JPH062146B2 - Will transmission device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is directed to patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), CVA.
The present invention relates to a will transmission device for transmitting a will by a residual function to a patient having a severe disorder such as a cerebrovascular disorder patient, a muscular dystrophy patient, and an emergency patient such as a traffic accident.

(Prior Art) In general, a patient with the severe disorder has a speech disorder,
At the same time, the motor functions of the hands, feet, etc. are paralyzed at the same time, and conversation by writing is not possible. However, although such a patient maintains almost normal audiovisual, consciousness, and intelligence, it is almost impossible to communicate his / her own will, and the patient suffers a great deal of mental and physical pain. Therefore, the nurse shows the dial to the patient and carefully points or reads out the letters one by one to make a slight change in the residual function left in the patient, such as blinking, movement of the eyeball, movement of limb joints. He was communicating his will while judging such things. However, in such a method, it is possible to convey only simple and easy things, the nurse also needs some experience to judge the patient's will, and the burden that the nurse always accompanies to convey the will is imagined. That was all. In order to solve such a problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-201398, a conversation display panel having a plurality of characters and a circuit means for blinking a light-emitter embedded in the vicinity of the characters. And a keystroke device equipped with a circuit means for tapping a key switch such as a word processor, an input signal circuit of this conversation display panel and the keystroke device, a repeater equipped with a buzzer and a nurse call circuit, and an input signal to this repeater. There is a conversation display including an operation switch means for outputting.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned prior art, in order to select a desired character from a plurality of characters displayed on the conversation display panel, the patient keeps operating one operation switch to make a desired request. After blinking the light emitter at the character position of, the other operation switch must be operated to output that character to the keystroke device via the relay device to create a sentence, and to select one character There is a problem that the operation switch has to be operated many times. For this reason, the patient has a drawback that it is very tired because the patient has a hard time and repeats minute changes using the residual function, and it takes a long time to create a sentence.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-193626,
Disclosed is a communication support device that can display various information patterns for patients who require full-fledged assistance and cannot communicate their intentions through language, along with myoelectricity and tongue movements as well as residual functions such as blinking as an index. Has been done. However, if an attempt is made to communicate by simply detecting the presence or absence of blinks, not only the blinks that the patient consciously performs as signals but also all the blinks that the patient unconsciously blinks are converted into control signals, which is smooth without malfunction. It is impossible to realize such communication.

The present invention is based on the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a willingness transmission device that can realize smooth willingness transmission without malfunction by using blinking even for a patient with a severe disorder.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problems) The present invention relates to a blink detection means for detecting a change in blink as a biological signal, and a blink signal for 0.5 seconds or more by a biological signal from the blink detection means. A signal adjusting means for outputting a signal when converted to a constant signal waveform, a calculating means for introducing the output of the signal adjusting means to determine whether or not there is an input intention, a sentence creating means, or an output device. And a control means.

(Operation) The blink detecting means detects a change in blink as a biological signal, and when blinking is performed for 0.5 seconds or more, the signal adjusting means outputs a signal to the calculating means, whereby the calculating means adjusts the signal. Only when the signal is output from the means, it is judged that the patient has intentionally blinked as a signal, and the sentence is created and the external control device is controlled.

(Example) Hereinafter, one example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the whole of the present invention, in which 1 is an eyelid, an eyeball in the residual function of a patient with severe disability,
It is a bio-signal sensor that detects minute changes in muscles and the like, and at least one of various sensors described below can be selected and used. Reference numeral 2 is a text creation device using a microcomputer or the like, and the sensor 1
The signal adjusting unit 3 for adjusting the signal from, for example, a constant signal waveform such as 5 V with input and 0 V without input.
An input intention determination circuit 4 that determines whether or not there is an input intention from the output, and a sentence creation control circuit 5 that creates a sentence or generates a device control code when there is an input intention. The information display device 6 and the output circuit 7 for controlling the output device according to an instruction from the sentence creation control circuit 5 are provided and controlled by a floppy disk like an ordinary microcomputer. Reference numeral 8 denotes an output device for outputting the text created by the text creation device 2, for example, a printer 9 for printing the created text, a voice synthesizer 10 for voice output, a modem 11 for external transmission via a communication line, It has a display device 12 for a nurse, a television 13, a radio 14 and an emergency call chime 15.

