JP3619835B2 - Mastication number detection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting the number of chewing times during a person's meal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, increasing the number of chewing times during a meal not only reduces the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, but also prevents the effects of overeating due to the feeling of fullness associated with mastication, and thus has the effect of preventing obesity, and also prevents the elderly from becoming burnt. It is extremely beneficial in terms of dentistry and health care, and it is encouraged to increase the number of chewing cycles regardless of age or age.
[0003]
However, conventionally, there is no device that can easily measure the number of mastications in a general household, and the person himself or herself can count the number of mastications during a meal, or another person can visually measure the mastication of the eater.
On the other hand, many proposals have been made regarding devices for measuring the number of mastication times in specialized facilities such as hospitals. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-171136 discloses a base unit that is in close contact with a human body and maintains the position thereof, a detection unit that includes detection means 2a that detects movement derived from mastication on the base unit, There has been proposed a mastication number recording device comprising a recording unit that processes signals from the unit and displays the number of mastication times. Thus, as a detection means for detecting movements derived from mastication, as a type that is attached to a person's cheek using a tension detection sensor or a muscle voltage detection sensor as a type that is attached to a person's cheek, It is said that a pressure sensor is used.
However, according to this prior art, there is a problem that it is not possible to distinguish the movement of muscle derived from conversation during meals other than mastication and the movement of muscle derived from mastication, and the accurate number of mastications cannot be detected. there were.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-206740 discloses a pressure receiving chamber having a movable portion that converts the movement of the human body surface into the indoor pressure P, a pressure detecting portion that detects the indoor pressure P, and a signal from the pressure detecting portion. A mastication counter comprising a signal processing unit for processing and obtaining the number of mastications is disclosed.
However, according to this prior art, a signal processing circuit is required, and it is also impossible to distinguish muscle movements derived from conversation during meals other than mastication and muscle movements derived from mastication. There was a problem that the exact number of chewing times could not be detected.
[0005]
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-11560 discloses a mastication enhancer comprising a mastication detecting means having a strain gauge or a piezoelectric element as a transducer, which is inserted into the ear canal and detects deformation of the ear canal accompanying mastication motion. It is disclosed. However, this prior art also requires a signal processing circuit and cannot distinguish between muscle movements derived from conversation during meals other than mastication and muscle movements derived from mastication. There was a problem that the exact number of chewing times could not be detected.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention solves the above-described problems in the prior art, does not require a signal processing circuit for determining mastication, and can clearly identify the muscle movement or hardness associated with mastication and the muscle movement or hardness due to conversation. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the number of mastications that can directly convert mastication operations into signals.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an indenter support member for carrying an indenter that abuts against the skin and changes its dip depth in response to a change in muscle movement or hardness accompanying mastication. An auxiliary displacement member to which a braking torque in the indenter displacement direction is applied by the friction member, an elastic body that urges the indenter support member in a direction in which the indenter is immersed in the skin, and the indenter support member and the auxiliary displacement. A gap limiting body that is fixed to the indenter support member or the auxiliary displacement member for limiting a distance between the member and the indenter in the direction of the indenter; It is a mastication number detection device comprising a contact member that functions to open and close.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 2 uses the ON / OFF signal of the electric circuit by the contact member accompanying mastication as a blinking or drive / stop signal of an external device such as a toy. It is a detection device.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to preferred embodiments thereof.
[0010]
In FIG. 1, the structure of the detection part concerning one Example of the chewing frequency detection apparatus of this invention is shown. In FIG. 1, 1 is a base, which has a cylindrical shape with one end open, and has a flange on the open end side. In the radial direction of the base 1, the elastic body 7 and the lever mounting portion 2 are fixedly provided at opposing portions. In the lever mounting portion 2, an indenter support lever 3 (indenter support member) that fixes and supports the indenter 5 and an auxiliary lever 4 (auxiliary displacement member) are pivotally supported by a shaft 8. A friction member 6 that functions to apply a friction torque Tf to the auxiliary lever 4 is mounted between the auxiliary lever outer surface and the lever mounting portion 2 inner surface.
[0011]
The indenter support lever 3 is urged by an elastic body 7 fixed to the base 1 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in a longitudinal sectional view in FIG. As a result, a counterclockwise rotational moment T1 is applied to the indenter support lever 3. The elastic body 7 is restricted in displacement by the lower end of the cylindrical wall surface opening of the base 1 and displaces the indenter support lever 3 counterclockwise to that position. In addition, a clearance limiting body 12 is fixed to the indenter support lever 3 and defines an upper limit of the distance between the indenter support lever 3 and the auxiliary lever 4. The gap limiting body 12 may be fixed toward the auxiliary lever 4.
