KR101871285B1 - Respiratory sensing device and respiratory monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a respiratory sensing device which is attached to a body of a patient, uses piezoelectric effects to sense vibration generated from respiration of the patient, and obtains information on respiratory state of the patient. The device comprises: a piezoelectric film which includes a piezoelectric material in a form of a thin film, an upper electrode placed on an upper part of the piezoelectric material and a lower electrode placed on a lower part of the piezoelectric material, wherein the piezoelectric material is placed between the upper and lower electrodes, and which generates electric signals to the upper and lower electrodes according to vibration generated from respiration of the patient; an adhesive layer which is placed to face the lower electrode in a lower part of the piezoelectric film, is provided as an adhesive material to contact and adhere to the body of the patient, transmits vibrations generated from the respiration of the patient to the piezoelectric film, and electrically connects an upper surface and a lower surface thereof because of conductivity thereof; and an insulating film which is interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, and blocks electric connections between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer. The insulating film comprises a through-hole electrically connecting the lower electrode to the adhesive layer, so that the lower electrode is grounded to the body of the patient through the adhesive layer in order to reduce noises of electric signals from the piezoelectric phenomenon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a respiration sensing device,

The present invention relates to a breathing sensing device and a breathing monitoring system including the breathing sensing device, and more particularly, to a breathing sensing device for sensing a breathing of a patient using a piezoelectric material and a breathing monitoring system including the breathing sensing device.

Recently, there has been an increasing effort to implement effective treatment by relieving patient's tensions and minimizing anxiety and fear by implementing Sedation. These calm laws can be classified into oral calm, inhalation calm, and sedentary calm depending on the method of enforcement. However, when induced by sedation, the patient's ability to secure trachea independently may be significantly reduced because the patient may not be aware of clinical stimuli or may only respond to minimal stimuli . Therefore, active surveillance is required for stable sedation, and monitoring of the patient's respiratory condition is a very important part of the success rate of the operation and the patient's life.

Examples of methods for monitoring respiratory depression to solve this problem include pulse oximetry using oxygen saturation, monitoring of ventilation using a partial pressure of carbon dioxide or bronchoscopy, and monitoring of circulation using a blood pressure or electrocardiogram .

However, existing breathing monitoring methods have problems such as a complicated mechanical structure of the apparatus, difficulty in operation, easily affected by ambient noise, and high cost. Accordingly, there is a need for a new type of respiration monitoring apparatus that has a high signal to noise ratio (SNR) and is simple in structure and usage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a respiration sensing device and a respiration monitoring system in which interference by an electrical bio-signal generated from a patient's body, such as an ECG (electrocardiogram) or EMG (electromyogram), is minimized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a respiratory sensing device and a respiratory monitoring system having a structure in which the electrodes of the piezoelectric film are easily grounded to the outside.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric resonator which is capable of easily generating a vibration transmission path from a body of a patient to a piezoelectric film without a strap member or an acoustic coupler for bringing the piezoelectric film into close contact with the body of a patient Sensing device and a respiration monitoring system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a respiratory sensing device and a respiration monitoring system that minimizes the influence of external vibrations and the like caused by a passengers other than breathing and other factors.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a respiratory sensing device for acquiring information on a breathing state of a patient by sensing a vibration generated by breathing of the patient by using a piezoelectric effect, ) Comprising a piezoelectric material in the form of a thin film, an upper electrode positioned above the piezoelectric material with the piezoelectric material interposed therebetween, and a lower electrode located below the piezoelectric material, wherein the vibration generated by the breathing of the patient A piezoelectric film for generating an electrical signal to the upper electrode and the lower electrode; The piezoelectric film is disposed at a lower portion of the piezoelectric film so as to face the lower electrode. The piezoelectric film is provided with an adhesive material and is in contact with the body of the patient. The vibration generated by the breathing of the patient is transmitted to the piezoelectric film. An adhesive layer capable of electrically connecting the upper surface and the lower surface thereof; And an insulating film interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, the insulating film interrupting electrical connection between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, wherein the insulating film is provided with an insulating film, There is provided a respiratory sensing device in which a through hole for electrically connecting the lower electrode and the adhesive layer to each other is formed so that the electrode is grounded to the body of the patient through the adhesive layer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a respiratory sensing device which is attached to a body of a patient and outputs information on a breathing state of the patient acquired by sensing vibration generated by the breathing of the patient using a piezoelectric effect device comprising: a piezoelectric material in the form of a thin film; an upper electrode positioned on top of the piezoelectric material facing each other with the piezoelectric material therebetween; and a lower electrode positioned below the piezoelectric material, And a piezoelectric film disposed on the lower portion of the piezoelectric film so as to face the lower electrode and being provided as an adhesive material to be in contact with the body of the patient, The vibration generated by the breathing of the patient is transmitted to the piezoelectric film, And an insulating film interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, the insulating film interrupting electrical connection between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, wherein the insulating film includes a piezoelectric film A through hole for electrically connecting the lower electrode and the adhesive layer to each other such that the lower electrode is grounded to the body of the patient through the adhesive layer so as to reduce noise of an electrical signal caused by the electrical contact; And a respiration monitoring device for receiving the electrical signal from the respiratory sensing device and outputting information regarding the respiratory condition of the patient based on the electrical signal.

It is to be understood that the solution of the problem of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned solutions, and the solutions which are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs It will be possible.

According to the present invention, by providing the insulating film between the piezoelectric film and the patient's body, it is possible to minimize interference from the piezoelectric film of the electrical bio-signal generated from the patient's body, thereby removing the noise from the breathing signal.

According to the present invention, the through hole of the insulating film electrically connects the lower electrode of the piezoelectric film to the conductive adhesive layer, so that the lower electrode can be grounded to the patient's body to remove noise from the breathing signal.

