JPH07241279A - Pulse wave detecting sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably and surely detect blood flow pulse waves even if a testee has a disturbance of peripheral circulation or low blood pressure symptom and even during daily life or sporting. CONSTITUTION:A sensor body is formed insertable into the external auditory meatus 2. This sensor body 1 is provided with a light emitting element 3 and a light receiving element 4 on its outer periphery. The artery extending along the external auditory meatus 2 is irradiated with the light emitted from this light emitting element 3 and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 4, by which the pulse waves of the blood flowing in the artery are detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pulse wave detecting sensor for detecting a pulse wave of blood flowing in an artery of a living body, and more particularly to a reflection type pulse wave detecting sensor for detecting a photoelectric pulse wave.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a reflective sensor for irradiating blood flowing in an artery of a living body with light and detecting a pulse wave of blood flow by reflected light, a sensor worn on a finger, a forehead, an earlobe, etc. has been known. ing.

[0003]

However, when this type of pulse wave detection sensor is attached to a finger, the user cannot move his or her hand during the measurement, so if one tries to measure it during daily life or during exercise, the activity of the whole body is free. There was a problem that was limited. In addition, the size of the pulse wave varies depending on the wearing site, and there are cases where the pulse wave cannot be detected due to peripheral circulatory disorders or physiological factors. Furthermore, if the subject's finger was missing due to congenital or acquired factors, detection was impossible.

When the sensor is attached to the forehead, it is difficult to specify the optimum measurement location because the blood vessel is above the skull and the tissue is thin, and when measuring in daily life, the sensor is a conspicuous part. There was a problem in appearance because it was attached to.

Further, when the sensor is attached to the earlobe, since the artery passing through the earlobe is a peripheral blood vessel, the pulse wave cannot be detected due to peripheral circulatory disorder, physiological factors, cold stimulus, etc. as in the case of attaching to the finger. There were cases. In addition, it was impossible to detect when the subject had hypotension, or when the earlobe was shaken during daily life or during exercise. Moreover, there is a drawback that the sensor is easily removed from the earlobe.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a stable blood pulse wave even when a subject has peripheral circulatory disorders and hypotensive symptoms, and also during daily life and exercise. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pulse wave detection sensor that can reliably detect a pulse wave.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 illuminates blood flowing in an artery with light and detects the pulse wave of the blood flow by reflected light. The wave detection sensor is characterized by including a sensor main body that can be inserted into the external auditory meatus, and a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that are mounted on the outer periphery of the sensor main body and can contact the inner wall of the external auditory canal.

The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the sensor body is provided with a deviation preventing means.

The present invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the sensor body is provided with a light emitting means and a light receiving means for mainly detecting noise.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sensor body is provided with a wireless transmission means for transmitting the detected pulse wave signal to the outside.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the sensor body is provided with ventilation means penetrating in the insertion direction into the ear canal.

[0012]

In the pulse wave detection sensor according to claim 1,
Since the superficial temporal artery branch and posterior ear artery branch distributed in the auricle are extending to the ear canal, the sensor body is inserted into the ear canal and the light emitted from the light emitting element as the light emitting means is injected into the artery near the ear canal. The pulse wave of the blood can be detected by irradiating the blood and receiving the reflected light by the light receiving element as the light receiving means.

According to another aspect of the pulse wave detecting sensor of the present invention, the outer shape of the sensor main body is matched with the external auditory meatus shape, the lead wire is drawn out in a constant direction, and the sensor main body is made of a resin having elasticity and is formed into a plurality of blades. Since the deviation preventing means such as the light emitting element is provided, the direction of the light emitted from the light emitting element can be set to the artery direction, and the reflected light can be reliably received by the light receiving element. It is also possible to prevent the sensor body from falling off the ear canal.

In the pulse wave detection sensor according to the third aspect, noise is detected by the light emitting element and the light receiving element separately provided in the sensor body, and is detected by the light emitting element and the light receiving element provided facing the artery. By subtracting the aforementioned noise signal from the pulse wave signal containing noise, a pulse wave signal from which noise has been removed can be obtained.

In the pulse wave detection sensor according to claim 4, a telemeter transmitter as a wireless transmission means is built in or connected to the sensor body, and the pulse wave detected by the pulse wave detection sensor is externally transmitted by the transmitter. By transmitting to the recording device of, the subject does not need to carry the recording device,
The burden on the subject can be reduced.

