Pulse-wave measuring apparatus

• US 5,766,131 A
• Filed: 07/30/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kondo, Yutaka, Ono, Takeshi, Honda, Katsuyuki, Odagiri, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/692,897
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/639, 128/664-667, 128/687-690, 600/310, 600/323, 600/344, 600/503, 600/502, 600/473-480
• US Class Current: 600/502
• 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 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

To achieve a pulse wave measuring apparatus whereby the sensor unit can be easily and consistently worn against the skin surface, a wristwatch type pulse wave measuring apparatus is comprised as follows. Specifically, light transmittance plate 34 is disposed on the outside surface side of LED 31 and phototransistor 32 in sensor unit 30. Outside surface 341 of light transmittance plate 34, which is pressed against the finger, projects above the reference surface, which is outside surface 361 of sensor frame 36 surrounding light transmittance plate 34. Two body ground terminals 38 contacting the finger surface when light transmittance plate 34 is pressed tight to the finger are disposed around light transmittance plate 34; the body ground terminals 38 also project above the reference surface. However, the position of outside surfaces 381 of body ground terminals 38 is lower than the outside surface 341 of light transmittance plate 34. A supporter-like sensor unit holding band is used to hold sensor unit 30 on the finger. A thick material such as that used in diving wet suits is used for the sensor unit holding band, and comprises a middle layer of foam rubber.

Claims

1. A pulse wave measuring apparatus comprising

a sensor unit comprising:

a light emitting element for emitting light to a surface of a body, and

a receptor element for detecting the light emitted from said light emitting element and reflected back from the body;

a light transmittance plate disposed on a first side of said receptor element and a first side of said light emitting element facing the body, wherein an outside surface of said light transmittance plate faces the body, wherein the outside surface of the light transmittance plate is exposed above a reference surface, and wherein the reference surface is an outside surface of said sensor unit surrounding said light transmittance plate;

a main unit comprising a data processor for obtaining pulse information in accordance with a pulse signal detection signal supplied from said sensor unit; and

a sleeve-like sensor unit holding band, wherein said holding band is elastic in at least a circumferential direction, wherein said sensor unit holding band cooperates with the exposed outside surface of said light transmittance plate so as to secure said sensor unit against the surface of the body, wherein said light transmittance plate is arranged tightly against the surface of the body.

2. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outside surface of said light transmittance plate is flat in shape.

3. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outside surface of said light transmittance plate is convex in shape.

4. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit holding band comprises a fabric having a foam rubber layer.

5. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit holding band comprises a fabric having a polyurethane rubber layer.

6. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit holding band comprises a fabric with elasticity on at least one of an inside and an outside circumferential surface of said holding band.

7. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit holding band comprises a plurality of fabric pieces with edges thereof joined in a seam.

8. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a tape is disposed on an inside circumferential side of said sensor unit holding band covering having the seam arranged between adjacent ones of said plurality of fabric pieces of said sensor unit holding band.

9. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said sensor unit holding band and said sensor unit comprises a sensor unit slipping prevention means for preventing a shift in a position of said sensor unit inside said sensor unit holding band.

10. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sensor unit slipping prevention means comprises a protrusion provided on said sensor unit projecting in a direction opposite to said light transmittance plate, and protruding into the inside circumferential surface of said sensor unit holding band.

11. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit holding band further comprises a fingerhold extending in the lengthwise direction from the end of said band.

12. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensor unit holding band and sensor unit are comprised so that a load applied from said sensor unit to the body surface ranges from 1.0 gf/mm² to 2.8 gf/mm² per unit area of said light transmittance plate when said sensor unit is held to the surface of the body.

13. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sensor unit holding band comprises a material having a foam rubber layer.

14. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit holding band comprises a material having a polyurethane layer.

15. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising on a side of said sensor unit opposite said light transmittance plate a projection for focusing a force of said sensor unit holding band pressing said sensor unit against the surface of the body on said light transmittance plate.

16. A pulse wave measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wrist band for wearing the main unit on a wrist, and

a cable extending from said main unit to said sensor unit disposed on an end of said cable.

17. A pulse wave measuring apparatus comprising:

a sensor unit comprising;

a light emitting element for emitting light to a surface of a body, and

a receptor element for detecting the light emitted from said light emitting element and reflected back from the body;

a light transmittance plate disposed on a first side of said receptor element and a first side of said light emitting element facing the body, wherein an outside surface of said light transmittance plate faces the body, wherein the outside surface of the light transmittance plate is exposed above a reference surface, and wherein the reference surface is an outside surface of said sensor unit surrounding said light transmittance plate;

a main unit comprising a data processor for obtaining pulse information in accordance with a pulse signal detection signal supplied from said sensor unit;

a sleeve-like sensor unit holding band, wherein said holding band is elastic in at least a circumferential direction, so as to secure said sensor unit against the surface of the body, wherein said light transmittance plate is arranged tightly against the surface of the body; and

a body ground terminal disposed on the outside surface of said sensor unit surrounding said light transmittance plate, and contacting the surface of the body when said light transmittance plate is disposed tightly against the surface of the body, and

wherein an outside surface of said body ground terminal projects from the reference surface to a position lower than the outside surface of said light transmittance plate.

18. A pulse wave measuring apparatus comprising:

a sensor unit comprising;

a light emitting element for emitting light to a surface of a body, and

a receptor element for detecting the light emitted from said light emitting element and reflected back from the body;

a light transmittance plate disposed on a first side of said receptor element and a first side of said light emitting element facing the body, wherein an outside surface of said light transmittance plate faces the body;

a main unit comprising a data processor for obtaining pulse information in accordance with a pulse signal detection signal supplied from said sensor unit;

a sleeve-like sensor unit holding band, wherein said holding band is elastic in at least a circumferential direction, so as to secure said sensor unit against the surface of the body, wherein said light transmittance plate is arranged tightly against the surface of the body; and

a cable connecting said main unit to said sensor unit at a cable connection area; and

wherein at least one of said sensor unit holding band and said sensor unit comprises a sensor unit slipping prevention means for preventing a shift in a position of said sensor unit inside said sensor unit holding band, said sensor unit slipping prevention means comprising an elastic body having two ends fastened to an inside circumferential surface of said sensor unit holding band in a manner whereby said sensor unit position is fixed by passing said cable between said elastic body and the inside circumferential surface of said sensor unit holding band so that said cable is secured by said elastic body near the cable connection area.

19. A pulse wave measuring apparatus comprising:

a sensor unit comprising;

a light emitting element for emitting light to a surface of a body, and

a receptor element for detecting the light emitted from said light emitting element and reflected back from the body;

a light transmittance plate disposed on a first side of said receptor element and a first side of said light emitting element facing the body, wherein an outside surface of said light transmittance plate faces the body;

a main unit comprising a data processor for obtaining pulse information in accordance with a pulse signal detection signal supplied from said sensor unit; and

a sleeve-like sensor unit holding band, wherein said holding band is elastic in at least a circumferential direction, so as to secure said sensor unit against the surface of the body, wherein said light transmittance plate is arranged tightly against the surface of the body;

wherein said sensor unit holding band and said sensor unit are comprised to allow displacement between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm from a position whereat said sensor unit is disposed to the surface of the body without applying any load thereto, to a position whereat said light transmittance plate is disposed tightly against the surface of the body by said sensor unit holding band.