JP2020099611A - Olfaction inspection kit and olfaction inspection method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an olfaction inspection kit and olfaction inspection method that allow more precise olfaction inspection without using a large-scale apparatus.SOLUTION: One aspect of an olfaction inspection kit according to the present invention is used for inspecting the olfaction of a subject. The olfaction inspection kit has a flavor source, and a holding member. The flavor source emits a flavor. The holding member holds the flavor source. The holding member covers at least the nose of the subject when the olfaction of the subject is inspected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an olfactory test kit and an olfactory test method.

It is considered that the demand for the olfactory test for determining, for example, dementia and the like increases as the society ages. In order to cope with the increase in demand, it is desired to easily enable an olfactory test without using a large-scale device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-143281 (Patent Document 1) discloses an olfactory test kit used to test the olfactory sense of a subject. This olfactory test kit includes a writing implement (paper) and a pen-type scent applicator. An olfaction test using this olfaction test kit is performed by causing the subject to smell the scent of the writing implement to which the scent is applied by the applicator. According to this olfactory test kit, the olfactory test can be easily performed without using a large-scale device (see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2018-143281, A

In the olfactory test using the olfactory test kit disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the writing implement is paper-shaped, the distance between the subject's nose and the writing implement is not always constant. If the distance between the subject's nose and the writing implement is not constant, the intensity of the scent felt by the subject will change even if the writing implement emits the same fragrance, and the accuracy of the olfaction test will decrease. .. Further, since the nose of the subject and the writing implement are open, the scent emitted by the writing implement can be influenced by the air flow, or can be mixed with another scent in the room, so that the writing implement has the same strength. Even if the scent of Sasa is emitted, the intensity and quality of the scent reaching the nose of the subject may change. Even in such a case, the accuracy of the olfactory test is reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide an olfactory test kit and an olfactory test method capable of performing a more accurate olfactory test without using a large-scale device. It is to be.

The olfactory test kit according to one aspect of the present invention is used to test the olfactory sense of a subject. The olfactory test kit includes a scent source and a holding member. The scent source emits a scent. The holding member is configured to hold the scent source. The holding member is configured to cover at least the nose of the subject at the time of examining the olfactory sense of the subject.

At the time of the olfactory test using this olfactory test kit, at least the subject's nose is covered with the holding member (which holds the scent source). That is, as long as the positional relationship between the scent source and the holding member is appropriate, the distance between the subject's nose and the scent source is constant. In addition, since at least the subject's nose is covered by the holding member and the nose of the subject and the scent source are not completely open, the scent emitted from the scent source is affected by the air flow. It is hard to receive. Therefore, according to this olfactory test kit, the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source is constant, and the scent emitted by the scent source is less likely to be affected by the air flow, so that a more accurate olfaction test is performed. be able to.

In the olfactory test kit, the holding member may be cup-shaped.

In the olfactory test kit, the scent source and the holding member may be separate bodies, and the scent source may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the holding member.

In this olfactory test kit, various types of scent sources can be attached to the holding member. Therefore, according to this olfactory test kit, one holding member can perform olfactory tests for various scents.

In the olfactory test kit, the scent source may be held in advance by a holding member.

In this olfactory test kit, since the scent source is held in advance by the holding member, the positional relationship between the scent source and the holding member does not easily deviate from an appropriate position. Therefore, according to this olfactory test kit, since the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source is constant, a more accurate olfactory test can be performed.

An olfactory test method according to another aspect of the present invention is an olfactory test method for testing the olfactory sense of a subject. The olfactory test method holds a scent source that emits a scent, and a step of preparing a holding member configured to cover at least the nose of the subject, and a step of covering at least the nose of the subject by the holding member. And causing the subject to smell the scent emitted by the scent source.