FIG. 2 shows a blink detection sensor 16 which is one of the sensors 1 and constitutes a blink detection means, and an infrared irradiation photoelectric switch 18 is provided in front of the eyeballs in front of the glasses-like frame 17 without a lens. However, the change in the reflected light due to blinking is detected and the signal is output to the signal adjusting unit 3 via the connector 19. Reference numeral 20 is a flexible rod that allows the photoelectric switch 18 to be placed immediately in front of the eyeball.

FIG. 3 shows a switch sensor 21 that detects minute movements of joint muscles such as hands and feet.
23 is provided and a micro switch 24 interlocking with the roller 23 is provided, and when the roller 23 is lightly pressed by a light load due to a slight movement of the joint muscle, the switch is interlocked with it.
24 enters, and the signal is sent to the signal adjusting unit 3 via the connector 25.
Is output to.

FIG. 4 shows an eye movement detection sensor 26 for detecting the movement of the eyeball. A photoelectric switch 29 is arranged in front of a spectacle frame 28 with a pad 27 that locks on the nose, and the eyeball is detected by using reflection. The movement of the line of sight can be detected. The photoelectric switch 29 is movably provided in a horizontal direction by a horizontal rod 30 and vertically in a vertical rod 31.
The signal that is set immediately before the eyeball and is detected is the connector 32.
Is output to the signal adjustment unit 3 via. 33 and 34 are fixing screws.

FIG. 5 shows a blink detection means 35 for detecting blinking of the eyeball, which is a blinking myoelectricity detecting sensor 35. A bioelectrode 36 attached below the eyelids detects a muscle discharge generated during blinking, and the signal thereof is a connector. It is output to the signal adjusting unit 3 via 37. As shown in FIG. 1, the signal from the eye movement detecting sensor 26 is output to the signal adjusting unit 3 via the eye movement controlling box 38 and the signal from the blinking myoelectric detection sensor 35 to the signal adjusting section 3 respectively. .

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the signal adjusting unit 3. The signal output from the blink detection sensor 16 is amplified by the amplifying unit 40 and sent to the input selecting unit 41. The signals output from the switch sensor 21, the eye movement control box 38, and the myoelectric control box 39 are waveform-shaped by the Schmitt unit 42 and sent to the input selection unit 41. The input selection unit 41 is for selecting which sensor the patient is using,
Only the signal of the selected sensor 1 is sent to the calculation unit 43.
The calculation unit 43 is for calculating whether or not the selected input signal is appropriate.For example, when a signal is sent from the blink detection sensor 16, the blink is a normal blink and the patient intentionally blinks as a signal. If the blinking time is within about 0.5 seconds, the blinking is a normal blinking, and if the blinking time is 0.5 seconds or more, the blinking as a signal is determined by measuring the time, and the blinking is 0.5 seconds or more. Only when, the signal is output to the output unit 44. Similarly, in the case of the blinking myoelectricity detection sensor 35, judgment is also made based on the length of the muscle discharge time during blinking, and in the case of the eye movement detection sensor 26, the patient opens the input window described later for a predetermined time (about 0. 2 seconds) A signal is output when gazing. The output unit 44 converts the signal determined by the calculation unit 43 into a signal having a constant waveform, for example, 5 if there is an input.
If there is no V, it is converted to 0V and output to the input intention determination circuit 4.

A power supply voltage is supplied to each unit.

As shown in FIG. 7, the storage rack 45 includes a printer 9, a display device 12 for a nurse, an input intention determination circuit 4, a sentence creation control circuit 5 including a sentence creation control circuit 5 and an output circuit 7, and a signal adjusting section 3. An eye movement control box 38, a myoelectric control box 39, etc. are stored. As shown in FIG. 8, the display device 6 for a patient is fixed to a foldable fixing stand 46 which can be fixed to the bed at a position where the patient lying on the bed can easily see it. The display device 6 may be attached to a pedestal 49 composed of an iron column 47 and a base 48 as shown in FIG. 9 so that the patient can be installed across a bed on which the patient is lying, and the screen is large. Moderate. Also,
As shown in FIG. 10, it is also possible to use a flat display 53 attached to a stand 52 composed of a base 50 and iron columns 51.

