Biological information measuring device and biological information processing system

Abstract

To provide a technology related to a wearable sensor which is provided with a plurality of biological information sensors and is easy even for a user who has no technical knowledge to put on / off, and to biological information measurement using the same.SOLUTION: A biological information measurement device used by being worn on an upper arm of a human body includes: a belt part wound around the upper arm; electrocardiography measurement means provided with a plurality of electrodes for detecting an electrocardiographic signal of the human body; pulse wave measurement means provided with a pulse wave sensor for detecting pulse waves of the human body; heartbeat vibration measurement means provided with a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations caused by pulse of the heart of the human body; and an analysis processing part which calculates a pre-ejection period and a pulse wave propagation time of the heart on the basis of time series data of the electrocardiographic signal, time series data of the pulse waves, and time series data of vibrations caused by pulsation of the heart.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of healthcare-related technology, and in particular to the measurement and processing of biological information. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, it has become common to manage health by non-invasively measuring information about an individual's body and health (hereinafter referred to as bioinformation), such as blood pressure and electrocardiogram waveforms, using measuring devices and recording and analyzing the measurement results using an information processing terminal.

[0003] As an example of such a measuring device, a blood pressure measuring device using the so-called oscillometric method is widely used. This type of blood pressure measuring device automatically performs the process of compressing and releasing the upper arm (blood vessels) by contracting the cuff and estimating the blood pressure value by measuring the pressure inside the cuff at that time. It does not require specialized knowledge or skill to operate, and is very convenient for general users to measure blood pressure on a daily basis.

[0004] In recent years, there has been an increasing need to detect diseases early and provide appropriate treatment by constantly wearing a measuring device on the body in daily life and continuously acquiring biological information. However, blood pressure measuring devices using the conventional oscillometric method as described above cannot measure blood pressure continuously. That is, the oscillometric method requires a time-consuming procedure of compressing and releasing the upper arm to measure blood pressure, which makes it difficult to measure blood pressure continuously (for example, for each heartbeat). In addition, since the upper arm is compressed every time blood pressure is measured, performing such measurements constantly in daily life is a heavy burden for the user.

[0005] In response to this, a technology has been proposed for continuously measuring blood pressure by estimating blood pressure based on biological information that can be constantly and non-invasively acquired by a wearable device (for example, Patent Document 1, etc.). Patent Document 1 discloses that a patch-type biosensor including an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, a phonocardiogram (PCG) sensor, etc. is attached to the chest of a human body, and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean blood pressure (MBP) are predicted based on cardiac timing features such as pulse arrival time (PAT) and pulse transit time (PTT) obtained based on biological signals obtained from each sensor, and PPG signal features. Methods for estimating blood pressure values ​​from biomarkers such as PAT and PTT are known, and in particular, when PTT is used, it is possible to eliminate deviations due to the cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP), making it possible to predict blood pressure values ​​with relatively high accuracy. Therefore, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to obtain relatively accurate blood pressure values ​​non-invasively and continuously by simply wearing one sensor device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2020-517322 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the biosensor device in Patent Document 1 is worn on the chest and is not exposed to clothing. In this state, there is a problem that it is difficult to attach the sensor. In addition, when the sensor is attached to the chest by adhesion, if the adhesion is strong, the invasiveness to the skin increases, while if the adhesive strength is weak, there is a risk that the sensor will fall off. In addition, from the viewpoint of acquiring a PPG signal, if the PPG sensor is placed in a position close to the heart, the PAT and PTT become shorter, and the S / N (signal / noise) ratio (robustness) of the data decreases. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of acquiring an accurate ECG signal, the patch must be attached so that the positional relationship between the electrodes as the ECG sensor and the heart is appropriate, and there is a problem that it is difficult for general users without specialized knowledge to attach the sensor device in the appropriate position by themselves.

[0008] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a wearable sensor that has multiple biometric sensors and can be easily and effortlessly attached and removed even by users without specialized knowledge, and a technology related to biometric measurement using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, a biological information measuring device according to the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, the biological information measuring device is used by being worn on the upper arm of a human body, A belt portion that is wrapped around the upper arm; an electrocardiogram measuring means having a plurality of electrodes for detecting an electrocardiogram signal of the human body; a pulse wave measuring means having a pulse wave sensor for detecting a pulse wave of the human body; a heartbeat vibration measuring means including a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations caused by the pulsation of the human heart; an analysis processing unit that calculates a pre-ejection time and a pulse wave transit time of the heart based on the time series data of the electrocardiogram signal, the time series data of the pulse wave, and the time series data of vibration caused by the pulsation of the heart; The present invention is characterized by having the following.

[0010] In the above, the "vibration caused by the heart's pulsation" can be detected as, for example, heart sounds or ballistocardiograms, and a phonocardiogram and ballistocardiogram (BCG) can be obtained from the time series data. The "pre-ejection time" is the time from when an electrical signal related to the heart's pulsation is detected to when the heart actually starts pulsating (when blood is ejected). The "pulse wave propagation time" is the time required for a pulse wave to propagate between two different points in a blood vessel.

[0011] In addition, in this specification, information (including signals; the same applies below) relating to electrocardiogram waveforms (electrocardiograms) may be referred to as ECG data, information relating to pulse wave waveforms as pulse wave data (particularly in the case of photoplethysmograms as PPG data), information relating to phonocardiograms as PCG data, and information relating to ballistocardiograms as BCG data, etc.

