WO1996003072A1

WO1996003072A1 - Biological signal taking-in and analyzing device

Info

Publication number: WO1996003072A1
Application number: PCT/JP1995/000605
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasuhito Takeuchi
Original assignee: Yasuhito Takeuchi
Priority date: 1994-07-26
Filing date: 1995-03-29
Publication date: 1996-02-08
Also published as: JPH0833613A

Abstract

The invention provides a device for unrestrainedly and unconsciously taking in a biological signal from a patient in an everyday life environment to analyze and diagnose the same for health management and recuperative management after an illness. Pieces of silver plated copper foil, of which rear surfaces are coated with an adhesive, are applied on a surface of a seat (1) of a western style stool at shaded portions (2a, 2b, 2c) as shown, to provide conductivity thereon. These pieces are used as different electrodes and an indifferent electrode to take in electrocardiographic signals, and after these signals are suitably amplified, they are analyzed and evaluated through an analytical evaluation process according to or similar to a first induction among standard twelve inductions.

Description

Specification

Biological signal collection analyzer

(Technical field)

The present invention has to provide a means for collecting, analyzing, and diagnosing a patient's biological signal unrestrictedly or unconsciously in a daily living environment for health management and contributing to management of recovery after disease. That is what you do.

(Background technology)

Conventionally, there has been a concept of performing unrestricted or unconscious biometric measurement in a patient's daily living environment. In other words, there is an idea to maintain and execute such measurements by disposing the device in the patient's house as much as possible without disturbing the patient's life (for example, Reference 2), and in the bathtub, toilet, mattress, etc. An object has been mobilized as an intermediary and has been attempted (eg ref. 3).

In other words, no matter where on the body surface it is observed, as long as the electromotive force vector can be seen from the electrode pair, any kind of "electrocardiogram" signal is observed, regardless of the degree of attenuation in the middle. This is well known (Figure 1), but it has been thought that such anomalous inductive signals have been unusable.

The only practical exceptions are maternal heart rate measurement from maternal electrocardiogram signals in maternal abdominal wall-guided fetal electrocardiography, or adaptation after recognition of electrocardiographic components mixed in electroencephalogram, myoelectric, and ocular potential signals. It is only found in correlated removal, etc.

As can be seen in reference (3), an underwater electrode is placed inside the bathtub away from the body surface of the patient to be observed, specifically on the wall of the bathtub, and the patient's electrocardiogram is measured in a non-contact manner. Efforts are being made to try. However, in this method, as in the case of collecting the fetal ECG in the uterus through the amniotic fluid and abdominal wall, the primary coupling between extinction and induction is interposed in the middle of the signal transmission path, and The angle at which the electrode group expects to see the patient cannot be precisely specified or fixed, and the measurement will not be correct.

In the references (1) and (2), the idea of introducing various measurement means inside the toilet and performing these measurements during stool by the patient is described with some examples. Have been. A similar name also known as the product name "My Care I" In a commercial example of the concept, a side breath with electrodes is used so that the bioelectrode contacts both hands of a patient sitting on a Western toilet. However, such a configuration has to be a dedicated toilet, requires major remodeling or separate installation, and does not require major remodeling of existing equipment in a daily home environment or work environment. It is not something that can be carried out without requiring a large investment amount, including installation costs. In addition, a certain level of incompatibility is inevitable for the patient, and in short, it becomes a “funny toy”.

(Disclosure of the Invention)

As described above, the present invention unconditionally or unconsciously collects and analyzes the patient's biological signal in the daily living environment, and contributes to health management by analyzing, diagnosing, etc. However, it does not provide such a device means to be mounted inside the toilet, but in this case, it does not cause major remodeling of the toilet, and it is absolutely not a special toilet for patients. This is intended to be implemented in an unconscious manner.

The present invention is characterized in that a bioelectrode is arranged on a toilet seat of a Western toilet. In other words, the shunt electrodes are arranged on the left and right branches of the toilet seat of the Western-style toilet, respectively, and the sway electrode is further arranged on one of the branches so that the shunt electrode and the sunk electrode form a bipolar induction. It is characterized in that it is coupled to the input terminal of the differential amplifier and the ground potential of the circuit, and this configuration is used to observe the electrocardiographic vector from the lower surface of the patient's X-ray part using an electrode pair.

According to empirical observations, a waveform very similar to the first lead in the standard 12 lead is obtained from the electrode pair of the above arrangement with an amplitude of about 1Z10, so that it is obtained at the output terminal of the differential amplifier. After the biological signal is further expanded by about 10 times, the signal is introduced into a known electrocardiographic signal analyzer, and a single channel analysis procedure similar to or similar to the first of the standard 12 leads is performed. It is also ambitious to be configured to analyze.

