JP2011075389A - Apparatus and method of gas presentation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas presentation apparatus for presenting multiple types of gases without mixing them. <P>SOLUTION: An odor stimulation presentation apparatus 1 includes: a presentation mask 20 for presenting an odor; an odor line 11 for introducing the odor to the presentation mask 20; odor introduction parts 2a, 2b for introducing the odor to the odor line 11; and a connection part 10 for connecting the presentation mask 20 to the odor line 11 and an odor-free air line 12 to which odor-free air is introduced. The connection part 10 includes: a three-way electromagnetic valve 31 for controlling whether a fluid within the odor line 11 is introduced to the presentation mask 20 or not; and a three-way electromagnetic valve 32 for controlling whether a fluid within the odor-free air line 12 is introduced to the presentation mask 20 or not. An external air capture line 16 for introducing external air to the odor line 11 is provided in the odor line 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas presentation device for presenting gas.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device for presenting a test gas such as a gas having odor to a subject and objectively determining the olfactory sense of the subject with respect to the test gas is known.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe an olfactory recognition determination device including a supply source of a test gas and a breathing gas, and a flow path that guides the gas from the supply source to a subject.

Sho-63-79636 (published April 9, 1988) Hei 4-174645 (released on June 22, 1992)

  In the conventional technology as described above, when a plurality of types of gas are alternately presented, after the gas is presented, the concentration of the gas is sufficiently reduced (for example, below the threshold of the concentration that can be sensed by humans). There is a high possibility that the next different type of gas will be presented. Therefore, there arises a problem that another kind of gas is mixed with the presented gas.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the problem which said prior art has, The objective is to provide the gas presentation apparatus which can show multiple types of gas, without mutually mixing.

  In order to solve the above problems, a gas presentation device according to the present invention includes a presentation unit for presenting a first gas, a first flow path for introducing the first gas into the presentation unit, A gas presentation device comprising a first gas introduction means for introducing the first gas into the first flow path, wherein the first flow path and the second gas are introduced into the second flow path. A first connecting valve for controlling whether or not the fluid in the first flow path is introduced into the presenting unit; A second connection valve that controls whether or not the fluid in the second flow path is introduced into the presentation unit, and the first flow path is connected to the first flow path. A cleaning gas introducing means for introducing the cleaning gas is provided.

  If it is said structure, a 1st gas can be shown to a presentation part by controlling a 1st connection valve to introduce the fluid in a 1st flow path into a presentation part. Moreover, if the cleaning gas is introduced into the first flow path by the cleaning gas introduction means, the inside of the first flow path can be cleaned. At this time, the first connection valve is controlled not to introduce the fluid in the first flow path into the presentation unit, and the second connection valve introduces the fluid in the second flow path to the presentation unit. It is possible to prevent the second gas from being presented to the presentation unit and the gas that has washed the inside of the first flow path from being presented.

  Therefore, when alternately presenting a plurality of types of first gases to the presentation unit, the plurality of types of first gases are alternately introduced into the first flow path. Since it is possible to clean the inside of the first channel after introducing the gas, the plurality of types of first gases can be presented to the presentation unit without being mixed with each other.

  In the gas presentation device according to the present invention, a plurality of the first gas introduction means are provided, and the plurality of first gas introduction means present the different types of the first gas to the presentation unit. Is preferred.

  If it is said structure, several types of 1st gas can each be shown to a presentation part.

  In the gas presentation device according to the present invention, the first gas introduction means includes a container into which the first gas is introduced and the first gas in the container into the first flow path. It is preferable that the third flow path is constituted by a leading third flow path and an on-off valve provided in the third flow path.

  If it is said structure, introduction of 1st gas in the 1st flow path can be started or stopped easily by opening and closing an on-off valve.

  In the gas presentation device according to the present invention, the container is preferably provided with an inlet for injecting fluid with a syringe.

  If it is said structure, since fluids, such as 1st gas or the undiluted | stock solution which generate | occur | produces 1st gas, can be inject | poured in a container in trace amount, the 1st gas in a container is made into desired concentration. Easy to do. Accordingly, it is possible to present the first gas having an accurate concentration.

