JP3708231B2 - Biological stimulator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a biostimulation apparatus that is attached to a bed or chair and provides a stimulus to a sleeping person or a seated person to improve a sleeping state or a sitting state, for example, preventing floor rubbing or realizing a comfortable sleeping comfort. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of biostimulator has generally been described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-47860. As shown in FIG. 6, this apparatus has a first air tube 31 that expands and contracts, a second air tube 32, a pump means 33 that supplies air to the first air tube 31 and the second air tube 32, and The air distribution means 34 for alternately expanding and contracting the adjacent first air tubes 31 and the exhaust means 35 formed on the upper surface of the second air tube 32 were provided. This apparatus uses the pump means 33 to alternately expand and contract adjacent first air tubes 31 to promote blood circulation, and ejects air from the exhaust means 35 formed in the second air tube 32. The humidity of the contact surface between the bedding and the living body was lowered. This has prevented local compression of bedtime injection and at the same time improves the bedding environment in high humidity conditions to prevent bed slipping and provide a comfortable sleeping comfort. In addition, the living body pressure distribution is measured in advance, and the expansion and contraction mechanism of the air tube is driven accordingly. In addition, the air supplied to the air tube could be optionally heated with a heater.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional biostimulator, the stimulator is driven to waste energy regardless of the presence or absence of the living body, and it is not possible to grasp the state of the living body that changes in real time. In the case of giving, it was only to give pressure stimulation unilaterally.
[0004]
Further, when used for the purpose of preventing floor rubbing or the like, there is an air ejection mechanism that reduces the humidity of the contact surface with the living body, but this is also not controlled according to the state of the living body. In fact, if the humidity becomes too high due to incontinence or sweating during use, the function of reducing the humidity by air ejection is not sufficient, and it may remain unsanitary.
[0005]
In general, in order to obtain a heating effect, an electric blanket or the like is sometimes used on the stimulating device, and functions such as blood circulation promotion and humidity reduction function only incompletely. Furthermore, the heating that warms the air supplied to the air tube has a low efficiency.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an elastic body, a plurality of bag bodies that contain the elastic body, a living body detection means that is provided in the bag body and detects contact of the living body with the bag body, Pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the elastic body contained in the bag, signal processing means for calculating the pulse rate from the output signal of the pressure detecting means, the output result of the living body detecting means and the pulse rate are constant The elastic body pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the elastic body based on whether it is within the range. First, the living body detection means determines whether or not the living body is in contact with the bag, and at the same time, A minute vibration generated from the body surface is detected as a pressure change by the elastic body, signal processing is performed by the signal processing means, a pulse rate is calculated, and the state of the living body is monitored. On the other hand, the pressure stimulus applied to the living body is changed according to the state of the living body, and when the stimulus is applied to the living body, the device is driven only when the living body comes in contact with the pressure stimulus, so that the apparatus is not wasted Drive becomes possible.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an elastic body, a plurality of bag bodies that contain the elastic body, a living body detection unit that is provided in the bag body and detects contact of the living body with the bag body, and the bag body that is included in the bag body Based on the pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of the elastic body, the signal processing means for calculating the pulse rate from the output signal of the pressure detection means, the output result of the living body detection means and whether the pulse rate is within a certain range. An elastic body pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the elastic body, the living body detecting means determines that the living body is in contact with the bag body, and the pressure signal detected by the pressure detecting means is processed by the signal processing means. Perform signal extraction. If the living body is detected by the elastic body pressure control means and the pulse rate is within a certain range, appropriate pressure control is performed.
[0008]
Moreover, since the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the living body surface side of the bag body and the temperature control means for heating the surface of the bag body based on the output of the temperature detecting means and the output result of the living body detecting means, the living body is provided. The use of temperature control is not performed while keeping the temperature environment appropriate.
[0009]
The bag body includes an elastic body as a gas, and includes an ejection hole for ejecting the gas and humidity detection means for detecting humidity on the surface of the living body, and elastic body pressure control is performed based on an output of the humidity detection means. Since the ejection of the gas from the means and the ejection hole is controlled, it is possible to maintain a comfortable humidity environment for the living body.
