Method and device for pulse measurement in mammals

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for pulse measurement in mammals with the aid of a Hall sensor (1) and a magnetic object (7) arranged within a measuring range (12) of the Hall sensor (1) at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein pulse-dependent distances from the magnetic object (7) are measured with the aid of the Hall sensor (1), and a pulse signal for pulse measurement is determined from this pulse-dependent measurement signal with the aid of an evaluation unit (3). According to the invention, in a preceding measurement step, the magnetic object (7) is decoupled from the measuring range (12) and electromagnetic interference signals are measured, and, in a subsequent measurement step, the magnetic object (7) is coupled into the measuring range (12) and the pulse-dependent measurement signal is measured, wherein, in a subsequent signal-processing step of the pulse-dependent measurement signal, in a processing mode that can be adjusted via an input interface (5), a signal processing operation adapted to the mammal being measured is carried out.

Description

[0001] Method and device for pulse measurement in mammals

[0002] The invention relates to a method for measuring pulse in mammals using a Hall sensor and a magnetic object arranged within a measuring range of the Hall sensor at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object are measured using the Hall sensor and a pulse signal for pulse measurement is determined from this pulse-dependent measurement signal using an evaluation unit, according to the preamble of claim 1.The invention further relates to a device for pulse measurement in mammals comprising a Hall sensor and a magnetic object arranged within a measuring range of the Hall sensor on a flexible carrier at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein an evaluation unit is provided which is designed to determine a pulse signal for pulse measurement from the pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object measured by the Hall sensor and the pulse-dependent measurement signal thus obtained, according to the preamble of claim 7.

[0003] A method and a device of the type mentioned are known from WO 2008026809 Al. Further devices for pulse measurement were described in KR 20080093770 A, KR 20100122811 A, EP 4000508 Al and US 2020260998 Al. WO 2020239202 Al describes a human-machine interface based on pulse measurement.

[0004] Pulse rate is known to correlate with heart rate, with the amplitude of the current pulse being influenced by various physiological and pathological factors. By comparing heart rate with electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, it can be shown that signal characteristics of an ECG measurement, such as RR intervals, pulse wave transit time, and pulse wave amplitude, can also be determined from the pulse signals of a pulse measurement, for example, of the carotid or radial pulse. The RR interval is the time interval between two "R waves" of an ECG and marks the duration of a cardiac cycle, so that the heart rate can be mathematically derived from the reciprocal of the RR interval. During a cardiac cycle, the heart of a mammal pumps blood through the arteries in pulses at a specific rhythm with a specific pulse amplitude.This physiological effect can be used to measure the frequency and regularity of the heartbeat (rhythm), preferably using easily accessible arteries, such as those running along the skin's surface. Physically, this involves measuring the blood pressure amplitude between diastolic and systolic pressure. A physiological or pathological assessment can therefore be made from an arterial pulse measurement and an analysis of pulse signal characteristics such as pulse wave amplitude, pulse rate, or pulse wave transit time.

[0005] Known sensors for pulse rate measurement include piezoelectric sensors for measuring the carotid pulse and optoelectronic reflection sensors for measuring the radial pulse and finger pulse using photoplethysmography. Hall sensors are also known for pulse measurement. Hall sensors consist of thin, crystalline, doped semiconductor layers, typically featuring four electrodes on each side. A current is applied through two opposing electrodes, and the two electrodes perpendicular to these serve to measure the Hall voltage. When such a Hall sensor is subjected to a magnetic field perpendicular to the layer, it delivers an output voltage proportional to the vector product of magnetic flux density and current. The magnetic flux density, in turn, depends on the distance of a magnetic object from the semiconductor layer.One method of pulse measurement involves placing a magnetic object on the skin surface near a superficial artery, so that the arterial pulse waves rhythmically raise and lower the magnetic object. A Hall sensor is positioned at a defined distance from the magnetic object, and the magnetic object interacts with the Hall sensor via the magnetic flux density it generates. This magnetic flux density depends on the spatial distance between the magnetic object and the Hall sensor, which in turn is varied by the arterial pulse waves. Therefore, the measurement is also described as a "magnetic object positioned at a defined and pulse-dependent distance" within the Hall sensor's measuring range.Using the Hall sensor, pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object are measured, and an evaluation unit derives a pulse signal for pulse measurement from this pulse-dependent measurement signal. Pulse measurement devices comprising a Hall sensor have a flexible carrier on which the magnetic object is mounted. The flexible carrier is rhythmically deformed by the arterial pulse waves, which also raises and lowers the magnetic object.

