JP2006102249A - Blood pressure index measuring device, blood pressure index measuring method, control program and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a blood pressure index measuring device for indicating a blood pressure index to be used for evaluation of the degree of stenosis of a blood vessel. <P>SOLUTION: The blood pressure index measuring device computes the blood pressure index expressing the state of the blood vessel and indicates the blood pressure index. The blood pressure index measuring device is characterized by a first blood pressure measuring means for measuring a first blood pressure value with an auris externa and the periphery thereof as the measured region, a second blood pressure measuring means for measuring a second blood pressure value with a region (the upper arm region) other than the head as the measured region, a blood pressure index computing means for computing the blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values, and a blood pressure index indicating means for indicating the blood pressure index. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention measures a head-related blood pressure index (a ratio between a blood pressure value at the head and a blood pressure value outside the head, or a ratio between a blood pressure value at a part of the head and a blood pressure value at the other part of the head). The present invention relates to a blood pressure index measuring apparatus and method.

  Conventionally, the ratio of the blood pressure value in the lower limb to the blood pressure value in the upper limb is obtained, and this ratio is used to evaluate the possibility of arterial occlusion disease or arterial stenosis. That is, when there is an arterial occlusion disease or arterial stenosis, the lower limb blood pressure value of the living body becomes lower than the upper limb blood pressure value corresponding to the lower limb blood pressure value (for example, the lower limb systolic pressure corresponds to the upper limb systolic pressure). . Conversely, if the lower limb blood pressure value is higher than the upper limb blood pressure value by a predetermined value or more, there is a possibility of aortic regurgitation or aortitis syndrome confined to the aortic arch. Utilizing this fact, an arterial disease is evaluated based on a ratio between a lower limb blood pressure value and an upper limb blood pressure value.

The ratio between the lower limb blood pressure value and the upper limb blood pressure value is referred to as the lower limb upper limb blood pressure index. An apparatus for measuring this index is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
JP 2003-230542 A

  However, the lower limb upper limb blood pressure index measuring device described in Patent Document 1 literally measures the blood pressure in the lower limb and the blood pressure in the upper limb to obtain an index, and based on the index, a disease in a blood vessel between the lower limb and the upper limb is possible. Only sex can be evaluated.

  Therefore, in patent document 1, the possibility of the disease in the blood vessels other than between the lower limbs and the upper limbs cannot be evaluated. In particular, the vascular disease between the head and a part other than the head is remarkable.

  Moreover, in the index measuring apparatus of Patent Document 1, the cuff must be worn on both the lower limb and the upper limb, and the degree of invasiveness to the measurement subject is very high. Therefore, the measurement subject is very uncomfortable during the measurement. I have to think.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an index (head-related blood pressure index or head stenosis) for evaluating the possibility of a disease in a blood vessel connected from the trunk to the head or a blood vessel in the head. The present invention provides a blood pressure index measuring apparatus capable of measuring an index).

  The present invention also provides a blood pressure index measurement device that does not make the subject to feel uncomfortable during blood pressure measurement.

  In order to achieve the above object, a blood pressure measurement device according to the present invention is a blood pressure index measurement device that calculates and presents a blood pressure index indicating the state of a blood vessel, and a first blood pressure value with a part of the head as a measurement site. Blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values, first blood pressure measuring means for measuring blood pressure, second blood pressure measuring means for measuring a second blood pressure value using a part other than the head as a measurement part, Blood pressure index calculating means for calculating the blood pressure index, and blood pressure index presenting means for presenting the blood pressure index.

  A part of the head is the outer ear and its peripheral part (the outer ear and its surroundings). The outer ear and its peripheral part include the external auditory canal and / or pinna, tragus and / or its peripheral part, or superficial temporal artery or its branch blood vessel.

  The blood pressure index presenting means displays the blood pressure index on a display unit.

  A blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to the present invention is a blood pressure index measuring apparatus that calculates and presents a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel, and uses a part of the head as a first measurement site to obtain a first blood pressure value. A first blood pressure measuring means for measuring; a second blood pressure measuring means for measuring a second blood pressure value using a part of the head different from the first measuring part as a second measuring part; The blood pressure index calculating means for calculating the blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values, and the blood pressure index presenting means for presenting the blood pressure index are provided.