[0010]
The signal processing means extracts a component caused by the pulse of vibration on the body surface from the pressure signal detected by the pressure detection means to obtain a pulse waveform, and calculates an amplitude value of the pulse waveform as a pulse output. Since the elastic body pressure control means is driven on the basis of the output of the stroke volume calculation means, it is possible to know the state of receiving pressure on the living body surface based on the stroke volume, and control can be performed accordingly. .
[0011]
Further, since the optimum setting range storage means for storing the optimum setting range of the temperature control means or the humidity control means corresponding to the calendar and the calendar is provided, it is possible to perform biological stimulation corresponding to the climate change throughout the year.
[0012]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 shows an external view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a bag, and in this embodiment, air 2 is included as an elastic body. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressure-sensitive sensor (biological detection means) serving as a biological detection means, which is attached to the skin of the bag body 1. Specifically, the strain when the living body is placed on the bag body 1 is detected. 4 is a pressure sensor (pressure detection means) which detects the pressure of the air 2. A control unit 5 includes a control unit, a determination unit, an air pump for supplying and exhausting air, and the like. 6 is a living body determination unit, 7 is a signal processing unit, 8 is a pulse rate calculation unit, 9 is a volume output calculation unit, and 10 is an elastic body pressure control unit. Here, the living body detection means includes a pressure sensor 3 and a living body determination unit 6.
[0014]
Next, the operation will be described. The living body stimulating device of the first embodiment has an air mat shape and is used when a human body goes to sleep on a bed. When the human body goes to sleep here, the pressure sensor 3 which is a living body detection means is turned on. Information on ON or OFF of the pressure sensor 3 is sent from the plurality of pressure sensors 3 to the living body determination unit 6. The living body determination means 6 stores an ON / OFF pattern of the pressure sensor 3, and determines whether the body is a human body from the stored pattern. At this time, air 2 is contained in the bag 1, and the pressure sensor 4 detects the pressure of the air 2. The pressure signal detected here is sent to the signal processing means 7. In the signal processing means 7, the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor 4 for a certain time is passed through a band pass filter of 1 to 10 Hz and sent to the pulse rate calculation means 8. A minute vibration is generated on the body surface of the human body, which is called “micro vibration” or “minor tremor”. When the human body applies pressure to the air 2 on the bag body 1, the vibrations on the surface of the body can be regarded as a pressure change of the air 2 included in the bag body 1. Of this vibration, a fluctuation component due to the pulse of the biological signal can be extracted by this filter. The pulse rate calculation means 8 performs frequency analysis on the pressure change signal for a certain time. Since the time for taking out the pressure change is the shortest and includes the pulse frequency several times or more, 10 to 30 seconds are necessary, and the frequency for sampling the pressure change is preferably about several tens of mHz. At this time, the pressure change by the elastic body pressure control means 10 is temporarily stopped. The peak frequency obtained from the frequency analysis result is converted to the number of beats per minute and calculated as the pulse rate. Since a plurality of pulse rates are calculated corresponding to each bag, an average value is calculated as the representative pulse rate as the pulse rate of the living body. At this time, the stroke volume calculating means 9 stores a plurality of waveform patterns corresponding to one beat of the pulse, and the one that matches the waveform pattern is used as a pulse waveform for one beat. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the pulse waveform for one beat obtained here is calculated and set as the output of one beat. Here, the stroke volume is calculated corresponding to each bag 1. As the biological signal extracted by the signal processing means 7, the pulse rate and the output corresponding to each bag 1 are sent to the elastic body pressure control means 10. The elastic body pressure control means 10 performs the following control with reference to the determination result of the living body determination means 6, the pulse rate output from the signal processing means 7, and the output corresponding to each bag. If the result of the determination “There is a human body” and the pulse rate is within a certain range, it is in a resting state, so there is a meaning of stimulating the living body, in this case adding a pressure change. The pressure of 1 is controlled and the living body is stimulated. When stimulating the living body by changing the pressure of the elastic body, the control of the elastic body pressure control means 10 creates a shift time for each adjacent bag body 1 to alternately cause the pressure level to be applied to the living body. Stimulate by removing or removing. Since each bag 1 becomes a high pressure and a low pressure at time intervals set by the control of the elastic body pressure control means 10, the pressure sensor 4 detects the pressure of the air 2 in accordance with the timing.
