Biological information measurement device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022117329
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-07-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing wearable electrocardiograph devices face limitations in measurement posture and electrode stability, leading to potential instability in contact surfaces and deteriorated electrocardiogram waveform quality, especially when measuring blood pressure simultaneously.
A biological information measuring device with a main body casing that includes a side wall functioning as a first electrode, integrated operation buttons, and a cuff assembly for simultaneous blood pressure and electrocardiogram measurement, ensuring stable contact through the use of a fixing part and suppression of contact state changes during operation.
The device achieves high-quality electrocardiogram waveforms with improved stability and reduced noise by maintaining consistent contact between the electrodes and the user's body, allowing for accurate simultaneous measurement of blood pressure and electrocardiographic waveforms.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a biological information measuring device. [Background technology]
[0002] In recent years, it has become common for individuals to measure their own physical and health information (hereinafter referred to as bioinformation), such as blood pressure values and electrocardiogram waveforms, on a daily basis using measuring devices and to utilize the measurement results for health management. As a result, there is an increasing demand for devices that emphasize portability, and many portable measuring devices have been proposed, including portable devices that can measure bioinformation including electrocardiogram waveforms (see Patent Document 1).
[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technique for providing electrodes around the entire front surface of a housing of a wristwatch-type wearable electrocardiograph, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in contact position.
[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a technique for providing electrodes on a switch in a wristwatch-type wearable electrocardiograph to clarify the contact points. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0072912 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] However, when only a switch is used as an electrode as in Patent Document 2, the user's posture for measurement is limited. In particular, in a device that measures blood pressure simultaneously with an electrocardiogram, the device needs to be adjusted to the height of the heart, so if the position of the electrodes is limited, the user's posture when touching the device may be unnatural depending on the user's body type, etc., and the contact surface between the user's body and the electrodes may not be stable, or the quality of the electrocardiogram waveform may be deteriorated due to the influence of myoelectricity.
[0007] In view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for obtaining an electrocardiogram with good waveform quality. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides A biological information measuring device for measuring a blood pressure and an electrocardiogram waveform of a subject, a blood pressure measurement control unit that controls the measurement of the blood pressure at the measurement site of the subject; A first electrode that contacts a first portion of the subject; A second electrode that contacts a second part of the subject that is different from the first part; an electrocardiogram measurement control unit that controls measurement of an electrocardiogram waveform of the subject through the first electrode and the second electrode; a main body including the blood pressure measurement control unit and the electrocardiogram measurement control unit; an instruction input unit operated by the subject to input instructions; a fixing portion that fixes the main body portion to the measurement site; Equipped with The main body has a housing including a side wall portion that surrounds the entire circumference of the main body from an outer periphery side when a direction facing the measurement site is defined as an axial direction, The first electrode is characterized by including the side wall portion and the instruction input portion.
[0009] In this way, when the subject places a first portion in contact with the side wall portion that constitutes the first electrode in order to measure the electrocardiogram waveform and attempts to operate the operation button using this first portion, the first electrode is formed to include the operation button, so that changes in the contact condition between the subject and the first electrode due to operation of the operation button are suppressed, stabilizing the contact condition and making it possible to obtain an electrocardiogram with good waveform quality. Furthermore, the side wall portion can have any suitable shape, such as a square or a circle, and is not limited to these shapes.
[0010] In the present invention, The instruction input portion may be provided independently of the side wall portion.
[0011] In this way, even if the user operates an instruction input unit provided independently of the side wall when attempting to contact the side wall to measure an electrocardiogram, changes in the contact state between the user's first part and the first electrode are suppressed, and the contact state is stabilized.
[0012] In the present invention, The instruction input portion may be configured to include the side wall portion.
[0013] In this way, when the user attempts to contact the side wall to measure an electrocardiogram, instructions can be input without changing the contact state with the side wall, thereby stabilizing the contact state between the user's first part and the first electrode.
[0014] In the present invention, The side wall portion may have a concave side wall portion that is convex on the inner circumferential side when the direction facing the measurement site is defined as the axial direction.
[0015] In this way, the shape of the concave side wall portion makes it less likely for the user's first part to slip against the concave side wall portion, thereby suppressing changes in the contact state between the user's first part and the first electrode including the concave side wall portion and stabilizing the contact state.
