JPH07143968A - Method and apparatus for measuring sense of stimulation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To measure moisture on skin attributed to sweating on the surface of the skin in a non-contact manner by enabling accurate measurement of changes in the quantity of perspiration of fingers and palms in reaction to stimulation by intermittent epilation. CONSTITUTION:Air dehumidified by an air supply means 3 is introduced into a space chamber 2 facing the surface of skin and discharged from the space chamber 2. Moisture in the sweating from the surface of the skin in the space chamber 2 is measured continuously with a moisture sensor 4. Thus, when stimulation is applied to the surface of the skin, the quantity of nervous perspiration from the surface of the skin is measured to determine the sense of the stimulation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for quantitatively measuring the pain sensation when the skin is stimulated, and is particularly applicable to the technical field of intermittent pain sensation measurement. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, waste hair treatment of hands and feet has been widely performed as one of body cares, and various hair remover products have been widely used. In addition, as a beauty tool that can be easily used at home, an electric epilator that holds hair on a rotating plate and pulls it out is used.

[0003] In both of the debonding type wax epilator and the electric epilator, the pain caused by the nociceptive reception of the free nerve endings in the root of the hair by the mechanical noxious stimulus for physically pulling out the hair and the pain caused by the subsequent partial tissue damage. Occurs. Moreover, the pain sensation varies depending on the hair quality, hair thickness, density distribution, and site.
Also, there is a large individual difference due to the sensitivity of the person to the pain.
However, it is generally said that the magnitude of the stimulus and the pain sensation caused thereby have a substantially linear relationship.

In the product development of the electric epilator, the development of a mechanism that minimizes the feeling of irritation during use, such as the direction of epilation and the pulling speed, is an issue. Therefore, it is necessary to scientifically evaluate the pain sensation that is the sensory stimulus when using the epilator. Moreover, in the field of medicine, mild pains such as hair loss and pains caused by puncturing with a syringe have not been the subject of research, and the method for evaluating these pain sensations has not yet been established.

As a method for measuring the pain reaction, a physiological method can be used, which quantitatively measures the amount of sweat of the palm of the hand through the central function of the autonomic nerve in response to noxious stimulation on the skin surface. It is known that the relationship between the amount of load stimulus to a person and the amount of finger sweating is physiologically primary. Conventionally, as a method for quantifying the amount of mental perspiration of the palm of a hand, a method of measuring a change in skin surface potential due to perspiration (generally G
The so-called SR method) is used, but there are some problems in measurement accuracy. That is, since the sensor is in close contact with the skin surface, perspiration that has perspired once does not easily evaporate, and perspiration that occurs thereafter is difficult to detect, and the accuracy is not sufficient for continuous measurement.

Further, in order to evaluate the moisture permeability of clothes and measure the amount of sweat from the body, a method of inserting a humidity sensor into the space between the clothes and the body and measuring the change in humidity is a method for measuring the change in humidity. It is performed by the manufacturer.

[0007]

However, a method for successfully quantitatively measuring a mild sensation of pain due to skin irritation, which is not the subject of medical treatment or research by a doctor, has not yet been established. At present, the above-mentioned GSR method is generally used, but the accuracy is insufficient, and since sweat that is generated cannot be swiftly released, measured values are not broad and data analysis cannot be satisfied. . Further, the GSR method has a problem that measurement becomes difficult in hyperhidrosis and non-hidrosis.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to respond to intermittent hair loss stimulus and to accurately measure the change in the amount of sweat of the palm of the hand. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for measuring a sensation of stimulation and a device for measuring the humidity on the skin caused by perspiration on the skin surface in a non-contact manner for the purpose of continuous measurement.

[0009]

In order to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example and to achieve the object of the present invention, the method for measuring the sensation of stimulation of the present invention is to supply air to a space chamber 2 facing a skin surface 1. The dehumidified air is introduced by the means 3, the air is discharged from the space chamber 2, and the humidity sensor 4 continuously measures the moisture perspiration from the skin surface 1 in the space chamber 2 and the skin surface 1 When a stimulus is applied to the skin, the amount of neural sweating that sweats from the skin surface 1 is measured to measure the feeling of stimulation.

