Pulse pressure measuring device

Abstract

To enhance measurement accuracy by providing a pulse pressure measuring device that determines a blood vessel route.SOLUTION: A pulse pressure measuring device 1 includes a plurality of pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a processing unit 100. The pressing members are used for pressing measurement object parts, each of the pressing members having position coordinates Pi(i=1,2,3...). The pressure sensors are arranged so as to measure the pressure on the pressing members respectively, and generate pressure measurement values Ii(i=1,2,3...) at the position coordinates Pi(i=1,2,3...) respectively. The processing unit determines a blood vessel route using the position coordinates Pi(i=1,2,3...) and the pressure measurement values Ii(i=1,2,3...).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pulse pressure measuring device.

Background Art

[0002] In traditional Chinese medicine, a doctor places fingers on a patient's wrist, applies pressure, senses the changes in the pulse wave, and completes the diagnosis by comprehensively considering all the information. However, the diagnosis is based on the doctor's personal medical experience, and the criteria often vary. Therefore, there is a need for a pulse pressure measuring device that can be objectively quantified. The pulse pressure measuring devices in the market do not determine the blood vessel path and have low measurement accuracy.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] By providing a pulse pressure measuring device that determines the blood vessel path, the measurement accuracy is improved.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The present invention provides a pulse pressure measuring device that determines the blood vessel path and has good measurement accuracy.

[0005] Based on one embodiment of the present invention, a pulse pressure measuring device is provided, which includes a base, a plurality of pressing members, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a processing unit. The pressing members are arranged in an array on the base and are used to press the measurement target site. Among them, the number of pressing members is at least 4, and each pressing member has a position coordinate P i (i = 1, 2, 3...). The pressure sensors are arranged to measure the pressure on each pressing member respectively, so as to generate pressure measurement values I i (i = 1, 2, 3...) at the position coordinates P i (i = 1, 2, 3...). The processing unit is connected to the pressing members and the pressure sensors. In the blood vessel path determination stage, the processing unit selects any three of the position coordinates P i (i = 1, 2, 3...), and the corresponding three pressure measurement values Ii , I j , I k (i, j, k = 1, 2, 3... and i ≠ j ≠ k) are used to generate a plurality of weighted coordinates G ijk , where [Mathematics] is. The processing unit defines a plurality of linear equations passing through the respective weighted coordinates G ijk , and determines the blood vessel path of the measurement target site based on the strip intervals defined by these linear equations and the barycentric coordinates of the weighted coordinates G ijk .

[0006] Based on one embodiment of the present invention, a pulse pressure measurement device including a base, a plurality of pressing members, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a processing unit is provided. The pressing members are arranged in an array on the base and are used to press the measurement target site. Among them, the number of pressing members is at least 4, and each pressing member has position coordinates P i (i = 1, 2, 3...). The pressure sensors are arranged to measure the pressure of the respective pressing members, thereby generating pressure measurement values I i (i = 1, 2, 3...) at the respective position coordinates P i . The processing unit is connected to the pressing members and the pressure sensors. In the blood vessel path determination stage, the processing unit defines a plurality of virtual circles, where each virtual circle has the respective position coordinates P i (i = 1, 2, 3...) as the center of the circle and the reciprocal square root of the respective pressure measurement values I i (i = 1, 2, 3...) as the radius. The processing unit further defines a plurality of common internal tangents between the virtual circles. The virtual circles are reduced or enlarged at the same ratio until at least two common internal tangents overlap, and the blood vessel path of the measurement target site is defined based on the overlapping common internal tangents. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0007] Based on the above, the pulse pressure measurement device provided by the embodiment of the present invention acquires a blood vessel path using a plurality of pressing members and a plurality of pressure sensors. Compared with the conventional pulse pressure measurement device that does not determine the blood vessel path, the pulse pressure measurement device provided by the embodiment of the present invention can measure the pulse wave of the measurement target site more accurately.

[0008] To make the above-described features and advantages of the present invention easier to understand, embodiments will be described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 1C

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Figure 3D

Figure 3E

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 7C

Figure 8

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, based on an embodiment of the present invention, a pulse pressure measurement device 1 is provided, which includes a base 10, a plurality of pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 arranged in an array on the base 10, a plurality of pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24 housed inside the base 10, and a processing unit 100. The pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 are used to press the measurement target site. In some embodiments, the pulse pressure measurement device 1 may be worn on the hand by a fixing member 30 as shown in FIG. 1C, and the measurement target site is the wrist, but is not limited thereto. The pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24 are respectively used to measure the pressure on the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14. The processing unit 100 is connected to the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 and the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24 to control the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 to execute the pressing process and read the measurement data of the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24. For the sake of convenience of understanding, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the number of the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 and the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24 is four, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In each embodiment of the present invention, the number of the pressing members and the pressure sensors may be four or more.