[0012] With the above configuration, it is possible to detect the electrocardiogram signal, the pulse wave, and the vibration caused by the heartbeat, and calculate the pre-ejection period and the pulse wave transit time with a single device worn on the upper arm. In addition, since it can be worn on the upper arm using a belt, even a user without specialized knowledge can easily put it on and take it off without any burden.

[0013] The biological information measuring device may further include a first blood pressure measuring unit that calculates a blood pressure value of the human body based on the pulse wave transit time calculated by the analysis processing unit. Since the pulse wave transit time can be continuously calculated for each heartbeat, such a configuration makes it possible to continuously measure blood pressure based on the pulse wave transit time.

[0014] The biological information measuring device further includes a pressure cuff, a fluid supplying means for supplying a fluid to the pressure cuff, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the pressure cuff, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the pressure cuff based on an output signal of the pressure sensor. and a second blood pressure measuring unit that calculates the blood pressure value of the human body based on the blood pressure measuring unit. For example, a blood pressure measuring method using a cuff, such as an oscillometric method, has established reliability for its accuracy. Therefore, by having a blood pressure measuring unit using such a measuring method, it is possible to perform blood pressure measurement with high accuracy, and it is also possible to respond to situations where an accurate blood pressure value is required.

[0015] The first blood pressure measurement unit may calibrate a calculation formula for calculating a blood pressure value based on the pulse wave transit time, based on the blood pressure value measured by the second blood pressure measurement unit. This makes it possible to calibrate the blood pressure value calculated from the pulse wave transit time (calibrate the calculation formula) based on a highly accurate blood pressure measurement result, thereby improving the accuracy of the blood pressure value calculated based on the pulse wave transit time.

[0016] Furthermore, the pulse wave sensor may be arranged so as to be located closer to the periphery of the human body than the electrodes when the bioinformation measuring device is attached to the upper arm. When the pulse wave propagation time is calculated from an ECG or PCG (or BCG), the further the detection position of the pulse wave is from the central side of the human body (i.e., closer to the heart), that is, the longer the pulse wave propagation time, the higher the S / N ratio of the data obtained. Therefore, by arranging the pulse sensor closer to the periphery (i.e., farther from the heart) as described above, it is possible to easily calculate an accurate pulse wave propagation time.

[0017] The biometric measuring device may have a housing in which at least the vibration sensor is stored, and the vibration sensor may be stored in the vicinity of an inner wall surface of the housing located farthest from the skin surface of the human body when the biometric measuring device is worn on the upper arm. When vibrations caused by heartbeats transmitted through the human body (arm) shake the device, the amplitude increases the farther the position from the skin surface, so this configuration makes it easier to detect vibrations (waveforms).

[0018] The biological information measuring device may have a plurality of the vibration sensors, and the plurality of vibration sensors may be arranged at intervals from a side closer to the periphery of the human body to a side closer to the center of the human body when the biological information measuring device is attached to the upper arm. With such a configuration, it is possible to remove (reduce) noise components by comparing signals output from a plurality of sensors with different vibration propagation distances.

[0019] Also, the vibration sensor may be mounted on a substrate, and the plurality of vibration sensors may be mounted on different substrates spaced apart from each other. Even if the sensors themselves are arranged separately, if they are integrated with a rigid body such as a substrate, they will acquire the same vibration data (signal), so such a configuration is desirable for removing (reducing) noise components.

[0020] In addition, the bioinformation measuring device may have a plurality of the vibration sensors, and the plurality of vibration sensors may include at least one set that are arranged in opposing positions circumferentially of the upper arm when the bioinformation measuring device is worn on the upper arm.

[0021] In the case of a wearable device that is worn at all times to continuously measure physical information, depending on the posture of the wearer (for example, lying on one's back while sleeping), it is possible that the sensor may be compressed, attenuating vibrations and making it impossible to detect vibrations of an appropriate intensity. In this regard, by arranging multiple vibration sensors in positions facing each other across the arm as described above, it becomes possible for at least one of the sensors to detect vibrations with good accuracy.

[0022] The vibration sensor may be arranged so as to be located near the end of the body closer to the center when the bioinformation measuring device is worn on the upper arm. Since the vibrations detected by the vibration sensor are caused by the pulsation of the heart, it is desirable to arrange the vibration sensor on the center side of the body (i.e., the side closer to the heart) as in the above configuration in order to obtain a good signal.

[0023] Also, at least one of the plurality of electrodes and the vibration sensor may be integrally formed, and the vibration sensor may be disposed on the opposite side of the electrode from the contact surface with the human body. A mechanism for fixing the electrode and a board for acquiring potential information of the electrode are usually disposed on the opposite side of the contact surface of such an electrode, but by providing the vibration sensor integrally with such a mechanism, it is possible to omit a dedicated member (such as a board) for installing the vibration sensor.

[0024] The vibration sensor may be a microphone, and the electrode formed integrally with the vibration sensor may be provided with a sound collection structure. By integrating the amplification function of the electrode and the microphone for the vibration acquired, the S / N ratio of the signal acquired by the vibration sensor can be improved while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0025] The sound pickup structure may be a hollow portion provided so as to penetrate the electrode in the thickness direction. The hollow portion may be filled with a resin having a hardness similar to that of human skin so as to be flush with the contact surface. By acquiring vibrations through a resin having a hardness similar to that of human skin, the efficiency of vibration propagation is improved, and the S / N ratio of the acquired signal can be improved.

[0026] In addition, the resin may be a conductive resin. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress a decrease in contact resistance at the contact surface of the electrode, in which the contact area with the skin is reduced by providing the hollow portion.

