JP6590277B2 - Biological information acquisition device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological information acquisition apparatus for acquiring various biological information related to various biological animals such as various experimental animals and humans (humans), and more particularly, at least a part of the living body external surface or in vivo The present invention relates to a biological information acquisition apparatus that is attached so as to be in contact with the surface of a specific part such as an organ and acquires biological related information through the surface of the living body or the surface of the biological part.

  Recent advances in brain science and medical measurement technologies have been remarkable, and various sensing devices and new brain function imaging technologies have been realized to collect information related to brain functions. Devices for measuring brain function-related information are roughly classified into invasive types and non-invasive types. The invasive type involves some kind of surgical operation such as incision of the scalp or skull of a subject in order to bring an electrode or the like into direct contact with the brain. On the other hand, the non-invasive type accesses the brain indirectly from the outside of the subject's head (that is, through the scalp, skull, etc.) and acquires some brain function related information.

  Although a non-invasive device is excellent in that it does not damage or suppress a living body, there are considerable restrictions on the type and accuracy of information that can be acquired. Therefore, in order to obtain brain function related information with high accuracy and high resolution, or to acquire brain function related information of a subject in a normal activity state for a long period of time, at least the device An invasive brain measurement in which a part of the brain is brought into contact with the subject's brain is necessary.

  Invasive brain function measuring devices are roughly classified into those that perform brain surface type measurement and those that perform brain insertion type measurement. The brain-embedded device is literally a needle-like electrode inserted into the brain to obtain a relatively deep electrical signal in the brain, whereas the brain surface-type device is the surface of the brain. An electric signal is obtained by arranging electrodes or the like so as to be in close contact with each other. Such a brain surface device is known as an ECoG electrode. In Japan, there is an intracranial electrode of Unique Medical, which is approved for clinical treatment of epilepsy and the like (see Non-Patent Document 1). Although the brain surface-type device is inferior to the brain insertion type in spatial resolution, it does not damage the brain and degrades performance over time. It is also suitable for a wide range of measurements. For this reason, it can be said that brain surface type measurement is advantageous in order to obtain stable brain function-related information for a relatively long period of time without hindering the free activity of the subject.

  As described above, in order to continue measurement for a relatively long period of time without hindering the free activity of the subject, it is desirable that the connection between the inside and outside of the subject be a wireless system. From this point of view, the inventors of the present invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 an electrode that contacts the brain surface, an LED that provides optical stimulation to the brain, and scattered light and reflected light obtained from the brain with respect to the light emitted from the LED. We propose a brain function measurement device that wirelessly transmits and receives signals between an internal unit on which an optical sensor or the like is mounted and an external unit installed outside the body. In this device, the internal unit is attached to the outside of the skull (or artificial skull) of the subject, and a rod-shaped electrode is inserted into a hole drilled in the skull or artificial skull so that the tip thereof contacts the brain surface. It is configured.

  On the other hand, the present inventors have continued research and development of a flexible brain measurement / stimulation device based on a distributed architecture for many years. This is a device in which a plurality of small nerve stimulation and measurement chips based on a CMOS integrated circuit are mounted on a flexible substrate, and the device is arranged so as to be in contact with the brain surface of the subject (see Non-Patent Document 2). ). A plurality of chips are operated in a coordinated manner so that action potentials can be measured over a wide range of the brain.

  In order to increase the spatial resolution of measurement in such a brain function measuring apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the electrode size and arrange it two-dimensionally with high density. In addition, in order to obtain useful information about brain activity and function, it is desirable to perform measurement covering the widest possible range of the brain. In order to perform such measurement, the conventional apparatus has the following problems.

  That is, generally, the surface of the brain has a complicated curved surface shape, and it is easy to make a plurality of electrodes adhere to the brain surface within a narrow range that can be regarded as being almost flat. However, it is difficult to bring a plurality of electrodes into close contact with the brain surface over a wide range that covers the entire brain or most of it. In addition, as described above, if the electrode is inserted into the hole drilled in the skull or artificial skull, the position of the electrode is accurately determined with respect to the skull or artificial skull, but the electrode is mounted on the circuit board. In the configuration in which the circuit board is disposed in the gap between the brain surface and the skull or the artificial skull, the position of the circuit board may be shifted and the measurement position on the electrode may be changed. In addition, when the distance between the brain surface and the skull or artificial skull changes with time, the adhesion of the electrode to the brain surface may be reduced. Furthermore, the scale of a circuit that can be mounted on a device arranged between the brain surface and the skull or artificial skull is considerably limited as compared to a unit arranged outside the skull or artificial skull. On the other hand, if the number of electrodes, LEDs, photosensors, etc. is increased, the amount of signals to be processed also increases, so that it is difficult to process such a large amount of signals with an IC chip or the like placed inside the skull or artificial skull. There is also the problem of being.

