Probe for measuring oral pressure

Abstract

To provide a probe for measuring oral pressure that has a small number of parts and high measurement accuracy. [Solution] The oral pressure measuring probe 1 is integrally molded from resin. The oral pressure measuring probe 1 comprises a flat balloon 2 inserted into the oral cavity and a substantially cylindrical grip 3 connected to the main body of the oral pressure measuring device. The compressive strength of the grip 3 is more than twice the compressive strength of the balloon 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pressure measurement probe used when measuring oral-related pressures such as tongue pressure, sublingual muscle pressure, lip pressure, and cheek pressure, and particularly belongs to the technical field of a structure provided with a balloon inserted into a user's oral cavity.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to improve the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly, maintenance and recovery of eating and swallowing functions have been required, and clarification of these functions has become necessary. The movement of the tongue is deeply involved in the eating and swallowing functions, and a predetermined tongue pressure is required for the formation of a food bolus and its delivery to the pharynx. Therefore, measurement and analysis of tongue pressure have important significance. In addition, measurement of oral-related pressures such as not only tongue pressure but also sublingual muscle pressure, lip pressure, and cheek pressure is similarly important.

[0003] As a method for measuring oral-related pressures, a method using a so-called balloon-type measurement probe that enables measurement of the above pressures by applying a pressing force to a balloon inserted into the oral cavity is known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] The pressure measurement probe of Patent Document 1 includes a balloon made of an elastic member inserted into the oral cavity and a connecting member made of a resin material harder than the elastic member constituting the balloon. The connecting member has a flat cylindrical connector portion inserted into the base end portion of the balloon.

[0005] In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses that the outer peripheral shape of a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction of the pressure receiving portion of the balloon is a predetermined flat shape.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007] Incidentally, the pressure measuring probe described in Patent Document 1 consists of two parts: a balloon made of an elastic material and a connecting member made of a hard resin material. Furthermore, an O-ring is required on the measuring tube side in order to connect it airtightly to the measuring tube of the oral pressure measuring device body, resulting in a large number of parts in the entire system.

[0008] Because it consists of two parts, a balloon and a connecting component, bonding is required during manufacturing, increasing the number of processes. This, in turn, leads to the problem of higher costs for the pressure measuring probe.

[0009] This disclosure is made in view of the above, and its purpose is to provide a probe for measuring oral pressure that has a small number of parts and high measurement accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of this disclosure may provide an oral pressure measuring probe integrally molded from resin. The oral pressure measuring probe comprises a flat balloon inserted into the user's oral cavity and a substantially cylindrical grip connected to the main body of an oral pressure measuring device. The compressive strength of the grip is set to be at least twice the compressive strength of the balloon.

[0011] With this configuration, the flat balloon inserted into the oral cavity and the grip connected to the main body of the oral pressure measuring device are integrally molded, eliminating air leakage between the balloon and the grip, and resulting in an oral pressure measuring probe with fewer parts. When connecting this oral pressure measuring probe to the main body of the oral pressure measuring device, the measuring tube and its connector extending from the main body of the oral pressure measuring device are inserted into the inside of the roughly cylindrical grip, creating a slip connection between the inner surface of the grip and the outer surface of the measuring tube (outer surface of the connector). In this connected state, the compressive strength of the grip is ensured to be more than twice that of the balloon, making it possible to tightly seal the inner surface of the grip against the outer surface of the measuring tube (outer surface of the connector). As a result, high airtightness is ensured without the need for an O-ring or the like between the grip and the measuring tube, and high measurement accuracy can be obtained.

[0012] When the thickness of the grip is t and the radius of the outer circumference of the grip is r, t 2 / r may be set to 0.05 or more and 1.30 or less. With this configuration, the compressive strength of the grip can be sufficiently increased to create an airtight connection with the measuring tube.

[0013] When the length of the major axis and the length of the minor axis of the outer periphery of the cross-section perpendicular to the central axis extending in the direction of insertion into the oral cavity of the balloon are denoted as a, and the length of the minor axis as b, and the wall thickness of the balloon at the position where the length of the minor axis of the cross-section is maximum is denoted as tb, and the radius of the outer periphery in the direction of the minor axis is denoted as rb, then tb / rb may be set to be between 0.01 and 0.10. With this configuration, excellent measurement accuracy can be achieved.

[0014] At the position where the length of the minor axis of the cross-section is maximum, the perimeter of the cross-section may be 1.05 to 48 times the perimeter of the grip. Furthermore, the perimeter of a cross-section perpendicular to the cross-section and along the major axis may be 1.01 to 2.1 times the perimeter of a cross-section perpendicular to the cross-section and along the minor axis. In addition, the internal volume of the balloon may be 60% or more of the total internal volume of the probe. With this configuration, the relationship between the perimeter of the balloon and the perimeter of the grip, as well as the internal volume of the balloon, are optimized, thereby further improving measurement accuracy.

