WEARABLE DEVICE CAPABLE OF BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
The present invention provides a wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement, comprising a wrist band assembly, a display unit provided on the wrist band assembly, and a detachable bladder provided on a backside of the wrist band assembly, wherein the wrist band assembly is provided with a micro air pump connected to the detachable bladder, an air pressure sensor provided on a side of the detachable bladder, and a processor connected to the micro air pump and the air pressure sensor, and the processor activates the micro air pump according to a trigger signal in order for the micro air pump to inflate the detachable bladder and for a user's blood pressure parameters to be derived from data sent by the air pressure sensor to the processor.
The present invention relates to a wearable device and more particularly to a wearable device having a blood pressure measuring function.
2. Description of Related Art24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at a fixed time interval contributes significantly to the prevention of hypertension. By measuring a person's blood pressure ambulatorily at regular intervals, errors that sporadic incidents (e.g., an outburst of emotion, drinking, eating, or smoking) may cause to the person's blood pressure measurements can be recorded in real time to facilitate tracking. More importantly, an analysis of the data obtained by monitoring a patient's blood pressure ambulatorily on a regular basis helps reveal the patient's health condition and determine in advance whether the patient is prone to hypertension or prehypertension.
The conventional sphygmomanometer cuffs include a strap and a bladder in the strap and are used in the following manner. To begin with, the strap is wrapped around a person's upper arm, and air is pumped into the bladder to compress, and eventually occlude, the brachial artery in the upper arm. Then, the compression is gradually released, and blood flow in the artery resumes intermittently as the heart keeps throbbing. During the pressurizing and depressurizing process of the cuff, blood pressure in the compressed artery is transmitted to the cuff, and fluctuations of the cuff pressure (i.e., pressure pulses) reflect vibrations of the artery wall (which result from pulsation of the heart). Blood pressure values, therefore, can be determined by measuring the amplitudes of the pressure in the cuff. However, the conventional sphygmomanometer cuffs are not suitable as a daily wearable item because they must be tied around the upper arm. Moreover, the conventional sphygmomanometer cuffs, which are wrapped directly around the upper arm, tend to discomfort their users while being inflated to occlude the blood flow in the upper arm.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne objective of the present invention is to provide a wearable device that not only can measure a user's blood pressure in an ambulatory manner, but also serves as a daily wearable item.
In order to achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement, comprising a wrist band assembly, a display unit provided on the wrist band assembly, and a detachable bladder provided on a backside of the wrist band assembly, wherein the wrist band assembly is provided with a micro air pump connected to the detachable bladder, an air pressure sensor provided on a side of the detachable bladder, and a processor connected to the micro air pump and the air pressure sensor, and the processor activates the micro air pump according to a trigger signal in order for the micro air pump to inflate the detachable bladder and for a user's blood pressure parameters to be derived from data sent by the air pressure sensor to the processor.
Furthermore, the wrist band assembly includes a watch case and a wrist band coupled to the watch case. The detachable bladder is not coupled to the wrist band but is connected to the backside of the watch case by a detachable means.
Furthermore, the detachable bladder includes a hollow bladder body, two bladder wings that extend from the hollow bladder body in two opposite lateral directions respectively, an air delivery hole, and an air pressure detection hole, the latter two of which are provided at the hollow bladder body in such a way that an imaginary line connecting the two holes is parallel/perpendicular to the wrist band.
Furthermore, the bilateral bladder wings of the detachable bladder are each provided with an arcuate supporting plate.
Furthermore, the arcuate supporting plates are integrally formed with the bilateral bladder wings of the detachable bladder.
Furthermore, the watch case is provided therein with a connecting tube. The connecting tube has one end connected to the air outlet of the micro air pump and the opposite end connected to the first tubular base of the watch case. The first tubular base is configured to be inserted by the airtight annular post at the air delivery hole of the hollow bladder body so that the air in the micro air pump can be guided into and thereby inflate the detachable bladder.
Furthermore, the watch case is provided therein with a branch tube in communication with the connecting tube and a pressure relief valve provided at one end of the branch tube. The processor is connected to the pressure relief valve and is configured to trigger and thereby open the pressure relief valve according to another trigger signal, in order to guide the air in the hollow bladder body through the branch tube and the pressure relief valve to a pressure relief hole at the other side of the pressure relief valve.
