JP5353479B2 - Swallowing activity monitoring device, swallowing activity monitoring system, and swallowing activity monitoring program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, swallowing activity monitoring device, related to swallowing activity monitoring system you and swallowing activity monitoring program.

  With the progress of an aging society in recent years, dysphagia patients continue to increase. A dysphagia is a disorder in movement to “swallow” the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus, and is caused by a decline in motor function due to aging or a disease such as stroke sequelae. About 50% of patients with eating and dysphagia have silent aspiration that triggers aspiration pneumonia, so early detection of occult aspiration is useful for the prevention of aspiration pneumonia Is very important, and a technique capable of monitoring swallowing activity easily and with high accuracy is required.

  Various methods have been proposed as simple swallowing activity monitoring techniques, and examples thereof include those disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Non-Patent Literature 1. In the methods described in these documents, swallowing sound is measured with a microphone attached to the larynx of the subject, and the swallowing activity of the subject is detected based on the level of the output signal from the microphone.

JP 2008-301895 A

Osaka Electro-Communication University Graduate School of Medical and Welfare Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Welfare Engineering, “A swallowing frequency measurement system using a laryngeal microphone to prevent disuse atrophy”, IEICE Technical Report, MBE 2007-53, 2007 Published October, p. 13-16

  However, in the above conventional method, since a microphone is used as a measuring means, a swallowing sound including noise in a monitoring environment may be measured. If the sensitivity of the microphone is low, the accuracy of monitoring decreases, so the sensitivity of the microphone needs to be above a certain level. However, in that case, sounds other than swallowing are likely to be collected simultaneously with the swallowing sound. Therefore, there is a certain limit to improving the accuracy of monitoring.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and swallowing activity monitoring that enables continuous monitoring of a subject for a long time in a substantially unconstrained state, and enables simple and highly accurate monitoring of swallowing activity. apparatus, an object of the present invention is to provide a swallowing activity monitoring system you and swallowing activity monitoring program.

  The swallowing activity monitoring device of the present invention includes a first information acquisition unit that acquires first biological information corresponding to the motion of the subject's suprasternal fossa, and a second information that corresponds to the subject's respiratory activity. A second information acquisition unit for acquiring biological information; and detecting the respiratory activity stop state of the subject based on the second biological information, and detecting the first respiratory activity during the detected respiratory activity stop period. The swallowing activity detecting unit that detects the swallowing activity of the subject based on the biological information and a configuration having the swallowing activity detecting unit are adopted.

  The swallowing activity monitoring system of the present invention is a swallowing activity monitoring system having a biological information recording device and a swallowing activity monitoring device, wherein the biological information recording device detects movement of the subject's suprasternal fossa. A first connection that can be connected to a first sensor that generates first biological information corresponding to the motion of the subject's suprasternal fossa; and the subject's respiratory activity to detect the subject's respiratory activity; A second connection unit connectable to a second sensor that generates second biological information corresponding to respiratory activity, a recording unit that records the generated first and second biological information in a storage medium, The swallowing activity monitoring device includes: a receiving unit that receives the first and second biological information recorded in the storage medium; and a respiratory activity of the subject based on the second biological information. Detects stop condition and stops detected respiratory activity Taking and swallowing detection unit for detecting swallowing activity of the subject based on the first biological information during the period of state, a configuration having.

  The swallowing activity monitoring program of the present invention is based on the first information acquisition function for acquiring first biological information corresponding to the exercise of the subject's suprasternal fossa and the respiratory activity of the subject. A second information acquisition function for acquiring second biological information; and a stop state of the respiratory activity of the subject is detected based on the second biological information, and the detected respiratory activity is stopped during the period of the detected respiratory activity. The swallowing activity detecting function for detecting the swallowing activity of the subject based on the first biological information is realized.

