Blood pressure monitor with sound detection function and blood pressure measurement method

Abstract

Blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function, comprising: a blood pressure measuring unit configured to measure a blood pressure of a subject; a sound detection unit configured to detect a body sound of the subject during blood pressure measurement by the blood pressure measurement unit; and a recording unit configured to record the blood pressure measured by the blood pressure measuring unit and the structure-borne sound detected by the sound detecting unit in association with each other by time information, wherein the sound detection unit includes a microphone configured to detect sound, and the microphone is configured to detect the structure-borne sound that includes at least one of snoring, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, sleep talking, and teeth grinding from a patient's mouth and affects a blood pressure value to be measured, and wherein the blood pressure measurement unit is configured to perform a plurality of blood pressure measurements at time intervals in a blood pressure measurement mode, and is configured to start recording the body sound by the microphone before starting each of the blood pressure measurements when measuring the blood pressure in the blood pressure measurement mode.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a blood pressure monitor having a sound detection function and a blood pressure measurement method for measuring blood pressure together with detecting a structure-borne sound emitted by a person. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Traditionally, physical information used in diagnosis is obtained using various measuring devices. For example, blood pressure is measured by wrapping a sphygmomanometer around the subject's upper arm. In addition, a miniaturized wrist-type sphygmomanometer is used for attachment to the wrist (forearm).

[0003] Interest in obstructive sleep apnea (OSP) has increased, and blood pressure measurements are being performed during sleep. For example, a blood pressure monitor capable of measuring 24 hours, including sleep hours, has been proposed (see PCT application WO 2012 / 18029 A1). SUMMARY

[0004] The blood pressure value measured during sleep by the aforementioned blood pressure monitor, which is capable of measuring for a longer period of time, may be affected in its accuracy since there is a tendency for such a reading to be higher than the actual blood pressure value if the person snores or coughs during the measurements.

[0005] Even if the measured blood pressure value shows an abnormality, it cannot be properly determined whether this abnormality is due to diseases, etc., of the subject or to snoring or coughing unless the person making the diagnosis or measuring the blood pressure is present at that time.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function and a blood pressure measurement method which enable blood pressure information measured during a blood pressure measurement period and body sounds of the sleeper during the blood pressure measurement period to be recorded in temporal linkage with each other.

[0007] To achieve the above object, a blood pressure meter with a sound detection function according to the first aspect includes a blood pressure measuring unit for measuring a blood pressure of a subject, a sound detection unit for detecting a body sound of the subject during blood pressure measurement by the blood pressure measuring unit, and a recording unit configured to record the blood pressure measured by the blood pressure measuring unit and the body sound detected by the sound detection unit in association with each other by time information.

[0008] The sound detection unit of the blood pressure monitor having a sound detection function according to the second aspect includes a microphone configured to detect sounds, and the microphone is configured to detect the body sound including at least one of snoring, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, sleep talking, and teeth grinding from the subject's mouth and affecting a blood pressure value to be measured.

[0009] The blood pressure measuring unit of the blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function according to the third aspect includes a cuff configured to be attached to the subject, and the microphone is configured to be rotatably attached or mounted on the cuff via a rotary adjustment mechanism.

[0010] The blood pressure measurement unit of the blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function according to the fourth aspect includes a blood pressure measurement mode for performing a plurality of blood pressure measurements at intervals of time, and is configured to start recording the body sound by the microphone before a start of each of the blood pressure measurements when measuring blood pressure in the blood pressure measurement mode.

[0011] The blood pressure monitor having a sound detection function according to the fifth aspect further includes a cuff integrated with the blood pressure monitor, and the microphone is attached to the blood pressure monitor or the integrally configured cuff so as to be directed toward the mouth of the subject when the blood pressure monitor is attached to an upper arm of the subject.

[0012] A blood pressure measurement method using a sound detection function according to the sixth aspect includes a blood pressure measurement step for measuring a blood pressure of a subject, a sound detection step for detecting a body sound of the subject during blood pressure measurement, and a recording step for recording the body sound detected in the sound detection step and the blood pressure measured in the blood pressure measurement step in association with each other by time.

[0013] According to the first and sixth aspects, the factor for increasing the measured blood pressure value can be determined by comparing the chronological blood pressure measurement result with a check for the presence or absence of snoring, etc. Confirmation of other body sounds generated during blood pressure measurement can also be a basis for diagnosis.

[0014] According to the second aspect, the factor for increasing the measured blood pressure value can be determined by checking the recorded body noise such as snoring or the like.