In addition to the above, a pressure switch is provided on the toilet seat, and the switch is configured to activate the device only when the patient sits on the toilet seat, or to allow the device to be activated. It is also special. In addition to the above, a radio telemeter-transmitter for transmitting the biological signal, a transmitting antenna and a battery power source for the same are arranged on the toilet seat, and radio waves are transmitted only when the patient sits on the toilet seat. It is also characterized in that the electric circuit of these toilet seats is electrically insulated from the outside. The embodiment of this configuration is like a replacement part for a toilet seat of a normal Western-style toilet bowl, and even an inexperienced person can easily install the device in a toilet at home.

(Brief description of drawings)

Figure 1 illustrates how the bioelectrode pair looks at the electromotive force vector of the electrocardiographic signal. Figure 2 explains the definitions of leads 1 to 6.

Fig. 3 shows waveform examples of the first, second and third leads.

Figure 4 shows examples of waveforms for leads 4, 5, and 6.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the sixth lead is sampled by Gain = x2.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the inter-lumbar lead is sampled by Gain = x2.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the lead between the thighs is collected by Gain = xlO.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the shin-to-shin lead is collected by Gain = xlO.

Fig. 9 shows an example of toilet seat guidance collected by Gain-ΧΙ ΧΙ.

Figure 10 shows an outline of an example of a toilet seat workpiece with electrodes

(Best mode for carrying out the invention)

Considering the purpose of collecting ECG signals by classifying them into the following three stages, it can be seen that the upper rank can include all lower ranks, and this clearly shows that the required information amount is degraded. a. Waveform measurement and diagnosis without prior knowledge or without waiting (= original electrocardiographic measurement)

b. Finding lesions by tracking changes in the waveform of a person over time (= home medical care, patient-driven autonomous medical care)

c. Heart rate measurement, heart rate trigger extraction, and immediate detection of arrhythmia in time series. (Same as above, or support for other purposes)

The fact that there is a reduction in the amount of required information suggests that even signals with poor S / N can be used, so there is room for adopting anomalous guidance here. Irregular induction is usually Given all the possible electrode arrangements that are not defined and used, there is a great deal of freedom in the possible guidance or electrode arrangement depending on the purpose.

The present invention constitutes a home-restricted electrocardiogram measurement system using a toilet seat as an example belonging to the category b.

Here we consider some examples of anomalous guidance for better understanding. Look at the standard limb leads as a starting point. Then, let's look at the fourth, fifth, and sixth leads, which the inventor has named arbitrarily, with the same electrode arrangement. The definition is as shown in Figure 2. The observation target is the inventor himself. In practice, eff points such as close-up 上の on the body surface were used instead of the limbs, as is often done.

The waveforms are shown below. Figure 3 shows a standard limb lead, where the gain is 1000 times wider than the electrode and drawn on a lv / cin sensitivity recorder, as is common sense. Here, since the heart of the inventor has a large left-axis displacement, the waveform does not follow the so-called subject harm, so the following describes how and how the waveform of the irregular lead differs from the waveform of the standard lead. Attention should be paid to the point, including the amplitude.

FIG. 4 shows the fourth, fifth, and sixth leads determined here by the inventor. The gain (scale factor) is the same. Each waveform was taken independently in time, and was not time-aligned in the vertical direction.

Therefore, when the sixth lead is drawn with the gain doubled, as shown in Fig. 5, it is essentially very similar to the first lead, with the only difference being that there is a dip at point S. Looks its own S / N very good.

When the electrode arrangement is gradually moved downward while observing the sixth lead, the same signal as that between the lower abdomen left and right is obtained in the hip-to-hip guidance, and the dip at point S decreases and returns. Thus, the similarity with the first lead is improved (Fig. 6). In the lower part between the thighs (Fig. 7) and between the shins (Fig. 8), the gain becomes the same level unless the gain is increased by 10 times (= 10,000 times when viewed from the electrode). Nevertheless, the shape of the waveform itself falls within the range of the sixth lead described here, and still resembles the regular first lead.

Therefore, this signal waveform is the same as the conventionally known waveform diagnostic standard of the first lead, with the additional consideration that a scale factor of 10 times is required. It is considered that such waveform diagnostic criteria can be applied.

Electrodes are attached to the surfaces of the left and right arms of the toilet seat, and the user sits down to make electrical contact on the toilet, and relaxes a little. A signal equivalent to the sixth lead is obtained. This is similar to the previous thigh-to-thigh guidance, but the conditions are somewhat worse because the thigh is viewed from the S side. However, as long as the patient is relaxed, the disturbance of the EMG signal is small.

