TWI841634B - A physiological information measuring device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wrist measurement system, comprising: a measurement plane, on which the user places his wrist for measurement; an opening, disposed on the measurement plane; and a sensor, disposed below the opening, which measures the user's physiological information on the user's wrist through the opening, wherein the sensor is used to scan the upper wrist surface in a non-contact manner to determine a measurement position, and to measure the user's physiological information at the measurement position on the wrist surface in a contact manner.

Description

A physiological information measuring device and method thereof

The present invention relates to an electronic device for measuring health data, in particular a portable device for measuring blood pressure.

Nowadays, in the healthcare industry, technologies that combine multiple health tools have become increasingly popular and are gradually being used more widely. In one of the main application areas, many wearable/portable devices are designed to measure users' health data, such as blood pressure, through blood vessels at the wrist. Generally, there are many different solutions for blood pressure measurement, among which wearable/portable devices that use an inflatable cuff on the user's arm/wrist for blood pressure measurement have been widely used. However, pressure sensors with inflatable cuffs are not suitable for long-term wear and are not suitable for continuous measurement due to their large size. In some other applications, the user's blood pressure data can be calculated based on the photoplethysmographic signal measured at the wrist and the electrocardiogram signal measured at another part of the body, such as the chest. However, the accuracy of this measurement method is not high. In addition, it is inconvenient and bulky for the user to carry two sensors placed at different positions on the body to measure the photoplethysmographic signal and the electrocardiogram signal respectively. In order to improve the portability and comfort of wearable/portable devices to continuously measure the user's blood pressure, it is very important to develop a miniaturized wearable/portable device suitable for long-term measurement.

The present invention discloses an electronic sensing device for measuring physiological information of a living being. In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic sensing device includes a sensor assembly, a first driving unit having an electromagnetic structure, and a second driving unit. The first driving unit drives the sensor assembly to scan the skin of the living being in a non-contact manner along a scanning path above the skin of the living being to determine a measurement position. The second driving unit drives the sensor assembly to move toward the skin of the living being based on the measurement position and contact the skin of the living being to measure the physiological information.

101‧‧‧hands

102‧‧‧Equipment

102a‧‧‧Front End

102b‧‧‧Backend

103‧‧‧Wrist

103a‧‧‧Right wrist

103b‧‧‧Left wrist

104‧‧‧Sensor

105‧‧‧Wristband

201a‧‧‧Magnetic components

201b‧‧‧Magnetic components

202‧‧‧Sensory opening

203‧‧‧Opening

204‧‧‧Middle finger

204a‧‧‧Right middle finger

204b‧‧‧Middle finger of left hand

301‧‧‧Arc-shaped opening

302‧‧‧Magnetic components

304‧‧‧Groove

401‧‧‧Arc-shaped opening

402a‧‧‧Magnetic components

402b‧‧‧Magnetic components

403‧‧‧Slope surface

404‧‧‧Supporting components

501a_1‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501a_2‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501a_3‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501a_4‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501b_1‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501b_2‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501b_3‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

501b_4‧‧‧Magnetic sub-block

700‧‧‧Measurement module

701‧‧‧Opening

720A‧‧‧Control unit

720B‧‧‧Control unit

722‧‧‧Lock unit

724‧‧‧Lock the track

826‧‧‧Spring

828‧‧‧Drive unit

910a‧‧‧Arc scanning path

910b‧‧‧Arc scanning path

920‧‧‧Original location

930a‧‧‧First initial sensing position

930b‧‧‧Second initial sensing position

940a‧‧‧Location

940b‧‧‧Location

950‧‧‧arrow

960‧‧‧Center

1001‧‧‧Axis

1002‧‧‧Main boom

1003a‧‧‧Leverage element

1003b‧‧‧Leverage element

1004‧‧‧Mobile platform

1005‧‧‧Arterial pulse location

1006, 1007, 1008... arrows

1010a, 1010b‧‧‧Coupling elements

1101‧‧‧Axis

1102‧‧‧Hanging Arms

1103‧‧‧Leverage Unit

1104‧‧‧Supporting components

1105‧‧‧Spring element

1106‧‧‧Contact components

1107‧‧‧Platform

1108‧‧‧arrow

1109‧‧‧arrow

1110‧‧‧Connecting components

1201‧‧‧Display unit

1202‧‧‧Arm support assembly

1301~1309‧‧‧Steps

1400‧‧‧Dotted frame

1410‧‧‧Piercing

1420, 1430...arrow

1501~1509‧‧‧Steps

θ‧‧‧Initial sensing angle

β‧‧‧Maximum rotation angle

R‧‧‧Rotation radius

Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of the working mode of the portable device for measuring the user's physiological information of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a structural diagram of the measuring wristband of the present invention worn on the user's wrist, which is used for measurements implemented by portable devices.

FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of the wristband of the present invention magnetically coupled to the portable device during the measurement process.

Figures 4a and 4b are respectively the top view and three-dimensional schematic diagrams of the equipment shown in Figure 1.

FIG5 is another embodiment of the present invention, in which an integrated magnetic component used in a wristband is separated into multiple magnetic modules.

Figures 6A and 6B depict the indicator symbols on the wristband of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a measurement module 700 of a measurement device in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG8 shows a locking mechanism for locking the wristband to the device during operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the sensor used in the present invention for detecting physiological information on the user's wrist in working mode.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the mechanical structure of the device sensor of the present invention.

