JP2010233643A - Ear insertion thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ear insertion thermometer for measuring body temperatures continuously for a long time. <P>SOLUTION: The ear insertion thermometer measures a body temperature continuously for a long time by having a sealing part 33 abutting on an inner surface of an ear canal 4 at prescribed pressure and by measuring the temperature of a second curve 16 by a first temperature measuring part 36 fixed at a distal end of an extension part 34C in a bending part 34 which bends in a manner that an insertion part 34B and the extension part 34C form a bending angle θ13 at a bending point 34A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-the-ear thermometer, and is suitable for application when worn continuously for a long time.

  Conventional thermometers that measure body temperature continuously for a long time include those that measure esophageal temperature, nasal cavity temperature, and the tympanic membrane in a contact manner. These thermometers are highly invasive to the subject. .

  Some thermometers that continuously measure the body temperature for a long time measure the rectum temperature, which is relatively less invasive. However, the subject is uncomfortable and the hygiene management is complicated. Therefore, such a thermometer is not suitable for measuring the body temperature of a subject who lives in daily life.

  By the way, since the eardrum reflects the temperature of the internal carotid artery, it has been attracting attention as a part capable of measuring the core temperature of a person, and the development of an infrared electronic thermometer for detecting the eardrum temperature in the ear is progressing. .

  The infrared electronic thermometer measures infrared rays emitted from the eardrum in the ear and its surroundings by an infrared sensor, and can measure the temperature of the eardrum without contact.

  However, since the infrared electronic thermometer measures infrared rays radiated from the eardrum and its surroundings, it is difficult to measure infrared rays only from the eardrum, and the temperature accuracy cannot be improved. In addition, when the infrared electronic thermometer continuously measures for a long time, it is difficult to always measure the same part, and therefore, the temperature of a different part is measured every time measurement is performed.

  Therefore, some ear-type thermometers are of the earphone type, and a probe is inserted into the ear, and the temperature in the ear is measured for a long time by, for example, a thermopile (thermocouple) provided at the tip of the probe. The thing is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  In this ear insertion type thermometer, a probe inserted into the ear meanders and extends in an S-shape, the diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of the ear canal, and the probe is in close contact with the ear canal.

JP 2007-111363 A

  However, in the above-mentioned ear insertion type thermometer, when a plurality of wearers use the same shape of probe, the shape of the ear canal varies depending on the individual, so the shape of the ear canal of the wearer and the shape of the probe do not match, It may be possible to give the wearer discomfort such as feeling discomfort or pain.

  In addition, when the shape of the ear hole of the wearer and the shape of the probe are different from each other, the intraocular thermometer is not properly placed in the ear canal and the position of the thermopile shifts, and the temperature cannot be measured accurately. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and intends to propose an in-ear thermometer capable of measuring body temperature continuously for a long time.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, the inner surface near the entrance of the ear canal is contacted with a predetermined pressure, and a sealing portion that seals the ear canal is inserted into the sealing portion, and the first bent from the entrance in the ear canal Insertion part formed to a length where the bending point which is the tip is located on the first curve which is the part, and a length from the bending point to the second curve which is the second bending part from the entrance to the ear canal And an extension portion formed to a thickness that does not contact the inner surface of the ear canal, the insertion portion and the extension portion being bent at a first angle at a bending point, and the second curve in the extension portion. And a first temperature measuring unit that measures the temperature of the second curve.

  As a result, the bent portion is bent at the bending point at the first angle, and the extension portion is formed with a thickness that does not contact the inner surface of the ear canal, so that the inner portion of the ear canal is along the first curve of the ear canal. Since the first temperature measuring unit can be held on the second curve without contacting the surface, the temperature of the second curve can be stably measured by the first temperature measuring unit.

  According to the present invention, the bent portion is bent at the first angle at the bending point, and the extension portion is formed with a thickness that does not contact the inner surface of the ear canal, so that the extension portion is formed along the first curve of the ear canal. Since the first temperature measuring unit can be held on the second curve without contacting the inner surface of the ear canal, the temperature of the second curve can be stably measured by the first temperature measuring unit, and thus long. It is possible to realize an in-ear thermometer capable of measuring body temperature continuously over time.

