JP2693412B2 - Sweat rate measuring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sweat rate measuring device for continuously measuring the sweat rate from the skin surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been extremely important to continuously measure the amount of perspiration from the skin surface in the fields of clinical medicine and psychiatry. Therefore, various means for continuously measuring the amount of perspiration from the skin surface have been developed, but no means for directly and accurately measuring the amount of perspiration based on the characteristics of perspiration itself have been developed.

[0003]

Therefore, in the present invention, various ions contained in perspiration, such as Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ ,
It is an object to be solved to provide a sweat rate measuring device that directly and accurately measures the sweat rate based on the conductive properties of K ⁺ , HCO ₃ ⁻ and the like.

[0004]

The invention according to claim 1 is the skin
To the opening formed on the surface to be attached to the surface
Perspiration from the introduction channel and the skin surface leading the non-electrolyte solution
And the pure water or the mixed water of the non-electrolyte solution with the opening
An outflow channel for flowing out from the
A sensor provided with an electrode for detecting the conductivity of the mixed water.
And electrically connected to the electrode to conduct the mixed water.
Conductivity measuring means for measuring the degree, and the conductivity measuring means
Whether the skin surface is based on the measured conductivity of the mixed water
By providing a sweat rate calculation means for calculating the sweat rate from
is there.

According to the invention of claim 1, the sensor is a skin surface.
It is introduced into the opening through the introduction flow path while being attached to
Pure water or a mixture of non-electrolyte solution and perspiration from the skin
From the opening through the outflow channel to the outside of the sensor
Perspiration from the skin surface based on the conductivity measured in the process of
Since the amount is calculated, the sweat rate from the skin surface can be directly measured.
Can be specified.

The invention of claim 2 is the same as the invention of claim 1.
Then, the sweating rate calculation means uses the flow of the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution.
Depending on the amount, the area of the opening, and the temperature of the mixed water
The perspiration amount is calculated based on the corrected conductivity.

According to the invention of claim 2, the conductivity of the mixed water
Is more accurately measured, so the amount of sweat from the skin surface
It can be measured accurately.

The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2.
, The calculated sweat rate is displayed on the display means
And recorded in the recording means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sweating rate is
You can play and record continuously.

The invention of claim 4 is the same as claim 1, 2 or 3.
In the invention, the mixed water is deionized by an ion exchanger.
Removed and returned to pure water or non-electrolyte solution and recycled
You .

According to the invention of claim 4, the io in the mixed water is
Ion is removed by an ion exchanger, and pure water or non-electrolyte solution is removed.
Since it is returned to the liquid and recirculated, pure water or non-electrolyte solution
No need to replenish.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a perspiration amount measuring device for continuously measuring the amount of perspiration per unit time from the skin surface such as the palm portion will be described. FIG. 1 is a system diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the sweat rate measuring device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end surface is the skin S.
Inlet 1A opened in the upper end surface of the sensor 1 attached to the
And a pure water storage tank 2 for storing pure water as a non-electrolyte solution, a tube 3 is connected. Tubes 5A and 5B are connected between the drainage port 1B of the sensor 1 and the ion exchanger 4, and the tubes 5A and 5B are connected.
A pump 6 is provided at the connecting portion of B. Further, a tube 7 is connected between the ion exchanger 4 and the pure water storage tank 2.

As described above, the sensor 1, the pure water storage tank 2, the ion exchanger 4, and the pump 6 are installed in the tubes 3 and 5.
Pure water stored in the pure water storage tank 2 is connected by A, 5B, and 7 and the pump 6 is operated, so that the tube 3, the sensor 1, the tube 5A, the pump 6, and the tube 5 are connected.
It is circulated in a circulating water channel composed of B, the ion exchanger 4 and the tube 7. In the process in which pure water is circulated in this circulation channel, perspiration from the skin S and pure water are mixed and mixed in a hole (this hole will be described later in detail) formed in the lower end surface of the sensor 1. It becomes water and the drain port 1 of the sensor 1
B is discharged to the tube 5A.

