JPH0947433A - Sweating amount consecutively measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure sweating amount on skin surface directly and precisely, by measuring electric conductivity by mixing sweat from skin surface with pure water which is introduced from outside, and by arithmetically operating the sweating amount consecutively based on the electric conductivity. SOLUTION: Pure water which is stored in a pure water storage tank 2 is circulated in a water pathway which is composed of a tube 3, a sensor 1, a tube 5A, a pump 6, a tube 5B, an ion exchanger 4, and a tube 7 by operating the pump 6, in a sweating amount consecutively measuring device. In this process, sweat from skin S and pure water are mixed in a hole which is opened at a lower end face of the sensor 1, and are drained from a drain opening 1B of the sensor 1 to the tube 5A. The sensor 1 is provided with an electrode so that electric conductivity (electric conductivity of pure water is measured by an electric conductivity measuring instrument 21) of the mixed water can be measured by an electric conductivity measuring instrument 22 while this mixed water is drained front the drain opening 1B, and the electric conductivities of the pure water and the mixed water which are once measured are inputted into a computer 23, thereby, sweating amount from the skin S is consecutively arithmetically operated and displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuous sweat rate measuring device for continuously measuring the sweat rate from the skin surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been extremely important to continuously measure the amount of perspiration from the skin surface in the fields of clinical medicine and psychiatry. Therefore, various means for continuously measuring the amount of perspiration from the skin surface have been developed, but no means for directly and accurately measuring the amount of perspiration based on the characteristics of perspiration itself have been developed.

[0003]

Therefore, in the present invention, various ions contained in perspiration, such as Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ ,
It is an object to be solved to provide a continuous sweating amount measuring device which directly and accurately measures the sweating amount based on the conductive properties of K ⁺ , HCO ₃ ⁻ and the like.

[0004]

A continuous sweating amount measuring device for solving the above-mentioned problems, in a state of being attached to a skin surface, has a sweating from the skin surface and pure water or a non-electrolyte solution introduced from the outside. And a sensor having an electrode for measuring the conductivity of the mixed water obtained by mixing the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution with the perspiration, and measuring the conductivity of the mixed water connected to the electrode. And a sweat rate calculating means for calculating the continuous sweat rate from the skin surface based on the conductivity of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring means. .

According to the apparatus for continuously measuring the amount of perspiration having this structure,
Pure water or a non-electrolyte solution is introduced from the outside of the sensor while the sensor is in contact with the skin surface, and while pure water or a non-electrolyte solution flows through the sensor, perspiration from the skin surface is pure water or a non-electrolyte solution. When the conductivity measuring means measures the conductivity of the mixed water in the process of being mixed with and being discharged to the outside of the sensor as the mixed water, the sweating amount calculating means causes the perspiration amount calculation means to measure the conductivity of the mixed water from the skin surface. It is possible to calculate the continuous sweating amount of and to continuously display the sweating amount on the display device or the like.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a perspiration amount continuous measuring apparatus for continuously measuring the amount of perspiration per unit time from the skin surface of the palm or the like will be described. Figure 1
FIG. 2 is a system diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the apparatus for continuously measuring sweat rate according to the embodiment of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a water inlet 1A opened at the upper end surface of the sensor 1 whose lower end surface is brought into contact with the skin S, and a pure water storage tank 2 for storing pure water as a non-electrolyte solution. The tube 3 is connected between the two. Tubes 5A and 5B are connected between the drainage port 1B of the sensor 1 and the ion exchanger 4, and a pump 6 is provided at the connecting portion of the tubes 5A and 5B. Further, a tube 7 is connected between the ion exchanger 4 and the pure water storage tank 2.

As described above, the sensor 1, the pure water storage tank 2, the ion exchanger 4, and the pump 6 are installed in the tubes 3 and 5.
Pure water stored in the pure water storage tank 2 is connected by A, 5B, and 7 and the pump 6 is operated, so that the tube 3, the sensor 1, the tube 5A, the pump 6, and the tube 5 are connected.
It is circulated in a circulating water channel composed of B, the ion exchanger 4 and the tube 7. In the process in which pure water is circulated in this circulation channel, perspiration from the skin S and pure water are mixed and mixed in a hole (this hole will be described later in detail) formed in the lower end surface of the sensor 1. It becomes water and the drain port 1 of the sensor 1
B is discharged to the tube 5A.

