Patent Description:
Biological information measurement apparatuses that measure biological information of a user, such as pulse, have been proposed. Biological information is measured by a variety of methods using a biological information measurement apparatus. For example, <CIT> (PTL <NUM>) and <CIT> (PTL <NUM>) disclose a pulse measurement apparatus in which a compact pulse wave sensor is mounted in an earphone. By the user inserting the earphone in the ear, the pulse can be measured using the pulse wave sensor.

PTL <NUM> discloses an apparatus and methods for attenuating environmental interference. A wearable monitoring apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to the body of a subject and a sensor module that includes an energy emitter that directs energy at a target region of the subject, a detector that detects an energy response signal - or physiological condition - from the subject, a filter that removes time-varying environmental interference from the energy response signal, and at least one processor that controls operations of the energy emitter, detector, and filter. <CIT> (PTL <NUM>) discloses an earphone with a physiologic sensor which includes a housing; a speaker in the housing, an enhancer comprising a body mounted on the housing and adapted to be secured in the ear, and an optical physiologic sensor disposed inside the enhancer, the latter having an aperture or window aligned with the optical physiologic sensor to optically couple the sensor with the user's ear.

In a known pulse measurement apparatus, however, the position of the earphone might shift due to body movement or the like. If the position of the biological information measurement apparatus changes, noise is included in the biological information measured using the sensor, making it difficult to measure biological information accurately.

Therefore, it would be helpful to provide a biological information measurement apparatus that can improve the measurement accuracy of biological information.

A biological information measurement apparatus defined according to claim <NUM>.

According to the invention, trrthe biological information measurement apparatus defined by the appended claims allows the improvement of the measurement accuracy of biological information.

The following describes embodiments of the disclosed apparatus.

In general terms, a biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> is provided with an earpiece <NUM> that includes a biological sensor <NUM> and an insertion portion <NUM>. The earpiece <NUM> is worn in a user's ear.

<FIG> is a functional block diagram of a section of the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment is provided with the earpiece <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a communication interface <NUM>, and a notification interface <NUM>. The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> measures biological information using the biological sensor <NUM> provided in the earpiece <NUM> after the user has inserted the insertion portion <NUM> into the external ear canal.

The biological information may be any biological information that can be measured using the biological sensor <NUM> provided in the earpiece <NUM>. In this embodiment, as one example, the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> is described below as measuring the user's pulse.

<FIG> schematically illustrates the structure of the earpiece <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional drawing when observing the A-A cross-section illustrated in <FIG> in the direction of the arrows. In <FIG>, the earpiece <NUM> is inserted in the user's external ear canal towards the left. The earpiece <NUM> is provided with the biological sensor <NUM>, the insertion portion <NUM>, a pad <NUM>, and a housing <NUM>. The biological sensor <NUM>, insertion portion <NUM>, and pad <NUM> are disposed inside the housing <NUM>. Once the insertion portion <NUM> is inserted in the user's external ear canal, the biological sensor <NUM> is disposed so as to oppose the user's concha.

The biological sensor <NUM> is a pulse wave sensor and acquires pulse wave data from the user (living organism) as biological measurement output. The biological sensor <NUM> is provided with a optical emitter 111a and a optical detector 111b. In the biological sensor <NUM> according to this disclosure, for example a light emitting element such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is provided in the optical emitter 111a. In the biological sensor <NUM> according to this disclosure, for example a light detecting element such as a Phototransistor (PT) or a Photodiode (PD) is provided in the optical detector 111b. The biological sensor <NUM> measures pulse wave data by irradiating measurement light from the light emitting element onto the test site of the user's external ear canal and detecting reflected light from the test site with the light detecting element. In the case of measuring such light, the biological sensor <NUM> does not necessarily have to contact the site to be measured. The optical emitter 111a and optical detector 111b of the biological sensor <NUM> are arranged in parallel inside the housing, with a light-blocking wall therebetween. The light-blocking wall is disposed so that light emitted from the optical emitter 111a is not directly detected by the optical detector 111b. A protective, translucent panel is arranged in the biological sensor <NUM>, and the inside of the biological sensor <NUM> is sealed off by the translucent panel.

