Blood pressure manometer
The blood pressure monitor addresses the issue of limited resolution in electronic displays by offering adjustable modes with distinct visual cues, ensuring accurate readings and user comfort.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024021258
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-27
AI Technical Summary
Conventional blood pressure monitors with electronic displays have a resolution limited to 2 mmHg, which may lead to misreading when finer resolution is required, and users accustomed to mercury column sphygmomanometers may struggle with the transition.
A blood pressure monitor with adjustable display modes allowing for 2 mmHg and 1 mmHg scale units, featuring distinct visual cues such as line length, thickness, type, and color to differentiate scales, and automatically switching modes based on cuff pressure thresholds.
Prevents misreading by enabling accurate reading of blood pressure values in both coarse and fine increments, maintaining user comfort for those accustomed to mercury column monitors.
Smart Images
Figure 2025125295000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a blood pressure monitor. [Background technology]
[0002] Considering the environmental impact, the manufacture and import / export of devices that use mercury, such as mercury column sphygmomanometers, will be prohibited in principle from 2020 onwards. For this reason, blood pressure monitors that display an electronic graph simulating a mercury column have become known in recent years. For example, the blood pressure monitor disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2019-118708 A) electronically displays a graph of the pressure in a blood pressure measurement cuff on a display screen, and efforts are being made to improve the display resolution. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-118708 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The minimum unit of the scale on conventional mercury column sphygmomanometers is generally set to 2 mmHg. This is thought to be because the pressure display resolution depends on the material properties (e.g., specific gravity) of the mercury used as the display medium. As mentioned above, the manufacture and sale of new mercury column sphygmomanometers is prohibited. As an alternative, electronic sphygmomanometers that mimic a mercury column using a display medium such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), as described in Patent Document 1, are sold. Typically, such electronic sphygmomanometers also adopt a minimum unit of 2 mmHg. This is thought to be due to the fact that these electronic sphygmomanometers are used as replacements for conventional mercury column sphygmomanometers and the size of electronic sphygmomanometers is limited.
[0005] Although a scale with 2 mmHg resolution is considered sufficient for blood pressure measurements in normal medical settings, there are cases where a finer display resolution, such as 1 mmHg, is required to improve the reliability of the sphygmomanometer. To address this, it is conceivable to reduce the minimum unit of the scale to 1 mmHg, but this could lead to a problem in which users accustomed to conventional mercury column sphygmomanometers that use 2 mmHg units may misread the value.
[0006] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a technology capable of preventing misreading of values in a blood pressure monitor that electronically displays a graph of the pressure of a blood pressure measurement cuff. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] In one example of the present disclosure, a blood pressure monitor includes a display that electronically displays a graph of the pressure of a cuff attached to a measurement site on a display area, and a display control unit that controls the content displayed on the display area. The display control unit displays a scale in one direction on the display area to enable reading of the pressure value. The blood pressure monitor further includes a mode setting unit that sets either a first mode or a second mode as a display mode related to the minimum unit of the scale. When the first mode is set, a first unit is set as the minimum unit. When the second mode is set, a second unit smaller than the first unit is set as the minimum unit. When the second mode is set, the display control unit enlarges the display area on which the scale is displayed, and displays a first scale line of the first unit and a second scale line of the second unit in different display modes.
[0008] According to the above configuration, in a blood pressure monitor that electronically displays a graph of the pressure in a blood pressure measurement cuff, it is possible to prevent misreading of values.
[0009] In another example of the present disclosure, the display control unit displays the first scale lines when the first mode is set and the first scale lines when the second mode is set in the same display manner.
[0010] According to the above configuration, misreading of values can be more appropriately prevented.
[0011] In other examples of the present disclosure, the second scale mark is shorter than the first scale mark.
[0012] According to the above configuration, misreading of values can be appropriately prevented by focusing on the length of the line.
[0013] In another example of the present disclosure, the second graduation marks are thinner than the first graduation marks.
[0014] According to the above configuration, misreading of values can be appropriately prevented by focusing on the thickness of the lines.
[0015] In another example of the present disclosure, the line type of the second scale lines is different from the line type of the first scale lines.