Figures 11A-11B are schematic diagrams of another mechanical structure of the device sensor of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the portable device and its surrounding components of the present invention for measuring the user's physiological information.

Figure 13 is a workflow diagram of a portable device for measuring a user's physiological information according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an example of the detailed mechanical structure between the lever element, the contact element and the support element in the mechanical structure of the sensor in FIG. 11A-11B of the present invention. A flow chart for applying an electronic sensing device to a user is described.

Figure 15 is a flowchart of the portable device used to measure the user's physiological information.

In order to provide a deeper understanding of the purpose, structural features and functions of the present invention, the following detailed description is provided with reference to the relevant embodiments and diagrams:

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, each of which is provided by way of explanation of the invention, rather than limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made in the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, in the following description, many specific details (such as specific configurations, dimensions, and processes, etc.) are described in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it should be understood that the various elements of the described invention can be combined and/or implemented in a variety of forms other than those described herein. Specifically, the modules and components are described in specific combinations with respect to some of the examples provided below. However, other combinations are possible, which can be achieved by adding, removing, and/or rearranging modules to obtain a device or system with the desired characteristics. In view of the above background, the subject matter of the present invention is to provide a wearable device for monitoring the health status of a user.

In one embodiment, the portable device for health care includes, but is not limited to, a wrist measurement device for measuring the user's health data at the user's wrist, for example, measuring one or more physiological waveform signals to detect heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and/or mental stress. The wrist mentioned here may represent, but is not limited to, the wrist, ankle, and/or neck. In a preferred embodiment, the portable device is mainly used to measure blood pressure at the artery of the wrist.

1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of the working mode of the portable device for measuring the physiological information of the user of the present invention. In one embodiment, during operation, when the user places a hand 101 on the device 102 to measure his physiological information, the palm side of his wrist 103 will face the direction of the sensor 104 (represented by a dotted line because it is placed inside the device) integrated in the portable device 102. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor 104 is integrated by a plurality of sub-sensors, such as, but not limited to, an optical sensor for detecting the physiological information of the user in a non-contact mode and a pressure sensor for detecting the physiological information of the user in a contact mode. In still a preferred embodiment, when the wrist 103 is placed on the device 102 as shown in FIG. 1 , the sensor 104 will be located below the wrist 103. In this case, the user will feel more comfortable, relaxed and natural during the entire measurement process. In addition, in order to fully expose the palm side of the wrist 103 to the measurement range of the sensor 104 and to have sufficient tension at the wrist, the device 102 is designed to have a high front and low back inclination, so that the hand 101 can be placed on the higher front end 102a of the device and the wrist 103 can be placed on the lower back end 102b of the device. In this case, the palm skin surface of the wrist 103 will be tightened toward the measurement surface of the device, thereby facilitating the detection of physiological signals at the wrist 103.

In one embodiment, a component may be added to the user to reduce the user's movement during the measurement process, in particular to limit the movement of the wrist on the device 102, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the measurement. In a preferred embodiment, before the measurement, the user will wear a wristband 105 on the wrist 103 to fix the wrist 103 on the sensing surface of the device 102 to prevent the wrist 103 from moving during the measurement process, even if it is only a small movement. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the measurement wristband worn on the user's wrist of the present invention, which is used for the measurement implemented by the portable device. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, two sets of magnetic components 201a and 201b are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the wristband 105. A sensing opening 202 is provided between the two sets of magnetic components 201a and 201b to define the sensing area of the wrist 103. In one embodiment, the sensing opening 202 is rectangular and the edge of one side is aligned with the middle of the magnetic components 201a and 201b, and the edge of the other side is close to the edge of the wristband 105. Of course, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the shape of the opening can have other application structures as long as the need to define the sensing area of the wrist 103 is met. In a preferred embodiment, in order to properly wear the wristband 105 on the wrist 103 for physiological detection, the middle of the magnetic component 201a will be aligned with the middle finger 204 when the wristband 105 is worn on the wrist, as shown by the dotted arrow. By properly wearing the wristband 105 on the wrist 103, when the wrist 103 is placed on the device 102 for measurement, the target wrist surface under which the arterial pulse is located will be exposed to the measurement range of the sensor 104 through the sensing opening 202. Thus, the sensor 104 can detect the user's physiological information at the target wrist surface. Optionally, another opening 203 can be opened on the wristband 105 opposite to the sensing opening 202, so that when the user wears the wristband 105 on the wrist 103, the ulnar protuberance on the wrist will protrude through the sensing opening 202, so that the user will feel more comfortable.