[0015] The oral pressure measuring probe may include a cylindrical positioning section having a predetermined length between the balloon and the grip. In this case, ribs protruding radially outward can be provided at the boundary between the balloon and the positioning section, and at the boundary between the grip and the positioning section. With this configuration, when using the oral pressure measuring probe, the user can bite down on the positioning section with, for example, their upper and lower front teeth, thereby stably holding the oral pressure measuring probe in a predetermined position. At this time, the oral pressure measuring probe can be positioned so that the front teeth are located between the ribs provided at the boundary between the balloon and the positioning section and the ribs provided at the boundary between the grip and the positioning section, making it possible to measure at the same position every time.

[0016] The positioning portion may have a tapered surface formed such that its inner diameter decreases toward the grip side. That is, the inner diameter of the positioning portion may be the same in the axial direction, but having a tapered surface formed such that its inner diameter decreases toward the grip side improves measurement accuracy compared to the case of a straight cylindrical shape. In addition, it is easy for users (people being measured) of any mouth size to bite down on with their teeth, and there is no need to create steps or corners between the grip and the positioning portion, so the user (person being measured) is less likely to get injured when they put the probe in their mouth. Furthermore, it becomes easier to stably manufacture probes that exhibit high airtightness and measurement accuracy.

[0017] The side of the grip opposite to the balloon may be formed in a straight tubular shape. That is, by forming the side of the grip opposite to the balloon in a straight tubular shape, the airtightness with the measurement tube can be further enhanced.

[0018] The grip may be formed in a straight tubular shape. Since a straight tubular grip is easy to mold, the molding cost can be reduced. In addition, since a straight tubular grip can be molded with high molding accuracy, it is possible to uniformize the wall thickness in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the grip. As a result, the strength of the grip is stabilized, and the airtightness between the grip and the measurement tube can be further enhanced.

[0019] The grip may be configured to be slip-connected to a connector of the measurement device body. Since slip connection is possible, it is possible to easily attach and detach the measurement tube while sufficiently ensuring the airtightness during connection.

[0020] On the outer peripheral surface of the grip, a male screw that engages with a female screw provided on the measurement tube of the measurement device body may be provided. By screwing the female screw onto the male screw with the grip connected to the measurement tube, detachment of the grip from the measurement tube is suppressed, which is also advantageous for maintaining airtightness.

[0021] The male screw is a double-threaded screw and may include a thread ridge continuous for at least half a turn in the circumferential direction of the grip. By making the thread ridge continuous for at least half a turn in the circumferential direction of the grip, the adhesion between the grip and the measurement tube can be enhanced over the entire circumference. As a result, the airtightness between the grip and the measurement tube can be further enhanced.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] As described above, since the balloon and the grip are integrally molded and the compression strength of the grip is set to be twice or more the compression strength of the balloon, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy while reducing the number of parts of the oral cavity-related pressure measurement probe.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an oral cavity-related pressure measurement device provided with a probe for oral cavity-related pressure measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view showing a usage state of a probe for oral cavity-related pressure measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a probe for oral cavity-related pressure measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of a probe for oral cavity-related pressure measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a probe for oral cavity-related pressure measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the proximal end side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a method of measuring the compression strength of a balloon. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a method of measuring the compression strength of a grip. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to line X-X in FIG. 4. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a sectional view for explaining a blow molding method. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 according to Modification Example 1 of the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 according to Modification Example 1 of the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 according to Modification Example 2 of the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 according to Modification Example 2 of the embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following description of preferred embodiments is essentially illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses. For example, the shape and dimensions of each component can be arbitrarily set. Furthermore, modifications of the embodiments are also included in the present invention.

[0025] Figure 1 shows an oral pressure measuring device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure measuring device 100 is a device for measuring various oral pressures with high precision and comprises a pressure measuring device body (oral pressure measuring device body) 101 and an oral pressure measuring probe (hereinafter referred to as "measuring probe") 1. Figure 2 shows the state of use of the measuring probe 1. Oral pressures include, for example, the user's tongue pressure, sublingual muscle pressure, lip pressure, and cheek pressure, but are not limited to these and can be used when measuring various oral pressures. Tongue pressure is the force that presses the tongue against the palate, sublingual muscle pressure is the force that presses the tongue downwards, lip pressure is the force that closes the upper and lower lips, and cheek pressure is the force that pushes the cheek inward. The user (person being measured) can be, for example, an elderly person or a person with a disability, but may also be a healthy person. The measuring probe 1 can also be used as a training tool for oral function recovery.