Furthermore, the watch case is provided with a second tubular base. The air pressure sensor has a probe fixedly placed in the second tubular base, and the probe is inserted into an airtight annular post at an air pressure detection hole of the hollow bladder body in order for the air pressure sensor on the second tubular base to detect air pressure parameters in the hollow bladder body.
Furthermore, the bilaterally extending bladder wings of the detachable bladder extend along the wrist band.
Furthermore, the total length of the detachable bladder is approximately equal to 0.5 to 0.8 times the circumference of the wrist band.
Furthermore, the width of the detachable bladder is approximately equal to 0.4 to 0.6 times the length of the detachable bladder.
Comparing to the conventional techniques, the present invention has the following advantages:
1. The wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention can be put on conveniently for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at a fixed time interval, allowing a physician to determine whether the user has hypertension or prehypertension.
2. The wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention can reduce the discomfort of blood pressure measurement and thereby provide better user experience than its prior art counterparts.
3. The wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention can reduce sensing errors attributable to sweat on the skin as are typical of the conventional optical sensing methods. The wearable device, therefore, is suitable as a personal daily health care device for monitoring the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
4. The wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention is suitable for use in ambulances, emergency rooms, intensive care units, hospital wards, clinics, and other medical institutions, and can be worn by each patient in order for such big data as patients' blood pressures and heart rhythms to be monitored and recorded through the Internet of Things. The wearable device, therefore, has utility value in the medical industry.
5. The bladder and wrist band in the present invention are detachable from each other so that a user can detach either of them as desired and replace it with a wrist band/bladder of a different color, pattern, or shape.
The details and technical solution of the present invention are hereunder described with reference to accompanying drawings. For illustrative sake, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale. The accompanying drawings and the scale thereof are not restrictive of the present invention.
The present invention provides a wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement. The wearable device may be worn on a user's wrist or forearm in order to measure the user's physiological indices in real time or ambulatorily at regular intervals.
It should be pointed out that, while the subject matter of the present invention is a wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement, the wearable device disclosed herein can, in addition to calculating a user's systolic pressure and diastolic pressure by means of an algorithm, derive the user's heart rhythm parameters from the data detected by a sensor and determine whether the user has irregular pulse peaks, irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, or other symptoms according to the heart rhythm parameters obtained and using applicable algorithms.
Furthermore, the wearable device of the present invention can communicate with the user's mobile device through firmware and a wireless transmission means such as Bluetooth, infrared (IR) transmission, near-field communication (NFC), ultra-wideband (UWB), wireless local area networks (WLAN), Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig Alliance) communications technology, ZigBee, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), or Wi-Fi, in order for the mobile device to record the user's physiological data, send out an emergency notification, transmit data to a hospital, or update the firmware of the wearable device. In one preferred embodiment, the wearable device is also provided with a global positioning system (GPS) module, a motion sensor chip, an acceleration sensor, an electronic compass, and so on in order to obtain data about the user's movement and monitor the user's condition in real time based on the data obtained.
Moreover, the wearable device of the present invention can load and be installed with a third-party program in order for the third-party program to expand the functions of the hardware of the wearable device and thereby render the wearable device more useful.
Please refer to
The present invention provides a wearable device 100 that includes a wrist band assembly 10, a display unit 20 provided on the wrist band assembly 10, and a detachable bladder 30 provided on the backside of the wrist band assembly 10. In this embodiment, the wearable device 100 is in the form of a watch, but other than having the shape and functions of a watch, the wearable device 100 may also be implemented as a health bracelet or sports bracelet; the present invention has no limitation in this regard.
In this embodiment, the wrist band assembly 10 includes a watch case 11 and a wrist band 12 coupled to the watch case 11. The detachable bladder 30 is not coupled to the wrist band 12 but is connected to the backside of the watch case 11 by a detachable means. The detachable means may be, for example, riveting, threaded connection, mechanical fastening, mechanical engagement, or other similar mechanisms; the present invention has no limitation in this regard. The phrase “not coupled to the wrist band” indicates that the detachable bladder 30 and the wrist band 12 are two separate components, and that the detachable bladder 30 can be detached from the watch case 11 independently of the wrist band 12. This configuration is different from the typical co-constructed configuration of a conventional sphygmomanometer bladder and the corresponding arm strap (or wrist band). The wrist band assembly 10 is provided with a micro air pump 13, an air pressure sensor 14, and a processor 15.