During operation, when the wrist is placed on the lower rear end 102b for measurement, the magnetic components 201a and 201b will be tightly coupled to the sensing surface of the device 102 due to the magnetic attraction between the magnetic components 201a/201b and the sensing surface. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wristband of the present invention magnetically coupled to the portable device during the measurement process. In one embodiment, a groove 304 is provided in the middle of the rear end 102b to hold the wrist. An arc-shaped opening 301 is provided transversely at a suitable position on the surface of the groove. The sensor 104 is disposed below the arc-shaped opening 301. Another magnetic component 302 is disposed near the arc-shaped opening 301, for example, at the bottom of the arc-shaped opening 301 or along the arc-shaped side of the arc-shaped opening 301. When the user places the wrist 103 on the device 102 for measurement as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the magnetic components 201a and 201b of the wristband 105 will be coupled to the magnetic component 302. With this configuration, the wrist 103 will be placed in the groove 304 and the wristband 105 will be tightly coupled to the arc opening 301 due to the magnetic attraction between the magnetic components 201a/201b and 302. In this case, the wrist 103 will be fixed on the device 102 during the measurement without undesired displacement. The skin surface of the wrist 103 will be exposed to the sensing area of the sensor 104 through the sensing opening 202 and the arc opening 301 aligned with each other. Thereafter, the sensor 104 will pass through the sensing opening 202 and the arc opening 301 to detect the user's physiological information at the wrist. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 will scan the exposed area of the wrist 103 defined by the sensing opening 202 along the preset path defined by the arc opening 301, thereby searching for an optimal position near the arterial pulse and detecting the user's physiological signals at the optimal position. Although the embodiments throughout the text mainly describe how the device 102 detects the optimal position near the arterial pulse and measures the physiological signals at the optimal position, the device is also applicable to different embodiments, in which the device can be used to detect the optimal position near other blood vessels to measure the corresponding physiological signals. A person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the above embodiment is only an illustrative example. In one embodiment, the magnetic component 302 is a magnet and the components 201a/201b are metal materials (such as iron) that can attract the magnet, or vice versa. In another embodiment, the magnetic components 302 and 201a/201b are magnets that can attract each other. In addition, the structure and peripheral design surrounding the wristband 105 and the arc-shaped opening 301 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3, but can be modified accordingly according to different needs.

Figures 4a and 4b are respectively a top view and a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the device shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 4a/4b, a groove 404 is provided in the middle of the rear end 102b of the device 102 to support the wrist 103. A housing-shaped opening 401 is opened horizontally along the cross section of the groove 404, which is perpendicular to the direction of the arm. Two magnetic components 402a and 402b are placed at the bottom of the arc-shaped opening 401. When the user puts his hand on the device for measurement, the wrist 103 can be placed in the groove 404 and the magnetic components 201a and 201b of the wristband 105 are coupled with the magnetic components 402a and 402b of the arc-shaped opening 401 on the groove, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the configuration of the magnetic components 402a and 402b is precisely designed so that when the magnetic components 201a and 201b are coupled with the magnetic components 402a and 402b, the sensing opening 202 of the wristband 105 will be precisely aligned with the arc opening 401 of the device 102, thereby providing sufficient measurement space for the sensor 104 to detect the pulse position and detect physiological signals at the pulse position. In addition, there is a sloped surface 403 between the higher front end 102a and the lower rear end 102b, which can form a buffer between the hand 101 and the wrist 103, thereby improving the user experience.

In an alternative embodiment, the front end 102a of the device 102 is movable relative to the main body of the device 102 to adapt to the length of the user's arm of different sizes. During operation, when the user wears the wristband 105 and is ready to place the arm on the device 102, the user adjusts the position of the front end 102a by extending the front end 102a outward from the main body of the device 102 or retracting it into the main body of the device to find the most comfortable position for the user to place the arm.

In addition, the shape and configuration of the magnetic components 201a/201b and 302 are not limited to the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3. In an alternative example, such as shown in Figure 5, a whole magnetic component 201a can be divided into a plurality of magnetic sub-blocks, for example, divided into four blocks 501a_1, 501a_2, 501a_3 and 501a_4, distributed along one side of the wristband 105. Similarly, a whole magnetic component 201b can be divided into a plurality of magnetic sub-blocks, for example, divided into four blocks 501b_1, 501b_2, 501b_3 and 501b_4, distributed along the other side of the wristband 105. In a particular embodiment, a plurality of magnetic sub-blocks 501a_1, 501a_2, 501a_3 and 501a_4 are evenly distributed along one side of the wristband 105, and a plurality of magnetic sub-blocks 501b_1, 501b_2, 501b_3 and 501b_4 are evenly distributed along the other side of the wristband 105, as shown in the example of FIG5. With this configuration, an enhanced magnetic force can be generated in a wide range along both sides of the wristband, so that the wrist 103 wearing the wristband 105 can be more tightly and stably coupled with the device 102. In addition, such a separation configuration allows the wristband 105 to be bent more smoothly, so that the user can wear the wristband 105 on the wrist more easily. Accordingly, the configuration of the magnetic component 302 on the device 103 will be modified accordingly to match the separated configuration of the magnetic components 201a/201b. In another embodiment, only one side of the wristband 105 is configured with a magnetic component, whether a single piece or multiple pieces, to couple the wrist 103 to the device 102. Therefore, the configuration of the magnetic component 302 on the device 102 will be changed accordingly to adapt to the magnetic component structure set on one side of the wristband 105.

In one embodiment, the user can place his arbitrary hand on the device 102 to measure the physiological signal of the user, for example, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. The wristband 105 is also designed to be worn on any wrist. In one embodiment, an indicator is marked on the wristband 105 to help the user to wear the wristband 105 properly on the left wrist or right wrist. As described in Fig. 6 A and 6B, the indicator is marked on the magnetic components 201a and 201b of the wristband 105. In one embodiment, the indicator includes a letter identification and an arrow identification next to the letter identification, wherein the letter identification is used to indicate which wrist (left wrist or right wrist) is specifically involved, and the arrow identification is used to indicate how to wear the wristband 105 in a suitable manner on the current wrist mentioned by the corresponding letter identification. When the user wears the wristband 105 on the right wrist 103a, the arrow mark next to the letter mark "R", for example, marked on the magnetic component 201a, will point to the right middle finger 204a. As a result, the sensing opening 202 will cover a specific area of the right wrist 103a, which is located above the right wrist arterial pulse. In other words, when the wristband 105 is properly worn on the right wrist 103a according to the indicator symbol, the specific area above the arterial pulse will be exposed through the sensing opening 202. When the user wears the wristband 105 on the left wrist 103b, the arrow mark next to the letter mark "L", for example, marked on the magnetic component 201b, will point to the left middle finger 204b. Thus, the sensing opening 202 will cover a specific area of the left wrist 103b, which is located above the left wrist artery pulse.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the indicator symbols may have other patterns and/or may be marked at any position of the wristband 105, as long as they can help the user to wear the wristband properly, and are not limited to the embodiments listed in Figures 6A and 6B.

