Portable biological information observation device and portable biological information observation system

Abstract

To provide a small, easy-to-handle portable biological information observation device. [Solution] A portable bio-information observation device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a portable bio-information observation system comprising at least an irradiation device for irradiating the lymphatic system and / or blood vessels as the part to be observed with photon energy, an imaging device for imaging the visualized part to be observed, a display device, and an operation unit, wherein the system comprises a main body having the irradiation device, the imaging device, and the display device, the main body having a photon energy emission unit and an imaging unit on one side of its opposing surface, a display unit on the other side of the opposing surface, and an illumination control unit for controlling the visualization light of the illumination device, the illumination control unit controlling the irradiation device for irradiating the photon energy to have a wavelength, brightness, and brightness distribution set according to the visualization conditions of the part to be observed, based on a command from the operation unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable biological information observation device and a portable biological information observation system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a device for observing biological information, for example, a visualization image of the lymphatic system, Patent Document 1 discloses a lymphatic system function evaluation device that administers a visualization agent to a human body and irradiates light to visualize the lymphatic system and observes a visualization image of the lymphatic system with an imaging device.

[0003] Also, for example, as a device for observing an image of the pupil, Patent Document 2 discloses a photorefractor including a photographing optical system that photographs illumination light from an illumination light source reflected by the fundus of an eye to be examined, a position detection means that detects the separation distance between the photographing optical system and the eye to be examined, and an image processing arithmetic unit that analyzes a photographed image obtained by the photographing optical system.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Since the lymphatic system function evaluation device of Patent Document 1 includes devices such as a camera unit including an imaging device and a light irradiation device, a lymphatic system function evaluation device, an input device, and a display, it becomes a large-scale device and is used in a state installed in a dedicated examination room or the like. Therefore, for example, even when the observed part is a part of the body or when performing preliminary observation, there is a problem that the subject can only observe a visualization image of the lymphatic system in a dedicated examination room.

[0006] The photorefractor described in Patent Document 2 is a device that arranges multiple point light sources in a horizontal row from left to right as illumination sources, selectively lights up one of the point light sources, and observes a bright crescent in the pupil corresponding to this point light source. Therefore, the light source is limited to a point light source, and the application of this technology is limited to a photorefractor for observing the image of the pupil.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and aims to provide a compact and easy-to-handle portable biological information observation device or portable biological information observation system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A portable biological information observation device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises at least an irradiation device that irradiates a part to be observed with photon energy, an imaging device that captures the part to be observed visualized by irradiation with the visualization light from the irradiation device as a visualization image and generates a visualization image signal of the part to be observed, a display device that displays the visualization image signal generated by the imaging device, and an operation unit, wherein the part to be observed is at least one of the lymphatic system and blood vessels, and comprises at least a main body having the irradiation device, the imaging device, and the display device, the main body having at least a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces having the photon energy emission part of the irradiation device and the imaging part of the imaging device, the other surface of the opposing surface having the display unit of the display device, and an illumination control unit that controls the visualization light of the illumination device, the illumination control unit controls the irradiation device that irradiates with photon energy to have a wavelength, brightness, and brightness distribution set according to the visualization conditions of the part to be observed, based on a command from the operation unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to a portable biological information observation device of one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a compact and easy-to-handle portable biological information observation device or portable biological information observation system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of a portable biological information observation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a front view of a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a rear view of a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a side view of a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an example of a visible image of a lymphatic system including multiple systems, obtained by a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (A) is an example of the display unit, and (B) is a trace diagram of the lymphatic system. [Figure 7] This is an example of a visible image including the lymphatic system and blood vessels obtained by a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. (A) is an example of the display unit, and (B) is a trace diagram of the lymphatic system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention, including a portable biological information observation device and a portable biological information observation system, will be described. However, the embodiments shown below are illustrative examples of portable biological information observation devices for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these, but is equally applicable to other embodiments included in the claims.