  The first and second measurement sites are the outer ears of the left and right ears and their peripheral parts, respectively.

  A blood pressure index measurement method according to the present invention is a blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel, wherein a first blood pressure value is measured using a part of the head as a measurement site. A blood pressure measurement step, a second blood pressure measurement step for measuring a second blood pressure value using a region other than the head as a measurement region, and a blood pressure index calculation for calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values And a blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index.

  The blood pressure index measurement method according to the present invention is a blood pressure index measurement method that calculates and presents a blood pressure index indicating a blood vessel state, and uses a part of the head as a first measurement site to obtain a first blood pressure value. A first blood pressure measurement step for measuring; a second blood pressure measurement step for measuring a second blood pressure value using a part of the head different from the first measurement site as a second measurement site; And a blood pressure index calculating step for calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values, and a blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index.

  A control program according to the present invention is a control program for executing a blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel, wherein the first blood pressure is measured using a part of the head as a measurement site. Program code for executing a first blood pressure measurement process for measuring a value, and program code for executing a second blood pressure measurement process for measuring a second blood pressure value using a part other than the head as a measurement part , A program code for executing a blood pressure index calculating step for calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values, and a program code for executing a blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index; It is characterized by providing.

  A control program according to the present invention is a control program for executing a blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel, wherein a part of the head is used as a first measurement site. A program code for executing a first blood pressure measurement step for measuring a first blood pressure value, and a second blood pressure value using a part of the head different from the first measurement site as a second measurement site Program code for executing a second blood pressure measuring step for measuring, program code for executing a blood pressure index calculating step for calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values, and the blood pressure index And a program code for executing a blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index.

  Furthermore, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing this control program.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the blood pressure index measurement apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to measure an index for evaluating the possibility of a disease in a blood vessel connected from the trunk to the head or a blood vessel in the head, and it is uncomfortable for the subject. The blood pressure index can be measured by taking a blood pressure measurement (head related) without thinking.

  The present embodiment relates to a blood pressure index measuring apparatus that measures blood pressure at two locations of the body of a subject and calculates a blood pressure index indicating the degree of arterial stenosis based on the blood pressure. That is, one wears a cuff on the outer ear and its surroundings (including a part of the superficial temporal artery or its branch and a part of the ear canal) and measures blood pressure related to the blood vessels in the outer ear and its surroundings. . In the other method, a cuff is attached to a part other than the head, for example, the upper arm (upper limb), wrist, ankle (lower limb), and the like, and blood pressure related to blood vessels in the part is measured. Then, a blood pressure index indicating the degree of arterial stenosis is calculated based on the obtained different types of blood pressure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Auricular structure>
In order to realize the blood pressure index measurement according to the present embodiment, a blood pressure measurement function is required, but as described above, one blood pressure is related to the outer ear and blood vessels in the periphery thereof. Therefore, the outer ear and its peripheral part are worn with the cuff for blood pressure measurement. The outer ear and its peripheral part include the tragus and its peripheral part, and the outer ear is a concept that also includes the external auditory canal and the pinna. First, the structure of the pinna will be clarified.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing names of respective parts of the auricle (ear). In FIG. 1, 121 is a tragus, 122 is an antitragus, 123 is a concha, 124 is an antipod, 125 is an earring, and 126 is an antipodal.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of cuffs 1 to be described later are mounted so as to sandwich the tragus 121 and cover the tragus 121 and its peripheral part. As described above, this peripheral portion includes at least a portion of the superficial temporal artery 128 or a branch vessel thereof and a portion of the ear canal.