[0006] The output voltage of the Hall sensor is a weak, noise-prone signal that is easily measured in humans under laboratory conditions, but can be difficult in mammals other than humans outside of laboratory conditions. The difficulty lies, firstly, in the measurement itself, because obtaining a diagnostically usable signal is more challenging when measuring a furry animal moving around in a barn or in the wild, and secondly, because every physiological entity is itself a source of electromagnetic interference, which can vary between different mammal species and sometimes even between different individuals of the same species. This interference is sometimes unknown or poorly understood, complicating the acquisition and analysis of diagnostically usable pulse signals.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to propose a method and a device for pulse measurement in mammals that enable more accurate measurements and reliable recording of diagnostically usable pulse signals.

[0008] These objectives are achieved by the features of claims 1 and 7. Claim 1 relates to a method for pulse measurement in mammals using a Hall sensor and a magnetic object arranged within a measuring range of the Hall sensor at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object are measured using the Hall sensor and a pulse signal for pulse measurement is determined from this pulse-dependent measurement signal using an evaluation unit.According to the invention, it is proposed that in a prior step of the measurement, the magnetic object is coupled out of the measuring area to reduce the interaction with the Hall sensor, and electromagnetic interference signals are measured using the Hall sensor or a measuring probe arranged in the measuring area, and in a subsequent step of the measurement, the magnetic object is coupled into the measuring area to establish an interaction with the Hall sensor, and the pulse-dependent measurement signal is measured using the Hall probe, wherein in a subsequent step, signal conditioning of the pulse-dependent measurement signal is carried out in a processing mode adjustable via an input interface, which is tailored to the respective mammal being measured and includes a correction of the pulse-dependent measurement signal by the measured electromagnetic interference signals.

[0009] According to the invention, electromagnetic interference signals are measured within the measuring range of the Hall sensor after the magnetic object has been decoupled to reduce its interaction with the Hall sensor, thus enabling a more accurate measurement of the local electromagnetic interference signals. These electromagnetic interference signals also include interference signals from the electromagnetic background radiation and are extremely variable locally, making their in-situ measurement in the immediate vicinity of the Hall sensor crucial. As will be explained in more detail below, the decoupling can be achieved by a mechanical unit, for example, a movable unit, which allows the magnetic object to be moved from a position within a measuring range defined by the housing of the Hall sensor to a position outside the measuring range.Once the electromagnetic interference spectrum has been measured, the actual pulse-dependent measurement signal can be recorded with a magnetic object coupled in. According to the invention, after correcting the pulse-dependent measurement signal for the electromagnetic interference, the signal is processed in a mode selectable via an input interface. This processing is tailored to the specific mammal being measured. An input interface allows the user to select the appropriate processing mode, for example, by choosing the mammal species being measured. For instance, if the pulse of a horse is to be measured, the user selects the processing mode for the mammal species "horse" via the input interface before starting the measurement and then begins the measurement.As will be explained in more detail below, settings intended for this mammal species are subsequently retrieved from a database, and signal processing tailored to the specific mammal being measured is performed. This signal processing can be carried out, for example, using a digital filter that can be set and readjusted accordingly for the tailored signal processing, as will be explained in more detail below. For the signal processing provided according to the invention, a high sampling rate is recommended for both the acquisition of the analog electromagnetic interference signals and the analog raw signal of the pulse-dependent measurement signal in the range of MHz to GHz, as well as subsequent digitization that exceeds the currently common 8-bit BiL digitization. At the time of filing, for example, 32-bit digitization is used.