JP 2014-79387 A

“Intracranial Electrode”, [online], Unique Medical, Inc. [searched July 15, 2015], Internet <URL: http://www.unique-medical.jp/1220.pdf> Noguchi and 6 others, “Development of CMOS-based multimodal electrical brain stimulation and measurement devices that can cover a wide area”, The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, 2015 Annual Conference of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, Volume 3, p. 124

  Up to this point, we have described a device that performs brain stimulation and brain measurement of a subject. This is because, particularly for the brain, measurement with high accuracy and high resolution is required. Needless to say, there are cases in which stimulation and measurement using the same method may be useful. Even in such a case, the above-described problem occurs. The same applies to biostimulation and measurement using electrodes, LEDs, photosensors, and the like provided so as to be in contact with the outer surface of the living body, such as skin, instead of in vivo. That is, the problem in the conventional brain function measuring apparatus is not only a brain function measurement but also a problem that occurs when biometric information is acquired by a similar method.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and the main purpose of the present invention is to measure a specific part in a living body such as a brain or an organ which is a measurement target or a target to which electrical or optical stimulation is applied. To provide a biometric information acquisition apparatus that can adhere well to a surface and has a high density over a wide range even if the curved shape of the surface or the surface of the living body is complex, and can perform measurements at a high density It is in.

The present invention made to solve the above problems is a biological information acquisition apparatus that electrically and / or optically collects biological information from the surface of the brain of a subject that is a living body including various experimental animals and humans. There,
a) Each is provided so as to be in contact with the surface of the subject's brain , and has a substantially flat plate shape including an electrode part for electrically acquiring biological information and / or a light receiving part for optically acquiring biological information. A number of measurement subunits,
b) Between one measurement subunit and other measurement subunits arranged around it so that the plurality of measurement subunits arranged two-dimensionally can maintain their positional relationship. A plurality of connecting portions by a flexible substrate including a signal line electrically connected to one measurement subunit and another measurement subunit adjacent thereto,
c) Extraction for extracting signals reflecting biological information obtained by the electrodes and / or the light receiving units of all of the plurality of measurement subunits connected to one of the plurality of measurement subunits. A wiring section;
A holding unit for holding the measurement unit is provided inside an artificial skull to be attached to the skull instead of a part of the skull of the subject, and the holding unit holds the measurement unit. Is held in the gap between the artificial skull and the brain, and between any one of the plurality of measurement subunits and a plurality of other measurement subunits arranged around it. The signal lines of the plurality of connecting portions provided are configured to transmit and receive the same electrical signal.

  In order to configure the signal lines of a plurality of connecting parts to transmit and receive the same electrical signal, specifically, for example, the signal lines included in all the connecting parts are used as a common bus line and are mounted on each measurement subunit. A configuration in which the electric circuits are connected to a common bus line, that is, a connection form by a bus line method may be employed.

  In the biological information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention, for example, one measurement subunit is configured such that various parts are mounted on a rigid board having an outer shape of a hexagonal shape when viewed from above, and a large number of measurement subunits arranged in a honeycomb shape are provided. Each can be configured to be connected to each of up to six other measurement subunits surrounding each other by a maximum of six connecting portions. Since the connecting portion is made of a flexible flexible substrate, the connected measuring subunits can be curved by appropriately bending the connecting portion. However, since the three-dimensional movement of a single measurement subunit is constrained to some extent by a plurality of measurement subunits connected through the connection portion, how flexible the connection portion is. Even so, the shape of the curved surface formed by many measurement subunits is limited.

  On the other hand, in the biological information acquisition device according to the present invention, the same signal is transmitted and received to the signal lines of the plurality of connecting portions connected to one measurement subunit, and thus any one of the plurality of connecting portions. Even if only one is cut off and the other is cut, the measurement sub-unit is connected to the lead-out wiring section through one or more adjacent measurement sub-units through the signal line of the remaining connection section Can be signaled. That is, as long as the connection to other measurement subunits is ensured via one or more coupling parts in each measurement subunit, the electrodes and light receiving parts of all measurement subunits included in the measurement unit The obtained signal can be sent, for example, to another circuit unit provided at a position other than the surface of the living body or the surface of the specific part in the living body through the extraction wiring portion.