<Circuit configuration of blood pressure index measurement device>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the blood pressure index measurement device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 30 denotes a detection unit attached to the outer ear and its peripheral part (the tragus and / or its peripheral part). The detection unit 30 includes the cuff 1 (1a and 1b), and measures the blood pressure in the outer ear periphery so as to be able to compress the blood vessels (arterioles) in the outer ear and its periphery (the tragus and / or its periphery). The part is preferably fixed to the tragus. Reference numeral 2 denotes a rubber tube (air tube) which forms a flow path of air into the cuff 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressure pump that feeds pressurized air into the cuff 1. 4 is a rapid discharge valve, which rapidly reduces the pressure in the cuff 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a fine exhaust valve that reduces the pressure in the cuff 1 at a constant speed (for example, 2 to 3 mmHg / sec). Reference numeral 6 denotes a pressure sensor, which changes an electrical parameter according to the pressure in the cuff 1. A pressure detection amplifier (AMP) 7 detects an electrical parameter of the pressure sensor 6, converts it into an electrical signal, amplifies it, and outputs an analog cuff pressure signal P.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a pulse wave sensor installed in the cuff 1, which includes an LED 8a that irradiates light to a pulsating vascular blood flow, and a phototransistor 8b that detects reflected light from the vascular blood flow (FIG. 4). A pulse wave detection amplifier (AMP) 9 amplifies the output signal of the phototransistor 8b and outputs an analog pulse wave signal M. Here, the LED 8a is connected to a light amount control unit 18 that automatically changes the light amount, and the pulse wave detection amplifier 9 includes a gain control unit 19a that automatically changes the gain and a pulse wave detection filter / amplifier 9. A time constant control unit 19b that changes the time constants of the filter amplifiers 91 and 92 described later is connected. An A / D converter (A / D) 10 converts the analog signals M and P into digital data D.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a control unit (CPU) which performs main control of the present photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer. The CPU 11 has an adjustment pressure register 11a that stores the adjustment pressure. Details of this control will be described later with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The blood pressure index measurement operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a ROM which stores, for example, the control programs shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10 executed by the CPU 11. A RAM 13 includes a data memory, an image memory, and the like. A liquid crystal display (LCD) 14 displays the contents of the image memory. Reference numeral 16 denotes a keyboard which can be used to set a measurement start command, an adjustment pressure value, and the like by a user operation. A buzzer 15 informs the user that the device has sensed that the key in the keyboard 16 has been pressed, the measurement has been completed, and the like. In this example, the adjustment pressure register 11 a is provided in the CPU 11, but an adjustment pressure storage unit may be provided in the RAM 13.

  On the other hand, the other measurement part different from the ear part (outer ear and its peripheral part) is an upper arm part (upper limb) 20 as shown in FIG. In the present invention, the measurement site is not limited to the upper arm, but may be any part other than the head, such as a wrist, a finger, or an ankle.

  In FIG. 2, the cuff 21 attached to the upper arm portion 20 of the measurement subject is controlled to be pressurized / depressurized by the pressure pump 24 via the switching valve 23. That is, when the start of blood pressure measurement is instructed, the cuff 21 is pressurized to a predetermined pressure (180 to 200 mmHg) by the pressure pump 24. The switching valve 23 at that time is in a closed state. The pressurization / depressurization control by the pressure pump 24 at the time of measuring the blood pressure index should be synchronized with the pressurization / depressurization control by the pressure pump 3 for blood pressure measurement at the ear as much as possible. That is, since the blood pressure is affected by physiological factors, the blood pressure measurements at the two locations may be made simultaneously or as little as possible in time. Therefore, setting the speed of pressurization by the pump and the speed of pressure reduction by the pressure reducing valve to the same value in the pressure pumps 3 and 24 is an effective method for more accurate measurement, but is an essential requirement. Absent.

  A pressure sensor 22 detects the pressure in the cuff 21 and supplies a pressure signal representing the pressure to the pulse wave discrimination circuit 25. The pulse wave discriminating circuit 25 includes a band-pass filter, discriminates a pulse wave signal that is a vibration component of the pressure signal in terms of frequency, and supplies the pulse wave signal to the brachial blood pressure determination unit 26.

  The upper arm blood pressure value determination unit 26 is a well-known oscillometric method based on the change in the amplitude of the pulse wave represented by the pulse wave signals sequentially collected in the process of gradually decreasing the cuff 21 wound around the upper arm 20. Is used to determine the maximum blood pressure value, the minimum blood pressure value, and the average blood pressure value. In addition to the oscillometric method, the blood pressure detection method may use a photoelectric pulse wave method in the same manner as the Korotkoff sound method and the ear.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer of the embodiment. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 17 denotes a sphygmomanometer body, which includes a configuration excluding the cuff 1 and the pulse wave sensor 8 of FIG. Here, the rubber tube 2 includes a signal line (not shown) with the pulse wave sensor 8 and is connected to the cuff 1 and the pulse wave sensor 8 (not shown). The display panel 14 of the LCD uses a dot matrix type display panel, and therefore can display a variety of information (for example, characters, figures, signal waveforms, etc.). Reference numeral 20 denotes a power switch, and the keyboard 16 has a measurement start switch (ST) and a numeric keypad for inputting a cuff pressure value and the like.

