CN114504338A

CN114504338A - Heartbeat information acquisition device and heartbeat information acquisition program

Info

Publication number: CN114504338A
Application number: CN202111356643.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 深井诚一; 中岛启介
Original assignee: Asahi Kasei Medical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Asahi Kasei Medical Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-17
Filing date: 2021-11-16
Publication date: 2022-05-17
Also published as: JP2022080166A

Abstract

Provided are a heartbeat information acquisition device and a heartbeat information acquisition program, which enable a device for acquiring blood flow information to control the acquisition of a plurality of heart rate waveforms corresponding to a predetermined number of heart rates based on the approximation degree of the waveforms. The heartbeat information acquisition device is provided with: a waveform acquisition unit that acquires heartbeat waveforms of one or more patients; a feature value calculation unit that calculates a feature value of the heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquisition unit; an approximation calculation unit that calculates an approximation of the feature value of the heartbeat waveform calculated by the feature value calculation unit; and a control unit that controls the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform by the waveform acquisition unit, wherein the feature amount calculation unit calculates a feature amount of one heartbeat waveform and feature amounts of other heartbeat waveforms out of a predetermined number of consecutive heartbeat waveforms for one patient, the approximation calculation unit calculates an approximation degree of the feature amount of the one heartbeat waveform and the feature amounts of the other heartbeat waveforms, and the control unit controls the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform by the waveform acquisition unit based on the approximation degree calculated by the approximation calculation unit.

Description

Heartbeat information acquisition device and heartbeat information acquisition program

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heartbeat information acquisition device and a heartbeat information acquisition program.

Background

Patent document 1 relates to a biological information acquisition apparatus and a program. Patent document 1 describes "further, the signal processing unit 50 may stop executing addition averaging based on a determination result that the number of times of addition averaging by the determination processing unit 90 is sufficient. "(paragraph 0066).

Patent document 2 relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the like. Patent document 2 describes "for example, when the probe 100 is away from the patient, the non-contact input device 200 generates an input signal to the apparatus main body 1000 to freeze an image that is currently available. "(paragraph 0020).

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2019-76374

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-180207

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect of the present invention, a heartbeat information acquisition device is provided. The heartbeat information acquisition device is provided with: a waveform acquisition unit that acquires heartbeat waveforms of one or more patients; a feature value calculation unit that calculates a feature value of the heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquisition unit; an approximation calculation unit that calculates an approximation of the feature value of the heartbeat waveform calculated by the feature value calculation unit; and a control unit that controls the waveform acquisition unit to acquire the heartbeat waveform. The feature value calculation unit calculates a feature value of one heartbeat waveform and feature values of other heartbeat waveforms among a predetermined number of continuous heartbeat waveforms for one patient. The approximation calculation unit calculates the approximation of the feature of one heartbeat waveform to the feature of another heartbeat waveform. The control unit controls the waveform acquisition unit to acquire the heartbeat waveform based on the degree of approximation calculated by the degree of approximation calculation unit.

The characteristic quantity may include an amplitude of a heartbeat waveform. The feature amount calculation section may calculate the amplitude of one heartbeat waveform and the amplitudes of the other heartbeat waveforms. The approximation calculation unit may calculate the amplitude approximation of the amplitude of one heartbeat waveform to the amplitude of another heartbeat waveform. The control unit may stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform when the amplitude approximation degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined amplitude approximation degree.

The characteristic quantity may include a frequency of the heartbeat waveform. The feature amount calculation section may calculate the frequency of one heartbeat waveform and the frequencies of the other heartbeat waveforms. The approximation degree calculation unit may calculate the frequency approximation degree between the frequency of one heartbeat waveform and the frequency of another heartbeat waveform. The control unit may stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform when the frequency approximation degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency approximation degree.

The feature quantity may include a period of a heartbeat waveform. The feature amount calculation section may calculate a period of one heartbeat waveform and a period of the other heartbeat waveform. The approximation calculation unit may calculate the period approximation of the period of one heartbeat waveform to the period of the other heartbeat waveform. The control unit may stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform when the period approximation degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined period approximation degree.

When the approximation degree does not reach a predetermined approximation degree, the control unit causes the waveform acquisition unit to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform.

The control unit may stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform when the approximation degree becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined approximation degree after the waveform acquisition unit continues to acquire the heartbeat waveform.

The control unit may control the waveform obtaining unit to obtain the heartbeat waveform based on another predetermined approximation degree smaller than the predetermined approximation degree.

The heartbeat information acquisition device may further include a storage unit that stores the heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquisition unit. The feature amount calculation unit may calculate the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform stored in the storage unit. The approximation degree calculation unit may calculate the approximation degree between the feature value of one heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the heartbeat waveform stored in the storage unit. The control unit may control the predetermined number of continuous heartbeat waveforms based on a degree of approximation between the feature value of one heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the heartbeat waveform stored in the storage unit.

The feature value calculation unit may calculate, for one patient, a feature value of a first heartbeat waveform, a feature value of a second heartbeat waveform, and a feature value of a third heartbeat waveform, the second heartbeat waveform being a next heartbeat waveform after the first heartbeat waveform, from among a predetermined number of consecutive heartbeat waveforms. The approximation calculation unit may calculate the approximation between the feature value of the first heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the second heartbeat waveform, and the approximation between the feature value of the second heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the third heartbeat waveform. The control unit may stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform when a degree of approximation between the feature quantity of the first heartbeat waveform and the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform and a degree of approximation between the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform and the feature quantity of the third heartbeat waveform are equal to or greater than a predetermined degree of approximation.

The waveform acquisition section may acquire a heartbeat waveform of the first patient and a heartbeat waveform of the second patient. The feature amount calculation unit may calculate a first feature amount of a heartbeat waveform of the first patient and a second feature amount of a heartbeat waveform of the second patient. The approximation degree calculation unit may calculate the approximation degree of the first feature amount and the approximation degree of the second feature amount. The control unit may stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform of the first patient when the degree of approximation of the first feature amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined first degree of approximation, and stop the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform of the second patient when the degree of approximation of the second feature amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined second degree of approximation. The first and second approximations may be different.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a heartbeat information acquisition program is provided. The heartbeat information acquisition program causes the computer to function as a heartbeat information acquisition device.

In addition, the summary of the invention does not list all features required by the present invention. In addition, sub-combinations of these feature sets can also form the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a block diagram of a heartbeat information acquisition apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of at least a part of the body of the patient 22.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the cardiac waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 126 acquired by the waveform acquisition unit 10.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 12-1.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 12-2.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heartbeat information acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of details of step S104 and step S108 in fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a computer 2200 that can implement the heartbeat information acquisition apparatus 100 of the present invention wholly or partially.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments thereof, but the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily all necessary for the solution of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a block diagram of a heartbeat information acquisition apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heartbeat information acquisition device 100 includes a waveform acquisition unit 10, a feature value calculation unit 20, an approximation degree calculation unit 30, and a control unit 40. The heartbeat information acquisition device 100 is a computer including, for example, a CPU, a memory, an interface, and the like.

The heartbeat information acquisition device 100 may include an input unit 70, an image display unit 50, and a storage unit 60. The image display unit 50 is, for example, a monitor, a display, or the like of a computer. The input unit 70 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse of a computer. The storage unit 60 is a computer hard disk or the like. The storage unit 60 may be a hard disk or the like built in the computer, or may be a hard disk or the like externally mounted to the computer. When the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 is a computer, a heartbeat information acquisition program for causing the computer to function as the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 may be installed in the computer.