[0012] A portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

[0013] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the portable biological information observation device 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front view of the portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 3 is a rear view of the portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 4 is a side view of the portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0014] The portable biological information observation device 10 comprises a main body 11. The main body 11 has a pair of opposing surfaces, with the emission section 21 of the illumination device 20 and the imaging section 31 of the imaging device 30 provided on one of the opposing surfaces, and the display section 41 of the display device 40 provided on the other opposing surface. The main body also includes a control device 50, which is connected to an external system 60 via wireless communication such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The external system includes an image analysis device 61 that analyzes the visualization images captured by the imaging device 30 of the portable biological information observation device 10, and an enlargement display device 62 that displays the image information analyzed by the image analysis device or the visualization images captured by the imaging device 30 in an enlarged format.

[0015] The portable biological information observation device 10 of the present invention has the following functions a) to h). a) The entire surface surrounding the camera can be used as an illumination device. b) The front of the back can be used as a monitor. c) A rod-shaped grip portion supporting the imaging and monitoring unit is provided on the underside. d) There is a protrusion extending vertically from the front of the grip section to improve holding power. e) Operability via switches that can be operated with the thumb or index finger: The grip and operation buttons are easy to operate with one hand. f) Use an LED as the light source of the lighting device to evenly illuminate the observed part. Also, it is preferable that the light passes through the skin and irradiates deep inside. If the distance is short, in the case of a handy type, the emitted light luminance of the LED is sufficient to pass through the skin. That is, there is no need to use laser light. g) Multiple LEDs can be arranged to omit optical elements such as collimators and lenses. h) A function to control the irradiation of the LED according to the fluorescence conditions of the fluorescent agent.

[0016] [1. Intensity of infrared rays] (1) Conventionally, from 0 (off) to 10 (maximum). (2) In this application, it is preset Strong: Deep part (appropriately set from 5 to 10) Weak: Skin surface (1 to 2) Medium: Intermediate value) (3) Realized by a collimated light LED array. Even in the handy type, a wide range can be observed by panoramic photography. Although the imaging range of the camera in the handy type is limited, by synthesizing the imaging information obtained by moving the camera along the observed part through image processing using the panoramic photography function, a panoramic image can be obtained. From this panoramic image, a visualization image over a wide range of the observed part can be obtained. (4) A 3D fluorescence image can be obtained from fluorescence images with different depths. Image data with depth can be obtained.

[0017] The light source section of the irradiation device's output unit has multiple LEDs arranged, for example, in a matrix. The output unit of the irradiation device utilizes the straight-line propagation of LED light to emit visualization light that is uniform and parallel across the entire surface area of ​​the output unit. Because it utilizes the straight-line propagation of LED light, there is no need to attach separate optical sheets, separate collimating lenses, or other optical components to the output surface of the output unit. Such a light source is generally called a surface light source, but in this embodiment, the output unit does not only mean uniformly distributing the light source across the entire surface, but also includes any light source unit as long as the light emitted from the output unit is substantially parallel light. For example, a ring-shaped light source also achieves a uniform brightness distribution, so it is included as a form of output unit.

[0018] For example, the control panel can include a first switch (a switch for switching between video and still images) and a second switch (a preset switch for infrared intensity).

[0019] [2. Expansion of the scope of application] 2-1. Lymphatic System Indocyanine green (hereinafter referred to as "ICG") can be used as a visualization agent. When visualizing the lymphatic system with visualization light, for example, ICG can be injected into the lymphatic system as a visualization agent, and then near-infrared light can be used as the visualization light. In this embodiment, the combination of visualization light and visualization agent is not limited to this, and any combination can be adopted as long as the observed area can be visualized. For example, any photon energy including at least one of visible light, infrared light, near-infrared light, ultraviolet light, and laser light can be used as the visualization light. In addition, depending on the visualization light and the observed area, it is possible to choose to use the visualization agent containing at least one of ICG, patent blue, indigo carmine, lipiodol, isosulfan blue, and iopamilon, or not to use the visualization agent. Similarly, for observed areas other than the lymphatic system, the combination of visualization light and visualization agent is not limited to the following examples, and any combination can be adopted as long as the observed area can be visualized. 2-2. Blood Vessels can be visualized by injecting visualization agents such as ICG. Furthermore, because hemoglobin absorbs light, when light is shone on the area being observed, the resulting shadows can be visualized as blood vessels. In this case, since blood vessels can be visualized without using a visualization agent, it becomes possible to choose whether or not to use a visualization agent.

