JP2007014566A - Blood pressure measurement apparatus and blood pressure management apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a blood pressure measurement apparatus and a blood pressure management apparatus which store blood pressure so that the blood pressure corresponds especially to the external temperature near the concha. <P>SOLUTION: The blood pressure measurement apparatus comprises a blood pressure measuring means including a cuff arranged in an appropriate position of the concha, a temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the external auditory canal near the cuff and/or the external temperature near the concha, a clock means for actuating the temperature measuring means and the blood pressure measuring means successively at predetermined time intervals, and a memory means for storing the blood pressure value measured by the blood pressure measuring means so that the blood pressure value corresponds to the temperature of the external auditory canal or the external temperature near the concha measured by the temperature measuring means. The blood pressure management apparatus communicates with the blood pressure measurement apparatus by wire or by radio, and stores the trend of the blood pressure values by corresponding the blood pressure values to the temperatures of the external auditory canal or the external temperature near the concha. The blood pressure management apparatus extracts and displays a blood pressure value retrieved on the basis of retrieval conditions containing the temperature of the external auditory canal or the external temperature near the concha as one of the conditions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a blood pressure measurement device and a blood pressure management device, and more particularly to an ear blood pressure measurement device and a blood pressure management device that store blood pressure in association with an outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle.

In order to pressurize the cuff appropriately according to changes in the outside air temperature, an electronic sphygmomanometer has been proposed that consists of a cuff that is wrapped around the upper arm, etc., an electronic circuit, an operation unit, a display unit, and a main body with a temperature sensor (Patent) Literature 1: JP-A-1-232932). There has also been proposed a finger blood pressure measurement device that stores blood pressure in association with outside air temperature and blood pressure (Patent Document 2: JP-A-3-231629).
JP-A-1-232932 JP-A-3-231629

  However, the former has a problem that it is difficult to continuously measure and store the blood pressure value and the outside air temperature in association with each other. In the latter case, it is necessary to remove the cuff one by one when using a finger, and it is not possible to continuously measure and store the blood pressure value and the outside air temperature in any state. For these reasons, there has been a demand for a sphygmomanometer capable of measuring and storing blood pressure in association with an ambient temperature such as room temperature, even in an activity state similar to daytime, and without disturbing sleep at night. In addition, a sphygmomanometer that can measure and store blood pressure in association with the outside air temperature in early morning jogging, walking, etc. has been desired.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is not to give a sense of burden to the subject, and does not disturb sleep at night, such as room temperature. To provide a blood pressure measurement device and a blood pressure management device capable of measuring and storing blood pressure in association with the ambient temperature.

In order to achieve the above object, a blood pressure measurement device according to the present invention includes a blood pressure measurement means including a cuff attached to an appropriate location of the auricle, and a temperature measurement that measures the external auditory canal temperature near the cuff and / or the outside air temperature near the auricle. Means, a clock means for continuously driving the temperature measuring means and the blood pressure measuring means at predetermined time intervals, and the ear canal temperature near the cuff measured by the temperature measuring means and / or the blood pressure value measured by the blood pressure measuring means and / or And storage means for storing the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the pinna in association with each other. A blood pressure management device that communicates with the blood pressure measurement device in a wired or wireless manner and correlates the ear canal temperature or the outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle to trend-store a blood pressure value, and The extracted blood pressure value is displayed based on a search condition including temperature as one condition. This blood pressure value display mode is characterized in that at least one of list display, dot display, and trend display, or any combination thereof, is characterized by trend display.

  According to the blood pressure measurement device of the present invention, even when the outside temperature changes, the blood pressure (maximum blood pressure value, minimum value) is correlated with the temperature measured by the temperature measurement means attached to the ear pinna even when the outside air temperature changes. Blood pressure value) can be measured and stored. In addition, according to the blood pressure management device used in the blood pressure measurement device of the present invention, blood pressure (maximum blood pressure value, minimum blood pressure value) can be measured and stored in association with the room temperature from midnight to early morning or the temperature in the toilet. This makes it easier to determine nighttime persistent hypertension and early morning hypertension.

  A blood pressure measurement device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the outside air temperature reflects the environmental temperature for the measurer, for example, indoor temperature, room temperature, toilet temperature, bathroom temperature, and the like. In addition, outside temperature is outside.

<Example>
Hereinafter, first, features of the blood pressure measurement device according to the present embodiment will be briefly described. The probe part including the cuff of the blood pressure measurement device according to the present embodiment is attached to the outer ear and its surroundings (peripheral part), but particularly to the superficial temporal artery and / or tragus and its peripheral part. Here, the names of the auricles 20 (so-called ears) will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 21 is a tragus, 22 is an antitragus, 23 is an auricle, 24 is an annulus, 25 is an annulus, 26 is an annulus, 27 is a concha cavity, and 28 is a shallow temporal artery.

