Wrist pulse monitor

• US 5,810,736 A
• Filed: 08/22/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Opher Pail
• Original Assignee: Opher Pail
• Inventors: Pail, Opher
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US08/518,033
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 128/690, 128/700, 128/706, 128/633, 128/664-667, 128/687, 600/500-503, 600/479, 600/480
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/029 adapted for auto-initiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices

Abstract

A pulse monitor is provided which has a pulse monitor unit supported on a wrist band over the carpal tunnel, with a infra-red optical sensor which picks up the flow of blood therein. The detected blood flow is transmitted by a radio frequency transmitter to a display unit also supported on the wrist of the user, which processes the data signal and displays a pulse. Alternate embodiments provide for separate wrist bands supporting the pulse detector and the display unit, and for a combined detector and display unit, as well as multiple optical sensors.

Claims

1. A pulse monitor system for displaying the pulse of a user, said system comprising:

a pulse detector unit having

an optical sensor adapted to be supported on a wrist of the user and sensing varying amount of blood passing through said wrist and generating a sensor signal responsive to said sensing, and a wireless signal transmitted receiving said sensor signal from said optical sensor and transmitting a wireless signal derived from said optical sensor signal; and

a display unit adapted to be supported on one of the wrists of the user and comprising a band structure adapted to secure said display unit on said one of the wrists of the user and a display device supported on said band structure,

said display device including

a receiver receiving said wireless signal from said wireless signal transmitter and generating a received signal corresponding thereto,

a display circuit receiving said received signal and displaying a numerical pulse to the user derived from said received signal; and

said display circuit having a signal processing circuit deriving a pulse signal from the received signal,

said signal processing circuit processing said pulse signal to yield a display pulse signal, said signal processing circuit;

a) interrupting the pulse signal when the numerical value thereof is below a preselected minimum or above a preselected maximum;

b) interrupting the pulse signal when the change in numerical value of said pulse signal from the previous value of the pulse signal exceeds a preselected value; and

c) smoothing the values of said pulse signal.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and

said optical sensor comprising three sensor elements supported adjacent each other in a generally triangular pattern, and each sensing blood in said wrist.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and

said pulse detector unit being adapted to be supported so that the optical sensor is over a portion of said wrist adjacent the crease of articulation of the wrist and to the thumbward side of the meridian of the wrist.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and

said display unit and said pulse detector unit being maintained in proximity to each other when the units are both supported on the same wrist of the user.

5. The invention according to claim 1 and said wireless signal being a frequency modulated radio signal.

6. The invention according to claim 1 and

said display unit and said pulse detector unit being maintained in proximity to each other when the units are both supported on the same wrist of the user.

7. The invention according to claim 1 and

said pulse detector unit including a second band structure adapted to secure said pulse detector unit on said wrist.

8. The invention according to claim 1 and

said display circuit including an LCD display field structure displaying said pulse value.

9. The invention according to claim 1 and

said pulse detector unit having a battery supplying power thereto and a switch adapted to close when the pulse detector unit is placed on the wrist, causing flow of electricity from the battery to power the pulse detector unit.

10. The invention according to claim 1 and

said pulse detector unit being supported on the band structure of the display unit.

11. A pulse monitor system for displaying the pulse of a user comprising:

a pulse detector unit comprising at least two optical sensors, a signal processing circuit connected with said optical sensors, and a transmitter connected with said signal processing circuit;

said pulse detector unit being adapted to be supported on the wrist of the user so that the optical sensors overlie a portion of the wrist of the user adjacent to the crease of the wrist and to the thumbward side of the meridian of the wrist,

said optical sensors each detecting varying amounts of blood in the wrist and each generating a respective first signal,

said signal processing circuit processing said first signals and transmitting a second signal to the transmitter, said second signal being derived from said first signals by selecting the most reliable pulse data available therefrom;

said transmitter generating a wireless signal corresponding to said second signal data; and

a display unit comprising a band adapted to be securingly engaged on one of the wrists of the user, and a display device supported on the band;

said display device comprising

a signal receiver receiving said wireless signal and generating a third signal corresponding thereto;

a signal display circuit receiving said third signal and generating therefrom a display signal; and

a display receiving said display signal and displaying said signal as a numerical value.

12. The invention according to claim 11 and

said signal processing circuit including a detector circuit connected with the optical sensors and receiving therefrom said first signals, said detector circuit generating a pulse signal for each sensor representing pulse data derived from the respective first signal thereof.

13. The invention according to claim 12 and

said signal processing circuit filtering said pulse signals to interrupt said pulse signal when the pulse signal indicates a pulse outside of predetermined limits.

14. The invention according to claim 11 and

said display circuit including a supplemental signal processor processing said third signal prior to generating the display signal therefrom.

15. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said pulse detector unit has three optical sensors detecting blood in the wrist, said optical sensors being grouped adjacent each other in a generally triangular pattern.

16. A pulse monitoring system comprising:

a first band adapted to be engaged on a wrist of the user;

a detector unit supported on said first band and having thereon three optical detectors grouped together in a generally triangular pattern, said detectors each detecting time-varying amounts of blood in said wrist and each generating a respective responsive signal;

said detector unit transmitting a wireless signal derived from at least one of said responsive signals;

a display unit adapted to be supported on said wrist of the user, said display unit receiving said wireless signal and generating therefrom a display signal representing the pulse rate of the user;

the display unit having a display device receiving the display signal and displaying the display signal as a numerical value to be read by the user;

one of said detector unit and said display unit including a signal processing circuit processing one of said signals or a signal derived therefrom, said signal processing circuit;

a) interrupting the signal when the numerical value thereof is below a preselected minimum or above a preselected maximum;

b) interrupting the signal when the change in numerical value of said signal from the previous value of the signal exceeds a preselected value; and

c) smoothing the values of said signal; and

one of said detection unit and said display unit determining which of the responsive signals is transmitting the most reliable data and causing the data only of that signal to be used in generating the display signal.

17. The invention according to claim 16 and

said display unit having a second band adapted to secure said display unit to the same wrist of the user as the first band.

18. The invention according to claim 16 and

said detector unit having the signal processing circuit.

19. The invention according to claim 16 and

said detection unit selecting the responsive signal having the most reliable data.