JP3048554B2 - Local transpiration measurement capsule - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capsule for measuring local transpiration, which is used, for example, for testing autonomic nervous function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 and FIG.
No. 497 discloses a device for continuously measuring the amount of local sweating. The measuring apparatus includes a capsule body 101 which is attached while being in close contact with the skin surface 100. Inside the capsule body 101, a front chamber 102 and a rear chamber 103 are provided.
Are provided. An air inlet 104 through which air flows into the front chamber 102 is opened, and the front chamber 102 is communicated with the rear chamber 103 through a small hole 105. Further, a capacitance type humidity sensor 106 (hereinafter, referred to as “humidity sensor 106”) protrudes from an upper wall of the rear room 103. Further, the rear chamber 103 is provided with an air outflow hole 107 through which air flows out. The humidity sensor 106 includes the transmitter 10
8 are connected, and these two devices are provided in the capsule body 101. The signal output from the transmitter 108 is transmitted to the frequency-to-voltage converter 109 via the electric wire W.
It is connected to.

[0003] When measuring perspiration from the local area, the front chamber 1 of the capsule body 101 is connected to the air inlet 104.
02, and the water released from the skin surface 100 is mixed, and the air-fuel mixture flows through the small holes 105 into the rear chamber 103.
Go to In the rear chamber 103, when the humidity in the air-fuel mixture is measured by the humidity sensor 106, the air outlet 107
From the capsule body 101. Further, at this time, the electric signal measured by the humidity sensor 106 is
The signal is output from the capsule body 101 via the transmitter 108, is input to the frequency / voltage converter 109 via the electric wire W, and is processed by the computer 110.

[0004]

Problems to be Solved by the Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 3-4
No. 9497 has been conceived in order to sufficiently mix the moisture and air emitted from the skin surface 100 inside the anterior chamber 102. However, this capsule body 1
In the configuration of No. 01, the air is not sufficiently mixed with the sweat and the air inside the front
Had been moved to. Therefore, the humidity sensor 106
There is a problem that data obtained by the method is not stable.

[0005] Such a situation in which the humidity data is unstable was particularly remarkable in the low-frequency portion of the data. For this reason, in the capsule for measuring the amount of local perspiration using the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-49497, the measurement sensitivity range of the humidity data is reduced in advance (the numerical value of the measurement limit is increased), and the measurement is apparently performed. It is necessary to take measures such as not to detect a noticeable change in the data at the position just before the sensitivity. For this reason, a change in the amount of perspiration cannot be immediately detected as a change in the humidity data, resulting in lack of responsiveness. Thus, with this apparatus, as the measurement limit for the amount of perspiration in the low frequency range, only the perspiration of more than 0.01 milligram per square centimeter could be measured.

[0006] On the other hand, for example, to measure the depth of anesthesia during anhidrosis or general anesthesia, the depth of anesthesia is not more than 0.1 cm per 1 cm 2.
It was necessary to accurately measure the amount of perspiration below 01 mg. However, in the conventional apparatus, it was impossible to measure such a low-frequency transpiration amount due to a problem in data reliability.

Further, in the conventional device, the humidity sensor 10
6 is mounted so as to project from the center of the upper wall of the rear chamber 103. Here, since the small holes 105 are provided at the lower wall end of the rear room 103, the air-fuel mixture blown from the front room 102 to the rear room 103 through the small holes 105 is supplied to the upper wall of the rear room 103 and The rear chamber 1 is bent while its course is bent by the concave portion 111 formed by the side wall and the end of the humidity sensor 106.
03 (see the arrow in FIG. 11). For this reason, in the recess 111, a high-humidity air-fuel mixture is likely to be stagnant, and moisture may appear near the humidity sensor 106 and condensate on the humidity sensor 106. Such a situation is likely to occur when the amount of perspiration per square centimeter is in a high range of 3 milligrams or more.

