WO2011096419A1

WO2011096419A1 - Bio-acoustic sensor and diagnostic system using the bio-acoustic sensor

Info

Publication number: WO2011096419A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/052110
Authority: WO
Inventors: 光雄長尾
Original assignee: 学校法人日本大学
Priority date: 2010-02-05
Filing date: 2011-02-02
Publication date: 2011-08-11
Also published as: JP5754689B2; JPWO2011096419A1

Abstract

A knee osteoarthritis diagnostic system is configured by including a bio-acoustic sensor (14) and a diagnostic device (18). The diagnostic device (18) is configured by including a storage unit (90) in which typical diagnostic information (100) for each symptomatic grade is stored, a control unit (80) for performing data processing or the like for diagnosis, and a display unit (70) for displaying the result of the diagnosis. The control unit (80) is configured by including an actual diagnostic information generating unit (82) for generating actual diagnostic information which is the information associated with the frequency spectrum characteristics of the actual detection signal of the bio-acoustic sensor (14), a typical diagnostic information identifying unit (84) for searching the storage unit (18) using the actual diagnostic information as a search key to identify typical diagnostic information having the strongest correlation with the actual diagnostic information, and a symptomatic grade output unit (86) for outputting a symptomatic grade corresponding to the identified typical diagnostic information.

Description

Biological acoustic sensor and diagnostic system using biological acoustic sensor

The present invention relates to a living body acoustic sensor and a diagnostic system using the same, and more particularly to a living body acoustic sensor that acquires joint sounds of a living body and a diagnostic system using the same.

As the aging society progresses, the number of patients complaining of joint pain is increasing. For example, according to a report at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association of Rheumatology in 2008, according to an extensive epidemiological survey, the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis from deformity findings on X-rays was 44.6% for men and 66.0 for women. The prevalence is as high as%. Since it is very difficult to recover from knee osteoarthritis, early detection is desired. As a possible early detection method, detection of abnormal sounds in the knee joint has been studied.

For detecting body sounds, stethoscopes have been used for a long time to press a diaphragm against a living body and guide the vibration sound to an ear tip through a conduit and a doctor auscultates it. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that by providing a protrusion on the diaphragm, auscultation can be performed without pressing the entire diaphragm against the skin.

In addition to diaphragm vibration, biological sounds can be detected using an electronic microphone. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a body sound detection device for detecting heart sounds and lung sounds in which a capacitor microphone using a change in capacitance is housed in a housing, in order to suppress the influence of contact sounds with body hair on the skin. The structure which sticks the soft sheet | seat which has the same degree of hardness to a contact surface is described. Further, it is stated that there is a weight for securing the pressing pressure, a housing is provided on the outside thereof, and noise from outside the living body is suppressed by a gap between the weight and the housing.

JP 2007-61284 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-60844

According to the stethoscope of Patent Literature 1 or the biological sound detection device of Patent Literature 2, it is possible to detect in-vivo sounds such as heart sounds and lung sounds of a living body such as a stationary human body. On the other hand, it is desirable that the body sound detection for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis can detect the sound in the living body in the operating state. For example, it is desirable to detect an abnormal sound at the knee joint by actually moving the knee joint and detecting the joint sound at that time.

Thus, when attempting to detect the sound in the living body in the operating state, the sound generated by the living body's operation may also be detected by the biological sound detection sensor. If the biological sound is a micro sound, the detection is inaccurate. Will occur. As sounds generated by the movement of the living body, sounds due to movement between the skin and the sensor, sounds due to movement of signal lines, wind sounds generated by movement of the living body, and the like can be considered.

An object of the present invention is to provide a living body acoustic sensor that can detect a sound in a living body in an operating state by suppressing noise sound generated by the living body's operation. Another object is to provide a diagnostic system using this biological acoustic sensor.

A diagnostic system according to the present invention includes a biological acoustic sensor attached on the skin near the joint of the examinee, an angle sensor attached on the skin near the joint of the examinee, and detecting a bending and stretching angle near the joint. A weight meter for detecting motion acceleration associated with bending and stretching of the examinee's joint, a biological acoustic sensor, an angle sensor, and a diagnosis device for diagnosing arthropathy based on the detection result of the weight meter It is characterized by.

The biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention includes a sensor device that detects vibration, a contact probe that is connected to a detection unit of the sensor device, extends in an elongated shape like an antenna, and has a biological contact part at the tip, and a sensor device inside. A cup-shaped inner case body having an opening for holding the contact probe on one side to the outside and a cup-shaped outer periphery of the inner case body so as to cover the entire cup-shaped outer periphery, a gap is formed through the inner case body and the cushioning material. And a cup-shaped outer case body that is arranged.

Also, in the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, it is preferable that the cup-shaped outer case body is composed of a plurality of cup-shaped bodies that are arranged with a gap between each other via a cushioning material.

In addition, the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention preferably includes a transmission unit that converts a detection signal of the sensor device into a wireless signal and transmits the signal to the outside.

In the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, it is preferable that the contact probe has a living body contact portion having an inclined shape with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the opening of the inner case body.

Moreover, in the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, the diagnostic device uses a plurality of predetermined signal processing information to be useful for diagnosis with respect to the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor in a predetermined signal detection period. Is used as diagnostic information, the degree of progression of arthropathy is defined as a symptom grade, and typical diagnostic information corresponding to the symptom grade is stored in association with each of a plurality of symptom grades based on typical judgment criteria predetermined for the diagnostic information. A storage unit, an acquisition unit that acquires a real detection signal of a biological acoustic sensor for a diagnosis subject for a predetermined signal detection period, and an actual diagnosis that generates actual diagnosis information that is diagnostic information about the acquired actual detection signal The information generation unit and the storage unit are searched using the actual diagnosis information as a search key, and the most correlated to the actual diagnosis information based on a predetermined correlation condition A specifying unit which engages to identify the strong typical diagnostic information, and an output unit for outputting a symptom grade corresponding to typical diagnostic information specified, preferably contains.

Further, in the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, the diagnostic information is information of frequency spectrum characteristics that are intensity distributions for each frequency component of the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor, and the typical diagnostic information is The spectral characteristic pattern information obtained by patterning the characteristics of the frequency spectral characteristic of the detection signal is preferable.

Further, in the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, the diagnostic information is information of frequency spectrum characteristics that are intensity distributions for each frequency component of the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor, and the typical diagnostic information is Preferably, the peak information is a combination of a spectrum peak value characterizing the frequency spectrum characteristic of the detection signal and its frequency.