The usage of the device of the present invention configured as described above will be described below. First, a usable sensor is selected from the biological signal sensors 1 in accordance with the remaining function of a patient having a severe disorder. In this case, it is assumed that the blink detection sensor 16 is selected, this is attached to the patient, and the selection switch (not shown) of the input selection unit 41 is adjusted to the blink detection sensor 16. next,
In order to operate the writing device 2, insert the floppy disk, drive it, and press the reset button to execute. After checking the operating status, it is possible to create the actual text.

First, on the basic screen 6A of the display device 6 for a patient, as shown in FIG. 11, basic patterns such as Japanese syllabary, Japanese syllabary characters, numbers, Chinese characters, and symbols are displayed in a matrix.
Displayed at 54. Reference numeral 55 is a line cursor for selecting a line in the display area 54, which is controlled by the cursor moving means of the sentence creation control circuit 5 so as to sequentially move from right to left at fixed time intervals. Here, when the patient wants to select the character “ne”, if the blinking is performed when the line cursor 55 moves to “na line”, this blinking is detected by the blinking detection sensor 16 and further by the calculation unit 43. When it is determined that the blink is a biological signal, this signal is sent to the input intention determination circuit 4,
From the output, the character selection means of the sentence creation control circuit 5 determines that the patient has selected this "na row". Next, as shown in FIG. 12, characters other than "NA line" are erased, and one of the characters of "NA line" is selected, so that the column cursor 56 moves sequentially from top to bottom at regular time intervals . Similarly, when the patient blinks when the column cursor 56 is located at “ne”, the character selection means determines that “ne” is selected, and the sentence creation area 57 is displayed.
Display the "ne" character on. In addition, if the patient sends a signal when the column cursor 56 moves to the cancellation area 58 when the patient makes a mistake in selecting a row, a cancellation area 58 below the display area 54, in which the cancellation is shown in FIG. Basic screen 6 shown in
A is displayed. If the patient selects "Call" in the display area 54, "Yes" or "No" below the cancellation area 58
The line cursor 55 sequentially moves to “Yes” and “No” in the calling area 59 in which “Call is possible” is written, and the patient stops the line cursor 55 at the position of “Yes” when calling the nurse. Then, the sentence creation control circuit 5 outputs a calling signal via the output circuit 7, the chime 15 sounds, and in the case of cancellation, the line cursor 55 is stopped at the position "No". Also,
“Callable” indicates whether or not the nurse can call.

In this way, the screens as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are sequentially switched to select each character one by one, and the selected characters are written by the text creating means in the text creating area 57 of the basic screen 6A by the text creating means. Becomes In this case, the cursor moving means automatically moves the row cursor 55 and the column cursor 56 sequentially, and the patient blinks so as to output a signal at the position of the desired character to create a sentence. Therefore, the patient can create a sentence with the minimum necessary movements, the degree of fatigue is low, and the sentence can be created in a short time to communicate the intention. The same basic screen 6A as this display device 6 is also displayed on the display device 12 for the nurse, and if the patient wants to print it, the printer 9 can be selected if the patient selects the character "mark" in the display area 54. Is activated and the text in the text creation area 57 is printed. It should be noted that correction and erasure are possible as well. Furthermore, if a television, a radio, a light, etc. are connected to the output circuit 7, if the patient selects the wrong "television", "radio", "light" in the display area 54, those switch operations are also possible. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, the blink detection sensor 16 and the blinking myoelectricity detection sensor 35 detect the change in blinking as a biological signal, and when the blinking time is a predetermined 0.5 seconds or more, a signal is given. Since the adjustment unit 3 outputs the signal to the input intention determination circuit 4, the input intention determination circuit 4 intentionally blinks as a signal by the patient only when the signal adjustment unit 3 outputs the signal. It can be distinguished from normal blinking, which is performed unconsciously. For this reason, it is possible to realize smooth intention transmission using blinking without malfunction even for patients with severe disabilities.

Moreover, even people with severe disabilities, such as ALS patients, CVA patients, and muscular dystrophy patients, who have difficulty communicating with others, can easily write sentences by the function that can be slightly moved without bothering other people. Not only to create a feeling of loneliness, but also to give the joy of freely interacting with other people, it becomes possible to create long sentences such as poems and novels, and to inform the patient's heart. In addition, the modem 11
It is also possible to communicate with each other via the personal computer, and not only characters but also figures can be expressed, and the created sentence can be output as voice by the voice synthesizer 10.