[0026] (Configuration of the pressure measuring device body 101) The pressure measuring device body 101 includes a pressurizing pump 101A, a pressure sensor 102, a control device 103, a display unit 104, an operation button 105, a casing 106, and a measuring tube 107, and is configured to operate using, for example, a built-in battery (not shown) or power supplied from an external source. The pressurizing pump 101A is for pressurizing the pressure inside the measuring probe 1 to a predetermined pressure. The pressure sensor 102 is a conventionally known sensor configured to measure changes in air pressure inside the measuring probe 1, and may be capable of measuring the amount of change relative to the current measuring pressure, or it may be capable of measuring absolute pressure.

[0027] The control device 103 is configured to control the pressurizing pump 101A and to control the display unit 104 based on the signal output from the pressure sensor 102. A typical example of the control device 103 is a microcomputer including a central processing unit and memory. Before pressure measurement begins, the control device 103 controls the pressurizing pump 101A to pressurize the pressure inside the measuring probe 1 to a predetermined pressure. The display unit 104 is configured to display the pressure level inside the measuring probe 1 using numbers or bar graphs. The pressure level is divided into multiple stages in advance, and the control device 103 determines which pressure level to enter based on the signal output from the pressure sensor 102, and displays the determination result on the display unit 104. The display unit 104 may also display the pressure numerically.

[0028] The operation button 105 is used to switch the power of the pressure measuring device body 101 ON / OFF and to reset the measurement results. The control device 103 controls each part according to the operation of the operation button 105. The casing 106 is a component for housing the pressurizing pump 101A, pressure sensor 102, control device 103, etc.

[0029] The measuring tube 107 comprises a base-side connecting member 110, a tubular member 111, and a tip-side connecting member (connector) 112. The casing 106 is provided with a passage (not shown) that communicates with the pressure sensor 102, and the base-side connecting member 110 is connected to this passage in an airtight manner. The base-side connecting member 110 and the tip-side connecting member 112 are made of a hard resin that is harder than the resin that constitutes the measuring probe 1. The base-side connecting member 110 and the tip-side connecting member 112 can be made of the same material or different materials. The tubular member 111 is made of a flexible resin material. Airtightness is ensured between the tubular member 111 and the base-side connecting member 110, and between the tubular member 111 and the tip-side connecting member 112. The tip-side connecting member 112 has a cylindrical portion 112a that opens toward the tip. This cylindrical portion 112a is cylindrical in shape, and a female thread 112b is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 112a. The female thread 112b is continuous for one or more turns.

[0030] The tip-side connecting member 112 has a connecting cylindrical portion 112c. The connecting cylindrical portion 112c is formed inside the cylindrical portion 112a and is a circular tube shape located concentrically with the cylindrical portion 112a. The connecting cylindrical portion 112c is the part that is airtightly connected when inserted into the grip 3 of the measuring probe 1, which will be described later.

[0031] (Configuration of measurement probe 1) As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the measuring probe 1 is integrally molded from resin and comprises a flat balloon 2 that is inserted into the oral cavity and a substantially cylindrical grip 3 that is connected to the pressure measuring device body 101. As shown in Figure 2, when the measuring probe 1 is used, the entire balloon 2 is inserted into the user's oral cavity. With the entire balloon 2 inserted into the user's oral cavity, the grip 3 is positioned to protrude outside the oral cavity.

[0032] In this embodiment, the side of the measuring probe 1 that is at the tip when inserted into the oral cavity is simply referred to as the "tip side," and the side that is opposite to the insertion direction when inserting the measuring probe 1 into the oral cavity is simply referred to as the "proximal end side." The axis direction of the measuring probe 1 (central axis A shown in Figure 3) coincides with the direction from the tip side to the proximal end side. Therefore, the balloon 2 is located at the tip side of the measuring probe 1, and the grip 3 is located at the proximal end side of the measuring probe 1. The central axis of the balloon 2 and the central axis of the grip 3 are located on the same straight line and are located on the central axis A of the measuring probe 1. Also, the side located to the right of the user during use is simply referred to as the "right," and the side located to the left of the user during use is simply referred to as the "left." The left-right direction can also be called the width direction.

[0033] The resin constituting the measuring probe 1 is an elastic thermoplastic resin such as rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or general-purpose plastic. Examples of usable thermoplastic elastomers include olefin-based elastomers, styrene-based elastomers, polyester-based elastomers, and urethane-based elastomers. Other usable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate. Any one of these may be used, or any two or more may be mixed.

[0034] The tip of balloon 2, which is made of a thermoplastic resin such as a thermoplastic elastomer, is shaped to expand. Furthermore, the entire outer surface of balloon 2 is composed of a smooth, curved surface to ensure that it does not cause discomfort during use.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the measuring probe 1 of this embodiment also includes a cylindrical positioning part 4 having a predetermined length in the axial direction between the balloon 2 and the grip 3. As shown in Figure 2, the positioning part 4 is the part that is held vertically between the user's upper front teeth 200 and lower front teeth 201 when the entire balloon 2 is inserted into the oral cavity. The positioning part 4 is fixed by being held vertically between the upper and lower front teeth 200 and 201. Once the positioning part 4 is fixed, the position of the balloon 2 in the oral cavity is set to a predetermined position and becomes less likely to shift from that predetermined position. Thus, the positioning part 4 is a part for positioning the position of the balloon 2 in the oral cavity. The axial length of the positioning part 4 can be set to, for example, 10 mm or more.

