KR20160002493U - Wearable healthcare apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A wearable healthcare device is disclosed. A wrist-wearing type healthcare apparatus includes a substrate, a housing surrounding the substrate, a wrist-mounted housing, a lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the housing and contacting the skin of the wrist, and mounted on a side or upper surface of the housing An upper electrode contacting the finger of the opposite hand, and a measuring unit measuring the bio-signal when the electric loop is formed in the right arm and the left arm when the electrode is in contact with the finger of the opposite hand.

Description

[0001] WEARABLE HEALTHCARE APPARATUS [0002]

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wearable healthcare device.

Ubiquitous Health Care (Ubiquitous Health Care) is a remote medical service that enables individuals to receive health care anywhere and anytime by utilizing various information and communication technologies. It is rapidly developing with the development of IT devices and Internet of things. The Internet of Things is a concept that collectively refers to the technology in which objects exchange information smartly through Internet connection. It detects the information of the body in cooperation with various wearable devices (wearable devices) and smart devices, collects the data, The health state of the patient can be managed more efficiently. A wearable device refers to a pair of glasses, wrist watches, and band devices that are used in conjunction with a smartphone or tablet wirelessly, and is being watched as a sensor for detecting information about a user's body in u-healthcare.

A wearable healthcare device capable of measuring a user's bio-signal is provided.

A wrist-wearable healthcare device, comprising: a substrate; A housing surrounding the substrate and worn on the wrist; A lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the housing and contacting the skin of the wrist; An upper electrode mounted on a side surface or a top surface of the housing and contacting the finger of the opposite hand; And a measuring unit for measuring a living body signal when an electric loop is formed on the right arm and the left arm when the electrode is in contact with the finger of the opposite hand, wherein at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode measures a pulse, And can be shared by two or more of other applications.

According to one aspect, the electrocardiogram can be measured between the wrist worn by the wrist-wearable healthcare device and the electrode contacted with the finger of the opposite hand.

According to another aspect, a pulse can be calculated from the measured electrocardiogram.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the upper electrode and the lower electrode are each composed of a plurality of members, and the body component can be measured based on the plurality of lower electrodes and the plurality of upper electrodes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the wrist wearing type healthcare apparatus further includes an input unit for selecting a measurement mode, and a display unit for displaying a measurement guide, a measurement state, and a measurement result, The information for guiding the finger to come into contact with the upper electrode may be displayed.

According to another aspect, the information for deriving includes an image or a character that induces the thumb and the index finger to contact the finger with the electrode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the display unit may release the display of the information for guiding when the finger touches the upper electrode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, when a finger is not brought into contact with the upper electrode within a predetermined time, error information is displayed through the display unit, display of information for inducing displayed on the display unit is canceled, The measurement message may be displayed or the measurement mode may be canceled.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode can be used as an electrostatic touch switch.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the lower electrode protrudes from the housing for easy contact with the skin of the wrist.

According to another aspect, the upper electrode may be made transparent.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the substrate may be formed with an area where the lower electrode and the upper electrode are directly plugged, or an area where the lower electrode and the upper electrode are directly attached.

According to another aspect, the lower electrode and the upper electrode are configured such that in response to either the lower electrode or the upper electrode contacting the first body portion of the user, the remaining electrode contacts the second body portion of the user And the like.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an electrical signal is applied to the lower electrode in response to the upper electrode contacting the first body part of the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the lower electrode may have a shape protruding toward the user's skin.

A wearable healthcare device, comprising: a substrate; A housing surrounding the substrate and worn by a user; A lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the housing and contacting the skin of the user; An upper electrode mounted on a side surface or an upper surface of the housing and contacting the finger of the user; And a measuring unit for measuring a living body signal when an electric loop is formed as the finger of the user contacts the electrode, wherein at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode includes at least one of pulse measurement, body composition measurement, A wearable type health care device is provided.

An upper electrode mounted on a side surface or an upper surface of a wearable healthcare device and a lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the wearable healthcare device are used to measure various bio-signals of a user such as an electrocardiogram, a pulse, can do.

1 to 4 are views showing an example of a wrist wearing type health care apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate examples of side views of a wrist-wearable healthcare device in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 8 to 10 are views showing, in outline, examples of a front view, a rear view, and a side view of a substrate included in a wrist wearing healthcare apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a diagram showing an example in which an upper electrode is disposed on a side surface of a substrate in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a substrate, electrodes, and measurement units in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention, and how to accomplish them, will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully inform the owner of the category of design, and the design is only defined by the scope of the claim.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" of another element or layer, it encompasses the case where it is directly on or intervening another element or intervening layers or other elements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, it goes without saying that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the technical idea of the present invention.

