JP2003000568A - Cardiothoracic ratio measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an instrument at low price by easily sampling the dimensions of the lungs an the heart in the direction of the width, finding a cardiothoracic ratio simultaneously with sampling of the dimensions without numerical calculation and further extremely simplifying a configuration. SOLUTION: In a cardiothoracic ratio measuring instrument 1, with which the dimension of the lungs 13 in the direction of the width and the dimension of the heart 14 in the direction of the width are sampled from a photographic image, for finding a cardiothoracic ratio expressed by the ratio of the dimension of the heart in the direction of the width in the dimension of the lungs in the direction of the width, this instrument is provided with a variable percentage scale 6, with which scale intervals are changed by elongation/contraction in the direction of straight line, and a scale fixing means 8, with which the full length of the variable percentage scale can be fixed corresponding to the dimension of the lungs in the direction of the width.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on image information such as chest X-ray images without calculating with a calculator or the like.
The present invention relates to a cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device capable of extremely easily and quickly obtaining a cardiopulmonary coefficient.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The cardiopulmonary coefficient (also referred to as CTR) is an important index used for determining the degree of hypertrophy of the heart when diagnosing heart disease. The above cardiopulmonary index is the lung (chest mass)
The ratio of the widthwise dimension of the heart to the widthwise dimension is expressed as a percentage ratio, and is measured from an X-ray film or the like.

For example, as a device for measuring the cardiopulmonary coefficient, a device for converting the sampled size into an electrical signal or the like to calculate the cardiopulmonary coefficient, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8274 of 1976. Has been devised. However, in order to manufacture the above device, advanced technology such as a computer is required, and the device becomes large-scale,
Also, the manufacturing cost becomes extremely high.

On the other hand, the utility model application publication No. 63 in 1986
As described in No. 203, it has been proposed that a ruler for sampling dimensions is provided with a percentage conversion table for obtaining a cardiopulmonary coefficient. By providing the above-mentioned percentage conversion table, it is possible to save the time and effort for the calculation, but it is troublesome to read the numerical values shown in the table, and there is a possibility that an incorrect numerical value may be read.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art, makes it possible to easily obtain the widthwise dimensions of the lung and heart, and at the same time to obtain the cardiopulmonary coefficient without performing a numerical calculation at the same time as obtaining the dimensions, and is extremely simple. The present invention provides a cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device that can be provided at a low price because of its simple structure.

[0006]

According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application, the widthwise dimension of the lung and the widthwise dimension of the heart are sampled from the photographic image, and the widthwise dimension of the lung is the widthwise dimension of the heart. Is a cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device for obtaining a cardiopulmonary coefficient expressed as a ratio to a variable percentile scale that is expanded and contracted in a linear direction and the scale interval is changed, and the entire length of the variable percentile scale is the width direction of the lung. And a scale fixing means that can be fixed according to the size.

The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring apparatus according to the present invention employs a variable scale whose scale interval can be changed, forms a 100-percent scale with the size of the lung to be measured as 100 in the width direction, and uses the scale to measure the heart rate. By reading the dimension in the width direction, the cardiopulmonary coefficient is instantly obtained without performing calculation. In addition, the above-mentioned 100-percent scale does not mean only the one with 100 scales, and includes the one with auxiliary scales between the 100-scales.

Various structures can be adopted as the variable scale. For example, as in the invention described in claim 2, the variable percentile scale can be configured by providing a scale on a stretchable belt.

The material of the strip is not particularly limited, and a rubber material may be used as in the invention described in claim 3 or a coil spring may be used as in the invention described in claim 4. it can. It is also possible to employ a telescopic scale that utilizes a mechanism that is mechanically telescopic by a link mechanism or the like.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 5,
By forming the variable percentile scale from a strip-shaped liquid crystal screen, and positioning the scale fixing means at an image position corresponding to one edge of the lung and an image position corresponding to the other edge of the lung. It is also possible to form a scale with the width dimension of the lungs of 100 on the liquid crystal screen.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device, wherein the base portion provided with the variable percentage scale is relatively close to and spaced apart from each other while maintaining parallel to each other. A first measurement arm and a second measurement arm whose distance can be changed, and movably held between the first measurement arm and the second measurement arm while being parallel to the measurement arms. , Above first
A third dimension for measuring the widthwise dimension of the heart between the measurement arm and the second measurement arm to indicate the variable percentile scale.
And a measuring arm of.