[0015]
Whether or not a certain bag 1 reliably applies a pressure stimulus to the surface of the living body because the pressure-sensitive sensor 3 is sufficiently in contact with the surface of the living body when the pressure is high. When the pressure is low, the living body surface gently contacts the living body surface, and the living body detection output of the pressure sensor 3 is reduced. The change in the output makes it possible to grasp.
[0016]
Therefore, when the living body detection output of the pressure-sensitive sensor 3 at high pressure is small, sufficient pressure stimulation cannot be applied to the surface of the living body, so the pressure on the bag body is increased by the elastic body pressure control means 10. Then, control is performed so that a predetermined living body detection output is obtained from the pressure-sensitive sensor 3.
[0017]
Further, when the living body detection output of the pressure sensor 3 at low pressure is large, the pressure stimulus on the living body surface is not sufficiently removed, so that the pressure of the bag body 1 is lowered by the elastic body pressure control means 10. Then, control is performed so that a living body detection output equal to or less than a predetermined value is obtained from the pressure sensor 3. Furthermore, if the stroke volume corresponding to each bag body 1 is not a constant value, the elastic body pressure control means 10 controls to increase the pressure of the elastic body and narrow the time interval for applying pressure. If the amount of stroke detected by each bag 1 is small, there is a possibility of causing congestion of the portion of the bag, which creates a bad situation for the living body. For example, floor rubs are the biggest cause of continued congestion. Therefore, in order to cancel this state, the elastic body pressure detecting means 10 changes the control interval of the symmetrical bag body pressure. Even in the determination of “there is a human body”, if the pulse rate exceeds a certain range and is high, there is no resting state, so there is no effect even if a stimulus is applied, so the elastic body pressure control means 10 stops the pressure change.
[0018]
The following effects can be obtained by the above operation. In the biostimulation apparatus of the present invention, the elastic body pressure control means is controlled by grasping the presence / absence of a human body and the state of the living body by extracting a biological signal, so that pressure is applied as an appropriate biostimulation without waste. You can hang it. Control based on the presence or absence of the living body and the living body, which is inferred by biological signals, for example, whether it is quiet or not, and physiological states such as pulse rate and stroke volume, enabling more detailed and appropriate biological stimulation It becomes.
[0019]
The physiological state known from the pulse can be controlled so as not to drive the elastic body pressure control means except when the pulse is stable, i.e., when the pressure stimulus is effective and effective. Can be given more effectively. In addition, since the stroke volume calculating means for calculating the stroke volume is provided, the elastic body pressure is controlled depending on whether the stroke volume is increased by driving the elastic body pressure control means, that is, whether blood circulation is promoted. Can be adjusted.
[0020]
(Example 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram and a block diagram of a bag body portion of the biological stimulation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the temperature detection means 11 and the heater wire 12 are provided on the upper surface of the bag body 1, that is, the side on which the living body comes into contact. The heater wire 12 is controlled by the temperature control unit 13. The heater wire 12 and the temperature control unit 13 constitute a temperature control means. 14 is a living body surface temperature determination means, and 15 is a notification means. 3 is a pressure sensor which is a living body detection means, 4 is a pressure sensor which is a pressure detection means, 6 is a living body determination unit, 7 is a signal processing means, 10 is a pressure control means, and 5 is a control unit incorporating them. . The second embodiment also has an air mat shape as in the first embodiment.
[0021]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. In addition to the operation of the first embodiment, the following operation is performed. The temperature detected by the temperature detection means 11 in each bag body 1 determined as “having a living body” by the living body determination unit 6 using the signal obtained by the pressure sensor 3 becomes the surface temperature of the living body. The temperature controller 13 controls the heater wire 12 so that this temperature falls within a certain range. The pressure signal detected by the pressure sensor 4 is signal-processed by the signal processing means 7, and the stroke volume is output from the biological signal. When the stroke volume falls below a certain value, the temperature controller A signal is output to 13 and control is performed such that heating stimulation by the heater wire 12 is performed. Further, when the body surface temperature detected by the temperature detection means 11 deviates from a certain range, it is determined as abnormal by the determination by the biological surface temperature determination means 14 as an abnormal state of high body temperature or low body temperature. Upon receiving this abnormality determination result, the notification means 15 notifies the abnormality.