Fig. 7 is a measurement module 700 of a measurement device in another embodiment of the present invention. In a typical embodiment, the measurement module 700 is arranged at the rear end of the measurement device, for example, the rear end 102b of the measurement device 102. When the user places the wrist on the device, the wrist will be coupled to the measurement module 700 to perform the measurement operation. In more detail, the measurement module 700 includes an opening 701. When the user places the wrist on the device and is coupled to the opening 701, the sensor 104 can detect the physiological information of the user on the wrist through the opening 701. In an embodiment, the user will wear a wristband on the wrist during the measurement process. A locking mechanism is provided on at least one side of the opening 701 to fix the wristband to the opening 701. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one control unit 720A is used to control the locking tongue unit 722 disposed in the locking track 724. By controlling the control unit 720A, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 exemplarily, the control unit 720A is pressed from state A to state B, and the locking tongue unit 722 will move along the locking track 724 to lock the wristband. In an alternative embodiment, the measurement module 700 includes two control units 720A and 720B to control the state of the locking tongue unit 722. Thus, when the user puts any wrist (left or right wrist) on the device for measurement, the user's other hand can press the closer one of the control units 720A and 720B for easy operation.

FIG8 is a locking mechanism for locking a wristband to a device during operation of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG8 will be described in conjunction with FIG7 for ease of understanding. As shown in FIG8, the bolt unit 722 can move in the locking track 724. A driver including a spring 826 and a driving unit 828 is coupled to the bolt unit 722 to drive the bolt unit 722. More specifically, the driving unit 828 matches the bolt unit 722 to drive the bolt unit 722 to move along the locking track 724. In one embodiment, when the control unit 720A and/or the control unit 720B is pressed from state A to state B, the driving unit 828 can be driven to control the bolt unit 722 to move in the locking track 724. In addition, the spring 826 is further coupled to the driving unit 828. When the control unit 720A and/or the control unit 720B is pressed from state A to state B and the driving unit 828 moves with the bolt unit 722 from an original position, such as the right side in state A, to a target position, such as the left side in state B, a restoring force will be generated on the driving unit 828 due to the action of the spring 826. As shown in state B, the movement of the driving unit 826 causes the spring 826 to deform, thereby providing a restoring force to the driving unit 828.

In state B, when the locking tongue unit 722 is driven to move to the target position, the user places the wrist with the wristband on the device and couples the wristband with the opening 701 of the measurement module 700. When the control unit 720A and/or the control unit 720B releases the control, the driving unit 828 will return to the original position under the action of the restoring force. As a result, the locking tongue unit 722 is also driven to return to the initial position to lock the wristband. Therefore, the wrist will be fixed at the opening 701 to stabilize its measurement. Thereafter, the sensor 104 will start to sense the user's physiological information through the opening 701 in the sensing area defined by the wristband.

The mechanism for limiting the movement of the user's wrist on the device is not limited to the embodiments listed above. Other solutions may be used as long as the corresponding restriction requirements are met, such as applying an inflatable cuff behind the wrist to limit the movement of the wrist, or coupling the user's arm to a fixed component to control the movement of the arm during the measurement process.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the sensor of the present invention for detecting physiological information on the wrist of the user in the working mode. For the convenience of explanation, the cross-sectional viewing angle of the device 102 is the direction of looking from the rear 102b to the front 102a. In an initial state, the sensor 104 will stop at the original position 920, for example, the middle position of the arc opening 401. Optionally, the sensor 104 can stop in an original area around the original position 920 as shown in FIG. 9. When the user puts the wrist on the device 102 to detect its physiological signal at the wrist, the user will first set the initial sensing state of the sensor 104. In one embodiment, the user will move the sensor 104 to the first initial sensing position 930a or the second initial sensing position 930b according to which wrist (left wrist or right wrist) the device is placed. In one embodiment, if the user places the left wrist on the device 102, the sensor 104 will be moved to the first initial sensing position 930a, and if the user places the right wrist on the device 102, the sensor 104 will be moved to the second initial sensing position 930b, and vice versa. In one embodiment, the user can set the initial sensing state of the sensor 104 by pressing a control button set on the device 102, or rotating a knob or by other mechanical means. In another embodiment, the user will move the sensor 104 to the first or second initial sensing position by hand. In still another embodiment, the user will set the initial sensing position of the sensor 104 by wireless control.

