JPH07234161A - Body temperature monitoring equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device for monitoring the body temperature, comprising a transmitter to be inserted into a cavity of the body, and a receiver unit physically separated from the transmitter. CONSTITUTION: A transmitter unit comprises a thermistor TH1, and a housing 10 accommodating a radio transmitter 12 for transmitting a radio signal obtained by encoding the variation in the resistance of the thermistor as a signal modulation. The receiver unit comprises a receiver detecting and demodulating the radio signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a body temperature monitoring device,
In particular, it relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a woman.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Monitoring female body temperature is an established method of indicating ovulation and thus the likelihood of pregnancy. The information obtained is useful for in vitro fertility and contraceptive guidance. Thermometry is usually performed at home with a thermometer or more accurately a rectal or vaginal sensor.

[0003]

Recording body temperature of this kind is usually difficult for an observer who is not accustomed to handling it correctly. Studies show that women do not take measurements every day at the same time, and that a single handwriting of readings tends to cause errors. Furthermore, the data obtained are more reliable if, for example, semi-continuous readings are taken at midnight, but it is not practical to use a conventional thermometer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters such as body temperature that can be worn for extended periods of time to allow multiple readings to be taken and recorded.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an electrical characteristic that changes according to a body temperature to be measured and a radio signal in which the variation in the electrical characteristic is encoded as a modulation signal are transmitted. A radio transmitter for receiving a component, the transmitter unit including a casing for insertion into a body cavity, and a physically separate receiver for detecting and demodulating radio frequencies. A body temperature monitoring device is provided.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated device is a device for monitoring the temperature of a woman, mainly a transmitter unit for monitoring the temperature and transmitting it as an amplified modulated radio frequency (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). ) And a physically separated receiver that detects and demodulates the signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transmitter unit is composed of a tampon-shaped casing 10 having a diameter of about 10 millimeters and a length of about 30 millimeters, which is formed into a hollow, sealed, non-metal cylindrical shape. . In use, the housing 10 is inserted into the subject's vagina so it is made or coated with a suitable medically-certified protective coating material.

The body temperature of the subject is detected by the thermistor TH1, which is located in the wall of the housing 10 just below the surface to ensure good heat transfer from body tissue. As is known, the resistance of a thermistor changes as a function of its temperature. Inside the housing 10 is a printed circuit board on which the circuit shown in FIG. 2 is configured. This circuit comprises a baseband generator 13 for converting the temperature measured by the thermistor TH1 into a pulse train whose pulse interval period depends on the temperature to be measured, and a UHF radio transmitted by a tank inductor L1 which functions as an antenna for a receiver unit. It is composed of a keyed radio oscillation circuit 14 that amplitude-modulates a pulse train as a frequency signal.

The baseband generator 13 is a relaxation oscillator which is essentially constructed with a low power CMOS operational amplifier A1. This circuit produces a baseband signal 15 (FIG. 3) which forms a pulse train output whose interpulse period T is directly proportional to the resistance of the thermistor TH1 which is formed in a curve. Thus T can be related to the thermistor temperature by using the published manufacturer's table.

The oscillator is (steering diode D1
It has two operating time constants set by a capacitor C1 and a resistor R2 (charged through) or a series combination of R1 and TH1 (for capacitor discharge). The resistors R3, R4 and R5 form a positive feedback circuit in the circuit,
Determine the comparison switching threshold of the oscillation cycle.
Appropriate element values produce an output 15 having a low duty cycle suitable for keying an active radio frequency source in a low power consumption mode.

The radio frequency oscillator circuit 14 is composed of a transistor Q1 which is a common base active gain element of Colpitts configuration. Resistors R6 and R7 set the oscillator bias current, and R6 also provides on / off control. Capacitors C3 and C4 form feedback and resonate with inductor L1 at the desired UHF operating frequency of 418 MHz as determined by surface acoustic wave resonator SAWR. Such a resonator can be used as one that allows circuits in the frequency band 200-2000 megahertz and above. The capacitor C2 is
DC 3 to 6 depending on internal battery power source 16 (FIG. 1)
Decouple the power supply line + Vcc set to V.

