JPH0226964B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a detection device for detecting the breathing state of a living body, and in particular to a detection device for detecting the breathing state of a living body by electrically converting the amount of air movement by an air bag. This relates to a respiration detection device that can be used.

[Prior art]

Electrocardiographs are effectively used to determine a patient's health condition, but when respiratory problems are involved, it is necessary to know the condition of the respiratory organs (lungs). The state of this respiratory organ can be understood by knowing the state of respiration (eg, respiratory rate, respiratory waveform).

By the way, when a living body breathes, the chest or abdomen moves. In other words, the movement of the chest or abdomen can be said to represent the state of breathing. Therefore, if we can somehow capture the movement of the chest or abdomen,
By detecting and recording the state of breathing, it is possible to know the state of the respiratory organs (lungs).

This is an extremely effective non-invasive monitoring method that does not require actual surgery to know the inside of the lungs.

From this point of view, impedance methods, nasal thermistor methods, and the like have conventionally been used to monitor a patient's respiratory state. The former impedance method determines the state of breathing by measuring the impedance of the surface of the body. That is, the impedance generated on the skin surface of the body changes as a result of breathing exercise, and the state of breathing is detected based on this change value.

The latter nasal thermistor system uses a small thermometer attached to the nasal cavity to measure changes in ambient temperature when breathing through the nose to determine the state of breathing.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' By the way, it is possible to know the patient's breathing condition using this method. However, for example, the impedance method has low respiratory sensitivity;
There were problems in that it was difficult to accurately detect breathing conditions, such as when breathing was shallow, and that it was often used in conjunction with electrocardiograph electrodes, so the mounting positions were limited.

In addition, the nasal thermistor method requires a thermistor (thermometer) to be attached to the nose, which has the disadvantage of being unsightly and causing pain if used for a long period of time.

``Means for Solving the Problems'' Therefore, the present invention has been made by focusing on the above problems, and includes a sponge 2 that can expand and contract in response to the expansion and contraction of the chest or abdomen of a living body, and the present invention. A sponge cover 3 covers the sponge 2 to prevent the air contained in the foamed portion of the sponge 2 from escaping from the foamed portion, and a sponge cover 3 guides the airflow generated by expansion and contraction of the sponge 2. an air bag 1 equipped with an air guide tube 5 for the purpose of an electret condenser microphone 9 having a field effect transistor 15 that reads capacitance changes as voltage changes; In this case, the air bag detector 7 is equipped with a depressurizing film 10 for preventing the vibrating membrane 12 from being mechanically saturated, and the air bag 1 expands and contracts with breathing to move air. To obtain a respiration detection device which can detect respiration easily and with high sensitivity by providing a respiration detection device in which the air movement amount is electrically converted by an air bag detector 7 to determine the respiration state. The purpose of this is to solve the above problems.

``Embodiment'' Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, how the configuration of the present invention consisting of an air bag 1 and an air bag detector 7 is actually implemented will be explained along with its operation.

First, the structure of the air bag 1, which is in close contact with the chest or abdomen of a living body and expands and contracts in response to the expansion and contraction of the chest and abdomen to move air, will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire air bag, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of FIG. This air bag 1 includes a sponge 2, a sponge cover 3 made of vinyl chloride, a collar piece 4, and an air guide pipe 5.

Further, to explain in detail the structure of the air bag 1, the sponge 2 of the air bag 1 is made of a soft and elastic polyurethane synthetic resin in which many continuous bubbles are formed. A sponge cover 3 made of vinyl chloride covers the entire circumferential surface of the sponge 2 to prevent the air contained in the continuous foam from escaping. The sponge 2 covered with the sponge cover 3 is brought into close contact with the chest or abdomen of the human body, and the sponge 2 expands and contracts in response to the movements of the chest and abdomen as the human body breathes. That is, as the chest and abdomen expand and contract, the air existing in the foam inside the sponge 2 surrounded by the sponge cover 3 becomes an air flow and flows through the air guide tube 5 as shown in FIG. It can be pushed out through the tube or pulled back as shown in FIG.

A collar piece 4 protrudes from the peripheral wall of the sponge cover 3 surrounding the sponge 2.
The air guide pipe 5 extends from one end of the air guide pipe 5, and an air connector 6 is attached to the other end of the air guide pipe 5. This air connector 6 is the fifth
6, the air guide tube 5 is connected to an air bag detector 7 for detecting the movement of air due to the expansion and contraction of the sponge 2 and converting it into an electrical signal. It is for.