[0022]
The effect by the said effect | action is demonstrated. Since the temperature control unit 13 controls the heater wire 12 based on the determination result of the living body determination unit 6 and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 11, the temperature stimulation given to the living body is fine and appropriate biological stimulation. It can be. In addition, for living organisms, it is possible to prevent low-temperature burns and create a comfortable temperature environment. In addition, here, when a surface temperature that is too low is detected, it may be an emergency such as death, and notification of an abnormality is important. Instead of the heater wire 12, cooling and heating can be performed using a Peltier element or the like.
[0023]
If the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is abnormal as the temperature of the living body, the abnormality is determined by the living body surface temperature determination means, so the danger related to the life of the living body, such as heat generation or a decrease in body temperature, and other risks are known by notification. Even if an abnormality cannot be dealt with by the biostimulator, another treatment can be performed at an appropriate timing. In addition, the surface temperature of the living body can be kept appropriate at normal times.
[0024]
In addition, compared with the conventional case where the entire inclusion of the bag body is heated and controlled, the temperature of the bag body surface only on the living body surface side is controlled, so that temperature control with less temperature loss and efficient temperature control can be performed.
[0025]
(Example 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a schematic view and a block diagram of the bag body portion of the biological stimulation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 16 denotes a humidity detecting means attached to the upper surface of the bag body 1. Reference numeral 17 denotes an air ejection hole having a valve opening / closing mechanism capable of opening / closing the hole. Reference numeral 18 denotes an air ejection hole opening / closing control unit, and the air ejection hole 17 and the opening / closing control unit 18 constitute humidity control means. Reference numeral 19 denotes a biological surface humidity determination means. 15 is a notification means, 3 is a pressure sensor, 4 is a pressure sensor, 6 is a living body determination unit, 7 is a signal processing means, and 10 is an elastic body pressure control means.
[0026]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the living body determining means 6 determines that there is a living body using the input signal of the pressure sensor 3, the humidity is detected by the humidity detecting means 16 adhered to the bag body 1 corresponding to the ON of the pressure sensor 3. . The humidity detected here is the humidity of the living body surface, and the humidity generated between the living body surface and the bag body 1 due to insensitive evaporation that occurs during sleep is detected. If the living body does not move or roll over, the water generated here accumulates and the humidity only increases. When the humidity detected by the humidity detecting means 16 exceeds a certain range, the ejection hole opening / closing control unit 18 controls the opening / closing valve of the air ejection hole 17 to open. In addition, a signal is sent to the elastic body pressure control means 10 so that the pressure of the air 2 is controlled so that the air ejection holes 17 are opened so as not to impair the effect of the air ejection. Increase the pressure in the bag. Then, the contact pressure between the bag body 1 controlled to open the valve of the air ejection hole 17 and the surface of the living body decreases, the amount of air ejected increases, convection occurs, and the humidity decreases. When the humidity falls within a certain range, the opening / closing valve of the air ejection hole 17 returns to the initial state by the ejection hole opening / closing control unit 18. On the contrary, when the humidity becomes too low, the on / off valve of the air ejection hole 17 is controlled to be temporarily closed. In this manner, the humidity is adjusted by adjusting the amount of air ejected from the air ejection hole 17. In addition, when there is perspiration or incontinence that is much higher than normal during high heat, a rapid increase in humidity occurs. When the humidity detecting means 16 detects an increase in humidity at a certain speed or higher, the living body surface humidity determining means 19 determines that the living body surface humidity is abnormal because sweating or incontinence has occurred. Upon receiving the result of the abnormality determination, the notification means 15 notifies the person or a third party of the abnormality.
