JP2000083905A - Local sweating amount measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a local sweating amount measuring instrument precisely measuring a sweating amount diffused from a skin. SOLUTION: The local sweating amount measuring instrument is provided with a humidity detecting means provided with a humidity sensor 61 and an oscillation circuit 65 outputting an oscillation signal varying a frequency corresponding to the relative humidity of diffused air/humidity obtained by mixing sweat exhaled from a skin surface and dehumidified air supplied by a prescribed flow rate from outside in a probe capsule adhered to the skin surface and diffusing it, a temperature detecting means provided with a temperature sensor 62 detecting the temperature of the diffused air/humidity and a bridge circuit 66, and a computer CPU obtaining the relative humidity of the diffused air/ humidity by digital arithmetic based on the frequency of the oscillation signal, obtaining the absolute humidity of the diffused air/humidity based on the temperature of the diffused air/humidity based on the temperature of the diffused air/humidity and calculating a sweating amount based on this absolute humidity in addition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a local sweating amount measuring apparatus for measuring a mental and thermal sweating amount using humidity as an index which is useful for a quantitative autonomic nervous function test and a body temperature regulation sweating function test. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a local sweating amount measuring apparatus of the present invention is used as a local sweating amount measuring apparatus for measuring mental and thermal sweating amounts based on humidity, which is useful for quantitative autonomic nervous function tests and body temperature regulation sweating function tests. Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 3 filed by the applicant
There is one described in JP-A-102251. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the above-mentioned conventional local sweat amount measuring device. As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional local perspiration measuring apparatus is configured such that in the anterior chamber 102 of the capsule 101 attached to the surface of the skin S, the sweat released from the skin S and the dehumidified air A supplied at a predetermined flow rate from the outside. Are mixed and diffused to form diffused air and moisture, and are guided from the front room 102 to the rear room 104 through the small holes 103. In the rear room 104, the relative humidity of the diffused air is detected by the humidity sensor 105, and the diffused air is detected. The temperature of the humidity is detected by the temperature sensor 106.

The humidity sensor 105 is of a type in which the capacitance changes in accordance with the relative humidity of the diffused air and moisture. The oscillator 107 generates an oscillation signal in accordance with the capacitance of the humidity sensor 105. Is changed. Also,
The oscillator 108 is configured to have the same temperature characteristics as the oscillator 107 by forming the same circuit on the same substrate as the oscillator 107.
F / V converters 112 and 113 having the same characteristics for converting the frequency of the oscillation signal into a voltage are connected to each of them. Further, amplifiers 114 and 115 having the same characteristics are connected to the output sides of the F / V converters 112 and 113, respectively. The output signals of the amplifiers 114 and 115 are input to a differential amplifier 116 to perform a differential operation. You. By this differential operation, the fluctuation of the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity based on the temperature fluctuation of the oscillator 107 is removed.
An analog signal corresponding to the relative humidity of the diffused air and moisture irrelevant to the temperature fluctuation of 07 is output from the differential amplifier 116. The analog signal output from the differential amplifier 116 is input to the digital operation circuit 117.

The temperature sensor 106 for detecting the temperature of the diffused air and moisture in the rear chamber 104 is connected to an amplifier 118. The temperature detection signal output from the temperature sensor 106 is amplified by the amplifier 118, and the digital operation circuit 11
7 is input.

[0005] The digital arithmetic circuit 117 generates a diffused air based on the analog signal corresponding to the relative humidity of the diffused air output from the differential amplifier 116 and the analog signal corresponding to the diffused humidity output from the amplifier 118. After calculating the absolute humidity of the humidity, the amount of perspiration radiated from the skin S surface is measured based on the absolute humidity of the diffused moisture. The amount of sweat is determined by the pen recorder 119 or the printer 120.
Etc. are recorded.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus for measuring local perspiration, the F / V converters 112 and 113 for converting the frequency of the oscillation signal into voltages are connected to the oscillators 107 and 108, respectively, as described above. , F / V converters 112 and 113 have amplifiers 114 and 1 on their output sides, respectively.
15 are connected. The output signals of the amplifiers 114 and 115 are subjected to a differential operation by the differential amplifier 116 to obtain an analog signal corresponding to the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity. However, since the output signals of the F / V converters 112 and 113 and the amplifiers 114 and 115 actually change slightly with an ambient temperature change, the analog signal output from the differential amplifier 116 is not necessarily diffused and wet. Does not correspond to the relative humidity of Therefore, unless the temperature is corrected by the temperature correction circuit for each of the local perspiration rate measuring devices, it is difficult to obtain an accurate absolute humidity of the diffused moisture, and there is a problem that the perspiration rate cannot be measured accurately.