  In this way, by cutting unnecessary ones of the connecting parts that connect one measurement subunit and the adjacent measurement subunit, the restriction on movement of each measurement subunit is reduced, so the degree of freedom of movement is increased and the measurement unit is Each of the measurement subunits included can be brought into good contact with the surface of a living body or the surface of a specific part that has a complicated curved surface shape.

  The flexible substrate used for the connecting portion is usually flexible but has poor stretchability. Therefore, in order to increase the degree of freedom in bending, the connecting portion is made of a flexible substrate that is three-dimensionally processed so as to maintain a substantially U-shaped bent state without applying a force from the outside. Good. Thereby, since the play at the time of bending a connection part becomes large, each measurement subunit can be made to fit a living body surface or the surface of a specific part, without applying excessive force to a measurement subunit or a connection part.

In the biological information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention, the holding part inside the artificial skull may hold each measurement subunit, but as described above, the flexible board in which the connecting part is processed into a U-shape. In this case, the connecting portion may be provided so that the U-shaped projection faces the inner surface of the artificial skull, and the U-shaped projection is held by the holding portion.
By adopting such a configuration, the measurement unit can be fixed inside the artificial skull, and once the measurement location on the brain surface is determined, the measurement location can be prevented from shifting over time. .

  Further, in the biological information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention, the artificial skull is provided with a plurality of pressing portions that are inserted into openings formed at predetermined positions of the artificial skull and whose inner surface faces the measurement subunit. By adjusting the length of insertion of the pressing part from the adjusting part, the pressing state of the measurement subunit by the pressing part is adjusted, and the adhesion between the electrode part included in the measuring subunit and the brain surface is ensured. Good.

  As an example, an opening in which a screw groove is formed is formed in the artificial skull, and the pressing portion may be a bolt-shaped member around which a screw thread that is screwed into the screw groove is formed. According to this configuration, the measurement subunit is pushed inward as the pressing portion is screwed into the opening, and, for example, the adhesion between the electrode portion and the brain surface is improved.

In the biological information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention are both If you form a liquid passing path in the interior of the artificial skull liquids are to or stored distribution, between the artificial skull and the measurement subunit, the liquid passing path A configuration may be provided in which a pressing portion having flexibility to be pressed by the liquid therein is provided and the pressing state of the measurement subunit by the pressing portion is adjusted by adjusting the liquid pressure of the liquid that flows or accumulates in the liquid passage. Good.

  Even if the position of the artificial skull is fixed relative to the skull, the distance between the inner surface of the artificial skull and the brain surface may change over time. On the other hand, in the above-described configuration, the amount of liquid supplied into the liquid passage can be adjusted from outside the body of the subject, so that the electrode portion and the brain surface can be connected without incising the head of the subject. Can be adjusted. Thereby, it is possible to continue good brain function measurement over a long period of time.

  Further, in the biological information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention, the artificial skull is attached to a holder fixed to the skull, a control unit housing overlaid on the outside of the artificial skull is attached to the holder, and the control unit A control unit including at least a circuit for controlling an electric circuit mounted on the measurement unit and a circuit for performing wireless signal transmission / reception between the external unit installed outside the body of the subject is disposed inside the housing for measurement. It is good to have a configuration to be installed.

  Since there is a space limitation on the gap between the artificial skull and the brain surface, there is a limit to the elements and circuits that can be mounted on the measurement subunit installed in this gap. On the other hand, in the above configuration, a circuit that performs complex signal processing can be provided in the control unit instead of the measurement subunit, so that the elements and circuits mounted on the measurement subunit can be minimized. In addition, the circuit mounted on the control unit is somewhat larger in scale, but space constraints are eased by placing the circuit outside the artificial skull. Further, by providing the control unit inside the control unit housing mounted on the holder, the measurement unit and the control unit are integrated, and the handling becomes easy.

In addition, as described above, in the biological information acquisition device according to the present invention, even if a part of a plurality of connecting portions that connect one measurement subunit and another measurement subunit is intentionally cut, the measurement subunit can obtain it. The signal is finally sent to the outside through the extraction wiring part, but when the connection part is cut unintentionally rather than intentionally, the disconnection can be detected. It is advisable to incorporate a detector.
As the disconnection detection unit, there can be considered a configuration capable of specifying the position of the cut connecting portion and a configuration capable of detecting only one of the connecting portions being cut.

