JP2014124343A - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen concentrator having an effective mechanism so as to be reflected to operation of the oxygen concentrator by a pulse oximeter storing prescription information, capable of improving convenience of the operation of the oxygen concentrator by using the pulse oximeter.SOLUTION: An oxygen concentrator 1 for supplying a prescribed amount of oxygen by changing the supply amount per unit time of oxygen has a constitution in which a device body is provided with a mounting/dismounting part 103 of a pulse oximeter 20 so that information can be exchanged with the pulse oximeter 20 storing prescription information. The pulse oximeter 20 has an operation control part 58A for instructing operation of the device body 2, and flow rate changing parts 58B and 58C for instructing change of the flow rate of oxygen in the device body.

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator, and more particularly to an oxygen concentrator that is convenient for a patient.

  Persons with respiratory illness and the like may have difficulty breathing occasionally or constantly in a normal environment. Oxygen concentrators used to help people with difficulty breathing (patients) generate oxygen by using, for example, zeolite as an adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen by permeating oxygen in the raw air. By using a pressure swing adsorption method, oxygen is obtained. According to this type of oxygen concentrator, the raw material air taken in is compressed by a compressor to generate compressed air, and this compressed air is supplied to an adsorbing cylinder with a built-in adsorbent, thereby supplying nitrogen to the adsorbent. Is adsorbed to produce oxygen with a high concentration of 90% or more. The generated high-concentration oxygen is stored in a tank, and a patient can use a device such as a nasal cannula by making it possible to supply a predetermined flow rate of oxygen from the tank via a pressure reducing valve or a flow rate setting device. Can inhale oxygen.

  If this oxygen concentrator is installed in a place where an AC power supply (commercial AC power supply) can be used, for example, a home oxygen therapy patient with reduced lung function can safely take oxygen during sleep and can sleep well. (See Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, those who have difficulty breathing have insufficient oxygen uptake into the blood through the lungs due to normal breathing, and such oxygen uptake is due to oxygen in the blood of the patient with difficulty breathing (patient). It can be detected by detecting the saturation concentration.
In measuring the oxygen saturation concentration in blood, for example, a device or device called a pulse oximeter is used (see Patent Document 2).
Further, an oxygen concentrator equipped with a pulse oximeter (see Patent Document 3) and an oxygen concentrator equipped with a remote control function (see Patent Document 4) have been proposed.

JP 2005-1111016 A JP 7-171139 A JP 2005-245825 A JP 2009-178428 A

Conventionally, pulse oximeters are instruments intended to detect oxygen saturation levels in the blood, and oxygen concentrators are devices that assist breathing for those with difficulty in breathing. Has been used.
However, in general, an oxygen concentrator can adjust an oxygen supply amount per unit time, and a medical oxygen concentrator determines and uses an oxygen supply amount based on a doctor's prescription. .

Here, in performing such a prescription, the pulse oximeter can know the oxygen saturation concentration in the blood of the patient who has difficulty breathing in real time, so the doctor can give the patient in charge the oxygen concentrator. It is considered to provide a very useful judgment material in prescribing the oxygen supply amount in Japan.
Therefore, the present invention has a mechanism effective in reflecting prescription information stored in the operation of the oxygen concentrator by a pulse oximeter having a remote control function. By using the pulse oximeter, the oxygen concentrator An object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen concentrator capable of improving the convenience of operation.

An oxygen concentrator of the present invention is an oxygen concentrator that supplies a predetermined amount of oxygen, and includes an apparatus main body and a pulse oximeter having a remote control function. The pulse oximeter is connected to the apparatus main body. A control unit configured to perform an oxygen supply operation based on the information related to the prescription read from the storage unit, the storage unit configured to be able to exchange information and holding information related to the prescription Provided in the main body, the pulse oximeter includes an operation unit for instructing operation of the apparatus main body, and a flow rate change for performing an instruction to change the oxygen flow rate in the apparatus main body by the remote control function. And a portion.
According to the above configuration, since the pulse oximeter, which is extremely important for measuring the biological reaction of the person with difficulty in breathing, can be stored together with the oxygen concentrator main body, the oxygen saturation concentration in the blood is measured, and the result is obtained as oxygen. It is convenient to reflect the content in the operation of the concentrator. The oxygen concentrator has a mechanism effective in reflecting the operation of the oxygen concentrator by a pulse oximeter in which prescription information is stored. In addition, the pulse oximeter has a driving operation unit for instructing operation of the apparatus main body and a flow rate changing unit for instructing to change the flow rate of oxygen in the apparatus main body. Therefore, since the operation of the apparatus main body and the instruction to change the flow rate of oxygen can be performed, the convenience of operation of the oxygen concentrator can be improved by using a pulse oximeter.

Preferably, the pulse oximeter includes an external communication unit, and the apparatus main body includes an external communication unit that transmits information to and from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter, and the pulse oximeter The operation start instruction generated by operating the driving operation unit is sent from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter to the control unit of the device body through the external communication unit of the device body, An instruction for changing the flow rate of oxygen by operating a flow rate changing unit is sent from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter to the control unit of the device main body via the external communication unit of the device main body. It is characterized by that.
According to the above configuration, since an instruction for operating the apparatus main body and an instruction for changing the flow rate of oxygen can be performed from the pulse oximeter side, this is convenient when operating the oxygen concentrator.

Preferably, the pulse oximeter is configured to perform data transmission of information on the prescription stored in the storage unit with an external computer.
According to the above configuration, in response to a request for data communication from an external computer, information on the measured oxygen saturation and information on the operation of the oxygen concentrator stored in the storage unit of the pulse oximeter are sent to the external computer. Since data transmission is possible, medical personnel such as doctors can review information related to patient prescriptions using an external computer.

Preferably, the pulse oximeter is separate from the probe unit that irradiates the living body of the user with light and the probe unit, and obtains the oxygen saturation concentration in the blood based on the biological information obtained from the probe unit. And a main body portion.
According to the above configuration, the pulse oximeter can be reduced in size and weight by dividing the probe part and the main body part, so the burden is reduced even if the probe part is attached to the user's living body, Mounting of the probe part becomes easy.

Preferably, the apparatus main body is provided with an attaching / detaching portion for the pulse oximeter, and the attaching / detaching portion is an accommodating portion provided in the apparatus main body, and can be attached by dropping the pulse oximeter into the accommodating portion. A configuration is provided.
According to the above configuration, when storing a pulse oximeter, which is a relatively small device, it can be stored simply by dropping it into the housing portion, and is convenient for handling, and is difficult to lose after using the pulse oximeter.

Preferably, the attaching / detaching portion includes a structure for engaging with the pulse oximeter.
According to the above configuration, the storage unit of the oxygen concentrator and the pulse oximeter, which is a relatively small device, are stored in a state of being engaged with each other.

Preferably, the pulse oximeter includes the storage unit that holds patient authentication information corresponding to the prescription, together with information on the prescription, and the authentication information is read together with the prescription read from the storage unit. The apparatus main body is provided with the control unit configured to confirm and configure the oxygen supply operation based on the authentication information and the information related to the prescription.
According to the above configuration, when the patient (user) authentication information corresponding to each measurement data is given to the pulse oximeter and the prescription information to which the patient authentication information is given is held, the oxygen concentration By confirming the authentication information and operating the apparatus by determining the oxygen flow rate according to the corresponding prescription information, it is possible to realize a very appropriate and error-free operation.