Figs. 1 to 4 are views showing examples of a wrist wearing type health care apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. The wrist-wearable type healthcare apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a housing (110) which surrounds a substrate (not shown) and a substrate and is worn on the wrist, a housing An electrode 120, an upper electrode 130 mounted on the side or upper surface of the housing to contact the finger of the opposite hand, and a finger of the opposite hand. When an electric loop is formed on the right arm and the left arm, And a measurement unit (not shown) for measuring the measurement result. The substrate and the measuring unit may be provided inside the housing 110 and will be described in more detail later.

Although FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate embodiments in which two lower electrodes 120 and two upper electrodes 130 are mounted, they are extended to at least one lower electrode 120 and at least one upper electrode 130, .

1 to 3 show an embodiment in which the upper electrode 130 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 110. FIG 4 shows an embodiment in which the upper electrode 130 is mounted on the side surface of the housing 110 Respectively.

In FIGS. 1 and 4, two lower electrodes 120 and two upper electrodes 130 are mounted on the body of the wrist-wear type health care apparatus. In FIGS. 2 and 3, An electrode 120 and two upper electrodes 130 are shown mounted to components for connecting a wrist-wearable healthcare device to a user's wrist.

In addition, the two lower electrodes 120 and the upper electrodes 130 may be formed in an elliptical shape instead of a circular shape as shown in FIG. 3, and may be formed in various shapes such as a square shape as required.

When the finger of the opposite hand touches the upper electrode 130 while the user wears the wrist-wearing type health care device on the wrist, the upper electrode 130 with which the finger is contacted and the lower electrode 120 An electric loop can be formed on the user's right arm and left arm, and the measurement unit included in the wrist-wearable healthcare apparatus can measure the user's vital sign based on the electric loop.

For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the measuring unit applies an alternating current through one lower electrode 120 and one upper electrode 130, The impedance of the body can be measured by measuring the voltage with one upper electrode 130 and the body composition such as the user's body fat can be measured based on the measured impedance.

According to another embodiment, the wrist-wearable healthcare device can measure electrocardiogram (ECG) between the wrist on which the wrist-wearable healthcare device is worn and the electrodes that are in contact with the fingers of the opposite hand. An electrocardiogram (ECG) records a potential related to a heartbeat from a surface of a body into a figure, and measures a current transmitted to a muscle or a nerve by the action of the heart. The wrist-wearable healthcare apparatus or measuring unit measures a current The electrocardiogram of the user can be measured through the electrode 130. At this time, the wrist wearing type healthcare apparatus or measuring section can calculate the pulse from the measured electrocardiogram.

As such, the electrodes provided in the wrist-wearable healthcare device may be compatible with electrocardiogram, pulse, body composition or other purposes.

For example, the measuring unit may include at least one of an electrocardiogram measurement mode for measuring an electrocardiogram as a living body signal, a body composition measurement mode for measuring a body composition as a living body signal, and a simultaneous measurement mode for simultaneously measuring an electrocardiogram and a body composition It is possible to measure at least one of electrocardiogram and body composition. Electrocardiograms are measured as signals below a few Hz, and currents for body composition analysis can be measured as signals above 50 Hz. Therefore, even if a signal for electrocardiogram and a signal for body composition analysis are measured at the same time, the band can be distinguished easily because the band is surely different.

Further, the measuring unit may determine whether or not the current value of the voltage of the electric loop is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, based on at least one of whether a current is formed through the electric loop in the right arm and the left arm, whether the voltage value in the electric loop is within the predetermined range, It is possible to determine the accuracy with respect to the measurement posture. For example, when the magnitude of the voltage measured in the electric loop is unstable, the measuring unit can detect that the user's measuring posture is wrong.

At this time, the wrist-wearable healthcare apparatus may further include a component (for example, a display, a speaker, or an LED (Light Emitting Diode)) for outputting information to the user to indicate that the user's measurement posture is wrong . Determination of the user's measurement posture can be applied regardless of the above-described modes (electrocardiogram measurement mode, body composition measurement mode and simultaneous measurement mode).

The wrist wearable healthcare apparatus may further include an input unit (not shown) for selecting a measurement mode, a display unit (e.g., a display 140) for displaying a measurement guide, a measurement state, and a measurement result, When the measurement mode is selected in the input unit, information for guiding the finger to contact the upper electrode 130 can be displayed.

For example, an image (for example, a finger touching the upper electrode 130) or a character (for example, "Please contact the finger with the finger." May be displayed on the display unit as information for inducing the contact.

At this time, when the finger touches the upper electrode 130, the display unit can release the display of information for inducing the contact. When the finger is not in contact with the upper electrode 130 within a predetermined time, the error information is displayed through the display unit, the display of the information for inducing displayed on the display unit is canceled, or the remeasurement message is displayed through the display unit . As another example, the wrist-wearable healthcare apparatus may release the measurement mode if the finger is not brought into contact with the upper electrode 130 within a predetermined time.