According to the present invention, since the piezoelectric film is provided as a gel having fluidity, the piezoelectric film is connected to the patient's body through an adhesive layer adhering closely to the body part of the patient, Lt; / RTI >

In addition, according to the present invention, the adhesive layer provided as a gel can function as a band-pass filter for vibrations occurring in a body part of a patient, thereby minimizing noise.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and the effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a respiratory monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view showing a use state of a respiratory sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a breathing sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view of a respiratory sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exploded perspective view of a respiratory sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a side cross-sectional view of a respiratory sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a exploded side cross-sectional view of a respiratory sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a top view of a piezoelectric film according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a rear view of a piezoelectric film according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a side view of a piezoelectric film according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view showing a breathing sensing operation of the breathing sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 shows the respiration signal sensed in FIG.
13 shows an example of a respiration signal sensed by a respiratory sensing device with the insulating film removed.
Fig. 14 shows an example of a respiration signal sensed by a respiratory sensing device in which the lower electrode is not grounded.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive concept. Other embodiments falling within the scope of the inventive concept may readily be suggested, but are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

The same reference numerals are used to designate the same components in the same reference numerals in the drawings of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a detailed description of known configurations or functions related to the present invention will be omitted when it is determined that the gist of the present invention may be blurred.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a respiratory sensing device for acquiring information on a breathing state of a patient by sensing a vibration generated by breathing of the patient by using a piezoelectric effect, ) Comprises a piezoelectric material in the form of a thin film, an upper electrode positioned above the piezoelectric material with the piezoelectric material interposed therebetween, and a lower electrode located below the piezoelectric material, wherein the vibration generated by the breathing of the patient A piezoelectric film for generating an electrical signal to the upper electrode and the lower electrode; The piezoelectric film is disposed at a lower portion of the piezoelectric film so as to face the lower electrode. The piezoelectric film is provided with an adhesive material and is in contact with the body of the patient. The vibration generated by the breathing of the patient is transmitted to the piezoelectric film. An adhesive layer capable of electrically connecting the upper surface and the lower surface thereof; And an insulating film interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, the insulating film interrupting electrical connection between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, wherein the insulating film is provided with an insulating film, A through hole may be formed to electrically connect the lower electrode and the adhesive layer so that the electrode is grounded to the body of the patient through the adhesive layer.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the through hole may be an empty space extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the insulating film.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the adhesive layer may be a hydrogel.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the hydrogel may be inserted into the through-hole, and the lower electrode may be grounded to the body by contacting the lower surface of the lower electrode.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the piezoelectric film is laminated while overlapping the upper electrode, the piezoelectric material, and the lower electrode in the same area in a direction perpendicular to the piezoelectric film, Wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode include a facing portion located in the sensing region and a terminal portion protruding outward from the facing portion to transmit the electrical signal to the outside, The through hole may be formed at a position of the insulating film corresponding to the opposing portion of the lower electrode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a respiratory sensing device (respiratory device) for outputting information on a breathing state of a patient, which is attached to a body of a patient and obtained by sensing a vibration caused by breathing of the patient using a piezoelectric effect and a lower electrode positioned below the piezoelectric material, wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode are located on the upper side of the piezoelectric material opposite to each other with the piezoelectric material interposed therebetween, A piezoelectric film disposed on the lower portion of the piezoelectric film so as to face the lower electrode and provided as an adhesive material to be contacted with the body of the patient, , The vibration generated due to the respiration of the patient is transmitted to the piezoelectric film, And an insulating film interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, the insulating film interrupting electrical connection between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer, wherein the insulating film includes a piezoelectric film, A through hole for electrically connecting the lower electrode and the adhesive layer to each other such that the lower electrode is grounded to the body of the patient through the adhesive layer so as to reduce noise of an electrical signal caused by the electrical contact; And a respiration monitoring device for receiving the electrical signal from the respiratory sensing device and outputting information about the respiratory condition of the patient based on the electrical signal.

Hereinafter, a respiration monitoring system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The respiratory monitoring system 100 includes a respiration sensing device 1000 attached to one part of a patient's body to measure vibrations caused by the respiration of the patient and analyze the measured vibrations to thereby diagnose the breathing state of the patient to be.

1 is a schematic diagram of a respiratory monitoring system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a respiratory monitoring system 100 may include a breathing sensing device 1000 and a breathing monitoring device 120.

The breathing sensing device 1000 can be attached to a part of the body of the patient 1 such as airway to sense the vibration due to the breathing of the patient 1.

The attachment site 2 to which the respiratory sensing device 1000 is attached may be where motion occurs when breathing is repeated. For example, it may be a chest wall that reflects changes in the volume of the lungs and abdominal wall during respiration, a wrist capable of sensing a pulse through the vein, one area of the chest wall where the heart is located therein, or the like. The respiratory sensing device 1000 may preferably be attached to the neck region as shown in FIG. At this time, the respiratory sensing device 1000 may more preferably be attached to the airway of the neck region where the motion of the patient 1 due to respiration is relatively large. Of course, it should be noted that the attachment site of the respiratory sensing device 1000 is not limited to the example described above.

The breathing sensing device 1000 can generate an electrical signal according to the piezoelectric effect when the vibration due to breathing occurs. The respiratory sensing device 1000 may send the electrical signal to the respiratory monitoring device 120. [ Here, the respiratory sensing device 1000 can process the signal generated according to the piezoelectric effect and transmit the processed signal.

A detailed description of the breathing sensing device 1000 will be described later.

The respiration monitoring device 120 may receive an electrical signal from the respiratory sensing device 1000 and use it to monitor the respiratory condition of the patient 1.

Specifically, the respiration monitoring device 120 may perform various algorithms for grasping the respiratory state from the electrical signals or perform various preprocessing operations including noise elimination on the electrical signals to perform the algorithm. The breathing monitoring device 120 can monitor the breathing state of the patient 1 and monitor the breathing state of the patient 1 based on the analysis result obtained according to the above-described procedure.

The electrical signals received by the respiration monitoring device 120 from the respiratory sensing device 1000 may include components due to various vibrations that occur independently of the respiration of the patient 10. [ Such components may include, for example, vibrations caused by endoscopes and surgical instruments that unintentionally touch the airway of the patient 100. [ Or noise may be a vibration that occurs when the patient 1 swallows a needle. Or noise may be a vibration caused by a sudden movement of the patient 1.

One example of the preprocessing operation of the respiration monitoring device 120 may be a noise filtering operation that removes components from the electrical signal due to the above-described respiratory-free vibrations.

The information about the breathing state acquired by the breathing monitoring device 120 may be respiration-related characteristics such as, for example, an apnea state, a snoring state, an exhalation flow rate, and a tidal volume. Further, the respiratory monitoring device 120 may diagnose the health condition of the patient 1. [ For example, an apnea, apnea, hypopnea, or UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome) state of respiratory-related characteristics that lasts for a certain period of time or longer Can be diagnosed.

The respiration monitoring device 120 may output information about the breathing state of the patient 1 to the user under real-time or constant conditions. As an example, the respiration monitoring device 120 may have audiovisual information output means such as a display or a speaker to thereby visually display the respiratory signal or to provide the user with respiratory status related information through the speaker .