  The present invention attaches a pulse oximeter in which prescription information by a doctor is stored to an oxygen concentrator or performs communication of information between the pulse oximeter in which prescription information by a doctor is stored and the oxygen concentrator. It is possible to provide an oxygen concentrator that has a mechanism effective in reflecting the operation of the concentrator and that can improve the convenience of operation of the oxygen concentrator by using a pulse oximeter.

The schematic perspective view seen from the front side which shows the external appearance of one Embodiment of the oxygen concentrator of this invention. The figure which shows the system structural example of the oxygen concentrator of FIG. The schematic perspective view which shows an example of the pulse oximeter utilized for this invention. The schematic side view which shows the use condition of the pulse oximeter of FIG. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the principle of the pulse oximeter of FIG. The graph for demonstrating the measured value of the pulse oximeter of FIG. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the pulse oximeter of FIG. The flowchart which shows the example of a measurement of the pulse oximeter of FIG. The flowchart which shows an example which drive | operated the oxygen concentrator of FIG. 1 using the pulse oximeter of FIG. The flowchart which shows the other example which drive | operated the oxygen concentrator of FIG. 1 using the pulse oximeter of FIG. The principal part schematic perspective view which shows the external appearance of other embodiment of the oxygen concentrator of this invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
It should be noted that the embodiment to be described specifically describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is the contents of the following description and drawings unless otherwise specified in the following description. It is not limited to.

(Configuration of oxygen concentrator)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view seen from the front side showing the appearance of an embodiment of an oxygen concentrator equipped with a compressor of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of the oxygen concentrator in FIG.

The oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably a portable or portable oxygen concentrator equipped with casters. The oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIG. 1 uses, for example, a compressed aerodynamic fluctuation adsorption method (PSA: positive pressure fluctuation adsorption method) using compressed air as an oxygen generation principle.
In the positive pressure fluctuation adsorption method using only compressed air, only compressed air is sent into the adsorption cylinder to adsorb nitrogen. The positive pressure fluctuation adsorption method has an advantage that the compressor can be made smaller and lighter than the positive and negative pressure fluctuation adsorption method (VPSA) using compressed air and reduced pressure air.

The oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an oxygen concentrator having an oxygen flow rate of a maximum 5 L class as an example, and the oxygen flow setting unit is set to, for example, 0.25 L / min to 5.00 L / min. The oxygen concentrator 1 is an apparatus for supplying a predetermined amount of concentrated oxygen to a user (patient).
As shown in FIG. 2, the oxygen concentrating device 1 includes a main housing 2 that is a device main body and a pulse oximeter 20. The pulse oximeter 20 is configured to be able to exchange information with the main housing 2 which is the main body of the apparatus, and includes a memory 28 as a storage unit that holds information related to prescription. In addition, the main housing 2 that is the apparatus main body includes a central control unit (control unit) 200 configured to perform a supply operation of concentrated oxygen based on information related to the prescription read from the memory 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the oxygen concentrator 1 includes a main housing 2, a display unit 128 capable of setting a flow rate, a humidifier G, a cannula hook 2K, and casters 2T at four corners. The main housing 2 is an apparatus body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The main housing 2 has a front panel 2F, left and right side panels 2S, a rear panel 2R, an upper surface portion 2D, and a bottom portion 2B. As shown in FIG. 1, a display unit 128, an oxygen outlet unit 100, a power switch 101, and an oxygen flow rate setting button 102 are arranged on the upper surface 2D. An arrangement portion 2G for the humidifier G is provided on the upper portion of the front panel 2F. The casters 2T are arranged at the four corners of the bottom 2B, and the oxygen concentrator 1 is movable using these casters 2.

An attaching / detaching portion 103 of a pulse oximeter 20 described later is formed on the upper surface portion 2D of the main housing 2 shown in FIG. Thereby, as will be described later, the pulse oximeter 20 that is extremely important for measuring the biological reaction of the user can be stored together with the main casing 2 that is the apparatus main body.
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 1, the detachable portion 103 can be, for example, a housing portion of the pulse oximeter 20 formed as a vertical recess. The accommodating portion as the detachable portion 103 is a recess, and the depth thereof is shallower than the accommodating pulse oximeter 20, and as shown in FIG. 1, a part of the accommodating pulse oximeter 20 is exposed. The user can easily hold a part of the stored pulse oximeter 20. This facilitates insertion / removal of the pulse oximeter 20 into / from the attaching / detaching portion 103.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the detachable portion 103 is formed in a recess in the main housing 2 adjacent to the display portion 128 and can be accommodated by dropping the pulse oximeter 20 there. It is said that. Preferably, for example, when a slight convex portion is formed on the inner surface in the housing portion, a small concave portion corresponding to the surface of the pulse oximeter 20 is formed, and an engaging portion that can be engaged and disengaged is formed, the pulse oximeter 20 This is convenient because it cannot be removed carelessly from inside the housing.

Further, the attachment / detachment unit 103 is provided so that the external communication unit 80 of the oxygen concentrator 1 is located close to the attachment / detachment unit 103. Accordingly, it is preferable that information can be communicated in a non-contact manner with an external communication unit 80 of the pulse oximeter 20 described later.
Alternatively, the external communication unit 80 comes in contact with the communication electrode (contact point) exposed on the outer surface of the pulse oximeter so as to provide an electrode that is a contact point exposed on the inner surface of the recess that is the detachable portion 103, Direct signal exchange may be possible.
Here, the attaching / detaching portion 103 is not necessarily provided directly in the main housing 2, and the housing portion of the pulse oximeter 20 is formed as a separate body and fixed to the main housing 2 with a permanent magnet. It may be attached later such as hanging or hanging.

With reference to FIG. 2, the system structural example of the oxygen concentration apparatus 1 mentioned above is demonstrated.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example of the oxygen concentrator 1.
A double line shown in FIG. 2 indicates a pipe that becomes a flow path of the raw air, oxygen, and nitrogen gas. A thin solid line indicates power supply or electric signal wiring. The main casing 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIG. 2 is indicated by a broken line, and the main casing 2 is a sealed container that seals the elements disposed inside.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main housing 2 has an air intake 5 for introducing raw material air that is outside air, an air intake filter 7, and an exhaust 6 for exhausting air. An air intake filter 7 for removing impurities such as dust in the air is replaceably disposed in the air intake 5. When the compressor 10 is operated, the raw air is introduced into the compressor 10 through the air intake filter 7, the internal pipe 37, the intake filter / silence buffer 38, and the pipes 40 and 41.

In this way, the raw air is introduced into the compressor 10 to become compressed air, but heat is generated when the raw air is compressed. For this reason, the compressor 10, particularly the sleeves 11 and 12, is cooled by the air blown from the first fan 34 and the second fan 36 for cooling. The compressed air sent from the compressor 10 through the pipe 15 is cooled by the radiator 13.
By cooling the compressed air in this way, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the zeolite, which is an adsorbent that deteriorates in function at high temperatures. Thereby, it becomes possible to sufficiently function as an adsorbent for generating oxygen by adsorption of nitrogen, and oxygen can be concentrated to about 90% or more.

The first adsorption cylinder body 31 and the second adsorption cylinder body 32 in FIG. 2 are examples of adsorption members arranged side by side, and are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. Three-way switching valves 14B and 14C are connected to the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32, respectively. One end of one three-way switching valve 14B is connected to the pipe 15. A radiator 13 for cooling the compressed air passing through the pipe 15 is disposed in the middle of the pipe 15. One three-way switching valve 14B and the other three-way switching valve 14C are connected to each other, and one end of the other three-way switching valve 14C is connected to the pipe 15R. The end of the pipe 15R reaches the exhaust port 6.
The three-way switching valves 14B, 14C are connected to the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32, respectively. Compressed air generated from the compressor 10 is alternately supplied to the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32 via the pipe 15 and the three-way switching valves 14B and 14C.

