JP2003135432A - Living body-monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a living body-monitoring device with excellent handleability easily usable even in a general household in order to monitor a breathing state of a sleeping person or the like. SOLUTION: An optical fiber 1 of a distortion sensor 3 composed of the optical fiber 1 and an OTDR device 2 is arranged inside a sheet 5 in a meandering shape, a distortion change of the optical fiber 1 due to movements of a body accompanying breathing of the sleeping person is detected in the OTDR device 2 by a reception level change of rear scattered light and the breathing state of the sleeping person or the like is monitored by a judgement processor 4 on the basis of a detected result of the OTDR device 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a living body monitoring apparatus, and more particularly to a living body monitoring apparatus for monitoring the state of a sleeping person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for monitoring the state of a sleeping person, particularly a respiratory state, for example, a method of attaching a sensor to a throat, a chest or the like, a method of detecting movement of a body surface associated with breathing by a microwave, etc. It has been known.

[0003]

However, in the former method, it is necessary to attach the sensor to the body before going to bed, which is inconvenient and uncomfortable to sleep. In addition, there is a problem that the sensor may come off due to rolling over or the like. In addition, the latter method has a problem of the influence of electromagnetic waves on medical devices such as pacemakers. Further, in recent years, devices such as mobile phones that radiate electromagnetic waves are often present around us, and there is a problem that signal processing is required to distinguish them from electromagnetic noise in the surroundings.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a living body monitor device which can easily monitor the state of a sleeping person even in a general home and is convenient and does not require special signal processing. The purpose is to

[0005]

For this reason, in the living body monitoring apparatus of the present invention, the optical fiber of the strain sensor using the optical fiber is arranged in the bedding, and based on the change in the strain of the optical fiber, the on the bedding. The body movement of the sleeping person is detected by the strain sensor, and the state of the sleeping person can be monitored based on the detection result.

In such a structure, if the movement of the body of the person sleeping on the bedding changes, the strain of the optical fiber in the bedding changes. Therefore, the strain sensor can detect the movement of the body of the person sleeping on the bedding based on the change state of the strain of the optical fiber, and the state of the sleeping person based on the detection result,
Specifically, as described in claim 2, it becomes possible to monitor the presence / absence of breathing of a sleeping person, the normal / abnormal breathing state, the presence / absence of rolling over, and the like.

The optical fiber may be arranged in a meandering shape in the bedding as in claim 3, or may be attached to a spring in the bedding as in claim 4. The strain sensor according to claim 5, wherein the optical fiber is connected to one end of the optical fiber to transmit an optical signal to the optical fiber, and based on a reception state of the backscattered light of the optical signal. It is a configuration including a strain detection unit that detects a strain change state.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable to provide a monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the state of the sleeping person is normal based on the detection output from the strain sensor and notifying the monitoring result. With this configuration, it becomes possible to report the result of monitoring the state of the sleeping person. When the monitoring means is configured to centrally monitor the states of a plurality of sleeping persons based on the detection outputs from the plurality of strain sensors, the monitoring means performs a centralized monitoring of the plurality of persons. You will be able to report the monitoring results.

In a sixth or seventh aspect of the invention, the monitoring means may notify that the sleeping person's condition is normal at predetermined time intervals, and immediately when an abnormal condition is detected. It becomes possible to check whether or not the operation of the biological monitoring device is normal based on the presence / absence of the normal notification.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a living body monitoring apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the living body monitoring apparatus according to the present embodiment uses, for example, an OTDR (Optical Time) as an optical fiber 1 and a strain detection unit that receives an optical signal from the optical fiber 1 and detects the strain of the optical fiber 1.
Domain Reflectometer) Device 2 and strain sensor 3
And a determination processing device 4 that determines the state of the sleeping person based on the measurement result from the strain sensor 3.

The optical fiber 1 of the strain sensor 3 is arranged in a bedding, for example, a sheet 5 in a meandering manner as shown in the drawing, and the OTDR device 2 is connected to one end thereof. In addition, 1 in FIG.
a indicates the end of the optical fiber 1. The OTDR device 2 is
The optical pulse is transmitted to the optical fiber 1 at a predetermined cycle, the reflected light from the optical fiber 1 is received, and the strain of the optical fiber 1 is measured from the reception state. The OTDR device 2 is a conventionally known device,
When the optical fiber 1 is distorted, the refractive index of that portion changes and backscattered light is generated and returns to the incident end. The time from the incidence of a light pulse until the backscattered light returns to the incident end is proportional to the distance between the incident end and the site where the backscattered light is generated, and the level (intensity) of the backscattered light is refracted. It changes according to the change of the rate, in other words, the change of the strain.
Based on this principle, the OTDR device 2 measures the relationship between the time from the transmission of an optical pulse to the reception of backscattered light and the reception level.

