JP2020151294A - Sensor unit and detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sensor unit enabling the movement of a living body surface to be detected at a proper angle.SOLUTION: A sensor unit 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, is a sensor unit 1 capable of detecting the extension and contraction of a living body surface, and comprises: a plurality of thread-like or belt-like strain sensor elements 2 extending and contracting longitudinally; and a holding member 3 which is connected to the strain sensor elements 2 and sets a positional relationship of the strain sensor elements 2 with respect to the living body surface. The center axes of at least a pair of strain sensor elements 2 cross with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor unit and a detection device.

Various attempts have been made to detect the movement of the surface of the living body with a sensor and convert it into numerical data. The movement of the surface of the living body includes intentional movements such as bending and stretching of joints and incidental movements caused by other movements such as respiration.

As a sensor capable of detecting the movement of the surface of the living body based on respiration, for example, a body motion sensor (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-195600) has been proposed. The body motion sensor described in this publication includes a long base material and a pair of sensor bodies oriented in the longitudinal direction of the base material. The pair of sensor bodies are arranged so as to extend laterally on the surface of the subject's chest.

JP-A-2009-195600

The body motion sensor described in the above publication is said to be able to detect the movement of the subject's body from the change in electrical resistance based on the expansion and contraction of the sensor body as the subject expands and contracts with the breathing of the subject. There is.

However, as a result of diligent studies by the present inventors, it has been found that the body motion sensor described in the above-mentioned publication cannot detect the movement of a region that is greatly deformed on the surface of the living body at an optimum angle. As a result, it was found that it is difficult to analyze from the movement of the surface of the living body to the movement that is the source of the movement by this body motion sensor.

The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor unit and a detection device capable of easily detecting the movement of a living body surface at an appropriate angle. ..

The sensor unit according to one aspect of the present invention made to solve the above problems is a sensor unit capable of detecting expansion and contraction of the surface of a living body, and includes a plurality of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction. It is connected to the plurality of strain sensor elements, includes a holding member that determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements with respect to the biological surface, and at least a pair of central axes of the strain sensor elements intersect with each other.

It is preferable that the holding member has a cloth.

The holding member has an inner surface facing the surface of the living body and an outer surface on which the plurality of strain sensor elements are arranged, and has a non-slip portion at least a part of the inner surface that overlaps with the strain sensor element in a plan view. It is good to do.

It is preferable that the holding member has an adhesive portion in a region including at least one of a region overlapping the strain sensor element and a region located outside in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor element in a plan view.

It is preferable that the pair of strain sensor elements can detect the movement of the left and right thorax, are arranged symmetrically apart from each other, and are inclined outward in the opposite direction from the upper side to the lower side.

It is also preferable that the plurality of strain sensor elements are capable of detecting the contraction of the uterus and are arranged at positions corresponding to at least the lower abdomen, the lower left abdomen and the lower right abdomen.

The detection device according to another aspect of the present invention made to solve the above problems can display a sensor unit capable of detecting expansion and contraction of the biological surface and information on expansion and contraction of the biological surface detected by the sensor unit. The sensor unit is provided with a display unit, and the sensor unit is connected to a plurality of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction and the plurality of strain sensor elements, and determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements with respect to the biological surface. It is provided with a holding member, and at least a pair of central axes of the strain sensor elements intersect with each other.

The detection device may further include an analysis unit capable of analyzing an abnormality in the living body from the detection signals of the plurality of strain sensor elements.

In the sensor unit according to one aspect of the present invention, at least a pair of strain sensor elements that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction are positioned so as to correspond to the surface of the living body by a holding member in a state where the central axes of the sensors intersect with each other. The movement of the surface of the living body can be easily detected at an appropriate angle.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view (outer view) showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view (inner view) of the sensor unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which the sensor unit of FIG. 1 is attached to a living body. FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment different from the sensor unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a detection device including the sensor unit of FIG. FIG. 6 is a graph showing frequency characteristics calculated by the analysis unit of the detection device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment different from the sensor units of FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 8 is a schematic bottom view of the sensor unit of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a schematic bottom view showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment different from the sensor units of FIGS. 1, 4 and 7. FIG. 10 is a graph showing an example of a time-displacement curve displayed by the detection device including the sensor unit of FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment different from the sensor units of FIGS. 1, 4, 7, and 9. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment different from the sensor units of FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9, and 11. FIG. 13 is a schematic bottom view showing a sensor unit according to an embodiment different from the sensor units of FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, and 12. FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the detection device of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
<Sensor unit>
The sensor unit 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 can detect expansion and contraction of the surface of the living body. The sensor unit 1 is connected to a pair of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements 2 that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, and a holding member that is connected to the pair of strain sensor elements 2 and determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements 2 with respect to the biological surface. 3 and. The central axes of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 intersect each other.

