Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7089048?dq=456322
Timestamp: 2014-03-14 10:45:55
Document Index: 142408338

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 103', 'arts 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'art 103', 'arts 103', 'arts 103', 'arts 103', 'art 603', 'art 603']

Patent US7089048 - Biological signal transmission apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn electrode 4 for detecting a biological signal and a loop antenna 3 are integrally mounted on a support 2 placed on the surface of a living body and a transmitter 5 is placed on the support 2. A biological signal detected on the electrode 4 is input through a connector 11 to electric circuitry 10 of...http://www.google.com/patents/US7089048?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7089048 - Biological signal transmission apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7089048 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/113,558Publication dateAug 8, 2006Filing dateApr 2, 2002Priority dateDec 25, 1997Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE69838473D1, DE69838473T2, EP0925756A2, EP0925756A3, EP0925756B1, EP0925756B8, US6161036, US6389309, US20020103441, US20020107453Publication number10113558, 113558, US 7089048 B2, US 7089048B2, US-B2-7089048, US7089048 B2, US7089048B2InventorsFumiyuki Matsumura, Tetsushi Sekiguchi, Hiroshi Sakata, Hidehiro HosakaOriginal AssigneeNihon Kohden CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (13), Referenced by (1), Classifications (19), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetBiological signal transmission apparatusUS 7089048 B2Abstract An electrode 4 for detecting a biological signal and a loop antenna 3 are integrally mounted on a support 2 placed on the surface of a living body and a transmitter 5 is placed on the support 2. A biological signal detected on the electrode 4 is input through a connector 11 to electric circuitry 10 of the transmitter 5 and an electric signal processed by the electric circuitry 10 is output through connectors 12 and 13 to both ends of the loop antenna 3 from which the biological signal is emitted to a receiver. At this time, the opening face of the loop antenna 3 is in a direction almost perpendicular to the surface of a living body for improving sensitivity.
In a proposition described in JP-A-9-108194, a base sheet 401 placed on the anterior chest wall of a subject is formed like an L letter, a longwise portion 401 a is put along the breast bone line of the subject, and a widthwise portion 401 c is directed toward the heart side from a corner 401 b positioned near the xiphisternum of the subject, as shown in FIG. 37. The base sheet 401 is formed on a rear with an adhesion layer made to adhere to the anterior chest wall. A first electrode 402 is attached in the proximity of the corner 401 b, a second electrode 403 is attached in the proximity of the upper end part of the longwise portion 401 a, and a third electrode 404 is attached in the proximity of a side end part of the widthwise portion 401 c. Further, a fourth electrode 405 is attached slantingly below the second electrode 403 and a fifth electrode 406 is attached above the third electrode 404.
Of the five electrodes arranged as described above, α induction is detected between the electrodes 402 and 403 and β induction is detected between the electrodes 403 and 404. γ induction for ischaemia of side and front and rear walls in a high-potential direction weak in sensitivity only with α induction and β induction is detected by means of the electrodes 405 and 406. The electrocardiographic signals induced to the electrodes are amplified and modulated by a circuit unit 407 attached to the base sheet 401 and are transmitted to the receiver through an antenna 408 attached along the longwise portion 401 a. According to the proposition, the electrodes 402 to 406, the circuit unit 407, and the antenna 408 are mounted integrally on the base sheet 401, so that the device is easily placed on the subject and action is not limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a small-sized biological signal transmission apparatus that can emit a biological signal detected on an electrode placed on the surface of a living body to a receiver with stable and good sensitivity and can be easily placed on the living body.
FIG. 31( a) is a plan view of an illustration to compare a loop antenna and a monopole antenna placed on a human body in directivity and FIG. 31( b) is side view of the arrangement of the loop antenna and the monopole antenna attached with the human body along with FIG. 31( a);
FIG. 32( a) is a plan view of an illustration to show the directivity of one loop antenna placed on a human body, and FIG. 32( b) is side view of the arrangement of one loop antenna attached with the human body along with FIG. 32( a);
FIG. 33( a) is a plan view of an illustration to show the directivity of two loop antennas placed on a human body, and FIG. 33( b) is side view of the arrangement of two loop antennas attached with the human body along with FIG. 33( a);
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there are shown preferred embodiments of a biological signal transmission apparatus of the invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram to show a configuration example of a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view to show the configuration of a living body placement section in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the living body placement section shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the living body placement section and a transmitter in FIG. 1.