[0012]
On the other hand, as seen from the longitudinal sectional view in FIG. 1, contact members 10 and 10 are disposed on the upper surface of the indenter support lever 3 and the lower surface of the auxiliary lever 4 via insulating members 9, respectively. A cord 11 is connected to each contact member 10, and when the contacts 10 and 10 come in contact, the electric circuit is closed and an ON signal is generated.
[0013]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the relationship between the band B and the counter C for holding the mastication number detection device main body A of the present invention and making contact with and wearing the facial skin.
The band B functions to bring the mastication frequency detection device main body A into contact with the human skin with a certain bending force. In this embodiment, the counter C receives the ON-OFF signal at the contact members 10 and 10 in the mastication number detection device main body A via the lead wire 11 and displays and records the number of mastication times.
[0014]
Next, the operation of the mastication frequency detection device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the magnitude of the rotational moment acting on the indenter support lever 3 and the rotational angle. Here, the rotation angle of the indenter support lever 3 is positive in the clockwise direction from the position of the lower end (stopper) of the cylindrical portion of the base 1 that defines the lower limit of displacement of the elastic member 7. In FIG. 2, T <b> 1 is a counterclockwise rotational moment given by the elastic body 7.
T2 and T3 are given by T2 = T1 + Tf and T3 = T1-Tf, respectively. However, T3 is larger than zero.
[0015]
The indenter 5 is brought into contact with the skin surface, and a large force is required corresponding to the increase of the indentation depth of the indenter 5, but due to the reaction of the indentation force, the indenter support lever 3 has an indentation depth. As the rotation angle increases, that is, as the rotation angle decreases, a clockwise rotation moment Ti increases.
TiH indicates the relationship between Ti and the rotation angle when the masticatory muscle is in a contracted / tensed state, and TiL indicates the relationship between Ti and the rotation angle when the masticatory muscle is in a relaxed state.
[0016]
Before the mastication number detection device is mounted, the indenter support lever 3 is maintained in the state shown in FIG. 3 by the stopper. At the time of wearing, a counterclockwise moment acts on the indenter support lever 3 due to a reaction force of the force pressing the indenter 5 against the skin surface, that is, a force to push back the indenter 5, and the indenter support lever 3 rotates clockwise. (A → B in FIG. 2). In this process, if the contact members 10 and 10 come into contact (B in FIG. 2), after the contact, the auxiliary lever 4 also rotates clockwise together with the indenter support lever 3 (B → C → D in FIG. 2). If the masticatory muscle is in a relaxed state, the indenter support lever 3 stops at the point D in FIG. 2 where T2 and TiL are balanced (the state in FIG. 4).
[0017]
When the masticatory muscle contracts and tensions due to mastication, the force to push back the indenter 5 increases, and the indenter support lever 3 rotates to a position where T2 and TiH are balanced (E in FIG. 2) (state of FIG. 5). Thereafter, the force to push back the indenter 5 decreases due to a decrease in masticatory force and relaxation of the masticatory muscles, and the indenter support lever 3 starts to rotate counterclockwise (E → F → G in FIG. 2). At this time, the auxiliary lever 4 remains stationary due to the friction torque Tf generated by the friction member 6 until the gap limiter 12 starts to act (G in FIG. 2). When the indenter support lever 3 further rotates counterclockwise and the gap limiter 12 acts, the auxiliary lever 4 is rotated counterclockwise by the gap limiter 12 (G → H → I in FIG. 2), and T3 Stop when TiL is balanced (I in FIG. 2).
[0018]
When the masticatory muscle contracts and tensions again by mastication, a force to push back the indenter 5 acts on the indenter support lever 3, and the indenter support lever 3 starts to rotate clockwise, and the contact member 10 at the point K in FIG. After contact 10, it stops at point E in FIG. 2 where T2 and TiH are balanced (I → J → K → L → E in FIG. 2). Thereafter, this operation is repeated.
When the mastication number detecting device is removed from the head, the state before the wearing (the state shown in FIG. 3) is restored by the restoring force of the elastic body 7.
[0019]
In the above series of operations, the contact members 10 and 10 are in contact with B → C → D → E → F in FIG. 2 only immediately after the mastication number detecting device is mounted. Is in a contact state in the process of K → L → E → F in FIG. 2, and is in a non-contact state in the process of F → G → H → I → J → K in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to measure and display the number of mastications if connected to a counter that counts only 1 if the cords 11 and 11 are turned on, or a counter that counts only 1 if they are turned off. become. Further, if the cords 11 and 11 are connected to a display device that can be recognized visually or auditorily, the state of mastication can be easily grasped.
