JPH05168602A - Continuous heart beat monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the power consumption of a transmitting part for transmitting an emergency signal in accordance with necessity to a receiver for receiving a heart beat signal from a heart beat detector attached to the body of an object person to be monitored and deciding its abnormality, and executing a notice processing at the time when abnormality of a heart beat is generated. CONSTITUTION:In a transmitter 2, an arithmetic part 35 for predicting and calculating a receiving timing of the next heart beat signal received by a receiving part is provided, whether an EH receiving part 31 receives a heart beat signal (c) at the receiving timing obtained by this arithmetic part 35 or not is decided, and in the case the heart beat signal (c) is received continuously by a prescribed number of times at the predicted receiving timing, this system is shifted to a power economizing mode in which a driving electric conduction to the EH receiving part 31 is stopped until the next predicted receiving timing by an operating signal (d). In such a state, in the case the heart beat signal (c) is not received at the predicted receiving timing in this power economizing mode, mode control is executed in order that this system is migrated immediately to a regular mode for always executing the driving electric conduction to the EH receiving part 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a constant heartbeat monitor system for constantly monitoring the heartbeat of a person to be monitored and detecting any abnormality in the heartbeat and giving appropriate notification.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional continuous heartbeat monitor system is not a completely unhealthy body, but is carried by people who have a low degree of heart disease and who must constantly monitor their heartbeats. If the heart rate is abnormal, the transmitter immediately sends an emergency signal to the receiver connected to, for example, a telephone, and the central control system installed in the hospital, etc. It is supposed to report.

[0003]

However, while the size of the transmitter is limited from the viewpoint of portability, it has a configuration in which the heart rate abnormality is constantly judged and an emergency signal is transmitted if necessary. Since it has become a lot of power consumption,
Since the battery serving as a power source has a short life, the battery has to be replaced frequently.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is a transmitter that is always carried by a person to be monitored and transmits an emergency signal by judging an abnormal heart rate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a constant heartbeat monitor system capable of reducing the power consumption of the battery and extending the life of the battery serving as the power source.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Actions That is, the present invention has a receiving section for receiving a heartbeat signal transmitted from a heartbeat detector mounted directly on the body of a person to be monitored, and a receiving section for receiving the heartbeat signal. An emergency signal is sent to the abnormality determination unit that determines the heartbeat abnormality of the monitored person based on the heartbeat signal, and to the receiver that performs notification processing when a heartbeat abnormality occurs when the abnormality determination unit determines that the heartbeat abnormality of the monitored person is detected. In a transmitting unit having a transmitting unit for transmitting, a calculating unit for predicting and calculating a receiving timing of the next heartbeat signal received by the receiving unit is provided, and the first timing is calculated by the receiving timing obtained by the calculating unit.
Determines whether or not the heartbeat signal has been received by the receiving unit, and if the heartbeat signal is continuously received a predetermined number of times at the predicted reception timing, the first energizing unit is driven to energize the driving unit. If the heartbeat signal is not received at the predicted reception timing during this power saving mode, the drive power supply to the first receiver is immediately energized. The mode is controlled so as to shift to the normal mode that always performs, and while it is judged that the heartbeat is stable, it automatically shifts to the power saving mode and it is predicted that the next heartbeat signal will be received. It is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption by stopping the operation of the receiving unit until the timing.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic external configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a body of a monitored subject, where a heartbeat can be reliably detected, for example, directly on the lower left chest. A detector that is attached and sends the detected heartbeat signal by electromagnetic induction (indicated as "EM" in the figure), 2 is attached to the monitored person's left wrist, for example, and the heartbeat signal from the detector 1 by electromagnetic induction The heart rate is displayed and the heart rate signal is error-corrected and stabilized to make a heartbeat abnormality determination. If there is an abnormality, an emergency signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred is sent to the carrier frequency (Fig. Then "R
F)) to be transmitted by radio, 3 is connected to, for example, a telephone 4, and one or a plurality of transmitters 2
It is a receiver that receives an abnormality occurrence signal superimposed on the carrier frequency sent from the device and energizes and informs a doctor or a nurse, and one embodiment of the present invention by these detector 1, transmitter 2 and receiver 3 An example constant heart rate monitoring system is configured.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the detector 1 and the transmitter 2 are attached to the person 5 to be monitored. As shown in the figure, the detector 1 is fixedly mounted on the lower left chest, which is a region where the heartbeat of the monitored person 5 can be reliably detected by the band 6 and the like, and the detector 1 is projected on the surface thereof. A pair of electrodes is adapted to contact the skin just above the heart.
The heartbeat detected by the detector 1 is converted into a signal and transmitted by electromagnetic induction within an effective range of, for example, 70 to 80 cm, and the signal due to this electromagnetic induction was worn on the left arm / wrist of the monitored person 5. Received by wristwatch transmitter 2.

