Pulse simulator, pulse sensor, haptic medical device having pulse simulator, and method for haptic pulse detection

Abstract

A pulse sensor is provided. The pulse sensor includes an inflatable cuff; a plurality of pulse wave pressure sensors on an inner surface of the inflatable cuff and configured to detect a pulse wave and generate a pulse wave signal; and a first controller configured to generate a pulse simulation signal based on the pulse wave signal from the plurality of pulse wave pressure sensors.

1 . A pulse sensor, comprising:
 an inflatable cuff;   a plurality of pulse wave pressure sensors on an inner surface of the inflatable cuff and configured to detect a pulse wave and generate a pulse wave signal; and   a first controller configured to generate a pulse simulation signal based on the pulse wave signal from the plurality of pulse wave pressure sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The pulse sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse simulation signal comprises a signal indicating a blood vessel shape;
 the pulse wave signal comprises a signal indicating a frequency of a pulse wave, a signal indicating an amplitude of the pulse wave, and an address of one of the plurality of pulse wave pressure sensors detecting the pulse wave;   the first controller is configured to determine the blood vessel shape based on the address of the one of the plurality of pulse wave pressure sensors.   
     
     
         3 . The pulse sensor of  claim 1 , further comprises a plurality of reference pressure sensors on the inner surface of the inflatable cuff and configured to detect a pressure applied by the inflatable cuff;
 wherein the plurality of reference pressure sensors are configured to generate a stop signal based on a determination that the pressure applied by the inflatable cuff detected by the plurality of reference pressure sensors is greater than a threshold value.   
     
     
         4 . The pulse sensor of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump for inflating the inflatable cuff;
 wherein a control terminal of the pump is coupled to an output terminal of the first controller;   an output terminal of each of the plurality of reference pressure sensors is coupled to an input terminal of the first controller; and   the first controller is configured to control the pump to discontinue inflating the inflatable cuff upon receiving the stop signal from the plurality of reference pressure sensors.   
     
     
         5 . The pulse sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse simulation signal comprises at least one of a signal indicating blood viscosity and a signal indicating blood flow speed;
 the pulse sensor further comprises an optical detection sensor on the inner surface of the inflatable cuff and configured to detect at least one of the signal indicating blood viscosity and the signal indicating blood flow speed.   
     
     
         6 . A haptic medical device, comprising the pulse sensor of  claim 1 ; and
 a second controller communicatively coupled to the first controller and is configured to receive the pulse simulation signal from the first controller.   
     
     
         7 . The haptic medical device of  claim 6 , further comprising a display device for visual data communication. 
     
     
         8 . The haptic medical device of  claim 6 , further comprising a pulse simulator;
 wherein the second controller is configured to receive the pulse simulation signal and transmit the pulse simulation signal to the pulse simulator.   
     
     
         9 . The haptic medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the pulse simulator comprises:
 a pulse simulation assembly configured to receive a pulse simulation signal and simulate a pulse of a living body based on the pulse simulation signal;   wherein the pulse simulation assembly comprises:   a mounting plate;   a plurality of retractable bolts on the mounting plate; and   a plurality of drivers coupled to the plurality of retractable bolts;   wherein a respective one of the plurality of retractable bolts has a first end attached to the mounting plate and a second end opposite to the first end; and   a respective one of the plurality of drivers is configured to drive one of the plurality of retractable bolts to retract and extend between a first position and a second position thereby adjusting a distance between a simulated skin portion and the mounting plate in a region corresponding to the one of the plurality of retractable bolts.   
     
     
         10 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the pulse simulator further comprises a plurality of pressure sensors configured to detect a pressure applied on the pulse simulation assembly and generate a pressure simulation signal based on the pressure applied on the pulse simulation assembly;
 the pulse simulator is configured to detect a pressure applied on the simulated skin portion and generate a pressure simulation signal based on the pressure applied on the simulated skin portion;   the second controller is configured to receive the pressure simulation signal and transmit the pressure simulation signal to the first controller; and   the first controller is configured to generate a threshold value for a threshold pressure based on the pressure simulation signal received from the second controller.   
     
     
         11 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the pulse simulator further comprises a simulated skin portion coupled to the pulse simulation assembly;
 wherein the second end of each of the plurality of retractable bolts is configured to be in contact with the simulated skin portion; and   the pulse simulation assembly is configured to simulate the pulse of a living body on the simulated skin portion based on the pulse simulation signal.   
     
     
         12 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of retractable bolts are an array of a plurality of retractable bolts comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. 
     
     
         13 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of retractable bolts comprises:
 an actuating stem;   a sleeve surrounding the actuating stem; and   a coil around an outer surface of the sleeve;   wherein the actuating stem comprises a magnetic main body;   the magnetic main body has an external thread on its outer surface;   the sleeve has an internal thread on its inner surface;   a first end of the magnetic main body threadedly engaged with the sleeve;   one of the plurality of drivers is configured to provide a current to the coil to generate a magnetic field in the coil.   
     
     
         14 . The haptic medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the actuating stem further comprises a contact cap on a second end of the magnetic main body opposite to the first end of the magnetic main body; and
 the contact cap has a convex curved surface protruding outward along a direction away from the mounting plate.   
     
     
         15 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of drivers are on the mounting plate. 
     
     
         16 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the pulse simulator further comprises a plurality of pressure sensors configured to detect a pressure applied on the simulated skin portion and generate a pressure simulation signal based on the pressure applied on the simulated skin portion. 
     
     
         17 . The haptic medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the pulse simulation signal comprises a pulse wave signal. 
     
     
         18 . The haptic medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the pulse simulation signal further comprises one or any combination of a plurality of signals respectively indicating a blood vessel shape, blood viscosity, and blood flow speed. 
     
     
         19 . A method for haptic pulse detection, comprising:
 connecting a pulse simulator and a pulse sensor at different locations to a computer network;   detecting a pulse wave and generate a pulse wave signal using the pulse sensor;   generating a pulse simulation signal based on the pulse wave signal;   transmitting the pulse simulation signal to the pulse simulator; and   simulating a pulse based on the pulse simulation signal on a simulated skin portion using the pulse simulator.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting a pressure applied on the simulated skin portion; and   generating a pressure simulation signal based on the pressure applied on the simulated skin portion.