The mixed water obtained by mixing pure water and perspiration contains various ions contained in perspiration, namely Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , and K.
^+, HCO ₃ ^- the ionized water, and the like. The conductivity of pure water is 10 ⁻⁶ Ω ⁻¹ cm ⁻¹ , whereas the conductivity of general sweating is about 5 × 10 ⁻³ Ω ^{−1 at} room temperature.
It is said to be cm ^-1 . Therefore, the conductivity of perspiration is 5 × 10 ³ times that of pure water. Before the mixed water is discharged from the outlet 1B to the tube 5A, the conductivity of the mixed water is measured by the conductivity measuring device 22 described later (the conductivity of pure water is also measured by the conductivity measuring device 21). The sensor 1 is provided with an electrode so that the measurement can be performed. The structure of the sensor 1 including this electrode will be described later in detail.

When the mixed water is discharged from the drain port 1B to the tube 5A, the mixed water passes through the pump 6 and the tube 5B and is injected into the ion exchanger 4. This ion exchanger 4 uses Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , K ⁺ , HCO ₃ contained in the mixed water.
^-Ions such as are removed by ion exchange. Then, the water from which ions such as Na ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , K ⁺ , and HCO ₃ ⁻ are removed becomes pure water again, passes through the tube 7, and is returned to the pure water storage tank 2.

Next, the structure of the sensor 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective external view of the sensor 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the sensor 1 in an exploded manner. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the sensor 1, a water inlet 1A to which the above-mentioned tube 3 is connected and a tube 5A are connected to the uppermost first disk 11 made of acrylic. The drainage port 1B is opened, and the water inlet 1A and the drainage port 1B are circular with a small diameter.

An electrode plate 12 having the same diameter as the disk 11 is arranged below the first disk 11. The electrode plate 12 is made of an electrode material such as silver or platinum and is composed of two electrodes 12A and 12B. The two electrodes 12A and 12B are insulated by the insulating plate 12C arranged in the middle part. Electrode 12
Water passage holes 12D and 12E having the same diameter are formed in A and 12B at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11, respectively. The electrode 12
Connection terminals 13 and 14 that are electrically connected to a conductivity measuring device, which will be described later, are provided on the respective side end surfaces of A and 12B.

Below the electrode plate 12, the first disk 1 is provided.
1, and a second acrylic disk 15 having the same diameter as the electrode plate 12 is provided. This second disk 15
Also, at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11, respectively, water holes 15A having the same diameter,
15B is opened.

A disk-shaped common electrode plate 16 made of silver and having the same diameter as the first disk 11, the electrode plate 12, and the second disk 15 is disposed below the second disk 15. ing. The common electrode plate 16 also has water holes 16A and 16B having the same diameter at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11.
A common connection terminal 17 is provided on the side end surface of the common electrode plate 16 so as to be electrically connected to a conductivity measuring device described later. The common electrode plate 16 serves as a common electrode for each of the two electrodes 12A and 12B described above.

Below the common electrode plate 16 is a first disk 11, an electrode plate 12, a second disk 15, and a third disk 18 made of acrylic and having the same diameter as the common electrode plate 16.
Are arranged. The third disk 18 is also provided with water holes 18A and 18B having the same diameter at the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11.

Below the third disc 18, the first disc 11, the electrode plate 12, the second disc 15, the common electrode plate 16, and the third disc 18 have the same diameter and are made of acrylic. Four disks 19 are arranged. This fourth
The disk 19 is provided with elongated holes 19A having both ends at positions corresponding to the same positions as the water inlet 1A and the water outlet 1B opened in the first disk 11. The fourth disk 19 serves as the lower end surface of the sensor 1 and is closely attached to the skin S. Perspiration from the skin S enters the long holes 19A and the pure water flowing through the long holes 19A. It is supposed to be mixed with.