[0016] According to the above configuration, misreading of values can be appropriately prevented by focusing on the line type.
[0017] In another example of the present disclosure, the color of the second scale markings is different from the color of the first scale markings.
[0018] According to the above configuration, misreading of values can be appropriately prevented by focusing on the color of the line.
[0019] In another example of the present disclosure, the first unit is in 2 mmHg units and the second unit is in 1 mmHg units.
[0020] According to the above configuration, the user can check the pressure value in the finer increments of 1 mmHg in addition to the 2 mmHg increments on the scale of a conventional mercury column sphygmomanometer.
[0021] In another example of the present disclosure, the display control unit displays the scale along the vertical direction as one direction, and displays the cuff pressure using a bar graph extending vertically along the scale.
[0022] According to the above configuration, a user who is accustomed to using a conventional mercury column sphygmomanometer will feel less uncomfortable when using the sphygmomanometer.
[0023] In another example of the present disclosure, the mode setting unit sets either the first mode or the second mode in accordance with an operation instruction from a user.
[0024] According to the above configuration, the user can switch the display mode at a desired timing.
[0025] In another example of the present disclosure, a blood pressure monitor is configured to measure blood pressure based on Korotkoff sounds acquired from a measurement site during a decompression process of reducing cuff pressure, wherein the mode setting unit changes the display mode from the first mode to the second mode when the cuff pressure becomes less than a first threshold during the decompression process, changes the display mode from the second mode to the first mode when the cuff pressure becomes less than a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold, and changes the display mode from the first mode to the second mode when the cuff pressure becomes less than a third threshold that is smaller than the second threshold.
[0026] According to the above configuration, the user can save the trouble of switching the display mode. [Effects of the Invention]
[0027] According to the present disclosure, in a blood pressure monitor that electronically displays a graph of the pressure in a blood pressure measurement cuff, it is possible to prevent misreading of values. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a blood pressure monitor according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a sphygmomanometer. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of display content on a display device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a blood pressure monitor. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which blood pressure measurement is performed without switching the display mode. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the display content of the display device. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of display modes of scale lines. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the sphygmomanometer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of these components are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
[0030] [Application example] An application example of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a blood pressure monitor 100 according to the present embodiment.
[0031] Referring to Fig. 1, sphygmomanometer 100 is a blood pressure monitor that displays an electronic graph simulating a mercury column. Sphygmomanometer 100 applies pressure to a measurement site of a subject with a cuff (arm cuff) and measures blood pressure based on Korotkoff sounds acquired from the measurement site. Sphygmomanometer 100 has, as its main components, a main body 10 and a cuff 20. Main body 10 is provided with a display 50 that electronically displays a graph of the cuff pressure in a display area (e.g., a display screen), operation buttons that accept operations by users (e.g., medical personnel such as doctors and nurses, and the subject, etc.).
[0032] 1, a situation is assumed in which the blood pressure of a subject is measured using a sphygmomanometer 100. The sphygmomanometer 100 measures the blood pressure of the subject using a decompression measurement method in which the blood pressure is measured during the process of decompressing the pressure (hereinafter simply referred to as "cuff pressure") of a cuff 20 attached to a measurement site (e.g., the arm).
[0033] The display screen of the display 50 of the sphygmomanometer 100 displays a scale along one direction (for example, the vertical direction) to enable reading of pressure values, and a bar graph indicating the position of the cuff pressure along the scale. Here, the sphygmomanometer 100 has display modes related to the minimum unit of the scale. The display modes include a mode Ma in which the minimum unit is set to 2 mmHg, and a mode Mb in which the minimum unit is set to 1 mmHg, which is smaller than 2 mmHg. In the initial state, the display mode is set to mode Ma, and the minimum unit of the scale is 2 mmHg. In this case, along with scale lines in 2 mmHg increments, numbers indicating the pressure value are displayed in 10 mmHg increments.
[0034] The sphygmomanometer 100 starts inflating the cuff 20 in accordance with a blood pressure measurement instruction from the user. The sphygmomanometer 100 ends the cuff inflation process when the cuff pressure reaches a set inflation value. In the cuff pressure depressurization process following the inflation process, the sphygmomanometer 100 reduces the cuff pressure at a preset depressurization rate.