[0011] Subsequently, referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B simultaneously, a blood vessel path determination method is provided based on one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] In the first embodiment, the pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14 are respectively arranged at different position coordinates P1(x, y), P2(x, y), P3(x, y), and P4(x, y) on the base 10. In the blood vessel path determination stage, the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, and 24 measure pressure measurement values I1, I2, I3, and I4 respectively when the pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14 execute the pressing process. Here, the pressure measurement values I1, I2, I3, and I4 respectively correspond to the position coordinates P1(x, y), P2(x, y), P3(x, y), and P4(x, y).

[0013] Next, based on the principle that the intensity of the sensing signal decreases as the distance between the signal source and the sensor increases, the processing unit 100 uses any three of the position coordinates P1(x, y), P2(x, y), P3(x, y), P4(x, y) and the corresponding three of the pressure measurement values I1, I2, I3, I4 to generate a plurality of weighted coordinates G as shown below 123 (x, y), G 124 (x, y), G 134 (x, y), G 234 (x, y), where P1, P2, P3, and P4 respectively represent P1(x, y), P2(x, y), P3(x, y), and P4(x, y):

Equation

[0014] Then, the processing unit 100 defines a plurality of linear equations passing through the weighted coordinates G 123 (x, y), G 124 (x, y), G 134 (x, y), G 234 (x, y). These linear equations are straight lines L1 to L6 as shown in FIG. 2B. Among them, the straight line L1 passes through the weighted coordinates G 123 (x, y) and G 124 (x, y), the straight line L2 passes through the weighted coordinates G 134 (x, y) and G 234 (x, y), the straight line L3 passes through the weighted coordinates G 124 (x, y) and G 134 (x, y), and the straight line L4 passes through the weighted coordinates G123 (x, y) and G 234 (x, y) and passes through, and the straight line L5 is the weighted coordinate G 123 (x, y) and G 134 (x, y) and passes through, and the straight line L6 is the weighted coordinate G 124 (x, y) and G 234 (x, y) and passes through.

[0015] Furthermore, based on the wearing direction of the pulse pressure measuring device 1, the direction of the blood vessel path of the measurement target site is reasonably estimated, and the processing unit 100 defines a strip-shaped section with a straight line (for example, the straight lines L1, L2, L3, L4 shown in FIG. 2B) within a range where the slope is within ±0.5 with respect to the reference line BS among the straight lines L1 to L6. Here, the reference line BS is the central axis of symmetry of the pulse pressure measuring device 1 (see FIG. 2A), and a line with a slope of 0 is defined. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the straight lines L1 and L2 define the strip-shaped section B1. It should be noted that the straight lines L5 and L6 define another strip-shaped section as shown in FIG. 2B, but considering the wearing direction of the pulse pressure measuring device 1, it is reasonably estimated that the blood vessel path of the measurement target site is not within the strip-shaped section defined by the straight lines L5 and L6. Therefore, the slope of the straight line used to define the strip-shaped section is limited as described above.

[0016] Subsequently, the processing unit 100 calculates the centroid coordinate G5(x, y) of the weighted coordinates G 123 (x, y), G 124 (x, y), G 134 (x, y), G 234 (x, y), and here, the x coordinate of the centroid coordinate G5(x, y) is the average value of the x coordinates of all the weighted coordinates G 123 (x, y), G 124 (x, y), G 134 (x, y), G 234 (x, y), and the y coordinate of the centroid coordinate G5(x, y) is the average value of the y coordinates of all the weighted coordinates G 123 (x, y), G 124 (x, y), G 134 (x, y), G 234 (x, y).

[0017] After that, the processing unit 100 determines the blood vessel path BL of the measurement target site by defining the average value of the slopes of the straight lines L1 and L2 that define the strip-shaped section B1 and the centroid coordinates G5(x, y). Among them, the slope of the blood vessel path BL is the average value of the slopes of the straight lines L1 and L2, and the blood vessel path BL passes through the centroid coordinates G5(x, y). It should be particularly noted that the blood vessel path BL does not refer to the actual blood vessel path within the measurement target site, but is a path on the plane corresponding to the actual blood vessel path and where the pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14 are present. Compared with the conventional pulse pressure measurement device that does not judge the blood vessel path, the pulse pressure measurement device 1 provided by the embodiment of the present invention can measure the pulse wave of the measurement target site more accurately based on the blood vessel path BL obtained by using the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 and the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0018] In some embodiments, in order to improve the accuracy of the above-described blood vessel path determination stage and reduce noise interference, the interval in the direction parallel to the reference line BS of the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 is 30 millimeters or less, and the interval in the direction perpendicular to the reference line BS is also 30 millimeters or less. Thereby, it is avoided that the intensity of the pulse pressure decays due to the long transmission distance or the measurement accuracy decreases due to noise interference.