[0016] In the present invention, The surface of the side wall portion may be formed with projections and recesses.
[0017] In this way, the unevenness of the side wall portion makes it less likely for the user's first part to slip against the side wall portion, thereby suppressing changes in the contact state between the user's first part and the first electrode including the side wall portion and stabilizing the contact state.
[0018] In the present invention, The instructions may be instructions for measuring the blood pressure.
[0019] In this way, when the subject places the first part in contact with the side wall portion that constitutes the first electrode in order to measure the electrocardiogram waveform, and attempts to operate the operation button using this first part to input instructions for blood pressure measurement, the first electrode is formed including the operation button, so that when measuring blood pressure and electrocardiogram waveform in parallel, changes in the contact state between the subject and the first electrode due to operation of the operation button can be suppressed, and the contact state can be stabilized. Effect of the Invention
[0020] According to the present invention, a technique for obtaining an electrocardiogram with good waveform quality can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of a biological information measuring device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment when it is worn. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cuff assembly of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5(A) is a diagram for explaining the configuration of each part of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment when it is worn, and FIG. 5(B) is a diagram for explaining in particular the arrangement of the electrodes. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating electrical connections in the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating electrical connections of the housing of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating electrical connections of the switches in the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a measurement posture using the biological information measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating electrical connections of the switches in a biological information measuring device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 12A to 12C are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a housing of a biological information measuring device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a biological information measuring device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023] <Example 1> An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, and the like of the components described in this example are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those alone.
[0024] (Overall configuration of the device) Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are schematic diagrams showing the external configuration of a biological information measuring device 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the biological information measuring device 1 according to this embodiment.
[0025] 1 to 3, the biological information measuring device 1 generally includes a main body 100, a cuff assembly 200, and a belt 400, and can measure blood pressure and electrocardiogram waveforms while worn on the wrist T of a subject. The belt 400 includes a hook-and-loop fastener 411 having a hook. The main body 100 is provided with a belt loop 150 having a circular belt loop for inserting the belt 400. When wearing the biological information measuring device 1, the belt 400 is wrapped around the wrist T and then inserted into the belt loop 150, and the hook-and-loop fastener 411 is attached to an arbitrary position of the belt 400 (where a loop for engaging with the hook is formed) to fix it in place. The biological information measuring device 1 also has an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 300 (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) on which wiring is arranged for electrically connecting the electrocardiogram measuring section 130 of the main body section 100 to the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 of the cuff assembly section 200. Here, the wrist T corresponds to the measurement site of the present invention, and the second electrode 241 corresponds to the second electrode of the present invention. Furthermore, the main body section 100 corresponds to the main body section of the present invention, and the belt section 400, the hook-and-loop fastener 411, and the belt loop section 150 correspond to the fixing section of the present invention.
[0026] 3, the main body 100 includes a housing 101, a power supply unit 110, a display unit 111, an operation unit 112, a blood pressure measurement unit 120, an electrocardiogram measurement unit 130, and a first electrode 140. Here, the first electrode 140 includes operation buttons 1121a and 1122a which constitute the entire circumference of the housing 101 of the main body 100 and the operation unit 112, as described below. Here, the first electrode 140 corresponds to the first electrode of the present invention, and the operation buttons 1121a and 1122a correspond to the instruction input unit of the present invention.
[0027] The power supply unit 110 includes a battery that supplies the power necessary for the operation of the device. The battery may be a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, or a primary battery.
[0028] The display unit 111 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and may include an LED indicator, etc. The operation unit 112 specifically includes operation buttons 1121a and 1122a arranged on a side surface of the housing 101 of the main body 100, independently of the housing 101. The display unit 111 and the operation unit 112 may be integrated into one unit, such as a touch panel display.
[0029] Blood pressure measurement unit 120 is a functional unit that controls cuff assembly unit 200 (described later) and measures the user's blood pressure based on information obtained thereby, and includes control unit 121, calculation unit 122, pump 123, and exhaust valve 124. Control unit 121 and calculation unit 122 are configured, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and may have a storage unit (not shown) configured by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.
