JPH03121051A - Pneumatic pressure type aspiration movement detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To spread the operation range and improve precision by providing a bellows type extension/contraction member which is extended and contracted by the respiratory movement, operation characteristic adjusting air chamber joined with the extension/ contraction member, pressure detecting member for detecting the change of the internal pressure generated by the extension of the extension/contraction member and a valve for intake and exhaust which is installed in the air chamber. CONSTITUTION:A rubber tube 11 is extended to the degree free from the generation of slack and installed on a breast part and abdomen part. Though, in this case, the pressure in the rubber tube 11 is lower than the atmospheric pressure because of extension, and a negative pressure is generated, the air chamber 12 and 13 act to soften the sharp change of the internal pressure generated in accordance with the extension and contraction of the rubber tube 11. A valve 14 can change a measurement standard point by the opening and closing after the installation of the rubber tube 11. The internal pressure of a pressure sensor 17 in operation state is always negative pressure, and the variation range is small because of the function of the air chamber, the proper type of pressure sensors 17 can be used, for example the gauge pressure type, differential pressure type, etc. The change of the pressure generated by the extension of the rubber tube 11 is picked up by the pressure sensor 17.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a pneumatic respiratory motion detection device suitable for use when converting the amount of change in the chest, abdomen, etc. caused by respiratory motion into an air signal and outputting the signal. Regarding.

[Summary of the invention]

This invention provides a bellows-shaped cylindrical telescopic member that expands and contracts with breathing movements, and an operating characteristic tMiI' coupled to this telescopic member.
By being equipped with an air chamber for FF, a pressure detection means for detecting changes in internal pressure caused by the expansion of the expansion air chamber, and an intake and exhaust valve provided in the air chamber, it has a wide range of It is possible to obtain a high operating range and accuracy, reduce discomfort for the subject, and furthermore, the measurement reference point can be easily changed, greatly reducing the troublesomeness of wearing the device.

Generally, when measuring pressure, it is required to measure the pressure at a detection point more directly and accurately. Therefore, the air chamber (air reservoir) provided for pressure measurement is
For example, it plays a role as a buffer for the play required in design and manufacturing, such as a space for mounting a sensor, or for sudden changes in pressure. However, the air chamber of this device does not have such additional functions; the air chamber and the elastic member are functionally integrated, and the amount of displacement can be determined by measuring the overall pressure change. know. In this sense, the characteristics of this device are determined by the volume ratio of the expandable member and the air chamber. By taking advantage of this feature and changing the volume of the air chamber, there is no need to manufacture a telescopic member each time, which requires a great deal of effort to design, to match the size of the object to be measured.

[Conventional technology] There are two types of respiratory motion detection devices that utilize (the elasticity of) rubber tubes. The second type is a pneumatic type, which transmits changes in tube internal pressure caused by expansion and contraction of the tube to a metal bellows or pressure sensor directly connected to the pen, driving the pen respectively. be.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, the above-mentioned first type has a narrow range of operation (expansion and contraction), tends to form voids and bubbles, and has poor durability.In particular, mercury is heavy and easily loosens, and there is a high risk of breakage. There was a drawback.

In addition, the second type described above has drawbacks such as the bellows method, which directly drives the pen, so the device is always integrated, is susceptible to vibration, and is difficult to process so-called waveform data because it is not an electrical signal. Yes, with pressure sensor method,
The operating range was narrowed due to the internal pressure generated when the tube was stretched, giving the test subject a feeling of pressure.

By the way, the difference between a person's chest and abdominal circumferences at maximum exhalation (tube deflated) and maximum inhalation (tube extended) is determined by age, age,
It varies depending on gender, exercise experience, degree of obesity, etc.
Although the exact number is not clear, it is not uncommon for the average adult to have a height of 15 cm or more.

Therefore, the rubber tube used has a wide range of expansion and contraction, and the tensile force required when the tube is expanded and the contractile force generated when it contracts are small, so as not to give the subject an unpleasant feeling of pressure, and so as not to cause discomfort to the subject. , it is desirable that the range of force fluctuation be narrow.

However, the first type does not satisfy either of these requirements. If the shape of the tube is made larger in order to increase the expansion/contraction range, on the other hand, bubbles and slack will become more likely to occur, and accuracy will decrease.

The second type of bellows system eliminates the drawbacks of the first type by employing a large bellows-shaped tube, but it does have the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent to this system.

Although the second type of pressure sensor system eliminates the drawbacks of the bellows system, it also has the above-mentioned inherent problems. As a way to overcome this problem, if you install an intake/exhaust valve and open the valve for a short time with the tube slightly stretched, the capacity will increase (stretch) by the amount of air flowing in, and with less force ( It is possible to obtain the maximum extension length by reducing the feeling of pressure, but on the other hand, it becomes impossible to perform incremental contractions, which ultimately narrows the range of expansion and contraction. If the tube is made thicker, the number of ridges is increased, and the tube is lengthened to the limit where it can be worn, it becomes difficult to avoid loosening of the tube near maximum exhalation (contraction).

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic respiratory motion detection device that can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Means to solve the problem]

The pneumatic respiratory motion detection device according to the present invention includes a bellows-shaped cylindrical telescopic member (11) that expands and contracts with respiratory motion, and an air chamber (1) for adjusting operating characteristics coupled to the telescopic member (11).
2, 13), a pressure detection means (17) for detecting changes in internal pressure caused by expansion of the elastic member (11), and an intake/exhaust valve (14) provided in the air chamber (12). Configure.

[Effect]

With such a configuration, the present invention can obtain a wide operating range and precision that are not found in conventional detection devices, and at the same time can reduce discomfort for the subject. Furthermore, the measurement reference point can be easily changed, and by utilizing this, the troublesomeness of mounting can be significantly reduced.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of this embodiment, and in the figure,
Reference numeral (11) is, for example, a rubber tube as a bellows-shaped cylindrical telescopic member that expands and contracts with breathing movements, and has a bellows shape to widen the range of expansion and contraction.

(12) and (13) are air chambers for adjusting operating characteristics that are integrally provided at both ends of the rubber tube, and (14) is an air chamber (
12) is the intake/exhaust valve, (15) is the neck strap, (16) is the belt attachment, and (17) is the air chamber (1).
3) is a pressure sensor as a pressure detection means that is enclosed within the rubber tube (11) and detects changes in internal pressure generated by expansion of the rubber tube (11).

FIG. 2 functionally shows this embodiment, and parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and will be explained.

In FIG. 2, the rubber tube (11) is stretched to the extent that it does not loosen and is attached to the chest or abdomen.

At this time, the pressure inside the rubber tube (11) becomes lower than atmospheric pressure (negative pressure) due to the expansion. Air chamber (12),
(13) serves to soften the rapid changes in internal pressure that occur as the rubber tube (11) expands and contracts. Valve (1
In step 4), extend the rubber tube (11), install it, and then open and close it to set the measurement reference point to zero. That is, the measurement reference point can be changed by opening and closing the valve (14) after attaching the rubber tube (11). This eliminates the need to delicately adjust the tension of the rubber tube (11), thereby reducing the complexity of mounting. Pressure sensor (17)
The internal pressure is always negative when in operation, and its variation range is small due to the function of the air chamber, so a suitable pressure sensor (17) such as a gauge pressure type or a differential pressure type is used. This pressure sensor (F) allows the rubber tube (11
) to pick up changes in pressure caused by stretching.

Next, the method of measurement in this example will be explained. First, a bell (15) is hung around the subject's neck, and the belt (16) is shortened and the rubber tube (11) is stretched to the extent that it does not loosen, and then attached to the chest or abdomen. At this time, the pressure inside the rubber tube (11) becomes negative due to the stretching. Then, the valve (4) is opened, the measurement reference point is set to zero, and then the valve (4) is closed again. Then ask the subject to breathe. Then, a pressure change corresponding to the breathing is detected by a pressure sensor (17), converted into an electrical signal, and outputted to an output terminal (18).

The electrical signal taken out to the output terminal (18) is amplified by an amplifier (not shown) and then displayed on a CRT, printed out by a printer, or supplied to a computer and processed, or subjected to various signal processing. Served.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, by separating the metal parts such as the pressure sensor, it is possible to avoid hindrance to X-ray photography, etc. (
It is possible to measure respiratory movements. It can also be applied to measuring changes in volume of curved bodies (changes in volume of arms and legs, etc.).

A large operating range and accuracy can be obtained, and the discomfort of the subject can be reduced. Furthermore, since all fixed reference points can be easily changed, the troublesomeness of mounting can be significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram thereof. 11) is a bellows-shaped rubber tube, (12), (1
3) is an air chamber, (14) is a valve, and (17) is a pressure sensor. 〔Effect of the invention〕

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A bellows-shaped cylindrical telescopic member that expands and contracts with breathing movements, an air chamber for adjusting operating characteristics coupled to the telescopic member, and a device that detects changes in internal pressure caused by the expansion of the telescopic member. A pneumatic respiratory motion detection device comprising: a pressure detection means; and an intake/exhaust valve provided in the air chamber.