According to this configuration, when some of the connecting parts are disconnected while the measurement unit is attached to a specific part of the subject in the living body, the state is quickly grasped, and for example, there is some abnormality in the specific part. It is possible to guess what happened .

According to the biological information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention, for example, an electrode unit or an optical unit that performs electrical measurement on a wide range of the surface of a specific part inside a living body such as a brain having individual differences and a complicated curved surface shape. It is possible to make the light-receiving part that performs accurate measurement adhere well with high density. Thereby, measurement with high resolution over a wide range of the surface of a specific part such as the brain of the subject can be performed, and useful biological information regarding the subject can be collected .

The block block diagram of the principal part of the brain function measuring apparatus which is one Example of this invention. The schematic internal wiring figure of one measurement subunit in the brain function measuring device of a present Example. The top view (a) of the measurement unit in the brain function measuring device of a present Example, and the enlarged plan view (b) of the measurement subunit contained in this measurement unit. The top view which shows an example of the use condition of the measurement unit shown in FIG. The schematic sectional drawing of the connection part which connects between one measurement subunit and the adjacent measurement subunit in the brain function measuring apparatus of a present Example. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure and mounting state of the unit installed in the biological body in the brain function measuring apparatus of a present Example. The schematic sectional drawing for demonstrating the fixing method of the measurement unit in the brain function measuring apparatus of a present Example. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the modification for improving the adhesiveness of the measurement subunit to the brain surface. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the modification for improving the adhesiveness of the measurement subunit to the brain surface. Schematic of the biological information acquisition apparatus which is the other Example of this invention.

First, a brain function measuring apparatus which is an embodiment of a biological information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main part of the brain function measuring apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic internal wiring diagram of one measurement subunit in the brain function measuring apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is the brain of this embodiment. It is the top view (a) of the measurement unit in a function measuring device, and the enlarged plan view (b) of the measurement subunit contained in this measurement unit. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a connecting portion that connects one measurement subunit and adjacent measurement subunits.

The brain function measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a measurement unit 2 and a control unit 3 installed inside the subject, and an extracorporeal unit 5 installed outside the subject.
The measurement unit 2 includes a number of measurement subunits 1, and each measurement subunit 1 includes an electrode 11, a reference electrode 12, an LED 13, and a photodiode (PD) 14. One control unit 3 is connected to a plurality of measurement units 2 via cable lines 4. The control unit 3 includes a control unit 31, a power supply unit 32, an interface (I / F) unit 33, and the like. The control unit 3 and the extracorporeal unit 5 are connected to each other by radio communication such as radio waves. This is exactly the same as the apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

  In the brain function measuring apparatus of the present embodiment, the electrode 11 and the reference electrode 12 of the measurement subunit 1 are provided so as to be in contact with the surface of the subject's brain. One measurement unit 2 connected to the control unit 3 via the cable line 4 has a configuration in which a large number of measurement subunits 1 are connected by connecting portions 17 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, one measurement subunit 1 has a regular hexagonal rigid substrate 10 in a top view, and this rigid substrate 10 is integrated with a flexible substrate as a connecting portion 17 to be rigid flexible. It is a composite substrate. In the example of FIG. 3, twelve electrodes 11, one reference electrode 12, six LEDs 13, and one PD 14 are mounted on the rigid substrate 10 of one measurement subunit 1. The reference electrode 12 and the PD 14 are provided at substantially the center of the rigid substrate 10, and the electrode 11 and the LED 13 are respectively appropriately dispersed throughout the rigid substrate 10. The size of one measurement subunit 1 is such that the distance between two opposing sides is 5.2 mm and the length of one side is 3 mm. Further, the length of the connecting portion 17 (that is, the separation distance between the two measurement subunits 1 connected by the connecting portion 17) is 1.3 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in one measurement subunit 1, the electrode 11 and the reference electrode 12 are provided through the substrate so that the contact portion is exposed on the back surface of the composite substrate, and the LED 13 and the PD 14 are provided on the substrate. Is attached to the surface of the substrate so as to emit light and receive light through the window 10a formed so as to penetrate the substrate. The window 10a may be a simple hole, or may be a material embedded with a material that can stably obtain high transparency over a long period of time, such as quartz glass.