Further, the respiration monitoring device 120 can detect an abnormality in the health state of the patient 1 through the breathing state of the patient 1, and can output an alarm related thereto. For example, the respiratory monitoring device 120 may provide an alert to a user via a display, a speaker, or the like, if the respiratory anomaly state or the apnea state continues.

The respiration monitoring device 120 may be an information computing device for performing the functions described above. The respiratory monitoring device 120 may be implemented as a computer or similar device depending on the hardware, software, or combination thereof. The respiration monitoring device 120 may be an information processing device that stores and processes data in hardware, and may be provided in the form of a program or code that drives the circuit in software.

The respiratory monitoring device 120 may be wired or wireless (not shown) with one or more respiratory sensing devices 1000 or other sensing devices (not shown). For example, each respiratory sensing device 1000 may be attached to a different body part of the same patient 1, and the other external device may be a Pluse oximeter. The respiratory sensing device 1000 may independently process or correlate information received from the other respiratory sensing device 1000 or an external device to perform related operations.

Hereinafter, the respiratory sensing device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

2 is a view showing a use state of the respiratory sensing device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 may be attached to a body part of the patient 1 that generates vibration by respiration. Hereinafter, the body part of the patient 1 to which the respiratory sensing device 1000 is attached will be referred to as an 'attachment site' (2).

Referring to FIG. 2, the attachment site 2 may be a clavicle bone. The bony bone is an area where minute vibrations occur as a result of inhalation and exhalation during breathing. Therefore, the respiratory sensing device 1000 can measure vibrations and movements during respiration by attaching to the bone. In FIG. 2, it is shown that the attachment site 2 is a bone site, but it is not disclosed in the present invention that the site 2 is not limited to a bone site.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 may have various shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the respiratory sensing device 1000 may have a generally rectangular shape.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 can be attached in a form capable of measuring the movement along the breathing most effectively in consideration of the shape of the bone. For example, the respiratory sensing device 1000 may be positioned on the clavicle bone such that the long side of the rectangle faces in the horizontal direction. The respiratory sensing device 1000 can be attached so that its long sides wrap around the bone. At this time, the bones may be located at the center of the long side of the respiratory sensing device 1000, or the bones may be positioned at one side of the respiratory sensing device 1000.

At one side of the respiratory sensing device 1000, a cable for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the vibration to the respiratory monitoring device 120 may be extended. At this point, the cable can extend in the opposite direction of the clavicle without crossing the clavicle bone so as not to generate noise.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the breathing sensing device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

3 is a block diagram of a configuration of a breathing sensing device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the respiratory sensing device 1000 may include a case 1200, a sensing module 1400, a cover 1600, and a signal processing module 1800. In FIG. 3, all of the above-described configurations are illustrated as being integrally formed with the respiratory sensing device 1000, but it is also possible that the signal processing module 1800 is excluded from the respiratory sensing device 1000 and exist separately on the outside.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 includes a sensing module 1400 for sensing vibrations in its inside or below and a signal processing module 1800 for processing electrical signals according to vibration And a cover 1600 covering the adhesive material.

The case 1200 is a constitution that forms the appearance of the respiratory sensing device 1000.

The case 1200 can protect the other components of the respiratory sensing device 1000 from external shocks, dirt, and the like. The case 1200 may provide space in which the respiratory sensing device 1000 is received. For example, it may be provided in a thin film shape to cover the sensing module 1400 and the signal processing module 1800 from above.

The case 1200 may be made of a flexible material so that the shape of the body 1200 can be deformed according to the shape of the body part to which the body 1200 is attached. For example, the case 1200 may be composed of one kind of rubber.

The case 1200 may be made of a negative conductive material. The case 1200 can insulate other components in the respiratory sensing device 1000 such that electrical signals in the respiratory sensing device 1000 do not leak outside except for the purpose of data transmission.

The case 1200 may also prevent the external vibration generated from the opposite side of the sensing module 1400, which senses vibration to the case 1200, from being transmitted to the sensing module 1400. In an environment such as an operating room where the respiratory sensing device 1200 is used, an audio signal irrespective of respiration may be generated due to surgery or other causes. For example, the case 1200 may be provided with a material such as rubber that reduces external audio signals. Accordingly, the external audio signal is prevented from being transmitted to the sensing module 1400, thereby removing or reducing noise from the sensing module 1400.

Further, the case 1200 may amplify the vibration due to the breathing sensed by the sensing module 1400. The vibration due to respiration mainly has a frequency of 200 to 1,000 Hz, and the case 1200 may be provided with a material having a resonance frequency for the frequency band to amplify the vibration sensed by the sensing module 1400 have.

The sensing module 1400 generates an electrical signal in accordance with the vibration of the attachment site 2. The sensing module 1400 can be adhered to the attachment site 2, and when the vibration generated in the attachment site 2 is transmitted to the inside, an electrical signal can be generated using the piezoelectric effect.

The sensing module 1400 may include an adhesive layer 1420, an insulating film 1440, and a piezoelectric film 1460.

The adhesive layer 1420 may provide an adhesive force so that the respiratory sensing device 1000 can be attached to the attachment site 2. The adhesive layer 1420 may also serve as an electrical pathway for grounding the piezoelectric film 1460 to the body by reducing the conductivity.

The insulating film 1440 electrically isolates the piezoelectric film 1460 from the adhesive layer 1420 to electrically isolate the external influence due to an ECG signal and an EMG signal generated in the body of the patient 1 from an electrocardiogram Blocking or reducing.

The piezoelectric film 1460 can generate an electrical signal corresponding to the vibration transmitted through the adhesive layer 1420 and the insulating film 1440. [

Specifically, the adhesive layer 1420 may comprise an adhesive material. The adhesive material provides a contact force that allows the respiratory sensing device 1000 to be in close contact with the surface of the attachment site 2 without gaps during vibration measurement. After the vibration measurement, the breathing sensing device 1000 is easily separated It is possible to provide a sufficient contact force. The adhesive material may be applied to the entire area of the adhesive layer 1420, or may be applied to only a part of the adhesive layer 1420. [

The adhesive layer 1420 may be made of a flexible material so that the shape of the adhesive layer 1420 can be flexibly deformed according to the curvature and shape of the surface of the attachment site 2. This can increase the surface area of the adhesive layer 1420 in contact with the body. Accordingly, the adhesive force between the adhesive layer 1420 and the body can be increased. Accordingly, the vibration transmitted from the attachment site 2 can be effectively transmitted to the adhesive layer 1420.