[0010] As part of the signal processing tailored to the specific mammal being measured, it may be necessary to additionally filter the pulse-dependent measurement signal to detect pulse signal characteristics known for that particular mammal species. The pulse signal can differ significantly between different mammal species, necessitating appropriately adapted signal processing to optimally filter pulse signal characteristics such as pulse wave amplitudes, pulse frequencies, and pulse wave transit times.

[0011] One possibility is to filter the pulse-dependent measurement signal using a digital filter in the evaluation unit. Known filter coefficients for the digital filter, which detect known pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species being measured (as selected by the processing mode), are retrieved from a database within the evaluation unit to configure the digital filter. The signal processing, tailored to the specific mammal being measured, is thus achieved by selecting the processing mode and the corresponding mammal species, and then retrieving the filter coefficients stored in the evaluation unit's database for that mammal species to configure the digital filter accordingly.

[0012] If no usable pulse signal is detected, the digital filter can be readjusted by varying its filter coefficients if known pulse signal characteristics are not detected or are only inadequately detected. This signal conditioning step is thus designed as a feedback loop, in which measured signal sequences are repeatedly subjected to filtering in the digital filter with modified filter coefficients. For this purpose, repeated measurements of the pulse-dependent signal are taken with a magnetic object coupled in. This control can be performed in a manually selectable control mode via the input interface or automatically. The control mode can be selected automatically, for example, if the evaluation unit detects that no usable pulse signal is present.The control mode can also be manually selected using the input interface if the user recognizes from the output pulse signal that no usable pulse signal is present. Furthermore, it is proposed that an AI-based evaluation module of the evaluation unit be used to capture and store previously unknown pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species being measured in the database. The signal processing and evaluation processes are thus designed as dynamic processes that are increasingly optimized with a growing number of measurements, both on a specific mammal and in the course of measuring many different mammals; in other words, they are "capable of learning." In the context of AI, this is also referred to as "training" the AI, which is achieved through repeated measurements.The AI-based evaluation module not only improves the recognition of pulse signal characteristics of different mammal species, but also the recognition of interference signals from different mammal species, so that the signal processing tailored to the respective mammal being measured can be increasingly improved.

[0013] The invention further relates to a device for pulse measurement in mammals comprising a Hall sensor and a magnetic object arranged within a measuring range of the Hall sensor on a flexible carrier at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein an evaluation unit is provided which is designed to determine a pulse signal for pulse measurement from the pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object measured by the Hall sensor and the pulse-dependent measurement signal thus obtained.According to the invention, it is proposed that an extraction mechanism is provided which is designed to extract the magnetic object from the measuring area in order to reduce the interaction with the Hall sensor and to measure electromagnetic interference signals, and that an input interface is provided for selecting a processing mode for signal processing tailored to the respective mammal being measured, wherein the evaluation unit is designed to perform signal processing tailored to the respective mammal being measured, which includes a correction of the pulse-dependent measurement signal by the measured electromagnetic interference signals.

[0014] In order to detect higher and high-frequency interference signals in particular, it is further proposed that an additional measuring probe be provided in the measuring area for measuring electromagnetic interference signals due to electromagnetic background radiation.

[0015] The decoupling mechanism can be designed as a movable unit, allowing the magnetic object to be moved from a position within a measuring range defined by the housing of the Hall sensor to a position outside that measuring range. Of course, solutions using swiveling units and the like would also be conceivable.

