DEVICE FOR MEASURING A PRESSURE FORCE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring a pressure force. The device (1) comprises a hand-held body (10) made of an elastic material (8) and a sensor unit (11). The sensor unit (11) is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body (10) such that a force (F) applied by a person (12) onto the hand-held body (10) is transmitted via the elastic material (8) of the hand-held body (10) to the sensor unit (11). The sensor unit (11) is configured for measuring a pressure force (F.sub.p) which is transmitted to the sensor unit (11) and which is caused by the force (F) applied onto the hand-held body (10) by the person (12). Moreover, the sensor unit (11) is configured for generating data corresponding to the measured pressure force (F.sub.p). The invention further relates to a system (2) for determining a sensation experienced by a person (12), the use of a device (1) for evaluating a current pain sensation perceived by a person (12) and a method for determining a sensation experienced by a person (12).

Claims

1. A device for measuring a pressure force, comprising: a hand-held body made of an elastic material; a sensor unit; wherein the sensor unit is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body such that a force applied by a person onto the hand-held body is transmitted via the elastic material of the hand-held body to the sensor unit; wherein the sensor unit is configured for measuring a pressure force which is transmitted to the sensor unit and which is caused by the force applied onto the hand-held body by the person; and wherein the sensor unit is configured for generating data corresponding to the measured pressure force.

2. The device according to claim 1, comprising: an interface configured to transmit the generated data corresponding to the measured pressure force to an external evaluation system.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the interface is configured to wirelessly transmit the data corresponding to the measured pressure force.

4. The device according to any one of claims 2, wherein the hand-held body comprises an opening in which the interface is located such that the interface is connectable to the external evaluation system using a wirebound connection.

5. The device according to claim 1, comprising: a storage medium configured to store the data corresponding to the measured pressure force; wherein the storage medium is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body.

6. The device according to claim 1, comprising: an output unit for providing an acoustic and/or haptic signal to the person at a predeterminable time; wherein the output unit is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body.

7. The device according to claim 1, comprising: a pin-shaped member which is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body; wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one sensor which is attached to an outside of the pin-shaped member.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a curved surface which is adapted to a contour of the pin-shaped member.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is attached to a lateral surface of the pin-shaped member.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is configured for measuring an intensity of the measured pressure force, wherein the intensity of the measured pressure force corresponds to a level of a sensation perceived by the person.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is adapted for measuring an electric conductivity of the at least one sensor, and wherein the sensor unit is adapted for calculating an intensity of the pressure force based on the measured electric conductivity of the at least one sensor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is adapted for measuring an electric resistance of the at least one sensor, and wherein the sensor unit is adapted for calculating an intensity of the pressure force based on the measured electric resistance of the at least one sensor.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is adapted for automatically changing from an active modus into a standby modus, if no pressure force is measured by the sensor unit for a predetermined time period, and wherein the sensor unit is adapted for automatically changing from the standby modus into the active modus, if a predetermined pressure force is measured by the sensor unit.

14. A system for determining a sensation experienced by a person, comprising: a device comprising: a hand-held body made of an elastic material; a sensor unit wherein the sensor unit is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body such that a force applied by a person onto the hand-held body is transmitted via the elastic material of the hand-held body to the sensor unit wherein the sensor unit is configured for measuring a pressure force which is transmitted to the sensor unit and which is caused by the force applied onto the hand-held body by the person; wherein the sensor unit is configured for generating data corresponding to the measured pressure force; an external evaluation system configured to receive the data corresponding to the measured pressure force via an interface; and wherein the external evaluation system is configured for determining a sensation experienced by the person based on the received data.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the external evaluation system is configured for monitoring an effectiveness of a pharmaceutical administered to the person.

16. (canceled)