[0027] The present invention also provides a sensor device that includes a belt portion, a plurality of electrodes for detecting an electrocardiogram signal of the human body, a pulse wave sensor for detecting a pulse wave of the human body, and a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations caused by the pulsation of the heart of the human body, the sensor device being worn on an upper arm of the human body in use; and an analysis processing unit that calculates the cardiac pre-ejection time and pulse wave propagation time based on time series data of the electrocardiogram signal, time series data of the pulse wave, and time series data of vibrations caused by the pulsation of the human heart.

[0028] The present invention can be achieved by combining the above-described configurations and processes as long as no technical contradiction occurs. Effect of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wearable sensor that has a plurality of biometric sensors and can be easily and effortlessly attached and detached even by a user without specialized knowledge, and a technology for measuring biometric information using the same. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] Fig. 1A is an external perspective view showing an outline of a biological information measuring device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, Fig. 1B is a diagram showing an outline of an inner circumferential surface of a belt part of the biological information measuring device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Diagram 2] Fig. 2A is a schematic front view of the biological information measuring device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement positions of the vibration sensor of the biological information measuring device according to embodiment 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the electrocardiogram waveform obtained from one heartbeat, the waveform of vibration caused by the heartbeat, and the pulse waveform, as well as an index that can be calculated from the difference between each of these reference points. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of blood pressure measurement processing by the biological information measurement device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a biological information measuring device according to a first modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 7]Fig. 7A is a first explanatory diagram of Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 7B is a second explanatory diagram of Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 7C is a third explanatory diagram of Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] Fig. 8A is an external perspective view showing an outline of a biological information measuring device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, Fig. 8B is a diagram showing an outline of an inner circumferential surface of a belt part of the biological information measuring device according to embodiment 2. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement positions of the vibration sensor of the biological information measuring device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a biological information measuring device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process flow for calibrating a blood pressure calculation formula in the biological information measurement device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an outline of a biological information processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a biological information processing system according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] <Embodiment 1> Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, and the like of the components described in the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0032] (Device configuration) 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a biological information measuring device 1 in embodiment 1, with Fig. 1A showing an external perspective view of the biological information measuring device 1 and Fig. 1B showing an outline of the inner peripheral surface of a belt part 20 of the biological information measuring device 1. Fig. 2A shows a schematic front view of the biological information measuring device 1, and Fig. 2B is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of a vibration sensor 15 in the main body of the biological information measuring device 1.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the bioinformation measuring device 1 is generally configured to include a main body 10 including a main body housing 11, a control unit (not shown in Fig. 1), an LED indicator 12, an operation button 13, a pulse wave sensor 14, a vibration sensor 15, etc., a fixing belt 29, an electrode unit including a plurality of electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, and 21f, and a belt unit 20 including a belt loop 22. Each electrode of the electrode unit is electrically connected to the main body 10 via a conductive wire (not shown) arranged inside the belt unit 20, etc., and the user wears the bioinformation measuring device 1 on, for example, the left upper arm using the fixing belt 29 so that each electrode comes into contact with the skin surface. Although not shown, the fixing belt 29 is provided with a hook and loop hook fastener portion, and the fixing belt 29 can be fixed to the upper arm in a ring shape by passing one end of the fixing belt 29 through the belt loop 22 and folding it back to engage the hook and loop fastener.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the biological information measuring device 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the biological information measuring device 1 is configured to include each of the functional units, a control unit 110, an electrode unit 101, a pulse wave sensor unit 102, a vibration sensor unit 103, a timer unit 104, a storage unit 105, a display unit 106, an operation unit 107, a power supply unit 108, and a communication unit 109.

[0035] (Functional configuration) The control unit 110 is a means for controlling the biological information measuring device 1, and is configured to include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. When the control unit 110 receives a user's operation via the operation unit 107, it controls each component of the biological information measuring device 1 to execute various processes such as biological information measurement and information communication according to a predetermined program. The predetermined program is stored in the storage unit 105 described below and is read out from there. The control unit 110 also includes, as functional modules, an electrocardiogram measuring unit 111, a pulse wave measuring unit 112, a heartbeat vibration measuring unit 113, an analysis processing unit 114, and a first blood pressure measuring unit 115. These functional modules will be described later.

[0036] The electrode unit 101 includes six electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, and 21f, and functions as a sensor unit that detects electrocardiographic signals. Specifically, when the biological information measuring device 1 is worn, two electrodes that are positioned opposite each other form a pair, and an electrocardiographic signal is detected based on the potential difference between the paired two electrodes. That is, three types of electrocardiographic signals can be detected simultaneously from three pairs of electrodes.

[0037] The pulse wave sensor unit 102 includes a desired pulse wave sensor 14 and functions as a sensor unit that detects a pulse wave signal. The pulse wave sensor 14 in this embodiment is a reflective photoplethysmographic sensor that is disposed on the underside of the main body housing 11 (i.e., the surface that comes into contact with the skin when worn) as shown in Fig. 1B. The reflective photoplethysmographic sensor irradiates the living body with infrared light, red light, or green light, and detects the light reflected within the living body using a photodiode or the like, thereby being able to detect the blood flow rate (changes in blood vessel volume) that changes with the beating of the heart.

[0038] The vibration sensor unit 103 includes a desired vibration sensor 15, which functions as a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations caused by heartbeats and acquires BCG data. The vibration sensor 15 in this embodiment is, for example, a piezo-resistance type acceleration sensor, and is a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) sensor. 2B, in this embodiment, the vibration sensor 15 is disposed in the vicinity of the inner wall of the upper surface side (i.e., the surface located farthest from the skin surface when worn) inside the main body housing 11. When the device is shaken by vibrations caused by the pulsation of the heart transmitted through the human body (arm), the amplitude becomes larger the farther from the skin surface the device is. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to easily detect the vibration (waveform).