In the pulse wave detection sensor of the fifth aspect, since the sensor body is provided with the vent hole as the ventilation means penetrating in the insertion direction, when the sensor body is inserted into the ear canal, the external sound is blocked. It is not transmitted to the eardrum.

[0017]

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

1 to 3 show the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the sensor main body 1 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape so that the outer shape of the sensor main body 1 comes into close contact with the inner circumference of the ear canal 2 when inserted into the ear canal 2 as shown in FIG.
Further, a light emitting element 3 and a light receiving element 4 are provided close to each other on the outer circumference of the sensor body 1, and a pair of arteries in which light emitted from the light emitting element 3 is distributed along the ear canal 2 as shown in FIG. One of the light sources 5 is irradiated and the reflected light is incident on the light receiving element 4. One end of a lead wire 6 is connected to the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4, and the other end of the lead wire 6 is connected to a recording device (not shown). Further, a vent hole 7 is formed in the center of the sensor body 1 so as to penetrate therethrough in the axial direction, so that external sound can be transmitted to the eardrum without being blocked.

In the pulse wave detection sensor constructed as described above, the sensor main body 1 projects from the external auditory meatus 2 by matching the shape of the outer periphery with the shape of the surface of the auricle 8 at the entrance of the external auditory meatus 2. The position of the main body 1 can be kept constant to prevent the shift. As a result, the direction of the light emitted from the light emitting element 3 can be always matched with the direction of the artery 5. At this time, if the entrance of the ear canal 2 of the subject has a special shape, the shape may be molded and the sensor main body 1 may be formed by molding with this mold.

Further, even if the lead wire 6 is pulled out from the sensor body 1 at a fixed position with respect to the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 and the lead wire 6 is hooked above the base of the auricle 8, The same effect as in the case of is obtained.

According to this embodiment, the superficial temporal artery branch and the posterior ear artery branch distributed in the auricle 8 extend near the external auditory meatus 2, so that the sensor main body 1 is inserted into the external auditory meatus 2. The pulse wave of blood flowing in the artery 5 can be detected. At this time, since the sensor body 1 is in close contact with the external auditory meatus 2, free activities of the whole body are not limited during daily life or exercise, and noise due to body movement is less mixed. Further, since the arteries 5 are distributed in the vicinity of the external auditory meatus 2, it is possible to detect the pulse wave of a subject having a peripheral circulatory disorder or hypotension, and it is also possible to detect during cold weather. Furthermore, since the sensor body 1 is in close contact with the external auditory meatus 2, ambient light does not enter the light receiving element 4,
The detected pulse wave can be prevented from being affected by ambient light.

In the above embodiment, the case where the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the sensor main body 1 has been described, but as shown in FIG. You may arrange in the direction of. Further, the vent hole 7 may be filled with a porous material such as polyurethane foam.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in addition to the pair of light-emitting element 3 and light-receiving element 4 provided on the sensor body 1 facing the artery 5, another pair of light-emitting element 11 and light-receiving element 12 are provided in a substantially perpendicular direction. It is a thing.

According to this embodiment, the first light receiving element 4 detects the noise component as well as the pulse wave signal component of the blood in the artery 5, and the second light receiving element 12 detects only the noise component.
Therefore, only the pulse wave signal component from which the noise component has been removed can be detected by performing the subtraction processing of the signals detected by both light receiving elements 4 and 12 on the measuring device side (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of pairs, for example 4
A pair of the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction or shifted in the axial direction.

According to this embodiment, the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 in the optimum position are detected by detecting the pulse wave by any one of the four pairs of the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4.
Can be selected to perform good pulse wave detection. At this time, by turning on only the light emitting element 3 which is detecting and turning off the other light emitting elements 3, it is possible to prevent light from entering the light receiving element 4 which is not detecting.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a telemeter transmitter 22 is connected to the sensor body 1 via a lead wire 21. Lead wire 2
1 also functions as an antenna for transmitting a signal, and is hooked above the base of the auricle 8.

