WO2009123498A1

WO2009123498A1 - Device for monitoring and evaluating physiological processes

Info

Publication number: WO2009123498A1
Application number: PCT/RU2008/000560
Authority: WO
Inventors: Игорь Владимирович МАКСИМОВ; Андрей Юрьевич МОЛЧАНОВ
Original assignee: Maksimov Igor Vladimirovich; Molchanov Andrey Yurievich
Priority date: 2008-04-02
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2009-10-08

Abstract

The invention relates to medicine. The inventive device for monitoring and evaluating physiological processes comprises a microcontroller, an analog-to-digital converter, a first switchboard, thoracic and abdominal breathing sensors, a galvanic skin response sensor, an arterial blood pressure sensor and a cardiovascular activity sensor, a power supply unit, signal preamplifiers and filters. An additional channel for connecting the operator selecting sensor to the input thereof is also provided. The galvanic skin response and cardiovascular activity sensors are accommodated in the similar plastic bodies which are provided with a spring-loaded cover and an articulated joint, thereby making it possible to put the sensors onto fingers of different size. The galvanic skin response sensor is designed in the form of two bodies with electrodes arranged therein, and the thoracic and abdominal breathing sensors comprise a force sensor, a plastic body and cords.

Description

DEVICE FOR CONTROL AND EVALUATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Technical field

The invention relates to medicine, in particular to psychology, psychophysiology, relates to a device for medical and biological purposes, designed to record and evaluate the rapid physiological reactions of a person, and can be used in the study and diagnosis of mental processes and conditions. In addition, the invention may find application in forensics, pedagogy. Particularly successfully, the invention can be used in identifying a person with information that he possibly conceals during the investigation of crimes (offenses), during the selection and verification of a hired or working staff.

State of the art

To conduct psychophysiological studies in medicine and other fields, various devices for collecting and analyzing physiological reactions of a person are widely used, which include polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, strain gauge platforms, etc. These devices record and process human responses to stimuli that they perceive.

From US Pat. No. 4,940,059, a polygraph with improved cardiac signal registration is known, which uses blood pressure information along with a heart rate.

From international application WOOZ / 057003, a non-invasive polygraph based on optical analysis is known. The device generates a series of pulses in the infrared range, these pulses are reflected from the subject, fed to a receiver connected to the processor, and analyzed, and the analysis results are displayed.

The device disclosed in publication US 2007270659, allows you to remotely detect false information in the information received from the test subject using at least one physiological parameter transmitted over a distance. The interpreter uses a printing tool to evaluate physiological parameters and information. Among domestic developments, one can distinguish the device according to patent RU2010326, which uses a whole range of parameters - the dynamics of cardiovascular activity, respiration, galvanic skin reactions. The device contains a microprocessor, an information receiving unit, sensors of physiological parameters. However, the reliability of this device is low and not sufficient to obtain a reliable conclusion.

Closest to the present invention is a device for monitoring and evaluating physiological parameters according to patent RU2203614. The known device contains a microcontroller, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a switch, sensors for chest respiration, abdominal breathing, skin galvanic activity, blood pressure, cardiovascular activity, a motor activity sensor, a power supply, preamplifiers, signal amplifiers, filters, the first and second digital-to-analog converters (DACs), a tool amplifier and a personal computer interface unit equipped with galvanic isolation. Sensors through preamplifiers, filters and signal amplifiers are connected to the corresponding inputs of the switch, the control input of which is connected to the first bus of the microcontroller, and the output is from the first input of the instrument amplifier, the second input of the instrument amplifier is connected to the output of the first DAC, the third input to the output of the second DAC, and the output to the input of the ADC, the inputs of the first and second The DAC and the ADC I / O group are connected to the second bus of the microcontroller, the third bus of which is connected to the interface unit with a personal computer. This device allows you to obtain data on the presence in the received information of false information with a sufficiently high reliability. However, this device does not provide sufficient objectivity of the results, it is used in a narrow specific field of research, its reliability is not high, and, first of all, the device is not convenient in operation due to difficulties in handling sensors of physiological parameters. Sensors have to be customized and retuned for a specific subject, the operators quickly get tired, which also affects the reliability of the results. 5 Disclosure of invention

The problem to which the invention is directed is to create a device for monitoring and evaluating physiological processes that eliminates the noted drawbacks of the known solutions.