The biological sensor <NUM> includes a driver (not illustrated). The driver drives the light emitting element and the light detecting element based on a measurement signal generated by the controller <NUM>. The light emitting element and the light detecting element emit and detect light by being driven by the driver. Driving of the driver is, for example, controlled by the controller <NUM>,.

In the case of measuring pulse, the optical emitter 111a uses a blue (wavelength: <NUM> to <NUM>) or green (wavelength: <NUM> to <NUM>) LED or laser. Blue or green light of the aforementioned wavelength is easily absorbed by hemoglobin. The amount of absorbed light increases if the blood flow rate is high, and the output of the optical detector 111b weakens. A red (wavelength: <NUM> to <NUM>) LED or laser may also be used. In this case, since hemoglobin reflects red light, the amount of reflected light increases if the blood flow rate is high, and the output of the optical detector 111b grows stronger. PDs corresponding to the various wavelengths are used in the optical detector 111b.

The insertion portion <NUM> is disposed on the side of the housing <NUM> inserted into the external ear canal. When inserted into the external ear canal, the insertion portion <NUM> abuts the external ear canal. The user inserts the insertion portion <NUM> into the external ear canal so that the biological sensor <NUM> opposes the concha. When inserted into the external ear canal, the insertion portion <NUM> deforms in accordance with the shape of the external ear canal to attach firmly to the external ear canal. The earpiece <NUM> is held at a predetermined position of the ear by the insertion portion <NUM> attaching firmly to the external ear canal. The insertion portion <NUM> is formed from a material that has elasticity at room temperature and may, for example, be made of resin with a Shore hardness of approximately <NUM> to <NUM>. The insertion portion <NUM> may, for example, be formed by silicone rubber, flexible polyurethane resin, or the like.

The pad <NUM> engages with the opposite end of the housing <NUM> from the side that is inserted into the external ear canal. In order to make it easier for the user to wear the earpiece <NUM>, the pad <NUM> may be formed from a material having elasticity at room temperature, such as silicone rubber or flexible polyurethane resin. The pad <NUM> contacts the back side of the tragus and the back side portion of the antitragus, and together with the insertion portion <NUM>, holds the earpiece <NUM> at a predetermined position of the ear. On the other hand, the space surrounded by the concha, the housing <NUM>, and the biological sensor <NUM> is in a state (structure) in which light from the exterior cannot penetrate easily due to the outer peripheral portion of the pad <NUM>. According to the invention, a portion of the pad <NUM> is at the periphery of the biological sensor <NUM>. According to the invention, the pad <NUM> is raised towards the concha from the surface of the biological sensor <NUM>. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the pad <NUM> is raised towards the concha from the surface of the biological sensor <NUM> by a thickness of t mm. The thickness t mm may, for example, be approximately <NUM> to <NUM>. The pad <NUM> contacts the periphery of the concha around the biological sensor <NUM>. The pad <NUM> prevents external light from being detected by the optical detector 111b when the biological sensor <NUM> acquires biological information. In order to further increase the light blocking effect, the pad <NUM> may, for example, be formed from light-blocking material such as black silicone rubber. According to the invention, the pad <NUM> has a hollow structure so as to easily deform to match the size of the user's cavum conchae (the portion surrounded by the concha, the back side of the tragus, and the back side of the antitragus). The pad <NUM> prevents the earpiece <NUM> from deviating from a predetermined position even when the user exercises intensely. Furthermore, the pad <NUM> prevents light from entering into the optical detector 111b from the outside. Accordingly, a biological information acquisition apparatus according to this disclosure can acquire biological information with a higher degree of accuracy.

