Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a measuring device, a measuring apparatus and a method for measuring and monitoring biological information such as pulse rate, electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalogram (EEG).

Background of the Invention

The act of monitoring biological information of a body is nowadays an important part of physical exercise and health care. It is advantageous to measure biological information from an ear canal, because the skin of the ear canal is usually relatively thin, inelastic, and adherent to the tissue underneath, which makes the measurement easier and more reliable. There are methods for measuring physiological signals from an ear. There are methods for example for measuring and monitoring biological information such as oxygen saturation, blood sugar level or pulse rate by using an optical sensor in an ear.

In general, there are several techniques for detecting e.g. pulse rate using an external non-invasive detector. One type of a pulse rate detector is an ECG device. The ECG device requires at least two electrodes to be in contact with the body of the user to be measured and/or monitored. Electrodes on or inside the body are normally located so that they are on different sides of the heart measuring the activity of different parts of the heart muscle. The ECG measures the voltage between at least one pair of these electrodes, and the muscle activity that they measure is also understood as vectors. A normal way of measuring ECG is to attach the electrodes to arms and chest, so called 12-lead ECG that is commonly used as clinical indication for a heart condition. There are also various wearable systems such as a so called heart rate monitor based on a strip with electrodes around the chest. One example of ECG measurement is disclosed in the US publication 23045787 by Schulze et al., where ECG signals are measured by using an ear sensor and a waist sensor. In addition, modern devices and methods for measuring and monitoring bioelectric signal patterns are typically only available in laboratory settings and/or operated by trained technicians. These devices are difficult to use while performing physical exercise, other normal daily activities (e.g. the work, recreation or operating a vehicle) or perhaps in a scene of an accident for determining the condition of a patient. Usually these devices are not reliably enough to be used in those circumstances. In addition, the measuring device is typically a special system developed just for measuring and not suitable for other purposes.

Summary of the Invention

An improved method and technical equipment implementing the method has now been invented, by which the drawbacks of the prior art are alleviated. Various aspects of the invention include a method, a device and an apparatus, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, a method according to the invention is based on the idea of measuring biologic signal patterns in which method the measuring is carried out by at least two sensors, a first sensor being integrated into a first earpiece, and a second sensor being integrated into a second earpiece. The method comprises inserting said earpieces in both ear canals or in close proximity to both ear canals, measuring biological signal patterns from ears using said sensors, processing said biological signal patterns and providing information based on processed signal patterns.

According to a second aspect, a device according to the invention comprises at least two earpieces configured to be inserted in both ear canals or in close proximity to both ear canals. Earpieces comprises at least two sensors, a first sensor being integrated into a first earpiece, and a second sensor being integrated into a second earpiece, and said sensors being configured to measure biological signal patterns simultaneously. The simultaneous measurement means that the measurement is performed in the same period of time from both ears. It is also possible to use terms synchronously or at the same time instead of the term simultaneously. Furthermore, according to the third aspect an apparatus according to the invention comprises two earpieces configured to be inserted in both ear canals or in close proximity to both ear canals, at least one processing unit configured to process the biological signal data and at least one output unit configured to provide information based on the biological signal data. Earpieces as a measuring device comprises at least two sensors for measuring biological signal patterns from both ears of a user, a first sensor being integrated into a first earpiece, and a second sensor being integrated into a second earpiece. Said at least one measurement device, said at least one processing unit and said at least one output unit are configured to communicate the biological signal data with each other.

The arrangement according to the invention provides significant advantages. It is advantageous to measure biological information simultaneously from both ear canals because the simultaneous use of both ear canals increases reliability and also makes it possible to measure electric potentials, the voltage between electrodes, which are necessary when measuring e.g. ECG signals. In addition, the simultaneous measuring from both ears enables minimizing a motion artefact. It should also be noticed that external points in close proximity to the ear are also suitable locations to monitor biological signals. The arrangement also provides an extremely simple way of measuring ECG and heart rate that can be used in a number of applications from sports to emergency situations and further in hospital environments. Further measurement device or apparatus can be integrated into earpieces for listening music, sound protection etc, thus providing ways of heart rate and ECG measurement without practically changing the user experience. In addition, all recorded signals that can be extracted form the measurement can be used as feedback to other systems and devices such as exercise equipments, control, computing, gaming, audiovisual or mobile systems.

