Wearable device

Abstract

An adapter (100) comprises a first base material (101), a second base material (102), a first connector (103a), a second connector (103b), a third connector (104a), a fourth connector (104b), first wiring (105a), and second wiring (105b). The first base material (101) is composed of a flexible sheet-like material and has an inclined region (153) that gently inclines from an inner region (151) to an outer region (152), the inner region (151) being recessed with respect to the outer region (152). The second base material (102) is composed of a flexible sheet-like material, and is formed on the first base material (101) following the surface shape of the first base material (101).

Description

Wearable device

[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable device.

[0002] The number of heart disease patients is increasing year by year. For early detection, continuous electrocardiogram waveform measurement for a long time in daily life is necessary. For this reason, development of wearable devices capable of electrocardiogram waveform measurement not only in hospitals and facilities but also in the daily life of patients at home is in progress. For example, a Holter electrocardiograph such as Non-Patent Document 1 is commercially available (Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] Such an electrocardiograph can perform stable measurement even when the wearer moves the body and is suitable for long-term measurement. However, since the Holter electrocardiograph requires wiring to be routed and a plurality of electrodes to be attached at correct positions, it is troublesome for the user and at the same time there is a problem with the feeling of wearing. In addition, since the price is also in the hundreds of thousands of yen, there is also an issue in terms of cost.

[0004] The above problems can be improved by making the electrocardiograph into a patch type configuration consisting of a terminal and an adapter with electrodes. An example of a patch type electrocardiograph is shown in FIG. 5. The patch type electrocardiograph is composed of a measuring device 130 that measures a biological signal and an adapter 200. The measuring device 130 processes the measured biological signal and wirelessly transmits it to an external device.

[0005] The adapter 200 includes a base material 201 made of a flexible material, first electrodes 203a and 203b formed on the surface of the base material 201 on the side that contacts the human body 131 in the outer region, and first connectors 204a and 204b provided in the inner region. The first connectors 204a and 204b are paired with the connectors of the measuring device 130 respectively and are detachable. Examples of the first connectors 204a and 204b include snap buttons (such as American snaps). In addition, an adhesive sheet 202 is provided at the location that contacts the human body 131. The adhesive sheet 202 is a double-sided adhesive sheet for biological use.

[0006] These small electrode-equipped adapters can be mass-produced and disposable, which can help reduce the cost of wearable devices. Furthermore, since the electrode-equipped adapters are simply attached to a part of the body, they are easy to use and improve user convenience.

[0007] promed, "Holter ECG", Promed Technology Co., Ltd., [Retrieved October 8, 2020], (https: / / www.promed-tech.com / a / products / lm1 / 169.html).

[0008] However, the use of disposable electrode adapters does not sufficiently reduce user costs (running costs), and further cost reduction efforts are desired.

[0009] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a wearable device that is inexpensive for the user.

[0010] The wearable device according to the present invention comprises: a first substrate made of a flexible material and having a sloped region that slopes gently from an inner region to an outer region, with the inner region recessed relative to the outer region; a second substrate made of a flexible material and formed on the first substrate along the surface shape of the first substrate; a first connector and a second connector formed on the outer surface of the first substrate in the outer region; a third connector and a fourth connector formed on the outer surface of the second substrate in the inner region; a first wiring formed between the first substrate and the second substrate connecting the first connector and the third connector; and a second wiring formed between the first substrate and the second substrate connecting the second connector and the fourth connector.

[0011] As described above, according to the present invention, since the first substrate is provided with a sloped region that slopes gently from the inner region to the outer region, a wearable device that is less expensive for the user can be provided.

[0012] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a wearable device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the configuration of a wearable device. Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the configuration of a wearable device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure for attaching the wearable device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a wearable device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a typical patch-type electrocardiograph.

[0013] The following describes a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] First, a wearable device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. This wearable device includes an adapter 100. The adapter 100 includes a first base material 101, a second base material 102, a first connector 103a, a second connector 103b, a third connector 104a, a fourth connector 104b, a first wiring 105a, and a second wiring 105b.

[0015] The first base material 101 is made of a flexible sheet-like material and has an inclined region 153 that slopes gently from the inner region 151 to the outer region 152, with the inner region 151 being recessed relative to the outer region 152. The second base material 102 is made of a flexible sheet-like material and is formed on the first base material 101 in accordance with the surface shape of the first base material 101.

[0016] The first connector 103a and the second connector 103b are formed on the outer surface of the first substrate 101 in the outer region 152. The first connector 103a and the second connector 103b are formed on the outer surface of the first substrate 101 on the side facing the human body 131 to be attached. The third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b are formed on the outer surface of the second substrate 102 in the inner region 151. On the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102, the inner region 151 is recessed relative to the outer region 152 on the surfaces where the third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b are formed.

[0017] The first wiring 105a is formed between the first base material 101 and the second base material 102 and connects the first connector 103a and the third connector 104a. The second wiring 105b is formed between the first base material 101 and the second base material 102 and connects the second connector 103b and the fourth connector 104b.

[0018] For example, holes are formed in the first base material 101 where the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b are to be installed, and the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b are fitted into the formed holes so as to connect to the first wiring 105a and the second wiring 105b. Similarly, holes are formed in the second base material 102 where the third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b are to be installed, and the third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b are fitted into the formed holes so as to connect to the first wiring 105a and the second wiring 105b.

[0019] For example, in a plan view from the normal direction to the surface of the first substrate 101 in the inner region 151, the first connector 103a, the second connector 103b, the third connector 104a, and the fourth connector 104b can be arranged in a straight line. Also, the distance between the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b is greater than the distance between the third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b. For example, the distance between the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b can be about 10 cm, and the distance between the third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b can be about 5 cm.