It is an approximate line figure showing structure (1) of an ear. It is an approximate line figure showing structure (2) of an ear. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the ear-insertion type thermometer. It is an approximate line figure showing composition (1) of a temperature sensing main part. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure (2) of a temperature detection main-body part. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a base part. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a bending part. It is a basic diagram which shows the mode (1) at the time of mounting | wearing of a thermometry main-body part. It is a basic diagram which shows the mode (2) at the time of mounting | wearing of a thermometry main-body part. It is a basic diagram which shows the circuit structure of an ear insertion type thermometer. It is a basic diagram which shows the in-ear temperature field measurement result by the in-ear insertion type thermometer. It is a basic diagram which shows the relationship between external temperature and body temperature. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the ear-insertion type thermometer used for prediction of eardrum temperature. It is a basic diagram which shows the measured temperature in different external temperature. It is a basic diagram which shows the graph of a semilogarithmic approximation curve. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of the eardrum temperature prediction processing procedure.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention using a thermistor as a temperature sensor will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Ear structure As shown in FIG. 1, in the human ear 1, the auricle 2 forms a characteristic unevenness with the auricular cartilage 3 made of an elastic body as a support and reflects sound waves from various directions. To the ear canal 4. The external auditory canal 4 is a passage for sound waves, and from the external ear canal entrance 4A to the eardrum 5, 1/3 of the external ear canal entrance 4A side is covered with the external auditory canal cartilage 6, and the remaining 2/3 is inside the temporal bone 7. is there.

  A sound wave that has reached through the external auditory canal 4 vibrates the eardrum 5 and is transmitted to the vestibule 12 and the cochlea 13 via the ossicles 11 composed of the tibia bone 8, the kinuta bone 9, and the stapes 10. 13 transmits sound information to the brain stem.

  As shown in FIG. 2 which is a horizontal sectional view, the external auditory canal 4 has two bent portions. Here, these two bent portions are called a first curve 15 and a second curve 16 in order from the ear canal entrance 4A to the eardrum 5.

  Next, the shape and size of the ear canal 4 will be described while showing the average value. The ear canal 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape from the ear canal entrance 4A to the first curve 15, and has a length of about 5.5 [mm] and a diameter of about 7 [mm]. The external auditory canal 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape from the first curve 15 to the second curve 16, and has a length of about 6.5 [mm] and a diameter of about 5 [mm].

  The external auditory canal 4 is slightly inclined forward from the left direction from the external ear canal entrance 4 </ b> A to the first curve 15. In the external auditory canal 4, the left curve is directed from the first curve 15 to the second curve 16, and the bent angle (hereinafter referred to as the first curve angle) θ <b> 1 of the first curve 15 is about 135 degrees. .

  Further, in the external auditory canal 4, the bent angle (hereinafter referred to as the second curve angle) θ <b> 2 of the second curve 16 is about 130 degrees.

  By the way, in the ear 1, since the internal carotid artery 14 (FIG. 1) for carrying blood from the heart to the brain passes through the vicinity of the eardrum 5, the eardrum 5 is maintained at the core temperature that is the temperature of the internal carotid artery 14.

  On the other hand, in the external auditory canal 4, an external carotid artery (not shown) for carrying blood from the heart to the face, scalp, etc. passes through the periphery from the external auditory canal entrance 4A to the first curve 15, and is affected by the external carotid artery. The temperature falls below the core temperature. Accordingly, the ear canal 4 has a temperature gradient that increases from the ear canal entrance 4 </ b> A to the eardrum 5.

(2) Configuration of In-Ear Insertion Type Thermometer As shown in FIG. 3, the in-ear insertion type thermometer 20 exchanges temperature measurement information between the temperature measurement main body 21 and the temperature measurement main body 21 via the transmission line 22. And a temperature measurement information processing unit 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the temperature detection main body 21 is provided with a base portion 31, a holding portion 32, a sealing portion 33, a bent portion 34, and a conduit portion 35. Here, the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 32 is defined as the X axis, the short direction of the holding portion 32 is defined as the Y axis, and the thickness direction of the holding portion 32 is defined as the Z axis.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the temperature measuring body 21, and FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are a top view, a front view, and a center of the bent portion 34, respectively. Figure 2 shows a front cross-sectional view through the line.

