JP2013038501A - Implantable medical device, medical system, and physical information communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict power consumption to be required for radio communication.SOLUTION: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) includes: a reception RF (radio frequency) processing part 33 for receiving a radio signal to be transmitted from a repeater arranged outside a patient; a transmission RF processing part 39 for transmitting a radio signal to the repeater; a received signal strength indication (RSSI) calculation part 35 for calculating the RSSI value of a radio signal received by the reception RF processing part 33; and a control part 37 for determining whether or not the RSSI value calculated by the RSSI calculation part 35 exceeds a predetermined threshold, permitting the transmission of a radio signal from the transmission RF processing part 39 to the repeater when the RSSI value is determined to exceed the predetermined threshold, and stopping the transmission of the radio signal from the transmission RF processing part 39 to the repeater when the RSSI value is determined not to exceed the predetermined threshold.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical device, a medical system, and a physical information communication method.

  In an in-body medical device that is inserted into a patient's body and transmits body information to the outside, such as an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), it is essential to include a wireless communication means. Assuming monitoring over a wide range, it is required to perform wireless communication means with low power consumption. Here, a communication system that controls transmission power by wireless communication means is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the communication system described in Patent Literature 1, a mobile station apparatus that has received a communication signal transmitted from a base station apparatus transmits a communication signal from the mobile station apparatus to the base station apparatus based on information on received power of the received communication signal. The transmission power by the mobile station apparatus is controlled by determining the transmission power at the time of transmitting.

JP 2007-13490 A

  However, in the transmission power control by the communication system described in Patent Document 1, a situation where the reception power level of the communication signal is low, that is, a large amount of power is required when transmitting the communication signal from the base station apparatus to the mobile station apparatus. In such a situation, there is a problem that a large amount of power is consumed even when a communication signal is transmitted from the mobile station apparatus to the base station apparatus. Further, in a situation where the reception power level of the communication signal is too low, the base station device cannot receive the communication signal even if the transmission power of the communication signal transmitted from the mobile station device to the base station device is controlled. There is also a problem that there is.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the situation mentioned above, Comprising: It aims at providing the in-body introduction type medical device, medical system, and physical information communication method which can suppress the power consumption required for wireless communication.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
The present invention is an in-body medical device that is introduced into the body of a living body and transmits / receives a communication signal to / from an extracorporeal device arranged outside the body of the living body, and transmits a communication signal transmitted from the extracorporeal device. A receiving unit for receiving, a transmitting unit for transmitting a communication signal to the extracorporeal device, a receiving intensity calculating unit for calculating a receiving intensity of the communication signal received by the receiving unit, and a reception calculated by the receiving intensity calculating unit A reception strength determination unit that determines whether or not the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold; and when the reception strength determination unit determines that the reception strength exceeds the predetermined threshold, from the transmission unit A control unit that permits transmission of a communication signal to an extracorporeal device and stops transmission of a communication signal from the transmission unit to the extracorporeal device when it is determined that the reception intensity does not exceed the predetermined threshold; In-body introduction type To provide care equipment.

  According to the present invention, the reception strength of the communication signal from the extracorporeal device received by the reception unit is calculated by the calculation unit, and the control unit transmits the communication signal from the transmission unit to the extracorporeal device according to the reception strength. Whether or not is controlled. Here, the low reception strength of the communication signal received by the reception unit means that the power required to transmit the communication signal is large, while the reception strength of the communication signal received by the reception unit. High is that the power required to transmit the communication signal is small.

  Therefore, it is determined whether the reception strength of the communication signal exceeds a predetermined threshold by the reception strength determination unit, and when the reception strength of the communication signal exceeds the predetermined threshold by the control unit, that is, the communication signal When the power required for transmission is small, transmission of a communication signal from the transmission unit to the extracorporeal device is permitted, and when the reception strength of the communication signal does not exceed a predetermined threshold, that is, to transmit the communication signal By stopping transmission of communication signals from the transmission unit to the extracorporeal device when the required power is large, transmission of communication signals during periods of high power consumption can be avoided, and power consumption required for wireless communication can be suppressed. it can.

  In the above invention, the detection unit that detects the amount of change in the posture of the living body with a predetermined time interval when the reception strength determination unit determines that the reception strength does not exceed the predetermined threshold. A posture determination unit that determines whether or not a change amount of the posture of the living body detected by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the control unit determines the posture of the living body by the posture determination unit. When it is determined that the amount of change does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the reception unit may stop receiving the communication signal until the amount of change in the posture of the living body exceeds the predetermined threshold.

