JPH07303627A - Diving gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent nitrogen sickness or decompression sickness by easily attaching a measuring portion to a part of the body such as finger, ear, etc., to facilitate measurement and by measuring a residual nitrogen amount in the body during diving. CONSTITUTION:A main body 1 and a measuring part 2, that are enclosed with waterproof cases 4 in order to use during diving, are connected with a flexible signal cable 3. In the measuring part 2, a light emitting block 6 to emit a light with a wavelength which is absorbed by the residual nitrogen in the blood and a light receiving block 7 to receive a light which has been transmitted through the body are provided. At the side of the main body 1, a holding portion 9 which stores and holds the measuring part 2 and a groove 10 which stores the communication cable 3 are provided. In the main body 1, a water pressure sensor 11, time measuring circuit 12, and memory 13 are provided in order to obtain data to calculate a non-decompression diving time. A central control unit 14 receives the data from the light receiving block 7, water pressure sensor 11, time measuring circuit 12, etc., and calculates a residual nitrogen amount in the body, non-decompression diving time, etc., and a display unit 15 displays the information obtained from the central control unit 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diving gauge which can be used by a diver while carrying a part of his / her body or diving equipment when diving (scuba diving). The present invention relates to a diving gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device that enables a diver to measure the amount of residual nitrogen in the body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When diving, nitrogen sickness or decompression sickness may occur due to the influence of water pressure. Nitrogen sickness refers to the fact that the amount of nitrogen dissolved in the blood in the body becomes excessive and causes drunken symptoms such as drinking. Since the compressed air is breathed during the dive, the amount of nitrogen sent to the lungs is taken into the blood more than the amount breathed in the atmosphere. Nitrogen dissolves in the blood by breathing in the lungs, and it is sent to each cell through blood vessels, so that nitrogen is excessively dissolved in each cell. When nitrogen is excessively dissolved in brain tissue, it is subjected to anesthesia and causes so-called nitrogen sickness.

Decompression sickness is a symptom of being itchy if light after a few hours from the end of diving,
If heavier, he / she may have symptoms such as shortness of breath, paralysis of limbs and immobility. About 1 liter of nitrogen is dissolved in the body under normal pressure. The amount of nitrogen dissolved in the body is proportional to the pressure according to Henry's law, so the amount of nitrogen in the body during diving is considerable. On the other hand, since the pressure is reduced when ascending after finishing diving, excess nitrogen out of the nitrogen dissolved in the body is excreted out of the body. Since this excretion requires a certain amount of time, if the pressure drops too fast, excretion will not catch up and some bubbles will form. At this time, when the bubbles in the blood vessel become large, the blood flow stops. This is gas embolism. When the blood stops flowing, the tissue suffocates and dies, causing the above-mentioned symptoms.

Conventionally, there is a technique for preventing decompression sickness by determining it based on the approximate amount of residual nitrogen in the body calculated from the diving depth and the diving time.
It is known from JP1419722 or JP-A-5-141973. Further, as a method of measuring nitrogen bubbles in blood vessels, which is a cause of decompression sickness, a method of projecting a bubble image by a laser beam and a method of listening to a bubble sound in the blood flow by an ultrasonic Doppler method are known.

[0005]