The heartbeat information acquisition device 100 may include a bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80. The bloodstream sound acquiring unit 80 acquires the bloodstream sound of the patient. The bloodstream sound acquiring section 80 is, for example, a stethoscope. The bloodstream sound acquiring section 80 may be an electronic stethoscope. The bloodstream sound acquiring unit 80 transmits the acquired bloodstream sound to the waveform acquiring unit 10.

The waveform acquiring unit 10 acquires heartbeat waveforms of one or more patients. The heartbeat waveform is a waveform of a sound of blood flow sent from the heart in accordance with the heartbeat of the heart of the patient. The blood flow sound can be acquired by the blood flow sound acquiring unit 80. In this example, the waveform acquiring unit 10 acquires the waveform of the bloodstream sound based on the bloodstream sound acquired by the bloodstream sound acquiring unit 80. The heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10 can be displayed on the image display unit 50.

The feature value calculation unit 20 calculates the feature value of the heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquisition unit 10. As described later, the characteristic amount of the heartbeat waveform is at least one of the amplitude, frequency, and cycle of the heartbeat waveform, for example. The approximation calculation unit 30 calculates the approximation of the feature value of the heartbeat waveform calculated by the feature value calculation unit 20. The control unit 40 controls the waveform acquisition unit 10 to acquire the heartbeat waveform. The control unit 40 is, for example, a CPU.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of at least a part of the body of the patient 22. In this example, it is assumed that the patient 22 is receiving artificial dialysis treatment. In this example, at least a portion of the body of patient 22 is an arm of patient 22. At least a portion of the body of patient 22 may be an arm that is not one of the familiar arms of patient 22.

In an artificial dialysis treatment, the blood of patient 22 is conducted out of patient 22 by placing shunt 24 in the body of patient 22. The shunt 24 may be embedded into the body of the patient 22. The shunt 24 may be connected to a blood vessel 26 of the patient 22 inside the body of the patient 22. The blood vessel 26 is at least one of a vein and an artery of the patient 22. In fig. 2, the blood vessel 26 is shown in dashed lines and the shunt 24 is shown in solid lines.

With the shunt 24 embedded in the body of the patient 22, the shunt 24 is not visible. In fig. 2, the shunt 24 is shown in a visible manner to show where the shunt 24 is disposed in the body of the patient 22.

At least one of the nurse, clinical laboratory technician, doctor, and patient 22 sometimes examines blood vessel 26 of patient 22. In the present specification, at least one of the nurse, the clinical laboratory technician, the doctor, and the patient 22 is referred to as a nurse or the like. A nurse or the like may check whether the blood vessel 26 of the patient 22 has undergone a vascular stenosis.

The blood vessel 26 may be auscultated by the bloodstream sound acquiring section 80 (see fig. 1). The blood vessel 26 may be examined by auscultation. It can be checked by auscultation whether the blood vessel 26 has a stenosis. The bloodstream sound acquiring section 80 can acquire the shunt sound. The shunt sound refers to the blood flow sound of blood flowing through the shunt 24. The bloodstream sound acquiring unit 80 may acquire the bloodstream sound of the blood vessel 26.

The heart beat of the patient is referred to as a heart beat Hb. 4 consecutive heartbeats Hb among the plurality of consecutive heartbeats Hb of the patient are set to be heartbeats Hb1 to Hb 4. The consecutive heart beats Hb1 to Hb4 mean: heartbeat Hb2 is the next heartbeat after heartbeat Hb1, heartbeat Hb3 is the next heartbeat after heartbeat Hb2, and heartbeat Hb4 is the next heartbeat after Hb 3.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquisition unit 10. The heartbeat waveform 12 is a heartbeat waveform corresponding to a plurality of consecutive heartbeats Hb when the heartbeat Hb of the patient is measured. The heartbeat waveform 13 is a heartbeat waveform corresponding to 1 heartbeat Hb among the heartbeat waveforms 12. In fig. 3, a heartbeat waveform 13 corresponding to 4 consecutive heartbeats Hb of the plurality of consecutive heartbeats Hb is shown. The heartbeat waveforms 13-1 to 13-4 correspond to the heartbeat Hb1 to the heartbeat Hb4, respectively. The heartbeat waveforms 13-1 to 13-4 are set as the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heartbeat waveform 13-4, respectively.

The feature value calculation unit 20 (see fig. 1) calculates a feature value of one cardiac waveform 13 and feature values of other cardiac waveforms 13 in a predetermined number of consecutive cardiac waveforms 13 for one patient 22. In this example, the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the feature amount of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1, the feature amount of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2, and the feature amount of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3. The feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 is a feature amount that becomes a criterion for determining whether or not one heartbeat waveform 13 (first heartbeat waveform 13-1) corresponding to 1 heartbeat Hb (heartbeat Hb1) and another heartbeat waveform 13 (second heartbeat waveform 13-2) corresponding to another 1 heartbeat Hb (heartbeat Hb2) are similar to each other.

One heart beat waveform 13 may be at least one of the first heart beat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heart beat waveform 13-4. The other heart beat waveform 13 may be at least one of the first heart beat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heart beat waveform 13-4 and is other heart beat waveform 13 different from the one heart beat waveform 13. In this example, one heartbeat waveform 13 is set as a first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and the other heartbeat waveforms 13 are set as a second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and a third heartbeat waveform 13-3.

The approximation calculation unit 30 (see fig. 1) calculates the approximation between the feature value of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the feature value of another heartbeat waveform 13. In this example, the approximation degree of the feature quantity of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the approximation degree of the feature quantity of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the feature quantity of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 are calculated. That is, in this example, the approximation degree calculation unit 30 calculates the approximation degree of 2 cardiac waveforms 13 selected from the continuous 3 cardiac waveforms 13 for different combinations of the cardiac waveforms 13.

The degree of approximation of the feature quantity of one heartbeat waveform 13 to the feature quantity of the other heartbeat waveform 13 is set as the degree of approximation Cs. The degree of approximation between the feature quantity of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is set to the degree of approximation Cs 1. The degree of approximation between the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the feature quantity of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is set to the degree of approximation Cs 2.

The control unit 40 controls the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on the approximation Cs of the feature quantity of the heartbeat waveform 13 calculated by the approximation calculation unit 30. In this example, the controller 40 controls the waveform acquirer 10 to acquire the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the approximation degree Cs1 and the approximation degree Cs 2. The control unit 40 may stop the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on the approximation Cs of the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13, or may continue the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on the approximation Cs of the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13. The control unit 40 may stop the waveform acquisition unit 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the approximation Cs1 and the approximation Cs2, or may continue the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on the approximation Cs1 and the approximation Cs 2.

In this example, the approximation degree calculation unit 30 may calculate only the feature amount of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the feature amount of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2. That is, the approximation degree calculation unit 30 may calculate only the approximation degree of the consecutive 2 cardiac waveforms 13 corresponding to the consecutive 2 heartbeats Hb1 and Hb 2. The control unit 40 may control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on only the approximation Cs 1. However, it is preferable that the control unit 40 controls the waveform obtaining unit 10 to obtain the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the approximation degree Cs1 and the approximation degree Cs2 so that the waveform obtaining unit 10 obtains the heartbeat waveform 12 that a nurse or the like can check the state of the shunt 24 and the blood vessel 26 of the patient 22.

The approximation degree calculation unit 30 may further calculate the approximation degree between the feature amount of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 and the feature amount of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1. This approximation degree is set as an approximation degree Cs 3. The control unit 40 may control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on the approximation degree Cs1, the approximation degree Cs2, and the approximation degree Cs 3. In the case where the control unit 40 controls the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the approximation Cs1, the approximation Cs2, and the approximation Cs3, the control unit 40 can control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 more precisely than in the case where the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 is controlled based on the approximation Cs1 and the approximation Cs 2.