[0030] The control unit 121 is a functional unit responsible for controlling the blood pressure measurement unit 120, and controls the cuff pressure of the cuff assembly 200 via the calculation unit 122, pump 123, etc., and acquires information for measuring the user's blood pressure from an artery in the wrist T on which the biological information measurement device 1 is attached. The calculation unit 122 measures the blood pressure value based on the information acquired in this manner. The pump 123 and the exhaust valve 124 are mechanisms for supplying and discharging air to and from the compression cuff 220 and the sensing cuff 230, which will be described later. Here, the blood pressure measurement control unit of the present invention is configured including the control unit 121.
[0031] The electrocardiogram measurement unit 130 is a functional unit that measures the electrocardiogram waveform of the user based on the potential difference between the first electrode 140 and the second electrode 241 in contact with the surface of the human body, and includes a control unit 131 and a calculation unit 132. The control unit 131 and the calculation unit 132 are configured by the above-mentioned CPU, etc. From the viewpoint of hardware, the control unit 131 and the calculation unit 132 may have a common configuration with the control unit 121 and the calculation unit 122 of the blood pressure measurement unit 120. Here, the electrocardiogram measurement control unit of the present invention is configured including the control unit 131.
[0032] In addition, both the blood pressure measurement unit 120 and the electrocardiogram measurement unit 130 include, in addition to the above-mentioned CPU, RAM, etc., an AD conversion circuit, an amplifier, a filter, etc. (not shown), but since these are configured using known technology, their description will be omitted.
[0033] The cuff assembly 200 includes a curler 210, a pressure cuff 220, a sensing cuff 230, a second electrode 241, a third electrode 242, and a back plate 250. The curler 210 is a base member for holding the pressure cuff 220. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal structure of the area of the cuff assembly 200 surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 1. The cuff assembly 200 is configured such that the pressure cuff 220, the back plate 250, and the sensing cuff 230 are layered in this order, with the curler 210 as the outermost layer. In addition, the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 are provided with conductors. The FPC 300 is connected to the control unit 131 of the main body unit 100 (not shown), and therefore functions as wiring that electrically connects the control unit 131 and each electrode.
[0034] Compression cuff 220 tightens wrist T by expanding with air sent from pump 123, and has the role of applying external pressure to an artery (not shown) present in wrist T. Sensing cuff 230 (not shown) is a fluid bag for detecting the pressure applied to the part compressed by compression cuff 220, and measures the pressure applied to the compressed part by detecting the internal pressure of sensing cuff 230 with a small amount of air therein using a pressure gauge (not shown). Back plate 250 (not shown) is a flexible flat member disposed between compression cuff 220 and sensing cuff 230, and suppresses excessive bending of sensing cuff 230 when compression is applied by compression cuff 220, and equalizes the pressure distribution in sensing cuff 230.
[0035] As described below, the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 are arranged near the tip 212a of the second curler part 212, which is shorter in the extension direction of the curler 210. The arrangement of the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 is not limited to this, and they can be arranged at a position where they can come into contact with the body surface of the person to be measured together with the first electrode 140 and detect the electrocardiogram waveform. The second electrode 241 functions as an electrode for measuring the electrocardiogram waveform, and the third electrode 242 functions as a GND (ground) electrode that sets a reference potential.
[0036] (Structure of cuff assembly) The structure of the cuff assembly 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 5(A) showing the state in which the bioinformation measuring device 1 is worn on the wrist T of a user. In this embodiment, the pressure cuff 220 is provided along the extension direction (the direction around the wrist T) of the curler 210 formed in a C-shape. The curler 210 has a first curler part 211 that is longer in the extension direction and a second curler part 212 that is shorter in the extension direction, based on the position where the main body part 100 is provided. The first curler part 211 extends from the main body part 100 located on the back side of the wrist T so as to cover the artery side of the wrist T. On the other hand, the second curler part 212 extends on the opposite side to the first curler part 211 with respect to the circumferential direction of the wrist T. The pressure cuff 220 is provided continuously from the vicinity of the end 211a of the first curler part 211 of the curler 210, along the curler 210, and also along the second curler part 212, but the tip 220b of the pressure cuff 220 in the circumferential direction (extension direction of the second curler part 212) is located away from the tip 212a of the extension direction of the second curler part 212 of the curler 210. The second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 are provided in the vicinity of the tip 212a of the electrode support part 2121 that extends beyond the tip 220b of the pressure cuff 220 of the second curler part 212. FIG. 5(B) is a view of the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 as viewed from the inside of the electrode support part 2121 (the side that contacts the wrist T), and the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction. An insulating separator 260 is disposed between the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 .