The mixed water obtained by mixing pure water and perspiration contains various ions contained in perspiration, that is, Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , and K.
^+, HCO ₃ ^- the ionized water, and the like. The conductivity of pure water is 10 ⁻⁶ Ω ⁻¹ cm ⁻¹ , whereas the conductivity of general sweating is about 5 × 10 ⁻³ Ω ^{−1 at} room temperature.
It is said to be cm ^-1 . Therefore, the conductivity of perspiration is 5 × 10 ³ times that of pure water. Before the mixed water is discharged from the outlet 1B to the tube 5A, the conductivity of the mixed water is measured by the conductivity measuring device 22 described later (the conductivity of pure water is also measured by the conductivity measuring device 21). The sensor 1 is provided with an electrode so that the measurement can be performed. The structure of the sensor 1 including this electrode will be described later in detail.

When the mixed water is discharged from the drain port 1B to the tube 5A, the mixed water passes through the pump 6 and the tube 5B and is injected into the ion exchanger 4. This ion exchanger 4 uses Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , K ⁺ , HCO ₃ contained in the mixed water.
^-Ions such as are removed by ion exchange. Then, the water from which ions such as Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , K ⁺ , and HCO ₃ ⁻ are removed becomes pure water again, passes through the tube 7, and is returned to the pure water storage tank 2.

Next, the structure of the sensor 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective external view of the sensor 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the sensor 1 in an exploded manner. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the sensor 1, a water inlet 1A to which the above-mentioned tube 3 is connected and a tube 5A are connected to the uppermost first disk 11 made of acrylic. The drainage port 1B is opened, and the water inlet 1A and the drainage port 1B are circular with a small diameter.

An electrode plate 12 having the same diameter as the disk 11 is arranged below the first disk 11. The electrode plate 12 is made of an electrode material such as silver or platinum and is composed of two electrodes 12A and 12B. The two electrodes 12A and 12B are insulated by the insulating plate 12C arranged in the middle part. Electrode 12
Water passage holes 12D and 12E having the same diameter are formed in A and 12B at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11, respectively. The electrode 12
Connection terminals 13 and 14 that are electrically connected to a conductivity measuring device, which will be described later, are provided on the respective side end surfaces of A and 12B.

Below the electrode plate 12, the first disk 1 is provided.
1, and a second acrylic disk 15 having the same diameter as the electrode plate 12 is provided. This second disk 15
Also, at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11, respectively, water holes 15A having the same diameter,
15B is opened.

A disk-shaped common electrode plate 16 made of silver and having the same diameter as the first disk 11, the electrode plate 12, and the second disk 15 is disposed below the second disk 15. ing. The common electrode plate 16 also has water holes 16A and 16B having the same diameter at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11.
A common connection terminal 17 is provided on the side end surface of the common electrode plate 16 so as to be electrically connected to a conductivity measuring device described later. The common electrode plate 16 serves as a common electrode for each of the two electrodes 12A and 12B described above.

Below the common electrode plate 16, a first disk 11, an electrode plate 12, a second disk 15, and a third disk 18 made of acrylic having the same diameter as the common electrode plate 16 are provided.
Are arranged. The third disk 18 is also provided with water holes 18A and 18B having the same diameter at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11.

Below the third disk 18, the first disk 11, the electrode plate 12, the second disk 15, the common electrode plate 16 and the third disk 18 have the same diameter and are made of acrylic. Four disks 19 are arranged. This fourth
The disk 19 has a long hole having both ends at positions corresponding to the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11 (in the claims, it is described as an opening). ) 19A is open. The fourth disk 19 serves as the lower end surface of the sensor 1 and is adhered to the skin S in a close contact manner.
It is adapted to enter into A and be mixed with pure water flowing through the long hole 19A.

The first disk 11 having the above-mentioned shape,
The electrode plate 12, the second disk 15, the common electrode plate 16, the third disk 18, and the fourth disk 19 are opened in their respective constituent members so that pure water and mixed water flow to the straight. Further, the sensor 1 is configured by adhering each of the water passage holes with an adhesive so as to be coaxial with each other. still,
In this embodiment, the first disk 11, the electrode plate 12, the second disk 15, the common electrode plate 16, the third disk 18, and the fourth disk 19 each have a thickness of 1 mm and a diameter of 23 mm. However, the size is not limited to this, and the size can be properly determined.