The adhesive layer 1420 also serves to transmit the vibration of the attachment site 2 to the piezoelectric film 1460 through the insulating film 1440. The vibration transmitted by the adhesive layer 1420 to the upper layer may be optional. For example, the adhesive layer 1420 may permit transmission of waves having a frequency of vibration due to breathing, while blocking waves having other frequencies. That is, the adhesive layer 1420 can function as a kind of band-pass filter for vibration transmitted from the attachment site 2. Thereby, the sensitivity of sensing can be improved by the adhesive layer 1420. This will be described in more detail later.

The adhesive layer 1420 may be made of a material harmless to the human body. In particular, it may be important that the adhesive material consists of a material which is harmless to the human body as much as a part of the adhesive material may remain in the human body after separation into the human body.

More specifically, the insulating film 1440 is made of an insulating material and can insulate the piezoelectric film 1460. In particular, the insulating film 1440 can insulate the piezoelectric film 1460 by preventing contact between the piezoelectric film 1460 and the adhesive layer 1420. Since the electromagnetic wave radiated from the body is prevented from reaching the piezoelectric film by the insulating film 1440, the influence of the electromagnetic wave can be minimized. This will be described further below.

In addition, the insulating film 1440 can transfer the vibration transmitted through the adhesive layer 1420 to the piezoelectric film 1460.

Further, the insulating film 1440 can be deformed in a flexible manner in accordance with the bending of the attachment site 2. Such a deformation of the shape can help redistribute the vibration transmitted from the adhesive layer 1420 to the piezoelectric film 1460.

On the other hand, in one region of the insulating film 1440, the piezoelectric film 1460 can be grounded to the body through the adhesive layer 1420. The piezoelectric film 1460 is grounded with a body having a large electric capacity, thereby making it easy to set the reference electric potential, and it is possible to reduce the noise of the signal.

In addition, specifically, the piezoelectric film 1460 may include an upper electrode 1480a, a piezoelectric material 1470, and a lower electrode 1480b. The upper electrode 1480a, the piezoelectric material 1470, and the lower electrode 1480b may be provided in the form of a thin film and may play a role similar to a capacitor due to overlapping with each other facing the main surface. The piezoelectric material 1470 can generate a potential difference between the upper electrode 1480a and the lower electrode 1480b corresponding to the external force by the piezoelectric effect. And electrical signals may be generated in the upper and lower electrodes 1480b according to the potential difference.

Piezoelectric effect refers to a phenomenon in which a voltage is generated between two opposing surfaces of a crystal due to the action of a pressure or a twisting force on the piezoelectric crystal. Or a reverse phenomenon thereof, a phenomenon occurs in which a voltage is applied between two surfaces to cause a distortion that varies at the frequency of the voltage. The nature of the piezoelectric effect is closely related to the occurrence of electric dipole moments in solids. The reason why the polarization changes when the mechanical force is applied is that the direction of the molecular arrangement changes due to the influence of the external stress, and this is caused by the change of the direction of the dipole moment. Examples of the material exhibiting such a piezoelectric effect include naturally occurring quartz, berylite, sucrose, topaz and tourmaline. Examples of the artificial piezoelectric material include gallium phosphide, Langasite or PZT and zinc oxide A perovskite structure including a tungsten-bronze structure, and the like. Among them, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is widely used and has excellent piezoelectric effect, can cause piezoelectric effect several times larger than quartz.

The piezoelectric material 1470 may be a material selected from the above-mentioned piezoelectric materials.

The cover 1600 covers the adhesive layer 1420. The cover 1600 can maintain the adhesive force at a good quality by preventing the adhesive layer 1420 from being exposed to foreign substances before the breathing sensing device 1000 is attached to the attachment site 2. [ The cover 1600 is removed immediately before the respiratory sensing device 1000 is attached, thereby exposing the adhesive layer 1420 to the outside and allowing the adhesive layer 1420 to adhere to the skin. The cover 1600 can have a certain level of adhesive force with the adhesive layer 1420 so as not to be peeled off to a small degree of external force. On the other hand, the adhesive layer 1420 must be in contact with the adhesive layer 1420 with an adhesive force less than a predetermined level so as to be easily peeled off from an external force of a predetermined size or more, and may be made of a material capable of withstanding tensile force and shear force so as not to be broken when peeled.

The signal processing module 1800 is a configuration for receiving and processing an electric signal.

The signal processing module 1800 may receive an electrical signal from the sensing module 1400.

The signal processing module 1800 may perform operations necessary to process the received electrical signal. For example, the signal processing module 1800 may perform a process for removing noise on the received electrical signal, and may include a noise removing circuit for this purpose.

Or the signal processing module 1800 may perform impedance matching to the output of the sensing module 1400 and may include an FET circuit for this purpose.

Or the signal processing module 1800 may perform an operation of amplifying the electrical signal.

The signal processing module 1800 may then send the machined electrical signal to the respiration monitoring device 120 via the cable.

Hereinafter, the structure and configurations of the respiratory sensing device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a breathing sensing device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a breathing sensing device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a exploded side cross-sectional view of a respiratory sensing device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the respiratory sensing device 1000 is viewed from the outside, the respiratory sensing device 1000 may be in the form of a generally thin plate.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 can be made in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. Specifically, the respiratory sensing device 1000 may be in the form of a rectangle having a longer end so as to cover the attachment site 2.

One region of the upper portion of the respiratory sensing device 1000 may have a shape protruding upward. The protruded shape may be formed at a position biased to the right and left sides in the respiratory sensing device 1000.

On one side of the respiratory sensing device 1000 a cable can be connected.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 may be a structure in which the cover 1600, the adhesive layer 1420, the insulating film 1440, the piezoelectric film 1460 and the case 1200 are stacked in order from the lowest layer to the uppermost layer. At this time, the signal processing module 1800 may be positioned between the insulating film 1440 and the case 1200 while being horizontally positioned with the piezoelectric film 1460. That is, the respiratory sensing device 1000 has the cover 1600 on the lowest layer, the adhesive layer 1420 on the cover 1600, and the piezoelectric film 1460 and the signal processing module 1800 are placed on the adhesive layer 1420 And the case 1200 is positioned on the uppermost layer.

The cover 1600 may be provided in a thin film form. The cover 1600 may have an area equal to or larger than the area of the adhesive layer 1420 when viewed from above.