The sensor unit 1 is configured to be able to detect an increase or decrease in the length of the living body surface that changes according to the movement of the living body by measuring the resistance values on both ends of the strain sensor element 2. Since the pair of strain sensor elements 2 expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction in the sensor unit 1 in response to the expansion and contraction of the surface of the living body (that is, the sensor unit 1 does not use the piezoelectric sensor), the subject It is difficult to press the surface of the living body. Therefore, the sensor unit 1 is less likely to cause discomfort and discomfort to the subject, and can detect the natural movement of the surface of the living body of the subject.

(Distortion sensor element)
The strain sensor elements 2 are arranged linearly with each other. The strain sensor element 2 is fixed to the holding member 3 at both ends. Both ends of the strain sensor element 2 may be fixed to the holding member 3 via a metal support member, or may be directly fixed to the holding member 3 with an adhesive or the like. Examples of the support member include a metal pillar connected to the end portion of the strain sensor element 2. When the strain sensor element 2 is fixed to the holding member 3 via the supporting member, the supporting member is fixed to the holding member 3 using an adhesive tape or the like. On the other hand, when the strain sensor element 2 is fixed to the holding member 3 with an adhesive, an adhesive that does not hinder the expansion and contraction of the strain sensor element 2 is preferably used as the adhesive for fixing the strain sensor element 2 to the holding member 3. Be done. Examples of this adhesive include moisture-curable polyurethane adhesives.

The strain sensor element 2 may have elasticity in the longitudinal direction and its electrical characteristics may change according to the expansion and contraction, and a strain resistance element whose electrical resistance changes due to expansion and contraction is preferably used. Among them, as the strain sensor element 2, a CNT strain sensor using carbon nanotubes (hereinafter, also referred to as “CNT”) is particularly preferably used.

When the strain sensor element 2 is filamentous, the strain sensor element 2 is configured to include a CNT bundle. This CNT bundle is a fiber bundle in which a plurality of CNTs (single fibers) are substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the CNT element, and is coated with a resin. The filamentous strain sensor element 2 has a conductive portion composed of CNT bundles, a conductive layer in which CNT fibers and resin are composited, and a resin coating film in this order from the center in the radial direction to the outside. Have. In the strain sensor element 2, the central CNT bundle is ruptured, and the interval between the ruptures is changed to cause a resistance change.

On the other hand, when the strain sensor element 2 has a band shape, the strain sensor element 2 is composed of a resin composition containing a large number of CNT fibers. Specifically, the strain sensor element 2 has a plurality of fiber bundle sheets in which a plurality of CNTs (single fibers) are substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the CNT element, and a resin that covers the sheets of these fiber bundles. When elongation strain is applied to the strain sensor element 2, the internal CNT fibers are cut and the ends of the CNTs are separated from each other, or the elongation strain is relaxed and recontacted, resulting in a change in resistance value. .. In addition, the "strip shape" means a long shape having a large width with respect to the thickness, and includes a configuration in which the thickness and the width are partially different.

As the CNT, either a single-walled nanotube (SWNT) or a multi-walled nanotube (MWNT) having multiple layers can be used. Among them, MWNT is preferable from the viewpoint of conductivity and heat capacity, and MWNT having a diameter of 1.5 nm or more and 100 nm or less is more preferable.

The CNT can be produced by a known method, for example, by a CVD method, an arc method, a laser ablation method, a DIPS method, a CoMoCAT method, or the like. Above all, it is preferable to produce CNT (MWNT) of a desired size by a CVD method using iron as a catalyst and ethylene gas from the viewpoint of efficiently obtaining CNTs (MWNTs). In this case, it is possible to obtain CNT crystals of a desired length grown in vertical orientation on a substrate such as a quartz glass substrate or a silicon substrate with an oxide film on which an iron or nickel thin film serving as a catalyst is formed. ..

