JP2001046344A - Skin character measuring probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily measure the elasticity, moisture content and sebum quantity of skin with good reproducibility by using a single measuring probe. SOLUTION: This skin character measurement probe 1 is built in with a contactor 11 for measuring the elasticity of the skin, electrodes 21a, 21b and 21c for measuring the moisture content of the skin and sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b for measuring the sebum quantity of the skin. The contactor 1 is disposed in the central part near one end of the probe 1 and the electrodes 21a, 21b and 21c are disposed concentrically at the probe end face around the contactor 11. The sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b are disposed between the respective electrodes 21a, 21b and 21c at the probe end face.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a skin property measuring probe which enables a single measuring probe to easily measure the skin elasticity, water content and sebum amount of a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, skin elasticity, water content, and sebum amount have been individually measured by a skin elasticity measuring device, a water measuring device, and a sebum amount measuring device, respectively. In order to comprehensively judge the properties of the skin from the elasticity of the skin, the water content and the amount of sebum, the probes of the respective measuring machines are sequentially applied to the measurement site of the skin.

[0003]

However, it is troublesome to reapply the probe of each measuring device to the skin for each of the measurement items such as elasticity, water content, and sebum amount.

In addition, it is not easy to apply the probes of the respective measuring machines to the same part of the skin.

[0005] Further, with respect to a skin elasticity measuring device, a piezoelectric vibrator or a contact provided at the tip of a piezoelectric vibrator as disclosed in JP-A-8-29312 and JP-A-5-327331. Contact with the skin, the vibration frequency before and after the contact is detected by a frequency detection element, and when the elasticity of the skin is determined from the difference between those frequencies, the contact angle and the pressing force of the piezoelectric vibrator or the contact on the skin The measurement sensitivity varies depending on the measurement.

[0006] Further, in a moisture measuring apparatus, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As in the device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 26535, when two electrodes are applied to the skin to apply a current to the skin and the moisture content of the skin is measured from the electrical conductivity of the skin between the electrodes, the electrodes and the skin are also connected. The measurement sensitivity differs depending on the contact angle and pressing force of the sensor.

[0007] For this reason, using a probe of each measuring instrument for each measurement item such as skin elasticity, water content, and sebum amount has caused a decrease in reproducibility of measurement.

[0008] In response to such a conventional problem, the present invention provides:
An object of the present invention is to enable the elasticity, the water content and the amount of sebum of the skin to be measured easily and in a short time with high reproducibility using a single measuring probe.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention measure the elasticity of the skin with an apparatus consisting of a contact, a vibrator and a frequency detecting element, and measure the moisture by applying a plurality of electrodes to the skin. When measuring the electrical conductivity of the skin, and measuring the amount of sebum, the sebum is transferred to the sampling plate by pressing a sampling plate against the skin, and determined from the infrared absorption spectrum of the transferred sebum. Integrating the elements in a specific form makes it possible to measure the elasticity, moisture content and sebum content of the skin with a single measuring probe, and once the probe is brought into contact with the skin, In this case, these three kinds of measurements can be performed in a time, and in this case, the electrode for moisture measurement and the sampling plate for sebum amount measurement make the contact for elasticity measurement a stable direction and pressing force. Plays the role guide is brought into contact with, the increases measurement accuracy and reproducibility of elasticity was found that even higher reproducibility of moisture measurement and sebum amount measuring.

That is, the present invention provides (i) a method for measuring the elasticity of the skin by detecting the frequency change of the contact provided on the vibrator between the time of contact and the time of non-contact with the skin by the vibration detecting element A contact, a vibrator and a vibration detection element, (ii) a plurality of electrodes in contact with the skin, a plurality of electrodes for measuring the water content of the skin by measuring the electrical conductivity of the skin between the electrodes, and (iii) transferring the sebum to the sebum sampling plate by contacting the sebum sampling plate with the skin,
A skin property measuring probe incorporating a sebum sampling plate for measuring the amount of sebum by an infrared absorption spectrum of the sebum, wherein a contact for measuring elasticity is disposed at a center of one end of the probe, and the A plurality of electrodes for content measurement are provided concentrically on the probe end face around a contact for elasticity measurement, and a sebum sampling plate is provided between the electrodes for moisture content measurement on the probe end face. A skin property measurement probe is provided.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent components.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a probe according to one embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1A), a plan view of an end surface of the probe in contact with skin (FIG. 1B), and an overall external view (FIG. 1B). (C),
(D)).

