JP2019162078A - Biopotential measurement device and biopotential measurement kit - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a biopotential measurement device that measures potential easily and reliably even in a haired region with body hair.SOLUTION: A biopotential measurement device includes: a potential measurement device 107; a metal electrode 101 electrically connected to the potential measurement device 107, and having a through hole or a cut-out part where an electrode paste passes; and a holding member 103 for holding the metal electrode 101 so as to come in contact with at least the body hair of a living body. The biopotential measurement device is provided in which the metal electrode 101 is arranged so as to come in contact with at least the body hair, the electrode paste is supplied from the opposite side of the side coming in contact with the body hair, and thereby the electrode paste passes a through-hole or a cut-out part and reaches the body surface of the living body, the body surface is electrically connected with the metal electrode 101, and the biopotential is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring bioelectric potential through skin covered with body hair such as cows and dogs.

  Electrocardiograms of animals other than humans, such as cattle, are used for diagnosis of hypocalcemia by utilizing the characteristic changes in the electrocardiogram waveform due to a decrease in blood calcium concentration. In order to obtain biological information such as an electrocardiogram and an electroencephalogram, it is necessary to measure the bioelectric potential. The bioelectric potential can be obtained by applying an electrode connected with a measuring device to the body surface of the living body and measuring the change in potential.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a bioelectrode that measures the biopotential of an animal other than a human using a gel wiring structure in which a conductive wiring containing a conductive polymer is formed in a porous gel body. .

JP 2017-189473 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, in order to collect the electrical signal from the living body contact end by pressing the living body electrode made of the porous gel body against the living body surface, bringing the living body contact end of the living body electrode into contact with the skin of the living body, It was necessary to avoid hair and make contact with the body surface.

  When measuring the bioelectric potential of an animal, it is often difficult to attach an electrode to the body surface because a portion suitable for measurement is covered with hair. The method of exposing the background by shaving has a problem that there is a risk of scratching due to unexpected movement of the living body, and there is a problem that the appearance is impaired in pet animals.

  Further, since the animal actively moves during the measurement, the measurement method is preferably easy for the animal to move and low in stress.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a biopotential measuring apparatus that solves the above-described problems and can easily and reliably measure a potential even at a hair part having body hair. In addition, a biopotential measuring apparatus that is safe and low in stress for animals is provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, the biopotential measuring apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows.

First, the biopotential measuring device of the present invention is
An electric potential measuring device;
A metal electrode that is electrically connected to the potential measuring device and has a through-hole or notch through which an electrode paste passes;
A holding member for holding the metal electrode in contact with at least the body hair of the living body;
With
The metal electrode is disposed so as to be in contact with at least the body hair, and the electrode paste is supplied from the side opposite to the side in contact with the body hair, so that the electrode paste passes through the through hole or notch and the living body The body surface is electrically connected to the metal electrode, and the bioelectric potential is detected.

  With the above configuration, by pouring the electrode paste through the electrode into the hair part having body hair, the electrode paste can be brought into contact with the skin as the body surface even at the hair part, and the bioelectric potential can be measured. By using the electrode paste, impedance can be reduced and noise can be suppressed. Further, by using the electrode paste, the contact state of the electrode is stabilized and artifacts due to body movement can be reduced, so that accurate measurement can be performed and the living body is not damaged. Furthermore, since the electrode paste is poured locally, it is easy to reach the body surface, and a large amount is not required.

The present invention also provides:
The holding member is
An openable and closable band that wraps around the body of the living body and fixes the metal electrode;
An attachment / detachment mechanism for changing the circumference of the belt portion;
It is characterized by providing.

  With the above-described configuration, the electrode can be held on the body portion with relatively little movement of the living body. In this way, the stress applied to the animal can be reduced. In addition, individuals having different sizes can be measured with one biopotential measuring device.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the metal electrode has a cylindrical shape with a through hole.

  With the above configuration, the distance between the holding member and the body hair of the living body can be demarcated, stable contact between the metal electrode and the living body can be obtained, and the measurement of the biopotential is stabilized.

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that the electrode paste is composed of an edible material. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the electrode paste comprises a plant-derived starch material, a salt, and water.