As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of strain sensor elements 2 are arranged on the chest surface of a living body in a used state. The pair of strain sensor elements 2 can detect the movement of the left and right thorax, and are arranged symmetrically apart from each other. The pair of strain sensor elements 2 are arranged so as to be inclined outward in the opposite direction from the upper side to the lower side. The pair of strain sensor elements 2 are preferably arranged so as to traverse the sixth and ninth ribs so that the expansion and contraction of the most deformed region of the thorax can be detected. The sensor unit 1 is suitable for early detection of complications of low lung function that occur after unilateral lung resection surgery by a simple method at low cost and with less burden on the subject X. The sensor unit 1 has the largest amount of deformation in the region where the chest of the subject X is most deformed by the pair of strain sensor elements 2 by arranging the pair of strain sensor elements 2 on the chest surface as described above. Expansion and contraction in a large direction can be detected. The sensor unit 1 can easily and early detect the low lung function of either the left or right lung by continuously and separately monitoring the left and right lung respiration states of the subject X by each strain sensor element 2. Can be done.

The lower limit of the angle α formed by the central axes of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 is preferably 30 °, more preferably 50 °, and even more preferably 70 °. On the other hand, the upper limit of the angle α formed is preferably 120 °, more preferably 100 °, and even more preferably 90 °. If the angle α formed is out of the range, it may be difficult to arrange the longitudinal direction of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 along the direction in which the thorax of the subject X is most deformed.

(Holding member)
The holding member 3 has a stretchable fabric 4, an adhesive portion 5 laminated on the fabric 4, and a reinforcing member 6.

[Fabric]
The cloth 4 is configured to be able to cover the surface of the living body. A pair of strain sensor elements 2 are arranged on the outer surface of the fabric 4 (the surface opposite to the side facing the living body surface). By interposing the cloth 4 in the sensor unit 1, the positional relationship between the pair of strain sensor elements 2 with respect to the surface of the living body can be easily and surely determined. Further, according to this configuration, since the fabric 4 can expand and contract in response to the movement of the subject X together with the pair of strain sensor elements 2, the holding member 3 does not easily interfere with the natural movement of the subject X.

The plan-view shape of the fabric 4 is not particularly limited, and may be a rectangular shape or the like that can cover only the surface of the chest of the subject X, and the body of the subject X can be wound around. It may be strip-shaped or tubular. When the fabric 4 has a strip shape, it is preferable that engaging portions capable of engaging with each other are provided at both ends of the fabric 4 in the longitudinal direction. Examples of the engaging portion include a hook-and-loop fastener.

[Adhesive part]
The adhesive portion 5 is configured so that the fabric 4 can be attached to the surface of the living body. The adhesive portion 5 is laminated on the inner surface of the fabric 4. The adhesive portion 5 is arranged in a region including at least one of a region overlapping the strain sensor element 2 and a region located outside in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor element 2 in a plan view. The adhesive portion 5 is preferably provided on a one-to-one basis with respect to the end portion of the strain sensor element 2. That is, it is preferable that the holding member 3 has at least four adhesive portions 5 corresponding to the respective ends of the pair of strain sensor elements 2. In the present embodiment, the holding member 3 has four adhesive portions 5 located on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the pair of strain sensor elements 2. By having the adhesive portion 5, the sensor unit 1 can fix both ends of the strain sensor element 2 in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to the sixth rib and the ninth rib on the surface of the living body. As a result, the sensor unit 1 can easily and surely detect the movement of the chest of the subject X by the pair of strain sensor elements 2. It is preferable that the adhesive portion 5 is not arranged in a region overlapping the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor element 2 in a plan view so as not to hinder the expansion and contraction of the strain sensor element 2 in the longitudinal direction.

The adhesive portion 5 can be formed by using an adhesive made of a material such as an acrylic adhesive that does not easily cause skin inflammation even when directly attached to human skin. Further, the adhesive portion 5 can be formed of a commercially available adhesive tape from the viewpoint of manufacturing the sensor unit 1 at low cost.

[Reinforcing member]
The reinforcing member 6 is arranged in a region including an end portion of the strain sensor element 2 and an adhesive portion 5 corresponding to the end portion in a plan view. As a result, the reinforcing member 6 can suppress a change in the distance between the end portion of the strain sensor element 2 and the adhesive portion 5 corresponding to the end portion in the plane direction. As a result, the sensor unit 1 can sufficiently match the expansion and contraction of the strain sensor element 2 with the expansion and contraction of the living body surface of the subject X, and can increase the detection sensitivity of the strain sensor element 2. It is preferable that the reinforcing member 6 is not arranged in a region overlapping the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor element 2 so as not to hinder the expansion and contraction between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor element 2.