The apparatus for measuring a sensation of stimulation according to the present invention has a space chamber 2 formed in a portion facing the skin surface 1 and a dehumidified air in the space chamber 2 in a state of being mounted on the skin surface 1. A perspiration amount measuring means 6 including an air supplying means 3 for introducing air, an exhausting means 5 for causing air to flow out from the space chamber 2, and a humidity sensor 4 for measuring the amount of moisture perspiring from the skin surface 1 in the space chamber 2. Then, when the skin surface is stimulated, the amount of neural sweating perspiring from the skin surface 1 is measured by the sweating amount measuring means 6, and the measured output is used as an output of a feeling of stimulation. To do.

Further, the air chamber 2 is replaced with the first and second air chambers 2.
a and 2b, and a communication portion 7 is formed between the first air chamber 2a and the second air chamber 2b.
It is also preferable that the air supply means 3 is communicated with the air supply means 3, the discharge means 5 is formed in the second air chamber 2b, and the humidity sensor 4 is arranged. It is also preferable that the introduction part 8 of the air supply means 3 communicating with the first air chamber 2a is inclined so that the dehumidified air supplied from the introduction part 8 hits the skin surface 1.

[0012]

The air dehumidified by the air supply means 3 is introduced into the space chamber 2 facing the skin surface 1 and the space chamber 2
The air is exhausted from the skin, and the humidity sensor 4 continuously measures the amount of moisture perspired from the skin surface 1 in the space chamber 2, and at the same time, when the skin surface 1 is stimulated, the nervous surface perspires from the skin surface 1. Since the amount of sweat is measured to measure the feeling of irritation, that is, the sweat generated from the skin is promptly discharged to the outside of the system, and air is blown in the closed system. It is possible to eliminate the drawback of peak broadness.

The value measured by humidity detection by intermittently measuring the amount of perspiration corresponds to the amount of perspiration from the skin caused by stimulation, and meaningful data for measuring the sensation of stimulation is obtained. Will be obtained. Further, the air chamber 2 is divided into first and second air chambers 2a and 2b,
A communication part 7 is provided between the first air chamber 2a and the second air chamber 2b.
By forming the air supply means 3 in the first air chamber 2a, forming the discharge means 5 in the second air chamber 2b, and arranging the humidity sensor 4, the dehumidified air and the stimulus are generated. The room for mixing the sweating and the room for detecting the humidity of the mixed air are separated, and the sufficiently mixed air is sent to the second air chamber 2b to accurately measure the humidity. Can be detected, and the change in humidity can be accurately measured.

