Breathing characteristic monitoring device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of wearable sensing, in particular to a respiration characteristic monitoring device which comprises a flexible carrier, a respiration monitoring unit arranged on the flexible carrier and a signal processing unit in signal transmission connection with the respiration monitoring unit. The respiration monitoring unit comprises an adsorption layer, a strain layer, a passivation layer and a bonding layer which are connected in sequence, and the outer side of the adsorption layer is in direct contact with the skin of a human body; the strain layer can sense strain changes and reflect the breathing state of the human body. The passivation layer and the adsorption layer surround the strain layer so as to improve environmental adaptability; the inner side of the bonding layer is connected with the flexible carrier; and the signal processing unit is used for receiving and processing the signal of the respiration monitoring unit and converting the signal into visual data for display. The breathing monitoring device is simple in structure, low in manufacturing process requirement and capable of monitoring the breathing characteristics of the human body in the movement process on line in various scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wearable sensor technology, and in particular to a respiratory characteristic monitoring device. Background Art

[0002] Breathing is the basis of human life activities. The human breathing rate is often disturbed by human movement. Generally, breathing speeds up when doing strenuous exercise or being emotionally excited; breathing slows down when calm or resting. The analysis of human breathing-related parameters is of great significance in sports training. By evaluating indicators such as vital capacity, respiratory rate and heart rate, it can effectively help athletes improve their breathing methods and enhance their sports performance, and also avoid injuries caused by excessive or improper exercise.

[0003] At present, there are still certain limitations in the sensor systems used for monitoring during exercise. Many existing sports monitoring devices are usually large in size, not suitable for outdoor training, and are very cumbersome and inconvenient. Existing non-contact monitoring technologies have defects in accuracy and sensitivity, and radar-based vital sign monitoring methods are usually not applicable to environments with large-scale and intense exercise. In actual sports environments, real-time monitoring of human breathing characteristics may be affected by a variety of factors, including equipment weight, comfort, etc.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design a sensor system device for monitoring breathing characteristics during exercise. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a breathing characteristics monitoring device, which has a simple structure and low manufacturing process requirements and can monitor the breathing characteristics of the human body during movement online in a variety of scenarios.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: The present invention provides a respiratory characteristic monitoring device, comprising a flexible carrier, a respiratory monitoring unit arranged on the flexible carrier, and a signal processing unit connected to the respiratory monitoring unit for signal transmission; the respiratory monitoring unit comprises an adsorption layer, a strain layer, a passivation layer and an adhesive layer connected in sequence, the outer side of the adsorption layer directly contacts with human skin; the strain layer can sense strain changes and reflect the respiratory state of the human body; the passivation layer and the adsorption layer surround the strain layer to improve environmental adaptability; the inner side of the adhesive layer is connected to the flexible carrier; the signal processing unit is used to receive and process the signal of the respiratory monitoring unit, and convert it into visual data for display.

[0007] Furthermore, a plurality of suction cups distributed in an array are provided on the outside of the adsorption layer.

[0008] Furthermore, a plurality of evenly distributed pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structures are provided on one side of the free end of the suction cup.

[0009] Furthermore, the suction cup is made of hydrogel.

[0010] Furthermore, the strain layer includes metal powder material, carbon nanomaterial and adhesive.

[0011] Furthermore, the adsorption layer and the passivation layer are both made of PDMS.

[0012] Furthermore, the number of the respiratory monitoring units is six, two of which are located on the front chest of the human body, two of which are located on the back of the human body, and two of which are located on the left and right sides of the torso, respectively.

[0013] The present invention has the following unexpected beneficial effects: 1. The present invention uses a flexible carrier to load the respiratory monitoring unit, and uses the resistance of the strain layer in the respiratory monitoring unit to change with the breathing process. By collecting and processing the resistance signal, the respiratory frequency and respiratory intensity of the subject can be detected and obtained in real time. The overall structure is simple and the manufacturing process requirements are low.

