JPH11318874A - Instrument for measuring neural function with active sweating as index - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To specify a loading time point without giving a pain to an examinee by providing a physical means for giving a fixed physiological load to the surface of a human skin and a means for measuring a period from the time of a physiological load to the starting time of sweating. SOLUTION: A ball 2 is held over the skin surface 1 and dropped. A light emitting diode 6 and a light receiving element 7 are installed nearby the surface 1. At the time when the dropping ball 2 shields the light P of the diode 6, an electrical signal is outputted to a controller 8 to record the time of the physiological load. In addition, a skin surface 9 where the active sweating is measured is brought into close contact with a capsule 10. Dry air is fed to the surface 9 by a prescribed flow rate to transpire sweat generated on the surface 9. The transpired sweet is guided to a sweating measuring part 14 to output a sweating quantity signal to the controller 8 at a fixed interval. Then, the controller 8 specifies the starting time of active sweating with respect to the physiological load to measure a period from the time of physiological load to the starting time of active sweating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for examining the nervous function of a living body, and more particularly to an apparatus for measuring the time until the start of a sweating reaction, which is one of the responses of the autonomic nervous function to the physiological load on the human body. About. As for the response of the nerve function of the living body to a physiological load such as an object touching or pressing the skin, impulse information is transmitted from the central nervous system through the cholinergic sympathetic nerve to the sweat glands, and sweat is actively pumped. Based on the response of the nerve function of the living body, medical activity to objectively diagnose and evaluate the activity state of the cholinergic sympathetic nerve from the central nervous system to the sweat gland by measuring the time from the physiological load to the start of sweating A nerve function measuring device that uses active perspiration as an index and is used in the field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sweating is an index of autonomic nervous function and is broadly divided into warm sweating and mental sweating. Thermal sweating is found in almost the entire body except the palms and soles due to heat stimulation, and the amount of sweating is controlled by the thermoregulatory center of the hypothalamus.
On the other hand, mental sweating is observed in the palms and soles and is caused by changes in physiological loads and emotions, which are instantaneous and minute active sweating reactions. In this mental sweating, the impulse information from the mental sweating center is transmitted by the cholinergic sympathetic nerve to the sweat glands on the palm and sole and the sweating is started. Also, when an object is gripped by the palm, impulse information is sent from the central nervous system in a reflexive manner, and sweating starts in the palm. Measuring minute and instantaneous mental sweating based on the above physiological findings has been clinically applied as an evaluation of the activity of cholinergic sympathetic nerves from the central nervous system to the sweat glands.

As means for measuring the above-mentioned perspiration,
The applicant of the present invention has obtained a patent for a continuous sweating amount measuring apparatus (Patent No. 2538538) capable of observing sweat gland activity and used in medical fields such as autonomic nerve diagnosis and nerve transmission diagnosis. The sweat amount continuous measurement apparatus capable of observing sweat gland activity is provided integrally with the capsule and includes a microscope for imaging the activity state of sweat glands on the skin surface, and a humidity detecting unit and a temperature detecting unit disposed in the rear chamber of the capsule. Calculates the amount of perspiration independent of temperature on the basis of the signal, and converts the perspiration amount data into a video signal for continuous output, and a continuous recording of the video signal from the microscope and the local perspiration amount. The video signal from the means is synchronously input, and the monitor television is configured to display the activity status of the sweat glands and the change in the amount of perspiration in a video image.

[0004] In a conventional nerve function test using sweating as an index, electrical stimulation, which is a sensory stimulus such as pain to peripheral sensory nerves, is used as a stimulus that can specify the point of application. In addition, intra-nervous electrical stimulation in which a fine tungsten electrode is inserted into the nerve bundle to apply electrical stimulation, and sound stimulation that deliberately surprises the subject with a start pistol are performed. On the other hand, deep breathing or the like is performed as a physiological load stimulus with a small burden on the subject.

[0005]

According to the apparatus for continuously measuring the amount of sweat glands capable of observing the activity of sweat glands, the amount of sweat on the skin surface and the activity of sweat glands at the same site can be synchronously displayed on an image. However, the sweat amount continuous measurement device capable of observing the sweat gland activity does not have a means for applying a certain physiological load, and has no means for specifying the time point of the physiological load. The time to the onset of sweating cannot be measured.