The determination processing device 4 detects the change state of the strain of the optical fiber 1 based on the measurement result of the OTDR device 2, and determines the state of the person sleeping on the sheet 5, for example, the presence or absence of breathing of the sleeping person. , Normal / abnormal breathing status, presence of overturning, etc. To determine whether a sleeping person is breathing,
For example, a signal change pattern (for example, a frequency within a predetermined range) that is assumed in advance from the movement of the body when a person breathes is OTDR.
It can be determined by detecting whether or not it is included in the measurement result of the device 2. To determine whether the breathing state is normal or abnormal, for example, a signal change pattern of the monitored subject during normal breathing is stored in advance,
The judgment can be made by comparing the stored normal signal change pattern with the detected signal change pattern. The presence / absence of rolling over can be determined by detecting a change in the strain generation position of the optical fiber 1.

Next, the monitoring operation of the living body monitoring apparatus of this embodiment will be described. Since tension is applied to the optical fiber 1 so that the optical fiber 1 is easily stressed when a person sleeps, both ends of the sheet 5 are folded under the futon (or mattress, bed, etc.) 6 as shown in FIG. In this state,
A sheet portion on the futon 6 (a portion where the optical fiber 1 is linearly arranged, which is shown between the dotted lines in FIG. 1) is set as a strain detection region. Here, each straight line portion of the optical fiber 1 in the detection area is D
, D2, ..., Dn + 1, and U-shaped bent portions of the non-detection region folded under the futon 6 are denoted by U1, U2 ,.

The optical pulse transmitted from the OTDR device 2 has a detection area D1 → U1 → D2 → U2 ... Un → Dn.
The backscattered light or reflected light that is scattered or reflected at each part of + 1 → termination 1a is received by the OTDR device 2. The bent portions U1, U2, ..., Un are straight portions D of the optical fiber 1.
, D2, ..., Dn + 1, the loss per unit distance is large. The level of reflected light from the terminal end 1a is higher than that of backscattered light. Therefore, the OTDR device 2
The reception pattern measured in 1 is as shown in FIG. The horizontal axis of FIG. 3 represents distance, the vertical axis represents reception level, and the vertical axis represents logarithmic display. In addition, regarding the intermediate straight line portions D3 to Dn and the bent portions U2 to Un-1, the illustrated straight line portion D
1, Dn + 1 and the bent portions U1 and Un show the same tendency, and therefore will be omitted.

When a sleeping person is breathing, the body periodically moves with breathing, and the optical fiber 1 undergoes periodic strain changes. For example, when the periodic strain change occurs in the straight line portion D1 of the optical fiber 1, the backscattered light level in the straight line portion D1 changes periodically due to the change in the refractive index of the straight line portion D1, and the straight line in FIG. The reception level of the portion D1 changes periodically according to the movement of the body. The same applies to the other straight line portions D2 to Dn + 1.

Therefore, when the presence or absence of breathing of a sleeping person is monitored, the determination processing device 4 uses the measurement results of the OTDR device 2 to determine the linear portions D1 to Dn + 1 of the received waveform pattern of FIG.
It is only necessary to detect whether or not at least one of them includes a frequency signal in a predetermined range that is assumed from the movement of the body when a person breathes. If it is included, it is determined that there is breathing, and if it is not included, it is determined to be abnormal. Further, in the case of monitoring the normal / abnormal breathing state of the sleeping person, for example, the determination processing device 4 stores in advance the signal change pattern of the monitored person during normal breathing, and the stored normal signal change is stored. The pattern and the measurement signal change pattern input from the OTDR device 2 may be compared. Further, when the presence / absence of rolling over is monitored, it may be determined whether or not the position of the straight line portion in which the strain change occurs has changed. For example, when a person sleeping by rolling over moves from the straight line portion D1 to the straight line portion D2, distortion changes occur in the straight line portions D1 and D2.