  The base portion 31 has a substantially columnar shape with a substantially hemispherical tip, and a holding portion 32 is fixed to the top thereof. Further, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, which is a cross section taken along the line AA ′, the base 31 is provided with a hole 31A in the center from the lower side to a predetermined height along the Z axis. .

  Further, the base portion 31 is on a plane that is rotated from the tip of the hole portion 31A by a rotation angle θ11 set to, for example, 34 degrees with respect to the XZ plane with respect to the XZ plane and in the X axis negative direction (or Y axis). The inclined hole portion 31B is provided so as to be inclined with respect to the Z axis by, for example, an inclination angle θ12 set to 20 degrees in the positive axis direction).

  The holding portion 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is fixed to the base portion 31 at a predetermined position on the X-axis negative direction side on the auricular cavity contact surface 32A, and the X-axis negative direction side is Y-axis negative. It is formed so as to swell in the direction and gradually become narrower in the positive direction of the X axis.

  The holding portion 32 is formed so that the X-axis negative direction side is thick in the Z-axis direction and gradually decreases in the X-axis positive direction.

  The holding portion 32 is made of, for example, a plastic material, and the surface thereof is covered with a resin material such as silicon rubber.

  Further, the holding portion 32 is provided with a hole portion on an extension line of the inclined hole portion 31B of the base portion 31, and a conduit portion 35 provided on the outer periphery of the bent portion 34 and the bent portion 34 to hold the sealing portion 33. It is inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the bent portion 34 is made of, for example, a stainless steel tube having a diameter of 3 [mm] formed in a substantially L shape. The bending portion 34 includes an insertion portion 34B having a length of about 12 [mm] and an extension portion 34C having a length of about 6 [mm], and a bending angle θ13 set at, for example, 105 degrees at a bending point 34A. It is formed so as to be bent.

  The bending portion 34 is fitted to the inclined hole portion 31B of the base portion 31 through the conduit portion 35 by one end of the insertion portion 34B opposite to the bending point 34A by about 6 [mm]. 34C protrudes from the base portion 31 so as to be parallel to the X axis.

  In the bent portion 34, the tip of the extended portion 34C opposite to the bent point 34A is closed, and a first temperature measuring portion 36 made of a thermistor or the like is fixed and provided inside the tip. A second temperature measuring unit 37 made of a thermistor or the like is fixed inside the point 34A.

  For example, when the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 are thermistors, the first resistance measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 have a property that the electric resistance value changes according to a temperature change, and the temperature signal corresponding to the electric resistance value S1 and S2 (FIG. 10) are sent to the temperature measurement information processing unit 23 via the transmission line 22.

  Also, the insertion portion 34B of the bent portion 34 has a conduit portion 35 formed by a sealing portion 33 formed by providing an umbrella-like ear canal insertion portion 33A at one end of a cylindrical attachment portion with an elastic material such as silicon rubber. It is inserted by a hole passing through the center of the sealing part 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the thermometry main body 21 is inserted into the external auditory canal 4, the concha cavity abutment surface 32 </ b> A of the holding portion 32 abuts on the concha cavity 2 </ b> A, The bent portion 34 and the sealed portion 33 are inserted into the ear canal 4.

  At this time, the holding portion 32 is formed so that the X-axis negative direction side swells in the Y-axis negative direction and gradually decreases in the X-axis positive direction, so that it fits into the concha cavity portion 2A. Thus, the concha cavity abutment surface 32A abuts on the concha cavity portion 2A.

  Accordingly, the holding unit 32 can prevent the temperature measuring main body 21 from moving from the ear 1 and can prevent the temperature measuring main body 21 from rotating with respect to the ear 1.

  At this time, the temperature measuring body 21 has the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the holding part 32 substantially coincides with the front-rear direction of the ear 1 and the short direction (Y-axis direction) of the holding part 32 is the upper and lower sides of the ear 1. The ear 1 is worn so as to substantially coincide with the direction.

  Further, the sealing portion 33 is elastically deformed so as to abut between the ear canal entrance 4A of the ear canal 4 and the first curve 15, so that a predetermined pressure is applied to the inner surface between the ear canal entrance 4A and the first curve 15 without a gap. It is maintained in a state where it is in contact with. As a result, the sealing portion 33 is configured to block the entry and exit of air between the external auditory canal 4 and the outside, and to seal the external ear canal 4 from the outside.