At least one of the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 130 may be used as an electrostatic touch switch. The electrostatic touch technology is a technique that is driven by sensing static electricity generated in a human body. For example, when the user touches the upper electrode 130 of FIG. 1 according to a mode set in the wrist-wearable healthcare device The electrodes provided in the wrist-wearable healthcare device, such as changing the setting of the wrist-wearable healthcare device or inputting a value, by sensing the user's touch through static electricity existing in the user's hand, are utilized as various input switches .

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate examples of side views of a wrist-wearable healthcare device in one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a side view of the wrist wearing health care apparatus corresponding to Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a side view of the wrist wearing health care apparatus corresponding to Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a side view of the wrist wearable health care apparatus corresponding to Fig. Respectively.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, at least the lower electrode 120 may be formed to protrude from the housing 110 for easy contact with the skin of the wrist. The upper electrode 130 may be protruded from the housing 110, but may not protrude from the housing 110, or may be formed in various shapes such as a shape in which a portion of the upper electrode 130 is recessed toward the housing . ≪ / RTI > 7 shows an example in which an upper electrode is formed on the side surface of the housing 110. [

Also, the upper electrode 130 may be made transparent. For example, the upper electrode 130 may be implemented as a transparent electrode having light transmittance and conductivity. When the display 140 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is constituted by a touch screen of an electrostatic type, a transparent electrode (for example, an ITO film (Indium-Tin Oxide film) 130).

FIGS. 8 to 10 are views showing, in outline, examples of a front view, a rear view, and a side view of a substrate included in a wrist wearing healthcare apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 shows an example of a front view of the substrate 810. A region where the upper electrode 130 is directly inserted or an area where the upper electrode 130 is directly attached may be formed on the front surface of the substrate 810. [ Similarly, FIG. 9 shows an example of a rear view of the substrate 810. On the rear surface of the substrate 810, a region where the lower electrode 120 is directly pushed or a region where the lower electrode 120 is directly attached is formed . 10 shows an example in which the upper electrode 130 and the lower electrode 120 directly protruded or attached to the substrate 810 are protruded out of the housing 110 indicated by dashed lines.

Even when the upper electrode 130 is formed on the side surface of the housing 110, the substrate 810 may have a region directly attached to the upper electrode 130 or a region directly attached to the upper surface of the substrate 110 have. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which an upper electrode is disposed on a side surface of a substrate in an embodiment of the present invention. 11 shows an example in which the upper electrode 130 directly protruded or attached to the side surface of the substrate protrudes outside the side surface of the housing 110. [

In this case, the electrode is directly attached to or attached to the substrate. The electrode is physically separated from the substrate, and the electrode is physically separated from the substrate. And may mean that the electrode is electrically connected to the electrical circuit of the substrate in various ways in the physical contact state.

The lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 130 are positioned such that one of the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 130 contacts the first body portion of the user and the remaining electrode contacts the second body portion of the user . For example, in FIG. 1, when the user's finger touches the upper electrode 130, the lower electrode 120 may contact the skin of the wrist in response to a force of the finger pressing the upper electrode 130. More specifically, the lower electrode 120 is normally located inside the housing 110, and when the user presses the upper electrode 130 with a finger, the lower electrode 120 protrudes out of the housing 110 using the force And can be brought into contact with the skin of the wrist. By way of example, such electrodes may be movable using various components such as springs.

In another embodiment, the wrist-wearable healthcare device is characterized in that an electrical signal is applied to the lower electrode 120 in response to the upper electrode 130 contacting the user's first body part (e.g., a finger) . For example, even if there is no separate input or setting by the user, the wrist-wearable healthcare device applies an electrical signal to the lower electrode 120 in response to the user's first body part contacting the upper electrode 130 So that measurement of the user's biological signal can be started. As another example, the lower electrode 120 may have a shape protruding in the skin direction of the user. In this case, when the user wears a wrist-wearing type healthcare device, the lower electrode 120 may always be in contact with the user's skin. At this time, instead of applying the electric signal to the lower electrode 120 at all times, the upper electrode 130 may be electrically connected to the lower electrode 120 in response to the user's contact with the first body part (e.g., a finger) An electric signal can be applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a substrate, electrodes, and measurement units in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The measurement unit 1210 may be implemented as a circuit or a chip on the substrate 810 in the housing 110 and may be electrically connected to the measurement unit 1210 by the upper electrode 130 and the lower electrode 120. [ Can be connected. At this time, a switch 1220 may be provided between each of the electrodes and the measurement unit. The measuring unit 1210 can control the connection with the electrodes or the application of the electric signal by controlling these switches. 12 shows an example in which one upper electrode 130 is connected to the measuring unit 1210 through a switch for convenience of explanation.