When the sensor 104 is moved to an initial sensing position (the first initial sensing position will be used as an example in the following description), the sensor 104 begins to scan the target skin surface of the corresponding wrist to detect an optimal position above the arterial pulse. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 is set to move along a predetermined route above the skin. As shown in FIG. 9 , the sensor 104 scans the wrist along a predetermined route through the arc opening 401. For example, if the left wrist is placed on the device 102, the sensor scans the wrist along an arc scanning path 910a within the first sensing range, or if the right wrist is placed on the device 102, the sensor scans the wrist along an arc scanning path 910b within the second sensing range, and vice versa. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 , the sensor 104 rotates around a predetermined center 960 within the first or second sensing range to scan the wrist surface along a predetermined route, such as an arc scanning path 910a and/or 910b. The rotation radius R of the sensor 104 is preset to be within a range of 40-60 mm. The initial sensing angle θ of the original position 920 and the first/second initial sensing position relative to the center 960 is preset to be within a range of 10-20 degrees. The maximum rotation angle β of the sensor 104 within the first or second sensing range is preset to be within a range of 20-40 degrees. The effective first or second sensing range of the sensor 104 on the wrist surface will be within a range of 10-30 mm.

However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the above-mentioned embodiments listed in FIG. 9 are only exemplary. The original position 920, the first initial sensing position 930a, the first sensing area, the second initial sensing position 930b and/or the second sensing area are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be changed to other available positions if necessary. For example, in an optional embodiment, the sensor 104 can move forward or backward arbitrarily within the first or second sensing range to scan the wrist surface. If the first/second initial sensing position of the sensor 104 is set to the position 940a/940b shown in FIG. 9, the sensor 104 will move backward along the preset arc scanning path 910a/910b within the corresponding sensing range, or even move back and forth multiple times to find the target position more accurately. In an alternative embodiment, the initial sensing position is set to the original position 920. The sensor 104 starts from the original position and scans the wrist surface back and forth in the arc opening 401 to find the target position. In addition, the rotation radius R, the initial sensing angle θ, the maximum rotation angle β, and the effective sensing range can be further adjusted according to different needs or conditions.

In one embodiment, during the scanning process, the sensor 104 can scan the skin surface of the wrist by emitting light to the skin surface of the wrist and detecting the light reflected back from the skin surface, and determine an optimal position based on the detection light, where the arterial pulse signal is the strongest. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 104 scans the skin surface non-contactly (i.e., there is no physical contact) by emitting and detecting other wireless signals, such as nuclear magnetic resonance signals or X-ray signals. In still another alternative embodiment, the sensor 104 scans the skin surface in a contact manner by emitting and detecting ultrasound signals or other mechanical wave signals. Thereafter, the sensor 104 will measure the user's physiological signals at the determined optimal wrist position. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 applies pressure to the skin surface of the wrist at the determined optimal position and measures the pressure signal returned by the wrist to detect physiological signals, such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and/or blood oxygen saturation. In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG9 , after the sensor 104 determines the pulse position of the wrist, the sensor 104 is controlled to move toward the preset center 960 at the determined pulse position, as shown by arrow 950, until it contacts and further presses the skin surface of the wrist. Of course, the direction of arrow 950 is not limited to the example shown in FIG9 , but can be appropriately adjusted according to different needs. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor detects physiological signals in a non-contact manner (i.e., without physical contact) by emitting wireless signals, such as light signals, toward the surface of the wrist at an optimal position and detecting the wireless signals reflected back from the wrist. In other words, the sensor 104 can also detect the user's physiological signals optically.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the mechanical structure of the device sensor of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10 , a moving platform 1004 supports the sensor 104. The moving platform is mechanically connected to the main suspension arm 1002 through two lever elements 1003a and 1003b. During operation, the main suspension arm 1002 can rotate around the axis 1001, so that the sensor 104 moves along a preset arc path to scan the wrist surface to detect the arterial pulse position. The direction of the arc path, such as the arc path within the first/second sensing range shown in FIG. 9, is substantially perpendicular to the blood vessel direction of the wrist. In one embodiment, a stepper motor with high control accuracy can be used to control the rotation of the main suspension arm 1002 around the axis 1001. For example, the minimum moving distance of the sensor 104 driven by the main suspension arm 1002 can be controlled to within 0.1 mm.

After the arterial pulse position 1005 is determined by scanning, the control sensor 104 is moved toward the wrist at the determined arterial pulse position 1005 until it contacts and further presses (optionally) the wrist surface to measure physiological signals. In one embodiment, the lever element 1003a/1003b can rotate along the coupling elements 1010a and 1010b between the main suspension 1002 and the lever element 1003a/1003b, as shown by arrow 1008. Therefore, when the lever element 1003a is pressed along the direction indicated by an arrow 1006, the lever elements 1003a and 1003b will rotate around the coupling elements 1010a and 1010b, thereby driving the mobile platform 1004 and the sensor 104 to move toward the wrist along the direction indicated by the arrow 1007, which is substantially opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 1006. The arrow direction in the figure only roughly shows the moving direction of the sensor 104, and the actual moving direction is not limited to the direction indicated by the arrow 1007. In addition, the dotted line portion in FIG. 10 can clearly show the situation that the sensor moves toward the wrist. As can be seen from the dotted line and arrow 1007, the sensor 104 will move in a slightly tilted direction during the movement toward the wrist, and the final contact position of the sensor 104 on the wrist will slightly deviate from the predetermined arterial pulse position 1005. However, since the slight deviation occurs along the arterial direction and is within the error tolerance range, the deviation will not affect the measurement accuracy.