  In an environment where a plurality of living organisms are bred, the electrode paste may be taken into the body by an action such as licking another living organism from curiosity. By using an electrode paste composed of edible materials, it is possible to ensure the safety of the living body even when taken into the body orally. An electrode paste made of a plant-derived starch material, salt, and water is an edible material and is conductive because it is conductive.

  In the present invention, the metal electrode is an electrocardiogram measurement electrode.

  Diseases can be diagnosed by measuring animal electrocardiograms.

The present invention also provides:
The potential measuring device includes:
An amplifying unit electrically connected to the metal electrode for amplifying the bioelectric potential;
An A / D converter electrically connected to the amplifier, which converts the bioelectric potential into a digital signal;
A controller electrically connected to the A / D converter for acquiring the digital signal and controlling peripheral circuits;
A wired or wireless communication unit electrically connected to the control unit for transmitting the digital signal to an external device;
It is characterized by having.

  The bioelectric potential can be measured by the potential measuring device having the above configuration. In this specification, the electric circuit unit excluding the metal electrode of the biopotential measuring device is defined as a potential measuring device.

1 is a schematic diagram of a biopotential measurement apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows (a) schematic of the metal electrode which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) side view, (c) top view, (d) AA sectional drawing of FIG.2 (c). (A) Schematic of metal electrode which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, (b) Side view, (c) Top view, (d) The figure which shows the BB sectional drawing sectional drawing of FIG.3 (c). is there. It is a block diagram of the bioelectric potential measuring apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described. In the drawings, corresponding members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the drawings, the description of corresponding members having the same function may be omitted. In consideration of ease of explanation or understanding of the main points, the embodiments are shown separately for convenience, but partial replacement or combination of configurations shown in different embodiments is possible. In the second embodiment, description of matters common to the first embodiment is omitted, and only different points will be described. In particular, the same operation and effect of the same configuration will not be sequentially described for each embodiment.

(Bioelectric potential measuring device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a biopotential measuring apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the bioelectric potential measurement device of the present invention includes a metal electrode 101, a holding member 103, a potential measurement device 107, and a wiring that electrically connects the potential measurement device 107 and the metal electrode 101. A material 106 is provided.

  The bioelectric potential measuring device of the present invention is used by fixing the holding member 103 to the trunk of a quadruped animal (living body, subject) such as a cow or a dog. The holding member 103 determines the position of each member of the bioelectric potential measuring device with respect to the animal, and plays a role of holding each member during measurement.

  The potential measuring device 107 is installed outside the holding member 103 so as not to hit the body of the living body. Further, the metal electrode 101 is installed inside the holding member 103 so as to hit the body of the living body. The wiring member 106 is installed along the holding member 103 between the metal electrode 101 and the potential measuring device 107.

  Three metal electrodes 101 are provided on the holding member 103, and are a ground electrode, a reference electrode, and a measurement electrode, respectively. The metal electrode 101 is provided at a certain distance, such as in front of, in the middle of, and behind the holding member 103, at a portion with relatively little movement corresponding to the spine of the living body. The arrangement of the metal electrodes 101 is not limited to this, and may be appropriately changed so as to obtain highly accurate measurement. Depending on the noise environment, there may be two electrodes excluding the ground electrode, or four or more electrodes for the purpose of switching between suitable sites or measuring in multiple channels.

  The potential measuring device 107 may be attached to any one of the holding members 103. The potential detected by the metal electrode 101 is sent to the potential measuring device 107 via the wiring member 106. The potential measuring device 107 transmits the measured potential data to an external device wirelessly or by wire. If transmitted wirelessly, the biopotential measuring device can be made independent during the measurement.

(Embodiment 1 of metal electrode)
2A is a schematic view of a metal electrode according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a side view thereof, FIG. 2C is a top view thereof, and FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. With reference to FIG. 2, the metal electrode which concerns on Embodiment 1 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the metal electrode 101 is attached to the holding member 103. The metal electrode 101 is attached to the inside of the holding member 103, and in use, the top of the metal electrode 101 contacts the body hair of the living body.

  As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the metal electrode 101 is circular and has a top surface that is not damaged. The metal electrode 101 is provided with a through hole 102 in the center. The holding member 103 is also provided with an injection port 104 and communicates with the through hole 102.

