein the display means includes means for indicating the pressure detected by the detection means in the form of voice.

8. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein said pulse wave detection means detects the pulse waves by detecting the amount of reflected light when light is directed onto the part of the living body.

9. The pulse wave processing device of claim 2, wherein the pulse wave detection means detects the pulse waves by detecting the amount of transmitted light when light is directed onto the part of the human body.