[0035] When the decompression process starts, the sphygmomanometer 100 receives an instruction from the user to change the display mode. In this case, the sphygmomanometer 100 receives an instruction to change the display mode from mode Ma to mode Mb. This is to allow the user to accurately read the cuff pressure (blood pressure) indicated by the bar graph when measuring the subject's systolic blood pressure (i.e., systolic blood pressure) based on Korotkoff sounds. The user may also issue an instruction to change the cuff pressure by the smallest unit when the cuff pressure reaches a specified pressure (e.g., a pressure slightly higher than the expected systolic blood pressure).
[0036] When the sphygmomanometer 100 receives the change instruction, it enlarges the display area where the scale is displayed and displays scale lines in 1 mmHg increments (hereinafter also referred to as "1 mmHg scale lines") in addition to scale lines in 2 mmHg increments (hereinafter also referred to as "2 mmHg scale lines"). Specifically, the sphygmomanometer 100 displays the 1 mmHg scale lines and the 2 mmHg scale lines in different display modes. In the example of FIG. 1, the 1 mmHg scale lines are displayed shorter than the 2 mmHg scale lines.
[0037] This allows the user to read the cuff pressure when Korotkoff sounds begin to be heard through the stethoscope 60 as the systolic blood pressure without confusing 1 mmHg and 2 mmHg increments. Similarly, the user can read the cuff pressure when Korotkoff sounds disappear through the stethoscope 60 as the minimum blood pressure (i.e., diastolic blood pressure).
[0038] According to the above configuration, by displaying the 1 mmHg scale line in a different manner from the 2 mmHg scale line, it is possible to prevent the user from misreading the blood pressure value.
[0039] [Configuration example] <Appearance> 2 is a diagram showing the external appearance of blood pressure monitor 100. Sphygmomanometer 100 includes main body 10, cuff 20 for measuring blood pressure that is attached to the upper arm of the person being measured, and flexible air tube 38 that connects main body 10 and cuff 20. Cuff 20 contains a fluid bag for compressing the upper arm. A display 50 and an operation unit 52 are provided on the front surface of main body 10.
[0040] The display 50 is configured, for example, with an LCD. An electronic graph is displayed on a display screen (display area) 500 of the display 50. The display screen 500 is spatially defined by a rectangular frame 500F that is elongated in one direction (the vertical direction in the example of FIG. 2). The display 50 may also be an EL (Electro Luminescence) display or the like.
[0041] On the display screen 500, a scale 501 is displayed along one direction (for example, the vertical direction), and a bar graph 502 forming marks is displayed along the scale 501. The cuff pressure is displayed using the bar graph 502 extending vertically along the scale 501. The scale 501 slides vertically relative to the frame 500F, making it possible to read the value of the cuff pressure. Typically, the sphygmomanometer 100 uses the technology of Patent Document 1 to control the sliding of the scale 501 along the vertical direction relative to the display screen 500 at a sliding speed corresponding to the pressure change speed so that the bar graph 502 fits within the display screen 500.
[0042] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display content of a display device. Referring to FIG. 3, a bar graph 502 is displayed in the center of a display screen 500, and on both sides of the bar graph 502, a scale 501 is displayed divided into two left and right portions 501L and 501R.
[0043] The scale 501 includes scale lines 501A in 10 mmHg increments and scale lines 501B in 2 mmHg increments. The scale lines 501A and 501B are displayed in different display modes. Specifically, the scale lines 501A are longer than the scale lines 501B. In the example of FIG. 3, mode Ma is set as the display mode, and the smallest unit of the scale 501 is 2 mmHg.
[0044] The appearance of display screen 500 is substantially the same as that of a conventional mercury column sphygmomanometer. Therefore, a user who is accustomed to using a conventional mercury column sphygmomanometer will feel less uncomfortable when using sphygmomanometer 100.
[0045] The pressure range indicated by the scale 501 displayed in the frame 500F corresponds to, for example, approximately 100 mmHg, which is a portion of the range from a minimum value of 0 mmHg to a maximum value of 300 mmHg. In the example of Fig. 3, a range from approximately 80 mmHg to approximately 180 mmHg is displayed between a bottom edge 500Fb corresponding to the low-pressure side of the frame 500F and an top edge 500Fa corresponding to the high-pressure side. This improves the display resolution relative to the size of the display screen 500.