However, according to the prior art, it is not possible to predict nitrogen sickness in advance, and the only preventive measure is to prevent diving as deeply as possible. In addition, since decompression sickness is judged by the calculated value calculated from the dive depth and dive time, etc., there is a high risk of decompression sickness, unlike the actual value due to individual differences and physical condition at that time. It was Furthermore, there is a method for measuring the presence or absence of nitrogen bubbles, which is a direct cause of decompression sickness, but this method cannot be measured during diving. From the viewpoint of prevention of decompression sickness, it is desired to develop a portable and easy-to-use device that can predict the possibility of decompression sickness in advance by measuring the amount of nitrogen in blood before the formation of bubbles during diving. It was rare. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a diving gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device capable of effectively preventing nitrogen sickness and decompression sickness by measuring the amount of nitrogen actually remaining in the body during diving.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a diving gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device according to the present invention comprises:
It is divided into a main body and a measurement part, and when diving, the main body and measurement part can withstand the water pressure at the time of diving so that the diver can carry and use it on his or her body or a part of the diving equipment. It is covered with a formed waterproof case, and the main unit and the measuring unit are connected by a flexible signal cable. A light emitting means capable of irradiating a part of the body of the diver with light having a wavelength absorbed by nitrogen in the blood flow to the measuring section, and transmitting blood in the blood vessel of the diver or in the blood vessel of the diver. Light receiving means for receiving the light reflected from the blood is provided. In the body,
There is provided a central control unit for controlling the light emitting unit and calculating the amount of residual nitrogen in the blood of the diver by receiving the output from the light receiving unit, and a display unit for displaying output data from the central control unit. In the measuring section, at least a portion where the light emitting means and the light receiving means face each other is transparent. Further, on the outer surface of the main body, a groove for accommodating the signal cable and an engaging portion for accommodating and locking the measuring portion are provided. Preferably, the measurement section is provided with a concave measurement concave portion into which a part of the body of the diver (finger, ear, etc.) can be inserted, and the measurement concave portion is formed of a transparent material. A light emitting means and a light receiving means are arranged so as to face each other. More preferably, a detection means for measuring water pressure or water depth, a timing circuit for measuring diving time, and a storage means for storing the amount of residual nitrogen that is dangerous to the human body are provided, and the central control unit provides a light receiving means, At least the no-decompression dive time is calculated based on the outputs from the detection means, the time counting circuit, and the storage means.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a diving gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device according to the present invention is provided with a main body 1 and a measuring section 2, and the main body 1 and the measuring section 2 are flexible signal cables. Connected by 3. Also, the main body 1
The measuring unit 2 and the measuring unit 2 are respectively covered by a waterproof case 4 formed so as to withstand the water pressure at the time of diving so that the diver can carry and use the body of himself or a part of the diving equipment. .

The measuring unit 2 is provided with a concave measuring concave portion 5 into which a part of the body of the diver (finger, ear, etc.) can be inserted. In the measuring unit 2, a light emitting unit 6 including a light emitting unit such as an LED that emits light of a wavelength absorbed by nitrogen in blood is provided, and the light emitted from the light emitting unit 6 is received. ,
The light receiving portion 7 is provided so as to face the light emitting portion 6. A transparent portion 8 made of a transparent material such as pressure resistant glass is provided at a portion where the light emitting portion 6 and the light receiving portion 7 of the measurement concave portion 5 face each other so as to transmit light. The signal cable 3 is for sending data received by the light receiving section 7 and signals for driving the light emitting section 6.

On the side surface of the main body 1, a locking portion 9 for storing and locking the measuring portion 2 and a signal cable 3 are provided so that the measuring portion 2 and the signal cable 3 do not get in the way when the diving gauge is not used. And a groove 10 for accommodating the. In the main body 1, a water pressure sensor 11, a timing circuit 12, and a storage unit 13
A central controller 14 and a display unit 15 are provided.
The water pressure sensor 11 is a detection means for measuring the water pressure during diving. The clock circuit 12 measures the diving time. The storage unit 13 stores the amount of residual nitrogen that is dangerous to the human body.

The central control unit 14 controls the light emission of the light emitting unit 6 and receives information from the light receiving unit 7, the water pressure sensor 11, the timing circuit 12 and the storage unit 13 to obtain the residual nitrogen amount in the blood and the no-decompression diving time. Etc. has the function of calculating. The central controller 14 calculates the amount of residual nitrogen in the blood from the data sent from the light receiving unit 7. By the way, the amount of saturated nitrogen in each cell of the human body varies depending on the water pressure, and the rate at which nitrogen dissolves also varies considerably among cells. Therefore, the central controller 14 calculates the amount of nitrogen dissolved in each cell in the body by using the calculated residual nitrogen amount in the blood as a reference and using the water pressure and the diving time as parameters.