[0039] Each of the sensor sections including the electrode section 101 includes an amplifier section that amplifies the signal output from the sensor, an A / D conversion section that converts an analog signal into a digital signal, a filter circuit that removes noise components, and the like, all of which are not shown in the figure.

[0040] The timer unit 104 has a function of measuring time by referring to an RTC (Real Time Clock) (not shown). For example, the timer unit 104 counts the time when a specific event occurs and outputs the counted time.

[0041] The storage unit 105 includes a main storage device (not shown) such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and stores various information such as application programs and biometric data measured by each measurement unit described below. In addition to the RAM, the storage unit 105 is equipped with a long-term storage medium such as a flash memory, making it possible to store biometric information for a long period of time. There are.

[0042] The display unit 106 is configured to include an LED indicator 12, and notifies the user of the state of the device, the occurrence of a predetermined event, etc., by lighting or blinking the LED indicator 12. The operation unit 107 includes a plurality of operation buttons 13, and has a function of accepting input operations from the user via the operation buttons and causing the control unit 110 to execute processing according to the operation.

[0043] The power supply unit 108 includes a battery (not shown) that supplies the power required to operate the device. The battery may be a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, or a primary battery. In the case of a configuration including a secondary battery, a configuration including a charging terminal and the like may be provided. The communication unit 109 includes an antenna for wireless communication, a wired communication terminal (neither of which are shown), and the like, and has a function of communicating with other devices such as an information processing terminal. Note that the communication unit 109 may also function as a charging terminal.

[0044] The electrocardiogram measurement unit 111 acquires time series data of an electrocardiogram signal from the electrode unit 101, measures the user's electrocardiogram waveform, and stores the ECG data in the storage unit 105. The pulse wave measurement unit 112 acquires time series data of a pulse wave signal from the pulse wave sensor unit 102, measures the user's pulse waveform, and stores the PPG data in the storage unit 105. The heartbeat vibration measurement unit 113 acquires time series data of vibrations caused by the user's heartbeat vibrations from the vibration sensor unit 103, generates a ballistocardiogram, and stores the BCG data in the storage unit 105.

[0045] The analysis processing unit 114 calculates the pre-ejection time (PEP) and pulse wave transit time (PTT) of the user's heart based on the ECG data (time series data of electrocardiogram signals), PPG data (time series data of pulse waves), and BCG data (time series data of vibrations caused by heartbeats) stored in the storage unit 105. Specifically, the analysis processing unit 114 extracts reference points of the heartbeat (e.g., the peak of the R wave for ECG data, the rising point of the pulse wave for PPG data, and the time point of blood ejection for BCG data) from the ECG data, PPG data, and BCG data, respectively, and calculates the difference in time between the reference points to calculate the PEP and PTT.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the electrocardiogram waveform obtained from one heartbeat, the waveform of vibration caused by the heartbeat, the pulse waveform, and the indices (PAT, PEP, PTT) that can be calculated from the difference between each of these reference points. As shown in FIG. 4, the PAT can be obtained by taking the difference (time) between the reference point of the electrocardiogram waveform and the reference point of the pulse waveform. Also, the PEP can be obtained by taking the difference (time) between the reference point of the electrocardiogram waveform and the reference point of the vibration waveform. Then, the PTT can be calculated by subtracting the PEP from the PAT. Note that the PTT can also be obtained by taking the difference (time) between the reference point of the heartbeat vibration waveform and the reference point of the pulse waveform, but the R wave of the electrocardiogram waveform is easy to detect, and by using this as all the reference points, it is possible to easily and accurately obtain each index.

[0047] The first blood pressure measurement unit 115 calculates the user's blood pressure value for each heartbeat based on the PTT acquired by the analysis processing unit 114 and a blood pressure calculation formula previously stored in the storage unit 105. It has long been known that the pulse wave transit time correlates with blood pressure, but such a correlation varies from person to person. Therefore, a relational formula optimized for each user through testing is prepared in advance as a blood pressure calculation formula, and the blood pressure value (e.g., SBP) can be calculated by inputting the PTT value into this formula.

[0048] (Blood pressure measurement process flow) Next, the blood pressure measurement process of the biological information measurement device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flow of the blood pressure measurement process of the biological information measurement device 1 according to this embodiment. 1 is a flowchart showing the process.

[0049] Prior to blood pressure measurement (biometric information acquisition), the user wears the biological information measurement device 1, for example, on the left upper arm using the belt unit 20 so that each electrode of the electrode unit 101 contacts the skin surface. Then, the blood pressure measurement (biometric information acquisition) is started by operating the operation button 13.

[0050] Thereafter, the electrocardiogram measuring unit 111, the pulse wave measuring unit 112, and the heartbeat vibration measuring unit 113 each acquire biological information and store it in the storage unit 105 (S101). Next, the electrocardiogram measuring unit 111 determines which of the three electrode pairs to use, more precisely, which electrode pair's potential difference will be used to obtain ECG data for subsequent processing (S102). At this time, the electrode pair that can acquire the most normal (and clearest) electrocardiogram waveform is selected.