  When the amount of change in the posture of the living body is small, for example, when the living body is sleeping, the living body itself becomes an obstacle to transmission of the communication signal, and the reception intensity of the communication signal by the receiving unit tends to be low. For this reason, in such a period in which the amount of change in the posture of the living body is small, even if the reception unit receives a communication signal sent from the extracorporeal device, the control unit stops transmission of the communication signal by the transmission unit. There is a high possibility that the power for receiving the communication signal by the receiving unit is often wasted.

  According to the present invention, when the reception intensity is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the detection unit detects the amount of change in the posture of the living body, and the determination unit determines whether the change exceeds the predetermined threshold. The And when it determines with the variation | change_quantity of a biological body posture not exceeding the predetermined threshold value, a control part stops reception of the communication signal by a receiving part until the variation | change_quantity of a biological body body posture exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thus, useless power consumption can be reduced, and power consumption required for wireless communication can be more effectively suppressed.

  Moreover, in the said invention, the said detection part may detect the acceleration of the said biological body, may convert the detected variation | change_quantity of the acceleration into the variation | change_quantity of the said attitude | position of a biological body, or may detect the heart rate of the said biological body, The detected heart rate may be converted into the amount of change in posture of the living body.

The present invention provides a medical system comprising any one of the above-described in-vivo medical devices and the extracorporeal device.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the power consumption of the communication signal transmitted from an in-body introduction type medical device to an extracorporeal device can be reduced, and the living body can be examined while suppressing the power consumption required for wireless communication.

  In addition, the present invention provides a receiving step in which an in-vivo device introduced into a living body receives a communication signal transmitted from an extracorporeal device placed outside the living body, and the in-vivo device receives the communication signal. A reception strength calculation step of calculating the reception strength of the communication signal, a reception strength determination step of determining whether or not the reception strength calculated by the reception strength calculation step exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the reception strength determination step A physical information communication method including a communication step of transmitting a communication signal from the in-vivo device to the extra-corporeal device when the determined reception intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

  According to the present invention, when the reception intensity determination step determines that the reception intensity of the communication signal received by the in-vivo device exceeds a predetermined threshold, that is, the power required to transmit the communication signal is small. In this case, by transmitting a communication signal from the in-vivo device to the extra-corporeal device through the communication process, it is possible to avoid transmission of a communication signal during a period of high power consumption, and to perform wireless communication of physical information while suppressing power consumption. .

  Further, in the above invention, when the reception intensity determination step determines that the reception intensity does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the detection is performed to detect the change in the posture of the living body with a predetermined time interval. And a posture determination step of determining whether or not the amount of change in posture of the living body detected by the detection step exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the amount of change in posture of the living body is determined by the posture determination step. When it is determined that the predetermined threshold is not exceeded, the reception step may stop the reception of the communication signal by the in-vivo device until the change amount of the posture of the living body exceeds the predetermined threshold.

  By configuring in this manner, when the amount of change in the posture of the living body is small, that is, in a period in which the living body itself becomes an obstacle to transmission of the communication signal and the reception strength of the communication signal by the internal device is likely to decrease, Thus, it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption for receiving a communication signal, and more effectively suppress power consumption and perform wireless communication of physical information.

  In the above invention, the detection step may measure the acceleration of the living body, convert the change amount of the measured acceleration into the change amount of the posture of the living body, measure the heart rate of the living body, The measured heart rate may be converted into the amount of change in posture of the living body.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that power consumption required for wireless communication can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a medical system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the repeater of FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an ICD and a repeater according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows ICD of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the reception strength of a communication signal, and RSSI. It is a figure which shows the relationship between RSSI of a communication signal, and transmission power. It is a flowchart which shows the physical information communication method which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between passage of time and RSSI of the communication signal acquired for every hour. It is a figure which shows the time interval, RSSI value, and power consumption of the comparative example of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the time interval of 1st Embodiment, an RSSI value, and power consumption. It is a block diagram which shows ICD which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the body information communication method which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the patient's state in 1st, and RSSI. It is a figure which shows the time interval of 2nd Embodiment, an RSSI value, and power consumption.

