JP2012213444A - Blood pressure measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To variably change the time for regulating a pressure sensor.SOLUTION: An electronic sphygmomanometer includes: a cuff attached to a measuring site of a person to be measured; a pressure regulating part 111 for regulating the pressure applied to the cuff; a pressure sensor for detecting the cuff pressure within the cuff; a computing part 112 for computing the blood pressure value using a detection signal output from the pressure sensor in the process of regulating the pressure by the pressure regulating part; and a correction part 113 for initializing or updating the zero point indicating the output of the pressure sensor in a pressureless state with no pressure applied to the cuff as 0 mmHg in the pressure sensor. The correction time for the correction part to initialize or update the zero point is variably changed based on time information for blood pressure measurement.

Description

  The present invention relates to a blood pressure measurement device, and more particularly to a blood pressure measurement device having a pressure sensor correction function.

  Blood pressure is one of the indices for analyzing cardiovascular diseases, and risk analysis based on blood pressure is effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart failure and myocardial infarction.

  Conventionally, diagnosis has been performed based on blood pressure (anytime blood pressure) measured at a medical institution such as when visiting a hospital or during a medical examination. However, recent studies have shown that blood pressure measured at home (home blood pressure) is more useful for diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases than blood pressure at any time. Along with this, blood pressure monitors used at home have become widespread, and more than 30 million units exist in each home in Japan.

  In general, a blood pressure monitor uses a pressure sensor that detects a relative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, when performing blood pressure measurement using a sphygmomanometer, it is first necessary to initialize the output of the pressure sensor when the user turns on the power. Here, the initialization of the pressure sensor is to adjust the output of the pressure sensor to 0 mmHg in a non-pressurized state where no pressure is applied to the cuff, that is, in an open state of atmospheric pressure. A blood pressure monitor that performs the adjustment at the start of measurement is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-142370 by the applicant.

JP 2010-142370 A

  According to the conventional sphygmomanometer, the pressure sensor is adjusted every time the power is turned on for blood pressure measurement. Therefore, the user must wait for the period until the pressure sensor adjustment is completed. I feel stress. For this reason, there is a risk that the home blood pressure will not be measured over time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a blood pressure measurement device that can variably change the time for adjusting the pressure sensor.

  A blood pressure measurement device according to the present invention includes a cuff attached to a measurement site of a measurement subject, a pressure adjustment unit for adjusting pressure applied to the cuff, a pressure sensor for detecting cuff pressure in the cuff, Using the detection signal output from the pressure sensor in the process of adjusting the pressure by the pressure adjustment unit, the calculation unit for calculating the blood pressure value, and the zero point indicating the output of the pressure sensor in the non-pressurized state where no pressure is applied to the cuff Is corrected to 0 mmHg of the pressure sensor, and the correction time for initializing or updating the zero point by the correction unit is variably changed based on the blood pressure measurement time information.

  According to the present invention, the time for adjusting the pressure sensor can be changed variably.

1 is an external view of an electronic blood pressure monitor according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the usage condition and storage aspect of the electronic blood pressure monitor which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a hardware block diagram of the electronic blood pressure monitor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional lineblock diagram of an electronic sphygmomanometer concerning an embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of the memory which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining 0 mmHg adjustment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for determining the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is another flowchart for determining the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for determining the holding time of 0 mmHg adjustment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is another flowchart for determining the holding time of 0 mmHg adjustment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the start process of 0 mmHg adjustment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the blood-pressure measurement process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the 0 mmHg adjustment start time and holding time which concern on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the host computer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a process flowchart in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the present embodiment, an electronic sphygmomanometer that calculates blood pressure by an oscillometric method in which the measurement site is the upper arm and the measurement site is pressurized with a cuff will be described as the blood pressure measurement device, but the blood pressure calculation method is an oscillometric method. The blood pressure measurement method using the Korotkoff sound and the blood pressure measurement according to the volume vibration method may be used. Further, the measurement site is not limited to the upper arm, and may be a wrist. Here, the fluid used for cuff pressure increase / decrease will be described as air.

  Here, the electronic sphygmomanometer is equipped with one pressure sensor, but it may be equipped with two or more pressure sensors.

  FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of an electronic sphygmomanometer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. .

  Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic sphygmomanometer 1 includes a main body 10 and a cuff 20 (described later) that can be wound around the upper arm of a measurement subject. The cuff 20 is detachably attached to the main body 10 by an air tube 31. The main body 10 has on its surface an operation unit (an operation unit to be described later) having a display unit 40 made of, for example, liquid crystal, and a plurality of switches that accept instructions according to the operation when operated by a user (a person to be measured). 41).

  Referring to FIG. 1A, the operation unit includes a power switch 41A that is operated to instruct the power supply of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 to be turned on or off, and a measurement switch 41B that receives instructions to start and stop measurement. (41C), a memory switch 41D operated to read information such as blood pressure data stored in the memory from the memory and display it on the display unit 40, a timer set switch 41E operated to set a timer, and an electronic blood pressure A user selection switch 41F operated to specify each user (measured person) who also serves as the total 1 is provided. The measurement switch 41B (41C) has both the function of the switch 41B operated to instruct start of measurement and the function of the switch 41C operated to instruct measurement stop.