The transmitter 2 performs noise removal and interpolation error correction on the received heartbeat signal due to electromagnetic induction,
After that, the heart rate is calculated and it is judged whether there is an abnormality such as arrhythmia.If there is an abnormality, an emergency signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred to the receiver 3 not shown here is superimposed on the carrier frequency and transmitted wirelessly. To do. Next, specific circuit configurations of the detector 1 and the transmitter 2 will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of an electronic circuit provided in the detector 1. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a heartbeat detecting unit, which amplifies the myoelectric potential difference of the human body obtained from the pair of electrodes abutted on the relevant part of the monitored person 5 and filters it to generate a heartbeat signal a, which is transmitted by EM. Output to the control unit 12.

The EM transmission controller 12 has an oscillation circuit inside.
A heartbeat signal a from the heartbeat detector 11 is subjected to noise removal and interpolation error correction, and a heartbeat signal b is provided with a resistor 15a. To the base electrode of the NPN-type transistor 16 via.

A capacitor 17 is connected between the collector electrode and the emitter electrode of the transistor 16, the collector electrode is connected to one end of an electromagnetic induction coil 18, and the emitter electrode is connected to the EM transmission controller 12. .. The voltage Vcc is applied to the other end of the electromagnetic induction coil 18 and one end of the capacitor 20 via the resistor 19, and the other end of the capacitor 20 is connected to the emitter electrode of the transistor 16.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration inside the transmitter 2. In the figure, the electromagnetic induction by the electromagnetic induction coil 18 of the detector 1 is frequency-selected and received by the electromagnetic induction coil 32 connected in parallel with the capacitor 33 in the EM receiving unit 31, and the EM
The pulse signal is converted into a pulse signal by the receiving unit 31 and the CPU is used as the heartbeat signal c
Sent to 34.

The CPU 34 controls the operation of each circuit in the transmitter 2 in response to the heartbeat signal c from the EM receiver 31, and calculates the heart rate and predicts the reception timing of the next heartbeat signal c. Calculation unit 35, timekeeping unit that performs timekeeping operation
36 、 Flag register for holding the operation mode state
37, a heart rate register (shown as “HR” in the figure) 38 that holds heart rate data, a register unit 39 that holds various control data, and a time and heart rate are displayed on a display unit 40 that is composed of a liquid crystal display element. The display data such as the number is output to the RF transmission unit 41 as an emergency signal.

The flag register section 37 is a normal mode flag register (shown as "N" in the figure) which sets a flag "1" in the normal mode in which the reception operation by the EM receiving section 31 is always executed. A rest mode flag register (indicated as "R" in the figure) that sets a flag "1" in the "rest mode" in which the reception operation of the EM receiver 31 is stopped until it is predicted to be received, A sleep mode flag register (shown as "S" in the figure) which is set to a flag "1" in the sleep mode in which the reception operation of the EM receiver 31 is stopped intermittently during that time By recognizing the set state of each flag of the flag register section 37, C
The PU 34 stops the transmission of the operation signal d to the EM receiving unit 31 as needed, and temporarily stops the operation.

Further, the register unit 39 has an x register 39a for judging whether or not the heart rate is stable, a t register 39b for holding a reception interval of the heartbeat signal c, and a time when the heartbeat signal c is received this time. Is provided, and a tn register 39c for holding the tn register 39c for holding the predicted reception time of the next heartbeat signal c calculated by calculation.

Although not shown in the figure, the heart rate register 38 is a FIFO type register and has a multi-stage configuration.
Most recently obtained heart rate data, for example 10
It is designed to hold one piece in a row.

Further, the tn register in the register unit 39
Although not shown in the figure, 39c has a two-stage structure, and the reception time data "tn" of this time and the same data "tn-1" of the previous time.
Can be stored and stored. The RF transmitter 40 is a CPU
The emergency signal sent from 34 is superimposed on the carrier frequency and transmitted to the receiver 3 not shown here. Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the above "normal mode" and "rest mode".
And the transition state between "sleep mode".
As shown in the same figure, when a "normal mode" for constant reception is executed and a constant heart rate is obtained n times during reception, the "rest mode" is entered.

