KR101843906B1 - Gustatory stimulator for magnetoencephalogram and MRI recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention can repeatedly perform an examination by injecting a small amount of a stimulating substance into the oral cavity, stimulating the stimulating substance, washing the stimulating substance, sucking and discharging the remaining solution in the oral cavity, And a taste stimulator usable for MRI measurement.
The taste stimulator of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a solution dispensing part for injecting a chemical solution delivered from a solution storage part in which a chemical solution is stored, into the oral cavity by mixing with the air delivered from the air storage part to stimulate a taste in the mouth; A solution dispensing part for dispensing the washing solution delivered from the solution storage part storing the washing solution into the oral cavity by mixing with the air delivered from the air storage part after stimulating the taste in the mouth by the solution spraying part of the chemical solution; And a suction unit for suctioning and discharging the solution remaining in the oral cavity.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a gustatory stimulator for magnetoencephalography (MRI)

The present invention can repeatedly perform an examination by spraying a small amount of a stimulating substance onto the oral cavity, stimulating the stimulating substance, washing the stimulating substance, and suctioning and discharging the remaining solution in the oral cavity. The present invention relates to a taste stimulator made of a material and usable for magnetoencephalography and MRI measurement.

Currently, the number of patients with brain disease is on the rise. In relation to cerebral diseases, there is a report that patients with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are accompanied by taste and olfactory abnormality and / or olfactory abnormalities preceded by progression of the disease. In recent years, many studies have been carried out using taste responses as one dimension of diagnosis or prevention of brain diseases.

In general, a taste detector detects a stimulus by spraying a predetermined chemical solution on a tongue with a taste stimulator. The taste receptor of a living body applied to a drug solution sprayed on the tongue receives hundreds to thousands of kinds of chemicals, For recognition and partial recognition, the response mechanism is very complicated.

Conventional taste stimulator stimulates the drug solution by dropping it on a film-type stick, and then it is washed for the next experiment. In this case, it is difficult to quantify the dropped drug solution, and even when the drug solution is washed, the drug solution still sticks to the tongue. I feel fatigue and have a great influence on the next experiment.

Korean Patent No. 10-1083248 discloses a composition for tasting a taste, a film for taste test including the same, and a kit for taste test, and discloses a taste film made of a composition showing a salty, sour, sweet or bitter taste have.

However, in the case of Korean Patent No. 10-1083248, the film for taste test is dissolved in saliva. However, since only a small amount of the film is administered to the tongue, a large amount of the drug solution is administered. It can be doubled.

Therefore, a taste stimulating device is desired which is stimulated by chemical liquid injection, followed by washing, followed by suction, so that the drug solution does not remain on the tongue.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for injecting a small amount of a stimulating substance into the oral cavity to stimulate the stimulating substance, washing the stimulating substance, sucking and discharging the used oral solution, And to provide a taste stimulator that can be used for brain imaging and MRI measurements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for spraying a stimulating solution using compressed air so that the tongue and the sprayer do not come in direct contact with each other, Thereby providing a stimulator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a taste stimulator that is controlled to be set according to a setting of an injection amount or the like when injecting a stimulating substance into an oral cavity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a taste stimulating device provided with a simple structure for a taste stimulator having a suction part and adapted to automatically control suction, compressed air, and solution delivery by a control part.

In order to solve the above problems, the taste stimulator of the present invention comprises a solution storage part for storing a solution of a chemical solution or a washing solution; An air storage part storing oxygen gas or air; An air flow control unit for regulating an amount of oxygen or an amount of air of oxygen gas or air discharged from the air storage unit; And a solution injecting part injecting the solution delivered from the solution storing part into the oral cavity by combining the oxygen amount or the air amount with the air adjusted through the air flow control part.

