BIO-SIGNAL APPARATUS, OPERATION METHOD OF BIO-SIGNAL APPARATUS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF BIO-SIGNAL APPARATUS

A bio-signal apparatus comprises a first connection part, a second connection part and a seal. The first connection part comprises a sheet, which carries a patch electrode structure and comprises electrodes for reception of a bio-signal from a body of a mammal and first electrical connectors, the first electrical connectors being electrically connected with the electrodes. The second connection part comprises counterpart electrical connectors, and the first electrical connectors and the counterpart electrical connectors being repeatedly attachable and releasable with each other for transferring the bio-signal therethrough to data processing. The seal seals an interface of the first connection part and the second connection part against dust and moisture, and the seal surrounds the first electrical connectors and the electrical counterpart electrical connectors in a continuous manner.

FIELD

The invention relates to a bio-signal apparatus, an operation method of a bio-signal apparatus and a manufacturing method of a bio-signal apparatus.

BACKGROUND

An electronic device, which measures bio-signals such as ECG (ElectroCardioGram) and EEG (ElectroEncephaloGram), must be well contacted with the electrodes that are in contact with the body and mechanically reliably fixed to its support. At least some kind electromechanical part is used for connecting and attaching a non-disposable bio-signal measurement device with a disposable single-use patch electrode arrangement, and the electromechanical part is structurally and/or electrically rather complicated. It may also contain metal parts or even some assembled electrical connector to interface with the non-disposable bio-signal measurement device. Because of that, it may even be the most expensive part to manufacture and assemble on the disposable patch electrode arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement to the electromechanical connection.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

If one or more of the embodiments is considered not to fall under the scope of the independent claims, such an embodiment is or such embodiments are still useful for understanding features of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specification may refer to “an” embodiment in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment.

The articles “a” and “an” give a general sense of entities, structures, components, compositions, operations, functions, connections or the like in this document. Note also that singular terms may include pluralities.

Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words “comprising” and “including” should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may also contain features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned. All combinations of the embodiments are considered possible if their combination does not lead to structural or logical contradiction.

It should be noted that while Figures illustrate various embodiments, they are simplified diagrams that only show some structures and/or functional entities. The connections shown in the Figures may refer to logical or physical connections. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the described apparatus may also comprise other functions and structures than those described in Figures and text. It should be appreciated that details of some functions, structures, and the signals used for measurement and/or the control are irrelevant to the actual invention. Therefore, they need not be discussed in more detail here.

FIG.1AandFIG.1Cillustrate an example of a bio-signal apparatus that comprises a first connection part10and a second connection part14and a seal16(the seal is shown inFIG.1C). The bio-signal is an electrical signal formed by the nervous system of a mammal100and hence it may also be called a bioelectrical signal. The first connection part10comprises a sheet12of electrically non-conductive material. The sheet12may also be considered a plate or the like at least in some embodiments. The sheet12may be made of electrically non-conductive polymer such as plastic. However, the sheet12may be of other kind of material and even electrically conductive.

The sheet12carries a patch electrode structure18, which comprises patch electrodes20for reception of a bio-signal from a body of a mammal100. In this application, the term “carry” may mean to support, hold, comprise, include or contain. The patch electrode structure18also comprises first electrical connectors22, which are electrically connected with the electrodes20through electrical conductors of the patch electrode structure18. The electrical conductors of the patch electrode structure18are not shown inFIG.1because a person skilled in the art is familiar with a patch electrode structure, per se.

The patch electrode structure18is typically a piece of sheet that may be narrow like a band or broad like a wide planar surface and it is often fairly thin and flexible. Thickness of the patch electrode structure18may resemble those of sheet of plastic, paper, board or cloth. The patch electrode structure18is configured to be in contact with skin or mucous membrane of a mammal100such as a human being for a bio-signal measurement. The bio-signal may be related to body movement, body temperature, heart rate variability, electrocardiogram, electromyogram, electroencephalogram or the like for example. During a measurement, the patch electrode structure18feeds directly or indirectly electrical bio-signals to a non-disposable bio-signal receiving unit200that is separate from the patch electrode structure18. The disposable patch electrode structure18may have a PET-layer.

The second connection part14may be of electrically non-conductive material and comprises counterpart electrical connectors24. The first electrical connectors22and the counterpart electrical connectors24are repeatedly attachable and releasable with each other for transferring bio-signal data therethrough to data processing. The electric connection may also connect the first and second connection part10,14together mechanically.

The seal16is configured to seal an interface of the first connection part10and the second connection part14against dust and moisture. The seal16surrounds the first electrical connectors22and the electrical counterpart electrical connectors24in a continuous manner in order to protect the electrical connectors and the electrical counterpart connectors22,24. The seal16seals a potential gap between the first connection part10and the second connection part14.