According to this embodiment, the pulse wave signal can be transmitted to the receiver having the data recording device at a remote place, and the subject does not need to carry the recording device. Can reduce the burden on the user.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the sensor body 31 is made of a resin such as nylon or polyacetal formed on a cylinder, and a notch 31a that divides the sensor body 31 into four is formed in the axial direction, and one end surface of the sensor body 31 has an annular shape. The support plate 32 of 1 is integrally provided. The light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 are provided on the outer periphery of at least one open end of the sensor body 31 divided into four parts.
It is connected to the lead wire 33 attached to the No. 2. The sensor body 31 is filled with synthetic resin 34 having air permeability and elasticity, such as polyurethane foam, and presses and urges the four-divided sensor body 31 in the direction of expanding the diameter.

When the sensor body 31 configured as described above is inserted into the ear canal 2 as shown in FIG. 9, the sensor body 31 is reduced in diameter and is brought into close contact with the inner wall of the ear canal 2 by the elasticity of the synthetic resin 34. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sensor body 31 from being displaced or dropped. Further, since the synthetic resin 34 is porous and the support plate 32 is formed in an annular shape and has a vent hole (not shown) in the center, when the sensor body 31 is inserted into the ear canal 2, the external sound is not blocked. It is transmitted to the eardrum.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the sensor body 41 is made of four blade-shaped resin such as nylon or polyacetal, and one end thereof is integrally supported by an annular support plate 42.
The light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 are provided on the outer periphery of at least one of the four blades 41a forming the sensor body 41 in the vicinity of the open end thereof.
Is connected to a lead wire 43 attached to.

When the sensor body 41 configured as described above is inserted into the ear canal 2 as shown in FIG. 11, the sensor body 41 is reduced in diameter and adheres to the inner wall of the ear canal 2 by the elasticity of the resin. Therefore, similarly to the case of the fifth embodiment, it is possible to prevent the sensor body 41 from being displaced or dropped. Further, the support plate 42 is formed in an annular shape, and the vent hole 42 is formed at the center.
Since there is a, when the sensor body 41 is inserted into the ear canal 2, the external sound is transmitted to the eardrum without being blocked.

[0033]

As described above, according to the pulse wave detecting sensor of the first aspect, the sensor body is inserted into the ear canal to detect the pulse wave of the blood flowing in the artery. It is possible to reliably detect the pulse wave without restricting the free activity of the examiner and even when the subject has a peripheral circulation disorder or hypotension.

According to the pulse wave detecting sensor of the second aspect, since the deviation preventing means is provided in the sensor body, the direction of the light emitted from the light emitting element can be always matched with the direction of the artery.

According to the pulse wave detecting sensor of the third aspect, since the light emitting element and the light receiving element for detecting the noise component are separately provided, the noise component included in the pulse wave signal component is removed to remove the pulse wave signal component. Only can be detected.

According to the pulse wave detection sensor of the fourth aspect, since the sensor body is provided with the wireless transmission means for transmitting the pulse wave signal to the outside, the subject does not need to carry the recording device, and the subject is not required to carry the recording device. The burden on the examiner can be reduced.

According to the pulse wave detection sensor of the fifth aspect, since the ventilation means is provided in the sensor body, the ventilation means is provided in the sensor body. Therefore, when the sensor body is inserted into the ear canal, the sound of the outside world is generated. Is transmitted to the eardrum without being blocked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a pulse wave detection sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pulse wave detection sensor of FIG. 1 is inserted into the ear canal.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a light emitting element and a light receiving element of the pulse wave detection sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pulse wave sensor of FIG. 8 is inserted into the ear canal.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pulse wave sensor shown in FIG. 10 is inserted into the ear canal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 31, 41 Sensor main body 2 External auditory meatus 3,11 Light emitting element (light emitting means) 4,12 Light receiving element (light receiving means) 5 Artery 6, 21, 33, 43 Lead wire (shift preventing means) 22 Telemeter transmitter (transmitting means) )

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pulse wave detection sensor for irradiating blood flowing in an artery with light and detecting a pulse wave of blood flow by reflected light, the sensor main body being insertable into the ear canal, and being mounted on the outer periphery of the sensor main body. A pulse wave detection sensor comprising a light emitting means and a light receiving means capable of contacting the inner wall of the ear canal. 2. The pulse wave detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor body is provided with a deviation prevention means. 3. The pulse wave detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor body is separately provided with a light emitting means and a light receiving means for mainly detecting noise. 4. The pulse wave detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor main body is provided with wireless transmission means for transmitting the detected pulse wave signal to the outside. 5. The pulse wave detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor body is provided with ventilation means that penetrates in the insertion direction into the ear canal.