JP6445303B2 - Biopotential measurement device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring biological information.

  It is very useful to acquire and analyze biological information for the discovery and diagnosis of diseases. As an apparatus for measuring existing biological information, a blood pressure measuring apparatus capable of measuring blood pressure appropriately by adjusting the amount of air put into a cylindrical cuff has been devised (Non-Patent Document 1).

  One of biological information is surface myoelectricity. It is known that surface myoelectricity is effective for discrimination of various diseases accompanied by muscle exercise. In order to measure surface myoelectricity, it is necessary to appropriately attach measurement electrodes near the muscle abdomen of the muscle to be measured. Medical doctors and nurses with medical knowledge installed measurement electrodes on the muscle belly and measured surface electromyograms with an electromyograph (EMG). FIG. 4 shows the state of measuring conventional surface myoelectricity.

  During measurement of surface myoelectricity, it is important to keep the measurement electrode installed near the muscle belly of the muscle to be measured. It is known that continuous measurement over a relatively long period of time, such as during sleep, is useful for diagnosis when it is difficult to determine only by short-time measurement such as tremor and myoclonus (Non-Patent Document 2, 3).

Minoru Nakagawa, Kenichi Yamakoshi, “Development of Volume Compensation Cuff Unit for Finger Arterial Pressure Measurement to Reduce Congestion”, Medical Electronics and Bioengineering, Japan Society for Medical and Biological Engineering, December 2000, Vol. 38, Vol. No. 4, p. 283-290 Mikio Osawa, “Clinical Application of Surface Electromyogram”, Journal of Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo Women's Medical University Society, June 1989, Vol. 59, No. 6, p. 499-513 Koji Inami, "A sleep polygraphic study of involuntary movements in the lower limbs in sleep myoclonus syndrome-Comparison between hemiplegic patients with sequelae of cerebrovascular disorders and healthy elderly people", Ehime Medicine, Ehime Medical Society, 1990 March, Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 115-139

  However, there is a case where it is difficult for a person who does not have medical knowledge to find the muscle belly of the muscle to be measured. In this case, there is a problem that the person to be measured cannot install the measurement electrode in an appropriate position. The same problem can be considered when measuring biological information other than surface myoelectricity.

  In addition, the conventional device has a problem that the measurement electrode is detached when turning over because it is weak against a large body movement. When measuring biological information over a long period of time, it is necessary to fix the measurement electrode with a medical tape or the like, and there is a problem that the invasiveness to the measurement subject is high.

  Furthermore, the size of the muscle to be measured and the position of the muscle belly vary depending on the physique of the person being measured. In particular, when measuring a wide range of muscles, the position of the muscle abdomen due to the difference in physique differs greatly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to easily perform biological information measurement without medical knowledge regardless of the physique of the measurement subject.

A biopotential measuring apparatus according to the present invention is a biopotential measuring apparatus provided with a cylindrical biopotential measuring means that is opened on at least one of the bioelectric potential attached to a measurement subject and an analysis means. The biopotential measuring means has a fixing part for fixing the biopotential measuring means to the person to be measured, and a plurality of measuring parts for measuring a biopotential, and the analyzing means comprises the plurality of measuring parts. and selects the biopotential as a measurement target in accordance from the biopotentials measured at each feature of the biological potential.

In the biopotential measuring apparatus, the biopotential measuring means measures surface myoelectricity as a biopotential, and the analyzing means selects a biopotential having the maximum average amplitude among the biopotentials as a measurement target. To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily perform biological information measurement without having medical knowledge regardless of the physique of the measurement subject.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the bioelectric potential measuring apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the surface myoelectric measurement part of the said bioelectric potential measuring apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of another bioelectric potential measuring apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode that the conventional surface myoelectricity is measured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a biopotential measurement apparatus in the present embodiment. In the figure, a bioelectric potential measuring device 1A for measuring the surface myoelectricity of the anterior tibial muscle and a bioelectric potential measuring device 1B for measuring the surface myoelectricity of the long thigh extensor muscle are shown. The bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B are, for example, a cylindrical device made of cloth that can be worn by a person to be measured such as a supporter, leg warmer, arm cover, or stomach wrap, and the device fixing unit 11 and a plurality of surface muscles. Electric measurement units 12A to 12C are provided.

  The device fixing unit 11 is a part that fixes the bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B to the measurement subject by tightening the measurement subject with a force that does not shift the fixing position of the bioelectric potential measurement devices 1A and 1B. The device fixing portion 11 is made of a highly elastic cloth / fabric such as flat rubber or tack knitted fabric. Alternatively, the device fixing unit 11 may be provided with a magic tape (registered trademark) or a button / hook / snap so as to fix the bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B to the subject.