In this olfactory test method, at least the nose of the subject is covered with the holding member. That is, as long as the positional relationship between the scent source and the holding member is appropriate, the distance between the subject's nose and the scent source is constant. In addition, since at least the subject's nose is covered by the holding member and the nose of the subject and the scent source are not completely open, the scent emitted from the scent source is affected by the air flow. It is hard to receive. Therefore, according to this olfactory test method, the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source is constant, and the scent emitted by the scent source is less likely to be affected by the air flow, so a more accurate olfactory test is performed. be able to.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an olfactory test kit and an olfactory test method capable of performing a more accurate olfactory test without using a large-scale device.

It is a perspective view of an olfactory test tool. It is a figure which shows the state before an olfactory test kit is assembled. It is a right view of an olfactory test tool. It is a bottom view of an olfactory test tool. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the olfactory test using an olfactory test kit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[1. Overview]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an olfactory test tool 10 created by assembling the olfactory test kit according to the present embodiment. The olfactory inspecting tool 10 is used to inspect the olfaction of a subject.

As shown in FIG. 1, the olfactory test tool 10 is configured by directly attaching the scent source 200 to the nose cup 100. The scent source 200 emits a predetermined scent and is attachable to and detachable from the nose cup 100. At the time of the olfactory test, the nose cup 100 is arranged at a position covering the nose of the subject. When the subject inhales through the nose with the nose cup 100 covering the nose of the subject, the scent emitted by the scent source 200 reaches the nose of the subject. For example, an inspector such as a doctor performs an olfaction test on the subject by confirming whether or not the scent sensed by the subject is successful. Hereinafter, the configuration of the olfactory test kit and the test method will be described in order.

[2. Configuration of olfactory test kit]
<2-1. Before assembly>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before assembly of the olfactory test kit 20 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, each of the directions of the arrows LRFBUD indicates the directions viewed from the subject in the mounted state of the nose cup 100. That is, the arrow L direction indicates the left side of the subject, and the arrow R direction indicates the right side of the subject. The arrow F direction indicates the front of the subject, and the arrow B direction indicates the rear of the subject. The arrow U direction indicates the upper side of the subject, and the arrow D direction indicates the lower side of the subject. The directions of the arrows LRFBUD are common to the drawings as directions indicating the direction of the nose cup 100.

The olfactory test kit 20 includes a nose cup 100 and a plurality of scent sources 200 (200A, 200B, 200C, etc.). For example, each of the plurality of scent sources 200 is individually packaged in a bag (not shown) made of aluminum before use. The olfactory test kit 20 is transferred to the inspector, for example, in a state where a plurality of scent sources 200 and the nose cup 100, which are individually packaged, are packed in a common (one) bag (not shown).

The nose cup 100 is made of plastic, for example, and includes a cup-shaped covering portion 110 and a tubular mounting portion 120. The covering unit 110 is configured to cover the periphery of the nose of the subject during the olfactory test. A hole H1 is formed at the end of the covering portion 110 in the arrow F direction. The tubular mounting portion 120 extends in the direction of arrow F from around the hole H1. That is, the hole H1 communicates with the end portion of the mounting portion 120 in the arrow F direction. The attachment part 120 is configured to be able to attach each scent source 200. By inserting each of the plurality of scent sources 200 into the hole H1, each of the plurality of scent sources 200 can be attached to the attachment portion 120.

Each of the plurality of scent sources 200 emits different types of scents or the same type of different scents with different intensities. For example, the types of scents emitted by the scent source 200 include vanilla, apple, coffee, soap, cypress, foot odor (isovaleric acid), curry, soil, wood, ink, mandarin orange, toothpaste, defecation odor, solvent odor ( Smell such as adhesive or ink odor), grass and butter are considered. Therefore, according to the olfactory test kit 20, the olfactory test can be performed using a plurality of types of scents and the same type of scents having different intensities. In addition, due to the nature of the olfactory test, there is a case where no scent is intentionally added (unscented).