  The electronic sphygmomanometer 1 of FIG. 1A includes a power switch 41A and a measurement start switch 41B separately. Instead of this, the power switch 41A and measurement start as shown in FIG. The switch 41B may be shared by a single switch. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1A, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 including the power switch 41A and the measurement start switch 41B will be described. However, as shown in FIG. The same configuration can be applied even if the configuration is shared.

  Referring to FIG. 2A, the person to be measured wears cuff 20 on the upper arm when measuring blood pressure. When not in use, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is stored in the storage bag with the cuff 20 and the air tube 31 removed from the main body 10 as shown in FIG.

(Configuration of electronic blood pressure monitor)
Referring to FIG. 3, in addition to display unit 40 and operation unit 41, main unit 10 of electronic sphygmomanometer 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 for centrally controlling each unit and performing various arithmetic processes, A processing memory 42 for storing a program and data for causing the CPU 100 to perform a predetermined operation, a data storage memory 43 for storing various data including measured blood pressure data, and power for each part of the main body 10 And a timer 45 for measuring the current time and outputting the time data to the CPU 100.

  Since the power supply unit 44 is made of a battery, the power supply unit 44 can supply necessary power to each unit even in the housed state of FIG. 2B or in a state where it is not used for measurement. Note that, instead of the battery, or in combination with the battery, power may be supplied from an external commercial power supply via a cable.

  The main body 10 includes a communication I / F (Interface) 60 corresponding to a communication module having a modulation / demodulation function for wirelessly or wiredly communicating with an external device of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1, and a memory that is a card-like recording medium A card 62 is detachably attached, and an external I / F (Interface) 61 for reading data from the attached memory card 62 or writing data to the memory card 62 is provided. Note that the recording medium attached to the external I / F 61 is not limited to a card-like one.

  The main body 10 further includes a pump 51 and an exhaust valve (hereinafter referred to as a valve) 52 as a mechanism for adjusting the internal pressure (hereinafter referred to as cuff pressure) of the air bladder 21 contained in the cuff 20. The pump 51 and the valve 52 mainly function as a cuff pressure adjusting mechanism during blood pressure measurement.

  The main body 10 further includes an oscillation circuit 33 connected to the pressure sensor 32, a pump drive circuit 53 connected to the pump 51, and a valve drive circuit 54 connected to the valve 52. The output signal of the oscillation circuit 33 is given to the CPU 100.

  The pump 51 supplies air to the air bladder 21 in order to increase the cuff pressure. The valve 52 is opened and closed by a valve drive circuit 54 in order to exhaust or enclose the air in the air bladder 21. The pump drive circuit 53 controls the drive of the pump 51 based on a control signal given from the CPU 100. The pump 51 delivers air at a constant flow rate per unit time according to the voltage level applied from the pump drive circuit 53. The valve drive circuit 54 performs opening / closing control of the valve 52 based on a control signal given from the CPU 100.

  The pressure sensor 32 is a capacitance type pressure sensor, and the capacitance value changes according to the cuff pressure detected via the air tube 31. The oscillation circuit 33 is connected to the pressure sensor 32 and oscillates based on the capacitance value of the pressure sensor 32. Thus, the oscillation circuit 33 outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to the capacitance value of the pressure sensor 32 (hereinafter referred to as a frequency signal). The output frequency signal is given to the CPU 100. The CPU 100 detects the pressure by converting the frequency signal input from the oscillation circuit 33 into a pressure.

  Here, 0 mmHg adjustment of the pressure sensor 32 means that no pressure is applied to the cuff 20 by the air tube 31, and no pressure is applied from the outside of the cuff 20 except for atmospheric pressure. This refers to the operation of detecting pressure based on the output signal from the pressure sensor 32.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the CPU 100 determines an index determination unit 110 that determines an index of blood pressure, a pressure adjustment unit 111, a zero point update unit 113, an activation unit 115 for activating the zero point update unit 113, and timing related to zero point update. A time determination unit 116 for determining time is provided. Furthermore, an access unit 130 for accessing the memory 43 and a display processing unit 131 for displaying data on the display unit 40 are provided.

  The index determination unit 110 acquires a blood pressure value, the presence or absence of hypertension, and the like as a blood pressure index. A blood pressure calculation unit 112 is included to calculate the blood pressure value and the pulse rate. The blood pressure calculation unit 112 calculates systolic blood pressure (maximum blood pressure) and diastolic blood pressure (minimum blood pressure) using the frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 33, and calculates the pulse rate.

  The pressure adjustment unit 111 controls the pump 51 and the valve 52 via the pump drive circuit 53 and the valve drive circuit 54, and adjusts the cuff pressure by flowing air into and out of the air bag 21 via the air tube 31. To do. Here, a configuration including the pressure sensor 32, the pump 51, and the valve 52 is referred to as an air system.