The technical result achieved by using the presented invention is to increase the reliability and ease of use. The design of the sensors and their joint use during the control of physiological processes leads to a synergistic effect, objectively expressed in a significant reduction in the time for examination and obtaining an opinion and in reducing operator fatigue. The high reliability of the conclusions of the survey using the presented device is noted.

The technical result is achieved due to the fact that in the device for monitoring and evaluating physiological processes containing a microcontroller, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a first switch, sensors for chest respiration, abdominal respiration, skin-galvanic reaction, blood pressure in the form 6 microphones, cardiovascular activity, motor activity sensor, power supply, preamplifiers, signal amplifiers, filters, first and second digital-to-analog converters (DACs), instrumentation amplifier and a personal computer interface unit equipped with galvanic isolation, with sensors through amplifiers and the filters are connected to the corresponding inputs of the switch, the control input of which is connected to the first bus of the microcontroller, and the output is from the first input of the instrument amplifier, the second input is a power amplifier is connected to the output of the first DAC, the third input is to the output of the second DAC, and the output is to the input of the ADC, the inputs of the first and second DACs and the group of ADC inputs and outputs are connected to the second bus of the microcontroller, the third bus of which is connected to the interface unit with a personal computer and the microphone, through the corresponding preamplifier and envelope detector, is connected to the corresponding input of the switch, an additional channel is introduced, implemented with the possibility of connecting a sensor of its choice to the input of the operator and including Ora e 2008/000560

7 is a switch, the outputs of which are connected to the first and second subchannels of signal processing from the corresponding sensor, while the first subchannel includes a pre-amplifier and a filter connected in series, the second - a pre-amplifier, a filter, a signal amplifier and an additional filter, and the outputs of the subchannels through a third electronic switch, the control input is connected to the microcontroller, connected to the input of the first switch, sensors of the skin-galvanic reaction and cardiovascular activity are placed in one different plastic cases with spring-loaded covers, while a hinge is installed between each cover and the base of the case, made with the possibility of installing sensors on fingers of different sizes, the skin-galvanic reaction sensor has two said cases, in each of which an electrode is placed, through an external connector connected to cable for communication with the switch, chest and abdominal breathing sensors include a force sensor located in a plastic case and slings that can cover the subject’s chest The force on the force sensor when pulling, while cardiovascular sensor activity is a plethysmogram sensor or photoplethysmogram sensor.

The technical result is enhanced due to the fact that the plethysmography sensor includes a piezoelectric element and a pusher installed with the possibility of transmitting the force perceived by it to the piezoelectric element, and outputting an electrical signal proportional to the derivative of the force acting on the pusher through a cable connected to the conclusions of the piezoelectric element.

In addition, the technical result is enhanced by the fact that the photoplethysmogram sensor includes an infrared emitter and a photodetector of the light flux passing through the peripheral vessels of the subject.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood from the further description with reference to the drawings, in which: in FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an external connection of the device, FIG. 2 shows a functional diagram of a device, in FIG. 3 illustrates a device of a skin-galvanic reaction sensor; FIG. 4 shows a respiratory sensor device; FIG. 5 shows a plethysmogram sensor device, and FIG. 6 photoplethysmogram sensor device.

The best example of carrying out the invention

The device for monitoring and evaluating physiological processes 1 is designed to work in conjunction with a personal computer 2, which provides processing and display of the received information, its recording, storage, printing of test results.