The reinforcing member 6 preferably does not have elasticity so as to suppress the expansion and contraction of the fabric 4. Further, the reinforcing member 6 is preferably flexible so as not to give a sense of discomfort to the subject X. From this point of view, examples of the reinforcing member 6 include a woven fabric, a synthetic resin film containing polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate and the like as a main component, and a laminate of the woven fabric and the synthetic resin film. The method of fixing the reinforcing member 6 to the fabric 4 can be joining with an adhesive. If the reinforcing member 6 contains a woven fabric, it may be sewn. The reinforcing member 6 may be laminated on either the inner surface or the outer surface of the fabric 4.

<Advantage>
In the sensor unit 1, a pair of strain sensor elements 2 that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction are positioned so as to correspond to the surface of the living body by the holding member 3 in a state where the central axes of the sensors intersect with each other. It can be easily detected at an appropriate angle.

[Second Embodiment]
<Sensor unit>
The sensor unit 11 in FIG. 4 can detect expansion and contraction of the surface of the living body. The sensor unit 11 is connected to a pair of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements 2 that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction and a pair of strain sensor elements 2, and a holding member 13 that determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements 2 with respect to the biological surface. And. The central axes of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 intersect each other.

The holding member 13 has an inner surface 13a facing the surface of the living body and an outer surface 13b facing the inner surface 13a on which a pair of strain sensor elements 2 are arranged. The holding member 13 has a non-slip portion 14 on at least a part of the inner surface 13a that overlaps with the strain sensor element 2 in a plan view. The sensor unit 11 can have the same configuration as the sensor unit 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that it has a non-slip portion 14. Therefore, only the non-slip portion 14 will be described below. In the sensor unit 11, the cloth 4 is formed in a strip shape so that the body of the subject can be wound around the body. Further, surface fasteners 4a and 4b that can be engaged with each other are provided at both ends of the cloth 4 in the longitudinal direction. The sensor unit 11 can prevent the fabric 4 from slipping on the surface of the living body in a state where the fabric 4 is wound around the body portion by the non-slip portion 14. Therefore, the holding member 13 does not have to have the adhesive portion 5 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Non-slip part]
The non-slip portion 14 is formed on the inner surface of the fabric 4. The non-slip portion 14 is a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner surface of the fabric 4. The non-slip portion 14 is preferably formed in a region overlapping the both ends of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 at least in a plan view so that both ends of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 can be fixed to the surface of the living body. The non-slip portion 14 may be formed in the entire region overlapping the pair of strain sensor elements 2 in a plan view so as to suppress the displacement of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 with respect to the biological surface. The non-slip portion 14 may be formed over the entire surface of the fabric 4 so that the position of the fabric 4 can be fixed as a whole with respect to the surface of the living body.

The non-slip portion 14 contains a synthetic resin as a main component. The non-slip portion 14 can be formed by using a molding mold having a plurality of recesses which are inverted shapes of the plurality of protrusions. Specifically, in the non-slip portion 14, the synthetic resin is filled in the plurality of recesses of the molding die, and the cloth 4 is placed on the forming surfaces of the plurality of recesses of the molding die. It can be formed by curing in close contact with 4. Further, the non-slip portion 14 can also be formed by applying a dot pattern of synthetic resin to the fabric 4 using a dispenser or the like and curing the fabric 4.

<Advantage>
The sensor unit 11 can synchronize the movement of the fabric 4 with the movement of the surface of the living body in the region where the non-slip portion 14 is formed. As a result, the sensor unit 11 can easily increase the detection sensitivity of the pair of strain sensor elements 2.

[Third Embodiment]
<Detector>
The detection device 21 of FIG. 5 includes a sensor unit 1 capable of detecting expansion and contraction of the living body surface, and a display unit 24 capable of displaying expansion and contraction information of the living body surface detected by the sensor unit 1. Further, the detection device 21 is an A / D converter 22 that converts a detection signal by the pair of strain sensor elements 2 into an electric signal, and an analysis unit that analyzes an abnormality in the living body from the electric signal converted by the A / D converter 22. 23 and is provided. The sensor unit 1 is connected to a pair of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements 2 that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, and a holding member 3 that is connected to the pair of strain sensor elements 2 and determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements 2 with respect to the biological surface. And. The central axes of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 intersect each other. Since the sensor unit 1 in the detection device 21 is the same as the sensor unit 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

(A / D converter)
The A / D converter 22 is configured to be able to convert the resistance values on both ends of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 into electrical signals.