[0046] The pressure range indicated by scale 501 displayed within frame 500F is set to be several mmHg wider than 100 mmHg (for example, up to 110 mmHg at most) so that pressure values ("80 mmHg" and "180 mmHg" in the example of FIG. 3) are displayed at the bottom (i.e., along bottom side 500Fb) and top (i.e., along top side 500Fa) of frame 500F. For ease of explanation, this will be referred to as 100 mmHg below.
[0047] In the example of FIG. 3, the allowable range AA is defined as a range of ±10 mmHg from the center of the scale 501 displayed in the frame 500F. Even if the scale 501 slides vertically relative to the frame 500F, the allowable range AA is defined as a range of ±10 mmHg from the center of the scale 501 currently displayed in the frame 500F (i.e., a range near the center in the vertical direction of the frame 500F). The allowable range AA corresponds to a range from 120 mmHg to 140 mmHg, for example. No dashed lines indicating the upper and lower limits of the allowable range AA are displayed on the display screen 500.
[0048] The processor installed in the main body 10 executes the scale sliding control disclosed in Patent Document 1. For example, when the position of the top 502T of the bar graph 502 is within the allowable range AA, the processor performs control to stop the scale 501 relative to the frame 500F (i.e., stops the control to slide the scale 501) regardless of changes in the cuff pressure. This makes it easier for the user to read the cuff pressure value.
[0049] During the cuff inflation process, if the position of apex 502T is not within allowable range AA (i.e., if it is about to deviate from allowable range AA), the processor controls the scale 501 to slide vertically relative to the frame 500F (to move downwards during inflation) at a slide speed corresponding to the inflation speed so that the position of apex 502T falls within allowable range AA. When the position of apex 502T reaches the upper limit of allowable range AA, the scale 501 begins to move downwards relative to the frame 500F. As the scale 501 moves downwards, scales with successively larger values appear at the top of the frame 500F, and scales with successively smaller values disappear from the bottom of the frame 500F.
[0050] During the process of reducing the cuff pressure, if the position of the apex 502T is not within the allowable range AA, the processor performs control to slide (raise, in the case of the decompression process) the scale 501 vertically relative to the frame 500F at a slide speed corresponding to the decompression speed so that the position of the apex 502T falls within the allowable range AA. When the position of the apex 502T reaches the lower limit of the allowable range AA, the scale 501 begins to rise relative to the frame 500F. As the scale 501 rises, the scales with larger values disappear from the top of the frame 500F, and scales with smaller values appear at the bottom of the frame 500F.
[0051] The processor acquires the inflation rate as the rate of pressure change based on the output of the pressure sensor 31 during the inflation process, and acquires the depressurization rate as the rate of pressure change based on the output of the pressure sensor 31 during the depressurization process.
[0052] 2 again, the operation unit 52 includes a power switch 52A, a measurement start switch 52B, a measurement stop switch 52C, a pressure value setting volume 52D, and a display mode selector switch 52E. The power switch 52A, the measurement start switch 52B, and the measurement stop switch 52C are located on the right side of the display 50. The pressure value setting volume 52D and the display mode selector switch 52E are located below the display 50.
[0053] Power switch 52A is a switch with which the user turns on / off the power of sphygmomanometer 100. In the following description, it is assumed that power switch 52A is on. Measurement start switch 52B and measurement stop switch 52C are switches with which the user instructs the start and stop of blood pressure measurement, respectively. Inflation value setting volume 52D is a switch for setting the inflation setting value (upper limit value) by cuff 20 during blood pressure measurement. Display mode selector switch 52E is a switch for setting a display mode related to the minimum unit of the scale displayed on display 50.
[0054] In this embodiment, the user measures blood pressure by listening to Korotkoff sounds using stethoscope 60. Each switch in operation unit 52 inputs an operation signal to the CPU of main unit 10 in response to an instruction from the user.
