JP2004194701A - Headgear for biological optical imaging and optical imaging apparatus for organism using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headgear for fixing a light irradiation / detection probe, the headgear which is used for an biological optical imaging apparatus and accurately and easily determines the measurement part of a testee body and fixes the probe without using another structure imaging device. <P>SOLUTION: A helmet for biological optical imaging is provided with a means for measuring the relative distance of the testee body from an external index and a means for fixing the light irradiation / detection probe at a position determined by the above means. For instance, with an eyebrow part 20 and an occipital pole 40, etc., as references as the external indexes, flexible measures 50, 60 and 75 are mounted on a scale display part and the position of a shell part 120 is accurately determined. Since the measure mounted once is fixed by a non-flexible belt, the shell part 120 is mounted on the testee body fitly by a flexible fixing belt 140 without being shifted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a biological light measurement technology for measuring information inside a living body with light, and more particularly to a biological light measurement technology including a headgear for a biological light measurement device for attaching a light irradiation / light detection probe to a subject.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The living body optical measurement device obtains information inside a living body by attaching a light irradiation / light detection probe to a measurement site.
[0003]
For example, a technique is known in which a plurality of light irradiation / light detection probes are arranged on the head of a subject and spatio-temporal information on brain activity is measured using near-infrared light (for example, see Non-Patent Documents). 1). In this technique, near-infrared light irradiated from above the scalp is detected from a location about 3 cm away, and the change in hemoglobin concentration in the cerebral cortex between the irradiation point and the detection point is measured. Since the local hemodynamics, that is, the hemoglobin concentration changes with the brain activity, the mechanism is that the spatiotemporal change of the brain activity can be understood.
[0004]
Conventionally, a shell holding a light irradiation / light detection probe has been mounted, for example, as shown in FIG. In the drawing, the mark ◎ indicates the holding portion of the light detection probe, and the mark ○ indicates the holding portion of the light irradiation probe. The headgear of FIG. 2 includes a shell part 122 on which a holding part of each probe is arranged and a mounting belt 150 fixed to the subject in order to bring the shell part 122 into close contact with the scalp of the subject 10. In addition, a headgear has been proposed in which all probes easily adhere to the scalp and fit in the shape of the head, and a method of fixing using a fixed belt, a headband, or a hat has been proposed. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
As described above, the main purpose of the conventional biological light measurement headgear is to fit the shape of the subject with good fit, and no consideration has been given to a method of determining the position to be worn.
[0006]
However, in order to obtain spatial information on brain activity, it is important to accurately correspond the mounting position of each light irradiation / light detection probe to the brain part actually measured. In general, it is difficult to know the correspondence with the internal structure (brain part) from the appearance of the head, so conventionally, an active part has been examined using a structural image captured by another brain image capturing apparatus. Was. For example, a method has been proposed in which an MRI structure image is captured with a marker indicating a measurement position attached to a subject, and an active site is displayed by associating the marker with the structure image (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0007]
On the other hand, there is EEG measurement among other brain function measurement technologies. An electroencephalogram is a potential change generated by brain activity recorded by an electrode mounted on the scalp. Electrodes are often arranged based on external indices (eyebrows, occipital pole, preauricular point, etc.) of the subject's head by the "10-20 electrode arrangement method" standardized by the International Electroencephalogram Society. In a study examining the cortical site existing under each electrode position, a plurality of subjects show a substantially common correspondence (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2).
[0008]
However, the spatial resolution of the electroencephalogram is generally low, and it is impossible to identify a cortical site that is a source of a signal only from the position of the electrode. On the other hand, in a biological optical measurement device, it is known that a cortical site centered on a midpoint between a light irradiation point and a detection point is a source of a measured signal change. There was no standard method for determining the mounting position of the light detection probe from the external index of the subject.
[0009]
[Non-patent document 1]
Atsushi Maki et al., Medical Physics 22, 1997-2005, (1995)
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-286449 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-198112 [Non-Patent Document 2]
Vernon L. Towel et al., Electroencephalography and clinical Neurophysiology 86, 1-3 (1993)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional biological light measurement headgear has no means for determining the mounting position of the light irradiation / light detection probe as described above. In order to identify a measurement site or an active site, another device such as an MRI or a 3D digitizer is often used, and there has been a problem that it costs money and time.
[0011]
In addition, even if an attempt is made to determine the measurement position according to the external index of the head using the electrode arrangement method in the electroencephalogram, there is no means for accurately measuring the relative distance from the external index. It was difficult to determine a standard measurement position. Similarly, the reproducibility of the mounting position was low even when the same subject was repeatedly mounted.