Therefore, in the present invention, the relative humidity of the diffused moisture obtained by mixing and diffusing the sweat which is radiated from the skin surface and the dehumidified air which is supplied from the outside at a predetermined flow rate is obtained by digital calculation, and the sweat from the skin surface is obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a local sweating amount measuring device for accurately measuring the amount.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a probe capsule attached to a skin surface, perspiration released from the skin surface and dehumidified air supplied at a predetermined flow rate from the outside are mixed. Humidity detection means for outputting an oscillation signal whose frequency changes in accordance with the relative humidity of the diffused moisture,
Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the diffused moisture, and a relative operation of the diffused moisture is digitally calculated based on the frequency of the oscillation signal, and the absolute humidity of the diffused moisture is determined based on the temperature of the diffused moisture. Calculating means for calculating the humidity and calculating the amount of perspiration from the skin surface based on the absolute humidity.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the relative humidity of the diffused moisture can be obtained by digital calculation based on the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the humidity detecting means. The absolute humidity of the diffused moisture is accurately obtained, and the amount of perspiration based on the absolute humidity can be accurately measured.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the local sweating amount measuring device. As shown in FIG. 1, the local sweating amount measuring apparatus 1 includes a main body 2 and two probe capsules 3a and 3b that are in contact with the skin surface.
The two probe capsules 3a, 3b are configured to have the same specifications, and by using the two probe capsules 3a, 3b, it is possible to simultaneously measure the amount of perspiration from two skin surfaces. The main body 2 is provided with probe capsule storage portions 4a and 4b for storing the respective probe capsules 3a and 3b when the amount of sweating is not measured. In addition, the probe capsule 3a is
The switch 5a that operates when stored in the probe capsule storage unit 4a is provided in the probe capsule storage unit 4a, and the switch 5b that operates when the probe capsule 3b is stored in the probe capsule storage unit 4b is provided in the probe capsule storage unit 4b. Then, the signals of the switches 5a and 5b are sent to a main board 6 described later.

Here, the probe capsules 3a, 3b
Will be described. FIG. 2 shows the probe capsule 3a,
It is sectional drawing of 3b. As shown in FIG. 2, the capsule main body 51 of the probe capsules 3a and 3b can be divided into an upper main body 51a and a lower main body 51b, and screws (not shown) are screwed into the respective screw holes 52. The upper body 51a and the lower body 51b are joined. Skin S
A front chamber 53 is formed in the lower main body 51b which is in contact with the body. In the front chamber 53, perspiration released from the skin S and a predetermined flow rate from the air inflow hole 55 through the air supply passage 54 through the air supply passage 54. The dehumidified air is mixed and diffused to generate diffused moisture. The means for supplying the dehumidified air will be described later.

Above the front chamber 53, there is formed a rear chamber 57 through which the diffused air generated in the front chamber 53 is guided through a small hole 56. The rear chamber 57 is defined by O-rings 58 and 59 mounted on the upper main body 51a and the lower main body 51b, respectively. The diffused moisture guided to the rear chamber 57 passes through the rear chamber 57 and flows out to the atmosphere from an air outlet hole 60 formed in a side surface of the upper body 51a.

The rear chamber 57 is provided with a humidity sensor 61 for detecting the relative humidity of the diffused moisture and a temperature sensor 62 for detecting the temperature of the diffused moisture. And the humidity sensor 61
The temperature sensor 62 is connected to a probe circuit 63 provided in a concave portion of the lower main body 51b. As will be described later, the probe circuit 63 is connected to a main board 6 provided on the main body 2 via an electric wire (cable) 64.

Here, the humidity sensor 61 and the temperature sensor 6
2, connection between the probe circuit 63 and the main board 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the humidity sensor 61 is connected to an oscillation circuit 65 included in a probe circuit 63. The humidity sensor 61 is of a capacitance type whose capacitance changes in accordance with the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity. The oscillation circuit 65 is provided with the capacitance of the humidity sensor 61, that is, the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity. And outputs an oscillation signal whose frequency changes according to. Therefore, the oscillation circuit 65 outputs an oscillation signal having a frequency corresponding to the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity, and the oscillation signal is transmitted to the computer CPU of the main board (CPU board) 6.