The probe 1 includes an elasticity measuring device for measuring the elasticity of the skin, a moisture measuring device for measuring the moisture content of the skin by the electrical conductivity of the skin, and a sebum measuring device for measuring the amount of sebum in the skin. 1 (c), which is used as a probe of a skin property measuring device provided with a sensor (dashed line) 2 at one end of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped external shape as shown in FIG. 1 (c). As shown in (b), the contact 11, the vibrator 12, and the vibration detecting element 13 for elasticity measurement, and the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c for moisture measurement.
And sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b for measuring sebum amount
Is incorporated.

When the probe 1 is used for measuring the elasticity, moisture content and sebum amount of the skin, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the probe 1 is detached from the receptacle 3 and the sensor part 2 is attached to a predetermined measurement site. Is brought into contact, but when not used for measurement, it is fitted into the receiver 3 as shown in FIG. 1 (d).

The sebum sampling plate 3
For infrared spectroscopic analysis of the sebum transferred to 1a and 31b, it is preferable to provide an optical system including a light source and a light receiving sensor. Further, the probe 1 and the receiver 3 are connected to the main body (not shown) of the skin property measuring device. It is preferable to connect. Thus, after the probe 1 is used for measuring the elasticity, the water content, and the amount of sebum of the skin, by fitting the probe 1 into the receiver 3, the sensor unit 2 can be protected and the processing and analysis of the data collected by the measurement can be performed. This can be performed immediately with the main body of the skin property measuring device. The basic configuration of an optical system for infrared spectroscopic analysis of sebum is disclosed in JP-A-7-47.
No. 056, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-60686, and the like.

In the probe 1, the contact 11, the vibrator 12, and the vibration detecting element 13 have the same elasticity as that of the device described in JP-A-8-29312 and JP-A-5-322731. It is used to measure. Therefore, the contact 11 vibrating at a predetermined frequency by the vibrator 12 is brought into contact with the skin S (FIG. 2).
(See (b)), the vibration frequencies before and after the contact are respectively detected by the vibration detecting element 13, the detected frequencies are amplified by the main body of the skin texture measuring device, and based on the difference between the frequencies before and after the contact with the skin. Skin elasticity is required.

Here, the material for forming the contact 11 is as follows.
Silicone resin, acrylic resin and the like are preferable. The shape of the contact 11 is not particularly limited, and may be spherical, cylindrical, prismatic, or the like. From the viewpoint of improving the measurement sensitivity, a spherical shape is preferable, and further, for a soft measurement target such as skin, from the viewpoint that the flexibility can be evaluated with higher sensitivity, a hemisphere as shown in FIGS. It is preferred to be in a shape.

The size of the contact 11 is 5 to 5 mm in diameter from the viewpoint that the dermis flexibility can be detected with high sensitivity among the flexibility of the skin.
It is preferably 10 mm.

As the vibrator 12, a piezoelectric ceramic vibrator, a quartz vibrator or the like can be used. The vibration detecting element 13 is provided on the vibrator 12 and
Any device that can detect the vibration frequency of, for example,
A piezoelectric ceramic element, a polymer piezoelectric film, a piezoelectric acceleration pickup, or the like can be used.

In this probe 1, a contact 11 is provided at the center of a sensor section 2 at one end of the probe 1, and a plurality of electrodes 21a, 21
b, 21c and sebum sampling plate 31 for measuring sebum amount
It is characteristic that a and 31b are provided concentrically.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, by turning on the electromagnetic lock switch 4, the vibrator 12 is pulled upward in the figure against the elastic force of the spring 5, and the contact 11 is lifted. The probe is buried in the probe end face 1b on which the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c for moisture measurement are formed,
When the electromagnetic lock switch 4 is turned off as shown in FIG.
Is pulled down in the figure, and the contact 11 is moved to the probe end face 1b.
Can be controlled freely.

