JPH01254145A - Electronic tonometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the trouble of the electronic tonometer in advance by discriminating such a condition that an arm is not suitably inserted and announcing it or stopping measurement. CONSTITUTION:A cuff receiving part part 6 has structure to be through forward and backward and an arm mole 7 is provided in a front part aperture part 6a. An arm rest base 8 is provided in this cuff receiving part 6 and an arm rest 9 is loaded on this arm base 8. Touch sensors 10a and 10b are parallelly provided along the inserting direction of the arm on the arm rest 9 and a touch sensor 10c is provided in a sub-arm rest 22, which is in the rear direction of the cuff receiving part 6, as well. Whether the arm is suitably inserted or not is detected by these touch sensors 10a-10c and according to a detected result, the announcement or measurement is stopped.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an electronic blood pressure monitor equipped with an automatic cuff wrapping mechanism, and more specifically, the invention relates to an electronic blood pressure monitor that is equipped with an automatic cuff wrapping mechanism. This invention relates to an electronic blood pressure monitor that detects with a touch sensor.

(B) Prior Art Conventionally, as an electronic blood pressure monitor equipped with an automatic cuff wrapping mechanism, the one shown in FIG. 6 is known. This conventional electronic blood pressure monitor 31 has a main body housing 32 provided with a panel surface 32a and a cuff storage section 36. On the panel surface 32a,
A display section 33 that displays blood pressure measurement results and an operation switch section 34 are provided.

An armrest 38 and a cuff 37 are provided within the cuff storage section 36. This cuff 37 is wound around the subject's upper arm supported on the armrest 38 by a winding mechanism (not shown).

To measure blood pressure with the electronic sphygmomanometer 31, the subject inserts his or her arm into the cuff storage section 36 and places it on the armrest 38. Then, when the start switch of the operation switch section 34 is turned on, the cuff wrapping drive mechanism is activated, and the cuff 37 is wrapped around the upper arm of the subject.

When the cuff 37 is wrapped around the subject's upper arm and fitted, the cuff wrapping drive mechanism is stopped, and the cuff 37 is pressurized by a pump (not shown), thereby isolating blood from the brachial artery.

Next, the cuff 37 is evacuated at a slow speed, and based on cardiovascular information (Korotkoff sounds or pulse waves) generated during this process, the systolic blood pressure value and the minimum surface pressure value are determined and displayed on the display unit 33.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned conventional electronic blood pressure monitor, when the start switch is turned on when the arm is not inserted into the cuff storage section 36, the method described below is used to insert the arm into the cuff storage section 36. Insertion was detected and measurement was stopped.

The first method is to provide a switch that detects the limit of wrapping the arm cuff. When the arm is not inserted, the cuff is driven to be wrapped around the cuff more by the winding drive mechanism, and this is detected by the switch to know whether the arm is not inserted.

The second method is to detect the wrapping time of the cuff from the open position, and if this is a predetermined value or more, it is determined that the arm has not been inserted.

The third method is to detect the driving time of the pump, and if this is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the arm has not been inserted. This is because if the arm is not inserted, the cuff will freely inflate and the cuff pressure will not easily reach the set pressure value.

However, in this method of detecting whether the arm is not inserted, -d,
Since the cuff wrapping drive mechanism and pump were activated, there was a risk that the device would activate even if the start switch was turned on by mischief, resulting in a malfunction.

Further, there was a problem in that fingers were caught between the armrest 38 and the cuff 37.

On the other hand, with electronic blood pressure monitors, if your arm is not inserted in the correct position or if the cuff is wrapped around your clothes (
(including cases where the subject's sleeves are insufficiently rolled up), it is not possible to accurately measure blood pressure.

However, the above-mentioned conventional electronic blood pressure monitor has a problem in that it cannot detect these things and gives erroneous measurement results.

This invention was made in view of the above, and detects whether the arm is not inserted without activating the cuff wrapping drive mechanism or pump, and at the same time checks whether the arm is inserted correctly and whether the sleeve is rolled up correctly. The aim is to provide an electronic blood pressure monitor that can detect blood pressure.

(d) Means and operation for solving the problems In order to solve the above problems, the electronic blood pressure monitor of the present invention includes an armrest that supports the inserted arm of the subject, and an arm that is wrapped around the arm that is supported on the armrest. a cuff; a winding drive mechanism that wraps and drives the cuff; a pressurizing means that pressurizes the air within the cuff; a decompression means that rapidly or slowly depressurizes the air within the cuff; a pressure detection means for detecting; a cardiovascular information detection means for detecting cardiovascular information from the arm of the subject; and a blood pressure for determining a blood pressure value based on output signals from the pressure detection means and the cardiovascular information detection means. and a value determining means, the armrest is provided with one or more touch sensors,
The device is characterized in that it includes arm insertion determining means for determining whether the arm is properly inserted based on the signal from the touch sensor.

When the arm is not inserted, the touch switch is not turned on, and even if the start switch is pushed in a mischievous manner, the winding drive mechanism, pump, etc. may be configured not to be driven. This results in
Accidents involving fingers can also be prevented.

