JP2006102187A - Biological information measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a biological information measuring device capable of continuously measuring blood pressure, especially measuring the blood pressure in an auris externa region. <P>SOLUTION: This biological information measuring device is worn in a recess of a subject, and the subject is pressed from inside of the recess with an end of a base material by deforming the base material in such a way that both ends of the base material are apart from each other. The pulse waves in the pressed region are detected by a light emitting element and a light receiving element disposed in the end of the base material, and the pressure to press the region is measured so that the blood pressure can be measured. As the biological information measuring device can be worn in the auricle or an external acoustic meatus both with many recesses, the biological information measuring device can continuously measure the blood pressure by putting the biological information measuring device in the auris externa region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological information measuring apparatus that measures biological information using scattered light obtained by scattering light irradiated on a subject.

  With the aging of society, dealing with adult lifestyle-related diseases has become a major social issue. It is recognized that long-term blood pressure data collection is very important, especially for diseases related to high blood pressure. From this point of view, various biological information measuring devices including blood pressure have been developed.

  A conventional technique for measuring biological information with an external ear includes a patient monitor device that is inserted into the external auditory canal or another part in the external ear and is always worn (for example, see Patent Document 1). This apparatus calculates pulse, pulse wave, electrocardiogram, body temperature, arterial oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and the like from the amount of received infrared light and visible light scattered into the subject. However, this apparatus does not specify a specific method for measuring blood pressure.

  On the other hand, regarding blood pressure measurement, blood pressure measurement devices based on pulsation waveforms of blood vessels are influential along with other methods such as cuff vibration method and volume compensation method (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). It is recognized as a method for measuring blood pressure.

In the present application, the names of the auricles are based on Non-Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4. The front side of the pinna refers to the surface of the pinna with the external auditory canal, and the back side of the pinna refers to the surface of the pinna without the external auditory canal.
JP-A-9-128203 Kenichi Yamakoshi, Tatsuo Togawa: “Biological Sensors and Measurement Devices”, MM Japan Society / ME Textbook Series A-1, pages 39-52 Sobotta Illustrated Human Anatomy Volume 1 (Translation by Michio Okamoto), p. 126, Medical School, issued October 1, 1996 Sobotta Illustrated Human Anatomy Volume 1 (Translation by Michio Okamoto), p. 127, Medical School, issued October 1, 1996 Body map book (supervised and commentary by Nagao Takahashi), p. 20, Kodansha Co., Ltd., issued on January 29, 2004

  In the above conventional example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-128203, a specific method for measuring blood pressure is not clearly described, and there is a problem that blood pressure cannot be measured.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in the prior art and provide a biological information measuring device that enables continuous measurement of blood pressure.

  In particular, an object is to enable blood pressure measurement with a pressing means suitable for the outer ear.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a biological information measuring apparatus according to the present invention is mounted in a depression of a subject and deformed so as to keep both ends of the support away from each other. Press from the inside. The blood pressure can be measured by detecting the pulse wave of the pressed portion and measuring the pressing pressure. Since it can be attached to the pinna with many depressions and the external auditory canal, it is possible to provide a biological information measuring device that continuously measures blood pressure.

  Specifically, the biological information measuring apparatus according to the present invention includes a rod-like support body in which the distance between one end portion and the other end portion expands and contracts, and light emission that emits light from one end portion of the support body. An element, and a light receiving element that receives the scattered light scattered by the light emitted from the light emitting element at the one end.

  If the pressure to be pressed is varied by adjusting the expansion and contraction, and the pulse wave is detected by the light emitting element and the light receiving element provided at the end, the blood pressure can be measured by obtaining pressure information from the pressure sensor provided elsewhere.

  The support is preferably a curved rod.

  Since the support is curved, it can be mounted even if there is a convex portion in the recessed portion to be mounted. Since the shape of the auricle varies depending on the subject, it is possible to cope with the variety.

  It is preferable that the distance between the one end portion and the other end portion expands and contracts by changing the bending amount of the support that curves.

  By using a support that bends and presses the subject, the support can be configured by one structure. This makes it possible to increase the strength of the support.

