JP2002204800A - Portable data terminal using living body optical measuring method and affinity measuring system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for searching a person having correlation with respect to cerebral nerve activity to indicate data corresponding to the searching result. SOLUTION: A change in the concentration of a metabolic substance in a living body is measured by using data processing terminals (1-5,1-6 and 1-7) equipped with a light irradiator for irradiating an object to be examined with light, a photodetector for detecting the light emitted from the light irradiator to propagate through the object to be examined and an antenna (1-11) and the measured result is transmitted to the central data processor (1-1) on a network. The central data processor (1-1) is equipped with a memory device (1-3) and a signal processor (1-4) and calculates the correlation between the stored data. When correlation not less than a definite value is obtained, this state is transmitted to the data processing terminals (1-5, 1-6 and 1-7) possessed by the object to be examined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a biological light measuring technique, and more particularly to a portable information terminal using a biological light measuring method and a compatibility measuring system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Content in which personal information is input via a network represented by the Internet, fortunes and biorhythms are foreseen according to the input result, and the result is displayed on a computer or information terminal connected to the network. Exists. This content includes your date of birth, birthday,
The name of the input person is input to the computer using an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse.

An electronic computer is provided with an input / output device for a communication system represented by a network card or a modem. This input / output device transmits input personal information to a host computer that stores content software via a communication line represented by a telephone line.

[0004] The host computer determines the personal information of the input person according to the input personal information, and transmits the result of the determination to the computer, contrary to the flow of information just described. The computer that has received the determination result presents the received determination result to the input user on a display device connected to the computer.

[0005] In addition to the content for displaying the result of the fortune or biorhythm of one individual described above, personal information of another person other than the input person is input, and the compatibility of the input person and another person is determined. As in the above-described method, there is also a content to be presented to the input person on a display device connected to the computer.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the prior art,
First, personal information that can be input to a host computer via a network is limited to information that can be input with a keyboard or mouse, such as a date of birth, a birthday, and the name of an input person. However, personal information also includes information unique to each individual existing inside the living body, such as changes in blood volume in the living body, brain activity, pulse waves, and the like. However, such information is not used at all in the technology disclosed so far.

[0007] Further, according to the conventional technology, although many people input personal information to a host computer via a network, other people whose judgment results such as fortunes, biorhythms, and compatibility are the same are sent to other people. No matching person information or results were sent.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks a person having a correlation with cranial nerve activity using personal information unique to each individual present inside a living body obtained by a living body optical measurement method, and searches for such information and results. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal which can be presented by transmission and reception via a network, and a compatibility measurement system using the portable information terminal.

[0009]

The compatibility measurement system using the biological light measurement method provided by the present invention includes the following two means for solving the above-mentioned object.

First, in order to extract information of each individual existing inside a living body, the concentration of a metabolite in the living body or a change in the concentration is measured using light.

To measure information in a living body, electricity,
Magnetism, radiation, light, etc. are used. A problem with the biometric method using electricity is that the spatial resolution is low. In addition, biological measurement methods using magnetic fields and radiation
Although having a high spatial resolution, it is difficult to easily measure in-vivo information because of the large size of the device.
Further, in the measurement of brain waves, since the dielectric constant in the living body is non-uniform, the place where the signal is generated is unclear, and the spatial resolution is low. In addition, there is also a problem that the subject is restrained because the myoelectric potential largely reflects the signal on the movement of the subject's body.

In comparison with the above, the biological measurement method using light used in the present invention has a spatial resolution intermediate between the biological measurement method using electricity and the biological measurement method using a magnetic field or radiation, but has a semiconductor laser. By using a light emitting diode, a photodiode and an optical fiber, a low-cost and simple measuring system can be constructed.

That is, a change in the concentration of metabolites in a living body is measured using a light irradiator that makes contact with a test object and a light detector that detects light emitted from the light irradiator and transmitted through the test object. The measurement result is transmitted to an analysis device such as a host computer using an information processing terminal such as a portable information terminal having an antenna.