Further, in the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, the storage unit stores the arthropathy diagnosis video corresponding to the symptom grade in association with each of the plurality of symptom grades, and the output unit stores the symptom. It is preferable to output an arthropathy diagnosis image corresponding to the symptom grade together with a number indicating the grade.

In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention, the storage unit stores a typical diagnosis explanation corresponding to the symptom grade in association with each of the plurality of symptom grades, and the output unit stores the symptom grade. It is preferable to output a typical diagnosis explanation corresponding to the symptom grade together with a number indicating.

With the above configuration, the diagnostic system includes a biological acoustic sensor attached on the skin near the joint of the examinee, an angle sensor that is similarly attached near the joint of the examinee and detects a bending / extension angle of the portion, A weight meter that detects motion acceleration associated with bending and stretching of the joint of the examinee. For example, let the examinee bend and stretch the knee joint, detect abnormal sounds generated at that time with the biological acoustic sensor, and refer to the detection results of the angle sensor and weight meter to distinguish it from other noises It becomes possible to do. This makes it possible to appropriately diagnose knee osteoarthritis. The subject of diagnosis may be a joint other than the knee joint.

With the above-described configuration, the biological acoustic sensor includes a contact probe that is connected to the detection unit of the sensor device that detects vibration, extends in an elongated shape like an antenna, and has a biological contact unit at the tip. As a result, the detection area of the body sound can be narrowed down, and it is possible to suppress picking up extra noise.

In addition, the sensor device is held inside a cup-shaped inner case body having an opening for guiding the contact probe to the outside on one side, and the inner case body and the buffer so as to cover the entire cup-shaped outer periphery of the inner case body. A cup-shaped outer case body is disposed with a gap therebetween. That is, since the sensor device is arranged inside the double-structure case body, it is possible to suppress the sensor device from picking up noise from the outside.

In the biological acoustic sensor, the cup-shaped outer case body is composed of a plurality of cup-shaped bodies that are arranged with a gap between each other via a cushioning material. That is, the outer case body itself has a double structure or a multiple structure such as a triple structure, and the sensor device is disposed inside the inner case body. This can further suppress the sensor device from picking up external noise.

In addition, since the acoustic sensor for living body includes a transmission unit that converts the detection signal of the sensor device into a wireless signal and transmits the signal to the outside, it is not necessary to draw out the signal line to the outside. Thereby, noise due to movement of the signal line can be eliminated.

In the biological acoustic sensor, the contact probe has a living body contact portion having an inclined shape with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the opening of the inner case body. Thereby, it becomes easy to press the biological contact part which is the front-end | tip part of a contact probe with respect to the skin surface of a biological body in the inclined direction. For example, a bone part where knee joint sounds are easily detected may be inclined with respect to the skin surface. Even in such a case, the tip of the contact probe can be brought into contact with the inclined surface and the knee joint sound can be accurately detected.

Further, the diagnostic device uses the information of the frequency spectrum characteristics of the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor as diagnostic information, and associates the symptom with each of a plurality of symptom grades based on a typical determination criterion determined in advance for arthropathy. Store typical diagnostic information corresponding to grade. When the actual detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor for the diagnosis target person is acquired, actual diagnosis information that is frequency spectrum characteristic information of the acquired actual detection signal is generated, and the typical diagnosis having the strongest correlation with the actual diagnosis information The information is specified, and the symptom grade corresponding to the typical diagnosis information is output. Therefore, the diagnosis of arthropathy can be effectively performed using the biological acoustic sensor.

The typical diagnostic information is spectral characteristic pattern information obtained by patterning the characteristics of the frequency spectral characteristic of the detection signal. Therefore, the stored spectral characteristic pattern for each symptom grade is compared with the spectral characteristic pattern in the actual diagnosis. Thus, it is possible to effectively diagnose arthropathy.

The typical diagnosis information is the peak information that is a combination of the spectrum peak value that characterizes the frequency spectrum characteristics of the detection signal and its frequency, so the stored peak information for each symptom grade is compared with the peak information in the actual diagnosis. Thus, the diagnosis of arthropathy can be performed effectively.

Further, the storage unit stores an arthropathy diagnosis video corresponding to the symptom grade in association with each of the plurality of symptom grades, and the output unit includes an arthropathy corresponding to the symptom grade together with a number indicating the symptom grade. Output diagnostic video. Thereby, the diagnosis of arthropathy can be effectively performed visually.

The storage unit stores a typical diagnosis description corresponding to the symptom grade in association with each of the plurality of symptom grades, and the output unit includes a typical diagnosis description corresponding to the symptom grade together with a number indicating the symptom grade. Can be effectively diagnosed.

In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the structure of the diagnostic system of the knee osteoarthritis which diagnoses based on the detection of the knee joint sound of the biometric acoustic sensor. It is a perspective view showing composition of a living body acoustic sensor of an embodiment concerning the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the acoustic sensor for biological bodies of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the acoustic sensor for biological bodies of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows another structural example of the acoustic sensor for biological bodies of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the knee osteoarthritis diagnostic system using the acoustic sensor for biological bodies of FIG. It is a figure which shows the further another structural example of the acoustic sensor for biological bodies of embodiment which concerns on this invention. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the structure of a diagnostic apparatus. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining the example of the typical diagnostic information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining the position which attaches the acoustic sensor for biological bodies. It is a figure explaining the symptom grade of arthropathy. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining the detection data of the knee joint sound by the biomedical sensor in association with a symptom grade. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining the frequency spectrum characteristic of the detection data of the knee joint sound by a biological acoustic sensor in association with a symptom grade. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining the relationship between the pattern of a frequency spectrum characteristic, and a symptom grade. In embodiment concerning this invention, it is a figure explaining the characteristic matter of a frequency spectrum characteristic. In embodiment concerning this invention, it is a flowchart which shows the procedure which performs a diagnosis based on the detection of the knee joint sound of the acoustic sensor for biological bodies. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the typical diagnostic information of the normal state memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the typical diagnostic information of the grade 1 memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the typical diagnosis information of the grade 3 memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the typical diagnostic information of the grade 4 memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the typical diagnostic information of the grade 5 memorize | stored in the memory | storage part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system will be described as a diagnosis system. However, if the acoustic sensor for a living body needs to suppress noise generated by the operation of the living body, the living body sound other than the knee joint sound is used. May be detected. For example, it can be used for detection of joint sounds other than knee joints, heart sounds, lung sounds, blood vessel pulse sounds, tendon sounds, and the like. In the following description, the biological sound to be detected is assumed to be knee joint sound, and the part on the living body to which the biological acoustic sensor is attached is described as the side surface of the knee, but may be a part other than the side surface of the knee.