  The blood pressure calculation unit 112 detects pulse wave amplitude information based on a frequency signal input from the oscillation circuit 33 (this frequency signal indicates a pressure information signal), and based on the detected pulse wave amplitude information, a systolic blood pressure according to an oscillometric method. The diastolic blood pressure is calculated, and the pulse rate per predetermined time is calculated based on the detected pulse wave amplitude information. Specifically, in the process of gradually increasing (or reducing) the cuff pressure to a predetermined value by the pressure adjustment unit 111, pulse wave amplitude information is detected based on the cuff pressure input from the oscillation circuit 33, and the detected pulse is detected. Based on the wave amplitude information, the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure of the measurement subject are calculated. Since blood pressure calculation and pulse calculation according to the oscillometric method by the blood pressure calculation unit 112 can be performed by a conventionally known method, details thereof are omitted.

  The zero point update unit 113 includes a zero point detection unit 114 that receives a frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 33 and analyzes the input signal to detect the zero point. The detection of the zero point will be described later.

  The access unit 130 has a function of reading data from the memory 43 or writing (storing) data in the memory 43. Specifically, the output data from the index determination unit 110 is input, and the input data (blood pressure measurement data) is stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 43. Further, a zero point that is output data from the zero point update unit 113 is input, and the input data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 43. Further, the access unit 130 reads out measurement data from a predetermined storage area of the memory 43 based on the operation of the memory switch 41 </ b> D of the operation unit 41 and outputs it to the display processing unit 131. Other units read and write data in the memory 43 via the access unit 130.

  The display processing unit 131 inputs given data, converts the input data into a displayable format, and displays the converted data on the display unit 40.

  The time determination unit 116 is information related to the measurement subject, and determines the time to continue updating the zero point even after the measurement subject gives an instruction to turn off the power by operating the power switch 41A and the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment. The information acquisition unit 117 that receives information for the measurement, the start time determination unit 118 that determines the start time of the 0 mmHg adjustment, and the zero point is updated even after the measurement subject gives an instruction to turn off the power by operating the power switch 41A. A holding period determination unit 119 that determines the length (period) of time to continue is included.

  Note that the information acquisition unit 117 acquires information on the person to be measured by reading from the memory card 62 via the external 1 / F 61 or information transmitted from an external device via the communication I / F 60. Get by accepting.

  Note that FIG. 4 shows only the part that directly inputs and outputs the CPU 100 peripheral circuits.

(Memory contents)
FIG. 5 shows an example of data stored in the memory 43. The memory 43 stores a zero point 431, time data 432 determined by the start time determination unit 118 and the holding period determination unit 119, and measurement data 433 for each person to be measured. The area for storing these data is composed of a nonvolatile memory.

  The time data 432 includes an ID (Identifier) 442 for identifying the person to be measured for each person using the electronic blood pressure monitor 1, a time (start time) 452 at which 0 mmHg adjustment should be started, and the power switch 41A. The data of the holding time 462 indicating the length of time for which the zero point should continue to be updated even after the measurement subject gives an instruction to shut off the power supply by the operation of.

  The measurement data 433 is stored in units of records every time blood pressure measurement is performed on the corresponding measurement subject. The data of each record includes an ID 443 for identifying the person to be measured, a measurement date and time 453 indicating the date and time (year, month, day, time (hour, minute) and day of the week) of blood pressure measurement, user information 463, blood pressure value / It includes data of a flag 483 indicating whether the pulse rate 473 and the blood pressure value correspond to hypertension. Here, the measurement date and time 453 indicates time data of the timer 45 at the time of starting blood pressure measurement (when the measurement switch 41B is operated).

(About 0mmHg adjustment)
In the present embodiment, predetermined condition data (data M0 and M300) for 0 mmHg adjustment of the pressure sensor 32 is acquired in advance when the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is shipped from the factory and stored in the memory 43. A procedure for acquiring the predetermined condition data will be described.

  Specifically, when detecting data M0 and M300, an external pressure applying device is connected to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 instead of the cuff 20. At this time, the valve 52 is closed. As a result, air flows between the pressure application device connected instead of the cuff 20 and the air system via the air tube 31.

  The output of the pressure sensor 32 when a predetermined pressure value (0 mmHg, 300 mmHg) is applied is measured by the connected pressure application device (in this embodiment, the frequencies M0 and M300 of the output signal of the oscillation circuit 33 are measured). . The measured value is stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 43. The predetermined pressure values (0 mmHg, 300 mmHg) are based on the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 designed to measure blood pressure from 0 to 299 mmHg. This measurement value is not rewritable in the memory 43 and is not erased. Thereby, the predetermined condition data for 0 mmHg adjustment is acquired, and the linear expression of the characteristic L1 in FIG. 6 described later can be detected. Thereafter, the valve drive circuit 54 opens the valve 52, and the air filled in the air system is rapidly exhausted.

  When measuring the blood pressure of the measurement subject, the blood pressure calculation unit 112 calculates the pressure value P (mmHg) according to (Equation 1) using the data M0 and M300. The calculated pressure value P corresponds to the cuff pressure.

