The disclosure relates in general to a physiological signal monitoring device, and more particular to a physiological signal monitoring apparatus detachably mounted to a living body.
For a conventional physiological signal monitoring device, a sensor needs to be tightly adhered to a user. When the number of categories of physiological signals that the physiological signal monitoring device needs to detect increases, an area of the sensor tightly adhered to a user also increases. Further, in an application scenario where precision is required, e.g., detection of a body surface temperature of a human body, the number of sensors and the covered parts also need to be increased. However, such configuration of sensors inevitably results in user discomfort. Further, if detection of physiological signals is needed for an extended period of time, the above method can cause user inconvenience and discomfort. During a period of rest or sleep of a user, the user may also unconsciously dislocate the sensors, thus failing the goal of detection.
Further, in certain application scenarios, e.g., detection of physiological signals of babies, children and elder persons, these users may become emotional or unwilling if a physiological signal monitoring device provides poor comfort. Therefore, there is a need for a solution that minimizes a contact area between a sensor of a physiological signal monitoring device and a user body while providing enhanced comfort.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a physiological signal monitoring apparatus, which can be detachably mounted on a living body and detect a physiological signal of a user in a manner using a reduced contact area, so as to provide a user with enhanced usage experience.
To achieve at least the above object, the present disclosure provides a physiological signal monitoring apparatus including at least one connection assembly and a physiological signal monitoring device. The connection assembly includes a first connecting body and a second connecting body. The first connecting body and the second connecting body exist in a mutually combined or mutually separated state. The physiological signal monitoring device is detachably combined with a fixing portion through the connection assembly. When the fixing portion is mounted on the living body, the physiological signal monitoring device at least monitors a temperature change and a displacement change of the living body. The physiological signal monitoring device includes at least one engaging member and at least one contact member. A first side of the engaging member at least partially matches with the second connecting body of the connection assembly. The contact member elastically protrudes from an opening of the first side of the engaging member, and is used for temperature sensing. The second connecting body of the connection assembly is used for being fixed at an outer side of a connecting region of the fixing portion, so as to be combined with the first connecting body of the connection assembly. Accordingly, the physiological signal monitoring device can be detachably combined with the fixing portion when the engaging member is detachably connected to the connection assembly. When the fixing portion is mounted on a living body, the contact member is used for being in direct or indirect contact with the living body to perform temperature sensing.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first connecting body of the connection assembly is used for being fixed at an inner side of the connecting region of the fixing portion so as to combine with the second connecting body of the connection assembly. Accordingly, the physiological signal monitoring device becomes combined with the fixing portion when the engaging member is detachably connected to the connection assembly. When the fixing portion is mounted on a living body, the contact member is used for being in direct or indirect contact with the living body to perform temperature sensing.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a first side of the second connecting body of the connection assembly at least partially matches with the first side of the engaging member, and has a hole for the contact member to pass through and to come into direct or indirect contact with the living body to perform temperature sensing.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the physiological signal monitoring device includes a detection module and a monitoring module. The detection module is used for being detachably combined with the fixing portion through the at least one connection assembly, and outputs detection data when in contact with the living body. The detection module includes: a first temperature detecting unit, including the engaging member and the contact member, for detecting in a direction towards the living body a temperature of the living body and accordingly outputting a first temperature signal; and a second temperature detecting unit, for detecting in a direction apart from the living body a temperature of an ambient environment and accordingly outputting a second temperature signal. The monitoring module, coupled to the detection module, at least receives the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal to monitor the temperature change of the living body and to monitor the displacement change of the living body.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the monitoring module includes a displacement sensing unit, a control unit, an output unit, and a wireless transmission unit. The displacement sensing unit detects the displacement change of a body cavity movement of the living body and accordingly generates a displacement signal. The control unit is electrically coupled to the first temperature detecting unit, the second temperature detecting unit, the displacement sensing unit and the output unit. When the control unit detects that the temperature of a living body obtained based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal satisfies a temperature alert criterion, the control unit generates a temperature alert signal. When the control unit detects that the displacement change of the living body obtained based on the displacement signal satisfies a displacement alert criterion, the control unit generates a displacement alert signal. The output unit is electrically coupled to the control unit. The wireless transmission unit, electrically coupled to the control unit, is wirelessly connected to a monitoring terminal device, and transmits temperature data based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal and displacement data based on the displacement signal to the monitoring terminal device.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first temperature detecting unit further includes a temperature sensor and an elastic member. The temperature sensor is provided in the contact member, and outputs the first temperature signal. The elastic member is engaged with a first end portion of the contact member to cause a second end portion of the contact member to protrude from the opening at the first side of the engaging member.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the detection module further comprising a connection housing. The connection housing includes a connecting portion and a plurality of extension portions. The connecting portion at least partially covers an edge of the monitoring module, and is detachably connected to the monitoring module. The extension portions are extended outwards from the connecting portions. The first temperature detecting unit and the second temperature detecting unit are disposed in accommodating spaces in the extension portions, respectively. The extension portions corresponding to the first temperature detecting unit has a first detection opening, which allows the engaging member and the contact member of the first temperature detecting unit to extend from the accommodating space in the extension portion to an exterior of the first detection opening.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the extension portion corresponding to the second temperature detecting unit has a second detection opening, which allows a temperature sensor of the second temperature detecting unit to directly or indirectly sense the temperature of the environment from the second detection opening. The first detection opening faces inwards towards a direction for detecting the temperature of the living body, and the second detection opening faces outwards towards a direction for detecting the temperature of the environment.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting portion has a plurality of connection openings on an inner side of the connecting portion, and the detection module further includes a plurality of connecting ends. The connecting ends are respectively disposed on at least one of the connecting openings and the inner side of the connecting portion. When the connecting portion is detachably connected to the monitoring module, the monitoring module is electrically coupled through the connecting ends to the first temperature detecting unit and the second temperature detecting unit.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the physiological signal monitoring apparatus further includes the fixing portion for mounting on a living body. The fixing portion includes a wearable body, and the connection region is located on the wearable body.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable body of the fixing portion includes and is formed by a cleanable material, and can be independently cleaned when the fixing portion and the physiological signal monitoring device are separated.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable body of the fixing portion is configured to be secured around and close to a surface of the living body in a manner using a crisscross strap or a hook-and-loop fastener, and to further monitor the temperature change and the displacement change of the living body when the physiological signal monitoring device is detachably combined with the fixing portion.
Accordingly, with the above embodiments of the physiological signal monitoring apparatus, the physiological signal monitoring apparatus can be detachably mounted on a living body and detect a physiological signal of a user in a manner using a reduced contact area, providing a user with enhanced usage experience.
To thoroughly understand the objects, characteristics and effects of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is described in detail by the following embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings below.
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For example, a first side of the second connecting body 22 of the connection assembly 20 at least partially matches with the first side of the engaging member 31, and has at least one hole for the contact member 32 to pass through to come into direct or indirect contact with the living body to perform temperature sensing. Further,
In the implementation of any of the above embodiments, the connection assembly may also be implemented in other manners. For example, the connection assembly may include a first connecting body and a second connecting body. The second connecting body has a hole for engaging with the engaging member, and the first connecting body does not have a through hole corresponding to the hole of the second connecting body. Thus, when the first connecting body and the second connecting body are combined at the fixing portion 10, one side of the first connecting body may come into contact with the living body BD. By this example of the connection assembly, given that the engaging member 31 and the contact member 32 of the physiological signal monitoring device 30 are appropriately configured (e.g., by changing the lengths of the two), the engaging member 31 is provided with a securing effect through the second connecting body of the connection assembly, and the contact member 32 can further come into contact with the first connecting body of the connection assembly. Accordingly, the side of the first connecting body that is in contact with the living body BD can be used as a sensing region extended from the contact member 32, wherein the first connecting body is a component of a metal or an electrically conductive or heat conductive material. Furthermore, in other examples based on
The detection module 310 can be detachably combined with the fixing portion 10 through the at least one connection assembly 20, and can output detection data when in contact with a living body. The detection module 310 includes at least one first temperature detecting unit 311 and at least one second temperature detecting unit 312. The first temperature detecting unit 311 includes the engaging member 31 and the contact member 32, and detects a temperature of the living body in a direction towards the living body and accordingly outputs a first temperature signal. The second temperature detecting unit 312 detects a temperature of an ambient environment in a direction apart from the living body and accordingly outputs a second temperature signal.
The monitoring module 320, coupled to the detection module 310, at least receives the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal so as to monitor a temperature change of the living body and to monitor a displacement change of the living body. As shown in
The displacement sensing unit 321 detects a displacement change of a body cavity movement of the living body and accordingly generates a displacement signal. For example, the displacement sensing unit 321 may include an accelerometer or gyroscope.
The control unit 322 is electrically coupled to the first temperature detecting unit 311, the second temperature detecting unit 312, the displacement sensing unit 321 and the output unit 323. When the control unit 322 detects that the temperature of the living body obtained based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal satisfies a temperature alert criterion, the control unit 322 generates a temperature alert signal. When the control unit 322 detects that the displacement change of the living body obtained based on the displacement signal satisfies a displacement alert criterion, the control unit 322 generates a displacement alert signal. For example, the temperature alert criterion is that when the temperature of the living body is greater than an upper temperature threshold, e.g., greater than 38° C., a temperature alert signal is generated, or is that when the temperature of the living body is less than a lower temperature threshold, e.g., less than 37° C., a temperature alert signal is generated. For example, the displacement alert criterion is that when the displacement of the living body is greater than an upper displacement threshold, a displacement alert signal is generated, or is that when the displacement of the living body is less than a lower displacement threshold, a displacement alert signal is generated. For another example, the detection module 310 may include a plurality of first temperature detecting units 311 so as to accordingly obtain a plurality of temperature values representing the living body. Thus, the control unit 322 can obtain an estimated value, a maximum value or a minimum value of the temperature of the living body by using statistical calculation or an average value within a unit of time, so as to determine whether the temperature of the living body is abnormal. Further, for example, the displacement sensing unit 321 may output variations in displacement in three or more axial measurements, and the control unit 322 can represent the displacement value of the living body based on the displacement change in three coordinate axes (e.g., a sum of absolute values or a sum of squares of the displacement changes of the three coordinate axes). However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples.
The output unit 323, electrically coupled to the control unit 322, is a display device such as an LCD, an electronic paper or OLED, and is capable of displaying data such as the detected temperature, environment temperature, displacement, or an alert signal. Alternatively, a user interface may also be used to allow a user to easily operate or configure the physiological signal monitoring device 30.
The wireless transmission unit 324, electrically coupled to the control unit 322, is wirelessly linked to a monitoring terminal device 90 and transmits the temperature data based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal and the displacement data based on the displacement signal to the monitoring terminal device 90, as shown in
Further, the monitoring module 320 may include other components based on requirements, e.g., a memory unit 325 for storing input or output data from other units or an external device, or may be configured to be operable by the monitoring module 320, or, e.g., a wired communication unit such as a USB connection circuit, a power circuit, a rechargeable battery, a solar battery, an alert light or a beeper. Further, for example, one of the monitoring module 320 and the detection module 310 may be provided with other sensors, e.g., a heart rate sensor. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples.
Various implementations of an internal structure of the first temperature detecting unit 311 of the detection module 310 are given with the examples below. As previously described, the first temperature detecting unit 311 includes the engaging member 31 and the contact member 32.
Other implementations of the physiological signal monitoring device 30 will be further exemplified below.
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In some embodiments of the physiological signal monitoring apparatus of the present disclosure, the physiological signal monitoring apparatus may include a fixing portion (e.g., 10 or 10A), and a wearable portion (e.g., 11 or 11A) of the fixing portion includes and is formed by (at least in part or in whole) a cleanable material. For example, when the fixing portion is separated from the physiological signal monitoring device (e.g., 30 or 30A), the fixing portion can be independently cleaned. Further, for example, the wearable body of the fixing portion is configured to be secured around and close to a surface of the living body, e.g., a chest, an abdomen, a hand or other parts, in a manner using a crisscross strap or a hook-and-loop fastener. Thus, the physiological signal monitoring device can be detachably combined with the fixing portion to monitor the temperature change and the displacement change of the living body. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples of the fixing portion. That is, when the physiological signal monitoring apparatus is implemented or sold, the fixing portion may be regarded as an environmental part or an option according to a user's requirement or a specification requirement of a product to be sold.
Further, in the embodiment of the physiological signal monitoring device 30A in
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As described in the various embodiments of the physiological signal monitoring apparatus, the physiological signal monitoring apparatus can be detachably mounted on a living body, and can detect physiological signals of a user in a manner using a reduced contact area by using the contact member that is employed to come into contact with the living body, providing a user with enhance usage experience. For example, when the physiological signal monitoring apparatus is applied for fulfilling detection requirements for babies, children or elder persons, the physiological signal monitoring device provides enhanced comfort as well as enhanced usage experience to a user in a scenario where physiological signals need to be detected for over an extended period of time.
While the disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.