11A-11B are schematic diagrams of another mechanical structure of the device sensor of the present invention. As shown in FIG11A , the sensor 104 is placed on a platform 1107 and supported by a support element 1104 passing through the platform 1107. The support element 1104 can move freely in the hole of the platform 1107 to drive the sensor 104 away from or toward the platform 1107. In addition, a lever unit 1103 is coupled to the platform 1107 through a connecting element 1110, such as a screw, and can rotate around the connecting element 1110. A contact element 1106 is disposed in the lever unit 1103, for example, a baffle is coupled on both sides of the lever unit 1103. The support element 1104 will be aligned with the contact element 1106. When the lever unit 1103 rotates relative to the platform 1107 in the direction indicated by an arrow 1108, the contact element 1106 will follow the support element 1104 and push the support element 1104 to move up and down through the opening of the platform 1107, thereby driving the sensor 104 to leave the platform 1107 and move toward the wrist, as shown in FIG. 11B.

FIG14 shows the detailed mechanical structure between the lever unit 1103, the contact element 1106 and the support element 1104 shown in the elliptical dotted frame 1400 in FIG11A. As shown in FIG14, the contact element 1106 has a semi-circular or semi-circular structure, at least the top surface thereof is a plane to be loosely coupled with the support unit 1104, and at least the side surface or bottom surface thereof is an arc to be coupled with the through hole 1410 of the lever unit 1103. The lever unit 1103 and its through hole 1410 are symbolically expressed by dotted lines, and their actual shapes are not limited to the examples shown here. When the lever unit 1103 rotates relative to the platform 1107 along the direction indicated by the arrow 1430, such as the rotation from state 1 to state 2, the contact element 1106 will rotate in the through hole 1410 due to the curved side or bottom surface, thereby keeping the top plane always in the horizontal plane. During the rotation process of the lever unit 1103 from state 1 to state 2, the contact element 1106 will move up and down at the same time. During the transition process from state 1 to state 2, since the top plane of the contact element is always kept horizontal, the support element 1104 will move slightly along the plane of the contact element 1106, as indicated by the arrow 1420. Therefore, during the operation of transitioning from state 1 to state 2, the support element 1104 together with the sensor 104 will not move forward together with the abutment element 1106, thereby preventing the sensor 104 from deviating from the determined optimal position.

In one embodiment, a spring element 1105 is coupled between the sensor 104 and the platform 1107. When the sensor 104 leaves the platform 1107 as shown in FIG. 11B , the spring element 1105 will provide a restoring force to the sensor 104. When the lever unit 1103 returns to the initial position as shown by the arrow 1109 in FIG. 11B and the contact element 1106 no longer abuts against the supporting element 1104, the sensor 104 will be pulled back to the platform due to the restoring force generated by the spring element 1105.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the mechanical design between the lever unit 1103, the contact element 1106 and the support element 1104 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but can have different structures as long as it meets the requirement of driving the support element 1104 and the sensor 104 to move toward the wrist without rotation and displacement. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the support element 1104 is combined with the contact element 1106. When the lever unit 1103 rotates from state 1 to state 2, an additional mechanical element will be used to prevent the contact element 1106 and the support element 1104 from being displaced along the wrist direction.

In addition, the platform 1107 is coupled to the cantilever 1102, which can rotate relative to a pivot 1101. In one embodiment, a motor, such as a stepper motor, is used to control the rotation of the cantilever 1102 around the pivot 1101 with high precision. For example, the minimum movement distance of the sensor 104 driven by the cantilever 1102 can be controlled within 0.1 mm. During operation, when the cantilever 1102 rotates around the pivot 1101, the corresponding platform 1107 will swing under the wrist, thereby carrying the sensor 104 along a preset arc route substantially perpendicular to the direction of the wrist artery to scan the wrist surface and detect the arterial pulse position. After the arterial pulse position 1005 is determined, the sensor 104 is driven to move toward the wrist at the determined position according to the above-mentioned mechanical method until it contacts and presses (optionally) the wrist skin for measurement.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the mechanical design of the sensor 104 shown in FIGS. 10 , 11A and 11B is merely an exemplary example. The sensor 104 may have different mechanical structures as long as the above-mentioned measurement function requirements are met, and is not limited to the embodiments listed in FIGS. 10 , 11A and 11B. Alternatively, the main cantilever 1002 may be controlled by another motor to move along the axis 1001. In this configuration, the sensor 104 may be driven to move along the arterial direction of the wrist during the measurement process, thereby compensating for the offset generated by the self-determined arterial pulse position 1005 when the sensor 104 moves toward the wrist. In addition, by driving the sensor 104 to move in three directions, including moving along the wrist artery, moving across the wrist artery, and moving toward the surface of the wrist, the sensor 104 can move more freely, thereby sensing the user's physiological information at multiple locations using multiple different pressures, thereby fine-tuning the determined arterial pulse position 1005 to achieve a more accurate measurement result.

In an optional embodiment, peripheral components may be added to improve user experience and device performance. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the portable device of the present invention and its peripheral components for measuring the physiological information of the user. FIG. 12 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 12, a display unit 1201 is added to the front of the device 102 to display the measurement results and other instructions of the user. The display angle of the display unit 1201 is adjustable to meet the needs of different users. In addition, an arm support component 1202 is added to the tail end of the device 102, which can be used to support the arm when the user puts the wrist on the device 102. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the structure of the display unit 1201 and the arm support component 1202 can be changed to other forms, not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, as long as it meets the functions described. For example, the display unit 1201 may be integrated into the device 102 and placed on the top of the device 102. Alternatively, the display unit 1201 may be separated from the device 102 and attached to the device only when necessary.