The taste stimulator of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a solution dispensing part for injecting a drug solution delivered from a solution storing part in which a drug solution is stored, into the oral cavity by mixing with the air delivered from the air storing part to stimulate a taste in the oral cavity; A solution dispensing part of a washing solution which stimulates the taste in the oral cavity by the solution injecting part of the chemical solution and injects the washing solution delivered from the solution storing part storing the washing solution into the oral cavity by combining with the air delivered from the air storage part; And a suction part for sucking and discharging the solution.

The air flow control section has a solenoid valve for regulating the air flow, and the solenoid valve is controlled by the air flow control signal received from the calculation processing section.

The air storage unit may include an oxygen tank, an oxygen cylinder, an air tank, an air compressor, and an air compressor. ≪ / RTI >

And a solution regulating valve part for regulating the amount of the solution at the outlet of the solution storing part, wherein the solution regulating valve part is controlled by the solution regulating signal received from the calculating part.

The solution control valve portion, the solution storage portion, and the solution injection portion are provided in plural numbers.

The tubes and nozzles used in the solution jetting section and the suction section are made of silicone or urethane.

The end of the solution injection nozzle of the solution jetting section may have a circular jet opening having a plurality of through holes, and the suction section may have one suction nozzle.

The suction section has a first suction nozzle and a second suction nozzle which are two suction nozzles, the first suction nozzle is located between the lower lip and the lower lip, and the second suction nozzle is located behind the lower lip.

The solution sucked in the suction part is stored in the residual solution discharge cylinder.

After the chemical solution is injected in the injected solution injecting part of the subject in the magnetic field shielding measuring room in which the magnetic field is shielded, the brain imaging device is made to photograph the subject's brain.

Brain imaging equipment is brain imaging equipment or MRI equipment.

The solution jetting portion is made to trigger the brain imaging equipment according to the signal injecting the chemical solution.

The air flow control unit further includes a time repetition control unit for controlling on or off of the solenoid valve in accordance with the control signal received from the operation processing unit.

A method of driving a taste stimulating device of the present invention is a chemical liquid injecting step in which a chemical solution is injected in a solution injecting part of a drug solution inserted into an oral cavity of a subject. A brain image capturing step of capturing a brain image of a subject by a brain imaging device trigger signal generated by an operation processing unit in response to a chemical solution being injected in a solution injecting part of a chemical solution, and transmitting the brain image to an operation processing part; A washing liquid injection step in which a washing liquid is injected in a solution injecting part of a washing liquid injected into the oral cavity of a subject after a brain imaging step; And a suction step of sucking the residual solution in the oral cavity from the suction part inserted into the oral cavity of the subject after the washing liquid injection step.

In the chemical liquid injecting step, the air flow control unit drives the air volume control valve according to the air amount control signal received from the calculation processing unit, transfers the adjusted air to the air transfer pipe, and controls the solution The valve is driven to adjust the amount of the chemical liquid to transfer the chemical liquid to the solution transfer tube, and the chemical liquid discharged from the solution transfer tube is combined with the air discharged from the air transfer tube and injected into the oral cavity.

In the suction step, the sound pressure control unit is driven in accordance with the sound pressure control signal received from the arithmetic processing, so that the suction unit sucks the residual solution in the oral cavity and stores it in the residual solution discharge cylinder.

The taste stimulating device of the present invention is characterized in that a small amount of stimulating substance is injected into the oral cavity to stimulate the stimulating substance, to wash the stimulating substance, to suck and discharge the used oral solution, , MRI and MRI.

The present invention is also directed to a method for spraying a stimulating solution using compressed air so that the tongue and the sprayer do not come in direct contact with each other, and the stimulation area can be adjusted according to the type and distance of the sprayer. The amount of injection when injecting the oral cavity, and the like are controlled in accordance with the user's setting.

That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to control the amount of injection, etc., while injecting only a small amount of the chemical without unnecessarily administering the chemical solution, and it is possible to quantify the chemical solution to be injected. It also reduces the fatigue of the tongue by suctioning the oral solution.

The taste stimulator provided with the suction part of the present invention has a simple structure and is configured to automatically control the suction, compressed air, and solution delivery by the control part. Therefore, the taste stimulator of the present invention is simple in structure, inexpensive, and convenient to use.