  According to the present invention, the subject can be continuously monitored for a long time in a substantially unconstrained state, and swallowing activity can be monitored easily and with high accuracy.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating the measurement process in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating the analysis process in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating the swallowing activity detection process in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Waveform diagram of respiratory flow signal and suprasternal fistula pressure signal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart for demonstrating the qualitative evaluation process in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the polysomnography inspection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the external appearance of the polysomnography inspection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the housing | casing size of the polysomnography inspection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the swallowing activity monitoring system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a swallowing activity monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100 includes signal processing circuits 101 and 102, a calculation unit 103, a display unit 104, a recording unit 105, and an operation unit 106.

  The signal processing circuit 101 is electrically connected to the suprasternal fossa pressure sensor 110. The signal processing circuit 101 performs predetermined signal processing (for example, amplification, waveform shaping, and analog-digital conversion) on the suprasternal foveal pressure signal generated by the suprasternal foveal pressure sensor 110, and the sternum after the signal processing By outputting the maxillary pressure signal to the calculation unit 103, the suprasternal pressure is measured.

  Here, the suprasternal fistula pressure sensor 110 mainly includes a small detection element such as a piezoelectric element and a cable, and is configured to be easily attached to a subject by an adhesive tape or the like. The piezoelectric element of the suprasternal fistula pressure sensor 110 is pressure applied from the suprasternal fossa according to the movement of the suprasternal fossa when attached to the subject's suprasternal fovea (upper sternal pressure). ) Is generated. This electrical signal is a first biological signal (upper sternal pressure signal) indicating the suprasternal fistula pressure corresponding to the movement of the subject's suprasternal fovea, and is sent to the signal processing circuit 101 via a cable. Is transmitted.

  That is, the combination of the suprasternal fossa pressure sensor 110 and the signal processing circuit 101 constitutes an suprasternal fistula pressure measurement unit for measuring the suprasternal fovea pressure.

  The signal processing circuit 102 is electrically connected to the respiratory flow sensor 120. The signal processing circuit 102 performs predetermined signal processing (for example, amplification, waveform shaping, and analog-digital conversion) on the respiratory flow signal generated by the respiratory flow sensor 120, and calculates the respiratory flow signal after the signal processing to the arithmetic unit 103. The respiratory flow is measured by outputting to.

  Here, the respiratory flow sensor 120 mainly includes a small detection element such as a piezoelectric element or a thermistor element and a cable, and is configured to be easily attached to a subject by an adhesive tape or the like. The detection element is attached to the subject's nostril or to the subject's nostril and oral cavity so as to be affected by the airflow generated in the nostril or oral cavity by the subject's respiratory activity. When the respiratory flow sensor 120 is of a type having a cannula, the cannula is attached to the subject's nostril or to the subject's nostril and oral cavity, and the sensing element depends on the subject's respiratory activity. It is arranged to be affected by the air flow generated inside the cannula. The sensing element generates an electric signal indicating a pressure applied by an air flow (respiration flow) generated according to the respiratory activity of the subject or a flow rate or a flow velocity of the air flow. This electrical signal is a second biological signal (respiratory flow signal) indicating a respiratory flow according to the respiratory activity of the subject, and is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 102 via a cable.

  That is, the combination of the respiratory flow sensor 120 and the signal processing circuit 102 constitutes a respiratory flow measurement unit for measuring the respiratory flow.

  A sensor that detects the movement of the thorax according to the respiratory activity of the subject using a detection element such as a piezoelectric element or a variable inductance element may be used instead of the respiratory flow sensor 120 as the respiratory sensor. .

  The calculation unit 103 as a first information acquisition unit, a second information acquisition unit, a swallowing activity detection unit, and a swallowing activity evaluation unit includes, for example, a calculation processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device. The calculation unit 103 realizes each function necessary for processing for swallowing activity monitoring by executing a swallowing activity monitoring program recorded in advance in the storage device by the calculation processing device. Examples of processing for monitoring swallowing activity include measurement processing and analysis processing.