Zeolite as the catalyst adsorbent is stored in the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32, respectively. This zeolite is, for example, an X-type zeolite having a Si ₂ O ₃ / Al ₂ O ₃ ratio of 2.0 to 3.0, and at least 88% or more of this Al ₂ O ₃ tetrahedral unit is composed of lithium cations. By using the bonded one, the adsorption amount of nitrogen per unit weight can be increased. This zeolite preferably has a granule measurement value of less than 1 mm, and at least 88% of tetrahedral units are fused with lithium cations. By using zeolite, it becomes possible to reduce the amount of raw material air used for generating oxygen compared to the case of using other adsorbents. As a result, the compressor 10 for generating compressed air can be further reduced in size, and the noise of the compressor 10 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an equal pressure valve 107 including a check valve, a throttle valve, and an on-off valve is connected to the outlet side of the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32. A joining pipe 60 is connected to the downstream side of the equal pressure valve 107, and a buffer 61 is connected to the pipe 60. The buffer 61 is an oxygen storage container for storing oxygen having a concentration of about 90% or more generated by separation in the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pressure regulator 62 is connected to the downstream side of the buffer 61, and the pressure regulator 62 is a regulator that automatically adjusts the oxygen pressure on the outlet side of the buffer 61 to be constant. A zirconia-type or ultrasonic-type oxygen concentration sensor 64 is connected to the downstream side of the pressure regulator 62 via a filter 63, and the oxygen concentration sensor 64 detects oxygen concentration intermittently (10-30). Every minute) or continuously.

As shown in FIG. 2, a proportional opening valve 65 is connected to the buffer 61. The proportional opening valve 65 opens and closes in conjunction with the setting button operation of the oxygen flow rate setting button 102 in accordance with a signal from the flow rate control unit 202 according to a command from the central control unit 200. An oxygen flow rate sensor 66 is connected to the proportional opening valve 65. A humidifier G and an oxygen flow sensor 67 are connected to the oxygen flow sensor 66. An oxygen outlet 100 is connected to the subsequent stage of the oxygen flow sensor 67.
Coupler socket 71 of nasal cannula 70 is detachably connected to oxygen outlet 100. The coupler socket 71 is connected to the nasal cannula 70 via the tube 72. The patient can inhale oxygen concentrated to about 90% or more through the nasal cannula 70, for example, at a maximum flow rate of 5 L / min.

Next, the power supply system will be described with reference to FIG.
A connector 203 of an AC (commercial AC) power source shown in FIG. 2 is electrically connected to a power supply control circuit 39, and the power supply control circuit 39 rectifies the AC voltage of the commercial AC power supply into a predetermined DC voltage. The built-in battery 204 is built in the main housing 2. The built-in battery 204 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and the built-in battery 204 can be charged by receiving power supply from the power control circuit 39.
Accordingly, the central control unit 200 of FIG. 2 temporarily stores measurement data and various data as a CPU (microcomputer) and the like, a ROM (not shown) that stores a control program for the entire apparatus executed by the CPU and various data, and a work area. A RAM (not shown) or the like for storing data is provided to control and judge the operation of the entire apparatus.
The central control unit 200 in FIG. 2 controls the power supply control circuit 39, so that the power supply control circuit 39 receives the power supply from the AC adapter 203, for example, and the power from the built-in battery 204. It can be used by automatically switching to one of the second power supply states that operate in response to the supply. The built-in battery 204 is preferably a lithium ion or lithium hydrogen ion secondary battery that has little memory effect during charging and can be fully charged even during recharging, but is not limited thereto, and may be a nickel cadmium battery or a nickel hydride battery.

  The central control unit 200 in FIG. 2 is electrically connected to the motor driver 210 and the fan motor driver 211. The central control unit 200 stores a program for switching to an optimal operation mode according to the amount of oxygen to be generated. The motor driver 210 and the fan motor driver 211 automatically drive the compressor 10, the first fan 34, and the second fan 36 at a high speed when a large amount of oxygen is generated according to a command from the central control unit 200. In this case, the compressor 10, the first fan 34, and the second fan 36 are controlled to rotate at a low speed.

The central control unit 200 has a built-in ROM (read only memory) storing a predetermined operation program, and the central control unit 200 has a circuit including an external storage device, a volatile memory, a temporary storage device, and a real-time clock. Electrically connected. The central control unit 200 can be accessed by connecting to an external communication line or the like via the communication connector 205.
A control circuit for controlling the three-way switching valves 14B, 14C and the equal pressure valve 107 shown in FIG. 2 to be desorbed from the unnecessary gas in the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32 by on / off control. (Not shown), a pressure regulator 62, a flow rate control unit 202, and an oxygen concentration sensor 64 are electrically connected to the central control unit 200. The flow rate control unit 202 controls the proportional opening valve 65, and the oxygen flow rate values of the oxygen flow rate sensor 66 and the oxygen flow rate sensor 67 are sent to the central control unit 200. The oxygen flow rate setting button 102, the display unit 128, the power switch 101, and the display switch 128S are electrically connected to the central control unit 200 shown in FIG.

  For example, the oxygen flow rate setting button 102 is operated by increasing or decreasing oxygen concentrated to about 90% or more in increments of 0.25 L from 0.25 L (liter) to 5 L per minute. The flow rate can be set. As the display unit 128, for example, a display device such as a 7-segment display liquid crystal display is used. The display unit 128 includes display items such as oxygen flow rate, oxygen lamp, alarm icons (tube breakage, humidifier disconnection, oxygen concentration reduction, power supply stop, remaining battery level, battery operation, charging lamp), accumulated time, and the like. Can be displayed.

  The compressor 10 shown in FIG. 2 sends compressed air into the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32 by the positive pressure fluctuation adsorption method (PSA) by generating only compressed air as already described. The nitrogen in the compressed air is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the first adsorption cylinder 31 and the second adsorption cylinder 32. The driving motor 53 of the compressor 10 may be a synchronous motor, or may be a single-phase AC induction motor or a single-phase four-pole AC synchronous motor, and the type is not particularly limited. .

Next, an operation example of the oxygen concentrator 1 described above will be described.
The central control unit 200 shown in FIG. 2 instructs the motor driver 210, and the motor driver 210 starts the driving motor 53 of the compressor 10, and the output shaft of the driving motor 53 continuously rotates. When the compressor 10 operates, the raw material air is taken in from the air intake 5 shown in FIG. 2 to remove impurities such as dust by the filter 7, and the compressor is passed through the internal pipe 37, the intake filter / silence buffer 38, and the pipes 40 and 41. 10 side introduced. Compressed air generated by the compressor 10 shown in FIG. 2 can be supplied to the first adsorption cylinder 13 and the second adsorption cylinder 32 via the pipe 15.

  On the other hand, the central control unit 200 shown in FIG. 2 gives a command to the motor driver 211 to rotate the first fan 34 and the second fan 36. When the compressor 10 compresses the raw material air to generate compressed air, the sleeves 11 and 12 of the compressor 10 are cooled by the blowing of the first fan 34 and the second fan 36, respectively, and the compressed air passing through the pipe 15 is It is cooled by passing through the radiator 13. The compressed air passes through the adsorbent in the first adsorbing cylinder 31 and the second adsorbing cylinder 32 through the pipe 15 and the three-way switching valves 14B and 14C and adsorbs nitrogen to separate oxygen. Generated. The buffer 61 can store oxygen having a concentration of about 90% or more generated by separation.