[0055] <Hardware configuration> 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a blood pressure monitor 100. Referring to FIG. 4, the blood pressure monitor 100 includes, as main components, a main body 10 and a cuff 20. The cuff 20 contains a fluid bag 22. The main body 10 includes a processor 110, an air system component 30 for blood pressure measurement, an A / D conversion circuit 310, a pump drive circuit 320, a valve drive circuit 330, a display 50, a memory 51, an operation unit 52, and a power supply unit 53.
[0056] The processor 110 is an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Multi Processing Unit). The processor 110 reads and executes a program stored in the memory 51 to realize each of the processes (steps) of the sphygmomanometer 100 described below.
[0057] Typically, processor 110 functions as a pressure control unit that controls the pressure by driving pump 32 and valve 33 to supply air to or discharge air from cuff 20. Processor 110 functions as a display control unit that controls the content displayed in the display area (display screen) of display device 50. Processor 110 functions as a mode setting unit that sets either mode Ma or mode Mb as the display mode related to the minimum unit of scale.
[0058] The memory 51 is realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a flash memory, etc. The memory 51 stores a program for controlling the sphygmomanometer 100, data used to control the sphygmomanometer 100, setting data for setting various functions of the sphygmomanometer 100, data on blood pressure measurement results, etc. The memory 51 is also used as a work memory, etc. when the program is executed.
[0059] The air system component 30 is connected to the fluid bag 22 contained in the cuff 20 via an air pipe and an air tube 38 that communicates with the air pipe. The air system component 30 includes a pressure sensor 31 for detecting the pressure inside the fluid bag 22, and a pump 32 and a valve 33 that serve as an inflation / deflation mechanism for inflating and deflating the fluid bag 22. Air as a fluid flows between the pressure sensor 31, the pump 32, the valve 33, and the fluid bag 22.
[0060] The pressure sensor 31 detects the pressure (cuff pressure) inside the fluid bag 22 and outputs a signal (cuff pressure signal) corresponding to the detected pressure to the A / D conversion circuit 310. The pressure sensor 31 is, for example, a piezo-resistive pressure sensor, and is connected to the pump 32, the valve 33, and the fluid bag 22 contained in the cuff 20 via air piping. The pump 32 supplies air as a fluid to the fluid bag 22 through the air piping to increase the cuff pressure. The valve 33 opens and closes to control the cuff pressure by discharging air from the fluid bag 22 through the air piping or by sealing air in the fluid bag 22.
[0061] The A / D conversion circuit 310 converts the output value of the pressure sensor 31 (for example, a voltage value corresponding to a change in electrical resistance due to the piezo-resistance effect) from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the processor 110. The processor 110 acquires a signal representing the cuff pressure according to the output value of the A / D conversion circuit 310. The pump drive circuit 320 controls the drive of the pump 32 based on a control signal provided by the processor 110. The valve drive circuit 330 controls the opening and closing of the valve 33 based on a control signal provided by the processor 110.
[0062] The operation unit 52 inputs an operation signal to the processor 110 in response to an instruction from the user. The display 50 displays various information, including an electronic graph showing the cuff pressure, based on a control signal from the processor 110. The power supply unit 53 supplies power to the processor 110 and each piece of hardware. For example, the processor 110 sets either mode Ma or mode Mb in accordance with an operation instruction from the user via the operation unit 52.
[0063] <Switching display modes> 5 is a diagram showing how blood pressure measurement is performed without switching the display mode. In the initial state, mode Ma, in which the minimum unit of the scale 501 is 2 mmHg, is set as the display mode.
[0064] 5, the display mode is set to mode Ma in each of the first phase (corresponding to (1) in the figure) immediately after the start of the depressurization process after the pressurization process, the second phase (corresponding to (2) in the figure) near the systolic blood pressure, the third phase after the second phase (corresponding to (3) in the figure), the fourth phase (corresponding to (4) in the figure) near the diastolic blood pressure, and the fifth phase after the fourth phase (corresponding to (5) in the figure). That is, in the example of FIG. 5, mode Ma is not switched to mode Mb in 1 mmHg increments.
[0065] The user listens to the Korotkoff sounds at the measurement site using stethoscope 60, and visually reads the cuff pressure displayed on display screen 500 at the timing when the Korotkoff sounds appear and disappear. In this case, since display screen 500 displays a scale in 2 mmHg increments, it is relatively easy to read the blood pressure in 2 mmHg increments, but it is difficult to read the blood pressure more accurately (for example, in 1 mmHg increments).