[0036] The base end of balloon 2 and the tip end of positioning part 4 are connected and integrated, and in this state, the inside of balloon 2 and the inside of positioning part 4 are in communication. Also, the base end of positioning part 4 and the tip end of grip 3 are connected and integrated, and in this state, the inside of positioning part 4 and the inside of grip 3 are in communication. In other words, the inside of balloon 2 and the inside of grip 3 are in communication via positioning part 4. Such an air passage is formed inside the measuring probe 1.

[0037] A tip-side rib 5, projecting radially outward, is provided at the boundary between the balloon 2 and the positioning section 4. The tip-side rib 5 is a continuous annular rib in the circumferential direction. The projection height of the tip-side rib 5 from the surface of the measuring probe 1 can be, for example, 0.5 mm or more, or 0.8 mm or more.

[0038] A proximal end rib 6, which protrudes radially outward, is provided at the boundary between the grip 3 and the positioning portion 4. The proximal end rib 6 is an annular rib similar to the tip end rib 5, and its protrusion height from the surface of the measuring probe 1 is, for example, 0.5 mm or more, or 0.8 mm or more.

[0039] The tip rib 5 and the proximal rib 6 indicate the position of the positioning part 4 and also indicate the axial range of the positioning part 4. The user can visually confirm the positioning part 4 by looking at the tip rib 5 and the proximal rib 6 before inserting the balloon 2 into the oral cavity. After inserting the balloon 2 into the oral cavity, the tip rib 5 and the proximal rib 6 can be confirmed by the front teeth 200, 201, lips 203, tongue 204, etc., so the positioning part 4 can be confirmed even after the balloon 2 has been inserted into the oral cavity. Therefore, when using the measuring probe 1, the user can always hold and fix the positioning part 4 with the front teeth 200, 201.

[0040] The tip rib 5 and the base rib 6 may be omitted. Alternatively, only one of the tip rib 5 and the base rib 6 may be retained, and the other may be omitted. Furthermore, the tip rib 5 and the base rib 6 may be discontinuous in the circumferential direction, or may be provided only in a portion of the circumferential direction.

[0041] As shown in Figure 6, the inner and / or outer circumferential surfaces of the positioning part 4 have tapered surfaces 4a formed such that the inner diameter decreases toward the grip 3 side. That is, the inner diameter of the positioning part 4 is smallest toward the grip 3 side and largest toward the balloon 2 side. The inner and / or outer circumferential surfaces of the positioning part 4 gradually decrease toward the grip 3 side. The inner or outer diameter of the positioning part 4 could be the same in the axial direction from the balloon 2 side to the grip 3 side, but having a tapered surface formed such that the inner or outer diameter gradually decreases toward the grip 3 side of the positioning part 4 prevents obstruction of the fluid flow inside the probe 1 compared to a straight cylindrical shape, thereby improving measurement accuracy. In addition, it is easy for users (subjects) of any mouth size to bite down on the probe with their teeth, and there is no need to create steps or corners between the grip 3 and the positioning part 4, so the user (subject) is less likely to get injured when they put the probe 1 in their mouth. Furthermore, it becomes easier to stably manufacture probe 1, which exhibits high airtightness and measurement accuracy.

[0042] The end of the grip 3 opposite to the balloon 2 (the base end) is formed in a straight tubular shape. A straight tubular shape is a tube in which the inner diameter and outer diameter do not change. Therefore, the inner diameter of the base end of the grip 3 is the same from one end to the other in the axial direction, and the outer diameter of the base end of the grip 3 is the same from one end to the other in the axial direction. The grip 3 may be formed in a straight tubular shape not only at the base end but throughout its entire axial direction. In this case, the inner diameter of the grip 3 will be the same from one end to the other in the axial direction, and the outer diameter will also be the same from one end to the other in the axial direction. A straight tubular grip 3 can be molded with high molding precision, making it possible to make the wall thickness uniform in both the circumferential and axial directions of the grip 3. As a result, the strength of the grip 3 is stabilized, and the airtightness between the grip 3 and the measuring tube 107 can be further improved.

[0043] The grip 3 is configured to slip-connect to the tip-side connecting member 112 of the measuring device body 101. That is, since the connecting cylinder portion 112c of the tip-side connecting member 112 is cylindrical, the outer surface extends continuously in both the circumferential and axial directions. The outer surface of the connecting cylinder portion 112c is smoothly formed, and when the connecting cylinder portion 112c is inserted into the grip 3, the outer surface of the connecting cylinder portion 112c and the inner surface of the grip 3 come into close contact. In other words, the inner diameter of the grip 3 is set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting cylinder portion 112c, and its outer surface is formed to follow the outer surface of the connecting cylinder portion 112c, so that the grip 3 can be slip-connected simply by inserting it into the tip-side connecting member 112. In this embodiment, the slip connection was formed between the inner circumferential surface of the grip 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder portion 112c, but it may also be formed between the outer circumferential surface of the grip 3 and the inner circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder portion 112c, for example.