<A state where the detection unit 30 is mounted on the tragus>
FIG. 3 shows a state in which the detection unit 30 is mounted on the tragus 121 and its peripheral part. A holding frame 40 that clamps the tragus 121 with the pressing force of the arms 38 and 39, cuffs 1a and 1b that are arranged inside the arms 38 and 39 to change the pressure applied to the tragus 121, and supply pressurized air to the cuff The light pipe 43 is arranged near the cuff 1, and the light emitting element 8 a that irradiates light to the tragus 121 and the light receiving element 8 b that receives the light reflected by the blood vessels (arterioles).

<Operation of photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer>
Next, the operation of the photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer according to this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the measurement processing procedure of the photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer of this embodiment.

  When the apparatus is turned on by the power switch 20, a self-initial diagnosis process (not shown) is first performed to initialize the apparatus. Thereafter, the process is started by pressing the measurement start switch ST.

  In step S101, the cuff pressure P is read, and in step S102, it is determined whether or not the residual pressure of the cuff 1 is within a specified value. If the residual pressure exceeds the specified value, “residual pressure error” is displayed on the LCD 14 in step S123. If the residual pressure is within the specified value, a cuff pressure value (for example, a value larger than the maximum blood pressure value of 120 to 210 mmHg) is set using the keyboard 16 in step S103, and the light amount and gain are set to predetermined values in step S104. Set to.

  When the setting of the pressurization value and the light quantity / gain is completed, the quick exhaust valve 4 and the fine exhaust valve 5 are closed in steps S105 and S106. In step S107, driving of the pressure pump 3 is started and pressurization (pressure increase) is started. This is the start of the measurement process during pressurization, and the cuff pressure starts increasing at a constant speed (for example, 2 to 3 mmHg / sec). During this time, data processing by each functional block is performed in step S108, and the measurement of the minimum blood pressure and the maximum blood pressure is performed. When the maximum blood pressure is measured (S109), the pressurizing pump 3 is stopped in step S112. In step S110, it is determined whether or not the cuff pressure is higher than the pressure value U set in S103. If P> U, it is still in the normal measurement range and measurement is continued. On the other hand, when P> U, the cuff pressure is already higher than the set value, so “measurement error” is displayed on the LCD 14 in step S111. If necessary, detailed information such as “signal abnormality during pressurization” is additionally displayed. In step S113, it is determined whether or not the signal level of the pulse wave signal obtained at the time of pressurization is within a predetermined level range for enabling high-precision blood pressure measurement. If it is determined that it is within the predetermined range, the measured maximum blood pressure value and minimum blood pressure value are displayed on the LCD 14 in step S120, and a tone signal is sent to the buzzer 15 in step S121. If it is determined in step S113 that it is not within the predetermined range, the light amount and gain are adjusted based on the signal level of the pulse wave signal in step S114.

  When the adjustment of the light quantity / gain is completed, the fine exhaust valve 5 is opened in step S115. This is the start of the measurement process at the time of pressure reduction (pressure reduction), and the cuff pressure starts to decrease at a constant speed (for example, 2 to 3 mmHg / sec). During this time, data processing by each functional block is performed in step S116, and the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure are measured. In step S117, it is determined whether or not a minimum blood pressure value is detected during decompression. If not detected, continue measurement. In step S118, it is determined whether or not the cuff pressure is lower than a predetermined value L (for example, 40 mmHg). If P <L, it is still in the normal measurement range, and the flow returns to step S116. On the other hand, when P <L, the cuff pressure is already lower than the normal measurement range, so “measurement error” is displayed on the LCD 14 in step S119. If necessary, display detailed information such as “signal anomaly during decompression”.