[0016] Furthermore, it is proposed that the evaluation unit include an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a comparable high-performance programmable logic device for implementing a digital filter for signal conditioning tailored to the specific mammal being measured. In particular, the evaluation unit can be designed to retrieve known filter coefficients for the digital filter from a database of the evaluation unit to detect known pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species selected by the conditioning mode of the respective mammal being measured, and to configure the digital filter using these retrieved filter coefficients.

[0017] If, however, no evaluable pulse signal is found, the evaluation unit may also be designed to adjust the digital filter by varying the filter coefficients of the digital filter in the event of missing or inadequate detection of known pulse signal characteristics.

[0018] Furthermore, it is proposed that the evaluation unit include an AI-based evaluation module designed to capture previously unknown pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species of the measured mammal, as selected by the processing mode, for subsequent storage in the evaluation unit.

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying figures. These figures show the

[0020] Fig. 1a is a schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for pulse measurement in mammals with a coupled magnetic object,

[0021] Fig. 2a shows the embodiment of Fig. 1a with the magnetic object decoupled, and the

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a flowchart for an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0023] Reference is first made to Fig. 1, which shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for pulse measurement in mammals with a magnetic object coupled in (Fig. 1a) and with a magnetic object decoupled (Fig. 1b). The device comprises a housing 8, which in a lower section encloses an empty space forming the measuring area 12, and in an upper section contains the electronic components of the device, such as the evaluation unit 3. The lower section of the housing 8 is covered with a flexible carrier 9, which carries a magnetic object 7. In Fig. 1, the flexible carrier 9 is enclosed by the housing 8; however, the flexible carrier 9 could also be a section of a cuff or the like, with which the device according to the invention can be attached to the mammal to be measured.The flexibility of the flexible carrier 9 is designed in such a way that the surface movements of the skin of the mammal to be measured, caused by the pulse, are translated into movements of the flexible carrier 9 and thus of the magnetic object 7.

[0024] The magnetic object 7 is designed as a permanent magnet and is attached to the flexible carrier 9 such that it faces the interior of the housing 8. It is therefore located within the measuring area 12. At a defined distance from the magnetic object 7, a Hall sensor 1 is arranged on an inner surface of the housing 8, also facing the interior of the housing 8 and located within the measuring area 12. The distance between the Hall sensor 1 and the magnetic object 7 is chosen such that the magnetic field of the magnetic object 7 measurably penetrates the Hall sensor 1. The magnetic flux density generated by the magnetic object 7 in the Hall sensor 1 depends on the spatial distance between the magnetic object 7 and the Hall sensor 1, which in turn is varied by the arterial pulse waves.Therefore, the following refers to a magnetic object 7 "arranged at a defined and pulse-dependent distance" within the measuring range 12 of the Hall sensor 1. The Hall sensor 1 thus measures pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object 7, and an evaluation unit 3 derives a pulse signal for pulse measurement from this pulse-dependent measurement signal. The evaluation unit 3 is located in an upper section of the device and is, for example, implemented on a circuit board that also carries the chip for the FPGA. In the illustrated embodiment, a digital filter 11 (see Fig. 2) is implemented using the FPGA, with which specific frequency ranges of the pulse-dependent measurement signal can be blocked or passed. These frequency ranges are determined by filter coefficients, which, according to the invention, can also be varied to enable signal conditioning tailored to the specific mammal being measured.These filter coefficients are stored in a database 6 of the evaluation unit 3 for different mammal species, for which either known interference signals or known pulse signal characteristics of the desired signal are known. Before measuring a mammal, the device can thus be configured for the corresponding mammal species, for which an input interface 5 of the device is provided. Using the input interface 5, the evaluation unit 3, and in particular the digital filter 11 of the evaluation unit 3, can be configured so that signal processing tailored to the respective mammal being measured can be carried out. Known interference signals are suppressed, and known pulse signal characteristics are passed through.