  These processes are executed by operating the operation unit 106. The calculation unit 103 includes the suprasternal fistula pressure information, which is digital information including the suprasternal pressure signal and the measurement time information obtained by executing the measurement process, the respiratory flow signal obtained by executing the measurement process, and Respiratory flow information, which is digital information including measurement time information and the like, is output to the recording unit 105, and the recording unit 105 is made to record in a storage device or a removable medium inside the apparatus. In addition, the calculation unit 103 outputs the analysis result obtained by executing the analysis process to the display unit 104 and displays the analysis result on the screen of the display unit 104.

  The display unit 104 displays information output from the calculation unit 103 on a screen, and is a liquid crystal display device, for example.

  The operation unit 106 is for starting or ending the processing in the calculation unit 103, and is a button that can be pressed, for example.

  Hereinafter, the operation in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100 will be described using the above measurement process and analysis process as examples.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining measurement processing executed in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100.

  First, the calculation unit 103 waits for a measurement start operation of the operation unit 106 (step S1110). When the calculation unit 103 recognizes the measurement start operation, the calculation unit 103 starts control of the signal processing circuits 101 and 102. Thus, the measurement of the suprasternal pressure by the suprasternal pressure measurement unit and the measurement of the respiration flow by the respiration flow measurement unit are started simultaneously (steps S1120 and S1130) and are executed continuously in parallel.

  The sternal pressure signal obtained by measuring the suprasternal pressure and the respiratory flow signal obtained by measuring the respiratory flow are stored in the storage medium as suprasternal pressure information and respiratory flow information by the recording unit 105, respectively. To be recorded.

  While the measurement is continuously performed, the calculation unit 103 waits for the measurement end operation of the operation unit 106 (step S1140). When the calculation unit 103 recognizes the measurement end operation, the calculation unit 103 stops the control of the signal processing circuits 101 and 102. As a result, the measurement of the suprasternal pressure and the measurement of the respiratory flow are stopped simultaneously (steps S1150 and S1160).

  In this way, the measurement process is performed in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an analysis process executed in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100.

  First, the operation unit 103 waits for an analysis execution operation of the operation unit 106 (step S1210). When recognizing the analysis execution operation, the calculation unit 103 reads the suprasternal pressure information and the respiratory flow information from the storage medium, thereby acquiring the suprasternal pressure information and the respiratory flow information (step S1220).

  The computing unit 103 detects the swallowing activity of the subject based on the read suprasternal pressure information and respiratory flow information (step S1230). The details of the swallowing activity detection process will be described later.

  When the swallowing activity is not detected (step S1240: NO), the analysis process is finished, and when the swallowing activity is detected (step S1240: YES), the calculation unit 103 qualifies the detected swallowing activity. Evaluation is executed (step S1250). Details of qualitative evaluation processing of swallowing activity will be described later.

  Then, the display unit 104 displays the result of qualitative evaluation of swallowing activity on the screen as an analysis result (step S1260).

  In this way, analysis processing is performed in the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining swallowing activity detection processing executed by the calculation unit 103 of the swallowing activity monitoring device 100.

  In step S1231, based on the suprasternal fistula pressure information read from the storage medium, the suprasternal fistula motion (hereinafter referred to as “upper sternal fistula pressure”) in which the suprasternal foveal pressure is not less than a predetermined value and the duration is within a predetermined range "Specific suprasternal movement") is detected.

Here, the detection process of the suprasternal fossa movement will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the measured respiratory flow signal S ₁ and the waveform of the suprasternal fossae pressure signal S ₂ in the period (e.g., several minutes) from the time t ₁ to time t _6.

In the detection process of the sternum on epigastric movement from the suprasternal fossae pressure signal S ₂ of the continuous waveform in the measurement period, amplitude predetermined threshold L (e.g., two to three times the standard deviation of the noise component in the measurement period The time length (duration) from the rise of the partial waveform to the rise of the next partial waveform is within a predetermined range (for example, 0.8 to 1.6 seconds). ) Are extracted.