[0014] 2. The present invention provides a plurality of suction cups distributed in an array on the outside of the adsorption layer, and the suction cups are made of hydrogel, which are ultra-extensible, highly transparent, and have good biocompatibility. In addition, a plurality of evenly distributed pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structures are provided on one side of the free end of the suction cup, which has excellent deformation ability, effectively improving the adsorption contact effect and comfort between the adsorption layer and human skin. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the structure of the breathing characteristic monitoring device of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the respiratory monitoring unit of the present invention; Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a respiratory monitoring unit according to the present invention is shown; Figure 4 A bottom view of a respiratory monitoring unit according to the present invention is shown.

[0016] In the figure, 1 is a flexible carrier, 2 is a respiratory monitoring unit, 21 is an adsorption layer, 22 is a strain layer, 23 is a passivation layer, 24 is an adhesive layer, 25 is a suction cup, 26 is a pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structure, and 3 is a signal processing unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following will describe the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments are only for illustrating the present invention, not for limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic illustrations of the basic concept of the present invention, and thus the drawings only show components related to the present invention rather than being drawn according to the number, shape and size of components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity and proportion of each component may be changed arbitrarily, and the component layout may also be more complicated.

[0019] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a respiratory characteristic monitoring device, comprising a flexible carrier 1, a respiratory monitoring unit 2 arranged on the flexible carrier 1, and a signal processing unit 3 connected to the respiratory monitoring unit 2 for signal transmission. The signal processing unit 3 is used to receive and process the signal of the respiratory monitoring unit 2, and convert it into visual data for display.

[0020] See also Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the respiratory monitoring unit 2 includes an adsorption layer 21, a strain layer 22, a passivation layer 23 and an adhesive layer 24 connected in sequence. The outer side of the adsorption layer 21 is directly in contact with human skin. The strain layer 22 can sense strain changes and reflect the respiratory state of the human body. The passivation layer 23 and the adsorption layer 21 surround the strain layer 22 to improve environmental adaptability. The inner side of the adhesive layer 24 is connected to the flexible carrier 1.

[0021] First, the flexible carrier 1 serves as the basis of the entire device, providing necessary support and flexibility, so that the device can fit the curve of the human body and improve the wearing comfort. Exemplarily, the flexible carrier 1 is a bandage.

[0022] Next, the respiratory monitoring unit 2 is the core part of this device, which consists of multiple layers, including: Adsorption layer 21: This layer is in direct contact with human skin and has good skin affinity and breathability, ensuring comfort for long-term wearing. At the same time, it can effectively transmit the weak signals generated by human breathing to the next layer.

[0023] Strain layer 22: This is the key layer for sensing breathing status. It can sense the tiny strain changes caused by breathing. When the human body breathes, the rise and fall of the chest will cause the strain layer 22 to deform, and this deformation is then converted into electrical signals for transmission.

[0024] Passivation layer 23: This layer and adsorption layer 21 surround the strain layer together, playing a role in protecting and enhancing environmental adaptability. It can prevent the external environment (such as humidity, temperature, etc.) from interfering with the strain layer 22, ensuring the accuracy of the monitoring results.

[0025] Adhesive layer 24: This layer is located at the bottom of the respiratory monitoring unit 2 and is connected to the flexible carrier 1 on the inner side, ensuring that the respiratory monitoring unit 2 can be stably fixed on the flexible carrier 1 and is not easy to fall off.

[0026] Finally, the signal processing unit 3 is responsible for receiving and processing the signals from the respiratory monitoring unit 2. After processing, these signals are converted into visual data (such as waveforms, numbers, etc.) so that the user can intuitively understand his or her own respiratory status.

[0027] In summary, the present invention uses the flexible carrier 1 to load the respiratory monitoring unit 2, and utilizes the resistance of the strain layer 22 in the respiratory monitoring unit 2 to change with the breathing process. By collecting and processing the resistance signal, the respiratory frequency and respiratory intensity of the subject can be detected and obtained in real time. The overall structure of the device is simple and the manufacturing process requirements are low.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, see Figures 2 to 4 As shown, a plurality of suction cups 25 distributed in an array are provided on the outer side of the adsorption layer 21 .