  The support has an expansion / contraction portion that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the support, and the distance between the one end and the other end increases in the longitudinal direction of the support by the expansion and contraction of the expansion / contraction portion. It is preferable to expand and contract.

  When the support body has an expansion / contraction portion that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the support body, the inner wall of the depression can be pressed by the support body. As a result, the blood pressure can be measured by mounting in the depression of the subject.

  The stretchable part is preferably disposed in the middle of the support.

  By arranging the stretchable part in the middle of the support, biological information can be measured at both ends of the support. Moreover, the noise of the biometric information measured at the end can be reduced.

  The stretchable part is preferably disposed at an end of the support.

  When the stretchable part can be deformed into an arbitrary shape, the subject is stably pressed when the support is extended by disposing the stretchable part at at least one of the ends of the support. be able to.

  It is preferable that the expansion / contraction part expands and contracts by air pressure.

  The expansion / contraction part expands and contracts by air pressure, so that the safety of the subject is maintained by the compression of air even when an excessive pressure is applied. In addition, electrical noise can be reduced by the expansion and contraction section expanding and contracting using air pressure as a power source. Further, the pressure of the subject can be measured by the air pressure of the expansion / contraction part via the air supply pipe.

  The expansion / contraction part is preferably expanded and contracted by an actuator.

  When the expansion / contraction part expands and contracts by the actuator, an air supply pipe is not required, and the power source can be easily supplied.

  It is preferable that the support has a bending / extending part that bends and stretches, and the distance between the one end and the other end is expanded and contracted by the bending / extending of the bending / extending part.

  By having the bending / extending part where the support body bends and stretches, the inner wall of the depression can be pressed by the support body even if the depression has a convex part. As a result, the blood pressure can be measured by mounting in the depression of the subject.

  The bending / extending part is preferably arranged in the middle of the support.

  Biological information can be measured at both ends of the support by arranging the bending / extending part in the middle of the support. Moreover, the noise of the biometric information measured at the end can be reduced.

  The bending / extending part is preferably bent / extended by air pressure.

  The bending / extending part bends and stretches by air pressure, so that the safety of the subject is maintained by the compression of air even when an excessive pressure is applied. The bending / stretching portion bends and stretches using air pressure as a power source, so that electrical noise can be reduced. Further, the pressure of the subject can be measured by the air pressure of the bending / extension part via the air supply pipe.

  The bending portion is preferably bent and stretched by an actuator.

  When the bending / extending part is bent / stretched by the actuator, the air supply pipe is not required, and the power source can be easily supplied.

  The light emitting element and the light receiving element may be provided at the other end of the support.

  Since the light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided at both ends of the support, an optimum light emitting element and light receiving element pair can be selected, so that the measurement accuracy can be improved.

  It is preferable to further have a fixing mechanism for fixing to the outer ear.

  The fixing mechanism for fixing to the outer ear makes it possible to perform measurement at the same part of the depressions in the same part of the outer ear even when the attachment / detachment is performed. Furthermore, even if it is always worn, it can be made difficult to come off, so that the accuracy of blood pressure measurement can be improved.

  According to the present invention, since the blood pressure is measured by pressing from the inside of the depression of the subject, it is possible to provide a biological information measuring device that is mounted on the outer ear and continuously measures the blood pressure.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of the configuration of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an embodiment of a biological information measurement device. The biological information measuring device includes a rod-like support 11 in which the distance between one end 61a and the other end 61b expands and contracts, a light emitting element 41 that emits light from one end 61a of the support 11, and light emission. A light receiving element 45 that receives the scattered light scattered by the light emitted from the element 41 at one end 61a. The support 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a stretchable part 62 that stretches in the longitudinal direction A1 of the support 11 and support parts 21 a and 21 b that are connected to the stretchable part 62 on both sides of the stretchable part 62.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which the end portion 61a of the support 11 and the end portion 61b of the support 11 are mounted so as to be sandwiched between the inner wall 101a of the depression 102 and the inner wall 101b of the depression 102. The support body 11 expands the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b away from each other, thereby increasing the pressure for pressing the inner wall 101a and the inner wall 101b with the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b. The support body 11 reduces the pressure which presses the inner wall 101a and the inner wall 101b by the edge part 61a and the edge part 61b by reducing the edge part 61a and the edge part 61b. The biological information measuring device measures the blood pressure from the inner wall 101a by detecting the pulse wave of the portion 101a pressed by the support 11 using the light emitting element 41 and the light receiving element 45 and measuring the pressure pressing the inner wall 101a. can do.