  The oxygen concentration sensor 66 in FIG. 2 detects the concentration of oxygen from the buffer 61. The proportional opening valve 65 opens and closes in conjunction with the oxygen flow rate setting button 102. Then, oxygen is supplied to the nasal cannula 70 through the oxygen outlet portion 100. Thereby, the patient can inhale oxygen concentrated to about 90% or more through the nasal cannula 70, for example, at a maximum flow rate of 5 L / min.

Here, preferably, the oxygen concentrator 1 of the present embodiment is provided with an external communication unit 80 and a memory 81 as shown in FIG. Data such as prescription information obtained using the external communication unit 80 is confirmed by the central control unit 200, and the central control unit 200 stores data such as prescription information and the like in a semiconductor memory or the like that can be written and read. The data is stored in a memory 81 using the device.
As the external communication unit 80 and the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to be described later, for example, Bluetooth 4.0 (standard for short-range wireless communication) which is a small and low power consumption communication means ( Registered trademark), ZigBee (wireless communication standard established for home appliances), NFC communication unit (Near Field Communication, international standard for low-power wireless communication performed at a distance of several tens of centimeters), or the like can be employed.

(Configuration of pulse oximeter)
Next, a preferred configuration example of the pulse oximeter 20 having a remote control function used in the present invention will be described.
The pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 3 is an instrument or device that measures the oxygen saturation concentration in blood. In this case, the pulse oximeter 20 measures light that is applied to the vicinity of the tip of a finger F that is a user's living body. It is intended.
3 is a schematic perspective view of the pulse oximeter 20, FIG. 4A is a schematic side view showing a usage state of the pulse oximeter 20, and FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining an outline of the configuration of the pulse oximeter 20. It is explanatory drawing. FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing an example in which the pulse oximeter 20 is attached to the user's (patient) hand.

  3 and 4A, the pulse oximeter 20 includes a probe unit 300 and a main body unit 301. The probe unit 300 and the main body unit 301 are preferably separate bodies, and both are electrically connected by a wiring 302. As described above, the pulse oximeter 20 is configured to be divided into the probe unit 300 and the main body unit 301, and therefore, compared to the case where the probe unit 300 and the main body unit 301 are configured integrally, the probe unit. 300 size reduction and weight reduction can be achieved. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the probe unit 300 is attached by inserting the tip portion of the finger F, but the main body unit 301 is formed in, for example, a wristwatch type so that it can be attached to the wrist.

Since the probe unit 300 can be reduced in size and weight as described above, the user holds only the probe unit 300 by hand and probes the user's finger F as shown in FIGS. The operation of inserting into the 300 insertion holes 27 can be easily performed. For this reason, even if the probe unit 300 is attached to the living body of the user, for example, the finger F, the burden is reduced in terms of weight and size, and the probe unit 300 can be easily attached.
As shown in FIG. 3, the probe unit 300 is fixed to the lower half body 21 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an arm portion 27 having elasticity at one end of the lower half body 21 and the base portion 21. An upper half body 22 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, a display unit 26 is arranged on the upper surface of the upper half body 22, and the measurement results by the probe unit 300 of the pulse oximeter 20 are displayed by numerical values.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, as a measurement result by the probe unit 300, for example, a percentage display (% SpO ₂ ) of oxygen saturation concentration in blood and a pulse rate (PR) are displayed on the display unit 26. In addition, the set flow rate of concentrated oxygen, a clock display, and the like can be displayed. The display unit 26 is in black and white or color display. The display unit 26 can be selected from various miniaturized display means such as a small liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, and a photoelectric display means. In addition to numerical values, display of characters, symbol marks, characters, etc. can be used.
The probe unit 300 of the pulse oximeter 20 is provided with a control unit 84 (see FIG. 7) as will be described later. The control unit 84 includes, for example, a posture change detection unit such as a piezoelectric gyro so that the display direction of FIG. 3 can be changed to 180 based on the relationship between the position where the probe unit 300 is placed and the gravitational acceleration. The display direction can be changed so that the user can easily view the content displayed on the display unit 26 so that the display can be reversed.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the lower half 21 and the upper half 22 of the probe unit 300 are vertically symmetrical, and the right end of the lower half 21 and the right end of the upper half 22 are It is connected by an arm portion 27 having elasticity. The contact surfaces of the lower half 21 and the upper half 22 are covered with black soft members 23 and 24 such as silicon rubber, respectively, and components described later are accommodated in these soft members. Has been.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an insertion hole 27 is formed between the lower half 21 and the upper half 22 at the left end portion of the probe unit 300, so that the user's finger F can be inserted. it can. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the finger F is inserted from the insertion hole 27 to a predetermined position, the lower half 21 and the upper half 22 are sandwiched between the fingertips, and the finger F is placed at the tip of the finger F for measurement. In order to apply light, a light emitting unit 45 and a light receiving unit 46 are built in the upper half 22 and the lower half 21, respectively. That is, at the time of measurement, the tip of the finger F is positioned on the optical path from the light emitting unit 45 to the light receiving unit 46.

The state in which the tip of the finger F is positioned on the optical path from the light emitting unit 45 to the light receiving unit 46 is shown in the principle explanatory diagram of FIG.
The light emitting unit 45 shown in FIG. 5 can emit light of at least two types of wavelengths, and the red light emitting unit 45a has, for example, 660 nm (nanometer) red light (red = 700 nm). It is composed of a light emitting diode that emits substantially the same light). The infrared light emitting unit 45b is constituted by, for example, a light emitting diode that emits infrared light having a wavelength of 900 nm.
The light receiving unit 46 shown in FIG. 5 includes a red light receiving unit 46a and an infrared light receiving unit 46b. The red light receiving unit 46a detects the amount of red light emitted from the red light emitting unit 45a and incident through the finger F, and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light. The infrared light receiving unit 46b detects the light amount of the extra-red light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 45b and incident through the finger F, and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the light amount. The light receiving unit 46 as a whole generates a ratio R / IR between the light amount R of red light and the light amount IR of infrared light, and obtains the measurement result.

Here, in FIG. 6, in the blood flow flowing through the blood vessel inside the finger F, hemoglobin associated with oxygen is represented by HbO ₂ , hemoglobin not associated with oxygen is represented by Hb, and each graph shows which wavelength each hemoglobin has. It shows how well it absorbs light. Since the differences G1 and G2 between the light absorbed by each of these hemoglobins are greatly different between the red light and the infrared light, the red light amount R detected by the light receiving unit 46 and the infrared light amount IR. By calculating the ratio R / IR with the calculation means described later, the oxygen saturation amount in the blood can be determined.