Each of the plurality of scent sources 200 includes a tubular member 205, a plurality of scent bulbs 210, and two porous members 220. The tubular member 205 is made of, for example, an acrylic tube. That is, in the tubular member 205, the ends in the arrow U direction and the arrow D direction are open. A plurality of scented spheres 210 are packed inside the tubular member 205, and each end of the tubular member 205 in the arrow U direction and the arrow D direction is closed by a porous member 220.

The scent bulb 210 is composed of, for example, cellulose beads in which a fragrance is embedded. For example, when the scent source 200A emits a coffee scent, each scent bulb 210 included in the scent source 200A is embedded with a fragrance that emits a coffee scent.

The porous member 220 is made of, for example, sponge. Each scent bulb 210 is held in the tubular member 205 by closing the ends of the tubular member 205 in the arrow U direction and the arrow D direction with the porous member 220. Further, since the porous member 220 is porous and allows air to pass through, the scent emitted by the scent bulb 210 can be carried to the outside of the tubular member 205 along with the flow of air. Therefore, when the scent source 200 is attached to the nose cup 100 and the nose cup 100 covers the periphery of the nose of the subject, when the subject breathes through the nose, the scent emitted by each scent bulb 210 is emitted. The flow of air passes through the porous member 220 and reaches the nose of the subject.

<2-1. After assembly>
FIG. 3 is a right side view of olfactory test device 10 created by assembling olfactory test kit 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the olfactory test device 10.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the scent source 200 is attached to the attachment portion 120 and protrudes in the arrow F direction. For example, the subject can easily cover the periphery of the nose with the nose cup 100 while gripping the scent source 200.

Regarding the attachment position of the scent source 200 in the arrow FB direction, for example, the position of the end portion of the scent source 200 in the arrow B direction in the arrow FB direction is substantially the same as the connecting portion P1 (boundary between the covering portion 110 and the attachment portion 120). It is a position. In this way, by predetermining the attachment position of the scent source 200 in the direction of the arrow FB, it is possible to suppress a significant change in the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source 200. The attachment position of the scent source 200 in the arrow FB direction does not necessarily have to be the above-described position, and may be any position.

[3. Inspection method]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an olfactory test using olfactory test kit 20 according to the present embodiment. The procedure shown by the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed by an inspector such as a doctor in a hospital, for example.

With reference to FIG. 5, the inspector opens the package of the olfactory test kit 20 (step S100). The inspector attaches a desired scent source 200 among the plurality of scent sources 200 included in the olfactory test kit 20 to the nose cup 100 (step S110). The inspector instructs the subject to cover the periphery of the nose of the subject with the nose cup 100 (step S120). According to the instruction, the subject holds the nose cup 100 or the scent source 200 to cover the periphery of the nose with the olfactory test device 10.

The examiner instructs the subject to smell the scent emitted by the scent source 200 by instructing the subject to take a breath (step S130). The inspector asks the subject about the presence or absence of the scent (step S140). The inspector asks the subject what fragrance he/she felt (step S150). The inspector hears the answer from the subject (step S160). The inspector determines whether the subject can identify the scent of the scent source 200 currently attached to the nose cup 100 based on the answer result (step S170).

The inspector changes the scent source 200 attached to the nose cup 100, and repeats the processing from step S110 to step S170 until all necessary inspections are completed. After all inspections are completed, the inspector compiles the inspection results. This completes the olfactory test of the subject.

[4. Feature]
As described above, at the time of the olfactory test using olfactory test kit 20 according to the present embodiment, at least the nose of the subject is covered with nose cup 100 (which holds scent source 200). That is, as long as the positional relationship between the scent source 200 and the nose cup 100 is appropriate, the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source 200 is constant. Further, since at least the nose of the subject is covered with the nose cup 100 and the nose of the subject and the scent source 200 are not completely opened, the scent emitted by the scent source 200 is It is difficult to flow in a direction unrelated to the subject due to the influence of the air flow (the scent reaches the nose of the subject sufficiently). If the nose of the subject and the scent source 200 are completely open, the scent emitted by the scent source 200 spreads indoors, and an inspection using a different scent source 200 is continued. It can be difficult to do (because the scents are mixed), but that situation does not occur. Therefore, according to the olfactory test kit 20, the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source 200 is constant, and the scent emitted by the scent source 200 is less likely to flow in a direction unrelated to the subject. An accurate olfactory test can be performed.