  The light emitting element 41 and the light receiving element 45 are disposed at the end 61a, but may be provided also at the end 61b of the support 11. Since the light emitting element 41 and the light receiving element 45 are provided at both ends of the support 11, an optimal pair of light emitting element and light receiving element can be selected, so that blood pressure measurement accuracy can be improved.

  The support body 11 shown in FIG. 1 is the 1st form of a support body, and is a rod-shaped body which the distance of one edge part 61a and the other edge part 61b expands / contracts. The shape and mechanism of the support 11 are not limited. For example, the support body 11 has an expansion / contraction part 62 that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the support body 11, and the distance between one end 61 a and the other end 61 b increases as the expansion / contraction part 62 expands and contracts. It may expand and contract in the longitudinal direction A1. In addition, in FIG. 1, the expansion-contraction part 62 is only one place, However, Two or more places may be sufficient.

  The expansion / contraction part 62 includes what expands and contracts by air pressure. A mechanism similar to an air cuff can be exemplified as one that expands and contracts by air pressure. The air cuff has a mechanism for pressing the measurement site by increasing or decreasing the air pressure inside the hollow body. When a mechanism similar to the air cuff is used, the air pressure inside the hollow body becomes the pressure pressing the subject, and therefore the pressure inside the hollow body measuring the pressure of the subject pressed by the support 11 is measured. Can be measured. The expansion / contraction part expands and contracts by air pressure, so that the safety of the subject is maintained by the compression of air even when an excessive pressure is applied. In addition, electrical noise can be reduced by the expansion and contraction section expanding and contracting using air pressure as a power source. Further, the pressure of the subject can be measured by the air pressure of the expansion / contraction part via the air supply pipe. The substance that presses the inside of the hollow body may be air, for example, oil or gel.

  Moreover, the expansion / contraction part 62 may be expanded and contracted by an actuator. Examples of the actuator include a conductive polymer, a piezoelectric polymer, a shape memory alloy, and a shape memory polymer. The actuator preferably has an expansion / contraction amount that varies depending on an applied voltage. When such an actuator is used, the pressure at which the support 11 presses the inner walls 101a and 101b can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the actuator. When an actuator is used, an air supply pipe is unnecessary, and the power source can be easily supplied. Moreover, it becomes possible to reduce the vibration at the time of the expansion-contraction part 62 expanding and contracting.

  In addition, it is preferable that the expansion-contraction part 62 can control the pressure which presses a subject by the amount of expansion / contraction. Moreover, the position where the expansion-contraction part 62 is arrange | positioned is not limited. For example, the stretchable part 62 may be arranged in the middle of the support 11. If the expansion / contraction part 62 is arrange | positioned in the middle of the support body 11, both edge parts 61a and 61b of the support body 11 can be utilized for measuring biological information, such as a blood pressure. Moreover, the noise of the biological information measured by the edge part 61a or 61b of the support body 11 can be reduced. Further, the stretchable part 62 may be disposed at the end 61 a or 61 b of the support 11. If the expansion / contraction part 62 can be deformed into an arbitrary shape, the end part contacting the inner walls 101a and 101b by disposing the expansion / contraction part 62 on at least one of the end parts 61a and 61b of the support 11 Since the area of 61a or 61b can be increased, the support 11 can stably press the subject.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second form of the support. The support 12 shown in FIG. 2 has a bending / extending part 63 that bends and stretches, and the distance between one end 61a and the other end 61b expands / contracts due to the bending / extending of the bending / extending part 63 in the direction A2 and the direction A3. The support 12 includes a support portion 22 and actuators 32 a and 32 b that cause the support portion 22 to bend and stretch with a bending and stretching portion 63. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b of the support 12 are sandwiched between the inner wall 101a and the inner wall 101b of the hollow 102 of the subject, as in FIG. The support body 12 is bent when the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b move in the direction A2, and the distance between the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b is reduced. The support body 12 becomes close to a straight line when the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b move in the direction A3, and the distance between the end portion 61a and the end portion 61b extends. As a result, the pressure pressing the inner walls 101a and 101b is reduced when the distance between the end portions 61a and 61b is reduced, and the inner walls 101a and 101b are reduced when the distance between the end portions 61a and 61b is extended. The pressing pressure can be increased.