[0037] (Electrode configuration of main body) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the electrical connection of the first electrode 140, the switch 1121, and the switch 1122 in the main body 100. A main circuit board 160 on which a CPU and the like constituting the blood pressure measurement unit 120, the electrocardiogram measurement unit 130, and the like of the main body 100 are mounted is housed in the housing 101. In the biological information measurement device 1, in the housing 101 that houses the main body 100, a side wall portion 1011 that surrounds the entire circumference of the main body 100 from the outer periphery side of the circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2) when the direction N (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5(A)) facing the wrist T of the main body 100 of the biological information measurement device 1 worn on the wrist T is set as the axial direction is made of a conductive material, and is electrically connected to the electrocardiogram measurement unit 130 via a conductive electrode connection portion 161, so that the entire circumference of the side wall portion 1011 of the housing 101 functions as the first electrode 140. At this time, a side wall portion 1022 that is continuous with the side wall portion 1022 and surrounds the display unit 111 is made of a conductive material. The frame 1012 may be similarly made of a conductive material, and the first electrode 140 may be configured to include the side wall 1011 and the frame 1012. In addition, an operation button 1121a of the switch 1121 and an operation button 1122a of the switch 1122 constituting the operation unit 112 are arranged on the side wall 1011 of the housing 101. The switches 1121 and 1122 are brought into contact with and separated from the switch board 170 via an insulating material when the user operates the operation buttons 1121a and 1122a. This switch board 170 is electrically connected to the control unit 121 and the like provided on the main circuit board 160, and signals are input by switching the switches 1121 and 1122. The operation buttons 1211a and 1212a are made of a conductive material and electrically connected to the side wall 1011, and the first electrode 140 is configured to include the side wall 1011 and the operation buttons 1211a and 1212a. 1 and 2, the main body 100 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a side wall 1011 surrounding the entire circumference of the main body 100 from the outer periphery in the circumferential direction C when the direction N facing the wrist T of the main body 100 is the axial direction is a square, but it may also be a short cylindrical shape in the axial direction N of the main body 100, in which case the side wall 1011 is circular. The shape of the main body 100 is not limited to these shapes, and the side wall 1011 can also be configured to an appropriate shape depending on the shape of the main body 100.
[0038] 7 is a diagram for explaining a specific configuration of the side wall portion 1011 of the housing 101, the main circuit board 160, and the electrode connection portion 161. Here, a conductive leaf spring 1611 is disposed between the inner surface 1011b of the side wall portion 1011 of the housing 101 and the main circuit board 160. The elastically deformed leaf spring 1611 is pressed against the inner surface 1011b of the side wall portion 1011 and the main circuit board 160 by a restoring force, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the side wall portion 1011 of the housing 101 and the main circuit board 160.
[0039] 8 is a diagram specifically explaining the electrical connection between the switch 1121 (or 1122) and the housing 101. In the following, the switch 1121 will be mainly explained, but the switch 1122 is configured in the same way. The switch 1121 includes an operation button 1121a that functions as a key top, a rod-shaped plunger 1121b extending from the operation button 1121a, a housing 1121c that supports the plunger 1121b, a spring 1121d, a washer 1121e, an O-ring 1121f, a washer 1121g, a tactile switch 1121h, and a switch board 170. Here, the washer 1121g is fitted into a groove provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the plunger 1121b. In addition, two O-rings 1121f that are attached to the outer periphery of the plunger 1121b are arranged on the tip side inside the housing 1121c. In addition, a washer 1121e that supports the tip side of the spring 1121d wound around the outer periphery of the plunger 1121b is arranged on the base end side of the O-ring 1121f. The base end side of the spring 1121d is supported by the operation button 1121a. The housing 1121c is fixed to the switch hole 101a of the case 101. When the user presses the operation button 1121a against the elastic force of the spring 1121d, the plunger 1121b presses the tact switch 1121h. When the user releases the pressing of the operation button 1121a, the operation button 1121a is pushed back by the elastic return of the spring 1121d, and the plunger 1121b moves away from the tact switch 1121h. In this manner, the operation button 1121a and the plunger 1121b reciprocate relative to the housing 1121c. In the biological information measuring device 1, the operation button 1121a, the plunger 1121b, the washer 1121g, and the housing 1121c are made of conductive materials. As a result, the user's finger F touching the operation button 11121a is electrically connected to the side wall 1011 of the housing 101 by the plunger 1121b, the washer 1121g, and the housing 1121c. In FIG. 8, the electrical conduction path from the user's finger F to the side wall 1011 of the housing 101 is indicated by a dashed line. In this manner, not only the side wall 1011 of the housing 101 but also the operation buttons 1121a and 1122a function as the first electrode 140, so that even when the user touches the switch 1121 or 1122 together with the housing 101 as shown in FIG. 9, the contact surface between the user's finger F and the first electrode 140 is stabilized. It is possible.
[0040] (Measurement of biological information) To measure biological information using the biological information measuring device 1 having the above configuration, first, the cuff assembly 200 and the belt 400 are wrapped around the wrist T with the main body 100 facing the back of the hand. Then, the belt 400 is passed through the belt loop 150 and folded back, and the hook-and-loop fastener 411 of the belt 400 is attached to an arbitrary position of the belt 400, so that the biological information measuring device 1 is attached and fixed to the wrist. At this time, the sensing cuff 230 is attached so as to be located on the palm side of the wrist.
[0041] Then, the biological information measuring device 1 is held at the height of the heart, and the housing 101 is touched with the finger F of the hand opposite to the hand wearing the biological information measuring device 1 (the right hand in FIG. 10) and the operation button 1121a (or 1122a) is operated to instruct the start of blood pressure measurement. Specifically, air is injected into the compression cuff 220 to inflate it and compress the wrist T (artery), and the artery is occluded to temporarily stop the blood flow, and then air is gradually discharged from the compression cuff 220 to contract it and release the compression, returning the blood flow in the artery, and the pressure at that time is measured by the sensing cuff 230. That is, blood pressure measurement is performed by the so-called oscillometric method.
[0042] During the blood pressure measurement, when the wrist is compressed by the compression cuff 220, the second electrode 241 and the third electrode 242 are in contact with (pressed against) the surfaces T1 and T2 of the wrist (see FIG. 5(A)). Therefore, the electrocardiogram waveform can be measured by the so-called I-lead method based on the potential difference between the first electrode 140 and the second electrode 241 provided on the housing 101 of the main body 100 with the fingers of the hand on which the biological information measuring device 1 is not attached. Here, the fingers F of the hand on which the biological information measuring device 1 is not attached correspond to the first part of the present invention, and the surface T1 of the wrist other than the fingers F corresponds to the second part of the present invention.
[0043] 10, the housing 101 surrounding the main body 100 of the biological information measuring device 1 is configured as the first electrode 140 over the entire circumference, and the first electrode 140 is configured including the operation buttons 1121a and 1122a electrically connected to the housing 101. Therefore, even when the subject operates the operation button 1121a (or 1122a) while touching a part of the housing 101, the change in the contact state with the first electrode 140 is suppressed, a stable contact state can be realized, and the electrocardiogram waveform can be measured with high accuracy. In addition, since the subject has a high degree of freedom in the position where he or she touches the first electrode 140, no unnecessary force is applied when taking the measurement posture, and noise can be reduced. As described above, the biological information measuring device 1 according to this embodiment is a portable device that is worn on the wrist and is capable of measuring blood pressure values and electrocardiogram waveforms simultaneously with high accuracy.
[0044] (Modification) FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the electrical connection between the switch 1121 (or 1122) and the housing 101. In FIG. The configuration of the switch 1121 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and includes an operation button 1121a, a rod-shaped plunger 1121b extending from the operation button 1121a, a housing 1121c supporting the plunger 1121b, a spring 1121d, a washer 1121e, an O-ring 1121f, a washer 1121g, a tact switch 1121h, and a switch board 170. Here, a groove 101c is provided at a position facing the side of the operation button 1121a in the switch hole 1011a of the side wall 1011 of the housing 101, and an electrode connection leaf spring 180 made of a conductive material is disposed therein. The elastically deformed electrode connection leaf spring 180 presses against the housing 101 and the operation button 1121a by a restoring force, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the operation button 1121a and the side wall 1011 of the housing 101. As a result, the user's finger F touching the operation button 1121a and the side wall portion 1011 of the housing 101 are held in contact with each other by the electrode connection portion leaf spring 180. 11, an electrical conductive path from the user's finger F to the housing 101 is indicated by a dashed line.
[0045] <Example 2> 12 is a diagram of the biological information measuring device 2 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the front of the display unit 111. The same components as those in the biological information measuring device 1 according to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0046] The biological information measuring device 2 according to the second embodiment has a similar configuration to the biological information measuring device 1 according to the first embodiment, except for the shape of the housing 102. In this embodiment, the first electrode 140 is also configured to include at least a side wall portion 1021 that surrounds the entire circumference of the main body portion 100 of the biological information measuring device 1 worn on the wrist T from the outer periphery of the main body portion 100 in the circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2) when the direction N (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5(A)) facing the wrist T is the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 12(A), the housing 102 of the biological information measuring device 2 has a side wall portion 1021a on which the operation buttons 1211 and 1212 are provided and a side wall portion 1021b facing the side wall portion 1021a, which is formed as a curved surface that is convex inward at the center in the longitudinal direction, and both side walls 1021a and 1021b of the housing 102 have a narrowed shape. That is, the side wall 1021 of the biological information measuring device 2 has side walls 1021a and 1021b that are convex on the inner peripheral side in the circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2) when the direction N facing the wrist T of the main body 100 of the biological information measuring device 1 worn on the wrist T is the axial direction. The curved shape of the side walls 1021a and 1021b is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 12(A). Here, the side walls 1021a and 1021b correspond to the concave side wall of the present invention.
[0047] In this way, by making the housing 102 of the bio-information measuring device 2 have a narrowed shape on both side walls 1021 and 1022, when the user touches the both side walls 1021 and 1022 of the housing 102 with the thumb F1 and index finger F2 of his right hand, the thumb F1 and index finger F2 are less likely to slip, and the contact surfaces between the fingers and the housing 102 and the switches 1121 and 1122 are stabilized.
[0048] In addition, by making the side walls 1021 and 1022 curved (concave), the user is not limited to a position where the user touches the side walls 1021 and 1022 with his / her fingers. When the user touches both side walls 1021 and 1022 of the housing 102 with the thumb F1 and index finger F2 of the right hand, the user can touch them with the pad of the thumb F1 and the pad of the index finger F2 as shown in FIG. 12(B), or with the pad of the thumb F1 and the second joint of the index finger F2 as shown in FIG. 12(C). In this way, by making the side walls 1021 and 1022 curved gently, the user can touch the housing 102 in various ways, and therefore the user is not forced to take an unnatural posture where force is applied due to the limited position where the user touches the housing 102, and can measure the electrocardiogram in a posture where force is not applied.
[0049] (Modification) In the second embodiment, the side wall 1021 of the housing 102 is provided with the side wall 1021a and 1021b having a constricted shape, and the central parts of the side wall 1021a and 1021b, which respectively constitute one side of the housing 102 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, in the circumferential direction surrounding the main body 100 are formed into a curved shape that is convex toward the inner circumference, but fine unevenness may be formed on the entire surface of the side wall 1021 or on a part of the surface. The unevenness increases the frictional resistance with the user's finger F, so that the finger F is less likely to slip against the first electrode 140 including the side wall 1021, and the contact state between the finger F and the first electrode 140 is stabilized. Fine unevenness may also be formed on the surfaces of the operation buttons 1121a and 1122a. The uneven portion may be formed by arranging concave and convex portions alternately in the circumferential direction C like the bezel of a wristwatch, or may be formed by roughening the surface of the side wall portion 1021, and the configuration of the uneven portion can be selected as appropriate.
[0050] <Example 3> 13A is a diagram showing a biological information measuring device 3 according to Example 3 as viewed from the front of a display unit 111. The same components as those in the biological information measuring device 1 according to Example 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0051] The biological information measuring device 3 according to the third embodiment has a similar configuration to the biological information measuring device 1 according to the first embodiment, except for the configurations of the first electrode 140 and the operation button. In the biological information measuring device 3 according to the third embodiment, the first electrode 140 is also configured to include at least a side wall portion 1031 that surrounds the entire circumference of the main body portion 100 from the outer periphery of the main body portion 100 of the biological information measuring device 3 worn on the wrist T in a circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2) when a direction N (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5(A)) facing the wrist T is defined as an axial direction. The side wall portion 1031 included in the housing 103 functions as the first electrode 140 and also functions as an operation button.
[0052] In the biological information measuring device 3, a side wall 1031 is formed that constitutes a bezel surrounding the periphery of the display unit 111. The side wall 1031 is made of a conductive material and functions as a first electrode 140. The side wall 1031 is attached to a housing body 1032 as a movable part so as to function as an operation button. For example, in the biological information measuring device 3 shown in FIG. 13(B), the side wall 1031 surrounding the display unit 111 is supported reciprocally by a rectangular parallelepiped housing body 1032 to which a belt part 400 is attached. The side wall 1031 functions as an operation button by pressing the side wall 1031 against the housing body 1032 in the direction of the arrow. 13(C), a side wall 1033 bent from a frame 1012 of a display unit 111 and formed to cover a side surface of a housing body 1034 is supported reciprocally by the housing body 1034 from which a brim-shaped cover 1034a is exposed. Here, too, the side wall 1033 is made of a conductive material and functions as a first electrode 140. By pressing the side wall 1033 against the housing body 1034 in the direction of the arrow, the side wall 1033 functions as an operation button. That is, the side walls 1031 and 1033 are the side walls of the present invention and correspond to an instruction input unit provided integrally therewith.
[0053] In this way, by having the side walls 1031, 1033 also function as operation buttons, the user does not need to touch a specific part to input instructions, and the user has more freedom in choosing the position at which to touch the side walls 1031, 1033 to measure an electrocardiogram. The side walls 1031 and 1033 of the biological information measuring device 3 according to the third embodiment may be formed in the concave shape according to the second embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]
[0054] 1. Biological information measuring device 100 Main body 101··Case 121, 131 Control section 1011 Side wall 140...first electrode 241...Second electrode 400 ··Band section 1121a, 1122a Operation buttons
Claims
1. A biological information measuring device for measuring a subject's blood pressure and electrocardiogram waveform, comprising: a blood pressure measurement control unit that controls the measurement of the blood pressure at the measurement site of the subject; a first electrode that contacts a first site of the subject; a second electrode that contacts a second site of the subject different from the first site; an electrocardiogram measurement control unit that controls the measurement of the electrocardiogram waveform of the subject through the first electrode and the second electrode; a main body unit including the blood pressure measurement control unit and the electrocardiogram measurement control unit; an instruction input unit that the subject operates to input an instruction; a fixing unit that fixes the main body unit to the measurement site; and the main body unit has a housing including a side wall portion that surrounds the entire circumference of the main body unit from the outer peripheral side when the direction facing the measurement site is the axial direction; the first electrode is configured to include a surface along the direction facing the measurement site of the side wall portion and the instruction input unit, characterized in that it is a biological information measuring device.
2. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the instruction input unit is provided independently of the side wall portion.
3. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the instruction input unit is configured to include the side wall portion.
4. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the side wall portion has a concave side wall portion that is concave on the inner peripheral side when the direction facing the measurement site is the axial direction.
5. The biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that uneven portions are formed on the surface of the side wall portion.
6. The biological information measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the instruction is an instruction for the measurement of the blood pressure.
7. A biological information measuring device for measuring a subject's blood pressure and electrocardiogram waveform, comprising: a blood pressure measurement control unit that controls the measurement of the blood pressure at the measurement site of the subject; a first electrode that contacts a first site of the subject; a second electrode that contacts a second site of the subject different from the first site; an electrocardiogram measurement control unit that controls the measurement of the electrocardiogram waveform of the subject through the first electrode and the second electrode; a main body unit including the blood pressure measurement control unit and the electrocardiogram measurement control unit; an instruction input unit that the subject operates to input an instruction; a fixing unit that fixes the main body unit to the measurement site; and the main body unit has a housing including a side wall portion that surrounds the entire circumference of the main body unit from the outer peripheral side when the direction facing the measurement site is the axial direction; The first electrode is configured to include the side wall portion and the instruction input portion. The instruction input portion includes the side wall portion, and the biological information measuring device is characterized in this. **Claim 8**: The biological information measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the instruction is an instruction for measuring the blood pressure.