[0044] With the grip 3 connected to the tip-side connecting member 112, the shape and position of the cylindrical portion 112a are set such that the base end of the grip 3 is positioned inside the cylindrical portion 112a of the tip-side connecting member 112. The outer circumferential surface of the base end of the grip 3 is provided with a male thread 3a that screws into the female thread 112b provided on the measuring tube 107 of the measuring device body 101. The male thread 3a is provided only on the base end of the grip 3 and not on the tip end. After inserting the grip 3 into the tip-side connecting member 112, the male thread 3a can be screwed into the female thread 112b by rotating the cylindrical portion 112a around its axis. This prevents the grip 3 from unexpectedly detaching from the tip-side connecting member 112 and maintains an airtight seal. The male thread 3a and female thread 112b may be provided as needed and may be omitted.

[0045] The male screw 3a is a double-start screw and includes threads that are continuous for more than half a turn in the circumferential direction of the grip 3. That is, if the male screw 3a were provided only in a part of the circumferential direction, after molding, there would be a difference in shrinkage between the part with the male screw 3a and the part without the male screw 3a, making it difficult for the cross-section to become circular, and as a result there would be concerns that the airtightness would decrease. However, because the male screw 3a is continuous for more than half a turn in the circumferential direction of the grip 3, the cross-section of the part of the grip 3 where the male screw 3a is formed can be made closer to circular. This makes it possible to increase the degree of contact with the outer surface of the connecting cylinder part 112c. The male screw 3a in the grip 3 includes double-start screws that are continuous for more than half a turn in the circumferential direction of the grip 3, but it is also possible for there to be double-start screws that are continuous for more than one turn in the circumferential direction of the grip 3, or for there to be single-start screws that are continuous for more than one turn. It is particularly preferable for there to be double-start screws that are continuous for more than one turn in the circumferential direction of the grip 3.

[0046] The internal volume of balloon 2 is set to be more than half of the total internal volume of measuring probe 1, specifically more than 60% of the total internal volume of measuring probe 1. The total internal volume of measuring probe 1 is the sum of the internal volume of balloon 2, the internal volume of positioning section 4, and the internal volume of grip 3, for example, 4000 mm³. 3The above can be achieved. On the other hand, the internal volume of balloon 2 is the volume from the tip of balloon 2 to the boundary with the positioning part 4. The internal volume of balloon 2 can be 90% or less of the total internal volume of measuring probe 1. When the internal volume of balloon 2 was 59% or less, it did not show sufficient measurement accuracy, but it showed sufficient measurement accuracy at 60% or more, for example, 64%, 82%, and 87%.

[0047] The compressive strength of grip 3 is set to be more than twice that of balloon 2. The method for measuring the compressive strength of balloon 2 will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 shows a measuring instrument 300 for measuring compressive strength. The measuring instrument 300 comprises a base 301, a plunger 302, and a drive unit 310 for raising and lowering the plunger 302. The base 301 has a holding part 303 for holding the balloon 2 of the measuring probe 1 and a support part 304, which are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the central axis A of the measuring probe 1. The support part 304 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the base 301 and extends horizontally perpendicular to the direction of the central axis A of the measuring probe 1. The support part 304 has a sharp shape when viewed from the side, and the tip (upper end) of this support part 304 is positioned to contact the part of the measuring probe 1 to be measured from below. When measuring the compressive strength of balloon 2, since the measurement target is balloon 2, the measuring probe 1 is held by the holding part 303 so that the tip of the support part 304 abuts against the axial middle part of balloon 2 from below.

[0048] The plunger 302 is positioned directly above the support portion 304 so as to face the tip of the support portion 304. The plunger 302 protrudes downward and extends horizontally perpendicular to the central axis A of the measuring probe 1. The plunger 302 has a sharp shape when viewed from the side, and its tip (lower end) contacts the measurement point of the measuring probe 1 from above. The plunger 302 and the support portion 304 are made of highly rigid metal or resin material and do not deform even when the measuring probe 1 is pressed against them.

[0049] With the plunger 302 raised by the drive unit 310, the measuring probe 1 is set and positioned so that the axial middle portion of the balloon 2 is between the tip of the support unit 304 and the tip of the plunger 302. Then, the plunger 302 is lowered by the drive unit 310 at a speed of 20 mm / min, and the compressive strength of the balloon 2 is obtained by measuring the strength when the axial middle portion of the balloon 2 deforms by 3 mm using a piezoelectric element or the like.

