HK1074760B - A heart rate detector - Google Patents

Description

Heart rate detection device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heart rate detection device, and more particularly, to a heart rate detection device that wirelessly transmits a signal related to a heart rate detected by an electrode to a receiver.

Background

Conventionally, a heart rate detecting device that wirelessly transmits a signal related to an electric potential detected by an electrode in electrical contact with the chest of a body to a receiver and displays or stores the transmitted data is disclosed in, for example, U.S. patent No. 5491474.

Therefore, the heart rate detection device disclosed in the U.S. patent will be described as an example of a conventional heart rate detection device. As shown in fig. 11 and 12, in the heart rate detecting apparatus 101, a belt 108 for tightening is attached to both ends of a predetermined case 106 on which electrodes and a transmitter are disposed so as to be attachable to the chest.

The casing 106 is flexible, and as shown in fig. 13, the two electrodes 104 in electrical contact with the chest are disposed at a predetermined interval inside the casing 106 facing the chest in the mounted state. As shown in fig. 12, a transmitter 102 electrically connected to the electrodes 104 and transmitting a signal detected by the electrodes 104 to a receiver (not shown) is disposed between the two electrodes 104.

The belt 108 is tightened to bring the case 106 into close contact with the chest as a part of the belt, whereby the two electrodes 104 are in electrical contact with two different portions on the chest, respectively, and a potential difference is detected. The detected potential difference is sent to the transmitter 102 and transmitted to the receiver as a signal related to the heart rate.

However, in the conventional heart rate detecting apparatus, since the two electrodes 104 and the transmitter 102 heavier than the electrodes 104 are disposed in one casing 106, the casing 106 is easily swung during physical activity, and the electrodes 104 are also swung together when the casing 106 is swung. Therefore, the contact position of the electrode 104 varies, and an accurate signal related to the heart rate cannot be detected.

Further, although the use of the flexible case 106 is not sufficient, it is necessary to fasten the belt 108 to a certain extent so that the case 106 is strongly adhered to the chest in order to reliably contact the electrode 104 with a predetermined portion, and therefore, a feeling of pressure is felt.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight heart rate detecting device that can reliably bring an electrode portion into contact with a predetermined portion of a chest without causing a feeling of pressure.

The heart rate detection device according to the present invention includes a pair of electrode units, a holding unit, a transmission unit, an electric wire, and a reception unit. By bringing a pair of electrode portions into electrical contact with a predetermined portion of the body, a potential related to the heart rate is detected. The holding portion is provided on each of the pair of electrode portions, holds each of the electrode portions on a predetermined part of the body by holding a member attached to the body between the electrode portions. The transmission unit transmits information relating to the potential detected by the pair of electrode units as a heart rate signal. An electric wire connects each of the pair of electrode portions with the transmitting portion. The receiving unit receives the signal sent by the transmitting unit.

According to this configuration, the pair of electrode portions can be held at the predetermined positions on the chest without causing a feeling of pressure by sandwiching the member attached to the body between the sandwiching portions. Further, since the transfer unit and each electrode unit are connected to and separated from each other via the electric wire, the electrode units do not move with the transfer unit regardless of the movement of the transfer unit, which is heavier than the electrode units, and the pair of electrode units can be reliably brought into contact with the predetermined position of the chest. Further, since it is not necessary to dispose the electrode unit and the transmission unit in one housing, the heart rate detecting device can be made lightweight.

In order to sandwich the member to be attached to the body, each of the pair of electrode portions includes an electrode main body portion which is electrically contacted with a predetermined part of the body, and a hook provided on the electrode main body portion on the side opposite to the body, and the electrode main body portion and the hook are preferably arranged as a sandwiching portion to sandwich the member to be attached to the body from below.

Therefore, when a garment such as a sport bra is worn as a body-attached member, the lower portion of the sport bra can be sandwiched between the sandwiching portions, and the electrode portion can be held on the sport bra.

The medical device may further include a mounting belt as a member to be mounted on the body, and a hook insertion portion provided on the mounting belt for accommodating one of hooks forming the grasping portion and suspending each of the pair of electrode portions from the mounting belt.

