JP2009254649A - Measurement auxiliary tool - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable anyone to easily paste an electrode on a target muscle in performing myoelectric measurement. <P>SOLUTION: An auxiliary tool used in measuring voltage generating in the muscle by an electromyograph comprises a long-sleeved T-shirt 1 and is provided with windows 2 corresponding to parts to paste measuring electrodes. The electrodes are attached to the body surface exposed from the windows 2, so that a measuring person easily specifies a muscle at an appropriate position in a state that a subject is dressed and attaches the electrodes without the subject getting undressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of myoelectric measurement, and particularly relates to a measurement aid used when quantitatively measuring a load or fatigue applied to a human muscle as a change in voltage generated in the muscle. .

  Conventionally, as a method for quantitatively knowing the load and fatigue applied to a human muscle, the change in voltage generated in the subject's muscle is measured, and the degree of the load and fatigue is obtained from the obtained measurement value. . In this method, an electromyograph is used to measure the change in voltage. When measuring, a measuring electrode is affixed to the surface of the body, such as the subject's arm, shoulder, or waist, with a tape. The electric signals obtained from the electrodes attached to each measurement site are amplified and recorded on a recorder, or the waveform is displayed on the display screen.

  Voltage measurement with such an electromyograph cannot be performed accurately unless the position where the electrode is applied is on the muscle where the electromyogram is to be measured, but some knowledge is required to identify the position where the electrode is applied. In particular, experienced engineers often apply electrodes to subjects.

  On the other hand, when measuring a work load using an electromyograph, it is necessary to have a worker who performs daily production at an actual manufacturing site become a subject. In addition, when measuring fatigue, the measurement must be performed continuously during the day from morning to evening. For this reason, engineers have to go to the manufacturing site with electromyographs and witness the measurement, and in companies where the manufacturing sites are located in a plurality of places, a great burden is placed on the engineers. Moreover, since a test subject becomes a woman in the field where the woman is working, there is also a problem that it is difficult to measure when the technician who applies the electrode is a man.

  And when actually measuring the voltage with an electromyograph, stick an electrode on the surface of the body and stick an adhesive tape on the electrode to prevent the electrode from peeling off after starting the measurement. And the electrode is fixed. However, many of the operations for which the work load is to be measured are heavy labor operations such as having a heavy work, and there is a risk that the tape may be peeled off during the operation and the position of the electrode may be shifted. In addition, although there are differences among individuals, there is a problem that the contact surface becomes itchy when the tape is applied for several hours.

  Therefore, a clothes-type device has been proposed as an auxiliary tool for taking out an electrical signal from the body surface of a subject. For example, an electrocardiogram can be measured and an electromyogram information or body motion information can be detected. There is known a clothing type garment in which a conductive fiber is stitched as a sensor in place of the sensor and the conductive fiber is used for signal transmission.

Japanese Patent No. 3711236

  The clothing type clothing as described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has an advantage that measurement can be performed in the worn state because the electrode comes into contact with the surface of the body when worn, but for example, electrodes are sewn at six predetermined sites. It cannot be used when the location where the electrode is attached changes for each measurement, such as myoelectricity.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a measurement auxiliary tool that allows anyone to easily attach an electrode on a target muscle in measuring myoelectricity. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an auxiliary tool used when measuring a voltage generated in a muscle by an electromyograph, comprising a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a window corresponding to a portion to which an electrode for measurement is attached Is featured.

  Then, the size of the window may be made smaller than the electrode, and the peripheral portion of the window in the long sleeve T-shirt may be stretched.

  Moreover, you may make it provide the cover which can be latched with a hook-and-loop fastener in the state which covered the window.

  The measurement aid of the present invention only needs to attach an electrode to the surface of the body exposed from the window, so that the measurer can easily identify the muscle at an appropriate position while wearing the subject. Electrodes can be attached without taking off clothes. In particular, even if the subject is a woman, there is no worry of taking off clothes.

  And in addition to the above configuration, by making the window size smaller than the electrode and making the peripheral part of the window in the long-sleeved T-shirt stretchable, it is possible to hold the electrode at the peripheral part without using tape or the like. It can be fixed to the body.

  In addition to the above configuration, by providing a cover that can be locked with a hook-and-loop fastener in a state in which the window is covered, the cover can be firmly fixed to the body in a state in which the electrode is covered.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a measurement aid according to the present invention. The measurement aid shown in FIG. 1 includes a long-sleeved T-shirt 1 that fits the body. A plurality of windows 2 corresponding to the portion where the electrode for the electrode is attached are provided. Several types of long-sleeved T-shirts 1 are prepared for each size.

  The long-sleeved T-shirt 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used when measuring the voltage generated in the muscles of the shoulder and arm in the work of carrying heavy objects such as cardboard, and the place where the window 2 is provided is as follows. is there.

  That is, generally when measuring myoelectricity of the shoulder, the trapezius muscle is the target, and for the muscles of the arm, the biceps of the upper arm, the brachial muscles of the outer forearm, and the carpal flexor of the forearm are measured. Since it becomes a target, the long-sleeved T-shirt 1 is provided with windows 2 corresponding to these portions.

  By wearing such a long-sleeved T-shirt 1 with a window 2, the measurer can easily identify the muscle without any particular knowledge. And an electrode can be affixed without taking off clothes by affixing the electrode for a measurement with the tape etc. on the part of the body exposed at the window 2. FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows another example in which electrodes are attached. In this example, the peripheral portion of the window 2 of the long-sleeved T-shirt 1 is made of a stretchable material, and the size of the window 2 is made smaller than the electrode. When the electrode 3 is inserted by extending the window 2, the electrode 2 can be fixed to the body by the window 2 returning to its original state due to the elasticity of the material. Thus, in order to give stretchability to the peripheral portion of the window 2 in the long-sleeved T-shirt 1, in addition to changing the portion to a stretchable material, a stretchable member such as rubber may be inserted.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, a cover 4 is provided to cover the window 2 after the electrode 3 is attached, and a hook-and-loop fastener 5 such as Velcro (registered trademark) is provided around the cover 4 so that the cover 4 can be locked in a closed state. It is a thing. In the measurement auxiliary tool provided with the window 2 having such a cover structure, the electrode 3 can be firmly fixed so as to completely cover the electrode 3. In the case of this example, the electrode 3 can be more firmly fixed by using a stretchable material for the peripheral portion of the window 2 and the cover.

  In FIG. 1, the window 2 is opened at the shoulder and arm portions, but it is possible to measure an arbitrary place by opening the window in accordance with the place to be measured. In addition, when it is desired to perform the same measurement on the lower body such as a foot, a pants-type measurement aid may be used with the same mechanism.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the measurement aid according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is natural that it is possible.

It is a schematic structure figure showing an example of a measurement auxiliary tool concerning the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows another example which affixes an electrode. It is explanatory drawing which shows another example which affixes an electrode.

Explanation of symbols

1 long sleeve T-shirt 2 window 3 electrode 4 cover 5 hook-and-loop fastener

Claims (3)

  An auxiliary tool used for measuring a voltage generated in muscle by an electromyograph, comprising a long-sleeved T-shirt and provided with a window corresponding to a portion to which an electrode for measurement is attached .   The measurement auxiliary tool according to claim 1, wherein the size of the window is made smaller than that of the electrode, and the peripheral portion of the window in the long-sleeved T-shirt is provided with elasticity.   The measurement auxiliary tool according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cover that can be locked with a hook-and-loop fastener in a state of covering the window.

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