The device 1 contains a skin-galvanic reaction sensor 3, a chest respiration sensor 4, an abdominal respiration sensor 5, a motor activity sensor 7, a cardiovascular activity sensor 6, which is a plethysmogram sensor or photoplethysmogram sensor, additional channel 8 (for simplicity, the sensor connected to an additional channel, also sometimes indicated by 8) for connecting a second skin-galvanic reaction sensor or a motor sensor 8 000 560

10 activity of the choice of the operator, microphone 9, blood pressure sensor 10. The outputs of the sensors 3 - 7 and the sensor of the additional channel 8 are connected to the preliminary amplifiers 14 - 20 and then to the filters 22 - 29, forming the necessary bandwidth. Current generators 12 and 10 generate a current of the order of 2 μA for the operation of the sensors of the skin-galvanic reaction 3. Amplifiers 32, 33 and the filter 35 and the additional filter 36 are used to isolate and further amplify the phase component of the signal of the sensors of the skin-galvanic reaction 3 and 8, if an additional channel is connected to the sensor of the skin-galvanic reaction. Switches I and 38 are used to select the type of sensor connected to additional channel 8.

The microphone 9 is connected to an amplifier 21 and then to an envelope detector 30. The blood pressure sensor is assembled on the basis of the integrated Motorola pressure sensor integrated in device 1 and a cuff connected to the device by a hose through a pneumatic connector. Filters 31, 37 and amplifier 34 amplify the signal from the sensor and form the necessary bandwidth.

The generated sensor signals through the third - the fourth switches 38, 39 and the first switch 40 are input to the instrumentation amplifier 43 (variable gain amplifier). The instrumental amplifier 43 allows you to coordinate the signal span of the sensors 3 to 7, the channel 8 sensor, microphone 9 and sensor 10 with the input range of the analog-to-digital converter 45. In addition, the amplifier serves to compensate for the constant leaving sensor signals, for which one of its inputs voltage from digital-to-analog converter 41 (DAC). DAC 42 is used to adjust the gain of the instrumental amplifier. The output of the amplifier is connected to the input of a 12-bit ADC 45. The DAC and ADC are controlled via bus 46 from the microcontroller 48.

Microcontroller 48 is used to receive and pre-process digital signals from ADC 45, control DAC 41, 42, control switches on bus 47. Digital information is exchanged with personal computer 2 via buses 49, 51 and 53 through galvanic isolation 50 and USB driver 52.

The device is powered by a USB bus personal computer. The power supply 54 is an isolating converter 54 + 6B ± 5V, providing galvanic isolation from a personal computer 2, the outputs of which are connected to stabilizers 55, forming the corresponding supply voltage for the units of the device 1 (communication is not shown). From the stabilizers 55, the voltage is also supplied to the input connectors of the sensors 4-8 (communications not shown), which allows you to connect active sensors to the device.

Sensors of the skin-galvanic reaction 3, plethysmograms and photoplethysmograms 6 are structurally made in the form of the same / same type plastic cases 56 with a spring-loaded cover 57. The hinge 58 between the cover 57 and the base 58 of the sensor housing 56 allows sensors to be installed on fingers of different sizes. This design allows you to quickly install sensors without adjustment and provides optimal clamping of sensitive elements.

The skin-galvanic reaction sensor has two bodies 56, in each of which an electrode 59 is installed. The plethysmogram sensor has a piezoelectric element 60, the force on which is transmitted by the pusher 61. The photoplethysmogram sensor has an infrared emitter 62 and an integrated photodetector 63. The respiratory sensor consists of a force sensor 64 located in a plastic case 65 and a sling 66. This design allows you to quickly install the sensor and has increased fracture strength with excessive forces on sling.

The device is used as follows.

The outputs of the sensors 3 to 10 through amplifiers and filters are alternately connected through a switch 40 to the input of the instrument amplifier 43. From the output of the instrument amplifier 43, the signal is fed to a 12-bit ADC 45.

The instrumental amplifier 43 allows you to match the amplitude of the sensor signals with the input range of the ADC 45. In addition, the amplifier 43 serves to compensate for the constant component of the sensor signals, for which voltage is supplied to one of the inputs from the first DAC 41.

The first switch 04, the ADC 45, the first and second DACs 41 and 42 are controlled by a microcontroller 48. The gain and offset values for each channel are transmitted to 00560

14 microcontroller 48 from a personal computer via a channel. The microcontroller 48 performs primary processing of the sensor signals and then transmits digital information to the computer.

Before turning on the device, appropriate sensors are placed on various parts of the body of the subject to record physiological parameters.