[0020] [3. Wavelengths of infrared radiation] The practical brightness is, for example, 760 nm (near-infrared 700 nm to 1000 nm). The upper limit of visible light (red) is approximately 760 to 850 nm. Here, the use of near-infrared light is exemplified as the emission unit of the illumination device 20, the emission unit of the visualization light 21, as the photon energy emission unit. However, this embodiment is not limited to this, and any photon energy can be used as long as it can be used as visualization light. For example, ultraviolet light, infrared light, visible light, electromagnetic waves, X-rays, etc., can be used as long as they can be visualized by an imaging device such as a camera.

[0021] [4. Configuration of the operating switch] (1) Example of a thumb-side switch Switching between still images and videos is possible, for example, by a single press or long press of a switch. The grip and switch are designed so that the switch can be operated while holding the device with one hand. For example, the switch can be pressed with the thumb. (2) Example of an index finger switch on the light source side With the three preset modes (strong, medium, and weak), you can select the setting with a single switch. Previously, with a selection of 0-10, you had to use an up / down switch to adjust the setting, making one-handed adjustment difficult.

[0022] [5. Convenient Features] (1) By mirroring the handheld monitor, it can be viewed on a larger screen. Image data can be transferred to an external system via wireless communication such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. (2) Power saving enables battery operation. Cordless operation is important in the field. For example, sterile procedures are required in the operating room. It is easier to handle without a power cord. On the other hand, if the battery is heavy or if long operating time is required, an external power source can be used. The size of the battery is envisioned to be similar to that of a power tool battery. (3) As a free arm, it can also be fixed. Various specifications are possible, such as fixing it to a stand, fixing it to the ceiling, fixing it with a headband, making the gripping bar detachable, or changing the fixing fittings. For example, a) gripping bar, b) hanging from the ceiling, and c) headband (freehand) are possible. To make it freehand, a screw-fastening part is provided on the gripping bar. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the arm mounting hole is provided in the center of the bottom surface of the main body. In addition, multiple arm mounting holes are provided on the surrounding surfaces other than the opposing surface of the main body, and in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, in addition to the bottom surface of the main body, an arm mounting hole is also provided in the center of the right side surface of the main body, and by changing the arm mounting position, it is possible to switch the screen between portrait and landscape orientation. (4) The arm is angle-adjustable and extendable, allowing the camera to be positioned in the desired orientation, and the display device to be positioned in a way that is easy for the operator to view.

[0023] [Test Example 1] Visualization of the lymphatic system Figure 6 shows an example of a visible image obtained by a portable biological information observation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (A) is an example of the display unit, and (B) is a trace diagram of the lymphatic system.

[0024] In Test Example 1, a visualization image of the lymphatic system is obtained using the portable biological information observation device of Embodiment 1.

[0025] (Test method) 1) Inject ICG as a visualization agent into the lymphatic vessel to be observed. 2) Operate the first switch on the control panel to select either video or still image. 3) The second switch on the control unit is operated to set the use of near-infrared light emitted from the device's emitter to correspond to the target lymphatic vessel depth. The second switch consists of, for example, three preset switches, from which the use of near-infrared light is selected from strong (mode for imaging the deep lymphatic system), medium (mode for imaging the lymphatic system at a medium depth), and weak (mode for imaging the shallow lymphatic system). By operating the second switch according to the visualization conditions of the area being observed, the wavelength, brightness, and brightness distribution of the near-infrared light emitted from the irradiation device as visualization light are set to correspond to the target lymphatic vessel depth. 4) While irradiating the area under observation with visualization light having a wavelength, brightness, and brightness distribution set by the second switch on the control unit from the irradiation device, the imaging device captures an image of the area under observation and fluorescence as a visualization image of the lymphatic system of the area under observation, and acquires a visualization image signal. 5) Display at least one of the images of the observed area captured by the imaging device and the visualized image of the lymphatic system of the observed area on a display device to confirm the visualized image. 6) If necessary, at least one of the images of the observed area captured by the imaging device and the visualized lymphatic system of the observed area is mirrored to an external system via wireless communication, so that the visualized image can be viewed on the external system's large display.