  Moreover, since it can prevent that the 1st gas provided in a gas presentation apparatus becomes a density | concentration higher than desired density | concentration, since it can prevent that 1st gas remains in a gas presentation apparatus, multiple It is possible to further prevent the kinds of first gases from being mixed with each other.

  In the gas presentation device according to the present invention, the third flow path is connected to the first flow path via a joint, and the on-off valve is directly connected to the joint. preferable.

  Here, the gas remaining between the first flow path and the on-off valve is difficult to be cleaned by the cleaning gas, but with the above configuration, the distance between the first flow path and the on-off valve is narrow. Therefore, the amount of the first gas remaining in this portion can be reduced. Therefore, when a plurality of types of first gases are presented alternately, it is possible to further prevent these gases from being mixed with each other.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the gas presentation apparatus according to the present invention further includes a pump that sends out the gas in the first flow path.

  If it is said structure, since the installation which uses high pressure gas for the sending of the gas in a 1st flow path is unnecessary, the gas presentation apparatus with easy handling can be provided.

  In the gas presentation method according to the present invention, the first flow channel is connected to the presentation unit, the first gas is introduced into the first flow channel, and the first gas is presented to the presentation unit. A gas presentation method including a presenting step, wherein after the gas presenting step, the second channel is connected to the presenting unit by switching to the first channel, and the second channel is connected to the second channel. And a cleaning step of introducing a cleaning gas into the first flow path.

  If it is said structure, in a gas presentation process, 1st gas can be shown to a presentation part. Further, in the cleaning step, the cleaning gas can be introduced into the first flow path to clean the inside of the first flow path, and at this time, the second flow path is connected to the presentation unit. Since the second gas is presented to the part, it is possible to prevent the gas that has been cleaned in the first flow path from being supplied to the presentation part.

  Therefore, when alternately presenting a plurality of types of first gases to the presentation unit, the plurality of types of first gases are alternately introduced into the first flow path. Since it is possible to clean the inside of the first channel after introducing the gas, the plurality of types of first gases can be presented to the presentation unit without being mixed with each other.

  In the gas presenting method according to the present invention, before the gas presenting step, the second flow path is connected to the presenting unit, and before the first gas is introduced into the first flow path. It is preferable to perform a processing step.

  If it is said structure, since 1st gas can be previously introduce | transduced in a 1st flow path before a gas presentation process, 1st gas can be efficiently shown in a gas presentation process. .

  As described above, the gas presentation device according to the present invention includes the presentation unit for presenting the first gas, the first flow path for introducing the first gas into the presentation unit, and the first A gas presentation device including a first gas introduction unit that introduces the first gas into the flow path, the first flow path, and a second flow path into which the second gas is introduced. Connecting means for connecting to the presenting section, the connecting means for controlling whether or not the fluid in the first flow path is introduced into the presenting section, and the second connection valve And a second connection valve that controls whether or not the fluid in the channel is introduced into the presenting unit, and a cleaning gas is introduced into the first channel in the first channel Since the cleaning gas introducing means is provided, a plurality of types of gases can be presented without being mixed with each other.

(A)-(b) is a figure which shows typically the structure of the olfactory stimulus presentation apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the structure of the olfactory stimulus presentation apparatus in an odor line washing | cleaning process, ( b) shows the configuration of the olfactory stimulus presentation device in the odor presentation step. It is a figure which shows an example of the olfactory stimulus presentation method in one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an olfactory stimulus presentation device will be described in detail below as an embodiment of a gas presentation device according to the present invention.

  In addition, in this invention, a gas presentation apparatus is an apparatus which presents multiple types of gas alternately. The invention is particularly suitable when the gas presented is such that it acts at a low concentration. Examples of such a gas include a gas that stimulates olfactory sense as in the following embodiments.