In the following description, the cup-shaped case body is described as a double structure, but a multiple structure having a triple structure or more may of course be used. Moreover, the shape, dimension, material, etc. which are demonstrated below are examples for description, and can be suitably changed according to the situation where the biological acoustic sensor is applied.

In the following, similar elements are denoted by the same reference symbols in all drawings, and redundant description is omitted. In the description in the text, the symbols described before are used as necessary.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system 10 using the biological acoustic sensor 12 as a state in which the biological acoustic sensor 12 is used for detection of knee joint sounds. In FIG. 1, although not a component of the knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system 10, an inspected person 8 is shown. In the example of FIG. 1, the knee is bent and extended by performing exercise between the state where the examinee 8 is sitting on the chair and the state where he is standing up from the chair, and abnormal sound is detected at the knee joint at that time. This is a system for determining whether or not. In addition to knee flexion, the examinee 8 flexes and stretches his / her legs by himself / herself while sitting on a chair, or the examinee's 8 legs are placed by a third party such as a doctor while sitting on a chair. It may be a movement with your legs bent and stretched with force. FIG. 1 shows an explanatory diagram of a state in which the inspected person 8 stands up for convenience of explanation. In the knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system 10, the biological acoustic sensor 12 is attached to the side of the knee of the subject 8, that is, on the skin near the knee joint, for early detection of knee osteoarthritis. In the example of FIG. 1, a total of four biological acoustic sensors are attached on the skin on both sides of each of the left and right knees of the subject 8, which is a case of diagnosing the state of the left and right knee joints. As an example, the number of biological acoustic sensors 12 attached can be increased or decreased according to the purpose of diagnosis.

The knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system 10 is mounted on the skin in the vicinity of the joint of the examinee 8 together with the biological acoustic sensor 12, and the angle sensor 60 for detecting the bending / extension angle in the vicinity of the joint and the joint of the examinee 8. A weighting meter 62 for detecting motion acceleration accompanying bending and stretching, a cable line 16 drawn from these, a biological acoustic sensor amplifier 64 and an angle sensor amplifier 66 for amplifying these detection signals while performing appropriate filter processing, and weighting A meter amplifier 68, a diagnostic device 18 for diagnosing arthropathy based on the detection results of the living body acoustic sensor 12, the angle sensor 60, and the weight meter 62 are provided. The angle sensor 60 and the weight meter 62 can accurately detect the timing of movement between the state where the examinee 8 is sitting on the chair and the state where he is standing up from the chair. For the detection data of the acoustic sensor 12 for use, it is possible to distinguish the noise accompanying the movement.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the biological acoustic sensor 12 as viewed from the side of the knee to which it is attached. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the biological acoustic sensor 12. Here, the biological acoustic sensor 12 is a sensor that is firmly attached to the knee of the subject 8 and has a function of detecting a joint sound when the subject 8 flexes and stretches the knee. As a method for firmly attaching the biological acoustic sensor 12 to the knee of the subject 8, an appropriate band tool, an appropriate adhesive tape, or the like can be used.

The biological acoustic sensor 12 is a kind of microphone that detects sound, but has a structure that suppresses the entry of noise other than that, particularly noise generated by movement of the living body, when detecting joint sounds. Yes.

The biological acoustic sensor 12 includes a sensor device 20 that detects vibration, a contact probe 30 that is connected to a detection unit of the sensor device 20, a cup-shaped inner case body 36 that holds the sensor device 20 therein, and an inner case. A cup-shaped outer case body 38 covering the entire cup-shaped outer periphery of the body 36 is provided.

Sensor device 20 is a sensor having a function of detecting vibration. Since the sensor device 20 is a kind of microphone, a voice coil microphone, a condenser microphone using a change in capacitance, or the like can be used. However, as a sensor capable of detecting minute sounds, a piezoelectric element is used here. Used. Specifically, electrodes are provided on both sides of the disk of the disk-shaped piezo element, and an electric signal generated by expansion and contraction of the piezo element is detected by a voltage between both electrodes.

The diaphragm 22 is a metal disk on which the disk-shaped sensor device 20 is attached. As the metal material, for example, stainless steel, brass or the like can be used. The outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm 22 is supported by a buffer material 34 and attached to an inner case body 36 described later. Therefore, the diaphragm 22 functions as a diaphragm that vibrates with the outer peripheral portion serving as a fixed end when an external force is applied to the center position thereof.

When the diaphragm 22 vibrates, the piezo element, which is the sensor device 20 attached thereon, is bent and expanded and contracted in the axial direction, and a voltage difference as a piezoelectric signal appears along the axial direction. become. The diaphragm 22 is electrically connected to an electrode on the side in contact with the diaphragm 22 among the two electrodes provided on both sides of the disk of the sensor device 20.

Therefore, the signal line 26 connected to the diaphragm 22 is a signal line on one side of the two signal lines of the sensor device 20. Specifically, it becomes a ground signal line. Of the two electrodes provided on both sides of the disk of the sensor device 20, the signal line 24 drawn from the electrode on the opposite side to the side in contact with the diaphragm 22 is the other side of the two signal lines of the sensor device 20. Signal line. These two

signal lines

24 and 26 are firmly connected to internal signal lines constituting the cable line 16.

The contact probe cradle 28 is a member attached to the other side of the disk of the sensor device 20, that is, the surface opposite to the side connected to the diaphragm 22, and the minute vibration corresponding to the body sound picked up by the contact probe 30. Is transmitted to the diaphragm 22. Specifically, the contact probe cradle 28 is disposed firmly fixed at the center position of the disk-shaped sensor device 20.

The center position of the disk-shaped sensor device 20 is the center position of the disk-shaped diaphragm 22, and the outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm 22 is fixed via the buffer material 34 as described above. A disk with a fixed outer periphery vibrates with the largest amplitude at the center position when an external force is applied to the center position. Therefore, the contact probe base 28 is disposed at a position where it is most efficient for vibrating the diaphragm 22. At the same time, the sensor device 20 is disposed at a position where the diaphragm 22 has the maximum amplitude. In other words, the contact probe cradle 28 is arranged at the most efficient detection unit for detecting the vibration of the contact probe 30 in the sensor device 20.