In the artificial dialysis treatment, the states of the blood vessel 26 and the shunt 24 of the patient 22 are determined based on the heartbeat waveform 12. Preferably, the feature amount of one cardiac waveform 13 and the feature amount of the other cardiac waveform 13 are similar to each other by a predetermined degree or more so that a nurse or the like can determine the state of the blood vessel 26 and the shunt 24 of the patient 22, among the plurality of continuous cardiac waveforms 13 included in the cardiac waveform 12. That is, it is preferable that the shapes of a plurality of predetermined continuous heartbeat waveforms 13 included in the heartbeat waveform 12 are approximate to each other so that a nurse or the like can determine the states of the blood vessel 26 and the shunt 24 of the patient 22.

The predetermined degree of approximation of the characteristic amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 is set as the degree of approximation Cd. In the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 of this example, when the approximation degree Cs of the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 is equal to or greater than the approximation degree Cd, the control unit 40 causes the waveform acquisition unit 10 to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. Therefore, the nurse or the like may not manually stop the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12.

The control unit 40 may cause the waveform acquisition unit 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the approximation degree Cs of the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 does not reach the approximation degree Cd. The control unit 40 may cause the waveform acquiring unit 10 to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the approximation Cs of the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 becomes equal to or greater than the approximation Cd after the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 is continued. The control unit 40 may continue the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 until the approximation degree Cs becomes equal to or higher than the approximation degree Cd when the approximation degree Cs of the feature quantity of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the feature quantity of another heartbeat waveform 13 in the plurality of continuous heartbeat waveforms 13 included in the heartbeat waveform 12 does not reach the approximation degree Cd.

In the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 of this example, the control unit 40 causes the waveform acquisition unit 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the degree of approximation Cs of the feature quantity of the heartbeat waveform 13 does not reach the degree of approximation Cd, and the control unit 40 stops acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the degree of approximation Cs becomes equal to or greater than the degree of approximation Cd. Therefore, the nurse or the like may not make a determination as to whether to continue or stop the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12.

When the control unit 40 causes the waveform acquisition unit 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12, the control unit 40 may control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on another predetermined approximation degree smaller than the approximation degree Cd. The other predetermined approximation is set as an approximation Cd'. When the control unit 40 causes the waveform acquiring unit 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12, the control unit 40 may cause the waveform acquiring unit 10 to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the approximation degree Cs of the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 becomes equal to or greater than the approximation degree Cd'.

The amplitude of the peak-to-peak (peak-to-peak) of the heartbeat waveform 13 is set as the amplitude Ap. The amplitude Ap may be the amplitude of the voltage [ V ] of the heartbeat waveform 13, or the amplitude of the intensity [ dB ] of the bloodstream sound relating to the heartbeat waveform 13.

The peak-to-peak amplitudes of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heartbeat waveform 13-4 are set to amplitude Ap1 to amplitude Ap4, respectively. The feature amount of the cardiac beat waveform 13 calculated by the feature amount calculation section 20 may include the amplitude (amplitude Ap) of the cardiac beat waveform 13. This amplitude of heartbeat waveform 13 may be a peak-to-peak amplitude of heartbeat waveform 13 or may be an rms (Root Mean square) amplitude of heartbeat waveform 13.

The feature amount calculation section 20 may calculate the amplitude of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the amplitudes of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. In this example, the feature value calculation unit 20 calculates the amplitude Ap1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and calculates the amplitude Ap2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the amplitude Ap3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3. The approximation calculation unit 30 may calculate the amplitude approximation between the amplitude of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the amplitude of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. In this example, the approximation calculation unit 30 calculates the amplitude approximation between the amplitude Ap1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the amplitude Ap2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2, and the amplitude Ap1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the amplitude Ap3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3.

In the case where the amplitude of one cardiac waveform 13 is larger than the amplitudes of the other cardiac waveforms 13, the amplitude approximation degree may be a ratio of the amplitudes of the other cardiac waveforms 13 to the amplitude of the one cardiac waveform 13. In this example, the amplitude approximations in this case are Vp2/Vp1 and Vp3/Vp 1. In the case where the amplitude of one cardiac waveform 13 is smaller than the amplitudes of the other cardiac waveforms 13, the amplitude approximation degree may be a ratio of the amplitude of one cardiac waveform 13 to the amplitudes of the other cardiac waveforms 13. In this example, the amplitude approximations in this case are Vp1/Vp2 and Vp1/Vp 3. When the amplitude of one cardiac waveform 13 is equal to the amplitude of the other cardiac waveforms 13, the amplitude approximation degree is 100%.

The amplitude approximation degree Csa is the approximation degree of the amplitude of one heartbeat waveform 13 to the amplitude of the other heartbeat waveform 13. The amplitude approximation degree between the amplitude of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the amplitude of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is set to the amplitude approximation degree Csa 1. The amplitude approximation degree between the amplitude of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the amplitude of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is set to the amplitude approximation degree Csa 2.

The control section 40 can control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition section 10 based on the amplitude approximation Csa1 and the amplitude approximation Csa 2. The control section 40 may stop the waveform acquisition section 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the amplitude approximation degree Csa1 and the amplitude approximation degree Csa2, or may continue the waveform acquisition section 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the amplitude approximation degree Csa1 and the amplitude approximation degree Csa 2.

The predetermined approximation degree of the amplitude of the heartbeat waveform 13 is referred to as an amplitude approximation degree Cda. When the amplitude approximation degree Csa is equal to or greater than the amplitude approximation degree Cda, the control unit 40 may cause the waveform acquisition unit 10 to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. The control section 40 may cause the waveform acquisition section 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the amplitude approximation degree Csa does not reach the amplitude approximation degree Cda. The amplitude approximation degree Cda may be 80% or more and 100% or less, may be 90% or more and 100% or less, and may be 95% or more and 100% or less.

The amplitude approximation degree Cda may be stored in the storage section 60. The amplitude approximation Cda may be updated each time the condition of the shunt 24 and the vessel 26 is examined. The amplitude approximation degree Cda may be updated by a nurse or the like. The control unit 40 may stop the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 when the amplitude approximation degree Csa is equal to or greater than the updated amplitude approximation degree Cda. The storage unit 60 may store the amplitude approximation degree Cda for each of the plurality of patients 22.

The frequency of the heartbeat waveform 13 is set to a frequency f. The frequency f of the heartbeat waveform 13 may be a first area S1 in the power spectral density of the heartbeat waveform 13, i.e., the area of the predetermined first frequency band fb 1. The frequency f of the heartbeat waveform 13 may also be a ratio of the first area S1 to the second area S2 in the power spectral density of the heartbeat waveform 13. The second area S2 may be a predetermined area of the second frequency band fb 2. The second frequency band fb2 may contain the first frequency band fb 1. The frequency f of the heartbeat waveform 13 may also refer to the frequency f corresponding to the largest area of the area of each frequency f in the power spectral density of the heartbeat waveform 13.

The frequencies f of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heartbeat waveform 13-4 are set to frequencies f1 to f4, respectively. The feature quantity of the heartbeat waveform 13 calculated by the feature quantity calculating section 20 may include the frequency f of the heartbeat waveform 13.

The feature amount calculation section 20 may calculate the frequency f of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the frequency f of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. In this example, the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and calculates the frequency f2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the frequency f3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3. The approximation calculation unit 30 may calculate the frequency approximation of the frequency f of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the frequency f of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. In this example, the approximation calculation unit 30 calculates the frequency approximation of the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the frequency f2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2, and the frequency approximation of the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the frequency f3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3.

