A human sleep breathing simulation device

Abstract

A human sleep breathing simulation device belongs to the technical field of sleep breathing simulation. The invention comprises an air bag, a trachea, a transfer tube, and a high-pressure air chamber connected in sequence; an air inlet valve and an air release valve are arranged on the transfer tube, and the air inlet valve and the air release valve are electrically connected to a controller. The invention can effectively replace real people to test various sleep sensors, so as to quickly verify the performance of the sensors, and at the same time reduce the labor cost of the test.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of sleep breathing simulation, and in particular to a human sleep breathing simulation device. Background Art

[0002] The breathing conditions of a person during sleep can largely reflect the health status of the person. In particular, some people have severe snoring and apnea during sleep for a long time. If left untreated, it can lead to a variety of chronic diseases or even sudden health crises.

[0003] Currently, various non-contact sleep sensors that are installed under mattresses or on bed frames all analyze sleep conditions by picking up vibration signals from the human body during sleep. This type of sensor requires the human body to lie on the bed to simulate the sleep state during actual testing, which is time-consuming and inefficient. In order to ensure the completeness of the test, different types of people need to be tested, such as those with different weights and whether they snore, which greatly increases labor costs.

[0004] Some existing general medical equipment mainly focuses on the realization of rescue functions, such as inflatable dummies or those with airbags implanted inside. Some require manual blowing to simulate the breathing state during emergency treatment; some can automatically inflate and deflate but lack the control of variable airflow during human breathing. However, there is no device that simulates human breathing during sleep, especially a device that can control snoring and apnea. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art and to provide a human sleep breathing simulation device, which can effectively replace real people to test various sleep sensors, so as to quickly verify the performance of the sensors and reduce the manpower cost of the test.

[0006] The objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A human sleep breathing simulation device comprises an air bag, a trachea, a transfer tube and a high-pressure air chamber which are connected in sequence; the transfer tube is provided with an air inlet valve and an air release valve, and the air inlet valve and the air release valve are electrically connected to a controller.

[0008] The present invention uses an airbag to simulate the human chest cavity and a trachea to simulate the human trachea. According to the actual breathing data of the human body in various states, the controller controls the opening and closing of the air inlet valve and the air release valve, so as to simulate the breathing state of the human body during sleep through the low-frequency vibration generated by the airbag and the trachea during the inflation and deflation process. Working principle: when simulating inhalation, the air inlet valve is opened and the air release valve is closed at the same time, and the high-pressure gas in the high-pressure gas chamber enters the airbag through the transfer tube and the trachea; when simulating exhalation, the air release valve is opened and the air inlet valve is closed at the same time, and the gas in the airbag is discharged from the air release valve through the trachea and the transfer tube under the action of its contraction force. It should be noted that the controller's control of the air inlet valve and the air release valve is not only the control of the opening and closing state, but also the opening and closing time, the opening and closing speed, the size of the valve opening, etc., so as to accurately adjust the inflation and deflation speed and inflation volume of the airbag.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a muscle relaxation simulation mechanism is provided on the trachea, comprising a shell, air ports provided at both ends of the shell, and multiple sets of elastic air blocking members provided on opposite side walls inside the shell. The elastic air blocking members are used to simulate partial airway obstruction caused by relaxation of muscles in the trachea when a person is sleeping, and the vibration generated when a person snores is simulated by the vibration of the elastic air blocking members under the action of airflow.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each group of the elastic air blocking members includes a fixed air blocking member and an adjustable air blocking member. The adjustable air blocking member is used to adjust the degree of airway obstruction, thereby simulating different human sleep breathing states. The specific implementation method of the adjustable air blocking member can be to design the housing to be detachable, and the adjustable air blocking member is installed in the housing through a detachable structure, such as a snap connection, a bolt connection, etc., and the adjustment purpose is achieved by replacing adjustable air blocking members of different specifications.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the height of the adjustable air blocking member is greater than the height of the fixed air blocking member. The structure is more convenient for the adjustable air blocking member with a higher height to vibrate, and also increases the adjustment range of the adjustable air blocking member.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic gas barrier is a silicone gas barrier, and the simulation effect of the silicone gas barrier is closer to the real situation.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a thin film hose is connected between the air pipe and the transfer tube, which effectively prevents the vibration generated by the high-pressure air chamber, the air inlet valve, the air release valve, the transfer tube and other structures from being transmitted to the air pipe, thereby affecting the accuracy of the simulation.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a weighted covering is provided on the outside of the airbag. Although the airbag itself can be designed to have different weights, a weighted covering can be used to achieve the purpose in order to save costs. The weighted covering can be designed in multiple different specifications according to the test needs, so as to cover the outside of the airbag to simulate the chest cavity of a human body of different weights or body shapes, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the test.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight-added covering is a rubber weight-added covering. The elastic rubber weight-added covering is used to avoid affecting the normal expansion and contraction of the airbag.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are linear solenoid valves or servo valves, so as to facilitate automatic control of the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve through various modes of programs in the controller.