In the cardiopulmonary-coefficient measuring device according to the present invention, the measuring arm is provided, and the measuring arm is adapted to the measurement site so that the size can be sampled to improve the usability.

Further, the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm are used to obtain the widthwise dimension of the lung and form the percentile scale. Scale fixing means is provided on each of the measuring arms or the base, and the measuring lines of the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm are aligned with both side edges of the lung, and the scale fixing means adjusts the measuring lines. Fix the minute scale. When the graduated scale is provided on the stretchable belt-shaped member to form the 100-percent scale, the variable-percent-scale scale can be fixed by fixing the measuring arm to the base. On the other hand, in the case of configuring the variable percentile scale with a liquid crystal display device or the like, the scale with the distance between the first measurement arm and the second measurement arm as 100 may be displayed.

The third measuring arm is provided between the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm for reading the cardiopulmonary coefficient from the percentile scale. By providing the third measurement arm, it is possible to prevent reading errors and improve the measurement accuracy of the cardiopulmonary coefficient. The form of each measurement arm is not particularly limited, and may be configured, for example, so that the edge of the measurement arm or the like can be aligned with the measurement site.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, one of the first measuring arm or the second measuring arm is fixedly provided to the base. in this case,
By displacing one of the measurement arms, the widthwise dimension of the lung can be acquired.

In the invention described in claim 8 of the present application, the widthwise dimension of the lung and the widthwise dimension of the heart are sampled from the photographic image,
A cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device for obtaining a cardiopulmonary coefficient represented by a ratio of a widthwise dimension of a heart to a widthwise dimension of a lung, the base being attached along a measurement site of the image, and relative to each other while keeping parallel to each other. A first measuring arm and a second measuring arm which are held on the base so as to be close to and away from each other, and measuring means capable of outputting distance information between the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm. Calculating means for obtaining a percentage ratio of the two distance information output from the measuring means,
And a display unit capable of displaying the percentage ratio calculated by the calculation unit.

In the invention described in the present claim, the cardiopulmonary coefficient is automatically obtained without reading the scale by using the measuring means such as a distance sensor capable of outputting the distance information.

The forms of the base, the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm are not particularly limited, and
It suffices if both measurement arms can be closely spaced along the above-mentioned base to obtain the dimensions. Further, as in the invention described in claim 9, one of the first measurement arm and the second measurement arm may be fixedly provided to the base portion.

The measuring means may be any one capable of outputting the distance between the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm, and the length may be an electrical physical quantity such as current, voltage, resistance, or digital. Various means can be adopted as long as they can be replaced with signals or the like. For example, as in the invention described in claim 10, the measuring means can be configured by including a commercially available linear scale. The method of the linear scale is not limited, and an electric type,
Various types of linear scales such as pulse type and magnetic type can be adopted.

Since the present invention seeks the percentage ratio as a cardiopulmonary coefficient, the measuring means need not be able to sample the widthwise dimensions of the lung and heart, but can be used for other purposes. In addition, it is preferable to employ a measuring means capable of measuring the dimension itself.

The calculating means may be any means capable of calculating the percentage by replacing the distance information output from the measuring means with a numerical value that can be calculated. For example, various forms of microcomputers and electric / electronic circuits can be adopted.

The display means may be any one capable of displaying numerical values, and for example, a liquid crystal display device or the like can be adopted.

The invention as set forth in claim 11 of the present application is a grip portion which can be gripped by a user's finger at at least two selected locations among the base portion, the first measurement arm, and the second measurement arm. Is provided.

The cardiopulmonary coefficient is often obtained from an X-ray film attached to the surface of a vertical Schaukasten. Therefore, it is desirable to configure the measuring device so that it can be held by the user's fingers.

By providing the handle portions that can be held by the user's fingers at two or more places, the user can perform work while stably holding the device with both hands. In addition,
The position and the number of the grip portions are not limited, and it is desirable that the grip portions are formed so that the user can grip a convenient portion.