[0012]
Further, as a difficult point peculiar to living body light measurement, two probes are required for light irradiation and light detection at one measurement point, so that when performing simultaneous measurement at multiple points, it is difficult to finely adjust the distance between the probes. was there.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to measure a living body light having a mechanism for easily and accurately determining a measurement site of a subject and fixing a light irradiation / detection probe without using another device for identifying a measurement position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a biological light measurement technology including a headgear.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a living body light measurement headgear equipped with a means for measuring a relative distance of an object from an external index, thereby enabling accurate measurement of a light irradiation / detection probe without using other devices. Accurate positioning. Further, by providing a means for fixing the light irradiation / detection probe at the measurement position determined by the above means, it is possible to easily mount the light irradiation / detection probe.
[0015]
Hereinafter, configuration examples of the present invention will be listed.
[0016]
(1) The living body light measurement headgear of the present invention includes a light irradiation probe for irradiating light to a subject and a light detection probe for detecting passing light emitted from the light irradiation probe and propagated in the subject. A shell portion having a holding portion for holding, and arranged to connect between a plurality of external indices of the subject, indicating a relative distance between each of the external indices with the plurality of external indices as a reference point A measure member provided with a scale display portion, and the shell portion is configured to be movable on the scale display portion of the measure member.
[0017]
(2) The headgear for measuring biological light according to the present invention is characterized in that the shell portion has at least one passage hole through which the scale display portion of the measuring member can pass through the inside of the shell portion.
[0018]
(3) The headgear for measuring biological light according to the present invention is characterized in that the scale display portion of the measuring member includes an elastic material.
[0019]
(4) The headgear for measuring biological light according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the shell portion, holding portions of the light irradiation probe and holding portions of the light detection probe are alternately arranged.
[0020]
(5) In the headgear for measuring biological light according to the present invention, in the shell part, the holding part of the light irradiation probe and the holding part of the light detection probe are arranged alternately and in a grid on the same face plate. It is characterized by having.
[0021]
(6) The headgear for measuring biological light of the present invention includes a mechanism for integrating the measuring member with the shell portion, and a mechanism for fixing the measuring member at an arbitrary position in accordance with a scale display of the measuring member. It is characterized by the following.
[0022]
(7) The living body light measurement headgear of the present invention is characterized in that the shell portion has a mechanism for changing a distance between a holding portion of the light irradiation probe and a holding portion of the light detection probe. And
[0023]
(8) The headgear for measuring biological light of the present invention is a holding unit that holds a light irradiation probe that irradiates light to a subject, and a light that detects passing light irradiated from the light irradiation probe and propagated in the subject. A holding unit for holding a detection probe, and a scale display that is disposed so as to connect between a plurality of external indices of the subject and indicates a relative distance between the external indices with the plurality of external indices as reference points. And a measuring member having a part, and the holding part of the light irradiation probe and the holding part of the light detection probe are arranged at desired positions on a scale display part of the measuring member, and It is characterized by comprising a mounting mechanism.
[0024]
(9) The living body light measurement device of the present invention includes a light irradiation probe that irradiates light to a subject, and a light detection probe that detects passing light emitted from the light irradiation probe and propagated in the subject. Mounted on a specimen, a part determined by the light irradiation position of the light irradiation probe and the light detection position of the light detection probe is used as a measurement part, and based on a signal detected by the light detection probe, information in the subject is obtained. In the biological optical measurement device configured to measure, the plurality of external indices of the subject are disposed so as to be connected to each other, and the relative distance between each of the external indices is indicated using the plurality of external indices as a reference point. A measuring member provided with a scale display unit, and a light source probe and a light detection probe arranged at desired positions on the scale display unit of the measure member, and a raw member provided with a mechanism capable of being attached to the subject. Characterized by comprising a headgear for optical measurement.
[0025]
(10) The biological light measurement device of the present invention, wherein the light irradiation probes and the light detection probes are arranged alternately and in a lattice, and the light irradiation position of the light irradiation probe and the light detection position of the light detection probe And measuring information in the subject using a substantially midpoint position between the measurement points as a measurement region.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings showing the embodiments of the present invention, components having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description may be omitted.