On the other hand, if the touch switch is placed so that it turns on when the arm is inserted in the correct position, it will be possible to notify you or stop the measurement if the insertion position is incorrect. .

In addition, the touch switch will not turn on unless there is direct contact with the skin, so even if the arm is inserted with the sleeves unrolled or with the sleeves incompletely rolled up, this can be detected and notified. Measurement can be stopped.

(E) Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the electronic blood pressure monitor 1 according to this embodiment. The main body housing 2 is provided with a panel surface 2a and a cuff storage section 6. Displays 3a, 3b, 3C1 on the panel surface 2a display systolic blood pressure values, diastolic blood pressure values, etc.
A measurement start switch 4a, a stop switch 4b, and a printer 5 for printing measurement results are provided.

The cuff storage part 6 has a structure that penetrates from front to back, and an arm molding 7 is provided in the front opening 6a (
(See also Figures 1 and 2). This arm molding 7 is provided to prevent the inner edge of the opening 6a from directly hitting the subject's arm.

The cuff storage section 6 is provided with an armrest base 8,
An armrest 9 is placed on this armrest base 8. At the side of the armrest 9, the armrest base 8 protrudes laterally and is bent downward to form a guide 9a for a cuff 11, which will be described later (see Part 2). On this armrest 9, two touch sensors 10a and 10b are arranged in parallel along the arm insertion direction (see FIG. 1).

Further, one end 11a of a cuff 11 is fixed to the armrest 9 (see FIG. 2). This cuff 11 surrounds the armrest 9, is guided downward along the guide 9a, and reaches the winding drive mechanism 12 at the bottom of the main body housing 2.

The winding drive mechanism 12 includes a slider 14 provided on a rod 13.13 so as to be movable to the left and right in the plane of the second drawing. The other end 11b of the cuff 11 is fixed to this slider 14.

This slider 14 is driven by a belt 15 in the left-right direction in the second drawing. The belt 15 is stretched between pulleys 16 and 17, and the pulley 17 is driven by a motor 18.
Rotationally driven. 19 is a cuff opening switch that detects cuff opening, and 2o is a cuff wrapping switch that detects the cuff wrapping limit.

A sub armrest 22 is provided at the rear of the cuff storage section 6 (see FIG. 3). This sub armrest 22 is
A groove 22a is formed to receive the subject's forearm A2, and a touch sensor 10c is also provided within this groove 22a.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the electronic blood pressure monitor 1 according to the embodiment. A pressure sensor (pressure detection means) 23, a pressurizing pump (pressurizing means) 26, a rapid exhaust valve (pressure reducing means) 27, and a slow exhaust valve (pressure reducing means) 2B are connected to the cuff 11.

The output signal of the pressure sensor 23 is amplified by an amplifier 24, then digitally converted by an analog/digital (A/D) converter 25, and then taken into the CPU 29. CPO2B has a function to detect whether the arm is not inserted or improperly inserted, and the cuff 11
It has functions such as controlling the wrapping of blood and determining blood pressure values.

The pressurizing pump 26 and the rapid exhaust valve 27 are connected to this CPU 29.
controlled by.

The indicators 3a, 3b, 3c, measurement start switch 4
a, stop switch 4b, touch sensors 10a, 10b,
10c, cuff release switch 19, cuff wrapping switch 20
is connected to this CPU 29.

Further, the cuff drive motor 18 is also controlled by the CPU 29. The motor 18 includes a motor load detection circuit 21, the output of which is taken into the CPU 29.

Next, the operation of the electronic blood pressure monitor 1 according to the embodiment will be explained below, mainly referring to FIG.

First, the subject inserts arm A into cuff storage part 6, and
Place the forearm A2 on the armrest 9, and place the forearm A2 on the sub armrest 2.
2 (see FIG. 1).

When the measurement start switch 4a is turned on, step (
The judgment of ■ (hereinafter referred to as ST) is YES [Figure 5 (a
) Reference L Proceed to judgments below ST2.

Sr2, Sr1, and Sr4 are touch sensors 10, respectively.
This is to determine whether or not a, 10b, , 10c are on, and all of Sr2, Sr1, and Sr4 are YE.
Only in the case of S, proceed to the determination of Sr5. If any touch sensor 10a.

If even one of 10b and IOc is off, the measurement ends.

At Sr5, it is determined whether or not the cuff release switch 19 is on. That is, in FIG. 2, it is determined whether the slider 14 is positioned furthest to the right in the plane of the paper and the cuff 11 is in the most open state. If the determination in Sr5 is YES, proceed to Sr8, and if NO, proceed to Sr1.

At Sr1, the cuff drive motor 18 is driven so that the cuff 11 is opened, that is, the slider 14 is driven to the right in the second drawing. In Sr7, it is determined again whether the cuff release switch 19 is on. When this determination is NO, the cuff 11 continues to be driven to open, and when yEs is reached, the process proceeds to Sr8.