The adhesive layer 1420 may be provided in a thin film form. The adhesive layer 1420 may be provided as a gel-like material having both adhesiveness, conductivity, and flexibility. Here, as an example of the gel-like substance, a hydrogel may be used. An example of the hydrogel is an agarose gel. The gel is a material having a porous network structure, and its shape can be flexibly changed by an external force. In addition, the hydrogel may have electrical conductivity because it contains water inside the network structure. Further, the gel may have adhesiveness due to cross linking forming a network structure.

The adhesive layer 1420 may be provided in a sufficient length to provide sufficient adhesion to the breathing sensing device 1000. In particular, the adhesive layer 1420 is disposed on the upper layer and has sufficient lengths on both sides of the housing portion 1202 in which the signal processing module 1800 is housed so that the cable and signal processing module 1800, which may be relatively heavy, Lt; / RTI >

In addition to bonding the respiratory sensing device 1000 to the attachment site 2, the gel-like substance constituting the adhesive layer 1420 further includes an electrical channel function for grounding the lower electrode 1480b and a filtering function for respiratory vibration Lt; / RTI >

The insulating film 1440 may be provided in a thin film form. The insulating film 1440 may be interposed between the adhesive layer 1420 and the piezoelectric film 1460. The area of the insulating film 1440 can be provided to be equal to or larger than the area of the piezoelectric film 1460. [

The manufacturing specifications of the insulating film 1440 such as the raw material or the thickness and the area may be determined in consideration of the insulating property, flexibility, vibration transmittance, etc. of the insulating film 1440.

On the other hand, a through hole 1442 may be formed in the insulating film 1440. The through hole 1442 has a structure in which the piezoelectric film 1460 is grounded to the body through the adhesive layer 1420 by electrically connecting the piezoelectric film 1460 and the adhesive layer 1420.

The through hole 1442 may be an empty space extending through the insulating film 1440 from the upper surface to the lower surface of the insulating film 1440.

The through hole 1442 can be formed in one region of the insulating film 1440 which abuts the adhesive layer 1420 and the piezoelectric film 1460 when the adhesive layer 1420, the insulating film 1440 and the piezoelectric film 1460 are superimposed . When a part of the adhesive layer 1420 corresponding to the through hole 1442 is inserted into the through hole 1442 in the case where the adhesive layer 1420, the insulating film 1440 and the piezoelectric film 1460 are closely attached to each other, (See Fig. 6). Thus, the piezoelectric film 1460 and the adhesive layer 1420 can be electrically connected to each other in a region corresponding to the through hole 1442.

The through hole 1442 may be a cylinder having a generally circular cross section, but is not limited thereto, and the cross section may be a polygonal shape or a shape having a minimum cross section in a slit shape.

The piezoelectric film 1460 may include a piezoelectric material 1470, an upper electrode 1480a, and a lower electrode 1480b. The piezoelectric material 1470, the upper electrode 1480a, and the lower electrode 1480b may be in the form of a thin film. The upper electrode 1480a may be formed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric material 1470 and the lower electrode 1480b may be formed on the lower surface of the piezoelectric material 1470. [

The structure of the piezoelectric film 1460, the shape of each component, and the like will be described in detail later.

The signal processing module 1800 may be located close to the piezoelectric film 1460. This is because it is advantageous for the signal processing module 1800 to be located close to the output terminal for impedance matching. When the path for connecting the signal processing module 1800 and the piezoelectric film 1460 is long, the output and sensitivity of the electric signal output from the piezoelectric film 1460 may be deteriorated. All materials have their inherent impedances, and as the connection path becomes longer, the impedance increases and the electric signal output from the piezoelectric film 1460 may become more vulnerable to noise.

The signal processing module 1800 may be disposed at a position in parallel with the piezoelectric film 1460 as viewed from above. In other words, as viewed from above, the signal processing module 1800 can be positioned such that no overlapping regions with the piezoelectric film 1460 occur. This is because the signal processing module 1800 is not disposed in the direction of the gap between the upper electrode 1480a and the lower electrode 1480b so that the electrical influence by the signal processing module 1800 is the capacitance between the electrodes 1480a and 1480b So as not to be disturbed.

At this time, noise that may occur due to overlapping of the signal processing module 1800 and the piezoelectric film 1460 can be removed. For example, when the signal processing module 1800 and the piezoelectric film 1460 are overlapped, a noise that may affect the vibration sensing sensitivity of the piezoelectric film 1460 due to the mass and the volume of the signal processing module 1800 ≪ / RTI > Alternatively, the signal processing module 1800 may be made of a rigid material in the general characteristics of the circuit board. At this time, the rigidity of the signal processing module 1800 and the flexible piezoelectric film 1460 vary depending on the vibration A gap may be generated between the vibration signal processing module 1800 and the piezoelectric film 1460. This can cause noise. Therefore, by locating the signal processing module 1800 and the piezoelectric film 1460 in the horizontal direction without overlapping regions, the above-described potential noise sources can be reduced or eliminated

The signal processing module 1800 may include a circuit board, a connection terminal, a cable, and a housing.

The circuit board is a configuration for receiving and processing signals. Various electronic devices necessary for signal processing can be arranged on the circuit board. The circuit board may be a flexible material bent according to the bending of the body, or may be a general hard PCB (Printed Circuit Board). Of course, it is also possible to use a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) as the circuit board.

The connection terminal can be connected to the piezoelectric film 1460 to receive electrical signals from the piezoelectric film 1460. At this time, the connection terminal may be connected to the terminal portion 1484 of the piezoelectric film 1460 in a Riveting manner. Or the connection terminal may be coupled to the terminal portion 1484 of the piezoelectric film 1460 in a soldering manner. Or the connecting terminal may be connected to a lead wire connected to the terminal portion 1484 of the piezoelectric film 1460. [

The cable is configured to transmit a signal processed on the circuit board to the respiration monitoring device 120. The cable is inserted horizontally into the housing at one side of the housing and can be connected to the circuit board. The cable can access the signal processing module 1800 while extending from the side farther from the piezoelectric film 1460 so as not to cross the piezoelectric film 1460.

The housing is a structure that provides a space in which the circuit board, connection terminals, and cables are located. The housing may be a cover member for protecting the circuit board, the connection terminal, and the cable. As a result, the circuit board, the connection terminal and the cable in the housing can be firmly connected even to external vibration.

In addition, the housing may have a shape in which it is easy for the circuit board to be interposed between the case 1200 and the insulating film 1440. For example, the housing is provided in a flat plate shape, so that the housing can be easily fixed.