[0066] Therefore, in order to read the blood pressure more accurately, the user issues an instruction to switch from mode Ma to mode Mb to the sphygmomanometer 100 via the display mode changeover switch 52E at a desired timing (for example, at the start of a cuff pressure increase or decrease process). Upon receiving the input of the instruction, the processor 110 changes the display mode to mode Mb.
[0067] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the display content of the display device. Specifically, display screen 500 in FIG. 6 shows an example when the display mode is set to mode Mb. Referring to FIG. 6, the minimum unit of scale 501 displayed on display screen 500 is set to 1 mmHg. Scale 501 includes scale lines 501A in 10 mmHg increments, scale lines 501B in 2 mmHg increments, and further includes scale lines 501C in 1 mmHg increments. Note that scale lines 501A are displayed in a different manner from scale lines 501B and 501C. Numbers indicating the pressure value are displayed near scale lines 501A.
[0068] The display area (display screen 500) of scale 501 in FIG. 6 when mode Mb is set is approximately twice as large as the display area in FIG. 3 when mode Ma is set. Therefore, on display screen 500 in FIG. 6, the pressure range indicated by scale 501 displayed within frame 500F corresponds to approximately 50 mmHg. This corresponds to half of the pressure range (approximately 100 mmHg) in FIG. 3. In the example in FIG. 6, a range from approximately 90 mmHg to approximately 140 mmHg is displayed between bottom edge 500Fb and top edge 500Fa. The allowable range AA is defined as a range of ±5 mmHg from the center of scale 501 displayed within frame 500F.
[0069] Typically, processor 110 enlarges the display area of scale 501 so that bar graph 502 (e.g., top 502T) fits within frame 500F. Processor 110 also displays scale lines 501B in 2 mmHg increments and scale lines 501C in 1 mmHg increments in different display modes. In the example of Fig. 6, scale lines 501C are displayed so that their length is different from that of scale lines 501B (in this case, scale lines 501C are shorter than scale lines 501B).
[0070] Meanwhile, processor 110 displays scale lines 501A and 501B when mode Ma is set and scale lines 501A and 501B when mode Mb is set in the same display format. This prevents confusion between 10 mmHg scale lines 501A and 2 mmHg scale lines 501B when the display mode is switched. Furthermore, scale lines 501C in 1 mmHg increments, which are added in mode Mb, are displayed in a different display format from scale lines 501A and 501B, allowing the user to more clearly recognize scale lines 501C. Note that other display formats may be used to distinguish scale lines 501C from scale lines 501B.
[0071] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing examples of how scale lines are displayed. For ease of explanation, only a portion of the display area of scale 501 is shown in FIG. 7A. Referring to FIG. 7A, scale lines 501A and 501B have different line thicknesses than scale line 501C. Specifically, scale line 501C is thinner than scale lines 501A and 501B. Note that scale line 501A is longer than scale lines 501B and 501C.
[0072] 7(b), the line type of scale lines 501A and 501B is different from the line type of scale line 501C. Specifically, scale lines 501A and 501B are solid lines, while scale line 501C is dotted lines. Furthermore, scale line 501A is longer than scale lines 501B and 501C.
[0073] 7(a) and 7(b), the color of scale line 501B may be different from the color of scale line 501C. For example, scale lines 501A and 501B may be displayed in black, and scale line 501C may be displayed in red. Furthermore, the display manner of scale line 501C may be made different from the display manner of scale line 501B by combining two or more of thickness, color, length, and line type.
[0074] 6 and 7, when mode Mb is set, the display area of scale 501 is enlarged overall, the minimum unit of scale 501 is 1 mmHg, and scale lines 501B in units of 2 mmHg and scale lines 501C in units of 1 mmHg are displayed in different display modes. Therefore, the user can easily and accurately visually read the cuff pressure displayed on display screen 500, and can measure systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure more accurately.