[0051] Next, the analysis processing unit 114 extracts electrocardiogram waveform reference points (S103), pulse waveform reference points (S104), and heartbeat vibration waveform reference points (S105). Based on the extracted reference points, the analysis processing unit 114 calculates the PAT (S106) and the PEP (S107), and calculates the PTT based on the calculated PAT and PEP (S108). Using the calculated PTT, the first blood pressure measurement unit 115 calculates the blood pressure value (S109), and the blood pressure measurement for one beat is completed. The measured blood pressure data is stored in the storage unit 105 as time-series data.

[0052] Next, a process is performed to determine whether a predetermined measurement end condition (for example, the end button has been pressed, there is not enough storage capacity remaining, etc.) is met (S110). If it is determined that the end condition is not met, the process returns to step S101 and the subsequent processes are repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the end condition is met, the blood pressure measurement is ended.

[0053] In addition, if the blood pressure value calculated in step S109 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, it deviates from a predetermined upper or lower limit value) or if the time series data of blood pressure values ​​stored in memory unit 105 satisfies a predetermined condition (such as blood pressure remaining above a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time), the user may be notified by turning on or blinking LED indicator 12.

[0054] As described above, the biological information measuring device 1 according to this embodiment can provide a wearable device that can be easily attached and detached by a user without specialized knowledge and that can calculate a blood pressure value for each heartbeat non-invasively. This allows continuous blood pressure measurement at all times (or for a long period of time) without compromising the quality of the user's daily life, and can be useful for early detection of diseases and their signs.

[0055] (Variation 1) The biological information measuring device 1 according to the above-mentioned embodiment 1 can be modified in various ways. An example of such a modified example is shown in Fig. 6. In the following description of the modified example and other embodiments, the same configurations and processes as those of embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted. Fig. 6 is a schematic front view of a biological information measuring device 3 according to modified example 1. The biological information measuring device 3 according to this modified example has almost the same configuration as the biological information measuring device 1, but differs in that it has multiple vibration sensors.

[0056] The vital information measuring device 3 is configured to include a vibration sensor housing 31 at a position facing the main body housing 11 in the circumferential direction of the belt part 30. A second vibration sensor (not shown) is provided inside the vibration sensor housing 31. The second vibration sensor is electrically connected to the main body part 10 via a conductive part (not shown) in the belt part 30. When the vital information measuring device 3 is worn on the upper arm of a user, the main body housing 11 and the vibration sensor housing 31 are disposed at positions facing each other in the circumferential direction of the upper arm, and the vibration sensor 15 and the second vibration sensor Above The members are arranged in pairs, positioned in opposite directions with their arms between them.

[0057] In the case of a wearable device that is worn at all times to continuously measure physical information, depending on the posture of the wearer (for example, lying on one's back while sleeping), it is possible that the sensor may be compressed, attenuating vibrations and making it impossible to detect vibrations of an appropriate intensity. In this regard, by arranging multiple vibration sensors in positions facing each other across the arm, as in the biological information measuring device 3 of this modified example, it becomes possible for at least one of the sensors to detect good vibrations.

[0058] (Variation 2) Next, other modified examples will be described. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a biological information measuring device 4 according to a second modified example, Fig. 7A is a diagram showing an outline of the inner circumferential surface of the belt part 40 of the biological information measuring device 4, Fig. 7B is a schematic bottom view of the electrode 41 of the biological information measuring device 4, and Fig. 7C is a simplified cross-sectional view explaining the electrode and the vibration sensor 45 of the biological information measuring device 4. Note that the dashed line in Fig. 7C indicates the line of the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 49, and the part above the dashed line is located inside the fixing belt 49.

[0059] In the biological information measuring device 4 according to this modification, the vibration sensor 45 is a microphone, and the electrode 41 is integrally formed with the vibration sensor 45. Then, as shown in Fig. 7A, electrodes 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e, and 41f formed integrally with the vibration sensor 45 are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the belt part 40 of the biological information measuring device 4.

[0060] Next, the structure of electrode 41 according to this modification will be described in more detail. As shown in Fig. 7B and Fig. 7C, electrode 41 of biological information measuring device 4 has a structure in which a substrate 43 and a vibration sensor 45 mounted on the substrate are provided on the surface opposite to the contact surface of the electrode. With such a structure, the substrate for acquiring the potential information of the electrode and the substrate for arranging the vibration sensor can be integrated, and device components can be omitted.

[0061] Moreover, electrode 41 is circular and has a hollow portion penetrating through its center in the thickness direction. The hollow portion serves as a sound collection structure for a microphone serving as vibration sensor 45. In this way, by integrating the electrode and the amplification function for vibration detected by the microphone, it is possible to improve the S / N ratio of the signal acquired by the vibration sensor while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0062] Furthermore, the hollow portion of electrode 41 is filled with conductive resin 42 having a hardness similar to that of human skin so as to be flush with the contact surface of electrode 41 with the skin. By acquiring vibrations through resin having a hardness similar to that of skin, the efficiency of vibration propagation is improved, and the S / N ratio of the acquired signal can be improved. In addition, since the resin is conductive, it is possible to suppress a decrease in contact resistance at the contact surface of the electrode, where the contact area with the skin is reduced by providing the hollow portion.