In embodiment examples of which are illustrated inFIGS.1A,4A and5, the sheet12comprises a cylinder or rod extension26. The extension26of the first connection part10has a longitudinal axis LA substantially parallel to a normal N1of a surface of the sheet12at a location of the extension26of the first connection part10. An outer surface30of said extension26has at least one helical groove28, a normal N2of the outer surface30pointing in a direction orthogonal to the normal N1. The outer surface30comprise curved parts of a circle as a wall of the cylinder or rod, or the wall may be continuous.

The second connection part14comprises a cylindrical counterpart structure32to the extension26of the first connection part10and to the at least one helical groove28. The counterpart structure32may be made of electrically non-conductive material without limiting to this. The first connection part10and the second connection part14are repeatedly attachable and releasable with each other in a rotatable manner based on the at least one helical groove28and its counterpart.

In an embodiment an example of which is shown inFIGS.1A and1nmore details inFIG.2, the helical groove28of the extension26of the first connection part10may comprise a locking structure170at an end of the helical groove28in a fastening direction of the helical groove28(the fastening direction is shown with an arrow inFIG.2). The counterpart structure32included in the second connection part14may comprise at least one pin172as shown inFIG.1C. The at least one pin172moves in the helical groove28when the first connecting part10and the second connecting part14are touching each other in an aligned manner and the first connecting part10and the second connecting part14are rotated with respect to each other. The at least one pin172locks the first connection part10and the second connection part14together when the pin172is within the locking structure170. The locked state of the first connection part10and the second connection part14can be opened manually such that the first connection part10and the second connection part14are pushed toward each other and simultaneously the first connection part10and the second connection part14are turned to a direction opposite to the fastening direction. The locking structure170may comprise a widening of the groove28and/or a decrease of an angle of a pitch of the helical groove28, for example. The elastic structure402may help the pin172to remain in the locking structure170(seeFIG.6).

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIGS.3A and3B, the sheet12may be structurally integrated with a band50attachable round a body part70of the mammal100. The band50may comprise the patch electrode structure18for measuring the bio-signal from the body part70. The body part70may be a chest, for example.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIG.4, the extension26of the first connection part10may comprise a cavity34, which receives, keeps and releases a battery60. The cavity34then includes an electrical cavity conductor76, which couples a terminal62of the battery60with an electrical connector22′ of the first electrical connectors22. The first connection part10or the second connection part14may comprise a connection part conductor78electrically coupled with another terminal64of the battery60(inFIG.4Athe first connection part10comprises the connection part conductor78). The cavity conductor76and the connection part conductor78are electrically connected with an electrical circuit of at least one of the first connection part10and the second connection part14for supplying electric energy (the electric circuit of the first connection part10and the second connection part14are not shown in Figs.).

In an embodiment example of which is illustrated inFIGS.1A and1C, the second connection part14may comprise a physical connection mechanism80and second electrical connectors150electrically coupled with the counterpart electrical connectors24. The physical connection mechanism80may comprise thread, for example. The bio-signal apparatus comprises a bio-signal receiving unit200, which comprises receiving unit electrical connectors202. The physical connection mechanism80is configured to allow replacement of the connection part14or the bio-signal receiving unit200. The receiving unit electrical connectors202are counter-connectors to the second electrical connectors150. The second electrical connectors150and the receiving unit electrical connectors202may transfer the bio-signal to an electric circuit of the bio-signal receiving unit200for storing the bio-signal in at least one memory of the bio-signal receiving unit200(the electric circuit of the bio-signal receiving unit200is not shown in Figs). The second electrical connectors150and the receiving unit electrical connectors202may also transfer electric energy of the battery60for electric operation of at least part of the electric circuits of the bio-signal measurement device.