[0029] The design of the suction cup 25 enables the device to better adapt to human body surfaces of different shapes and curvatures, ensuring the accuracy of the monitoring results. In addition, the micro vacuum environment formed between the suction cup 25 and the skin can reduce the interference of the external environment to the monitoring unit, such as changes in humidity, temperature and other factors, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the monitoring data. At the same time, the setting of the suction cup 25 enables the respiratory monitoring unit 2 to fit the human skin more closely, thereby more accurately sensing the micro strain changes caused by breathing and improving the sensitivity of monitoring.

[0030] The suction cup 25 can be made of a soft and elastic material, such as silicone or rubber, to ensure a close fit with the skin, reduce the pressure on the skin, and improve the comfort of long-term wearing. The design of the suction cup 25 also makes the adsorption layer 21 easier to clean and replace, thereby extending the service life of the entire device.

[0031] The array distribution of the suction cups 25 should be carefully designed to ensure that sufficient adsorption force is provided without causing excessive pressure or discomfort to human skin.

[0032] In summary, by arranging a plurality of suction cups 25 distributed in an array on the outside of the adsorption layer 21, the adsorption capacity and stability of the respiratory characteristic monitoring device are enhanced, the monitoring effect is optimized and the user experience is improved, so that the device can more accurately sense the respiratory state of the human body, providing strong support for health monitoring and disease diagnosis.

[0033] Further, see Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of evenly distributed pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structures 26 are provided on one side of the free end of the suction cup 25 .

[0034] The pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structure 26 effectively reduces the device slippage caused by movement or skin movement, ensuring the continuity and accuracy of the monitoring data. In addition, the pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structure 26 can more effectively transmit the small strain changes on the skin surface to the strain layer, thereby improving the sensitivity and accuracy of monitoring.

[0035] The pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structure 26 has excellent deformation ability, effectively improves the adsorption effect and comfort with human skin, can adapt to different skin qualities and skin conditions, and reduce skin discomfort or allergies caused by long-term wearing. Although the micro-protrusion structure 26 increases the contact area, the reasonable arrangement and shape design can ensure that there is still enough air permeable space between the skin and the device to keep the skin dry.

[0036] The pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structure 26 should be made of the same soft and elastic material as the suction cup 25 to ensure close fit and comfort with the skin. This micro-protrusion structure 26 can be realized by precision mold injection molding, laser engraving or 3D printing to ensure the accuracy of its shape and distribution.

[0037] In summary, by providing a plurality of evenly distributed pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structures 26 on one side of the free end of the suction cup 25, the skin fit and stability of the respiratory characteristic monitoring device are significantly enhanced, the monitoring sensitivity and accuracy are improved, and the user experience is optimized.

[0038] Furthermore, the suction cup 25 is made of hydrogel. Hydrogel has super ductility, high transparency, good skin affinity and biocompatibility, and can form a natural fit with human skin, reducing friction and discomfort. Although the hydrogel itself is solid, its internal porous structure allows air and water molecules to penetrate, maintaining the microenvironmental balance between the skin and the device, and improving the comfort of long-term wearing.

[0039] The hydrogel will swell slightly after absorbing water. This property enables the suction cup to better fit the tiny bumps on the skin surface, increase the physical contact points, and improve the adsorption and fixation capabilities. The softness and elasticity of the hydrogel enable it to adapt to different skin types and skin conditions, ensuring a stable fit in different environments.

[0040] The softness and high elastic modulus of the hydrogel enable it to more effectively transmit small strain changes on the skin surface to the strain layer, thereby improving the sensitivity and accuracy of monitoring. In addition, the hydrogel has a certain adaptability to changes in temperature and humidity, and can maintain stable monitoring performance under different environmental conditions.

[0041] The hydrogel suction cup 25 can be made by injection molding, 3D printing or compression molding to ensure the accuracy of its shape, size and performance.