[0025] A significant source of electromagnetic interference is background radiation, which is primarily of technical origin. This background radiation can vary considerably locally and make measuring a pulse-dependent signal very difficult. To measure this interference spectrum due to background radiation, a measuring probe 2 is arranged in the measuring area 12 in addition to the Hall sensor 1 shown. High sampling rates in the MHz to GHz range and 32-bit digitization are also provided for the signal from measuring probe 2. Recording the background radiation present locally at the measurement location and taking it into account to correct the pulse-dependent signal constitutes a further component of the signal processing, which is tailored to the specific mammal being measured.

[0026] For more precise measurement of electromagnetic interference signals, such as those of the electromagnetic background radiation, a coupling mechanism 10 is also provided, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a movable unit. The coupling mechanism 10 serves to decouple the magnetic object 7 from the measuring range 12 in order to reduce its interaction with the Hall sensor 1 and to measure electromagnetic interference signals. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by physically removing the magnetic object 7 from the measuring range 12, because the magnetic field of the magnetic object 7 would otherwise interfere with the measurement of electromagnetic interference signals. This movable unit is designed such that a drawer-like part with the flexible carrier 9 and the magnetic object 7 attached to it can be extended from the lower part of the housing 8 until the magnetic object 7 is located outside the measuring range 12.Of course, other methods of coupling out of the measuring range 12 are also conceivable, provided that the interaction of the magnetic object 7 with the Hall sensor 1 and the measuring probe 2 is sufficiently reduced. A measurement to determine a pulse signal thus initially consists of a measurement of electromagnetic interference signals with the magnetic object 7 coupled out, using the Hall sensor 1 or the measuring probe 2 arranged in the measuring range 12, and in a subsequent step, a usually repeated measurement of the pulse-dependent measurement signal with the magnetic object 7 coupled in. A repeated measurement of the pulse-dependent measurement signal is provided because the subsequent signal conditioning step should also be possible as a feedback loop, in which measured signal sequences are repeatedly subjected to filtering in the digital filter 11 with changing filter coefficients.This procedure is used when a pulse-dependent measurement signal cannot yield a usable pulse signal. In such cases, a control mode is provided, which is either activated automatically if the evaluation unit 3 detects that no usable pulse signal is present, or manually via the input interface 5 if the user recognizes from an output pulse signal that no usable pulse signal is present. In control mode, if known pulse signal characteristics are not detected or are insufficiently detected, the filter coefficients of the digital filter 11 are readjusted. When a usable pulse signal is detected, the control mode is exited and the signal processing step is terminated.

[0027] In the subsequent signal evaluation step, the pulse signal is analyzed by determining pulse signal characteristics such as pulse wave amplitude, pulse frequency, or pulse wave transit time. In the illustrated embodiment, this signal evaluation is performed using an AI-based evaluation module of the evaluation unit 3, which can also capture previously unknown pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species being measured and store them in the database 6. The evaluated pulse signal can then be retrieved via an output interface 4 and can, for example, be displayed on a display unit integrated into the device or transmitted to an external device for playback.The external device can be a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone ("smartphone"), or a tablet, laptop, or other device that preferably has a short-range communication interface based, for example, on "Bluetooth" technology, enabling data exchange with other devices within a limited radius of 10-100 m. The mobile communication device can be equipped with user-specific operating software (for example, an "application" or "app") that allows the mobile communication device to detect and read the pulse signal via its short-range communication interface.It should be noted that for this form of signal transmission it is essential that the steps of signal processing and signal evaluation have already been carried out locally in the evaluation unit 3 of the device, which results in enormous data reduction, and a data-reduced, usable pulse signal is available at the output interface 4 for transmission and playback.