According to the living body monitoring apparatus using the strain sensor 3 using the optical fiber 1 having such a structure, it is not necessary to attach the sensor to a sleeping person, and the diameter of the optical fiber 1 is extremely small, so that there is no discomfort and comfortable to sleep. Good. In addition, there is no problem that the sensor comes off by turning over and the like unlike the conventional method of attaching the sensor to the body. Furthermore, it is not necessary to consider the influence on medical devices such as pacemakers, and signal processing for distinguishing from ambient electromagnetic noise is also unnecessary. Therefore, it is extremely convenient and can be easily used by anyone at home or the like, which is extremely practical.

Further, since the number of the bent portions U1 to Un is known in advance, the determination processing device 4 counts the number of the bent portions U1 to Un present in the waveform pattern of FIG. Normal / abnormal of 3 can be determined. If the optical fiber 1 is broken or the like, the optical pulse is reflected at the broken portion, and the number of bent portions appearing in the received waveform pattern is different from that in the normal state, so it can be determined that an abnormality has occurred. By providing such an abnormality detection function of the strain sensor 3, the reliability of the biological monitoring device can be improved.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4
At the bent portion U1 ′ of the living body monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment,
Each of Un 'and Un' is formed by winding an optical fiber into a bundle.
The other configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and therefore its explanation is omitted. In the bent portions U1 to Un that are simply bent in a U shape as in the first embodiment of FIG.
The distortions generated in 1 to Dn + 1 are likely to affect the curvatures of the bent portions U1 to Un, for example, the boundary between the straight portion and the bent portion in the received waveform pattern of FIG. 3 becomes unclear, and breathing based on the received waveform pattern is performed. There is a possibility that the accuracy of monitoring the state may be reduced.

According to this embodiment, the straight line portions D1 to Dn +
1 makes it difficult for the distortion of the bent portions U1'-Un 'to affect the curvature of the bent portions U1'-Un'. Even if the straight portions D1-Dn + 1 are distorted, the curvature of the bent portions U1'-Un 'hardly changes. The state of the sleeping person can be monitored more accurately than in the embodiment. Figure 5
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a received waveform pattern in the configuration of FIG. Since the bent portions U1 'to Un'are formed by winding the optical fibers in a bundle, the distance becomes longer than that in the first embodiment. Since the sleeping person's condition monitoring operation is the same as that in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

Although the optical fiber 1 is arranged in a meandering shape in the bedding in the first and second embodiments, it may be attached to the coil spring 7 in the bedding. For example, the optical fiber 1 is fixed along the coil spring in a state where the coil spring in the bedding is contracted. in this case,
One optical fiber 1 (thin line portion in the figure) for each coil spring 7 (thick line portion in the figure) as in the third embodiment of FIG.
Alternatively, the optical fiber 1 may be fixed to the coil springs 7 as in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the coil spring is omitted so that the attached state of the optical fiber 1 can be easily understood. 7b shows the folded portion of the optical fiber 1 in each coil spring.

In this structure, the coil spring 7 contracts when the weight of the sleeping person is added, and the coil spring 7 returns to the normal state when the weight of the sleeping person is not added. In addition, the coil spring 7 undergoes a periodic expansion / contraction change due to the movement of the body accompanying breathing while the weight of the sleeping person is added. The curvature of the optical fiber 1 changes and the refractive index changes between the contracted state and the restored state of the coil spring 7. As a result, the reception level of the backscattered light in each optical fiber 1 changes depending on whether the weight of the sleeping person is added or not, and the movement of the body with breathing causes periodical changes. A slight change in the reception level will occur. Therefore, the configuration of FIGS. 6 and 7 can also monitor the state of the sleeping person.

In the configuration of FIG. 6, the OTDR device 2 is provided for each coil spring 7, the measurement result of each OTDR device 2 is input to the determination processing device 4, and the measurement results of each OTDR device 2 are compared. It is necessary to judge the state of the sleeping person. In the configuration of FIG. 7, for example, if one optical fiber 1 is fixedly arranged on all the coil springs in the bedding, only one OTDR device 2 is required, and the determination processing device 4 is provided with one OOTDR device 2.
Since the state of the sleeping person can be monitored based on the measurement result of the TDR device 2, the configuration of the living body monitoring device can be simplified and the determination process of the determination processing device 4 can be simplified as compared with the configuration of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a received waveform pattern in the configuration of FIG. In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the coil spring may be formed of the optical fiber itself, which saves the labor of attaching the optical fiber to the coil spring. FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, the living body monitoring apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that the determination result of the determination processing apparatus 11 is transmitted to the corresponding receiving apparatus 13 by the transmitting apparatus 12 and the state of the sleeping person can be notified.

