JP2001276073A - Bone evaluation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bone evaluation device which is capable of easily aligning a position of the heel bone of a subject and a position of an ultrasonic beam, making measurement with high reliability and making good bone evaluation without entailing laboriousness in handling and without entailing an intricate structure and control. SOLUTION: The subject of the bone evaluation moves a footrest 14 along the plane orthogonal with the ultrasonic wave transmission and reception direction of a measuring unit 16 by controlling a moving lever 23 (32) in accordance with the size of a foot and aligns the position of the heel bone of the foot and the ultrasonic wave transmission and reception center of the measuring unit 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can easily obtain an optimum inspection state according to the size of a subject's foot when performing a bone evaluation on a calcaneus of a foot, particularly a calcaneus of a foot. It relates to improvement of a bone evaluation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a bone evaluating apparatus for diagnosing a bone using ultrasonic waves. For example, FIG. 8A illustrates a bone evaluation apparatus 100 that performs an inspection on a heel bone (calcaneus) of a subject's foot and performs a bone evaluation. The bone evaluation device 100 includes a footrest 102 on which a foot of a subject is placed.
A pair of ultrasonic transducers 104 (only one is shown) are arranged on both sides thereof in accordance with the height of the heel bone of the heel.
Are fixedly arranged, and when the foot is placed on the footrest 102, the calcaneus is positioned exactly on the ultrasonic beam connecting the pair of ultrasonic transducers 104. Then, transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves are performed in that state, and the physical characteristics and soundness of the calcaneus are measured based on the sound speed and attenuation of the ultrasonic waves at that time. In addition, as a measurement wave for bone evaluation, X-rays and the like are used in addition to ultrasonic waves.

[0003] As shown in FIG.
Has an inclined upper surface and holds the footrest 102. The footrest 102 has a substantially L-shape, and a pair of measurement units 104 are fixedly arranged at a predetermined height on both sides of the standing part 102a of the footrest 102.
Each measurement unit 104 incorporates an ultrasonic vibrator therein and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves by ultrasonic transducers facing each other. In order to transmit ultrasonic waves to the calcaneus, The positional relationship between the table 102 and the measurement unit 104 is set. That is, when the foot is placed on the footrest 102, the positions of the pair of ultrasonic transducers are determined so that the position of the calcaneus is naturally positioned on the ultrasonic beam.

However, in an ideal state, even when the ultrasonic beam is positioned at the center of the calcaneus, in the actual measurement, the ultrasonic beam is The heel bone may deviate significantly from the center. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the measurement of an adult, the calcaneus 108 and the transducer position (transmission / reception position of the ultrasonic beam) 104a are properly positioned, but as shown in FIG. In the measurement of a child, since the foot is smaller than that of an adult, the calcaneus 108 of the child and the transducer position 104a are largely displaced along a plane orthogonal to the transmitting and receiving direction of the ultrasonic beam. As a result, unexpected reflection or scattering of the ultrasonic waves may occur, and the reliability of the bone evaluation result may be reduced.

Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed Japanese Patent No. 290940.
No. 5 proposes a structure that enables replacement of a footrest. In this structure, the position of the calcaneus and the position of the ultrasonic beam are easily matched by appropriately using a footrest of a plurality of sizes corresponding to the size of the subject's foot. Further, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2923465 that by measuring the size of a subject's foot,
A structure has been proposed in which the position of the ultrasonic transducer, that is, the position of the ultrasonic beam is matched with the position of the calcaneus of the subject. In any case, since the center of the calcaneus and the ultrasonic beam can be positioned, it is possible to perform good measurement and perform highly reliable bone evaluation.

[0006]

However, in the case of a configuration in which the footrests are exchanged according to the subject, management of a plurality of footrests is complicated. In addition, when used in a group checkup or the like, replacement of a footrest is troublesome. In the case of measuring the size of the foot for each subject and changing the position of the ultrasonic transducer, the structure and control become complicated,
There was a disadvantage that the cost was high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to reduce the calcaneus of a subject without complicated handling and complicated structure and control. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bone evaluation apparatus capable of easily matching the position of the ultrasonic beam with the position of the ultrasonic beam, performing highly reliable measurement, and performing good bone evaluation.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a bone evaluation apparatus for transmitting and receiving a measurement wave to and from a heel of a foot to evaluate a bone of a calcaneus, the foot is placed on the heel. A footrest to be placed, a measurement unit for transmitting and receiving the measurement wave in the thickness direction of the heel of the foot placed on the footrest, and the footrest being orthogonal to the transmission and reception direction of the measurement wave. Table moving means for moving along the surface and positioning the heel position of the placed foot with respect to the measurement unit.