Further, the housing may block the electrical signal so that it is not electrically connected to the external component in the area other than the connection terminal. Therefore, the housing may be composed of an insulator.

The circuit board may be horizontally connected to the terminal portion 1484 of the piezoelectric film 1460 at one side of the housing.

The case 1200 may be located on the uppermost surface of the respiratory sensing device 1000. The case 1200 may be generally in the form of a thin film. The case 1200 may have the same area as the insulating film 1440 or an area of the insulating film 1440 or more as viewed from above. The case 1200 may be covered while covering the insulating film 1440, and a piezoelectric film 1460 and a signal processing module 1800 may be interposed therebetween.

The case 1200 may have a storage portion 1202 in which the signal processing module 1800 is housed. The housing part 1202 may have a shape in which one area of the case 1200 protrudes upward and has a void space therein. The housing part 1202 can be formed on the side of the piezoelectric film 1460 so as not to overlap with the piezoelectric film 1460 when the case 1200 and the piezoelectric film 1460 are superimposed. The adhesive layer 1420 may extend from one side of the receiving portion 1202 by a predetermined length in the direction away from the piezoelectric film 1460 in the adhesive layer 1420 in consideration of the receiving portion 1202. [ The storage portion 1202 may be formed with a hole through which the cable passes.

Hereinafter, the piezoelectric film 1460 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a piezoelectric film 1460 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a rear view of a piezoelectric film 1460 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. And is a side view of the piezoelectric film 1460.

The piezoelectric film 1460 may include a piezoelectric material 1470 and an upper electrode 1480a stacked on the upper surface of the piezoelectric material 1470 and a lower electrode 1480b formed on the lower surface of the piezoelectric material 1470. [ The upper electrode 1480a and the lower electrode 1480b may cover a part or the whole of the upper surface and the lower surface of the piezoelectric material 1470, respectively.

The area, thickness, shape, material, etc. of the upper electrode 1480a and the lower electrode 1480b may be the same or different from each other.

The piezoelectric material 1470 may be in the form of a rectangular thin film.

Both electrodes 1480a and 1480b may be of a shape that includes a rectangular body and an area extending from one side of the square to the outside when viewed from above.

Both electrodes 1480a and 1480b may include an opposing portion 1482, a ground portion 1486, and a terminal portion 1484. [

The opposing portion 1482 is formed in such a manner that when the electrodes 1480a and 1480b are laminated on the piezoelectric material 1470, the electrodes 1480a and 1480b sandwich the piezoelectric material 1470, 1480b. The opposing portion 1482 of each of the electrodes 1480a and 1480b can be in direct contact with the piezoelectric material 1470. [

A structure in which the opposing portions 1482a of the upper electrode 1480a and the opposing portions 1482b of the piezoelectric material 1470 and the lower electrode 1480b are overlapped with each other form a sensing region of the piezoelectric film 1460. The sensing region is a region in which a vibration is sensed by a piezoelectric effect and a voltage is generated due to a substantially similar behavior as a capacitor. The sensing region may be located in a region where the piezoelectric effect is most effectively generated corresponding to the vibration transmitted to the piezoelectric film 1460.

The sensing region may be located anywhere on the piezoelectric film 1460 as long as the piezoelectric effect can be maximized. For example, the sensing region may be located at the center of the piezoelectric film 1460 so that the sensing of the deflection of the piezoelectric film 1460 can be detected.

The sensing region may be provided with a certain degree of tension to keep the piezoelectric film 1460 flat. The tension may affect the sensitivity improvement of the piezoelectric film 1460.

The terminal portion 1484 is an area electrically connected to the connection terminal of the signal processing module 1800. Thus, the terminal portion 1484 can electrically connect the sensing region to the signal processing module 1800 and transmit the voltage and electrical signals generated in the sensing region to the signal processing module 1800.

The terminal portion 1484a of the upper electrode, the piezoelectric material 1470 and the terminal portion 1484b of the lower electrode may not overlap with each other and may not be stacked when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the piezoelectric film 1460. [ For example, the piezoelectric material 1470 is not interposed between the terminal portions 1484 of the electrodes 1480a and 1480b, or the terminal portions 1484 of the electrodes 1480a and 1480b are located in different regions Can,

The terminal portion 1484 may be shaped to extend from the opposing portion 1482 to the outside. The terminal portion 1484a of the upper electrode 1480a and the terminal portion 1484b of the lower electrode 1480b may be shaped to extend to the same side of the piezoelectric film 1460. [ The direction in which the terminal portion 1484 extends may be a direction toward the signal processing module 1800. At this time, the terminal portion 1484a of the upper electrode 1480a and the terminal portion 1484b of the lower electrode 1480b may extend from the same side, but may extend from the other side of the side. For example, if the terminal portion 1484a of the upper electrode 1480a extends from the left side region of one side of the opposing portion 1482a, the terminal portion 1484b of the lower electrode 1480b is connected to the right side region Lt; / RTI > This makes it easier for the terminal portions 1484 of the electrodes 1480a and 1480b to be connected to the signal processing module 1800. [

The ground portion 1486 is an area for grounding the piezoelectric film 1460. The piezoelectric film 1460 is insulated by the insulating film 1440 in most regions, but may not be insulated from the ground portion 1486. The lower electrode 1480b can be electrically connected to an object having a large electric capacity through the grounding portion 1486 to obtain electrical stability.

The ground portion 1486 may be formed in one region of the lower electrode 1480b. The ground 1486 may be a region of the lower electrode 1480b corresponding to the position of the through hole 1442 of the insulating film 1440 when the piezoelectric film 1460 and the insulating film 1440 are superimposed. Since the through hole 1442 penetrates the upper surface and the lower surface of the insulating film 1440 and forms an empty space, the ground portion 1486 corresponding to the through hole 1442 may not be insulated.

The places where the grounding portions 1486 are electrically connected may vary. For example, the place where the grounding portion 1486 is electrically connected may be the skin of the patient 1. Or where the grounding portion 1486 is electrically connected may be an adhesive layer 1420 connected to the skin of the patient 1. [ Or the ground to which the grounding portion 1486 is electrically connected. Or the ground portion 1486 is electrically connected may be an external device having a large capacitance and a reference potential.

The grounding portion 1486 may be one region of the terminal portion 1484 or one region of the opposing portion 1482. [

Hereinafter, the respiratory sensing operation of the respiratory sensing device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

11 is a view showing a breathing sensing operation of the breathing sensing device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

11, in the breathing sensing device 1000 in a fully coupled state attached to the actual attachment site 2, a path through which vibration generated by breathing is transmitted to the piezoelectric film 1460 through each layer, The role of each component for improving the sensing sensitivity of the sensing device 1000 will be described below.