For example, a plastic disk can be used for the contact probe base 28 in order to achieve electrical insulation between the sensor device 20 and the contact probe 30.

The contact probe 30 is connected to a contact probe cradle 28 arranged at the detection unit of the sensor device 20 with a base portion fixed and connected to the contact probe 30. The contact probe 30 extends in an antenna shape and has a needle-like contact portion at the tip 32. It is a member. The tip portion 32 is a portion that is pressed against and contacts the skin of the knee portion of the subject 8 described in FIG. 2, and when the subject 8 bends and stretches the knee, generates a frictional sound or a contact sound at the knee joint. In addition, it has a function of acquiring the sound as minute vibrations of the skin, the underlying muscle, or the underlying bone.

The minute vibration acquired at the tip 32 propagates along the elongated contact probe 30 and is transmitted to the contact probe cradle 28 at the root. The contact probe 30 can be made of a metal material such as a piano wire or a brass wire that efficiently propagates vibrations, or a thin wire of a hard plastic material.

It is preferable that the diameter of the contact probe 30 and the shape of the tip 32 are appropriately small. When the diameter of the contact probe 30 is small, the pressure applied to the skin of the person to be inspected 8 increases, so that the person to be inspected 8 is somewhat burdened. On the other hand, since the indentation by which the contact probe 30 was pressed on the skin remains, the tip 32 of the contact probe 30 can be accurately arranged at a site where it is easy to capture joint sounds.

The part where the joint sound can be easily captured is the part of the knee joint where the femur and tibia face each other in the knee, where the epidermis is thin and is close to the femur and tibia. Since these portions are in a narrow range, it is preferable to accurately position the distal end portion 32 of the contact probe 30. Therefore, as described above, by appropriately reducing the diameter of the contact probe 30 and the size of the shape of the distal end portion 32, the positioning can be easily performed fairly accurately without using a special positioning device. Become.

As described above, the diaphragm 22, the sensor device 20, the contact probe base 28, and the contact probe 30 are sequentially stacked in this order, or connected and fixed to be integrated. If this part is called a sensor part in a broad sense, the sensor part is housed in a double-structured case body of an inner case body 36 and an outer case body 38.

The inner case body 36 is a cup-shaped member having an opening on one side. The broad sensor portion is disposed inside the inner case body 36. Of the sensor unit in a broad sense, the tip 32 of the contact probe 30 protrudes from the opening of the inner case body 36, but the other diaphragm 22, sensor device 20, and contact probe cradle 28 are the inner case body 36. It is accommodated so that it may be arrange | positioned inside a cup shape. The inner case body 36 may be formed by molding a light metal such as aluminum into a cup shape.

The cushioning material 34 slightly described in relation to the diaphragm 22 is an annular member disposed at the bottom of the cup-shaped inner surface of the inner case body 36. The outer diameter of the ring is set to be the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the diaphragm 22. Of the annular upper and lower side surfaces of the buffer material 34, one side surface is fixed to the bottom of the inner surface of the inner case body 36 with an appropriate adhesive, and the outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm 22 is fixed to the other side surface with an appropriate adhesive. The Thereby, mechanical vibrations can be insulated from each other between the diaphragm 22 and the inner case body 36.

That is, the buffer material 34 is a member having a function of effectively suppressing vibration transmission between the diaphragm 22 and the inner case body 36. As the buffer material 34, a soft plastic such as silicon resin or a suitable gel material can be used.

The outer case body 38 is a cup-shaped member having an outer shape that is slightly larger than the inner case body 36. That is, the outer periphery of the inner case body 36 is a cup-shaped member arranged with a gap so as to cover the entire cup-shaped outer periphery of the inner case body 36. For example, the gap may be about 0.5 mm to 1 mm. Of course, the gap may be wider or narrower than this, but it is necessary that the inner case body 36 and the outer case body 38 are not in direct contact with each other. The material of the outer case body 38 can be the same as that of the inner case body 36.

The side surface of the inner case body 36 and the side surface of the outer case body 38 are provided with openings for signal lines in alignment. This opening connects each of the signal line 24 from the sensor device 20 and the signal line 26 from the diaphragm 22 to the internal signal line constituting the cable line 16 and pulls it out of the biological acoustic sensor 12. belongs to. The bush 44 is provided to eliminate a gap between the opening and the cable wire 16. Thereby, the cable wire 16 can be prevented from moving unnecessarily, and external vibrations and sounds can be prevented from entering the inner case body 36.

The contact board 40 is a disk-shaped member disposed so as to close the cup-shaped opening of the inner case body 36 and the cup-shaped opening of the outer case body 38. The outer diameter of the contact panel 40 is set to be the same as the outer diameter at the cup-shaped opening of the outer case body 38. The annular end portion in the cup-shaped opening of the outer case body 38 and the annular end portion in the cup-shaped opening of the inner case body 36 are located at the outer case body 38 so as not to contact each other. It arrange | positions and is fixed to the contact panel 40 so that it may be embedded so that the clearance gap demonstrated may be opened.

A central opening hole 42 is provided at the center of the contact panel 40 so that the tip 32 of the contact probe 30 can protrude. This is because the name of the contact board 40 comes into contact with the skin of the knee portion of the subject 8 in this portion. As this contact board 40, the disk comprised with the material similar to the buffer material 34 can be used.

Thus, since the contact board 40 is made of the same material as the cushioning material 34, the inner case body 36 and the outer case body 38 are arranged with a gap therebetween via the cushioning material. As a result, mechanical vibration can be insulated between the inner case body 36 and the outer case body 38.

An example of the dimensions of the above configuration is shown below. That is, the outer case body 38 has a cup-shaped outer diameter of 27 mm, an inner diameter of 25 mm, a height of 11.5 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm. The inner case body 36 has a cup-shaped outer diameter of 24 mm, an inner diameter of 22 mm, a height of 9.5 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm. The gap between the inner diameter of the outer case body 38 and the outer diameter of the inner case body 36 is 0.5 mm. The outer diameter of the contact panel 40 is 27 mm, the thickness is 2 mm, and the inner diameter of the central opening hole 42 is 5 mm. The depth at which the cup-shaped annular end portion of the outer case body 38 and the cup-shaped annular end portion of the inner case body 36 are embedded in the contact panel 40 is 1 mm.