That is, the difference in the amount of light absorption between the hemoglobins of infrared light is small, whereas the amount of light absorption of each hemoglobin is significantly different from that of red light. For this reason, the hemoglobin combined with oxygen reflects red light, and the ratio R / IR of the red light amount R detected by the light receiving unit 46 to the infrared light amount IR approaches “1”. Will approach 100%.
Note that the probe unit 300 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 performs the measurement of the red light amount R and the infrared light amount IR based on arterial blood. Arterial blood has a pulsation, and the pulse rate can be detected at the same time by detecting this pulsation and pulsing it with the configuration described later.
Although the light transmission type detection method has been described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, if the principle of FIG. 6 is used, the amount of oxygen saturation in blood can be obtained by detecting reflected light. It is.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pulse oximeter 20 having a remote control function. FIG. 7 shows an example of the internal configuration of each of the probe unit 300 and the main body unit 301.
As already described, the probe unit 300 includes the light emitting unit 45 and the light receiving unit 46. On the other hand, the components described below are arranged in the main body 301.
The main body 301 is provided with a control unit 84 that is an integrated circuit (IC). A CPU such as a microcomputer and a ROM (not shown) for storing various control programs executed by the CPU and various data and a RAM (not shown) for temporarily storing measurement data and various data as a work area are provided. The control unit 84 that controls and judges the operation of the entire apparatus is electrically connected to the light emitting unit 45 in the probe unit 300 via the drive circuit 45M, the light emitting circuit 45S, and the wiring 302. The control unit 84 is electrically connected to the light receiving unit 46 in the probe unit 300 via the analog-digital converter 55, the light receiving circuit 55D, and the wiring 302. The detection result from the light receiving unit 46 is analog / digital converted by the analog-digital converter 55 via the light receiving circuit 55D and input to the control unit 84.

The control unit 84 illustrated in FIG. 7 controls the overall determination and operation of the pulse oximeter 20. In order to calculate and analyze the oxygen saturation amount in the blood, the control unit 84 obtains the SpO ₂ calculation unit 56, the pulse wave detection unit 57, the pulse rate calculation unit 85, the power supply unit 86, and a display. A control unit 87 and an analysis unit 88 are provided. The SpO ₂ calculation unit 56, the pulse wave detection unit 57, the pulse rate calculation unit 85, the display control unit 87, and the analysis unit 88 are configured as each circuit function unit of the integrated circuit, so that the main unit 301 can be reduced in size. Can be achieved. The control unit 84 includes a memory 28 as a storage unit that can be written and read, for example, configured by a flash memory, and further includes a timer 30.

  Further, the control unit 84 in FIG. 7 controls the external communication unit (first external communication unit) 400, another external communication unit (second external communication unit) 401, the operation unit 58, and the display unit 26. Electrically connected. The external communication unit 400 communicates with the external communication unit 80 in the main housing 2 which is the main body of the oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIG. 2 by, for example, wireless communication RF. The external communication unit 401 communicates with the external computer 500 by performing data transmission, for example, by wireless communication RF1.

  Thereby, the prescription data (oxygen flow rate) by the doctor in charge as necessary information from an IC reader / writer, which is an input device of an external computer 500 such as a personal computer used by the doctor in charge of the user of the oxygen concentrator 1. L / min) can be input to the control unit 84 through the external communication unit 401 from the external computer 500 side. As will be described later, the operation unit 58 in FIG. 7 has various operation switches. The display unit 26 is connected to the control unit 84 via the display control unit 87.

  The external communication unit 400 shown in FIG. 7 is a communication means corresponding to the external communication unit 80 of the oxygen concentrator 1 already described in FIG. 2, and is connected to the main housing 2 that is the main body of the oxygen concentrator 1. Thus, signals can be exchanged by radio communication RF (infrared rays or the like). Thus, the control unit 84 can only store the prescription data (oxygen flow rate L / min) by the doctor in charge input from the external computer 500 used by the doctor in charge of the user in the memory 28 of the control unit 84. Instead, the central control unit 200 of the main housing (apparatus main body) 2 shown in FIG.

By exchanging the prescription data (data information) by the doctor in charge, for example, preferably, the prescription data by the doctor in charge is stored together with the memory 28 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the central control unit 200 of the main housing (apparatus body) 2. Are also stored in the memory 81 in a rewritable manner together with the authentication data of the patient who is the user. That is, the operation instruction data regarding the flow rate of the concentrated oxygen determined by the determination based on the oxygen saturation concentration of the user when measured using the pulse oximeter 20 is stored in the memory 28 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the main casing ( It can be stored in the memory 81 of the apparatus main body 2 in a rewritable manner together with the authentication data of the patient who is the user.
As a result, the memory 28 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the memory 81 of the main housing (device main body) 2 are stored in common so that the authentication data of the patient as the user can be rewritten together with the prescription data by the doctor in charge. Can be made.

In the memory (storage unit) 28 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 7, patient authentication information corresponding to the prescription can be held together with information related to the prescription. In addition, the central control unit 200 of the main casing (apparatus main body) 2 of the oxygen concentration apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 confirms the authentication information together with the prescription read from the memory 28, and uses the authentication information together with the prescription information. Based on this, the concentrated oxygen supply operation is performed.
Preferably, the prescription data input by the doctor is associated with the authentication data described above.

The SpO ₂ calculation unit 56 shown in FIG. 7 calculates a ratio R / IR between the red light amount R and the infrared light amount IR from the detection result of the light receiving unit 46 described above, and calculates this ratio R / IR. This is sent to the control unit 84. The pulse wave detection unit 57 detects the pulse wave of the artery due to pulsation based on the detection result of the light receiving unit 46, and sends the pulse wave to the control unit 84. The control unit 84 in FIG. 7 sends the result of the pulse wave to the pulse rate calculation unit 85. The pulse rate calculation unit 85 receives the signal of the fundamental frequency from the control unit 84, calculates the pulse rate corresponding to the number of beats per minute, and sends this pulse rate to the control unit 84.
The analysis unit 88 of FIG. 7 analyzes the oxygen saturation concentration from the ratio R / IR of the red light amount R and the infrared light amount IR sent from the control unit 84, and the control unit 84 detects the oxygen saturation concentration. The concentration (% SpO ₂ ), the pulse rate (PR), the pulse waveform, and the like are displayed on the display unit 26 via the display control unit 87 such as a liquid crystal drive circuit. The memory 28 preferably stores the authentication mode of the patient (user) who measured the oxygen saturation concentration together with the measurement value and the measurement date / time.
The configurations of the light emitting unit 45 and the light receiving unit 46 are as already described in detail. The power supply unit 86 can be a normal dry battery (two AAA alkaline batteries or the like) or a secondary battery charged by electromagnetic induction.

In the control unit 84, for example, when various switches of the operation unit 58 are provided on the outer surface of the pulse oximeter 20, a medical worker such as a user (patient) or a doctor in charge presses the various switches, There is an advantage that a necessary operation command can be issued from the pulse oximeter 20 side to the main housing (device main body) 2 side of the oxygen concentrator 1. For this reason, when a user uses the oxygen concentrator 1 using the pulse oximeter 20 having a remote control function with respect to the oxygen concentrator 1, convenience is improved.
Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the operation unit 58 that also functions as a remote control unit includes an operation switch 58A, a concentrated oxygen set flow rate up switch 58B, a concentrated oxygen set flow rate down switch 58C, A time setting button 58D, a mode selection switch 58F that can select any of sleep, rest, and work are provided. In addition, you may make it determine automatically at the time of sleep, rest, and effort by the operation information based on the information detected by the detection means of posture change.

  The operation switch 58A, which also functions as a remote control unit, starts the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 by being depressed by a user of the oxygen concentrator 1 or a medical staff such as a doctor, or stops the operation by further depressing it. It is a driving operation part. The set flow rate up switch 58B and the set flow rate down switch 58C are used for instructing a change in which the flow rate of oxygen in the apparatus main body is increased or decreased by being depressed by a user of the oxygen concentrator 1 or a medical staff such as a doctor. This is a flow rate changing unit.