First, we examine the process in which vibration is transmitted and converted to an electrical signal.

The respiratory sensing device 1000 can be adhered (tightly) to the attachment site 2 via the adhesive layer 1420. [ The vibration generated by the breath can be transmitted to the adhesive layer 1420. [ At this time, the adhesive layer 1420 may be in the form of a gel as described above, and may be, for example, an agarose gel which is a kind of hydrogel. As described above, the gel can be adhered to the attachment site 2 with a maximum surface area while the shape of the gel is deformed in accordance with the bending of the attachment site 2. As will be described in more detail below, the gel can selectively transmit only the vibrations generated by breathing to the upper layer. The other vibration is a kind of noise and its transmission can be blocked by the gel.

Vibration due to breathing through the gel can be transmitted to the piezoelectric film 1460 through the insulating film 1440 as well. At this time, the insulating film 1440 is also flexibly bent and can closely contact the adhesive layer 1420 of the lower surface and the piezoelectric film 1460 of the upper surface without gaps.

The vibration caused by the breathing can be transmitted to the piezoelectric film 1460 through the insulating film 1440. The piezoelectric film 1460 receives an external force due to the vibration, so that a voltage is generated between the upper electrode 1480a and the lower electrode 1480b in the sensing region. At this time, the ground 1486 in the lower electrode 1480b may be electrically connected to the adhesive layer 1420 through the through hole 1442. The generated electrical signal can be transmitted to the signal processing module 1800 through the terminal portion 1484. [

Hereinafter, the role of the adhesive layer 1420 and the insulating film 1440 contributing to the improvement in sensing sensitivity will be described.

The insulating film 1440 can insulate the piezoelectric film 1460 while covering the surface area of the piezoelectric film 1460, thereby minimizing the influence of electromagnetic waves emitted from the body.

Because the vibration due to breathing is minute, very precise sensing sensitivity is required. Therefore, even if the magnitude of the electromagnetic waves radiated from the body is small, it may affect the sensitivity of the breathing sensation. Such an influence may be further exacerbated as the area where the body surface and the piezoelectric film 1460 are electrically connected increases .

Specifically, the piezoelectric element 1470 having the electrodes 1480a and 1480b on the upper and lower surfaces thereof may exhibit a behavior similar to a kind of capacitor. That is, when a piezoelectric effect is generated, an electromagnetic field can be generated in a direction from the upper electrode 1480a toward the lower electrode 1480b or vice versa. Considering the attachment type of the respiratory sensing device 1000, the direction of this electromagnetic field may coincide with the direction of the electromagnetic wave emitted from the body. This may exacerbate the adverse effect of the electromagnetic waves emitted from the body on the piezoelectric effect.

As a solution to this, the insulating film 1440 can effectively block the electromagnetic waves emitted from the body by minimizing the area where the piezoelectric film 1460 is exposed toward the body surface (exposing only the region of the through hole 1442 for grounding) have.

Meanwhile, since the piezoelectric film 1460 is grounded to the adhesive layer 1420 or the body through the through hole 1442 provided in the insulating film 1440, the sensing sensitivity can be increased.

Since the body has a relatively large electric capacity, the respiratory sensing device 1000 can be given electrical stability. The piezoelectric film 1460 can set the reference potential through the ground.

Since the connection to the body for grounding is sufficient to be electrically connected, the grounding effect may be independent of the area of the area to be grounded. However, if the through-hole for grounding is enlarged as described above, the influence of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the body can be increased. Therefore, it may be advantageous to minimize the area of the through-hole.

Also, as mentioned, the vibration transmitted by the adhesive layer 1420 to the upper layer may be optional. The adhesive layer 1420 selectively permits and transmits vibration of a predetermined frequency, but can block vibration of a constant frequency. That is, the adhesive layer 1420 can be utilized as a band pass filter. In other words, the adhesive layer 1420 can perform impedance matching with skin to prevent reflection and loss of vibration transmitted from the skin. Particularly, since the gel is ductile and has impurities, it may have a tendency to transmit vibrations of a specific frequency but absorb the vibrations of other specific frequencies by weakening the transmission force.

The frequency of the vibration transmitted or blocked by the adhesive layer 1420 can be determined by manufacturing characteristics such as the material properties of the adhesive layer 1420 or the thickness and area of the adhesive layer 1420. [ Therefore, the raw material and the manufacturing specification of the adhesive layer 1420 can be determined in consideration of the vibration frequency to be sensed and the vibration frequency of the noise. For example, the thickness of the adhesive layer 1420 can be designed to a thickness optimized to effectively transmit the vibration frequency associated with respiration to the upper layer, while effectively preventing the vibration frequency independent of respiration. As another example, the components of the adhesive layer 1420 can be designed in consideration of optimized components and composition ratios so that the vibration frequency associated with breathing is effectively transmitted to the upper layer, but the vibration frequency independent of respiration can be effectively blocked.

The vibration allowed and transmitted by the adhesive layer 1420 may be vibration sensed by the breathing sensing device 1000. For example, if the respiratory sensing device 1000 is attached to the cadaver bone to sense the vibration of the cadaver bone, the vibration transmitted and transmitted by the cueing layer 1420 may be vibration of the cadaver bone that occurs during respiration .

The vibration that the adhesive layer 1420 blocks may be noise that is not related to the vibration that the breathing sensing device 1000 wants to sense. For example, when the respiratory sensing device 1000 is attached to the cadaver bone to sense vibration of the bones of the respiratory tract, the noise may be a respiration-independent vibration. Specifically, the noise may be a vibration generated by an endoscope and a surgical instrument that unintentionally touches the airway while passing through the airway. Or noise may be a vibration that occurs when the patient 1 swallows a needle. Or noise may be a vibration caused by a sudden movement of the patient 1.

As described above, the adhesive layer 1420 may be formed to have a sufficiently long length to be adhered to the attachment region 2 to provide sufficient adhesion force to the breathing sensing device 1000. For example, when the adhesive layer 1420 is attached to the body, the adhesive layer 1420 can be attached not only to the target area where the breathing-related vibration to be actually sensed is generated but also to the periphery thereof. Here, the adhesive layer 1420 is attached to the peripheral portion in order to provide a stronger adhesion force to the breathing sensing device 1000. Sometimes, however, these perimeters also provide noise to the vibration signal to be sensed. This is because the periphery may be associated with respiration or with respiration, but with less reliable movement. Such movement occurring at the peripheral portion may be transmitted to the piezoelectric film 1460 through the adhesive layer 1420 and act as noise.