The outer diameter of the diaphragm 22 is 20 mm, the thickness is 0.2 mm, the outer diameter of the sensor device 20 is 14 mm, the thickness is 0.23 mm, the outer diameter of the contact probe support 28 is 6 mm, and the height is 3 mm. The diameter of the contact probe 30 is 1.5 mm, the length of the root portion embedded in the contact probe support 28 is 1 mm, the height from the contact probe support 28 to the tip 32 is 5.57 mm, and the height protruding from the contact board 40 The thickness is 1.5 mm. The buffer material 34 has an outer diameter of 20 mm, an inner diameter of 16 mm, and a height of 2 mm.

Note that the above dimension values are merely examples. Furthermore, as an example of a small configuration, the size can be about 60% of the above size. In this case, the overall outer diameter of the biological acoustic sensor 12 can be 15 mm and the height can be 10 mm.

According to the above configuration, the biological acoustic sensor 12 has a configuration in which the contact plate 40 is disposed in the cup-shaped opening, and the tip end portion 32 of the contact probe 30 protrudes from the center of the contact plate 40. Yes. The front surface 32 of the contact probe 30 is in contact with a predetermined part of the knee joint by fixing the surface of the contact board 40 to the skin of the knee part of the person 8 to be inspected, and the joint sound at that part. Can be picked up and transmitted to the sensor device 20.

At that time, the sensor device 20 is housed and disposed inside a cup-shaped body having a double structure of the outer case body 38 and the inner case body 36 which are arranged with a gap therebetween through a cushioning material. It is possible to sufficiently suppress the device 20 from picking up noise such as vibration and sound from the outside. Further, the contact probe 30 disposed in the detection unit of the sensor device 20 extends in an elongated shape like an antenna, and the tip 32 protrudes from the contact board 40, so that the detection area of the body sound can be narrowed down, and extra noise is generated. Picking up can be suppressed.

4 to 7 are diagrams showing some modified examples of the configuration of FIGS. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the biological acoustic sensor 13 configured to draw the cable wire 16 from the cup-shaped top portions of the inner case body 36 and the outer case body 38. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the cable wire 16 is drawn out from the respective side surfaces of the inner case body 36 and the outer case body 38. According to the configuration of FIG. 4, the cable line 16 is drawn along the cup-shaped center line of the inner case body 36 and the outer case body 38, so even if an external force is applied to the cable line 16, The influence is symmetric with respect to the center line of the biological acoustic sensor 13, and the influence of eccentric vibration and noise can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the biological acoustic sensor 14 having a configuration including an electronic component including a transmission unit that converts a detection signal of the sensor device 20 into a wireless signal and transmits the signal to the outside. As the electronic component including the transmission unit, a sensor IC 50 including a signal processing circuit, a transmission circuit, and an antenna can be used. The sensor IC 50 is attached to a suitable substrate 52 provided in the inner case body 36 and is connected to the sensor device 20 via the

signal lines

24 and 26. And it has a function which processes a signal acquired from the sensor device 20 so as to be suitable for wireless communication via a signal processing circuit, and outputs it to an antenna via a transmission circuit.

Although not shown in the figure, the power source may be configured to include a small battery. The sensor IC 50 includes a wireless power receiving circuit, receives a high-frequency power signal supplied from the outside, and is necessary based on this. It is good also as what covers a certain electric power. The portion of the inner case body 36 on which the substrate 52 is provided and the portion of the outer case body 38 corresponding to the portion are respectively provided with appropriate resin windows 54, so that a radio signal transmitted from the antenna can reach the outside. 56. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when four biological acoustic sensors 14 are used, the frequency of each radio signal may be different so that the radio signals from each do not cross. With such a configuration, the cable wire 16 from the biological acoustic sensor 12 as described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 can be omitted. By omitting the cable line 16, vibration and noise caused by the cable line 16 can be eliminated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system 10 using the biological acoustic sensor 14 of FIG. Here, a communication control unit 63 is provided between the biological acoustic sensor 14 and the biological acoustic sensor amplifier 64. The communication control unit 63 includes an antenna, a reception circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The communication control unit 63 receives a radio signal transmitted from the biological acoustic sensor 14 with the antenna, and receives the received signal via the signal processing circuit. It has a function of outputting to the acoustic sensor amplifier 64. In addition, when the biological acoustic sensor 14 does not have a power supply, it may have a function of performing wireless power transmission.

Further, the communication control unit 63 may be provided with a transmission circuit, and the living body acoustic sensor 14 may be provided with a receiving circuit corresponding thereto, so that the living body acoustic sensor 14 and the diagnostic device 18 can communicate with each other. . In some cases, the angle sensor 60 and the weight meter 62 may be provided with appropriate sensor ICs so that wireless communication with the communication control unit 63 is possible.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the biological acoustic sensor 15 having a configuration in which the distal end portion 33 of the contact probe 30 has an inclined shape with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the plane of the contact board 40. . Thereby, it becomes easy to press the biological contact part which is the front-end | tip part of a contact probe with respect to the skin surface of a biological body in the inclined direction. For example, a bone part where knee joint sounds are easily detected may be inclined with respect to the skin surface. Even in such a case, the tip of the contact probe can be brought into contact with the inclined surface and the knee joint sound can be accurately detected.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the detailed configuration of the diagnostic apparatus 18. As described above, the diagnostic device 18 is a device that diagnoses arthropathy based on the detection results of the biological acoustic sensor 14, the angle sensor 60, and the weight meter 62. In FIG. 8, the biological acoustic sensor 14 capable of wireless communication is illustrated, but a biological acoustic sensor of a type that is connected to the diagnostic device 18 by wire can be used as a matter of course. Note that the angle sensor 60 and the weight meter 62 are used to accurately detect the timing of movement when the examinee bends and stretches the knee for a diagnostic examination and to distinguish noise associated with the movement. Hereinafter, the diagnosis of knee joint disease based on the detection data of the biological acoustic sensor 14 will be described on the assumption that noise associated with exercise has been appropriately removed.

The diagnostic device 18 includes a communication control unit 63 for performing wireless communication with the biological acoustic sensor 14, a control unit 80 for performing data processing for diagnosis, a storage unit 90 connected to the control unit 80, and a control. The display unit 70 is connected to the unit 80 and displays a diagnosis result. The display unit 70 can be a display, a printer, or the like. An appropriate computer can be used as the diagnostic device 18. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the diagnostic device 18 has the living body acoustic sensor 14 attached to the knee portion of the person 8 to be inspected, and the state between the state where the person 8 is sitting on the chair and the state where he stands up from the chair. This is a device for exercising, detecting a biological sound from the knee joint accompanying the flexion and extension of the knee at that time by the biological acoustic sensor 14, and making a diagnosis based on the detection result.