Second, according to the present invention, a storage device for storing personal information of a plurality of persons input to a host computer and a signal processing device for comparing each measurement result input to the storage device are used to store stored data. Calculate the correlation of When a correlation equal to or more than a certain value is obtained, the fact is transmitted to the portable terminal owned by each test object. The personal information of the individual is transmitted to another person via a network or the like in accordance with the signal processing result.

As described above, according to the present invention, a light irradiator for irradiating light with a contact with an object to be inspected, and condensing light transmitted from the light irradiator and propagated through the object to be inspected. A portable information terminal using a biological light measurement method, comprising: a photodetector for detecting a light intensity signal; and a communication antenna.

Further, according to the present invention, a light irradiator for irradiating light to the object to be inspected is provided, and light passing from the light irradiator and propagating through the object is collected and detected. And a light intensity signal detected by the light detector, and configured to transmit the light intensity signal over the network via the antenna. Provide the portable information terminal used.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, a flexible resin member is disposed on a side of the light irradiator or the photodetector facing the object to be inspected, and the object is brought into contact with the object to be inspected via the resin member. Provided is a portable information terminal using a biological light measurement method, characterized in that the portable information terminal is configured so as to be able to operate.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the measurement signals of the first and second test objects transmitted separately using the portable information terminal having the above configuration are respectively received, and the measurement signals between the received measurement signals are received. A correlation value is calculated, and when the correlation value has reached a predetermined threshold value, information on the first test object is transmitted to the portable information terminal held by the second test object via a network. Provided is a compatibility measurement system using a living body optical measurement method, which is characterized in that it is configured.

Still further, according to the present invention, there is provided a storage device that receives measurement signals of a plurality of test objects transmitted separately using the portable information terminal having the above-described configuration via a network, and stores them. Comparing the measurement signals of the plurality of test objects stored in the storage device, calculating a correlation value between them, and, when the correlation value has reached a predetermined threshold, among the plurality of test objects, Comprising a signal processing device that determines that the information on at least one test object and the information on at least one other test object match, and
Compatibility measurement using a biological light measurement method, wherein information on the at least one test object is transmitted to the portable information terminal held by the at least one other test object via a network. Provide system.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The human brain shares different functions in different areas, as represented by the Broadman brain map. For example, when the brain is viewed from the side, the area involved in spontaneous movements (hands, feet, fingers, etc.) is assigned to the top, the area related to sensation and vision is assigned to the occipital region, and the area related to language is assigned to the left half. ing. As described above, in order to extract information from the specified place with high accuracy, a biological light measurement method with high spatial resolution is used.

In this biological light measurement method, at least one light irradiator and the living body skin are irradiated from the light irradiator on the skin of one or a plurality of inspected objects, so that the inside of the biological skin can be measured. At least one photodetector placed on the living skin for condensing the transmitted light and measuring the condensed light passing through the living body is measured using these light irradiators and photodetectors. And a calculation unit for calculating a change in the concentration of the metabolite in the living body. In this biometric method,
It is possible to measure changes in the concentration of metabolites in the living body in the cerebral cortex due to brain activity, and it is also possible to measure pulse waves and respiration.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention based on the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the concept of a measurement system according to the present invention. 1-1 is a central information processing device, which includes an antenna (1-2), a storage device (1-3), and a signal processing device (1).
-4). Also, 1-5, 1-6 and 1-7 are
Each of the information processing terminals is a personal digital assistant as shown in the figure, and these information processing terminals include a light irradiator and a light detector. These light irradiators and light detectors are used to measure changes in the concentrations of metabolites (eg, oxyhemoglobin, reduced hemoglobin, cytochrome) in the living body of the test object (1-8, 1-9, 1-10). use.