[0017] The advantages of the present invention are:

[0018] 1. It can effectively replace real people to test various sleep sensors to quickly verify the performance of the sensors and reduce the labor cost of testing.

[0019] 2. Through the control of the air inlet valve and the air outlet valve, as well as the adjustment of the muscle relaxation simulation mechanism, different sleeping breathing states, such as snoring, apnea, etc., can be accurately simulated to ensure the completeness of the test. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 The figure is a schematic structural diagram of a muscle relaxation simulation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] 1-air bag; 2-trachea; 3-transfer tube; 4-high-pressure air chamber; 5-intake valve; 6-exhaust valve; 7-controller; 8-muscle relaxation simulation mechanism; 81-shell; 82-air port; 831-fixed air blocking part; 832-adjustable air blocking part; 9-film hose; 10-weighted covering. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0024] We know that the human breathing process is the process of gas exchange between the lungs and the outside world, that is, pulmonary ventilation. When the external intercostal muscles and diaphragm contract, the chest cavity expands, the lungs expand, the lung volume increases, and fresh gas from the outside enters the lungs to realize the inhalation process. When the external intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax, the chest cavity shrinks, the lungs retract, the lung volume shrinks, and the gas is discharged from the lungs to realize the exhalation process. Artificial respiration is to use external force to make the patient's chest cavity rhythmically expand and shrink, thereby causing the lungs to passively expand and retract, so that the patient can resume breathing. From the above process, it can be seen that the breathing process is accompanied by the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the chest cavity. This movement is reflected as a low-frequency dynamic force signal or vibration signal. When it acts on the smart bed, the sensor of the smart bed can detect this vibration. Furthermore, the airway of snorers is usually narrower than that of normal people. When they are awake during the day, the compensatory contraction of the throat muscles keeps the airway open and does not cause blockage. However, during sleep at night, nerve excitability decreases, muscles relax, and pharyngeal tissue is blocked, causing the upper airway to collapse. When air flows through the narrow part, eddies are generated and vibrations are caused, resulting in snoring. Snoring causes abnormal high-frequency vibration signals to appear on the human body during sleep, which can be detected by the smart bed sensor. If snoring is severe, breathing can be temporarily stopped, and the low-frequency signals of this external manifestation can also be collected by the sensor.

[0025] According to the above principle, breathing, snoring, apnea, etc. are all physiological phenomena when the air flows through the airway in and out of the lungs during human sleep. Based on this principle, we can use instruments to effectively simulate the human body's sleeping breathing state.

[0026] A human sleep breathing simulation device comprises an air bag 1, a trachea 2, a transfer tube 3 and a high-pressure air chamber 4 which are connected in sequence; the transfer tube 3 is provided with an air intake valve 5 and an air discharge valve 6, and the air intake valve 5 and the air discharge valve 6 are electrically connected to a controller 7.

[0027] The present invention uses an airbag to simulate the human chest cavity and a trachea to simulate the human trachea. According to the actual breathing data of the human body in various states, the controller controls the opening and closing of the air inlet valve and the air outlet valve, so as to simulate the vibration generated by the airbag and the trachea during the inflation and deflation process to simulate the vibration generated by the human body during sleep. Working principle: when simulating inhalation, the air inlet valve is opened and the air outlet valve is closed at the same time, and the high-pressure gas in the high-pressure gas chamber enters the airbag through the transfer tube and the trachea; when simulating exhalation, the air outlet valve is opened and the air inlet valve is closed at the same time, and the gas in the airbag is discharged from the air outlet valve through the trachea and the transfer tube under the action of its contraction force. It should be noted that the controller's control of the air inlet valve and the air outlet valve is not only the control of the opening and closing state, but also the opening and closing time, the opening and closing speed, the size of the valve opening, etc., so as to accurately adjust the inflation and deflation speed and inflation volume of the airbag.

[0028] Specifically, the trachea 2 is provided with a muscle relaxation simulation mechanism 8, which includes a shell 81, air ports 82 provided at both ends of the shell, and multiple sets of elastic air blocking members provided on opposite side walls of the shell 81. The elastic air blocking members are used to simulate partial airway obstruction caused by relaxation of muscles in the trachea when a person is sleeping, and the vibration generated when a person snores is simulated by the vibration of the elastic air blocking members under the action of airflow.