[0019] In some embodiments, in the above-described blood vessel path determination stage, each of the plurality of pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 described above presses the measurement target site simultaneously to generate a pulse pressure with a relatively high intensity, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the pulse pressure measurement device 1.

[0020] Subsequently, referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E simultaneously, another blood vessel path determination method is provided based on the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the second embodiment, the pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14 are respectively arranged at different position coordinates P1(x, y), P2(x, y), P3(x, y), and P4(x, y) on the base 10. In the blood vessel path determination stage, the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, and 24 measure pressure measurement values I1, I2, I3, and I4 respectively when the pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14 execute the pressing process. Here, the pressure measurement values I1, I2, I3, and I4 respectively correspond to the position coordinates P1(x, y), P2(x, y), P3(x, y), and P4(x, y).

[0022] Next, based on the principle that the intensity of the sensing signal is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the signal source and the sensor, it can be known that the distance between the signal source and the sensor is inversely proportional to the square root of the intensity of the sensing signal. Further, based on the wearing direction of the pulse pressure measuring device 1, the pressing members 11 and 13 correspond to the same pulse wave source, and the pressing members 12 and 14 correspond to the same pulse wave source. The distances between the pressing members 11 and 13 and the pulse wave source respectively have a proportional relationship of 1 / (I1) 1 / 2 : 1 / (I3) 1 / 2 and the distances between the pressing members 12 and 14 and the pulse wave source respectively have a proportional relationship of 1 / (I2) 1 / 2 : 1 / (I4) 1 / 2 It can be inferred to have. Based on this, as shown in FIG. 3A, the processing unit 100 defines a virtual circle R1 with the position coordinate P1(x, y) as the center of the circle and a radius of 1 / (I1) 1 / 2 , defines a virtual circle R3 with the position coordinate P3(x, y) as the center of the circle and a radius of 1 / (I3) 1 / 2 , and defines a common internal tangent L 13 between the virtual circle R1 and the virtual circle R3 31 . Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3A, the processing unit 100 defines a virtual circle R2 with the position coordinate P2(x, y) as the center of the circle and a radius of 1 / (I2) 1 / 2 , defines a virtual circle R4 with the position coordinate P4(x, y) as the center of the circle and a radius of 1 / (I4) 1 / 2 , and defines a common internal tangent L 24 between the virtual circle R2 and the virtual circle R4 42 . Here, the common internal tangent L 13 and the common internal tangent L31 corresponds to the same pulse wave source and has a common inscribed line L 24 and the common inscribed line L 42 corresponds to the same pulse wave source.

[0023] Thereafter, referring to FIGS. 3A to 3D, the processing unit 100 simultaneously enlarges (or reduces) the virtual circles R1, R2, R3, and R4 at the same ratio until the common inscribed lines corresponding to different pulse wave sources overlap each other.

[0024] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3D, the common inscribed line L 13 (and the common inscribed line L 31 ) and the common inscribed line L 42 overlap each other. Here, the common inscribed line L 13 (and the common inscribed line L 31 ) and the common inscribed line L 42 correspond to different pulse wave sources. At this time, the radius of the virtual circle R1 is C1 times 1 / (I1) 1 / 2 (that is, C1 / (I1) 1 / 2 ), the radius of the virtual circle R2 is C1 times 1 / (I2) 1 / 2 (that is, C1 / (I2) 1 / 2 ), the radius of the virtual circle R3 is C1 times 1 / (I3) 1 / 2 (that is, C1 / (I3) 1 / 2 ), the radius of the virtual circle R4 is C1 times 1 / (I4) 1 / 2 (that is, C1 / (I4) 1 / 2 ), where the multiple C1 is any number greater than 0.