The control unit 80 of the diagnostic device 18 includes an actual diagnosis information generation unit 82 that generates actual diagnosis information that is information of frequency spectrum characteristics of the actual detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor, and a storage unit that uses the actual diagnosis information as a search key. Based on a predetermined correlation condition, the typical diagnosis information specifying unit 84 for specifying the typical diagnosis information having the strongest correlation with the actual diagnosis information and the symptom grade corresponding to the specified typical diagnosis information are output. A symptom grade output unit 86 is included. Such a function can be realized by executing software, and specifically, can be realized by executing an arthropathy diagnosis program. Some of these functions may be realized by hardware.

The storage unit 90 is a storage device having a function of storing an arthropathy diagnosis program or the like, and particularly has a function of storing a typical diagnosis information file 92 used for diagnosis. The typical diagnosis information file 92 is a data file in which typical diagnosis information 100 for each symptom grade is summarized for a plurality of symptom grades, with the degree of progression of arthropathy as a symptom grade. Here, the typical diagnosis information 100 is a plurality of signal processing information predetermined to be useful for diagnosis with respect to the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor 14 as diagnosis information, and collects diagnosis information about each symptom grade in advance, Diagnostic information that can be analyzed and, as a result, considered typical for each symptom grade.

As described above, the diagnostic information is information on a plurality of signal processes that are useful for diagnosis with respect to the detection signal of the bioacoustic sensor 14, and includes signals in frequency analysis, statistical analysis, fluctuation sound analysis, and the like. Contains processing information. Frequency analysis includes power spectrum, Fourier spectrum, phase spectrum, autocorrelation function, cross spectrum, cross-correlation function, frequency response function, impulse response, coherence, and the like. Statistical analysis includes histogram, sample autocorrelation, normal probability plot, scatter diagram / regression analysis, stereogram, interval statistics, sample cross correlation, 3D scatter diagram, 3D interval statistics, and the like. The fluctuation sound analysis includes loudness, sharpness, roughness, fluctuation intensity, AI, tonality, time fluctuation, fluctuation sound Core, fluctuation sound Mask, loudness fluctuation Core, loudness fluctuation Mask, and the like. In the following description, the diagnosis information is continued as information on frequency spectrum characteristics that are intensity distributions for each frequency component of the detection signal of the bioacoustic sensor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the typical diagnosis information 100 stored in the storage unit 90. The typical diagnosis information 100 includes a symptom grade column 102 indicating a symptom grade by a number indicating the degree of progression of arthropathy, spectral characteristic pattern information 104 obtained by patterning characteristics of a frequency spectral characteristic corresponding to the symptom grade, and spectral characteristic pattern information. 104 including a detailed frequency spectrum characteristic 106 corresponding to 104, an arthropathy diagnosis image 108 corresponding to the symptom grade, a schematic diagram 110 of the arthropathy diagnosis image, and a typical diagnosis explanation column 112 corresponding to the symptom grade Is done. FIG. 9 shows typical diagnostic information 100 for grade 2 as an example. The arthropathy diagnosis video 108 is a video image obtained by imaging the knee joint portion with an X-ray imaging device. Instead of or in addition to the video image captured by the X-ray imaging apparatus, a video image captured by the MRI imaging apparatus may be used.

The typical diagnosis information 100 can read out other data using these data as search keys. For example, in the example of FIG. 9, if symptom grade = 2 is used as a search key, spectral characteristic pattern information 104, frequency spectral characteristic 106, arthropathy diagnosis video 108, and arthropathy diagnosis video schematic diagram 110 corresponding to the symptom grade are shown. Each of the typical diagnosis explanation columns 112 can be read out. Further, when the chart data of the spectrum characteristic pattern information 104 shown in FIG. 9 is given as a search key as the spectrum characteristic pattern information, the symptom grade column 102 corresponding to the chart data is read, and the symptom grade = 2 is supported. Other data to be read is read out.

When chart data of spectrum characteristic pattern information is given as a search key, the chart data of each spectrum characteristic pattern information 104 is read for each typical diagnosis information 100 stored in the storage unit 90 using a pattern recognition technique. The result is compared with chart data given as a search key. The comparison is performed by evaluating the degree of correlation between the chart data of the search key and the chart data stored in the storage unit 90 based on a predetermined correlation condition. When chart data having the strongest correlation is specified, the spectrum characteristic pattern information 104 is read as typical diagnostic information.

The spectral characteristic pattern information can be searched by comparing the charts using the pattern recognition technique as described above. In addition, the characteristic item characterizing the frequency spectral characteristic pattern information is used as a search key. You can also As a characteristic item characterizing the pattern information of the frequency spectrum characteristic, for example, peak information that is a combination of a spectrum peak value and a frequency when the maximum spectrum value is shown in the frequency spectrum characteristic can be used. Thus, the search time can be remarkably shortened by using the digitized characteristic items as the search key.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the mounting position of the biological acoustic sensor 14 suitable for diagnosing knee arthropathy. FIG. 10 shows elements of the peripheral portion of the knee joint related to knee arthropathy. Here, a femur 120, a patella 122, a rib 124, a tibia 126, and an articular cartilage 128 are shown. The biological acoustic sensor 14 is preferably attached to the skin surface at a site where the epidermis is thin and close to bone. In FIG. 10, A to F are shown as preferable mounting positions.

A is a position corresponding to a portion called the medial condyle of the femur 120. B is a position corresponding to a portion called the lateral condyle of the femur 120. C is a position corresponding to a portion called the medial condyle of the tibia 126. D is a position corresponding to a portion called the lateral condyle of the tibia 126. E is a position corresponding to a portion called a rough surface of the tibia 126. F is a position corresponding to a portion called the outer upper edge of the patella 122.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the progress of knee arthropathy using the diagram of the knee joint part described in FIG. The degree of progression of knee arthropathy is indicated by a number called a grade. FIG. 11 shows the progression of knee arthropathy in six states. The state shown as (0) in FIG. 11 is a normal state. In a normal state, the gap between the femur 120 and the tibia 126 is normal, and wear on the load surface where the femur 120 and the tibia 126 face each other is not observed.

The state shown as (1) and the state shown as (2) in FIG. 11 are called grade 1 and grade 2, respectively, in the initial stage of knee osteoarthritis. In the grade 1 state, a state 130 where osteophytes are formed at the medial end between the femur 120 and the tibia 126 is shown. In the grade 2 state, a state 132 in which the joint row space 132 which is a gap between joints is becoming narrower is shown. Specifically, the state where the joint space is 3 mm or less is defined as grade 2. As described above, FIG. 9 shows typical diagnostic information in grade 2.

