JP3151066U - Cuff device and blood pressure measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a cuff device capable of dealing with a tragus having a large individual difference and capable of performing accurate blood pressure measurement by holding the tragus in an optimal pressure state, and a blood pressure measuring device including the cuff device. An outer cuff includes an inner cuff inserted into the ear canal, an outer cuff positioned outside the tragus, and a holding means for holding the inner cuff and the outer cuff. The pressing surface to the tragus of the air bag is oval or oval, and the pressing surface to the tragus of the air bag of the inner cuff is either approximately circular, oval or oval, and the inner cuff and The cuff device and the blood pressure measurement device 100 are configured such that the outer cuff has a concave tip when not pressurized with air. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a cuff device and a blood pressure measurement device, and more particularly to a cuff device and a blood pressure measurement device that measure blood pressure using the outer ear and its peripheral portion (tragus portion) as a measurement site.

Blood pressure fluctuates every moment according to changes in the external environment and internal environment. For this reason, it would be ideal if the beats could be recorded continuously, but even if they could not be recorded continuously, the blood pressure in the day was measured continuously (intermittently) to measure the change in blood pressure over time. It is also important to perform health care by measuring.

When blood pressure is regularly measured with a conventional blood pressure measurement device, for example, the blood pressure is measured by wrapping a cuff around the upper arm of the subject. In this case, it is necessary to wear on the body a large-sized cuff that covers the upper arm and the main body of the blood pressure measurement device connected to the cuff. For this reason, the test subject needs to wear a cuff on the upper arm and send a daily life with the body of the blood pressure measurement device connected to the cuff attached to the body, but this causes a great hindrance in the daily life. In addition, the subject may be burdened by feeling pain because the upper arm is compressed each time pressure is measured. In order to solve such a problem, the applicant can hold the inner cuff inserted into the ear canal and the outer cuff located outside the tragus and can adjust the relative position of the outer cuff with respect to the inner cuff. Has proposed a blood pressure measuring device having a configuration that can be made (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-288643

According to the blood pressure measuring device proposed above, the cuff attached to the tragus is composed of a light-transmitting elastic material, and has a configuration in which detection means for optically detecting a pulse wave is built in the cuff. Yes. In addition, even when a cuff is exposed to the outside when the inner and outer cuffs are attached to the tragus, accurate blood pressure measurement is possible without being affected by ambient light.

However, according to the proposal, although the adjustment function corresponding to the tragus having a large individual difference is provided, the configuration is not configured to clamp the tragus in an optimal pressure state.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, can cope with tragus with great individual differences, and can accurately measure blood pressure by clamping the tragus in an optimal pressure state. The object is to provide a blood pressure measuring device.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, according to the present invention, an inner cuff inserted into the ear canal, an outer cuff positioned outside the tragus, and an inner cuff and an outer cuff are held. A pressing surface of the outer cuff to the tragus of the air bag is oval or elliptical, and the pressing surface of the inner cuff to the tragus of the air bag is substantially circular, oval Or, it is one of oval shapes, and the inner cuff and the outer cuff are characterized in that in a state where no pressure is applied, the thin portion of the side portion is partially folded inward.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cuff device including an inner cuff inserted into the ear canal, an outer cuff positioned outside the tragus, and holding means for holding the inner cuff and the outer cuff, and the outer cuff device. The cuff air bag's pressing surface to the tragus is oval or oval, and the inner cuff's air bag's pressing surface to the tragus is either approximately circular, oval or oval, and the outside Built in at least one of the cuff and inner cuff, the pulse wave detection means for optically detecting the pulse wave signal from the blood flowing through the blood vessel, and the inner cuff and the outer cuff sandwich the tragus, then the inner cuff and the outer cuff Based on the pulse wave signal, pressure increasing / decreasing means for pressurizing and depressurizing the cuff with air sent through the pipe, pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the inner cuff and the outer cuff by being connected to the pipe, and the pulse wave signal Blood pressure measurement control means for measuring the blood pressure value and blood pressure Display means for displaying the inner cuff and the outer cuff in a state where the thin part of the side part is folded inward when not pressurized with air. .

According to the present invention, the inner cuff is set on the external auditory canal and the outer cuff is easily attached to the outer side of the tragus. The blood pressure can be pressed almost uniformly, and accurate blood pressure measurement can be performed.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows a mode that the ear-type blood pressure meter 1 which is one Embodiment of this invention was made into the use condition with respect to a pinna. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the ear-type blood pressure meter 1 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape of an outer side cuff air bag. It is a figure which shows the shape of an inner side cuff air bag.