[0050] Figure 9 shows the measurement of the compressive strength of grip 3. When measuring the compressive strength of grip 3, the same measuring instrument 300 used when measuring the compressive strength of balloon 2 is used. First, with the plunger 302 raised by the drive unit 310, the measuring probe 1 is set and the axial middle part of grip 3 is positioned between the tip of the support unit 304 and the tip of the plunger 302. The part of grip 3 with the longest vertical dimension is the measurement point. Then, the plunger 302 is lowered by the drive unit 310 at a speed of 20 mm / min, and the compressive strength of grip 3 is obtained by measuring the strength when the axial middle part of grip 3 deforms by 3 mm using a piezoelectric element or the like.

[0051] When measuring oral pressure, the balloon 2 is pressed by, for example, the tongue, so to improve responsiveness during measurement, it is desirable for the balloon 2 to be easily deformable. On the other hand, the grip 3 is the part that connects to the tip-side connecting member 112, so in order to improve airtightness, it is desirable to have high strength so that it does not easily deform even when the internal pressure rises during measurement. In short, we want to achieve both the ease of deformation of the balloon 2 and the resistance to deformation of the grip 3, but in this embodiment, the balloon 2 and the grip 3 are molded as one piece, so they are made of the same material. If a resin is selected that prioritizes the ease of deformation of the balloon 2, the grip 3 may become easily deformed, potentially leading to a decrease in airtightness. Conversely, if a resin is selected that prioritizes the resistance to deformation of the grip 3, the balloon 2 may become difficult to deform, potentially leading to a decrease in responsiveness.

[0052] In this embodiment, by devising the structure of the measuring probe 1 and various dimensional settings, the compressive strength of the grip 3 is made to be more than twice the compressive strength of the balloon 2. This makes it possible to make the balloon 2 easily deformable when pressed, for example with the tongue, thereby improving responsiveness during measurement, while obtaining a grip 3 that does not easily deform even when the internal pressure rises during measurement, thereby improving airtightness. Improving the airtightness of the grip 3 contributes to improving measurement accuracy.

[0053] The compressive strength of grip 3 is preferably five times or more than that of balloon 2, and more preferably twenty times or more. Furthermore, by setting the compressive strength of grip 3 to thirty times or more than that of balloon 2, the airtightness of grip 3 can be further enhanced. By setting the compressive strength difference between grip 3 and balloon 2 in this way, it is possible to achieve a high level of balance between the appropriate ease of deformation of balloon 2 and the resistance to deformation of grip 3.

[0054] An example of a configuration that makes it possible to make the compressive strength of grip 3 more than twice that of balloon 2 is to create a difference in the wall thickness of grip 3 and balloon 2. For example, by setting the wall thickness of grip 3 to 1.0 mm and the wall thickness of balloon 2 to 0.3 mm, the above-mentioned difference in compressive strength can be created. The wall thickness of grip 3 can be set in the range of, for example, 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. The wall thickness of balloon 2 only needs to be such that the above-mentioned difference in compressive strength is ensured, and can be set in the range of, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm. The compressive strength of grip 3 is preferably 1 N or more, more preferably 5 N or more, and especially preferably 20 N or more.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, when the wall thickness of the grip 3 is t and the radius of the outer circumference of the grip 3 is r, t 2 / r is set to be between 0.05 and 1.30. t is the ratio of the wall thickness of grip 3 to the outer diameter (outer diameter of the outer shape) of grip 3. 2By setting / r within the above range, grip 3 becomes less likely to collapse, ensuring sufficient airtightness. For example, when the radius r of grip 3 is 3 mm and the wall thickness t is 1 mm, t2 / r becomes 0.33.

[0056] Balloon 2 has a flattened shape, with its vertical dimension being shorter than its horizontal dimension. For example, when measuring tongue pressure by placing Balloon 2 on the tongue, force is applied to push the tongue upwards. In this case, the flattened shape of Balloon 2 is more stable than that of a spherical balloon, hence the flattened shape of Balloon 2. Similarly, when measuring cheek pressure by placing Balloon 2 inside the cheek, when measuring sublingual muscle pressure by placing Balloon 2 under the tongue, or when measuring lip pressure by holding Balloon 2 between the upper and lower lips, the flattened shape of Balloon 2 is more stable.