In a bone evaluation apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a heel of a foot to evaluate a bone of a calcaneus, a footrest on which the foot is mounted and a footrest mounted on the footrest are provided. Measurement unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the thickness direction of the heel of the foot, and moving the footrest along a plane orthogonal to the transmitting and receiving direction of the ultrasonic waves, and the heel position of the placed foot And a table moving means for positioning with respect to the measurement unit.

[0010] According to this configuration, the optimum condition can be achieved by the footrest positioned at a position corresponding to the size of the subject's foot without replacing the footrest and without performing complicated measurements. And a highly reliable bone evaluation can be performed.

In order to achieve the above object, in the above construction, the platform moving means engages with a guide rail for movably supporting the footrest and a part of the footrest. A moving lever for moving the footrest along a predetermined amount along the guide rail.

Here, the moving lever may move the footrest continuously, for example, or may move it stepwise using, for example, a detent mechanism. According to this configuration,
With a simple structure, the footrest can be moved to a desired position, and a measurement position suitable for the size of the subject's foot can be obtained.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, in the above structure, the guide rail is an inclined guide rail that guides a foot placed on a footrest to be higher than a heel side. There is a feature.

As the size of the subject's foot increases, the center of the calcaneus generally moves obliquely upward from the heel. That is, if the footrest is moved so that the foot placed on the footrest moves substantially in an oblique direction, the position of the calcaneus can be positionally corrected to the transmitting / receiving position of the measurement wave. .
According to this configuration, the footrest can be moved so as to follow the movement of the center position of the calcaneus due to the change in the size of the subject's foot, and the calcaneus position and the transmission and reception of the measurement wave can be achieved. Wave positions can be easily matched.

In order to achieve the above object, in the above configuration, the table moving means may include: a guide rail slidable along a plane orthogonal to a transmitting / receiving direction of a measuring wave; A guide movable on the guide rail while supporting the table, and a moving lever for moving the guide rail by a predetermined amount, wherein the guide rail has a substantially stair-like shape, and the footrest is used as the footrest. When moving in the direction of the toes of the foot placed on the table, the step is moved diagonally upward in a stepwise manner.

According to this configuration, the footrest can be moved so as to follow the movement of the center position of the calcaneus due to the change in the size of the subject's foot, and the desired amount of movement can be adjusted stepwise. Can be obtained.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, in the above configuration, the footrest has a presenting means for presenting an appropriate moving amount according to a size of a foot to be placed. .

Here, the presenting means is, for example, a mark or a line indicating to which range the size of the subject's foot belongs, or, for example, an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor or the like, and is shielded by the foot. Indicates the range of movement, and the appropriate amount of movement is
For example, it can be indicated stepwise as range 1, range 2, and the like. According to this configuration, the appropriate movement amount can be easily recognized, and accurate measurement can be performed.

In order to achieve the above object, the above-mentioned configuration is characterized by further comprising an auxiliary moving means for moving the footrest in the direction of transmitting and receiving the measurement wave.

Here, the auxiliary moving means supports the footrest movably, for example, with a low load in the transmitting and receiving directions of the measuring wave. According to this configuration, even if the subject's foot is placed at a position deviated from the longitudinal center of the footrest, the footrest is easily moved, and the foot is moved to the measurement center. A simple measurement state can be formed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the above-mentioned configuration further comprises a detecting means for detecting the moving position of the footrest, and associating the detected position of the footrest with bone evaluation information. Storage means for storing.

Here, the detecting means may use, for example, an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor, and may directly detect the position of a footrest or a table moving means, for example, a guide constituting the table moving means. The moving amount of the rail or the moving lever may be detected. The storage unit stores the movement position of the footrest in association with, for example, the ID data and measurement data of the subject. According to this configuration, it is easy to recognize the measurement condition and to easily manage information on the footrest.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, in the above configuration, the position of the footrest stored in the storage means is presented at the next bone evaluation.