Further, the introduction portion 8 of the air supply means 3 communicating with the first air chamber 2a is inclined so that the dehumidified air supplied from the introduction portion 8 hits the skin surface 1 to flow through the inclined portion. It is possible to let dry air directly hit the skin, and it is said that mental sweating, which is said to be emitted from the sweat glands 5 to 6 times per second, can be mixed well with dry air in a short time. The measurement accuracy is improved, and it becomes possible to measure the quantitative pain sensation corresponding to the intermittent physical stimulation on the skin.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a control block diagram of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the state of being set on the skin surface 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a perspiration amount measuring means, and a body 10 constituting the main body of the perspiration amount measuring means 6 has a space chamber 2 facing the skin surface 1, and the space chamber 2 includes a first space and a second space. It is divided into air chambers 2a and 2b, the first air chamber 2a is provided with an opening 11 facing the skin surface 1, and the first air chamber 2a and the second air chamber 2b are connected by a communicating portion 7. It is in communication. The first air chamber 2a communicates with the air supply means 3 through the air introduction passage 12, and the dehumidifying means 13 is arranged in the middle of the air introduction passage 12. Body 10 portion of the air introduction passage 12 (that is, a portion continuous with the first air chamber 2a)
Is an introduction portion 8, and the introduction portion 8 is inclined downward toward the opening 11 side of the first air chamber 2a. Here, in the embodiment, the air supply means 3 shows an example of an air pump, and the dehumidification means 13 shows an example of a dehumidification trap filled with silica gel. Second air chamber 2
A discharge hole serving as the discharge means 5 is formed in b. The diameter of the discharge hole may be adjustable.
Further, a humidity sensor 4 is arranged in the second air chamber 2b, and a DC12V power source 20 for driving and outputting the humidity sensor 4 is connected to the humidity sensor 4, and The voltage output from the humidity sensor 4 is output via the data logger 15 and A / D conversion board.
It is input to the personal computer 16. In the embodiment shown in the figure, an example using the data logger 15 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, the body 10 of the sweat rate measuring means 6 is placed on the skin surface 1 so that the sweat rate measuring means 6 faces the opening 11 of the first air chamber 2a.
If it is installed in close contact with the air introduction path 1 as described above.
Since the introduction portion 8 of the body 10 portion of No. 2 is inclined downward toward the opening portion 11 side, from the introduction portion 8 to the first air chamber 2
The dry air introduced into a is discharged in an inclined state, directly hits the skin surface 1, and mixes well with perspiration from the skin surface 1. In addition, as described above, the air chamber 2 is set to the second
By dividing the humidity chamber 4 into the air chambers 2a and 2b, and placing the humidity sensor 4 in the second air chamber 2b, the dry air discharged to the first air chamber 2a and irritating the skin surface 1 and the skin Surface 1
The perspiration from the first air chamber 2a is mixed with the sweat, and the mixed air moves to the second air chamber 2b dedicated to measurement, and the humidity sensor 4 detects the humidity. As a result, the sweat from the skin and the air are mixed,
The adverse effect of performing the measurement in one room can be eliminated and accurate measurement can be performed. By the way, the special fair 5-49
According to Japanese Patent No. 285, a humidity sensor is provided in one room where dehumidified air is made to flow in, mixed with insensitive excretion emitted from the skin surface and discharged outside by a fixed amount, and local sweating rate continuous measurement is performed. However, since mixing and detection are performed in one room, it is good if a large amount of sweat such as hyperhidrosis develops and it is easy to detect. However, if it is necessary to detect mental sweating caused by mild stimulation, it is sensitive. Is insufficient in terms of.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the sweat rate measuring means 6 is provided in the opening 11 of the first air chamber 2a so that the skin surface 1 of the human body is
Are attached in close contact with each other so that the air supplied from the air supply means 3 is dried by the dehumidifying means 13, and the dehumidified air is discharged from the inclined introducing portion 8 into the first air chamber 2a to cause the skin surface 1 The perspiration generated from the skin surface 1 is mixed with the dehumidified air in the first air chamber 2a, and the air sufficiently mixed with this sweat is put into the second air chamber 2b which is a separate chamber. Is measured by the humidity sensor 4 and converted into a DC voltage by an amplifier, and the data is input to the personal computer 16 via the data logger 15. In this way, the air supply from the air supply means 3 is intermittently performed, and the amount of perspiration from the skin caused by the stimulation is intermittently measured to quantitatively measure the feeling of pain. .

Next, specific experimental examples of the present invention will be described. Using the device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, another type of electric epilator B having a different mechanism immediately after the epilation treatment of the specified region on the outer side of the right arm and upper arm of the subject by the electric epilator A and two minutes after that.
Immediately after the treatment, the absolute value of each pain sensation was investigated, and the difference in pain sensation between the two types of electric epilators A and B having different mechanisms was investigated.

A healthy adult female 41 aged 18 to 31 was used as a subject. 2cm x 2c designated area outside the right arm and upper arm of the subject
m, 4 places test. The condition of the hair was checked by the magnifying photograph method, and the experimenter removed the hair with the above-mentioned electric hair removers A and B under the same conditions as much as possible. The subject cut off other external stimuli with earplugs and blindfolds as much as possible, and stabilized the state in a resting position on the aesthetic bed before the experiment. In addition, during the experiment, a comfortable environment condition (25 ° C., around 55% RH), which is said to normally cause no thermal sweating, was maintained.
In the device of the present invention, the second finger palm of the left hand was set at this portion as a measurement site.