[0042] The application of the hydrogel suction cup 25 in the respiratory characteristic monitoring device enables the device to more accurately sense the respiratory state of the human body, providing strong support for health monitoring and disease diagnosis. In addition, the hydrogel suction cups of different shapes, sizes and performances can be customized according to the needs and skin characteristics of different users to meet personalized needs.

[0043] In summary, using hydrogel as the manufacturing material of the suction cup 25 not only improves the skin fit, comfort and fixation ability of the respiratory characteristic monitoring device, but also optimizes the monitoring performance, bringing more innovation and application prospects to the fields of health monitoring and disease diagnosis.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the strain layer comprises metal powder material, carbon nanomaterial and adhesive.

[0045] Metal powder materials have a positive temperature coefficient, that is, as the temperature rises, its resistance value increases. This characteristic makes metal powder play a role in adjusting the temperature coefficient of resistance in composite materials.

[0046] Carbon nanomaterials (such as carbon nanotubes or graphene) have a negative temperature coefficient, that is, as the temperature increases, their resistance value decreases. This characteristic is opposite to that of metal powder materials. The combination of the two can offset the influence of temperature on resistance value, thereby realizing a composite material with a low resistance temperature coefficient. The low resistance temperature coefficient allows the monitoring device to maintain stable monitoring performance in an environment with large temperature changes, improving the accuracy and reliability of the data.

[0047] PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) as a binder not only has good flexibility and processing performance, but also ensures the stability and durability of the composite material during long-term wear and use. PDMS as a binder ensures the flexibility and processing performance of the composite material, allowing the monitoring device to adapt to human body surfaces of different shapes and curvatures, improving wearing comfort and monitoring accuracy.

[0048] By adjusting the ratio of metal powder and carbon nanomaterials, the temperature coefficient of resistance of the composite material can be precisely controlled. This ratio adjustment process needs to take into account the conductivity, temperature coefficient and overall performance requirements of the composite material.

[0049] After metal powder, carbon nanomaterials and PDMS are mixed evenly in a certain proportion, they are prepared into a flexible strain layer through molding processes such as injection molding, compression molding or 3D printing. In this process, it is necessary to ensure the uniform distribution and good combination of materials to obtain the best conductivity and flexibility.

[0050] In summary, by carefully selecting materials and their proportions and adopting innovative composite material design, a flexible strain layer with a low temperature coefficient of resistance is achieved, which improves the performance and stability of the respiratory characteristic monitoring device and also provides new technical ideas and application prospects for other biosensing fields.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the adsorption layer and the passivation layer are both made of PDMS.

[0052] PDMS is a widely used biomedical material with good biocompatibility and non-toxicity, suitable for long-term contact with human skin. PDMS also has excellent flexibility and elasticity, and can adapt to human surfaces of different shapes and curvatures, ensuring that the monitoring device fits tightly to the skin. At the same time, the porous structure of PDMS allows air molecules to penetrate, and it has a certain waterproof performance, which can maintain the microenvironmental balance between the skin and the device, and improve the comfort of long-term wear.

[0053] PDMS can be easily processed into various shapes and sizes through processes such as injection molding, compression molding or 3D printing, making it easy to manufacture complex monitoring device structures.

[0054] Application advantages of adsorption layer 21: The softness and elasticity of PDMS enable the adsorption layer 21 to better fit the tiny bumps on the skin surface, increase the physical contact points, and thus improve the adsorption capacity. The skin-friendliness and breathability of PDMS enable the adsorption layer to reduce skin discomfort when worn for a long time, thus improving the user's wearing experience.

[0055] Advantages of the passivation layer 23: PDMS, as a passivation layer, can effectively protect the strain layer 22 from interference from the external environment, such as humidity, temperature, chemicals, etc., to ensure the accuracy and stability of the monitoring data. The flexibility and elasticity of PDMS enable the passivation layer 23 to adapt to temperature changes under different environmental conditions and maintain the overall performance of the monitoring device stable.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the number of the respiratory monitoring units 2 is six, two respiratory monitoring units 2 are located on the front chest of the human body, two respiratory monitoring units 2 are located on the back of the human body, and two respiratory monitoring units 2 are located on the left and right sides of the torso respectively.