17. A method for determining a sensation experienced by a person, comprising the steps: applying a force onto a hand-held body by a person squeezing the hand-held body; measuring by means of a sensor unit a pressure force onto the hand-held body which is transmitted to the sensor unit and which is caused by the force applied by the person, wherein the sensor unit is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body; and generating data corresponding to the measured pressure force by means of the sensor unit.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: transmitting the data corresponding to the measured pressure force via an interface to an external evaluation system by means of a wireless or wirebound connection; evaluating a sensation experienced by the person based on the data corresponding to the measured pressure force by means of the external evaluation system.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of measuring an electric conductivity of the at least one sensor by means of the sensor unit, and calculating an intensity of the pressure force based on the measured electric conductivity of the at least one sensor by means of the sensor unit.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of measuring an electric resistance of the at least one sensor by means of the sensor unit, and calculating an intensity of the pressure force based on the measured electric resistance of the at least one sensor by means of the sensor unit.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of automatically changing from an active-modus into a stand-by-modus by means of the sensor unit, if no pressure force is measured by the sensor unit for a predetermined time period , and automatically changing from the stand-by-modus into the active-modus by means of the sensor unit, if a predetermined pressure force is measured by the sensor unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] FIG. 1 schematically shows a device for measuring a pressure force according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a device for measuring a pressure force according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the device for measuring a pressure force according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0066] FIG. 4A shows a system for determining a sensation experienced by a person according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0067] FIG. 4B shows a system for determining a sensation experienced by a person according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram a method for determining a sensation experienced by a person according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for measuring a pressure force. The device 1 comprises a hand-held body 10 made of an elastic material 8 such as rubber. The device 1 further comprises a sensor unit 11 which is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body 10. In other words, the elastic material 8 which may be deformed by a person squeezing the hand-held body 10 is surrounding or enclosing the sensor unit 11. However, the sensor unit 11 is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body 10 such that a force F applied by a person, which is not shown in FIG. 1, onto the hand-held body 10 is transmitted via the elastic material of the hand-held body 10 to the sensor unit 11. The sensor unit 11 is configured for measuring a pressure force F.sub.p which is transmitted to the sensor unit 11 and which is caused by the force F applied onto the hand-held body 10 by the person. The sensor unit 11 is configured for generating data corresponding to the measured pressure force F.sub.p. The force F is the result of a squeezing initiated by the person that holds the hand-held body 10 by means of only one hand. The pressure force F.sub.p is transmitted via the elastic material 8 of the hand-held body 10 to the sensor unit 11 which itself comprises at least one sensor 19.

[0070] Preferably, the sensor unit 11 can be adapted for measuring an electric conductivity of the at least one sensor 19, and for calculating an intensity of the pressure force F.sub.p based on the measured electric conductivity of the at least one sensor 19. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor unit 11 can be adapted for measuring an electric resistance of the at least one sensor 19, and for calculating an intensity of the pressure force F.sub.p based on the measured electric resistance of the at least one sensor 19.

[0071] Furthermore, the sensor unit 11 can be adapted for automatically changing from an active modus into a standby modus, if no pressure force F.sub.p is measured by the sensor unit 11 for a predetermined time period. If a predetermined pressure force is measured by the sensor unit 11, the sensor unit 11 can be adapted for automatically changing from the standby modus into the active modus (again).

[0072] Preferably, the plurality of sensors 19 is located inside the hand-held body 10. The hand-held body 10 further comprises an interface 13 in an opening 14 for connecting the device 1 to an external system which is also not shown in FIG. 1. This connection may be provided by a wirebound connection 15a or a wireless connection as will be described in FIG. 4B. The hand-held body 10 of the device 1 comprises a pin-shaped member 18 which has the sensors 19 attached to a lateral surface of the pin-shaped member 18. The pin-shaped member 18 has an elongated form as shown in FIG. 1 which is adapted to an elongated form of the hand-held body 10. For example, the hand-held body 10 has the shape of an egg. Other designs of the hand-held body 10 are possible. In particular, every form which allows a person to squeeze or compress the hand-held body 10 by means of only one hand represents a suitable design for the hand-held body 10. The sensors 19 may have the form of a foil which is at least partly wrapped around the lateral surface of the pin-shaped member 18. The hand-held body 10 generally comprises two main parts. The first main part is defined by the elastic material 8 and the second main part is defined by the pin-shaped member 18 which itself comprises the interface 13, the sensor unit 11 as well as other elements like for example an output unit 17, a battery 9 and a storage medium 16. On the storage medium 16, data representing the pressure force F.sub.p which is measured by the sensor unit 11 can be stored. The battery 9 delivers energy, in particular electrical energy for the operation of the sensor unit 11, the storage medium 16 and, in case an output unit 17 is present like shown in FIG. 1, also for the output unit 17. The battery 9 may be charged in a wireless or wirebound manner. The output unit 17 may be adapted to provide an acoustic or a haptic signal. The elastic material 8 of the hand-held body 10 may at one side of the hand-held body 10 have an opening 14 at which the interface 13 is located. In this manner, it is possible to connect the device 1 to an external system by means of a wire-bound connection 15a.