In the case where the frequency f of one cardiac waveform 13 is greater than the frequencies f of the other cardiac waveforms 13, the frequency approximation may be a ratio of the magnitude of the frequency f of the other cardiac waveforms 13 to the magnitude of the frequency f of the one cardiac waveform 13. In this example, the frequency approximations in this case are f2/f1 and f3/f 1. In the case where the frequency f of one cardiac waveform 13 is smaller than the frequencies f of the other cardiac waveforms 13, the frequency approximation may be a ratio of the magnitude of the frequency f of one cardiac waveform 13 to the magnitude of the frequencies f of the other cardiac waveforms 13. In this example, the frequency approximations in this case are f1/f2 and f1/f 3. In addition, in the case where the frequency f of one heartbeat waveform 13 is equal to the frequency f of the other heartbeat waveforms 13, the frequency approximation degree is 100%.

The frequency approximation degree Csf is set to approximate the frequency of one heartbeat waveform 13 to the frequency of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. The frequency approximation of the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the frequency f2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is set to the frequency approximation Csf 1. The frequency approximation of the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the frequency f3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is set to the frequency approximation Csf 2.

The control section 40 may control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition section 10 based on the frequency approximation Csf1 and the frequency approximation Csf 2. The control section 40 may stop the waveform acquisition section 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the frequency approximation Csf1 and the frequency approximation Csf2, or may continue the waveform acquisition section 10 to acquire the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the frequency approximation Csf1 and the frequency approximation Csf 2.

The predetermined approximation degree of the frequency of the heartbeat waveform 13 is set as a frequency approximation degree Cdf. The control unit 40 may stop the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 when the frequency approximation Csf is equal to or greater than the frequency approximation Cdf. The control section 40 may cause the waveform acquisition section 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 if the frequency approximation Csf does not reach the frequency approximation Cdf. The frequency approximation Cdf may be 80% or more and 100% or less, may be 90% or more and 100% or less, and may be 95% or more and 100% or less.

The frequency approximation Cdf may be stored in the storage section 60. The frequency approximation Cdf may be updated each time the condition of the shunt 24 and the vessel 26 is examined. The frequency approximation Cdf may be updated by a nurse or the like. The control unit 40 may stop the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 when the frequency approximation Csf is equal to or greater than the updated frequency approximation Cdf. The storage unit 60 may store the frequency approximation Cdf for each of the plurality of patients 22.

The period of the heartbeat waveform 13 is set to a period T. The waveform acquiring section 10 may calculate the envelope waveform based on the change over time of the blood flow sound. The waveform acquiring unit 10 may calculate a differential waveform of the envelope waveform. The waveform acquiring unit 10 may compare the amplitude of the differential waveform with a predetermined threshold th. When the amplitude of the differential waveform is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold th, the control unit 40 may determine that 1 heartbeat Hb has been detected. The size of the cycle T of the heartbeat waveform 13 may be a time interval from the time when the control unit 40 determines that 1 heartbeat Hb has been detected to the time when it determines that the next heartbeat Hb is detected after the 1 heartbeat Hb. The start of the period T of the heartbeat waveform 13 may be a time when the amplitude of the heartbeat waveform 13 is maximum, or may be a time when the amplitude of the heartbeat waveform 13 is minimum.

The periods T of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heartbeat waveform 13-4 are set to the frequencies T1 to T4, respectively. The feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13 calculated by the feature amount calculating section 20 may include the period T of the heartbeat waveform 13.

The feature amount calculation section 20 may calculate the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the period T of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. In this example, the feature value calculation unit 20 calculates the period T1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and calculates the period T2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the period T3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3. The approximation calculation unit 30 may calculate the period approximation of the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the period T of another heartbeat waveform 13. In this example, the approximation calculation unit 30 calculates the period approximation of the period T1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the period T2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the period approximation of the period T1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the period T3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3.

In the case where the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 is greater than the period T of the other heartbeat waveforms 13, the period approximation may be a proportion of the period T of the other heartbeat waveforms 13 relative to the period T of the one heartbeat waveform 13. In this example, the period approximations in this case are T2/T1 and T3/T1. In the case where the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 is smaller than the period T of the other heartbeat waveforms 13, the period approximation may be a proportion of the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 relative to the period T of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. In this example, the period approximations in this case are T1/T2 and T1/T3. In addition, in the case where the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 is equal to the period T of the other heartbeat waveforms 13, the period approximation degree is 100%.

The period approximation degree CsT is set to approximate the period of one heartbeat waveform 13 to the period of the other heartbeat waveforms 13. The period approximation of the period T1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the period T2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is set to the period approximation CsT 1. The period approximation of the period T1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the period T3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is set to the period approximation CsT 2.

Control section 40 may control the acquisition of heartbeat waveform 12 by waveform acquisition section 10 based on period approximation degree CsT1 and period approximation degree CsT 2. The control section 40 may stop the waveform acquisition section 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the period approximation degree CsT1 and the period approximation degree CsT2, or may continue the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition section 10 based on the period approximation degree CsT1 and the period approximation degree CsT 2.

The predetermined approximation degree of the period of the heartbeat waveform 13 is set as the period approximation degree CdT. The control section 40 may stop the waveform acquisition section 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the period approximation degree CsT is equal to or greater than the period approximation degree CdT. The control section 40 may cause the waveform acquisition section 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 if the period approximation degree CsT does not reach the period approximation degree CdT. The period approximation degree CsT may be 80% or more and 100% or less, may be 90% or more and 100% or less, and may be 95% or more and 100% or less.

The period approximation CdT may be stored in the storage section 60. The cycle approximation CdT may be updated each time the condition of the shunt 24 and the blood vessel 26 is checked. The period approximation CdT may be updated by a nurse or the like. The control unit 40 may stop the waveform acquisition unit 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 when the period approximation degree CsT is equal to or greater than the updated period approximation degree CdT. Storage unit 60 may also store cycle approximation CdT for each patient 22 of the plurality of patients 22.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10. In the heartbeat waveform 12 of this example, the amplitude of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is different from the amplitude of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 shown in fig. 3. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 of this example is defined as the amplitude Ap 3'. In this example, the amplitude Ap3' is greater than the amplitude Ap 3.

Similarly to the example of fig. 3, one heartbeat waveform 13 is set as the first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and the other heartbeat waveforms 13 are set as the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the third heartbeat waveform 13-3. Similarly to the example of fig. 3, the amplitude approximation degree between the amplitude (amplitude Ap1) of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the amplitude (amplitude Ap2) of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is referred to as amplitude approximation degree Csa 1. In this example, the amplitude approximation degree between the amplitude (amplitude Ap1) of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the amplitude (amplitude Ap3') of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is referred to as amplitude approximation degree Csa 2'.

When the amplitude approximation degree Csa between the amplitude of one cardiac waveform 13 and the amplitude of another cardiac waveform 13 does not reach the amplitude approximation degree Cda, the control unit 40 may cause the waveform acquisition unit 10 to continue acquiring the cardiac waveform 12. In this example, the amplitude approximation degree Csa1 is equal to or greater than the amplitude approximation degree Cda, but the amplitude approximation degree Csa2' is assumed to be less than the amplitude approximation degree Cda. When the amplitude approximation degree Csa2' does not reach the amplitude approximation degree Cda, the control unit 40 causes the waveform acquisition unit 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. In addition, when the bloodstream sound acquiring unit 80 is a stethoscope and the stethoscope is displaced from a predetermined portion of the body of the patient 22, the heartbeat waveform 13 such as the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 shown in fig. 4 is easily observed.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10. In the heartbeat waveform 12 of this example, the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is not observed. The heartbeat waveform 12 of this example differs from the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 shown in fig. 3 in this regard. The period T of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 in this example is set to a period T2'. The period T2' is greater than the period T.

In this example, one heartbeat waveform 13 is set as a first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and the other heartbeat waveforms 13 are set as second heartbeat waveforms 13-2. The period approximation of the period T1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the period T2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is set to the period approximation CsT 1'.