[0027]
(Example 1)
First, a method of attaching the measure to the subject 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Measures 50, 60, and 70 provided with scales indicating relative distances are mounted using external indices such as the eyebrows 20, the front end 30 of the auricle, and the occipital pole 40 as reference points. Here, the fixed portions 80 and 90 at both ends of the measure 50 are fixed to the eyebrow portion 20 and the occipital pole 40, respectively, and the movable fixed portion 100 that slides on the measure is mounted at the midpoint indicated by the measure 50. The movable fixed part 100 also serves as a fixed part of the measure 60 orthogonal to the measure 50, and a fixed part 110 at one end of the measure 60 is fixed to the left preauricular point 30. Similarly, the other fixed portion (not shown) is also fixed to the right preauricular point.
[0028]
The measure 70 that horizontally connects the eyebrow part 20, the preauricular part 30, and the occipital pole 90 has a movable fixed part 85 on the measure 50 and a movable fixed part 115 on the measure 60 like a measure 75 indicated by a dotted line. Can be used to translate. Therefore, the position can be adjusted according to the scale of the measures 50 and 60. Needless to say, it is possible to use a feature serving as an external index other than the eyebrows and the occipital pole mentioned in the present embodiment, and the method of mounting the measure is not limited to this.
[0029]
Next, a specific function of the measure will be described with reference to FIG. Since the measure used in this embodiment divides the distance from a certain reference point to a certain reference point and indicates the relative position, the scale display section 180 is made of an elastic material and fixed at both ends. A mechanism is provided for fixing the fixtures 190 of the scale display section to the sections 160 and 162.
[0030]
Even if a certain length is measured from an external index, it will not be the measurement position corresponding to the same cortical part for subjects of different sizes, but it will not be measured at the eyebrows, the front end of the pinna, the occipital pole, etc. Since the cortical site corresponding to the target index substantially matches between the subjects, it is possible to determine a common measurement position by using the relative distance based on the external index. For example, if 10 scales are displayed on the measure 50 attached to the occipital pole from the eyebrow, the position of one-tenth between the eyebrow and the occipital pole is identified regardless of the size of the subject. It is possible to measure almost common parts.
[0031]
Since the fixing portions 160 and 162 become reference positions when attached to an external index of the subject, a non-slip material is used for the surface 210 or the like that comes into contact with the skin. In addition, a non-stretchable belt 170 is provided in parallel with the scale display unit so that the position once determined does not shift. Since one fixing portion 160 can slide along the belt 170, the portion 200 protruding outside the fixing portion 160 can be adjusted by pulling, and then fixed so that the fixing portion 160 does not move. It is possible. Thus, the scale display section 180 having elasticity can prevent the fixed sections 160 and 162 from being constantly pulled and the measurement position from being shifted.
[0032]
The movable fixed part 220 can be fixed at an arbitrary position according to the determined scale. This can be, for example, a fixed part of another orthogonal measure, such as the movable fixed part 100 shown in FIG.
[0033]
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of the present embodiment. As described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fixed portions 80, 110, and 90 are respectively attached to the eyebrow portion 20, the front end portion 30 of the auricle, and the occipital pole 40 to serve as reference points, and the measures 50, 60, and 75 are used. Installing. In this embodiment, the measurement shell 120 is mounted so as to slide on the measure 75. Therefore, for example, the measurement site can be determined by adjusting the measurement point 130 on the shell to an arbitrary position in accordance with a scale obtained by equally dividing the head circumference indicated by the measure 75.
[0034]
In the present invention, a shell having a design in which four light detection probes and five light detection probes are arranged in a grid and measures a total of 12 points is illustrated, but the number and arrangement method of each probe is not necessarily the same. A shell of the same design may be mounted symmetrically on the right side of the head, or a shell in which more probes are arranged to cover the entire head may be used. The advantage of using a shell in which the arrangement of the probes is fixed is that the distance between the combined light irradiation / light detection probes can be kept constant, which is effective when it is desired to keep the measurement position in the depth direction constant.
[0035]
In order to fit the shell part 120 to the subject 10 as much as possible, a fixed belt 140 made of an elastic material is used. The length of the fixing belt 140 can be easily adjusted using the adjusting device 145. In the present embodiment, the shell 120 is attached to the measure 75, but the method of attaching the shell is not limited to this. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, it is also possible to measure the relative distance of the subject from the external index, determine the measurement position, and attach an independent measuring tool using only the measure.