[First Embodiment]
An in-vivo medical device, a medical system, and a physical information communication method according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a medical system 100 according to this embodiment includes a repeater (external device) 3 disposed outside a patient (living body) A and a patient A, and the information on the heart H is transmitted to the repeater. 3, an ICD (Implantable Cardiover Deflator, a medical device introduced into the body) 1.

  The repeater 3 relays wireless communication between the ICD 1 and the communication network 5. Specifically, the repeater 3 receives the physical information of the patient A from the ICD 1 via wireless, connects to the wide-area communication network 5 by wire or wireless, and the physical information is prepared by a medical institution or manufacturer. (Not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the repeater 3 has one antenna 18, and includes a communication signal acquisition unit 11, a transmission RF (Radio Frequency) processing unit 13, a reception RF processing unit 15, and a communication signal. And an acquisition unit 17.

The communication signal acquisition unit 11 acquires a communication signal transmitted from the communication network 5 and outputs the communication signal to the transmission RF processing unit 13.
The transmission RF processing unit 13 converts the frequency of the communication signal input from the communication signal acquisition unit 11 into a radio frequency, and transmits the radio signal to the ICD 1 via the antenna 18.

The reception RF processing unit 15 receives a radio signal transmitted from the ICD 1 via the antenna 18, converts the frequency of the radio signal into a communication signal, and outputs the communication signal to the communication signal acquisition unit 17.
The communication signal acquisition unit 17 acquires the communication signal input from the reception RF processing unit 15 and transmits the communication signal to the communication network 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ICD 1 includes a device main body 30 and three leads 23 that extend from the device main body 30 and electrically connect the device main body 30 and the heart H.
Each of the three leads 23 includes an electrode 25 made of a conductive material. One electrode 25 is attached to the RA (right atrium), and the other one is an electrode 25 connected to the RV (right ventricle). In the other one, the electrode 25 is attached to the LV (left ventricle). In FIG. 3, LA indicates the left atrium.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus main body 30 has one antenna 38, and includes a sensor unit 31, a reception RF processing unit (reception unit) 33, an RSSI calculation unit (reception intensity calculation unit) 35, and , A control unit (reception strength determination unit, control unit) 37 and a transmission RF processing unit (transmission unit) 39 are provided.

  Three leads 23 are electrically connected to the sensor unit 31. The sensor unit 31 detects an electrocardiogram signal transmitted from each electrode 25 via the lead 23 and outputs the electrocardiogram signal to the transmission RF processing unit 39.

  The reception RF processing unit 33 receives the radio signal transmitted from the repeater 3 via the antenna 38, converts the frequency of the radio signal into a communication signal, and outputs the communication signal to the RSSI calculation unit 35.

  The RSSI calculation unit 35 calculates RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) as the reception strength of the input communication signal. As shown in FIG. 5, the relationship between the RSSI value and the reception strength (dB) has a certain proportional relationship in which the RSSI value increases as the reception strength increases. Further, the RSSI calculation unit 35 outputs the calculated RSSI value to the control unit 37.

  The control part 37 can memorize | store the predetermined threshold value which determines the magnitude | size of an RSSI value. In addition, the control unit 37 determines whether or not the RSSI value input from the RSSI calculation unit 35 exceeds a predetermined threshold (in this embodiment, for example, the threshold 79). . As this predetermined threshold value, for example, at the start of operation, communication is performed in the surrounding environment of the patient A and the repeater 3, that is, in the usage environment, and corresponds to the measured RSSI value when the communication environment is good or the assumed usage environment. The average RSSI value of the measured values can be used.

  When the control unit 37 determines that the RSSI value exceeds the threshold 79, the control unit 37 permits the transmission RF processing unit 39 to transmit a radio signal. On the other hand, when the control unit 37 determines that the RSSI value does not exceed the threshold 79, the transmission RF processing Transmission of the radio signal by the unit 39 is stopped. In addition, when the RSSI value does not continuously exceed the threshold value 79 and a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours in this embodiment) elapses, the control unit 37 sets the transmission power to the maximum and transmits it. Transmission of a radio signal (electrocardiogram signal) by the RF processing unit 39 is permitted.

  Further, the control unit 37 sets the transmission power of the radio signal transmitted from the transmission RF processing unit 39 based on the relationship between the RSSI value and the transmission power as shown in FIG. For example, when the RSSI value is from 100 to 20, the control unit 37 increases the transmission power with a constant inverse proportionality (from 5 mA to 30 mA) as the RSSI value decreases, and when the RSSI value becomes 20 or less, the control power is increased. It is controlled to a constant value (30 mA).