[0015] According to the third aspect, the directivity of the microphone can be adjusted to the subject's mouth.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect, power consumption can be reduced because multiple blood pressure measurements are taken at specific intervals during sleep, and blood pressure measurements can be taken over a longer period of time. Furthermore, it is possible to perform consecutive blood pressure measurements.

[0017] According to the fifth aspect, which adopts a cuff-integrated upper arm blood pressure monitor, there is no cable or tube connecting the cuff and the main body of the blood pressure monitor, so there is no restriction of body movement such as the subject turning over during sleep, and there is no need to worry about the deviation of the directivity of the microphone when the cuff deviates from the measurement site of the upper arm during sleep.

[0018] According to the sixth aspect, the factor for the increase in the measured blood pressure value can be specified by displaying a chronological blood pressure measurement result along with checking for the presence or absence of snoring or the like. Confirmation of other body sounds generated during blood pressure measurement can also serve as a basis for diagnosis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an upper arm blood pressure monitor equipped with a sound detection unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the position of a microphone when a cuff is attached to the subject. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing timing of blood pressure measurement and body sound detection in a night measurement mode. Fig. Figure 4 is a graph showing a snoring level for a measured blood pressure value. Fig. Figure 5 is a flowchart explaining a blood pressure measurement method. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wrist-type blood pressure monitor equipped with a sound detection unit according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the figures. [First embodiment]

[0020] The blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained below.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the upper arm blood pressure monitor (upper arm type blood pressure monitor) provided with the sound detection unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the position of a microphone when the cuff is attached to the object.

[0022] The upper arm blood pressure monitor (blood pressure monitor) 1 of the present embodiment configures a blood pressure measurement unit by including a cuff 11 for applying pressure to the subject's blood vessels, an air pump 12 for supplying gas (air), a valve 13 for supplying air from the air pump 12 to the cuff 11 and discharging air from the cuff 11 to the outside, a pressure sensor 14 for measuring the internal pressure of the cuff and the blood pressure, and a controller (CPU) 15 for controlling the entire device to perform blood pressure measurements.

[0023] The blood pressure monitor 1 further includes a display 16 for displaying the acquired blood pressure information or operational matters, etc., an operation unit 17 with operation buttons or touch panels, etc., for measurement settings and various inputs, a power source 18 with rechargeable batteries or primary batteries, etc., a memory 24 for storing blood pressure information in association with time information, and a communication unit 25 for communicating with an external device (not shown) and outputting blood pressure information. Furthermore, the blood pressure monitor 1 includes a directional microphone 19 as the sound detection unit, a timer 20 for timing and / or setting.For combining the blood pressure information described below into sound information, a sound processor 21 for processing a sound signal generated by the microphone 19, a small storage medium 23 such as a removable SD memory card, etc., a recording unit 22 for recording blood pressure information, etc., on the storage medium 23, a mode selection unit 26 for selecting one of a predetermined plurality of measurement modes or for selecting a measurement interval or a measurement time to set a measurement mode, and a sleep state determination unit 27 for determining a sleep state of the subject. The blood pressure measurement technique and the configuration, etc., of the air pump 12, the valve 13, the pressure sensor 14, and the cuff 11 of the present embodiment are widely known. The timer 20 can utilize the clock function integrated in the blood pressure monitor 1.

[0024] The measurement modes that can be selected using the mode selection unit 26 of the blood pressure monitor 1 include a continuous measurement mode that measures continuously between start and stop operations, a time setting mode for a measurer such as a nurse or the like or the subject to set the measurement time, and a night measurement mode for taking multiple measurements at arbitrary time intervals during sleep. This night measurement mode can reduce the power consumption of the power source and enables measurements over long periods of time.

[0025] The Timer 20 includes the clock function and a time stamp function for setting the measurement times or timings and for assigning or linking the period or time to or with the measured blood pressure information.

[0026] The microphone 19 is preferably small and lightweight and of a unidirectional configuration, picking up sound in only one direction without picking up ambient noise. The microphone 19 is arranged on the outer surface side of the cuff 11 and is mounted so that it can be rotated in the horizontal direction (direction parallel to the cuff surface) by a rotary adjustment mechanism 19a. As shown in Fig. 2, the directivity of the microphone 19 toward the subject's mouth can be adjusted by the rotation or rotary adjustment mechanism 19a when the cuff 11 is attached to the subject's upper arm.

[0027] The microphone 19 of the present embodiment detects a body sound of the subject, and the body sound is or are at least one of snoring, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, sleep talking, and teeth grinding, etc., generated from the mouth and does not cause beating sounds or pulse sounds; and, in particular, it is important that it is or are sounds that affect blood pressure values ​​in blood pressure measurements.