[0020]
In addition, there are individual differences in skin thickness, hardness, and muscle hardness. Even in the same person, the degree of contraction and tension of the masticatory muscles varies depending on the type of food or the location of the chewing frequency detection device main body A. However, in the mastication frequency detecting device configured as in the present invention, if the rotational moment diagram TiH in the contracted / tensed state passes the right side of the point K with respect to the rotational moment diagram TiL in the relaxed state in FIG. The number of chewing times can be counted. In addition, even if the position of the rotational moment diagram TiL in the relaxed state changes, the number of mastications can be counted if the above condition is satisfied.
[0021]
That is, the rotation angle from the point J to the point K in FIG. 2, that is, the rotation angle from the state in which the gap limiter 12 is acting to the moment when the contact members 10 and 10 are brought into contact is expressed as the indenter of the gap limiter 12. The sensitivity can be adjusted by adjusting the fixed position of the support lever 3, that is, by changing the upper limit of the distance between the indenter support lever 3 and the auxiliary lever 4. If the position of the gap limiter 12 is set so that the rotation angle from the point J to the point K in FIG. 2 is small, it is possible to detect a slight change in the hardness or movement of the masticatory muscles. Furthermore, even if the hardness or movement of the masticatory muscle changes due to movements other than mastication such as vocalization, the degree of change is considerably smaller than that due to mastication. If the left side of the point K in FIG. 2 is passed, even if there are many actions other than mastication, such as conversation, during the meal, the number of mastications can be counted almost without being influenced by it.
[0022]
In order to prevent the chattering phenomenon in the contact members 10 and 10, it is effective to make the contact members 10 and 10 elastic or to support the contact members 10 and 10 with elastic. In this case, the shape of the rotational moment diagram in FIG. 2 is corrected as shown in FIG. 7, but the rotational moment diagram TiH in the contracted / tensed state is different from the rotational moment diagram TiL in the relaxed state in FIG. If the right side of the point K is passed, the number of chewing times can be counted. However, the rotation angle from the point J to the point K in FIG. 7, that is, the rotation angle magnitude a from the state in which the gap limiting body 12 is applied to the moment when the contact members 10 and 10 are brought into contact is represented by E in FIG. When the rotation angle from point F to point F, that is, when the rotation angle is smaller than b from the state where the distance between the indenter lever 3 and the auxiliary lever 4 is the narrowest to the moment when the contact members 10 and 10 are separated, On the T1 line in FIG. 7, the rotational moment line TiH in the contracted tension state needs to pass to the right of the point rotated clockwise from the point J by the rotation angle b. This is because when the rotational moment line TiH passes on the left side of this point, there is a risk that the contact members 10 and 10 are always in a conductive state.
[0023]
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 21 denotes a base, and 22 denotes a support rod, which is fixed and suspended on the lower center surface of the top surface of the base 21. Reference numeral 23 denotes an indenter support slider (indenter support member). A hole for fitting to the support rod 22 is formed at the center of the plane and is slidably fitted, and an indenter 25 is fixed and supported on the lower surface thereof. ing. The indenter support slider 23 is urged by an elastic body 27 downward as viewed in FIG. Further, a gap limiting body 32 is fixed to the indenter support slider 23. The gap limiter 32 functions to define an upper limit of the distance between the auxiliary slider 24 (auxiliary displacement member) and the indenter support slider 23.
[0024]
The auxiliary slider 24 is slidably fitted to the support rod 22.
A friction member 26 is mounted between the inner peripheral surface of the hole drilled in the center of the surface of the auxiliary slider 24 and the outer peripheral surface of the support rod 22 to apply a frictional force to the auxiliary slider 24.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 8, contact members 30, 30 are disposed on the upper surface of the indenter support slider 23 and the lower surface of the auxiliary slider 24 via insulating members 29, and are connected to the cords 31, 31.
[0026]
The operation of the device for detecting the number of mastications according to another embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is the number of times of mastication according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the rotation moment is replaced with force and the rotation angle is replaced with a displacement. This is the same as the detection device.
[0027]
The device for detecting the number of chewing times of the present invention captures changes in muscle movement or hardness associated with mastication as changes in the displacement of the indenters 5 and 25, and only changes in displacement of the indenter associated with mastication as an ON-OFF signal. Output. As shown in FIG. 10, this can be transmitted by an infrared diode or an infrared emitter, received by an infrared receiver disposed on the counter C, and the number of mastications can be displayed and recorded wirelessly or by radio control. Further, the counter C can be attached to the earphone to be hooked on the ear and displayed.
[0028]
As described above, the device for detecting the number of chewing times of the present invention regards a change in muscle movement or hardness associated with mastication as a change in displacement amount of the indenters 5 and 25, and only changes in the displacement amount of the indenter associated with mastication. Since it is output as an ON-OFF signal, this signal can be input to the counter C and used as a signal for driving / stopping the external device. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, an ON-OFF signal from a mastication number detection device can be received by an infrared receiver R attached to a toy such as a robot or a stuffed toy, and a light emitter L or a sound generator S can be activated. . In addition, it is possible to play such as making the robot move little by little and reach the destination with chewing.
These are useful when making infants make a habit of chewing.
[0029]
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, a lamp L with a built-in battery can be attached to the band B for attachment to the head of the mastication frequency detection device, and can be blinked by an ON-OFF signal accompanying mastication.
[0030]
【Example】
Example 1
A device for detecting the number of mastications having a base with an outer diameter of about 40 mm on the flange part that contacts the skin was prepared. The cords 11 and 11 were connected to a commercially available digital pedometer (counter C), and the number of mastications was measured. As a result, it was confirmed that the counter C hardly moved during normal conversation, and that chewing movements were measured regardless of food hardness. That is, the following results were obtained by examining the measured values when the sandwich or gum was chewed 100 times without any chewing.
Measurement results: Subjects: 38-year-old male first 102 times (sandwich)
Second time 100 times (sandwich)
3rd time 102 times (gum)
4th 101 times (Gum)
Subject: First 56-year-old male 99 times (gum)
[0031]
Next, the measured value was investigated about the case where a twist was put in the middle.
Every time the gum was chewed 10 times, about 250 characters (converted to hiragana) were read, this was repeated 9 times, and finally chewing was performed 10 times. That is, the total number of chewing times is 100 times, and the number of muffled characters is about 2250.
Measurement results: Subjects: 38-year-old male first 108 times (gum)
Second time 108 times (gum)
Subject: First 56-year-old male 103 times (gum)
Thus, chewing and conversation can be identified with high accuracy.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a simple apparatus configuration is used to sharply distinguish between a change in muscle movement or hardness associated with mastication and a change in muscle movement or hardness due to an action other than mastication such as conversation, and this is determined as ON. -Since it can be output directly with an OFF signal, the number of chewing cycles can be counted very reliably and accurately.
[0033]
According to the invention described in claim 2, the habit of actively chewing by stimulating playfulness such as infants is acquired, obesity is prevented by preventing overeating by causing the cerebrum to feel full, Furthermore, it can contribute to health promotion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mastication frequency detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a graph showing the magnitude and rotational angle of a rotational moment acting on an indenter support lever in the mastication frequency detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state before wearing of the mastication frequency detecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the mastication frequency detecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention on the skin surface. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state immediately after wearing. Fig. 5 shows a state of the mastication frequency detecting device when the masticatory muscles contract or tension by mastication after the mastication frequency detecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to the skin surface. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state of the mastication frequency detecting device when the masticatory force is reduced and the masticatory muscle is relaxed after the masticatory muscle is contracted / tensed by mastication. Detection of the number of mastications according to an embodiment of the invention FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the magnitude of the rotation moment acting on the indenter support lever 3 and the rotation angle when the contact member 10 is made of an elastic body or supported by the elastic body during installation. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mastication number detecting device according to an example. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the mastication number detecting device of the present invention is attached to a band B for attaching to the skin. The perspective view which shows an example which displays the signal from an apparatus on the counter C wirelessly. [FIG. 11] The perspective view which shows the aspect when the signal from the chewing frequency detection apparatus of this invention is input into an external apparatus, and an external apparatus is operated. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a mode when an external device is operated by inputting a signal from the mastication number detection device of the present invention to the external device.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 2 Lever attachment part 3 Indenter support lever 4 Auxiliary lever 5 Indenter 6 Friction member 7 Elastic body 8 Shaft 9 Insulating member 10 Contact member 11 Code 12 Gap limiter 21 Base 22 Support rod 23 Indenter support slider 24 Auxiliary slider 25 Indenter 26 Friction member 27 Elastic body 29 Insulating member 30 Contact member 31 Code 32 Gap limiter A Mastication number detection device body B Band C Counter R Infrared light receiver L Light emitter S Sounding body

Claims (2)

An indenter support member that carries an indenter that changes its depth of immersion in response to a change in muscle movement or hardness accompanying chewing, and an auxiliary member that is provided with a braking torque in the indenter displacement direction by a friction member The indenter support member that restricts the displacement in the indenter displacement direction between the displacement member, the elastic body that urges the indenter in a direction in which the indenter is immersed in the skin, and the indenter support member and the auxiliary displacement member. Alternatively, a mastication frequency detecting device comprising a gap limiting body fixed to an auxiliary displacement member, and a contact member that is disposed on the indenter support member and on an opposing portion of the auxiliary displacement member and functions to open and close an electric circuit. The device for detecting the number of times of mastication according to claim 1, wherein an ON-OFF signal of an electric circuit by a contact member accompanying mastication is used as a blinking or drive / stop signal of an external device such as a toy.

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