[0008] On the other hand, for example, an operation for improving hyperhidrosis (the amount of perspiration per square centimeter is 5 milligrams or more) is performed by removing a part of the autonomic nervous nerve that promotes a large amount of perspiration. , Suppress the action of the autonomic nervous system,
In the case of surgery for reducing the amount of sweating), it is necessary to measure the state of sweating from the patient before and after the operation to confirm the action of the autonomic nervous function in order to observe the course of treatment. In such patients, it was necessary to be able to measure over a wide range and precisely the amount of sweating from the high band to the low band.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a local transpiration measuring capsule capable of obtaining stable humidity data while improving measurement sensitivity. .

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a capsule for measuring the amount of local transpiration.
The capsule body that covers the human skin while being in close contact with the skin surface, a gas inlet for introducing a gas that diffuses and mixes the moisture evaporated from the skin surface, and a gas outlet for discharging the gas from the capsule body, A capacitance-type humidity sensor for measuring the moisture mixed in the gas, and a primary chamber having an opening edge in which the gas inlet is open and covers the skin surface in the capsule body. And a secondary chamber partitioned from the primary chamber by a first partition wall and separated from the skin surface and connected to the gas discharge port side, wherein the capacitance type humidity sensor is provided in the secondary chamber. And a first gas moving port that allows the gas to move from the primary chamber side to the secondary chamber side is provided on the first partition wall, and the first partition wall is provided on the first partition wall. At the transfer port, the primary room Wherein the micron-like Confucius filter for leveling the moving speed of the gas into et the secondary chamber side is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect , the capacitance type humidity sensor is provided on the first partition wall side of the secondary chamber. I do.
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a boundary with the secondary chamber is defined by the second partition wall between the gas outlet and the secondary chamber. A tertiary chamber is provided, and the second partition wall is provided with a second gas moving port that allows the gas to move.

In the capsule for measuring local transpiration according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a gas flow for injecting a gas for diffusing and mixing the water transpired from the skin surface into a capsule body for covering while closely contacting the skin surface of a human. An inlet, a gas outlet for discharging the gas from the capsule body, and a capacitance-type humidity sensor for measuring the moisture mixed in the gas, wherein the capsule body includes the gas A primary chamber having an opening edge in which an inflow port opens and covers the skin surface;
A secondary chamber partitioned from the primary chamber by a first partition wall and isolated from the skin surface, and a tertiary chamber partitioned from the secondary chamber by a second partition wall and connected to the gas outlet are provided. The first partition wall is provided with a first gas transfer port that allows gas to move from the primary chamber side to the secondary chamber side, and the second partition wall is formed from the secondary chamber side. A second gas moving port that allows gas to move to the tertiary chamber side is provided, wherein the capacitance type humidity sensor is provided on the tertiary chamber side and the first gas moving port is provided. A micron-shaped porcelain for leveling the moving speed of the gas from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.
A filter is provided.

[0013] A fifth aspect of the present invention, there is according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the capacitance type humidity sensor, transmitter is coupled to output a frequency signal, the transmitter Is connected to a frequency analog signal converter that converts a frequency signal output from the transmitter into an analog signal, and the capacitive humidity sensor, the transmitter, and the frequency analog signal converter are connected to the capsule. It is provided on the main body.

In the conventional apparatus for continuously measuring the amount of perspiration, which has been described in the related art, since the observed data is unstable in the low-frequency part of the data, a measure is taken to lower the measurement sensitivity range of the humidity data in advance. That was mentioned earlier.
The present inventors, in order to solve this problem, a moisture transpired in the capsule body in order to mix well with the gas, Mi
A cron-shaped conical filter and a tertiary chamber were provided. As a result, the evaporated water is well mixed with the gas. However, a problem was found that could not be solved by such improvements.