On the other hand, three annular electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c having different diameters for measuring moisture are disclosed in
No. 5, JP-A-7-47056, these electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c are connected to the skin S.
Is used to measure the electric conductivity of the skin S by flowing an electric current through the skin S by contacting the skin S and measuring the moisture content of the skin S based on the obtained electric conductivity. The electrode may be made of any material as long as it exhibits conductivity, and is preferably a metal.

As shown in FIG. 1, three annular electrodes having different diameters are provided concentrically as electrodes for moisture measurement, so that the electrode 21a on the contact 11 side and the electrode 21c on the outer side are provided.
The moisture in the deep part of the stratum corneum can be measured by the electrode 21a on the contact 11 side and the intermediate electrode 21b.
The water content of the surface layer of the stratum corneum can be measured. More specifically, for example, the distance between the electrode 21a and the electrode 21c is set to 5
mm to 10-20 μm from the surface of the skin
m can be measured at a depth of about 21 m.
By setting the distance between the electrode and the electrode 21b to 2.5 mm or less, it becomes possible to measure the moisture in the surface layer up to about 10 μm from the surface of the skin.

On the other hand, when the electrodes 21d, 21e and 21f for moisture measurement are formed radially on the end face of the probe as shown in FIG.
Since 21e and 21f do not evenly contact the skin, accurate measurement cannot be performed, which is not preferable. As shown in FIG. 5, the electrode for moisture measurement is a concentric annular electrode 21.
Even if the electrodes are formed as a, 21b, and 21c, when the contact 11 is not provided at the center of these electrodes, the contact 11 does not vertically contact the skin, so that the hardness of the skin cannot be measured accurately. It is not preferable.

Sebum sampling plate 31 for measuring sebum amount
a and 31b are disclosed in JP-A-5-60686,
As in the device described in -47056, the sebum is transferred to the sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b by bringing it into contact with the skin, and used to measure the amount of sebum by the infrared absorption spectrum of the transferred sebum. Is done. In this probe 1, the sebum sampling plate 31a,
31b is provided so as to fill the gap between the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c, so that the sebum sampling plates 31a, 3a, 3b
The area occupied by 1b can be ensured as wide as possible. Therefore, the measurement sensitivity of the amount of sebum can be improved.

As a material for the sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b, an insulating material, for example, a plastic, a non-conductive metal or the like can be used.

The probe 1 is used for measuring the elasticity, the water content and the amount of sebum of the skin as follows.

First, the probe 1 is removed from the receiver 3 (see FIG. 1C), and the bottom surface of the sensor section 2 is brought into contact with a predetermined measurement site. At this time, the electromagnetic lock switch 4 is turned on, and the contact 11 is buried in the probe end face 1b as shown in FIG.
a, 21b, 21c and sebum sampling plates 31a, 31
b is brought into contact with the skin S. Thus, the electrodes 21a, 21
b, 21c moisture measurement and sebum sampling plate 31
Transfer of sebum to a and 31b is performed simultaneously.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the electromagnetic lock switch 4 is turned off, and the contact 11 is protruded from the probe end face 1b, thereby bringing the contact 11 into contact with the skin S.
To measure the elasticity of the skin S. At this time, the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c and the sebum sampling plates 31a, 31b, which are already in contact with the skin S, serve as guides for the contacts 11, and apply the contacts 11 to the skin S with a predetermined force from a certain direction. It is possible to stably press.

Next, the electromagnetic lock switch 4 is turned on again so that the contact 11 is buried in the probe end face 1b as shown in FIG. 2A, and the probe 1 is received as shown in FIG. Return to vessel 3. Thus, infrared spectroscopy of the sebum transferred to the sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b is performed using the optical system of the receiver 3, and the processing and analysis of the data obtained from the probe 1 is performed by the main body of the skin property measuring device. Do with.