[Olfactory stimulus presentation device]
The configuration of the olfactory stimulus presentation device 1 (gas presentation device) in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 1A to 1B are diagrams schematically illustrating a configuration of an olfactory stimulus presentation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1A illustrates a configuration of the olfactory stimulus presentation device in an odor line cleaning process. FIG.1 (b) shows the structure of the olfactory stimulus presentation apparatus in an odor presentation process. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, connected paths are indicated by thick lines, and unconnected paths are indicated by thin lines.

  The olfactory stimulus presentation device 1 is a device that presents odors, and is particularly suitable for presenting multiple types of odors. In the present specification, “odor” refers to a gas that stimulates the sense of smell, such as odorous gas. The olfactory stimulus presentation device 1 in the present embodiment can be suitably applied, for example, when presenting a plurality of types of odorous gases to a subject and investigating the response of the subject to the olfactory stimuli caused by the respective gases.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1B, the olfactory stimulus presentation device 1 mainly presents an odor line 11 (first flow path), an odorless air line 12 (second flow path), and a presentation. And a mask 20 (presenting unit). The odor line 11 is a single flow path that connects a joint 29c described later to a three-way solenoid valve 31 (first connection valve), and the odorless air line 12 is connected from an air pump 22 described later to a three-way solenoid valve. It is one flow path that connects up to 32 (second connection valve).

  In the present specification, “upstream side” and “downstream side” refer to the upstream side and the downstream side of the internal gas flow in the flow path. That is, in the odor line 11, the upstream side indicates the joint 29c side, and in the odorless air line 12, the upstream side indicates the air pump 22 side.

  The odor line 11 and the odorless air line 12 are configured such that their downstream ends can be connected to the presentation line 13, are switched by the connection unit 10 (connection means), and are connected to the presentation line 13. To the presentation mask 20.

  The presentation mask 20 is a mask for presenting odor or odorless air to the subject, and is configured to cover the mouth and nose of the subject, for example. Thereby, it is possible to give an olfactory stimulus by presenting an odor to the subject. In addition, the object which the gas presentation apparatus which concerns on this invention presents 1st gas is not only humans, such as a test subject, but subjects, such as other animals, or odor measurement apparatus etc. It may be a device for measuring.

  The presentation line 13 is a flow path that is connected to the presentation mask 20 and guides the introduced gas flow 13 a such as odor and odorless air to the presentation mask 20. The presentation line 13 is provided with a flow meter 25 and a heater 26. The flow meter 25 is a meter that measures the flow rate of the gas in the presentation line 13, and can grasp the flow rate of the gas in the presentation line 13. Moreover, the heater 26 heats the gas in the presentation line 13 and can adjust the gas in the presentation line 13 to a preferable temperature.

  The connecting portion 10 includes a three-way electromagnetic valve 31 provided at the downstream end of the odor line 11 and a three-way electromagnetic valve 32 provided at the downstream end of the odorless air line 12. The three-way electromagnetic valve 31 is an electromagnetic valve that connects the odor line 11 to either the presentation line 13 or the exhaust line 14. Thereby, the three-way solenoid valve 31 controls whether or not the fluid in the odor line 11 is introduced into the presentation mask 20. The three-way solenoid valve 32 is a solenoid valve that connects the odorless air line 12 to either the presentation line 13 or the exhaust line 15. Thereby, the three-way solenoid valve 32 controls whether or not the fluid in the odorless air line 12 is introduced into the presentation mask 20.

  When the three-way solenoid valve 31 connects the odor line 11 to the presentation line 13 as shown in FIG. 1B, the three-way solenoid valve 32 can connect the odorless air line 12 to the exhaust line 15. On the other hand, when the three-way solenoid valve 32 connects the odorless air line 12 to the presentation line 13 as shown in FIG. 1A, the three-way solenoid valve 31 can connect the odor line 11 to the exhaust line 14. it can. Thus, the connection part 10 can switch the odor line 11 and the odorless air line 12 to the presentation line 13 by providing the three-way solenoid valves 31 and 32, and connect them.