(Analysis department)
The analysis unit 23 is configured to be able to analyze an abnormality in the living body from the detection signals of the pair of strain sensor elements 2. The analysis unit 23 is a computer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, a large-capacity storage device, and the like.

An example of the analysis procedure by the analysis unit 23 will be described. First, the analysis unit 23 obtains a time-displacement curve (a curve whose vertical axis is frequency and horizontal axis is elapsed time) between the elapsed time and the displacement of the frequency from the electric signal converted by the A / D converter 22. Next, the analysis unit 23 acquires the envelope of this time-displacement curve. The analysis unit 23 can determine the respiratory periodicity of the subject from this envelope. Further, the analysis unit 23 obtains the frequency characteristic for each unit time by transforming the envelope by a Fourier transform or the like in units of a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes). An example of this frequency characteristic is shown in FIG. The analysis unit 23 may determine the presence or absence of low lung function by comparing the peak value P (maximum value of the current value [Amp]) of this frequency characteristic with a preset threshold value. The analysis unit 23 may obtain the envelope and the frequency characteristics excluding the case where the frequency changes beyond a predetermined threshold value.

(Display part)
The display unit 24 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display unit 24 displays the data output from the analysis unit 23 as expansion / contraction information on the surface of the living body based on the expansion / contraction of the pair of strain sensor elements 2. Specifically, the display unit 24 displays the time-displacement curve obtained by the analysis unit 23, its envelope, the frequency characteristics for each unit time, and the like.

<Advantage>
The detection device 21 can display the expansion / contraction information of the living body surface detected by the sensor unit 1 on the display unit 24. Therefore, according to the detection device 21, the expansion / contraction information of the living body surface of the subject can be easily visually recognized.

Since the detection device 21 includes an analysis unit 23, the display unit 24 can display expansion / contraction information on the surface of the living body processed so as to easily determine the presence or absence of an abnormality in the living body.

[Fourth Embodiment]
<Sensor unit>
The sensor unit 31 of FIGS. 7 and 8 can detect expansion and contraction of the surface of the living body. The sensor unit 31 is connected to a plurality of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements 2a to 2f that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f, and the positions of these strain sensor elements 2a to 2f with respect to the biological surface. It includes a holding member 33 that determines the relationship. Since the configurations of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f can be the same as those of the strain sensor elements 2 of the sensor units 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the description thereof will be omitted.

The plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f can detect the contraction of the uterus. The plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f are arranged at positions corresponding to at least the lower abdomen (center of the lower abdomen), the lower left abdomen, and the lower right abdomen of the subject. Specifically, the pair of strain sensor elements 2a and 2d are arranged at positions corresponding to the lower left abdomen of the subject, and the pair of strain sensor elements 2b and 2e are arranged at positions corresponding to the lower abdomen of the subject. , A pair of strain sensor elements 2c, 2f are arranged at positions corresponding to the lower right abdomen of the subject. In the sensor unit 31, the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f are arranged at least at positions corresponding to the lower abdomen, the left lower abdomen, and the right lower abdomen of the subject, so that the fetus is the uterus of the subject (pregnant woman). The contraction of the uterus of the subject can be easily detected even if it is present on either the left or right side of the subject.

A pair of strain sensor elements (a pair of strain sensor elements 2a, 2d, a pair of strain sensor elements 2b, 2e, and a pair of strain sensors) arranged at positions corresponding to the lower left abdomen, lower abdomen, and lower right abdomen of the subject. The elements 2c and 2f) overlap each other at the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

The central axes of each pair of strain sensor elements intersect each other. Specifically, of each pair of strain sensor elements arranged at positions corresponding to the left lower abdomen, lower abdomen, and right lower abdomen of the subject, one of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2c has a central axis in the left-right direction. The other strain sensor elements 2d to 2f are extended, and the central axis of the other strain sensor elements 2d to 2f is extended in the vertical direction. The contraction of the uterus does not always have a contrasting movement in the vertical and horizontal directions depending on the morphology of the uterus, the position of the fetus, and the like. On the other hand, in the sensor unit 31, the central axes of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f intersect at positions corresponding to the left lower abdomen, lower abdomen, and right lower abdomen of the subject, so that the uterus morphology and The contraction of the uterus can be easily detected regardless of the location of the fetus.