  In FIG. 2, only a part of the support 12 is bent and stretched, but the distance between the one end 61 a and the other end 61 b expands and contracts by changing the amount of bending of the support 12. It may be a thing. By using the support 12 that bends and presses the subject, the support 12 can be configured by one structure. Thereby, the strength of the support 12 can be increased. The shape and mechanism of the support 12 are not limited to those shown in FIG.

  The bending / extending portion 63 includes one that bends and stretches by an actuator. Examples of the actuator include a conductive polymer, a piezoelectric polymer, a shape memory alloy, and a shape memory polymer. The actuator preferably has an expansion / contraction amount that varies depending on an applied voltage. When such an actuator is used, the pressure at which the support 12 presses the inner walls 101a and 101b can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the actuator. When the actuator is used, the power source can be easily supplied. Moreover, it becomes possible to reduce the vibration at the time of bending / extending / extending part 63. An air supply pipe is unnecessary, and the power source can be easily supplied. When the bending / bending portion is bent / stretched by the actuator, the power source can be easily supplied.

  Further, the bending / extending part 63 may be bent / extended by air pressure. As for the bending / extending part 63 to bend and stretch by air pressure, hollow bodies having different expansion / contraction amounts in the direction A2 and the direction A3 can be used. For example, when the hollow body is contracted, it is in a bent state, and the side surface on the direction A2 side expands more than the side surface on the direction A3 side by increasing the internal pressure of the hollow body. it can. If the bending / extending part 63 is a structure that bends and stretches by air pressure, the bending / extending part 63 can be made a flexible structure. Therefore, even when excessive pressure is applied to the inner wall 101a or the inner wall 101b, the safety of the subject is ensured. Can do. The bending / extending part 63 expands and contracts using air pressure as a power source, so that electrical noise can be reduced. Further, the pressure of the subject can be measured by the air pressure of the bending / extension part via the air supply pipe.

  In addition, it is preferable that the bending / extending part 63 can control the pressure which presses a subject by the amount of bending / extending. Moreover, the position where the bending / extending part 63 is arranged is not limited. For example, the bending / extending part 63 may be disposed in the middle of the support 12. Since the bending / extending part 63 is arranged in the middle of the support body 12, biological information can be measured at both ends 61 a and 61 b of the support body 12. Moreover, the noise of the biological information measured by the edge parts 61a and 61b can be reduced.

  The shapes of the supports 11 and 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are not limited. For example, the supports 11 and 12 may be curved. Since the support is curved, the subject can be pressed at the end of the support even if the recess 102 has a convex portion. Since the shape of the pinna varies depending on the subject, it is easy to attach the pinna to the pinna by making the pinna compatible.

  In addition, the shape of the rod-shaped bodies of the supports 11 and 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be a cylindrical body. By eliminating the corners, the feel when worn can be improved. Various detectors for measuring biological information may be mounted on the support, and the support can be shaped according to what is mounted. Moreover, the material of the support bodies 11 and 12 is not limited, For example, metals, such as gold | metal | money, silver, stainless steel, resin, leather, wood, rubber | gum, and silicon can be illustrated. Furthermore, since there is a possibility of directly touching the subject, the surface is preferably flexible. For example, fibers, leather, resin, or rubber may be disposed on the surface.