Description of the Drawings

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the appended figures in which Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a measuring apparatus for biological information in one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a front view of one embodiment of a measuring apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows a front view of one embodiment of a measuring apparatus according to the invention, and

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating the steps employed in measuring, processing and outputting a biological signal pattern, according to one embodiment of the present invention

Detailed Description of Embodiments

The measuring device of the present invention comprises at least two sensors configured to be inserted within the ear canals or next to both ears of the user, at least one sensor for both ears, to measure biological signal patterns simultaneously from both ears. Bioelectric signal patterns to be measured are for example, the pulse rate, electrocardiograph (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), electro-oculography (EOG) and bioimpedance. These measurements are based on a determination of the electric field of biological sources, such as muscles, heart, nerves, and brain or voltages generated by applied electric sources such as bioimpedance measurement of blood circulations or changes of impedance of the head tissues due to various pathological conditions, with electrodes connected to both ears. The ECG and EEG measurements usually require only one electrode for both ears, whereas bioimpedance measurement in most cases needs at least two electrodes for both ears. In typical cases the electrodes in use are capacitive electrodes or conventional electrodes based on galvanic contact.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of the invention where a measuring apparatus 10 comprises a measuring device comprising at least one ECG electrode 7 integrated into both earpieces 1 , a head band 4, a separate processing unit 2, and a portable computer unit 5 as an output unit. Earpieces 1 with ECG electrodes 7, are inserted into both ears of a user 6 and ECG electrodes 7 measure bioelectric signal pattern, ECG 3. The processing unit 2 is configured to receive bioelectric signal data from ECG electrodes 7 via wired or wireless connection. After receiving the bioelectric signal data, the processing unit 2 processes and analyzes the data, e.g. by removing artefacts and identifying the pulse rate. The processed data, ECG 3, is transmitted via wired or wireless connection to the portable computer unit 5 e.g. PDA for displaying the information to the user 6.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of a wired measuring apparatus 20 according to an embodiment, where the measuring apparatus 20 comprises two ECG electrodes which are integrated with earpieces 21 , and which measure biological signal data, ECG. Earpieces 21 are connected with a wired connection 24 to the processing unit 22. The wired connection 24 is used to transmit the measured signal data to the processing unit 22 for processing and for calculating R-peaks of the ECG signal for heart rate. Then the processed signal, i.e. the heart rate value 25, is transmitted for displaying to a display of a mobile phone 23. This heart rate value 25 may also be transmitted to earpieces 21 as an audio message by using the wired connection 24.

An alternate wireless embodiment of a measuring apparatus 30 for e.g. an exerciser is illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein electrodes, e.g. ECG electrodes, of the measuring device are integrated into both earpieces 31 comprising a transceiver using, for example, RF or other ways of transmission. The transceiver is configured to transmit the measured ECG signal or processed data via a wireless connection 32 to a wrist computer 33 for heart rate processing, where ECG signal can be processed as R-peaks for the heart rate are calculated from the ECG signal data, for displaying the heart rate value 34 for the exerciser and transmitting instructions and/or inspiration for the exerciser to the earpieces 31 on the basis of the calculated heart rate value 34 with wireless connection 32.

However, according to another embodiment, a measuring device suitable for measuring biological signal patterns other than bioelectric signal patterns, may comprise e.g. optical sensors, film-type sensors (for example electromechanical film EMFI or piezoelectric PVDF sensors), acceleration transducers, and/or microphones. Optical sensors can be used to measure, for example, blood flow or oxygen saturation, EMFI sensors can be used to measure, for example, movement in a tissue and movement of the sensors when compared to the skin of a user, acceleration transducers can be used to measure, for example, movement of the user and microphones can be used to analyze, for example, external noise for analyzing a state or location of a user. In addition, an embodiment of measuring apparatus can also comprise coils producing magnetic fields for generating currents in tissues for bioimpedance measurement. These bioimpedance measurements usually require at least one pair of electrodes. All these can be combined for various health care, sport activity etc. services.

According to an embodiment, sensors, such as capacitive and galvanic type of electrodes, are usually fabricated from materials, which are suitable for bioelectrical measurements and electrically conductive or from materials suitable for other biological measurements. They may be fabricated from various polymers, elastomers, textile fibre, and metal films. Various adaptive materials (e.g. elastomers and polymers) can be used to fit the earpiece so that the movement of the earpiece connection in the ear canal or near the ear is restricted to enhance the stability of the measurement and the comfort of the system. In addition, contacts between ear canals and sensors are preferably flexible, and the part of the sensor that is meant to be positioned in the ear canal is usually elastic and adaptive. Due to the delicate structure of the skin there is no need for adhesives and gels which are used with some other skin-contact electrodes

It is preferred to integrate a measuring device comprising at least two sensors into earpieces, at least one sensor for each earpiece. Instead of earpieces it is possible to use any other type of speakers comprising two ear parts, one for each ear, suitable to be placed inside or held near to the ear with or without a head band e.g. headgear receivers, headphones, headset. This integration is preferred because it is possible to use these earpieces not only for measuring and monitoring but also for listening to music, as a hands- free equipment for mobile phones and as a feedback canal for information on e.g. measured results or messages based on measured and/or processed results of a body condition. Thus, the user wearing such earpieces with a measuring device may continuously receive updated information on the body condition without having to look at a display. The whole measuring device or at least one sensor of the measuring device can be integrated into those parts of the earpiece that is meant to be positioned into ear canals or to a head band of an earpiece in a way that sensor/s are located around both ears or within the ear canals.