As a premise for showing the effectiveness of the above experiment, it is necessary to confirm the difference in pain feeling between the two types of electric epilators having different hair removal mechanisms. Therefore, 41 subjects are required to have both A and B in advance. The absolute value of the feeling of pain when using an epilator was investigated. The result is shown in FIG. This absolute research on the actual feeling of pain is 1. Very painful. 2. It hurts a lot. 3.
A little pain (standard), 4. Well, it doesn't hurt 5. Painless.
The response of the actual feeling of pain was sought in 5 steps. The average sensory value of the epilator A was 3.6, and the average sensory value of the epilator B was 2.9. As a result of this sensory evaluation of pain, the difference between the epilators A and B used in the experiment was 0.7, and it is a model capable of giving the subject a significant difference in the feeling of pain with respect to the stimulation during hair removal. And decided to use it for this experiment.

The above two types of epilators A and B were used in the above-mentioned order to measure and analyze with the device of the present invention, and their validity was examined. The analysis used the peak height of the measured humidity change chart, and calculated from the difference between the humidity value immediately before use and the maximum humidity value. Of the 41 subjects, analysis was performed excluding those who were unable to measure sweating, who had abnormal sweating, and who had a small number of hairs that had fallen out.
As a result, valid data was obtained from 12 of 41 people. This data is shown in FIG. B to N in FIG. 4 indicate 12 subjects.

As is clear from FIG. 4, the data of 10 out of the above 12 persons shows that the amount of sweat by the epilator A is the epilator B.
Was significantly lower than that of This means that the epilator A can be judged as a less painful stimulus, and this result matches the sensory evaluation result shown in FIG. 4 and also matches the human sense, and the measurement of the stimulating sensation in the present invention. It turns out that the method is a valid measurement method.

Further, for the purpose of comparing the accuracy of measuring the sensation of stimulation in the present invention with the accuracy of measuring the sensation of pain when an electric epilator is used as the GSR method shown as a conventional example, it is easy to feel the sensation of pain, and A subject with remarkable sweating was selected and measured under the same conditions. As described above, the device of the present invention was set on the second finger palm of the left hand, and the GSR sensor was set between the third and fourth finger palms for measurement.

Typical measurement data are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows the measurement data of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the measurement data by the GSR method. According to this, FIG. 5 and FIG.
Comparing changes in the amount of mental sweating of the palm with pain sensation caused by the intermittent hair loss stimulus indicated by the arrow on the arrow, the measurement method of the present invention can continuously measure with higher sensitivity than the GSR method. Is clear.

[0025]

According to the present invention, as described above, the air dehumidified by the air supply means is introduced into the space chamber facing the skin surface, and the air is discharged from the space chamber to the humidity sensor. The humidity of sweating from the skin surface in the space room is continuously measured, and when the skin surface is stimulated, the amount of neural sweating sweating from the skin surface is measured to measure the feeling of irritation. The pain sensation can be quantitatively and sensitively measured.

Further, according to the device of the present invention, the air supply means for introducing the dehumidified air into the space chamber formed in the portion facing the skin surface in the state of being mounted on the skin surface. And a discharge means for causing air to flow out from the space chamber, and a perspiration amount measuring means including a humidity sensor for measuring the amount of moisture perspiring from the skin surface in the space chamber, and when stimulating the skin surface, A device for quantitatively and sensitively measuring a slight pain sensation with a simple structure, because the amount of neural sweat perspiring from the surface is measured by the sweat amount measuring means, and the measured output is used as the stimulus output. Can be provided.