Pressure value P = {(f−U0) ÷ (M300−M0)} × 300 (Formula 1)
In (Expression 1), the variable U0 indicates an output value when the pressure sensor 32 is initialized, and the variable f indicates a frequency of an output signal from the oscillation circuit 33 at the time of measurement. Hereinafter, the variable U0 is referred to as an output value U0, and the variable f is referred to as frequency data f.

  The calculation of the pressure value P according to the above (Equation 1) will be further described with reference to the graph of the characteristics of the pressure sensor 32 in FIG. In the graph of FIG. 6, the horizontal axis represents the pressure (mmHg) indicating the cuff pressure, and the vertical axis represents the frequency (Hz) of the output signal of the oscillation circuit 33. FIG. 6 shows a characteristic L1 of the pressure sensor 32 at the time of manufacturing the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 and a characteristic L2 of the pressure sensor 32 at the time of blood pressure measurement (current).

  If the characteristic L1 of the pressure sensor 32 at the time of manufacture and the characteristic L2 of the current pressure sensor are the same, the pressure value P = (f−M0) / (M300−M0) × 300 (Equation 2) is established. Actually, however, the characteristic of the pressure sensor 32 cannot be maintained at the time of manufacture due to various factors such as usage conditions, and the characteristic L1 changes to the current characteristic L2, for example. Therefore, (Equation 2) is rewritten to (Equation 1) using the output value U0 at the time of initialization of the pressure sensor 32, which is caused by this characteristic change.

  The procedure for detecting the output value U0 and obtaining (Equation 1) is called 0 mmHg adjustment. Here, the zero value detector 114 detects the output value U0. The detected output value U0 is stored as a zero point 431 in the memory 43 by the zero point updating unit 113.

(Detection of zero point)
The zero point detection unit 114 initializes the pressure sensor 32 when detecting the output value U0.

  At the time of initialization, the pressure adjustment unit 111 opens the valve 52 via the valve drive circuit 54 and stops the pump via the pump drive circuit 53. Thereby, the pressure sensor 32, the pump 51, the valve 52, the air bag 21, and the air tube 31 are in an atmospheric pressure open state. At the time of this initialization, the zero point detection unit 114 detects the frequency signal data f0 (corresponding to the output value U0 in FIG. 6) from the oscillation circuit 33. The zero point update unit 113 stores the detected data f0 in the memory 43 as the zero point 431. Thereby, the zero point 431 of the memory 43 is updated.

  In this embodiment, only the zero point detected at 0 mmHg (that is, when the atmospheric pressure is released) is offset as the characteristic of the pressure sensor that changes due to various factors such as the usage situation, but the slope of the characteristic L2 It is also envisaged that it will also change. In this case, it is known that the difference between the slope of the characteristic L2 and the slope of the characteristic L1 correlates with the offset amount of the zero point (that is, U0-M0). Therefore, the pressure value P is expressed by the following equation (3). May be calculated.

Pressure value P = [(f−U0) ÷ {(M300−M0) × (U0−M0) × α}] × 300 (Formula 3)
Here, α is a constant determined in advance through experiments or the like.

(0 mmHg adjustment start time determination process)
FIG. 7 shows a procedure for determining the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment. Here, the memory card 62 stores information on the blood pressure measurement time of each person to be measured for each ID of each person to be measured. Specifically, it refers to data of time for blood pressure measurement such as daily medication time, meal time, wake-up / sleep time, time specified by a doctor, and the like.

  Referring to FIG. 7, first, information acquisition unit 117 inputs information related to the blood pressure measurement time of each person to be measured from memory card 62 via external I / F 61 (step ST101).

  The start time determination unit 118 divides the input time data into patterns for each person to be measured. For example, classification is performed for each of a plurality of types of time (medication time, meal time, wake-up / sleep time, time specified by a doctor, etc.) (ST102). And about each to-be-measured person, it determines with the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment based on each time divided into patterns (ST103). For example, the time after waking up is determined as the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment, and the time before bedtime is determined as the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment.

  The start time determination unit 118 stores the input ID of the measurement subject and the 0 mmHg adjustment start time determined for the measurement subject in association with the ID 442 and the start time 452 in the memory 43 as time data 432 ( ST104).

  Here, the information on the person to be measured is input from the memory card 62, but the input destination is not limited. For example, the start time determination unit 118 performs notification to prompt the user to input information, and notifies the user. In response, the measurement subject may input from the operation unit 41.

(Optimization of 0 mmHg adjustment start time)
In FIG. 7, the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment is determined using the blood pressure measurement time information based on the life pattern input by the measurement subject, but as shown in FIG. 8, the measurement data 433 stored in the memory 43 is used. It may be determined.

  In other words, life patterns such as wake-up time, bedtime, meal time, and exercise time that can be events of blood pressure measurement vary depending on the person to be measured, but the life pattern is almost fixed in individual units. Therefore, a time that can be a blood pressure measurement event is extracted from the measurement data 433 of each person being measured. That is, if a plurality of blood pressure measurement data having the same measurement date and time are stored, it is possible to specify that the date and time is the event occurrence time of blood pressure measurement and the blood pressure measurement time. Accordingly, by determining a predetermined time (for example, one minute) before the specified blood pressure measurement time as the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment, the waiting time for 0 mmHg adjustment at the time of blood pressure measurement can be eliminated, and the subject is stressed. Blood pressure can be measured without being given. Moreover, the latest zero point 431 can be acquired for subsequent blood pressure calculation.

  With reference to FIG. 8, another procedure for determining the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment by the start time determination unit 118 will be described. When the process is started, first, the information acquisition unit 117 reads the measurement data 433 from the memory 43 (ST201). The start time determination unit 118 extracts the measurement date and time 453 from the measurement data 433 of each person to be measured, and analyzes the measurement time (hour: minute) based on the extracted measurement date and time 453 (ST203). And based on the analysis result, the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment is determined (ST204).

  For example, if it is determined as a result of analysis that measurement data of the same measurement time is stored in a predetermined number or more, the measurement time is determined as a time that can be a blood pressure measurement event, and the determined measurement time One minute before is determined as the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment.

  The start time determination unit 118 stores the ID 443 of the measured person read from the measurement data 433 and the determined 0 mmHg adjustment start time as data 442 and 452, and stores them in the memory 43 as time data 432 (ST205). .

  7 and 8, the processing of the start time determination unit 118 is a state in which the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is not performing processing such as blood pressure measurement, measurement data storage and display (for example, the standby state or the power switch 41A is It is assumed that the program is executed in a state of being turned off.

(Determination of 0mmHg adjustment holding time)
Even after an instruction to turn off the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is input by the power switch 41A, it is desirable to perform 0 mmHg adjustment at a predetermined time interval for a certain period and continuously update the zero point as needed. Here, the fixed period during which the zero point is continuously updated is referred to as 0 mmHg adjustment holding time.

  In other words, the subject may measure blood pressure continuously several times depending on events such as medication time, meal time, wake-up / sleep time, and time specified by the doctor. If there is a next measurement within a predetermined time (for example, within 3 minutes) from the previous blood pressure measurement, it can be determined that it has been measured a plurality of times at the same event. For example, in the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 of FIG. 1A, during the period in which the blood pressure measurement is continuously performed, auto power off (the sphygmomanometer 1 is not operated for a certain period of time so that the power source of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is 1), the power switch 41A and the measurement start switch 41B are also used in the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 of FIG. 1 (B). Therefore, it is necessary to shut off the power supply every measurement. Yes, the person to be measured must turn on the power each time and wait for the pressure sensor adjustment to be completed. In order to eliminate such inconvenience, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 according to the present embodiment operates as follows.

  In the present embodiment, the holding period determination unit 119 determines how many times each person to be measured tends to measure for each event, and determines the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time based on the determination result. The 0 mmHg adjustment holding time is displayed on the display unit when a power OFF instruction is input to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 by the power switch 41A until a plurality of measurements are completed or until a time corresponding to the plurality of measurements elapses. The power supply to 40 is cut off, but the power supply to the parts necessary for the 0 mmHg adjustment of the pressure sensor 32 such as the CPU 100, the pressure sensor 32, and the oscillation circuit 33 is continued, and the zero point is set by performing the 0 mmHg adjustment at predetermined time intervals. Refers to the time to continue updating. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the determination process of the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time by the holding period determination unit 119 will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 9, holding period determination section 119 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed since the end of blood pressure measurement, that is, a predetermined time that can be determined as the end of continuous blood pressure measurement has ended (ST301). Then, the process proceeds to the process of determining the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time.

  First, a record of measurement data for a predetermined number of times measured immediately before is read from the measurement data 433 of the person to be measured from the memory 43. The measurement data of the plurality of read records is analyzed (ST302). Through analysis, the number of measurements within a certain period of time and the time required for a certain number of measurements are acquired.

  The number of measurements within a certain time acquired based on the analysis result and the time required for the certain number of measurements are determined as the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time (ST303).

  The ID 443 read from the measurement data 433 and the determined 0 mmHg adjustment holding time are stored in the memory 43 as the time data 432 in association with the ID 442 and the holding time 462 (ST304), and the process ends.

  Although the determination procedure of the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time in FIG. 9 is performed every time continuous blood pressure measurement is completed, it may be determined based on the measurement data 443 stored in the memory 43 regardless of the blood pressure measurement process. .

  Referring to FIG. 10, information acquisition unit 117 reads measurement data 433 from memory 43 (ST401), and retention period determination unit 119 extracts measurement date / time 453 from the read measurement data 433 of each person to be measured. (ST402).

  The 0 mmHg adjustment holding time is determined for each person to be measured. That is, based on the measurement date and time 453 extracted from the measurement data 443 of the measurement subject, a period in which blood pressure measurement is continuously performed a predetermined number of times at a predetermined interval is extracted, and the length of time is detected for each extracted period. (ST403). And a representative value is calculated from the time length of each period, and it determines as 0 mmHg adjustment holding time (ST404). Alternatively, the representative value of the number of times of continuous measurement within a certain period is determined as the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time. The representative value is an average value, a mode value, a median value, or the like.

  Holding period determination section 119 stores ID 443 from measurement data 433 and the determined 0 mmHg adjustment holding time in memory 43 as time data 432 in association with ID 442 and holding time 462 (ST405).

  9 and 10 are assumed to be executed in a state where processing such as blood pressure measurement is not performed in the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 (for example, a standby state or a power-off state).

  Thus, the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time can be determined from the measurement data 433 for each person to be measured.

  The start timing of processing by the above-described start time determination unit 118 and holding period determination unit 119 may be determined as follows.

  For example, the date when the processing by the start time determination unit 118 or the retention period determination unit 119 is recorded is recorded, and when it is determined that a predetermined number of days have passed since the previous execution date, or the previous processing was performed. Thereafter, the process may be automatically executed when the number of records of the measurement data 433 newly stored reaches a predetermined number.

  Alternatively, instead of the automatic execution start, the measurement subject is notified using the display unit 40 that the process by the start time determination unit 118 or the holding period determination unit 119 has become executable. May be. Then, when the measurement subject operates a predetermined switch of the operation unit 41, the processing by the start time determination unit 118 or the holding period determination unit 119 may be started.

(0mmHg adjustment start processing)
Here, the operation of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 shown in FIG. 1 (B), in which the power switch 41A and the measurement start switch 41B are combined, will be described. In the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 shown in FIG. 1B, the user selection switch is a switch that can be mechanically selected by a user like a slide switch, and the sphygmomanometer is turned on. At the same time, the user is determined by reading the state of the switch.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, 0 mmHg adjustment is started based on the time determined by the start time determination unit 118 or the holding period determination unit 119.

  The activation unit 115 determines whether to activate the zero point update unit 113 according to the procedure of FIG. 11 during a period excluding the period during which the CPU 100 performs other processing such as blood pressure measurement processing, and zero based on the determination result. The point update unit 113 is activated.

  Referring to FIG. 11, activation unit 115 compares start time 452 in time data 432 of memory 43 with current time data input from timer 45. Then, based on the comparison result, it is determined whether or not the current time is the start time of 0 mmHg adjustment (S1).

  While it is determined that none of the start time 452 matches the time data input from the timer 45 (NO in S1), the process proceeds to step S9. If it is determined that any of the start time 452 matches the time data input from the timer 45 (YES in S1), the process proceeds to step S5.

  The activation unit 115 activates the zero point update unit 113. The activated zero point update unit 113 performs 0 mmHg adjustment (S5), and the acquired zero point is stored in the memory 43 as the zero point 431 (S7). As a result, the zero point 431 of the memory 43 is overwritten and updated by the newly acquired zero point.

  Thereafter, based on the input signal from the operation unit 41, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the power switch 41A has been operated, that is, whether or not a blood pressure measurement start instruction has been input (S9).

  If it is determined that the power switch 41A has been operated (YES in S9), the process proceeds to a blood pressure measurement process described later. If it is determined that the power switch 41A has not been operated, the process returns to S1, and the subsequent processes are similarly repeated.

(Blood pressure measurement process)
The blood pressure measurement process will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, when the power switch 41A is operated (YES in S9) and an instruction to start blood pressure measurement is input, initialization processing for blood pressure measurement processing is performed (ST1). For example, the work area of the memory 43 is initialized by the CPU 100.

  Next, before the measurement subject operates the power switch 41A, information for specifying the user specified by operating the user selection switch 41F is input (ST2). The time determination unit 116 searches the time data 432 in the memory 43 based on the user specific information. Based on the search result, the holding time 462 corresponding to the ID 442 matching the specific information is read (ST3).

  Next, the CPU 100 controls the pressure adjusting unit 111 to close the valve 52 via the valve drive circuit 54, and the pump 51 is pressurized to a predetermined pressure via the pump drive circuit 53. Control (ST5, ST6).

  In the process in which the cuff pressure is gradually increased to a predetermined pressure, the index determination unit 110 detects the cuff pressure using the zero point 431 based on (Expression 1) based on the output signal of the oscillation circuit 33. The detected cuff pressure is compared with a predetermined pressure (ST6). Based on the comparison result, pressurization (ST5) continues while the condition of (cuff pressure <predetermined pressure) is satisfied, but if it is determined that the condition of (cuff pressure ≧ predetermined pressure) is satisfied (“≧” in ST6) The pressure adjustment unit 111 stops the pump 51 via the pump drive circuit 53, and then gradually opens the valve 52 via the valve drive circuit 54 so that the cuff pressure is gradually reduced ( ST7).

  The blood pressure calculation unit 112 extracts the vibration component accompanying the arterial volume change superimposed on the cuff pressure obtained in the decompression process, and calculates the blood pressure by a predetermined calculation (ST8). The blood pressure is calculated using the cuff pressure calculated based on (Equation 1) using the zero point 431 of the memory 43.