[0036]
Next, a mechanism for adjusting the shell portion to the scale of the measure will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In order to fix the shell portion 230 accurately in accordance with the measure, the scale display portion 182 and the non-stretchable belt 172 are provided with a through hole 270 so that they can pass through the inside of the shell portion. On the upper part of the shell part 230, for example, a scale 260 indicating a measurement point substantially at the middle point between the light irradiation probe holding part 250 and the light detection probe holding part 240 is displayed, and a measure passing through the inside of the shell part is displayed. It is possible to match with the scale of. A translucent material is used on the upper part of the shell part 230 so that the scale of the measure inside the shell part can be read.
[0037]
As described above, the shell portion 230 is fixed to the non-stretchable material belt 172 attached to the external index of the subject, the measurement position is determined, and the subject is fixed to the subject using the fixed belt 142 made of the stretchable material. Installing.
[0038]
Further, a shell having a mechanism for changing the distance between the light irradiation and the detection probe will be described with reference to FIG. This is used when the size of the subject differs depending on the individual, and when it is desired to relatively change the distance between light irradiation and detection and adjust the measurement position also in the depth direction. The shell part 280 includes a plurality of probe holders such as a holder 252 for the light irradiation probe and a holder 242 for the light detection probe. Since one light detection probe is combined with multiple light irradiation probes and conversely, one light irradiation probe is combined with multiple light detection probes, the relevant light irradiation-detection probe holders are linked in this example. It changes by the same distance. A groove 290 is provided so that each probe holder can move in a predetermined direction, and by moving the knob 310 of the adjuster 300 provided in the shell, all the light irradiation-detection probe holders are linked.
[0039]
(Example 2)
The method of mounting the measure on the subject 10 in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, and will not be described, and only the features will be described with reference to FIG.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, a method is employed in which a shell for arranging a holder for a light irradiation / light detection probe is not provided, and a holder is provided on a probe holding belt 320 using a measure. The probe holding belt 320 basically has the same mechanism as the measure shown in FIG. 4, and uses a stretchable material and a non-stretchable material together. Using the fixed part 330 slidable on the measures 50, 60, 70 mounted on the basis of the external index and the probe holding part slidable on the probe holding belt 320, easily determine each probe position, that is, a measurement point. And can be fixed.
[0041]
The feature of the present embodiment is that each probe is fixed without using the shell part fixing the probe holding part. Since a shell portion to which the probe holding portion is fixed is not used, more flexible positioning and a change in irradiation-detection distance can be performed. Therefore, unlike the first embodiment in which all the probe holders are interlocked in the 12-point measurement shell, in this embodiment, the distance between light irradiation and detection can be changed independently for a plurality of measurement points. I can do it. If the size of the subject is different, there is a high possibility that the depth of the cortical site to be measured is different depending on the difference, and this mechanism is useful. Depending on the range of the measurement position, a different light irradiation-detection distance may be used for the same subject. At this time, the distance between each probe can be easily adjusted by using the probe holding belt as in the present embodiment.
[0042]
Further, the distance between the light irradiation probe holding unit and the light detection probe holding unit may be adjusted using a different shell for each measurement point, or a different light irradiation-detection distance may be set even on one shell. In particular, when simultaneously measuring the entire head, a plurality of measurement points are often determined, and it is important to change the distance between light irradiation and detection for each measurement point.
[0043]
Although FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which only the left front part of the subject's head is measured, the whole may be covered by a similar method. Further, the number of light irradiation / light detection probes may be changed according to the size of the subject's head.
[0044]
As described in detail in the above embodiment, according to the headgear for measuring biological light of the present invention, a measurement site of a subject is easily and accurately determined based on an external index of the subject, and light irradiation / light detection is performed. The shell part having the probe or the probe holding part itself can be fixed. If the relative position is determined with reference to the eyebrows, occipital pole, etc., the approximate cortical site can be identified, so that it is not necessary to use another structural image photographing technique such as MRI as in the related art.
[0045]
In addition, the light irradiation / detection probe and the shell part use a belt made of a non-stretchable material and a belt made of a stretchable material together to prevent deviation from the determined mounting position and simultaneously to the subject. It becomes possible to wear it with a good fit.
[0046]
Further, since a mechanism for changing the distance between a plurality of arranged light irradiation / detection probes simultaneously or independently is provided, the distance between light irradiation / light detection can be easily changed according to the size of the subject. .