The form of the handle is not particularly limited as long as the positioning operation can be performed on the screen extending in the vertical direction. For example, it can be configured so that it can be grasped by fingers, or can be configured so that it can be hooked on fingers.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the display means is provided on the surface of at least one of the base, the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm.

The position at which the display means is provided is not particularly limited, but it is desirable to provide at two or more locations. Further, by making it possible to display the actual dimensions of the lung and the heart together with the cardiopulmonary coefficient, it is possible to prevent a measurement error, and the device can be used for other purposes.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first measurement arm and / or the second measurement arm,
An output switch for outputting the distance information output from the measuring means to the calculating means is provided.

After the arm is moved to the measurement site and positioned, the measurement value of the site can be output by the output switch. The output switch may be configured to output the measurement values of the lung and the heart with one switch, or a plurality of switches may be provided according to each output. It is also possible to provide a switch that can reset the measured value.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these figures, the cardiopulmonary-coefficient measuring device 1 has a base 2 extending in the lateral direction, a first measurement arm 3 fixedly provided at the left end of the base 2, and movable along the base 2. The second measurement arm 4 and the third measurement arm 5 held by

As shown in FIG. 2, the second measuring arm 4 and the third measuring arm 5 are fitted in dovetail grooves 12, 12 provided on the side portion of the base 2 so that they are parallel to each other. It is held movably along the base portion 2 while maintaining

A groove 17 having a rectangular cross section is formed on the surface of the base portion 2, and a band-shaped variable percentage scale 6 is accommodated in the groove 17. Variable percentile scale 6 according to the present embodiment
Is configured by providing a percent scale indicator 7 on the surface of a strip of rubber, and the interval between the scales changes as the strip of rubber expands and contracts. The left end of the variable percentage scale 6 is connected and fixed to the base end of the first measuring arm 3,
The right end is connected and fixed to the base end of the second measurement arm 4. The second measuring arm 4 is moved to move the first
The band-shaped rubber is expanded and contracted by changing the distance from the measuring arm.

A scale fixing means 8 capable of fixing the second measuring arm 4 to the base 2 is provided at the base end of the second measuring arm 4. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a fixing piece 9 is integrally formed rightward from the base end portion of the second measuring arm 4, and a screw 10 screwed to the fixing piece 9 is provided. It is configured to be pressed against the base 2. An arm 11 capable of tightening and releasing the screw 10 is rotatably provided on the surface side of the fixing piece 9.

The third measuring arm 5 is movably held along the base 2 between the first measuring arm 3 and the second measuring arm 4, and at the base end thereof. The variable percentage scale 6 can be read.

A method of using the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the handle 32 is gripped to hold the device 1 by aligning the right edge of the first measuring arm 3 with the left edge of the lung 13. Next, the second measurement arm 4 is moved to the right edge of the lung 13. Then, the arm 11 of the scale fixing means 8 is rotated to fix the second measuring arm at the position. As a result, the variable percentage scale 6 is stretched to form the percentage scale 7a with the widthwise dimension of the lung 13 set to 100.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the first measuring arm 3 is held in alignment with the left edge of the heart 14, and the third measuring arm 5 is aligned with the right edge of the heart 14. And
The cardiorespiratory coefficient is obtained by reading the percent scale 7a on the left edge of the proximal end portion of the third measurement arm 5.

In this embodiment, the third measuring arm 5 is used.
It is not necessary to use a calculator or the like because the scale value read from indicates the cardiopulmonary coefficient. For this reason,
The cardiopulmonary coefficient can be obtained extremely easily. Moreover,
Since the structure of the device is very simple, the cost of the device can be kept low.

6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same members as those in the first embodiment include
The same reference numerals are attached.

In this embodiment, the variable percentile scale 16 is constructed by using a coil spring 16a instead of the strip rubber in the first embodiment.

One end of the coil spring 16a is the first
It is similar to the first embodiment that the other end is connected and fixed to the base end part of the second measurement arm 4 while being connected and fixed to the base end part of the measurement arm 3.

The coil spring 16a according to the present embodiment
In order to facilitate the description, 100 windings are adopted, and each winding portion 16b is configured to be a 100th scale. As shown in FIG. 7, the surface of the winding portion 16b is colored 19 every 5 turns so that the scale can be read easily. In addition, the percentage is displayed as a number for every 10 volumes. In the embodiment, the display plate 20 displaying numbers on the side of the winding is welded and held so that it can be displaced according to the expansion and contraction of the spring.