The watch case 11 is configured to accommodate the micro air pump 13, air pressure sensor 14, processor 15, and display unit 20 installed therein. The air pressure sensor 14, the processor 15, and the display unit 20 can be integrated into a circuit board 16 in order to be electrically connected to other electronic components (e.g., the micro air pump 13 and a pressure relief valve 113 (see
The micro air pump 13 is connected to the detachable bladder 30 and is configured to compress air and provide a target space with a positive pressure, i.e., a higher air pressure than the ambient air pressure. Thus, by means of pressurization, the micro air pump 13 can be used to inflate the detachable bladder 30. The micro air pump 13 may be a diaphragm pump, an electromagnetic pump, a centrifugal pump, or a reciprocating air pump; the present invention has no limitation in this regard.
The air pressure sensor 14 is integrated into the circuit board 16 and is located on one side of the detachable bladder 30. The air pressure sensor 14 has a probe to be inserted into a second tubular base 115 (see
The processor 15 is connected to the micro air pump 13 and the air pressure sensor 14. The processor 15 activates the micro air pump 13 according to a trigger signal, in order for the micro air pump 13 to inflate the detachable bladder 30 and for the user's blood pressure parameters to be derived from the data sent by the air pressure sensor 14 to the processor 15. More specifically, the processor 15 is configured to load and execute the program(s) in a storage unit, to control the operation of the other electronic components and electromechanical components of the wearable device 100 through the program(s), and to perform computation. In one preferred embodiment, and by way of example only, the processor 15 and the storage unit form a co-constructed processor. The processor 15 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a programmable general-purpose or special-purpose microcontroller unit (MCU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable controller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), other similar devices, or a combination of the above.
The display unit 20 is configured to display a detection result (e.g., a user's blood pressure data, heart rhythm data, or other health data, such as the number of the steps the user has taken and the walking time) when detection is completed. In addition to displaying the aforesaid data, the display unit may provide a control interface or graphical user interface (GUI) whereby a user can operate or set the wearable device; the present invention has no limitation in this regard. The display unit 20 may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, an in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display panel, a low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) display panel, an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) display panel, a vertical alignment (VA) liquid crystal display panel, a quantum dot display panel, or electronic paper (epaper). In one preferred embodiment, the display unit 20 is a touch panel. The present invention has no limitation on the type of the display unit 20.
The structural details of the detachable bladder 30 are described below with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
In order for the detachable bladder 30 to lie compliantly on a user's wrist, thereby ensuring that the detachable bladder 30 will occlude the user's blood vessels in the wrist to enable accurate blood pressure measurement, the bilateral bladder wings 32 of the detachable bladder 30 are each provided with an arcuate supporting plate 35 that curves along the user's wrist. When inflated, therefore, the hollow bladder body 31 will conform to the curvature of and be pressed tightly against the user's wrist. The arcuate supporting plates 35 may be provided on the side of the detachable bladder 30 that is adjacent to or faces away from the user's skin. In one preferred embodiment, the arcuate supporting plates 35 are provided on the side of the detachable bladder 30 that faces away from the user's skin to provide better occlusion. In another embodiment, the arcuate supporting plates 35 may be integrally formed with or be separate from the detachable bladder 30. In one preferred embodiment, the arcuate supporting plates 35 are integrally formed with the detachable bladder 30 to reduce the required number of molds and to enhance the look of the end product.
In the illustrated embodiment, the hollow bladder body 31 is circular to match the circular shape of the watch case 11. Alternatively, the hollow bladder body 31 may be non-circular to match a differently shaped watch case 11 or to follow the principle of ergonomic design; the present invention has no limitation in this regard.
Referring now to
In another preferred embodiment, referring to
The internal structure and air delivery paths of the wearable device 100 are detailed below with reference to
As shown in
In addition to the foregoing tubes for air delivery, the watch case 11 is provided with the second tubular base 115, which, as stated above, is configured to be inserted by the probe 141 of the air pressure sensor 14. The probe 141 is inserted into the airtight annular post 341 at the air pressure detection hole 34 of the hollow bladder body 31 so that the air pressure sensor 14 on the second tubular base 115 can detect the air pressure parameters inside the hollow bladder body 31.