[0075] <Processing Procedure> 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the sphygmomanometer. Referring to FIG. 8, processor 110 of sphygmomanometer 100 initializes pressure sensor 31 (step S10). Specifically, processor 110 initializes a processing memory area, turns off (stops) pump 32, and adjusts pressure sensor 31 to 0 mmHg (sets atmospheric pressure to 0 mmHg) with valve 33 open.
[0076] Processor 110 determines whether a selection input for a display mode has been received via display mode selector switch 52E (step S12). If the selection input has not been received (NO in step S12), processor 110 repeats step S12. If the selection input has been received (YES in step S12), processor 110 sets the display mode to the selected mode (e.g., mode Ma or Mb) (step S14). Processor 110 displays display screen 500 in the set mode (step S16). As a result, the change in cuff pressure is always displayed on display screen 500 in the set mode.
[0077] The processor 110 closes the valve 33 via the valve drive circuit 330 (step S18), and turns on (drives) the pump 32 via the pump drive circuit 320 to start pressurizing the cuff 20 (fluid bag 22) (step S20). At this time, the processor 110 controls the inflation speed of the cuff pressure, which is the pressure inside the fluid bag 22, based on the output of the pressure sensor 31, while supplying air from the pump 32 to the fluid bag 22 through the air piping.
[0078] The processor 110 determines whether the cuff pressure has reached or exceeded the inflation set value P (step S22). Typically, the inflation set value P is set to a value 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg higher than the expected systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure).
[0079] If the cuff pressure is less than the inflation set value P (NO in step S22), the processor 110 returns to step S20. If the cuff pressure is equal to or greater than the inflation set value P (YES in step S22), the processor 110 stops the pump 32 (step S24) and controls the valve 33 to gradually open (step S26). This causes a transition from the inflation process to the depressurization process, and the cuff pressure is gradually reduced.
[0080] During this decompression process, the user listens to the Korotkoff sounds from the measurement site using the stethoscope 60, and visually reads the cuff pressure displayed on the display screen 500 at the timing when the Korotkoff sounds appear and disappear, thereby measuring the blood pressure values (i.e., systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure).
[0081] Processor 110 determines whether or not an input of an operation instruction to stop measurement has been received via measurement stop switch 52C (step S28). If the input of the operation instruction has not been received (NO in step S28), processor 110 returns to step S26. If the input of the operation instruction has been received (YES in step S28), processor 110 fully opens valve 33 (step S30) and ends the process.
[0082] In the above flowchart, processor 110 may accept a selection input of a display mode via display mode switching switch 52E at a timing other than step S12. Processor 110 sets the display mode to the selected mode based on the selection input, and displays display screen 500 in the set mode.
[0083] <Other embodiments> (1) In the above-described embodiment, a configuration has been described in which scale lines 501A in 10 mmHg increments are displayed on display screen 500 regardless of whether the display mode is mode Ma or mode Mb. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which only scale lines 501B are displayed when mode Ma is set, and scale lines 501B and 501C are displayed when mode Mb is set. However, even in this case, for example, numbers indicating pressure values in 10 mmHg increments may be displayed.
[0084] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the processor 110 controls the pump 32 and the valve 33 to increase or decrease the cuff pressure. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Instead of the pump 32 and the valve 33, a rubber bulb including an exhaust valve may be attached to the cuff 20 via an air tube, and the cuff pressure may be increased or decreased manually. In this case, a user accustomed to using a mercury column sphygmomanometer will feel even less uncomfortable when using the sphygmomanometer 100.
[0085] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the display screen 500 has been described as having a configuration in which the scale 501 and the bar graph 502 as marks are displayed vertically and are slidable vertically. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the display screen 500 may have a scale that allows the cuff pressure value to be read and a bar graph as a mark that represents the cuff pressure by its position relative to the scale 501 displayed horizontally and be slidable horizontally. Furthermore, the mark is not limited to a bar graph or a bar graph, and may be a mark such as an arrow pointing to a specific mark on the scale.
[0086] (4) In the above-described embodiment, a program may be provided that causes a computer to function and execute the control described in the above flowchart. Such a program may be provided as a program product by being recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), secondary storage device, main storage device, or memory card that is attached to the computer. Alternatively, the program may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built into the computer. The program may also be provided by downloading via a network.