  At this time, the sealing portion 33 is held by the external auditory canal 4 so as to be inclined forward with respect to the left-right direction by being inclined at an inclination angle θ12 through the insertion portion 34B of the bent portion 34.

  Further, the sealing portion 33 has a thickness (about 5.5 [mm]) substantially equal to the distance between the external auditory canal entrance 4 </ b> A and the first curve 15, so that the distal end of the sealing portion 33 is the outer ear canal 4. The first curve 15 is located. As a result, the bending portion 34 has the bending point 34 </ b> A located on the first curve 15.

  The bent portion 34 has a substantially cylindrical center formed by the extension portion 34C between the first curve 15 and the second curve by bending the insertion portion 34B and the extension portion 34C at the bending angle θ13. It is held along the axis.

  At this time, the bent portion 34 has a length (about 6 [mm]) of the extension portion 34 </ b> C that is substantially equal to the distance from the first curve 15 to the second curve 16, so that the tip of the bent portion 34 has the second curve 16. It is made to be located in.

  The bent portion 34 has a diameter sufficiently smaller than, for example, 3 [mm] and a substantially cylindrical diameter of about 5 [mm] between the first curve 15 and the second curve 16. It is held in that space without contacting the surface.

  Accordingly, in the temperature measuring main body 21, when the first temperature measuring unit 36 is inserted into the ear canal 4, the first temperature measuring unit 36 fixed to the tip of the extension 34C is positioned on the second curve 16, so that the first temperature measuring unit 36 is The temperature of the second curve 16 can be measured.

  Further, in the temperature measuring main body 21, the second temperature measuring unit 37 fixed to the bending point 34 </ b> A is positioned on the first curve 15, so that the second temperature measuring unit 37 can measure the temperature of the first curve 15. It is made like that.

  At this time, in the external auditory canal 4, the air sealed in the external ear canal 4 has the same temperature distribution as the surface temperature of the external auditory canal 4 because the sealing portion 33 blocks air from entering and exiting the outside.

  Therefore, the temperature measuring main body 21 measures the surface temperature of the second curve 16 by measuring the temperature of the air of the second curve 16 by the first temperature measuring unit 36. Further, the temperature measuring main body 21 measures the surface temperature of the first curve 15 by measuring the temperature of the air of the first curve 15 by the second temperature measuring unit 37.

  In this way, the temperature measuring main body 21 can measure the temperatures of the first curve 15 and the second curve 16.

(3) Circuit Configuration of IntraEar Insertion Type Thermometer As shown in FIG. 10, the thermometry information processing unit 23 includes a control unit 51, a display unit 52, a storage unit 53, a power supply unit 54, an interface unit 55, and an input operation unit 56. Are connected via a bus 57, and are operated by receiving power supply from a power supply unit 54 made of a battery.

  The control unit 51 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a work memory of the CPU. The basic program stored in the storage unit 53 including a nonvolatile memory is stored in the RAM. The temperature measurement information processing unit 23 as a whole is controlled in an integrated manner.

  In addition, the control unit 51 realizes various functions by developing various application programs stored in the storage unit 53 in the RAM and executing them.

  The control unit 51 sends the temperature signals S1 and S2 from the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 provided in the temperature measuring body unit 21 through the transmission line 22 and the interface unit 55 at a predetermined timing as time elapses. The temperature data is obtained by performing predetermined signal processing on the temperature signals S1 and S2, respectively, and the temperature data is accumulated in the storage unit 53.

  In addition, the control unit 51 displays the temperature data accumulated in the storage unit 53 according to the operation input from the input operation unit 56 on the display unit 52 as necessary based on the temperature data.

  Here, FIG. 11 shows the measurement results measured continuously for about 20 hours by the in-the-ear thermometer 20. In FIG. 11, the temperature measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 of the intraocular insertion type thermometer 20 is indicated by a broken line as the inner ear temperature, and the rectal temperature corresponding to the core temperature measured simultaneously with the inner ear temperature is indicated by a solid line. Show. In this measurement experiment, the measurement was performed with the outside air temperature being kept constant at 24 [° C.] and the humidity being kept at 30 [%].