The electrical stimulation, which is a conventional physiological load stimulus, can specify the load time, intensity and position, but it is a stimulus based on a sensory stimulus of pain, so that the subject suffers. The above-mentioned electrical stimulation in the nerve has the advantage of being able to identify the loading time, intensity and stimulated nerve bundle, but it is invasive because a fine tungsten electrode is inserted into the nerve bundle, requires the skill of the examiner, and is measured. Is painful for the person. The sound stimulation by the starting pistol is a psychological burden on the subject to be surprised, and it is difficult to produce a constant sound, and a familiar phenomenon is strongly observed.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for applying a physiological load capable of specifying a load point without causing any pain to the subject and having a constant load repetition intensity, and measuring a start point of active perspiration. An object of the present invention is to provide an evaluation apparatus for nervous function using active sweating as an index for measuring the time from the point of physiological load to the start of sweating by integrally operating the means.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a physical means for applying a certain physiological load to the surface of a human skin, a means for specifying a point in time when the physiological load is applied, and a function provided by the physiological load. And means for measuring the time from the time of the physiological load to the time of the start of perspiration.

[0009]

According to the present invention, it is possible to specify a physiological load time point without giving a pain to a subject, and to apply a physiological load with a constant load repetition intensity. The time from the start of active sweating is measured, and the time from the physiological load to the start of sweating can be measured, so that the nerve function can be measured using active sweating as an index.

[0010] In particular, according to the present invention, the time from the time of physiological load to the start of sweating, that is, the time until the nerve function starts to respond to a certain physiological load, can be measured noninvasively and quantitatively. This realizes the measurement of a new nerve function using the sweating phenomenon.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a nerve function measuring apparatus according to an embodiment using active sweating as an index. Hereinafter, the configuration of the nerve function measuring apparatus using the active sweating as an index will be described together with its operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, a ball 2 is held at a predetermined height H by a ball drop mechanism 3 above a skin surface 1 of a person to be measured, for example, above a palm. When the examiner presses the ball drop switch 4, the ball 2 is dropped by the ball drop mechanism 3. The dropped ball 2 is guided to the skin surface 1 by a guide 5. A light-emitting diode 6 and a light-receiving element 7 are placed in close proximity to the skin surface 1, and predetermined light P is emitted from the light-emitting diode 6 toward the light-receiving element 7. The dropped ball 2 comes into contact with the skin surface and becomes a physiological load, and at the same time, blocks the light P. The light receiving element 7 emits an electric signal when the light P is blocked by the ball 2, that is, at the time of a physiological load at which the ball 2 comes into contact with the skin surface 1, and the electric signal at the time of the physiological load is guided to the controller 8. The physiological loading time point is recorded.

Skin surface 9 for measuring active sweating of the subject
For example, the thumb and the abdomen are brought into close contact with the capsule 10 having an open side in contact with the skin surface. Dry air is continuously supplied to the capsule through a pipe 12 at a predetermined flow rate Q from a dry air supply unit 11. The sweat generated on the skin surface 9 evaporates by the dry air and becomes air containing water vapor by the perspiration, and is led to the perspiration measuring unit 14 by the pipe 13. The perspiration measuring unit 14 measures the temperature and relative humidity of the air containing water vapor due to the induced perspiration, calculates the absolute amount of perspiration from the air flow rate Q and the measured temperature and humidity, and sends it to the controller 8 at regular intervals. Outputs a perspiration signal. The controller 8 specifies the starting point of the active sweating for the physiological load from the sweating amount signal obtained at regular intervals, and measures the time from the physiological loading point to the starting point of the active sweating.

A microscope 15 is fixed to the capsule 10 made of a transparent resin on the opposite side of the skin surface. The microscope 15 captures an image of the state of perspiration, and its image signal is recorded by the controller 8. LCD with elapsed time from the above physiological load
Displayed on the display unit 16. By processing the recorded image signal, the time from the physiological load on each sweat gland to the start of the active sweating reaction can be measured. Also, LCD
The display unit 16 simultaneously displays the measurement result of the time until the start of active sweating for a physiological load based on the sweat amount signal from the sweat measuring unit 14 together with the continuous sweat amount waveform (FIG. 2).

