Body cooling system

Abstract

This system provides a body cooling mechanism that is more effective at preventing heatstroke compared to simply removing an already accumulated temperature load. [Solution] The body cooling system 80 calculates the cooling time for cooling a part of the body of the person being supported, based on the person's future behavioral conditions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a body cooling system. [Background Art]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a temperature load management device for removing temperature load accumulated in a hot environment, a cold environment, or the like. In this temperature load management device, based on the user's physiological information, the environment for removing the temperature load is controlled, or the timing to terminate exposure to the environment is notified. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-74536 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] The temperature load management device in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is intended to remove the temperature load that has already been accumulated. However, depending on the user's behavior after the temperature load is removed, even if the temperature load has been removed once, there is still a risk of heatstroke. Therefore, there is room for improvement from the perspective of preventing heatstroke before it occurs.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a body cooling system that makes it easier to prevent heatstroke before it occurs, as compared with the case of removing already accumulated temperature load. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] The body cooling system according to claim 1 calculates a cooling time for cooling a part of the body of a person to be supported based on future behavior conditions of the person to be supported.

[0007] The body cooling system of claim 1 calculates the body cooling time based on future activity conditions, making it easier to prevent heatstroke and other related illnesses in the person being supported. In contrast, when cooling is performed after activity, it is possible to alleviate symptoms of heatstroke and other related illnesses that have occurred, but it is difficult to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

[0008] The body cooling system of claim 2 is the body cooling system of claim 1, further comprising: a personal information acquisition unit for acquiring personal information of the person to be supported; a cooling condition acquisition unit for acquiring cooling conditions; an action condition acquisition unit for acquiring action conditions; and a calculation unit for calculating the cooling time from the personal information, the cooling conditions, and the action conditions.

[0009] In the body cooling system of claim 2, the cooling time can be set according to the physical condition of the person being supported, based on personal information. Furthermore, the cooling time can be set according to the cooling temperature, cooling environment conditions, etc., based on the cooling conditions.

[0010] The body cooling system of claim 3 is the body cooling system of claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates the physiological volume of the person to be supported after the scheduled cooling time has elapsed from the personal information and the cooling conditions, calculates the physiological volume after the action from the calculated physiological volume and the action conditions, and if the physiological volume after the action is outside the predetermined conditions, adjusts the scheduled cooling time to determine the cooling time.

[0011] The body cooling system of claim 3 makes it easy to adjust physiological volumes after activity to within predetermined conditions. This helps to prevent insufficient or excessive cooling.

[0012] The body cooling system of claim 4 is the body cooling system of claim 3, wherein the calculation unit, when the physiological amount after the activity is outside of predetermined conditions, adjusts the time by adding or subtracting a predetermined time from the planned cooling time as a new planned cooling time, and repeats the adjustment of the planned cooling time until the physiological amount after the activity is within the predetermined conditions.

[0013] The body cooling system of claim 4 makes it easier to further adjust physiological amounts after activity within predetermined conditions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is easier to prevent heatstroke compared to removing the already accumulated temperature load. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a body cooling system and control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] (A) is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an attribute information database according to the embodiment, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an behavior information database. [Figure 4] (A) is a graph showing the changes in the heart rate of the person receiving support, and (B) is a graph showing the changes in heart rate when the cooling time is adjusted. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a body cooling process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, a body cooling system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components indicated by the same reference numerals in each drawing are considered to be the same component. Furthermore, descriptions of redundant components and reference numerals in each drawing may be omitted. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications, such as omitting components or replacing them with different components, within the scope of the object of the present invention.

[0017] <Body Cooling System> FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a body cooling system 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The body cooling system 80 is a system for preventing the support target from developing heat stroke or the like in advance, for example, before working at a construction site or a factory, during a break between works, before exercising, or during a break between exercises. This body cooling system 80 can be constructed in various facilities such as construction sites, factories, exercise facilities, and theaters.

[0018] The body cooling system 80 includes a control device 10, a mobile terminal 20, a cooling device 30, a cooling water sensor 32, a cooling environment sensor 34, a clothing amount sensor 40, and a behavior environment sensor 50.

[0019] Among these, the mobile terminal 20 is a terminal carried by the support target, and an arbitrary number of the mobile terminals 20 can be provided according to the number of support targets.

[0020] Further, the cooling device 30, the cooling water sensor 32, the cooling environment sensor 34, and the clothing amount sensor 40 are provided in a break room or the like for the support target. The environment where these are installed is not particularly limited, and may be other than an indoor break room, such as under an outdoor temporary tent or a place irradiated with direct sunlight.