  The surface myoelectric measurement units 12A to 12C are each a part that includes electrodes and measures the surface myoelectricity of the measurement target muscle. The surface myoelectric measurement units 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> C fix the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12 by tightening the measurement subject with a force that does not shift the measurement position. The tightening force of the device fixing unit 11 is made stronger than the tightening force of the surface myoelectric measurement units 12A to 12C.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12. In the same figure, the surface electromyography measurement part 12 is illustrated in the state which turned the surface which installed the electrode outside, ie, the state at the time of use. As shown in the figure, the surface electromyography measurement unit 12 is an annular part having a measurement unit 122 in a part of the fixing unit 121.

  The fixing unit 121 fixes the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12 to a position where the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12 measures the surface myoelectricity by tightening the measurement subject with a force that does not shift the fixing position of the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12. For the fixing portion 121, a highly stretchable cloth / fabric such as flat rubber or tack knitted fabric is used. Alternatively, the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12 may be fixed to the measurement position by providing the fixing unit 121 with Velcro (registered trademark) or a button / hook / snap.

  The measurement unit 122 includes a set of dish-shaped electrodes 123. The plate-shaped electrodes 123 are installed with an interval of about 1.5 to 2.0 cm. One of the dish-shaped electrodes 123 is used as a ground. A non-stretchable cloth / cloth is used for the measuring unit 122. Since the fixing portion 121 has elasticity, the surface electromyogram measuring portion 12 as a whole has a tightening force and can prevent the dish-shaped electrode 123 from being displaced. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dish-shaped electrode 123 is connected to an analyzer that measures and analyzes surface myoelectricity by wiring extending from the dish-shaped electrode 123. Alternatively, the surface myoelectricity measured by the dish-shaped electrode 123 may be wirelessly transmitted to the analysis device. The analysis device creates a low-cut filter and a low-pass filter based on the average amplitude of the surface myoelectricity measured at the time of maximum dorsiflexion or maximum extension when the muscle to be measured is voluntarily exercised. Perform analysis.

  The analysis device is a surface myoelectric measurement in which the surface electromyogram measured by the plurality of surface myoelectric measurement units 12A to 12C has the maximum average amplitude of the surface myoelectric during voluntary movement is arranged in the vicinity of the muscle abdomen. The measurement target is assumed to be the parts 12A to 12C.

  Alternatively, a conductive fiber composite material in which a fiber material is coated with a conductive polymer may be used as the surface myoelectric measurement unit 12 (reference: Kazuhiko Takagawara, four others, “resulting beyond industry boundaries. Wearable sensor-hitoe technology ", NTT Technical Journal, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, May 2014, Vol. 26, No. 5, p.42-p.44).

  The bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B of the present embodiment are provided with a plurality of surface myoelectric measurement units 12A to 12C each having a pair of dish-shaped electrodes. A plurality of sets of dish-shaped electrodes may be arranged in the surface electromyogram measurement unit 12 as the size according to the muscle to be measured.

  When the device fixing portion 11 is difficult to fix, the device fixing portion 11 is placed under the ankle as shown in FIG. 3 and a cloth is provided between the device fixing portion 11 and the surface electromyogram measuring portion 12B. You may connect with 13 etc.

  In the present embodiment, the biopotential measuring devices 1A and 1B are made of cloth, but may take a form according to the measurement part, such as incorporating the biopotential measuring devices 1A and 1B around the sleeves and the trunk of the shirt. . For example, it may be incorporated into a part of a cylindrical shape having a closed portion on one side, such as socks or gloves. Further, when the muscle to be measured is located near a joint such as a knee or an elbow, the bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B may cover the joint portion. In this case, in order to reduce the influence of the bending and stretching of the joint, only a normal cloth may be used for only the joint portion.

  Next, an example in which the bioelectric potential measurement apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to detection of lower limb myoclonus during sleep will be described.

  Lower limb myoclonus is characterized by involuntary movements that occur below the knee. Detection of lower limb myoclonus during sleep is essential for diagnosing diseases that cause sleep disorders, such as periodic limb movement disorders. Examples of the main muscles to be measured for detection of lower limb myoclonus include the anterior tibial muscle and the long mother extensor muscle. The anterior tibial muscle is a wide range of muscles, and the size of the anterior tibialis muscle and the position of the muscle abdomen vary depending on gender, height, and length below the knee. Hereinafter, an example in which the surface electromyogram of the anterior tibial muscle is measured using the biopotential measuring apparatus 1A of FIG. 1 will be described.