If a taste stimulator capable of repetitively and rapidly delivering a small amount of stimulating substance into the oral cavity is provided through the present invention, researches on taste and brain diseases will be activated in the future.

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a taste stimulator of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the solution injecting unit of FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a schematic view for explaining the solution injecting part and the suction part of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view showing the state of use of the solution injecting part and the suction part of FIG. 3;
5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a taste analysis system using the taste stimulator of the present invention.
6 is a schematic view for explaining the air flow control unit of FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a taste stimulator that can be used for brain imaging and MRI of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The taste stimulator of the present invention is a taste stimulator that can be used for a taste stimulation experiment using a magnetoencephalograpy (MEG) device or an MRI apparatus, and includes a main control part, a solution injecting part, and a suction part.

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a taste stimulator of the present invention.

The taste control system including the taste stimulator 100 of the present invention includes a taste stimulator 100 and a main control unit 400. [

The taste stimulator 100 stimulates a small amount of a stimulating substance (solution), that is, a chemical liquid, into the oral cavity to stimulate the mouth to detect the degree of taste response, and then injects a washing liquid (e.g., water) into the mouth to wash the liquid, The taste stimulator 100 may include an air reservoir 110, an air regulator 120, an air flow controller 130 (not shown) A solution storage part 160, a solution spraying part 200, a suction part 300, and a sound pressure control part 350.

The air storage unit 110 may be an oxygen tank (O ₂ gas) or a cylinder in which air is stored, an oxygen tank or an oxygen spring bell. Alternatively, an air tank or an air compressor may be used in place of the air storage unit 110.

The air regulator 120 is mounted on one side (for example, the upper end) of the air storage part 110 to discharge oxygen gas or air discharged from the air storage part 110 at a certain pressure.

The air flow controller 130 adjusts an amount of oxygen or air flowing through the air regulator 120 from the air storage unit 110 (hereinafter, referred to as an air amount for convenience of explanation) To the solution jetting unit 200 through the nozzle (not shown).

The solution storage unit 160 transmits the solution to the solution dispensing unit 200 through the solution transfer tube 260 to the storage unit for storing the solution such as the chemical solution or the washing solution for inspecting the taste. The solution storage unit 160 may further include a solution control valve unit (not shown) for controlling the amount of the solution at the outlet thereof. The solution control valve unit (not shown) may be controlled by the control unit 410 And the solution control valve portion (not shown) may be a solenoid valve, a motor control valve, or the like. The solution storage part 160 is also provided with a plurality of solution storing parts 160 for storing the washing solution, depending on the kind of the solution for checking the bitter taste, sweet taste, sour taste and the like.

The solution injecting unit 200 injects a solution such as a chemical solution or a washing solution that comes in through the solution transfer pipe 260 together with oxygen gas or air (hereinafter referred to as air for convenience of explanation) introduced through the air transfer pipe 240 Spray. In addition to the cleaning liquid, the solution spraying unit 200 may include a plurality of the solution spraying units 200, depending on the type of the chemical liquid to be inspected.

The suction portion 300 is a means for discharging the solution in the oral cavity to the outside. That is, the cleaning solution is injected into the mouth through one solution injecting part 200 to be cleaned, and the solution by the chemical solution and the washing solution in the mouth is discharged through the suction part 300.

The sound pressure control unit 350 may be included in the air flow control unit 130 as a means for controlling the sound pressure of the suction unit 300 (i.e., a means for applying a negative pressure to the suction unit 300). The sound pressure control unit 350 may include a valve or a motor for discharging the air of the suction unit 300 to the outside.

The main control unit 400 includes a calculation processing unit 410, a key input unit 430, and an output unit 450 as means for controlling the taste stimulator 100 as a whole.

The operation processing unit 410 generates an air flow control signal according to a set value of the injection liquid amount or the like inputted from the key input unit 430 and transmits the air flow control signal to the air flow control unit 130 or generates a solution adjustment control signal, (Not shown).