The temperature sensor 62 has a probe circuit 63.
Is connected to the bridge circuit 66 configured as described above. The temperature sensor 62 is composed of a thermistor whose electric resistance changes in accordance with the temperature of the diffusion air and moisture.
Is included as one of the resistors constituting the above. The voltage at the two terminals t1 and t2 of the bridge circuit 66 changes in accordance with the temperature of the diffused air and moisture. The voltages at the two terminals t1 and t2 are respectively equalized by amplifiers 67 and
After being amplified at 68, the main board (CPU board) 6
The differential signal is transmitted by the differential amplifier 69 of the main board (CPU board) 6, so that the output signal of the differential amplifier 69 becomes a signal corresponding to the temperature of the diffused air and humidity. It is converted into a signal and transmitted to the computer CPU.

Here, the characteristics of the humidity sensor 61 will be described. The humidity sensor 61 is formed as a capacitor having a polymer thin film disposed between electrodes, and the capacitance C is represented by the following equation. C = εr · εo · S / d Equation (1) In the above equation, εr is the relative permittivity, εo is the permittivity in a vacuum, S is the area of the electrode, and d is the distance between the electrodes (thickness of the polymer thin film). It is. Therefore, when moisture is adsorbed on the humidity sensor 61, εr changes, and the capacitance changes. This phenomenon is used to detect the relative humidity of diffused air and moisture. Assuming that the capacitance when the relative humidity is 0% is C0, equation (1)
Accordingly, C0 is expressed by the following equation. C0 = εr · εo · S / d Equation (2) The relative humidity of the diffused air changes to x% and εr becomes (1 + α)
When the capacitance changes to εr and the capacitance changes to Cx, Cx is expressed by the following equation. Cx = (1 + α) εr · εo · S / d Equation (3) From Equations (2) and (3), when the relative humidity of the diffused air changes from 0% to x%, the rate of change of the capacitance Cx / C0 Is represented by the following equation. Cx / C0 = {(1 + α) εr · εo · S / d} / {εr · εo · S / d} Equation (4) = 1 + α Equation (5) The variation in the manufacturing of the humidity sensor 61 is caused by the area S of the electrode. And the distance d between the electrodes, and the relative permittivity εr, which is a chemical property of the polymer thin film, is considered to be unaffected by manufacturing. Further, as is apparent from the equation (5), the rate of change of the capacitance with the change of the relative humidity of the diffused air and moisture is 1 + α,
Since it is a function of only the relative permittivity, it is not affected by manufacturing variations of the humidity sensor 61. Next, in the above equation (4), the numerical value that changes with the temperature change is almost ε
r and εo. Assuming that εr changes to (1 + α) εr and εo changes to (1 + β) εo depending on the temperature, the capacitance change rate Cy / C0 due to the temperature change is:
It is represented by (1 + α) · (1 + β) as in the equation (5).
Therefore, the rate of change in capacitance due to temperature change is a function of only the relative permittivity, as is the change in the relative humidity of diffused air and moisture.
It is not affected by manufacturing variations of the humidity sensor 61.

Since the humidity sensor 61 has the above characteristics, if a variable resistor for outputting an oscillation signal of the same frequency under a certain temperature environment is connected to the oscillation circuit 65, Since the same frequency is output even if a humidity change occurs, an error due to manufacturing variations can be adjusted, and compatibility can be provided. The bridge circuit 66 is connected to a variable resistor for adjusting an error due to manufacturing variations of the temperature sensor 62. Therefore, the probe capsules 3a and 3b provided with the humidity sensor 61 and the temperature sensor 62 can have compatibility.

An oscillating signal from the oscillating circuit 65 and an output signal from the amplifiers 67 and 68 are connected to an electric wire (cable) 64.
And the signal connectors 10a, 10a attached to the main body 2.
Main board (CPU board) via b (see FIG. 1) etc.
6 is transmitted to the computer CPU.

The computer CPU of the main board (CPU board) 6 digitally calculates the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity based on the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillation circuit 65 and outputs the relative humidity from the A / D converter 70. The absolute humidity of the diffused moisture is obtained based on the digital signal corresponding to the temperature of the diffused moisture thus obtained, and the amount of perspiration from the surface of the skin S is calculated based on the absolute humidity.

The computer CPU of the main board (CPU board) 6 drives a display section 71 composed of a display lamp (light emitting diode) and a 7-segment display provided on a key panel 7 (see FIG. 1) described later. A sweat signal is output to a converter 74 which outputs a display signal to the converter 72 or converts the data of the amount of sweat from the skin S surface into a signal form which matches the RS232C type connector 73 which is transmitted to an external computer. A sweat amount data signal is output via a D / A converter 76 to an analog output unit 75 for outputting or transmitting a sweat amount signal to an external pen recorder or the like.