[0020] The first base material 101 and the second base material 102 can be made from, for example, silicone rubber, polyethylene, foamed polyethylene, polyimide, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), etc. The first connector 103a, the second connector 103b, the third connector 104a, and the fourth connector 104b can be made from, for example, snap buttons (such as American snaps) or magnetic hooks. The first wiring 105a and the second wiring 105b can be made from, for example, Ag / AgCl sheets, silver paste, copper foil, conductive fabric, etc.

[0021] A biomedical electrode 120 is connected to the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b. The biomedical electrode 120 comprises an electrode 122 for measuring biological signals, a connector 123 for connecting to the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b, and an adhesive substrate 124 for adhering to the skin of the human body 131. These are supported by a support 121. A commonly available conductive gel electrode can be used as the biomedical electrode 120.

[0022] A measuring device 130, which measures biological signals and is sized to fit within the inner region 151, is connected to the third connector 104a and the fourth connector 104b. The measuring device 130 is positioned in the inner region 151, which is recessed relative to the outer region 152. The measuring device 130 processes the biological signals measured by the biomedical electrodes 120 and transmits them wirelessly to an external device.

[0023] With the biomedical electrodes 120 connected to the first connector 103a and the second connector 103b, the outer surface 101a of the first substrate 101 in the inner region 151 is made contact with the human body 131 to be attached.

[0024] According to Embodiment 1, since the adapter has an inclined region 153, the overall thickness of the adapter 100 can be reduced, and at the same time, the wobbling of the bottom of the inner region 151 of the adapter 100 that comes into contact with the human body 131 can be suppressed.

[0025] The change in the thickness of the adapter 100 with and without the inclined region 153 will be explained with reference to Figures 2A and 2B. Figure 2A shows the case without the inclined region 153, and Figure 2B shows the case with the inclined region 153. In Figure 2A, the total thickness of the adapter 100 is T1, and in Figure 2B, the total thickness of the adapter 100 is T2.

[0026] If there is no inclined region 153, as shown in Figure 2A, the distance between the upper ends of the second connector 103b and the upper end of the fourth connector 104b, which are facing in opposite directions, becomes the total thickness T1 of the adapter 100. The thickness T1 is the thickness of the first base material 101 + the thickness of the second base material 102 + the thickness of the exposed portion of the second connector 103b + the thickness of the exposed portion of the fourth connector 104b.

[0027] On the other hand, by providing an inclined region 153 at an appropriate angle, as shown in Figure 2B, the outer surface of the first base material 101 and the upper end of the second connector 103b can be placed on the same plane, and the outer surface of the second base material 102 and the upper end of the fourth connector 104b can be placed on the same plane. In this way, the thickness T2 becomes the thickness of the first base material 101 + the thickness of the second base material 102 + the thickness of the exposed portion of the second connector 103b (= the thickness of the exposed portion of the fourth connector 104b). In this way, by providing an inclined region 153 at an appropriate angle, the thickness T2 can be made smaller than the thickness T1 by the thickness of the exposed portion of the connector.

[0028] Next, an example of the procedure for attaching a wearable device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3.

[0029] First, in the first step S101, the biomedical electrode 120 is attached to the adapter 100. Then, in the second step S102, the measuring device 130 is attached to the adapter 100. Note that the order of the first step S101 and the second step S102 can be reversed. Next, in the third step S103, the adapter 100 with the biomedical electrode 120 and measuring device 130 attached is attached to the human body 131. When attaching the adapter 100 to the skin of the human body 131, it is important to ensure that both biomedical electrodes 120 and the outer surface 101a are in close contact with the skin.

[0030] [Embodiment 2] Next, a wearable device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. This wearable device includes an adapter 100'. The adapter 100' includes a first base material 101, a second base material 102, a first connector 103a, a second connector 103b, a third connector 104a, a fourth connector 104b, a first wiring 105a, and a second wiring 105b.

[0031] These configurations are the same as those of Embodiment 1 described above, except that in Embodiment 2, the first base material 101 and the second base material 102 of the inclined region 153 are formed to be thicker than at least one of the inner region 151 and the outer region 152. This configuration makes it possible to further suppress wobbling in the inner region 151.

[0032] As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first substrate is provided with a sloped region that slopes gently from the inner region to the outer region, making it possible to provide a wearable device that is less expensive for the user.

[0033] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is clear that many modifications and combinations can be implemented within the technical concept of the present invention by those with ordinary skill in the art.

[0034] 100...Adapter, 101...First substrate, 101a...Outer surface, 102...Second substrate, 103a...First connector, 103b...Second connector, 104a...Third connector, 104b...Fourth connector, 105a...First wiring, 105b...Second wiring, 120...Bioelectrode, 121...Support, 122...Electrode, 123...Connector, 124...Adhesive substrate, 130...Measuring device, 131...Human body, 151...Inner region, 152...Outer region, 153...Inclined region.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising: a first substrate made of a flexible material and having a sloped region that slopes gently from an inner region to an outer region, with the inner region recessed relative to the outer region; a second substrate made of a flexible material and formed on the first substrate in accordance with the surface shape of the first substrate; a first connector and a second connector formed on the outer surface of the first substrate in the outer region; a third connector and a fourth connector formed on the outer surface of the second substrate in the inner region; a first wiring formed between the first substrate and the second substrate connecting the first connector and the third connector; and a second wiring formed between the first substrate and the second substrate connecting the second connector and the fourth connector.

2. A wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are connected to bioelectrodes, and the third connector and the fourth connector are connected to measuring devices for measuring biosignals.

3. A wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the bioelectrodes are connected to the first connector and the second connector, and the outer surface of the first substrate in the inner region is made contact with the human body to which it is worn.

4. A wearable device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate in the inclined region are formed to be thicker than at least one of the inner region and the outer region.

Images