[0028] One embodiment of the method according to the invention is explained below with reference to Fig. 2. As already described, a measurement to determine a pulse signal initially consists of a measurement of electromagnetic interference signals with the magnetic object 7 coupled out, using the Hall sensor 1 or the measuring probe 2 arranged in the measuring area 12. This measurement primarily concerns electromagnetic interference signals due to electromagnetic background radiation using the measuring probe 2, but can also include measured electromagnetic interference signals originating from the mammal under investigation itself and measured by the measuring probe 2 or the Hall sensor 1. In a subsequent step, the pulse-dependent measurement signal is determined with the magnetic object 7 coupled in, usually in a repeated measurement.In a first step of signal processing, the pulse-dependent measurement signals are corrected for the electromagnetic interference signals detected in the previous step using evaluation unit 3. This correction can be performed using analog signals or digitized signals. Methods for correcting a measurement signal for electromagnetic interference signals are known per se. As already explained, electromagnetic interference signals can vary considerably depending on the location and the mammal being measured. Therefore, recording the electromagnetic interference signals present at the measurement site and taking them into account to correct the pulse-dependent measurement signal is an integral part of the signal processing tailored to the specific mammal being measured.

[0029] The processed signal is then fed to a digital filter 11, at which point it must be digitized via an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). High sampling rates in the MHz to GHz range are used for this purpose, along with a digitization that exceeds the currently common 8-bit digitization. For example, a 32-bit digitization is used at the time of registration.

[0030] The digital filter 11 can be configured by selecting appropriate filter coefficients. This is achieved by selecting the relevant mammal species in a processing mode adjustable via input interface 5. For example, in the aforementioned example of pulse measurement in a horse, the user can select the processing mode for the mammal species "horse" via input interface 5 before starting the measurement and then initiate the measurement. Subsequently, configurations such as filter coefficients and the like for this mammal species are retrieved from database 6 for the digital filter 11, and the digital filter 11 is configured accordingly. The pulse-dependent measurement signal is thus further processed by suppressing known interference signals and allowing known pulse signal characteristics to pass through. In this way, signal processing is tailored to the specific mammal being measured.

[0031] Since the pulse signal to be measured is usually weak, repeated measurements of the pulse-dependent signal are provided. For the subsequent signal conditioning step, a feedback loop is used in which measured signal sequences are repeatedly subjected to filtering in the digital filter 11 with varying filter coefficients. As already mentioned, a control mode is provided for this purpose. This mode is either automatically activated if the evaluation unit 3 detects that no usable pulse signal is present, or manually activated via the input interface 5 if the user recognizes from an output pulse signal that no usable pulse signal is present. In control mode, if known pulse signal characteristics are not detected or are detected inadequately, the filter coefficients of the digital filter 11 are readjusted (path "NO" in Fig. 2).When a usable pulse signal is present, the control mode is exited and the signal processing step is terminated (path “JA” in Fig. 2).

[0032] In the subsequent step of signal evaluation, the pulse signal is analyzed by determining pulse signal characteristics such as pulse wave amplitude, pulse frequency, or pulse wave transit time. This signal evaluation is labeled "Evaluation" in Fig. 2 and, in the illustrated embodiment, is performed using an AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based evaluation module of the evaluation unit 3. This module can also capture previously unknown pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species being measured and store them in the database 6. It is evident that the signal processing and signal evaluation processes are dynamic processes that are increasingly optimized with a growing number of measurements, both on a specific mammal and in the course of measuring many different mammals; in other words, they are "capable of learning."In the context of AI, this is also referred to as "training" the AI, which involves repeatedly performing measurements. The AI-based evaluation module not only improves the recognition of pulse signal characteristics from different mammal species, but also the detection of interference signals from different mammal species, so that the signal processing tailored to the specific mammal being measured can be continuously improved.

[0033] The evaluated pulse signal can subsequently be retrieved via an output interface 4 and can, for example, be displayed via a display unit provided on the device, or transmitted to an external device for playback, as already explained.