The output radiated from the radiating inductor or inductor L1, which is a printed loop antenna, thus constitutes a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) waveform 17 having a duty cycle set by the baseband oscillator 13. This is the signal detected by the receiver unit. Receiver unit (Fig. 4)
Are housed in a housing 18 that does not interfere with the body of the subject and provides a compact portable unit, for example equivalent to a wireless pager.

In the receiver unit, the transmitted PAM waveform is received by a suitable low power receiver 19 having a built-in antenna 20. Receiver 19 is preferably super-regenerative detection using SAWR for center frequency control. This output approximates the original baseband waveform 15 generated at the transmitter unit and thus contains body temperature information.

Microcomputer 21 processes the baseband signal to extract temperature data (eg, using a look-up table) and stores it for trending on demand. The microcomputer has a control input 22 for performing a specific function, for example operating a receiver unit which is programmed to set the timing of temperature sampling and the number of samples stored per period. Therefore, while the transmitter unit continuously monitors body temperature and transmits the corresponding PAM signal, the receiver unit only has to sample and process this signal at a time determined by the program. Control data input is provided by a plug-in keyboard or other computer. The data output 23 is
Appropriately provided to activate the memory of the microcomputer which is read out at the end of the measuring cycle, for example 10 days.

Finally, the LCD display 24 provides a status indicator having outputs such as "in operation", "final body temperature reading", "low battery voltage" and the like. The receiver unit is driven by a rechargeable battery pack (not shown), and the microcomputer is preferably equipped with a real-time clock, the ability to enter a "sleep" mode to conserve battery power.

The receiver unit is usually inserted into the body, but the area of the signal transmitted by the transmitter unit is 1-2 meters to allow removal of the receiver unit during sleep. The device can be used on animals or humans. Accordingly, the transmitter unit housing 10 will be sized and shaped to fit the appropriate cavity to be inserted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a transmitter unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram in the transmitter.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the nature of signals at various points in the electric circuit of the transmitter unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a receiver unit of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Housing 11 ... Antenna 12 ... Wireless transmitter 16 ... Battery power source

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G08C 19/00 V H04B 7/00 9298-5K (71) Applicant 594028277 John McCoon Anderson UK, Down Beattie 180 Eng, Hollywood, Togrange 16 (72) Inventor John McCoon Anderson Hollywood, Hollywood Beattie 180 Eng Togland 16 (72) Inventor Noel Edward Evans England, London Delhi Beatty 45 8 Erdabl, Magellafelt, Bellagy, Garadakh Road 189, 'Seylac' (72) Inventor William New USA, California 94062, Woodside, Skywood Wei A 95

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An element having an electrical characteristic that changes according to a body temperature to be measured and a wireless transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal in which variations in the electrical characteristic are encoded as a modulation signal. A body temperature monitoring device comprising a housing, a transmitter unit including a housing for insertion into a body cavity, and a physically separated receiver for detecting and demodulating a radio frequency. 2. The body temperature according to claim 1, wherein the housing contains a pulse train in which a period between pulses depends on a value of an electrical characteristic, and an electric circuit which supplies a radio signal amplitude-modulated by the pulse train. Monitoring equipment. 3. The body temperature monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electric circuit includes a relaxation oscillator having an element as a timing element. 4. The body temperature monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a SAWR-controlled oscillator that operates in the UHF band. 5. The body temperature according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the receiver unit comprises a radio receiver for receiving the pulse train and means for detecting the body temperature therefrom. Monitoring equipment. 6. The body temperature monitoring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the wireless receiver is composed of a super regeneration detector that uses a SAWR for center frequency control. 7. The body temperature monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting the parameter value is a microcomputer. 8. The element of claim 1 wherein the element is a thermistor.
The body temperature monitoring device according to claim 1. 9. The body temperature monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape for inserting the vagina.