The electrode 4 passes through the support 2 from the lower face thereof, projects upward, and is fixedly secured in the portion of the support 2 where the loop antenna 3 is not placed. Conductive water-containing gel 18 is applied to the lower end face of the electrode 4. A hook 19 is attached to one end of the electrode 4 passing through the support 2 from the lower face thereof and projecting upward. An insulating sheet 20 covering the loop antenna 3 is bonded to the full lower face of the support 2 and the electrode 4 is exposed to the lower face through a hole 20 a made in the insulating sheet 20. An adhesive 21 is applied to the lower face of the insulating sheet 20. The upper face of the support 2 is also covered with an insulating sheet 22 and the hooks 16, 17, and 19 pass through the insulating sheet 22 and project upward.
First Embodiment Next, specific structures and materials of the parts of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 will be discussed in detail. The support 2 is several ten μm to several mm thick, for example, and has reasonable rigidity for holding the living body placement section 1. In the above-described example, the support 2 is shaped like a square plate, but may be of any shape like a center-constricted plate, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. For example, the support 2 is formed of a material of paper or a macromolecular dielectric substance, such as vinyl chloride, polyurethane, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, fluororesin, silicone resin, cellulose acetate, polyester, rayon, nylon, vinylon, epoxy resin, or ceramics.
Second Embodiment FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 show a configuration example of a second embodiment of the invention. Parts identical with or similar to those previously described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 and will not be discussed again in detail.
In the second embodiment, the number of electrodes 4 is two and biological signals detected on electrodes 4 a and 4 b are sent through connectors 11 a and 11 b to an amplification section 6, as shown in FIG. 9. Other components and functions are almost similar to those of the first embodiment previously described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view to show a configuration example of a living body placement section 1 and a transmitter 5 in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of the living body placement section 1 and the transmitter 5 in FIG. 9. In FIG. 10, ends of conductive terminals 18 c and 18 d disposed on the lower face of a support 2 are electrically connected to caulking devices 31 a and 31 b respectively, and conductive water-containing gels 18 a and 18 b are attached to opposite ends of the conductive terminals 18 c and 18 d. The caulking devices 31 a and 31 b pass through the support 2 and project upward and are fixed to the support 2 together with the conductive terminals 18 c and 18 d. A loop antenna 3 is placed on the lower f ace of the support 2 between the conductive terminals 18 c and 18 d and is folded at both ends back to the upper face of the support 2 so as to sandwich the support 2. An insulating sheet 20 for covering the loop antenna 3, the caulking devices 31 a and 31 b, and the conductive terminals 18 c and 18 d is bonded to the space between the conductive water-containing gels 18 a and 18 b on the lower face of the support 2, and an adhesive 21 is applied to the lower face of the insulating sheet 20.
The upper face of the support 2 is also covered with an insulating sheet 22. Convex hooks 19 a and 19 b placed at the upper ends of the caulking devices 31 a and 31 b and convex hooks 16 and 17 fixed to both ends of the loop antenna 3 pass through the insulating sheet 22 and project upward. A transmitter 5 is made up of an upper lid 40 a and a lower lid 40 b making up a cabinet 40, a board 41 housed therein, and electric circuitry 10 mounted on the board 41. The board 41 is formed on a surface with four lands 42 connected to the electric circuitry 10. It is fixed to the lower lid 40 b through the lands 42 by a caulking device 43 and a concave hook 44. Also in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the transmitter 5 is placed on and fixed to a living body placement section 1 through the convex hooks 16, 17, 19 a, and 19 b and the concave hook 44, and the functions and advantages similar to those of the first embodiment previously described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 can be provided. The structures and materials of the members shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 are almost similar to those of the first embodiment previously described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.
Third Embodiment FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view to show a configuration example of a third embodiment of the invention. Parts identical with or similar to those previously described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 13 and will not be discussed again in detail. The third embodiment is characterized by the fact that a part of a loop antenna 3 is formed according to a thin film technology of silk print, etc. As shown in FIG. 13, through holes are made near two opposed sides of a support 2 and are filled with conductive material 24. The support 2 is formed on both faces with conductive thin films 25 according to the thin film technology and the upper conductive thin film 25 is divided into two portions. The upper and lower conductive thin films 25 are electrically connected at both ends to the conductive material 24 with which the through holes are filled, forming the loop antenna 3.
