JP2008220830A - Medical measuring instrument and biological information measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

A pulse wave and an electrocardiogram are simultaneously and easily measured.
In a medical measuring instrument, an airbag is used for detecting a pulse wave of a subject. The electrocardiogram electrode 140 is used for detecting the electromotive force of the subject. The clip-type support body has a pair of legs 110 and 120, an airbag 150 is provided on one leg 120 of the pair of legs 110 and 120, and the other of the pair of legs 110 and 120 is the other. An electrocardiogram electrode 140 is provided on the leg portion 110 and used to fix the airbag 150 and the electrocardiogram electrode 140 to the body surface of the subject.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical measuring instrument and a biological information measuring device.

  Various types of measuring instruments can be used for measuring biological information such as blood pressure, pulse wave, and electrocardiogram. For example, in the measurement of an electrocardiogram, an electrode for detecting an electromotive force generated by heart activity is generally used. For measuring blood pressure and pulse wave, a pressure sensor for detecting pulsation of a blood vessel by pressure fluctuation of an internal gas of the airbag may be used. A cuff is widely used as a pressure sensor provided with an airbag. A cuff is generally an airbag built in a belt having a certain width and length. Due to its structural characteristics, the cuff is suitable for attachment to a region where the belt is easily wound, such as the upper arm, thigh, and lower leg of the subject. On the other hand, for example, it is not suitable for wearing on uneven parts such as elbows, knees, and ankles because it is difficult to wind the band.

As a pressure sensor suitable for mounting to an uneven portion, regardless of the mounting site, there is one in which an airbag is attached to a clip-type support (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The clip-type support body has a pair of leg portions that are connected in an openable and closable manner and biased in the closing direction, and an airbag is provided on one of the pair of leg portions. In use, the pressure sensor is attached to the subject by sandwiching the target portion with a pair of legs while the airbag is in contact with the body surface of the target portion. Such a clip-type pressure sensor can be easily attached to various parts as compared with the above-described cuff-type pressure sensor, and has a good sensitivity to pressure fluctuation because the size of the airbag is small. In addition, since the clip-type pressure sensor can be attached to a part where the artery and the body surface are close to each other, such as the elbow, knee, and ankle, it is possible to accurately detect the pulse wave.
JP 2006-43210 A

  As described above, the conventional clip-type pressure sensor is suitable for mounting on uneven portions. For this reason, a cuff for compression (that is, a cuff used for simply compressing the wearing part) is wound around the lower leg, and a clip-type pressure sensor is attached to the concave part of the lower part of the ankle (ankle side part). By doing so, it becomes possible to simultaneously and accurately perform detection of an ankle pulse wave and measurement of ankle blood pressure by an oscillometric method.

  Here, since the lower part of the ankle is generally a part where body hair does not grow, it is also suitable for mounting an electrocardiogram electrode.

  However, when a clip-type pressure sensor is attached thereto, a portion suitable for attachment of an electrocardiogram electrode is lost near the ankle. That is, when a clip-type pressure sensor is used, there is a problem that it may not be easy to measure a pulse wave and an electrocardiogram at the same time.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medical measurement instrument and a biological information measurement device that can simultaneously and easily measure a pulse wave and an electrocardiogram.

  The medical measurement instrument of the present invention has a pulse wave sensor for detecting a pulse wave of the subject, an electrocardiogram electrode for detecting the electromotive force of the subject, and a pair of legs, The pulse wave sensor is provided on one leg of the pair of legs, and the electrocardiogram electrode is provided on the other leg of the pair of legs, and the pulse wave sensor and the electrocardiogram electrode are provided on the covered part. And a support for fixing to the body surface of the examiner.

  The biological information measuring apparatus of the present invention includes the medical measurement instrument, a cuff wound around the body surface of the subject, and compresses the body surface of the subject, and the pulse wave sensor of the medical measurement instrument And a biometric information measurement unit that executes in parallel the oscillometric blood pressure measurement using the cuff and the electrocardiogram measurement using the electrocardiogram electrode of the medical measurement instrument.