[0025] Finally, as shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E, the processing unit 100 defines the straight line defined by the overlapping common inscribed lines as the blood vessel path BL. It should be particularly noted that the blood vessel path BL does not refer to the actual blood vessel path within the measurement target site, but is a path on the plane corresponding to the actual blood vessel path and where the pressing members 11, 12, 13, and 14 are present. Compared with a conventional pulse pressure measurement device that does not determine the blood vessel path, the pulse pressure measurement device 1 provided by the embodiment of the present invention can more accurately measure the pulse wave of the measurement target site based on the blood vessel path BL obtained by using the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 and the pressure sensors 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0026] In some embodiments, in order to improve the accuracy of the above-described blood vessel path determination stage and reduce noise interference, the distance between the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 in one direction is 30 millimeters or less, and the distance in another direction perpendicular to this direction is also 30 millimeters or less. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the attenuation of the intensity of the pulse pressure due to the long transmission distance or the reception of noise interference, and the reduction of the measurement accuracy.

[0027] In some embodiments, in the above-described blood vessel path determination stage, each of the plurality of pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 presses the measurement target site simultaneously, thereby generating a pulse pressure with a relatively high intensity, and thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the pulse pressure measuring device 1.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the pulse pressure measuring device 1 is attached to the measurement target site, the processing unit 100 defines a plurality of virtual lines A1, A2, A3 based on a built-in database or user settings, and the virtual lines A1, A2, A3 and the blood vessel path BL The intersection points P1, P2, P3 may be points corresponding to a plurality of pulse wave sources in the measurement target site respectively. In some embodiments, the measurement target site is the wrist, and the virtual lines A1, A2, A3 are three parallel lines spaced 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm apart from each other corresponding to three pulse wave sources of the wrist, but are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the measurement target site is another part of the human body, the number of virtual lines is not limited to three, and the distance between the plurality of virtual lines is not limited. In the pulse wave measurement stage of the pulse pressure measuring device 1, the processing unit 100 determines which pressing member and the corresponding pressure sensor should perform pulse wave measurement on a specific pulse wave source based on the positions of the pressing members 11, 12, 13, 14 and the positions of the points P1, P2, P3.

[0029] In one embodiment, the processing unit 100 performs pulse wave measurement on the pulse wave source corresponding to point P3 with the pressing member 12 and the pressure sensor 22 to obtain the upper pulse wave diagram in FIG. 5, and its amplitude is I0. Further, the processing unit 100 multiplies I0 by the multiple C2 to obtain the true amplitude of the pulse wave generated by the pulse wave source. Here, the multiple C2 is the square root of the ratio of the shortest distance between the pressing member 12 and the blood vessel path BL to the multiple C1.

[0030] In other embodiments where pulse wave measurement is performed with different pressing members and pressure sensors, based on the measured amplitude, the true amplitude can be obtained in a method similar to the above-described method. For example, when the processing unit 100 selects the pressing member 14 and the pressure sensor 24 and performs pulse wave measurement on the pulse wave source corresponding to point P2 to obtain the pulse wave diagram with the upper amplitude I0 in FIG. 5, the processing unit 100 may multiply I0 by the multiple C2 to obtain the true amplitude of the pulse wave generated by the pulse wave source. Here, the multiple C2 is the square root of the ratio of the shortest distance between the pressing member 14 and the blood vessel path BL to the multiple C1, and other cases can be analogized accordingly.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, in some embodiments, the pulse pressure measurement device 1 may include two pressing members PE1, two pressing members PE2, and two pressing members PE3, and the six pressing members PE1, PE2, and PE3 described above may be arranged offset as shown in FIG. 6A or arranged in alignment as shown in FIG. 6B. By arranging a relatively large number of pressure sensors, the measurement accuracy of the pulse pressure measurement device 1 can be improved. In the pulse wave measurement stage of the pulse pressure measurement device 1, the paired two pressing members PE1, the paired two pressing members PE2, or the paired two pressing members PE3 may execute the pressing process simultaneously with the same pressure value.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, in some embodiments, the pulse pressure measuring device 1 may include nine pressing members PE, and the nine pressing members PE described above may be arranged irregularly as shown in FIG. 7A, arranged in alignment as shown in FIG. 7B, or arranged in a shifted regular pattern as shown in FIG. 7C. In the pulse wave measurement stage of the pulse pressure measuring device 1, the plurality of pressing members PE may perform the pressing process simultaneously with the same pressure value.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the pulse pressure measuring device 1 may include a base 10P, and the plurality of pressing members PE of the pulse pressure measuring device 1 are arranged on the curved surface of the base 10P. The pulse pressure measuring device 1 may further include a display screen 10D to display pulse pressure data.