  Since the connecting portion 17 to which the adjacent measurement subunits 1 are connected is a flexible substrate having flexibility, when the measuring unit 2 is attached to the brain surface 100, the connecting portion 17 can be freely curved. . Furthermore, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the connecting portion 17 is not a normal flexible substrate, but a three-dimensional shape so as to maintain a bent state in a substantially U shape without applying force from the outside as shown in FIG. A processed flexible substrate is used. In general, a flexible substrate is highly flexible but has poor stretchability. Therefore, it is difficult to adjust the distance between adjacent measurement subunits 1. On the other hand, in the configuration of this embodiment, since the connecting portion 17 is provided with the substantially U-shaped bent portion 17a, it can be expanded and contracted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The connecting portion 17 can be curved while the separation distance between the adjacent measurement subunits 1 is appropriately increased so that the tip surfaces of the electrodes 11 and 12 are in good contact with 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (a), in one measurement unit 2, the measurement subunits 1 except for those arranged in the periphery are six other measurement subunits around the six connection parts 17. 1 is connected. The six connecting portions 17 have exactly the same function. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the signal exchange in one measurement unit 2 is a bus line system, and in one measurement subunit 1, the electrode 11, the reference electrode 12, the LED 13, and the PD 14 are integrated with the PD 14. It is connected to the bus wiring 16 through the interface unit 15 built in the CMOS-IC. In addition, the cable wires of each of the maximum six connecting portions 17 whose one ends are connected to one measurement subunit 1 are also connected to the bus wiring 16. Accordingly, the interconnections between the measurement subunits 1 are multiplexed (up to sixfold), and one measurement subunit 1 is connected to the six measurement subunits around it via the six connecting portions 17. 1, communication is possible even if five of the connecting portions 17 are disconnected.

  Since the measurement unit 2 has the above-described configuration, any one measurement subunit 1 is a measurement subunit to which a cable 4 for communication with the control unit 3 is connected (the measurement subunit in FIG. 3A). It suffices that the unit 1A) is connected to the unit 1A) by any one path, and the connecting portion 17 other than the path can be cut. FIG. 4 shows an example of a configuration in which the connecting portion 17 is cut as described above, and x marks are described at the cut portions. In this example, the measurement subunit 1 located on the outer peripheral side is connected to the measurement subunit 1 inside only at one connecting portion 17. As described above, the connecting portion 17 has flexibility and stretchability by the substantially U-shaped bent portion 17a, but it is difficult to bend along the curved surface when there are many connecting portions with other adjacent measurement subunits 1. There is a case. On the other hand, in this measurement unit 2, since the connecting portion 17 at an appropriate position may be cut off, three-dimensional flexibility is improved, and the degree of bending according to the shape of the curved surface can be increased. . Thereby, the adhesion of the electrode 11 and the reference electrode 12 to the brain surface 100 in each measurement subunit 1 can be enhanced.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure and mounting state of a unit installed in a living body in the brain function measuring apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a fixing method of the measurement unit.
The above-described measurement unit 2 is fixed to the inside of an artificial skull that is attached to an opening obtained by excising a part of the skull of the subject. That is, the fixing ring 50 is attached to the opening of the skull partly excised, and the artificial skull 51 is fixed inside the fixing ring 50. A fitting portion 53 that is a groove having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed at an appropriate position on the inner surface (the surface facing the brain surface) of the artificial skull 51, and the substantially U-shaped bent portion 17 a of the connecting portion 17 is formed. The connecting portion 17 is fixed to the artificial skull 51 by being inserted into the fitting portion 53 and fitting the drop-off prevention member 54 into the fitting portion 53 with the substantially U-shaped bent portion 17a interposed therebetween. Note that it is not always necessary to fix all the connecting portions 17 remaining without being excised to the fitting portion 53. In this way, each measurement subunit 1 included in one measurement unit 2 is generally fixed at an appropriate position inside the artificial skull 51.
Although not shown in FIG. 5, when fixing the measurement unit 2 to the artificial skull 51, the front surface of the composite substrate in each measurement subunit 1 is connected to the PD 14 or the interface unit 15. It is hardened by the resin mold 19 so as to protect the entire circuit such as the CMOS-IC and the LED 13 included.

  On the other hand, on the outer surface of the artificial skull 51 attached to the fixing ring 50, a control unit housing 52 made of resin or the like, in which the control unit 3 is disposed, is attached. Are connected to each other by a cable line 4 penetrating the artificial skull 51. In this way, the control unit 3 and the measurement unit 2 can be integrated with the artificial skull 51, and handling becomes easy.