The lower limit of the angle formed by the central axes of each pair of strain sensor elements is preferably 60 °, preferably 70 °, and more preferably 90 °. That is, it is most preferable that the central axes of each of the pair of strain sensor elements are orthogonal to each other. If the angle formed is less than the lower limit, the accuracy of detecting uterine contraction may decrease.

(Holding member)
The holding member 33 has a stretchable fabric 34, an adhesive portion 35 laminated on the fabric 34, and a reinforcing member 36.

[Fabric]
The cloth 34 is configured to be able to cover the surface of the living body. A plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f are arranged on the outer surface of the fabric 34. The cloth 34 is formed in a band shape or a tubular shape so that the body of the subject can be wound around (the strip shape is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). When the cloth 34 has a strip shape, surface fasteners 34a and 34b that can be engaged with each other are provided at both ends of the cloth 34 in the longitudinal direction.

[Adhesive part]
The adhesive portion 35 is configured so that the cloth 34 can be attached to the surface of the living body. The adhesive portion 35 is laminated on the inner surface of the fabric 34. The adhesive portion 35 is arranged in a region including at least one of a region overlapping the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f and a region located outside in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in a plan view. The adhesive portion 35 is preferably provided on a one-to-one basis with respect to the end portions of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f. In the present embodiment, the holding member 33 has 12 adhesive portions 35 located outside in the longitudinal direction of the six strain sensor elements 2a to 2f. By having the adhesive portion 35, the sensor unit 31 can fix the ends of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f corresponding to the predetermined positions on the surface of the living body, and can easily expand and contract between the predetermined positions on the surface of the living body. And it can be detected reliably. This makes it possible to easily and reliably detect contractions of the uterus no matter where the fetus is located in the uterus. It is preferable that the adhesive portion 35 is not arranged in a region overlapping the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in a plan view so as not to hinder the expansion and contraction of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in the longitudinal direction.

The adhesive portion 35 can be formed of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, or the like, like the adhesive portion 5 of the sensor unit 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Reinforcing member]
The reinforcing member 36 is arranged in a region including an end portion of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f and an adhesive portion 35 corresponding to the end portion in a plan view. It is preferable that the reinforcing member 36 is not arranged in a region overlapping the intermediate portion of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in the longitudinal direction so as not to hinder the expansion and contraction between both ends of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in the longitudinal direction.

Similar to the reinforcing member 6 of the sensor unit 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcing member 36 can be composed of a woven fabric, a synthetic resin film, a laminate of the woven fabric and the synthetic resin film, and the like. The reinforcing member 36 may be laminated on either the inner surface or the outer surface of the fabric 34.

<Advantage>
In the sensor unit 31, the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction are positioned so as to correspond to the living body surface by the holding member 33 in a state where the central axes of each pair intersect with each other. The movement of the can be easily detected at an appropriate angle.

Since the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f expand and contract in the longitudinal direction in the sensor unit 31 in response to the expansion and contraction of the biological surface, the sensor unit 31 presses the biological surface of the subject due to the expansion and contraction of the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f. It's hard to do. Therefore, the sensor unit 1 is unlikely to give a feeling of tightening and discomfort to the subject.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The sensor unit 41 in FIG. 9 can detect expansion and contraction of the surface of the living body. The sensor unit 41 is connected to a plurality of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements 2a to 2f that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f, and the positions of these strain sensor elements 2a to 2f with respect to the biological surface. It includes a holding member 43 that determines the relationship.

The holding member 43 has an inner surface 43a facing the surface of the living body and an outer surface 43b facing the inner surface 43a on which a plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f are arranged. The holding member 43 has a non-slip portion 44 on at least a part of the inner surface 43a that overlaps with the strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in a plan view. The sensor unit 41 can have the same configuration as the sensor unit 31 of FIGS. 7 and 8 except that it has a non-slip portion 44. Therefore, only the non-slip portion 44 will be described below. The sensor unit 41 can prevent the fabric 34 from slipping on the surface of the living body when the fabric 34 is wound around the body by the non-slip portion 44. Therefore, the holding member 43 does not have to have the adhesive portion 35 of FIGS. 7 and 8.