The key input unit 430 sets the amount of liquid desired by the user, the number of experiments, and the like.

The output unit 450 outputs the currently set amount of liquid, the total number of experiments, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the solution injecting unit of FIG. 1; FIG.

The solution injecting section 200 is injected by the pressure of the oxygen gas flowing through the air transfer pipe 240 into the chemical solution coming in through the solution transfer pipe 260. The injected chemical liquid is regulated by the air amount control valve 150 or the solution control valve part (not shown) of the air flow control part 130. [ And a solution dispensing part 200 is provided in the solution storage part 160 according to the type of the chemical solution for inspecting bitterness, sweet taste, sour taste, and the like. The air amount control valve 150 is composed of a solenoid valve.

The solution spraying nozzle 210 of the solution spraying unit 200 is located apart from the tongue in the oral cavity of the subject to spray a solution (a washing solution or a chemical solution).

The solution spraying nozzle 210 of the solution spraying unit 200 is small in size of about 1 x 3 cm (or a circle having a radius of 1 to 3 cm) at its tip so as to be placed in the oral cavity of a subject, The length is about 3-5cm long.

Two solution injecting parts 200 may be connected in parallel to one another to enable the spraying solution to be sprayed with the other one of the taste stimulating solution and the solution spraying part 200 to be used when using other kinds of taste stimulating solution Can be added.

A non-magnetic material is used as the material of the solution jetting unit 200, and a tube or nozzle used for the solution jetting unit 200 is made of silicone or urethane.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the solution jetting part and the suction part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view showing the state of use of the solution jetting part and the suction part of FIG.

3 includes a solution injector 200 and a suction unit 300. The suction unit 300 is located in the oral cavity of the subject and slightly buffed with teeth. The solution jetting unit 200 and the suction unit 300 are made of a non-magnetic material to eliminate the generation of an electric signal, and are connected to the main control unit using a nonmetallic tube (urethane) so as to be detachable.

The solution injection nozzle 210 allows the solution incoming from the solution storage part 160 to be sprayed into the mouth. The end of the solution injection nozzle 210 has a circular ejection opening 38 having a plurality of through-holes. The solution injection nozzle 210 is located above the tongue on the back of the lower limb and injects the solution.

The suction portion 300 is a means for sucking the solution in the oral cavity, that is, the washing solution and the chemical solution, to the outside, and the suction portion 300 includes at least one suction nozzle 340, 350. Preferably two suction nozzles, that is, a first suction nozzle 340 and a second suction nozzle 350.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first suction nozzle 340 is positioned between the lower lip and the lower lip to suction the intraoral solution (i.e., residual solution in the oral cavity).

As shown in FIG. 4, the second suction nozzle 350 is positioned at the tip of the tongue behind the lower back to suction the intraoral solution (i.e., residual solution in the oral cavity). That is, the first suction nozzle 340 and the second suction nozzle 350 are positioned and sucked so that the lower teeth are inserted between the first suction nozzle 340 and the second suction nozzle 350. The first suction nozzle 340 and the second suction nozzle 350 are discharged to the outside or the residual solution discharge pipe (not shown) (or the waste solution bottle or the vacuum pump device) through the residual solution discharge pipe 36. The residual solution discharge cylinder (not shown) is located outside the magnetic field shielding measurement chamber 500.

The diameter of the first suction nozzle 340 and the second suction nozzle 350 is about 1-3 mm so that there is no inconvenience such as fatigue of the subject.

The first suction nozzle 340, the second suction nozzle 350, the residual solution discharge pipe 36, and the like use silicon or urethane tube.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view for explaining a taste analyzing system using the taste stimulator of the present invention, and includes a taste stimulator 100, a main control unit 400, and a brain imaging equipment 510.