The control section 40 may cause the waveform acquisition section 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 in a case where the period approximation degree CsT of the period T of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the period T of the other heartbeat waveform 13 does not reach the period approximation degree CdT. In this example, the period approximation degree CsT1' is set so as not to reach the period approximation degree CdT. When the period approximation degree CsT1' does not reach the period approximation degree CdT, the control section 40 causes the waveform acquisition section 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. Further, when the heart beat Hb of the patient 22 has an arrhythmia, the heart beat waveform 13 such as the second heart beat waveform 13-2 shown in fig. 5 is easily observed.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the heartbeat waveform 12 acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10. In the heartbeat waveform 12 of this example, the frequency f of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is different from the frequency f3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 shown in fig. 3. The frequency f of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 of this example is set to the frequency f 3'. The frequency f3' is smaller than the frequency f 3. Note that the frequency characteristics of the heartbeat waveform 13 when the blood vessel 26 (fig. 2) is constricted may be different from the frequency characteristics of the heartbeat waveform 13 before the constriction of the blood vessel occurs. When the blood vessel 26 is narrowed, the heartbeat waveform 12 shown in fig. 6 can be observed.

Similarly to the example of fig. 3, one heartbeat waveform 13 is set as the first heartbeat waveform 13-1, and the other heartbeat waveforms 13 are set as the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 and the third heartbeat waveform 13-3. Similarly to the example of fig. 3, the frequency approximation between the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the frequency f2 of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 is referred to as the frequency approximation Csf 1. In this example, the amplitude approximation between the frequency f1 of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 and the frequency f3 of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 is set to the frequency approximation Csf 2'.

The control section 40 may cause the waveform acquisition section 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 in a case where the frequency approximation Csf of the frequency f of one heartbeat waveform 13 and the frequency f of the other heartbeat waveform 13 does not reach the frequency approximation Cdf. In this example, the frequency approximation Csf1 is equal to or greater than the frequency approximation Cdf, but the frequency approximation Csf2' is set to be less than the frequency approximation Cdf. When the frequency approximation degree Csf2' does not reach the frequency approximation degree Cdf, the control unit 40 causes the waveform acquisition unit 10 to continue acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. When the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80 acquires noise outside the heartbeat information acquisition device 100, the heartbeat waveform 13 such as the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 shown in fig. 6 is easily observed.

Control section 40 may control acquisition of heartbeat waveform 12 by waveform acquisition section 10 based on at least one of amplitude approximation Csa, frequency approximation Csf, and period approximation CsT. The control unit 40 may control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on a plurality of approximations Cs selected from the amplitude approximation Csa, the frequency approximation Csf, and the period approximation CsT. In the case where the control unit 40 controls the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on the plurality of the degrees of approximation Cs, the control unit 40 can precisely control the acquisition and the continuation of the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12, as compared with the case where the control unit 40 controls the waveform acquisition unit 10 based on 1 degree of approximation Cs.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 126 acquired by the waveform acquisition unit 10. The heartbeat information acquisition device 100 may further include a storage unit 60 (see fig. 1) that stores the heartbeat waveform 126. That is, the heartbeat waveform 126 is the heartbeat waveform stored in the storage unit 60. When a nurse or the like examines the patient 22, the heartbeat waveform 126 is a heartbeat waveform acquired at a timing different from the heartbeat waveform 12. The heartbeat waveform 12 (see fig. 3 to 6) is, for example, a heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10 in the current examination. The heartbeat waveform 126 is, for example, a heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquiring unit 10 in an examination several days ago with respect to the present.

In this example, the heartbeat waveform 12 shown in fig. 3 is acquired in the current examination, and the heartbeat waveform 126 is acquired in the examination several days before the current examination. The heartbeat waveform 136 is set to 1 heartbeat waveform in the heartbeat waveforms 126. The amplitudes of the heartbeat waveforms 136-1 to 136-4 are set to amplitude Ap1 'to amplitude Ap 4', respectively. In this example, the amplitudes (amplitude Ap1 'to amplitude Ap 4') of the heartbeat waveforms 136-1 to 136-4 are smaller than the amplitudes (amplitude Ap1 to amplitude Ap4) of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 to the fourth heartbeat waveform 13-4.

The feature amount calculation unit 20 may calculate the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 126. The feature amount calculation unit 20 may calculate the feature amount of 1 heartbeat waveform 136 in the heartbeat waveforms 126. The approximation calculation unit 30 may calculate the approximation between the feature of one cardiac waveform 13 and the feature of the cardiac waveform 136. This approximation degree is set as an approximation degree Csd.

The control section 40 may control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition section 10 based on the approximation Csd. The control section 40 can control whether or not to cause the waveform acquisition section 10 to acquire the heartbeat waveform 12 based on the approximation Csd after acquiring the heartbeat waveform 126. The approximation Csd may be different from the approximation Cs. As described above, the approximation degree Cs is an approximation degree of 2 heartbeat waveforms 13 out of 1 heartbeat waveform 12.

The control section 40 may control the predetermined number for the continuous heartbeat waveform 13 based on the approximation degree Csd. The predetermined number of heartbeat waveforms 136 at the time of acquiring the heartbeat waveform 126 is set as the waveform number N1. The predetermined number of heartbeat waveforms 13 after the heartbeat waveform 126 is acquired is set as the waveform number N2. The control section 40 may control whether to make the number of waveforms N2 greater than the number of waveforms N1 or the number of waveforms N2 smaller than the number of waveforms N1 based on the approximation degree Csd, or may control whether to make the number of waveforms N2 equal to the number of waveforms N1 based on the approximation degree Csd. The feature amount calculation unit 20 may calculate the feature amount of one cardiac waveform 13 and the feature amount of another cardiac waveform 13 for consecutive cardiac waveforms 13.

There are the following situations: after a nurse or the like checks the patient 22, for example, several days later, the state of the shunt 24 or the blood vessel 26 of the patient 22 changes due to deterioration of the vascular stenosis or the like. When the state of the shunt 24 or the blood vessel 26 changes, the number of continuous heartbeat waveforms 13 required to check the state of the shunt 24 or the blood vessel 26 may change. In the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 of this example, even when the state of the shunt 24 or the blood vessel 26 changes, the control unit 40 can control the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 by the waveform acquisition unit 10.

The waveform acquiring unit 10 may acquire the heartbeat waveforms 12 of a plurality of patients 22. A first patient 22 and a second patient 22 selected from the plurality of patients 22 are set as a patient 22-1 and a patient 22-2, respectively. The heartbeat waveform 12 of the patient 22-1 is set to heartbeat waveform 12-1. The heartbeat waveform 12 of the patient 22-2 is set to heartbeat waveform 12-2.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 12-1. The heartbeat waveform 23 is set to 1 heartbeat waveform 13 in the heartbeat waveforms 12-1. The amplitudes of the heartbeat waveforms 23-1 to 23-4 are set to be amplitudes Ap21 to Ap24, respectively.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the heartbeat waveform 12-2. The heartbeat waveform 33 is set to 1 heartbeat waveform 13 in the heartbeat waveforms 12-2. The amplitudes of the heartbeat waveforms 33-1 to 33-4 are defined as amplitude Ap31 to amplitude Ap34, respectively. In this example, the amplitudes (amplitude Ap31 to amplitude Ap34) of the heartbeat waveforms 33-1 to 33-4 are smaller than the amplitudes (amplitude Ap21 to amplitude Ap24) of the heartbeat waveforms 23-1 to 23-4.

The feature value calculation unit 20 may calculate a first feature value of the heartbeat waveform 12-1 and a second feature value of the heartbeat waveform 12-2. That is, the feature amount calculation unit 20 may calculate the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 12 for each patient 22.