[Features of blood pressure monitor]
Here, the difference in pain between the case where it is used in this embodiment as a blood pressure measurement site and the case where an upper arm or a finger is used as in the past will be described. Since the upper arm, wrist, and finger perform complex tasks as important parts of the body, many nerves are stretched around these blood vessels so that these tasks can be performed. On the other hand, the tragus which is a part of the pinna is fixed to the head and used for collecting sound. For this reason, since it is not used for complicated work like the upper arm and the finger, the amount of nerves in the vicinity thereof is smaller than the amount of nerve in the upper arm and fingers. Therefore, when measuring blood pressure using the outer ear and its surroundings (preferably the tragus and / or the superficial temporal artery), the amount of nerves that are compressed during blood pressure measurement is small, so the upper arm, wrist, and finger are the measurement sites. Compared to blood pressure measurement, it has the advantage that pain during blood pressure measurement can be reduced. However, since the tragus is a small part of the auricle as shown in FIG. 2, if the small blood pressure measuring unit cannot be fixed securely and stably around the outer ear and its periphery, the probe unit (blood pressure detecting unit) ) Moves during measurement and blood pressure cannot be measured accurately. Therefore, in the blood pressure measurement device according to the present embodiment, a structure including a probe part (blood pressure detection part), an ear hook-shaped support body, and a main body as shown in FIG. And / or its surroundings). As a result, the blood pressure in the outer ear and its surroundings (preferably the tragus and / or its surroundings) can be measured easily and stably over a long period of time while reducing the pain given to the subject.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a blood pressure measurement device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The blood pressure measurement device 100 includes a probe unit (blood pressure detection unit) 30, an ear hook-shaped support body 40, and a main body 50. The probe unit 30 is attached to the superficial temporal artery 28 and / or tragus 21 via the cuffs 31 and 32, and the main body 50 is accommodated in the breast pocket of the subject, for example.

  The ear hook-shaped support body 40 includes an ear hook portion 41 that is a hollow pipe having a predetermined rigidity, and a connecting portion 42 that is a flexible tube, and the probe portion 30 and the main body 50 are connected to the tip of the connecting portion 42. The part 42a and the main body 50 are connected via a connecting hole part 42b. Inside the ear hook 41, there are an air pipe 43 for pressurized air supplied from the main body 50 to the probe section 30, and a detection signal and a temperature measuring section (temperature sensing section including a thermistor) from the power and probe section 30 to the main body 50. ) Is fixed so as not to move, and the probe unit 30 can be mounted even if the air pipe 43 or the signal line 44 moves when the subject operates the main body 50. The air pipe 43 is held so as not to shift.

  The ear hook 41 is, for example, a hollow pipe made of a metal such as aluminum, a shape memory alloy, or various resins, and is processed into a shape similar to the pinna so as to be easily attached to the pinna as shown in FIG. It has a structure that goes around the base of the auricle to the back of the earring and is fixed. In this way, the ear hook 41 is made of metal or hard resin, and by making the shape similar to the auricle, flexibility can be given to a portion to be hooked on the ear, so the ear hook 41 is hung on the ear. Can be firmly fixed to the ear when In order to make it easier to fix the ear hook portion 41 to the ear, the ear hook portion 41 may be provided with a spring structure so that the ear hook portion 41 can be easily hooked to the ear and can be firmly fixed by the ear. Further, the connecting portion 42 connected to the ear hook portion 41 has the structure shown in FIG. 1, but is a flexible tube made of a soft resin material compared to the ear hook portion 41 and having flexibility. For example, even when the subject operates the main body 50 by removing it from the chest pocket, the connecting portion 42 is deformed following the movement of the main body, so the ear hook 41 is firmly fixed to the auricle and does not move.

  When the probe unit 30 is fixed to the tragus 21, the probe frame 30 is arranged on the inner side of the holding frame 46 and the arms 38 and 39 that clamp the tragus 21 with the pressing force of the arms 38 and 39, and changes the pressure applied to the tragus 21. Cuff 31, 32, air pipe 43 that supplies pressurized air to cuff 31, 32, O-ring that fixes cuff 31, 32, light emitting element 35 that is arranged near cuff and irradiates tragus 21, capillary And a light receiving element 36 that receives light reflected by the blood vessel. The light receiving element 36 may be opposed to receive the transmitted light. When the probe unit 30 is fixed to the superficial temporal artery 28, the number of cuffs is one, and the arm unit and the holding frame are not necessary. In this case, in order to more securely fix the probe unit 30 to the superficial temporal artery 28, it is preferable to provide a member that is inserted into the concha cavity 27 and pressed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the entire control configuration of the blood pressure measurement device 100 including the probe unit 30 and the main body 50. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a probe portion, and 43 denotes an air pipe, which forms a flow path of pressurized air into the cuffs 31 and 32. Reference numeral 53 a denotes a pressurizing unit (pressurizing pump) that feeds pressurized air into the cuffs 31 and 32. A pressure reducing valve (exhaust valve) 54a exhausts the pressure in the cuffs 31 and 32 at a predetermined speed (for example, 2 to 3 mmHg / sec). Moreover, you may provide the quick exhaust valve which reduces the pressure in the cuffs 31 and 32 rapidly. Reference numeral 56 denotes a pressure detection unit, which includes a pressure sensor, a pressure detection amplifier (AMP), an A / D converter (A / D), etc. that change electrical parameters according to the pressure in the cuffs 31 and 32, and is an analog type. A cuff pressure signal P is output.