[0034] In summary, the pulse pressure measuring device provided by the embodiments of the present invention acquires a blood vessel path using a plurality of pressing members and a plurality of pressure sensors. Compared with a conventional pulse pressure measuring device that does not determine the blood vessel path, the pulse pressure measuring device provided by the embodiments of the present invention can measure the pulse wave of the measurement target site more accurately.

Industrial Applicability

[0035] The pulse pressure measuring device provided by the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to medical diagnosis.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 1: Pulse pressure measuring device 10, 10P: Base 10D: Display screen 11, 12, 13, 14, PE, PE1, PE2, PE3: Pressing members 21, 22, 23, 24: Pressure sensors 30: Fixing member 100: Processing unit A1, A2, A3: Virtual lines BI: Banded section BL: Blood vessel path BS: Reference line G 123 (x,y), G124 (x, y), G 134 (x, y), G 234 (x, y): Load coordinates G5(x, y): Center of gravity coordinates I0: Amplitude L1 to L6: Straight lines P1, P2, P3: Points R1, R2, R3, R4: Virtual circles L 13 , L 31 , L 24 , L 42 : Common internal tangent

Claims

1. With the base, The number of the at least four, each of which has a position coordinate P ｉ A plurality of pressing members, each having i=1, 2, 3, . . . The pressure sensor 100 is arranged to measure the pressure on each of the plurality of pressing members, and thereby to determine the position coordinates P ｉ Pressure measurement value I (i = 1, 2, 3...) ｉ A plurality of pressure sensors generating (i=1, 2, 3...) a processing unit connected to the plurality of pressing members and the plurality of pressure sensors; Including, In the blood vessel path determination step, the processing unit ｉ (i=1, 2, 3, . . .) and the corresponding three pressure measurement values ​​I ｉ , I ｊ , I ｋ (i, j, k = 1, 2, 3, ... and i ≠ j ≠ k) are used to calculate multiple weighted coordinates G ｉｊｋ where: [0030] and The processing units each calculate the weighted coordinates G ｉｊｋ A plurality of linear equations passing through the weighted coordinates G are defined, and the weighted coordinates G are calculated based on the weighted coordinates G. ｉｊｋ and determining a blood vessel path of the measurement target portion based on the center of gravity coordinates of the measurement target portion. Pulse pressure measuring device.

2. In the blood vessel path determination step, each of the plurality of pressing members simultaneously presses the measurement target site.

2. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 1.

3. The spacing between the plurality of pressing members in a first direction and the spacing between the plurality of pressing members in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction are 30 millimeters or less.

2. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 1.

4. the belt-shaped section is defined by a plurality of linear equations having a slope rate within a range of ±0.5 with respect to a reference line among the plurality of linear equations, and the blood vessel path of the measurement target site corresponds to the belt-shaped section; 2. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 1.

5. The weighted coordinates G ｉｊｋ and determining the blood vessel path of the measurement target portion based on the center of gravity coordinates of the plurality of linear equations that define the strip section, and an average slope rate of the plurality of slope rates of the plurality of linear equations that define the strip section.

5. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 4.

6. With the base, The number of the at least four is at least four, and each of the at least four has a position coordinate P ｉ A plurality of pressing members, each having i=1, 2, 3, . . . By measuring the pressure on each of the pressing members, the position coordinates P ｉ Pressure measurement value I (i = 1, 2, 3...) ｉ A plurality of pressure sensors generating (i=1, 2, 3...) a processing unit connected to the plurality of pressing members and the plurality of pressure sensors; Including, In the blood vessel path determination step, the processing unit defines a plurality of virtual circles, where each of the plurality of virtual circles is defined by the plurality of position coordinates P ｉ (i=1, 2, 3, . . .) are the centers of the circles, and the pressure measurement values ​​I ｉ The radius is the inverse square root of (i=1, 2, 3...), and The processing unit further defines a plurality of common inscribing lines between the plurality of virtual circles, shrinks or expands the plurality of virtual circles at the same ratio until at least two of the common inscribing lines overlap with each other, and defines a blood vessel path of the measurement target site based on the plurality of common inscribing lines that overlap with each other. Pulse pressure measuring device.

7. The plurality of overlapping common inscribing lines defining the vascular pathway of the measurement target site are located at least four of the position coordinates P ｉ (i = 1, 2, 3...) 7. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 6.

8. The plurality of overlapping common inscribed lines defining the vascular path correspond to different pulse wave sources.

7. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 6.

9. In the blood vessel path determination step, each of the plurality of pressing members simultaneously presses the measurement target site.

7. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 6.

10. The spacing between the plurality of pressing members in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is 30 millimeters or less.

7. The pulse pressure measuring device according to claim 6.

Images