The approximation degree calculation unit 30 may calculate the approximation degree of the first feature amount and the approximation degree of the second feature amount. That is, the approximation degree calculation unit 30 may calculate the approximation degree of the heartbeat waveform 13 for each patient 22. This approximation degree of the first feature amount is set as the approximation degree Csp 1. This approximation degree of the second feature amount is set as the approximation degree Csp 2. The approximation Csp1 is the approximation of one beat waveform 23 (e.g., beat waveform 23-1) from the other beat waveforms 23 (e.g., beat waveform 23-2) in the plurality of consecutive beat waveforms 23. The approximation Csp2 is the approximation of one heartbeat waveform 33 (e.g., heartbeat waveform 33-1) from among a plurality of consecutive heartbeat waveforms 33 to other heartbeat waveforms 33 (e.g., heartbeat waveform 33-2).

Control portion 40 may control acquisition of heartbeat waveform 12-1 by waveform acquisition portion 10 based on approximation Csp 1. Control portion 40 may control acquisition of heartbeat waveform 12-2 by waveform acquisition portion 10 based on approximation Csp 2.

The control unit 40 may stop the waveform acquisition unit 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12-1 when the approximation degree Csp1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined first approximation degree. The first approximation degree is set as a first approximation degree C1. First approximation C1 may be an inherent approximation of patient 22-1. The control unit 40 may stop the waveform acquisition unit 10 from acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12-2 when the approximation degree Csp2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined second approximation degree. This second approximation degree is set as a second approximation degree C2. Second approximation C2 may be an inherent approximation of patient 22-2.

The first approximation C1 and the second approximation C2 may be different. The shape of the heartbeat waveform 12 can easily vary from patient 22 to patient. Therefore, the shape of the heartbeat waveform 13 determined to be able to examine the state of the shunt 24 or the blood vessel 26 of the patient 22 is also likely to vary from patient 22 to patient. In this example, the controller 40 controls the waveform acquirer 10 to acquire the heartbeat waveform 12-1 using the first approximation C1 specific to the patient 22-1, and controls the waveform acquirer 10 to acquire the heartbeat waveform 12-2 using the second approximation C2 specific to the patient 22-2. Therefore, in the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 of this example, the control unit 40 can control the stop and continuation of the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform 12 for each patient 22.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heartbeat information acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 shows an example of a heartbeat information acquisition method in the case of using the heartbeat information acquisition apparatus 100. In fig. 10, the steps performed by the user of the heartbeat information acquisition device 100, the steps performed by the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80, and the steps performed by the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 are distinguished by thick dotted lines. The user may be a nurse or the like.

Step S100 is a step in which the user starts recording the bloodstream sound of the patient 22. The bloodstream sound is a sound of the bloodstream sent from the heart in accordance with the heartbeat Hb of the patient 22. Step S100 may be a step in which the user sets the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 and the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80 to an operable state (on).

Step S102 is a step in which the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80 transmits the bloodstream sound of the patient 22 to the heartbeat information acquisition apparatus 100. The bloodstream sound acquiring section 80 may be an electronic stethoscope.

Step S104 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 acquires the heartbeat waveform 12. In step S104, the waveform acquiring unit 10 acquires the waveform of the bloodstream sound based on the bloodstream sound acquired by the bloodstream sound acquiring unit 80.

Step S106 is a step of determining whether or not 1 heartbeat Hb is detected based on the heartbeat waveform 12. In step S106, the control unit 40 may determine whether or not 1 heartbeat Hb is detected. In step S106, if it is determined that the 1-time heartbeat Hb has not been detected, the heartbeat information acquiring method of the present example returns to step S102.

Step S108 is a step in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 12. As described above, the characteristic amount may be at least one of the amplitude, frequency, and cycle of the heartbeat waveform 13. The heartbeat waveform 13 is a heartbeat waveform corresponding to 1 heartbeat Hb among the heartbeat waveforms 12.

Step S110 is a step of determining whether or not the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates n feature amounts. In step S110, the control unit 40 may determine whether or not n feature amounts are calculated. The feature value calculation unit 20 calculates a predetermined number of feature values of the continuous heartbeat waveform 13 for each heartbeat waveform 13 of the heartbeat waveform 12 of the patient 22. n refers to the predetermined number. n is an integer of 2 or more. n is for example 3. In step S110, if it is determined that n feature quantities have not been calculated, the heartbeat information acquisition method of this example returns to step S102.

Step S112 is a step in which the approximation calculation unit 30 calculates the approximation Cs of the feature amount. When n is 3, the approximation calculation unit 30 may calculate the approximation Cs1 of the feature quantity of the first heartbeat waveform 13-1 (see fig. 3) and the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 (see fig. 3), and the approximation Cs2 of the feature quantity of the second heartbeat waveform 13-2 (see fig. 3) and the feature quantity of the third heartbeat waveform 13-3 (see fig. 3).

Step S114 is a step of determining whether or not the feature amounts are approximate. In step S114, the control portion 40 may determine whether or not the feature amounts are approximate. When n is 3, the control unit 40 may compare the predetermined similarity Cd with the similarity Cs1, and compare the similarity Cd with the similarity Cs2 to determine whether or not the feature quantities are similar. If it is determined in step S114 that the feature quantities are not similar, the heartbeat information acquisition method of this example returns to step S102.

Step S116 is a step of instructing the waveform acquisition section 10 to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. In step S116, the control section 40 may instruct the waveform acquisition section 10 to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. In step S116, the control unit 40 may command the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80 to stop transmitting the heartbeat waveform 12.

Step S117 is a step in which the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80 stops transmitting the bloodstream sound to the heartbeat information acquisition device 100. The bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80 may stop transmitting the bloodstream sound after receiving the instruction to stop transmitting the heartbeat waveform 12 in step S116.

Step S118 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 stops acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12. The waveform acquisition unit 10 may stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform 12 after receiving the instruction to stop transmission of the heartbeat waveform 12 in step S116.

Step S120 is a step of analyzing the acquired heartbeat waveform 12. In step S120, the control unit 40 may analyze the heartbeat waveform 12.

Step S122 is a step of displaying the result of analyzing the heartbeat waveform 12 on the image display unit 50 (see fig. 1). In step S122, the control unit 40 may display the result on the image display unit 50. Step S124 is a step in which the user confirms the analysis result displayed on the image display unit 50.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of details of step S104 and step S108 in fig. 10. Step S104 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 acquires the heartbeat waveform 12. In this example, step S104 includes step S1042, step S1044, step S1046, and step S1048. Step S108 is a step in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 12. In this example, step S108 includes step S1082, step S1084, step S1085, step S1086, step S1087, and step S1088.

Step S1042 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 receives the bloodstream sound transmitted by the bloodstream sound acquisition unit 80. Step S1044 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 calculates an envelope waveform based on the temporal change of the bloodstream sound. The envelope waveform is defined as an envelope waveform We.

Step S1046 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 calculates a differential waveform of the envelope waveform We. This differential waveform is set as a differential waveform dWe. Step S1047 is a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 compares the predetermined threshold th with the differential waveform dWe. Step S1047 may be a step in which the waveform acquisition unit 10 compares the threshold th with the amplitude of the differential waveform dWe. The amplitude may be a peak-to-peak amplitude of the differential waveform dWe or an rms amplitude of the differential waveform dWe. When the amplitude is the peak-to-peak amplitude of the differential waveform dWe, the amplitude may be the peak-to-peak amplitude at a predetermined time t. When the amplitude is the amplitude of rms of the differential waveform dWe, the amplitude may be the amplitude of rms for a predetermined time T from a predetermined time T.