In the example of FIG. 5, if the duration d ₁ of the partial waveform from time t ₂ to time t ₃ when the amplitude peak value exceeds the threshold value L is within a predetermined range, this partial waveform is specified. Extracted as indicating the occurrence of suprasternal motion. Similarly, if the duration d ₂ of the partial waveform from the time t ₄ to the time t ₅ when the peak value of the amplitude exceeds the threshold value L is within a predetermined range, this partial waveform is also the specific suprasternal fossa It is extracted as an indication of the occurrence of movement. In this way, specific suprasternal movement is detected.

  In step S1232, based on the respiratory flow information read from the storage medium, a respiratory activity stop state (hereinafter referred to as “specific respiratory activity stop state”) whose duration is within a predetermined range is detected.

For example, the continuous waveform of the respiratory flow signals S ₁ in the measurement period as shown in FIG. 5, the duration of the absence variation in amplitude is within a predetermined range (e.g., 0.5 to 0.9 seconds) A partial waveform is extracted as indicating the occurrence of specific respiratory activity cessation. In this way, the specific respiratory activity stop state is detected.

  In step S1233, it is determined whether or not both the specific suprasternal movement and the specific respiratory activity stop state are detected. If both are detected (step S1233: YES), the swallowing activity may be detected by the processing after step S1234, and therefore the processing after step S1234 is executed. If at least one of the specific suprasternal movement and the specific respiratory activity stop state is not detected (step S1233: NO), the swallowing activity is not likely to be detected by the processing after step S1234. This process is not executed.

In step S1234, the index a ₁ ,..., A _N (N is one or more indicating the number of detected specific suprasternal movements in time-series order) in each detected specific suprasternal movement. Which is an integer). For example, when both of the two partial waveforms noted in FIG. 5 indicate the occurrence of the specific suprasternal foveal movement, the index a ₁ is assigned to the specific suprasternal movement at the time t _{2 to} t ₃ . is the index _{a 2} is applied to a particular suprasternal fossae movement in time _t 4 ~t _5.

  In steps S1235 to S1239, a processing loop is executed N times until the initial value of variable n is set to 1 and n = N.

In step S1236, the duration of specific suprasternal fossae exercise a _n whether the period of the specific respiratory activity stopped is determined. If the period of a particular suprasternal fossae exercise _{a n} is in the period of a particular respiratory dormant (step S1236: YES), the specific suprasternal fossae exercise _{a n} is determined to be swallowing (step S1237) If the duration of a particular suprasternal fossae exercise _{a n} a period outside of the specific respiratory activity stop state (step S1236: nO), the specific suprasternal fossae exercise _{a n} is determined not to be swallowing (step S1238 ). When the N processing loops are completed, the swallowing activity detection process ends.

  In this way, swallowing activity is detected by using the suprasternal pressure signal and the respiratory flow signal together.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a qualitative evaluation process executed by the calculation unit 103 of the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100 when the swallowing activity is detected.

In step S1251, indices b ₁ ,..., B _K (K is an integer of 1 or more indicating the number of detected swallowing activities) are assigned to each detected swallowing activity in chronological order. . For example, when the two partial waveforms noted in FIG. 5 both indicate the occurrence of swallowing activity, index b ₁ is assigned to the swallowing activity at time t _{2 to} t ₃ , and time t _{4 to} t _5. index b ₂ is applied to the swallowing activities in.

  In steps S1252 to S1257, an initial value is set to 1 for the variable k, and a processing loop that is repeated K times until k = K is executed.

In step S1253, whether the respiratory phase in the immediately preceding swallowing activity b _k is an intake phase or a expiration phase is determined. In other words, the respiratory phase immediately before temporary breathing activity for swallowing b _k is stopped state, or an intake phase or a expiration phase is determined.

In step S1254, the time length until the breathing resumption point is calculated from the end of the swallowing activity b _k.

In step S1255, based on the calculated time length, or the respiratory phase immediately after the swallowing activity b _k is an intake phase or a expiration phase is determined. In other words, the respiratory activity respiratory phase at the time is restarted from the temporary stop state for swallowing b _k (breathing resumed point) is, or is an intake phase or a expiration phase is determined.

