Biological information detection apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016015282-A1
Application number	US-201514799782-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are biological information detection apparatuses and methods of detecting biological information. The biological information detection apparatus includes a pulse wave measuring unit configured to detect a biological signal of a subject; a height controller configured to adjust a height of the pulse wave measuring unit; and a support member formed on a side of the height controller, wherein the pulse wave measuring unit is further configured to detect the biological signal while the pulse wave measuring unit is spaced apart from a surface skin of the subject by the adjusted height.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A biological information detection apparatus comprising:
a pulse wave measuring unit configured to detect a biological signal of a subject; a height controller configured to adjust a height of the pulse wave measuring unit; and a support member formed on a side of the height controller, wherein the pulse wave measuring unit is further configured to detect the biological signal while the height of the pulse wave measuring unit from the subject is adjusted by the height controller.

2 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pulse wave measuring unit is further configured to detect the biological signal while the support member is in contact with a surface skin of the subject.

3 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the height controller is further configured to adjust the height of the pulse wave measuring unit to be a zero value, and the pulse wave measuring unit is further configured to detect the biological signal while the pulse wave measuring unit is in contact with a surface skin of the subject.

4 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the height controller is further configured to adjust the height of the pulse wave measuring unit to be a non-zero value and the pulse wave measuring unit is further configured to detect the biological signal when the height controller forms a gap between the pulse wave measuring unit and a surface skin of the subject.

5 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pulse wave measuring unit comprises:
a light emitter configured to radiate light onto the subject; and light receivers configured to receive light having the biological signal emitted from the subject.

6 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the light receivers are respectively formed on two sides of the light emitter.

7 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the light emitter comprises a light-emitting diode or a laser diode, and each of the light receivers comprises a photo diode, a photo transistor, or a charge-couple device.

8 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to connect to a wearable device, a health-care related device, or a medical device worn by the subject.

9 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises:
a power supply element configured to supply power for operation of the pulse wave measuring unit, and a signal transmission element configured to transmit the biological signal measured by the pulse wave measuring unit to a computing device, wherein the computing device is a data processor or a controller.

10 . The biological information detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a rigid printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board.

11 . A method of detecting biological information, the method comprising:
attaching a biological information detection apparatus to a subject; radiating light onto the subject from the biological information detection apparatus; receiving light reflected from the subject via the biological information detection apparatus; determining a biological information detection location on the subject based on a biological signal detected from the received light by the biological information detection apparatus; and obtaining biological information based on the biological signal measured at the biological information detection location.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining the biological information detection location comprises determining a location of a radial artery of the subject and determining at least two locations for simultaneously measuring the biological signals.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining the biological information detection location comprises determining a location of a radial artery of the subject, and after selecting a first region on the radial artery and a second region separated from the first region and located on the radial artery, simultaneously measuring biological signals at the first and second regions.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the obtaining biological information comprises determining a signal quality of the biological signal measured at the biological information detection location, and detecting biological information from the biological signal of which quality has been determined.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining the signal quality of the biological signal comprises amplifying the biological signal detected by the biological information detection apparatus or removing noise from the biological signal.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining the quality of the biological signal comprises repeating the determining the location on the radial artery of the subject when the obtained biological information is determined as not being meaningful.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the biological information comprises at least one of an elasticity of a blood vessel, a blood flow velocity, a systolic blood pressure, and a diastolic blood pressure.

18 . A biological information detection apparatus comprising:
an optical signal detector comprising:
a light emitter configured to radiate a light onto a skin surface of a subject within a region of an interest (ROI);
a first light detector that is disposed at one side end of the light emitter and is configured to detect a light reflected from the ROI; and
a second light detector that is disposed at another side end of the light emitter and is configured to detect a light reflected from the ROI; and
a height controller that is mounted on the optical signal detector, extended to form a gap between the optical signal detector and the skin surface, and retracted to have the optical signal detector be in contact with the skin surface of the subject.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Younho
• Kang Jaemin
• Park Sangyun
• Jeong Hyoyoung

Classifications

• A61B5/6844

  Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue · CPC title

• A61B5/02125

  of pulse wave propagation time · CPC title

• A61B5/489

  Blood vessels · CPC title

• A61B5/02416

  using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2576/02

  specially adapted for a particular organ or body part · CPC title