[0087] (5) The configurations exemplified as the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the configurations of the present invention, and may be combined with other known technologies, or may be modified, such as by omitting some parts, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be implemented by appropriately adopting the processes and configurations described in other embodiments.
[0088] [Note] As described above, the present embodiment includes the following disclosure.
[0089] [Configuration 1] A blood pressure monitor (100) comprising: a display (50) that electronically displays a graph of the pressure of a cuff attached to a measurement site in a display area; and a display control unit that controls the content displayed in the display area (500), wherein the display control unit displays a scale (501) in one direction in the display area to enable reading of pressure values; and further comprises a mode setting unit that sets either a first mode or a second mode as a display mode related to the minimum unit of the scale; when the first mode is set, a first unit is set as the minimum unit; when the second mode is set, a second unit smaller than the first unit is set as the minimum unit; and when the second mode is set, the display control unit enlarges and displays the display area in which the scale is displayed, and displays a first scale line (501B) of the first unit and a second scale line (501C) of the second unit in different display modes.
[0090] [Configuration 2] The blood pressure monitor according to configuration 1, wherein the display control unit displays the first scale lines when the first mode is set and the first scale lines when the second mode is set in the same display manner.
[0091] [Configuration 3] 3. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, wherein the second scale lines are shorter than the first scale lines.
[0092] [Configuration 4] 4. The blood pressure monitor according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the second scale lines is different from the thickness of the first scale lines.
[0093] [Configuration 5] 5. The sphygmomanometer according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the line type of the second scale lines is different from the line type of the first scale lines.
[0094] [Configuration 6] 6. The blood pressure monitor according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the second scale lines are a different color from the first scale lines.
[0095] [Configuration 7] 7. The sphygmomanometer according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the first unit is a 2 mmHg unit and the second unit is a 1 mmHg unit.
[0096] [Configuration 8] The blood pressure monitor according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the display control unit displays the scale along the vertical direction as the one direction, and displays the cuff pressure using a bar graph extending in the vertical direction along the scale.
[0097] [Configuration 9] 9. The blood pressure monitor according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the mode setting unit sets either the first mode or the second mode in accordance with an operational instruction from a user.
[0098] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]
[0099] 10 main body, 20 cuff, 22 fluid bag, 30 air system components, 31 pressure sensor, 32 pump, 33 valve, 38 air tube, 50 display, 51 memory, 52 operation unit, 52A power switch, 52B measurement start switch, 52C measurement stop switch, 52D pressure value setting volume, 52E display mode selector switch, 53 power supply unit, 60 stethoscope, 100 sphygmomanometer, 110 processor, 310 A / D conversion circuit, 320 pump drive circuit, 330 valve drive circuit, 500 display screen, 500F frame, 501 scale, 501A to 501C scale lines, 502 bar graph, 502T top.
Claims
1. a display that electronically displays a graph of the pressure of the cuff attached to the measurement site on a display area; a display control unit that controls the content displayed in the display area; the display control unit displays a scale in one direction in the display area to enable reading of the pressure value; a mode setting unit that sets either a first mode or a second mode as a display mode related to the minimum unit of the scale; When the first mode is set, a first unit is set as the minimum unit; When the second mode is set, a second unit smaller than the first unit is set as the minimum unit, When the second mode is set, the display control unit enlarges the display area in which the scale is displayed, and displays the first scale line of the first unit and the second scale line of the second unit in different display modes.
2. 2. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the first scale lines when the first mode is set and the first scale lines when the second mode is set in the same display manner.
3. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second scale lines are shorter than the first scale lines.
4. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the second scale lines is different from a thickness of the first scale lines.
5. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein a line type of the second scale lines is different from a line type of the first scale lines.
6. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the second scale lines are different in color from the first scale lines.
7. 3. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, wherein the first unit is a 2 mmHg unit and the second unit is a 1 mmHg unit.
8. The display control unit The scale is displayed along the vertical direction as the one direction, 3. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, wherein the cuff pressure is displayed using a bar graph extending in the vertical direction along the scale.
9. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the mode setting unit sets either the first mode or the second mode in accordance with an operation instruction from a user.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Sphygmomanometer
JP2019118708A