[0063] <Embodiment 2> Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0064] (Device configuration) 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a vital information measuring device 5 in embodiment 2, with FIG. 8A showing an external perspective view of the vital information measuring device 5 and FIG. 8B showing an outline of the inner peripheral surface of a belt part 60 of the vital information measuring device 5. Also, FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the positions of the vibration sensors 55a and 55b in the main body housing 51 of the vital information measuring device 5. Note that the black parts in FIGS. 8 and 9 The arrow indicates the direction in which the peripheral side is located when the biological information measuring device 5 is worn on the upper arm of a human body. In other words, the side indicated by the arrow is the peripheral side (the side farthest from the heart) when the device is worn.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the biological information measuring device 5 is generally configured to have a main body section 50 and a belt section 60. The main body section 50 includes a main body housing 51, a control section (not shown in Figs. 8 and 9), a liquid crystal display 52, an operation button 53, vibration sensors 55a, 55b, etc. The belt section 60 includes a fixed belt 61, an electrocardiogram electrode section 62 including a plurality of electrodes 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f, a pulse wave electrode section 63 including a plurality of electrodes 63a, 63b, 63c, 63d, a hook and loop fastener (hook section 65), etc. In this embodiment, the electrodes 63a, 63b, 63c, 63d correspond to the pulse wave sensor.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 8B, the electrocardiogram electrode 62 and the pulse wave electrode 63 are arranged so that the pulse wave electrode 63 is located closer to the periphery when the device is worn. When determining the pulse wave propagation time from an ECG or PCG (or BCG), the further the detection position of the pulse wave is from the central part of the human body, that is, the longer the pulse wave propagation time, the higher the S / N ratio of the data obtained. For this reason, by arranging the pulse sensor closer to the periphery as described above, it is possible to easily calculate an accurate pulse wave propagation time.

[0067] The electrodes are electrically connected to the main body 50 via conductive wires (not shown) arranged on the belt 60, and the user wears the bioinformation measuring device 5, for example, on the left upper arm using a fastening belt 61 so that the electrodes come into contact with the skin surface. Although not shown, a hook-and-loop fastener is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fastening belt 61, and the fastening belt of The device can be secured to the upper arm by wrapping it around the upper arm and engaging the hook portion 65 with the loop portion.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 9, the bioinformation measuring device 5 according to this embodiment includes two vibration sensors (vibration sensors 55a and 55b), which are arranged near both ends of the main body 50 in the longitudinal direction. That is, when the device is worn on the upper arm, the sensors are arranged at intervals from the side closer to the user's periphery to the side closer to the center. With this configuration, it is possible to remove (reduce) noise components by comparing signals output from a plurality of sensors with different vibration propagation distances. Also, the vibration sensors 55a and 55b are provided on separate substrates that are spaced apart from each other. Even if the sensors themselves are arranged separately, if they are integrated with a rigid body such as a substrate, the same vibration data (signal) will be acquired, so this configuration is desirable for removing (reducing) noise components.

[0069] (Functional configuration) Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the biological information measuring device 5. As shown in Fig. 10, the biological information measuring device 5 is configured to include the following functional units: a control unit 510, an electrode unit 101, a pulse wave sensor unit 502, a vibration sensor unit 503, a pressure cuff 504, a pump 505, a valve 506, a pressure sensor 507, a timer unit 104, a memory unit 105, a display unit 516, an operation unit 107, a power supply unit 108, and a communication unit 109.

[0070] Among these, the electrode unit 101, timer unit 104, memory unit 105, operation unit 107, power supply unit 108, and communication unit 109 have the same configuration as those of the biological information measuring device 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore their description will be omitted. Also, the display unit 516 is similar in function to the display unit 106 of the biological information measuring device 1, except that in this embodiment, the display unit 516 is provided with a liquid crystal display 52, thereby enabling the display of a variety of information.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 8B, the pulse wave sensor unit 502 in this embodiment includes four electrodes 63a, 63b, 63c, and 63d as a pulse wave sensor. The pulse wave sensor unit 502 detects a pulse wave by passing a current between the electrodes 63a and 63d and detecting the voltage between the electrodes 63b and 63c in a current-carrying state. When the electrodes 63a and 63d are in a current-carrying state, a change in electrical impedance (a change in the volume of the artery) caused by a pulse wave propagating through the artery in contact with the electrodes 63b and 63c can be detected, and thus the pulse wave can be detected.

[0072] The pressure cuff 504, the pump 505, the valve 506, and the pressure sensor 507 are all components used for blood pressure measurement by the oscillometric method, as described later. The pressure cuff 504 is an air bag disposed within the belt unit 60, and air flows in and out of the pressure cuff 504 by opening and closing the pump 505 and the valve 506, which are controlled by a second blood pressure measurement unit 511, described later. The pressure sensor 507 detects the pressure in the pressure cuff 504 and generates an electrical signal representing the pressure. The pressure sensor 507 can be, for example, a piezo-resistance pressure sensor. The pump 505 and the valve 506 are disposed within the main body unit 50.

[0073] The control unit 510 is a means for controlling the biological information measuring device 5, and has a configuration generally similar to that of the biological information measuring device 1 according to the first embodiment. However, it differs in that it includes a second blood pressure measuring unit 511 and a blood pressure calculation formula calibrating unit 512 as functional modules.

[0074] When a predetermined condition is satisfied, second blood pressure measurement unit 511 controls pressure cuff 504 (pump 505, valve 506), executes blood pressure measurement by the oscillometric method based on the output signal of pressure sensor 507, and stores the measurement result in memory unit 105. Here, examples of the predetermined condition include a case where a user's instruction input is received via operation button 53, a case where the blood pressure value measured by first blood pressure measurement unit 115 deviates from the upper or lower limit value for a predetermined period of time, or a case where the fluctuation range within a predetermined period of time is equal to or exceeds a predetermined value.