[0027]
The effect by the said effect | action is demonstrated. Since the humidity is controlled by the air ejection hole 17 and the ejection hole opening / closing control unit 17 that control the humidity based on the determination result of the living body determination means 6 and the humidity detected by the humidity detection means 16, the temperature stimulus applied to the living body is controlled. It can be a fine and appropriate biostimulation. Since the humidity detecting means provided on the surface of the bag body detects the humidity and adjusts the humidity by the humidity adjusting means, an appropriate humidity can be maintained. For this reason, the living body is less likely to rub on the floor, and at the same time a comfortable environment is provided. In addition, since a large amount of sweating, incontinence, etc. are reported as abnormal, even if this biostimulation device alone cannot be dealt with, the person or a third person can take other measures at an appropriate timing. At normal times, the humidity can be kept adequate and hygienic.
[0028]
Further, compared with the conventional one that controls the temperature of the entire surface of the bag, the humidity only on the surface side of the living body is controlled, so that energy saving of driving the device can be achieved.
[0029]
(Example 4)
Next, Example 4 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Reference numeral 20 denotes temperature control means, 21 denotes humidity control means, and 22 denotes optimum setting range storage means.
[0030]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. The optimum setting range storage means 22 stores the date of the day, the calendar for one year, the climate information, and the optimum temperature and optimum humidity according to the conditions used in the air mat in this embodiment. Thus, based on the date of the day, the yearly calendar, and the climate information, the temperature control unit 20 and the humidity control unit 21 each set a temperature range and a humidity range suitable for the current climate. Based on the setting range of the optimum temperature and humidity according to the climate, the temperature control means 20 and the humidity control means 21 control the temperature and humidity. For example, since the temperature itself is higher in summer than in winter, the optimum temperature is set low. Since the rainy season is a humid climate, it is necessary to keep the body surface humidity as low as possible. Therefore, the optimum humidity range is considerably lower than in the spring and autumn seasons.
[0031]
The following effects can be obtained by the above operation. Control of temperature and humidity corresponding to climatic conditions that vary depending on the season becomes more appropriate, and biostimulation can be effective without causing an unpleasant state in the living body.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the living body detection means detects the contact of the living body and calculates the pulse rate, so that the elastic body pressure control means is driven when there is no living body or when the living body is not in a resting state. because it does not, it performs appropriate control.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a biological stimulation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic view and a block diagram of a large bag of the biological stimulation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view and a block diagram of a large part of a bag of a biological stimulation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the biological stimulation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. External view [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bag body 2 Air 3 Pressure sensor (living body detection means)
4 Pressure sensor (pressure detection means)
6 Biological determination unit 7 Signal processing means 8 Pulse rate calculation means 9 Stroke volume calculation means 10 Elastic body pressure control means 11 Temperature detection means 12 Heater wire (temperature control means)
13 Temperature controller (temperature control means)
14 biological surface temperature determination means 15 notification means 16 temperature detection means 17 air ejection hole (humidity control means)
18 Opening / closing controller (humidity control means)
19 Biological surface humidity determination means 20 Temperature control means 21 Humidity control means 22 Optimal setting range storage means

Claims (5)

An elastic body, a plurality of bag bodies containing the elastic body, a living body detecting means provided in the bag body for detecting contact of the living body with the bag body, and a pressure of the elastic body included in the bag body The elastic body based on whether the pressure detection means for detecting the pulse, the signal processing means for calculating the pulse rate from the output signal of the pressure detection means, the output result of the living body detection means and the pulse rate are within a certain range A biostimulation apparatus comprising elastic body pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the body.   The temperature detection means which detects the temperature of the biological body surface side of a bag body, The temperature control means which heats the surface of a bag body based on the output of the said temperature detection means, and the output result of a biological detection means of Claim 1 Biological stimulation device. The bag body includes an elastic body as a gas, and includes an ejection hole for ejecting the gas and humidity detection means for detecting humidity on the living body surface side, and an elastic body pressure control means based on an output of the humidity detection means; The biostimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ejection of gas from the ejection hole is controlled.   The signal processing means extracts a component caused by the pulse of vibration on the body surface from the pressure signal detected by the pressure detection means to obtain a pulse waveform, and calculates an amplitude value of the pulse waveform as a pulse output. The biostimulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calculation unit, and driving the elastic body pressure control unit based on an output of the stroke amount calculation unit.   5. The biostimulation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an optimum setting range storage means for storing an optimum setting range of a temperature control means or a humidity control means corresponding to a calendar and a calendar.

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