The elongated hole 19A of the fourth disk 19 is formed in a curved shape as shown in FIG. 4 in addition to being linearly formed as described above. It is possible to increase the opening area where perspiration mixes with pure water. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a temperature sensor 2 for detecting the temperature of mixed water in which perspiration from the skin S is mixed with pure water.
By attaching 0 to the curved hole 19B and temperature-correcting the conductivity of the mixed water based on the detected temperature, the amount of perspiration can be accurately measured. The temperature sensor 2
0 is not limited to the curved hole 19B portion, but the same measurement can be performed by attaching to the long hole 19A portion. Further, by providing a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the skin S surface in addition to the temperature sensor 20, the temperature of the conductivity of the mixed water can be corrected more accurately.

Next, the connection terminals 13 and 14 of the electrodes 12A and 12B of the sensor 1 and the common connection terminal 17 of the common electrode plate 16 are connected to the cables W1 and W as shown in FIG.
It is connected to a conductivity measuring device 21 for measuring the conductivity of pure water using 2, 2 and a conductivity measuring device 22 for measuring the conductivity of mixed water. The cable W3 has electrodes 12A and 12B.
Conductivity measuring devices 21 and 2 are used as common lead wires.
2 (Actually use a 2-channel conductivity meter,
Or, the common terminal (ground terminal) of the input circuit of the conductivity measuring instrument of 1 channel is switched at high speed and alternately measured)
Connected to. The conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22 are converted into electrical data and input to the personal computer 23.

The personal computer 23 is used to calculate the conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22, and to calculate the amount of perspiration stored in advance. The amount of perspiration from the skin S is continuously calculated based on the data for. At that time, the personal computer 23
Is the input of the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor 20 using the cable W4, and the conductivity data of pure water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22 according to the temperature of the mixed water. Further, after correcting the conductivity data of the mixed water, the amount of perspiration from the skin S is calculated using the flow rate of pure water and the opening area of the flow path occupying the skin S.

The amount of continuous sweating from the skin S calculated by the personal computer 23 is the personal computer.
It is graphically displayed on the display 23A of the printer 23 and continuously recorded on the recorder 24 such as a pen recorder.

Next, FIG. 5 schematically shows the overall structure of the sweat rate measuring device of the second embodiment in which the flow paths of pure water and mixed water are different from those of FIG. It is the system diagram shown. In this embodiment, the sensor 1 and the conductivity measuring device 2
1,22, personal computer 23, recorder 24,
The electrical configuration of the cables W1 to W4 is the same as that of the sweat rate measuring device according to the first embodiment. Also,
The pure water storage tank 2, the ion exchanger 4, and the pump 6 are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the sweat rate measuring device.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pure water storage tank 2 is
The pump 6 is connected through the tube 30A, and the pump 6 and the ion exchanger 4 are connected through the tube 30B. Further, the ion exchanger 4 and the pure water storage tank 2 are
It is connected by a tube 31. When the pump 6 is operated in this circulating water passage, the water in the pure water storage tank 2 is sent to the ion exchanger 4 and ion-exchanged, so that it becomes pure water and is returned to the pure water storage tank 2. The pure water storage tank 2 is gradually filled with pure water.

Pure water storage tank 2 and water inlet 1A of sensor 1
Tubes 32 are connected to each other. The other end of the tube 33, one end of which is connected to the drain port 1B of the sensor 1, is connected to a syringe pump 34.
The syringe pump 34 is precisely driven by a motor (not shown). Therefore, when this motor is driven, pure water is sucked from the pure water storage tank 2 by the syringe pump 34, so that this pure water passes through the tube 32,
In the process of flowing from the water inlet 1A of the sensor 1 to the aforementioned long hole 19A of the fourth disk 19 or the curved hole 19B shown in FIG. 4, it is mixed with perspiration from the skin S and becomes mixed water to form a drainage port. It is drained from 1B and flows into the syringe pump 34 through the tube 33. Then, the mixed water is flowed in until the capacity of the syringe pump 34 becomes full.