  When the measurement is completed in the determination in step S117, the measurement process is completed in the normal measurement range, and the maximum blood pressure value and the minimum blood pressure value measured on the LCD 14 are displayed in step S120, and the tone signal is displayed to the buzzer 15 in step S121. Send. Preferably, different tone signals are sent after normal termination and abnormal termination. In step S122, the remaining air of the cuff 1 is quickly exhausted and the next measurement start is awaited.

<Blood pressure calculation operation>
FIG. 8 shows a graph (schematic diagram) of the cuff pressure and the pulse wave signal in the time from the start of measurement during pressurization (step S108) to the end of measurement during depressurization (step S116). The blood pressure measurement is generally performed as follows for the graph of FIG. That is, in the measurement at the time of pressurization, the cuff pressure at the point (a) at which the change in the magnitude of the pulse wave signal has started is set as the minimum blood pressure, and the cuff pressure at the time point (b) when the pulse wave signal disappears is set as the maximum blood pressure. On the other hand, the blood pressure measurement at the time of decompression is opposite to the blood pressure measurement at the time of pressurization, and the cuff pressure at the present time (c) when the pulse wave signal is output is the maximum blood pressure, and the change in the magnitude of the pulse wave signal is eliminated (d). The cuff pressure is the minimum blood pressure.

<Detailed operation of device light quantity and gain adjustment>
FIG. 7 shows a detailed flowchart of the light amount and gain adjustment shown in step S114 of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 shows a circuit example for realizing the light amount and gain adjustment.

  First, at the time of light quantity and gain adjustment, the time constants of the pulse wave filter amplifiers 91 and 92 are halved by turning on SW1 to SW2 in FIG. In this state, the carrier level is detected in step S52, and it is checked in step S53 whether the pulse wave carrier is within the standard value (20 to 40% of the full scale of the A / D converter 10).

  If it is equal to or smaller than the standard value, the process proceeds to step S54 to check whether or not the light amount is maximum. If not, the light amount controller 18 is controlled in step S56 to increase the light amount. If the amount of light is maximum, the gain is increased by controlling the feedback of the amplifier 90 in step S55. After the process of step S55 or S56, the process returns to step S52 to repeat the carrier wave check again.

  On the other hand, if the carrier level is greater than or equal to the standard value in step S53, it is checked in step S57 whether or not the gain is minimum. If not, the gain is controlled by controlling the feedback of the amplifier 90 by the gain controller 19a in step S59. Lower. If it is the minimum, the light amount is decreased in step S58. When the process of step S58 or S59 ends, the process returns to step S52 and the carrier wave level is checked again.

  If the carrier level is within the standard value in step S53, SW1 to SW2 are opened in step S60, the time constants of the pulse wave filter amplifiers 91 to 92 are restored, and the pulse wave gain is adjusted by the amplifier 93 in step S61. And return.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which reflected light from blood in a blood vessel is detected has been described, but transmitted light may be detected instead.

  As described above, the photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer according to the present embodiment makes it possible to adjust the signal level so that the signal level of the pulse wave signal is within a predetermined standard range, and at the same time enables highly accurate measurement, By making it possible to shorten the blood pressure measurement time, it is possible to provide a photoelectric volumetric pulse wave sphygmomanometer that can reduce the physical burden on the user due to the cuff pressure. In addition, since the tragus and its peripheral part are insensitive to pain, there is also an effect that pain due to cuff pressure can be reduced, and this also has an effect that it can be easily applied to continuous measurement of blood pressure. .

  The blood pressure measurement device described above detects a pulse wave using a light emitting element and a light receiving element, but includes a cuff that compresses pressure on the tragus, and captures pulsation due to blood vessels on the surface of the living body as a pressure change. Therefore, the pulse wave can be detected. That is, a pulsation obtained from a living body is converted into a change in pressure in the cuff by a cuff to which pressure is applied, and a pressure change in the cuff is detected by a pressure detection device. Even with such a configuration, a pulse wave of a living body can be detected. In addition, a small microphone is installed in the cuff part in contact with the living body, Korotkoff sound generated when a part of the living body is compressed with the cuff is detected, and blood pressure is measured based on the occurrence or disappearance of the Korotkoff sound above a predetermined level You may make it do.