Fourth Embodiment FIG. 14 is a block diagram to show a configuration example of a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view to show a specific configuration example of a living body placement section in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is an external perspective view of the living body placement section shown in FIG. 14 and a transmitter placed thereon. FIG. 17 is a plan view to show the form of a modified example of a support in FIG. 15. FIG. 18 is a drawing to show the attachment structure of an electrode in FIG. 17.
In FIG. 14, a living body placement section 101 comprises division parts 103 a and 104 a of two antennas 103 and 104 each divided into two parts and two electrodes 105 a and 105 b mounted on a flat support 102 formed of an insulating material. In the embodiment, the antenna 103 is a loop antenna and the antenna 104 is a microstrip antenna (MSA). A transmitter 106 comprises electric circuitry 111 made up of an amplification section 107, a modulation section 108, a power supply section 109, and a transmission section 110 and other division parts 103 b and 104 b of the two antennas 103 and 104. The electrodes 105 a and 105 b and the amplification section 107 are connected through connectors 112 a and 112 b, one end of the part 103 a of the antenna 103 and one end of the part 103 b of the antenna 103 are connected through a connector 113 a, and the opposite end of the part 103 a of the antenna 103 and the transmission section 110 are connected through a connector 113 b. The opposite end of the part 103 b of the antenna 103 is connected to the transmission section 110. The part 104 a of the antenna 104 (MSA) is a base plate and the part 104 b of the antenna 104 is a radiation plate. The base plate 104 a is connected to the transmission section 110 through a connector 114 and the radiation plate 104 b is directly connected to the transmission section 110.
Power is supplied from the power supply section 109 to the amplification section 107, the modulation section 108, and the transmission section 110. When the support 102 is placed on the living body surface of a subject, biological signals detected on the electrodes 105 a and 105 b are amplified by the amplification section 107 and are modulated by the modulation section 108, then are sent from the transmission section 110 to the antennas 103 and 104. The biological signals are transmitted by radio from the antennas 103 and 104 to a receiver (not shown).
In FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the support 102 is formed of a dielectric material like a rectangular plate. The loop antenna 103 formed of a conductive material like a belt is divided into two parts. One loop antenna part 103 a is placed on one side of the lower face of the support 102 and caulking devices 115 a and 115 b are inserted into both ends of the loop antenna part 103 a. The caulking devices 115 a and 115 b pass through the loop antenna part 103 a from the lower face thereof and further pass through the support 102 and project upward. Hooks 116 a and 116 b are fixed to the projection ends of the caulking devices 115 a and 115 b by caulking. The loop antenna part 103 b is connected at one end to the hook 116 a. The hook 116 b is connected to the transmission section 110.
As described above, the MSA 104 consists of the base plate 104 a and the radiation plate 104 b, which are opposed to each other in parallel. As shown in FIG. 15, the base plate 104 a is fixed almost at the center of the lower face of the support 102 and is formed with a projection 141 a at the center of one side opposite to the loop antenna part 103 a. A caulking device 117 is inserted into the projection 141 a; it passes through the base plate 114 a from the lower face thereof and further passes through the support 102 and projects upward. A hook 118 for the base plate is fixed to the projection ends of the caulking device 117 by caulking.
A pair of plate-like conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d is placed at both sides of the projection 141 a of the base plate 104 a in parallel with one side of the base plate 104 a and are fixed to the lower face of the support 102. Caulking devices 119 a and 119 b are inserted into opposed ends of the conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d; they pass through the conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d from the lower faces thereof and further pass through the support 102 and project upward. Hooks 120 a and 120 b for deriving electrocardiographic signals are fixed to the projection ends of the caulking devices 119 a and 119 b by caulking. Conductive water-containing gels 121 a and 121 b are attached to outer ends of the conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d. Further, the lower faces of the loop antenna part 103 a, the base plate 104 a, and the conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d are covered with an insulating sheet 122 and an adhesive 123 is applied to the lower face of the insulating sheet 122.