According to this configuration, even when the subject performs the next measurement, the same measurement conditions as the previous measurement can be reliably reproduced.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a bone evaluation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The entire configuration of the bone evaluation device 10 evaluates the bone by transmitting and receiving a measurement wave, for example, an ultrasonic wave, with respect to the heel bone of the subject, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. . Therefore, a footrest 14 is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 12 of the bone evaluation device 10. The footrest 14 is set so that the toe side is higher than the heel side so that the subject can easily place his / her feet while sitting on a chair, for example. In addition, the footrest 14 has a base portion 14a with which the sole contacts when the foot is placed, and an upright portion 14 with which the heel contacts.
b, and has a substantially L-shaped cross section.

The bone evaluation device 10 further includes a footrest 1
A measuring unit 16 having a built-in ultrasonic vibrator is arranged so as to sandwich the calcaneus portion when the subject puts his / her foot on 4, and the ultrasonic vibrator of one measuring unit 16 transmits ultrasonic waves. It is configured to wave and receive the other measurement unit 16. In the case of ultrasonic waves, if an air layer exists between the transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic waves and the subject (here, a foot), reflection or attenuation of the ultrasonic waves occurs at the boundary surface, and transmission / reception is not performed well. . Therefore, the measuring unit 16 arranges a coupling head 16a in which a liquid (for example, water) is sealed as an ultrasonic matching material in front of the wave transmitting and receiving surface, and when measuring by ultrasonic waves, the coupling head 16a is moved by the foot of the subject. Will come into contact with In the bone evaluation device 10 of the present embodiment,
By rotating the operation dial 18, the coupling head 16a is moved together with the built-in ultrasonic vibrator,
It comes into contact with and separates from the subject's feet.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the position of the calcaneus shifts along a plane orthogonal to the direction of transmitting and receiving the measurement wave depending on the size of the subject's foot. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the footrest 14 is moved along a plane orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic beam to position the heel position of the placed foot with respect to the measurement unit 16. .

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a table moving means for moving the footrest 14 of the present embodiment. An engagement protrusion 20 having a long hole 20a is formed on the back surface of the base portion 14a of the footrest 14. In the long hole 20a,
A movable lever 22 rotatable about a rotation center 22a
Is movably inserted inside the elongated hole 20a. In the present embodiment, the moving lever 22 is controlled by a moderating mechanism 24 including a moderating ring 24a formed at one end of the moving lever 22 and a latch pin 24b formed on the bone evaluation device main body side.
Rotation is possible while obtaining a sense of moderation in the directions of arrows A1 and A2 in the figure.

When the moving lever 22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A1, the engaging pin 22b moves the footrest 14 in the direction of the arrow B1 in the figure while moving downward inside the elongated hole 20a. On the other hand, when the moving lever 22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A2, the engaging pin 22b moves the footrest 14 in the direction of the arrow B2 in the figure while moving inside the elongated hole 20a in the upward direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the footrest 14 can be moved and positioned in accordance with the size of the feet of the subjects 26a to 26c. In FIG. 3, the subject 26a (for example, an adult male shown by a solid line) is
When the foot is to be placed on the moving lever 22, the moving lever 22 is moved in the direction of arrow A1. As a result, the footrest 14 moves to the B1 side (the first position indicated by the solid line) in FIG. When the subject 26b (for example, an adult woman indicated by a broken line) places his or her feet on the footrest 14, the moving lever 22 is moved in the direction of arrow A2. As a result, the footrest 14 moves to the B2 side (the second position indicated by the broken line) in FIG. further,
When the examinee 26c (for example, a child indicated by a dashed line) places his / her foot on the footrest 14, if the moving lever 22 is further moved in the direction of arrow A2, the footrest 14 is moved to the most B2 side in FIG. (The third position indicated by the dashed line).

At this time, for example, the center of measurement by the measuring unit 16 is set so as to coincide with the position of the calcaneus when the subject 26a places his or her feet on the footrest 14 positioned at the first position. In this case, even when the subjects 26b and 26c place their feet on the footrests 14, the measurement center 16 and the positions of the calcaneus can be easily moved only by moving the footrests 14 with the moving lever. And can be matched.
2 and 3 show a case where the footrest 14 moves in the horizontal direction. As the size of the foot decreases, the position of the calcaneus shifts obliquely downward toward the heel side. Therefore, the guide rail 28 supporting the footrest 14 is provided.
(In the case of FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of rotating shafts 28 constitute a guide rail (track)) so that the toe side of the footrest 14 is higher than the heel side.
, The position of the calcaneus can be corrected in the oblique direction.