That is, the electric signal output from the capsule body is a frequency signal output from the transmitter, and the signal is weak and digital. For this reason,
During the transmission of the frequency signal through the electric wire, the frequency fluctuation is apt to occur due to the surrounding electromagnetic field and line capacitance. It is considered that such a problem has not been exposed in the conventional capsule for measuring the amount of local perspiration because the measurement sensitivity range has been reduced as described above. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a capacitance type humidity sensor, a transmitter, and a frequency analog signal converter are used as a module, and an output signal from this module is used as an analog signal. This is because, when an analog signal is transmitted, it is less affected by the surrounding electromagnetic field and line capacitance than when a frequency signal, which is a digital signal, is transmitted.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, gas flows into the primary chamber of the capsule body from the gas inlet. In this primary chamber, the gas diffuses and mixes the moisture evaporated from the skin surface, moves through the first gas transfer port provided in the first partition wall, and moves to the secondary chamber side. Then, the moisture mixed with the gas is measured by the capacitance type humidity sensor provided in the secondary chamber. The gas flowing into the capsule body from the gas inlet may pulsate by a mechanism for moving the gas. In such a case, it becomes a factor that causes the data of the capacitance type humidity sensor to vary. For this reason, the first gas moving port is provided with a micron-shaped porosity filter for leveling the moving speed of the gas, so that humidity data can be obtained stably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the capacitance type humidity sensor is provided on the first partition wall side. The gas sent to the secondary chamber side through the first gas transfer port flows toward the wall surface facing the first partition wall. For this reason,
The flow of gas in the secondary chamber is less affected by the capacitance-type humidity sensor, and it becomes easier to avoid a situation in which high-humidity gas stagnates and forms dew as in the related art.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the gas that has flowed out of the secondary chamber passes through the second gas transfer port, enters the tertiary chamber, and is then discharged from the gas discharge port to the outside of the capsule body.
As described above, since the tertiary chamber is provided before the gas reaches the gas outlet from the secondary chamber, the degree of uniformity of the gas in the secondary chamber is improved as compared with the case without the tertiary chamber. For this reason,
Contributes to stabilization of humidity data.

According to the invention of claim 4, the capacitance type humidity sensor is provided in the tertiary chamber. Therefore, the gas moved from the primary chamber through the micron-shaped porosity filter of the first gas transfer port is mixed more uniformly in the secondary chamber, and the humidity in the gas moved to the tertiary chamber is measured. Thus, more stable humidity data can be obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the capsule body is provided with the capacitance type humidity sensor, the transmitter, and the frequency analog signal converter. For this reason, since an analog signal is output from the capsule body, even if the electric wire connected to the capsule body is lengthened, the electric signal output from the capsule body may be affected by the surrounding electromagnetic field and line capacitance. Has been reduced.

As described above, since the fluctuation of the moisture at the low frequency level can be measured stably, a slight change in the humidity data can be detected immediately. For this reason, the moisture detection speed can be made several times faster than the conventional one.

[0022]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a local transpiration rate measuring capsule 1 of the present embodiment. The local transpiration measurement capsule 1 is provided with a capsule main body 2 formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, for example, from a synthetic resin. The lower surface of the capsule body 2 (the surface that is in close contact with the part to be measured) is open, and the opening edge 3 of the opening is covered with the skin surface 6, so that the capsule body 2 evaporates from the skin surface 6. It measures water content.

The capsule body 2 has two lines 4 and 5
Are connected. Among them, the upper one is the signal line 4, in which a plurality of electric wires W are accommodated. The lower one is a hollow blow line 5,
The dried gas is sent to the capsule body 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the capsule body 2 is roughly divided into three chambers. That is, in the internal space of the capsule body 2,
Two partition walls 7 and 8 for partitioning the capsule body 2 in the height direction are provided. Of these, the lower one is
The first partition wall 7 is provided at a position slightly below the middle with respect to the height of the capsule body 2. In the space below the first partition wall 7, the capsule body 2
The space surrounded by the side wall 2B is a primary chamber 9.

The upper partition wall is a second partition wall 8. The second partition wall 8 is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the first partition wall 7 and the upper wall 2A of the capsule body 2. A space surrounded by the first partition wall 7, the second partition wall 8, and the side wall 2B is a secondary room 10. This secondary room 1
Inside 0, a local transpiration rate measuring module 16 (to be described in detail later) including a capacitance type humidity sensor 15 (hereinafter, referred to as "humidity sensor 15") is provided. The local transpiration measurement module 16 is provided on the upper surface side of the first partition wall 7, to which an electric wire W is connected and accommodated in the signal line 4. Furthermore, the second partition wall 8
The space surrounded by the upper wall 2A and the side wall 2B is the tertiary room 11
It is said.