[0021] Further, the behavior environment sensor 50 is provided in a work room or the like where the support target acts. An arbitrary number of the behavior environment sensors 50 can be provided in any work room. The environment where the behavior environment sensor 50 is installed is not limited to indoor spaces such as workplaces and gymnasiums, and may be outdoors.

[0022] (Mobile Terminal) The mobile terminal 20 is, for example, a wristwatch-type wearable terminal. The mobile terminal 20 stores an ID as an identifier of the support target who owns the mobile terminal 20. In addition, the mobile terminal 20 intermittently measures and stores the heart rate of the support target.

[0023] (Cooling Device) The cooling device 30 includes a faucet for discharging water and a flow control valve for adjusting the flow rate of the discharged water. The cooling device 30 may also be configured to include a water storage container for collecting the discharged water, a discharge flow control valve for adjusting the flow rate of the discharged water from the water storage container, and the like.

[0024] The person receiving support cools their body by exposing a part of their body, such as their palms, to running water (cooling water) discharged from a faucet. Alternatively, the person receiving support cools their body by immersing a part of their body, such as their palms, in water (cooling water) stored in a water container. Note that the part of the body to be cooled is not limited to the palms; other parts may also be used. However, the palms, feet, and face, where AVA blood vessels are distributed, are preferred.

[0025] An "AVA vessel" is a type of blood vessel called an "arteriovenous anastomose," which bypasses arteries before they branch into capillaries and veins that return to the heart. AVA vessels are among the skin blood vessels that are found in the extremities of the hands and feet and on the face. AVA vessels open and close in response to the external environment and internal conditions, regulating body temperature.

[0026] While there are no specific restrictions on the temperature of the cooling water, a temperature of around 15°C is preferable to temperatures below 10°C, which are used with ice or similar materials. Groundwater or other sources with a stable temperature throughout the year can also be used as the cooling water.

[0027] Furthermore, the cooling medium is not limited to water; any other material can be used, such as a cooling plate using a Peltier element or a gel-type coolant. However, in this specification, we will describe an example using water.

[0028] (Cooling water sensor) The cooling water sensor 32 is a thermometer that measures the temperature of the cooling water and is installed in the cooling device 30. However, if groundwater is used as the cooling water, the cooling water sensor 32 may be omitted, assuming the cooling water temperature is known. In this case, the groundwater temperature will be stored in the memory unit 13, which will be described later. Alternatively, even if tap water is used, the cooling water sensor 32 may be omitted if the temperature does not fluctuate significantly.

[0029] (Cooling environment sensor) The cooling environment sensor 34 is a general term for detection devices installed in places where the person receiving support cools a part of their body using the cooling device 30, such as the aforementioned rest room. The cooling environment sensor 34 can measure temperature (air temperature) (°C), globe temperature (°C), relative humidity (%RH), airflow velocity (m / s), etc. The sensor that detects temperature is a thermometer. The sensor that detects relative humidity is a hygrometer. The sensor that detects airflow velocity is an anemometer.

[0030] In the following explanation, the term "thermal environment information" may be used to refer collectively to information such as temperature (air temperature) (°C), globe temperature (°C), relative humidity (%RH), and airflow velocity (m / s), or to any of these pieces of information.

[0031] (Clothing amount sensor) The clothing amount sensor 40 is a detection device that detects "clothing amount information" indicating the amount of clothing (clo) worn by the person receiving support. The clothing amount sensor 40 is installed in the aforementioned rest room, etc.

[0032] The clothing amount sensor 40 is configured, for example, to include a thermal camera. When this thermal camera photographs the person being assisted, an estimation device built into the clothing amount sensor 40 estimates the amount of clothing the person is wearing from the captured thermal image.

[0033] Here, it is assumed that the person receiving support is wearing the clothes they will be using for a future activity when the clothing amount sensor 40 detects the amount of clothing they are wearing. "Future activity" refers to an activity to be performed in a workroom or similar location after the body has cooled down. If the person receiving support plans to change clothes after cooling down, they will input the planned amount of clothing after changing into, for example, a mobile terminal 20.