[0057] The selection of the number of six respiratory monitoring units 2 is based on the need for comprehensive monitoring of human respiratory characteristics. By collecting data from multiple monitoring points, the respiratory state of the human body can be more accurately reflected, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of monitoring.

[0058] Two respiratory monitoring units 2 are located on the front chest of the human body, which can directly monitor the ups and downs of the chest, which is one of the most significant features of the breathing process. The other two respiratory monitoring units 2 are located on the back of the human body, which echo the respiratory monitoring units 2 on the front chest and can more comprehensively capture the chest movement during the breathing process. The last two respiratory monitoring units 2 are respectively located on the left and right sides of the trunk, which helps to monitor the lateral movement of the trunk during the breathing process, thereby more accurately reflecting the three-dimensional characteristics of breathing.

[0059] The distribution positions of the six respiratory monitoring units 2 cover the main respiratory movement areas of the human body, and can comprehensively monitor various characteristics of the respiratory process, such as respiratory frequency, respiratory intensity, etc. Through the data collection of multiple monitoring points, they can verify and supplement each other, reduce errors and interference, and improve the accuracy and reliability of monitoring data.

[0060] Different individuals may have different respiratory characteristics. The design of the six monitoring units can be selected and adjusted according to the individual's specific situation to achieve a personalized monitoring plan.

[0061] This design of six respiratory monitoring units 2 is not only suitable for conventional respiratory monitoring, but can also be applied to a wider range of health management and disease diagnosis fields. For example, for patients with respiratory diseases, by comprehensively monitoring respiratory characteristics, changes in the condition can be discovered in a timely manner, providing doctors with accurate diagnostic basis. In addition, this design can also be applied to the fields of physical training for athletes, health monitoring for the elderly, etc., providing personalized health services for different groups of people.

[0062] In summary, the design of the six respiratory monitoring units 2 and their distribution positions on the human body reflect the pursuit of comprehensive and accurate monitoring of human respiratory characteristics, and provide new technical means and application prospects for health management and disease diagnosis.

[0063] The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments for fully illustrating the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitution or change made by a person skilled in the art based on the present invention is within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A breathing characteristic monitoring device, characterized in that: It comprises a flexible carrier (1), a respiratory monitoring unit (2) arranged on the flexible carrier (1), and a signal processing unit (3) connected to the respiratory monitoring unit (2) for signal transmission; The respiratory monitoring unit (2) comprises an adsorption layer (21), a strain layer (22), a passivation layer (23) and an adhesive layer (24) which are connected in sequence, wherein the outer side of the adsorption layer (21) is in direct contact with human skin; the strain layer (22) is capable of sensing strain changes and reflecting the respiratory state of the human body; the passivation layer (23) and the adsorption layer (21) surround the strain layer (22) to improve environmental adaptability; and the inner side of the adhesive layer (24) is connected to the flexible carrier (1); The signal processing unit (3) is used to receive and process the signal from the respiratory monitoring unit (2), and convert it into visual data for display.

2. The breathing characteristic monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of suction cups (25) distributed in an array are provided on the outside of the adsorption layer (21).

3. The breathing characteristic monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of evenly distributed pyramid-shaped micro-protrusion structures (26) are provided on one side of the free end of the suction cup (25).

4. The breathing characteristic monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The suction cup (25) is made of hydrogel.

5. The breathing characteristic monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The strain layer (22) comprises metal powder material, carbon nanomaterial and adhesive.

6. The breathing characteristic monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adsorption layer (21) and the passivation layer (23) are both made of PDMS.

7. The breathing characteristic monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the respiratory monitoring units (2) is six, two of which are located on the front chest of the human body, two of which are located on the back of the human body, and two of which are located on the left and right sides of the trunk, respectively.

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