← Back to Patent Explorer
US4951679A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pulse wave detecting apparatus having placement-condition detecting means

Assignee: Colin Medical Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1989-01-23
•
Granted: 1990-08-28
•
Expires: 2009-01-23
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A pulse wave detecting apparatus having a housing which is placed on a body surface of a subject such that the housing is aligned with an artery of the subject via the body surface, a pulse wave sensor accommodated in the housing, the pulse wave sensor being pressed against the body surface for detecting pulse wave produced from the artery, and a pressing device supported by the housing, the pressing means pressing the pulse wave sensor against the body surface with an optimum pressing force, the optimum pressing force being determined based on pulse wave signal produced by the pulse wave sensor while the pressing force of the pressing means is varied, the apparatus including a detecting device for detecting whether or not the housing has been placed on the body surface of the subject.

Inventors

  • 👤 Chikao Harada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 13:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/0245; A61B5/025; A61B5/021; A61B5/022; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6843

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 170 words
A pulse wave detecting apparatus comprising: a housing which is adapted to be placed on a body surface of a subject; a pulse wave sensor supported by said housing, for detecting a pulse wave produced from an artery of said subject; pressing means supported by said housing, for pressing said pulse wave sensor against said body surface so as to detect said pulse wave; control means for determining an optimum pressing force of said pressing means applied to said pulse wave sensor, based on the pulse wave detected by said pulse wave sensor as the pressing force of said pressing means is varied, and maintaining the optimum pressing force; detecting means for detecting whether or not said housing is placed on said body surface of said subject, said detecting means generating a placement signal when detecting that said housing is placed on said body surface; and inhibiting means for inhibiting said pressing means from pressing said pulse wave sensor, when said placement signal is not generated by said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 170 words
A pulse wave detecting apparatus comprising: a housing which is adapted to be placed on a body surface of a subject; a pulse wave sensor supported by said housing, for detecting a pulse wave produced from an artery of said subject; pressing means supported by said housing, for pressing said pulse wave sensor against said body surface so as to detect said pulse wave; control means for determining an optimum pressing force of said pressing means applied to said pulse wave sensor, based on the pulse wave detected by said pulse wave sensor as the pressing force of said pressing means is varied, and maintaining the optimum pressing force; detecting means for detecting whether or not said housing is placed on said body surface of said subject, said detecting means generating a placement signal when detecting that said housing is placed on said body surface; and inhibiting means for inhibiting said pressing means from pressing said pulse wave sensor, when said placement signal is not generated by said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 88 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises: a displaceable member slidably held by said housing such that a portion of said displaceable member normally protrudes from a surface of said housing which surface contacts said body surface when said housing is placed on said body surface; and detector switch means for detecting displacement of said displaceable member, said detector switch means generating a placement signal representing that said housing is placed on said body surface, when detecting said displacement of said displaceable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 87 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises: light emitter means, supported by said housing, for emitting a light beam toward said body surface of said subject, said light beam being reflected by said body surface; and light detector means, supported by said housing, for detecting said light beam reflected by said body surface, said light detector means generating a placement signal representing that said housing is placed on said body surface, when detecting said light beam reflected by said body surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said detecting means further comprises: a first optical fiber for transmitting said light beam from said light emitter means toward said body surface; and a second optical fiber for transmitting said light beam reflected by said body surface to said light detector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 76 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises: a pair of electrodes held in a surface of said housing which surface contacts said body surface when said housing is placed on said body surface; and an impedance detector means for detecting an impedance between said pair of electrodes, said impedance detector means generating, based on the detected impedance, a placement signal representing that said housing is placed on said body surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising permitting means for permitting said pulse wave sensor to be subjected to zero adjustment, while said placement signal is not generated by said detecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising permitting means for permitting generation of an aberrant signal representing that said pulse wave signal from said pulse wave sensor is aberrant, while said placement signal is generated by said detecting means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4129124A Cited
US4294263A Cited
US4331161A Cited
US4307727A Cited
US4295475A Cited
DE3008601A1 Cited
EP0122123A2 Cited
US4660566A Cited
EP0182197A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-08-27 1994-02-26 1994-08-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-08-27 1998-02-26 1998-08-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-08-27 2002-02-26 2002-08-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag