JP2013015798A - Optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber sheet which senses changes in pressure to bed clothes during breathing in sleep by optical fibers put closely between the bed clothes and a human body to quickly and easily examine breathing problems such as sleep apnea of an infant moving violently in sleep at night without restricting the movement.SOLUTION: In the optical fiber sheet, optical fibers for a sleep apnea sensor which measures the change of transmission signal light due to an excessive loss generated by a lateral pressure applied to the optical fibers are disposed meanderingly. The optical fiber sheet has a plurality of quadrant structures by using one optical fiber and is structured so that it can be folded in two or four and be stored.

Description

  The present invention detects changes in pressure on the bedding during breathing during sleep using an optical fiber laid between the bedding and the human body, and controls signals resulting from changes in the lateral pressure on the optical fiber with a personal computer, microcomputer, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical fiber sheet for detecting an apnea sleep state and quickly detecting a respiratory disease of a subject including an infant and the like and a structure thereof.

  Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) means that breathing stops for 10 seconds or more during sleep, or the airway becomes narrower and the breathing becomes narrower (the ventilation volume decreases to 50% or less for 10 seconds or more) Is a disease that is repeated more than 5 times. Symptoms such as headache when waking up and daytime sleepiness appear. It also causes hypertension and increases the rate of complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Other symptoms include nocturia, impotence, head sensation and dry mouth. It is also common in older men, but women also develop at a lower rate than men. This is also said to be a fate of mankind that began to degenerate chins due to the consumption of soft food. Also, patients with sleep apnea syndrome are likely to have a drowsy driving and cause traffic accidents and industrial accidents if they are sleepy. People with such illnesses may be involved in driving by public transport drivers such as trains. Is extremely dangerous socially. It is said that the number of patients with SAS that has gained a great deal of attention due to the dormant driving of the Shinkansen in 2003 is 4% of the national population, or 4.8 million, of which 2.8 million are potential patients. It is said. The disease affects not only middle-aged and obese men and women, but also slender, middle-aged and high-school youths, leading to poor academic ability due to poor concentration and poor sleep. Furthermore, it develops even in infants, and if deep sleep is prevented, secretion of growth hormone is inhibited, which may cause dwarfism. Therefore, it can be said that the optical fiber sheet used in the inspection apparatus capable of measuring without wearing anything on the body as in the present invention is particularly suitable for infants.

  The present invention measures the change of excess loss due to the stress applied to the optical fiber installed in the bedding (sheets, mattress, etc.) during breathing and apnea during sleep, and is controlled by a personal computer or a microcomputer. It records the changes over time during an overnight sleep on a memory card. Among the optical fibers used, plastic optical fibers are suitable for infants who move rapidly during sleep because they are resistant to bending and are inexpensive. Quartz-based optical fibers and quartz core-plastic clad optical fibers are also applicable. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the cost by using an inexpensive LED as a light source. In general, a plastic optical fiber is easily deformed, and the shape of the plastic optical fiber is changed by applying a stress. Due to the shape change, the waveguide structure is disturbed, and an excessive loss occurs in the transmission loss of the plastic optical fiber. In the quartz optical fiber, a microbending loss occurs due to the side pressure applied, and an excessive loss occurs in the transmission loss of the optical fiber. An optical fiber sheet for a sleep apnea sensor using an optical fiber is provided by utilizing the sensing function based on the principle of excessive loss due to the lateral pressure. For application to infants, it is desired from the clinical site that it can cover the bed widely and can be folded and stored when not used for testing, and sleep apnea with a structure that provides such storage characteristics An optical fiber sheet for a sensor is provided.

  Currently, SAS diagnosis is mainly performed by overnight polygraph examination (PSG examination) performed by overnight hospitalization and sleep examination (simple examination by pulse oximeter) performed using a portable device at home. is there. However, these tests require analysis by an engineer after hospitalization or examination, which is laborious, time consuming and expensive. Conventional sleep apnea sensors interfere with natural sleep, such as a thermistor placed near the mouth or nose. In addition, a special mat is placed on the mattress, and the change in the level of the mat due to breathing is captured by the change in atmospheric pressure (the change in atmospheric pressure due to the change in altitude). A method with a problem of reliability has been developed by performing a special mathematical signal analysis. Such a device for adults is also applied to infants, and PSG that is measured by mounting many sensors is not suitable for infants, and there is a risk of winding cords and the like. In many cases, a simple test using a pulse oximeter is applied to infants, but it is often unconsciously removed during sleep at night because it is worn tightly on the finger or a tube called a cannula on the nose. Stable measurement was difficult.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention lays an optical fiber (a plastic fiber when safety is required, or a silica-based optical fiber when high sensitivity is required) under a bedding, particularly a sheet. It is intended to provide an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor that does not interfere with natural sleep, such as by interweaving, and that captures respiratory and apnea conditions by changing transmission loss due to the magnitude of lateral pressure. is there. Furthermore, in the optical fiber sheet in which the optical fiber for the sleep apnea sensor for measuring the change in the transmission signal light due to the excess loss generated by the side pressure applied to the optical fiber is arranged in a meandering manner, a plurality of optical fibers are used by using one optical fiber. If the quadrant structure is composed of two quadrants, it is folded in two and folded into a double-layered structure and stored in half the area of the original fiber sheet in the expanded state. If the quadrant structure consists of four quadrants, fold it in two and then fold it in two to create a quadruple (right quadrant) structure. The fiber sheet has a structure that can be stored in 1/4 of the area. The optical fiber wiring between the plurality of quadrant structures is also provided with a structure that allows the boundary area between the quadrants to pass diagonally.

  The plurality of quadrant structures are composed of four quadrants and are separated and wired in each quadrant, and the fiber sheets in each quadrant are connected by respective optical adapters to form an optical fiber sheet in which the four quadrants are integrated. I also gave it.

  Also, fiber sheets with the same pattern wiring structure are connected by an optical adapter, and any number of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and more in cascade connection Can be expanded to any vertically long area structure, or any horizontally long structure with any number of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more in a row connection. A structure that can be expanded is also provided.

  In addition, 2 sheets x2 (4 sheets), 2 sheets x3 (6 sheets), 2 sheets x4 (8 sheets), 3 sheets x3 (9 sheets), or any combination of 3 or more sheets and multiples thereof, any An optical fiber sheet wiring structure that can be expanded to any shape and any size is provided.

  The present invention has the following effects. By using the optical fiber sheet of the present invention for a sleep apnea sensor, it is possible to measure a sleep apnea state in a state that does not interfere with natural sleep in daily life or at home during normal sleep. That is, a non-invasive health care instrument is provided. In addition, there are few malfunctions because it is not affected by electrical noise such as static electricity due to friction. In addition, there is a feature that the magnitude of the load, the signal of turning over and the signal of breathing can be completely distinguished. It is possible to provide a sleep apnea sensor that is very sensitive to lateral pressure and extremely sensitive to an excessive loss that can be measured even for a single point load of 10 g. Because the wiring meanders in a single stroke, no matter how intense the child moves in the middle of the night, if the body touches somewhere on the fiber optic sheet spread under the sheets, In other words, sufficient measurement is possible even for infant subjects who have poor sleep. In addition, an insole mat with a breathable sponge structure and mesh structure is used, and a cloth or plastic cover with a perforated structure is also used for the cover, so that the air permeability is sufficiently secured, even for infants and others who usually sweat heavily and sweat. Can ensure a comfortable sleep state. The black cloth cover sufficiently shields stray light and secures the S / N ratio. The outer cover can be washed with a double structure of the inner cover and the outer cover, and hygiene considerations are possible. The ease of manufacturing for mass production is ensured by optical fiber wiring on the adhesive sheet. Because of the quadrant structure, when not in use, it can be folded into double, triple, or quadruple and stored in a small area.

  Also, multiple quadrants can be separated and connected, and each quadrant can be connected to an adapter. Even if the fiber in each quadrant is damaged, only the damaged quadrant needs to be replaced, so that replacement maintenance can be performed efficiently and economically. Become.

  In addition, fiber sheets with the same pattern wiring structure are connected by an optical adapter, and any number of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and more in cascade connection Can be expanded to any vertically long area structure, or any horizontally long structure with any number of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more in a row connection. By adopting a structure that can be expanded, it is possible to replace each fiber optic sheet, not only making replacement maintenance efficient and economical, but also using fiber sheets with the same wiring. Therefore, there is an advantage that inventory risk is reduced and inventory management becomes easy.

  In addition, 2 sheets x2 (4 sheets), 2 sheets x3 (6 sheets), 2 sheets x4 (8 sheets), 3 sheets x3 (9 sheets), or any combination of 3 or more sheets and multiples thereof, any By having an optical fiber sheet wiring structure that can be expanded to any shape and expandable, it can be arranged according to any bed size, greatly increasing versatility Can do.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples, but each example is merely an example of a representative embodiment for explaining the present invention, and the universal basic technical contents of the present invention are examples. It is not limited by.

  FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing one usage pattern of the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention. The device used is a fiber optic sleep apnea sensor (F-SAS sensor). An input signal was input to the incident end via the SC type optical connector (101) using a red LED for the light source (100) of the F-SAS sensor. An optical fiber sheet (103) serpentinely arranged using a plastic optical fiber (102), an optical power meter (104) having a PD (photodiode) as a light receiving element mounted at the output end, and an output end at the SC type Connected via an optical connector. FIG. 2 shows an example of a usage pattern in which a subject having a possibility of sleep apnea is measured in a general home using such a wiring circuit. That is, FIG. 2 is an example of actual measurement using the optical fiber type sleep apnea syndrome measuring system including the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, an optical fiber sheet is installed on a Japanese-style futon or a Western-style bed and covered with a sheet. Subsequently, the AC / DC adapter (105) is inserted into a 100V household power source, connected to the side of the control unit, and the power button (107) of the control unit (106) is pushed. Subsequently, when the measurement start red button (108) is pressed and measurement is started, it is confirmed that the date and time and the optical output power from the SAS sensor are displayed on the display unit (109). The next morning, the measurement start red button (108) is pressed to complete the measurement. During this time, you can turn over, sleep on your side or on your back, or go to the bathroom. The overnight measurement data is stored in a memory card attached to the side of the control unit 106 ((2)). After the measurement is completed, this card is removed and the F-SAS sensor automatic analysis program is installed on the PC. Analyze in seconds. A detailed measurement condition is selected by a mode button (110) including four white buttons. FIG. 3 is an example showing an embodiment of the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention used in this measurement, and is an assembly configuration diagram thereof. The meandering plastic optical fiber (102) may be placed on a mesh (111) having a breathable mesh structure, or on a sponge-like 3 mm thick insole mat (112) with a large number of holes. You can make it look good. Alternatively, an optical fiber is knitted into a mesh-structured net (111), and placed on a “mesh-on-mesh sponge-like insole mat-laid optical fiber sheet” (113) placed on the insole mat (112). When the “optical fiber sheet with a black cloth cover arranged on a mesh knitted sponge-like insole mat” (114) covered with a cover was used, a sufficient light shielding effect was obtained to avoid the influence of stray light even in a bright room. FIG. 4 shows the result of measurement by the optical fiber type sleep apnea syndrome measuring system including the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention and the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention. . At the time of polysomnography (PSG) measurement in a hospital room, an optical fiber sheet was placed under the bed sheet, and PSG and F-SAS sensor were simultaneously measured. It is the simultaneous measurement result by the test subject of AHI40 or more. First, it is clear that the normal breathing region (115), the apnea region (116), and the hypopnea region (117) and the turning signal (118) are clearly separated and captured. F-SAS sensor detects apnea regardless of C-SAS (central sleep apnea), O-SAS (obstructive sleep apnea), M-SAS (mixed sleep apnea) Possibility and good correspondence with PSG in mild SAS, but pro-AHI (value corresponding to general RDI) in severe cases tends to be detected lower than AHI obtained with PSG It became clear. By correcting for total bedtime and total sleep time, RDI [29.6] by PSG and RDI [25.2] (pro-AHI) by F-SAS sensor may be relatively well matched. Indicated. The optical fiber sheet of the present invention was found to be extremely effective in screening potential patients who are highly likely to have sleep apnea by non-invasive measurement at normal bedtime.

  FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to the present invention. 119 shows an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of two quadrant structure type. This is composed of a two-quadrant structure. The plastic optical fiber is meandered, and the weft of the plastic optical fiber is arranged so that it intersects perpendicularly to form a number of intersections. It is designed to generate efficiently and to improve the sensitivity to the side pressure of the optical fiber sheet. Such an arrangement was formed in the left half region as well as in the right half region. The overall size is 800 mm x 600 mm. If the right half (approximately 600 mm × 400 mm) is the first quadrant (120) and the left half (approximately 600 mm × 400 mm is less) the second quadrant (121), the central portion (122) connecting the two does not perform the weft wiring. Two plastic fibers connected from the quadrant to the second quadrant are arranged so as to pass through the plastic optical fiber wiring blank zone (boundary region) (122) obliquely. By this wiring structure, the first quadrant and the second quadrant are folded along the central plastic optical fiber wiring blank zone (boundary region) (122), and the two quadrants are folded in a double-stacked state, and the original fiber is folded. The sheet could be stored in half. As the replacement of the optical fiber sheet (103) of the F-SAS sensor shown in FIG. When an optical fiber was connected by an optical connector, and the LED light source of 100 was turned on and the liquid crystal output display of the optical power meter of 104 was read, it was -25.70 dBm. Next, even when folded in half as described above and measured in an area state of ½, there was almost no change to −25.8 dBm. Furthermore, when expanded and measured again, it was found to be −25.7 dBm, and it was found that the influence on the transmission loss due to folding was small. Using this fiber sheet, sleep apnea was measured in a 10-year-old child (girl, height 100.8 cm, body weight 15 kg, BMI 14.8) with the cooperation of the pediatrics with the cooperation of pediatrics. In the evening before going to bed, a laboratory technician spreads the optical fiber sheet 119 in a folded state, lays it under the bed sheet, and measures the respiratory state during sleep of a 10-year-old child without wearing anything on the body. Time measurements were taken at night. As a result, pro-AHI (RDI) was 1.0, and AHI of SAS2100 (pulse oximeter with expiratory flow sensor) of simultaneous measurement was 2.2, indicating that the subject may be healthy or very mild. It was very popular with laboratory technicians because it could be easily removed from the bed before or after measurement and stored in a folded state.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to the present invention. Reference numeral 123 denotes an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of four quadrant structure type. 124 is a side view thereof. This is composed of a four-quadrant structure. The plastic optical fiber is meandered, and wefts of the plastic optical fiber are arranged so as to intersect perpendicularly to form a large number of intersections. It is designed to generate efficiently and to improve the sensitivity to the side pressure of the optical fiber sheet. Similarly to forming such an arrangement in the right upper quadrant as the first quadrant (125), the left upper quadrant is also formed as the second quadrant (126) in the left lower quadrant. One quadrant is also formed as the third quadrant (127), and the right lower quadrant is also formed as the fourth quadrant (128). The overall size is 800 mm x 800 mm. Each size from the first quadrant to the fourth quadrant is approximately 400 mm x 400 mm, and the boundary between the first quadrant and the second quadrant, the second quadrant and the third quadrant, the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant is the weft wiring. Instead, only the plastic fiber books that communicate between the quadrants are arranged to pass through the plastic optical fiber wiring blank area (boundary region) diagonally. With this four-quadrant wiring structure, the first quadrant and the second quadrant and the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant are simultaneously folded in double overlap so that the entire area becomes half, and then the first quadrant Folding at the boundary between quadrant and fourth quadrant, second quadrant and third quadrant, and quadruple (right quadrant folding) makes it possible to store in a quarter area. The optical fiber sheet 123 having a four-quadrant structure is expanded to an original size, and the optical fiber sheet (103) of the F-SAS sensor shown in FIG. It was -27.4 dBm when the liquid crystal output display of the optical power meter 104 was read by connecting the fiber and turning on the LED light source 100. Next, even when the sample was folded in two as described above and further folded into two and folded at a right angle of four, measurement was carried out in a 1/4 area state with almost no change of -27.5 dBm. Furthermore, when expanded and measured again, it was -27.4 dBm, and it was found that the influence on transmission loss due to folding was small. Using this fiber sheet, sleep apnea was measured in a 7-year-old child (girl, height 115 cm, weight 21 kg, BMI 15.9) with the cooperation of the pediatrics department with the cooperation of the pediatrics. In the evening before going to bed, a laboratory technician spreads the optical fiber sheet 123 in a folded state, lays it under the bed sheet, and measures the respiratory state during sleep of a 7-year-old child without wearing anything on the body. One measurement was taken in the evening. As a result, pro-AHI (RDI) was 1.3, and AHI of SAS2100 (pulse oximeter with an expiratory flow sensor) of simultaneous measurement was 1.3, indicating the possibility of being healthy or extremely mild. Furthermore, with the cooperation of the pediatric department, sleep apnea was measured in a 7-year-old child (boy, height 111.9 cm, body weight 17.8 kg, BMI 14.2) with the approval of the Ethics Committee. In the evening before going to bed, a laboratory technician spreads the optical fiber sheet 123 in a folded state, lays it under the bed sheet, and measures the respiratory state during sleep of a 7-year-old child without wearing anything on the body. As a result of measuring once in the evening, pro-AHI (RDI) is 4.0, and AHI of simultaneous measurement SAS2100 (pulse oximeter with expiratory flow sensor) is 9.7. The possibility of apnea was shown. In either case, it can be easily removed from the bed before or after the measurement, and it can be stored in a small size by folding it into a right-angled quadrilateral, so it was very popular with laboratory technicians.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to the present invention. Reference numeral 129 denotes a three-quadrant structure type sleep optical apnea sensor optical fiber sheet. This is made up of a three-quadrant structure, in which a plastic optical fiber is meandered and plastic fiber optic wefts are arranged so as to intersect perpendicularly to form a number of intersections. It is designed to generate efficiently and to improve the sensitivity to the side pressure of the optical fiber sheet. Similarly to the formation of the first quadrant (130) in the right third region, the second quadrant (131) is formed in the central one third region and the third quadrant (left third region) is formed in the left third region. 132). The overall size is 900 mm x 600 mm. The right 1/3 (approximately 600 mm x 300 mm slightly) is the first quadrant (130), the central 1/3 (approximately 600 mm x 300 mm slightly less) is the second quadrant (131), and the left 1/3 (approximately 600 mm x 300 mm slightly less) is the third quadrant ( 132), the central portions (133) and (134) connecting the adjacent quadrants do not perform the weft wiring, and the two plastic fibers connecting the first quadrant to the second quadrant are obliquely connected to the plastic optical fiber wiring. It was arranged to pass through a blank zone (boundary region) (133). Similarly, the plastic fiber Japan connecting from the second quadrant to the third quadrant is arranged to pass through the plastic optical fiber wiring blank zone (boundary region) (134) diagonally. With this wiring structure, the first quadrant and the second quadrant are folded along the central plastic optical fiber wiring blank zone (boundary region) (133), the two quadrants are folded in a double overlap state, and the second quadrant is further folded. The quadrant and the third quadrant were bent along the central plastic optical fiber wiring blank zone (boundary region) (134), and the original fiber sheet area could be stored in 1/3. The optical fiber sheet 129 having a three-quadrant structure is expanded to an original size, and the optical fiber sheet (103) of the F-SAS sensor shown in FIG. It was -26.20 dBm when a fiber connection was made and the LED light source of 100 was turned on and the liquid crystal output display of 104 optical power meter was read. Next, even when the measurement was carried out in the triple state as described above in the triple state, there was hardly any change of −26.3 dBm. Furthermore, when it was expanded again and measured, it was -26.2 dBm, and it was found that the influence on the transmission loss due to folding was small. Using this fiber sheet, with the cooperation of pediatrics, with the approval of the ethics committee, measurement of sleep apnea in a 2-year-old child (boy, height: 91.2 cm, weight: 12.9 kg, BMI: 15.5) went. In the evening before going to bed, spread the fiber optic sheet 129 in the state of a laboratory technician, lay it under the bed sheet, and measure the respiratory state during sleep of a 2-year-old child without wearing anything on the body overnight The measurement was performed once. As a result, pro-AHI (RDI) was 6.4 and AHI of simultaneous measurement SAS2100 (pulse oximeter with expiratory flow sensor) was 9.3, indicating the possibility of mild sleep apnea. It was. The horizontal three-quadrant array structure could be a four-quadrant array, a five-quadrant array, a six-quadrant array, a seven-quadrant array, and an eight-quadrant array horizontally according to the request from the bed size. Similarly, a 2-quadrant array, a 3-quadrant array, a 4-quadrant array, a 5-quadrant array, a 6-quadrant array, a 7-quadrant array, and an 8-quadrant array could be used vertically.

Based on the results of Example 1 to Example 4, the results of full-scale clinical application of the F-SAS sensor to the diagnosis of childhood sleep apnea syndrome using a two-quadrant double-fold fiber sheet (119) It became as follows. The optical cord from the optical fiber sheet was connected to the respiration measurement control device in the same manner as before, and continuous measurement / recording of the respiratory state at bedtime for 8 to 11 hours was performed. Apnea / hypopnea events were defined and measured as apnea / hypopnea over two breath times for each subject. (3) [Analysis method] After measurement, calculation of the hypopnea / apnea index (AHI) of the reference device SAS2100 and calculation of the respiratory disorder index (RDI) of the F-SAS sensor are both completely independent and blind. The waveform analysis of the measurement data accumulated in each device was performed, and the correlation between the two was obtained later. [Measurement Results] The measurement results are shown in FIG. This figure shows an F− using a portable sleep apnea test apparatus SAS2100 (pulse oximeter with an expiratory flow sensor) and a two-quadrant fiber sheet (119) of the present invention when simultaneous measurement is performed. It is a figure (135) which shows the correlation with RDI (pro-AHI) by a SAS sensor. The horizontal axis represents the AHI index (136) of the portable sleep apnea test apparatus SAS2100 (pulse oximeter with expiratory flow sensor), and the vertical axis represents RDI (pro-AHI) (137) by the F-SAS sensor. There is a very good positive correlation between the AHI in the portable sleep apnea test apparatus SAS2100 and the RDI in the F-SAS sensor based on the fully automatic analysis, and the correlation coefficient is 0.76. Obtained. It can be said that an F-SAS sensor that can be measured without wearing anything on the body is extremely effective in capturing an apnea / hypopnea state during sleep of an infant without restriction.

  FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention. Reference numeral 138 denotes an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor in a four-quadrant sleep type with an optical connector. 139 is a side view thereof. This is composed of a four-quadrant structure. The plastic optical fiber is meandered, and wefts of the plastic optical fiber are arranged so as to intersect perpendicularly to form a large number of intersections. It is designed to generate efficiently and to improve the sensitivity to the side pressure of the optical fiber sheet. Similarly to forming such an arrangement as the first quadrant (140) in the right upper quadrant, the left upper quadrant is also formed as the second quadrant (141) in the left upper quadrant. One region is also formed as the third quadrant (142), and the right lower quadrant region is also formed as the fourth quadrant (143). The optical fibers in each quadrant are arranged in a separated state, and each quadrant is optically connected by an optical fiber adapter (144 to 146). As shown in FIG. 9, the first quadrant and the fourth quadrant are optically connected by an adapter (144), the second quadrant and the third quadrant are adapters (145), and the third and fourth quadrants are optically connected by an adapter (146). Is done. By having such a wiring structure, in repeated use over several tens of times, if a young child accidentally urinates and partially soils the optical fiber sheet, remove the adapter only in that quadrant, It can be used by replacing it with a new fiber sheet. If the plastic optical fiber is suddenly bent due to repeated use (ie, plastic deformation occurs), only the quadrant can be removed and replaced with a new fiber sheet. It is. This structure makes the treatment of nurses and laboratory technicians extremely easy and leads to an increase in the sense of security that they can be replaced at any time. It was very popular with engineers.

  FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of an optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to the present invention. Reference numeral 147 denotes an optical fiber sheet for a sleep apnea sensor for sleeping in four quadrants of the same module connection type. This consists of a four-quadrant structure. The plastic optical fiber is meandered, and wefts of the plastic optical fiber are arranged so that it intersects perpendicularly to form a number of intersections. It is designed to generate efficiently and to improve the sensitivity to the side pressure of the optical fiber sheet. This arrangement is configured by using optical fiber sheets having the same wiring structure in all quadrants. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, both the first quadrant (148) of the upper right quadrant and the second quadrant (148 ') of the upper left quadrant are both left lower quadrant. In the third quadrant (148 ″) of the one region and the fourth quadrant (148 ′ ″) of the lower right quadrant region, optical fibers having the same fiber wiring structure are used for the light beams 149, 150, and 151. A four-quadrant arrangement structure was used for connection with an adapter. Of course, depending on the bed size and the physique of the subject, this wiring structure can be arranged in two-quadrant arrangement (horizontal arrangement), three-quadrant arrangement structure, five-quadrant, six-quadrant, seven-quadrant, eight-quadrant, nine-quadrant. It is possible to enlarge or reduce the size arbitrarily. Similarly, in a quadrant arrangement structure of vertical arrangement (tandem arrangement) and a three-quadrant arrangement structure, it is possible to arbitrarily expand or reduce the size to five quadrants, six quadrants, seven quadrants, eight quadrants, and nine quadrants. It is. Furthermore, it is possible to have an arbitrary shape and width, such as 4 sheets of 2 sheets x2, 6 sheets of 2 sheets x3, 8 sheets of 2 sheets x4, and 9 sheets of 3 sheets x3. By having such a wiring structure, in repeated use over several tens of times, if a young child accidentally urinates and partially soils the optical fiber sheet, remove the adapter only in that quadrant, It can be used by replacing it with a new fiber sheet. If the plastic optical fiber is suddenly bent due to repeated use (ie, plastic deformation occurs), only the quadrant can be removed and replaced with a new fiber sheet. It is. This structure makes it easier for nurses and laboratory technicians to handle and increases the sense of security that they can be replaced at any time. It was very popular with nurses and laboratory technicians because it can be stored in a small size in a stacked state.

The circuit block diagram which shows one use form of the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensors of this invention Example of actual measurement using optical fiber type sleep apnea syndrome measuring system including optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention An example which shows one form of the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensors of the present invention Measurement result measured by the optical fiber type sleep apnea syndrome measuring system comprising the optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor of the present invention One Embodiment of Optical Fiber Sheet for Sleep Apnea Sensor of Two-Quadrant Structure of the Present Invention One Embodiment of Optical Fiber Sheet for Sleep Apnea Sensor with Four-Quadrant Structure of the Present Invention One Embodiment of Optical Fiber Sheet for Sleep Apnea Sensor of Three-Quadrant Structure of the Present Invention The figure which shows the correlation with RDI (pro-AHI) by the sleep apnea sensor (F-SAS sensor) of this invention using the portable sleep apnea test | inspection apparatus SAS2100 and the fiber sheet of 2 quadrant arrangement of this invention. One Embodiment of Connector-Connected Four-Quadrant Sleep Apnea Sensor of the Present Invention One Embodiment of Optical Fiber Sheet for Four-Quadrant Sleep Apnea Sensor with Same Module Connection of the Present Invention

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 LED light source 101 SC type optical connector 102 Serpentine arrangement optical fiber 103 Optical fiber sheet 104 Optical power meter 105 with built-in Si-PD (photodiode) 100V commercial power source 106 Optical fiber type sleep apnea sensor (F-SAS sensor) control Unit 107 Power button 108 Measurement start red button 109 Display unit 110 Mode button 111 Mesh structure net 112 Sponge insole mat 113 Mesh knitted sponge insole mat optical fiber sheet 114 Mesh above knitted sponge insole mat Optical fiber sheet 115 with black cloth cover on top 115 Normal breathing area 116 Apnea area 117 Hypopnea area 118 Rolling signal 119 Two-quadrant type sleep apnea sensor optical fiber sheet 120 First quadrant 121 Second quadrant 122 Wiring White area (border area)
123 Quadrant structure type sleep apnea sensor optical fiber sheet 124 Side view 125 First quadrant 126 Second quadrant 127 Third quadrant 128 Fourth quadrant 129 Three quadrant structure sleep apnea sensor optical fiber sheet 130 First Quadrant 131 Second quadrant 132 Third quadrant 133 Central part 134 Central part 135 RDI (pro) by F-SAS sensor using portable sleep apnea test apparatus SAS2100 and a two-quadrant fiber sheet of the present invention -AHI) Fig. 136 AHI Index 137 of Portable Sleep Apnea Test Device SAS2100 (Pulse Oximeter with Expiratory Flow Sensor) RDI (pro) by Sleep Apnea Sensor (F-SAS Sensor) of the Present Invention -AHI)
138 Optical connector connection type four-quadrant sleep apnea sensor optical fiber sheet 139 Side view 140 First quadrant 141 Second quadrant 142 Third quadrant 143 Fourth quadrant 144 Optical fiber adapter 145 Optical fiber adapter 146 Optical fiber adapter 147 Same module Connection type connector Connection type 4 quadrant sleep apnea sensor optical fiber sheet 148 1st quadrant 148 ′ 2nd quadrant 148 ″ 3rd quadrant 148 ′ ″ 4th quadrant 149 Optical adapter 150 Optical adapter 151 Optical adapter

Claims (7)

  An optical fiber sheet in which an optical fiber for a sleep apnea sensor that measures changes in transmitted signal light due to excess loss caused by a lateral pressure applied to the optical fiber is arranged in a meandering manner, and a plurality of quadrants using a single optical fiber. An optical fiber sheet for a sleep apnea sensor, characterized by having a structure.   2. The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to claim 1, wherein the quadrant structure is composed of two quadrants, folded into two and folded into a double-stacked structure, and expanded from the original fiber sheet. The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensors characterized by being able to be stored in an area of / 2.   2. The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of quadrant structures are composed of three quadrants, folded into three and folded in a triple layer, and 1 / of the original fiber sheet in an unfolded state. An optical fiber sheet for a sleep apnea sensor, which can be stored in an area of 3.   The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of quadrant structures are composed of four quadrants, and after folding in two, the two quadrants are further folded in two to form a right-angle four-fold structure. An optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor, which can be stored in an area of 1/4 of the original fiber sheet of the state.   The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber wiring between the plurality of quadrant structures is formed so as to obliquely pass through a boundary region between the quadrants. Optical fiber sheet for apnea sensor.   The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to claim 1, wherein the quadrant structure includes four quadrants, and each quadrant is separated and wired, and the fiber sheets in the respective quadrants are connected by respective optical adapters. An optical fiber sheet for a sleep apnea sensor, which is wired so as to form an optical fiber sheet in which four quadrants are integrated.   2. The optical fiber sheet for sleep apnea sensor according to claim 1, wherein fiber sheets having the same pattern wiring structure are connected by an optical adapter, and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in cascade connection. , 7, 8 or 2 in row connection 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 2 x 2, 4 x 2, 6 x 2 x 2, 2 x 4 8 An optical fiber sheet for a sleep apnea sensor characterized by comprising an optical fiber sheet wiring structure capable of having an arbitrary shape and width, such as 9 sheets of 3 sheets × 3 sheets.