Then, in step S1256, if the respiratory phase immediately after the swallowing activity b _k was the inspiration phase, the time length is determined whether shorter than a predetermined value from the end of swallowing b _k until breathing resumed time Is done. Thereby, it can be recognized that aspiration may have occurred. This is because the shorter the time from the end of swallowing activity to the start of inspiration, the higher the risk of aspiration.

  If it is determined that K processing loops have been completed (step S1257), step S1258 is executed. In step S1258, the frequency of swallowing activity is determined. This is because the frequency of spontaneous swallowing tends to decrease in patients with dysphagia. This determination is performed based on the result of the swallowing activity detection process described with reference to FIG.

  Further, in step S1258, two frequencies are determined for the respiratory phase. One is the frequency with which the respiratory phase immediately before swallowing activity is the inspiratory phase. This is because the higher the frequency of swallowing during the inspiratory phase, the higher the risk of aspiration. This determination is performed based on the determination result in step S1253. The other is the frequency with which the respiratory phase immediately after swallowing activity is the inspiratory phase. This is because the higher the frequency that the respiratory phase after swallowing is the inspiratory phase, the higher the risk of aspiration. This determination is performed based on the determination result in step S1255.

  In this way, a qualitative assessment of swallowing activity is performed. The results of the above determinations can be displayed on the screen as analysis results by the analysis processing described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the measurement of the suprasternal pressure and the respiratory flow starts when the measurement start operation is recognized, and ends when the measurement end process is recognized. In addition, the configuration of the suprasternal pressure measurement unit and the respiratory flow measurement unit is simple as described above, and can be easily attached to the subject. The measurement results of the suprasternal fossa pressure and the respiratory flow are all recorded in the storage medium, and the swallowing activity detection process is performed based on this. Therefore, the subject's swallowing activity can be monitored easily and continuously for a long time in a substantially unrestrained state.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the first sternal pressure information is acquired as the first biological information corresponding to the motion of the subject's suprasternal fossa, and the first response corresponding to the subject's respiratory activity is obtained. Respiratory flow information is acquired as the second biological information, and the swallowing activity of the subject is detected based on the acquired information. That is, swallowing activity can be monitored with high accuracy because swallowing activity is detected by using biological information in the suprasternal fossa and biological information in a region that is not the suprasternal fossa.

  Furthermore, the subject's respiratory activity stop state is detected based on the acquired respiratory flow information, and the subject's swallowing activity based on the detected suprasternal pressure information during the period of the detected respiratory activity stop state Is detected. That is, the presence or absence of the occurrence of swallowing activity, which is a biological activity that occurs only during a period when respiratory activity is stopped, can be determined based on respiratory flow information that is biological information corresponding to the respiratory activity. In the period in which the respiratory activity is not stopped, the swallowing activity is not normally generated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the swallowing activity from being detected in the period. Thereby, the precision of monitoring of swallowing activity can be further improved.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This Embodiment demonstrates the case where the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus of Embodiment 1 is implement | achieved in the polysomnography inspection apparatus. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the polysomnography inspection apparatus of the present embodiment.

  In addition, since the polysomnography inspection apparatus 200 of this Embodiment shown in FIG. 7 contains the same structure as the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 100 of Embodiment 1, the reference number is provided to the same component, Detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the polysomnography inspection apparatus 200. The housing 230 of the polysomnography inspection apparatus 200 is configured to be small and lightweight so that it can be easily carried. For example, it can be held with one hand as shown in FIG. A battery lid 231 is formed on the housing 230. The polysomnography apparatus 200 has an event switch 232, an SpO ₂ connector 233, an analog connector 234, and a respiratory flow sensor connector 235 on the housing 230.

  The event switch 232 is configured so that the subject can be pressed at an arbitrary time point, and is a button for storing the pressing time in a storage medium or a removable medium built in the apparatus when pressed.