Next, the dehumidified air supplied to the front chamber 53 of the probe capsules 3a and 3b will be described. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 2 is provided with a compressor 11 that sucks and compresses air in the atmosphere. A silica gel box 13 connected to the compressor 11 through a pipe 12 contains silica gel for dehumidifying the air sent from the compressor 11 in a bag. In addition, this bag is made of a nonwoven fabric through which moisture does not easily pass through the air, and is a cartridge type in which a bag containing silica gel can be easily put in or taken out of the silica gel box 13. . The air dehumidified by the silica gel is divided into two flow valves 14a and 14b. The two flow valves 14a and 14b can individually adjust the flow rate of the dehumidified air, and are sent to the air connectors 16a and 16b via pipes 15a and 15b.

The air connectors 16a and 16b are connected to a socket attached to the main body 2 and the probe capsule 3a,
Flexible tube 17 communicating with front chamber 53 of 3b
a, 17b, and a plug connected to the end of the socket, so that the plug can be connected to the socket with one touch. When the length of the flexible tubes 17a and 17b is changed to a reference length of 1.5 meters shorter than 3.5 meters, for example, the flow rate of the dehumidified air is set to 3.5 at the two flow valves 14a and 14b. Adjust the same as for meters. The flexible tubes 17a and 17b serve as the air supply passage 54 shown in FIG.

Next, the power supply section provided in the main body 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the local sweating amount measuring apparatus 1 has an AC power supply of 100 volts AC.
An inlet 21 is provided. A power switch 22 is connected to the AC inlet 21. When the power switch 22 is turned on, an AC 100 volt voltage is supplied to the power transformer 23 and the heater transformer 24.
The power transformer 22 steps down the AC voltage of 100 volts to a required low voltage and supplies it to the power circuit 25. The power supply circuit 25 rectifies and stabilizes the low voltage output from the power transformer 22 and supplies the low voltage to the main board 6. The heater transformer 24 reduces the voltage of the AC 100 volt to a required low voltage and supplies it to the heater circuit 26. The heater circuit 26 includes the probe capsule storage sections 4a and 4b.
When the probe capsules 3a, 3b are housed in the probe capsule housing sections 4a, 4b, the probe capsules 3a, 3b are preheated to about 32 ° C. In addition, the heater circuit 26, as described above, based on the temperature detection signal corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 62 provided in the probe capsules 3a, 3b, as described above.
Preheat 3b to about 32 ° C. By this preheating, thermal stimulation when the probe capsules 3a and 3b are brought into contact with the skin S is reduced.

Next, the equipment of the key panel 7 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that a light emitting diode (LED) is used for each of the indicator lights described below.
When the power switch 22 is turned on,
Emit light when power is on.

The READY indicator light 32 indicates that accurate measurement of the amount of perspiration is possible. The probe capsules 3a and 3b are stored in the probe capsule storage sections 4a and 4b, respectively, as described above. In the preheated state, the dehumidified air is supplied to the probe capsule 3a,
3b, when the relative humidity detected by the humidity sensor 61 and the absolute humidity based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 62 are stabilized at a preset value, the state changes from a blinking state to a lighting state, It indicates that accurate measurement of the amount of perspiration is possible.

SILICAGEL CHECK indicator light 3
Numeral 3 indicates the state of the silica gel contained in the silica gel box 13.
3b is stored in the probe capsule storage units 4a and 4b,
The air that has passed through the silica gel is the probe capsule 3
Silica gel can be used in accordance with the value of the absolute humidity (based on the relative humidity detected by the humidity sensor 61 and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 62 in the same manner as described above) when supplied to a and 3b. If it is in the state, it lights green,
Red and green flash alternately when the replacement time is approaching, and red when the replacement time is approaching.

The MEAS indicator light 34 is a mode switch 3
The light is turned on by the operation of No. 7 to indicate that the mode is the sweat amount measurement mode. The CAL indicator light 36 indicates a mode for performing various types of calibration, and the 0 indicator light 35 is lit when neither the measurement mode nor the calibration mode is selected, but the description thereof will be omitted.

The SELF TEST indicator lamp 38 is
It is lit when the F TEST switch 39 is pressed. If the user feels something abnormal when measuring the amount of perspiration, the user presses the SELF TEST switch 39 to perform a test. In this test, the filter paper is attached to the probe capsules 3a and 3b and the same operation as in the measurement of the amount of perspiration is performed.
8 lights in red, and lights green when there is no abnormality.