  The light emitting element 41 in FIG. 1 emits light, and characteristics such as wavelength, amplitude, and phase of the emitted light are not limited. For example, the light emitting element 41 may emit light having characteristics that are scattered by the blood vessels of the subject. Further, it may emit light scattered by a fluid such as hemoglobin flowing inside the blood vessel of the measurement site. For the light emitting element 41, for example, an edge emitting laser or a surface emitting laser can be used. By using an edge-emitting laser or a surface-emitting laser, a light-emitting element with low power consumption can be obtained. Moreover, LED may be sufficient.

  The light receiving element 45 receives scattered light from the subject 101 due to the light emitted from the light emitting element 41. For example, a photo diode such as a silicon photo diode, a photoconductive element such as CdS, a photo tube, a position sensor, a CCD, a MOS and the like are included. The characteristics such as the wavelength, amplitude, and phase of the received light are not limited. Further, the light receiving element 45 may be capable of measuring a pulse wave.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the biological information measuring device. A biological information measuring device 91 shown in FIG. 3 further includes a fixing mechanism 82 that fixes the biological information measuring device 81 described in FIG. The fixing mechanism 82 is an example of a semicircular annular body that can be fixed around the auricle 103. The fixing mechanism 82 is not limited. For example, the fixing mechanism 82 may sandwich the auricle 103. As described above, the biological information measuring device 81 described with reference to FIG. 1 further includes the fixing mechanism 82 to the auricle 103, so that even if the biological information measuring device 81 is attached or detached, the same indentation in the same part of the outer ear 103 is further added. It becomes possible to measure at the site. Thereby, the accuracy of blood pressure measurement can be improved. Furthermore, even if it is always worn, it can be made difficult to come off.

  As described above, the biological information measuring device according to the present invention measures blood pressure by pressing from the inside of the subject's depression, so that it can be mounted on the outer ear to measure blood pressure. Therefore, it is possible to provide a biological information measuring device that continuously measures blood pressure.

  The biological information measuring device of the present invention can be applied as a biological information measuring device that continuously measures pulse, blood pressure, blood flow, etc. depending on the type of measuring biological information, so that it can be used not only for medical purposes but also for health management or beauty purposes. It can also be applied to applications.

It is a mimetic diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a living body information measuring device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 2nd form of a support body. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other form of a biological information measuring device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 12 Support body 21a, 21b, 22 Support part 62 Expansion / contraction part 32a, 32b Actuator 41 Light emitting element 45 Light receiving element 63 Bending / extending part 82 Fixing mechanism to outer ear 83, 91 Biological information measuring device 101 Subject 101a, 101b Inner wall of depression 102 Indentation of subject A1, A2, A3 direction

Claims (14)

A rod-like support body in which the distance between one end and the other end expands and contracts;
A light emitting element that emits light from one end of the support;
A biological information measuring device comprising: a light receiving element that receives scattered light scattered by light emitted from the light emitting element at the one end.   The biological information measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support has a curved bar shape.   The living body information measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the one end and the other end is expanded and contracted by a change in the amount of bending of the support.   The support has an expansion / contraction portion that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the support, and the distance between the one end and the other end increases in the longitudinal direction of the support by the expansion and contraction of the expansion / contraction portion. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the biological information measuring device extends and contracts.   The biological information measuring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the expansion / contraction part is disposed in the middle of the support.   The living body information measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the stretchable part is disposed at an end of the support.   The biological information measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the expansion / contraction part expands and contracts by air pressure.   The biological information measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the expansion / contraction part is expanded and contracted by an actuator.   The living body according to claim 1, wherein the support has a bending / extending part that bends and stretches, and the distance between the one end and the other end is expanded and contracted by the bending / extending of the bending / extending part. Information measuring device.   The biological information measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the bending / extending part is disposed in the middle of the support.   The biological information measuring apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the bending / extending part is bent / extended by air pressure.   The biological information measuring apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the bending / extending part is bent / extended by an actuator.   The biological information measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element and the light receiving element are also provided at the other end of the support. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing mechanism for fixing to the outer ear.

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