[Non-slip part]
The non-slip portion 44 is formed on the inner surface of the fabric 34. The non-slip portion 44 is a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner surface of the fabric 34. The non-slip portion 44 contains a synthetic resin as a main component, like the non-slip portion 14 of the sensor unit 11 in FIG. The non-slip portion 44 is formed in a region that overlaps both ends of the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f at least in a plan view so that both ends of the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f can be fixed to the surface of the living body. Is preferable. Further, the non-slip portion 44 may be formed in the entire region overlapping the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f in a plan view so as to suppress the positional deviation of the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f with respect to the biological surface. It may be formed to traverse a position corresponding to a person's left lower abdomen, lower abdomen and right lower abdomen.

<Advantage>
The sensor unit 41 can synchronize the movement of the fabric 34 with the movement of the surface of the living body in the region where the non-slip portion 44 is formed. As a result, the sensor unit 41 can easily increase the detection sensitivity of the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f.

[Sixth Embodiment]
<Detector>
Next, a detection device including the sensor unit 31 of FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described. The detection device includes a sensor unit 31 capable of detecting expansion and contraction of the biological surface, and a display unit capable of displaying expansion and contraction information of the biological surface detected by the sensor unit 31. Further, the detection device includes an A / D converter that converts the detection signals of the plurality of strain sensor elements 2a to 2f into electric signals, and an analysis unit that analyzes the abnormality of the living body from the electric signals converted by the A / D converters. To be equipped. The detection device may have a configuration in which the sensor unit 1 in the detection device 21 of FIG. 5 is replaced with the sensor unit 31.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the time-displacement curve obtained by the analysis unit. In FIG. 10, for example, the frequency displacement of the strain sensor element 2e arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction at a position corresponding to the lower abdomen of the subject is partially large, and the uterus of the subject is formed in this portion. It can be read that it has contracted.

<Advantage>
The detection device can display the expansion / contraction information of the living body surface detected by the sensor unit 31 by the display unit. Further, since the detection device includes the analysis unit, the display unit can display expansion / contraction information on the surface of the living body processed so as to easily determine the presence or absence of an abnormality in the living body.

[Other Embodiments]
The embodiment does not limit the configuration of the present invention. Therefore, it is possible to omit, replace or add components of each part of the embodiment based on the description of the present specification and common general technical knowledge, and all of them are construed to belong to the scope of the present invention. Should be.

For example, the holding member may be any as long as it can determine the positional relationship of a plurality of strain sensor elements with respect to the surface of the living body, and is a thread-like member, a string-like member, or a strip-shaped member that connects the strain sensor elements arranged adjacent to each other. And so on.

When the sensor unit is configured to be able to detect the contraction of the uterus, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can be adopted as the arrangement of the plurality of strain sensor elements. The sensor unit 51 of FIG. 11 traverses three strain sensor elements 52a to 52c extending in the vertical direction at positions corresponding to the left lower abdomen, lower abdomen, and right lower abdomen of the subject, and three strain sensor elements 52a to 52c. It has one strain sensor element 52d extending in the left-right direction so as to do so. Further, the strain sensor elements 61 of FIG. 12 include three strain sensor elements 62a to 62c extending in the vertical direction at positions corresponding to the left lower abdomen, lower abdomen, and right lower abdomen of the subject, and three strain sensor elements 62a to. Of the 62c, it has one strain sensor element 62d that intersects with the strain sensor element 62b located in the center. The sensor unit can detect the contraction of the uterus even with such a configuration. When the sensor unit is configured to be capable of detecting the contraction of the uterus, the extending directions of the plurality of strain sensor elements are not limited to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the adhesive portion is laminated on the inner surface of the fabric has been described. However, this adhesive portion may be laminated on the outer surface of the fabric. FIG. 13 shows a structure in which the adhesive portion is laminated on the outer surface of the fabric. In the sensor unit 71 of FIG. 13, the fabric 74 has a plurality of through holes 74a. The adhesive portion 75 is laminated on the outer surface of the fabric 74 so as to be exposed to the inner surface side through the through hole 74a. An adhesive tape can be used as the adhesive portion 75. With this configuration, the sensor unit can also fix the ends of the strain sensor elements 72a and 72b corresponding to predetermined positions on the surface of the living body.

The specific configuration of the non-slip portion is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a plate-shaped member made of synthetic resin having a higher frictional resistance than the cloth.

The detection device may include the sensor units of FIGS. 4, 9, 11 to 13. The detection device may be configured not to have the analysis unit. Even if the detection device does not have the analysis unit, it is possible to promote early detection of an abnormality in the living body of the subject from the difference in the detection signal between the plurality of strain sensor elements and the periodicity of the detection signal.