[0075] When blood pressure measurement is performed by the second blood pressure measurement unit 511 (i.e., by the oscillometric method), the blood pressure calculation formula calibration unit 512 calibrates the blood pressure calculation formula for blood pressure calculation by the first blood pressure measurement unit 115, using the result of the blood pressure measurement stored in the memory unit 105.

[0076] (Flow of blood pressure calculation formula calibration process) Hereinafter, a process flow for calibrating the blood pressure calculation formula of the biological information measuring device 5 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a process flow for calibrating the blood pressure calculation formula in the biological information measuring device 5. As shown in Fig. 11, in measuring blood pressure values ​​by the device, first, similarly to the first embodiment, the first blood pressure measuring unit 115 performs continuous measurement for each heartbeat based on the PTT (S109).

[0077] Thereafter, the control unit 510 performs a process of determining whether or not the blood pressure value measured by the first blood pressure measurement unit 115 satisfies a predetermined condition (S201). The predetermined condition may be, for example, a case where the measured value deviates from an upper or lower limit value for a predetermined period of time, or a case where the fluctuation range of the measured value within a predetermined period of time is equal to or exceeds a predetermined value. Here, if it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the flow is temporarily terminated without calibrating the blood pressure calculation formula.

[0078] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that the predetermined conditions are met, the control unit 510 notifies the user via the liquid crystal display 52 that blood pressure measurement by the oscillometric method will be performed (S202). Note that the notification may be made by voice instead of by display. After notifying the user, the second blood pressure measurement unit 511 controls the pump 505 and the valve 506 to perform blood pressure measurement by the oscillometric method (S203). When the blood pressure measurement by the oscillometric method is completed, the measurement result is stored in the memory unit 105 (S204). Note that at this time, the measurement result may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 52. stomach.

[0079] Then, the blood pressure calculation formula calibration unit 512 calibrates the blood pressure calculation formula based on the blood pressure measurement result stored in the storage unit 105 in step S204, and the updated blood pressure calculation formula is stored in the storage unit 105 (S205), and the series of flows for blood pressure calculation formula calibration is temporarily terminated. Note that after notifying the user in the process of step S202 above, the process may proceed to the process of step S203 after receiving permission from the user (measurement instruction).

[0080] As described above, the biological information measurement device 5 according to this embodiment can realize continuous blood pressure measurement for each heartbeat based on the PTT and highly accurate blood pressure measurement by the oscillometric method with one wearable device. This allows the user to use either simple continuous blood pressure measurement or accurate blood pressure measurement depending on the situation by simply wearing one device. In addition, the blood pressure measurement result by the oscillometric method can be used to calibrate the blood pressure calculation formula based on the PTT, so that high accuracy can be maintained even in the continuous blood pressure measurement for each heartbeat.

[0081] <Embodiment 3> In the above examples, the present invention is applied as a biological information measuring device, and all functions including the storage unit and the display unit are integrated into one biological information measuring device. However, the present invention can also be applied as a biological information processing system in which some of these configurations and functions are separated. An example of such an information processing system is shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. FIG. 12 shows an outline of a biological information processing system 7 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the biological information processing system 7 includes a sensor device 71 that is attached to the upper arm of a user, and an information processing terminal 72 that processes biological information acquired by the sensor device 71. The sensor device 71 is a wearable device that includes a plurality of electrodes (electrocardiogram sensor), a pulse wave sensor, and a vibration sensor (not shown), and is used by being fixed to the upper arm of a user by a belt or the like. The information processing terminal 72 may be any type as long as it can communicate with the sensor device 71. For example, a smartphone can be used as the information processing terminal 72.

[0082] 13 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the sensor device 71 and the information processing terminal 72 of the biological information processing system 7. The sensor device 71 has functional sections of an electrode section 101, a pulse wave sensor section 102, a vibration sensor section 103, a control section 710, a storage section 705, an operation section 107, a power supply section 108, and a communication section 109. The control section 710 also has an electrocardiogram measurement section 111, a pulse wave measurement section 112, and a heartbeat vibration measurement section 113 as its functional modules.

[0083] The sensor device 71 has many similar components to the biological information measuring device 1 of the first embodiment, but is particularly different in that the functional module in the control unit 710 is omitted, and the display unit is omitted. In addition, the storage unit 705 also has only a main storage device such as a RAM or a ROM, and the storage capacity is limited. Therefore, as described later, biological information measured by each sensor unit is transmitted in real time to the information processing terminal 72 via the communication unit 109.

[0084] The information processing terminal 72 communicates with the sensor device 72 via the communication unit 725, and receives the user's biological information measured by the sensor device 71. The communication standard is not particularly limited, but communication can be performed using wireless communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and infrared communication. The hardware configuration of the information processing terminal 72 is the same as that of a smartphone, and for example, a touch panel display serves as both the display unit 722 and the operation unit 726.

[0085] The information received via the communication unit 725 is stored in the storage unit 721. Based on this, an analysis process is performed by the analysis processing unit 723, and a blood pressure measurement process is performed by the blood pressure measurement unit 724. Note that the analysis processing unit 723 and the blood pressure measurement unit 724 have configurations having similar functions to the analysis processing unit 114 and the first blood pressure measurement unit 115 of the biological information measurement device 1, respectively, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

[0086] As seen above, the information processing system 7 of this embodiment is configured such that sensing of biological information is performed by the sensor device 71, and analysis processing of the biological information, blood pressure measurement processing, etc. are performed by the information processing terminal 72. With this configuration, the configuration of the wearable device can be simplified. Also, since it is possible to utilize an already existing information processing terminal as in the above embodiment, the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

[0087] <Other> The above description of each example is merely illustrative of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The present invention can be modified and combined in various ways within the scope of its technical concept. For example, the photoelectric pulse wave sensor employed in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 may be applied to the device of embodiment 2, and the integrated structure of the electrode and the vibration sensor employed in the modified example 2 of embodiment 1 may be implemented. form The present invention may be applied to the device of embodiment 2. In addition, the vibration sensors arranged in two places in embodiment 2 may be arranged only on the central side.

