JP4839171B2 - Biological light measurement device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological light measurement apparatus that measures the optical characteristics of a subject using light.

  In the conventional biological light measurement device, automatic gain and irradiation light amount adjustment are performed at the measurement preparation stage. At this time, an irradiation position, a detection position, and a measurement position are displayed on the display unit, and a measurement channel number is also displayed at the measurement position. When the automatic gain and irradiation light amount adjustment are successful, the measurement position is displayed in green, and when it is unsuccessful, the measurement position is displayed in red (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-237194 A

  In the conventional biological light measurement device as described above, the display color at the measurement position is changed to indicate to the operator that the automatic gain and irradiation light amount adjustment has failed. It is difficult to determine whether the optical fiber mounting state should be readjusted, and it takes time to readjust the optical fiber, which increases the burden on the operator and the subject.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a biological optical measurement device that facilitates readjustment of an optical fiber and can reduce the burden on an operator and a subject. Objective.

The biological light measurement apparatus according to the present invention includes a probe holder attached to a subject, a plurality of irradiation optical fibers whose tip is attached to the probe holder and irradiates the subject with light, and the tip that is attached to the probe holder. A plurality of detection optical fibers that are mounted and detect light that has passed through the subject, and a plurality of measurement positions that are positioned between the light irradiation position from the irradiation optical fiber and the light detection position by the detection optical fiber A control unit that determines whether or not the amount of light in the light source has reached an allowable value, and a display unit that displays a determination result of the light amount in the control unit, the control unit is an irradiation position corresponding to a measurement position where the amount of light is insufficient The detection position is displayed on the display unit by a display method different from the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount reaches the allowable value.
In addition, the biological light measurement apparatus according to the present invention includes a probe holder attached to a subject, a plurality of irradiation optical fibers whose tip is attached to the probe holder and irradiates the subject with light, and the tip is a probe. A plurality of detection optical fibers mounted on the holder and detecting light passing through the subject, and a plurality of detection optical fibers positioned between the irradiation position of the light from the irradiation optical fiber and the detection position of the light by the detection optical fiber A control unit that determines whether or not the light amount at the measurement position has reached an allowable value and a display unit that displays the determination result of the light amount in the control unit, the control unit divides the measurement position into a plurality of groups for each group While displaying in a different shape on a display part, the irradiation position and detection position corresponding to each measurement position are displayed on a display part in the shape which has the feature in common with the display shape of the measurement position.

The biological light measurement apparatus according to the present invention provides a display method in which an irradiation position and a detection position corresponding to a measurement position where a light amount is insufficient are different from an irradiation position and a detection position corresponding to a measurement position where the light amount reaches an allowable value. Therefore, the operator can easily understand which optical fiber should be readjusted, the optical fiber readjustment work can be facilitated, and the burden on the operator and the subject can be reduced.
In addition, since the measurement position, the irradiation position, and the detection position are displayed in a grouped shape, the biological light measurement device of the present invention can make the operator easily understand the correspondence between the measurement position and the optical fiber. The readjustment work of the optical fiber can be facilitated, and the burden on the operator and the subject can be reduced.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a biological light measurement apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a probe holder 2 is mounted on the head of a subject 1. The probe holder 2 holds a plurality of irradiation probes (not shown) and a plurality of detection probes (not shown). Irradiation probes and detection probes are alternately arranged in a matrix.

  Near-infrared light generated by the light source unit 5 is irradiated onto the subject 1 through a plurality of irradiation optical fibers 6. The tip of each irradiation optical fiber 6 is attached to the probe holder 2 via an irradiation probe.

  The light source unit 5 includes a semiconductor laser 3 that emits light of a predetermined wavelength, and a plurality of optical modules 7 that modulate light from the semiconductor laser 3. Each optical module 7 has a modulator (not shown) that modulates light from the semiconductor laser 3 at different frequencies. The wavelength of light depends on the spectral characteristics of the substance of interest in the living body, but when measuring oxygen saturation and blood volume from the concentration of Hb and HbO2, one or more wavelengths are selected from the wavelength range of 600 nm to 1400 nm. To be used.