  As apparent from FIG. 11, when the outside air temperature is kept constant, the in-the-ear thermometer 20 calculates the inside temperature of the second curve 16 of the ear canal 4 (FIG. 2) with the first temperature measuring unit 36. By measuring, it can be seen that although the temperature is slightly lower than the core temperature, it is possible to measure the ear temperature that accurately reflects the circadian rhythm.

  However, as shown in FIG. 12, the body temperature distribution when the outside air temperature is 20 [° C.] and 35 [° C.], the human body temperature distribution varies depending on the outside air temperature. Especially near the surface, it is affected by the outside air temperature, and the surface temperature is close to the outside air temperature.

  In the ear 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the eardrum 5 is kept at the core temperature without being affected by the change in the outside air temperature, whereas in the pinna 2 or the ear canal 4, the change in the outside air temperature is not affected. The temperature changes under the influence. Particularly in the vicinity of the pinna 2 and the external auditory canal entrance 4A, it is greatly affected by changes in the outside air temperature.

  Therefore, in the external auditory canal 4, when the external air temperature changes, the temperature gradient also changes from the eardrum 5 maintained at the core temperature to the external ear canal entrance 4 </ b> A that is greatly affected by the change in the external air temperature.

  Therefore, in the in-the-ear thermometer 20, when the outside air temperature changes, the temperatures of the second curve 16 and the first curve 15 measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 also depend on the outside air temperature. Change.

  Therefore, the control unit 51 uses the temperatures measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 to predict the temperature of the eardrum 5 that is not affected by changes in the outside air temperature.

(4) Tympanic temperature prediction process (4-1) Example of eardrum temperature prediction process Here, an example of temperature prediction of the eardrum 5 will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, a process for predicting the temperature of the eardrum 5 using a measurement result measured by the in-the-ear thermometer 60 instead of the in-the-ear thermometer 20 will be described.

  The thermometer main body 61 has the same external configuration as the thermometer main body 21, and in addition to the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37, a first thermometer for measuring the temperature of the tip of the base unit 31. The three temperature measuring portions 62 are provided so as to be fixed near the center of the insertion portion 34B of the bent portion 34.

  Moreover, in the ear-insertion type thermometer 60, the sublingual temperature maintained at the core temperature as in the eardrum 5 is measured by a sublingual temperature measuring unit (not shown), and used as the temperature of the eardrum 5.

  It is measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, the third temperature measuring unit 62 and the sublingual temperature measuring unit when the outside air temperature is 23 [° C.], 16 [° C.] and 9 [° C.]. FIG. 14 shows the measured temperatures of the second curve 16, the first curve 15, the base 31 tip, and the eardrum 5.

  Here, unlike the actual physical distance, the pseudo distance in FIG. 14 is calculated as a distance in consideration of a temperature change factor such as an increase in blood flow from the ear canal entrance 4A to the eardrum 5.

  In practice, as shown in FIG. 15, the in-the-ear thermometer 60 uses the measurement temperature shown in FIG. 14, and uses the first temperature measurement unit 36, the second temperature measurement unit 37, the third temperature measurement unit 62, and By changing the distance between the measurement points adjacent to each other of the eardrum 5, a semi-logarithmic approximation curve having the largest correlation with the measurement temperature is calculated.

  Then, the in-ear thermometer 60 is based on the distance between the measurement points changed when calculating the semilogarithmic approximate curve, from the ear canal entrance 4 to the first temperature measurement unit 36, the second temperature measurement unit 37, and the third measurement value. The distance to the warm part 62 and the eardrum 5 is calculated as a pseudo distance.

  Specifically, in the in-the-ear thermometer 60, the pseudo distance from the ear canal entrance 4A to the eardrum 5 is set to “100”, for example, and the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 in FIG. In order to obtain a semi-logarithmic approximation curve having the largest correlation with the measured temperatures of the third temperature measuring unit 62 and the eardrum 5, the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the second 3 The pseudo distances “7”, “6” and “3” to the temperature measuring unit 62 are calculated.