First, the present invention uses a tragus which is a part of the auricle as a measurement site. Since this tragus is fixed to the head and used mainly for sound collection purposes, the amount of nerves present around the tragus is less than that of the upper arm and fingers used for complex tasks. For this reason, when measuring blood pressure using the outer ear and its peripheral part, the tragus is the part where it is most difficult to feel pain, and the tragus is a small part, and a pair of cuffs sandwiching it can be made small, There is an advantage that pain at the time of blood pressure measurement can be reduced as compared with blood pressure measurement using an upper arm or a finger. However, since the tragus is a small part of the auricle, if the small blood pressure measurement part is securely and stably fixed to the tragus and cannot be pressed, the blood pressure detection part will move during measurement. Therefore, blood pressure cannot be measured with high accuracy.

For example, the blood pressure detection unit includes a pipe for supplying pressurized fluid, pressurized air or pressurized liquid to the cuff for pressurizing the tragus, and power for driving the blood pressure detection unit and blood pressure measurement from the blood pressure detection unit It is connected to a wiring which is a signal line such as an output signal transmitted to the apparatus main body. The piping and wiring are connected to the main body of the blood pressure measurement device. For this reason, when blood pressure is measured over a long period of time, for example, when operating the main body of the blood pressure measurement device, if the hand touches the piping or wiring and the mounting position of the blood pressure detection unit is shifted, it is correct. Blood pressure cannot be measured.

In addition to this, after setting the inner cuff on the external auditory canal and the outer cuff on the outside of the tragus so as to be in contact with the tragus, it is necessary to perform blood pressure measurement in an optimal pressure generation state.

A blood pressure measuring device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure of each part of the blood pressure measuring device of each embodiment shown below is only an example, and it cannot be overemphasized that the technical scope of this invention is not interpreted limitedly by these.

<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which an ear-type sphygmomanometer (a tragus-type sphygmomanometer) 1 which is a blood pressure measurement device of the present invention is put into use for an auricle.

In this figure, the pinna 220, which is a so-called ear, includes a tragus 221 that is continuously formed from the edge of the ear canal 230, a pair of beads 222, a concha 223, a pair of rings 224, a pair of rings 225, and a pair of legs 226. They are in a mutual positional relationship as shown. In addition, an extension portion (not shown) may be formed on the back surface side of the pair of wheels 224 that serves as an ear-hanging portion continuous with the head side surface. It is known that the shape and size of each of these parts vary greatly by sex, sex, age, or individual type. It is also known that a superficial temporal artery is present in the vertical direction near the tragus 221.

Next, the ear-type sphygmomanometer 1 includes an inner cuff (inner cuff assembly) 6 serving as one of the cuffs inserted into the ear canal 230 and attached, and an outer serving as the other of the cuffs located outside the tragus 221. The cuff (outer cuff assembly) 7 is held by an outer cuff holder 13 and an inner cuff holder 11 provided in the main holder 10 as shown in the figure. Further, the outer cuff holder 13 is held by the moving member 12. Note that the pipe 4 and the wiring 5 are connected from the main holding unit 10, and are connected to the apparatus main body 100 via the pipe 4 and the wiring 5.

Further, the outer cuff assembly 7 may be fixed via a ball bearing (not shown). In this case, the outer cuff assembly 7 can freely swing, so that the outer cuff assembly 7 can move relative to the tragus 221. It becomes possible to contact evenly. On the other hand, the inner cuff 6 is set in the ear hole of the ear canal 230.

The blood pressure measurement device main body 100 configured as described above is accommodated in, for example, a subject's breast pocket or a dedicated pouch, and is put in a breast pocket of clothing so that it does not fall off during daily movement. Can be. In addition, a liquid crystal display unit, a start switch, and the like may be arranged on the upper surface of the blood pressure measurement device main body 100 so that necessary operations necessary for blood pressure measurement can be performed without taking out from a pocket or the like.

<Circuit configuration of photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the blood pressure measurement device main body 100 when the ear sphygmomanometer 1 of FIG. 1 is configured as a photoelectric volume pulse wave blood pressure measurement device. In FIG. 2, an inner cuff (inner cuff assembly) 6 attached to the tragus 221 is provided with an air bag 6-8 (shown by a broken line) made of silicon rubber, and inside this is a photoelectric sensor (pulse wave sensor). ) Is built in. Further, the outer cuff (outer cuff assembly) 7 includes an air bag 7-8 (shown by a broken line) made of silicon rubber, and the light emitting element 2b is incorporated therein.