  The exhaust line 14 is a flow path for exhausting the gas in the odor line 11, and the exhaust line 15 is a flow path for exhausting the gas in the odorless air line 12. The exhaust lines 14 and 15 are provided with needle valves 36 and 37 for adjusting the gas flow rate, respectively. The exhaust lines 14 and 15 may be provided with a suction pump for exhausting. As a result, the odor line 11 and the odorless air line 12 are connected to the exhaust lines 14 and 15 when not connected to the presentation line 13, and the internal gas is exhausted.

  The odor line 11 is a flow path for connecting the odor introduction portions 2a, 2b (first gas introduction means) and the presentation mask 20, that is, a flow path for guiding odor (first gas). In the odor line 11, odor is introduced from an odor introduction portion provided between an upstream end and a downstream end of the odor line 11. An outside air intake line 16 (cleaning gas introduction means) is connected to the upstream end of the odor line 11, and an air pump 23 (pump) and a downstream side of the odor introduction section in the odor line 11 are connected to the odor line 11. A buffer 24 is provided.

  The odor introduction parts 2a and 2b are respectively composed of odor bags 21a and 21b (containers), odor introduction lines 17 and 18 (third flow path), and two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35 (open / close valves). The odor introduction lines 17 and 18 connected to the odor bags 21 a and 21 b are connected to the odor line 11.

  The odor bags 21a and 21b are containers into which odors are introduced and introduce odors into the odor line 11 through the odor introduction lines 17 and 18. In addition, the odor introduced into each of the plurality of odor bags 21a and 21b may be different types, concentrations, and the like. In addition, the number of odor introduction parts is not particularly limited to those described above, and may be one or three or more.

  “Odor is introduced” in the odor bags 21a and 21b means that odor is present in the odor bags 21a and 21b. Therefore, the odor introduced into the odor bags 21a and 21b may be directly injected into the odor bags 21a and 21b. However, the odor bag can be obtained by injecting an odor source solution that generates odors. It may occur within 21a, 21b. The odor stock solution only needs to be capable of generating odor, for example, by generating a gas that evaporates to become odor.

  The odor bags 21a and 21b are respectively provided with injection ports 28a and 28b for injecting a fluid such as odor or odor stock solution using a syringe (syringe). For example, a microsyringe can be used as the syringe. As a result, a small amount of a fluid such as odor or odor stock solution can be injected into the odor bags 21a and 21b, so that the odor can be prevented from becoming a high concentration. In addition, since the mass of the odor or odor stock solution injected into the odor bags 21a and 21b can be accurately measured, the odor in the odor bags 21a and 21b can be easily set to a desired concentration. Therefore, it becomes possible to present an odor with an accurate concentration.

  Here, conventionally, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 described above, an odorless gas is generated using an odorless gas as a carrier gas by feeding an odorless gas into an odorous substance (liquid) and causing it to bubble. However, with this method, it is difficult to make the odorous gas have a desired concentration. In addition, when the odorous substance is bubbled, in many cases, the concentration of the odorous gas tends to be higher than the desired concentration, a mechanism for reducing the concentration is required, and a high concentration of odorous gas is supplied into the apparatus. In such a case, odorous gas may remain and be mixed with other gases.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the odor in the odor bags 21a and 21b can be set to a desired concentration, a mechanism for reducing the concentration is not necessary, and the odor remains in the apparatus and other odors remain. Mixing can be prevented.

  The odor introduction lines 17 and 18 are connected to the odor line 11 via joints 29a and 29b, and the odor is introduced into the odor line 11 from the odor bags 21a and 21b by opening and closing the two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35. Is adjusted.

  The joints 29a and 29b are preferably T-shaped joints such as a mail branch tee. The distance between the two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35 and the joints 29a and 29b (for example, indicated by A in FIG. 1A) is preferably as short as possible. It is more preferable that the two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35 are directly connected to the joints 29a and 29b because the distance A becomes shorter.