The SpO ₂ connector 233 is a connector for connecting a cable of an SpO ₂ sensor (not shown). The analog connector 234 is a connector for connecting a cable for analog signal transmission. For example, the cable of the suprasternal fossa pressure sensor 110 is connected. The respiratory flow sensor connector 235 is a connector for connecting a cable or cannula of the respiratory flow sensor 120.

  In the polysomnography apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration, not only the suprasternal pressure and respiratory flow but also SpO2 can be measured in parallel. Therefore, swallowing activity monitoring can be performed in parallel with the sleep apnea test while the subject is sleeping. Thereby, swallowing activity monitoring can be implemented without the subject's unconsciousness.

  In addition, although this Embodiment demonstrated the case where the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus of Embodiment 1 was applied to the polysomnography inspection apparatus, the swallowing activity monitoring apparatus of Embodiment 1 is applied to another biological information recording device. It is also possible.

(Embodiment 3)
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This Embodiment demonstrates the case where a swallowing activity monitoring system is comprised with the polysomnography inspection apparatus and the personal computer. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the swallowing activity monitoring system of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, a swallowing activity monitoring system 300 includes a polysomnography inspection device 310 and a personal computer 320 as a swallowing activity monitoring device.

  The polysomnography apparatus 310 includes signal processing circuits 101 and 102, a display unit 104, a recording unit 105, an operation unit 106, and a calculation unit 311.

  Note that the configurations or functions of the signal processing circuits 101 and 102, the display unit 104, the recording unit 105, and the operation unit 106 have been described in Embodiment 1, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Moreover, the polysomnography inspection apparatus 310 has the features described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 in the same manner as the polysomnography inspection apparatus 200 of the second embodiment.

  The arithmetic unit 311 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU and a storage device. The calculation unit 311 executes a program recorded in advance in the storage device by the calculation processing device. Thereby, each function required for the measurement processing described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 2 is realized. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the measurement process described in the first embodiment can be executed in the polysomnography inspection apparatus 310.

  The measurement process is executed by operating the operation unit 106. The calculation unit 311 includes the suprasternal fistula pressure information, which is digital information including the suprasternal fistula pressure signal and measurement time information obtained by executing the measurement process, the respiratory flow signal obtained by executing the measurement process, and Respiratory flow information, which is digital information including measurement time information and the like, is output to the recording unit 105, and the recording unit 105 is made to record in a storage device or a removable medium inside the apparatus. Since the suprasternal pressure information and the respiratory flow information are recorded in a digital format, for example, by using a communication cable 330 (for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable) for digital information transmission, the polysomnography apparatus 310 To the personal computer 320.

  The personal computer 320 includes a personal computer main body 321 as a first information acquisition unit, a second information acquisition unit, a swallowing activity detection unit, and a swallowing activity evaluation unit, a display device 322 as a display unit, and a keyboard 323 as an operation unit. Have

  The personal computer main body 321 has an arithmetic processing unit and a storage device inside, and is configured to be connectable to the sleep polygraph inspection apparatus 310 by a communication cable 330 for digital information transmission (for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable). ing.

  The personal computer main body 321 receives the sternum fossa pressure information and the respiratory flow information.

  For example, the personal computer main body 321 and the polysomnography inspection device 310 are connected by the communication cable 330, and a predetermined operation is performed by the keyboard 323, whereby the suprasternal fossa recorded as digital information in a storage medium inside the polysomnography inspection device 310 The partial pressure information and the respiratory flow information can be transferred to the storage device inside the personal computer main body 321 via the communication cable 330.

  When the suprasternal pressure information and the respiratory flow information are recorded on the removable medium in the polysomnographic examination apparatus 310, the suprasternal pressure information and the respiratory flow are loaded by loading the removable media into the personal computer 321. Information can be transferred to the personal computer main body 321.