A pipe 4 shown by a double line in the drawing is an air tube, and forms a flow path of air into the inner cuff 6 and the outer cuff 7. The pressure pump 103 uses an electric small motor as a drive source, sends compressed air into the condenser tank, and sends pressure air into the inner cuff assembly 6 and the outer cuff assembly 7 after rectification. Further, the quick exhaust valve 104 branched and connected from the pipe 4 is provided with a solenoid valve mechanism (not shown), and rapidly reduces the pressure in the inner and outer cuff assemblies 6 and 7. Further, the fine exhaust valve 105 branched and connected similarly reduces the pressure in the inner and outer cuff assemblies 6 and 7 at a constant speed (for example, 2 to 3 mmHg / sec).

Further, the pressure sensor 106 branched from the pipe 4 changes the electrical parameter in accordance with the pressure in the cuffs 6 and 7. A pressure detection amplifier (AMP) 107 connected to the pressure sensor 106 detects an electrical parameter of the pressure sensor 106, converts it into an electrical signal, amplifies it, and outputs an analog cuff pressure signal.

The LED, which is the light emitting element 2b, irradiates light to the pulsating vascular blood flow, and the phototransistor, which is the light receiving element 2a, detects transmitted light from the vascular blood flow. On the other hand, the filter AMP 109 connected via the wiring 5 is a pulse wave detection amplifier, which amplifies the output signal of the phototransistor and outputs an analog pulse wave signal. Here, a light amount control unit 118 that automatically changes the light amount via the wiring 5 is connected to the LED, while the pulse wave detection amplifier 109 has a gain control unit 119a that automatically changes the gain, A time constant control unit 119b for changing the time constant of a filter amplifier (not shown) constituting the pulse wave detection filter / amplifier 109 is connected. An A / D converter (A / D) 110 connected as shown in the figure converts an analog signal into digital data.

A control unit (CPU) 111 performs main control of the photoelectric volume pulse wave sphygmomanometer. The CPU 111 has an adjustment pressure register 111a for storing the adjustment pressure. The ROM 112 stores a later-described control program executed by the CPU 111. The RAM 113 includes a data memory, an image memory, and the like.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) 114 displays the contents of the image memory. The operation unit 116 is used when a measurement start command, an adjustment pressure value, or the like is set by a user operation. The buzzer 115 informs the user that the apparatus has sensed that the key in the operation unit 116 has been pressed, the measurement has been completed, or the like. In this example, the adjustment pressure register 111 a is provided in the CPU 111, but an adjustment pressure storage unit may be provided in the RAM 113.

Further, the display panel 14 of the LCD uses a dot matrix type display panel, so that various information (for example, characters, figures, signal waveforms, etc.) can be displayed. The operation unit 116 has a measurement start switch (ST) and keys for inputting a cuff pressure value and the like. Further, a power supply unit 121 and a power switch (not shown) that can replace the battery are further provided. Further, the apparatus main body 100 is provided with an external communication unit connected to a connector (not shown) or a cellular phone. By connecting to the personal computer, an operation control parameter setting unit, a data clear unit, a data storage unit, Various data can be exchanged between them and blood pressure measurement results can be saved.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of the outer cuff air bag 7-8. Taking the case of an ellipse as an example, the pressing portion 7-8-4 is thick on the side portion of the base portion. It has substantially the same thickness as the portion 7-8-2, and has an oval shape having a major axis D1 of about 11 mm and a minor axis D2 of about 8.2 mm. The thick portion 7-8-3 on the side of the distal end is substantially the same thickness as the thick portion 7-8-2 on the side of the base, and the major axis D1 is about 11 mm and the minor axis D2 is about 8.2 mm. The oval shape. The height H1 is about 8.5 mm.