In addition, the residual function of an ALS patient or the like may gradually change as the medical condition progresses, and even if the biological signal sensor 1 worn by the patient is changed in response to this change, the signal adjusting unit 3 does not respond to these input signals. Since the signal is converted into a common constant signal waveform, all the sensors 1 can be handled by a single device, and the cost can be reduced and the efficiency can be improved. Further, as the sensor 1, the switch sensor 21 and the blinking myoelectric detection sensor 35 are used.
When is used, a sentence is created by the same operation.

13 and 14 show a basic screen 6B when the eye movement detection sensor 26 is used. When the input selection unit 41 of the signal adjusting unit 3 is aligned with the eye movement detection sensor 26, the screen 6B is further displayed. An input window 60 with which the patient's line of sight is adjusted, and a level gauge 61 for displaying the time at which this line of sight is adjusted are displayed.
When the character "ne" is selected as in the above embodiment, when the line cursor 55 is located at "na line", the patient moves his or her line of sight to the input window 60 until the three points on the level gauge 61 light up. If you look carefully, this "na row" is selected. Next, as shown in FIG. 14, when the column cursor 56 is located at "ne", "ne" is selected by gazing at the input window 60 for a predetermined time. In this way, sentences can be created using other sensors. It should be noted that the display of the level gauge 61 can be deleted when the patient is accustomed to using the device and does not need it.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show other screens displayed on the display device 6, and FIG. 15 is a special screen 6C having a display area 54 in which frequently used sentences are prepared in advance. Can select any sentence using the column cursor 56. In this case, the text can be created more efficiently. FIG. 16 is an emergency message screen 6D showing the condition of the patient. Similarly, the column cursor 56 can be used to promptly notify the caregiver of the physical modification. As described above, the sentence creation screen 6A, the special screen 6C, and the emergency message screen 6D can be arbitrarily selected by the patient before displaying these screens.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, it can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, as the biological signal sensor 1, in addition to the above-mentioned embodiment, a cuff used for detecting a sound emitted by a patient using a microphone, detecting respiration of the patient using a temperature sensor, a blood pressure monitor, or the like. Various sensors can be used, such as detection by the pressure sensor used. A line cursor is used as the cursor moving means.
Instead of using the two 55 and the column cursor 56, it is possible to use a cursor for moving the characters in the display area 54 shown in FIG. 11 one by one. Furthermore, as the words and phrases displayed in the display area 54, in addition to the hiragana characters and symbols, katakana, foreign languages, kanji, words, phrases, sentences, etc. can be selected as appropriate.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, blink detection means for detecting a change in blink as a biological signal and blinking for 0.5 seconds or more are performed by the biological signal from the blink detection means. Signal adjusting means for outputting a signal to convert it into a constant signal waveform, a calculating means for introducing the output of the signal adjusting means to determine whether or not there is an input intention, a sentence creating means, or an output device control means By including the above, it is possible to provide a willingness transmission device capable of realizing smooth willingness transmission without malfunction by using blinking even for a patient having a severe disorder.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a blink detection sensor, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a switch sensor, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an eye movement detection sensor,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the blinking myoelectricity detection sensor, FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the input adjusting section, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the output device, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the display device, and FIG. Is a perspective view showing another example of the display device, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another example, and FIGS. 11 to 16 are explanatory views showing examples of screens displayed. 2 ... Text making device 3 ... Signal adjusting unit (signal adjusting means) 4 ... Input intention determination circuit (calculating means) 5 ... Text making control circuit (text creating means) 6 ... Display circuit (display means) 7 ... Output circuit (control) Means) 16 ... Blink detection sensor (Blink detection means) 35 ... Blink myoelectric detection sensor (Blink detection means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A blink detection means for detecting a change in blink as a biological signal, and a signal is output when a blink of 0.5 seconds or more is performed by the biological signal from said blink detection means to form a constant signal waveform. Signal conditioning means for converting,
A willingness transmission device comprising: a computing unit for introducing the output of the signal adjusting unit to determine the presence or absence of an input intention; a sentence creating unit or a control unit for an output device.