The state shown as (3) in FIG. 11 is called the grade 3 in the middle stage of knee arthropathy. In the grade 3 state, the joint row space is further narrowed and the joint row space is closed, or a state 134 resulting in subluxation.

The state shown as (4) and the state shown as (5) in FIG. 11 are called the grade 4 and grade 5, respectively, at the final stage of knee arthropathy. In grade 4, there is shown a state 136 in which the joint row gap is lost and a part of the load surface is lost due to wear. Grade 5 shows a state 138 in which wear or loss of the load surface has further progressed and the femur 120 and tibia 126 are displaced. Specifically, it can be distinguished from grade 4 when the wear or loss of the articular cartilage 128 on the load surface is less than 5 mm, and grade 5 when the wear or loss is 5 mm or more.

Next, for the subject who is suspected of having knee arthropathy, the living body acoustic sensor 14 is attached and the knee is bent and extended, and the signal of the living body acoustic sensor 14 detected at that time and the knee arthropathy are detected. The result of associating with the symptom grade indicating the degree of progression will be described. The association was performed by imaging the knee joint portion with the X-ray imaging device for the same subject and determining the symptom grade for the video image using the symptom grade classification criteria described in FIG. The results of classifying a large number of test results, extracting typical examples for each symptom grade, and arranging them are shown in FIGS.

FIG. 12 shows waveforms obtained by appropriately amplifying the detection signals of the biological acoustic sensor 14 arranged according to symptom grades. The horizontal axis is time, and the range shown in FIG. 12 is a diagnosis period from when the examinee sits on a chair and rests and the knee is bent, and stands up to extend the knee for 5 seconds. It is. This diagnosis period is set in advance as a guideline for the speed of flexion and extension, as a period when the knee has been extended from the flexion and stationary state of the knee. Even if it is other than 5 seconds, it may be a predetermined time. For example, this may be 3 seconds. The vertical axis represents the voltage of the detection signal.

In FIG. 12, from the upper side toward the lower side, (0), (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) are shown in FIG. A state, a grade 2 state, a grade 3 state, a grade 4 state, and a grade 5 state are shown. As shown in FIG. 12, as the symptom grade progresses, the voltage of the detection signal increases. In particular,

grades

4 and 5 are clearly distinguished from other symptom grades.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a result of performing a Fourier analysis on the detected waveform in FIG. 12 and comparing the power spectrum for each frequency. The waveform obtained by performing the Fourier analysis is a waveform of FIG. 12, that is, a signal for a diagnosis period of 5 seconds as one waveform. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the voltage level as frequency on the horizontal axis and the power spectrum for each frequency on the vertical axis. This is called frequency spectrum characteristics.

In FIG. 13, (S), (0), (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) are arranged from the upper side to the lower side. (0) to (5) respectively correspond to (0) to (5) in FIG. 11, and (S) is a frequency spectrum characteristic in a state where the subject is sitting on a chair and is stationary and the knee is bent. It is. Specifically, the detection signal from the biological acoustic sensor 14 is acquired at the same time as the diagnosis time from (0) to (5) while sitting on a chair and stationary, and this is subjected to Fourier analysis. It is.

As shown in FIG. 13, comparing the frequency spectrum characteristics, it can be seen that the voltage level rises as the symptom grade progresses, and in particular, the voltage level on the high frequency side rises. In general, as the symptom grade progresses, the voltage level rises over a wide range of frequency bands.

FIG. 14 is a diagram comparing the characteristic lines of the respective symptom grades as characteristic lines obtained by smoothing and patterning the frequency spectrum characteristics of FIG. The horizontal axis is the frequency, and the vertical axis is the voltage level indicating the magnitude of the power spectrum. (0) to (5) are the same as (0) to (5) in FIG. 13 and indicate symptom grades. From the result of FIG. 14, it can be seen that each symptom grade indicating the degree of progression of knee arthropathy can be distinguished by a characteristic line obtained by patterning frequency spectrum characteristics.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining characteristic items of a characteristic line obtained by patterning frequency spectrum characteristics. Referring to FIG. 14, the voltage level may rise as the symptom grade progresses as an item that characterizes each of the patterned characteristic lines. This characteristic item can be indicated by the maximum value V _P of the voltage level, which is a power spectrum, and the frequency f _P at the maximum value V _P. Since this maximum value V _P is a spectrum peak value that characterizes the frequency spectrum characteristics, and f _P is the frequency at that time, this combination can be used as peak information, and the peak information can be used as a feature item.

Another feature is that the voltage level may rise over a wide frequency band as the symptom grade progresses. This feature can be shown, for example, at a frequency f _0.1 of a voltage level V _0.1 that is 20 dB smaller than the maximum voltage level value V _P. As described above, as a feature characterizing the frequency spectrum characteristic, a combination of a voltage level obtained based on a predetermined reference and a frequency at the voltage level can be used.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for diagnosing knee arthropathy using the above-described results and using the biological acoustic sensor 14. First, the person to be inspected is placed on a chair to be in a stationary state, and this is set to an initial state (S10). Specifically, the diagnosis device 18 is initialized. Next, the subject is raised from the chair, the knee is extended, and this is regarded as a load extension, and a signal from the biological acoustic sensor 14 is acquired (S12). This signal is an actual detection signal when a diagnosis is actually performed.

周波数 Generate frequency spectrum characteristic data from the actual detection signal, pattern the frequency spectrum characteristic data, and generate spectrum characteristic pattern information. This is used as actual diagnosis information (S14). This processing procedure is executed by the function of the actual diagnosis information generation unit 82 of the control unit 80.

Then, the storage unit 90 is searched using the spectrum characteristic pattern information of the actual diagnosis as a search key, and the spectrum characteristic pattern most closely related to the spectrum characteristic pattern of the actual diagnosis is specified using a pattern recognition technique or the like. The identified spectral characteristic pattern is typical diagnostic information (S16). This processing procedure is executed by the function of the typical diagnosis information specifying unit 84 of the control unit 80.