According to the nerve function measuring apparatus using the active sweating as an index, the physiological load can be measured without giving any pain to the subject, and the physiological load at which the repetition intensity of the load is constant is maintained. Applying a load, measuring the start of sweating of active sweating, and measuring the time from the time of physiological load to the start of sweating, the evaluation of nerve function using active sweating as an index, that is, from the sweating center to the sweat glands Of the cholinergic sympathetic nerve and the activity of the sweat glands can be performed promptly and without causing any pain to the subject.

In the above-described embodiment, the point of physiological load is specified by the light emitting diode and the light receiving element. However, it is also possible to incorporate an impact sensor or the like into the ball and measure the electrical output for the impact. .

FIG. 2 shows an example of the measurement result displayed on the LCD display unit 16. The surface of the skin from which the ball was dropped is the palm of the left hand of the subject, the height at which the ball falls is 50 cm, and the measurement site for perspiration is the palm side of the right thumb. The figure shows the sweating waveform, the mark of the physiological load point, the mark of the start point of the active sweating, and the time from the physiological load point to the start point of the active sweating of 3.11 seconds.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the activity of the sweat glands on the palm side of the right thumb imaged on the LCD display unit 16. Of the sweat glands on the skin surface, those that are actively sweating (black circles)
And sweat glands (open circles) that are not sweating, and 2.97 seconds, which is the time from the physiological load time to the time when the sweat gland of the black circle starts sweating, with the physiological load time being zero seconds. As described above, since the sweating response of the sweat glands can be observed together with the elapsed time from the physiological load, the start point of active sweating can be measured from the physiological load of each sweat gland. The solid line in the figure is a wrinkle on the skin surface.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the sweat test, the time from the physiological load time to the start of sweating is measured as a new index, so that the quantitative analysis of nerve transmission independent of the amount of sweating is performed. Evaluation becomes possible. In addition, both the observation of the sweating activity and the physiological load are means to be performed non-invasively, which enables non-invasive and simple measurement of a very important function of the human body such as autonomic nervous function. Further, a physiological load accompanying the onset of sweating can be applied to any part of the human skin surface, and various autonomic nervous functions can be measured by selecting this part and a site for observing sweating activity. On the other hand, if the locality of the physiological load is specified, a constant autonomic nervous function can always be examined, and it can be used for observing a temporal change of a human and can be used for determining a therapeutic effect.
Furthermore, since the emission of local sweating based on nerve activity can be observed by using a microscope or the like, application to microdiagnosis becomes possible. It is also possible to determine the effect of local anesthesia, determine the effect of treatment such as nerve cutting based on injury, and the like.

[0020]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display diagram showing the results of measuring the time from the time of physiological load to the start of active sweating.

FIG. 3 is a video display diagram showing an elapsed time from a physiological load point to a start point of active sweating, and a state of an active sweating reaction of a sweat gland at that time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Skin surface 2 Ball 3 Ball drop mechanism 4 Ball drop switch 5 Guide 6 Light emitting diode 7 Light receiving element 8 Controller 9 Skin surface 10 Capsule 11 Dry air supply unit 12, 13 Pipe 14 Sweating measurement unit 15 Microscope 16 LCD display unit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 17, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Physical means for applying a certain physiological load to the skin surface of a person, means for specifying a point in time when said physiological load is applied, and active means pumped from sweat glands on the skin surface by said physiological load. A nerve function measuring apparatus using active sweating as an index, comprising: means for measuring the time when sweating starts due to sweating; and means for measuring the time from the time of the physiological load to the time when sweating starts. 2. The nerve function measuring apparatus using active perspiration as an index according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for dropping a ball as physical means of the physiological load. 3. The means for measuring the point in time when perspiration starts due to active perspiration has a mixing chamber for mixing a dry gas supplied from the outside with sweat pumped from the skin, and a humidity change in the mixing chamber. 2. The nerve function measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus measures the change in sweating. 4. The nerve using active sweating as an index according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the time of sweating by the active sweating comprises means for specifying a sweating start time from image observation of a sweating state by a microscope. Function measuring device. 5. The means for measuring the time point of sweating due to active sweating comprises a device for specifying the time point of starting sweating by measuring the change in infrared light absorption of water generated by sweating using a measuring principle. The nerve function measuring device according to claim 1, wherein active sweating is used as an index.