In the process of testing, the test subject is presented with a series of test questions at regular intervals. These questions relate to inclinations, abilities, personal qualities and have a neutral, verification and control character. Upon presentation of control questions, the answer to which does not correspond to the real situation, an emotional outburst occurs, which after a short period of time is expressed in an abrupt change in indicators. Measurements are made continuously, and information about them is transmitted through a processing circuit to a microcontroller and then to a personal computer. The personal computer accumulates and processes the received data and, in accordance with the program laid down, prints a preliminary report and a polygram. Microcontroller 48 receives and processes information from a personal computer according to an exchange protocol. In addition, it provides storage of gain and bias values for each measuring channel, power management, selection of the measuring channel, reception of the conversion results and the output of the conversion results to a personal computer, as well as the generation of a test signal to monitor the health of sensors and connecting wires.

Personal computer 2 is implemented as a package of application programs integrated into a single environment and providing the following functions: input of signals of controlled physiological processes and their visualization (or their parameters) in the form of graphs with a real-time scale, saving the entered data for subsequent work with them, viewing a polygram (stored data in a graphical form) in a dialogue mode, outputting to a printing device the received polygram (in whole or in fragments), simultaneous viewing of a polygram surveys, keyboard input of additional markers in the system real-time, mathematical processing of data and the formation of the examination protocol in tabular form, viewing, correcting and printing the generated protocol, creating a library of questionnaires and using them in the process of conducting a psychophysiological examination, automatically highlighting questions that have the greatest emotional significance for the subject, writing and subsequent editing by the operator of the conclusion on the results of the survey, printing.

Industrial applicability

The device’s circuitry uses standard elements, widely known and described in the patent literature, sensors (except for the original ones disclosed here), and blocks. All elements of the device circuit are manufactured promptly. For a specialist, it is possible to manufacture and use the device presented, taking into account the information above.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A device for monitoring and evaluating physiological processes, containing a microcontroller, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a first switch, sensors for chest respiration, abdominal respiration, galvanic skin reaction, blood pressure, cardiovascular activity, a motor activity sensor, a microphone, a power supply, preamplifiers, signal amplifiers, filters, first and second digital-to-analog converters (DAC), instrumentation amplifier and a personal computer interface unit equipped with galvanic isolation, while the sensors through amplifiers and filters are connected to the corresponding inputs of the switch, the control input of which is connected to the first bus of the microcontroller, and the output is from the first input of the instrument amplifier, the second input of the instrument amplifier is connected to the output of the first DAC, the third input to the output of the second DAC and the output is to the ADC input, the inputs of the first and second DACs and the group of ADC inputs and outputs are connected to the second bus of the microcontroller, the third bus of which is connected to the interface unit with a personal computer, and the microphone is connected to the corresponding input of the switch through a corresponding preamplifier and envelope detector, characterized in that an additional channel is introduced into it, configured to connect a sensor of its choice to the input of the operator and including a second an electronic switch, the outputs of which are connected to the first and second subchannels of signal processing from the corresponding sensor, while the first subchannel includes connected therefore, a pre-amplifier and a filter, the second - a pre-amplifier, a filter, a signal amplifier and an additional filter, and the outputs of the subchannels through a third electronic switch, the control input connected to the microcontroller, are connected to the input of the first switch, sensors for skin-galvanic reaction and cardiovascular activity are located in identical plastic cases with spring-loaded covers, a hinge is installed between each cover and the base of the body, arranged to accommodate dates Ikov on the fingers of different sizes, the sensor The skin-galvanic reaction has two said cases, in each of which an electrode is placed, through an external connector connected to a cable for communication with the commutator, chest and abdominal breathing sensors include a force sensor located in a plastic case, and slings that can cover the subject's chest and transmitting the force to the force sensor when they are tensioned, and the cardiovascular activity sensor is a plethysmogram sensor or a photoplethysmogram sensor.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plethysmogram sensor includes a piezoelectric element and a pusher installed with the possibility of transmitting the force perceived by it to the piezoelectric element and outputting an electrical signal proportional to the derivative of the force acting on the pusher through a cable connected to the conclusions of the piezoelectric element.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the photoplethysmogram sensor includes an infrared emitter and a photodetector of the light flux passing through the peripheral vessels of the subject.