Now, one end of the blowing line 5 communicates with the primary chamber 9 so as to penetrate the side wall 2B of the capsule body 2. The opening is used as a gas inlet 12. In the first partition wall 7, the gas inlet 12
The first gas moving port 13 is provided near the position farthest from the position where is provided. This first gas transfer port 13 is
This allows the gas in the primary chamber 9 to move to the secondary chamber 10 side. The first gas transfer port 13 is provided with a filter 14. The filter 14 is a micron-shaped conical filter having a double structure, and is for leveling the moving speed of the gas when the gas moves from the primary chamber 9. This is due to the following request. When gas is supplied from the blowing line 5 to the primary chamber 9, for example, a gas pressurized by a compressor (not shown) is used. At this time, it is sufficient that the gas is supplied from the compressor at a uniform speed, but generally, the gas is supplied in a pulsating state because the pressure of the gas changes. If the pulsated gas moves to the secondary chamber 10 as it is, the measurement data of the humidity sensor 15 also fluctuates with the pulsation, and thus tends to be unreliable.
In order to avoid such a situation, the movement of gas from the primary chamber 9 to the secondary chamber 10 may be leveled.

In the second partition wall 8, near the position farthest from the position where the first gas transfer port 13 is provided,
A second gas transfer port 18 is provided. The second gas transfer port 18 is a small hole. In the side wall 2B forming the tertiary chamber 11, a gas outlet 17 communicating with the outside of the capsule body 2 is provided at a position farthest from a position where the second gas transfer port 18 is provided.

Here, the path followed by the gas supplied to the capsule body 2 will be described (generally indicated by arrows in FIG. 2). Gas inlet 12
From there, gas is supplied into the primary chamber 9. The gas supplied to the primary chamber 9 mixes moisture evaporated from the skin surface 6 while moving inside the primary chamber 9, and moves to the secondary chamber 10 through the first gas transfer port 13. At this time, since the first gas moving port 13 is provided with the filter 14, the pulsation of the gas is reduced.

Next, the gas that has moved to the secondary chamber 10 passes through the secondary chamber 10 and moves from the second gas transfer port 18 to the tertiary chamber 11. The gas in the tertiary chamber 11 is supplied to the gas outlet 1
7 to the outside. Here, compared to the case where the tertiary chamber 11 is not provided, the gas receives resistance during movement at two places, the second gas transfer port 18 and the tertiary chamber 11. Therefore, the passage of the gas through the humidity sensor 15 is useful for leveling the passage speed of the gas behind the humidity sensor 15. Thus, the passing speed of the gas before and after the humidity sensor 15 is leveled, so that the passing speed of the gas near the humidity sensor 15 is stabilized, and the influence of the gas pulsation on the measurement data is reduced.

At the center of the primary chamber 9, there is provided a blood flow sensor 19 hanging down from the opening side of the capsule body 2. Further, on the side of the primary chamber 9 where the blow line 5 opens, a pair of cylindrical bodies 24 are attached to the position sandwiching the blow line 5 from the upper wall 2A through the first partition wall 7 and the second partition wall 8. The support spring 2 is provided inside the cylindrical body 24.
0 is provided. The support spring 20 is elastically deformable in the compression direction, and is provided at its tip with a temperature sensor 21 for measuring the temperature of the skin surface 6. The temperature sensor 21 is assembled so as to protrude slightly outside the opening edge 3 of the capsule main body 2. When the local transpiration measurement capsule 1 is attached to the skin surface 6, the temperature sensor 21 applies pressure to the skin surface 6. With the temperature sensor 21 added, the skin surface 6
Contact

Next, the local transpiration rate measuring module 16 will be described with reference to FIG. The local transpiration measurement module 16 includes a humidity sensor (CX) 15, an oscillator (OSC) 22 connected to the humidity sensor 15, and converts a frequency signal from the oscillator 22 into an analog voltage signal. A frequency / voltage converter (f / v) 23 (corresponding to the “frequency analog signal converter” of the present invention) is provided. This module for measuring local transpiration 16
All are provided in the capsule body 2. Therefore, what is output from the capsule body 2 via the electric wire W is a voltage which is an analog signal.