BASE POSITION indicator light 40
Is turned on when the BASE POSITION switch 41 is pressed, and the probe capsules 3a and 3b are stored in the probe capsule storage units 4a and 4b, respectively.
When the E POSITION switch 41 is pressed, a 7-segment display 42 (43) for displaying a perspiration amount described later.
The display value of becomes zero. At this time, the value before reaching zero, that is, the offset value of the absolute humidity in the probe capsules 3a and 3b is stored in the computer CPU, so that the computer CPU subtracts the offset value and measures the true value when measuring the amount of sweating. Calculate the amount of perspiration. The seven-segment indicators 42 and 43 indicate the amount of perspiration per minute per square centimeter of the skin S.

Next, measurement of the amount of perspiration by the local perspiration measuring apparatus 1 will be described. First, the probe capsules 3a, 3b
Are stored in the probe capsule storage sections 4a and 4b, the SILICAGEL CHECK indicator light 33 is lit in green, and the READY indicator light 32 is lit, and the BASE POSITION switch 41 is pressed. The display of 42 (43) becomes zero (base line). Next, when the probe capsules 3a, 3b are taken out from the probe capsule storage sections 4a, 4b, and the respective probe capsules 3a, 3b are brought into contact with, for example, the left and right palms, the measurement of the amount of perspiration is started.

In the measurement of the amount of perspiration, the air dehumidified by the silica gel in the silica gel box 13 is adjusted to a predetermined flow rate by the flow valves 14a and 14b as described above, and the front chambers of the respective probe capsules 3a and 3b are adjusted. Since it is supplied to 53, it is mixed with sweat that has been radiated from the skin S surfaces of the left and right palms and is diffused to be diffused moisture. The diffused moisture is guided from the front chamber 53 to the rear chamber 57, passes through the rear chamber 57, and flows out from the air outlet hole 60 into the atmosphere. In this process, the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity becomes
And the temperature of the diffused air and humidity is detected by the temperature sensor 62, the oscillation circuit 6 of the probe circuit 63
5 outputs an oscillation signal having a frequency corresponding to the relative humidity of the diffused moisture, and outputs a signal corresponding to the temperature of the diffused moisture.

The computer CPU of the main board (CPU board) 6 digitally calculates the relative humidity of the diffused air and moisture based on the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillation circuit 65 and outputs the relative humidity from the A / D converter 70. The absolute humidity of the diffused moisture is obtained based on the digital signal corresponding to the temperature of the diffused moisture thus obtained, and the amount of perspiration from the surface of the skin S is calculated based on the absolute humidity. Since the amount of perspiration at this point includes the offset value of the absolute humidity in the probe capsules 3a and 3b, the computer CPU calculates the true amount of sweat based on the value obtained by subtracting the offset value of the absolute humidity. Calculate. The amount of perspiration is displayed on the 7-segment displays 42 and 43 in the unit of mg / cm ² / min.

As described above, since the local perspiration rate measuring apparatus 1 can obtain the relative humidity of the diffused moisture by digital calculation based on the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillation circuit 65, the relative amount of the diffused moisture can be obtained. Humidity can be determined accurately. Therefore, the value of the absolute humidity obtained based on the relative humidity of the diffusion moisture is also accurate, and the amount of perspiration obtained based on this absolute humidity is also accurate. Note that the present invention is not limited to the local sweating amount measuring device of the above embodiment.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the relative humidity of the diffused air and humidity can be obtained by digital calculation based on the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the humidity detecting means.
The absolute humidity of the diffused moisture is accurately obtained, and the amount of perspiration based on the absolute humidity can be accurately measured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a local sweat amount measuring device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a probe capsule.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the local sweating amount measuring device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a key panel of the local sweating amount measuring device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a conventional local sweat amount measuring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Local sweat amount measuring device 2 Main body 3a, 3b Probe capsule 4a, 4b Probe capsule storage part 6 Main board 11 Compressor 13 Silica gel box 14a, 14b Flow valve 42, 437 Segment display 53 Front chamber 57 Rear chamber 61 Humidity sensor 62 Temperature sensor 63 Probe circuit 65 Oscillation circuit 66 Bridge circuit CPU Computer S Skin

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Naoto Terada, Inventor 8 Suzuken, Higashi-Katabata-cho, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Japan

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sweat permeated from the skin surface and the dehumidified air supplied from the outside at a predetermined flow rate are mixed and diffused in the probe capsule attached to the skin surface, and correspond to the relative humidity of the diffused air and moisture. Humidity detecting means for outputting an oscillating signal whose frequency changes, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the diffused moisture, and a relative humidity of the diffused moisture is digitally calculated based on the frequency of the oscillated signal. And a calculating means for calculating the absolute humidity of the diffused moisture based on the temperature of the diffused moisture and calculating the amount of sweating from the skin based on the absolute humidity.