Further, the air chamber is divided into a first air chamber and a second air chamber, and a communication portion is formed between the first air chamber and the second air chamber. Communicating the supply means,
By forming an exhaust means in the second air chamber and arranging a humidity sensor, the chamber for mixing dehumidified air and perspiration by stimulation and the room for detecting the humidity of the mixed air are separated. Therefore, the well-mixed air can be sent to the second air chamber to accurately detect the humidity here, and the humidity change can be accurately measured. Especially, even when the amount of sweat is small, Accurate measurement for the purpose of the present invention to detect the mental sweating caused by a slight stimulus by sending the surely mixed substance to the second air chamber for accurate detection. Is something that can be done.

Further, by tilting the introduction part of the air supply means communicating with the first air chamber so that the dehumidified air supplied from the introduction part hits the skin surface, the dry air flowing through the sloped part is brought to the skin. It is possible to hit it directly, and it is said that it erupts from the sweat gland 5 to 6 times per second, and mental sweating can be mixed well with dry air in a short time, which improves the measurement accuracy. The quantitative pain sensation corresponding to the intermittent physical stimulus to the skin can be measured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a control block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the same is set on the skin surface.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a machine difference test (sensory evaluation) result in a pain absolute feeling absolute value investigation when using two types of electric epilators having different mechanisms used in the experiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the results of different experiments depending on the model of the feeling of pain stimulation by the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing data on changes in humidity obtained by the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing voltage change data obtained by the GSR method as a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Skin Surface 2 Space Room 2a First Room 2b Second Room 3 Air Supply Means 4 Humidity Sensor 5 Ejection Means 6 Sweating Rate Measuring Means 7 Communication Portion 8 Introduction Portion

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 31, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0007]

However, a method for successfully quantitatively measuring a mild sensation of pain due to skin irritation, which is not the subject of medical treatment or research by a doctor, has not yet been established. Although the current is above GSR methods generally a precision insufficient, also, it is impossible to release the generated sweat quickly, measurements becomes broad, there is a disadvantage that the data analysis can not be satisfactorily . Further, the GSR method has a problem that measurement becomes difficult in hyperhidrosis and non-hidrosis.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0019] A healthy adult women 41 people of 18 to 31-year-old was the subject. 2 cm x 2 designated area outside the right arm and upper arm of the subject
cm, 4 places test. The condition of the hair was checked by the magnifying photograph method, and the experimenter removed the hair with the above-mentioned electric hair removers A and B under the same conditions as much as possible. The subject cut off other external stimuli with earplugs and blindfolds as much as possible, and stabilized the state in a resting position on the aesthetic bed before the experiment. In addition, during the experiment, a comfortable environment condition (25 ° C., around 55% RH), which is said to normally cause no thermal sweating, was maintained.
In the device of the present invention, the second finger palm of the left hand was set at this portion as a measurement site.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 4] Differences in pain sensation caused by the device of the present invention depending on the model.
Is a graph showing experimental results of the household.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 5]

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A moisture dehumidified by an air supply means is introduced into a space facing a skin surface, the air is discharged from the space, and a humidity sensor removes moisture perspiration from the skin surface in the space. A method for measuring a feeling of irritation, which comprises continuously measuring and measuring the feeling of irritation by measuring the amount of neural sweating that sweats from the surface of the skin when the surface of the skin is stimulated. 2. A space chamber formed in a portion facing the skin surface in a state of being attached to the skin surface, an air supply means for introducing dehumidified air into the space chamber, and an air flow out from the space chamber. Exhaust means for discharging and a humidity sensor for measuring the moisture content that perspires from the skin surface in the space room has a perspiration amount measuring means, and when the skin surface is stimulated, the amount of neural sweat that perspires from the skin surface. Is measured by the sweating amount measuring means, and the stimulating sensation is output based on the measured output. 3. The air chamber is divided into a first air chamber and a second air chamber, and a communication portion is formed between the first air chamber and the second air chamber, and the first air chamber has air therein. The second means for communicating with the supply means
3. The stimulating sensation measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air chamber is provided with a discharge means and a humidity sensor is arranged. 4. The stimulus according to claim 3, wherein the introduction part of the air supply means communicating with the first air chamber is inclined so that the dehumidified air supplied from the introduction part hits the skin surface. Feeling measuring device.