JPH03141925A - Hemadynamometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a light and compact hemadynamometer capable of measuring blood pressure easily and simply by providing a heating means to heat and contract a shape memory material, and a pressure measuring means provided in a fitting member to contact with the subject part for measurement. CONSTITUTION:Magic tapes 10a, 10b are applied against the resiliency of a shape memory alloy material 6 adjusting their positions corresponding to the thickness of an arm in such a way that a pressure sensor 2 positioned almost at the center of the underside of a hemadynamometer 12 is applied to the inside part of an elbow of the left arm. By pushing a start button 5 against a spring 4 in this condition, a paper battery 1 energizes heater 7. By releasing a hand from the start button 5, the start button 5 is pushed up by the force of the spring 4, the heater 7 and the paper battery 1 become discontinuous, and the heater 7 stops heat generation. The shape memory alloy 6 thus expands, while the pressure of the hemadynamometer 12 on a blood vessel is decreased gradually. In this process, the highest blood pressure and the lowest blood pressure measured by the pressure sensor 2 are displayed in a liquid crystal display panel 3 respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a blood pressure monitor, and more particularly to a blood pressure monitor using a shape memory material.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, commonly used blood pressure monitors measure blood pressure using air pressure, and therefore require a pump function to pressurize air. For this reason, a bag-shaped mounting member wound around the part to be measured and the pump are connected by a tube serving as an air passage.

[Problem to be solved by the invention 8J However, there is a problem in that it is very inconvenient in terms of usability when the mounting member and the pump are connected through a tube. Furthermore, since the blood pressure monitor was equipped with a pump, there was a problem in that the entire blood pressure monitor was large and heavy.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light and compact blood pressure monitor that can easily and easily measure blood pressure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the blood pressure monitor of the present invention includes a mounting member that is wound around and attached to the part to be measured, and a mounting member that is included in the mounting member and is expandable and contractible depending on the temperature. It includes a shape memory material, a heat generating means for heating and contracting the shape memory material, and a pressure measuring means provided on the mounting member so as to be in contact with the portion to be measured.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, a mounting member containing a shape memory material that is expandable and contractible depending on the temperature is wound around the part to be measured. The heat generating means heats the shape memory material, causing it to expand and contract, thereby compressing the blood vessels. Thereafter, the heat generating means is caused to stop generating heat, and as the shape memory material relaxes, the pressure measuring means provided on the mounting member so as to be in contact with the measurement target portion is caused to measure the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration of the blood pressure monitor of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

A pressure sensor 2 is provided on the bottom surface of the paper battery 1 which is flexible and planar, and a start button 5 containing a liquid crystal display panel 3 and a spring 4 is provided on the top surface of the paper battery 1, which is substantially in the center of the paper battery 1. . Below the start button 5 is a contact point 13 between the heater 7 and the paper battery 1.
a and 13b, which are electrically connected when the start button 5 is pressed. At both ends of the upper surface of the paper battery 1, a curved wire-like shape memory alloy 6 is stored in a contracted state, and a heater 7 is arranged so as to be entangled with the shape memory alloy 6. 6
It is arranged in a similar shape. This heater 7 is connected to the paper battery 1 and the start button 5, and when the start button 5 is pressed, power is supplied from the paper battery 1 to generate heat. Almost the center of the paper battery 1 is covered with a flexible cover 8 to contain these, and both ends of the center are covered with bellows-shaped covers 9 which are flexible and extendable. Furthermore, Velcro tapes 10a and 10b are provided on the upper surface of one end and the lower surface of one end of the bellows-shaped cover 9.
10b, and diagonally contact points 11a, ll.
b is provided to protrude slightly from the ends of the hair of the Velcro tapes 10a and 10b. When these two contacts 11a and llb come into contact, the paper battery 1 and the heater 7 are electrically connected.

Next, the operation of the blood pressure monitor of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

First, the pressure sensor 2 located at the center of the back side of the blood pressure monitor 12
However, like a general blood pressure monitor, the blood pressure monitor 12 is wrapped around the left arm 13 so that it touches the inside of the elbow of the left arm. At this time,
In order to prevent a gap between the arm 13 and the blood pressure monitor 12 as much as possible, the position of the Velcro tapes 10a and 10b is adjusted according to the thickness of the arm while resisting the elasticity of the shape memory alloy 6.
Attach. Then, the Velcro tape 10a, 10b
The contacts 11a and 11b provided in the above contact so as to cross each other. The contacts 11a and 11b are provided in opposite diagonal directions so as to be in contact with each other regardless of the thickness or misalignment of the arms. In this state, when the start button 5 is pressed against the spring 4, the heater 7 and the paper battery 1 become electrically conductive.
Power is supplied to the heater 7 from the paper battery 1, and the heater 7 generates heat. Then, the shape memory alloy 6 surrounding the heater 7 is heated. When heated to a certain temperature, the shape memory alloy 6 is memorized to return to the state shown in FIG. 7(b). Due to the heat of the heater 7, the shape memory alloy 6 is stretched when wrapped around the left arm 13, as shown in FIG. 7(a). from the state to the state shown in Fig. 7(b),
It returns against the elasticity of the blood vessels and muscles in the arm. At this time, the bellows-shaped cover 9 and the paper battery 1 are elastic and can be shrunk like the shape memory alloy 6. Next, when you release your hand from the start button 5 in this state, the start button 5 is pushed up by the force of the spring 4, and the heater 7
Then, the paper battery 1 becomes non-conductive and the heater 7 stops generating heat. Then, the heater 7 and the shape memory alloy 6 cool down little by little due to natural heat radiation, and the force of the shape memory alloy 6 trying to return to its contracted state and the outward pressure of the blood vessels and muscles of the arm trying to return to their contracted state are combined with each other. The shape memory alloy 6 gradually expands in balance under the temperature conditions, and the blood pressure monitor 12
The pressure exerted on blood vessels gradually decreases. During this process, the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure measured by the pressure sensor 2 are each displayed on the liquid crystal display board 3, similar to a conventional blood pressure monitor, so that the values can be confirmed.

Furthermore, as described above, the heater 7 and the paper battery 1 will not be electrically connected unless the blood pressure monitor 12 is wrapped around the left arm 13 and the contacts 11a and llb are brought into contact with each other. Even if heater 7
It also acts as a safety feature as it does not generate heat.

The method of charging the paper battery 1 is to use household 100V from the terminal of the paper battery 1 (not shown).
The battery may be charged using a power source, or a solar cell may be provided in a part of the cover 8, and the battery may be charged using the solar cell. paper·
The battery 1 may not be used and the heater may be connected to an external power source.

Moreover, not only a pressure sensor but also a sensor such as a temperature sensor may be provided to measure body temperature and pulse.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

For example, the shape memory material may be a resin instead of an alloy.

Furthermore, the heater does not have to have the same shape as the shape memory material.

Further, the notification means may also be a light emitting diode or a device that emits sound instead of a liquid crystal display panel.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, pressure is applied to blood vessels by the expansion and contraction of the shape memory material.
This eliminates the need for devices such as pumps and tubes, makes it possible to measure blood pressure simply and easily, and provides a light and compact blood pressure monitor, which is a significant benefit to industry.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 7 show embodiments embodying the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a blood pressure monitor, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of the blood pressure monitor in a state where it can be measured by wrapping it around the arm, Figure 3 is a sectional view of the operating section, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the extendable part, and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the operating section.
The figure is a connection diagram of the entire circuit, FIG. 6 is a time chart when the heater is energized, and FIG. 7 is a state diagram of the heater and shape memory alloy at the positions indicated by the respective symbols in FIG. 6. In the figure, 1 is a paper battery, 2 is a pressure sensor, 3
is a liquid crystal display board, 5 is a start button, 6 is a shape memory alloy, 7 is a heater, 10a and 10b are Velcro tapes, ll
a and llb are contacts, and 12 is a blood pressure monitor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A mounting member that is wound around and attached to a part to be measured, a shape memory material that is included in the mounting member and is expandable and contractible according to temperature, and the shape memory material is heated and contracted. A blood pressure monitor comprising: a heat generating means; and a pressure measuring means provided on the mounting member so as to be in contact with the measured portion.