The central control unit 14 calculates the calculated residual nitrogen amount in blood, the dissolved nitrogen amount in each cell, and the timing circuit 1.
The non-decompression dive time at the present water depth is calculated from the dive time data from 2, the water pressure data from the water pressure sensor 11, and the data in the storage unit 13. Here, the no-decompression dive time is a predicted dive time at which the user can ascend at a normal ascent speed (10 m to 18 m / min) from the current depth without stopping decompression. If nitrogen is dissolved in each cell in the dive and exceeds a certain value, it is necessary to stop decompression when ascending, and it is necessary to prevent rapid nitrogen excretion and generation of bubbles. When the amount of nitrogen dissolved in each cell is less than that value, bubbles that cause decompression sickness do not occur at the normal ascent rate or less.

An amplifier 6a for amplifying the control signal of the central control unit 14 to a state necessary for driving the light emitting unit 6 is provided between the light emitting unit 6 and the circuit of the central control unit 14. Between the light receiving unit 7 and the circuit of the central control unit 14, an amplifier 7 for amplifying the weak light data received by the light receiving unit 7 to a state where the central control unit 14 can process it.
a and a filter 7b that cuts light having a wavelength that is unnecessary for measuring the residual nitrogen amount from the amplified data are provided. Therefore, it is possible to send only the data of the light having the wavelength necessary for measuring the residual nitrogen amount to the central controller 14. An amplifier 11a is provided between the water pressure sensor 11 and the circuit of the central control device 14 for amplifying the weak data of the water pressure sensor 11 to a state where the central control device 14 can process the data.

The display unit 15 is provided with a display medium such as a liquid crystal display plate for displaying the information collected in the central control unit 14. The display unit 15 displays desired information such as the measured dissolved nitrogen amount in the body, the residual nitrogen amount dangerous to the human body at that time, the no-decompression dive time, the water pressure, and the dive time. Further, a window portion 16 made of a transparent material such as pressure resistant glass is provided in a portion of the main body 1 facing the display portion 15 so that the display can be seen from the outside. Further, below the window portion 16, a switch 17 used for changing the mode of display information and turning on a backlight for illuminating the display portion 15 is provided.

Next, the operation of the diving gauge of the present invention will be described. When a diver carries a dive gauge with his / her body or a part of the dive equipment to start diving, the water pressure sensor 11 senses the water pressure, and the central control unit 14 causes the timing circuit 12 to start timing in response to the signal. . The measuring unit 2 is the main body 1
Since the measurement unit 2 is separated from the measurement unit 2, the measurement unit 2 can be easily brought to a measurement site such as a finger or an ear, and the diving person can provide his / her finger or ear to the measurement unit 2 during diving. When it is inserted into the recess 5, the amplifier 6a amplifies the signal from the central controller 14, and the light emitting section 6 irradiates the finger or the ear with light having a wavelength absorbed by nitrogen in the blood. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 6 is partially absorbed by nitrogen in the blood by passing through the blood vessel, and the light that is not absorbed is received by the light receiving unit 7. The light data as the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 7 is weak and is amplified by the amplifier 7a. Then, only the data of the light of the wavelength necessary for measuring the residual nitrogen amount is taken out by the filter 7b and sent to the central controller 14. The central controller 14 calculates the amount of residual nitrogen in blood based on the data. Then, the amount of nitrogen dissolved in each cell in the body is calculated using the data of the water pressure sensor 11 and the data of the timing circuit 12 as parameters with the calculated residual nitrogen amount in the blood as a reference. After that, the central controller 14 stores the storage unit 13
Data is obtained and the no-decompression diving time at the current water depth is calculated. Then, the display unit 15 displays desired information such as the present amount of dissolved nitrogen in the body obtained by the central control unit 14 and the amount of residual nitrogen dangerous to the human body at that time, no-decompression diving time, water pressure, diving time, etc. To do.