  The brain function measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment can collect brain function related information reflecting the activity of the brain of the subject by the following operation. That is, the extracorporeal unit 5 wirelessly exchanges signals with the control unit 3 installed in the body of the subject, and the control unit 31 included in the control unit 3 performs one or more measurements via the cable line 4. Signals are collected from the electrodes 11 of each measurement subunit 1 included in the unit 2. As shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 4 and the like, since the electrodes 11 are arranged in a moderately dispersed manner so as to cover a wide area of the brain surface 100, a signal that uniformly reflects the brain function from the brain surface 1100. Can be collected. The reference electrode 12 can be used to obtain a reference potential of signals obtained by the plurality of electrodes 11 in the measurement subunit 1 and also allows a weak current to flow through the brain surface 100 to give an electrical stimulus. It can also be used.

  Separately or in parallel with the electrical measurement as described above, the LED 13 of each measurement subunit 1 is driven for a predetermined time, and the brain surface 100 is irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength emitted from the LED 13. . The PD 14 receives the light reflected from the brain surface 100 with respect to the irradiated light and the light that has entered the brain and diffused and emitted, and outputs a photoelectrically converted detection signal. The detection signals obtained in each measurement subunit 1 are collected in the measurement subunit 1A through the bus wiring 16 and finally sent to the control unit 3 through the cable line 4. Thus, the signals collected electrically and / or optically are transmitted from the interface unit 33 to the extracorporeal unit 5 by radio and stored in a memory or the like provided in the extracorporeal unit 5.

  In the brain function measuring apparatus of the above embodiment, the measuring unit 2 is fixed inside the artificial skull 51. In this case, the thickness of the measuring subunit 1 and the gap between the inner surface of the artificial skull 51 and the brain surface 100 are measured. If the distance between the electrodes 11 and 12 is not properly adjusted, the contact of the electrodes 11 and 12 to the brain surface 100 is reduced, or conversely, the electrodes 11 and 12 press the brain surface 100 too much and damage the brain. There is a risk of Therefore, modified examples in which these points are improved are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 7 described above.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 8, a pressing screw 55 is screwed into a screw hole 51 a formed so as to penetrate a predetermined position of the artificial skull 51, and each measurement subunit 1 is formed at the flat front end surface of the pressing screw 55. The center of the resin mold 19 is pushed. As the pressing screw 55 is screwed into the screw hole 51a, the measurement subunit 1 is strongly pressed from the outside, and the electrodes 11 and 12 are in close contact with the brain surface 100. Therefore, by adjusting the screwing amount of the pressing screw 55, the electrodes 11 and 12 can be brought into contact with the brain surface 100 with an appropriate pressure.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 9, the contact property of the electrodes 11 and 12 to the brain surface 100 can be adjusted from the outside of the subject. That is, a flow path 51b through which liquid can flow is formed inside the artificial skull 51, and a buffer member 56 having appropriate flexibility is provided inside the artificial skull 51 at a position where the measurement subunit 1 is disposed. The buffer member 56 is pressed by the liquid in the flow path 51b. That is, the buffer member 56 is pushed inward by the liquid supplied into the flow path 51b, and the buffer member 56 pushes the resin mold 19 of the measurement subunit 1 inward. The pressing force of the buffer member 56 can be adjusted by the pressure of the liquid supplied to the flow path 51b.

  Accordingly, a large number of measurement subunits 1 can be pressed with a substantially uniform pressure, and the contact properties of all the electrodes 11 and 12 can be kept good. Even when the distance between the inner surface of the artificial skull 51 and the brain surface 100 changes with time, a good contact state can always be maintained by adjusting the fluid pressure in the flow path 51b. The hydraulic pressure may be adjusted manually. However, the hydraulic pressure may be automatically adjusted by detecting the hydraulic pressure and performing feedback control so that the hydraulic pressure becomes a predetermined value. .

  As described above, the brain function measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment can measure brain information with high spatial resolution and high accuracy over a wide range of the brain surface.

  In the above embodiment, the biological information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention is used for brain function measurement of experimental animals and the like. However, the present invention is applied to various organs such as the heart other than the brain, the liver, and the living body such as the oral cavity. It can be used to apply electrical or optical stimulation to a specific site or biological surface (skin surface) and collect electrical or optical information.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a biological information acquisition apparatus according to an embodiment that is not included in the present invention but is related to the present invention .
As shown in FIG. 10, in the measurement unit 60 in this biological information acquisition apparatus, a large number of sensor units 61 for measuring a biological signal are arranged in a matrix, and each sensor unit 61 is used as a lattice point to form a flexible substrate in a lattice shape. The connection part 62 is provided. Each sensor unit 61 includes one or a plurality of sensors for a specific purpose such as a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, a humidity sensor, a blood glucose sensor, and a gas sensor in addition to an electrode and an optical sensor.