The connection terminals 13 and 14 of the electrodes 12A and 12B of the sensor 1 and the common connection terminal 17 of the common electrode plate 16 are conductivity measuring devices 21 for measuring the conductivity of pure water.
And a conductivity measuring device 22 for measuring the conductivity of the mixed water. The conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22 are electrically decoupled. Converted into a personal computer and input to the personal computer 23.
The personal computer 23 is used to calculate the conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22, and the previously stored amount of perspiration. The amount of perspiration from the skin S is continuously calculated on the basis of the above data, and is graphically displayed on the display 23A and also continuously recorded on the recorder 24. In addition,
The sonal computer 23 inputs the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor 20 described above, corrects the conductivity according to the temperature of the mixed water, and determines the flow rate of pure water and the opening area of the flow path occupying the skin S. The amount of perspiration from the skin S is calculated using this.

In the second embodiment, since the motor-driven syringe pump 34 is used, the sensor 1
The flow rate of pure water flowing through the chamber becomes uniform, and the conductivity measuring device 21,
The characteristic is that the conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of mixed water measured at 22 are accurate. In the above measurement, a non-electrolyte solution such as sucrose solution may be used instead of pure water. The non-electrolyte solution does not affect the conductivity but generates osmotic pressure, so the osmotic pressure of the solution can be made to match the osmotic pressure of sweat (body fluid), preventing the solution from penetrating into the skin tissue and sweating. The swelling of the tissue can be prevented.

[0032]

According to the invention of claim 1, the sensor is the skin.
When it is attached to the surface, it is introduced into the opening through the introduction channel.
Of purified pure water or non-electrolyte solution with perspiration from the skin surface
Water flows from the opening through the outflow channel to the outside of the sensor.
Based on the conductivity measured in the process
Since the sweat rate is calculated, the sweat rate from the skin surface can be directly calculated.
Can be measured accurately.

According to the invention of claim 2, the conductivity of the mixed water
Is measured more accurately, so
The amount of sweat can be measured more accurately.

According to the invention of claim 3, the continuous sweating amount
Can be displayed and recorded.

According to the invention of claim 4, the io in the mixed water is
Water is removed by an ion exchanger and dissolved in pure water or non-electrolyte solution.
Since it is returned to the liquid and recirculated, pure water or non-electrolyte solution
No need to replenish.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sensor.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the sensor.

FIG. 4 is an opening view of a lower end surface of the sensor.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Sensor 2 Pure Water Storage Tank 4 Ion Exchanger 6 Pump 19A Long Hole 19B Curved Hole 21,22 Conductivity Meter 23 Personal Computer 34 Syringe Pump

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-3875 (JP, A) JP-A-4-28343 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An opening formed on a surface which is in contact with a skin surface.
Introductory channel for introducing pure water or non-electrolyte solution to
Perspiration from the skin surface and the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution
An outflow passage for letting out the mixed water of
The outflow channel is for detecting the conductivity of the mixed water.
The sensor provided with an electrode is electrically connected to the electrode.
And a conductivity measuring means for measuring the conductivity of the mixed water,
Based on the conductivity of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring means
Based on the above, the sweat rate calculator for calculating the sweat rate from the skin surface
A sweat rate measuring device comprising a step. 2. A sweat rate calculation means is the pure water or non-electrolytic
Flow rate of the solid solution, the area of the opening, and the temperature of the mixed water.
The sweat rate is calculated based on the conductivity corrected according to the
The sweat rate measuring device according to claim 1. 3. The calculated sweat rate is displayed on the display means.
The display according to claim 1 or 2, which is recorded in a recording means.
Sweat rate measuring device. 4. The mixed water is ionized by an ion exchanger.
Are removed and returned to pure water or non-electrolyte solution and recirculated.
The sweat rate measuring device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.