  The light emitting element 35 and the light receiving element 36 in the probe unit 30 are pulse wave sensors installed in the cuff 32. The light emitting element (LED, laser, etc.) 35 irradiates light to the pulsating arterial blood flow and the arterial blood flow. And a light receiving element (such as a phototransistor) 36 for detecting reflected light. In addition, it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions the light receiving element 36 in the cuff 31, and detects the transmitted light which the light irradiated by the light emitting element 35 permeate | transmits the inside of a tragus. Reference numeral 59 denotes a received light signal detector, which includes a pulse wave detection amplifier (AMP) that amplifies the output signal of the light receiving element 36 and outputs an analog pulse wave signal M (intravascular volume change signal).

Here, a light emission control unit 350 that automatically changes the light amount is connected to the light emitting element 35, while the light reception signal detection unit 59 includes a gain control unit that automatically changes the gain, a pulse wave detection filter and an amplifier. A time constant control unit that changes the time constant of the filter amplifier to be configured, an A / D converter (A / D), and the like, convert the analog signals M and P into digital data D.

  A control unit (CPU) 61 performs main control of the entire system of the blood pressure measurement device 100. A ROM that stores a control program executed by the CPU 61, and a RAM that includes a data memory, an image memory, and the like are also included. Reference numeral 64 denotes a liquid crystal display (LCD) which displays blood pressure values (maximum blood pressure, minimum blood pressure, pulse, outside air temperature, contents of image memory, etc.) 66 is an operation panel (keyboard), and includes a power switch 62, start / A stop switch 63, an event switch 65, and the like are provided.

[Operation when measuring blood pressure]
Next, an operation at the time of blood pressure measurement by the blood pressure measurement device 100 having the above-described configuration will be described. The control unit 61 instructs to pressurize the cuff 31 and / or the cuff 32 through the pipe 43 by driving the pressurizing unit (pressurizing pump) 53 a via the pressurizing control unit 53. The pressure detection unit (pressure sensor) 56 measures the pressure of the cuff 31 and / or the cuff 32 and transmits the measurement result to the control unit 61 through the signal line 44.

The control unit 61 controls the pressurization unit 53 a so that the pressure of the cuff 31 and / or the cuff 32 measured by the pressure detection unit 56 matches the pressure indicated by the control unit 61. The control unit 61 transmits a signal to the light emission control unit 350, and the light emission control unit 350 causes the light emitting element (LED, laser light, etc.) 35 to have a predetermined intensity (a part of the auricle, for example, a shallow temporal region). Light is emitted to arteries, tragus, etc. This irradiated light is absorbed by the hemoglobin of the capillary in the superficial temporal artery or trabeculae, and when the light receiving element 36 receives the reflected light, the received light is converted into an electrical signal, and a signal is sent to the received light signal detection unit 59. Transmit through line 44. The light receiving element 36 may be provided at a position facing the light emitting element 35. In this case, the light receiving element 36 is absorbed and transmitted by the hemoglobin of the superficial temporal artery or the arteriole in the tragus.

[Principle of blood pressure measurement]
Next, an example of the principle of blood pressure measurement using the blood pressure measurement device 100 will be briefly described. In blood pressure measurement, first, the cuff 31 and / or the cuff 32 are pressurized by the pressurizing unit 53a to stop the blood flow of the superficial temporal artery 28 (see FIG. 2) or the capillaries in the tragus, and then the pressure reducing valve 54a. To gradually reduce the pressure. This decompression process is indicated as the pressure P of the cuff 31 and / or the cuff 32, and the pressure P of the cuff 31 and / or the cuff 32 decreases with the passage of time.