The operation of the local transpiration rate measuring module 16 will be described below. When the humidity in the gas inside the secondary chamber 10 changes, it is detected by the humidity sensor 15 and output as a change in capacitance. Then
The change appears as a frequency change of the transmitter 22, and this frequency change is converted into a frequency response voltage by the frequency-voltage converter 23.

As a result, the signal output from the capsule body 2 becomes an analog signal, and is hardly affected by the surrounding electromagnetic field and the line capacitance of the electric wire W. For this reason, the electric wire W from the capsule main body 2 can be secured longer. This is particularly true for the local transpiration measurement capsule 1
It is very easy to use if is applied to the measurement of the depth of anesthesia during surgery over time. That is, during the operation, since the surgeon and many other devices surround the patient as the subject, it is necessary to place the local transpiration measuring capsule 1 as far away as possible. It is.

By outputting a current change signal instead of a voltage signal as an analog signal (that is, a frequency current converter is provided in place of the frequency voltage converter 23), electromagnetic effects of surroundings are further reduced. It can be hard to receive.

Next, the configuration of the measuring section 25 will be described with reference to FIG. This measuring unit 25 calculates the humidity data,
This is for analyzing and outputting an electric signal input from the gas flow rate data. The above-mentioned capsule 1 for measuring local transpiration is provided in a blowing line 5 for blowing gas. A gas supply unit P for supplying a dried gas to the blow line 5 is provided at a base side of the blow line 5. In addition, as the gas supply unit P, a nitrogen gas cylinder, a dry air dryer, or the like can be used.

A second capacitance type humidity sensor 31 and a gas flow rate sensor 32 are provided between the gas supply section P and the local transpiration rate measuring capsule 1. By the way, the measuring unit 25
Are provided with amplification units (AMP) 26A, 26B, 26C, a multiplexer (MPX) 27, an analog-to-digital converter (A / D) 28, a central processing unit (CPU) 29, an input device (KEY) 30, and the like. ing. Among them, the AMPs 26A, 26B, and 26C amplify the signals from the second capacitance type humidity sensor 31, the gas flow rate sensor 32, and the local transpiration rate measuring capsule 1, and transmit the amplified signals to the MPX 27. A in time division
/ D28. In A / D28, MPX2
7 is digitized and input to the CPU 29.

Next, in the CPU 29, the humidity data obtained from the signal of the second capacitance type humidity sensor 31 (the amount of moisture originally contained in the gas supplied to the capsule body 2)
, The moisture value obtained from the signal of the local transpiration rate measurement capsule 1 is subtracted to calculate the moisture value from the skin, and this value is multiplied by the airflow value based on the signal from the gas flow rate sensor 32 to obtain a unit. Calculate transpiration per hour. Then, these values are output to the printer 3
3. It can output to the display 34.
In addition, an analog signal can be output from the CPU 29 via an RS232C port 35 for outputting a digital signal, and a digital / analog converter (D / A) 36 and an amplifier (AMP) 37.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the capsule body 2 is attached while the opening edge 3 is in close contact with the skin surface 6 of the subject, and gas is supplied from the gas supply unit P. Then, gas is supplied to the primary chamber 9 of the capsule main body 2 through the blowing line 5. At this time, the gas is the second capacitance type humidity sensor 31
And the gas flow rate sensor 32, the humidity and the flow rate of the gas before being blown to the local transpiration rate measurement capsule 1 are measured.