To solve this problem, the adhesive layer 1420 may have a region where the adhesive material is applied and an area where the adhesive material is not applied. The uncoated region of the adhesive material may serve to block vibrations that are generated in the peripheral portion and are transmitted. The adhesive material-uncoated areas may be provided in one or more than one.

Through the process described above, the respiratory sensing device 1000 can sense vibration due to breathing while minimizing noise.

FIG. 12 shows the respiration signal sensed by the respiratory sensing device 1000 in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 shows the respiration signal sensed by the respiratory sensing device 1000 with the insulating film 1440 removed.

Referring to FIG. 12, it can be seen that the occurrence of vibration due to respiration appears as a waveform of an electric signal.

Significant amplitudes of the electrical signals indicate that movement occurs due to breathing. It can be seen that the electric signal occurs at a constant frequency and the amplitude also appears constant. This indicates that breathing is taking place at regular intervals and breathing is maintained in a normal state without any sudden change in movement.

The waveform of the electric signal shows that the difference in magnitude between the amplitude when there is motion and the amplitude when there is no motion is very distinct. Such a high-quality signal can be seen as a result that the piezoelectric film 1460 is insulated from the body and the external configuration by the insulating film 1440, and the noise is reduced by the piezoelectric film 1460 being grounded to a part of the body.

Referring to FIG. 13, it can be seen that the amplitude of the electric signal is very large, and the electric signal has a lot of noise such that the vibration due to respiration can not be confirmed, such as an electric signal is detected in a large number of frequency range bands.

This is because the lower electrode 1480b of the piezoelectric film 1460 is in contact with the body in all regions without being electrically disconnected by the insulating film 1440. In this case, body surface currents such as ECG and EMG of small size can act as noise for electrical signals generated through the piezoelectric effect.

14 shows the respiration signal sensed by the respiratory sensing device 1000 without the lower electrode 1480b being grounded.

As shown in the figure, when grounding is not performed, it is possible to distinguish the oscillation due to the exhalation and the intake, but the quality of the signal may be deteriorated because the amplitude difference of the signal is not clearly distinguished.

In general, the grounding of an electronic product can have a significant impact on its performance. Through grounding, electronics can perform noise filtering, which can also improve life expectancy.

Since the body has a relatively large capacitance as compared with the respiratory sensing device 1000, the respiratory sensing device 1000 can be provided with electrical stability. Particularly, since the electrical signal generated by the respiratory sensing device 1000 is small in size and sensitive to noise, the role of the ground that can give electrical stability by setting the reference potential is greater.

As described in the foregoing description, the respiratory sensing device 1000 and the respiration monitoring device 120 including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention can measure the vibration due to the respiration of the patient 1 using the piezoelectric effect It is possible to acquire an electrical signal with minimized noise, acquire the respiratory state of the patient 1 based on the acquired electrical signal, and provide the respiratory state to the user.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1: patient
2: attachment site
100: Breath monitoring system
120: Breath monitoring device
1000: Breathing sensing device
1200: Case
1202:
1400: sensing module
1420:
1440: insulating film
1442: Through-hole
1460: Piezoelectric film
1470: Piezoelectric material
1480: Electrode
1482:
1484: terminal portion
1486:
1480a: upper electrode
1480b:
1600: Cover
1800: Signal processing module

Claims (6)

A respiratory sensing device for attaching to a patient's body and acquiring information about the breathing state of the patient by sensing a vibration generated by the breathing of the patient using a piezoelectric effect,
A piezoelectric material in the form of a thin film, an upper electrode positioned above the piezoelectric material with the piezoelectric material interposed therebetween, and a lower electrode positioned below the piezoelectric material, A piezoelectric film for generating an electrical signal to the electrode and the lower electrode;
The piezoelectric film is disposed at a lower portion of the piezoelectric film so as to face the lower electrode. The piezoelectric film is provided with an adhesive material and is in contact with the body of the patient. The vibration generated by the breathing of the patient is transmitted to the piezoelectric film. An adhesive layer capable of electrically connecting the upper surface and the lower surface thereof; And
And an insulating film interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer and intercepting electrical connection between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer,
And a through hole is formed in the insulating film so as to electrically connect the lower electrode and the adhesive layer so that the lower electrode is grounded to the body of the patient through the adhesive layer in order to reduce noise of the electric signal due to the piezoelectric phenomenon To
Breathing sensing device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the through hole is an empty space extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the insulating film,
Breathing sensing device.
3. The method of claim 2,
The adhesive layer comprises a hydrogel-
Breathing sensing device.
The method of claim 3,
A part of the hydrogel is inserted into the through-hole and is brought into contact with the lower surface of the lower electrode, so that the lower electrode is grounded to the body
Breathing sensing device.
The method of claim 1, wherein
Wherein the piezoelectric film includes a sensing region that generates an electrical signal in response to vibration by overlapping the upper electrode, the piezoelectric material, and the lower electrode in the same region when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the piezoelectric film,
The upper electrode and the lower electrode are electrically connected to each other,
And a terminal portion protruding outward from the opposing portion to transmit the electrical signal to the outside,
The through hole may be formed at a position of the insulating film corresponding to the opposing portion of the lower electrode
Breathing sensing device.
A respiratory sensing device for attaching to a patient's body and outputting information about a breathing state of the patient acquired by sensing a vibration caused by breathing of the patient using a piezoelectric effect,
An upper electrode disposed on an upper portion of the piezoelectric material facing each other with the piezoelectric material interposed therebetween, and a lower electrode positioned below the piezoelectric material, wherein the vibration generated by the breathing of the patient A piezoelectric film disposed on a lower portion of the piezoelectric film so as to face the lower electrode and being provided as an adhesive material to be contacted with the body of the patient, And an adhesive layer interposed between the piezoelectric film and the adhesive layer to electrically connect the upper surface and the lower surface of the piezoelectric film to the piezoelectric film, And an insulating film for blocking the piezoelectric effect, In order to reduce the noise in a signal term respiration sensing device is the lower electrode through the adhesive layer to form through-holes of the lower electrode and the bonding layer electrically connected to each other so that the grounding to the body of the subject; And
And a respiration monitoring device for receiving the electrical signal from the respiratory sensing device and outputting information about the respiratory condition of the patient based on the electrical signal
Respiratory monitoring system.

Images