  The transmission RF processing unit 39 converts the frequency of the electrocardiogram signal input from the sensor unit 31 into a radio frequency. In addition, when the transmission of the wireless signal is permitted by the control unit 37, the transmission RF processing unit 39 transmits the wireless signal to the repeater 3 through the antenna 38 with the transmission power according to the instruction of the control unit 37. Yes.

Next, a physical information communication method using the ICD 1 and the medical system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The physical information communication method according to the present embodiment includes a reception step SA1 for receiving a radio signal transmitted from the repeater 3 arranged outside the body of the patient A by the ICD 1 introduced into the body of the patient A, and an RSSI calculation unit 35. Whether the RSSI value calculated by the RSSI calculation unit 35 by the control unit 37 exceeds the predetermined threshold by the reception strength calculation step SA2 for calculating the RSSI (reception strength) of the radio signal received by the ICD 1 And a communication step SA7 for transmitting a radio signal from the ICD 1 to the repeater 3 when the control unit 37 determines that the RSSI value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

  In the ICD 1 introduced into the body of the patient A, the electrocardiogram signal of the heart H is detected by the sensor unit 31 via the lead 23, and the electrocardiogram signal is converted into a radio signal by the transmission RF processing unit 39.

  In the repeater 3 arranged outside the body of the patient A, a communication signal transmitted from the communication network 5 is acquired by the communication signal acquisition unit 11, and the communication signal is converted into a radio signal by the transmission RF processing unit 39 to receive the antenna. 18 to the ICD 1.

  In order to communicate the physical information of the patient A by the physical information communication method according to the present embodiment, when a wireless signal is transmitted from the repeater 3, the wireless signal is received via the antenna 38 by the reception RF processing unit 33 of the ICD 1. (Step SA1). For example, a radio signal is transmitted from the repeater 3 to the ICD 1 every hour.

  Next, the radio signal received by the reception RF processing unit 33 is converted into a communication signal and input to the RSSI calculation unit 35. Then, the RSSI calculation unit 35 calculates an RSSI value indicating the reception strength of the input communication signal based on the relationship between the reception strength and the RSSI value shown in FIG. 5 (step SA2). The RSSI value calculated by the RSSI calculator 35 is input to the controller 37.

  Next, the control unit 37 determines whether or not the input RSSI value exceeds the threshold value 79 (step SA3). If it is determined that the RSSI value does not exceed the threshold value 79 (less than 80) (step SA3 “NO”), if the period in which the RSSI value does not exceed the threshold value 79 has not continuously passed for 24 hours, step SA1 is performed. (Step SA4 “YES”).

When the RSSI value does not continuously exceed the threshold value 79 and 24 hours elapse (step SA4 “NO”), the alarm unit (not shown) is activated to warn the patient A with a buzzer sound (step SA5). In this case, the transmission power is set to the maximum by the control unit 37, and the transmission of the radio signal (electrocardiogram signal) by the transmission RF processing unit 39 is permitted.
Here, the warning to the patient A may use not only a buzzer sound but also a warning by vibration, ultra-short distance radio, or the like.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 37 determines in step SA3 that the RSSI value exceeds the threshold value 79 (80 or more) (step SA3 “YES”), the relationship between the RSSI value and the transmission power shown in FIG. Based on this, the transmission power corresponding to the RSSI value is set (step SA6). The control unit 37 permits the transmission RF processing unit 39 to transmit a radio signal (electrocardiogram signal).

  When transmission of the radio signal by the transmission RF processing unit 39 is permitted in step SA5 or step SA6, the radio signal (electrocardiogram signal) is transmitted by the transmission RF processing unit 39 with the transmission power according to the instruction from the control unit 37. 18 to the repeater 3 (step SA7). As a result, the reception RF processing unit 33 of the repeater 3 receives the radio signal, converts the frequency into an electrocardiogram signal, and transmits the electrocardiogram signal to the communication network 5 via the communication signal acquisition unit 17.