In the primary chamber 9, the moisture and the gas accompanying the evaporation from the skin surface 6 are mixed, and the mixture is supplied to the first gas transfer port 1.
The process moves from 3 to the secondary room 10. At this time, the first gas moving port 13 is provided with a filter 14 for leveling the moving speed of the gas. For this reason, the gas sufficiently mixes the water from the skin surface 6 inside the primary chamber 9 to form a uniform mixture. Then, the air-fuel mixture moves to the secondary chamber 10 while the pulsation of the moving speed of the air-fuel mixture is reduced by the filter 14. At this time, the gas flow from the first gas transfer port 13 is on the upper surface side of the secondary chamber 10 (the second partition wall 8 side).
Heading to Therefore, the flow of gas in the secondary chamber 10 is controlled by the humidity sensor 1 provided on the first partition wall 7 side.
5 makes it smooth without being largely hindered.

Next, after the humidity in the air-fuel mixture is measured by the humidity sensor 15 provided in the secondary chamber 10, the air-fuel mixture is sent to the tertiary chamber 11 through the second gas transfer port 18.
Here, the pulsation of the air-fuel mixture can be restricted by the provision of the tertiary chamber 11, compared to the case where the air-fuel mixture is directly discharged from the secondary chamber 10 to the atmosphere as in the related art. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to stabilization of the humidity data. Next, the air-fuel mixture that has passed through the tertiary chamber is discharged into the atmosphere from the gas outlet 17.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the first gas moving port 13 is provided with the filter 14 for leveling the moving speed of the air-fuel mixture, humidity data can be stably obtained. be able to.

Further, since the tertiary chamber 11 is provided, the degree of uniformity of the gas in the secondary chamber 10 is improved as compared with the case where the tertiary chamber 11 is not provided, which contributes to stabilization of humidity data.

In addition, a humidity sensor 15 is provided on the first partition wall 7 side. The gas sent to the secondary chamber 10 through the first gas transfer port 13 flows toward the second partition 8 facing the first partition 7. For this reason, the flow of the gas in the secondary chamber 10 is less affected by the humidity sensor 15, and it becomes easier to avoid a situation in which a high-humidity gas stagnates and condenses on the humidity sensor 106 as in the related art. Further, a humidity sensor 15 is provided on the capsule body 2.
, A transmitter 22, and a frequency-voltage converter 23. For this reason, compared with the case where the electric wire W is arranged between the transmitter 108 and the frequency-voltage converter 109 as in the conventional case, the influence of the surrounding electromagnetic field and the line capacity of the electric wire on the humidity data is reduced. , More accurate humidity data can be obtained. In the local transpiration measurement capsule 1, the transpiration per square centimeter is 0.00
Measurements are possible from 1 milligram. This corresponds to a sensitivity improvement of 10 times or more as compared with the conventional one. The maximum amount of transpiration per square centimeter is 1
It can measure up to about 0 milligram. Thus, the fluctuation of the moisture at the low frequency level can be stably measured, so that a minute change in the humidity data can be immediately detected. For this reason, the moisture detection speed can be made several times faster than the conventional one.

In this embodiment, the gas outlet 1
A gas flow sensor may be provided on the tip side of the sensor 7. In this way, by checking the deviation from the data of the gas flow sensor 32, it is possible to detect the leakage of gas from the capsule body 2 and the attachment site of the capsule body 2 and the skin surface 6.