The transmitter 106 is shaped like a square can as shown in FIG. 16 and contains a board (not shown) on which the electric circuitry 111 is mounted. On the board, the loop antenna part 103 b and the radiation plate 104 b are placed at the positions corresponding to the loop antenna part 103 a and the base plate 104 a in the living body placement section 101, as shown in FIG. 15. When the transmitter 106 is attached to the living body placement section 101, the hook 116 a projecting from the top of the support 102 of the living body placement section 101 is fitted to one end of the loop antenna part 103 b and the convex hooks 118, 120 a, and 120 b are connected to concave hooks 124, 125 a, and 125 b formed at predetermined positions of the board. The concave hooks 124, 125 a, and 125 b are connected to the electric circuitry 111. Further, the opposite end of the loop antenna part 103 b is also connected to the electric circuitry 111.
Next, specific structures and materials of the parts of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 18 will be discussed in detail. The support 102 is formed of a dielectric substance which is several ten μm to several mm thick, for example, and has reasonable rigidity and dielectric constant for holding the living body placement section 101. In the above-described example, the support 102 is shaped like a rectangular plate, but may be of any shape like a hand drum, for example, as shown in FIG. 17. The support 102 may be formed of a material of a dielectric substance having a dielectric constant fitted to the use frequency and the shapes of the base plate 104 a and the radiation plate 104 b, for example, paper or a macromolecular dielectric substance, such as vinyl chloride, polyurethane, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, fluoroplastics, silicone resin, cellulose acetate, polyester, rayon, nylon, vinylon, epoxy resin, or ceramics.
The base plate 104 a basically has a large area in the allowable range and a structure for making a signal emitted from the radiation plate 104 b hard to be affected by a human body, etc. For example, metal, carbon, a macromolecular conductive substance, or resin to which conductive plating is given is used as the material of the base plate 104 a. The shape of the base plate 104 a also changes corresponding to the antenna characteristics.
The radiation plate 104 b is formed of a conductive film which is several μm to several mm thick, for example, and has an area determined by frequency. In the above-described example, the radiation plate 104 b is shaped like a rectangular plate, but may be of any shape. For example, metal, carbon, a macromolecular conductive substance, or resin to which conductive plating is given is used as the material of the radiation plate 104 b like the base plate 104 a. The caulking devices 115 a, 115 b, 117, 119 a, and 119 b and the conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d are fixed to the support 102 through the hooks 116a, 116 b, 118, 120 a, and 120 b, are conductive substances themselves, and act as electrodes for deriving a living body electricity phenomenon and electrodes for transferring signals to the base plate 104 a. They may be of any structure if it can be stably fixed to the hook 120 as the connector, for example, as shown in FIG. 18. The material may be a conductive substance and is not limited. For example, a macromolecular conductive substance, such as conductive rubber or water-containing resin, metal, such as copper, stainless steel, or aluminum, carbon, such as carbon fibers or graphite, resin to which conductive plating is given (for example, a conductive metal film of gold, silver, copper, nickel, aluminum, palladium, platinum, etc., is formed on the surface of a macromolecular insulating substance or a macromolecular conductive substance by means of sputtering evaporation, electrolytic plating, electroless plating, etc.,) is used as the material.
In the above-described example, the hooks 116 a, 116 b, 118, 120 a, and 120 b are used as the parts forming the connectors 112 c, 112 d, 113 c, 113 d,and 114, but the scope of the invention is not limited to them. For example, a structure of a general-purpose electric connector, a contact-type connector, etc., may be used. A material similar to that of the caulking devices 115 a, 115 b, 117, 119 a and 119 b described above can be used.
The water-containing gel 121 a, 121 b makes electric conduction between the conductive terminal 121 c, 121 d and a living body surface and preferably it has adhesion to a living body. For example, gelatin, polyacrylic acid, its salt, karaya gum, any other water-soluble or water-dispersable acrylic-family polymer, polyacrylic-family polymer, water-soluble or water-dispersable polymer of polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyurethane, etc., or the like can be named as the base material for forming the gel layer. The length and breadth of the water-containing gels 121 a, 121 b to be attached to living body is the range from approximately 2 to 6 cm. But the shape of the water-containing gels are not limited as described shape, and any figure like a square, rectangle, circle, oval are applicapable.
Preferably, the distance between nearest of water-containing gels 121 a, 121 b is the range from approximately 1.0 to 7.5 cm to detect heat rate information and etc. And more specifically, it's preferable to make the distance approximately 2.0 to 7.5 cm to detect a small amplitude P wave of ECG sufficiently.
The insulating sheet 122 is provided so that a human body and the radiation plate 104 b and the base plate 104 a making up the antenna do not come in direct contact with each other. It may be made of any material if the material has an insulating property; the material is not limited.