The subject (examinee) performs an experiment by inserting the solution injection nozzle 210 of the taste stimulator 100 and the suction nozzles 340 and 350 into the oral cavity in a magnetic shielded room 500 in which a magnetic field is shielded , And the brain of the subject is photographed and analyzed with a brain imaging apparatus (510) to see the reaction to the taste sensed by the subject. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 5, the main controller and the like are located outside (outside) the magnetic field shielding measurement room 500 because an electrical signal can be generated.

At this time, as the brain imaging equipment 510 used, a magneto-phonography (MEG) equipment or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment can be used. The brain imaging equipment 510 is controlled through a brain imaging equipment control unit 550. An image detected by the brain imaging equipment 510 is transmitted to the operation processing unit 410 of the main control unit 400, Is transmitted to the arithmetic processing unit 410 of the main control unit 400 through the brain imaging equipment control unit 550. The operation processing unit 410 of the main control unit 400 analyzes the received brain image signal and outputs the analysis result and the brain image to the output unit 450.

The operation processing unit 410 of the main control unit 400 generates an air flow control signal and transmits the air flow control signal to the air flow control unit 130. The air flow control unit 130 drives the air flow control valve 150 according to the air flow control signal (Not shown), and the solution control valve unit (not shown) is adjusted in accordance with the transferred chemical fluid control signal to control the liquid flow rate So that the solution injecting unit 200 injects the chemical solution.

The operation processing unit 410 transmits a signal for injecting the chemical solution to the brain imaging equipment control unit 550 as a trigger signal of the brain imaging equipment.

The brain imaging device control unit 550 receives a trigger signal, thereby triggering the brain imaging equipment 510 to capture the brain of the subject.

After the completion of the brain photographing, that is, the photographing end signal indicating that the brain photographing is finished from the brain photographing device control unit 550 is received, or the pre-stored predetermined time (that is, the time taken for photographing) (Not shown) of the washing solution dispenser 200 to cause the solution dispenser 200 of the washing solution to spray the washing solution.

Next, the operation processing unit 410 transmits a negative pressure control signal to the negative pressure controller 350 to control the negative pressure controller 350 so that the residual solution in the oral cavity is discharged to the outside through the suction nozzles 340 and 350.

That is, the arithmetic processing unit 410 transmits a trigger signal for activating the brain imaging equipment 510 to the brain imaging equipment 510, that is, the MEG or MRI measurement equipment at a trigger time at which the taste stimulus is given.

In addition, the operation processing unit 410 performs the experiment according to the preset number of experiments and the experimental process.

6 is a schematic view for explaining the air flow control unit of FIG.

The air flow control unit 130 includes a solenoid valve 150 and a time & repeat control circuit 140.

The solenoid valve 150 serves to open and close the flow of air and allows the desired solution to be injected. The operation processing unit 410 selects a predetermined solenoid valve 150 according to a predetermined solution and transmits a control signal for controlling the predetermined solenoid valve 150. When the predetermined solenoid valve 150 is driven, (200) is driven, so that a desired predetermined chemical liquid is injected.

The time repetition control unit 140 is controlled by the arithmetic processing unit 410 so that the experimenter can turn on / off the solenoid valve 150 for a desired time (0.2 seconds or more) The number of times the valve 150 is turned on and off, that is, the opening and closing can be repeated a desired number of times (infinite).

Where the solenoid valve 150 can be controlled by a pulse having a peak-to-peak amplitude of 12V.

 In the foregoing, the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. .

100: taste stimulator 110: air storage unit
120: air regulator 130: air flow controller
140: time repetition control unit 150: solenoid valve
160: solution storage part 200: solution dispensing part
210: solution spray nozzle 240: air transfer tube
260: solution transfer tube 300: suction part
350: Sound pressure controller 400:
410: operation processing unit 430: key input unit
450: output unit 510: brain imaging equipment
510: brain imaging equipment control unit

Claims (21)