In FIG. 3, (a) is a cross-sectional view when the air is pressurized and swells and extends in the L direction, and (b) is a cross-sectional view when the air is not pressurized. In (b), the thin-walled portion 7-8-1 (thickness: about 0.3 mm) on the side is folded in a single fold, and the thick-walled portion 7-8-3 on the side of the tip is the base side. The height H2 is about 4.5 mm in a contracted state in a state of being partially housed inside so as to cover the thick part 7-8-2 (thickness: about 0.7 mm). In addition, the long diameter D1-1 of the thick part 7-8-2 of a base is about 8 mm, and the short diameter D2-1 is an ellipse shape of about 6.2 mm. In either of the states (a) and (b), the thick part 7-8-2 of the base part and the thick part 7-8-3 (thickness: about 0.5 mm) of the enlarged diameter part cause a major axis of about D1 and minor axis D2 do not change. In addition, the thin part 7-8-1 of the side part, the thick part 7-8-2 of the side part of the base part, the thick part 7-8-3 of the enlarged diameter part, the pressing part 7-8-4 (thickness: (About 0.5 mm) is made circular or oval, the thin portion 7-8-1 at the side is folded in one, and the thick portion 7-8-3 at the side of the tip is the side of the base You may make it be in the state which shrunk in the state accommodated in one part so that the thick part 7-8-2 might be covered.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of the inner cuff air bag 6-8. Taking a circular case as an example, the pressing portion 6-8-4 is thick on the side portion of the base portion. The thickness is substantially the same as the portion 6-8-2, and the outer diameter D3 is about 11 mm. The height H3 is about 8.5 mm. The thick part 6-8-3 on the side part of the tip part has substantially the same thickness as the thick part 6-8-2 on the side part of the base part. The inner cuff 6 is held by the holding portion 12 of the main holding member 11 that is injection-molded using a resin material, and is configured to be set in the ear hole of the ear canal 230. Also, the outer cuff 7 is held by a moving member 13 that is also injection-molded using a resin material.

In FIG. 4, (a) is a cross-sectional view when the air is pressurized and swells and extends in the L direction, and (b) is a cross-sectional view when the air is not pressurized. In (b), the thin-walled portion 6-8-1 (thickness: about 0.3 mm) on the side is folded in a single fold, and the thick-walled portion 6-8-3 on the side of the tip is the base side. It is in the state which shrunk in the state accommodated in part inside so that the thick part 6-8-2 (thickness: about 0.7 mm) of a part may be covered. In addition, the outer diameter D4 of the thick part 6-8-2 of a base is smaller than the outer diameter D3, and is about 8 mm. In any of the states (a) and (b), the outer diameters D3 and D4 are changed by the thick portion 6-8-2 of the base portion and the thick portion 6-8-3 of the enlarged diameter portion. Absent. In addition, the thin part 6-8-1 of the side part, the thick part 6-8-2 of the side part of the base part, the thick part 6-8-3 (thickness: about 0.5 mm) of the enlarged diameter part, the pressing part 6-8-4 (thickness: about 0.5 mm) is made into an ellipse or an oval shape, and the thin portion 6-8-1 on its side is folded in one, and the thick portion 6- on the side of the tip portion is folded. You may make it become the state which 8-3 shrunk in the state accommodated partially inside so that the thick part 6-8-2 of the side part of a base might be covered. The height H4 is about 4.5 mm.

The inner cuff 6 is held by the inner cuff holding portion 11 that is injection-molded using a resin material, and is configured to be set in the ear hole of the ear canal 230. Also, the outer cuff 7 is held by a moving member 13 that is also injection-molded using a resin material. The moving member 13 is movable relative to the inner cuff 6 described above.

6 Inner cuff, 6-8 Inner cuff air bag, 7 Outer cuff, 7-8 Outer cuff air bag 100 Blood pressure measuring device

Claims (2)

An inner cuff inserted into the ear canal and an outer cuff located outside the tragus;
A cuff device comprising: holding means for holding the inner cuff and the outer cuff;
The pressing surface of the outer cuff air bag against the tragus is oval or oval, and the pressing surface of the inner cuff air bag against the tragus is approximately circular, oval or oval. And
The cuff device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cuff and the outer cuff are in a state in which the thin portion of the side portion is partially folded inward when not pressurized. An inner cuff inserted into the ear canal and an outer cuff located outside the tragus;
A holding means for holding the inner cuff and the outer cuff, and a cuff device comprising:
The pressing surface of the outer cuff air bag against the tragus is oval or oval, and the pressing surface of the inner cuff air bag against the tragus is approximately circular, oval or oval. And
A pulse wave detection means that is incorporated in at least one of the outer cuff and the inner cuff and optically detects a pulse wave signal from blood flowing in the blood vessel;
After clamping the tragus between the inner cuff and the outer cuff, pressurizing and depressurizing means for pressurizing and depressurizing the inner cuff and the outer cuff with air sent through a pipe;
By being connected to the pipe, pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the inner cuff and the outer cuff;
Blood pressure measurement control means for measuring a blood pressure value based on the pulse wave signal; and display means for displaying the blood pressure value;
The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cuff and the outer cuff are in a state in which the thin portion of the side portion is folded inward when not pressurized with air.

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