When the structure shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the bone evaluating apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, the moving lever 22 uses a well-known link mechanism or the like, and projects at a position where the bone evaluating apparatus 10 can be easily operated, for example, at the side of the apparatus. By doing so, the movement positioning operation of the footrest 14 can be easily performed at the time of measurement. In addition,
The guide rail 28 is arbitrary as long as it determines the moving direction of the footrest 14, and may be a track extending in the predetermined moving direction.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are conceptual views showing the structure of another platform moving means for moving the footrest 14. FIG.

In the configuration of FIG. 2, an example is shown in which the footrest 14 is directly moved by the moving lever 22, but in the configuration of FIG. 4, the guide rail side is moved by a substantially L-shaped operating lever. It has become. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the guide rail 30 partially has a substantially stepped guide portion 30a. Also, guide rail 3
An elongated hole 30b is formed in a part of the hole 0 so that the engaging pin 32b of the moving lever 32 that rotates about the rotation center 32a is engaged. By rotating the moving lever 32, the guide rail 30 slidably supported by the guide member 34 moves in the directions of arrows C1 and C2.

On the other hand, on the side surface of the footrest 14, a roller 36 which is rotatable as a derivative is disposed.
Further, a rotatable link arm 38 is arranged on the rotation shaft. The link arm 38 is further connected to a support 40 erected on the apparatus main body side. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the footrest 14 is moved up and down and left and right as the rollers 36 move in the stepped portion on the guide portion 30a. Becomes possible. That is, as shown in FIG.
By lowering the moving lever 32 and moving the guide rail 30 in the direction of the arrow C2, the roller 36 can be guided to the uppermost position of the guide portion 30a. as a result,
The footrest 14 rotates counterclockwise about the axis 40a of the support 40, and moves the footrest 14 to the subject 26 in FIG.
It is possible to move to a position suitable for measurement for c (child). Also, as shown in FIG.
The roller 36 can be guided to the lowermost position of the guide portion 30a by moving the guide rail 30 in the direction of the arrow C1 by raising the roller 2 upward. As a result, the footrest 14
Rotates clockwise about the axis 40a of the support base 40,
The footrest 14 is moved to the subject 26a (adult male) in FIG.
Can be moved to a position suitable for measurement with respect to. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are for explaining the schematic configuration, and a slope or the like is provided at the step portion of the guide portion 30a so that the roller 36 can easily move on the guide portion 30a. Preferably, it is formed.

The moderation mechanism shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS.
By using the stepped guide portion 30a shown in (b), the footrest 14 can be moved and positioned stepwise. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a mark 42 (range 1, range 2, range 3) is provided on the surface of the
, Etc.), when the foot is placed on the footrest 14, a range belonging to the foot size is presented, and the moving positions of the moving levers 22 and 32 corresponding to the numbers presented in the range are indicated. If you choose, quickly, footrest 1
4 can be moved and positioned. In the present embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the footrest 14 is moved in three stages, but the amount of movement of the footrest 14 is arbitrary, and may be set to two or four or more stages. , May be moved continuously. However, when moving continuously, it is slightly difficult to reproduce the same measurement conditions (reproducing the same amount of movement of the footrest 14) the next time the same subject performs measurement. Therefore, it is preferable to move the footrest 14 stepwise in three to four steps. Also, by setting up in stages, when collecting statistics by gender or age,
Setting of conditions is facilitated, and collection of diagnostic data and the like are facilitated.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the bone evaluating apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. At the left and right positions of the footrest 14 on which the foot of the subject 26 is placed, a measurement unit 16 that can move in the left and right direction in the figure to hold the foot is arranged. An ultrasonic vibrator (not shown) built in the measuring unit 16
Is controlled by the control unit 44, for example, transmission of ultrasonic waves is performed from the left measurement unit 16 side, and reception of ultrasonic waves is performed by the right measurement unit 16 side. The calculation unit 46 obtains transmission information and reception information of the ultrasonic waves from the control unit 44, performs a known calculation for bone evaluation, and displays the result, measurement conditions, and other necessary information on the display unit 48.
To be displayed. Also, the footrest 14 or the footrest 14
The detection means for detecting the movement position is arranged in the platform movement means for moving the movement. This detection means is constituted by, for example, an optical sensor 50 and supplies a detection result to the arithmetic unit 46. The arithmetic unit 46 stores the position of the footrest 14 at which the footrest 14 is moved and positioned, the measurement result, the bone evaluation information, and the like in the storage unit 52 in association with each other. The position information of the footrest 14 stored in the storage unit 52 is presented the next time the same subject performs a bone evaluation again, so that the bone evaluation device 10 can be used under the same measurement conditions. Note that an input unit 54 for operating the bone evaluation device 10 and the like are also connected to the arithmetic unit 46.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a practical example of the structure based on the platform moving means shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

FIG. 6 shows a structure of a base portion of the bone evaluating apparatus 10, and a step-like guide rail 30 constituting a platform moving means.
And rollers 36 and the like. In FIG. 6, a guide rail 30 includes a guide portion 30a having a substantially stair-like shape.
The shaft 30c is slidably supported by the holding block 56. In FIG. 6, two guide rails 30 are arranged, and both are linked by a connection mechanism 58. Note that one of the linked guide rails 30 is held by a holding block 56a having a long hole in order to smoothly slide the guide rail 30. A moving lever 32 (see FIG. 4A) is provided on one shaft 30c.
And the lever block 60 which engages with is fixed. According to the movement of the moving lever 32, the two guide rails slide along a plane orthogonal to the direction of transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic beam.

The connection mechanism 58 includes a first shaft 64 supported by a support block 62 erected on the base of the bone evaluation device 10, and the first shaft 64 and a link arm 66.
And a second shaft 68 that revolves around the first shaft 64. The roller 36 disposed on the substantially stepped guide portion 30 a having an inclined surface is rotatably supported by the second shaft 68. Therefore, the guide rail 30 moves the moving lever 3.
By moving in the directions of arrows C1 and C2 by the operation 2, the roller 36 moves on the guide portion 30a, and moves the second shaft 68 around the first shaft 64. Therefore, if the footrest 14 is connected to the second shaft 68 via an intermediate member or the like, the footrest 14 is adjusted to the size of the foot.
Can be moved along a plane orthogonal to the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic beam.

As shown in FIG. 5, in order to detect the movement positioning position of the footrest 14, in the configuration shown in FIG.
Is provided. The slide plate 70 is connected to the first shaft 6.
The second shaft 68 is connected to an arm 72 for preventing twisting during relative movement between the second shaft 68 and the second shaft 68. The slide plate 70 is provided with a shielding plate 70a, which changes the light projection state of the optical sensor 50 (see FIG. 5) disposed on the main body side of the bone evaluation device 10 to change the movement state of the second shaft 68, That is, the position of the footrest 14 is detected. In addition, the sensor which detects the position of the footrest 14 is arbitrary, for example,
A magnetic sensor or the like may be used. Further, the slide plate 70 includes
The pair of connection mechanisms 58 can also function as a reinforcing member so that the connection can be smoothly performed without twisting or the like.

A support block (not shown) is fixed to the second shaft 68 outside the roller 36, and the slide guide unit 7 shown in FIG.
The intermediate base 76 having 4 is fixed. Therefore, the intermediate base 76 moves along a plane orthogonal to the transmitting and receiving direction of the ultrasonic beam according to the operation of the moving lever 32.

In FIG. 7, the slide guide unit 7
Reference numeral 4 denotes an auxiliary moving means that allows the footrest 14 to move in the direction of arrow D, that is, in the thickness direction of the heel of the foot, with a low load. Then, a table support plate 78 for fixing the footrest 14 to the operation block 74a of the slide guide unit 74 is fixed. That is, in FIG. 1, when the measuring unit 16 moves to make contact with the subject's foot, even if the subject's foot is not accurately placed at the center position of the The table 14 moves in response to the movement operation of the measuring unit 16, and the measuring unit 16
Can hold the foot at a predetermined position without performing one-side pressing or the like.

FIG. 1 shows the platform moving means constructed as described above.
When applied to the bone evaluation device 10 shown in FIG.
By placing the foot on the footrest 14, the mark 4
2, the position of the footrest 14 suitable for measurement is recognized. The subject or the operator of the bone evaluation device 10 operates the moving lever 32 to move the footrest 14 along a plane orthogonal to the transmission and reception direction of the ultrasonic beam, thereby obtaining the size of the subject's foot. To a position suitable for Subsequently, when the subject places his or her feet on the positioned footrest 14 and operates a measurement preparation switch or the like, the measurement unit 16 clamps the feet in a state suitable for measurement. At this time, the footrest 14 moves in the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic beam as needed, and the preparation for measurement is completed. After that, necessary information is obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, bone evaluation is performed, and the result is displayed on the display unit 48,
The result, the positioning information of the footrest 14, and the like are stored in the storage unit 52, and a series of bone evaluations ends. After the measurement by the ultrasonic wave is completed, the foot held by the measurement unit 16 is released to prepare for the next measurement.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the moving mechanism of the footrest is applied to a transmission type bone evaluation device in which a pair of ultrasonic transducers hold a foot of a subject and perform measurement. The same effect can be obtained by applying the moving mechanism of the footrest according to the present embodiment to a reflection-type bone evaluation apparatus in which an ultrasonic transducer is arranged on only one side of a subject's foot and measurement is performed. Obtainable. Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which an ultrasonic wave is used as a measurement wave has been described. Similar effects can be obtained.

Further, the moving mechanism of the footrest 14 is an example, and according to the size of the foot placed on the footrest 14,
If the configuration is such that the footrest 14 is moved along a plane orthogonal to the direction of transmission and reception of the measurement wave so as to change the relative position between the measurement unit 16 and the footrest 14, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained. Obtainable.

[0047]

According to the present invention, the footrest is positioned at a position corresponding to the size of the subject's foot without replacement of the footrest and without performing complicated measurements. Measurement can be performed under optimal conditions, and highly reliable bone evaluation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a bone evaluation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration concept of a platform moving unit of a footrest that can be applied to the bone evaluation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a footrest and a foot to be placed that can be applied to the bone evaluation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration concept of another platform moving means that can be applied to the bone evaluation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram illustrating a configuration of a bone evaluation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific structure of a platform moving unit based on the concept shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a moving mechanism that allows a footrest to move in a measurement wave transmission / reception wave direction.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional bone evaluation device and its problems.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 bone evaluation device, 12 main body, 14 footrest, 14
a base part, 14b standing part, 16 measuring units, 1
6a coupling head, 18 operation dial, 2
2,32 Moving lever.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Eiichi Minagawa, 6-22-1, Mure, Mitaka, Tokyo Aloka Co., Ltd. (72) Natsuru Hamazu 6-22-1, Mure, Mitaka, Tokyo Aloka Stock F term in the company (reference) 4C301 AA03 AA06 DD30 EE13 GA20 KK33 LL05

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A bone evaluation device for transmitting and receiving a measurement wave to and from a heel of a foot to evaluate a calcaneus bone, comprising: a footrest on which the foot is mounted; and a footrest mounted on the footrest. Measurement unit for transmitting and receiving the measurement wave with respect to the thickness direction of the heel of the foot, and moving the footrest along a plane orthogonal to the transmission and reception direction of the measurement wave, and the heel position of the placed foot A bone evaluation device, comprising: a table moving means for positioning with respect to the measurement unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said platform moving means comprises: a guide rail for movably supporting said platform; and a guide for engaging said platform with a part of said platform. A moving lever for moving a predetermined amount along the rail; and a bone evaluation device. 3. The bone according to claim 2, wherein the guide rail is an inclined guide rail that guides a foot placed on a footrest so that a toe side of the foot is higher than a heel side. Evaluation device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table moving means includes: a guide rail slidable along a plane orthogonal to a transmission / reception direction of the measurement wave; A guide movable on the guide rail; and a moving lever for moving the guide rail by a predetermined amount, wherein the guide rail has a substantially stepped shape, and the footrest is placed on the footrest. A bone evaluation device characterized in that when moving in the direction of a toe of a foot, the footrest is moved diagonally upward in a stepwise manner. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the footrest has a presentation unit that presents an appropriate movement amount according to a size of a foot to be placed. Bone evaluation device. 6. The bone evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary moving unit that moves the footrest in a direction of transmitting and receiving the measurement wave. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting means for detecting a moving position of the footrest; associating the detected position of the footrest with bone evaluation information. A bone evaluation device, comprising: storage means for storing and storing. 8. The bone evaluation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the position of the footrest stored in the storage means is presented at the next bone evaluation. 9. The bone evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement wave is an ultrasonic wave.