In step S1048, the waveform acquisition unit 10 determines whether or not the differential waveform dWe is equal to or greater than the threshold th. If the waveform acquisition unit 10 determines in step S1048 that the differential waveform dWe is not equal to or greater than the threshold th (if it determines that the differential waveform has not reached the threshold th), the heartbeat information acquisition method of the present example returns to step S1042.

As described above, step S106 is a step of determining whether or not 1 heartbeat Hb has been detected based on the heartbeat waveform 12. In step S106, the control unit 40 may determine whether or not 1 heartbeat Hb is detected. In this example, when the waveform acquisition unit 10 determines in step S1048 that the differential waveform dWe is equal to or greater than the threshold th, the control unit 40 determines in step S106 that 1 heartbeat Hb has been detected.

Step S1082 is a step in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 acquires the heartbeat waveform 13. The heartbeat waveform 13 is a heartbeat waveform corresponding to 1 heartbeat Hb among the heartbeat waveforms 12.

Step S1084 is a step in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the amplitude of the heartbeat waveform 13. The amplitude may be a peak-to-peak amplitude of the heartbeat waveform 13 or an rms amplitude of the heartbeat waveform 13. In this example, the amplitude calculated by the feature value calculation unit 20 is set as the feature value F1.

Step S1085 is a step in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the period T of the heartbeat waveform 13. In this example, the period T calculated by the feature value calculation unit 20 is set as the feature value F2.

Steps S1086 to S1088 are steps in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 calculates the frequency f of the heartbeat waveform 13. Step S1086 is a step in which the feature amount calculation unit 20 applies the window function to the heartbeat waveform 13. The window function refers to the following function: in the function for calculating the input value and calculating the output value, a value outside a predetermined range in the input value is zero. By calculating the input value by using the window function, the value of the output value outside the predetermined range becomes zero.

Step S1087 is a step in which the feature quantity calculation unit 20 estimates the power spectral density of the heartbeat waveform 13 based on the operation result of the window function. The feature quantity calculation section 20 may estimate the power spectral density of the heartbeat waveform 13 for each component of the frequency f contained in the heartbeat waveform 13.

Step S1088 is a step in which the feature quantity calculation unit 20 calculates the area of the specific frequency f in the heartbeat waveform 13 based on the estimated power spectral density of the heartbeat waveform 13. The feature amount calculation unit 20 may calculate the area for each component of the frequency f included in the heartbeat waveform 13. The feature amount calculation unit 20 may use the first area S1 of the predetermined first frequency band fb1 in the area of each frequency f component as the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13, or may use the ratio of the first area S1 to the second area S2 as the feature amount of the heartbeat waveform 13. The second area S2 may be the area of the predetermined second frequency band fb 2. The second frequency band fb2 may contain the first frequency band fb 1. The feature value calculation unit 20 may set the frequency f corresponding to the largest one of the areas of the components of each frequency f as the feature value of the heartbeat waveform 13. This feature amount is set as feature amount F3.

In step S108, 1 feature quantity selected from the feature quantities F1, F2, and F3 may be calculated. For example, in the case where only the feature amount F1 is calculated in step S108, step S108 may not have step S1085 to step S1088.

In step S108, 2 feature amounts selected from the feature amount F1, the feature amount F2, and the feature amount F3 may be calculated. For example, in the case where only the feature amount F1 and the feature amount F2 are calculated in step S108, step S108 may not have step S1086 to step S1088.

Various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to flowchart illustrations and block diagrams. In various embodiments of the present invention, a module may represent (1) a step of a process of performing an operation or (2) a section having a function of performing an operation.

Certain steps may be performed by specific circuits, programmable circuits or processors. The specific part may be installed by a dedicated circuit, a programmable circuit, or a processor. The programmable circuit and the processor may be provided with computer readable commands. The computer readable commands may be stored on a computer readable medium.

The dedicated circuitry may include at least one of digital hardware circuitry and analog hardware circuitry. The dedicated circuit may include at least one of an Integrated Circuit (IC) and a discrete circuit. The programmable circuitry may comprise hardware circuitry that is logically anded, logically ored, logically exclusive-or, logically nand, logically nor, or otherwise logically operated. The programmable circuit may also include reconfigurable hardware circuits including flip-flops, registers, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), memory elements such as Programmable Logic Arrays (PLAs), and the like.

The computer readable medium may comprise any tangible device capable of holding commands for execution by a suitable device. Including the tangible device by a computer readable medium, a computer readable medium having instructions stored therein would be provided with the following: the article of manufacture contains instructions that can be executed to implement the operations specified in the flowchart or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer readable medium may be, for example, an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, or the like. More specifically, the computer-readable medium may be, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a floppy disk (disk), a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a blu-Ray (RTM) disk, a memory stick, an integrated circuit card, or the like.

The computer-readable commands may include any of assembler commands, command set architecture (ISA) commands, machine-related commands, microcode, firmware commands, state setting data, source code, and object code. The source code and the object code may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language and a legacy programming language. The object oriented programming language may be, for example, Smalltalk, JAVA (registered trademark), C + +, or the like. The procedural programming language may be, for example, the "C" programming language.

The computer readable commands are provided locally or via a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as a Local Area Network (LAN), the internet, etc. to the processor or programmable circuitry of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus. A processor or programmable circuitry of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus can execute the computer readable commands to create means for executing the operations specified in the flowcharts shown in fig. 10 and 11 or the block diagram shown in fig. 1. The processor may be, for example, a computer processor, a processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a controller, a microcontroller, or the like.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a computer 2200 that can implement the entire heartbeat information acquisition apparatus 100 of the present invention or a part thereof. The program installed in the computer 2200 can cause the computer 2200 to function as one or more parts of the operation associated with the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 or the heartbeat information acquisition device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, can cause the computer 2200 to execute the operation or the one or more parts, or can cause the computer 2200 to execute the steps according to the heartbeat information acquisition method of the present invention (see fig. 10 and 11). The program may be executed by the CPU2212 to cause the computer 2200 to perform specific operations associated with several or all of the blocks in the flowcharts (fig. 10 and 11) and block diagrams (fig. 1) described herein.

The computer 2200 of this embodiment includes a CPU2212, a RAM2214, a graphics controller 2216, and a display device 2218. The CPU2212, RAM2214, graphics controller 2216, and display device 2218 are interconnected by a main controller 2210. The computer 2200 further includes input/output units such as a communication interface (I/F)2222, a hard disk drive 2224, a DVD-ROM drive 2226, and an IC card drive. The communication interface 2222, hard disk drive 2224, DVD-ROM drive 2226, IC card drive, and the like are connected to the main controller 2210 via an input/output (I/O) controller 2220. The computer also includes older style input and output units such as ROM2230 and keyboard 2242. The ROM2230, the keyboard 2242, and the like are connected to the input/output controller 2220 via an input/output (I/O) chip 2240.

The CPU2212 operates in accordance with programs stored in the ROM2230 and the RAM2214, thereby controlling the respective units. The graphics controller 2216 acquires image data generated by the CPU2212 on a frame buffer or the like provided within the RAM2214 or in the RAM2214, thereby causing the image data to be displayed on the display device 2218.

Communication interface 2222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 2224 stores programs and data used by the CPU2212 in the computer 2200. The DVD-ROM drive 2226 reads the program or data from the DVD-ROM 2201, and supplies the read program or data to the hard disk drive 2224 via the RAM 2214. The IC card driver reads a program and data from or writes a program and data to the IC card.

The ROM2230 stores a boot program or the like executed by the computer 2200 when activated, or a program depending on the hardware of the computer 2200. The input/output chip 2240 may connect various input/output units to the input/output controller 2220 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

The program is provided using a computer-readable medium such as a DVD-ROM 2201 or an IC card. The program is read from the computer-readable medium, installed to the hard disk drive 2224, the RAM2214, or the ROM2230, which are also examples of the computer-readable medium, and executed by the CPU 2212. The processing of information described in these programs is read by computer 2200 to enable the programs to cooperate with hardware resources of the type described above. The operation or processing of information can be realized by using the computer 2200, thereby constituting an apparatus or a method.