In this case, when the electrode unit is attached to the attachment belt, the lower portion of the attachment belt is sandwiched by the sandwiching portion, and the attachment belt is wrapped around the chest by inserting the hook into the hook inserting portion, whereby the pair of electrode units can be easily held on the predetermined portion of the body without a feeling of pressure even when the user wears a sports wear other than the sports brassiere.

Preferably, each of the pair of electrode portions has a protrusion portion disposed on a side facing the body.

This can suppress the electrode unit from sliding relative to the body, and the electrode unit can be more reliably brought into contact with a predetermined position on the chest.

Further, the transfer unit preferably has another holding unit for holding the body-mounted component from above.

Thus, the upper part of the body-attached component is sandwiched by the other sandwiching parts, and the transfer part can be easily held on the component.

Further, it is preferable that the other holding portion has a function of a sling-like string to be worn around a neck.

Thus, even when the transfer unit heavier than the electrode unit moves, the transfer unit can be prevented from falling off the member attached to the body.

The above and other objects, features, limitations and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a heart rate detecting apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the heart rate detecting apparatus shown in fig. 1 in example 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view showing an electrode unit of the heart rate detecting apparatus shown in fig. 1 in example 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing another part of the electrode unit of the heart rate detecting apparatus shown in fig. 1 in example 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a transmission unit of the heart rate detecting device shown in fig. 1 in example 1.

Fig. 6 is another perspective view showing a transmission unit of the heart rate detecting device shown in fig. 1 according to example 1.

Fig. 7 is a front view showing a state in which the heart rate detecting device shown in fig. 1 and 2 is attached to a body in embodiment 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a mounting belt of a heart rate detecting device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a partial front view showing a state in which the heart rate detecting device is held on the mounting belt shown in fig. 8 in example 2.

Fig. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the heart rate detecting device shown in fig. 9 is attached to the body in embodiment 2.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional heart rate detecting device.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating the heart rate detecting device shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another part of the heart rate detecting device shown in fig. 11.

Detailed Description

(example 1)

A heart rate detection device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the heart rate detection device 1 includes a pair of electrode units 4, a transmission unit 2, and a reception unit 6 (see fig. 7). A predetermined potential related to the heart rate of the body is detected by the pair of electrode portions 4. The transmission unit 2 is electrically connected to each of the pair of electrode units 4 via an electric wire (cord) 3, and transmits information on the potential detected by the pair of electrode units 4 as a heart rate signal to a receiver 6 attached to, for example, a wrist.

As shown in fig. 3, each of the pair of electrode portions 4 has an electrode main body portion 4a and a hook 4b as a holding portion for holding the electrode portion 4 at a predetermined part of the body by sandwiching the lower portion of the garment or the like 12 worn on the body. The hooks 4b are formed on the opposite side (hereinafter referred to as "front side") of the electrode portion 4 from the side facing the body so as to be bent upward from the lower portion of the electrode portion 4.

As shown in fig. 4, each of the pair of electrode portions 4 has a plurality of projections 4c for reliably bringing the electrode portions 4 into contact with the body, at a portion on a side facing the body (hereinafter referred to as "inner side"). The protrusions may be, for example, wave-shaped protrusions other than the hemispherical protrusions shown in fig. 4. In the case of the wavy projections, the feeling of contact with the skin is relatively good, and the surface can be easily cleaned.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the carrying section 2 includes a carrying main body section 2a and a hook 2b as other holding sections for holding the carrying section 2 on the clothing or the like 12 by being sandwiched between the upper parts of the clothing or the like 12 worn on the body. The hook 2b is formed at a portion inside the conveyor 2 so as to extend downward from the upper portion of the conveyor 2.

A cover 2c for replacing, for example, a lithium battery is disposed on the front side of the conveyor 2. As described later, the hook 2b has a function of a sling-like string to be worn around the neck.

In the heart rate detecting device, in particular, the pair of electrodes 4 are provided with the electrode main body portion 4a and the hook 4b so that the lower portion of clothing or the like worn on the body can be sandwiched therebetween, and the transmission portion 2 is provided with the transmission main body portion 2a and the hook 2b so that the upper portion of clothing or the like can be sandwiched therebetween.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 7, when the sport bra 8 is worn, for example, the electrode unit 4 and the transmission unit 2 can be held on the sport bra 8 without causing a sense of pressure by sandwiching the lower portion of the sport bra 8 between the electrode unit 4a and the hook 4b and sandwiching the upper portion of the sport bra 8 between the transmission unit 2a and the hook 2 b.