The judgment processing device 11 of this embodiment has a function as a monitoring means for judging the state of a sleeping person based on the measurement result of the strain sensor 3 and notifying the judgment result. Specifically, when the measurement result is normal, the normality determination output is output to the transmission device 12 at a predetermined time interval, and when the measurement result is abnormal, the abnormality determination output is immediately output to the transmission device 12.

According to this structure, the state of the sleeping person can be monitored even at a remote place. Further, since the normality determination output is reported at a predetermined time interval, if the notification from the transmission device 12 is not received by the reception device 13 for a time longer than the predetermined time interval, some abnormality occurs in the biological monitoring device. Therefore, it is possible to check the operation state of the biological monitoring device.

FIG. 10 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention,
It is an example of composition of a living body monitoring device at the time of carrying out intensive monitoring of the state of a plurality of sleeping people. In FIG. 10, a transmitting device 12 is connected to each strain sensor 3, and the measurement result of each strain sensor 3 is transmitted from each transmitting device 12 to a central processing unit 14 as a monitoring means. The central processing unit 14 monitors the states of a plurality of sleeping persons based on the respective measurement results of the respective strain sensors 3, and transmits the normal / abnormal determination result to the corresponding corresponding receiving device 13, report. The notification form is the same as that of the fifth embodiment. When the measurement result is normal, the normality determination output is output to the receiving device 13 at predetermined time intervals, and when the measurement result is abnormal, the abnormality determination output is immediately received.
Output to.

According to such a configuration, the states of a plurality of sleeping persons can be centrally monitored at remote places, and any abnormality can be immediately notified. Also, as in the case of the fifth embodiment, it is possible to check the operation of the biological monitoring device depending on the presence or absence of the notification. In each of the above embodiments,
Although the optical fiber distortion is detected using the OTDR device, the optical signal transmitter is connected to one end of the optical fiber and the optical signal receiver is connected to the other end of the optical fiber.
For example, a configuration may be used in which, for example, a continuous optical signal is transmitted from one end side of the optical fiber, an optical signal is received at the other end side, and the distortion of the optical fiber is detected based on the reception state of the optical signal. In this case as well, the presence or absence of respiration can be determined by whether or not the received signal includes a frequency signal in a predetermined range. By comparing the stored normal signal change pattern with the detected signal change pattern, the normal respiratory condition can be determined. / It is sufficient to judge the abnormality.

[0029]

As described above, according to the living body monitoring apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary to consider the influence of electromagnetic waves on medical devices such as pacemakers, and it is extremely convenient to use. It can also be used easily and has high practical value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a biological monitoring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the sheets are attached during measurement according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a reception waveform pattern according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a reception waveform pattern of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an optical fiber attached state according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an attached state of an optical fiber according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a received waveform pattern according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 optical fiber 2 OTDR device 3 strain sensor 4, 11 Judgment processing device 5 sheets 7 coil spring 14 Central processing unit

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A strain sensor using an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is arranged in a bedding, and the strain sensor detects a movement of a body of a person sleeping on the bedding based on a change in strain of the optical fiber. Then, the living body monitoring device is configured to be capable of monitoring the state of the sleeping person based on the detection result. 2. The living body monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the presence / absence of breathing of a sleeping person, the normal / abnormal breathing state, and the presence / absence of rolling over can be monitored. 3. The living body monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is arranged in a meandering shape in a bedding. 4. The living body monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is attached to a spring in bedding. 5. The strain sensor is connected to the optical fiber and one end of the optical fiber, transmits an optical signal to the optical fiber, and changes in strain of the optical fiber based on a reception state of backscattered light of the optical signal. The living body monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is configured to include a strain detecting unit that detects a state. 6. A monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the state of a sleeping person is normal on the basis of the detection output from the strain sensor and for notifying the monitoring result.
The biological monitoring device according to item 1. 7. The living body monitoring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring means is configured to centrally monitor the states of a plurality of sleeping persons based on the detection outputs from the plurality of strain sensors. 8. The monitoring means according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the monitoring means reports that the sleeping person is in a normal state at predetermined time intervals, and immediately when an abnormal state is detected. Biological monitor device.