[0034] (Behavioral environment sensor) The configuration of the behavioral environment sensor 50, which is installed in the workroom or other area where the person receiving support is working, is the same as that of the cooling environment sensor 34, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

[0035] <Electrical configuration of the control device> The control device 10 may be installed in the aforementioned break room or in a location separate from the break room. Figure 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the control device 10. The control device 10 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit: processor) 11, a memory 12 as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 13, an input unit 14 such as a keyboard and mouse, a display unit 15 such as a liquid crystal display, a media read / write device (R / W) 16, and an interface (I / F) unit 18. The CPU 11, memory 12, storage unit 13, input unit 14, display unit 15, media read / write device 16, and I / F unit 18 are connected to each other via bus B1. The media read / write device 16 reads information written on the recording medium 17 and writes information to the recording medium 17.

[0036] (Storage part) The storage unit 13 is implemented by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), flash memory, etc. The storage unit 13, as a storage medium, stores the body cooling program 13A. The body cooling program 13A is stored in the storage unit 13 when the recording medium 17 on which the body cooling program 13A is written is set in the media read / write device 16, and the media read / write device 16 reads the body cooling program 13A from the recording medium 17. The CPU 11 reads the body cooling program 13A from the storage unit 13, loads it into memory 12, and sequentially executes the processes contained in the body cooling program 13A.

[0037] The memory unit 13 stores various calculation formulas for calculating the heart rate, which is a physiological value of the person being supported. The memory unit 13 also stores an attribute information database 13B and an behavioral information database 13C. The attribute information database 13B, the behavioral information database 13C, and the various calculation formulas will be described later.

[0038] (Input section) In the input unit 14, the user performs operations to start and stop the body cooling program 13A. The user is, for example, the administrator or person receiving support for the body cooling system 80.

[0039] Furthermore, the user inputs "attribute information" of the person being supported into the input unit 14. The attribute information entered via the input unit 14 is stored in the attribute information database 13B in the storage unit 13 for each person being supported (see Figure 3(A)). Examples of attribute information entered into the input unit include age (years), gender, height (cm), weight (kg), body composition (body fat percentage (%)), and mean blood pressure.

[0040] Attribute information may also be entered via a computer other than the control device 10 (for example, a mobile terminal 20, smartphone, or personal computer owned by the person receiving support). Attribute information entered via a computer other than the control device 10 is transmitted to the control device 10.

[0041] (Display) The display unit 15 displays information for starting and ending the body cooling program 13A (e.g., input buttons). The display unit 15 can also display personal information entered into the input unit. The display unit 15 can be integrated with the input unit 14 by using a touch panel display.

[0042] (I / F section) The I / F unit 18 is an interface that connects the control device 10 to devices other than the control device 10. The I / F unit 18 exchanges electrical signals containing various information with the mobile terminal 20, cooling device 30, cooling water sensor 32, cooling environment sensor 34, clothing amount sensor 40, and behavioral environment sensor 50, etc., via wired or wireless communication.

[0043] <Functional configuration of the control device> Next, with reference to Figure 2, the functional configuration of the control device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the control device 10 includes a personal information acquisition unit 11A, a cooling condition acquisition unit 11B, an action condition acquisition unit 11C, a calculation unit 11D, and a control unit 11E. When the CPU 11 of the control device 10 executes the body cooling program 13A, the CPU 11 functions as the personal information acquisition unit 11A, the cooling condition acquisition unit 11B, the action condition acquisition unit 11C, the calculation unit 11D, and the control unit 11E.

[0044] (Personal Information Acquisition Department) The personal information acquisition unit 11A acquires the personal information of the person receiving support. "Personal information" refers to information including the physiological information and attribute information of the person receiving support.

[0045] Of these, "physiological information" refers to information including the heart rate or blood pressure of the person receiving support immediately before cooling down. The personal information acquisition unit 11A acquires the heart rate of the person receiving support immediately before cooling down, along with the person receiving support's ID, from the mobile terminal 20. "Heart rate immediately before cooling down" refers to the most recent heart rate at the time of acquisition. Furthermore, the heart rate and blood pressure included in "physiological information" are referred to as "physiological amounts."

[0046] Furthermore, "attribute information" includes information such as the age, height, and weight of the person receiving support. The personal information acquisition unit 11A reads and acquires the attribute information of the person receiving support whose ID has been acquired from the attribute information database 13B in the storage unit 13.

[0047] Furthermore, when the person receiving support sends their ID and physiological information to the personal information acquisition unit 11A, the personal information acquisition unit 11A acquires this personal information.