[0088] In addition, in the above examples, each biological information and each index is used to measure the blood pressure value, but the biological information and index itself can be utilized. For example, since it is assumed that the longer the PEP is, the more the heart function is deteriorated, if the PEP exceeds a predetermined value, a warning to that effect may be issued. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1, 3, 4, 5... Biological information measuring device 10, 50... Main body 11, 51 Main body housing 12 LED indicator 13, 53... Operation button 14 Pulse wave sensor 15, 45... Vibration sensor 101...electrode part 102 Pulse wave sensor unit 103 Vibration sensor part 104 Timer section 105, 705, 721...Storage section 106, 516, 722...Display section 107, 726...Operation unit 108...Power supply section 109, 725... Communications Department 110, 510, 710...Control unit 20, 30, 40, 60... Belt section 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, 21f, 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e, 41f, 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f, 63a, 63b, 63c, 63d... Electrode 22 Belt loop 29, 49, 61...Fixed belt 31...Vibration sensor housing 42 Conductive resin 43... Substrate 52 Liquid crystal display 62...ECG electrode section 63 Pulse wave electrode section 65 Hook part 7. Biometric information processing system 71 Sensor device 72 Information processing terminal

Claims

1. A biological information measuring device that is worn on an upper arm of a human body, A belt portion that is wrapped around the upper arm; an electrocardiogram measuring means having a plurality of electrodes for detecting an electrocardiogram signal of the human body; a pulse wave measuring means having a pulse wave sensor for detecting a pulse wave of the human body; a heartbeat vibration measuring means including a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations caused by the pulsation of the human heart; an analysis processing unit that extracts a reference point of a heartbeat from each of the time series data of the electrocardiogram signal, the time series data of the pulse wave, and the time series data of vibration caused by the pulsation of the heart, and calculates a pre-ejection time and a pulse wave transit time of the heart by determining a time difference between the reference points of the heartbeat of each of the extracted time series data; A biological information measuring device comprising:

2. A first blood pressure measuring unit is further provided for calculating a blood pressure value of the human body based on the pulse wave transit time calculated by the analysis processing unit.

2. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

3. The apparatus further includes a pressure cuff, a fluid supplying means for supplying a fluid to the pressure cuff, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the pressure cuff, and a second blood pressure measuring unit for calculating a blood pressure value of the human body based on an output signal of the pressure sensor.

3. The biological information measuring device according to claim 2.

4. The first blood pressure measurement unit calibrates a calculation formula for calculating a blood pressure value based on the pulse wave transit time, based on the blood pressure value measured by the second blood pressure measurement unit.

4. The biological information measuring device according to claim 3.

5. the pulse wave sensor is disposed so as to be located closer to the periphery of the human body than the plurality of electrodes when the biological information measuring device is attached to the upper arm. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

6. The vibration sensor includes a housing in which the vibration sensor is housed. the vibration sensor is stored in the vicinity of an inner wall surface of the housing that is located farthest from a surface of the skin of the human body when the biological information measuring device is worn on the upper arm. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

7. a plurality of the vibration sensors are provided, and the plurality of vibration sensors are arranged at intervals from a side close to the periphery of the human body to a side close to the center of the human body when the biological information measuring device is attached to the upper arm; The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

8. The vibration sensor is mounted on a substrate, and the plurality of vibration sensors are mounted on different substrates spaced apart from each other.

8. The biological information measuring device according to claim 7.

9. The vibration sensor includes a plurality of vibration sensors, and the plurality of vibration sensors include at least one pair of sensors that are arranged at opposing positions in a circumferential direction of the upper arm when the biological information measuring device is worn on the upper arm. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

10. the vibration sensor is disposed so as to be located near an end portion of the human body that is closer to the center of the body when the biological information measuring device is worn on the upper arm. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

11. At least one of the plurality of electrodes and the vibration sensor are integrally formed, The vibration sensor is disposed on a side of the electrode that faces a surface that contacts the human body. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1 .

12. the vibration sensor is a microphone; The electrode formed integrally with the vibration sensor is provided with a sound pickup structure.

12. The biological information measuring device according to claim 11.

13. The sound pickup structure is a hollow portion provided so as to penetrate the electrode in a thickness direction.

13. The biological information measuring device according to claim 12.

14. The hollow portion is filled with a resin having a hardness similar to that of human skin so as to be flush with the contact surface.

14. The biological information measuring device according to claim 13.

15. The resin is a conductive resin.

15. The biological information measuring device according to claim 14.

16. a sensor device including a belt portion, a plurality of electrodes for detecting an electrocardiogram signal of the human body, a pulse wave sensor for detecting a pulse wave of the human body, and a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations caused by the pulsation of the heart of the human body, the sensor device being worn on an upper arm of the human body; an analysis processing unit that extracts a reference point of a heartbeat from each of the time series data of the electrocardiogram signal, the time series data of the pulse wave, and the time series data of vibration caused by the pulsation of the human heart, and calculates a pre-ejection time and a pulse wave transit time of the human heart by determining a time difference between the reference points of the heartbeat of each of the extracted time series data; A biological information processing system comprising:

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