  Here, the odor at the distance A is likely to remain without being cleaned in a cleaning process described later, and the remaining odor may flow out to the odor line 11 when other odors are presented. However, if the distance A is short, the amount of odor remaining in this portion can be reduced. Therefore, when a plurality of types of odors are alternately introduced into the odor line 11, these odors can be prevented from being mixed with each other.

  The air pump 23 is a pump that delivers the gas in the odor line 11. In the air pump 23, it is preferable that an air contact portion in contact with the gas in the odor line 11 is made of a fluororesin such as Teflon (registered trademark). As a result, it is difficult for odors to adhere to the air pump 23, so that it is possible to further prevent a plurality of odors from being mixed with each other.

  Here, conventionally, there is a case where the flow rate in the gas delivery is controlled by, for example, MFC (mass flow controller), but in order to operate the MFC, a high-pressure gas such as a pressure cylinder or a compressor serving as a pressure source of the high-pressure gas is used. Equipment using is necessary. Such facilities are difficult to install, manage, etc., such as requiring permission for installation for safety management, and handling of devices equipped with these facilities is difficult.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the air pump 23 is provided, it is not necessary to provide equipment using high-pressure gas. Therefore, the olfactory stimulus presentation device 1 that is easier to handle than the conventional one can be provided.

  The buffer 24 is a container for removing pulse waves generated in the gas delivered by the air pump 23. The buffer 24 preferably has a small resistance.

  The outside air intake line 16 is a flow path for introducing outside air (cleaning gas) into the odor line 11, the upstream end is opened toward the outside, and the downstream end is connected to the odor line 11 via a joint 29 c. Is done. A two-way electromagnetic valve 33 is provided in the outside air intake line 16. When the two-way electromagnetic valve 33 is opened, outside air is taken in from the outside by the action of the air pump 23. The taken outside air is introduced into the odor line 11.

  In the present embodiment, since the outside air intake line 16 is provided, the outside air can be introduced into the odor line 11 for cleaning. The cleaning gas is not particularly limited to the outside air as long as it does not affect the properties of the presented gas. For example, if the presented gas is odorous, the cleaning gas is preferably an odorless gas or the like, and if the presented gas is reactive, the cleaning gas is a reaction such as an inert gas or nitrogen. It is preferable that the property is low.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, when a plurality of types of odors are alternately presented on the presentation mask 20, the plurality of types of odors are alternately introduced into the odor line 11, but each odor is introduced. After that, since the inside of the odor line 11 can be cleaned, the plurality of types of odors can be presented on the presentation mask 20 without being mixed with each other.

  When cleaning the inside of the odor line 11, the downstream side of the odor line 11 is preferably connected to the exhaust line 14. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the cleaning gas in the odor line 11 from being presented on the presentation mask 20.

  The odorless air line 12 is a flow path into which odorless air (second gas) is introduced. An upstream end of the odorless air line 12 is provided with an air pump 22 for introducing odorless air into the odorless air line 12 and an activated carbon tank 27 for passing the introduced odorless air through the activated carbon. For example, a compressor or the like can be used as the air pump 22. A needle valve 38 for adjusting the gas flow rate is provided in the odorless air line 12.

  The activated carbon tank 27 is a container containing activated carbon. The activated carbon tank 27 can remove odorous components slightly contained in the odorless air. For example, when odorous components such as oil inside the air pump 22 are mixed in odorless air when the air pump 22 takes in outside air, this can be removed. The odorless air flow 12 a generated in this way is guided downstream through the odorless air line 12.

[Method of presenting olfactory stimulus]
Next, an olfactory stimulus presentation method for presenting odors using the olfactory stimulus presentation device 1 described above will be described, and a gas presentation method according to the present invention will be described.

  The olfactory stimulus presentation method (gas presentation method) in the present embodiment includes an odor presentation step (gas presentation step) and an odor line cleaning step (cleaning step).

  The odor presenting step is a step of presenting odor on the presentation mask 20. Further, the odor line cleaning step is a step of cleaning the odor line 11. The odor presenting step and the odor line cleaning step can be realized by adjusting the three-way solenoid valves 31, 32 and the two-way solenoid valves 33, 34, 35 as described below.