Although the wrist-wear-type healthcare apparatus has been described above, the apparatuses according to the present embodiments can be extended to a wearable healthcare apparatus. For example, a wearable type health care apparatus in which a lower electrode 120 is provided on the inner side of the glasses and an upper electrode 130 is provided on the outer side of the glasses can be realized. A wearable health care device can be implemented. The lower electrode 120 may be configured to be in contact with the user's skin, and the upper electrode 130 may be configured to contact the user's finger.

In addition, such wearable healthcare devices may further include more various functions. For example, a wrist-wearable healthcare device may include various functions such as a function for controlling a smartphone by communicating with a smartphone, a function for immediately placing and receiving a phone call, and a function for confirming a message, . To this end, the wearable healthcare devices may include a display 140 as shown in FIGS. 1-4, or may further include a network interface or the like for communication with other devices. Or may provide various more information related to the user's body including various sensors such as a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, by using the upper electrode mounted on the side surface or the upper surface of the wearable healthcare apparatus and the lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the wearable healthcare apparatus, not only the body composition, Electrocardiogram, pulse, and the like.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. For example, it is to be understood that the techniques described may be performed in a different order than the described methods, and / or that components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, Lt; / RTI > or equivalents, even if it is replaced or replaced.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (19)

A wrist wearable health care device,
Board;
A housing surrounding the substrate and worn on the wrist;
A lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the housing and contacting the skin of the wrist;
An upper electrode mounted on a side surface or a top surface of the housing and contacting the finger of the opposite hand; And
A measuring unit for measuring a living body signal when an electric loop is formed on the right arm and the left arm when the finger contacts the electrode with the finger of the opposite hand;
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is commonly used in at least two of pulse measurement, body composition measurement, and other applications. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrocardiogram is measured between the wrist worn by the wrist-wearing type healthcare device and the electrode contacted with the finger of the opposite hand. 3. The method of claim 2,
And calculates a pulse from the measured electrocardiogram. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrode includes a plurality of lower electrodes and a plurality of upper electrodes,
Wherein the body composition is measured based on the plurality of lower electrodes and the plurality of upper electrodes. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
And a switch is further provided between the electrode and the measurement unit. The method according to claim 1,
An input unit for selecting a measurement mode and
A display for displaying a measurement guide, a measurement state, and a measurement result
Further comprising:
The display unit includes:
And displays information for guiding a finger to contact the upper electrode when the measurement mode is selected in the input unit. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the information for guiding includes an image or a character that induces the finger and the electrode to come into contact with the thumb and index finger. The method according to claim 6,
The display unit includes:
And releases the display of the information for guiding the finger when the finger touches the upper electrode. The method according to claim 6,
When the finger is not brought into contact with the upper electrode within a preset time, displays the error information through the display unit, cancels the display of the guidance information displayed on the display unit, displays the remeasurement message through the display unit Or releases the measurement mode. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is used as an electrostatic touch type switch. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the lower electrode protrudes from the housing for ease of contact with the skin of the wrist. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the upper electrode is transparent. The method according to claim 1,
In the substrate,
Wherein a region where the lower electrode and the upper electrode are directly plugged or an area where the lower electrode and the upper electrode are directly attached are formed. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the lower electrode and the upper electrode are made of a metal,
Wherein the second electrode is disposed in contact with the second body part of the user in response to the contact of the lower electrode and the upper electrode with the first body part of the user. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein an electrical signal is applied to the lower electrode in response to the upper electrode contacting the first body part of the user. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the lower electrode has a shape protruding toward a user's skin direction. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the measuring unit comprises:
The electrocardiogram is operated in at least one of an electrocardiogram measurement mode for measuring an electrocardiogram as the bio-signal, a body composition measurement mode for measuring a body composition as the bio-signal, and a simultaneous measurement mode for simultaneously measuring the electrocardiogram and the body composition, And at least one of the body composition is measured. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the measuring unit comprises:
Based on at least one of whether a current is formed through the electric loop in the right arm and left arm, whether the voltage value in the electric loop is within a predetermined range, and whether the voltage measured in the electric loop is stable, And the accuracy of the posture is judged. In a wearable healthcare device,
Board;
A housing surrounding the substrate and worn by a user;
A lower electrode mounted on the bottom of the housing and contacting the skin of the user;
An upper electrode mounted on a side surface or an upper surface of the housing and contacting the finger of the user; And
A measurement unit for measuring a bio-signal when an electric loop is formed as the finger of the user contacts the electrode,
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is commonly used for at least two of pulse measurement, body composition measurement, and other applications.

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