  The personal computer main body 321 implements the functions necessary for the analysis processing described in Embodiment 1 with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 by executing the swallowing activity monitoring program recorded in the storage device in advance by the arithmetic processing device. To do. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the analysis process described in the first embodiment can be executed in the personal computer 320.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, measurement processing for swallowing activity monitoring is performed in a biological information recording device such as a polysomnography inspection device, and analysis processing for swallowing activity monitoring is performed as measurement processing. It can be executed in a device different from the device that performed the above.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The above description is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the description of the configuration of the apparatus and the operation at the time of use is an example, and it is obvious that various modifications and additions to these examples are possible within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Swallowing activity monitoring apparatus 101,102 Signal processing circuit 103,311 Computation part 104 Display part 105 Recording part 106 Operation part 110 Episternal fossa pressure sensor 120 Respiration flow sensor 200, 310 Sleep polygraph examination apparatus 230 Case 231 Battery cover 232 Event switch 233 SpO ₂ connector 234 Analog connector 235 Respiration flow sensor connector 320 PC 321 PC main body 322 Display device 323 Keyboard 330 Communication cable

Claims (11)

A first information acquisition unit for acquiring first biological information corresponding to the motion of the subject's suprasternal fossa;
A second information acquisition unit for acquiring second biological information according to the respiratory activity of the subject;
Based on the second biological information, a stop state of the subject's respiratory activity is detected, and the subject's swallowing activity is detected based on the first biological information during the detected stop state of the respiratory activity. A swallowing activity detection unit,
A swallowing activity monitoring device. The second biological information indicates respiratory airflow in the nasal cavity or oral cavity of the subject.
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 1. The second biological information indicates the movement of the subject's rib cage,
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 1. A portable housing having the swallowing activity detector inside;
The housing is
A first connection portion connectable to a first sensor that detects movement of the subject's suprasternal fossa and generates the first biological information;
A second connection unit connectable with a second sensor that detects the respiratory activity of the subject and generates the second biological information;
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising: A swallowing activity evaluating unit that performs a qualitative evaluation of the detected swallowing activity based on the acquired second biological information;
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 1. The swallowing activity evaluation unit performs the determination of the frequency of the detected swallowing activity as a qualitative evaluation of the detected swallowing activity,
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 5. The swallowing activity evaluation unit determines whether the respiratory phase immediately before or immediately after the detected swallowing activity is the expiration phase or the inspiration phase, as a qualitative evaluation of the detected swallowing activity,
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 5. The swallowing activity evaluation unit performs a determination as to whether or not the length of time from the end point of the detected swallowing activity to the resumption point of the respiratory activity is shorter than a predetermined value as a qualitative evaluation of the detected swallowing activity.
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 5. A portable housing having the swallowing activity detection unit and the swallowing activity evaluation unit inside;
The housing is
A first connection portion connectable to a first sensor that detects movement of the subject's suprasternal fossa and generates the first biological information;
A second connection unit connectable to a second sensor for detecting the respiratory activity of the subject and generating the second biological information;
The swallowing activity monitoring device according to claim 5, comprising: A swallowing activity monitoring system having a biological information recording device and a swallowing activity monitoring device,
The biological information recording apparatus is
A first connection unit connectable to a first sensor that detects movement of the subject's suprasternal fossa and generates first biological information corresponding to the movement of the subject's suprasternal fossa;
A second connection unit connectable to a second sensor that detects the respiratory activity of the subject and generates second biological information according to the respiratory activity of the subject;
A recording unit for recording the generated first and second biological information in a storage medium;
Have
The swallowing activity monitoring device comprises:
A receiving unit for receiving the first and second biological information recorded in the storage medium;
Based on the second biological information, a stop state of the subject's respiratory activity is detected, and the subject's swallowing activity is detected based on the first biological information during the detected stop state of the respiratory activity. A swallowing activity detection unit,
A swallowing activity monitoring system. On the computer,
A first information acquisition function for acquiring first biological information according to the motion of the subject's suprasternal fossa;
A second information acquisition function for acquiring second biological information corresponding to the respiratory activity of the subject;
Based on the second biological information, a stop state of the subject's respiratory activity is detected, and the subject's swallowing activity is detected based on the first biological information during the detected stop state of the respiratory activity. A swallowing activity detection function,
Swallowing activity monitoring program to realize

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