The transmitter 106 is attached to the living body placement section 101 as described above, whereby the loop antenna parts 103 a and 103 b are connected, forming one loop antenna 103, and the base plate 104 a and the radiation plate 104 b are connected through the circuit on the board, forming the MSA 104. When the described biological signal transmission apparatus is placed on a living body surface as shown in FIG. 30, the living body placement section 101 is bonded to the surface of the living body of a subject via the adhesive 123 and the water-containing gels 121 a and 121 b are attached at a first intercostal space left sternal border on a left chest along a position 800 b in such a manner that the water-containing gels 121 a and 121 b are positioned through midclavicular line and are parallel to a clavicle, as shown in FIG. 38. Thus, there is obtained biological signals 801 b which is highly corrective to ECG detected in the method of standard limb lead (II). In addition, the stable ECG having high correction with ECG of standard limb lead (II) can be obtained as ling as the living body placement section is attached to area within the range of 2.5 cm apart from the 800 b, or second intercostal space and it's not always needed to position water-containing gels 121 a and 121 b through midclavicular line.
Upon the attachment, as shown in FIG. 39, the water-containing gels 121 a and 121 b are attached on a chest defined between a xiphoid process and a navel through and perpendicular to a midsternal line so as to obtain biological signals 801 a which is highly correlative to ECG detected in the method of standard limb lead (II).
In addition, the stable ECG having high correlation to ECG of standard limb lead (II) can be obtained as long as the living body placement section is attached to area within the range of 2.5 cm apart from the 800 a, and it's not always needed to position water-containing gels 121 a and 121 b through midsternal line.
Biological signals detected on the conductive terminals 121 c and 121 d are sent through the hooks 120 a and 120 b to the transmitter 106 and are processed by the electric circuitry 111 in the transmitter 106, then are sent through the hooks 116 a and 116 b to the loop antenna 103 and through the hook 118 to the MSA 104 from which the biological signals are transmitted to the receiver (not shown) by radio.
According to the embodiment, the biological signals detected on the electrodes 105 a and 105 b are transmitted by radio through the loop antenna 103 and the MSA 104 different in characteristics, so that the directivity can be improved, the radiation capability can be enhanced, and the radio wave band width can be enlarged. The loop antenna 103 and the MSA 104 are each divided into two parts, one of which is placed in the support 102 and the other in the transmitter 106. Thus, the transmitter 106 can be miniaturized as compared with the case where the whole antennas are installed in the transmitter 106.
In the embodiment, the two electrodes 105 are used, but similar functions and advantages can be provided if one electrode 105 is used. Two loop antennas 103 each divided into two parts (103 a and 103 b and 103 c and 103 d) may be provided in place of the MSA 104, as shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20. In this case, the 103 a and 103 c are placed in a direction orthogonal to each other and the 103 b and 103 d are placed in a direction orthogonal to each other, whereby the directivity can be improved. In this case, the hooks 116 a and 116c are connected to ends of the loop antenna parts 103 b and 103 c and the hooks 116d and 116 b are connected to the transmission section 110 of the electric circuitry 111. Opposite ends of the loop antenna parts 103 b and 103 c are connected to the transmission section 110 of the electric circuitry 111.
Fifth Embodiment FIG. 21 to FIG. 24 show a configuration example of a fifth embodiment of the invention and FIG. 25 to FIG. 27 show a configuration example of a sixth embodiment of the invention. Parts identical with or similar to those previously described with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 21 to FIG. 27 and will not be discussed again in detail.
The embodiment is characterized by the fact that one antenna 603 of two antennas 603 and 604 is divided into two parts, that one antenna division part 603 a, an electrode 105, and the whole antenna 604 are placed on a support 102, and that the other antenna division part 603 b is placed in a transmitter 106, as shown in FIG. 21. In the embodiment, one electrode 105 is used and a connector 151 placed on another part of a living body is connected to an amplification section 107 through a connector 152, but two or more electrodes 105 may be used. In the embodiment, the antennas 603 and 604 are MSAs, one antenna 603 is divided into two parts, and only the radiation plate 603 b of the divided antenna 603 is placed in the transmitter 106.