<Blood pressure index measurement operation>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the blood pressure index measurement operation in the blood pressure index measurement apparatus of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, the blood pressure of the upper arm is measured in step S201. In step S202, the blood pressure in the outer ear and its surroundings is measured. Although these blood pressure measurements are represented in separate steps here, it is physiologically desirable to perform them simultaneously as described above.

  In step S <b> 203, it is determined whether the two types of measured blood pressure are appropriately measured. That is, if an error or the like occurs in at least one of the blood pressure measurements and it is determined that the blood pressure index is not suitable, two types of blood pressure measurements are performed again from the beginning. This is because the blood pressure index indicates the degree of arterial stenosis, so that it is as reliable as possible.

  In step S204, a blood pressure index is calculated from the obtained two types of blood pressure values. The arithmetic expression is as follows.

EBI (Ear Brachial Index) = Earth peak blood pressure value / Upper arm maximum blood pressure value (Formula 1)
This index can be used to diagnose stenosis or occlusion due to atherosclerosis, but as arteriosclerosis progresses, a thick deposit is deposited on the inner wall of the blood vessel, the lumen becomes narrower, and blood flow This is based on the principle that the blood pressure decreases from the narrowed part.

  In step S205, the calculated blood pressure index is displayed on the LCD 14. A measurer such as a doctor who sees this can evaluate the degree of stenosis of the blood vessel.

  In particular, it is known that the tragus and its surrounding blood vessels (arterioles) are close to the blood vessels in the brain, and it is thought that changes in blood pressure originating in the brain can be measured. Therefore, when the EBI is calculated based on the blood pressure value of the blood vessel (arteriole) on the back side of the tragus, the degree of stenosis of the intracerebral blood vessel can be evaluated.

  On the other hand, in addition to blood vessels (arterioles) present in the cartilage portion (mainly tragus) of the ear, an artery (superficial temporal artery) directly connected to the heart is also located in the vicinity of the tragus. Therefore, the blood pressure derived from the heart can be measured in the peripheral part of the tragus, and in this case, the degree of stenosis in the blood vessel from the heart to the head can be evaluated.

<Other embodiments>
In the above-described embodiment, the blood pressure index measurement apparatus using the ear part (part of the head) and the upper arm part (other than the head) as the measurement site has been described. The ear part and the left ear part may be used as the measurement site.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, two detection units 30a and 30b are provided for the left and right ears, and blood pressures of blood vessels related to the left and right ears are measured, thereby calculating a blood pressure index.

  In particular, by measuring the blood pressure in the left and right superficial temporal arteries and their branch vessels, the degree of stenosis of the two left and right arteries from the carotid artery to the brain can be evaluated.

  Further, if blood pressure is measured using the blood vessels (arterioles) on the back side of the left and right tragus as a measurement site, it can be evaluated which of the blood vessels derived from the right brain and the left brain is stenotic. When stenosis occurs in both the right and left blood vessels, it may be difficult to evaluate the degree of stenosis of blood vessels in the blood pressure index because it may indicate a normal value. In such a case, if the blood pressure value itself is also evaluated, or if the blood pressure index when one measurement site is the upper arm is also used as the evaluation index, a more appropriate degree of stenosis can be evaluated.

  In the present invention, a storage medium in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the embodiments is recorded is provided to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. It is also achieved by reading and executing the program code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM Etc. can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code Includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU of the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above embodiments is distributed via a network, so that it can be stored in a storage means such as a hard disk or memory of a system or apparatus or a storage medium such as a CD-RW or CD-R. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) stored in the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage means or the storage medium.

It is a figure which shows the structure of an auricle. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the blood-pressure index measuring apparatus of this embodiment. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of a configuration of a detection unit 30. FIG. It is a figure explaining the sensor operation | movement in a cuff based on a photoelectric volume pulse wave system. It is an external appearance perspective view of a blood-pressure index measuring apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the blood-pressure measurement operation | movement by a photoelectric volume pulse wave system. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the signal level adjustment operation | movement by a photoelectric volume pulse wave system. It is a graph (schematic diagram) of a cuff pressure and a pulse wave signal when blood pressure is measured by the photoelectric volume pulse wave method. It is a block diagram of the circuit which performs the blood pressure measurement operation | movement by a photoelectric volume pulse wave system. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a blood pressure index measurement operation. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the blood-pressure index measuring apparatus which concerns on another embodiment provided with two detection parts with which the ear | edge part on either side is mounted | worn.