Details of the structure of the information processing terminal provided with the light irradiator and the light detector will be described with reference to another drawing. These information processing terminals (1-5, 1-6, 1-7) are provided with an antenna (1-11), and measurement results are transmitted to the antenna of the central information processing apparatus (1-1) via the antenna. (1-
Transmit to 2). The signal received by the antenna (1-2) is transmitted to the storage device (1-3) included in the central information processing device (1-1) and stored. The stored data is similarly analyzed using the signal processing device (1-4) included in the central information processing device (1-1). Then, the analysis result is transmitted to the antenna (1--) of the central information processing device (1-1).
2), each test object (1-8, 1-9, 1-1)
0) owned by the information processing terminals (1-5, 1-6, 1-
7). The transmission result is presented on the display screen (1-12) on each information processing terminal.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of an information processing terminal based on the present invention. The upper diagram of FIG. 2A is a configuration of a diagram of the information processing terminal body (2-1) viewed from the front. 2-2
Is an input unit in which characters such as numbers, alphabets, kana, and kanji are arranged. Reference numeral 2-3 denotes a power switch of the information processing terminal. Reference numeral 2-4 denotes a display screen on which characters and moving images can be displayed. 2-5 and 2-6
Are a speaker and a microphone, respectively, which are used for transmitting sound from the information processing terminal to the object to be inspected and for transmitting sound from the object to be inspected to the information processing terminal, respectively.

On the other hand, 2-7 and 2-8 are respectively
A semiconductor laser, a light irradiator represented by a light-emitting diode, and a photodetector represented by an avalanche photodiode and a photomultiplier tube. Used for detecting the intensity of light. The intensity of the light propagating in the living body is analyzed by a signal processing device existing inside the information processing terminal.

The lower part of FIG. 2A is a view in which the information processing terminal main body (2-1) is overlooked from above. Light irradiator (2
-7) and the photodetector (2-8), in order to realize high attachment to the object to be inspected, the light irradiator (2-7) and the photodetector (2-8) are as shown The information processing terminal itself (2
-1). Further, in the figure, a flexible resin member (2-9) represented by sponge or rubber
Shows the configuration covered with.

FIG. 2A shows a configuration in which the light irradiator and the photodetector are built in the information processing terminal main body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIG. As shown, the light detector (2-7) and the light detector (2-
8) as a light source block, the information processing terminal body (2-
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is detachably inserted into the portion indicated by the dotted line at the bottom of 1). In this insertion section, power supply and transmission of measurement results are performed.

Next, a method of measuring a change in the concentration of a metabolite in a living body by using the information processing terminal will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3A, 3-1 is an object to be inspected, and 3-2 is an information processing terminal (side view). In addition, FIG. 3B shows a view from the top, in order to make this situation easy to understand. In this case, reference numeral 3-3 denotes an inspection object viewed from above, and reference numeral 3-4 denotes an information processing terminal (overhead view). Here, 3-5 indicated by a black circle indicates an antenna included in the information processing terminal. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light irradiator (3-6) and the light detector (3-7) are made of a flexible resin member (3) represented by a sponge or rubber.
-8). For this reason, high adhesiveness can be obtained.

Next, a method for measuring a change in metabolite concentration in a living body using the measuring method shown in FIG. 4 will be described. First, using the measurement method shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 4A, a light irradiation waveguide (4-1) is used as a light irradiation device.
Then, it is assumed that the light detection waveguide (4-2) as the light detector is brought into contact with the scalp of the test object (4-3). The human brain has a skull (4-4), a cerebrospinal fluid layer (4
-5), cerebral cortex (4-6) and the like exist in layers.

Here, the optical waveguide for light irradiation and the optical waveguide for detection are brought into light contact with the scalp so that the inspected body does not feel pain. Here, the living tissue strongly scatters light. For this reason, part of the scattered light passes through the cerebral cortex, which is located inside the skull and where human-specific higher brain functions are concentrated,
The light reaches the contact position between the light detection optical waveguide (4-2) and the scalp. For example, in the case of an adult, this arrival position is generally about 30 mm away from the light irradiation position (the contact position of the light irradiation optical waveguide (4-1) on the scalp).

Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the brain is activated, the amount of blood in the cerebral cortex (oxyhemoglobin concentration, reduced Hemoglobin concentration) (4-
7). For the measurement, near-infrared light (for example, wavelength: 800 nanometers) having high permeability to a living tissue (it is hard to be measured by water or protein in a living body) and absorbed by hemoglobin (oxygenated hemoglobin, reduced hemoglobin) in blood It is most preferable to use Of course, it is not limited to the light of this wavelength body.

Here, when the blood volume in the cerebral cortex increases (or decreases) due to the activity of the brain, the intensity of the detected light decreases (or increases). In addition to these changes in blood volume in the cerebral cortex, pulse waves and respiration can be measured in a similar manner.

Next, an example showing the relationship between the intensity of light transmitted through the living tissue and the measurement time measured using the measurement system shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown in FIG. Show. In this measurement, the light irradiator and the photodetector shown in FIG. 3 were arranged at intervals of approximately 30 mm on a "forehead" of 1 cm above the left eyebrow of a certain subject. The measurement period (50
During 10 seconds to 30 seconds (a task execution period of 20 seconds), the test object has its right hand at 1 Hz and “Goo”.
And "par" were repeated. On the other hand, during these times,
The subject took a rest.

From this measurement result, it can be seen that the detected light intensity decreases a few seconds after the task starts, and increases when the task ends. This corresponds to an increase in metabolite concentration (hemoglobin concentration) in the living body due to brain activity.

Next, an embodiment of a service using the above-described system will be described with reference to the algorithms shown in FIGS.

First, a method of inputting the brain activity of a certain subject A to the central information processing apparatus (1-1) shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the test object A makes a telephone call to the central information processing device (6-1). When the telephone is connected to the central information processing device, the personal information of the inspected object A is input to the storage device in the central information processing device from the information processing terminal of the inspected object A (6-2). After inputting this, the following message flows from the inside of the analyzer to the mobile phone. "Measure for 20 seconds from now. Please be careful" (6-3). This message is presented to the test object using sound through the speaker (2-5) even if it is presented using characters on the display screen (2-4) shown in FIG. It does not matter.

Next, the light source (light irradiator) provided in the mobile phone is turned on (6-4), and light is emitted from the mobile phone. Then, the intensity of the light propagating in the living body is transmitted from the information processing terminal to the central information processing device (6-5). Then, the transmitted light intensity is input to the storage device in the central information processing device (6-6). The input of the light intensity is, for example, continuous for 20 seconds (6-7), but is not limited to this period, and may be set arbitrarily for each content. Then, after the elapse of 20 seconds, the light amount of the light irradiator provided in the mobile phone is turned off (6-8).

Further, a form in which characters are presented on the display screen (2-4) shown in FIG.
5) Depending on the form to be presented to the test object using sound via the "measurement is finished. Thank you for using"
To the subject to be inspected (6)
-9).

Next, a method of processing the input signal will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that, according to the flow shown in FIG. When the data of a plurality of persons exist, it is assumed that the information of the plurality of persons is held in the storage device (1-3) provided in the central information processing apparatus (1-1), and the comparison of the measurement results is started. (7-1).

First, the information of the object A is read from the storage device (7-2). Subsequently, the information of the inspection object B is read (7-3). The inspection object A and the inspection object B may be arbitrarily selected, for example, by using random numbers or sequentially. Then, the measurement data of the test object A and the test object B are compared (7-4).

If the correlation value of the measurement data of each test object is a certain threshold value (for example, 0.9 or more in FIG. 7) (7-5), the test object A and the test object The antenna (1) provided in the central information processing device (1-1) with the personal information of B (for example, the mail address and the name of each test object)
-2) (7-6, 7-7).

The result is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The information of the test object B is displayed on the information processing terminal owned by the test object A. In FIG. 8, the personal information of the subject B is displayed on the display screen (8-1). In addition to the method for presenting personal information shown in FIG. 8, the personal information of the subject B may be presented via the speaker (8-2).

When the measurement data of the test object A and the test object B do not reach a certain threshold value, the data is stored in the storage device (1-3) provided in the central information processing device (1-1). The processing is similarly continued with respect to the measurement data of another test object that has been set.

As described above, since information specific to an individual to be inspected can be extracted, new contents represented by fortune-telling and compatibility can be created by inputting the measurement results to the Internet. In addition, the signal processing unit in the central processing unit analyzes the measurement results, and only when the measurement result is high, the information of the test object is transmitted to another test object with a matching correlation, creating a new society. It becomes possible to do.

