JP2000051186A - Finger muscle power meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the finger muscle power to be objectively measured by converting the pressure generated by the finger muscle power to electric signals by a sensor part which uses a strain gauge or semiconductor pressure sensor and connecting the sensor part and a meter body part including an electric circuit part and an output device by an electric cord without fixing them. SOLUTION: This finger muscle power meter is constituted of the sensor part 1 to convert the finger pressure to electric signals, the electric circuit part 2 with an amplification circuit, or the like, and the output device 3. The sensor part 1 is connected with the meter body device including the electric circuit part 2, the output device 3, or the like, via the electric cord without fixing them. The strain gauge or the semiconductor pressure sensor is used for the sensor part 1. For instance, when the sensor part 1 is put on a table and pressed by a stretched finger, the flexor muscle power and the extensor muscle power can be measured. The pinching power by two fingers can also be measured by pinching the sensor part 1 by two fingers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for converting the pressure generated by the muscular strength of a finger into an electric signal using a strain gauge or a semiconductor pressure sensor, amplifying the signal, and outputting the amplified signal to an electric meter or the like. The present invention relates to an apparatus that achieves objective measurement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Up to now, mechanical grip strength meters have been generally used at low cost as an objective evaluation method for grip strength, but this cannot measure the muscle strength of individual fingers. In patients such as trauma and rheumatoid arthritis, it may be desirable to measure individual finger strength. There is a pinch meter that uses a mechanical spring as a simple measuring device to easily measure the muscle strength of the finger in a general outpatient consultation room, but due to its structure, the main unit consists of a pressurizing unit and an output meter. And the measurement site and the measurement direction are greatly restricted.

[0003]

In order to solve this problem, it is necessary that the main body of the measuring instrument and the pressurizing section (pressure sensor section) are not fixed and the pressurizing section is small and lightweight.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a pressure generated by a muscle force of a finger is converted into an electric signal by a strain gauge or a semiconductor pressure sensor, and the electric signal is amplified and then output to an electric meter or the like. And measure the muscle strength of the fingers. By taking a means of converting pressure into an electric signal, a method of connecting the pressurizing section and the measuring device main body with an electric cord without fixing the same can be adopted.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of an overall view of a configuration for specifically realizing the present invention. It comprises a sensor section (1) for converting finger pressure into an electric signal, an electric circuit section (2) having an amplifier circuit and the like, and an output device (3). If necessary, use the calibration knob (4), power switch (5),
Install the pilot lamp (6) and so on. The sensor unit (1) is connected to the main unit including the electric circuit unit (2) and the output device (3) via an electric cord without being fixed. The electric cord does not need to be a single substance, and a cord supporting material, hoses, and the like may be run in parallel if necessary as long as the substance is a flexible substance.

The sensor section (1) uses a strain gauge or a semiconductor pressure sensor. For example, when a strain gauge is used, a strain gauge (8) is attached to the inside of a parallel flat plate (7) having both ends fixed as shown in FIG. ) Can be realized by adopting a structure in which distortion occurs. Further, a part of the electric circuit may be incorporated in the sensor unit.

By using an electric analog meter or an electric digital meter for the output device (3), it is possible to visually display the absolute value or relative value of the pressure. Further, even if the output device is a low-frequency oscillator having a structure in which the oscillation frequency changes according to a change in pressure, the change in pressure can be recognized audibly.

Further, in order to convert the pressure into an electric signal, an electric processing function for storing a reference pressure (reference pressure) in advance and outputting a result obtained by comparing an actually measured value with the reference pressure can be provided. It is.

[0009]

FIG. 3 shows an example of a block diagram for realizing the present invention. In this example, the output of a bridge circuit (11) including a strain gauge (10) is connected to a differential amplifier (1).
In 2), the signal is differentially amplified, and if necessary, amplified by an amplifier (13) and output to an electric analog meter (14). Further, by adding a zero-point correction variable resistor, a temperature compensation circuit, and the like, a device with higher reliability can be realized.

As an example of usage, a sensor is placed on a desk, and the fingers are extended and the sensor (1) is pushed as shown in FIGS. Can be measured. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, by sandwiching the sensor unit (1) between two fingers, it is possible to measure the force of sandwiching between the two fingers.

The function described in claim 4 includes, for example, an analog-digital conversion circuit, a semiconductor memory, and a microprocessor, and compares the reference pressure stored in the semiconductor memory in advance with the actually measured value by the microprocessor to determine the function. This can be realized by outputting the result as light from a light emitting diode, a chime sound, an audio signal, or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of a finger strength measuring apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an example of a configuration method of a sensor unit when a strain gauge is used.

FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram for realizing a finger strength measuring apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an example of an actual measuring method using a finger strength measuring apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor part 2 Electric circuit part 3 Output device 4 Calibration knob 5 Power switch 6 Pilot lamp 7 Parallel plate which fixed both ends 8, 10 Strain gauge 9 Strain gauge adhesion surface 11 Bridge circuit 12 Differential amplifier 13 Amplifier 14 Electric analog Meter

Claims (4)

[Claims] A sensor unit (1) using a strain gauge or a semiconductor pressure sensor converts pressure generated by finger muscle strength into an electric signal, and the sensor unit (1), an electric circuit unit (2), and an output device (3). ) Is a finger strength measuring device that is configured to be connected with an electric cord without being fixed to a main body portion including the above. 2. The finger strength measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an electric analog meter, an electric digital meter, or both are used as the output device (3). 3. The finger strength measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a sound wave from a low-frequency transmitter is used as the output device, and the output frequency is changed by a change in pressure by a finger. 4. A pressure (reference pressure) by a finger as a reference is stored in advance, and the measured pressure result is automatically compared with the reference pressure by arithmetic processing, and the result is converted into light, sound, or voice. The finger muscle strength measuring device according to claim 1, which outputs the signal.