  According to the present invention, a pulse wave and an electrocardiogram can be measured simultaneously and easily.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a medical measurement instrument according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof.

  In FIG. 1, a medical measuring instrument 100 includes a clip-type support body having a pair of legs 110 and 120 as main components, an electrocardiogram electrode 140 used for measuring an electrocardiogram, and an airbag 150 used for measuring a pulse wave. .

  As described above, the clip-type support has the legs 110 and 120 as a main component. The leg portions 110 and 120 are made of, for example, a plastic material and each have a shape that is elongated in an S shape (or an inverted S shape). The leg portions 110 and 120 are integrated so as to be swingable by connecting projections formed at the intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction with hinge shafts 130 as connecting means in a state of facing each other. Thereby, the part from the front-end | tip part 112,122 of each leg part 110,120 to each longitudinal direction intermediate part forms a substantially ellipse when the clip type support body exists in the closed state. A hole is provided in the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the legs 110 and 120, and a U-shaped leaf spring 132 is inserted into the hole as an urging means. Both end portions of the leaf spring 132 are locked in locking grooves provided on the outer surfaces of the leg portions 110 and 120. The both end portions press the outer surfaces of the leg portions 110 and 120, respectively. Thereby, the leg parts 110 and 120 are always urged in the direction A in which the respective front end parts 112 and 122 approach each other (in other words, the direction A in which the clip-type support body closes). Therefore, by pinching the portion of the leg portions 110, 120 on the rear end portions 114, 124 side with respect to the lengthwise intermediate portion, the rear end portions 114, 124 approach each other (in other words, the clip-type support is When moving in the opening direction B) and then reducing the pinching force, the clip-type support body is automatically closed by the restoring force of the leaf spring 132. The above is the configuration of the clip-type support.

  The electrocardiogram electrode 140 is made of a conductive material, and is attached to a portion near the distal end portion 112 of the leg portion 110. The electrocardiogram electrode 140 protrudes to the inside of the leg 110 (that is, the inner side of the ellipse formed between the legs 120) and the outer side (that is, the outer side of the ellipse). An abutting surface that abuts a person's wearing part is formed, and an insertion port for inserting the plug 142 of the cable 144 is formed outside. The contact surface has a curved surface shape that protrudes toward the inner side of the ellipse, thereby ensuring a certain contact area with the wearing site even when the wearing site of the subject is uneven. it can. The electrocardiogram electrode 140 detects an electromotive force generated by the activity of the heart by an abutting surface in contact with the body surface, and an electric signal (electrocardiogram signal) representing the detected electromotive force is transmitted via the cable 144 to the electrocardiograph. Or output to another medical device.

  An airbag 150 as a pressure sensor is attached to a portion of the leg 120 near the distal end 122 and is mainly used as a pulse wave sensor. The airbag 150 has a continuous foam (open cell) sponge having air permeability and flexibility as a core material, and is configured by wrapping the core material in a flexible bag made of synthetic resin, for example. Since the open-cell sponge is included as a heart material, the airbag 150 is sandwiched between the leg 120 and the body surface, to which the medical measuring instrument 100 is attached, and is biased by the leaf spring 132. In some cases, a constant thickness can be maintained. The air bag 150 is connected to a transducer (not shown) that performs pressure-electrical conversion by an air tube 152. Therefore, the airbag 150 detects the pulse wave by converting the pulsation into the pressure fluctuation of the internal gas and transmitting it to the transducer via the air tube 152. The transducer converts the transmitted pressure fluctuation into an electric signal (pulse wave signal) and outputs it to the medical device.