  As described above, according to the ICD 1, the medical system 100, and the physical information communication method according to the present embodiment, the control unit 37 determines the RSSI value of the communication signal from the repeater 3 calculated by the RSSI calculation unit 35. Transmission of an electrocardiographic signal from the ICD 1 to the repeater 3 is controlled. Here, the fact that the RSSI value of the communication signal calculated by the RSSI calculator 35 is low means that the power required to transmit the electrocardiogram signal is large. Further, when the RSSI value is low, even if an electrocardiogram signal is transmitted from the ICD 1 to the repeater 3, a communication error may occur. On the other hand, a high RSSI value of the communication signal calculated by the RSSI calculation unit 35 means that the power required to transmit the electrocardiogram signal is small.

  Therefore, the control unit 37 determines whether or not the RSSI value exceeds the threshold value 79. When the RSSI value exceeds the threshold value 79, that is, when the power required to transmit the electrocardiogram signal is small, ICD1 The ECG signal is transmitted from the ICD 1 to the repeater 3 when the RSSI value does not exceed the threshold value 79, that is, when the power required to transmit the ECG signal is large. By stopping the transmission, it is possible to avoid transmission of an electrocardiogram signal during a period when the power consumption is large, and to suppress power consumption required for wireless communication.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the RSSI value does not continuously exceed the threshold value until 9 hours have elapsed since the radio signal was first received by the ICD 1. In this case, as a comparative example of the present embodiment, each time a radio signal is received by the ICD 1 at an interval of 1 hour, a radio signal (electrocardiogram signal) is transmitted from the ICD 1 with transmission power corresponding to the magnitude of the RSSI value. If so, as shown in FIG. 9, a communication error occurs from the first hour to the ninth hour. As a result, a total power consumption of 280 mAh is required before the electrocardiogram signal is successfully transmitted at the 10th hour.

  In contrast, according to the ICD 1, the medical system 100, and the physical information communication method according to the present embodiment, the RSSI value from the first to the ninth hour exceeds the predetermined threshold (threshold 79) in the case shown in FIG. In the absence period, that is, in the period when the electric power required for transmitting the electrocardiogram signal is large, the transmission of the electrocardiogram signal is stopped as shown in FIG. If the power required to transmit the electrocardiogram signal is small, that is, when the electrocardiogram signal is transmitted from the ICD 1, power consumption of 40 mAh is required in 10 hours, and the power consumption is greatly suppressed. be able to.

  Note that remote monitoring has a strong nature of diagnosing with long-term fluctuations, and there is no problem as long as the daily communication is maintained. When the RSSI value continuously passes the threshold value 79 and 24 hours elapse, the patient A is warned with a buzzer sound, and the control unit 37 sets the transmission power to the maximum and the repeater 3 from the transmission RF processing unit 39 By transmitting a radio signal (electrocardiogram signal) to the patient, it is possible to cope with an abnormal condition of the patient A.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an in-body medical device, a medical system, and a body information communication method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 11, the medical system 200 according to the present embodiment is predetermined when the sensor unit (detection unit) 31 of the ICD 101 determines that the RSSI value does not exceed a predetermined threshold by the control unit 37. The point at which the change amount of the posture of the patient A is detected with a time interval of, the point at which the control unit 37 controls reception of the radio signal by the reception RF processing unit 33, and the posture of the patient A detected by the sensor unit 31 It differs from 1st Embodiment by the point provided with the attitude | position determination part 132 which determines whether the variation | change_quantity of this exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

In addition, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the physical information communication method according to the present embodiment is performed by the sensor unit 31 when the reception strength determination step SA3 determines that the RSSI value does not exceed a predetermined threshold. Whether the change amount of the posture of the patient A detected by the sensor unit 31 by the detection step SB1 that detects the change amount of the posture of the patient A at a predetermined time interval and the posture determination unit 132 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. This is different from the first embodiment in that it includes a posture determination step SB2 for determining whether or not.
In the following, portions having the same configuration as those of the ICD 101, the medical system 100, and the physical information communication method according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The sensor unit 31 can detect an electrocardiographic signal and can measure the impedance of the heart H by applying a minute current to the lead 23, for example. In addition, the sensor unit 31 detects a change in cardiac output (heart rate) by impedance measurement, converts the detected change in cardiac output into a change in posture of the patient A, and sends it to the posture determination unit 132. It is designed to output.

  When the posture determination unit 132 determines that the amount of change in the posture of the patient A exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit 37 allows the reception RF processing unit 33 to receive the next wireless signal. Yes. On the other hand, when the posture determination unit 132 determines that the change amount of the posture of the patient A does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, the control unit 37 receives the reception RF until the change amount of the posture of the patient A exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The reception of the radio signal by the processing unit 33 is stopped.