  When the operation switch 58A is pushed down by a user of the oxygen concentrator 1 or a medical staff such as a doctor, the control unit 84 shown in FIG. 7 causes the external communication unit 400 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the main housing shown in FIG. Since wireless communication (or wired communication is possible) is performed with the external communication unit 80 of the body (device main body) 2, the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 can be started. Then, when the user of the oxygen concentrator 1 pushes down again the operation switch 58A, the control unit 84 shown in FIG. 7 causes the external communication unit 400 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the main housing (apparatus main body shown in FIG. ) Since wireless communication is performed with the two external communication units 80, the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 can be stopped.

When the concentrated oxygen set flow rate up switch 58B and the concentrated oxygen set flow rate down switch 58C shown in FIG. 7 are pushed down by a user or a medical worker such as a doctor, the control unit 84 is connected to the external communication unit 400. By performing wireless communication with the external communication unit 80 of the main housing (apparatus body) 2 shown in FIG. 2, the set flow rate value of the concentrated oxygen supplied by the oxygen concentrator 1 can be increased or decreased. . The time setting button 58D of the clock can set the time of the timer 30, for example.
In addition, a doctor or a medical worker stores in advance the default flow rate value of concentrated oxygen during sleep, rest, and work as a default value in the memory 28, and the oxygen saturation concentration SpO during sleep, rest, and work _When the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ is reduced by a predetermined amount, for example, about -5%, compared with the past average value of ₂ , the remote control is performed so that the set flow rate value of the concentrated oxygen is increased by a predetermined amount correspondingly. You may make it control.
For example, the set flow value of concentrated oxygen during sleep is 2.0 L / min, the set flow value of concentrated oxygen at rest is 2.5 L / min, the set flow value of concentrated oxygen at work is 3.0 L / min, In the case of the default value, when SpO ₂ during sleep is reduced by a predetermined amount, for example, about −5%, the set flow rate value of concentrated oxygen is 2.25 L / min, and SpO ₂ at rest is a predetermined amount, for example, When the oxygen concentration is decreased by about -5%, the set flow rate value of the concentrated oxygen is 2.75 L / min. When the SpO ₂ during the work is reduced by a predetermined amount, for example, by about -5%, the set flow rate value of the concentrated oxygen is Is set and memorized by a doctor or medical worker so that the value is automatically changed to 3.25 L / min. In addition, the type of operation of the operation unit 58 includes determination of the display direction on the display unit 26 and the like. When the pulse oximeter 20 determines its own posture with a gyro or the like as described above and does not set the display direction to an appropriate position, the user can select the desired direction (the display direction shown in FIG. , A direction in which this is inverted 180 degrees).

Next, an operation example of the pulse oximeter 20 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
For example, by storing a battery as the power supply unit 86 in the main body 301, the pulse oximeter 20 is activated and starts operating. When the operation starts, the light emitting unit 45 is driven by an instruction from the control unit 84, and red light of 660 nm (red = approximately the same light as 700 nm) is emitted from the light emitting unit 45a, and infrared light having a wavelength of 900 nm is emitted from the light emitting unit 45b. For example, light is emitted every second.
In this state, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the user inserts the finger F into the insertion hole 27 to start the measurement mode (step ST1).
Next, using the principle already described, the SpO ₂ calculation unit 56 calculates the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ from the blood flow of the artery of the finger F by calculation according to an instruction from the control unit 84 (step ST2).
Based on the calculation result, the control unit 84 determines whether or not the operation unit 58 has been operated before displaying the measurement result (step ST3). If not operated, the display direction by the display unit 26 is displayed according to the default, and is not reversed (step ST7).

In step ST3, when the control unit 84 determines that the operation unit 58 has been operated, the control unit 84 reverses the display direction of the display unit 26 by 180 degrees and displays the measurement result (step ST4). In addition to the simple display shown in FIG. 3, the display of the measurement result can be a display example such as the display unit 26 of FIG. 7, but basically, the display unit 26 displays the oxygen saturation concentration. The indicated percentage (% SpO ₂ ), pulse rate (PR), electroencephalogram waveform, and the like are included.

Subsequently, the control unit 84 determines whether or not the operation unit 58 has been operated again (step ST5). This is because if the display of the measurement result of the display unit 26 in FIG. 3 or FIG. 7 is not sufficiently read by the user, the user may operate the operation unit 58 again. However, if it can be determined in step ST5 that the operation unit 58 has not been operated, the display is continued without changing the display direction.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST5 that the operation unit 58 has been operated, the previous display is reversed 180 degrees and displayed (step ST6).
After that, when it is determined that the finger F has been removed (step ST8), or when the power source 86 such as the battery shown in FIG. 7 is turned off, the control unit 84 ends the measurement and display operations (step ST9), but the measurement and display operation continues unless otherwise.

(Example of operation of oxygen concentrator 1 using pulse oximeter 20)
Next, an example of the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 using the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the steps shown in FIG.
In step ST10 of FIG. 9, when the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 is to be started, in step ST11, the user (or a medical worker such as a doctor in charge) operates the operation unit 58 shown in FIG. The switch 58A is depressed to turn it on. However, in step ST11, the power switch 101 of the oxygen concentrator 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 may be pushed down to be turned on, so that the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 can be started.

When the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 of FIG. 2 is started, in the next step ST12 shown in FIG. 9, the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the main casing (device) of the oxygen concentrator 1 Wireless communication is performed with the external communication unit 80 of the main body 2. Through this communication, it is confirmed whether or not the pulse oximeter 20 is located at a communicable distance with respect to the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1, and exchanges data information with each other to perform communication. Try to establish a possible state.
For example, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the pulse oximeter 20 is positioned in the vicinity of the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1, or the pulse oximeter 20 is installed in the attachment / detachment unit 103. It is determined whether or not communication is possible anyway.

  9, the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 7 and the external communication unit 80 of the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 can communicate with each other. Then, necessary data information is exchanged from the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to the external communication unit 80 of the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1. That is, information on the prescription stored in the memory 28 shown in FIG. 7 from the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to the external communication unit 80 of the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1. And a communication command for starting operation of the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 is sent.

  In step ST12, the control unit 84 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 7 displays the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen on the display unit 26 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20. Moreover, the control unit 84 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 7 communicates from the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to the external communication unit 80 of the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1. By performing the above, it is possible to display the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen on the display unit 128 of the oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIG.

  Next, in step ST13 of FIG. 9, if the user depresses the concentrated oxygen set flow rate up switch 58B or the concentrated oxygen set flow rate down switch 58C of the operation unit 58 shown in FIG. 7, for example, FIG. The controller 84 can change the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen by increasing or decreasing the set flow rate value of the concentrated oxygen supplied by the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrating device 1.

  As described above, when the concentrated oxygen flow rate setting is changed by depressing the concentrated oxygen setting flow rate up switch 58B or the concentrated oxygen setting flow rate down switch 58C, the process proceeds to step ST14. In step ST <b> 14, communication of changing the set flow rate of concentrated oxygen is performed from the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to the external communication unit 80 of the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1. Thereby, on the main housing (apparatus main body) 2 side of the oxygen concentrator 1, the central control unit 200 changes the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen. In step ST15, the changed set flow rate of concentrated oxygen is displayed on the display unit 26 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 7 and the display unit 128 of the oxygen concentrator 1 shown in FIG.