  The medical measuring instrument 100 having the above configuration is used, for example, as shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, the medical measuring instrument 100 is mounted by pinching the subject's left ankle with a constant pressing force between the legs 110 and 120 biased by the leaf spring 132. At this time, the airbag 150 contacts the lower part of the inner ankle (ankle on the crotch side), and the electrocardiogram electrode 140 contacts the lower part of the outer ankle (ankle on the opposite side). In this example, the compression cuff 160 is wound around the lower leg of the subject. Although not shown here, the same medical measuring instrument is also attached to other parts (for example, the right ankle) of the same subject.

  When the subject's resting state is confirmed in this state, measurement of biological information is started. The airbag 150 is used for pulse wave measurement, and continuously detects the pulse wave. At the same time, air is introduced into the sac built in the cuff 160 through the air tube 162. As a result, the cuff pressure rises and the cuff 160 presses the lower leg of the subject. The cuff pressure is increased until the pulsation of the ankle artery stops, that is, until no pulse wave is detected by the airbag 150, and then the cuff pressure is reduced. While the cuff pressure is being reduced, the pulsation of the ankle artery is resumed, and the pulse wave is detected by the airbag 150 accordingly. Eventually, the magnitude of the pulse wave, in other words, the fluctuation range of the pressure fluctuation of the internal gas of the airbag 150 increases. The cuff pressure at the timing when this increase is most noticeable is detected as systolic blood pressure. If the cuff pressure is continuously reduced, the fluctuation range of the pressure fluctuation decreases. The cuff pressure at the timing when this decrease is most noticeable is detected as the diastolic blood pressure. In parallel with such oscillometric blood pressure measurement, an electrocardiogram is measured using the electrocardiogram electrode 140.

  Here, the case where the medical measuring instrument 100 is attached to the left ankle of the subject has been described as an example, but the medical measuring instrument 100 can be attached to another part of the subject. In addition, as an example in which the medical measuring instrument 100 can be used most effectively, the case where the medical measuring instrument 100 and the compression cuff 160 are used together has been described as an example. However, even when the medical measuring instrument 100 is used alone, An effect is obtained that the electrocardiogram can be measured simultaneously and accurately.

  The biological information measurement described with reference to FIG. 2 can be realized by, for example, the biological information measuring apparatus shown in FIG. The apparatus includes a medical measuring instrument 100, a cuff 160, a biological information measuring apparatus main body 170, a display apparatus 172, a recording apparatus 174, cables 144 and 176, air tubes 152 and 162, and a transducer 178.

  The biological information measuring device main body 170 includes a biological information measuring unit, a pump, and a storage device. The biological information measurement unit performs blood pressure measurement by the airbag 150 and the cuff 160 of the medical measurement instrument 100 and electrocardiogram measurement by the electrocardiogram electrode 140 of the medical measurement instrument 100 in parallel. An electrical signal (electrocardiogram signal) representing the detected electromotive force and an electrical signal (pulse wave signal) representing the pulse wave detected by the airbag 150 are acquired, and the cuff pressure of the cuff 160 is detected, Such biological information is appropriately processed. The pump also adjusts the cuff pressure by introducing air into the cuff 160 and discharging air from the cuff 160 via the air tube 162. A biological information measurement program for controlling the storage device, the biological information measuring unit, and the pump to execute the biological information measurement described with reference to FIG. 2 is stored.

  The display device 172 displays the processed biological information on the screen, and the recording device 174 records the processed biological information on a sheet. The cable 144 transmits an electrocardiogram signal from the electrocardiogram electrode 140 to the biological information measuring unit of the biological information measuring device main body 170, and the air tube 152 transmits a pulse wave output as a pressure fluctuation from the airbag 150 to the transducer 178. The transducer 178 performs pressure-electric conversion on the pressure fluctuation to generate an electrical signal (pulse wave signal), and the cable 176 transmits the pulse wave signal to the biological information measuring unit of the biological information measuring device main body 170.