In addition to the measuring device, a measuring apparatus according to the embodiments usually comprises a processing unit, an output unit and transmission means like transmitters, receivers or transceivers. The processing unit can be used to process, analyze or calculate the measured biological signal patterns, wherein the processing of measured signal patterns additionally includes execution of amplification and appropriate biopotential filtering schemes in order to distinguish the various bioelectrical and/or other values measured by the sensors. The processing of measured bioelectrical signal patterns includes converting the detected potentials from analog to digital signals for processing. The transmitter can be used to transmit measured signals and processed signals, the receiver can be used to receive e.g. results (the term "result" covers all measured and/or processed results or messages or other information based on measured and/or processed results regarding a body condition), the transceiver can be used to carry out the same functions as the transmitter and the receiver. The processing unit may be a separate device or integrated into the measuring device or into the output unit, which can be any device suitable to indicate the results visually or acoustically, for example an audiovisual or sensory information display, a computer, a monitor, a patient monitor in a hospital or in an ambulance, a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a wrist computer, earpieces or some other remote or mobile device. In addition, instructions or information based on measured data may be provided to the display of the output unit or to the earpiece of a healthcare professional via wired of wireless connection. Measured and/or processed signal data may be stored in a computer readable medium of the processing unit or the output unit or other remote device for possible later use or comparison. The connection between the measuring device and units can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

Most conveniently the measuring device has a miniature size and is adapted to be worn in ear canals or next to the ears of the user so as not to interfere in any way with the activities of the user. In addition, ear canals offer non- moveable location for the electrodes thus minimizing the signal variation due to misplaced electrodes. In addition, it is advantageous to design the earpiece comprising a measuring device so that it is fast and easy to put on and easy to use, for example, when exercising or resting, in a scene of an accident, in an operating theatre or in an intensive care.

Fig. 4 is an illustrative depiction of the general steps employed by measuring apparatuses using a measuring device according to the embodiments. In the first step 41 , at least two sensors, the measuring device or alternatively a combination of these is positioned within and/or in proximity to both ear canals of a user. Once properly positioned, sensors may measure 42 detected biological signal patterns associated with ECG, EMG, EOG, EEG, blood flow, bioimpedance, tissue electric properties, blood circulation, tissue impedance, tissue composition, oxygen saturation value, blood sugar or lactate level value. Then a processing unit may process 43 and/or calculate the measured signal data. Processed signal patterns may then be temporarily stored in a computer readable medium of the processing unit to be further transmitted to the output unit via transceiver. Therefore, the measured or processed result or information based on measured and processed signal data is provided or displayed 44 by the output unit e.g. earpieces or a display of a remote or mobile device. It is also possible to store the measured/processed data in a computer readable medium of the device operating as an output unit. Additionally, the processing may be performed by the processor unit of the remote or mobile device operating as the output unit. Further, the measured or processed signal data for a user, for example, under constant medical surveillance may be stored at a remote location.

The above-mentioned embodiments do not restrict the scope of the invention. It is possible that there are, for example, two earpieces, one for user as a patient for measuring and one for a healthcare professional examining the patient, and the results or messages or alerts are transmitted to earpieces of the healthcare professional. In addition, it is possible to integrate sensors also into a hat, a cap, a hearing-aid, a helmet, or the earpiece of eyeglasses. Also, the results may be transmitted to be displayed for e.g. a trainer/coach. In addition, it is possible to transmit the results to be displayed in the internet. It should also be noticed that the number of measuring devices integrated into the same two earpieces is not restricted; for example, there could be e.g. an ECG measuring device and a measuring device measuring lactate value in the same earpieces. Additionally, the processing unit of the measuring apparatus can distinguish the measured bioelectric signal data e.g. ECG and other signals. Thus, it provides feedback to other systems and equipments such as exercise, computing, control, gaming, audiovisual or mobile devices. The system or equipment changes its operation on the basis of the feedback from the measuring apparatus.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can also be implemented by embodiments other than those described above which are presented for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.