9, the control unit 84 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 of FIG. 7 stores the changed concentrated oxygen set flow rate in the memory 28. In addition, in the main casing (apparatus main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1, the changed set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen is also stored in the memory 81.
In this case, the operation instruction data regarding the flow rate of concentrated oxygen and the operation for changing the flow rate of concentrated oxygen can be rewritten only by medical personnel with limited access rights, such as doctors in charge. it can.

Next, in step ST17 shown in FIG. 9, the operation switch 58A of the operation unit 58 shown in FIG. 7 is pushed down again, and an instruction to stop the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 in step ST18 is sent to the main housing ( This is notified to the central controller 200 of the apparatus main body 2. In this case, if the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 is finished at this point in step ST19, the operation of the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 is actually finished in step ST20. In step ST19, when the operation of the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 is not completed and it is necessary to continue the operation, the process returns to step ST11 and the processing of the subsequent steps is repeated. .
Further, in step ST13 shown in FIG. 9, when the user does not change the flow setting of the concentrated oxygen in the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1, the process proceeds from step ST14 to step ST17, and thereafter. The process of step is performed.

In step ST17 shown in FIG. 9, the operation switch 58A of the operation unit 58 shown in FIG. 7 is not pushed down again, and the operation of the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 is continued, not stopped. In that case, the process proceeds to step ST21.
In step ST21 of FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 7, when the probe unit 300 notifies the control unit 84 that the user's (patient) finger F has been inserted into the insertion hole 27 of the probe unit 300, In step ST22, the SpO ₂ calculation unit 56 of FIG. 7 calculates the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ by calculating from the blood flow of the artery of the finger F and analyzing by the analysis unit 88 according to the instruction of the control unit 84. Moreover, in step ST22, the control unit 84 in FIG. 7 causes the display unit 26 to display the value of the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ and the pulse rate. When the user's (patient) finger F is not inserted into the insertion hole 27 of the probe unit 300 in step ST21, the process proceeds to step ST23.

Next, in step ST23 of FIG. 9, when the user's (patient) finger F is removed from the insertion hole 27 of the probe unit 300, the process proceeds to step ST24. In step ST24, the control unit 84 shown in FIG. 7 deletes the values of the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ and the pulse rate already displayed on the display unit 26, and displays the values of the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ and the pulse. The final data information is stored in the memory 28 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. Moreover, it is preferably stored and stored in the memory 81 of the main casing (device main body) 2. In step ST23, if the user's (patient) finger F is not removed from the insertion hole 27 of the probe unit 300, step ST24 is skipped and the process proceeds to step ST25.

Step ST25 in FIG. 9 is a case where there is a communication request from the external computer 500 shown in FIG. 7 through the external communication unit 401 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20. As described above, when there is a communication request from the external computer 500 through the external communication unit 401 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20, the following data communication processing is performed. That is, in step ST26, the control unit 84 reads out stored data information such as the value of the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ and the pulse rate and the operation information of the oxygen concentrator from the memory 28 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20. The stored data information is sent to the external computer (personal computer) 500 through the external communication unit 401 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to the external computer 500 side, for example, by wireless data communication. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST13 again, and subsequent steps such as a process for changing the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen can be performed.

(Another example of operation of oxygen concentrator 1 using pulse oximeter 20)
Next, another example of the operation of the oxygen concentrator using a pulse oximeter will be described with reference to FIG.
10, since the content of the step which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as FIG. 9 is the same, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted and it demonstrates centering on a different point.
In another example of the operation of the oxygen concentrator using the pulse oximeter shown in FIG. 10, a step group ST27 is further added between step ST24 and step ST25. This step group ST27 has a plurality of steps ST30 to ST33.

First, in step ST24 of FIG. 10, the control unit 84 shown in FIG. 7 erases the values of the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ and the pulse rate on the display unit 26, and finally displays the values of the oxygen saturation concentration SpO ₂ and the pulse rate. Data information is stored and stored in the memory 28.
Thereafter, in step ST30 of the step group ST27, when it is necessary to change the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen in the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1, in step ST31, a user or a doctor, etc. 7 presses down the concentrated oxygen set flow rate up switch 58B or the concentrated oxygen set flow rate down switch 58C of the operation unit 58 shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 84 of FIG. The set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen supplied by the main housing (apparatus body) 2 is increased or decreased to change the set flow rate of the concentrated oxygen. As a result, concentration from the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 to the external communication unit 80 of the main casing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1 is performed by a wireless remote control function or a wired remote control function. Communicates about changing the oxygen set flow rate.

In step ST32, the changed set flow rate of concentrated oxygen is displayed on the display unit 26 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. Further, the changed set flow rate of concentrated oxygen can be displayed on the display unit 128 of the main housing (apparatus body) 2 of FIG.
In step ST33 shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 84 stores and stores the changed set flow rate of concentrated oxygen in the memory 28. Further, the changed set flow rate of concentrated oxygen is also stored and stored in the memory 81 of the main housing (device main body) 2 of FIG. In this case, input of operation instruction data regarding the flow rate of concentrated oxygen and operation for changing the flow rate of concentrated oxygen should be set so that only medical personnel with limited access rights, such as doctors in charge, can rewrite. Can do.
In addition, the set flow rate value of the concentrated oxygen during sleep, rest, and work is stored in advance in the memory 28 as a default value so that only a medical worker with limited access rights, such as a doctor in charge, can rewrite it. You may keep it.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pulse oximeter 20 that is extremely important in measuring the biological reaction of the person with difficulty breathing who is the user of the oxygen concentrator 1 is used together with the oxygen concentrator 1. Since it can be stored, the oxygen saturation concentration in the blood can be measured, and the result can be reflected in the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1, and the oxygen concentrator 1 can be operated more appropriately.
In addition, the detachable portion 103 shown in FIG. 1 is configured so that the pulse oximeter 20 that is a relatively small device can be stored, and can be stored simply by dropping into the accommodating portion that is the detachable portion 103. It is difficult to lose after using the pulse oximeter 20. Since the storage unit of the oxygen concentrator and the pulse oximeter 20, which is a relatively small device, are stored in a state of being engaged with each other, they are less likely to be lost.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, communication is performed between the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 and the external communication unit 80 of the main housing (device main body) 2 of the oxygen concentrator 1. By doing so, the operation data information of the oxygen concentrator 1 can be left in the memory 28 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20. In addition, preferably, the operation data information of the oxygen concentrator 1 can be left in the memory 81 of the main housing (apparatus body) 2 of FIG.

  Further, by issuing a communication request from the external computer 500 shown in FIG. 7 to the external communication unit 400 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20, the patient authentication data can be confirmed via the pulse oximeter 20. Since the treatment data (prescription data information) of the patient in charge can be sent to the external computer 500 side, the treatment history of the patient can be reliably left in the external computer 500. As a result, the doctor in charge confirms the treatment history of the patient with the external computer 500, which can be used for the judgment of treatment of the patient.

  Further, the control unit 84 of the main body 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 shown in FIG. 7 provides patient authentication data corresponding to each measurement data information of the patient (user), and patient authentication data is provided. If the prescription data is retained, the oxygen concentrator 1 confirms the authentication data, and then determines the oxygen flow rate according to the corresponding prescription data and operates it. Driving can be realized.