Thereafter, the sebum sampling plates 31a, 31a are buried in the probe end face 1b.
(b) is cleaned to prepare for the next measurement.

FIG. 3 shows a probe 1B according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. Also in this probe 1B, a contact 11 for elasticity measurement is provided at the center of the sensor unit at one end of the probe 1B, and a plurality of electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c for moisture measurement and a sebum amount around the contact 11 are provided. Sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b for measurement are provided concentrically.

In this probe 1B, the contact 11 always protrudes from the probe end face 1b on which the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c for measuring the water content are formed, and the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c for measuring the water content and the sebum are used. When the sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b for measuring the amount are brought into contact with the skin S, the contact 11
Is pressed.

Therefore, in the probe 1 of FIG. 1 described above, it is necessary to switch the position of the contact 11 with respect to the probe end face 1b in order to measure the water content or the amount of sebum and the elasticity. On the other hand, according to the probe 1B of FIG. 3, it is possible to simultaneously measure the elasticity, the water content, and the amount of sebum of the skin.

On the other hand, according to the probe 1B of FIG. 3, the contact 11 and the electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c or the sebum sampling
Depending on the distance from the electrodes 21a, 21b, 1a, 31b, the skin S pressed by the contact 11 may deform the electrodes 21a, 21b,
21c or the sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b may not contact the skin S sufficiently. In particular, contact 1
The electrode 21a closest to 1 tends to be in a state of not sufficiently contacting the skin S as shown in the figure. Therefore, in this probe 1B, in order to ensure the reliability of the measurement,
The diameter of the contact 11 is 3-5 mm, the distance between the contact 11 and the electrode 21a is 6-10 mm,
It is preferable that the distance between the electrodes 21a and 21b be 5 mm or more and the distance between the electrodes 21a and 21b be 3 mm or less.

The probe of the present invention can further take various aspects. For example, the number of electrodes and sebum sampling plates provided on the probe is not limited to the above example. Also,
The above-described probe measures the amount of sebum based on the sebum transferred to the sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b. However, the electrodes 21a, 21b and 21c are also used as the sebum transfer area, and the probe end face 1b has a wider area. May be subjected to infrared spectroscopy. Alternatively, the electrode may be used as a sebum sampling plate, and the sebum sampling plate separate from the electrode may be omitted.

[0037]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments.

Example 1 A probe 1 having the structure shown in FIG. 1 was manufactured. In this case, a hemisphere (5 mm in diameter) made of a hard silicone resin was used as the contact 11, and a piezoelectric ceramic vibrator was used as each of the vibrator 12 and the vibration detecting element 13. The spring 5 was adjusted such that the pressing force of the contact 11 against the skin S when the electromagnetic lock switch 4 was turned off and the probe end face 1b was brought into contact with the skin S was 180 g to 200 g.

The electrodes 21a, 21b and 21c are made of nickel-chrome-plated copper foil having an inner diameter of 6 mm.
mm, annular electrode with 12 mm outer diameter (electrode 21a), 1 inner diameter
An annular electrode (electrode 21b) having an outer diameter of 4 mm and an outer diameter of 16 mm and an annular electrode (electrode 21c) having an inner diameter of 18 mm and an outer diameter of 20 mm were used. The sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b were made of epoxy resin and had an inner diameter of 6mm and an outer diameter of 20mm. Was used.

Embodiment 2 The same contacts 11, electrodes 21a, 21b,
1c and sebum sampling plates 31a and 31b,
A probe having substantially the same configuration as the probe 1B in FIG. 3 was produced.

Evaluation (1) Measurement of Elasticity Silicone rubber and the cheeks of the human face were used as samples, and as an index of the elasticity, when the probes of Examples 1 and 2 were brought into contact with them, the vibration detecting element 13 The frequency change to be measured was determined (measurement repetition number 3).

FIG. 6 shows the average value of the three measurements. From the figure, as for the silicone rubber, the average value of the frequency change between the probe of Example 1 and the probe of Example 2 shows the same value, and the variation is also the same. It can be seen that the variation of the measurement result is smaller in the probe of Example 1. This is because the shape of the end face of the probe is smaller in the first embodiment than in the second embodiment.
This is considered to be because the contact 11 can be stably pressed against the skin S from a certain direction.