The diving gauge with residual nitrogen measuring device of the present invention is not limited to a combination of a light emitting means for emitting light of a specific wavelength, a simple light receiving part, and a filter for passing only light of a specific wavelength. Instead, the light receiving unit may be provided with a filter that directly passes only the light of the specific wavelength, or a combination of the light emitting unit that emits the light of the specific wavelength and the simple light receiving unit. Also, a combination of a simple light emitting means, a light receiving portion, and a filter that passes only a specific wavelength of light received by the light receiving portion, or a simple light emitting means and a light receiving portion with a filter that passes only light of a specific wavelength. May be a combination of. In addition to letting light pass through the blood vessels,
The light emitted from the light emitting means may be reflected and returned in the blood vessel to measure the amount of light absorbed at a specific wavelength.
In this case, it is not necessary to particularly provide a measuring recess into which a part of the body can be inserted. Further, the information to be displayed may be at least the decompression-free dive time.

[0016]

According to the present invention, since the measuring section is connected to the flexible signal cable and is separated from the main body, it is easy to move the measuring section to a finger or an ear, and the measurement is easy. Can be done. Further, since the main body is provided with the engaging portion for accommodating and retaining the measuring portion and the groove for accommodating the signal cable, the measuring portion and the signal cable do not interfere when not in use. Further, since the amount of residual nitrogen in the bloodstream of the diving person is directly measured during diving, it is possible to reliably prevent nitrogen sickness. In addition, before ascending, it is possible to know the no-decompression diving time at the current water depth based on the data from the memory unit by using the water pressure and the diving time as parameters, based on the amount of nitrogen in the body, so the decompression The prevention of illness can be ensured and it can greatly contribute to the health maintenance of the diver.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 main body 2 measuring section 3 communication cable 4 waterproof case 5 measurement concave section 6 light emitting means (light emitting section) 7 light receiving section (light receiving section) 9 locking section 10 groove 11 water pressure sensor 12 timing circuit 13 storage section (storage section) 14 central control Device 15 Display means (display section)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A diving gauge used for carrying a part of a diver's body or diving equipment when diving, wherein the diving gauge is formed by a waterproof case formed to withstand water pressure during diving. It is divided into a covered main body and a measurement unit, the main body and the measurement unit are connected via a flexible signal cable, and the measurement unit is absorbed by nitrogen in the bloodstream. A light emitting means capable of irradiating a part of the body of the diver with light of a certain wavelength, and receiving light transmitted through blood in the blood vessel of the diver or reflected from blood in the blood vessel of the diver. A light receiving means is provided, the main body controls the light emitting means, and receives the output from the light receiving means to measure the amount of residual nitrogen in the blood of the diver, and the central control device. Display output data from the device Residual nitrogen measuring device with diving gauge and display means, characterized in that it is provided that. 2. The residual nitrogen measurement according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the main body is provided with a groove for accommodating the cable and an engaging portion for accommodating and locking the measuring portion. Diving gauge with device. 3. The dive gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion where the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit face each other is transparent in the measuring unit. 4. The measuring section according to claim 1, wherein the measuring section is provided with a concave measuring concave section into which a part of the body of the diver can be inserted, and the measuring concave section is made of a transparent material. A diving gauge with a residual nitrogen measuring device, wherein the diving gauge is formed, and the light emitting means and the light receiving means are provided facing the measurement concave portion. 5. The detection means for measuring water pressure or water depth, the timing circuit for measuring diving time, and the storage means for storing the amount of residual nitrogen dangerous to a human body according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The residual nitrogen measuring device is characterized in that the central control device has a function of calculating at least the no-decompression diving time based on the outputs from the light receiving means, the detecting means, the timing circuit and the storage means. Diving gauge with.