  Incidentally, when the outside air temperature is 23 [° C.], 16 [° C.] and 9 [° C.], the temperatures in the ear canal 4 are respectively

Y = 0.3844Ln (X) +35.01 (R ² = 0.9972) (1)

Y = 0.7253Ln (X) +33.398 (R ² = 1) (2)

Y = 1.288Ln (X) +30.69 (R ² = 1) (3)

Represented by Here, X represents a pseudo distance, Y represents temperature, and R ² represents a determination coefficient equal to the square of the correlation coefficient.

  In the in-ear thermometer 60, the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the third temperature measuring unit 62 measure the temperatures of the second curve 16, the first curve 15, and the tip of the base 31. Each time, using the pseudo distances “7”, “6”, and “3”, a semi-logarithmic approximate curve that has the greatest correlation with the measured temperature is calculated, and the calculated semi-logarithmic approximate curve Is used to calculate the temperature at the position where the pseudorange is “100” as the predicted temperature of the eardrum 5.

(4-2) Tympanic Temperature Prediction Processing Procedure On the other hand, the ear insertion thermometer 20 predicts the temperature of the ear drum 5 in the same manner as the ear insertion thermometer 60. Here, in the ear insertion type thermometer 20, similarly to the ear insertion type thermometer 60, when calculating the pseudo distance between the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37, a sublingual temperature measuring unit (not shown) is used. The measured sublingual temperature is obtained as the temperature of the eardrum 5 by obtaining the temperature via the interface unit 55, for example.

  At this time, the control unit 51 executes the eardrum temperature prediction process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In practice, the control unit 51 enters from the start step of the routine RT1 and proceeds to step SP1, and the second curve 16 measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the sublingual temperature measuring unit, The measured temperature of the first curve 15 and the eardrum 5 is used, and the distance between the measurement points adjacent to each other of the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the eardrum 5 is changed, and is most correlated with the measured temperature. A semi-logarithmic approximation curve is calculated so as to increase, and the process proceeds to the next step SP2.

  In step SP2, the control unit 51 determines from the ear canal entrance 4A to the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the eardrum 5 based on the distance between the measurement points changed when calculating the semilog approximate curve. The pseudo distance is calculated, and the process proceeds to the next step SP3.

  Incidentally, in the ear insertion type thermometer 20, when the pseudo distance is calculated by the control unit 51, the eardrum 5 is used by using the pseudo distance and the temperatures measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37. Therefore, for example, the display unit 52 notifies the user to end the measurement of the sublingual temperature by the sublingual temperature measuring unit, and the measurement of the sublingual temperature is ended.

  In step SP3, every time the temperature is measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37, the control unit 51 starts from the calculated ear canal entrance 4A to the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and Using the pseudo distance to the eardrum 5 and the measured temperature measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37, a semi-logarithmic approximate curve having the greatest correlation with the measured temperature is calculated, and the following Control goes to step SP4.

  In step SP4, the control unit 51 calculates the temperature corresponding to the pseudodistance of the eardrum 5 in the semilogarithmic approximate curve calculated in step SP3 as the temperature of the eardrum 5, moves to the next step, and ends the process.

(5) Operation and Effect In the above configuration, in the ear insertion type thermometer 20, the ear canal insertion part 33 </ b> A is elastically deformed between the outer ear canal entrance 4 </ b> A of the ear canal 4 and the first curve 15 in the sealing part 33, and the ear canal 4 The outer ear canal 4 can be sealed by being brought into contact with the inner surface at a predetermined pressure, and the state in which the temperature detection main body 21 is attached to the ear 1 can be maintained.

  Further, in the in-the-ear thermometer 20, the bending portion 34 has an insertion portion 34 </ b> B that is inserted into the sealing portion 33 via the conduit portion 35, and a length from the bending point 34 </ b> A to the second curve 16 and the ear canal. 4 is formed so as to be bent at a bending angle .theta.13 at a bending point 34A. In addition, a first temperature measuring unit 36 that measures the temperature of the second curve 16 is provided at the tip of the extension 34C.

  As a result, the intraocular thermometer 20 allows the temperature of the second curve 16 to be measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 without the bent portion 34 coming into contact with the inner surface of the ear canal 4 when the temperature measuring main body 21 is attached to the ear canal 4. Can be measured.

  Further, in the in-the-ear thermometer 20, the holding portion 32 is formed so as to fit into the concha cavity portion 2 </ b> A, so that the temperature measuring main body portion 21 can be held in the external auditory canal 4 and the temperature measuring device can be held. The rotation change and the position change of the main body 21 can be prevented.

