JP2008307318A - Probe device for organismic light measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a probe device for an organismic light measuring device reducing a pain of a subject when he or she wears the device. <P>SOLUTION: A holder 1 is mounted with some probes 2. Each probe 2 has a socket 3 and an optical fiber 4 held by the socket 3. The tip part 4a of each optical fiber 4 protrudes from the socket 3 in order to attach directly to a subject. A rubber pad 6 is mounted on the tip part 4a of the optical fiber 4 of at least a probe 2. An optical fiber inserting hole 6a is made at the center of the pad 6 for inserting the tip part 4a of the optical fiber 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a probe device of a biological light measurement device that is mounted on a subject, irradiates the subject with light, and detects light returning from the subject.

  In a conventional probe device of a biological light measurement device, a fixing member is inserted and attached to a hole of a probe holder. The distal end portion of the optical fiber for irradiation or light reception is held on the fixing member. The tip of the optical fiber protrudes from the fixing member and comes into contact with the surface of the subject (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-97590

  In the conventional probe device as described above, the tip surface of the optical fiber is polished, and when the probe holder is attached to the subject, the tip surface of the optical fiber is pressed against the subject by the spring, so that the inspection problem is reduced. In some cases, such as when measuring the amount of change in hemoglobin concentration, the subject may feel pain when the probe holder is worn for a long time.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a probe device for a biological optical measurement device that can reduce pain of a subject when worn.

  The probe device of the biological optical measurement device according to the present invention has a plurality of socket mounting holes, a holder to be mounted on the subject, a socket inserted into the socket mounting hole, and held by the socket, and the tip portion is A plurality of probes each having an optical fiber protruding from the socket and brought into contact with the subject, and an optical fiber insertion hole into which the tip of the optical fiber is inserted, and the tip of the optical fiber of at least one probe At least one pad attached to the part.

  In the probe device of the biological optical measurement device according to the present invention, since the pad is attached to the tip of the optical fiber of at least one probe, the pressure on the subject is dispersed, and the pain of the subject at the time of wearing can be reduced. it can.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a probe device of a biological light measurement device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the probe device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the probe device of FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the probe device of FIG.

  The holder 1 is attached to the head of the subject. The holder 1 is provided with a plurality of socket mounting holes 1a (only one is shown in the figure). The socket mounting holes 1a are arranged in a matrix at a predetermined pitch (for example, 15 mm or 30 mm).

  A plurality of probes 2 are attached to the holder 1. Each probe 2 has a socket 3 inserted into the socket mounting hole 1a, an optical fiber 4 held by the socket 3, and a tip 4a of the optical fiber 4 when the holder 1 is mounted on the subject. And a spring 5 biasing to the side. When the socket 3 is inserted into the socket mounting hole 1a, movement in the attaching / detaching direction is restricted by a lock mechanism (not shown). The tip 4a of each optical fiber 4 protrudes from the socket 3 and comes into contact with the subject.

  A cylindrical pad (cap) 6 made of rubber (for example, silicon rubber) is attached to the distal end portion 4 a of the optical fiber 4 of at least one probe 2. In the center of the pad 6, an optical fiber insertion hole 6a into which the distal end portion 4a of the optical fiber 4 is inserted is provided. The pad 6 is attached to the distal end portion 4 a so that the distal end surface of the optical fiber 4 is flush with the surface of the pad 6 on the subject side.

  The surface of the pad 6 that contacts the subject is rounded with a spherical shape. Further, the outer dimension of the pad 6 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tip portion 4a of the optical fiber 4, that is, the outer diameter of the pad 6, is smaller than the diameter of the socket mounting hole 1a. Thereby, it is possible to pull out the probe 2 from the socket mounting hole 1a while the pad 6 is mounted on the distal end portion 4a of the optical fiber 4.

  The probe 2 includes a plurality of irradiation probes for irradiating the subject with light and a plurality of detection probes for detecting light that has passed through the subject. Irradiation probes and detection probes are arranged alternately.

  A measurement apparatus main body (not shown) generates light with a wavelength in the visible to infrared region and sends it to the irradiation probe. A part of the light emitted from the irradiation probe passes through the cerebral cortex at a measurement point located between the irradiation probe and the detection probe and enters the detection probe. At this time, the amount of light detected by the detection probe changes according to the hemoglobin concentration at the measurement point. The measuring device main body measures the amount of light detected by the detection probe, measures the amount of change in hemoglobin concentration in the blood at each measurement point from the measurement results, and displays information on the measurement results on the monitor.