  In use, the electrode paste is supplied from the injection port 104 of the holding member 103 on the side opposite to the side where the body hairs of the metal electrode 101 come into contact using an injector such as a syringe. The supplied electrode paste passes through the through hole 102 of the metal electrode 101 and reaches the body hair of the living body. The electrode paste coming out of the through hole 102 enters the body hair of the living body and reaches the body surface.

  The electrode paste mediates between the body surface and the metal electrode 101, whereby the body surface is electrically connected to the metal electrode 101. By doing so, the bioelectric potential is detected by the potential measuring device 107.

  The present invention is not limited to the form in which the holding member has the injection port, and an opening that leads to the through hole 102 is provided on the side surface of the metal electrode, from which the electrode paste may be injected.

  According to the first embodiment, electricity flows through the electrode paste even when the metal electrode 101 does not contact or hardly contacts the body surface of the living body, so that the biopotential of the living body can be measured. Further, since the electrode paste is a fluid solid, the contact area can be made constant even when the living body moves, the bioelectric potential can be accurately measured, and the living body is not damaged. Furthermore, since the electrode paste is injected from the electrode, the amount can be reduced as compared with the case where it is applied.

  When the metal electrode 101 has a cylindrical shape with a through hole, the space between the holding member 103 and the body hair is defined. The cylindrical shape allows the metal electrode 101 to contact the living body hair even if the living body is not in close contact with the holding member 103.

  A cylindrical structure can be used instead of the cylindrical shape. The metal electrode 101 is installed on the cylindrical structure. The cylindrical structure is not limited to a material whose shape is determined, and may be an elastic body that changes the distance between the holding member 103 and the metal electrode 101 by being deformed. Only the contact surface with the living body may be made of metal, and other portions may have a structure in which a plurality of materials such as resin are combined. Moreover, it is not limited to a cylindrical shape with the same radius of the cavity, and if the inside is a cavity, it may be a structure having a conical cavity with a decreasing radius, or a structure such as a square cavity square tube. . If the structure is too long, the metal electrode 101 protrudes and pierces the body surface, which is not preferable.

  In the present embodiment, the metal electrode 101 is circular, but is not limited thereto, and may be any shape such as an ellipse, a hexagon, an octagon, and other polygons. Since the metal electrode 101 is in contact with the body of the living body, it is preferable that the surface is removed so as not to damage the body of the living body.

  In the present embodiment, the through hole 102 has a circular shape passing through the center of the metal electrode 101, but is not limited thereto, and may not pass through the center of the metal electrode 101. Any shape such as a quadrangle, a hexagon, and other polygons may be used. In the present embodiment, the through-hole 102 does not hang on the peripheral edge, and the electrode paste only needs to pass through.

(Embodiment 2 of metal electrode)
3A is a schematic view of a metal electrode according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3B is a side view, FIG. 3C is a top view, and FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. With reference to FIG. 2, the metal electrode which concerns on Embodiment 2 is demonstrated.

  The metal electrode 1101 according to the second embodiment is attached to the holding member 103 instead of the metal electrode 101. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, the metal electrode 1101 is a circular electrode having a hollow inside. The top of the metal electrode 1101 has a surface so that the living body is not damaged. The difference from the metal electrode 101 of the first embodiment is that a notch 105 is provided instead of the through hole 102.

  In use, like the metal electrode 101 of the first embodiment, the metal electrode 1101 is in contact with the body hair. The electrode paste is injected from the injection port 104 of the holding member 103 using an injector such as a syringe. The injected electrode paste passes through the inside of the metal electrode 1101, passes through the notch of the metal electrode 1101, and reaches the body hair of the living body. The electrode paste that comes out of the notch 105 enters the body hair of the living body and reaches the body surface of the living body.

  In addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, there is an effect of fixing the measurement location even if the living body moves due to the notch 105 tangling with the hair. The shape of the metal electrode 1101 can take various shapes as in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the cutout portion 105 has a shape obtained by cutting out a quarter of a circle. However, the shape is not limited to this. Good. As long as the peripheral portion and the penetrating portion are connected, the cutout portion 105 may be cut in any shape.