  Here, in the odor presentation process and the odor line cleaning process, the air pumps 22 and 23 are always driven, and the gas in the odor line 11 and the odorless air line 12 is always flowing. It is not limited to this. Moreover, it is preferable that the odor for each presentation is previously introduce | transduced into the odor bag 21a, 21b.

  In the odor presenting step, as shown in FIG. 1B, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is adjusted to connect the odor line 11 and the presentation line 13, and the three-way solenoid valve 32 is adjusted to the odorless air line 12 and the exhaust line. 15 to adjust. Moreover, it adjusts so that either of the two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35 may be opened. For example, when presenting the odor in the odor bag 21a, it adjusts so that the two-way solenoid valve 34 may be opened and the other two-way solenoid valves 35 may be closed. Further, the two-way solenoid valve 33 is adjusted to be closed. As a result, the odor line 11 is connected to the presentation line 13 and the odor is introduced into the odor line 11, so that the odor is guided to the presentation mask 20 and presented to the subject. The odorless air introduced into the odorless air line 12 is exhausted by the exhaust line 15.

  In the odor line cleaning step, as shown in FIG. 1A, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is adjusted so that the odor line 11 and the exhaust line 14 are connected, and the three-way solenoid valve 32 is connected to the odorless air line 12. It adjusts so that the presentation line 13 may be connected. Further, the two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35 are closed and the two-way solenoid valve 33 is opened. Thereby, since it switches to the odor line 11 and the odorless air line 12 is connected to the presentation line 13, the odorless air is guided to the presentation mask 20 and presented to the subject. In addition, outside air is introduced into the odor line 11 from the outside air intake line 16. Outside air passes through the odor line 11 and is exhausted by the exhaust line 14. Thereby, the inside of the odor line 11 can be wash | cleaned.

  In this way, in the odor line cleaning step, odorless air is presented to the presentation mask 20, so that it is possible to prevent the cleaning gas inside the odor line 11 from being presented to the presentation mask 20.

  In addition, when multiple types of odors are presented alternately, the odor presentation process and the odor line cleaning process described above are performed alternately. For example, when the odor introduced into the odor bag 21b is presented after the odor introduced into the odor bag 21a is presented, the odor line cleaning process is performed after the odor in the odor bag 21a is presented by the odor presentation process. Then, the odor in the odor bag 21b can be presented by the odor presenting step. Moreover, after performing the odor line washing | cleaning process again after that, the odor in another odor bag can also be shown by an odor presentation process. By repeating this, a plurality of types of odors can be alternately presented on the presentation mask 20 without being mixed with each other.

  Moreover, you may perform a pre-processing process before an odor presentation process, for example, after an odor line washing process, and just before an odor presentation process. In the pretreatment process, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is adjusted so as to connect the odor line 11 and the exhaust line 14, and the three-way solenoid valve 32 is adjusted so as to connect the odorless air line 12 and the presentation line 13. . Moreover, it adjusts so that either of the two-way solenoid valves 34 and 35 may be opened. For example, when presenting the odor in the odor bag 21a in the subsequent odor presenting step, the two-way electromagnetic valve 34 is adjusted to open. Further, the two-way solenoid valve 33 is adjusted to be closed. Thereby, while the odorless air line 12 is connected to the presentation line 13, the odor line 11 is connected to the exhaust line 14, and the odor in the odor bag 21a is introduced into the odor line 11. Therefore, the odor can be introduced into the odor line 11 in advance and washed with the so-called odor, so that the odor can be efficiently presented in the subsequent odor presentation process.

  An example of the olfactory stimulus presentation method in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an olfactory stimulus presentation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 2 shows only the odor presentation process which presents one odor among them, and the odor line washing | cleaning process before and behind that in the case of presenting several types of odor alternately.

Until the time t _{1 in} FIG. 2, the odor line cleaning process is performed before the odor presenting process for presenting the odor in a certain odor bag. This is performed, for example, for cleaning the odor presented in the previous odor presentation step. At this time, odorless air is presented to the subject, and outside air is introduced into the odor line 11.