FIG. 13 is a workflow diagram of a portable device for measuring physiological information of a user according to the present invention. FIG. 13 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, FIG. 4A-B, and FIG. 6A-B for ease of understanding. As shown in FIG. 13, first in step 1301, the user will wear a measuring wristband, such as the wristband 105 described in FIG. 1-6, on the wrist 103. In one embodiment, when the user wears the wristband 105 correctly on the wrist 103, the center of the magnetic assembly 201a will be aligned with the middle finger, as shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. 2. In a more specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the user will wear the wristband 105 according to the indicator of the wristband 105. In FIG. 6A , when the user wears the wristband 105 on the right wrist 103a, the arrow symbol next to the letter symbol "R" will point to the middle finger direction of the right hand. In this way, the sensing opening 202 will be located above the arterial pulse position of the right wrist 103a. In FIG. 6B , when the user wears the wristband 105 on the left wrist 103b, the arrow symbol next to the letter symbol "L" will point to the middle finger direction of the left hand. In this way, the sensing opening 202 will be located above the arterial pulse position of the left wrist 103a.

In step 1302, the user places his wrist 103 on the device 102 and couples the wristband 105 to the device 102. During operation, the user places the wrist 103 with the wristband 105 on the lower portion 102b of the device 102, wherein the wrist 103 is placed in the groove 404 and the wristband 105 is coupled to the arc opening 401, as shown in the example of Figures 4A-B. In addition, the user can place the hand 101 on the front end 102a of the device 102 in a comfortable manner. In step 1303, the device 102 is preset according to which wrist (left wrist or right wrist) is placed on the device 102. In the embodiment described in Figure 9, if the left wrist is placed on the device 102, the sensor 104 is set to the first initial sensing position in the first sensing area. If the right wrist is placed on the device 102, the sensor 104 is set at the second initial sensing position in the second sensing area. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are only used for illustration, and the above rules can be changed to other methods as long as they meet the requirements of being applicable to either the left hand or the right hand. In step 1304, the sensor 104 begins to scan the skin area on the wrist 103 defined by the opening 202 along a preset path. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 scans the skin surface of the wrist 103 by emitting a light signal to the skin surface and detecting the light signal reflected back from the skin surface.

In step 1305, based on the scanning result, the sensor 104 analyzes the detected light signal and determines an optimal position on the skin surface of the wrist 103 for further measurement. In step 1306, the sensor 104 measures the user's physiological signals at the determined optimal position. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 is first controlled to move toward the wrist 103 at the determined optimal position until it contacts and presses the wrist skin surface. In a preferred embodiment, an optimal pressure is used to control the sensor 104 to press the skin surface of the wrist to fine-tune the measurement direction and measure the lateral pressure signal generated by the blood vessel wall under the wrist surface. Based on the measured pressure signal, the sensor 104 can determine the user's physiological information, such as blood pressure, pulse rate, blood oxygen content, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 104 can use an optical method to detect the user's physiological information at the optimal position. More specifically, the sensor 104 will emit a light signal toward the wrist surface at the optimal position and detect the optical signal that passes through the wrist surface and is reflected back by the artery under the wrist surface. Based on the detected optical signal, the sensor 104 can measure the user's physiological information, such as blood pressure, pulse rate, blood oxygen content, etc.

In step 1307, if it is decided to continue the measurement, the operation goes to step 1308 to determine whether another scan is required. If another scan is required, the operation will go to step 1304 to perform the next round of scanning and measurement operations. If not, the operation will return to step 1306 to perform the next round of measurement operations. In step 1307, if it is decided to stop the measurement, the operation goes to step 1309. In step 1309, the measurement results are output and/or displayed to the user for further operation.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the portable device for measuring the physiological information of the user according to the present invention. FIG. 15 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, FIG. 4A-B, and FIG. 6A-B for understanding. The steps in FIG. 15 that have similar embodiments to the steps in FIG. 13 will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 15, in step 1501, the user places the wrist on the device, wherein the sensor 104 is located below the wrist. In one embodiment, the skin surface of the wrist will be exposed to the sensing area of the sensor 104 through an opening of the device, such as the arc-shaped opening 401 in FIG. 4a-4b. In an optional embodiment, the wrist will be appropriately coupled to the device via an additional component to limit the movement of the wrist. In step 1502, the device 102 is preset according to which wrist (left wrist or right wrist) the device 102 is placed on. In an alternative embodiment, this step may be omitted. In step 1503, the sensor 104 is driven to scan the skin area of the wrist along a preset path under the wrist. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 is driven to swing under the wrist to scan the skin area of the wrist through the arc opening 401 of the device.

In step 1504, the sensor 104 determines an optimal position in the skin area of the wrist based on the scanning result. In step 1505, the sensor is driven to move upward at the optimal position until it touches the skin area of the wrist. In step 1506, the sensor 104 will detect the vital signs of the user on the skin surface of the wrist with an optimal contact force. In one embodiment, the sensor 104 adjusts the pressing force while pressing the skin surface of the wrist to find an optimal contact force. In step 1507, if it is decided to continue measuring, the flowchart will go to step 1508 to determine whether it is necessary to scan again. If necessary, the flowchart will return to step 1503 for the next round of scanning and measuring operations. If not necessary, the flowchart will return to step 1506 for the next round of measuring operations. In step 1507, if it is decided to stop measuring, the flowchart will go to step 1509. In step 1509, the measurement results are output and/or displayed to the user for further operation.