Next, the structure of the air bag 7 for electrically converting the movement of air will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a cylindrical air connector outer cylinder. An electret condenser microphone 9 is fitted downwardly into the lower part of the air connector outer cylinder 8, and an electric condenser microphone 9 is fitted between the air connector outer cylinder 8 and the electret condenser microphone. An air chamber 8a is formed therein.

This electric condenser microphone 9 has a cylindrical electric condenser microphone outer tube 1.
A vibrating membrane 12, a spacer 13, a return electrode plate 14 and a field effect transistor 15 are housed inside the 1.
The lower part is closed by a substrate 16.
In addition, electret condenser microphone outer cylinder 1
A vacuum film 10 is placed on top of the film 1 .

The vibrating membrane 12 is strained by the amount of movement of air introduced into the air chamber 8a through the air guide tube 5 due to the expansion and contraction of the air bag 1, and a change in capacitance occurs between the vibrating membrane 12 and the return electrode plate 14. The change in capacitance is read as a voltage change by passing it through a field effect transistor, and is displayed as the number of respirations and a waveform by a device (not shown). By the way, the vibrating membrane 12 of the electret condenser microphone 9
Since the amount of strain that can be exerted is determined by its shape, if the amount of air movement exceeds the strain, it will become mechanically saturated, causing saturation in the output voltage.

In order to avoid this, a decompression film 10 is pasted in front of the vibrating membrane 12, and this decompression film 10
Sensitivity can be easily adjusted by changing the thickness and material.

Next, a method of using the respiration detection device consisting of the air bag 1 and the air bag detection device 7 will be explained. First, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the air bag 1 is tightly attached to the abdomen of a human body using adhesive tape. The air bag 1 that is in close contact with the person expands and contracts as the abdomen expands and contracts as the person breathes.
That is, when the abdomen expands as shown in FIG. 9, the air bag 1 is compressed and compressed, and the air contained within the air bag 1 is passed through the air guide tube 5 to the air bag detector as shown in FIG. 7
into the air chamber 8a. The air sent into the air chamber 8a passes through the decompression film 10 to the vibrating membrane 12.
Press.

When the abdomen contracts as shown in FIG. 10, the air bag 1 inflates, and when the air bag 1 inflates, the air that has been sent into the air bag detector 7 passes through the air guide tube 5 as shown in FIG. The air bag 1 is pulled back in this manner, and the vibrating membrane 12 is also returned to its original position. This movement (strain) of the vibrating membrane 12 causes a capacitance change between it and the return electrode plate 14, and this capacitance change is detected as a voltage change through the field effect transistor 15, and this voltage change is displayed on a display (not shown). The respiratory status can be detected by visually checking the number and waveform.

This respiration detection device is not only used to detect respiration, but can also be effectively applied to the detection of carotid artery waves, fingertip pulse waves, and apical heart beats by being in close contact with the upper surface of the carotid skin.

``Effects of the Present Invention'' As explained above, according to the present invention, the air bag is used to detect the breathing state, so that electricity is not conducted to the skin surface of the living body, and as a result, it is electrically insulated. safety is good.

Furthermore, since the air flow caused by the expansion and contraction of the air bag is detected by the air bag detector, there are advantages such as good detection sensitivity and the ability to accurately detect the state of breathing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of an air bag according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of essential parts of the air bag, FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of FIG. 2, and FIG.
6 is a sectional view of the main parts of a respiration detection device consisting of an air bag and an air bag detector, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the air bag detector, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the air bag detector, and FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the air bag in close contact with the abdomen of a human body. 1... Air bag, 2... Sponge, 3... Sponge cover, 5... Air guide tube, 7... Air bag detector, 9... Electreted condenser microphone,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Film for pressure reduction, 12... Vibration membrane, 14... Return electrode, 15... Field effect transistor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sponge 2 that can expand and contract in response to the expansion and contraction of the chest or abdomen of a living body, and a sponge 2 that prevents the air contained in the foamed portion of the sponge 2 from escaping from the foamed portion. An air bag 1 includes a sponge cover 3 covering the sponge 2, an air guide pipe 5 for guiding air flow generated by the expansion and contraction of the sponge 2, and an air bag 1 that receives the amount of air movement caused by the expansion and contraction of the air bag 1. an electret condenser microphone 9 having a vibrating membrane 12 that causes a capacitance change between it and a strain return electrode 14; and a field effect transistor 15 that reads this capacitance change as a voltage change; and an air bag detection film 10 for preventing mechanical saturation of the diaphragm 12 when the amount of air movement exceeds the strain of the diaphragm 12. The air bag 1 expands and contracts with breathing to move air, and the air bag detector 7 electrically converts the amount of air movement to detect the state of breathing. Device.