Next Between time _{t 1} of _{t 2,} performing a pre-treatment step B. At this time, the odorless air is still presented to the subject, and the odor to be presented in the next odor presentation process is introduced into the odor line 11.

Then between _{t 3} from the time _{t 2,} performing the odor presentation process. At this time, the subject is presented with an odor, and the odor is introduced into the odor line 11.

Then the time t ₃ or later, performs odor line cleaning process. At this time, odorless air is presented to the subject, and outside air is introduced into the odor line 11.

  As described above, it is preferable to continue the odor line cleaning process for a time other than the odor presenting process and the pretreatment process for allowing the odor to pass through the odor line 11. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the time for allowing the odor to pass through the odor line 11 and to clean the odor line 11 efficiently, so that a plurality of types of odor can be presented without being mixed with each other.

  A gas that stimulates the sense of smell such as odor is highly likely to be sensed by living organisms even at extremely low concentrations (eg, on the order of ppm and ppb). Therefore, in an olfactory stimulus presentation device that alternately presents multiple types of odors and the like, it is important to remove as much as possible the odors remaining in the device so that the odors are not mixed with each other. The present invention makes it possible to present a plurality of types of gases so as not to be mixed with each other by the gas presentation mechanism and the timing of presentation as described above.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Since the present invention can present a plurality of types of gases without being mixed with each other, the present invention can be used in an industrial field in which a gas needs to be presented, such as an industrial field in which an olfactory stimulus such as odorous gas needs to be investigated.

1 Olfactory stimulus presentation device (gas presentation device)
2a, 2b Odor introduction part (first gas introduction means)
10. Connection part (connection means)
11 Smell line (first flow path)
12 Odorless air line (second flow path)
16 Outside air intake line (cleaning gas introduction means)
17, 18 Odor introduction line (third flow path)
20 Presentation mask (presentation part)
21a, 21b Odor bag (container)
23 Air pump (pump)
28a, 28b Inlet 29a, 29b Fitting 31 Three-way solenoid valve (first connection valve)
32 Three-way solenoid valve (second connection valve)
34, 35 Two-way solenoid valve (open / close valve)

Claims (8)

A presentation unit for presenting the first gas, a first channel for introducing the first gas into the presentation unit, and a first unit for introducing the first gas into the first channel A gas presentation device comprising gas introduction means,
Connecting means for connecting the first flow path and the second flow path into which the second gas is introduced to the presentation unit;
The connection means introduces the first connection valve for controlling whether or not the fluid in the first channel is introduced into the presentation unit, and introduces the fluid in the second channel into the presentation unit. A second connection valve for controlling whether or not,
The gas presentation device, wherein the first flow path is provided with cleaning gas introducing means for introducing a cleaning gas into the first flow path. A plurality of the first gas introduction means;
2. The gas presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first gas introduction units present different types of the first gas to the presentation unit, respectively. The first gas introduction means is
A container into which the first gas is introduced;
A third flow path for guiding the first gas in the container into the first flow path;
The gas presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the gas presentation device includes an on-off valve provided in the third flow path.   The gas presentation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the container is provided with an inlet for injecting a fluid with a syringe. The third flow path is connected to the first flow path via a joint,
The gas presentation device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the on-off valve is directly connected to the joint.   The gas presentation device according to claim 1, further comprising a pump that sends out the gas in the first flow path. The gas presenting method includes a gas presenting step of connecting the first flow channel to the presenting unit and introducing the first gas into the first flow channel and presenting the first gas to the presenting unit. And
After the gas presenting step, the first flow path is switched to connect the second flow path to the presenting section, and the second gas is introduced into the second flow path, and the first flow path A gas presentation method comprising a cleaning step of introducing a cleaning gas into a flow path.   The pretreatment step of connecting the second flow path to the presentation section and introducing the first gas into the first flow path is performed before the gas presentation step. 8. The gas presentation method according to 7.

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