In an embodiment, the bio-signal receiving unit200may comprise a non-disposable bio-signal measurement device that have at least one processor and memory for data processing. In an embodiment, the bio-signal receiving unit200may be connected in a wired manner or in a wireless manner with a separate bio-signal measurement device. Still alternatively, the bio-signal receiving unit200may be a part of the bio-signal measurement device with or without wires. The wired connection between the bio-signal receiving unit200and the bio-signal measurement device may be realized through an USB-connector (USB=universal serial bus) or the like. However, the bio-signal receiving unit200may only connect with the disposable patch electrode structure10and may output the processed bio-signal information. The bio-signal receiving unit200may store the bio-signal temporally or permanently. The bio-signal receiving unit200may overwrite an earlier stored bio-signal.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIGS.4A and4B, the patch electrode structure18may be structurally integrated with the sheet12of the first connection part10. The sheet12may be oblong with tip and tail curved in direction parallel to the normal N1of the sheet12, the normal N pointing toward the counterpart electrical connectors24. The sheet12ofFIGS.4A and4Bwhich could be understood the plate can easily be pressed against skin with fingers, for example.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIG.5, the sheet12of the first connection part10comprises a longitudinal extension300anatomically fitted to a vagina. The fitting may be based on a standard anatomical vagina. The longitudinal extension300carries the patch electrode structure18for receiving a bio-signal from pelvic floor muscles of the mammal100.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIG.1, the sheet12may comprise at least one locking pin160and the patch electrode structure18has a corresponding hole162for each of the at least one locking pin160. Each of the at least one locking pin160is inserted in a corresponding hole162of the at least one hole162for aligning and keeping the sheet12and the patch electrode structure18in a desired and/or suitable position with respect to each other in response to the first connection part10and the second connection part14being fastened together. The at least one locking pin160may extend upto the bio-signal receiving unit200which has a corresponding locking hollow (not shown in Figs). When the at least one pin160enters the corresponding hollow, the parts of whole apparatus become immobile with respect to each other which makes the apparatus firm and easy to use and keep the apparatus in hand. The second connection part14also allows the locking to be opened which in turn allows exchange of any of the detached parts.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIGS.1B and6, the patch electrode structure18comprises a folded section400, which comprises an elastic structure402within the folded section400for causing a spring force to attachment of the first connection part10and the second connection part14. The folded section400is formed such that a sheet structure at one end of the patch electrode structure18is folded over such so that one part of the electrode structure18is positioned on top of another part. The elastic structure402is inserted between the parts positioned on each another. The elastic structure402may be made of plastic, for example. The elastic structure402may comprise soft polymer foam, which is compressible, and the soft polymer responds to force compressing it with a force of the same magnitude but of opposite direction. That is, the soft polymer provides a force as a function of the compression.

FIG.1Billustrates an example of a potential location of the first connection part10relating to the patch electrode structure18. InFIG.1A, the first connection part10is in contact with an outer surface of the patch electrode structure18. InFIG.1B, the first connection part10is inserted within the folded section400such that the extension26of the first connection part10extends through the patch electrode structure18of the folded section400.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated inFIG.7, the patch electrode structure18may comprise quick-release fasteners as the first electrical connectors22. The quick-release fasteners can be repeatedly fastened and released with their counterparts. The quick-release fasteners may be tool-less connectors. The quick-release fasteners can be connected to and disconnected from each other using a finger force applied thereto by fingers of a person. Correspondingly, quick-release fasteners can be connected to and disconnected from their counterparts using a finger force applied thereto by fingers of a person. That is why it is question of quick-release fasteners. The quick-release fasteners and their counterparts may be snap-together-fastener pairs.

FIG.8illustrates an example of the counterparts of the first electrical connectors22. The counterparts are the quick-release fasteners of the second connection part14and they are the counterpart electric connectors24.

FIG.9illustrates an example of a data processing unit of the bio-signal measurement apparatus. The electric apparatus then comprises one or more processors210and one or more memories212including computer program code. The one or more memories212and the computer program code may be configured to, with the one or more processors210, cause the bio-signal measurement apparatus at least to receive bio-signal from the patch electrode structure18and perform data processing of the bio-signal.

FIG.10is a flow chart of an operation method of a bio-signal apparatus. In step500, a bio-signal is received from a body102of a mammal100by electrodes20of a patch electrode structure18that is carried by a sheet12.

In step502, the bio-signal is conveyed to first electrical connectors22of a first connection part10, the first electrical connectors22being electrically connected with the electrodes20.

In step504, the bio-signal is transferred from the first electrical connectors22to counterpart electrical connectors24of a second connection part14, the first electrical connectors22and the counterpart electrical connectors24being repeatedly attachable and releasable with each other for transferring the bio-signal therethrough to data processing.

In step506, the first electrical connectors22and the second electrical connectors24are protected with a seal16, which seals an interface of the first connection part10and the second connection part14against dust and moisture, and the seal16surrounds the first electrical connectors22and the electrical counterpart electrical connectors24in a continuous manner.

FIG.11is a flow chart of a manufacturing method of a bio-signal apparatus. In step600, first electrical connectors22are attached to a patch electrode structure18that comprises electrodes20for reception of a bio-signal from a body102of a mammal100, the first electrical connectors22being electrically connected with the electrodes20.

In step602, a sheet12is made to carry the patch electrode structure18for realizing a first connection part10,

In step604, counterpart electrical connectors24are attached to a second connection part14, the first electrical connectors22and the counterpart electrical connectors24being repeatedly attachable and releasable with each other for transferring the bio-signal therethrough.

In step606, a seal16is attached to the first connection part10or the second connection part14for protecting the electrical connectors of the first connection part10and the second connection part14against dust and moisture, and the seal16surrounding the first electrical connectors22and the electrical counterpart electrical connectors24in a continuous in response to attachment of the first connection part10and the second connection part14with each other.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the example embodiments described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.