When the earpiece <NUM> is worn in the ear, the insertion portion <NUM> is engaged with the housing <NUM> at the side of the housing <NUM> inserted into the external ear canal. The biological sensor <NUM> is disposed in the housing <NUM> on a surface opposite the concha when the earpiece <NUM> is worn in the ear. When the earpiece <NUM> is worn in the ear, the pad <NUM> is engaged with the housing <NUM> at the opposite end from the side of the housing <NUM> inserted into the external ear canal. A vent <NUM> (air hole) is provided in the housing <NUM>. The vent <NUM> is an air hole that opens to the outside of the ear from the external ear canal when the earpiece <NUM> is worn. The vent <NUM> may be formed as a hole in the housing <NUM> or be formed by recessing a portion of the housing <NUM>. By the vent <NUM> being provided in the housing <NUM>, the user can hear external sounds while measuring biological information, thereby improving user safety. The housing <NUM> may, for example, be formed from polycarbonate resin, amine-based resin, or the like. In this embodiment, the housing <NUM>, insertion portion <NUM>, and pad <NUM> engage to constitute the earpiece <NUM>, but this disclosure is not limited to this configuration. The housing <NUM>, insertion portion <NUM>, and pad <NUM> may be formed integrally using the same material.

In the interior and exterior of the earpiece <NUM>, various wires (not illustrated) are laid for power signals from the biological sensor <NUM> and to supply power to the biological sensor <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> is a processor that controls overall operations of the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM>. When the user measures biological information, the controller <NUM> measures the pulse as biological information based on pulse wave data acquired by the biological sensor <NUM>.

For example, the controller <NUM> judges whether the pulse wave data, which is biological measurement output, are within an allowable range that can be used to measure biological information. When judging that the pulse wave data are not within the allowable range, the controller <NUM> provides notification of an error with the notification interface <NUM>. Conversely, when judging that the pulse wave data are within the allowable range, the controller <NUM> provides notification with the notification interface <NUM> of the start of measurement.

The memory <NUM> may, for example, be configured with a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or the like. The memory <NUM> stores a variety of information, programs for causing the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> to operate, and the like. The memory <NUM> for example stores information (a threshold) on the allowable range that serves as the standard for judging whether the pulse wave data acquired by the biological sensor <NUM> can be used to measure biological information.

The communication interface <NUM> is connected to and communicates with a mobile phone via a wired connection or a wireless connection such as Bluetooth® (Bluetooth is a registered trademark in Japan, other countries, or both). The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> for example transmits the biological information measured by the controller <NUM> to a mobile phone <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM>.

The notification interface <NUM> notifies the user based on control by the controller <NUM>, for example with a visual method using an image, characters, light emission, or the like; an auditory method using audio or the like; of a combination of these methods. In the case of providing notification with a visual method, the notification interface <NUM> may, for example, provide notification by displaying images or characters on a display device constituted by a liquid crystal display, organic EL display, inorganic EL display, or the like. The notification interface <NUM> may, for example, provide notification by causing an LED or other such light emitting element, separate from the biological sensor <NUM>, to emit light. Notification by the notification interface <NUM> is not limited to a visual or auditory method. Any method recognizable by the user may be adopted.

The controller <NUM> may provide notification by, for example, displaying images or characters on a display <NUM> of the mobile phone <NUM> connected via the communication interface <NUM>. In this case, the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> need not be provided with the notification interface <NUM>.

The controller <NUM>, memory <NUM>, notification interface <NUM>, and communication interface <NUM> may be provided in the earpiece <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and notification interface <NUM> may be provided in the mobile phone <NUM>, since it suffices for the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> to be provided with at least the insertion portion <NUM> and the biological sensor <NUM>.

The mobile phone <NUM> may, for example, be a smartphone and is connected to the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM>. The mobile phone <NUM> includes a mobile phone controller <NUM>, a communication interface <NUM>, the display <NUM>, and an input interface <NUM>.

The mobile phone controller <NUM> is a processor that controls overall operations of the mobile phone <NUM>. The mobile phone controller <NUM> may, for example, display the biological information measured by the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> on the display <NUM>.

The communication interface <NUM> is connected to and communicates with the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> by a wired or wireless connection. The mobile phone <NUM> for example receives the biological information measured by the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM>.

The display <NUM> is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, an inorganic EL display, or the like. The display <NUM> for example displays the biological information measured by the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM>. The user can learn his own biological information by checking the display of the display <NUM>.