[0026] (Test results) As shown in the display example of the display unit in Figure 6(A) and the traced diagram of the lymphatic system in Figure 6(B), by irradiating the observed area with near-infrared light (760 nm), the lymphatic system could be visualized by fluorescence, and a visualized image could be obtained. Furthermore, by correlating with mapping data of multiple lymphatic systems obtained in advance, multiple lymphatic systems can be identified and distinguished, and each lymphatic system can be displayed, for example, using a different color. In the example in Figure 6(A), three types of lymphatic systems are displayed in different colors on the display unit. Figure 6(B) is a diagram that more clearly represents the appearance of the lymphatic system by tracing the display example on the actual display unit in Figure 6(A).

[0027] [Method for obtaining multiple lymphatic system mapping data] There are no particular limitations on the method for acquiring mapping data for multiple lymphatic systems, but for example, the following methods can be employed. (1) First, in the first visualization test, the entire lymphatic system pathway is identified by injecting the fluorescent agent into the entire lymphatic system so that the fluorescent agent reaches all lymphatic systems of the subject. (2) Next, as the first stage of the second visualization test, a fluorescent agent is injected into only one location among the lymphatic systems identified in (1) above, to visualize only one lymphatic system from among multiple lymphatic systems, and mapping image data of that first lymphatic system is obtained. (3) Furthermore, as the second stage of the second visualization test, a fluorescent agent is injected into one of the areas within the entire lymphatic system pathway identified in (1) above that was not colored in (2) above, and a differential fluorescence image of only the second lymphatic system from among multiple lymphatic systems is obtained, thereby obtaining mapping image data of that second lymphatic system. (4) Repeat the third and fourth stages in the same manner as in (3) above, until all of the entire lymphatic system pathways identified in (1) above are obtained as mapping image data of individual lymphatic systems.

[0028] [Embodiment 2] A portable biological information observation device and portable biological information observation system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The description of components common to Figures 1 to 6 will be omitted. Embodiment 1 obtained a visualization image of the lymphatic system, but this embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that it obtains visualization images of parts of the observed area other than the lymphatic system (visual images of parts b) to j) below.

[0029] In other words, in this embodiment, the part to be observed is the following, into which a visualization agent has been injected. b) Blood vessels: Blood vessels can be visualized by injecting visualization agents such as ICG. Furthermore, because hemoglobin absorbs light, when light is shone on the area being observed, the resulting shadows can be visualized as blood vessels. In this case, since blood vessels can be visualized without using a visualization agent, it becomes possible to choose whether or not to use a visualization agent.

[0030] [Test Example 2] Regarding the acquisition of visualized images of blood vessels As a second test example of this embodiment, an example of acquiring a visualized image of blood vessels is shown. Figure 7 is an example of a visible image including the lymphatic system and blood vessels obtained by the portable biological information observation device of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. (A) is an example of the display unit, and (B) is a trace diagram of the lymphatic system.

[0031] [Test Method] (1) A visualization agent was injected into the lymphatic system of the subjects, and images of the lymphatic system were recorded after irradiating it with near-infrared light at a wavelength of 760 μm. The white fluorescent area indicated by the long arrow in Figure 7(A) is the lymphatic system. (2) Figure 7(A), which is an image of the actual display unit described in (1) above, shows not only a visualized image of the lymphatic system but also a visualization of blood vessels. In Figure 7(A), these visualized blood vessels are indicated by short arrows. Hemoglobin flowing in blood vessels absorbs near-infrared light even without the use of a visualization agent, so the blood vessels can be visualized because they appear as dark images along the blood vessel pathways. (3) This embodiment is not limited to the method of visualizing blood vessels using the near-infrared absorption effect of hemoglobin as described in (2) above, which does not use a visualizing agent, but also includes methods using a visualizing agent, for example. For example, a visualizing agent containing ICG, etc., can be injected into the blood vessels of a subject to visualize the blood vessels.