[0028] A sound processor 21 performs filtering or the like to extract the above-mentioned body sounds from the sound signals generated by the microphone 19. This means that it performs sound processing to remove sounds generated in the fabric or environment input to the microphone 19 (i.e., external noise). Furthermore, overlapping snores that have an apparently different sound level or repeat at a different interval are determined as snoring by another person and treated in the same way as noise. Because the sound generation source is indicated when analyzing the measured blood pressure data, the physician can understand the factor of blood pressure change and easily decide on the treatment plan.

[0029] Furthermore, the time information output by the timer 20 is assigned during the processing of the structure-borne sound. The controller 15 assigns the measured blood pressure value and the structure-borne sound to the time information by the timer 20 and stores them sequentially for each measurement in a memory 24.

[0030] The recording unit 22 records the blood pressure information read from the memory 24 on a storage medium 23, which is, for example, a rewritable small non-volatile storage medium such as a micro SD memory card, etc. The storage medium 23 is inserted into a slot of a computer, which is the external device, so that the blood pressure information is read and used for diagnosis by the physician. Furthermore, the blood pressure information can be transmitted by communication via a wireless LAN network, etc., through the communication unit 25 described below.

[0031] The communication unit 25 can send / receive information with the external device via wireless communication. For example, the radio wave reception intensity (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) method used in PHS or Bluetooth (registered trademark), the Cell ID method, the GPS method, or the CDMA method, or the radio wave arrival time difference (TDOA: Time Difference of Arrival) method used in Wi-Fi terminals can be used as the communication method. In addition to wireless means, methods such as optical communication and wired communication are also possible.

[0032] The sleep state determination unit 27 may use a well-known sleep measuring device and determines, for example, whether the subject is in a sleep state and is in deep sleep (non-REM sleep) or not, based on the movement of the subject's body using an acceleration sensor or the like. When the microphone 19 is used, if the sound picked up by the microphone 19 is snoring, it can be determined that the subject is in a sleep state. Furthermore, it is also possible to measure the heart rate to determine whether the subject is in a sleep state or not.

[0033] The time or timing of the blood pressure measurement and the time of a structure-borne sound recording is determined with reference to Fig. 3 explained.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the recording of a structure-borne sound takes place while the subject is asleep. Fig. 3 shows a time of blood pressure measurement and body sound recording in night measurement mode.

[0035] This night measurement mode performs multiple blood pressure measurements by repeating the blood pressure measurement for a predetermined measurement period Ta at regular intervals Tc. Although continuous blood pressure measurement is possible, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the battery, which is a power source 8, and enable blood pressure measurement over long periods in night mode with respect to continuous blood pressure measurement. As mentioned above, the blood pressure measurement for the blood pressure measurement period Ta is repeated at time intervals Tc.

[0036] The structure-borne sound recording does not have to be continuous, since importance is attached to whether or not a structure-borne sound is generated during a blood pressure measurement, and thus a recording period Tb of the structure-borne sound recording can be set in conjunction with the blood pressure measurement period Ta. According to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, a recording start time t1 is set a few minutes before a start time t2 of the blood pressure measurement period.

[0037] More specifically, the night measurement mode handles the selection of two other measurement modes, namely setting a measurement time interval and setting measurement times. In other words, it is possible to control the measurement to be performed at fixed intervals or at specific times such as 9:00 PM, 10:00 PM, etc. For setting the measurement interval, one of the intervals of 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes or 1 hour or any combination thereof can be selected. Furthermore, for setting times, the measurement time can be set to every 30 minutes, 1 hour...; for example, if the measurement time is every hour, the times can be set to 9:00 PM as the start time and 10:00 PM, .... 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM as the end time. For example, in Fig. 4, the measurement time is set to every 30 minutes. Furthermore, the blood pressure measurement period is selected from the range of 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. For example, the recording time of the body sound is set 5 minutes before a blood pressure measurement period, and the recording time of the body sound is set 5 minutes longer than a blood pressure measurement period, such as 15 minutes, 20 minutes, etc. This is, of course, not limited to 5 minutes, etc., and can be adjusted accordingly depending on the ambient temperature or the condition of the subject.

[0038] This setting makes it possible to determine the source, intensity, and rhythm of the sound by starting the recording of the structure-borne sound shortly before the blood pressure measurement. Furthermore, the recording end time t3 can be set to the same time as the end time of the blood pressure measurement. By intermittently performing the structure-borne sound recording, the amount of data processing in the controller 15 and the amount of data to be stored in the memory 24 can be reduced.