The flow paths along which air enters or is discharged from the detachable bladder 30 are described below with reference to
To inflate the detachable bladder 30, referring to
To deflate the detachable bladder 30, referring to
According to the above, the wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention can be put on conveniently for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at a fixed time interval, allowing a physician to determine whether the user has hypertension or prehypertension. In addition, the wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention can reduce the discomfort of blood pressure measurement and thereby provide better user experience than its prior art counterparts. Moreover, the wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention can reduce sensing errors attributable to sweat on the skin as are typical of the conventional optical sensing methods. The wearable device, therefore, is suitable as a personal daily health care device for monitoring the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, the wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement according to the present invention is suitable for use in ambulances, emergency rooms, intensive care units, hospital wards, clinics, and other medical institutions, and can be worn by each patient in order for such big data as patients' blood pressures and heart rhythms to be monitored and recorded through the Internet of Things. The wearable device, therefore, has utility value in the medical industry. The bladder and wrist band in the present invention are detachable from each other so that a user can detach either of them as desired and replace it with a wrist band/bladder of a different color, pattern, or shape.
The above is the detailed description of the present invention. However, the above is merely the preferred embodiment of the present invention and cannot be the limitation to the implement scope of the present invention, which means the variation and modification according to the present invention may still fall into the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A wearable device capable of blood pressure measurement, comprising a wrist band assembly, a display unit provided on the wrist band assembly, and a detachable bladder provided on a backside of the wrist band assembly, wherein the wrist band assembly is provided with a micro air pump connected to the detachable bladder, an air pressure sensor provided on a side of the detachable bladder, and a processor connected to the micro air pump and the air pressure sensor, and the processor activates the micro air pump according to a trigger signal in order for the micro air pump to inflate the detachable bladder and for a user's blood pressure parameters to be derived from data sent by the air pressure sensor to the processor.
2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the wrist band assembly includes a watch case and a wrist band coupled to the watch case; and the detachable bladder is not coupled to the wrist band but is connected to the backside of the watch case by a detachable means.
3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the detachable bladder includes a hollow bladder body, two bladder wings that extend from the hollow bladder body in two opposite lateral directions respectively, an air delivery hole, and an air pressure detection hole, the latter two of which are provided at the hollow bladder body in such a way that an imaginary line connecting the two holes is parallel/perpendicular to the wrist band.
4. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the bilateral bladder wings of the detachable bladder are each provided with an arcuate supporting plate.
5. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the arcuate supporting plates are integrally formed with the bilateral bladder wings of the detachable bladder.
6. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the watch case is provided therein with a connecting tube, the connecting tube has one end connected to the air outlet of the micro air pump and the opposite end connected to the first tubular base of the watch case, and the first tubular base is configured to be inserted by the airtight annular post at the air delivery hole of the hollow bladder body so that the air in the micro air pump can be guided into and thereby inflate the detachable bladder.
7. The wearable device of claim 6, wherein the watch case is provided therein with a branch tube in communication with the connecting tube and a pressure relief valve provided at one end of the branch tube; and, the processor is connected to the pressure relief valve and is configured to trigger and thereby open the pressure relief valve according to another trigger signal, in order to guide the air in the hollow bladder body through the branch tube and the pressure relief valve to a pressure relief hole at the other side of the pressure relief valve.
8. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the watch case is provided with a second tubular base, the air pressure sensor has a probe fixedly placed in the second tubular base, and the probe is inserted into an airtight annular post at an air pressure detection hole of the hollow bladder body in order for the air pressure sensor on the second tubular base to detect air pressure parameters in the hollow bladder body.
9. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the bilaterally extending bladder wings of the detachable bladder extend along the wrist band.
10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the total length of the detachable bladder is equal to 0.5 to 0.8 times the circumference of the wrist band.
11. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the width of the detachable bladder is equal to 0.4 to 0.6 times the length of the detachable bladder.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 29, 2017
Publication Date: Mar 19, 2020
Inventor: Shiming LIN (Taipei)
Application Number: 16/465,504