The first disk 11 having the above-mentioned shape,
The electrode plate 12, the second disk 15, the common electrode plate 16, the third disk 18, and the fourth disk 19 are opened in their respective constituent members so that pure water and mixed water flow to the straight. Further, the sensor 1 is configured by adhering each of the water passage holes with an adhesive so as to be coaxial with each other. still,
In this embodiment, the first disk 11, the electrode plate 12, the second disk 15, the common electrode plate 16, the third disk 18, and the fourth disk 19 each have a thickness of 1 mm and a diameter of 23 mm. However, the size is not limited to this, and the size can be properly determined.

The long hole 19A of the fourth disk 19 is formed in a curved shape as shown in FIG. 4 in addition to being linearly formed as described above. It is possible to increase the opening area where perspiration mixes with pure water. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a temperature sensor 2 for detecting the temperature of mixed water in which perspiration from the skin S is mixed with pure water.
By attaching 0 to the curved hole 19B and temperature-correcting the conductivity of the mixed water based on the detected temperature, the amount of perspiration can be accurately measured. The temperature sensor 2
0 is not limited to the curved hole 19B portion, but the same measurement can be performed by attaching to the long hole 19A portion. Further, by providing a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the skin S surface in addition to the temperature sensor 20, the temperature of the conductivity of the mixed water can be corrected more accurately.

Next, the connection terminals 13 and 14 of the electrodes 12A and 12B of the sensor 1 and the common connection terminal 17 of the common electrode plate 16 are connected to the cables W1 and W as shown in FIG.
It is connected to a conductivity measuring device 21 for measuring the conductivity of pure water using 2, 2 and a conductivity measuring device 22 for measuring the conductivity of mixed water. The cable W3 has electrodes 12A and 12B.
Conductivity measuring devices 21 and 2 are used as common lead wires.
2 (Actually use a 2-channel conductivity meter,
Or, the common terminal (ground terminal) of the input circuit of the conductivity measuring instrument of 1 channel is switched at high speed and alternately measured)
Connected to. The conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22 are converted into electrical data and input to the personal computer 23.

The personal computer 23 uses the conductivity data of pure water and the conductivity data of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22, and calculates the amount of perspiration stored in advance. The amount of perspiration from the skin S is continuously calculated based on the data for. At that time, the personal computer 23
Is the input of the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor 20 using the cable W4, and the conductivity data of pure water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22 according to the temperature of the mixed water. Further, after correcting the conductivity data of the mixed water, the amount of perspiration from the skin S is calculated using the flow rate of pure water and the opening area of the flow path occupying the skin S.

The continuous sweating amount from the skin S calculated by the personal computer 23 is calculated by the personal computer.
It is graphically displayed on the display 23A of the printer 23 and continuously recorded on the recorder 24 such as a pen recorder.

Next, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall construction of the continuous sweat rate measuring device according to the second embodiment, in which the flow paths of pure water and mixed water are different from those of FIG. 2 is a system diagram shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the electrical configurations of the sensor 1, the conductivity measuring instruments 21 and 22, the personal computer 23, the recorder 24, and the cables W1 to W4 are as follows.
This is the same as the continuous sweat rate measuring apparatus of the first embodiment. Further, the pure water storage tank 2, the ion exchanger 4, and the pump 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the sweat rate continuous measuring device.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pure water storage tank 2 is
The pump 6 is connected through the tube 30A, and the pump 6 and the ion exchanger 4 are connected through the tube 30B. Further, the ion exchanger 4 and the pure water storage tank 2 are
It is connected by a tube 31. When the pump 6 is operated in this circulating water passage, the water in the pure water storage tank 2 is sent to the ion exchanger 4 and ion-exchanged, so that it becomes pure water and is returned to the pure water storage tank 2. The pure water storage tank 2 is gradually filled with pure water.

Pure water storage tank 2 and water inlet 1A of sensor 1
Tubes 32 are connected to each other. The other end of the tube 33, one end of which is connected to the drain port 1B of the sensor 1, is connected to a syringe pump 34.
The syringe pump 34 is precisely driven by a motor (not shown). Therefore, when this motor is driven, pure water is sucked from the pure water storage tank 2 by the syringe pump 34, so that this pure water passes through the tube 32,
In the process of flowing from the water inlet 1A of the sensor 1 to the aforementioned long hole 19A of the fourth disk 19 or the curved hole 19B shown in FIG. 4, it is mixed with perspiration from the skin S and becomes mixed water to form a drainage port. It is drained from 1B and flows into the syringe pump 34 through the tube 33. Then, the mixed water is flowed in until the capacity of the syringe pump 34 becomes full.