A modified example of the detection device will be described with reference to FIG. The detection device 81 of FIG. 14 includes a pair of strain sensor elements 2 capable of detecting expansion and contraction of the biological surface, and a display unit 24 capable of displaying expansion and contraction information of the biological surface detected by the pair of strain sensor elements 2. Further, the detection device 81 is an A / D converter 22 that converts the detection signal of the pair of strain sensor elements 2 into an electric signal, and an analysis unit that analyzes an abnormality in the living body from the electric signal converted by the A / D converter 22. 23 and is provided. Further, the detection device 81 includes an attachment portion 82 capable of attaching a pair of strain sensor elements 2 to the surface of a living body. The attachment portion 82 has, for example, each pair of support members 82a capable of supporting both ends of the pair of strain sensor elements 2, and an attachment portion 82b capable of attaching the support members 82a to the surface of the living body. The sticking portion 82b has a plate-shaped base portion and an adhesive layer for fixing the base portion to the surface of the living body. It is preferable that the peripheral edge of the base portion is rounded in a plan view so that the living body does not feel pain. Among them, a disk shape is particularly preferable as the specific shape of the base portion. Further, as the lower limit of the angle formed by the central axes of the pair of strain sensor elements 2, 30 ° is preferable, 50 ° is more preferable, and 70 ° is further preferable. On the other hand, the upper limit of the angle formed is preferably 120 °, more preferably 100 °, and even more preferably 90 °. The specific configuration of the A / D converter 22, the analysis unit 23, and the display unit 24 in the detection device 81 is the same as that of the A / D converter 22, the analysis unit 23, and the display unit 24 in the detection device 21 of FIG. Can be done. Since the detection device 81 includes the analysis unit 23, the display unit 24 can display the expansion / contraction information of the surface of the living body processed so as to easily determine the presence or absence of an abnormality in the living body.

As described above, the sensor unit according to the present invention is suitable for early detection of biological abnormalities because it can easily detect the movement of the surface of the living body at an appropriate angle.

1,11,31,41,51,61,71 Sensor unit 2,2a-2f, 52a-52d, 62a-62d, 72a, 72b Strain sensor element 3,13,33,43 Holding member 4,34,74 Fabric 4a, 4b, 34a, 34b Hook-and-loop fastener 5,35,75 Adhesive part 6,36 Reinforcing member 13a, 43a Inner surface 13b, 43b Outer surface 14,44 Non-slip part 21,81 Detection device 22 A / D converter 23 Analysis unit 24 Display Part 74a Through hole 82 Mounting part 82a Support member 82b Sticking part P Peak value X Subject

Claims (8)

A sensor unit that can detect expansion and contraction of the surface of a living body.
Multiple thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction,
It is provided with a holding member which is connected to the plurality of strain sensor elements and determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements with respect to the biological surface.
A sensor unit in which the central axes of at least a pair of strain sensor elements intersect with each other. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member has a cloth. The holding member has an inner surface facing the surface of the living body and an outer surface on which the plurality of strain sensor elements are arranged, and has a non-slip portion at least a part of the inner surface overlapping the strain sensor element in a plan view. The sensor unit according to claim 1 or 2. Claim 1, claim 2, or claim 2, wherein the holding member has an adhesive portion in a region including at least one of a region where the holding member overlaps the strain sensor element in a plan view and a region located outside in the longitudinal direction of the strain sensor element. Item 3. The sensor unit according to item 3. Claims 1 to 4 said that the pair of strain sensor elements can detect the movement of the left and right thorax, are arranged symmetrically apart from each other, and are inclined outward in the opposite direction from the upper side to the lower side. The sensor unit according to any one of the above items. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of strain sensor elements can detect contraction of the uterus and are arranged at least at positions corresponding to the lower abdomen, the left lower abdomen, and the right lower abdomen. Sensor unit. A sensor unit that can detect expansion and contraction of the surface of the living body,
It is provided with a display unit capable of displaying expansion / contraction information on the surface of the living body detected by the sensor unit.
The sensor unit includes a plurality of thread-like or band-shaped strain sensor elements that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, and a holding member that is connected to the plurality of strain sensor elements and determines the positional relationship of these strain sensor elements with respect to the biological surface. A detection device in which the central axes of at least a pair of strain sensor elements intersect each other. The detection device according to claim 7, further comprising an analysis unit capable of analyzing an abnormality in a living body from detection signals of the plurality of strain sensor elements.

Images