  Therefore, the thermometry main body 21 maintains the state of being attached to the ear 1 in a double manner by the holding portion 32 and the sealing portion 33, so that the body temperature does not come off the ear 1 even when it is attached to the ear 1 for a long time. Can be measured continuously for a long time.

  Further, since the temperature measuring main body 21 can prevent the rotation change and the position change by the holding part 32, the position of the bent part 34 is not shifted, and the bent part 34 comes into contact with the inner surface of the ear canal 4. Body temperature can be measured without giving the wearer a sense of discomfort or discomfort.

  Further, in the in-ear thermometer 20, the measurement is performed by the first temperature measuring part 36 fixed to the tip of the extension part 34 </ b> C in the bending part 34 and the second temperature measuring part 37 fixed to the bending point 34 </ b> A of the bending part 34. By predicting the temperature of the eardrum 5 that is not affected by the outside air temperature using the measured temperature, the body temperature can be accurately measured.

  At this time, the in-the-ear thermometer 20 calculates a pseudo distance considering temperature change factors from the ear canal entrance 4 </ b> A to the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37 and the eardrum 5. The in-ear thermometer 20 calculates a semi-logarithmic approximation curve with the pseudo distance as a logarithm using the pseudo distance and the temperature measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37. Since the temperature of the eardrum 5 is predicted by the semi-logarithmic approximate curve, the temperature of the eardrum 5 can be predicted more accurately in consideration of individual differences and changes in the outside air temperature.

  According to the above configuration, the sealing portion 33 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the ear canal 4 with a predetermined pressure, and the insertion portion 34B and the extension portion 34C are extended at the bending portion 34A at the bending point 34A and bent at the bending angle θ13. The body temperature can be measured continuously for a long time by measuring the temperature of the second curve 16 by the first temperature measuring section 36 fixed to the tip of the section 34C.

  Moreover, the temperature in the ear canal 4 is measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the temperature of the eardrum 5 that is not affected by the outside air temperature is predicted using the measured temperature. Thus, body temperature can be accurately measured.

(6) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the bending angle θ13 is set to 105 degrees has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the extension portion 34C includes the ear canal. The bending angle θ13 may be set between 85 degrees and 125 degrees as long as it does not contact the inner surface of 4A.

  In the embodiment described above, the case where the inclination angle θ12 is set to 20 degrees has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the bending point 34A of the bending portion 34 is changed to the first curve 15. If it is located, the inclination angle θ12 may be set between 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the rotation angle θ11 is set to 34 degrees has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the extension portion 34C does not contact the inner surface of the ear canal 4A. If there is, the rotation angle θ11 may be set between 14 degrees and 54 degrees.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, the case where the diameter of the bent portion 34 is set to 3 [mm] has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the extension portion 34C is the inner surface of the ear canal 4A. The diameter of the bent portion 34 may be set to 2 [mm] or 4 [mm], for example.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the length of the extension portion 34C is set to about 6 [mm] and the length of the insertion portion 34B is set to about 11 [mm] has been described. The invention is not limited to this, and the length is set such that the bending point 34A of the bent portion 34 is located on the first curve 15 and the tip of the extended portion 34C of the bent portion 34 is located on the second curve 16. Also good.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the temperature in the ear canal 4 is measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first In addition to the temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37, one or more temperature measuring units for measuring the temperature in the ear canal 4 may be further provided.

  In this case, the intraocular thermometer 20 predicts the temperature of the eardrum 5 using the temperatures measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36, the second temperature measuring unit 37, and the added temperature measuring unit, and thus more accurate. The temperature of the eardrum 5 can be predicted well.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the thermistor is used for the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, a thermopile (thermocouple), An electronic sensor thermometer such as a semiconductor sensor may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the base portion 31 and the holding portion 32 are formed separately has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the base portion 31 and the holding portion 32 are integrally formed. You may make it.