For example, in the case of performing communication between the computer 2200 and an external device, the CPU2212 may execute a communication program loaded into the RAM2214, and command communication processing to the communication interface 2222 based on processing described in the communication program. The communication interface 2222 reads transmission data held in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM2214, the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM 2201, or the IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to a network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area provided on the recording medium, or the like, under the control of the CPU 2212.

The CPU2212 can read all or a necessary part of a file or a database stored in an external recording medium such as the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM drive 2226(DVD-ROM 2201), an IC card, or the like into the RAM 2214. The CPU2212 can perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2214. The CPU2212 may then write the processed data back to the external recording medium.

Various types of information such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases may be stored in the recording medium to perform information processing on them. The CPU2212 can perform various types of processing described in the present disclosure, including various types of operations specified by a sequence of commands of a program, information processing, condition judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, search or replacement of information, and the like, on data read out from the RAM 2214. The CPU2212 may write the results back to the RAM 2214.

The CPU2212 can search for information in files, databases, etc. within the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU2212 may search for an entry matching a condition in which the attribute value of the first attribute is specified from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute satisfying a predetermined condition by reading the second attribute value.

The programs or software modules described above may be stored on the computer 2200 or in a computer-readable medium of the computer 2200. A recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the internet can be used as the computer-readable medium. The program may be provided to the computer 2200 by the recording medium.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the above embodiments. It is apparent from the description of the claims that the embodiments to which such changes and improvements are applied are also included in the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that the execution order of the operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the devices, systems, programs, and methods according to the claims, the description, and the drawings can be realized in any order unless the description is made specifically for the case where "prior to …", "prior to …", and the like, and where the output of the previous process is not used in the subsequent process. The operational flows in the claims, the specification, and the drawings are described using "first," "next," and the like for convenience, but the order of execution is not necessarily meant to be necessarily used.

Description of the reference numerals

10: a waveform acquisition unit; 12: a heartbeat waveform; 13: a heartbeat waveform; 20: a feature value calculation unit; 22: a patient; 23: a heartbeat waveform; 24: a flow divider; 26: a blood vessel; 30: an approximation degree calculation unit; 33: a heartbeat waveform; 40: a control unit; 50: an image display unit; 60: a storage unit; 70: an input section; 80: a bloodstream sound acquisition unit; 100: a heartbeat information acquisition device; 126: a heartbeat waveform; 136: a heartbeat waveform; 2200: a computer; 2201: a DVD-ROM; 2210: a main controller; 2212: a CPU; 2214: a RAM; 2216: a graphics controller; 2218: a display device; 2220: an input-output controller; 2222: a communication interface; 2224: a hard disk drive; 2226: a DVD-ROM drive; 2230: a ROM; 2240: an input-output chip; 2242: a keyboard.

Claims

1. A heartbeat information acquisition device is characterized by comprising:

a waveform acquisition unit that acquires heartbeat waveforms of one or more patients;

a feature value calculation unit that calculates a feature value of the heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquisition unit;

an approximation calculation unit that calculates an approximation of the feature value of the heartbeat waveform calculated by the feature value calculation unit; and

a control unit that controls the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform by the waveform acquisition unit,

wherein the feature value calculating unit calculates a feature value of one heartbeat waveform and feature values of other heartbeat waveforms among a predetermined number of consecutive heartbeat waveforms for one patient,

the approximation calculation unit calculates the approximation between the feature value of the one cardiac beat waveform and the feature value of the other cardiac beat waveform,

the control unit controls the acquisition of the heartbeat waveform by the waveform acquisition unit based on the approximation calculated by the approximation calculation unit.

2. The heartbeat information acquisition device as claimed in claim 1,

the characteristic quantity includes an amplitude of the heartbeat waveform,

the feature amount calculation section calculates an amplitude of the one heartbeat waveform and an amplitude of the other heartbeat waveform,

the approximation degree calculation unit calculates an amplitude approximation degree between the amplitude of the one heartbeat waveform and the amplitude of the other heartbeat waveform,

when the amplitude approximation degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined amplitude approximation degree, the control unit stops the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform.

3. The heartbeat information acquiring apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2,

the characteristic quantity includes a frequency of the heartbeat waveform,

the feature amount calculation section calculates a frequency of the one heartbeat waveform and a frequency of the other heartbeat waveform,

the approximation degree calculation unit calculates a frequency approximation degree between the frequency of the one heartbeat waveform and the frequency of the other heartbeat waveform,

when the frequency approximation degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency approximation degree, the control unit stops the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform.

4. The heartbeat information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the feature quantity includes a period of the heartbeat waveform,

the feature amount calculation unit calculates a cycle of the one heartbeat waveform and a cycle of the other heartbeat waveform,

the approximation degree calculation unit calculates the degree of approximation of the period of the one heartbeat waveform to the period of the other heartbeat waveform,

when the period approximation degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined period approximation degree, the control unit stops the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform.

5. The heartbeat information acquisition device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4,

6. The heartbeat information acquisition device as claimed in claim 5,

when the approximation degree becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined approximation degree after the waveform acquisition unit continues to acquire the heartbeat waveform, the control unit stops the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform.

7. The heartbeat information acquisition device as claimed in claim 5,

the control unit controls the waveform acquisition unit to acquire the heartbeat waveform based on another predetermined approximation degree smaller than the predetermined approximation degree.

8. The heartbeat information acquisition device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7,

further comprises a storage unit for storing the heartbeat waveform acquired by the waveform acquisition unit,

the feature amount calculation unit calculates a feature amount of the heartbeat waveform stored in the storage unit,

the approximation calculation unit calculates the approximation between the feature of the one cardiac beat waveform and the feature of the cardiac beat waveform stored in the storage unit,

the control unit controls the predetermined number of continuous cardiac waveforms based on the approximation degree between the feature value of the one cardiac waveform and the feature value of the cardiac waveform stored in the storage unit.

9. The heartbeat information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the feature amount calculation unit calculates, for one patient, a feature amount of a first heartbeat waveform, a feature amount of a second heartbeat waveform, and a feature amount of a third heartbeat waveform, the second heartbeat waveform being a next heartbeat waveform after the first heartbeat waveform, of the predetermined number of consecutive heartbeat waveforms,

the approximation calculation unit calculates the approximation between the feature value of the first heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the second heartbeat waveform, and the approximation between the feature value of the second heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the third heartbeat waveform,

the control unit stops the waveform acquisition unit from acquiring the heartbeat waveform when the degree of approximation between the feature value of the first heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the second heartbeat waveform and the degree of approximation between the feature value of the second heartbeat waveform and the feature value of the third heartbeat waveform are equal to or greater than a predetermined degree of approximation.

10. The heartbeat information acquisition device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9,

the waveform acquisition section acquires a heartbeat waveform of a first patient and a heartbeat waveform of a second patient,

the feature amount calculation unit calculates a first feature amount of a heartbeat waveform of the first patient and a second feature amount of a heartbeat waveform of the second patient,

the approximation degree calculation unit calculates the approximation degree of the first feature quantity and the approximation degree of the second feature quantity,

the control unit causes the waveform acquisition unit to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform of the first patient when the approximation degree of the first feature amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined first approximation degree, and causes the waveform acquisition unit to stop acquiring the heartbeat waveform of the second patient when the approximation degree of the second feature amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined second approximation degree,

the first approximation is different from the second approximation.

11. A heartbeat information acquisition program for causing a computer to function as the heartbeat information acquisition apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.