[0057] Figure 7 shows a cross-section perpendicular to the central axis A (shown in Figure 3, etc.) extending in the direction of insertion of balloon 2 into the oral cavity. Because balloon 2 has a vertically flattened shape, the cross-section has a major axis direction (left-right direction) and a minor axis direction (up-down direction). The cross-section shown in Figure 7 is the cross-section at the position where the length of the minor axis is maximum, that is, the cross-section at the position where the vertical dimension of balloon 2 is maximum. When the length of the major axis of the outer circumference shape of the cross-section shown in Figure 7 is a, and the length of the minor axis is b, and the wall thickness of balloon 2 at the position where the length of the minor axis b of the cross-section is maximum is tb, and the radius of the outer circumference shape in the minor axis direction is rb, then tb / rb is set to be between 0.01 and 0.10. By setting tb / rb, which is the ratio of the wall thickness of balloon 2 to the outer diameter (outer diameter of the outer shape) of balloon 2, within the above range, balloon 2 becomes more easily deformed by, for example, the force of the tongue. For example, when the radius rb of the outer circumference shape in the short axis direction of balloon 2 is 7.5 mm and the wall thickness tb is 0.3 mm, then tb / rb is 0.04.

[0058] At the position where the length b of the minor axis of the cross-section of balloon 2 is maximum (the position shown in Figure 7), the perimeter of the cross-section is set to be between 1.05 and 48 times the perimeter of grip 3. The lower limit of the perimeter of balloon 2 at the position where the length b of the minor axis is maximum can be set to, for example, 30 mm or more, or 50 mm or more. The upper limit of the perimeter of balloon 2 at the position where the length b of the minor axis is maximum can be set to, for example, 100 mm or less.

[0059] Furthermore, the lower limit of the circumference of grip 3 can be, for example, 1.5 mm or more, or 10 mm or more. The upper limit of the circumference of grip 3 can be, for example, 40 mm or less, or 30 mm or less. As an example, at the position where the length b of the minor axis of the cross-section of balloon 2 is maximum, the circumference of the cross-section is 74.5 mm and the circumference of grip 3 is 18.8 mm, so the circumference of the cross-section is 3.96 times the circumference of grip 3. Note that these dimensions are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these dimensions.

[0060] The perimeter of balloon 2 in a cross-section perpendicular to the cross-section of balloon 2 and along the long axis of said cross-section (the cross-section shown in Figure 6) is set to be 1.01 times or more and 2.1 times or less the perimeter of a cross-section perpendicular to the cross-section of balloon 2 and along the short axis of said cross-section, and more preferably 1.08 times or more and 1.9 times or less.

[0061] Furthermore, the dimension of the balloon 2 in the direction of its central axis A is set to, for example, 10 mm or more and 60 mm or less. At the position where the length b of the minor axis of the cross-section of the balloon 2 is maximum, the length a of the major axis is set to 15 mm or more and 25 mm or less, and the length b of the minor axis is set to 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less. For example, when the perimeter of the balloon 2 in a cross section perpendicular to the cross-section of the balloon 2 and along the major axis of the cross-section is 80.1 mm, and the perimeter of a cross section perpendicular to the cross-section of the balloon 2 and along the minor axis of the cross-section is 74.5 mm, then the perimeter of the balloon 2 in a cross section perpendicular to the cross-section of the balloon 2 and along the major axis of the cross-section is 1.08 times the perimeter of the cross section perpendicular to the cross-section of the balloon 2 and along the minor axis of the cross-section.

[0062] The compressive strength of the positioning section 4 is set to be the same as that of the grip 3. This prevents the positioning section 4 from being completely crushed when the user bites down with their front teeth 200 and 201, allowing air to circulate during measurement. Furthermore, since the positioning section 4 is also made of an elastic resin, damage to the front teeth 200 and 201 when the user bites down with them can be suppressed.

[0063] The measuring probe 1, configured as described above, can be molded, for example, by blow molding. Although not shown in the figures, when using blow molding, molten resin is extruded from a die to obtain a parison with the same inner and outer diameters in the axial direction. Then, as shown in Figure 11, compressed air is introduced into the parison and it is inflated in openable and closable molds 400 and 401 to obtain the measuring probe 1. Since the circumference of the grip 3 of the measuring probe 1 is shorter than the circumference of the balloon 2, the wall thickness of the grip 3 is thicker than the wall thickness of the balloon 2. This makes the compressive strength of the grip 3 more than twice that of the balloon 2. Note that the molding method for the measuring probe 1 is not limited to blow molding.

[0064] (How to use) Next, the method of using the pressure measuring device 100 configured as described above will be explained. First, the balloon 2 is connected to the measuring tube 107, and then the user inserts the balloon 2 of the measuring probe 1 into the oral cavity. The position of the balloon 2 in the oral cavity can be set according to the area to be measured. The internal pressure of the balloon 2 is maintained at a level higher than atmospheric pressure by the pressurizing pump 101A.

[0065] Subsequently, to measure tongue pressure, balloon 2 is placed on the tongue and force is applied to push the tongue upward. This compresses balloon 2 vertically, increasing the air pressure inside balloon 2. The change in air pressure inside balloon 2 is detected by the pressure sensor 102 of the pressure measuring device body 101 via the measuring tube 107. Based on the signal output from the pressure sensor 102, the control device 103 determines the pressure level and displays the determination result on the display unit 104.