  When systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are calculated by calculating the blood pressure (YES in ST9), the valve 52 is opened and the air in the cuff 20 is exhausted. In addition to the calculation of the blood pressure value, the pulse rate is calculated.

  The calculated blood pressure value / pulse rate is displayed on the display unit 40 by the display processing unit 131 together with the measurement date and time based on the time measurement data input from the timer 45 (ST10).

  In addition, the index determination unit 110 compares the calculated systolic blood pressure value with the reference blood pressure for hypertension, and determines whether or not the blood pressure corresponds to hypertension based on the comparison result. And the record which consists of data 443-483 which linked | related the user's specific information, the measurement date, blood pressure value / pulse rate, and the hypertension determination result is produced | generated to the memory 43 via the access part 130, and the record concerned is measured. Stored in the measurement data 433 of the person (ST11).

  Thereafter, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the power switch 41A is operated (pressed) based on the input signal from the operation unit 41 (ST12). If it is determined that power switch 41A has been operated (YES in ST12), time determination unit 116 determines whether or not the time period indicated by holding time 462 read in ST3 has elapsed (ST13).

  If it is determined that it has not elapsed (NO in ST13), that is, if it is determined that it is within the period in which blood pressure measurement is continuously performed, the CPU 100 shuts off only the display unit 40 (ST15), Based on the input signal, it is determined whether or not the power switch 41A is operated (pressed) (ST16).

  If it is determined that the power switch 41A has been operated (YES in ST16), the process returns to ST1, and the next blood pressure measurement process is started. If it is determined that the power switch 41A has not been operated (NO in ST16), the pressure sensor 32 is adjusted. Is carried out (ST17). Thereafter, the process returns to ST13, and the processes after ST13 are similarly repeated.

  On the other hand, even if it is determined that the power switch 41A has not been operated (NO in ST12), the pressure sensor 32 is adjusted at predetermined time intervals (ST14).

  According to the process of FIG. 12, the zero point 431 continues to be updated in the time period indicated by the holding time 462 even after the instruction to turn off the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is input by the power switch 41A. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the power-off instruction is input to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 by the power switch 41 </ b> A by the start time determination unit 118 for each event until a plurality of blood pressure measurements are completed. After that, the zero point 431 continues to be updated.

  In this way, the zero point update unit 113 continues to update the zero point 431 even after the power OFF instruction is input to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 by the power switch 41A. It is no longer necessary to wait for the pressure sensor 32 to be adjusted each time 41A is turned on.

  Further, the pressure sensor 32 detects a relative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure, but the zero point 431 is continuously updated even after the power-off instruction is input to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1, so that the measurement is performed under the measurement environment. Even if there is a change in the atmospheric pressure, it is possible to accurately detect the relative pressure.

  In addition, after updating the zero point 431, the interval (interval) until the next update can be variably changed so as to ensure at least the length of the holding time 462.

  In the above-described embodiment, the process is a combination of the 0 mmHg adjustment start time and the 0 mmHg adjustment hold time, but the process may be performed with reference to only one time. That is, the holding time may not be considered by performing the 0 mmHg adjustment based only on the 0 mmHg adjustment start time determined by the start time determining unit 118. In addition, assuming that the 0 mmHg adjustment is started at a predetermined time, the 0 mmHg adjustment may be continued within the holding time determined by the holding period determining unit 119. Whether the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is controlled by combining both times or controlled by referring to only one time may be switched by operating the operation unit 41.

(System configuration)
In the above embodiment, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 determines the start time and holding time of 0 mmHg adjustment. However, by configuring the system shown in FIG. 14, an external information processing apparatus determines these times. The data of the set time may be transmitted to the electronic blood pressure monitor 1.

  Referring to FIG. 14, the system according to the present embodiment includes an electronic sphygmomanometer 1 used by a person to be measured, a host computer 220 that communicates with electronic sphygmomanometer 1, and a wired or Includes a wireless network NT.

  Here, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is assumed to communicate directly with the host computer 220. However, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 uses a mobile phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a personal computer (abbreviation of personal computer), etc. as a communication relay device. The total 1 may communicate with the host computer 220 via these relay devices. Instead of the network NT, information may be exchanged via a recording medium.

  FIG. 15 shows the hardware configuration of the host computer 220. The host computer 220 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301 for overall control, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302 for storing programs and data in advance, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303 for storing various data, a timer 304, a hard disk 306, a communication I / F (Interface) 307 for connecting the network NT and the host computer 220, an output unit 305, an input unit 308, and a memory card 310 are detachably mounted, and the mounted memory card 310 An external I / F (Interface) 309 for reading data from the memory card or writing data to the memory card 310 is provided.

  The output unit 305 includes a display unit, a printing unit, an audio output unit, and the like. The input unit 308 includes a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The recording medium attached to the external I / F 309 is not limited to a card-like one.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16, a procedure for determining the 0 mmHg adjustment time in this system will be described.

  First, the person to be measured connects the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 to the network NT and operates the operation unit 41 to input an instruction for optimizing the 0 mmHg adjustment time.