In Sr8, the cuff drive motor 18 is driven in the direction in which the cuff 11 is wound, and the slider 14 is driven to the left in the second drawing. In Sr9, motor load detection circuit 2
It is determined whether the load of the motor 18 detected in step 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If this determination is YES, the cuff,
Assuming that the wrapping around No. 11 subject's upper arm A1 has been completed,
Proceed to 5TIO and stop the cuff drive motor 18. on the other hand,
When the determination in Sr9 is NO, the process advances to 5TII and it is determined whether or not the cuff wrapping switch 20 is on.

If this determination is No, it is assumed that the cuff 11 is currently being wrapped, and the process proceeds to Sr9. On the other hand, if the determination of 5TII is YES, the arm is considered too thin and the measurement is terminated.

From 5TIO, proceed to 5T12. At 5T12, the rapid exhaust valve 27 is closed. Then, the pressure pump 26 is turned on (ST13), and the cafe 1 is pressurized. 5T14
Then, it is determined whether the cuff pressure detected by the pressure sensor 23 has reached the target pressurization setting value. The target pressurization setting value is
A pressure sufficient to reblock the brachial artery, that is, a value slightly higher than the systolic blood pressure value, is required, for example, 170 mmHg.
is assumed to be a fixed value. If the determination at 5T14 is No, the device waits here and continues pressurizing the cuff 11.

If the determination of 5T14 is YES, branch to 5TI5,
The pressurizing pump 26 is stopped, and the slow exhaust valve 28 performs slow exhaust. Based on the pulse wave information obtained during this slow evacuation process, the systolic blood pressure value and diastolic blood pressure value are determined (
ST16). Note that this invention does not involve blood pressure value determination as a main part, so the details will be omitted. Alternatively, the cuff 11 may be equipped with a microphone to detect Korotkoff sounds and determine the blood pressure value, and the design can be changed as appropriate.

At 5T17, the measurement results are displayed on the displays 3a, 3b, and 3c, and at 5T18, the rapid exhaust valve 27 is opened and the cuff 11 is rapidly exhausted. 5TI9, the cuff pressure is 5
Determine whether it is less than mm1g, and if this determination is No,
Wait here and continue rapid exhaust.

If the determination at 5T19 is YES, it is assumed that the evacuation of the cuff 11 has ended, and the cuff drive motor 18 is driven in the direction in which the cuff 11 is opened. In Sr21, it is determined whether the cuff release switch 19 is on. When this determination is NO, the process waits here and continues to open the cuff 11, and when it is YES, the process branches to 5T22 to stop the cuff drive motor 18 and end the measurement.

Note that in the above embodiment, a total of three touch sensors are used, two on the armrest and one on the sub-armrest, but the number and arrangement of the touch sensors are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and the design can be changed as appropriate. It is.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the measurement is stopped if even one of the three touch sensors is not turned on, but the design may be changed as appropriate. be.

(v) As described in detail, the electronic blood pressure monitor of the present invention has one or more touch sensors on the armrest, and the armrest is configured to determine whether or not the arm is properly inserted based on the signal from the touch sensor. An insertion determining means is provided, and when the arm insertion determining means determines that the arm is not properly inserted, this is notified or the measurement is stopped. Therefore, even if the measurement start switch is pushed by mischief or carelessness while the arm is not inserted or something other than the arm is inserted, the cuff wrapping drive mechanism or the pressure pump can be configured so that it does not immediately operate. This has the advantage of preventing equipment failure. Further, it is possible to prevent fingers and the like from getting caught.

On the other hand, if the arm is not inserted in the correct position, or if the arm is inserted with the sleeves not rolled up or incompletely rolled up, this will be notified or the measurement will be stopped.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an electronic blood pressure monitor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the electronic blood pressure monitor, and FIG. , FIG. 4 is a block diagram explaining the circuit configuration of the electronic blood pressure monitor, and FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show the operation of the electronic blood pressure monitor. FIG. 6, which is a flowchart to be explained, is an external perspective view illustrating a conventional electronic surface pressure gauge. 9 Ni-Mrest, 11: Cuff, 10alOb
lOc: Touch sensor, 12: Cuff wrapping drive mechanism, 22: Sub armrest, 23: Pressure sensor, 26: Pressure pump, 27: Rapid exhaust valve, 28: Slow exhaust valve, 29: CPU. Patent Applicant Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Shigeru Nakamura Figure 3 Figure 5 (a) Figure 5 (b) Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An armrest that supports the inserted arm of the subject, a cuff that is wrapped around the arm supported on the armrest, a wrapping mechanism that wraps and drives the cuff, and a pressurizer that pressurizes the air inside the cuff. means, a decompression means for rapidly or slowly decompressing the air in the cuff, a pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure in the cuff, and from the subject's arm,
An electronic sphygmomanometer comprising a cardiovascular information detection means for detecting cardiovascular information, and a blood pressure value determination means for determining a blood pressure value based on the output signal of the pressure detection means and the cardiovascular information detection means, The electronic blood pressure monitor is characterized in that the armrest is provided with one or more touch sensors, and includes arm insertion determining means for determining whether or not the arm is properly inserted based on signals from the touch sensors.