  The bioelectric potential measuring device 1A for measuring the surface myoelectricity of the anterior tibial muscle has a plurality of sets of plate-shaped electrodes 123 on the subject to be measured from below the knee when the subject is wearing the bioelectric potential measuring device 1A. A plurality of sets of plate-shaped electrodes 123 arranged at predetermined intervals so as to be in contact with each other are provided. In the biopotential measuring apparatus 1A of FIG. 1, three sets of plate-shaped electrodes 123 (surface electromyogram measurement units 12A to 12C) are arranged at intervals of about 3 cm. When the measurement subject's height is around 150 cm, the plate-shaped electrode 123 near the knee is close to the muscle belly, and when the measurement subject's height is around 170 cm, the plate-shaped electrode 123 near the ankle is Presumed to be close to the muscle belly. According to the height estimation calculation formula in the reference document described later, the height under the knee is about 40 to 60 cm with respect to the variation of the height of 150 to 185 cm (references: “[2] [height] [length]”, [online]. , Newtory Co., Ltd. [searched September 24, 2014], Internet <URL: http://www.nutri.co.jp/nutrition/keywords/ch1-5/keyword2/>). Since the muscles of the anterior tibial muscle are located slightly below the calf, two or more sets of plate-shaped electrodes 123 are arranged slightly below the calf. Thereby, it is estimated that one of the dish-shaped electrodes 123 is located near the muscle belly.

  At the time of awakening, after wearing the bioelectric potential measuring device 1A, the ankle joint is optionally dorsiflexed to the maximum, and the surface myoelectric measurement units 12A to 12C are used to measure surface myoelectricity. The electric measurement units 12A to 12C are selected as analysis targets.

  As described in Non-Patent Document 2, the lower limb myoclonus is determined as a lower limb myoclonus when a short grouping discharge having a duration of 100 msec or less is detected.

  Alternatively, as described in Non-Patent Document 3, the duration is 0.5 to 5 seconds, and the amplitude is optionally ½ or more of the muscle discharge when the ankle joint is maximally dorsiflexed when awake, It is determined as myoclonus when a muscle discharge is detected in which the interval between each muscle discharge satisfies the condition of 5 to 120 seconds. Moreover, when this myoclonus appears 40 times or more in the left or right lower limb during overnight sleep, it can be determined that there is a risk of periodic limb movement disorder.

  Further, as described in Non-Patent Document 3, in addition to the measurement of the surface myoelectricity of the anterior tibial muscle, the surface myoelectricity of the long thigh extensor muscle in which the muscle abdomen is located just above the ankle. Measurement is also performed at the same time, and it is determined as myoclonus when a single synchronous discharge is detected in the anterior tibialis anterior muscle and the long thigh extensor muscle. The bioelectric potential measuring device 1B shown in FIG. 1 is used for measuring the surface myoelectricity of the long mother extensor muscle.

  In the above description, measurement of surface myoelectricity has been described. However, by making each part suitable, the present invention can be similarly applied to measurement of biological information such as electrocardiogram, gastric potential, and intestinal potential. . Intestinal potential can be measured over a long period of time in normal life, and diagnostic reference information such as irritable bowel syndrome can be obtained (reference: Shinya Okahisa, “Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome” And development of noninvasive large intestine motility function evaluation system for optimal treatment ", Scientific Research Fund Grant (Scientific Research Fund Subsidy) Research Results Report, May 20, 2012).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the bioelectric potential measurement devices 1A and 1B are based on the device fixing unit 11 that fixes the bioelectric potential measurement devices 1A and 1B to the measurement subject and the distribution of muscles to be measured. By providing the plurality of surface myoelectric measurement units 12A to 12C, the person to be measured need not confirm the muscle abdominal position of the muscle to be measured in advance regardless of the physique, and has no medical knowledge Even so, it is possible to appropriately measure surface myoelectricity.

  According to the present embodiment, the bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B are made of cloth and the stretched cloth / cloth is used for the device fixing unit 11 and the surface electromyogram measuring units 12A to 12C. The person can easily attach the bioelectric potential measuring devices 1A and 1B, prevent the measurement position from being displaced due to body movement, and measure surface myoelectricity for a long time such as during sleep.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B ... Bioelectric potential measuring device 11 ... Apparatus fixing | fixed part 12, 12A-12C ... Surface myoelectric measurement part 121 ... Fixed part 122 ... Measuring part 123 ... Dish-shaped electrode 13 ... Cloth

Claims (2)

A bioelectric potential measurement device comprising: a cylindrical bioelectric potential measurement unit that is attached to a measurement subject and that measures at least one of the bioelectric potentials, and an analysis unit ;
The biopotential measuring means includes
A fixing unit for fixing the bioelectric potential measuring means to the person to be measured;
A plurality of measuring units for measuring biopotentials ,
The bioelectric potential measurement apparatus , wherein the analysis unit selects the bioelectric potential as a measurement target according to the biopotential characteristic from the biopotentials measured by the plurality of measurement units. The biopotential measuring means measures surface myoelectricity as a biopotential,
The bioelectric potential measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit selects a bioelectric potential having a maximum average amplitude among the bioelectric potentials as a measurement target.

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