The filter 14 is provided as a separate member.
Alternatively , for example, the first gas transfer port 13 may be formed in advance as an aggregate of holes in units of microns. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the detection circuit 16 is configured by modularizing the humidity sensor 15, the transmitter 22, and the frequency-voltage converter 23 (integrated on one substrate), but according to the present invention. It is not necessary to assemble everything on the substrate. That is, it is only necessary that the capsule body is provided with the capacitance type humidity sensor, the transmitter, and the frequency analog signal converter. In the present embodiment, the humidity sensor 15 is connected to the secondary room 1.
However, according to the present invention, it may be provided in the tertiary chamber. By doing so, off from the primary chamber of the first gas transfer port
The gas moved through the filter 14 is further uniformly mixed in the secondary chamber and moved to the tertiary chamber. Thus, the humidity of the gas in the tertiary chamber is measured, and more stable humidity data can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, the humidity sensor 15 is provided on the first partition wall 7 in order to prevent dew condensation on the humidity sensor 15. However, in the prior art, the presence of the concave portion 111 in the gas flow path in the wall surface of the rear chamber 103 originally caused the condensation. For this reason, in order to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation, when the humidity sensor 15 is provided on the second partition 8 side of the secondary chamber 10, the gas flow path may be made flat. For example, the humidity sensor 15
May be provided in advance, and a humidity sensor 15 may be attached thereto to make the wall surface of the second partition 8 on the side of the secondary chamber 10 flat.

Reference Example 1 Next, Reference Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the first embodiment and the embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 shows a local transpiration rate measuring capsule 40 of Reference Example 1 . The internal structure of the capsule main body 41 is the same as that of the capsule main body 2 of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted. The local transpiration measurement capsule 40 is for measuring the transpiration from the eye surface 42. The opening edge 43 of the capsule body 41 is
It is formed so as to conform to the irregular shape around 2.

That is, the details are as follows. The normal cross section of the capsule main body 41 has a substantially elliptical shape that can cover the eye surface 42, and the position where the signal line 4 and the air blowing line 5 are connected is determined by the end of the face 44 (at the measurement site). It is attached so as to come to the ear side on the side where a certain eye surface 42 is located). Here, for convenience of explanation, the opening edge 43
Of these, the one located at the lower end of the position where the lines 4 and 5 are connected is referred to as an ear edge 43A, and the one located farthest from the ear edge 43A is referred to as a nose edge 43B. Ear side edge 43A
Are projected to the lowest in the opening edge 43, and are connected by a smooth curve from the ear side edge 43A to the nose side edge 43B. Also, the ear side edge 43A to the nose side edge 4
The curve toward 3B takes a form that rises smoothly and projects again downward near the nose side edge 43B.

In the first embodiment, the opening edge 4
3 is formed in conformity with the shape of the periphery of the eye surface 42, so that the amount of transpiration can be accurately measured even in a part to be inspected which has been difficult to attach while being closely attached to measure the amount of transpiration. .

In the first embodiment , only the opening edge 43 conforming to the shape of the periphery of the eye surface 42 is disclosed. However, for example, when the vaginal wall is selected as the part to be inspected, the opening conforming to the vaginal wall is selected. The transpiration from the vaginal wall can be measured by using the edge shape (shape adapted to the substantially cylindrical inner wall surface).

Reference Example 2 Next, Reference Example 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The local transpiration rate measuring capsule 1 used in the present embodiment has the same configuration as that disclosed in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a mounting member 50 is provided around the capsule 1 for measuring local transpiration. The attachment member 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom by a stretchable rubber material, and has a finger-sack shape. FIG.
The finger 51 is inserted into the mounting member 50 from the state shown in FIG. 3 to bring the opening edge of the local transpiration measurement capsule 1 into close contact with the skin surface of the finger 51 (see FIG. 9). Then, the capsule 1 for local transpiration measurement is mounted while being pressed to a predetermined position by the force of the mounting member 50. Since the attachment member 50 is extendable and contractible, detachment operation and detachment for reuse are easy.