[0046]

According to the present invention, a subject is brought into contact with an object to be examined using an information processing terminal such as a portable information terminal as described above, which includes a light irradiator and a photodetector. A measurement system that can easily and easily transmit and receive the measurement results via the Internet including information processing terminals by measuring the density changes with high spatial resolution using a biological light measurement method that measures the density changes. realizable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a compatibility measurement system using a biological light measurement method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device configuration example of a portable information terminal including a light irradiator and a photodetector.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining how to use the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in the concentration of metabolites in a living body before and after brain activity and a method for measuring the change.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram for explaining the time dependency of the transmitted light intensity in a tissue in a living body obtained from the measurement method shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of inputting brain activity of a certain test subject A to the central information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing a signal input by the method shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example on the display screen of the information processing terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1: Central information processing device, 1-2: Antenna, 1-
3: storage device, 1-4: signal processing device, 1-5: information processing terminal, 1-6: information processing terminal, 1-7: information processing terminal, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10: received Specimen, 1-11:
Antenna, 1-12: display screen on information processing terminal, 2-
1: Information processing terminal main body, 2-2: Input unit, 2-3: Power switch of information processing terminal, 2-4: Display screen, 2-5:
Speaker, 2-6: microphone, 2-7: light irradiator, 2-
8: photodetector, 2-9: resin member, 3-1: test object,
3-2: Information processing terminal (side view), 3-3: Test object (overhead view), 3-4: Information processing terminal (overhead view), 3-5: Antenna provided in information processing terminal, 3-
6: light irradiator, 3-7: light detector, 3-8: resin member,
4-1: light guide for light irradiation, 4-2: light guide for light detection, 4-3: subject, 4-4: skull, 4-5: cerebrospinal fluid layer, 4-6: cerebral cortex, 4-7: Changes in blood volume (oxyhemoglobin concentration, reduced hemoglobin concentration) in the cerebral cortex, 8-1: display screen, 8-2: speaker.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Hideaki Koizumi, Inventor 2520 Akanuma, Hatoyama-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama F-term in Hitachi, Ltd. Basic Research Laboratories F-term (reference) 2G059 AA01 BB12 CC16 CC18 EE02 GG01 GG02 HH01 HH06 JJ17 KK01 KK02 MM05 MM10 PP04 4C038 KK01 KL05 KL07 KM00 KX02 KX04 KY04

Claims (5)

[Claims] A light irradiator for irradiating light upon contact with an object to be inspected; and a light irradiator for converging light transmitted from the light irradiator and propagating through the object to detect a light intensity signal. A portable information terminal using a biological light measurement method, comprising: a photodetector according to claim 1; and a communication antenna. 2. A light irradiator for irradiating light with a contact with an object to be inspected, and a light detector for condensing and detecting passing light emitted from the light irradiator and propagated through the object to be inspected. And an antenna, and transmitting a light intensity signal detected by the photodetector to a network via the antenna. Information terminal. 3. A resin member having flexibility is arranged on a side of the light irradiator or the light detector facing an object to be inspected,
2. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal is configured to be brought into contact with the object to be inspected via the resin member. 4. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, which receives separately transmitted measurement signals of the first and second test objects, and calculates a correlation value between the received measurement signals. Then, when the correlation value has reached a predetermined threshold, the information of the first subject is transmitted to the portable information terminal held by the second subject via a network. A compatibility measurement system using a biological light measurement method. 5. A storage device for receiving and storing, via a network, measurement signals of a plurality of test objects transmitted separately using the portable information terminal according to claim 1, and a storage device for storing the measurement signals in the storage device. Comparing the measurement signals of the plurality of inspected objects and calculating a correlation value therebetween, and when the correlation value has reached a predetermined threshold, at least one of the plurality of inspected objects. A signal processing device that determines that the information on the test object and the information on at least one other test object coincide with each other, and that the information on the at least one test object is the at least one other A compatibility measurement system using a biological light measurement method, wherein the compatibility is transmitted to the portable information terminal held by the subject under inspection through a network.