As described with reference to FIG. 15, the storage unit 90 may be searched using the characteristic items regarding the spectrum characteristic pattern of the actual diagnosis, and the spectrum characteristic pattern most closely related to the spectrum characteristic pattern of the actual diagnosis may be specified. Good. In this case, the typical diagnostic information stored in the storage unit 90 is associated in advance with a spectrum peak value that characterizes the frequency spectrum characteristics and peak information that is a combination of the frequencies. By using the feature item as a search key, a numerical search can be performed, and the search process is greatly facilitated as compared to a search using a pattern recognition technique.

Then, the symptom grade corresponding to the specified spectral characteristic pattern is output (S18). At the time of this output, in addition to the symptom grade, spectral characteristic pattern information corresponding to the symptom grade, detailed frequency spectrum characteristics corresponding thereto, arthropathy diagnosis video corresponding to the symptom grade, schematic diagram of the arthropathy diagnosis video, It is preferable to output a typical diagnosis explanation corresponding to the symptom grade. Specifically, it is preferable to output a data sheet such as the typical diagnostic information 100 shown in FIG. 9 as diagnostic data. The diagnostic data is output to the display unit 70. By doing in this way, the examinee can understand the current state of knee arthropathy at a glance and can consider the response.

9 shows typical diagnostic information 100 for grade 2, but FIGS. 17 to 21 show typical

diagnostic information

140, 142, 144 for normal state, grade 1, grade 3, grade 4, and grade 5. 146,148. Each content is the same as that described with reference to FIGS.

The biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention can be used for detecting biological sounds such as knee joint sounds, sounds of joints other than the knee joint, heart sounds when the living body operates, lung sounds, blood vessel pulse sounds, and tendon sounds. . The diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to the present invention can be used for the diagnosis of knee arthropathy.

8 examinee, 10 knee osteoarthritis diagnosis system, 12, 13, 14, 15 biological acoustic sensor, 16 cable lines, 18 diagnostic devices, 20 sensor devices, 22 diaphragm, 24, 26 signal lines, 28 contacts Probe holder, 30 contact probe, 32, 33 tip, 34 cushioning material, 36 inner case body, 38 outer case body, 40 contact panel, 42 central opening hole, 44 bush, 52 substrate, 54, 56 resin window, 60 Angle sensor, 62 weight meter, 63 communication control unit, 64 biological sensor amplifier, 66 angle sensor amplifier, 68 weight meter amplifier, 70 display unit, 80 control unit, 82 actual diagnosis information generation unit, 84 typical diagnosis information identification unit 86 Symptom grade output section, 90 storage section, 92 typical diagnosis information file, 100, 140, 42, 144, 146, 148, typical diagnosis information, 102 symptom grade column, 104 spectrum characteristic pattern information, 106 frequency spectrum characteristic, 108 arthropathy diagnosis video, 110 schematic diagram, 112 typical diagnosis explanation column, 120 femur, 122 patella, 124 ribs, 126 tibias, 128 articular cartilage.

Claims

A biological acoustic sensor attached on the skin near the joint of the examinee;
An angle sensor that is mounted on the skin near the joint of the subject and detects the bending and stretching angle near the joint;
A weight meter for detecting motion acceleration associated with bending and stretching of the examinee's joint;
A diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing arthropathy based on a detection result of a weight sensor, an acoustic sensor for a living body, an angle sensor,
A diagnostic system using a biometric acoustic sensor.
The diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 1,
The acoustic sensor for living body
A sensor device for detecting vibration;
A contact probe connected to the detection part of the sensor device, extending in an antenna shape and having a living body contact part at the tip part;
A cup-shaped inner case body having an opening for holding the sensor device inside and guiding the contact probe to the outside on one side;
A cup-shaped outer case body that is arranged with a gap between the inner case body and the cushioning material so as to cover the entire cup-shaped outer periphery of the inner case body;
A diagnostic system using a biometric acoustic sensor.
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 2,
A diagnostic system using an acoustic sensor for a living body, wherein the cup-shaped outer case body is composed of a plurality of cup-shaped bodies that are arranged with a gap between each other via a cushioning material.
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 2,
A diagnostic system using a biological acoustic sensor, comprising: a transmission unit that converts a detection signal of a sensor device into a wireless signal and transmits the signal to the outside.
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 2,
A diagnostic system using a biological acoustic sensor, wherein the contact probe has a living body contact portion having an inclined shape with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the opening of the inner case body.
The diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 1,
The diagnostic device
For detection signals of the biological acoustic sensor in a predetermined signal detection period, information of a plurality of predetermined signal processings is used as diagnostic information so as to be useful for diagnosis, the degree of progression of arthropathy is defined as a symptom grade, and diagnosis information is determined in advance. A storage unit that stores typical diagnosis information corresponding to the symptom grade in association with each of the plurality of symptom grades based on the typical determination criteria;
An acquisition unit for acquiring an actual detection signal of a biological acoustic sensor for a diagnosis target person for a predetermined signal detection period;
An actual diagnosis information generation unit that generates actual diagnosis information that is diagnosis information about the acquired actual detection signal;
Using the actual diagnosis information as a search key, the storage unit is searched, based on a predetermined correlation condition, a specifying unit that identifies typical diagnosis information having the strongest correlation with the actual diagnosis information,
An output unit that outputs a symptom grade corresponding to the identified typical diagnosis information;
A diagnostic system using a biological acoustic sensor characterized by comprising:
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 6,
The diagnostic information is information on frequency spectrum characteristics, which is a strength distribution for each frequency component of the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor,
A diagnostic system using a biological acoustic sensor, wherein the typical diagnostic information is spectral characteristic pattern information obtained by patterning characteristics of frequency spectral characteristics of a detection signal.
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 6,
The diagnostic information is information on frequency spectrum characteristics, which is a strength distribution for each frequency component of the detection signal of the biological acoustic sensor,
A diagnostic system using a biometric acoustic sensor, wherein the typical diagnostic information is a spectral peak value that characterizes a frequency spectrum characteristic of a detection signal and peak information that is a combination of the frequency.
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 6,
The storage unit is associated with each of the plurality of symptom grades, stores an arthropathy diagnosis video corresponding to the symptom grade,
The output section
A diagnostic system using an acoustic sensor for a living body that outputs an arthritis diagnosis video corresponding to the symptom grade together with a number indicating the symptom grade.
In the diagnostic system using the biological acoustic sensor according to claim 6,
The storage unit is associated with each of the plurality of symptom grades, stores a typical diagnosis explanation corresponding to the symptom grade,
The output section
A diagnostic system using an acoustic sensor for a living body that outputs a typical diagnosis explanation corresponding to the symptom grade together with a number indicating the symptom grade.