The input interface <NUM> accepts operation input from the user and may be configured, for example, using operation buttons (operation keys). The input interface <NUM> may be configured by a touchscreen, an input region that accepts operation input from the user may be displayed on a portion of the display <NUM>, and touch operation input by the user to this input region may be accepted.

<FIG> schematically illustrates the structure of an ear. <FIG> illustrates the earpiece <NUM> of <FIG> as worn in the ear. The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to this disclosure measures biological information with the insertion portion <NUM> in the earpiece <NUM> being inserted in an external ear canal <NUM> so that the biological sensor <NUM> opposes a concha <NUM>. The optical emitter 111a emits light towards the concha. The emitted light is reflected or scattered by the concha and detected by the optical detector 111b. The intensity of the reflected light varies in synchronization with the pulse. By observing this variation in the intensity of reflected light as a pulse wave, the pulse can be acquired. The portion of the concha that is measured is wider than, for example, the inner wall of the external ear canal. Accordingly, the degree of freedom for arranging the biological sensor <NUM> increases. For example, light can be emitted over a wider area by separating the optical emitter Illa from the concha rather than attaching the optical emitter 111a firmly to the concha. Also, the concha is flatter than, for example, the inner wall of the external ear canal. Accordingly, the direction of reflected light is constant, allowing the optical detector 111b to detect intense light stably. In this way, biological information over a wide area can be detected as intense light, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of biological information. Also, it is difficult for external light to penetrate into the space enclosed by the concha and the biological sensor <NUM>, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of biological information.

<FIG> illustrates an example of pulse wave data acquired by a known biological information measurement apparatus. <FIG> illustrates an example of pulse wave data acquired by the biological sensor <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. In these figures of pulse wave data, the horizontal axis represents time, and the intensity of detected light is plotted along the vertical axis. In a known biological information measurement apparatus, a biological sensor provided with a optical emitter and a optical detector is abutted against the back side of the antitragus and acquires pulse wave data. The pulse wave data were measured after the subject performed a predetermined exercise for <NUM> minutes while wearing the biological information measurement apparatus. A comparison of <FIG> shows that in the pulse wave data in <FIG>, the period of the peaks is unstable, and the amplitude is small and inconsistent. By contrast, in the pulse wave data of <FIG>, the period of the peaks is stable, and the amplitude is large and consistent. The pulse wave data acquired by the biological sensor <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> clearly has better measurement accuracy than the pulse wave data acquired by a known biological information measurement apparatus. Confirmation of the state in which the known biological information measurement apparatus was worn after measurement revealed that the biological sensor which was abutted against the back side of the antitragus had become misaligned, allowing external light to enter the optical detector. By contrast, the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> was worn in a stable state.

<FIG> compares the pulse measurement results for the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> and a known biological information measurement apparatus. Pulse measurements were taken for <NUM> men and <NUM> women, for a total of <NUM> people. The known biological information measurement apparatus used a known method <NUM> to take measurements at a fingertip and a known method <NUM> to take measurements at the back side of the antitragus. The pulse was measured with the subject at rest. So that the subject state would not change, measurements were taken successively with the three methods for each subject.

The pulse acquisition rate is the probability that the pulse could be measured. The pulse acquisition rate was <NUM>% for the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. With the known method <NUM>, the pulse acquisition rate was <NUM>%, since an error occurred because of the pulse not being detectable due to poor circulation at the fingertip. With the known method <NUM>, the pulse acquisition rate was <NUM>%, since an error occurred because of the biological information measurement apparatus not being able to abut against the back side of the antitragus due to not matching the size of the ear.

The average pulse is the average of the pulse acquired for <NUM> people. The known method <NUM> yielded a higher average pulse than the other methods, suggesting a problem with measurement accuracy. A widely known cohort study yielded the results of an average pulse of <NUM> ± <NUM> for <NUM>,<NUM> people. The average pulse measured by the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> of this disclosure was <NUM>. Since this value is within the range of the average pulse indicated by the cohort study, the value measured by the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> can be deemed reliable.