This "rest mode" is based on the assumption that the monitored person 5 is in a non-moving state. The timing at which the heartbeat signal is received next is predicted by calculation, and the heartbeat signal is next received after the heartbeat signal is received. Until the estimated time that will be received,
The operation of the EM receiver 31 is stopped. And
In the "rest mode", when a constant heart rate is obtained m times in succession, the "sleep mode" is entered next.

This "sleep mode" is intended for the sleeping state of the monitored person 5, and is not adopted depending on the application such as when the monitored person 5 has a heart disease. It may be prohibited. Then, in the "sleep mode", for example, the operation in the "rest mode" and the state of completely stopping the EM receiving unit 31 are repeatedly executed in a cycle of several minutes.

The "rest mode" and "sleep mode" described above
In any of the above cases, if the heartbeat signal c cannot be received at the predicted timing, or if it is determined that the heartbeat rate fluctuates significantly, the "normal mode" is immediately returned. .. Next, the reception processing of the heartbeat signal c by the CPU 34 in each of the "rest mode" and the "sleeping mode" will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the EM receiver in the "rest mode".
The content of the reception process of the heartbeat signal c from 31 is shown. When the heartbeat signal c is received from the EM receiver 31, the CPU 34
First, as shown in step A1, first, the time data at the time when the heartbeat signal c is received is fetched from the clock unit 36, and this is stored in the tn register 39c of the register unit 39 at the present reception time "t
It is retained as "n".

Next, at step A2, the CPU 34
It is determined whether or not the current reception time "tn" held in the n register 39c is equal to the predicted time held in the tf register 39d during the previous reception process. In this case, CPU34
Is a heart rate variability allowance value “tm” (not shown) stored inside.
”, It is judged to be the predicted time if the current reception time“ tn ”held in the tn register 39c is within the range of“ tm ”before and after the predicted time held in the tf register 39d. In step A3, the operation of receiving the heartbeat signal c by the EM receiver 31 is temporarily stopped.

FIG. 8 shows "normal mode" to "rest mode".
It shows the reception stopped state immediately after the shift to. As shown in the figure, assuming that the CPU 34 has stably received the heartbeat signal c at the time interval "T" until then, even after shifting to the "rest mode", from the time when the pulse of the heartbeat signal c is received. While the time "T-tm" has elapsed, the operation signal d to the EM receiver 31 is stopped to temporarily stop the operation.

While executing this stop processing, the CPU 34
Causes the arithmetic unit 35 to subtract the previous reception time data "tn-1" from the current reception time data "tn" held in the tn register 39c as shown in step A4, and the difference is added to the new time interval. The data is held in the t register 39b as data.

After that, the CPU 34 uses the constant "60 (seconds)" as the divisor of the reception interval data held in the t register 39b in step A5 to execute the operation "60 / T" in the operation unit 35, and obtain the quotient. It is held in the heart rate register 38 as the heart rate data "HRn" corresponding to the current one minute heart rate.

Then, in step A6, the x register 39a for judging whether or not the heart rate is stable is updated and set to "+1", and in step A7, the updated x register is set.
It is determined whether or not the content of 39a becomes a constant "m" held in the CPU 34.

If it is determined that the constant "m" has not been reached yet, then in step A8, the latest 10 consecutive heart rate data "HRn" held in the heart rate register 38 are stored.
~ HRn-9 "and the reception time data" tn "of this time held in the tn register 39c, the arithmetic unit 35 calculates a predicted time at which the next heartbeat signal c is received, and the predicted time is held in the tf register 39d. .. Then, in step A9, the process waits until the next pulse of the heartbeat signal c is actually received, and if it is determined that there is a pulse, the process from step A1 is repeated.

In step A2, there is no current reception time "tn" held in the tn register 39c within the range "tm" before and after the predicted time held in the tf register 39d, and the heartbeat signal c is the predicted time. When it is determined that the signal is received out of the range, the CPU 34 next proceeds to step A10, where the x register
The content of 39a is cleared to "0" and the following step A1
At 1, the flag "1" is newly set in the normal mode flag register of the flag register unit 37, and "0" is set in the rest mode flag register instead of the previous flag "1". Return to the reception processing state of.