Next, an operation of the physical information communication method using the ICD 101 and the medical system 200 configured as described above will be described.
When communicating the physical information of the patient A by the physical information communication method using the ICD 101 and the medical system 200 according to the present embodiment, if the control unit 37 determines that the RSSI value does not exceed the threshold value 79 (step SA3). “NO”), a change in cardiac output is detected by the sensor unit 31 and converted into a change in posture of the patient A (step SB1).

  Next, when the posture determination unit 132 determines that the amount of change in the posture of the patient A does not exceed a predetermined threshold value (step SB2 “NO”), the control unit 37 transmits a radio signal from the reception RF processing unit 33. Reception is stopped. If the period of time during which the amount of change in the posture of the patient A does not exceed the predetermined threshold has not elapsed for 24 hours, the process returns to step SB1 (step SA4 “YES”). Then, the reception of the radio signal by the reception RF processing unit 33 is stopped by the control unit 37 until the amount of change in the posture of the patient A exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  When the amount of change in the posture of patient A continuously does not exceed the predetermined threshold value for 24 hours (step SA4 “NO”), patient B is warned with a buzzer by the operation of an alarm unit (not shown) (step SA5). ), The control unit 37 sets the transmission power to the maximum and permits the transmission RF processing unit 39 to transmit a radio signal (electrocardiogram signal).

  On the other hand, when the posture determination unit 132 determines in step SB2 that the posture change amount of the patient A exceeds a predetermined threshold (step SB2 “YES”), the control unit 37 receives the reception RF processing unit 33. The radio signal reception by is permitted, and the process returns to step SA1. Then, the next radio signal is received by the RSSI calculation unit 35 (step SA1), the RSSI value is calculated (step SA2), and the control unit 37 determines that the calculated RSSI value exceeds the threshold 79. If so (step SA3 “YES”), an electrocardiographic signal is transmitted by the transmission RF processing unit 39 with the transmission power corresponding to the RSSI value via step SA6 (step SA7).

  As described above, according to the ICD 101, the medical system 200, and the physical information communication method according to the present embodiment according to the present embodiment, when the RSSI value does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the sensor unit 31 causes the patient A to The posture change amount is detected, and the posture determination unit 132 determines whether the change amount exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  Here, when the change amount of the posture of the patient A is small, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the patient A is sleeping, the patient A himself becomes an obstacle to the transmission of the radio signal, and the RSSI value The power required to transmit a radio signal tends to increase. Therefore, in such a period, even if the radio signal transmitted from the repeater 3 is received by the reception RF processing unit 33, the transmission of the radio signal (electrocardiogram signal) by the transmission RF processing unit 39 may be stopped. The power for receiving the radio signal by the reception RF processing unit 33 is often wasted.

  Therefore, when it is determined that the change amount of the posture of the patient A does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, the control unit 37 performs wireless communication by the reception RF processing unit 33 until the change amount of the posture of the patient A exceeds the predetermined threshold value. By stopping signal reception, it is possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption and more effectively suppress power consumption required for wireless communication.

  For example, in the case illustrated in FIG. 14, the reception RF processing unit 33 is a period in which the posture of the patient A from the second hour to the ninth hour does not change more than the threshold, that is, a period in which the RSSI value is likely to be low. The reception RF processing unit 33 is allowed to receive the radio signal when the reception of the radio signal by the reception RF processing unit 33 is permitted and the reception RF processing unit 33 permits the reception of the radio signal when the posture of the patient A changes beyond the threshold value at the 10th hour. It is possible to avoid reception of a communication signal. Then, when the RSSI value exceeds a predetermined threshold, that is, when the power required to transmit the radio signal is small, the ICD 1 transmits a radio signal (electrocardiogram signal), for example, 13 mAh in 10 hours. Power consumption is sufficient, and power consumption can be more effectively suppressed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the specific structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included. For example, the present invention is not limited to those applied to the above-described one embodiment and modifications, but may be applied to embodiments in which these embodiments and modifications are appropriately combined, and is not particularly limited. Absent.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 37 determines whether or not the RSSI value calculated by the RSSI calculation unit 35 exceeds a predetermined threshold. However, the control unit 37 performs the determination. Instead, a reception strength determination unit that determines whether the RSSI value calculated by the RSSI calculation unit 35 exceeds a predetermined threshold may be provided separately. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the communication signal acquisition part 11 has acquired the communication signal sent from the communication network 5, it is not restricted to this, The communication signal acquisition part 11 is preserve | saved inside the repeater 3. Information may be acquired and output to the transmission RF processing unit 13 as a communication signal.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 37 stores the predetermined threshold value. Instead, for example, the apparatus body 30 includes a memory (not shown) that stores the predetermined threshold value, and controls the control unit 37. The unit 37 may read a predetermined threshold value from the memory and determine the magnitude of the RSSI value.
In the above-described embodiment, the ICD 1 and 101 are described as examples of the in-body medical device. However, any device may be used as long as it is introduced into the body of the living body and communicates physical information to the external device 3. Examples of the introduction type medical device include a capsule endoscope, a pacemaker, and an artificial organ.