[0034] Thus, a method and a device for pulse measurement in mammals are realized, enabling more accurate measurements and reliable recording of diagnostically usable pulse signals.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. A method for measuring pulse in mammals using a Hall sensor (1) and a magnetic object (7) arranged within a measuring range (12) of the Hall sensor (1) at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object (7) are measured using the Hall sensor (1) and a pulse signal for pulse measurement is determined from this pulse-dependent measurement signal using an evaluation unit (3), characterized in that in a prior step of the measurement the magnetic object (7) is coupled out of the measuring range (12) to reduce the interaction with the Hall sensor (1) and electromagnetic interference signals are measured using the Hall sensor (1) or a measuring probe (2) arranged in the measuring range (12),and in a subsequent step of the measurement, the magnetic object (7) is coupled into the measuring area (12) to establish an interaction with the Hall sensor (1), and the pulse-dependent measurement signal is measured using the Hall probe (1), wherein in a subsequent step, signal processing of the pulse-dependent measurement signal is carried out in a processing mode adjustable via an input interface (5), a signal processing adapted to the respective mammal being measured is carried out, which includes a correction of the pulse-dependent measurement signal by the measured electromagnetic interference signals.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal processing adapted to the respective measured mammal additionally comprises a filtering of the pulse-dependent measurement signal for the detection of pulse signal characteristics known for the mammal species of the respective measured mammal.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the filtering of the pulse-dependent measurement signal is carried out using a digital filter (11) of the evaluation unit (3), wherein known filter coefficients of the digital filter (11) for the detection of known pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species of the respective measured mammal set by selecting the processing mode are retrieved from a database (6) of the evaluation unit (3) for configuring the digital filter (11).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the digital filter (11) is readjusted by means of a control system in the event of a lack of or insufficient detection of known pulse signal characteristics by varying filter coefficients of the digital filter (11).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the control is carried out in a control mode that can be selected manually via the input interface (5) or that is carried out automatically.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that previously unknown pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species of the respective measured mammal are recorded and stored in the database (6) using an AI-based evaluation module of the evaluation unit (3).

7. Device for pulse measurement in mammals comprising a Hall sensor (1) and a magnetic object (7) arranged within a measuring range (12) of the Hall sensor (1) on a flexible carrier (9) at a defined and pulse-dependent distance, wherein an evaluation unit (3) is provided which is designed to derive from the pulse-dependent distances to the magnetic object measured by the Hall sensor (1) to determine a pulse signal for pulse measurement from the object (7) and the pulse-dependent measurement signal thus obtained, characterized in that a coupling mechanism (10) is provided which is designed to couple the magnetic object (7) out of the measuring area (12) to reduce the interaction with the Hall sensor (1) and to measure electromagnetic interference signals, and an input interface (5) is provided for selecting a processing mode for signal processing adapted to the respective mammal being measured, wherein the evaluation unit (3) is designed to perform signal processing adapted to the respective mammal being measured, which includes a correction of the pulse-dependent measurement signal by the measured electromagnetic interference signals.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that an additional measuring probe (2) is provided in the measuring area (12) for measuring electromagnetic interference signals due to electromagnetic background radiation.

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the coupling mechanism (10) is designed as a movable unit with which the magnetic object (7) can be moved from a position within a measuring range (12) of the Hall sensor (1) defined by the housing (8) to a position outside the measuring range (12).

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the evaluation unit (3) comprises an FPGA for implementing a digital filter (11) for signal processing tailored to the mammal being measured.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the evaluation unit (3) is designed to retrieve known filter coefficients of the digital filter (11) for the detection of known pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species of the mammal being measured, as set by selecting the processing mode, from a database (6) of the evaluation unit (3) and to configure the digital filter (11) using the retrieved filter coefficients.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the evaluation unit is designed to adjust the digital filter (11) in the absence or insufficient detection of known pulse signal characteristics by means of a control in which filter coefficients of the digital filter (11) are varied.

13. Device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the evaluation unit (3) comprises an AI-based evaluation module designed to capture previously unknown pulse signal characteristics of the mammal species of the respective measured mammal, as set by selecting the processing mode, for subsequent storage in the evaluation unit (3).

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