  In such a probe device of a biological light measurement device, since the pad 6 is attached to the distal end portion 4a of the optical fiber 4 of at least one probe 2, the pressure on the scalp of the subject is dispersed, and Pain can be reduced.

  Further, since the probe 2 can be pulled out from the socket mounting hole 1a while the pad 6 is attached to the optical fiber 4, it is not necessary to attach or detach the pad 6 each time the probe 2 is attached to or detached from the holder 1. Work efficiency is improved.

The pads 6 may be attached to all the probes 2, but may be attached only to the necessary probes 2, for example, only to the probes 2 located on the forehead portion without hair.
Further, it is not necessary to attach the same pad 6 to all the probes 2, and pads 6 having different softness may be attached depending on the position of the probe 2.
Further, a slit may be provided on the outer periphery of the optical fiber insertion hole 6a, and the distal end portion 4a of the optical fiber 4 may be attached to the optical fiber insertion hole 6a through the slit from the radially outer side of the optical fiber insertion hole 6a.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of the probe device of the biological light measurement device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the pad 7 of FIG. A cylindrical pad 7 made of rubber (for example, silicon rubber) is attached to the distal end portion 4 a of the optical fiber 4 of at least one probe 2. In the center of the pad 7, an optical fiber insertion hole 7a into which the distal end portion 4a of the optical fiber 4 is inserted is provided.

  The outer diameter of the pad 7 is smaller than the diameter of the socket mounting hole 1a. One or a plurality of grooves 7b are provided on the surface of the pad 7 that is in contact with the subject. In this example, a groove 7 b is provided in a cross shape that intersects at the center of the pad 7. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In such a probe device, since the groove 7b is provided in the pad 7, it is possible to easily avoid the hair when the pad 7 is attached to the probe 2 located in a portion having the hair.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an essential part of a probe device of a biological light measurement device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing the pad 8 of FIG. A cylindrical pad 8 made of rubber (for example, silicon rubber) is attached to the distal end portion 4 a of the optical fiber 4 of at least one probe 2. In the center of the pad 8, an optical fiber insertion hole 8a into which the distal end portion 4a of the optical fiber 4 is inserted is provided.

  The outer diameter of the pad 8 is smaller than the diameter of the socket mounting hole 1a. On the surface of the pad 8 that is in contact with the subject, a brush 9 that is in contact with the subject is implanted. The brush 9 is provided in an annular shape around the optical fiber insertion hole 8a. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In such a probe device, since the brush 9 is provided on the pad 8, it is possible to easily avoid the hair when it is attached to the probe 2 located in a portion having the hair.

It is principal part sectional drawing of the probe apparatus of the biological light measuring device by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the probe apparatus of FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the probe apparatus of FIG. 2 from diagonally downward. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the probe apparatus of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of the probe apparatus of the biological light measuring device by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a bottom view which shows the pad of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of the probe apparatus of the biological light measuring device by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a bottom view which shows the pad of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 holder, 1a socket mounting hole, 2 probe, 3 socket, 4 optical fiber, 4a tip, 6, 7, 8 pad, 6a, 7a, 8a optical fiber insertion hole, 7b groove, 9 brush.

Claims (4)

A holder having a plurality of socket mounting holes and mounted on a subject;
A plurality of probes each having a socket inserted and inserted into the socket mounting hole, and an optical fiber held by the socket and having a tip protruding from the socket and abutted against the subject; and the optical fiber A living body light measurement apparatus comprising: an optical fiber insertion hole into which a distal end of the optical fiber is inserted; and at least one pad attached to the distal end of the optical fiber of at least one of the probes Probe device.   The external dimensions of the pad in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tip end portion of the optical fiber are smaller than the diameter of the socket mounting hole, and the pad is attached to the tip end portion of the optical fiber. 2. The probe device for a biological light measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the probe can be pulled out from the socket mounting hole.   The probe device of the biological optical measurement device according to claim 1, wherein a groove is provided on a surface of the pad that is in contact with the subject.   The probe device for a biological light measurement apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pad is provided with a brush that comes into contact with the subject.

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