In the second embodiment, only the attachment member when the local transpiration amount measuring capsule is attached to the fingertip is shown, but according to the present invention, the following attachment member may be used. (1) When the capsule for measuring local transpiration is attached to an arm or a foot, a cylindrical attachment member made of a stretchable material may be used. (2) Further, a belt may be provided on the local transpiration rate measurement capsule to serve as an attachment member. In the present embodiment, the local transpiration rate measurement module and the local transpiration rate measurement capsule were used only for the measurement of water emanating from the epidermis of a human. However, according to the present invention, it can also be used for a moisture meter, a dew meter, a hygrometer, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a capsule for measuring local transpiration.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a capsule for measuring local transpiration.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a capsule for measuring local transpiration.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a module for measuring local transpiration in a capsule for measuring local transpiration.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a measurement unit.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a use state of the capsule for measuring local transpiration in Reference Example 1 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a capsule for measuring local transpiration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a capsule for measuring local transpiration in Reference Example 2 before use.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the local transpiration rate measurement capsule in use.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a local transpiration rate measuring capsule in a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a local transpiration rate measuring capsule in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Capsule for local transpiration measurement 2 ... Capsule main body 3 ... Opening edge 6 ... Skin surface (inspection site) 7 ... First partition wall 8 ... Second partition wall 9 ... Primary room 10 ... Secondary room 11 ... Tertiary room 12 ... gas inlet 13 ... first gas transfer port 14 ... filter 15 ... capacitance type humidity sensor 16 ... module for measuring local transpiration 17 ... gas discharge port 18 ... second gas transfer port 22 ... transmitter 23 ... frequency voltage Converter (frequency analog signal converter)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-10-57322 (JP, A) JP-A-5-192301 (JP, A) JP-A-3-218725 (JP, A) JP-A-3-102251 (JP, A) JP-A-1-238824 (JP, A) JP-A-10-57322 (JP, A) JP-A-7-143968 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) A61B 5/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A gas inlet for allowing a gas for diffusing and mixing moisture evaporating from the skin surface to flow into a capsule body for closely covering the skin surface of a human, and discharging the gas from the capsule body. A gas outlet, and a capacitance-type humidity sensor for measuring the moisture mixed in the gas, wherein the capsule body has an opening edge at which the gas inlet is open and covers the skin surface. And a secondary chamber partitioned from the primary chamber by a first partition wall, separated from the skin surface, and connected to the gas discharge port side, wherein the capacitance type humidity sensor is provided. Is provided on the secondary chamber side, and the first partition wall is provided with a first gas transfer port that allows gas to move from the primary chamber side to the secondary chamber side. Capsule The first gas transfer port, micron-like to level the moving speed of the gas into the secondary chamber side from said primary chamber
A capsule for measuring local transpiration, wherein the capsule is provided with a porcelain filter . Wherein said capacitance type humidity sensor, local transpiration measuring capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that provided in the first district partition wall side of the secondary chamber. 3. A tertiary chamber is provided between the gas outlet and the secondary chamber, the tertiary chamber being partitioned by a second partition wall with a boundary between the secondary chamber and the second partition wall. 3. The capsule for measuring local transpiration according to claim 1, further comprising a second gas transfer port for allowing movement of the capsule. 4. A gas inlet through which a gas for diffusing and mixing moisture evaporating from the epidermis is introduced into the capsule main body which covers the human epidermis while being in close contact therewith, and the gas is discharged from the capsule main body. A gas outlet, and a capacitance-type humidity sensor for measuring the moisture mixed in the gas, wherein the capsule body has an opening edge at which the gas inlet is open and covers the skin surface. And a secondary chamber partitioned from the primary chamber by a first partition wall and isolated from the skin surface, and separated from the secondary chamber by a second partition wall and connected to the gas outlet. A tertiary chamber is provided, and the first partition wall is provided with a first gas transfer port that allows movement of gas from the primary chamber side to the secondary chamber side, and the second partition wall From the secondary chamber side to the tertiary A local transpiration measurement capsule provided with a second gas moving port that allows gas to move to the chamber side, wherein the capacitance-type humidity sensor is provided on the tertiary chamber side, The gas transfer port has a micron-like shape for leveling the transfer speed of the gas from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.
A capsule for measuring local transpiration, wherein the capsule is provided with a porcelain filter . 5. An oscillator for outputting a frequency signal is connected to the capacitance type humidity sensor, and a frequency analog signal converter for converting a frequency signal output from the oscillator into an analog signal is connected to the oscillator. vessel with is connected, and these capacitance type humidity sensor and transmitter and the frequency analog signal converter, according to claim 1, characterized in that provided on the capsule body Capsule for measuring local transpiration.