  When the instruction is input, CPU 100 reads measurement data 433 corresponding to the subject to be measured from memory 43 (ST501), and transmits it to host computer 220 via communication I / F 60 (ST503).

  CPU 301 of host computer 220 receives measurement data 433 via communication I / F 307 (ST510).

  CPU 301 determines 0 mmHg adjustment start time based on received measurement data 433 (ST512 to ST518). Since this process is the same as the procedure described with reference to FIG.

  CPU 301 transmits data of the determined 0 mmHg adjustment start time to electronic sphygmomanometer 1 via communication I / F 307 (ST520).

  The CPU 00 of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 receives the 0 mmHg adjustment start time data via the communication I / F 60 (ST505), and the received data is stored in the time data 432 of the memory 43 as the start time 452 of the subject. Store (ST506). Thereafter, the process ends.

  Here, although the determination of the 0 mmHg adjustment start time has been described, the determination of the 0 mmHg adjustment hold time can be similarly determined by the host computer 220 using the procedure described in FIG. 10 and transmitted to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1. it can.

(program)
The method according to each flowchart according to the present embodiment can also be provided as a program. Such a program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card (not shown) attached to the CPU 100 or the host computer 220 and provided as a program product. You can also. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as the hard disk 306 built in the host computer 220. The program can also be provided by downloading via the network NT.

  For example, in the configuration of FIG. 3, the program can be supplied to the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 including the CPU 100 and having a computer function using various recording media such as the memory card 62. The CPU 100 reads and executes the program stored in the recording medium via the external I / F 61. In the configuration of FIG. 15, the program can be supplied to the host computer 220 using a recording medium such as the memory card 310. The CPU 301 reads and executes a program stored in the recording medium via the external I / F 309.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as the hard disk 306 and is read and executed by the CPU 301. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

(Modification)
This embodiment can be modified to cope with shift workers and the like whose work hours are irregular. For example, when the measurement subject inputs the shift time in accordance with the working hours, the 0 mmHg adjustment start time and the holding time may be changed using the shift time.

  Further, paying attention to the fact that the holiday life pattern is different from weekdays, the 0 mmHg adjustment start time and the holding time for holidays may be determined based on measurement data of holidays.

  Further, if the 0 mmHg adjustment holding time is set to 5 minutes and there is no measurement during that time, the holding time may be further extended.

  In addition, lifestyle patterns may change due to seasonal variations. Thus, ambient illuminance and temperature changes may be detected, and if there are changes, the start time 452 and holding time 462 of 0 mmHg adjustment by the time determination unit 116 may be recalculated.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 is a type installed on a desk, but may be a wrist-worn type.

  Each embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. Moreover, it is intended that the above-described embodiments are implemented in combination as much as possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic sphygmomanometer, 110 Index determination part, 111 Pressure adjustment part, 112 Blood pressure calculation part, 113 Zero point update part, 114 Zero point detection part, 115 Starting part, 116 Time determination part, 117 Information acquisition part, 118 Start time determination Part, 119 retention period determination part, 130 access part, 131 display processing part, 220 host computer.

Claims (8)

A cuff attached to the measurement site of the subject,
A pressure adjusting unit for adjusting the pressure applied to the cuff;
A pressure sensor for detecting the cuff pressure in the cuff;
A calculation unit for calculating a blood pressure value using a detection signal output from the pressure sensor in the process of adjusting the pressure by the pressure adjustment unit;
A correction unit for initializing or updating a zero point indicating an output of the pressure sensor in a non-pressurized state in which no pressure is applied to the cuff as 0 mmHg of the pressure sensor,
A blood pressure measurement device that variably changes a correction time for initializing or updating the zero point by the correction unit based on time information of blood pressure measurement. A time determination unit for determining the correction time;
The time determination unit
Including an information acquisition unit for acquiring time information of blood pressure measurement of the measurement subject,
The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the correction time is determined based on the time information to be acquired. A measurement data storage unit for storing measurement data in which the calculated blood pressure value is associated with the measurement time each time the blood pressure is calculated by the calculation unit;
The information acquisition unit
The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the time information is acquired based on a measurement time of each measurement data in the measurement data storage unit.   The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 3, wherein the correction time includes a start time for starting the zero point initialization process.   The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the correction time includes a time during which the zero point update process is continuously performed. The time determination unit
6. The number of times of continuous measurement at a predetermined interval is detected from the measurement time of each measurement data, and a time for continuously performing the zero point update process is determined based on the detected number of times. Blood pressure measuring device. A zero point storage unit for storing the zero point used by the calculation unit;
Means for setting a non-pressurized state in which no pressure is applied to the cuff by the pressure adjusting unit,
The correction unit is
A zero point detector for detecting the zero point based on a detection signal output from the pressure sensor when the non-pressurized state is set,
The blood pressure measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the zero point detected by the zero point detection unit is used to initialize or update the zero point of the zero point detection unit. A communication unit for communicating with an external device;
The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the correction time information is received via the communication unit.

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