  A systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure) and a diastolic blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure) are calculated based on the value of the pulsation waveform and the cuff pressure in the decompression process. Such blood pressure measurement is performed, for example, continuously (intermittently) for 24 hours or more at predetermined time intervals (15 minute intervals). The calculated systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure) and diastolic blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure) are detected by the temperature measuring unit 72a, and the ear canal temperature or the outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle calculated by the temperature calculating unit 72, the measurement date and time, Stored in the memory unit 68. The stored systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure), diastolic blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure), ear canal temperature or outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle is transmitted to the blood pressure management device (personal computer) 200 via the external communication unit 74. These data are downloaded to the memory 208. It is also possible to send these data together with personal ID data to the hospital site and the attending doctor's site via the Internet or the like so that they can be managed, and feedback to each individual may be fed back. In addition, the maximum blood pressure (systolic blood pressure) and the minimum blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure) calculated by a hospital LAN or the like in a hospital or the like are detected by the temperature measurement unit 72a and the ear canal temperature calculated by the temperature calculation unit 72 or Along with the outside air temperature near the auricle and the measurement date and time, it is stored in the memory unit 68. The stored systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure), diastolic blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure), ear canal temperature or outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle is stored in a blood pressure management device (such as a nurse center) via the external communication unit 74 (PC ) 200 and may be managed.

  In this blood pressure measurement device 100, a small blood pressure measurement unit is attached to an appropriate location (superficial temporal artery or tragus) of the auricle, and blood pressure in the outer ear and its surroundings (superficial temporal artery or tragus) can be easily and accurately measured. Can be measured. 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.

  Next, retrieval and display of blood pressure data in the blood pressure management apparatus (personal computer) 200 in a home, a hospital, a hospital site, an attending physician site, etc. will be described. 201 is a CPU (control unit) including a program for controlling the entire system of the sphygmomanometer management apparatus 200, 202 is an input unit, 204 is a display unit, 207 is an external communication unit, and 208 is a memory. In the display unit 204 of the sphygmomanometer management apparatus 200, a selection screen is selected, and a search screen as shown in FIG. Thereafter, a search item is selected (input), search conditions are input using the input unit 202, and a search method is selected (input).

In Fig. 4 (b), the search conditions are (1) outside air temperature, (2) systolic blood pressure, (3) measurement date and time, and (4) measurement time. 150 mmHg or more, the measurement date and time is from January 1, 2005 to February 28, 2005, the measurement time is from midnight to 6:00 in the early morning, and the search logical expression is 1 * 2 (ie, “outside temperature Is 10 ° C. or lower ”and“ maximum blood pressure is 150 mmHg or higher ”).
On the display screen of FIG. 4 (b), the search is executed when the cursor is placed on the search execution and clicked, and the systolic blood pressure values that satisfy the conditions are displayed in a list as shown in FIG. 4 (c).

  As described above, according to the blood pressure measurement device of the present embodiment, when going outside, the blood pressure is correlated with the temperature measured by the temperature measuring means attached to the ear pinna even when the outside air temperature changes. (Maximum blood pressure value, minimum blood pressure value) can be measured and stored. In addition, according to the blood pressure management device used in the blood pressure measurement device of the present invention, blood pressure (maximum blood pressure value, minimum blood pressure value) can be measured and stored in association with the room temperature from midnight to early morning or the temperature in the toilet. This makes it easier to determine nighttime persistent hypertension and early morning hypertension. In addition, this invention is not restricted to an Example, A change and application are possible suitably.

It is a figure which shows the whole system of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the name of an auricle. It is a block diagram which shows the blood pressure measuring device of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a search and a display of the blood-pressure management apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Blood pressure monitor 21 Tragus 30 Blood pressure detection part 31 Cuff 32 Cuff 35 Light emitting element 36 Light receiving element 38 Arm 39 Arm 40 Ear hook-shaped support body 41 Ear hook part 42 Connection part 50 Main body

Claims (3)

A blood pressure measuring means including a cuff attached to an appropriate position of the auricle, a temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the external auditory canal near the cuff and / or the outside air temperature near the auricle, and the temperature measuring means and the blood pressure measuring means for a predetermined time. The clock means that is continuously driven at intervals and the blood pressure value measured by the blood pressure measuring means are stored in association with the ear canal temperature near the cuff or the outside air temperature near the auricle measured by the temperature measuring means. A blood pressure measuring device comprising storage means for   A blood pressure management apparatus that performs wired or wireless communication with the blood pressure measurement device according to claim 1, and associates the ear canal temperature and / or the outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle with a trend storage of a blood pressure value, wherein the ear canal temperature or A blood pressure management apparatus that displays an extracted blood pressure value based on a search condition including an outside air temperature in the vicinity of the auricle as one condition. A blood pressure management apparatus characterized in that the display mode of blood pressure values is at least one of list display, dot display, and trend display, or any combination thereof, and displays the trend together.

Images