In addition, x which is updated and set in the above step A7
When determining that the content of the register 39a has become the constant "m" held in the CPU 34, the CPU 34 then clears the content of the x register 39a to "0" in step A12, and in the subsequent step A13, the flag register unit. 37
A new flag "1" in the sleeping mode flag register of
The same mode flag "1" is stored in the rest mode flag register.
Instead, after setting "0" respectively, it shifts to the reception processing state of "sleep mode".

FIG. 7 shows the contents of the receiving process of the heartbeat signal c from the EM receiver 31 in the "sleep mode". When the heartbeat signal c is received from the EM receiver 31, the CPU
First, as shown in step B1, the 34 takes in the time data at the time when the heartbeat signal c is received from the clock unit 36, and stores this in the tn register 39c of the register unit 39 for the current reception time "t".
n ”.

Next, in step B2, the CPU 34 determines whether or not the reception of the heartbeat signal c is the first one after the "sleep mode", depending on whether or not the content of the x register 39a is "0". To do.

When the content of the x register 39a is "0", the CPU 34 suspends the processing regarding the predicted time for the reception of the current heartbeat signal c in order to stabilize the operation, and then x in step B12. After updating and setting the content of the register 39a to "+1" and setting it to "1", the process waits until the pulse of the heartbeat signal c is received in step B13, and if it is determined that there is a pulse, the process from step B1 is repeated again. Run.

When receiving the heartbeat signal c for the second time after the shift to the "sleep mode", the time data at the time when the heartbeat signal c is received in step B1 is stored in the tn register 39c as the current reception time "tn". ", And hold it as step B2.
After determining that the content of the x register 39a is not "0" in step B3, the current reception time "tn" held in the tn register 39c in step B3 and the predicted time held in the previous reception process in the tf register 39d Judge whether are equal. If it is determined that the predicted time has come, the CPU 34 temporarily stops the operation of receiving the heartbeat signal c by the EM receiver 31 in step B4.

FIG. 9 shows "rest mode" to "sleep mode".
It shows the reception stopped state immediately after the shift to. As shown in the figure, the CPU 34 has been causing the EM receiving unit 31 to perform the receiving operation by the operation signal d only until a specific time period when the heartbeat signal c is predicted to be received in the "rest mode". Even after the shift to the "sleep mode", the operation in the "rest mode" is continued only once at the beginning, and thereafter, the EM receiver 31 is operated for a predetermined time, for example, while receiving two pulses of the heartbeat signal c. The operation signal d is stopped continuously and the operation is stopped, and thereafter, the operation stop state and the operation in the "rest mode" are repeatedly executed for every two pulses of the heartbeat signal c.

The CPU 34 executes the stop processing in step B4 and, as shown in step B5, the CPU 34
The arithmetic unit 35 subtracts the previous reception time data "tn-1" from the current reception time data "tn" held in 39c, and the difference is used as new time interval data in the t register 39.
b.

Thereafter, the CPU 34 uses the constant "60 (seconds)" as the divisor of the reception interval data held in the t register 39b in step B6 to execute the operation "60 / T" in the operation unit 35, and obtain the quotient. It is held in the heart rate register 38 as the heart rate data "HRn" corresponding to the current one minute heart rate.

Next, the CPU 34 stores the current heart rate data "HRn" stored in the heart rate register 38 in step B7.
] And the previous same data “HRn-1” absolute value “|
HRn-HRn-1 | "is calculated by the calculation unit 35, and in the subsequent step B8, it is determined whether the heart rate fluctuates greatly depending on whether the calculated value is larger or smaller than a predetermined value.

If it is judged to be small, it is judged that there is no abnormality in the heartbeat at that time, and then the process proceeds to step B9 and the latest 10 consecutive heartbeat data "HRn to HRn-" held in the heartbeat register 38. 9 "and tn register
The predicted time at which the next heartbeat signal c is received is calculated by the calculation unit 35 from the current reception time data "tn" held in 39c, and this is held in the tf register 39d. After that, in step B10, the process waits until the next pulse of the heartbeat signal c is actually received, and if it is determined that there is a pulse, the processing from step B1 is repeated again.

Further, for example, for the reason that the monitored person 5 wakes up from a sleeping state, the above step B
If it is determined in 3 that the heartbeat signal c is received after the predicted time, or if it is determined in step B8 that the heart rate fluctuates significantly, the CPU 34 then proceeds to step B11.
Then, a new flag "1" is set in the normal mode flag register of the flag register section 37, and "0" is set in the same sleeping mode flag register instead of the previous flag "1". Return to the reception processing state.

As described above, by shifting from the "normal mode" to the "rest mode" and from the "rest mode" to the "sleeping mode", the CPU 34 is sequentially operated by the EM receiver 31.
To effectively use the battery that is the power source of the transmitter 2 by gradually stopping the operating state in response to the operating signal d to suppress the useless power consumption in the EM receiving unit 31 in the reception standby state. You can

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the receiving unit for receiving the heartbeat signal transmitted from the heartbeat detector directly attached to the body of the person to be monitored, and the receiving unit for receiving the heartbeat signal. An emergency signal is sent to the abnormality determination unit that determines the heartbeat abnormality of the monitored person based on the heartbeat signal, and to the receiver that performs notification processing when a heartbeat abnormality occurs when the abnormality determination unit determines that the heartbeat abnormality of the monitored person is detected. In a transmission unit having a transmission unit for transmitting, a calculation unit for predicting and calculating the reception timing of the next heartbeat signal received by the reception unit is provided, and the first reception unit uses the reception timing obtained by this calculation unit. It is determined whether or not the heartbeat signal has been received, and when the heartbeat signal is continuously received a predetermined number of times at the predicted reception timing, the drive energization to the first receiving unit can be obtained by the arithmetic unit. Predictive reception of If the heartbeat signal is not received at the reception timing predicted during this power saving mode, the power saving mode that stops until the imming is entered. The mode is controlled so that it automatically shifts to the power saving mode while it is determined that the heartbeat is stable, and until the timing when it is predicted that the next heartbeat signal will be received. It is possible to provide a constant heartbeat monitor system that can stop the operation of the above to suppress unnecessary power consumption, reduce the power consumption of the transmitter, and extend the life of the battery serving as the power source.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing how the detector and transmitter of FIG. 1 are attached to a person to be monitored.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of a detector.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of a receiver.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a transition state of each operation mode.

6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a reception process in a rest mode by the CPU of FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing the content of a reception process in a sleep mode by the CPU of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing a reception stopped state immediately after shifting from the normal mode to the rest mode.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing a reception stopped state immediately after shifting from the rest mode to the sleep mode.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Detector, 2 ... Transmitter, 3 ... Receiver, 4 ... Telephone, 5
… Monitored people, 6… Band, 11… Heartbeat detector, 12… E
M transmission control section, 12a ... Oscillation circuit, 18, 32 ... Electromagnetic induction coil, 31 ... EM reception section, 34 ... CPU, 35 ... Calculation section, 36 ... Clock section, 37 ... Flag register section, 38 ... Heart rate register ( H
R), 39 ... Register section, 39a ... x register, 39b ... t register, 39c ... tn register, 39d ... tf register, 40
… Display, 41… RF transmitter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Attached directly to the body of the person being monitored,
A heartbeat detector having a detecting means for detecting the heartbeat, and a first transmitting means for converting the heartbeat detected by the detecting means into a signal and transmitting the signal, and a first heartbeat signal receiving the heartbeat signal from the heartbeat detector. Receiving means, an abnormality determining means for determining a heartbeat abnormality of the monitored person based on the heartbeat signal received by the first receiving means, and an emergency signal when the abnormality determining means determines that the heartbeat abnormality of the monitored person The second reception means for transmitting the first reception means, the calculation means for predicting and calculating the reception timing of the next heartbeat signal received by the first reception means, and the first reception with the reception timing obtained by this calculation means. The timing determining means for determining whether or not the means has received the heartbeat signal, and the first determination means when the timing determining means determines that the heartbeat signal is continuously received a predetermined number of times at the predicted reception timing. When it is determined that the heartbeat signal has not been received at the predicted reception timing during the power saving mode while the drive power supply to the receiving means is stopped until the next predicted reception timing obtained by the computing means. In this case, a transmitter having a mode control means for immediately shifting to a normal mode in which the first receiving means is always energized for driving, a second receiving means for receiving an emergency signal from the transmitter, and a second receiving means for receiving the emergency signal from the transmitter. And a receiver having notification processing means for performing notification processing when a heartbeat abnormality occurs in accordance with an emergency signal received by the reception means of the continuous heartbeat monitoring system.