  Furthermore, although the case where the bending part 34 was stainless steel was described in embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not restricted to this, What is necessary is just a metal material with favorable heat conductivity. Further, a resin material integrated with the temperature sensor may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the bent portion 34 is bent at the bending point 34A in advance to the bending angle θ13 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temperature measuring main body portion 21 is connected to the ear canal 4. It is sufficient that the insertion portion 34B and the extension portion 34C are bent at a bending angle θ13, for example, the angle between the insertion portion 34B and the extension portion 34C can be varied at the bending point 43B. good.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the pseudo distance is calculated in steps SP1 and SP2 in the eardrum temperature prediction process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, an average pseudo distance is stored in advance. The temperature of the eardrum 5 may be predicted using the pseudo distance stored in the unit 53 and the temperatures measured by the first temperature measuring unit 36 and the second temperature measuring unit 37. In this case, it is not necessary to measure the sublingual temperature by the sublingual temperature measuring unit, and usability can be further improved.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sealing part 31 as the sealing part, the bending part 34 as the bending part, and the first temperature measuring part 36 as the first temperature measuring part are used as the ear insertion type thermometer of the present invention. Although the case where the thermometer 20 is configured has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the in-ear thermometer of the present invention is configured by a sealed portion, a bent portion, and a first temperature measuring portion having various configurations. You may make it comprise.

  The in-ear thermometer 20 of the present invention can be applied to the medical field, for example.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ear, 2 ... Pinna, 3 ... Pinna cartilage, 4 ... External auditory canal, 4A ... External ear canal entrance, 5 ... Tympanic membrane, 6 ... External ear canal cartilage, 7 ... Temporal bone, 8 ... Tuchi Bone, 9 ... Kinuta bone, 10 ... Abumi bone, 11 ... Ear bone, 12 ... Vestibule, 13 ... Cochlea, 14 ... Internal carotid artery, 15 ... First curve, 16 ... Second curve, 20, 60 ... In-ear thermometer, 21 ... Temperature measuring body, 22 ... Transmission line, 23 ... Temperature measuring information processing part, 31 ... Base part, 32 ... Holding part, 33 ... Sealing part, 34 ...... Bending part, 34A ... Bending point, 34B ... Inserting part, 34C ... Extension part, 35 ... Conduit part, 51 ... Control part, 52 ... Display part, 53 ... Storage part, 54 …… Power supply unit, 55 …… Interface unit, 56 …… Input operation unit, θ1 …… first curve angle, θ2 …… second curve angle, θ11 …… tilt angle , Θ12 ...... the second angle, θ13 ...... first angle.

Claims (10)

A sealed portion that is brought into contact with the inner surface near the entrance of the ear canal at a predetermined pressure and seals the ear canal;
An insertion portion inserted into the sealing portion and formed to a length such that a bending point as a tip is located on a first curve that is a first bent portion from an entrance in the ear canal, and an entrance in the ear canal from the bending point To the second curve, which is the second bent portion, and an extension portion formed to a thickness that does not contact the inner surface of the ear canal, and the insertion portion and the extension portion are the bending portions. A bent portion bent at a predetermined bending angle at a point;
An in-ear thermometer provided with a first temperature measuring unit provided at a tip of the extension portion on the second curve side and measuring the temperature of the second curve. It is formed so as to fit into the concha cavity part, further comprising a holding part for holding the in-ear thermometer in the ear canal,
The bending portion protrudes from the holding portion so that the end of the insertion portion has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the left-right direction of the ear canal when the ear-insertion thermometer is held in the ear canal. The in-the-ear thermometer according to claim 1. The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the extension portion faces a direction rotated at a predetermined rotation angle with respect to a plane where the inclination angle exists.   The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 3, wherein the extension portion is made of a metal material or a resin material.   The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 3, wherein the sealing portion is made of an elastic material.   The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 3, wherein the bending angle is 85 degrees to 125 degrees.   The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 3, wherein the inclination angle is 0 degree to 40 degrees with respect to an insertion direction of the insertion part with respect to the holding part.   The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 3, wherein the rotation angle is 14 to 54 degrees with respect to a plane on which the tilt angle exists. The in-ear insertion type thermometer according to claim 3, further comprising a second temperature measuring unit that is provided at the bending point and measures the temperature of the first curve. The ear insertion type according to claim 9, further comprising: an eardrum temperature predicting unit that predicts the temperature of the eardrum using the temperatures measured by the first temperature measuring unit and the second temperature measuring unit. Thermometer.

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