[0039] In this example, the recording time of the structure-borne sound is defined by the settling time, so that the blood pressure measurement and the structure-borne sound recording are performed regardless of the presence or absence of structure-borne sound generation. In this context, the so-called retroactive recording technique is known, in which retained data is recorded retroactively from the sound generation time in response to the detection of a sound event. By combining this retroactive recording with the aforementioned intermittent structure-borne sound recording times, the amount of data to be stored can be reduced, since the information from the blood pressure measurement period without structure-borne sound generation can be omitted.

[0040] Below, the blood pressure value and snoring level are discussed in the light of Fig. 4 explained.

[0041] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, there is a difference of approximately 20 to 60 (mmHg) between the minimum (hmin) and maximum (hmax) blood pressure values, depending on whether snoring occurs or not. It is generally known that the generation of structure-borne noise such as snoring tends to increase blood pressure.

[0042] When using the Fig. Therefore, based on the blood pressure measurement shown in Figure 4, the reason for the increase in blood pressure can be determined by checking for the presence or absence of snoring in the part that indicates a specifically high blood pressure reading. Confirmation of other body sounds produced during blood pressure measurement can also serve as a basis for diagnosis. This allows the strength of the influence of body sounds to be confirmed and used in treatment.

[0043] Below, a flow chart is used to Fig. 5 explains the process of blood pressure measurement.

[0044] The night measurement mode is selected by the mode selection unit 26 of the blood pressure monitor 1, and the selection and setting of the aforementioned further measurement mode is carried out (step S1).

[0045] Subsequently, the cuff 11 is attached to the subject's upper arm before going to bed (step S2) and the position of the microphone 19 is checked. As in Fig. 2, the rotary adjustment mechanism 19a is adjusted so that the directivity of the microphone 19 is aligned with the subject's mouth (step S3).

[0046] Blood pressure measurement in night mode starts when the patient falls asleep (step S4). This blood pressure measurement can start when the patient falls asleep or can start using the aforementioned sleep mode determination unit 27.

[0047] Periodic blood pressure measurement and body sound recording are performed in the night measurement mode, and the recorded blood pressure information and body sound information are sequentially stored in the memory 24 in association with the time information of the timer 20 (step S5).

[0048] When the end time set by the measuring device or the subject, e.g., 7:00 a.m., is reached, the blood pressure measurement ends (step S6). At the end of the measurement, all blood pressure information stored in the memory 24 at any given time is transferred to the recording unit 22 and stored on the storage medium 23 (step S7).

[0049] The storage medium 23 is removed by a nurse etc. and handed over to the doctor for diagnosis.

[0050] The description is based on the configuration example in which the upper arm blood pressure monitor in the embodiment consists of the cuff 11 and the blood pressure monitor main body 1, which are separated and connected by a cable, etc.; however, the cuff 11 and the blood pressure monitor main body 1 may be integrated, similar to the wrist blood pressure monitor described below. The sound detection unit configured with the aforementioned microphone 19, the sound processor 21, and the recording unit 22, and other configurations may be arranged in the main body of the cuff-integrated upper arm blood pressure monitor. The microphone 19 can be mounted either on the side of the blood pressure monitor main body 1 or on the side of the cuff 11 because it has an integrated structure.In this case, the microphone 19 is arranged so that the directional effect is directed towards the mouth of the subject when the blood pressure monitor is attached to the upper arm in a similar way to the aforementioned cuff 11.

[0051] According to the cuff-integrated upper arm blood pressure monitor, there is no cable or tube connecting the cuff 11 and the blood pressure monitor main body 1, so there is no restriction on body movement such as the subject turning over during sleep, and no need to worry about the directivity of the microphone 19 when the cuff 11 deviates from the measurement point of the upper arm during sleep.

[0052] As can be seen from the above, in the present embodiment, the factor for increasing the measured blood pressure value can be indicated by displaying the chronological result of the blood pressure measurement along with checking the presence or absence of snoring, etc. Confirmation of other body sounds generated during blood pressure measurement can also be a basis for diagnosis. Power consumption can be reduced because a plurality of blood pressure measurements are taken at arbitrary intervals during sleep and blood pressure measurements can be taken for a longer period of time. However, the present embodiment is not limited to intermittent blood pressure measurements, and continuous blood pressure measurement is possible.