In addition, in the olfactory test kit 20, the scent source 200 and the nose cup 100 are separate bodies, and the scent source 200 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the nose cup 100. That is, in the olfactory test kit 20, various kinds of scent sources 200 can be attached to the nose cup 100. Therefore, according to the olfactory test kit 20, one nasal cup 100 can perform olfactory tests for various scents.

[5. Modification]
Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Hereinafter, modified examples will be described.

<5-1>
In the above embodiment, the nose cup 100 covers the periphery of the nose of the subject. However, the nose cup 100 does not necessarily have to cover the nose of the subject widely, and at least covers the nose of the subject.

<5-2>
Further, in the above embodiment, the olfactory test kit 20 includes a plurality of scent sources 200. However, the olfactory test kit 20 does not necessarily need to include a plurality of scent sources 200, and may include at least one scent source 200.

<5-3>
Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the nose cup 100 and the scent source 200 are assumed to be separate bodies. However, the nose cup 100 and the scent source 200 do not necessarily have to be separate bodies. For example, the nose cup 100 and the scent source 200 may be integrated. In this case, since the scent source 200 is held in the nose cup 100 in advance, the positional relationship between the scent source 200 and the nose cup 100 is unlikely to deviate from an appropriate position. Therefore, according to this olfactory test kit, since the distance between the nose of the subject and the scent source 200 is constant, a more accurate olfactory test can be performed.

<5-4>
Further, in the above embodiment, the scent bulb 210 emits a scent. However, the main body that emits the scent does not necessarily have to be the scent bulb 210. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which paper (filter paper) coated with a fragrance or resin is packed in the tubular member 205 and the paper or resin emits a scent.

<5-5>
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the porous member 220 is packed in both ends of the tubular member 205. However, the porous members 220 do not necessarily have to be packed in both ends of the tubular member 205. For example, a gas permeable membrane or the like may be used instead of the porous member 220. Alternatively, the diameters of the holes at both ends of the tubular member 205 may be reduced so that the scent bulb 210 cannot pass through.

<5-6>
In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the olfactory test tool 10 is composed of the nose cup 100 and the scent source 200. However, the olfactory test tool 10 does not necessarily have to be configured by the nose cup 100 and the scent source 200.

For example, the olfactory test tool 10 may be composed of a glass-shaped container and a liquid containing a fragrance contained in the container. In this case, for example, the olfactory test is performed by the subject covering the nose with a container and smelling the scent of the liquid.

Further, for example, the olfactory test tool 10 may be configured by a mask having a pocket formed inside and a scent source (any shape) stored in the pocket. In this case, for example, an olfactory test is performed by the subject wearing a mask (covering the nose with the mask) by sniffing the scent of the scent source.

10 olfaction test tool, 20 olfaction test kit, 100 nasal cup, 110 covering part, 120 mounting part, 200 scent source, 205 cylindrical member, 210 scent bulb, 220 porous member, H1 hole, P1 connecting part.

Claims (5)

An olfactory test kit used to test the olfaction of a subject,
A scent source that emits scent,
A holding member configured to hold the scent source,
The olfactory test kit, wherein the holding member is configured to cover at least the nose of the subject at the time of testing the olfactory sense of the subject. The olfactory test kit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is cup-shaped. The scent source and the holding member are separate bodies,
The olfactory test kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scent source is configured to be detachable from the holding member. The olfactory test kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scent source is held in advance by the holding member. An olfactory test method for testing the olfactory sense of a subject, comprising:
Holding a scent source that emits a scent, and preparing a holding member configured to cover at least the subject's nose,
By the holding member, at least covering the nose of the subject,
A step of causing the subject to smell the scent emitted by the scent source.