In FIG. 22, a radiation plate 604 b like a semi-disk is fixed to the upper face of the support 102 formed of a dielectric material like a disk and a base plate 153 like a disk is fixed to the lower face of the support 102 concentrically. A caulking device 154 is inserted into the radiation plate 604 b of the MSA 604 from the lower face thereof and a hook 155 for the radiation plate is fixed to the upper end of the caulking device 154 projecting from the radiation plate 604 b by caulking.
The upper face of the support 102 is covered with a disk-like insulating sheet 157 and the hooks 118, 120, and 155 pass through the insulating sheet 157 and project upward. Likewise, the lower face of the support 102 is covered with a disk-like insulating sheet 122 and the electrode 105 and the water-containing gel 121 pass through openings 153 a and 122 a made in the centers of the base plate 153 and the insulating sheet 122 and project downward.
On the other hand, the radiation plate 603 b is placed in the transmitter 106. When the transmitter 106 is placed on the support 102 through the hooks 118, 120, and 155, the radiation plate 603 b is opposed to the base plate 153 placed on the support 102, forming one MSA 603. Since the radiation plate 604 b and the base plate 153 are opposed to each other on the support 102, another MSA 604 is formed on the support 102. The two MSAs 603 and 604 share the base plate 153, as shown in FIG. 24.
Sixth Embodiment FIG. 25 is a block diagram to show a configuration example of the sixth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view to show a specific configuration example of a living body placement section in FIG. 26. FIG. 27 is an external perspective view of the living body placement section shown in FIG. 26 and a transmitter placed thereon.
In FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, the antenna 103 is a loop antenna, an antenna 104 is an MSA, the loop antenna 103 is placed in the transmitter 106, and a base plate 104 a and a radiation plate 104 b of the MSA 104 are placed in a living body placement section 101 and the transmitter 106 respectively. The attachment structure of the base plate 104 a, the electrodes 105, and an insulating plate 122 is similar to that in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 15. When the transmitter 106 is placed on the living body placement section 101, the base plate 104 a and the radiation plate 104 b are opposed to each other, forming the MSA 104.
Seventh Embodiment A seventh embodiment of the invention will be discussed. FIG. 28 is a block diagram to show a configuration example of the seventh embodiment of the invention. FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view. In the embodiment, two loop antennas 103A and 103B and an MSA 104 are attached to a transmitter 106.
As shown in FIG. 28, a living body placement section 101 comprises a pair of electrodes 105 a and 105 b integrally mounted on a support 102. The transmitter 5 contains electric circuitry 111 made up of an amplification section 107, a modulation section 108, a power supply section 109, and a transmission section 110. The loop antennas 103A and 103B and the MSA 104 are electrically connected to the electric circuitry 111. The amplification section 107 and the electrodes 105 are connected electrically and mechanically through connectors 112.
Power is supplied from the power supply section 109 to the amplification section 107, the modulation section 108, and the transmission section 110. When the support 102 is placed on the living body surface of a subject, biological signals detected on the electrodes 105 a and 105 b are amplified by the amplification section 107 and are modulated by the modulation section 108, then are sent from the transmission section 109 to the loop antennas 103A and 103B and the MSA 104. The biological signals are transmitted by radio from the antennas 103A, 103B, and 104 to a receiver (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 29, a board 731 is housed in a cabinet 773 consisting of an upper lid 773 a and a lower lid 773 b. The two loop antennas 103A and 103B are installed so that their loop opening faces are orthogonal to the board face of the board 731 and are orthogonal to each other. The two loop antennas 103A and 103B are placed in the proximity of the margins of the board 731 and are connected to the electric circuitry 111.
The board 731 is provided with lands 732 a and 732 b for guiding biological signals detected from water-containing gels 718 a and 718 b and transferred through conductive terminals 718 c and 718 d, caulking devices 731 a and 731 b, and convex hooks 719 a and 719 b into the electric circuitry 111. The board 731 is fixed to the lower lid 773 b in parallel with the bottom face thereof by means of caulking devices 733 a and 733 b inserted into holes made in the centers of the lands 732 a and 732 b and holes made in projections of the inside of the lower lid 773 b from above and concave hooks 734 a and 734 b corresponding to the caulking devices 733 a and 733 b. When the apparatus is placed on a living body, the bottom face of the lower lid 773 b becomes almost parallel with the living body surface, so that the opening faces of the two loop antennas 103A and 103B become almost orthogonal to the living body surface.