  The light that has been irradiated onto the subject 1 from the irradiation optical fiber 6 and passed through the subject 1 is sent to the optical measurement unit 8 via the plurality of detection optical fibers 4. The tip of each detection optical fiber 4 is attached to the probe holder 2 via a detection probe.

  The optical measuring unit 8 selectively selects a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 9 such as photodiodes that generate an electric signal according to the detected amount of passing light, and a corresponding modulation signal from the electric signal from the photoelectric conversion element 9. It has a lock-in amplifier module 10 to detect, and an A / D converter 11 that converts an output signal of the lock-in amplifier module 10 into a digital signal.

  For example, when two types of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin are measured, light of two wavelengths of 780 nm and 830 nm are generated, and these lights are combined to be analyzed from one irradiation optical fiber 6. 1 is irradiated. The lock-in amplifier module 10 selectively detects modulation signals corresponding to these two wavelengths. As a result, a hemoglobin amount change signal that is twice the number of channels is obtained for the measurement position located between the irradiation position of the light from the irradiation optical fiber 6 and the detection position of the passing light by the detection optical fiber 4. It is done.

  The light source unit 5 and the optical measurement unit 8 are controlled by the control unit 12. The control unit 12 is configured by a computer, for example, and includes a control unit main body 13, a storage unit 14, an input / output unit 15, and a signal processing unit 16. The signal processing unit 16 processes the hemoglobin amount change signal converted into the digital signal, and displays a graph showing the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration change, the deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration change, the total hemoglobin concentration change, etc. for each channel and the subject 1 Create an image plotted on the two-dimensional image.

  The storage unit 14 records data and processing results necessary for processing by the signal processing unit 16. Various commands necessary for the operation of the control unit 12 are input to the input / output unit 15. Connected to the signal processing unit 16 is a display unit 17 that displays an image created by the signal processing unit 16.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of measurement work by the biological light measurement apparatus of FIG. First, the operator activates the software (step S1), selects a measurement mode (step S2), and sets parameters of the apparatus (step S3). Thereby, the measurement position is displayed on the display unit 17 (step S4).

  Thereafter, the operator inputs a command for performing an automatic gain operation (step S5). Here, the amount of light at the measurement position varies due to the influence of, for example, the presence of hair and hair roots and the difference in the degree of adhesion of the probe to the subject 1. Therefore, in the automatic gain operation, the detected light amount is made uniform by multiplying the detected light amount by a gain value. However, if the amount of light does not reach the allowable value, the S / N ratio deteriorates and the reliability of the measured value cannot be ensured. During the automatic gain operation, the control unit 12 determines whether the light amount at the measurement position has reached an allowable value.

  The result of such automatic gain is displayed on the display unit 17 (step S6). If the result of the automatic gain is good at all measurement positions, the adjustment of the automatic gain and the optical fibers 4 and 6 is finished (step S7). If there is a measurement position determined to be defective as a result of automatic gain, the optical fibers 4 and 6 are readjusted (step S8), and the automatic gain operation is executed again. However, when it is determined that readjustment is not necessary due to the number and positions of measurement positions determined to be defective, or the state of the subject 1, the automatic gain and It is possible to finish the adjustment of the optical fibers 4 and 6.

  Thereafter, when measurement is started (step S9), the measurement result is displayed on the display unit 17 (step S10). After the data of the measurement result is registered as a file (step S11), the measurement work is finished (step S12).

  FIG. 3 is a front view showing a first example of an automatic gain result display screen by the display unit 17 of FIG. In the lower part of the display screen 21, a single operation start button 22 designated when the automatic gain is executed only once, a repetitive operation start button 23 designated when the automatic gain is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle, an automatic gain A stop button 24 that is designated when the automatic gain is stopped and an exit button 25 that is designated when the display relating to the automatic gain is terminated are displayed side by side. These buttons 22 to 25 are selected and designated in the display screen 21 by input means (not shown) such as a mouse or a keyboard.

  In the center of the display screen 21, a body mark 26 indicating the head shape of the subject 1 is displayed. In the body mark 26, an area mark 27 indicating a rough arrangement area of the probe holder 2 with respect to the subject 1 is displayed. In the upper part of the area mark 27, a probe holder number display section 28, a probe arrangement pattern display section 29, and an automatic gain parameter display section / setting section 30 are displayed.

  The control unit 12 divides the measurement position into a plurality of groups and displays the measurement positions on the display unit 17 in different shapes for each group. In this example, the measurement positions are divided into first and second groups, the first measurement position mark 31 indicating the measurement position of the first group is displayed in a small ellipse, and the measurement of the second group is performed. A second measurement position mark 32 indicating the position is displayed as a small square. The first measurement position mark 31 and the second measurement position mark 32 are aligned in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and are alternately arranged except for the columns at the left and right ends.

  In addition, channel numbers are displayed in the measurement position marks 31 and 32. Furthermore, the measurement position marks 31 and 32 are displayed in different colors depending on whether the result of the automatic gain is good or not. For example, the measurement position marks 31 and 32 are displayed in green (indicated in white in the figure) if the automatic gain result is good, and are displayed in red (indicated in black in the figure) if defective. FIG. 3 shows that the channels 03, 05, 11, 24, 30, 32, and 38 are defective.

  In addition, the control unit 12 displays the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to each measurement position in a shape having characteristics common to the display shape of the measurement position. In this example, a first irradiation position mark 33 indicating an irradiation position corresponding to the measurement position of the first group and a first detection position mark 34 indicating a detection position corresponding to the measurement position of the first group are provided. It is displayed as a large oval. The second irradiation position mark 35 indicating the irradiation position corresponding to the measurement position 32 of the second group, and the second detection position mark indicating the second detection position corresponding to the measurement position 32 of the second group. 36 is displayed as a large rectangle.

  Further, the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 and the detection position marks 34 and 36 are displayed in different colors. For example, the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 are displayed in orange (hatched in the drawing), and the detection position marks 34 and 36 are displayed in white. Furthermore, in the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 and the detection position marks 34 and 36, corresponding probe numbers are displayed.

  The control unit 12 displays the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount is insufficient with a display method different from the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount reaches the allowable value. To display. In this example, the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 and the detection position marks 34 and 36 corresponding to the measurement position where the result of the automatic gain is defective are displayed blinking, and correspond to the measurement position where the result of the automatic gain is good. The irradiation position marks 33 and 35 and the detection position marks 34 and 36 are lit and displayed.

  FIG. 3 shows that the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 and the detection position marks 34 and 36 corresponding to the measurement positions of the channels 03, 05, 11, 24, 30, 32, and 38 determined as defective are blinking. ing.

  Moreover, the control part 12 displays an irradiation position and a detection position on the display part 17 with a different display method according to the number of the measurement positions determined that the light quantity is insufficient among the corresponding measurement positions. In this example, the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 and the detection position marks 34 and 36 are blinked and displayed at different frequencies according to the number of measurement positions determined to be insufficient in light quantity among the corresponding measurement positions.

  Specifically, during the automatic gain operation, for each irradiation position and detection position, the number of measurement positions determined to be defective among the measurement positions corresponding to the irradiation position or detection position is counted. If the count number is 0, the display method is not changed and the display is turned on.

  If the count number is 1 or more and less than a threshold value (for example, 2), the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 or the detection position marks 34 and 36 are blinked at a slow speed (for example, 1 Hz). Further, if the count number is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the irradiation position marks 33 and 35 or the detection position marks 34 and 36 are blinked at a high speed (for example, 2 Hz). Such blinking display may be the entire mark, only the background color, or only the probe number.

  For example, the first irradiation position mark 33 of the probe number “11” located in the upper left corner of FIG. 3 has a good count result for the corresponding channels 01 and 07, and the count number is 0. Is lit.

  Further, the first detection position mark 34 of the probe number “11” has a count number of 1 because the determination result of the channel 03 out of the measurement positions of the corresponding channels 01, 03, and 09 is poor, and at a low speed. It is blinking.

  Furthermore, the first irradiation position mark 33 with the probe number “12” has a count number of 3 because all the determination results of the measurement positions of the corresponding channels 03, 05, and 11 are defective, and blinks at a high speed. Has been.

  In FIG. 3, three first detection position marks 34 with probe numbers “11”, “12”, and “14” and four first detection marks 34 with probe numbers “23”, “25”, “26”, and “27” are shown. The second irradiation position mark 35 blinks at a slow speed. Further, the first irradiation position mark 33 with the probe number “12” and the second detection position mark 36 with the probe number “25” are blinking at a high speed.

  In such a biological light measurement device, the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount is insufficient are different from the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount has reached an allowable value. Therefore, the operator can easily understand which optical fibers 4 and 6 should be readjusted, the readjustment work of the optical fibers 4 and 6 is facilitated, and the burden on the operator and the subject is reduced. be able to.

  Further, since the measurement position, the irradiation position, and the detection position are displayed in a grouped shape, the correspondence between the measurement position and the optical fibers 4 and 6 can be easily understood by the operator. The readjustment work of 4 and 6 can be facilitated, and the burden on the operator and the subject can be reduced.

Furthermore, an operation by an operator who does not have sufficient knowledge about the relationship between the measurement position, the irradiation position, and the detection position can be enabled.
Furthermore, the probability of erroneous operation can be reduced.

  Here, in the living body light measurement apparatus of this example, the probe is such that the irradiation optical fiber 6 and the detection optical fiber 4 are close to an irradiation position or a detection position corresponding to another measurement position. The holder 2 is arranged with high density. For this reason, the measurement position and the irradiation position or the detection position arranged close to each other are displayed in an overlapping manner. Thus, when the optical fibers 4 and 6 are arranged at high density, the readjustment operation of the optical fibers 4 and 6 can be remarkably facilitated by applying the display method according to the first embodiment. It is particularly effective.

  In addition, the irradiation position and detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount is insufficient are displayed in blinking, and the irradiation position and detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount has reached the allowable value are displayed in the lighting state. It is possible to inform the operator more clearly whether the fibers 4, 6 should be readjusted.

  Furthermore, since the irradiation position and the detection position are displayed by different display methods depending on the number of measurement positions determined to be insufficient in the corresponding measurement positions, the optical fiber 4, which requires readjustment. The priority order of 6 can be clarified, and the readjustment work of the optical fibers 4 and 6 can be further facilitated.

  Here, FIG. 4 is a front view showing a second example of an automatic gain result display screen by the display unit of FIG. In this example, two probe holders 2 in which optical fibers 4 and 6 are arranged at a normal density are used. For this reason, two area marks 27 a and 27 b are displayed in the display screen 21. Probe holder number display sections 28a and 28b, probe arrangement pattern display sections 29a and 29b, and parameter display section / setting sections 30a and 30b are displayed in the upper portions of the area marks 27a and 27b, respectively.

  The measurement position, irradiation position, and detection position in the left probe holder 2 are displayed as a first group, and the measurement position, irradiation position, and detection position in the right probe holder 2 are displayed as a second group.

  In FIG. 4, the measurement positions of the channels 01, 02, 05, 13, 15, 17, and 20 in the left area mark 27a are determined to be defective. Also, three first irradiation position marks 33 with probe numbers “11”, “12” and “13” and four first positions with probe numbers “14”, “15”, “16” and “18”. The detection position mark 34 is blinking at a slow speed. Further, the first irradiation position mark 33 with the probe number “16” and the first detection position mark 34 with the probe number “11” are blinking at high speed.

  As described above, even when two probe holders 2 in which the optical fibers 4 and 6 are arranged at a normal density are used, the display method of the present invention can be applied, and the readjustment work of the optical fibers 4 and 6 is easy. Can be.

  5 to 8 are front views showing third to sixth examples of the automatic gain result display screen by the display unit of FIG. In these examples, the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position determined to be defective are not blinked and the measurement position, the irradiation position, and the detection position are simply displayed in different shapes for each group. As described above, the operator can easily understand the correspondence between the measurement position and the optical fibers 4 and 6 simply by changing the mark shape for each group. In particular, a high-density arrangement as shown in FIGS. It is effective in the case of.

  For example, in FIG. 7, the measurement position of channel 03 is determined to be defective, but this measurement position is not the detection position of probe number “21”, but the irradiation position of probe number “12” and probe number “11”. It can be easily understood from the mark shape that the detected positions correspond.

The relationship between the automatic gain result (good / bad) and lighting / flashing may be reversed.
The method of changing the display method is not limited to lighting / flashing, and may be, for example, a change in display method due to a difference in color, a change in display method due to lighting / extinguishing, a change in display method due to light and dark, and the like.
Furthermore, in the above example, the display method of the present invention is applied during the automatic gain operation. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the adjustment of the irradiation light quantity.
Furthermore, in the above example, two types of measurement positions are indicated by shapes, but it is also possible to display sets of measurement positions, irradiation positions, and detection positions in individual shapes. In this case, irradiation positions and detection positions corresponding to a plurality of measurement positions may be displayed in a shape in which a plurality of shapes are overlapped.

It is a block diagram which shows the biological light measuring device by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the measurement operation | work by the biological light measuring device of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 1st example of the automatic gain result display screen by the display part of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 2nd example of the automatic gain result display screen by the display part of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 3rd example of the automatic gain result display screen by the display part of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 4th example of the automatic gain result display screen by the display part of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 5th example of the automatic gain result display screen by the display part of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 6th example of the automatic gain result display screen by the display part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject, 2 Probe holder, 4 Optical fiber for detection, 6 Optical fiber for irradiation, 12 Control part, 17 Display part.

Claims (6)

A probe holder attached to the subject;
A plurality of irradiation optical fibers, each of which has a tip attached to the probe holder and irradiates the subject with light;
A plurality of optical fibers for detection that are attached to the probe holder and detect light that has passed through the subject,
A control unit for determining whether or not the amount of light at a plurality of measurement positions located between the irradiation position of light from the irradiation optical fiber and the detection position of light by the detection optical fiber has reached an allowable value;
A biological light measurement apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a determination result of the light amount in the control unit
The control unit displays the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount is insufficient with a display method different from the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light amount reaches the allowable value. The living body light measuring device characterized by being displayed.   The control unit displays the irradiation position and the detection position corresponding to the measurement position where the light quantity is insufficient, either blinking or lighting, and the irradiation position and detection corresponding to the measurement position where the light quantity has reached an allowable value. The living body light measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the position is displayed by one of blinking and lighting.   The said control part displays an irradiation position and a detection position on the said display part by a different display method according to the number of the measurement positions determined that light quantity is insufficient among corresponding measurement positions, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The biological light measurement device according to claim 1 or 2. The biological light measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a measurement position where the light quantity is insufficient and a measurement position where the light quantity reaches an allowable value in different colors. A probe holder attached to the subject;
A plurality of irradiation optical fibers, each of which has a tip attached to the probe holder and irradiates the subject with light;
A plurality of optical fibers for detection that are attached to the probe holder and detect light that has passed through the subject,
While uniformizing the detected light amount by multiplying the light amount detected at a plurality of measurement positions located between the light irradiation position from the irradiation optical fiber and the light detection position by the detection optical fiber by gain values A control unit for performing an automatic gain operation for setting the upper limit of the gain value and determining whether the light amount at the measurement position has reached an allowable value;
A display unit for displaying the result of the automatic gain operation;
In a biological light measurement device comprising:
The control unit differs in an irradiation position and a detection position corresponding to a measurement position where the result of the automatic gain operation is good from an irradiation position and a detection position corresponding to a measurement position where the result of the automatic gain operation is bad. A biological light measuring device which displays on the display unit by a display method. A probe holder attached to the subject;
A plurality of irradiation optical fibers, each of which has a tip attached to the probe holder and irradiates the subject with light;
A plurality of optical fibers for detection that are attached to the probe holder and detect light that has passed through the subject,
A control unit for determining whether or not the amount of light at a plurality of measurement positions located between the irradiation position of light from the irradiation optical fiber and the detection position of light by the detection optical fiber has reached an allowable value;
A biological light measurement apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a determination result of the light amount in the control unit
The control unit divides the measurement position into a plurality of groups and displays them on the display unit in different shapes for each group, and the irradiation position and detection position corresponding to each measurement position have the same characteristics as the display shape of the measurement position. A biological light measurement device characterized by displaying on the display unit in a shape having

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