Similar to the first embodiment, the winding portion 1
The cardiopulmonary coefficient can be easily obtained by reading the variable percentile scale constituted by 6b by the third measuring arm 5.

8 to 11 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the cardiorespiratory coefficient is digitally displayed without reading the scale.

As shown in FIG. 8, a cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device 21
Is a base 22 attached along the measurement site of the image, a first measurement arm 23 fixedly provided at the left end of the base 22, and can be approached and separated while maintaining parallel to the first measurement arm. Thus, the second measurement arm 24 held by the base 2 is provided.

The base 22 and the second measuring arm 2
4, a linear scale (not shown) is provided,
By sliding the second measuring arm 24 along the base portion 22, the distance between the second measuring arm 24 and the first measuring arm 23 can be output. Note that various types of linear scales that employ electrical signals, optical signals, etc. can be employed as the linear scale.

At the base ends of the first measuring arm 23 and the second measuring arm 24, grips 25 and 26 that can be held by the user's fingers are formed. The handles 25,2
6 is gripped, the second measuring arm 24 is moved,
The distance information between them is configured to be collected.

Left and right output buttons 27 and 28 are provided on the second measuring arm 24, and the first measuring arm 23 is used by using these two buttons 27 and 28.
The distance between the second measuring arm 24 and the second measuring arm 24 can be collected and output to a calculation device (not shown). In the present embodiment, the button 27 functions as an output switch that outputs the taken distance information to the arithmetic device,
The button 28 is configured to function as a reset switch.

On the upper surfaces of the first measuring arm 23 and the second measuring arm 24, display units 29 and 30 for displaying the measured values and the cardiopulmonary coefficient are provided. In the present embodiment, the lung 13 is attached to the first measurement arm 23.
Also, a display unit 29 capable of simultaneously displaying the widthwise dimension of the heart 14 and the cardiopulmonary coefficient is provided. The second measuring arm 24 is provided with a display unit 30 capable of displaying the measured widthwise dimensions of the lung 13 and the heart 14.

Inside the first measuring arm 23, FIG.
The operation device 2 shown in FIG.
The distance information output from the linear scale via 7, 28 is digitally processed. In the embodiment, a distance calculation program that processes the distance information so that the actual dimensions can be output, and a percentage ratio calculation program that calculates the percentage ratio of the above dimensions are incorporated.

The dimensions and the cardiopulmonary coefficient obtained by the above programs are output to the liquid crystal display devices 29 and 30 and the values are digitally displayed.

Cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device 21 according to the present embodiment
The measurement procedure of will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the first measuring arm 23 of the device 21 is held in alignment with the left edge of the lung 13 (S101). Next, the right button 28 is pushed to reset the arithmetic circuit and the like (S102), the second measurement arm 24 is moved to the right edge portion of the lung shown in FIG. 8 (S103), and the left button 27 is pushed (S104). ). As a result, the size of the lung 13 in the width direction is sampled, the distance information is output to the arithmetic device to obtain the size, and the size is digitally displayed on the display unit 29 and the display unit 30 (105).

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the first measuring arm 23 is aligned with the left edge of the heart (S10).
6) The second measuring arm 24 is moved to the right edge of the heart (S107), and the left button 27 is pushed (S10).
8). As a result, the widthwise dimension of the heart 14 is sampled,
The distance information is output to the arithmetic device to obtain the dimensions, and the digital display is performed on the display unit 29 and the display unit 30 (S10).
9). At the same time, the percentage ratio of the widthwise dimension of the heart 14 to the widthwise dimension of the lung 13 is calculated (S11).
0), and displayed on the display unit 29 together with the above dimensions (S1).
11).