(2) Measurement of moisture content Using the probe of Example 1, the cheeks of the face (sample number n
= 400), the water content of the surface layer portion and the depth portion of the stratum corneum was measured. For reference, a commercially available moisture meter (I) of the same sample was used to determine the moisture concentration from the electrical conductivity of the skin.
The measurement was also performed by Skicom 200 manufactured by BS Co., and the correlation was determined.

The results are shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). In addition,
The figure shows the maximum value obtained by the probe of Example 1 and the maximum value obtained by a commercially available machine standardized to 100, respectively. As a result, the value measured by the probe of Example 1 is
It turns out that it shows a good correlation with the value measured by a commercially available moisture meter.

(3) Measurement of sebum amount Using the probe of Example 1, the cheeks of the face (sample number n
= 400) was measured. For reference, the same sample was also measured with a conventional sebum mass analyzer that measures the amount of sebum by infrared spectroscopy using a sebum sampling plate,
The correlation was determined.

FIG. 8 shows the results. FIG. 2 shows the maximum value obtained by the probe of the first embodiment and the maximum value obtained by the existing machine standardized to 100, respectively. This shows that the measured value by the probe of Example 1 shows a good correlation with the measured value by the existing sebum amount measuring device.

[0047]

According to the probe of the present invention, the elasticity, moisture content and sebum amount of the skin can be measured easily and in a short time with good reproducibility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the probe of the present invention (FIG. 1 (a)),
Plan view of the contact end surface of the probe with the skin (FIG. (B)),
It is the whole external view (FIG. (C), FIG. (D)).

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a use state of the probe of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a probe of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a contact end face of the probe of the reference example with the skin.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a contact end face of the probe of the reference example with the skin.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a frequency change for each sample, measured by the probe of the example.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a correlation between a water content measured by a probe of an example and a water content measured by a commercial machine.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a correlation between the amount of sebum measured by the probe of the example and the amount of sebum measured by a commercial machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1B Probe 2 Sensor part 3 Receiver 4 Electromagnetic lock switch 5 Spring 11 Contact 12 Vibrator 13 Vibration detection element 21a, 21b, 21c Electrode 31a, 31b Sebum sampling plate S Skin

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Koyamauchi 2-1-3 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Inside Kao Corporation Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Shuichi Akasaki 2-1-3 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Kao Kao Corporation (72) Inventor Noriko Inoue 2-1-3 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Kao Corporation (72) Inventor Noriko Inoue 2-1-3 Bunka Sumika-ku, Tokyo In-house F-term (reference) 4C027 AA00 AA07 CC00 EE01

Claims (4)

[Claims] (I) A contact for measuring elasticity of skin by detecting a frequency change of a contact provided on the vibrator when the contact is in contact with the skin and when the contact is not in contact with the skin. (Ii) a plurality of electrodes for measuring the water content of the skin by bringing a plurality of electrodes into contact with the skin and measuring the electrical conductivity of the skin between the electrodes; and
ii) a skin property measuring probe incorporating a sebum sampling plate for transferring sebum to the sebum sampling plate by bringing the sebum sampling plate into contact with the skin and measuring the amount of sebum by an infrared absorption spectrum of the sebum, A contact for elasticity measurement is arranged at the center of one end of the probe, and a plurality of electrodes for moisture content measurement are provided concentrically on the probe end face centering on the contact for elasticity measurement, A skin property measuring probe, wherein a sebum sampling plate is provided between electrodes for measuring moisture on the probe end face. 2. The skin property measuring probe according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the contact for elasticity measurement with the skin is spherical. 3. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the contact for elasticity measurement freely projects from the probe end surface on which the electrode for measuring water content is formed or is embedded in the probe end surface.
The skin property measuring probe according to the above. 4. An electrode for measuring water content, wherein three annular electrodes having different diameters are provided concentrically on the probe end face centering on a contact for measuring elasticity.
4. The skin property measuring probe according to any one of 3.