[0073] It should be noted that FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through the elastic material 8 as well as a perspective view of the inner a part of the hand-held body 10 which inner a part comprises the pin-shaped member 18, the sensor unit 11, the output unit 17, the battery 9, the storage medium 16 as well as the interface 13.

[0074] FIG. 2 also shows a cross-sectional view through the elastic material 8 of the hand-held body 10 of the device 1. The inner part is again visualized by means of a perspective view. In particular, the inner part comprises the pin-shaped member 18 in the form of a cylinder which has a lateral surface 18a. Sensors 19 of the sensor unit 11 are attached to the lateral surface 18a of the pin-shaped member 18. In FIG. 2, it can be recognized that the sensors 19 have the form of a foil which for each sensor is at least partially wrapped around the lateral surface 18a of the pin-shaped member 18. The pin-shaped member 18 may also comprise an output unit 17 which may be integrated into the pin-shaped member 18 as well as a battery 9 which may also be integrated into the pin-shaped member 18. The storage medium 16 may for instance be a chip which is also integrated into the pin-shaped member 18 or which is attached to the pin-shaped member 18 such that the chip is located between the pin-shaped member 18 and the interface 13 as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the opening 14 provides the possibility to connect the interface 13 to an external system not shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the opening 14 provides a recess for receiving the interface 13 in the elastic material 8.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the device for measuring a pressure force by means of a cross-sectional view through the elastic material 8 as well as a perspective view of the inner part comprising a spherically shaped member 7 to which the sensor unit 11 is attached. In particular, several sensors 19 of the sensor unit 11 are attached to an outer surface of the spherically shaped member 7.

[0076] Several forms or shapes of the hand-held body 10 are possible. However, it is required that the hand-held body 10 can be held and squeezed by only one hand of a person.

[0077] The device 1 further comprises a storage medium 16 on which the data corresponding to the measured pressure force F.sub.p can be stored. The storage medium may be at least partly enclosed by the spherical member 7.

[0078] FIG. 4A shows a system 2 for determining a sensation experienced by a person. The system 2 comprises a device 1 which comprises the hand-held body 10 as described in FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 4A shows the device 1 with a pin-shaped member 18 and the lateral surface 18a on which the sensors 19 are attached. The sensors 19 are part of the sensor unit 1. The pin-shaped member 18 with the sensor unit 11 is surrounded by the elastic material 8 wherein the pin-shaped member 18 with its integrated parts and the surrounding elastic material 8 form the hand-held body 10. An external evaluation system 20, which for instance is a personal computer 21, is connected to the device 1. This connection is based on a cable bound connection 15a as shown in FIG. 4. The device 1 comprises an interface 13 to which the external evaluation system 20 can be connected by means of the wire-bound connection 15a.

[0079] FIG. 4B, however, shows that the connection between the device 1 and the external evaluation system 20 can also be based on a wireless connection 15b. This is advantageous especially where the sensation of the person 12 has to be analyzed over a long distance. In other words, it is possible that the physician can monitor a current sensation of the person 12 by means of the external evaluation system 20 which for instance is a personal computer 21. The person 12 can carry the device 1, for example, in a pocket when the device 1 is not in use. If a measurement of a current sensation of the person 12 is required, an acoustic or haptic signal may be supplied to the person 12 via the output unit 17 at a predeterminable time. The person 12 can then squeeze the device 1, e.g. the hand-held body, such that a pressure force indicating the current sensation of the person 12 can be evaluated by the physician even over a long distance between the physician and the person 12.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram for a method for determining a sensation experienced by the person 12. In a step Si of the method, a force F is applied onto a hand-held body 10, e.g. of an elastic material 8, by a person 12 squeezing the hand-held body 10. In another step S2, a sensor unit 11 measures a pressure force F.sub.p onto the hand-held body 10 which is transmitted to the sensor unit 11 via the elastic material 8 and which is caused by the force F applied by the person 12. The sensor unit 11 is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body 10. In another step S3, data corresponding to the measured pressure force F.sub.p is generated by means of the sensor unit 11. In a further step S4 of the method, data corresponding to the measured pressure force Fp is transmitted via an interface 13 to an external system 20 by means of a wireless 15a or wire-bound 15b connection. In another step S5, a sensation experienced by the person 12 is evaluated based on the data corresponding to the measured pressure force F.sub.p by means of the external system 20. In another step S6, the evaluated sensation experienced by the person 12 is recorded. In yet another step S7, a visualization of the evaluated sensation experienced by the person 12 is conducted, for example via a graphical user interface.

[0081] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative and exemplary and non-restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practising the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection.