JP2002159455A - Body-worn measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a body-worn measuring device which gives less discomfort to a subject at the time of attaching the device to the body and detects conditions of the inside or the surface of the body accurately without any influences on the device caused by the inside of the body or the surface of the body because of attaching the device to the body. SOLUTION: A body-worn measuring device is equipped with a sensor 4 which detects conditions of the inside or the surface of the subject's body from the surface of the subject's body and a belt 50 which secures the sensor 4 to the subject. The belt 50 holds the sensor 4 on the same plane as a subject's side of the belt 50 which makes contact with the subject or at a recessed position from the surface of the subject's body rather than the subject's side of the belt 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wearable measuring instrument fixed to a body surface of a subject and detecting a pulse wave or the like from the state of the body or the body surface. The present invention relates to a wearable measuring device capable of accurately detecting the state of the inside of a body or a body surface without affecting the inside of the body or the body surface when worn.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Wearable measuring instruments that are worn on a subject to fix a sensor on the body surface of the subject and are used are well known. In such a wearable measuring instrument, a sensor such as a pressure sensor or a photoelectric sensor is fixed to the body surface of the subject, the condition of the body or the body surface is detected by the sensor, and a pulse wave or the like is detected from the result. For example, a piezo-type piezoelectric element (PZ
T) is placed on the artery as a sensor, and this sensor detects a pressure change in the epidermis (displacement of the epidermis due to pressure) due to a pressure change in the artery, detects a pulse wave number, and similarly uses a piezoelectric element as a sensor. , An ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward an artery, a frequency of a reflected wave that changes by a Doppler effect due to a blood flow is detected, and a pulse wave is detected.

In such a wearable measuring instrument, the sensor is pressed against the body surface of the subject or the sensor is arranged so as to protrude from the surroundings so that the sensor surely contacts the skin surface of the subject. For example, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-32911, a substantially hemispherical pulse pressure detector 5 is attached to the inner surface of the conductive rubber (the surface on the wearer side). 5 is elastically pressed against the body surface by the conductive rubber. The conductive rubber functions as the pressure sensor 2, and when the pulse pressure detector 5 vibrates due to the pulse, the electric resistance value of the pressure sensor 2 that changes due to the expansion and contraction of the pressure sensor 2 due to the vibration changes the pulse. Output as a signal. In the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-116136, the surface of the sensor chip 48 is covered with an elastic protective layer 78, and the elastic protective layer 78 is covered with the elastic protective layer 78.
Are disposed at positions protruding from the surrounding protection plate 50.

[0004]

However, as described above, if the sensor is pressed against the body surface of the subject or is arranged in a protruding state, the sensor presses the body surface of the subject, and the subject feels pressure. Etc. may cause discomfort.
In addition, it may be difficult to use for a long time to suppress blood circulation. Furthermore, since it has a physiological effect such as affecting the blood flow, there is a problem that the measurement result may not directly represent the state of the subject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a wearable measuring instrument which can be used to reduce the discomfort when worn and accurately detect the state of the body or body surface without affecting the body or body surface when worn. Aim.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sensor for detecting the state of the inside or surface of a subject from the body surface of the subject, and fixing the sensor to the subject. And a support means for supporting, the support means, the sensor, on the same surface as the subject side surface of the support means, or at a position retreated from the body surface of the subject than the subject side surface, Provided is a wearable measurement device (first configuration) to be supported. In the wearable measuring device having the above configuration, the sensor is supported on the same surface as the support means on the body surface of the subject, or at a position retreated from the body surface of the subject with respect to the surface on the subject side. Locally, there is no extreme pressure on the body surface of the subject, and the body surface of the subject is not pressed with a strong force. Therefore,
Since the subject is less likely to be uncomfortable and does not inhibit blood circulation and the like, it can be worn for a long time. In addition, it is possible to obtain a measurement result that hardly affects the blood flow and that can accurately grasp the state of the subject. In the wearable measuring device according to the first configuration, the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and the sensor is supported by the support unit at a position retreated from a body surface of the subject with respect to the subject side surface of the support unit. And a wearable measurement device (second configuration) in which an acoustic matching layer is provided on the subject side of the sensor up to the same surface as the subject side surface of the support means. be able to. In the wearable measuring device according to the first configuration or the second configuration, the sensor is supported by the support means at a position retracted from the body surface of the subject with respect to the subject side surface of the support means. On the subject side of the sensor, a wearable measuring device (third configuration) in which an adhesion layer that adheres to the subject at the time of wearing can be provided. In the wearable measuring device having the first to third configurations, the sensor is supported by the support means at a position retracted from a body surface of the subject from a subject side surface of the support means, The support means may be a wearable measuring device (fourth configuration) in which at least the sensor periphery is formed of an elastic material.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pulse wave detecting device as one embodiment of the wearable measuring device of the present invention is mounted on a subject. FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view as viewed from the base of the arm. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pulse wave detection device 1 of the present embodiment
Sensor unit 4 for detecting the subject's pulse wave from the subject's body surface
And a belt 50 as support means for fixing and supporting the sensor unit 4 to the subject. The sensor unit 4 is supported by the belt 50 on the same plane as the surface of the belt on the subject side (the inner peripheral surface in the worn state).

The pulse wave detecting device of the present embodiment will be described in more detail. The pulse wave detecting device 1 includes a belt 50 wound around the wrist of the subject and fixed by the fastener 6. The sensor unit 4 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface side of the belt 50. In the middle of the belt 50, the processing unit 3 including the display unit 33 is disposed via a metal fitting. When the processing unit 3 is attached to the left (or right) wrist 2 of the wearer with the back side of the hand, the sensor unit 4 is positioned almost on the radial artery 22 of the wearer.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the sensor section 4, FIG. 4 is a view showing a positional relationship between the sensor section 4 and the belt 50, and FIG. Figure,
(B) is a sectional view of a main part. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor unit 4 includes a lower substrate 44 having electrodes (not shown).
And an upper substrate 48 superimposed on the lower substrate 44 and having substantially the same shape as the lower substrate 44. A pair of piezoelectric elements (a transmitting piezoelectric element 41 and a receiving piezoelectric element 42) are fixed between the lower substrate 44 and the upper substrate 48 so as to be in contact with the electrodes of the lower substrate 44, The piezoelectric elements 41 and 42 are sandwiched between the lower substrate 44 and the upper substrate 48. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensor section 4 is fixed in a state of being embedded in a concave portion formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the belt 50, and the piezoelectric element 4 of the upper substrate 48 is fixed.
The surface on the opposite side to the surfaces 1 and 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the belt 50 are located on substantially the same plane. The transmitting piezoelectric element 41 receives the drive signal, and directs the signal toward the artery to generate 32K by amplitude modulation.
Transmits ultrasonic waves of Hz. As described above, since the transmission frequency is common to the transmission frequency of the clock, when the pulse wave detection device 1 is arranged on the clock, the transmission of the clock can be used in common and amplified and output if necessary. It is possible to reduce the number of components of the pulse wave detection device 1 and to manufacture it at low cost.

FIGS. 5A to 5C show an example of a manufacturing process of the sensor section 4 for forming the sensor section 4 on the belt 50.
It is the figure expressed in order of (c) and (d). As shown in FIG. 5, a concave portion 57 is formed in the belt 50,
The recess 57 is provided with signal lines 71 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the processing unit 3 embedded in the belt 50.
It is continuous with the recess 57. Then, when forming the sensor unit 4, the lower substrate 44 is inserted into the concave portion 57 of the belt 50, and the two electrodes 44a, 44b of the lower substrate 44 are connected to the signal lines 71, 71 (FIG. 5 ( a)). Subsequently, a pair of piezoelectric elements are arranged and arranged on the lower substrate 44 (FIG. 5).
(B)) Further, the upper substrate 48 is placed thereon and fixed to the belt 50 (FIG. 5C). Thus, the sensor unit 4 is disposed on the belt 50. In the present embodiment, glass is used as the upper substrate 48. However, in consideration of acoustic matching, the acoustic impedance of the human body and the piezoelectric element (P
It is also possible to apply an epoxy resin or the like having an intermediate value with respect to ZT or the like instead of the upper substrate 48.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the pulse wave detector 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the processing unit 3 processes the signal based on the ultrasonic wave received by the driving circuit 32 for transmitting the driving signal for driving the transmitting piezoelectric element 41 and the receiving piezoelectric element 42, thereby forming the pulse wave. An arithmetic processing unit 31 for obtaining a waveform and a pulse rate, and a display unit 33 for displaying the pulse waveform and the pulse rate acquired by the arithmetic processing unit 31 are provided.

The drive circuit 32 has a transmission source of a vibrator such as a crystal, generates an alternating current having a frequency corresponding to the natural frequency, divides this frequency by a fraction, and generates a frequency of 32 KH.
Obtain a high frequency of z. Then, the transmitting piezoelectric element 42 is driven by the high frequency of 32 KHz, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the transmitting piezoelectric element 41 toward the body surface of the wearer.
The arithmetic processing unit 31 detects a reception signal from the receiving piezoelectric element 42 that has received the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave from the transmitting piezoelectric element 41, forms a pulse wave signal based on the detected reception signal, and The time interval between the peaks of the pulse wave signal is measured a predetermined number of times (for example, three times, five times, seven times, ten times, etc.), and the pulse wave number V per minute from the average time T of each measurement time is calculated as follows. It is determined according to equation (1). V = 60 / T (1) Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where the pulse wave number is obtained from the average time T between pulse waves. For example, the pulse wave number w existing within a predetermined time t (for example, 10 seconds) is detected, and The pulse wave number V for one minute may be obtained by the equation (2). V = w × (60 / t) (2) The pulse wave waveform and the pulse rate acquired by the arithmetic processing unit 31 are output to the display unit 33 and displayed on the display unit 33. The display unit 33 may be configured by a liquid crystal display device to display an image of a pulse rate or a pulse wave signal, or to electronically display a pulse wave rate on a panel.

When measuring the pulse wave, the sensor unit 4 of the pulse wave detecting device 1 is arranged on the body surface 5 so as to be substantially outside the radial artery 22, and the belt 50 is fastened to around the wrist of the subject. Fixed to. Since the sensor unit 4 of the pulse wave detection device 1 is disposed on substantially the same plane as the outer peripheral surface of the belt 50, the sensor unit 4 is attached to the wrist of the subject when the pulse wave detection device 1 is mounted on the subject. It comes into a state of slight contact.

When the power of the pulse wave detecting device 1 is turned on, the driving circuit 32 drives the transmitting piezoelectric element 41,
Ultrasonic waves having a frequency of 32 KHz are transmitted from the transmitting piezoelectric element 41 toward the radial artery 22. The ultrasound is reflected by the blood flow in the radial artery. The reflected wave is attenuated and amplitude-modulated by the blood flow.

The reflected wave is transmitted to the receiving piezoelectric vibrator 4.
2 and transmitted to the arithmetic processing unit 31 of the processing unit 3 via the signal line 71. The arithmetic processing unit 33 detects the received signal in the same manner as normal AM detection. That is, after rectification by the diode and smoothing by the capacitor, a detection signal is obtained as a voltage between both terminals of the load resistance. The pulse rate is counted based on the detection signal, and a pulse wave signal is formed. The pulse rate and the pulse wave signal counted by the arithmetic processing unit 31 are supplied to the display unit 33, and the pulse rate and the pulse wave signal are displayed on the display unit 33. In the present embodiment, detection is performed using AM detection, but the frequency of a reflected wave that changes due to the Doppler effect due to blood may be detected. In that case, it is necessary to appropriately change the arithmetic processing unit 33. In this embodiment, a frequency of 32 KHz is used.
The invention is not limited to this, and can be used if it is about 1 to 10 MHz.

As described above, the pulse wave detecting device 1 of the present embodiment
Since the sensor unit 4 is supported on the same plane as the belt 50 and the sensor unit 4 does not protrude beyond the belt 50, the pressure on the body surface of the subject by the sensor unit 4 is reduced. Therefore, it is difficult for the subject to feel uncomfortable, such as a feeling of pressure, and the blood circulation is not hindered. Furthermore, since the blood flow is not affected, the measurement result directly reflects the state of the subject.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in each claim. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor unit 4 (sensor) is supported on the same surface as the inner peripheral surface (the surface on the subject side) of the belt 50 as the support means, but as shown in FIG. The belt 50 may be supported at a position retracted from the body surface of the subject. Since the body surface has a certain degree of elasticity, even if the sensor unit is supported at a position retracted from the supporting means such as the belt 50 in this way, the skin comes into contact with the sensor unit 4 by rising. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the periphery of the sensor unit 4 of the support means (belt) 50 may be tapered so as to increase as the distance from the sensor unit 4 increases. By providing such a taper, the body surface of the wearer is gently deformed along the taper at the time of wearing, and it is easy to come into contact with the sensor unit 4.

When the sensor unit 4 is supported at a position retracted from the body surface of the subject with respect to the belt 50, as shown in FIG. The acoustic matching layer 56 may be provided between the surfaces. In the present invention, by supporting the sensor unit 4 at a position retracted from the body surface of the subject with respect to the belt 50,
The acoustic matching layer can be provided without projecting from the belt. The acoustic matching layer 56 can be formed by pouring an acoustic matching resin such as an epoxy resin into a concave portion formed on the sensor unit 4 and solidifying the resin. Furthermore, when the sensor unit 4 is supported at a position retracted from the body surface of the subject with respect to the belt 50, an adhesion layer that adheres to the subject when worn may be formed on the subject side of the sensor unit 4. This adhesion layer can be formed from silicon gel or silicon rubber. FIG. 10 shows an example in which an acoustic matching layer 56 is formed on the wearer side of the sensor unit 4 and an adhesion layer 58 is formed on the wearer side of the acoustic matching layer 56. 9 and 10, the belt 5
0 is recessed so that the periphery of the sensor unit 4 is at a position retracted from the wearer side as much as the sensor, but the sensor unit 4
The acoustic matching layer 56 and the adhesion layer 58 may be formed only on the body surface side of the sensor section 40 without recessing the periphery.

In the above embodiment, the supporting means is the belt 5
0, and the whole is made of a flexible material.
Or a resin having high flexibility may be laminated on the surface on the wearer side. Such examples are shown in FIGS.
In the example of FIG. 11, the periphery of the sensor unit 4 is formed of a rigid support 45 such as an acrylic resin, and the sensor unit 4 is fixed to the support 45. Further, belts 51 and 52 are adhered and connected to both sides of the support 45. FIG.
In FIG. 2, belts 51 and 5 are attached to a support 45 similar to that of FIG.
2 is formed around the belt 51,
One end of 52 is looped around the engaging portion and folded back, and one end is fixed to the opposing portion with a Velcro (registered trademark) to form a loop, so that the belt is engaged with the support 45 and connected thereto. It has become. In the example of FIG. 12, the length of the loop of each belt can be changed by the magic tape, and the belt length is changed according to the circumference of the wrist (wearing portion) of the wearer, so that the sensor portion 4 can be satisfactorily placed on the body surface. It is possible to make contact. Like the examples in FIGS. 11 and 12,
By supporting the sensor unit 4 with the support 45 having high rigidity, when a stress is applied to the vicinity of the sensor unit 4, the sensor unit 4 can be protected and breakage can be avoided. FIG.
In the example of No. 3, a resin layer 59 for slip prevention is laminated on the surface of the belt 10 on the wearer side. This resin layer 59
By using the porous body, it is also possible to absorb the sweat of the wearer and prevent slippage or discomfort caused by heat.
In the above-described embodiment, the transmitting piezoelectric element 41 and the receiving piezoelectric element 42 are used separately. However, a single piezoelectric element transmits, and a reflected wave received after a predetermined time is received by the same piezoelectric element. May be. It is also possible to use a plurality or a plurality of sets of piezoelectric elements. Each of the above-described modifications can be adopted as appropriate.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The discomfort at the time of wearing is small, and it is possible to accurately detect the state of the inside of the body or the surface of the body without affecting the inside of the body or the surface of the body by wearing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pulse wave detection device as one embodiment of a wearable measuring device of the present invention is worn on a subject.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pulse wave detection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a sensor unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a sensor unit and a belt.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a manufacturing process of a sensor unit for forming a sensor unit on a belt.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the pulse wave detection device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing another example of the wearable measuring instrument of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a main part perspective view showing another example of the wearable measuring instrument of the present invention.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing another example of the wearable measuring device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a main part, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part showing another example of the wearable measuring instrument of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a main part showing another example of the wearable measuring instrument of the present invention.

12A and 12B are diagrams showing another example of the wearable measuring instrument of the present invention, wherein FIG. 12A is a plan view of a main part, and FIG. 12B is a sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a main part showing another example of the wearable measuring instrument of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wearable measuring device (pulse wave detector) 3 Processing part 31 Arithmetic processing part 32 Drive circuit 33 Display part 4 Sensor part 41 Piezoelectric element for transmission 42 Piezoelectric element for reception 44 Lower substrate 45 Supporter 46 Upper substrate 50 Belt 51 Belt 52 Belt 56 Acoustic matching layer 58 Adhesion layer 59 Resin layer

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Odagiri 1-8-8 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba F-term in Seiko Instruments Inc. 4C017 AA09 AA10 AB02 AC20 EE01 FF15

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for detecting a state of the inside of a subject or a body surface of the subject from a body surface of the subject, and supporting means for fixedly supporting the sensor with respect to the subject, wherein the supporting means includes the sensor A wearable measuring device for supporting the support means on the same plane as the subject side surface or at a position retreated from the subject body surface with respect to the subject side surface. 2. The sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and is supported by the support means at a position retreated from the body surface of the subject with respect to the subject-side surface of the support means. The wearable measuring device according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic matching layer is provided on the subject side up to the same surface as the subject side surface of the support means. 3. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein:
The sensor is supported at a position retracted from the body surface of the subject relative to the surface of the supporter on the subject side, and an adhesion layer that is in close contact with the subject at the time of wearing is provided on the subject side of the sensor. Claim 1.
Alternatively, the wearable measuring device according to claim 2. 4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein:
The support means is supported at a position retreated from the body surface of the subject with respect to the surface on the subject side, and the support means is formed at least around the sensor by an elastic material. Item 1
The wearable measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.