Further, the MSA 104 consisting of a radiation plate 104 b and a base plate 104 a placed in parallel on a dielectric support member 735 is installed on the board 731. As described above, the board 731 is fixed to the lower lid 773 b in parallel with the bottom face thereof. Thus, when the apparatus is placed on a living body, the radiation plate 104 b and the base plate 104 a become almost parallel with the living body surface. At this time, the base plate 104 a is nearer to the lower lid 773 b side than the radiation plate 104 b is, and thus is nearer to the living body surface than the radiation plate 104 b is.
The support 102 is formed of an insulating material like a plate and is narrow at the center. Projections of the caulking devices 731 a and 731 b are inserted into the holes made in ends of the conductive terminals 718 c and 718 d placed on the lower face of the support 102 and are fixed to the support 102 together with the conductive terminals 718 c and 718 d by means of the convex hooks 719 a and 719 b. The conductive water-containing gels 718 a and 718 b are attached to the opposite ends of the conductive terminals 718 c and 718 d. Insulating sheets 720 a and 720 b are attached to the bottom faces of the caulking devices 731 a and 731 b for electrically insulating from a living body.
FIG. 31( a) shows radio wave directivity of a loop antenna 1001 and a monopole antenna 1002, affected by a human body. As shown here, when the opening face of the loop antenna is placed at right angles to the surface of a human body, remarkably excellent directivity is provided as compared with the case where the monopole antenna is placed in roughly parallel with the surface of the human body. FIG. 31( b) is side view of the arrangement of the loop antenna and the monopole antenna attached with the human body along with FIG. 31( a). FIG. 32( a) is an illustration to show directivity provided when the opening face of one loop antenna 1001 is placed at right angles to the surface of a human body. FIG. 32( b) is side view of the arrangement of one loop antenna attached with the human body along with FIG. 32( a). FIG. 33( a) is an illustration to show directivity provided when the opening faces of two loop antennas 1001 are placed at right angles to the surface of a human body and are orthogonal to each other. FIG. 33( b) is side view of the arrangement of two loop antennas attached with the human body along with FIG. 33( a). As shown here, if two loop antennas 1001 are provided, they make a complement to each other in directivity and are less affected by the human body.
According to a further embodiment of �the biological signal transmission apparatus of the present invention, the loop antenna disposed so that the opening face is placed in a direction almost perpendicular to the living body surface, and the microstrip antenna having a radiation plate and a base plate opposed in parallel with the living body surface, the base plate being placed nearer to the living body surface, are placed, so that attenuation of radio waves because of the effect of the human body can be lessened and the two antennas make a complement to each other in directivity, thus the gain can be improved.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4974598 *Mar 28, 1989Dec 4, 1990Heart Map, Inc.EKG system and method using statistical analysis of heartbeats and topographic mapping of body surface potentialsUS5178151 *Sep 16, 1991Jan 12, 1993Sackner Marvin ASystem for non-invasive detection of changes of cardiac volumes and aortic pulsesUS5311873Aug 28, 1992May 17, 1994Ecole PolytechniqueComparative analysis of body surface potential distribution during cardiac pacingUS5724984 *Jul 17, 1996Mar 10, 1998Cambridge Heart, Inc.Multi-segment ECG electrode and systemUS5749365Nov 9, 1992May 12, 1998Magill; AlanHealth monitoringUS5846198 *May 30, 1997Dec 8, 1998Siemens AktiengesellschaftApparatus for localizing action currents in the heartUS5862803Sep 2, 1994Jan 26, 1999Besson; MarcusWireless medical diagnosis and monitoring equipmentUS6161038Apr 7, 1997Dec 12, 2000Rheo-Graphic Pte Ltd.Non-invasive monitoring of hemodynamic parameters using impedance cardiographyJPH0677846A Title not availableJPH09108194A Title not availableJPS6097103A Title not availableJPS6332501A Title not availableJPS62202804A Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20100191090 *Jan 25, 2008Jul 29, 2010Electronics And Telecommunications Research InstituteMulti-channel electrode sensor apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of physiological signals* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification600/509, 600/382International ClassificationA61B5/0408, A61B5/00, A61B5/0404, A61B5/04, A61B5/0432Cooperative ClassificationY10S128/903, A61B2560/0412, A61B5/04325, A61B2560/045, A61B5/04085, A61B2560/0475, A61B5/0008, A61B5/0006, A61B5/0404European ClassificationA61B5/00B3B, A61B5/0408D, A61B5/0404Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 8, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jan 6, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google