Although the present invention has been described above with respect to various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects, and functionalities described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the specific embodiments involved in the description, but rather can be applied alone or in various combinations to one or more of the other embodiments of the present invention, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as part of the described embodiments. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the exemplary embodiments described above, but instead defined by the scope of the patent application presented herein. In summary, the above only records the implementation methods or embodiments of the technical means adopted by the present invention to solve the problem, and is not used to limit the scope of the patent implementation of the present invention. That is, all changes and modifications that are consistent with the meaning of the patent application scope of this creation, or that are equivalent to the patent scope of this creation, are covered by the patent scope of this creation.

102a‧‧‧Front End

102b‧‧‧Backend

401‧‧‧Arc-shaped opening

402a‧‧‧Magnetic components

402b‧‧‧Magnetic components

403‧‧‧Slope surface

404‧‧‧Supporting components

Claims (21)

A wrist measurement system includes: a measurement plane, on which a user places his wrist for measurement; an opening, which is arranged on the measurement plane; and a sensor, which is arranged below the measurement plane and measures the user's physiological information on the user's wrist through the opening, wherein the sensor is used to scan the upper wrist surface along a scanning path under the wrist in a non-contact manner to determine a measurement position, and move upward to contact the wrist surface at the measurement position through the opening to measure the physiological information of the user in a contact manner. The method measures the physiological information of the user; wherein, it further includes a wristband, which is worn on the user's wrist and coupled with the opening during the measurement process; wherein, the wristband is coupled with the opening through a magnetic field effect or a locking mechanism; wherein, the wristband further includes a sensing opening, when the wristband is worn on the user's wrist, the sensing opening is used to define a sensing area of the wrist wherein, one or more indicator symbols are marked on the wristband to guide the user to appropriately wear the wristband on at least one of the left wrist or the right wrist. A wrist measurement system as described in Item 1 of the patent application, wherein a plurality of magnetic components are arranged along at least one side of the wristband to fix the wristband at the opening. The wrist measurement system as described in item 1 of the patent application further includes a latch unit disposed on at least one side of the opening to lock the wristband when the wristband is coupled to the opening, and at least one control unit to control the locking state of the latch unit. A wrist measurement system as described in Item 1 of the patent application, wherein the measurement plane has a front portion and a rear portion lower than the front portion. A wrist measurement system as described in Item 4 of the patent application, wherein there is an inclined surface between the higher front part and the lower rear part. As described in item 6 of the patent application scope, a wrist measurement system is provided with a groove at the rear of the measurement plane. The wrist measurement system as described in item 1 of the patent application further includes a cantilever, which is coupled to the sensor to drive the sensor to scan the wrist surface along a scanning path perpendicular to the blood vessel direction. A wrist measurement system as described in item 7 of the patent application, wherein the cantilever rotates around an axis and the sensor is disposed at one end of the cantilever. The wrist measurement system as described in Item 7 of the patent application further includes at least one lever element coupled between the suspension arm and the sensor, wherein the lever element can rotate relative to the suspension arm to press the sensor toward the wrist. The wrist measurement system as described in Item 7 of the patent application further includes a lever unit coupled to the suspension arm, which can rotate relative to the suspension arm to lift the active sensor disposed at one end of the suspension arm toward the wrist. The wrist measurement system as described in Item 1 of the patent application further includes an arm support assembly to support the user's arm. The wrist measurement system as described in Item 1 of the patent application further includes a display base to support a display unit for displaying the measurement results to the user. A wrist measurement system as described in item 1 of the patent application, wherein the sensor scans the wrist surface along a corresponding preset path based on which side of the wrist is placed on the measurement plane. A wrist measurement system as described in Item 13 of the patent application, wherein an initial sensing position of the sensor is preset based on which wrist is placed on the measurement plane, and the wrist surface is scanned from the initial sensing position. A wrist measurement system as described in claim 13, wherein the sensor moves around the wrist from one end to the other within a preset area. A method for measuring physiological information of a user, comprising: driving a sensor under the wrist of the user to scan the skin area of the wrist along a scanning path under the wrist; determining a measurement position on the skin area based on the scanning result; driving the sensor to move upward to contact the skin surface of the user at the measurement position; and using the sensor to detect the physiological information of the user at the measurement position; wherein, it further comprises determining whether the wrist to be measured is the left hand or the right hand, and driving the sensor to scan the user's wrist according to the determination result. The measurement method described in Item 16 of the patent application further includes: determining an optimal contact force of the sensor on the wrist to detect the physiological information. The measurement method described in Item 16 of the patent application further includes: based on which wrist is determined to be the wrist to be measured, the sensor is preset to scan the surface of the wrist from one end to the other along a corresponding preset path. The measurement method described in Item 16 of the patent application further includes: driving the sensor to scan the wrist along a direction perpendicular to the blood vessel. A measurement method as described in claim 19, wherein the sensor is driven to scan around the wrist. A method for using a wrist measurement device to detect physiological information of a user, comprising: wearing a wristband on the user's wrist; placing the wrist on the wrist measurement device and coupling the wristband with an opening of the wrist measurement device; wherein the wristband is coupled with the opening by a magnetic attraction, or the wristband is mechanically locked at the opening by a locking mechanism; a sensor of the wrist measurement device is preset based on which wrist the wrist measurement device is placed on; and starting a measurement of the wrist measurement device; wherein when the left wrist is placed on the wrist measurement device, the sensor is placed at a first initial sensing position, and when the right wrist is placed on the wrist measurement device, the sensor is placed at a second initial sensing position.

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