  If the biological information measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is used, the measurement of the subject's electrocardiogram, pulse wave and blood pressure can be performed very efficiently.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the medical measurement instrument 100 is configured by mounting the electrocardiogram electrode 140 and the airbag 150 as the pulse wave sensor on the clip-type support, and therefore, one support is provided. By simply attaching it to the subject, electrocardiogram measurement and pulse wave measurement can be performed simultaneously. In addition, since the contact surface of the electrocardiogram electrode 140 has a curved surface shape and the airbag 150 as a pulse wave sensor has flexibility, it has a certain contact without difficulty even in a portion having an uneven shape, particularly in the vicinity of an ankle. It can be mounted while securing an area. In addition, since the vicinity of the ankle is generally a part where no hair grows, this medical measuring instrument 100 enables highly accurate measurement.

  Further, when the medical measuring instrument 100 is mounted, the electrocardiogram electrode 140 and the airbag 150 are pressed by the leaf spring 132 with a substantially constant force, and therefore the ECG electrode 140 and the airbag 150 are displaced on the body surface. The possibility that adverse effects such as fluctuations in detection sensitivity of the electrode 140 and the airbag 150 occur during detection is small. On the other hand, for example, when a cuff is wound around a wearing site and this is used alone to measure blood pressure and pulse wave, or an electrocardiogram is measured using an electrocardiogram electrode integrated with the cuff wound around the wearing site When performing the above, there is a relatively high possibility that the above-described adverse effects will occur due to the cuff pressure. Therefore, the electrocardiogram electrode 140 and the airbag 150 are arranged to face each other, the leg portions 110 and 120 are connected to be freely opened and closed, and the leg portions 110 and 120 are closed so that the electrocardiogram electrode 140 and the airbag 150 approach each other. , 120 is very advantageous from the viewpoint of measurement accuracy. Further, since it is not necessary to wind like a cuff, this configuration is advantageous from the viewpoint of ease of mounting.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a side view of the medical measuring instrument according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Since the medical measurement instrument of the present embodiment has the same basic configuration as the medical measurement instrument 100 described in the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. Description is omitted. In the following description, differences from the medical measurement instrument 100 are mainly referred to, and other details not described here are the same as those of the medical measurement instrument 100.

  In FIG. 4, a medical measuring instrument 200 includes a clip-type support having a pair of legs 210 and 220 as main components, an electrocardiogram electrode 240 used for measuring an electrocardiogram, an airbag 250 used for measuring a pulse wave, and legs. A cushion 260 interposed between the portion 220 and the airbag 250 is provided.

  The leg portions 210 and 220, which are the main components of the clip-type support, are made of, for example, a plastic material, and each have a shape that is elongated in an S shape (or an inverted S shape). The legs 210 and 220 are connected to be freely opened and closed by the same method as the legs 110 and 120 described in the first embodiment, and are always urged in the closing direction. The leg portions 210 and 220 are substantially oval when closed, like the leg portions 110 and 120.

  The electrocardiogram electrode 240 is made of a conductive material and is attached to the leg 210. The electrocardiogram electrode 240 protrudes outside the leg 210 (that is, outside the ellipse formed by the leg 210 and the leg 220) in order to insert the plug 142 of the cable 144, but the leg 210 Does not protrude inside (that is, inside the ellipse). The inner part of the leg 210 of the electrocardiogram electrode 240 has a gentle arc shape formed along the inner surface of the leg 210. The electrocardiogram electrode 240 detects an electromotive force generated by the activity of the heart by an abutting surface in contact with the body surface, and an electric signal (electrocardiogram signal) representing the detected electromotive force is transmitted via the cable 144 to the electrocardiograph. Or output to another medical device.

  An airbag 250 used as a pulse wave sensor is attached to the leg portion 220. The airbag 250 has a continuous foam (open cell) sponge having air permeability and flexibility as a core material, and is configured by wrapping the core material in a flexible bag made of synthetic resin, for example. The airbag 250 is elongated so as to cover substantially the entire surface of the inner surface of the leg 220 (that is, the inner side of the ellipse formed by the leg 210 and the leg 220), and It has a shape that forms a gentle arc along the surface. Further, a cushion 260 is interposed between the airbag 250 and the leg portion 220, so that the direction of the contact surface of the airbag 250 that contacts the body surface of the subject can be changed. Adapt to shape. Therefore, even if there is a slight uneven shape at the site where the medical measuring instrument 200 is mounted, a certain contact area can be secured without difficulty. In addition, the airbag 250 is connected to a transducer (not shown) that performs pressure-electrical conversion by an air tube 152 in the same manner as the airbag 150 described in the first embodiment.