The user need only read the cardiopulmonary coefficient from the display unit 29. In addition, since the widthwise dimensions of the lung 13 and the heart 14 are displayed at the same time, an operation error can be easily found. Therefore, the cardiopulmonary coefficient can be obtained quickly and reliably.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In each of the embodiments, the first measurement arm is fixedly provided on the base portion, but both the first measurement arm and the second measurement arm can be provided so as to be movable with respect to the base portion. By providing both the first measurement arm and the second measurement arm movably with respect to the base, the cardiopulmonary coefficient can be obtained without moving the base.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the cardiopulmonary coefficient can be read directly from the variable percentile scale without providing the third measuring arm. Further, it is possible to omit all the arm portions and to perform the size sampling and the reading of the cardiopulmonary coefficient directly from the variable percentile scale.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the variable percentage scale in which the material itself expands and contracts is adopted, but the variable scale is constructed by adopting a link structure or the like in which the length mechanically changes. You can also

Further, although the screw structure is adopted as the scale fixing means, the scale fixing means utilizing elasticity of a clip or the like can be adopted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of a cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a method of using the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring apparatus according to FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of using the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring apparatus according to FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to the present invention.

7 is an enlarged view showing the structure of a variable percentile scale of the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the third embodiment of the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to the present invention, and is a front view showing a state in which the widthwise dimension of the lung is being sampled.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to the present invention, and is a front view showing a state in which the widthwise dimension of the heart is being sampled.

10 is a block diagram showing a system structure of the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device shown in FIG.

11 is a flowchart showing a measurement procedure of the cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device 6 variable scales 8 scale fixing means 13 lungs 14 heart

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring apparatus for obtaining a cardiopulmonary coefficient represented by a ratio of a widthwise dimension of a heart to a widthwise dimension of a lung by extracting a widthwise dimension of a lung and a widthwise dimension of a heart from a photographic image. A cardiopulmonary system comprising a variable percentile scale that is expanded and contracted in a linear direction and the scale interval is changed, and a scale fixing means that can fix the entire length of the variable percentile scale according to the widthwise dimension of the lung. Coefficient measuring device. 2. The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the variable percentile scale is configured by providing a scale on a stretchable band. 3. The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the band-shaped body is formed of a rubber material. 4. The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the band-shaped body is formed of a coil spring. 5. The variable percentage scale is formed of a strip-shaped liquid crystal screen, and the scale fixing means is provided at an image position corresponding to one edge of the lung and an image position corresponding to the other edge of the lung. The width of the lung by 1
2. A graduated scale equally divided into 00 is formed on a liquid crystal screen.
The cardiopulmonary-coefficient measuring device of statement. 6. A base portion provided with the variable percentile scale and relatively spaced apart from each other while keeping parallel to each other,
A first measurement arm and a second measurement arm capable of changing the interval of the variable percentage scale, and movable between the first measurement arm and the second measurement arm while keeping the measurement arms parallel to each other. A third measurement arm that is held by the first measurement arm or the second measurement arm and that measures the widthwise dimension of the heart to indicate the variable percentage scale. The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The cardiopulmonary-coefficient measuring device according to claim 6, wherein one of the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm is fixedly provided to the base. 8. A cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device for obtaining a cardiopulmonary coefficient represented by a ratio of a widthwise dimension of a heart to a widthwise dimension of a lung by extracting a widthwise dimension of a lung and a widthwise dimension of a heart from a photographic image. A base attached along the measurement site of the image, a first measurement arm and a second measurement arm held by the base so as to be relatively close to and away from each other while maintaining parallel to each other; Measuring means capable of outputting distance information between the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm, calculating means for obtaining a percentage ratio of two distance information output from the measuring means, and calculating means by the calculating means. And a display means capable of displaying a percentage ratio. 9. The cardiopulmonary-coefficient measuring device according to claim 8, wherein one of the first measuring arm and the second measuring arm is fixedly provided with respect to the base. 10. The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the measuring means is provided with a linear scale. 11. The handle according to claim 8, wherein at least two selected portions of the base portion, the first measuring arm, and the second measuring arm are provided with a grip portion that can be gripped by a user's finger. Item 11. The cardiopulmonary coefficient measuring device according to any one of items 10. 12. The cardiopulmonary system according to claim 8, wherein the display means is provided on the surface of at least one of the base, the first measurement arm, and the second measurement arm. Coefficient measuring device. 13. The first measuring arm and / or the second measuring arm is provided with an output switch for outputting distance information output from the measuring means to the computing means.
The cardiopulmonary-coefficient measuring device according to any one of claims 8 to 12.