[0032] <Variation> The above embodiments exemplify portable biological information observation devices and portable biological information observation systems that embody the technical concept of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be equally applied to other embodiments, such as modifications to these embodiments or combinations of the technologies described in these embodiments. For example, near-infrared light was given as an example of visualization light, but this embodiment is not limited to this, and any photon energy is acceptable. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 10…Portable biological information observation device 20…Irradiation device 30…Insulating film for display devices 40…Imaging device 50…Control device 60...Gripping part 70…External systems

Claims

1. A portable biological information observation system comprising at least an irradiation device that irradiates the area to be observed with photon energy, an imaging device that captures the area to be observed visualized by the irradiation of the visualization light from the irradiation device as a visualization image and generates a visualization image signal of the area to be observed, a display device that displays the visualization image signal generated by the imaging device, and an operation unit, The observed part is at least one of the lymphatic system and / or blood vessels. The system comprises at least the irradiation device, the imaging device, and the display device, The main body portion has at least one pair of opposing surfaces, A photon energy emission unit of the irradiation device and an imaging unit of the imaging device are provided on one of the opposing surfaces. A display unit for the display device is provided on the other surface of the opposing surface. A portable biological information observation device comprising an illumination control unit that controls the visualization light of the illumination device, wherein the illumination control unit controls the illumination device that irradiates the photon energy to have a wavelength, brightness, and brightness distribution set according to the visualization conditions of the observed part, based on a command from the operation unit.

2. Furthermore, a gripping part is detachably attached to the main body. The gripping portion is formed in an elongated shape and has a grip portion at the tip. The grip portion is provided with a protruding portion that is positioned in a direction intersecting the grip portion. The portable biological information observation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating part is provided near the projection of the protruding part or the grip part.

3. The portable biological information observation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating unit includes at least one of the following switches: a preset switch for setting the wavelength, brightness, and brightness distribution of the visualization light emitted from the irradiation device, and an image switching switch for switching between video and still images.

4. The portable biological information observation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the region in which the plurality of LEDs are arranged is distributed on one of the opposing surfaces, excluding the outer frame portion of one of the opposing surfaces and the imaging unit.

5. The irradiation device irradiates the area to be observed into which the visualization agent has been injected with visualization light. The visualization light is irradiated onto the part to be observed into which the visualization agent has been injected. The portable biological information observation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the imaging device captures a visualized image of the observed portion visualized by the illumination device, and generates a visualized image signal of the observed portion.

6. The part to be observed is injected with the visualization agent. The imaging device captures a visualization image of the area to be observed irradiated by the irradiation device and generates an imaging signal. The portable biological information observation system according to claim 5, characterized in that the display device displays at least the imaging signal of the visualized image.

7. The observed portion is injected with ICG as the visualization agent. The irradiation device irradiates the observed portion with light containing at least one of infrared, near-infrared, or red light as the visualization light. The portable biological information observation device according to claim 5, characterized in that it captures a visualization image including fluorescence in the observed part irradiated with the visualization light by the irradiation device and generates an imaging signal.

8. moreover, (1) By communicating with an external system, the visible image is displayed on an external magnifying monitor. (2) The main unit is equipped with a detachable battery and a function to switch between power supply from the battery and power supply from the power cord. (3) The gripping part is detachably connected to the main body, 3a) It shall be a stationary type. 3b) Secure the device to the mounting stand, ceiling, headband, etc. 3c) To secure by suspending from the ceiling, and, 3d) Attach a mounting bracket instead of the gripping part. The portable biological information observation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body is attached by at least one of the following.

9. A computing device comprising at least a portable biometric information device according to claim 1 and a display device with a mirroring function, A portable biological information observation system comprising: The control device is At a minimum, the image corresponding to the imaging signal of the visualization image is A portable biological information observation system characterized by displaying information on at least one of the display device and the display device with mirroring function.

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