<FIG> schematically illustrates the cross-sectional shape of the biological information measurement apparatus according to Embodiment <NUM>. The differences from the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> are described below, with a detailed description of points that are the same being omitted.

The biological information measurement apparatus according to Embodiment <NUM> includes a speaker <NUM>. The speaker <NUM> is formed by a diaphragm <NUM> and a driver <NUM>. The speaker <NUM> is held in a housing 134b, and the housing 134b engages with a housing 134a. A vent 135a in the housing 134a and a vent 135b in the housing 134b are connected. With an earpiece <NUM> worn in the ear, the vent opens to the outside of the ear from the external ear canal. By the vent being provided, the user can hear external sounds while listening to music with the speaker, thereby improving user safety.

The sound produced by the speaker <NUM> is transmitted in the direction of insertion of an insertion portion <NUM> into the external ear canal, i.e. into the user's ear. The driver <NUM> vibrates the diaphragm <NUM> based on a sound signal of sound generated by the mobile phone <NUM>. The diaphragm <NUM> vibrates based on driving by the driver <NUM> and reproduces sound. Driving of the driver <NUM> is, for example, controlled by the controller <NUM>.

The direction of vibration of the diaphragm <NUM> is indicated in <FIG> by arrows. The speaker <NUM> is disposed so that the direction of insertion of the insertion portion <NUM> into the external ear canal and the direction of vibration of the diaphragm <NUM> are approximately parallel. The angle between the approximately parallel direction of vibration of the diaphragm <NUM> and direction of insertion of the insertion portion <NUM> is in a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. With this arrangement, reflection of sound decreases. Furthermore, vibration of sound is more easily transmitted to the eardrum. Also, upon wearing the earpiece <NUM> in the ear, the speaker is disposed outside of the ear. Therefore, a large speaker <NUM> can be selected without impairing the fit of the earpiece.

The speaker of this disclosure is not limited to being arranged in this way and may instead by disposed at the opposite end of the housing 134a, where the biological sensor <NUM> is disposed.

In the above embodiment, the biological information measurement apparatus has been described as measuring the pulse, but the measured biological information is not limited to this case. The measured biological information may, for example, be the rate of blood flow. When measuring the rate of blood flow, for example an infrared light (wavelength: <NUM> micrometers or <NUM> micrometers) laser may be used, and the relative rate of blood flow may be detected from the change in wavelength occurring due to the Doppler shift. The measured biological information may, for example, be body temperature instead. Body temperature is, for example, detected by thermal radiation (infrared radiation) outward from the concha. Body temperature may, for example, also be detected using a thermistor. When measuring rate of blood flow or body temperature as the biological information, the pad <NUM> functions as a light-blocking member while also functioning as a heat-blocking member. By including the pad <NUM>, the biological information measurement apparatus is not easily affected by external temperature, allowing stable measurement of biological information.

The measured biological information may, for example, be blood pressure or the oxygen content of the blood. The biological information measurement apparatus is not limited to measuring one type of measured biological information and may measure a plurality of types of biological information by combining a plurality of sensors.

Claim 1:
A biological information measurement apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a biological sensor (<NUM>), a housing (<NUM>) and an insertion portion (<NUM>) configured to be inserted into an external ear canal of an ear;
wherein the biological sensor (<NUM>) is disposed in the housing (<NUM>) on a surface at a position that is opposite a concha of the ear when the insertion portion (<NUM>) is inserted in an external ear canal of the ear, and
the biological information measurement apparatus (<NUM>) further comprises a pad (<NUM>) surrounding the biological sensor (<NUM>);
wherein when the insertion portion (<NUM>) is inserted in the external ear canal (<NUM>), the pad (<NUM>) is raised from the surface of the biological sensor (<NUM>) towards the concha (<NUM>),
wherein the biological sensor (<NUM>) comprises an optical emitter (111a) configured to emit light and an optical detector (111b) configured to detect light; and
wherein the optical emitter (111a) emits light towards the concha, and the optical detector (111b) detects light returning from the concha (<NUM>); wherein
the pad (<NUM>) has a hollow structure and is configured to deform to match the size of the cavum conchae of the ear.