Further, the transfer unit 2 and the electrode unit 4 are connected or separated via an electric wire, so even if the transfer unit 2, which is heavier than the electrode unit 4, moves during movement, the electrode unit 4 does not move with the transfer unit 2. Therefore, the pair of electrodes 4 can be reliably brought into contact with the predetermined position of the chest, and the predetermined potential difference can be accurately detected. The detected potential difference is sent to the transmission unit 2, and is transmitted as a signal related to the heart rate to a receiver 6 attached to, for example, a wrist.

Further, since it is not necessary to dispose the pair of electrode portions 4 and the transmission portion 2 in 1 housing, the heart rate detecting device can be made lightweight.

In the heart rate detecting device, the string 14 having an appropriate length and worn around the neck may be hung in advance on the hook 2b of the transmission unit 2 so that the transmission unit 2 heavier than the electrode unit 4 does not come off the sport bra 8 during movement.

(example 2)

In example 1, a case where the electrode unit and the transmitting unit are directly held on the clothing to be worn is exemplified, and in example 2, a case where the electrode unit and the transmitting unit are held on a predetermined mounting belt and are mounted on the body is exemplified.

As shown in fig. 8, a notch 10a for accommodating a hook 4b provided on the electrode portion 4 is formed in the mounting belt 10. As shown in fig. 9, when the electrode portion 4 is mounted on the mounting tape, the lower portion of the mounting tape 10 is sandwiched by the electrode main body portion 4a and the hook 4b, and the hook 4b is inserted into the notch 10 a.

When the transfer unit 2 is mounted on the mounting tape, the upper portion of the mounting tape 10 is sandwiched by the transfer main body 2a and the hook 2b, as in the above case. As shown in fig. 10, the pair of electrode portions 4 can be held at a predetermined position on the body by winding around the chest an attachment belt to which the pair of electrode portions 4 and the transfer portion 2 are attached.

In the heart rate detecting apparatus, instead of directly holding the pair of electrode portions 4 and the conveying portion 2 on the garment, the pair of electrode portions and the conveying portion are held on the attachment belt 10, and the attachment belt 10 is wound around the chest. Therefore, as compared with the case where a housing provided with a pair of electrode portions and a transmitting portion is fastened around the chest as a part of a belt, the electrode portion 4 can be reliably held at a predetermined position on the body with the feeling of pressure suppressed.

In order to detect the potential of the body, the pair of electrodes 4 is preferably in direct contact with the body, but in the case of a brassiere or a jersey having an electrode portion 4 in contact with the body (skin), it is preferable to wet the portion of the electrode portion 4 in contact with the skin in advance to achieve electrical conduction with the skin.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is illustrative and not restrictive, and the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A heart rate detection device comprising:

a pair of electrode units for detecting a potential related to the heart rate by making electrical contact with a predetermined part of the body;

a transmission unit that transmits information relating to the potentials detected by the pair of electrode units as a heart rate signal;

an electric wire connecting each of the pair of electrode portions to the transmitting portion; and

a receiving section for receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitting section;

each of the pair of electrode portions includes: a holding part for holding the electrode part at a predetermined part of the body, an electrode main body part electrically contacting the predetermined part of the body, and a hook provided on the opposite side of the electrode main body part to the side facing the body,

the holding part is composed of the electrode body part and the hook,

the electrode body and the hook are arranged so as to sandwich a member attached to the body from below.

2. The heart rate detection device of claim 1, comprising:

a mounting band as a body-mounted component;

a hook insertion portion provided on the mounting belt, for accommodating the hook forming one of the clamping portions and suspending each of the pair of electrode portions to the mounting belt.

3. The heart rate detecting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of electrode portions has a protrusion portion provided on a side opposite to the body.

4. The heart rate detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying portion has another holding portion for holding the body-mounted component from above.

5. The heart rate detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the other holding portion has a function of a sling-like string to be worn around the neck.