[0053] The generation source, intensity, and rhythm of the sound can be more easily determined by starting the sound recording of snoring, etc., shortly before the start of the blood pressure measurement. By setting the structure-borne sound recording to intermittent recording times according to the blood pressure measurements, the amount of data to be processed in the controller 15 can be reduced, and the amount of data to be stored in the memory 24 can also be reduced. [Second embodiment]

[0054] Hereinafter, the blood pressure monitor with sound detection function according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The aforementioned first embodiment includes an example of providing the sound detection unit for the upper arm blood pressure monitor, and the present embodiment is an example of providing the sound detection unit for the wrist blood pressure monitor (wrist-type blood pressure monitor) for attachment to the wrist. Fig. 6 illustrated configurations of the present embodiment, which correspond to the corresponding ones in Fig. 1 are similar, are designated by the same reference numerals and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0055] The wrist blood pressure monitor (blood pressure monitor) 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the components other than the cuff 11 are housed in a housing. The microphone 19 is arranged in the housing and should be provided on the side facing the subject's mouth when the housing is attached to the wrist. More specifically, when the housing has a rectangular box shape, it is preferable that the microphone 19 be arranged in the side surface facing the shoulder (first side surface) or the upper end of the side surface when the forearm is extended toward the foot side in the sleep state. The first side surface corresponds to the surface of the cuff 11 to which the microphone 19 is attached, as shown in Fig.2. In addition, when the forearm is bent and placed on the stomach during sleep, it is preferable that the microphone 19 be disposed in the side surface of the case facing the waist with the forearm stretched and the back of the hand facing upward. Therefore, in the wrist blood pressure monitor, the two side surfaces connected at one end are suitable for recording. This further adjusts the directivity of the microphone 19 compared to the first embodiment. Note that the position of the microphone 19 is not limited to the inside of the case, and similarly to the first embodiment, the microphone 19 can be attached to the rotary adjustment mechanism 19a provided on the cuff 11, so that the angle of the microphone 19 can be adjusted.

[0056] According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the aforementioned first embodiment, a compact and lightweight configuration can be achieved because the sound detection function is provided in the wrist-type blood pressure monitor. Furthermore, attachment to the wrist is easier than attachment to the upper arm. The function provided by the wrist-type blood pressure monitor, such as a sleep monitor, can be used as a sleep state determination unit 27. By combining the sleep state information with blood pressure values ​​and generating body sounds, it is easier to associate the depth of sleep and body sounds such as snoring, etc., with blood pressure.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in practice without departing from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments can be combined as appropriate; in this case, the combined advantages will be obtained. Moreover, the embodiments described above include various inventions that can be obtained by combining the selected structural elements disclosed herein. For example, if the intended object and advantages are achieved after eliminating some of the structural elements disclosed in the embodiments, the structure consisting of the resulting structural elements can serve as an invention.

Claims

[1] Blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function, comprising: a blood pressure measuring unit configured to measure a blood pressure of a subject; a sound detection unit configured to detect a body sound of the subject during blood pressure measurement by the blood pressure measurement unit; and a recording unit configured to record the blood pressure measured by the blood pressure measuring unit and the structure-borne sound detected by the sound detecting unit in association with each other by time information, wherein the sound detection unit includes a microphone configured to detect sound, and the microphone is configured to detect the structure-borne sound that includes at least one of snoring, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, sleep talking, and teeth grinding from a patient's mouth and affects a blood pressure value to be measured, and wherein the blood pressure measurement unit is configured to perform a plurality of blood pressure measurements at time intervals in a blood pressure measurement mode, and is configured to start recording the body sound by the microphone before starting each of the blood pressure measurements when measuring the blood pressure in the blood pressure measurement mode. [2] A blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function according to claim 1, wherein the blood pressure measuring unit includes a cuff configured to be attached to the subject, and the microphone is configured to be rotatably attached to the cuff via a rotary adjustment mechanism. [3] A blood pressure monitor with a sound detection function according to claim 1, further comprising: a cuff that is integral with the blood pressure monitor, wherein the microphone is provided on the blood pressure monitor or cuff to be directed towards the patient's mouth when the blood pressure monitor is attached to an upper arm of the patient. [4] A blood pressure measurement method using a sound detection function, comprising: a blood pressure measuring step for measuring a blood pressure of a subject; a sound detection step for detecting a body sound of the subject, which includes at least one of snoring, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, sleep talking, and teeth grinding from a mouth of the patient, and influencing a blood pressure value to be measured, wherein the sound detection step is started before a start of the blood pressure measurement; and a recording step for recording the structure-borne sound detected in the sound detecting step and the blood pressure measured in the blood pressure measuring step in association with each other by time information.

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