Claims (27)

A blood pressure index measuring device that calculates and presents a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel,
First blood pressure measuring means for measuring a first blood pressure value using a part of the head as a measurement site;
Second blood pressure measuring means for measuring a second blood pressure value using a part other than the head as a measurement part;
Blood pressure index calculating means for calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values;
Blood pressure index presenting means for presenting the blood pressure index;
A blood pressure index measuring apparatus comprising:   The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the head is an outer ear and a peripheral part thereof.   The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are an external auditory canal and / or an auricle.   The blood pressure index measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are tragus and / or its peripheral part.   The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part include a superficial temporal artery or a branched blood vessel thereof.   6. The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blood pressure index presenting unit displays the blood pressure index on a display unit. A blood pressure index measuring device that calculates and presents a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel,
First blood pressure measuring means for measuring a first blood pressure value using a part of the head as a first measurement site;
Second blood pressure measurement means for measuring a second blood pressure value using a part of the head different from the first measurement site as a second measurement site;
Blood pressure index calculating means for calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values;
Blood pressure index presenting means for presenting the blood pressure index;
A blood pressure index measuring apparatus comprising:   8. The blood pressure index measurement apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second measurement sites are the outer ears of the left and right ears and their peripheral parts, respectively.   9. The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are an external auditory canal and / or an auricle.   The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are tragus and / or its peripheral part.   The blood pressure index measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part include a superficial temporal artery or a branched blood vessel thereof.   The blood pressure index measuring device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the blood pressure index presenting means displays the blood pressure index on a display unit. A blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel,
A first blood pressure measurement step of measuring a first blood pressure value using a part of the head as a measurement site;
A second blood pressure measurement step of measuring a second blood pressure value using a part other than the head as a measurement part;
A blood pressure index calculating step of calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values;
A blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index;
A blood pressure index measurement method comprising:   The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 13, wherein a part of the head is an outer ear and a peripheral part thereof.   The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 14, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are an external auditory canal and / or an auricle.   The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 14, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are tragus and / or its peripheral part.   15. The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 14, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part include a superficial temporal artery or a branched blood vessel thereof.   The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 13, wherein the blood pressure index presenting step displays the blood pressure index on a display unit. A blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel,
A first blood pressure measurement step for measuring a first blood pressure value using a part of the head as a first measurement site;
A second blood pressure measurement step of measuring a second blood pressure value using a part of the head different from the first measurement site as a second measurement site;
A blood pressure index calculating step of calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values;
A blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index;
A blood pressure index measurement method comprising:   20. The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 19, wherein the first and second measurement sites are the outer ears of the left and right ears and their peripheral parts, respectively.   21. The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 20, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are an external auditory canal and / or an auricle.   21. The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 20, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part are tragus and / or its peripheral part.   21. The blood pressure index measurement method according to claim 20, wherein the outer ear and its peripheral part include a superficial temporal artery or a branched blood vessel thereof.   The blood pressure index measurement method according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the blood pressure index presenting step displays the blood pressure index on a display unit. A control program for executing a blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel,
A program code for executing a first blood pressure measurement step of measuring a first blood pressure value using a part of the head as a measurement site;
A program code for executing a second blood pressure measurement step of measuring a second blood pressure value using a part other than the head as a measurement part;
A program code for executing a blood pressure index calculation step of calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values;
A program code for executing the blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index;
A control program comprising: A control program for executing a blood pressure index measurement method for calculating and presenting a blood pressure index indicating a state of a blood vessel,
A program code for executing a first blood pressure measurement step of measuring a first blood pressure value using a part of the head as a first measurement site;
A program code for executing a second blood pressure measurement step of measuring a second blood pressure value using a part of the head different from the first measurement site as a second measurement site;
A program code for executing a blood pressure index calculation step of calculating a blood pressure index based on the first and second blood pressure values;
A program code for executing the blood pressure index presenting step for presenting the blood pressure index;
A control program comprising: 27. A computer-readable storage medium storing the control program according to claim 25 or 26.

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