(Holding member)
The holding member 103 will be described with reference to FIG. The holding member 103 includes a band portion 108 that can be opened and closed and is wound around a trunk portion of a living body walking on four legs to fix the metal electrode 101. Further, the holding member 103 includes an attaching / detaching mechanism 109 that can change the peripheral diameter of the belt portion like a belt.

  It is preferable that the belt portion 108 of the holding member 103 is wound around the body of the living body because, for example, the body of the cow has less movement than the neck that moves by chewing the food. By providing the attaching / detaching mechanism 109 capable of changing the peripheral diameter, the holding member 103 can be attached to another individual having a different size.

(Potential measuring device)
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a biopotential measuring apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 4, the configuration of the electric circuit of the potential measuring device 107 will be described.

  The potential measuring device 107 is composed of a plurality of electric circuits. In the present embodiment, an amplification unit 201, an A / D conversion unit 203, a control unit 205, and a communication unit 207 are provided. The present invention is not limited to this, and the number of circuits may be increased or decreased according to increase or decrease in function.

  The bioelectric potential detected by the metal electrode 101 is amplified by the amplification unit 201. The bioelectric potential that is the amplified analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 203. The control unit 205 that controls peripheral circuits such as the A / D conversion unit 203 and the communication unit 207 receives the digital signal and transmits it to the communication unit 207.

  The communication unit 207 transmits a biopotential digital signal to an external device by wireless or wired such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or EnOcean. In this way, the measurer who operates the external device can acquire the bioelectric potential.

  An electrode paste used in the present invention was produced. It is preferable that it is comprised from an edible material so that another biological body may eat. Here, the electrode paste is made from plant-derived starch material, salt, and water. In this example, 15 g of corn starch, 200 g of water and 1.6 g of salt were mixed and warmed in a 500 W microwave for 3 minutes. The resulting product was stirred and then warmed again for 3 minutes in the same microwave and cooled.

  The electrode paste may be added with a preservative in order to suppress the propagation of germs in preparation for the case where another living body eats.

  The metal electrode of the present invention can be used as an electrocardiogram measurement electrode. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bioelectric potential measuring apparatus that can easily and reliably measure a potential even at a hair part having body hair, and is safe and low in stress for animals. By using the bioelectric potential measuring device of the present invention, it is possible to easily diagnose livestock diseases, particularly cattle hypocalcemia.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Metal electrode 1101 Metal electrode 102 Through-hole 103 Holding member 104 Inlet 105 Notch part 106 Wiring material 107 Electric potential measuring device 108 Band part 109 Attachment / detachment mechanism 201 Amplification part 203 A / D conversion part 205 Control part 207 Communication part

Claims (7)

An electric potential measuring device;
A metal electrode that is electrically connected to the potential measuring device and has a through-hole or notch through which an electrode paste passes;
A holding member for holding the metal electrode in contact with at least the body hair of the living body;
With
The metal electrode is disposed so as to be in contact with at least the body hair, and the electrode paste is supplied from the side opposite to the side in contact with the body hair, so that the electrode paste passes through the through hole or notch and the living body A biopotential measuring device in which the body surface is electrically connected to the metal electrode and the biopotential is detected. The holding member is
An openable and closable band that wraps around the body of the living body and fixes the metal electrode;
An attachment / detachment mechanism for changing the circumference of the belt portion;
The bioelectric potential measuring device according to claim 1, comprising:   The bioelectric potential measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the metal electrode has a cylindrical shape with a through hole.   The bioelectric potential measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrode paste is made of an edible material.   The bioelectric potential measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrode paste is made of a plant-derived starch material, a salt, and water.   The bioelectric potential measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the metal electrode is an electrocardiogram measurement electrode. The potential measuring device includes:
An amplifying unit electrically connected to the metal electrode for amplifying the bioelectric potential;
An A / D converter electrically connected to the amplifier, which converts the bioelectric potential into a digital signal;
A controller electrically connected to the A / D converter for acquiring the digital signal and controlling peripheral circuits;
A wired or wireless communication unit electrically connected to the control unit for transmitting the digital signal to an external device;
A biopotential measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images