  As in the above embodiment, all the connecting parts 62 exchange the same signal, and as long as a certain sensor part 61 and an adjacent sensor part 61 are connected by a single connecting part 62, You may cut | disconnect the other connection part 62 connected to the sensor part 61. FIG. Therefore, when the measurement unit 60 is affixed to the surface of a living body to be measured, the connecting portion 62 is cut at an appropriate location according to the size of the measurement object, the shape of the range to be measured, and the like (FIG. 10). (See (b)). Accordingly, the measurement unit 60 can be satisfactorily adhered to the surface of the living body having a curved shape, and the sensor unit 61 can be adhered to only the target range, excluding the range that is not the measurement target.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, the cable wire 63 for taking out the signal to the outside is attached to one sensor portion 61 </ b> A, but the signals exchanged between the cable wire 63 and the other connecting portions 62 are the same. Obviously, one of the connecting portions 62 can be used in place of the cable wire 63. That is, it is possible to take out a signal from an arbitrary sensor unit 61 to the outside. In addition, by installing a circuit capable of wireless communication with the outside in each sensor unit 61, a signal can be taken out from any sensor unit 61 to the outside. Of course, a stimulus applying unit that applies an electrical or optical stimulus to the living body may be provided.

  Such a biological information acquisition apparatus can be used for various purposes. For example, in recent years, wearable terminals have been developed that are worn so as to be in close contact with human skin and measure biological signals during normal life or exercise. The biological information acquisition device is used for such devices. be able to. Further, it can also be used for an electronic skin type device that is attached to the skin and collects information related to a specific disease such as diabetes.

On the other hand, not only is a biological signal measured by an electrode or a sensor mounted on the sensor unit 61, or such a measurement is not performed, but the connection unit 62 that is originally connected is disconnected. It can also be set as the structure detected as one.
For example, when the measurement unit 60 as described above is attached to the surface of an organ such as the liver, a part of the connecting portion 62 that is easily cut as compared with the sensor portion 61 is cut when the organ is enlarged or deformed for some reason. It is a thing to end up. In such a case, by detecting the disconnection of the connecting portion 62, it is possible to grasp biological information such as organ enlargement or deformation. In view of this, each sensor unit 61 or an external unit that receives a signal extracted from each sensor unit 61 (for example, the control unit 3 or the extracorporeal unit 5 in FIG. 1) is provided with a disconnection detection unit that detects the disconnection of the connecting unit 62. You may do it.

  Of course, when the purpose is to acquire only information such as enlargement or deformation of the organ, the sensor unit 61 does not substantially have a function as a sensor but may have a configuration having only a function of detecting a cut. Absent.

  As a method for detecting the disconnection of the connecting portion 62, several methods can be specifically considered. For example, when a CMOS-IC is mounted on each sensor unit 61 and a plurality of (up to four in the example in FIG. 10) cable lines of the connecting unit 62 are connected to the CMOS-IC, the CMOS-IC -The cutting | disconnection detection part mounted in IC can detect the presence or absence of the cutting | disconnection of the connection part 62 by determining the signal level on the cable line of these several connection parts 62. FIG. As described above, when signals are exchanged by the bus line method, a signal appears on the bus line if one connecting unit 62 is connected to a certain sensor unit 61. However, even in that case, when connected to the surrounding sensor part 61 through the plurality of connecting parts 62 and when one or a plurality of (not all) connecting parts 62 are cut. Since the impedance of the bus wiring changes, the signal level changes. Therefore, by detecting this change in signal level, it is possible to recognize the disconnection of any of the connecting portions 62.

  As described above, when the cable wires of the plurality of connecting portions 62 are respectively connected to the CMOS-IC, when a certain connecting portion 62 is intentionally cut, the CMOS-IC has the connection portion 62 as a result. The connection is cut off internally, that is, the input / output end to which the connecting portion 62 is connected is not set as an open end, but is forcibly set to a predetermined potential level (eg, ground level, power supply voltage level, etc.). It is good to. This is because if the input / output terminal of the CMOS-IC is an open terminal, a malfunction due to noise may occur, or in the worst case, the IC may be damaged due to a large spike noise. If the above-described disconnection detection is used and if the disconnection of a certain connecting portion 62 is detected, the input / output end to which the connecting portion 62 is connected is cut off, so that a highly reliable biological information acquisition system can be obtained. Can be built.