  The medical measuring instrument 200 having the above configuration is used, for example, as shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the medical measuring instrument 200 is mounted by sandwiching the left ankle of the subject with a constant pressing force between the legs 110 and 120 that are biased in the closing direction. At this time, the airbag 250 abuts on the upper part of the inner ankle (ankle on the crotch side), and the electrocardiogram electrode 240 abuts on the upper part of the outer ankle (ankle on the opposite side). Although not shown here, the same medical measuring instrument is also attached to other parts (for example, the right ankle) of the same subject.

  When the subject's resting state is confirmed in this state, measurement of biological information is started. The airbag 250 is used for pulse wave measurement, and continuously detects the pulse wave. In parallel with this, the electrocardiogram is measured using the electrocardiogram electrode 240.

  Here, the case where the medical measuring instrument 200 is attached to the left ankle of the subject has been described as an example, but the medical measuring instrument 200 can also be attached to another part of the subject. By using this medical measuring instrument 200, the effect that the pulse wave and the electrocardiogram can be measured simultaneously and accurately can be obtained.

  In the medical measuring instrument 200, the airbag 250 and the electrocardiogram electrode 240 both have shapes along the inner surfaces of the legs 210 and 220. For example, like the lower leg and wrist, It can be suitably used for mounting on a portion of a human body having a small concavo-convex shape and a substantially cylindrical shape.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The above description is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the description of the configuration and use of the above apparatus is an example, and it is obvious that various modifications and additions to these examples are possible within the scope of the present invention.

(A) Perspective view of the medical measuring instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) Side view of the medical measuring instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure for demonstrating the use condition of the medical measuring instrument which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the structure of the biometric information measuring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Side view of the medical measuring instrument according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention The figure for demonstrating the use condition of the medical measuring instrument which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

100, 200 Medical measuring instrument 110, 120, 210, 220 Leg 140, 240 ECG electrode 150, 250 Air bag 160 Cuff 170 Biological information measuring device main body

Claims (6)

A pulse wave sensor for detecting the pulse wave of the subject;
An electrocardiogram electrode for detecting the electromotive force of the subject;
A pair of legs, wherein the pulse wave sensor is provided on one leg of the pair of legs, and the electrocardiogram electrode is provided on the other leg of the pair of legs. A support for fixing the wave sensor and the electrocardiogram electrode to the body surface of the subject;
A medical measuring instrument comprising: The pulse wave sensor and the electrocardiogram electrode are arranged to face each other on the support,
The support is
A connecting means for connecting the pair of legs so as to be freely opened and closed;
An urging means for urging the pair of legs in a direction to close the pair of connected legs and bring the pulse wave sensor and the electrocardiogram electrode closer to each other;
The medical measuring instrument according to claim 1, comprising:   The medical measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pulse wave sensor includes an airbag that outputs the detected pulse wave as a pressure fluctuation of the internal gas.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adapting means for adapting a direction of a contact surface of the pulse wave sensor that contacts the body surface of the subject to an uneven shape of the body surface of the subject. Or the medical measuring instrument of Claim 3.   5. The medical measuring instrument according to claim 4, wherein the fitting means includes a cushion interposed between the one leg and the airbag. A medical measuring instrument according to claim 1;
A cuff wound around the body surface of the subject and pressing the body surface of the subject;
An oscillometric blood pressure measurement using the pulse wave sensor and the cuff of the medical measurement instrument and an electrocardiogram measurement using the electrocardiogram electrode of the medical measurement instrument;
A biological information measuring device comprising:

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