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, with respect to the fixed headgear of the light irradiation / detection probe used in the biological optical measurement device, the measurement site of the subject is accurately and easily determined without using another device for identifying the measurement position, A biological light measurement headgear to which a light irradiation / detection probe can be attached can be realized, and a biological light measurement technology using the same can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the overall configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional method of mounting a headgear for measuring biological light.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of mounting a measure for measuring a relative distance from an external index to a subject in the first and second embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed function of a measure for measuring a relative distance from an external index in the first and second embodiments.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a mechanism in which the shell portion is aligned with the scale of the measure and attached to the subject in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism of a shell unit that commonly changes the distance between all light irradiation / light detection probes in the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 subject, 20 eyebrows, 30 auricle, 40 occipital pole, 50 major, 60 major, 70 major, 75 major, 80 fixed major, 85 fixed major, 90: Measure fixed part, 95: Measure fixed part, 100: Measure fixed part, 110: Measure fixed part, 115: Measure fixed part, 120: Shell part, 130: Measurement point, 140: Fixed belt having elasticity, 145 ... Fixing belt length adjusting device, 160 ... Measure fixing part, 162 ... Measure fixing part, 170 ... Fixed belt made of non-stretchable material, 172 ... Fixed belt made of non-stretchable material, 180 ... Telescopic Scale display unit having elasticity, 182: Scale display unit having elasticity, 190: Fixture of scale display unit, 200: Length adjustment part of fixed belt, 210: Non-slip element Reference numeral 220, a movable fixed portion, 230, a shell portion, 240, a holding portion of a light detection probe, 242, a holding portion of a light detection probe, 250, a holding portion of a light detection probe, 252, a holding portion of a light detection probe, 260: scale indicating measurement points, 270: passage hole of the measure, 280: shell part, 290: groove for moving the probe holding part, 300: adjusting device for inter-probe distance, 310: adjusting knob, 320: probe holding belt, 330: Probe holding belt fixing part.

Claims (10)

A shell part including a holding part for holding a light irradiation probe for irradiating the subject with light, and a light detection probe for detecting passing light emitted from the light irradiation probe and propagating in the subject; A measure member provided with a scale display unit that is disposed so as to connect a plurality of external indices of the sample and that indicates a relative distance between the external indices with the plurality of external indices as a reference point, The headgear for biological light measurement, wherein the shell portion is configured to be movable on a scale display portion of the measuring member. The living body light measurement headgear according to claim 1, wherein the shell part has at least one through hole through which a scale display part of the measure member can pass through the inside of the shell part. 2. The living body light measurement headgear according to claim 1, wherein the scale display section of the measure member includes a stretchable material. The living body light measurement headgear according to claim 1, wherein the shell portion is configured such that holding portions of the light irradiation probe and holding portions of the light detection probe are alternately arranged. The living body light according to claim 1, wherein the shell portion is configured such that holding portions of the light irradiation probe and holding portions of the light detection probe are alternately arranged in a grid on the same face plate. Measurement headgear. The living body light measurement according to claim 1, further comprising: a mechanism for integrating the measure member with the shell portion; and a mechanism for fixing the measure member at an arbitrary position in accordance with a scale display of the measure member. For headgear. 2. The living body light measurement headgear according to claim 1, wherein the shell portion includes a mechanism for changing a distance between a holding portion of the light irradiation probe and a holding portion of the light detection probe. A holding unit that holds a light irradiation probe that irradiates the subject with light, a holding unit that holds a light detection probe that detects passing light emitted from the light irradiation probe and propagated in the subject, A measure member provided with a scale display unit that is arranged to connect between the plurality of external indices and indicates a relative distance between the external indices with the plurality of external indices as a reference point, and A living body comprising a mechanism for arranging the holder for the light irradiation probe and the holder for the light detection probe at desired positions on a scale display unit of the measuring member, and attaching the holder to the subject. Headgear for optical measurement. A light irradiation probe that irradiates light to the subject, and a light detection probe that detects light passing through the inside of the subject that is irradiated from the light irradiation probe and mounted on the subject, the light irradiation probe A biological light measurement device configured to measure information in a subject based on a signal detected by the light detection probe, with a portion determined by a light irradiation position and a light detection position of the light detection probe as a measurement portion, A measuring member disposed to connect a plurality of external indices of the subject, the measuring member including a scale display unit indicating a relative distance between the external indices with the plurality of external indices as a reference point; An irradiation probe and the light detection probe are arranged at desired positions on a scale display section of the measuring member, and have a biological light measurement headgear having a mechanism that can be attached to the subject. Living body light measuring device according to claim and. The light irradiation probe and the light detection probe are arranged alternately and in a grid,
10. The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein the information in the subject is measured by using a substantially middle point between the light irradiation position of the light irradiation probe and the light detection position of the light detection probe as a measurement part. Biological light measurement device.

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