1,101 ICD (In-body medical device)
3 repeaters (external devices)
31 Sensor unit (detection unit)
33 Reception RF processor (receiver)
35 RSSI calculation unit (reception strength calculation unit)
37 Control unit (control unit, reception strength determination unit)
39 Transmission RF processor (transmitter)
100, 200 Medical system 132 Attitude determination unit SA1 reception process SA2 reception intensity calculation process SA3 reception intensity determination process SA7 communication process SB1 detection process SB2 attitude determination process

Claims (9)

A medical device that is introduced into the body of a living body and transmits / receives communication signals to / from an extracorporeal device that is placed outside the body of the living body,
A receiving unit for receiving a communication signal sent from the extracorporeal device;
A transmitter for transmitting a communication signal to the extracorporeal device;
A reception strength calculation unit that calculates the reception strength of the communication signal received by the reception unit;
A reception strength determination unit that determines whether or not the reception strength calculated by the reception strength calculation unit exceeds a predetermined threshold;
When the reception strength determination unit determines that the reception strength exceeds the predetermined threshold, the transmission strength is permitted to be transmitted from the transmission unit to the extracorporeal device, and the reception strength is the predetermined threshold. An in-vivo medical device comprising: a control unit that stops transmission of a communication signal from the transmission unit to the extracorporeal device when it is determined that it does not exceed. A detection unit that detects a change in posture of the living body with a predetermined time interval when the reception strength determination unit determines that the reception strength does not exceed the predetermined threshold;
A posture determination unit that determines whether or not the amount of change in posture of the living body detected by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold;
When the control unit determines that the amount of change in posture of the living body does not exceed a predetermined threshold by the posture determination unit, the receiving unit until the amount of change in posture of the living body exceeds a predetermined threshold The body-introduced medical device according to claim 1, wherein reception of the communication signal by is stopped.   The in-vivo medical device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects acceleration of the living body and converts the detected change amount of acceleration into a change amount of the posture of the living body.   The in-body medical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects a heart rate of the living body and converts the detected heart rate into a change amount of the posture of the living body. An in-body medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A medical system comprising the extracorporeal device. A receiving step in which an in-vivo device introduced into the living body receives a communication signal transmitted from the extracorporeal device arranged outside the living body;
A reception strength calculation step of calculating a reception strength of the communication signal received by the in-vivo device by the reception step;
A reception strength determination step of determining whether or not the reception strength calculated by the reception strength calculation step exceeds a predetermined threshold;
A physical information communication method including a communication step of transmitting a communication signal from the in-vivo device to the extracorporeal device when it is determined by the reception strength determination step that the reception strength exceeds the predetermined threshold. A detection step of detecting a change in posture of the living body at a predetermined time interval when the reception strength determination step determines that the reception strength does not exceed the predetermined threshold;
A posture determination step of determining whether or not a change amount of the posture of the living body detected by the detection step exceeds a predetermined threshold,
When it is determined by the posture determination step that the amount of change in posture of the living body does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the reception step is performed until the amount of change in posture of the living body exceeds a predetermined threshold. The physical information communication method according to claim 6, wherein reception of the communication signal by is stopped.   The physical information communication method according to claim 7, wherein the detection step measures acceleration of the living body and converts the measured change amount of acceleration into a change amount of the posture of the living body.   The physical information communication method according to claim 7, wherein the detecting step measures a heart rate of the living body and converts the measured heart rate into a change amount of the posture of the living body.

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