When sitting on the toilet seat, nobody pays for this part, so no special procedures are required to contact the electrodes on the surface, and the unconscious measurement described by Ishijima and Togawa (Ref. 3). Can be. The diagnostics of the waveform of the 6th lead is strictly a topic for the future, but it is necessary to observe rhythm strips, capture and diagnose sudden waveforms, accumulate typical examples of human waveforms, and detect changes based on them. Can be said that there is no difficulty.

An outline of an example of the workpiece of the toilet seat with electrodes is shown in FIG. In this case, the toilet seat (1) used is a general-purpose one and is made of general plastic materials. As shown in the figure, the shaded area (2a, 2b, 2c) is glued to the back side with silver plating copper to give electrical conductivity to the oblique lines (2a, 2b, 2c). C In order to match the polarity with the first lead, connect to the first-stage differential amplifier (not shown) so that the right thigh is positive and the left is negative. The above is merely an example, and there are countless possibilities for electrode shapes, materials, and implementation methods. Mainly or in combination with a metalized or conductive plastic material containing a large amount of conductive filler, or each of the toilet seat arms can be made of separate metal pieces. Even so, the purpose is achieved. Further, the toilet seat electrode of the present invention does not need to be limited to the specific shape of the toilet seat, and if the electrode pair for collecting a biological signal is configured in any form at a portion of the toilet where the buttocks are placed for toilet use. It must be understood that it falls in the range of.

The configuration after the first-stage differential amplifier may be a well-known general-purpose device except for the above-mentioned gain. However, mounting a first-stage amplifier on the back of the toilet seat and using a signal with an amplified or buffered impedance between the slave device and the slave device is a preferred embodiment that can reduce the penetration of noise and interference.

Furthermore, a wireless telemeter is provided between the first-stage amplifier receiving the toilet seat electrode and the slave device. Transmission in a system is also a preferred embodiment. In such a configuration, the electrical isolation is naturally ensured, and the electrical safety for the patient is maintained. In this case, the telemeter transmitter including the first-stage amplifier is arranged behind the toilet seat together with a battery as a power supply. As a wireless telemeter transmitter for one-channel electrocardiographic signals for this purpose, a well-known general-purpose transmitter is sufficient, and any of the analog FM / FM transmission method and the digital transmission method is adopted. obtain.

Although not shown, a pressure switch is provided on the back of the toilet seat so that the patient can actually sit on the toilet seat and activate the system only when the patient's weight is on the toilet seat, or It is preferable to allow booting. In the case of the telemeter system, it may be a preferable embodiment to configure so that the power is turned on to start transmission, and the dependent device is configured to be activated by the start of the reception of the radio wave.

Such a pressure switch can be easily replaced by using a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber or the like to replace a very short column interposed between the toilet and the toilet seat on the back of the toilet seat, or to be attached to it. Can be realized.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention is preferable because unconscious and unrestricted living body measurement can be carried out on a daily basis in the patient's house, and the equipment investment for that purpose can be reduced.

(References)

(1) Ishijima, Togawa, "Unconscious measurement of loaded / unloaded ECG"

IEICE Technical Report MBE93-46 (1993-06)

(2) 50 十 et al., "Home-based measurement of blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation"

IEICE Technical Report MBE93-49 (1993-06)

(3) Arifuku, Haraga, "Possibility of biometric information collection device to be installed in sanitary equipment" 6th Japan ME Society Autumn Meeting Abstract No. 2- 10-13.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1 A biological signal collection / analysis device characterized in that a biological electrode is arranged on the toilet seat of a Western-style toilet.

(2) Arrange the respective electrodes on the left and right branches of the toilet seat of the Western-style toilet, and place an indifferent electrode on any of those branches, and differentially operate these electrodes and the indifferent electrodes so as to form bipolar induction. The biological signal collecting and analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biological signal collecting and analyzing apparatus is characterized in that the biological signal is coupled to the input terminal of the amplifier and the ground potential of the circuit.

3 After further amplifying the biological signal obtained at the output terminal of the differential amplifier by about 10 times, it is introduced into a known electrocardiographic signal analyzer, and the standard 12 lead is followed by the first lead. The biological signal collection / analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform analysis by a similar single channel analysis procedure.

(4) It is a special feature that the toilet seat has a pressure switch, and the switch activates the device only when the patient sits on the toilet seat, or the device is configured to permit the activation of the device. The biological signal collection / analysis device according to claim 1.

(5) A wireless telemeter transmitter for transmitting the biological signal, a transmitting antenna and a battery power supply means therefor are arranged on the toilet seat, and the radio wave is emitted only when the patient sits on the toilet seat, and 5. The biological signal collecting and analyzing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electric circuit of the toilet seat is configured to be electrically isolated from the outside.