[0029] Wherein, each group of the elastic air-blocking parts includes a fixed air-blocking part 831 and an adjustable air-blocking part 832. The adjustable air-blocking part is used to adjust the degree of obstruction to the airway, so as to simulate different human sleep breathing states. The specific implementation method of the adjustable air-blocking part can be to design the shell to be detachable, and at the same time, the adjustable air-blocking part is installed in the shell through a detachable structure, such as a snap connection, a bolt connection, etc., and the adjustment purpose is achieved by replacing the adjustable air-blocking parts of different specifications. Of course, the fixed air-blocking part can also be designed to be detachable, but its specifications are fixed. The purpose of detachability is to adjust the number of installations, that is, the number of fixed air-blocking parts and adjustable air-blocking parts installed in the shell can be adjusted according to the simulation needs to simulate different tracheal obstruction conditions.

[0030] In addition, the height of the adjustable air barrier 832 is greater than the height of the fixed air barrier 831. The structure is more convenient for the adjustable air barrier with a higher height to vibrate, and also increases the adjustment range of the adjustable air barrier. The elastic air barrier is a silicone air barrier. The simulation effect of the silicone air barrier is closer to the real situation.

[0031] Furthermore, a thin film hose 9 is connected between the air pipe 2 and the transfer tube 3. The thin film hose effectively prevents the vibration generated by the high-pressure air chamber, the air inlet valve, the air release valve, the transfer tube and other structures from being transmitted to the air pipe, thereby affecting the accuracy of the simulation.

[0032] Furthermore, a weighted covering 10 is provided on the outside of the airbag 1. Although the airbag itself can be designed to have different weights, a weighted covering can be used to achieve the purpose in order to save costs. The weighted covering can be designed in multiple different specifications according to the test needs, so as to cover the outside of the airbag to simulate the chest of a human body with different weights or body shapes, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the test. The weighted covering is a rubber weighted covering. The elastic rubber weighted covering is used to avoid affecting the normal expansion and contraction of the airbag.

[0033] Furthermore, the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are linear solenoid valves or servo valves, so that the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve can be automatically controlled by programs of various modes in the controller.

[0034] The following introduces a specific control method of this device:

[0035] 1. Normal breathing process

[0036] The exhalation is finished - the exhaust valve is completely closed - the intake valve opens quickly according to the inhalation law, and then slowly decreases until the inhalation is finished - the intake valve and exhaust valve are completely closed - the exhaust valve is opened quickly, and then slowly decreases until the exhaust is finished - the exhalation is finished

[0037] By controlling the air intake and exhaust valves and adjusting the gas flow-time curve, the air intake and exhaust volume changes in the airbag are consistent with human breathing, and the airbag volume will change accordingly, making it consistent with the volume changes of the chest and back, generating vibrations. This vibration acts on the sensor through the mattress, simulating the vibrations generated by the breathing movement of the human body during sleep.

[0038] 2. Apnea action flow

[0039] Already in normal breathing state - control the intake valve and exhaust valve to quickly shut down according to a certain curve - the shut-down process continues - restore breathing state

[0040] By controlling the air inlet valve and the air outlet valve, the ventilation volume is cut off according to the apnea state, so that the volume of the air bag remains constant, simulating the apnea state, and periodically controlling the apnea cycle according to the actual time and frequency of the apnea.

[0041] 3. Action flow when snoring

[0042] Adjust the number and position of the elastic air-blocking parts in the muscle relaxation simulation mechanism - it is already in a normal breathing state - control the rhythmic changes of the air inlet valve and the air outlet valve to inflate and deflate - generate snoring airflow to act on the airbag to produce vibration.

[0043] The above is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, which is an implementation method based on the overall concept of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A human sleep breathing simulation device, characterized in that: It includes an air bag, an air pipe, a transfer pipe, and a high-pressure air chamber connected in sequence; the transfer pipe is provided with an air inlet valve and an air release valve, and the air inlet valve and the air release valve are electrically connected to a controller; The trachea is provided with a muscle relaxation simulation mechanism, which includes a shell, air ports arranged at both ends of the shell, and multiple groups of elastic air-blocking parts arranged on opposite side walls inside the shell. The vibration generated by human snoring is simulated by the shaking of the elastic air-blocking parts under the action of airflow. Each group of the elastic air-blocking parts includes a fixed air-blocking part and an adjustable air-blocking part. The height of the adjustable air-blocking part is greater than that of the fixed air-blocking part. The adjustable air-blocking part is installed on the inner wall of the shell by buckles or bolts. The adjustable air-blocking parts have different specifications.

2. A human sleep breathing simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic gas barrier is a silica gel gas barrier.

3. A human sleep breathing simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A film hose is connected between the air pipe and the transfer pipe.

4. The human sleep breathing simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A weight-increasing covering is arranged on the outside of the airbag.

5. A human sleep breathing simulation device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The weight-increasing covering is a rubber weight-increasing covering.

6. The human sleep breathing simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air inlet valve and the air outlet valve are linear solenoid valves or servo valves.

Images