The connection terminals 13 and 14 of the electrodes 12A and 12B of the sensor 1 and the common connection terminal 17 of the common electrode plate 16 are conductivity measuring devices 21 for measuring the conductivity of pure water.
And a conductivity measuring device 22 for measuring the conductivity of the mixed water. The conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22 are electrically decoupled. Converted into a personal computer and input to the personal computer 23.
The personal computer 23 is used to calculate the conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of the mixed water measured by the conductivity measuring devices 21 and 22, and the previously stored amount of perspiration. The amount of perspiration from the skin S is continuously calculated on the basis of the above data, and is graphically displayed on the display 23A and also continuously recorded on the recorder 24. In addition,
The sonal computer 23 inputs the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor 20 described above, corrects the conductivity according to the temperature of the mixed water, and determines the flow rate of pure water and the opening area of the flow path occupying the skin S. The amount of perspiration from the skin S is calculated using this.

In the second embodiment, since the motor-driven syringe pump 34 is used, the sensor 1
The flow rate of pure water flowing through the chamber becomes uniform, and the conductivity measuring device 21,
The characteristic is that the conductivity of pure water and the conductivity of mixed water measured at 22 are accurate. In the above measurement, a non-electrolyte solution such as sucrose solution may be used instead of pure water. The non-electrolyte solution does not affect the conductivity but generates osmotic pressure, so the osmotic pressure of the solution can be made to match the osmotic pressure of sweat (body fluid), preventing the solution from penetrating into the skin tissue and sweating. The swelling of the tissue can be prevented.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, pure water or a non-electrolyte solution is introduced from the outside of the sensor while the sensor is in contact with the skin surface, and the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution flows through the sensor. During the process, perspiration from the skin surface is mixed with pure water or a non-electrolyte solution to form mixed water that is discharged to the outside of the sensor, and the conductivity of the mixed water is measured and the skin is measured based on the conductivity. Since the continuous sweat rate from the surface can be calculated, the sweat rate can be directly and accurately measured based on the conductive property of the sweat itself.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sensor.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the sensor.

FIG. 4 is an opening view of a lower end surface of the sensor.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Sensor 2 Pure Water Storage Tank 4 Ion Exchanger 6 Pump 19A Long Hole 19B Curved Hole 21,22 Conductivity Meter 23 Personal Computer 34 Syringe Pump

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. While being in contact with the skin surface, perspiration from the skin surface is mixed with pure water or a non-electrolyte solution introduced from the outside, and the pure water or non-electrolyte solution and the perspiration are mixed with each other. A sensor having an electrode for measuring the conductivity of the mixed water mixed, a conductivity measuring means connected to the electrode to measure the conductivity of the mixed water, and measured by this conductivity measuring means A perspiration amount continuous measuring device comprising: a perspiration amount calculation means for calculating a continuous perspiration amount from the skin surface based on the conductivity of the mixed water. 2. The sensor is provided with an opening for flowing pure water or a non-electrolyte solution from the outside on the surface in contact with the skin surface and mixing perspiration from the skin surface with the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution. A flow path for introducing the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution to the opening, and a mixed water flow path for causing the mixed water in which the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution and the perspiration are mixed to flow out from the opening, The continuous sweat rate measurement according to claim 1, wherein an electrode for measuring the conductivity of each of the pure water or the non-electrolyte solution and the mixed water is provided in each of the flow path and the mixed water flow path. apparatus. 3. A sweat rate calculation means is a personal computer.
The perspiration amount calculated from the skin surface by using a computer is displayed on a display of a personal computer and continuously recorded by a recorder such as a pen recorder. Continuous sweat rate measuring device. 4. The sweat rate calculation means calculates the sweat rate based on the flow rate of pure water or a non-electrolyte solution, the area of the flow path occupying the skin, and the conductivity corrected according to the temperature of the mixed water. The continuous sweat rate measuring device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.