Further, the above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and it is apparent that the present invention is encompassed by the claims of the present application even if appropriate modifications, corrections, or additions are made within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the number of connecting portions 17 that connect adjacent measurement subunits 1 is 6 (maximum 6). In the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. The number of connecting parts 62 that connect the sensor parts 61 to each other is 4 (maximum 4), but the number of connecting parts is not limited to this, and may be two or more. In practice, it is preferable that a single measurement subunit or sensor unit is connected to each of a plurality of surrounding measurement subunits or sensor units that surround the measurement subunit or sensor unit, so that the number of connection units is usually four. It is good to be above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Measurement subunit 2, 60 ... Measurement unit 3 ... Control unit 4, 63 ... Cable wire 5 ... Extracorporeal unit 10 ... Rigid board 10a ... Window 11 ... Electrode 12 ... Reference electrode 13 ... LED
14 ... PD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Interface part 16 ... Bus wiring 17, 62 ... Connection part 17a ... Substantially U-shaped bending part 19 ... Resin mold 31 ... Control part 32 ... Power supply part 33 ... Interface part 50 ... Fixing ring 51 ... Artificial skull 52 ... Control Unit housing 53 ... fitting part 54 ... drop-off prevention member 61, 61A ... sensor part 100 ... brain surface

Claims (8)

A biological information acquisition apparatus that electrically and / or optically collects biological information from the surface of the brain of a subject that is a living body including various experimental animals and humans,
a) Each is provided so as to be in contact with the surface of the subject's brain , and has a substantially flat plate shape including an electrode part for electrically acquiring biological information and / or a light receiving part for optically acquiring biological information. A number of measurement subunits,
b) Between one measurement subunit and other measurement subunits arranged around it so that the plurality of measurement subunits arranged two-dimensionally can maintain their positional relationship. A plurality of connecting portions by a flexible substrate including a signal line electrically connected to one measurement subunit and another measurement subunit adjacent thereto,
c) Extraction for extracting signals reflecting biological information obtained by the electrodes and / or the light receiving units of all of the plurality of measurement subunits connected to one of the plurality of measurement subunits. A wiring section;
A holding unit for holding the measurement unit is provided inside an artificial skull to be attached to the skull instead of a part of the skull of the subject, and the holding unit holds the measurement unit. Is held in the gap between the artificial skull and the brain, and between any one of the plurality of measurement subunits and a plurality of other measurement subunits arranged around it. A biological information acquisition apparatus, wherein the signal lines of the plurality of connecting portions provided are configured to transmit and receive the same electrical signal. The biological information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1,
Biological information characterized in that signal lines included in all connecting portions included in the measurement unit are used as a common bus line, and electrical circuits mounted on the measurement subunit are connected to a common bus line. Acquisition device. The biological information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1,
The biological information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed of a flexible substrate that is three-dimensionally processed so as to maintain a state of being bent in a substantially U shape without applying a force from the outside. It is a biometric information acquisition device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-3 ,
The connecting portion is formed of a flexible substrate processed into a U-shape, and the connecting portion is provided so that the U-shaped protrusion faces the inner surface of the artificial skull, and the U-shaped protrusion is held by the holding portion. A biological information acquisition apparatus characterized by being held by a unit. The biometric information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The artificial skull is inserted into an opening formed at a predetermined position, and a plurality of pressing portions whose inner surfaces face the measurement subunit are provided, and the length of inserting the pressing portion from the outside of the artificial skull is adjusted. The biological information acquisition apparatus characterized by adjusting the pressing state of the measurement subunit by the pressing portion, and ensuring the adhesion between the electrode portion included in the measurement subunit and the brain surface. The biometric information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
Both If you form liquid flow passages in which liquid is to or stored flow inside the artificial skull between the measurement sub-unit and the artificial skull, flexibility is pressed by the liquid in the liquid passing path A biological information acquisition apparatus characterized in that a pressing portion having a pressure is provided, and a pressing state of the measurement subunit by the pressing portion is adjusted by adjusting a liquid pressure of a liquid that flows or accumulates in the liquid passage. . The biological information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The artificial skull is attached to a holder that is fixed to the skull of a subject, and a control unit housing overlaid on the outside of the artificial skull is attached to the holder, and at least the control unit housing is provided inside the control unit housing. A living body comprising a control unit including a circuit for controlling an electric circuit mounted on a measurement unit and a circuit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals to and from an extracorporeal unit installed outside the subject. Information acquisition device. The biological information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A biological information acquisition apparatus comprising: a cutting detection unit capable of detecting cutting when the connecting unit is cut.

Images