[0066] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, since the flat balloon 2 inserted into the oral cavity and the grip 3 connected to the oral pressure measuring device body 101 are integrally molded, air leakage between the balloon 2 and the grip 3 is eliminated, and a measuring probe 1 with a small number of parts is obtained. When connecting this measuring probe 1 to the oral pressure measuring device body 101, the connecting cylinder portion 112c of the tip-side connecting member 112 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical grip 3, thereby creating a slip connection between the inner circumferential surface of the grip 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the connecting cylinder portion 112c.

[0067] In this connected state, the compressive strength of the grip 3 is more than twice that of the balloon 2, so the inner surface of the grip 3 can be tightly pressed against the outer surface of the connecting cylinder 112c. As a result, high airtightness is ensured without the need to provide an O-ring or the like between the grip 3 and the connecting cylinder 112c.

[0068] Furthermore, since the compressive strength of balloon 2 is less than half that of grip 3, it deforms easily when pressed by a user, for example, with their tongue. This improves both the responsiveness during measurement and the accuracy of the measurement.

[0069] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted restrictively. Furthermore, any modifications or changes that fall within the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

[0070] Figures 12 and 13 show a measuring probe 1 according to Modification 1 of the embodiment of the present invention. Compared to the embodiment described above, the measuring probe 1 according to Modification 1 has a more angular shape at the tip of the balloon 2 in plan view. Thus, the present invention can be applied even if the tip of the balloon 2 has an angular shape.

[0071] Figures 14 and 15 show a measurement probe 1 according to a modified example 2 of the embodiment of the present invention. Compared to the embodiment described above, the tip of the balloon 2 in the measurement probe 1 according to modified example 2 is rounded. Thus, the present invention can be applied even if the tip of the balloon 2 is rounded. In other words, the shape of the balloon 2 is not particularly limited. [Industrial applicability]

[0072] As described above, the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to this disclosure can be used, for example, to measure oral cavity pressure such as tongue pressure, sublingual muscle pressure, lip pressure, and cheek pressure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Probe for measuring oral pressure 2 Balloons 3 Grips 3a Male screw 4 Positioning section 4a Tapered surface 5. Ribs at the tip 6. Ribs on the base end 100 Oral-related pressure measuring devices 101 Pressure measuring device main body 112b Female thread

Claims

1. A probe for measuring oral pressure, integrally molded from resin, A flat balloon inserted into the oral cavity, It comprises a roughly cylindrical grip connected to the main body of an oral pressure measuring device, A probe for measuring oral pressure, wherein the compressive strength of the grip is more than twice that of the balloon.

2. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 1, When the thickness of the grip is t and the radius of the outer circumference of the grip is r, t ２ A probe for measuring oral pressure, with a / r value of 0.05 to 1.

30.

3. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 1, When the length of the major axis and the length of the minor axis of the outer periphery of the cross-section perpendicular to the central axis extending in the direction of insertion into the oral cavity of the balloon are denoted as a, the thickness of the balloon at the position where the length of the minor axis of the cross-section is maximum is denoted as tb, and the radius of the outer periphery in the direction of the minor axis is denoted as rb, A probe for measuring oral pressure, where tb / rb is between 0.01 and 0.

10.

4. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 3, A probe for measuring oral pressure, wherein, at the position where the length of the minor axis of the cross-section is maximum, the perimeter of the cross-section is 1.05 times or more and 48 times or less the perimeter of the grip.

5. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 3, A probe for measuring oral pressure, wherein the perimeter of a cross section perpendicular to the aforementioned cross-section and along the aforementioned major axis is 1.01 times or more and 2.1 times or less the perimeter of a cross section perpendicular to the aforementioned cross-section and along the aforementioned minor axis.

6. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 3, A probe for measuring oral pressure, wherein the internal volume of the balloon is 60% or more of the total internal volume of the probe.

7. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 2, A cylindrical positioning portion having a predetermined length is provided between the balloon and the grip. A probe for measuring oral pressure, wherein ribs protruding radially outward are provided at the boundary between the balloon and the positioning portion, and at the boundary between the grip and the positioning portion.

8. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 7, The positioning portion is a probe for measuring oral pressure, having a tapered surface formed such that its inner diameter decreases toward the grip side.

9. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 2, The grip opposite the balloon is formed in a straight tube shape, which is a probe for measuring oral pressure.

10. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 7, The grip is a straight-tubular probe for measuring oral pressure.

11. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 1, The grip is configured to slip-connect to a connector on the main body of the measuring device, and is a probe for measuring oral pressure.

12. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 1, A probe for measuring oral pressure, wherein the outer surface of the grip is provided with a male thread that engages with a female thread provided on a measuring tube of the measuring device body.

13. In the oral cavity pressure measuring probe according to claim 12, The male screw is a double-start screw and includes a continuous thread for more than half a turn in the circumferential direction of the grip, wherein the probe is for measuring oral pressure.

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