A solution storage part for storing a solution of the chemical solution or the washing solution;
An air storage part storing oxygen gas or air;
An air flow control unit for regulating an amount of oxygen or an amount of air of oxygen gas or air discharged from the air storage unit;
A solution injecting part for injecting the solution delivered from the solution storing part into the oral cavity by combining the oxygen amount or the air amount with the air adjusted through the air flow control part;
A suction unit for suctioning and discharging the solution remaining in the oral cavity;
/ RTI >
The air flow control section has a solenoid valve for controlling the air flow, and the solenoid valve is controlled by the air flow control signal received from the calculation processing section,
Wherein the air flow control section includes a time repetition control section for controlling on or off of the solenoid valve according to the control signal received from the operation processing section. A solution storage part for storing a solution of the chemical solution or the washing solution;
An air storage part storing oxygen gas or air;
An air flow control unit for regulating an amount of oxygen or an amount of air of oxygen gas or air discharged from the air storage unit;
A solution injecting part for injecting the solution delivered from the solution storing part into the oral cavity by combining the oxygen amount or the air amount with the air adjusted through the air flow control part;
A suction unit for suctioning and discharging the solution remaining in the oral cavity;
/ RTI >
The air flow control section has a solenoid valve for controlling the air flow, and the solenoid valve is controlled by the air flow control signal received from the calculation processing section,
Wherein the suction section includes a first suction nozzle and a second suction nozzle, wherein the first suction nozzle is located between the lower lip and the lower lip, and the second suction nozzle is located behind the lower lip. A solution dispensing part for injecting a chemical solution delivered from a solution storage part storing a chemical solution into the oral cavity by mixing with the air delivered from the air storage part to stimulate a taste in the oral cavity;
A solution dispensing part for dispensing the washing solution delivered from the solution storage part storing the washing solution into the oral cavity by mixing with the air delivered from the air storage part after stimulating the taste in the oral cavity by the solution spraying part of the chemical solution;
A suction unit for suctioning and discharging the solution remaining in the oral cavity;
An air flow controller for adjusting the oxygen amount or the air amount of the oxygen gas or air discharged from the air storage part and delivering the oxygen amount or the air amount to the solution spray part of the chemical solution or the solution spray part of the cleaning solution;
/ RTI >
The air flow control section has a solenoid valve for controlling the air flow, and the solenoid valve is controlled by the air flow control signal received from the calculation processing section,
Wherein the air flow control section includes a time repetition control section for controlling on or off of the solenoid valve according to the control signal received from the operation processing section. delete delete 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An air adjusting unit mounted on one side of the air storing unit to cause the air discharged from the air storing unit to be discharged at a constant pressure;
Further comprising: a stimulation device for stimulating the taste of the taste. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the air storage portion is one of an oxygen tank, an oxygen cylinder, an air tank, and an air compressor. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Further comprising a solution regulating valve part for regulating a solution amount at an outlet of the solution storing part, wherein the solution regulating valve part is controlled by a solution regulating signal received from the calculating part. The method according to claim 6,
The solution control valve unit, the solution storage unit, and the solution injection unit. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the tube and the nozzle used for the solution spraying part and the suction part are made of silicone or urethane. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein an end of the solution injection nozzle of the solution jetting section has a circular jet opening having a plurality of through holes. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Characterized in that the suction section comprises at least one suction nozzle. 13. The method of claim 12,
The suction part includes a first suction nozzle and a second suction nozzle which are two suction nozzles,
The first suction nozzle is located between the lower lip and the lower lip,
And the second suction nozzle is located behind the lower mouth. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
And the solution sucked in the suction part is stored in the residual solution discharge tube. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the brain imaging device is configured to photograph the brain of the subject after the chemical solution is injected in the injected solution injecting part of the subject in the magnetic field shielding measuring room in which the magnetic field is shielded. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the brain imaging device is a brain imaging device or an MRI device. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the brain shooting device is triggered according to a signal for spraying the chemical solution. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the air flow control section further comprises a time repetition control section for controlling on or off of the solenoid valve in accordance with the control signal received from the calculation processing section. delete delete delete

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