Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Cardiovascular
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-15
2003-02-18
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Cardiovascular
C600S485000, C600S500000, C600S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520920
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arrangement for measuring a biosignal from a living body.
The invention is applied particularly to wristband-type devices for measuring a biosignal non-invasively, such as heart rate monitors, which measure a pressure pulse signal produced by the wrist artery pulse and determine the pulse frequency of the heart on the basis of this signal. Another preferred field of application is measurement of the pressure pulse measured in connection with blood pressure measurement. The invention may also be applied to a multipurpose measuring arrangement wherein pulse, blood pressure and other variables that can be obtained on the basis of the pressure signal are measured.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The prior art measuring arrangements are characterized in that a casing comprising a measuring sensor which produces measurement data is tightened around the wrist at the wrist artery by means of the pressing force caused by a fastener of the device.
Nevertheless, such a solution is seriously problematic since the entire casing is pressed by an equal force against the surface of the skin over the entire area covered by the fastener. Such a solution is sensitive to changes in the position of the wrist. When a wrist whereto a heart rate monitor has been attached for measuring the pulse e.g. during an exercise is moved during the exercise, the contact of the measuring arrangement with the surface of the skin and the wrist artery underneath the surface of the skin varies according to the position of the wrist. This impairs the measuring accuracy and sensitivity of the measuring arrangement. The contact of the sensor with the surface of the skin as well as the measuring accuracy of the sensor thus vary according to the position of the wrist, which makes the measurement less reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for measuring a biosignal, an object of the arrangement being to improve the contact of the measuring sensor with a measurement target, i.e. the wrist artery. As far as the biosignal measurement is concerned, in view of what has been set forth above the important point is that particularly the site of the casing where the sensor is located is pressed against the artery such that when the wrist is moved, the contact of the sensor with the skin remains as good as possible, thereby enabling as high measuring accuracy as possible.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the arrangement of the invention for measuring a biosignal is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim
1
.
The idea underlying the invention is thus that the measuring arrangement comprises an element which operates like a spring and produces a force which, with respect to the fastener, turns the casing towards the measurement target, i.e. the wrist artery underneath the surface of the skin, pressing the measuring sensor tighter against the surface of the skin. The element is thus used for improving the contact of the measuring sensor with the surface of the skin such that instead of pressing the wrist over the entire area covered by the fastener, it is exactly the measuring sensor which is pressed against the skin and the artery by the pressing force caused by the element. An advantage achieved by the arrangement of the invention is thus improved adaptation to the measurement target on a person's wrist and, consequently, improved contact with the surface of the skin and the wrist artery when the position of the wrist varies and when the wrist is moved. The preferred embodiments and further implementations of the invention shown in closer detail herein emphasize and acknowledge the advantages of the invention.
According to the invention, the casing comprising the measuring sensor is pressed against the skin by an element, preferably a spring element, such as a helical spring or alternatively a leaf spring. As far as the implementation of the arrangement is concerned, it is then preferable that the element is supported at a fastening part, such as a fastening pin, of a fastener, such as a fastening strip. According to a preferred embodiment, the spring element is a pre-bent, shaped part made of plastic, arranged to be an integrated part of the fastener.
The measuring sensor of the measuring arrangement is preferably located on the undersurface of the casing which is pressed against the measurement target, i.e. the surface of the skin and substantially in the vicinity of the upper edge of the casing. The advantage achieved is that a hinge-like joint turning with respect to one fulcrum is then provided between the casing and the fastener, the fastening part serving as the fulcrum of the joint, and the spring element enables a force directed towards the measurement target to be concentrated on the upper edge of the casing.
Since the arrangement of the invention is preferably designated to measure a pressure pulse signal from the wrist, the fastener is preferably a wristband. In the arrangement of the invention, the biosignal is a pressure signal, in which case the measuring sensor is a pressure sensor. The arrangement is well suited to use in connection with a biosignal measuring device, such as a heart rate monitor, or alternatively, in connection with a blood pressure apparatus.
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Miettinen Jari
Nissilä Seppo
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Natnithithadha Navin
Polar Electro Oy
Shaver Kevin
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