The oxygen concentrator 1 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 has, for example, an oxygen flow rate of 5 L class, but is not limited thereto, and the oxygen concentrator of the present invention has, for example, an oxygen flow rate of 3 L class as shown in FIG. This can also be applied to the oxygen concentrator 1-1.
In the oxygen concentrator 1-1, in the partially enlarged view of the operation panel, the portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the oxygen concentrator 1 have the same structure, and the internal structure thereof is the same as that shown in FIG. The structure described can be applied.
Also in this oxygen concentrator 1-1, the detachable part 103 can be provided in the vicinity of the flow rate display part 128, and can be a housing part having the same structure as the oxygen concentrator 1.

  An oxygen concentrator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an oxygen concentrator that supplies a predetermined amount of oxygen, and includes an apparatus main body and a pulse oximeter. The pulse oximeter can exchange information with the apparatus main body. And a storage unit for holding information about the prescription, and a control unit configured to perform an oxygen supply operation based on the information about the prescription read from the storage unit. The meter has an operation operation unit for instructing operation of the apparatus main body, and a flow rate changing unit for instructing change of the oxygen flow rate in the apparatus main body.

As a result, the pulse oximeter, which is extremely important for measuring the biological reaction of persons with difficulty in breathing, can be stored in the main body of the oxygen concentrator, so the oxygen saturation concentration in the blood is measured and the result is stored in the oxygen concentrator. It is convenient to reflect the content in driving. The oxygen concentrator has a mechanism effective in reflecting the operation of the oxygen concentrator by a pulse oximeter in which prescription information is stored.
In addition, the pulse oximeter has a driving operation unit for instructing operation of the apparatus main body and a flow rate changing unit for instructing to change the flow rate of oxygen in the apparatus main body. Therefore, the operation of the apparatus main body and the instruction to change the flow rate of oxygen can be given, so that the convenience of operation of the oxygen concentrator can be improved by using the pulse oximeter.

The pulse oximeter has an external communication unit, and the device main body has an external communication unit that transmits information to and from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter, and operates the operation unit of the pulse oximeter. The operation start instruction that occurs in is sent from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter to the control unit of the device body through the external communication unit of the device body, and by operating the flow rate change unit, an instruction to change the oxygen flow rate is provided. This configuration is sent from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter to the control unit of the apparatus body through the external communication unit of the apparatus body.
Thereby, since the operation instruction | indication of an apparatus main body and the instruction | indication of the change of the flow volume of oxygen can be performed by communication from the pulse oximeter side, it is convenient when operating an oxygen concentrator.

  The pulse oximeter is configured to perform data transmission of information related to prescription stored in a storage unit with an external computer. This allows information regarding the prescription stored in the storage unit of the pulse oximeter to be transmitted to an external computer in response to a request for data communication from an external computer. A computer can be used to review information about the patient's prescription.

  The pulse oximeter has a probe unit that irradiates a living body of a user with light, and a main body unit that is separate from the probe unit and obtains an oxygen saturation concentration in blood based on biological information obtained from the probe unit. . As a result, the pulse oximeter can be reduced in size and weight by separating the probe part and the main body part, so that the probe part can be attached to the living body of the user in terms of weight and size. Since it is small, the burden on the patient is reduced and the probe part can be easily attached.

The apparatus main body of the oxygen concentrator is provided with an attaching / detaching portion for the pulse oximeter, and the attaching / detaching portion is an accommodating portion provided in the apparatus main body, and can be attached by dropping the pulse oximeter into the accommodating portion. Thereby, when storing the pulse oximeter, which is a relatively small device, it can be stored simply by dropping it into the accommodating portion, and it is convenient for handling and is difficult to lose after using the pulse oximeter.
The attachment / detachment portion has a structure for engaging with the pulse oximeter. Thereby, since the storage part of the oxygen concentrator and the pulse oximeter, which is a relatively small device, are stored in a mutually engaged state, they are less likely to be lost.

  The pulse oximeter is equipped with a storage unit that holds patient authentication information corresponding to the prescription as well as information related to the prescription. The apparatus main body is provided with a control unit configured to perform an oxygen supply operation based on the information regarding the apparatus. Thereby, if it is made to give patient (user) authentication information corresponding to every measurement data to a pulse oximeter, and if prescription information to which patient authentication information was given is held, an oxygen concentrator, By confirming the authentication information and determining the oxygen flow rate according to the corresponding prescription information for operation, it is possible to realize a very appropriate and error-free operation.

By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims.
In the above-described embodiment, even if a part of the configuration is omitted or replaced with another configuration not mentioned, it is within the scope of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the embodiment of the present invention, the probe section 300 and the main body section 301 of the pulse oximeter 20 are separate structures, and both are electrically connected by a wiring 302. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the pulse oximeter 20, the probe unit 300 and the main body unit 301 may be formed as a single body.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1-1 ... Oxygen concentrator, 2 ... Main housing (apparatus main body), 20 ... Pulse oximeter, 21 ... Lower half, 22 ... Upper half, 26. ..Display unit of pulse oximeter, 27 ... insertion hole, 28 ... memory (memory unit), 45 ... light emitting unit, 46 ... light receiving unit, 58A ... operation switch (operation operating unit) ), 58B, 58C... Set flow up switch, set flow down switch (flow rate change unit for instructing to change the oxygen flow rate in the apparatus main body), 80... External communication unit of the oxygen concentrator, 84 ... Control unit of pulse oximeter, 128 ... Central control unit (control part) of oxygen concentrator, 300 ... Probe part of pulse oximeter, 301 ... Main part of pulse oximeter, 400 ..External communication section of pulse oximeter

Claims (7)

An oxygen concentrator for supplying a predetermined amount of oxygen,
It consists of a device body and a pulse oximeter with a remote control function.
The pulse oximeter is configured to be capable of exchanging information with the apparatus main body and includes a storage unit that holds information about prescriptions.
Based on the information related to the prescription read from the storage unit, the apparatus body is provided with a control unit configured to perform an oxygen supply operation,
The pulse oximeter has a driving operation unit for instructing operation of the apparatus main body by the remote control function, and a flow rate changing unit for instructing change of the oxygen flow rate in the apparatus main body. An oxygen concentrator characterized by that.   The pulse oximeter has an external communication unit, and the apparatus main body has an external communication unit that transmits information to and from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter, and the operation of the pulse oximeter An operation start instruction generated by operating the operation unit is sent from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter to the control unit of the device main body via the external communication unit of the device main body, and the flow rate changing unit The instruction to change the oxygen flow rate is sent from the external communication unit of the pulse oximeter to the control unit of the apparatus main body via the external communication unit of the apparatus main body. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein   The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pulse oximeter is configured to be able to transmit data on the prescription stored in the storage unit to an external computer. .   The pulse oximeter includes a probe unit that irradiates a user's living body with light, and a body unit that is separate from the probe unit and obtains an oxygen saturation concentration in blood based on biological information obtained from the probe unit; The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by comprising:   The apparatus main body is provided with an attaching / detaching part for the pulse oximeter, and the attaching / detaching part is an accommodating part provided in the apparatus main body, and is configured to be mounted by dropping the pulse oximeter into the accommodating part. The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   The oxygen concentrator according to claim 5, wherein the detachable portion includes a structure for engaging with the pulse oximeter.   The pulse oximeter includes the three-axis acceleration sensor, information on the prescription, and the storage unit that holds patient authentication information corresponding to the prescription, and the prescription read from the storage unit and the authentication information. The apparatus main body is provided with the control unit configured to perform an oxygen supply operation based on the information on the prescription together with the authentication information, and the oxygen concentration according to any one of claims 1 to 6 apparatus.

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