[0048] The transmission of the ID and physiological information from the person receiving support may be performed by the person receiving support performing a transmission operation on the mobile terminal 20. Alternatively, this transmission may be performed by the person receiving support bringing the mobile terminal 20 close to a contactless reader provided near the cooling device 30.

[0049] Alternatively, this transmission may be performed by a sensor automatically acquiring an ID from the mobile terminal 20 upon the person receiving support entering a rest room or similar area. In this way, the transmission of the ID and physiological information from the person receiving support can be performed regardless of whether it is done intentionally or randomly by the person receiving support.

[0050] Furthermore, the personal information acquisition unit 11A may acquire the blood pressure of the person being supported immediately before cooling, instead of the heart rate of the person being supported immediately before cooling. In this case, the person being supported will measure their blood pressure using a blood pressure monitor (not shown) before cooling, and the personal information acquisition unit 11A will acquire the person's blood pressure as a result.

[0051] (Cooling condition acquisition unit) The cooling condition acquisition unit 11B acquires cooling conditions. "Cooling conditions" include information such as the temperature of the cooling water, thermal environment information of the cooling location (such as the rest room mentioned above), and the contact area of ​​the person being supported with the cooling water.

[0052] The cooling condition acquisition unit 11B acquires the "cooling water temperature" from the cooling water sensor 32. The cooling condition acquisition unit 11B also acquires "thermal environment information" of the cooling location from the cooling environment sensor 34.

[0053] Furthermore, the cooling condition acquisition unit 11B acquires the "contact area of ​​the person being supported with the cooling water" by linking it with the attribute information acquired by the personal information acquisition unit 11A. Here, there are individual differences in the area of ​​the palm that comes into contact with the cooling water when it is exposed to or immersed in the cooling water. The cooling condition acquisition unit 11B identifies these individual differences from the attribute information of the person being supported and derives the contact area of ​​the person being supported with the cooling water.

[0054] The method for deriving the contact area with the cooling water from the attribute information is arbitrary. A calculation formula for deriving the contact area with the cooling water from predetermined attribute information may be stored in the storage unit 13, or predetermined attribute information may be associated with the contact area with the cooling water and stored in the storage unit 13.

[0055] For example, the memory unit 13 can store a calculation formula for deriving the contact area with the cooling water from attribute information such as height, weight, and body fat percentage. Furthermore, the "contact area with the cooling water" may be the contact area with the flowing cooling water discharged from the faucet, or the contact area with the cooling water stored in the water storage container after discharge.

[0056] (Action condition acquisition unit) The behavioral condition acquisition unit 11C acquires the future behavioral conditions of the person being supported. "Behavioral conditions" include information such as the location of the activity, the content of the activity at that location, the duration of the activity, thermal environment information of that location, and the amount of clothing the person being supported is wearing.

[0057] The behavioral condition acquisition unit 11C retrieves the future activity locations, activity content, and activity times of the person being supported whose ID has been acquired by the personal information acquisition unit 11A, by reading them from the behavioral information database 13C in the storage unit 13. This information in the behavioral information database 13C is pre-entered by the user or the person being supported.

[0058] In this process, the behavioral condition acquisition unit 11C acquires information about actions that begin at a time in the future and immediately preceding the time when the personal information acquisition unit 11A acquired the ID.

[0059] Furthermore, the behavioral condition acquisition unit 11C acquires the amount of clothing worn by the person being supported from the clothing amount sensor 40. If the person being supported plans to change clothes after cooling down and has entered the planned amount of clothing after changing into the mobile terminal 20, the behavioral condition acquisition unit 11C acquires that planned amount of clothing.

[0060] (Calculation section) The calculation unit 11D calculates the cooling time for cooling a part of the body of the person being supported, based on the future behavioral conditions of the person being supported, which have been acquired by the behavioral condition acquisition unit 11C. In this process, the calculation unit 11D takes into account the personal information acquired by the personal information acquisition unit 11A and the cooling conditions acquired by the cooling condition acquisition unit 11B, in addition to the behavioral conditions, when calculating the cooling time.

[0061] Specifically, the calculation unit 11D calculates the cooling time using the following procedure.

[0062] First, the calculation unit 11D calculates the heart rate of the person being supported after the scheduled cooling time (time T) has elapsed (post-cooling heart rate C1), as shown in Figure 4(A), from the acquired personal information (heart rate and attribute information) and cooling conditions (temperature of the cooling water, thermal environment information of the cooling location, and contact area of ​​the person being supported with the cooling water) (see step S106 and Figure 5 described later).

[0063] Here, the planned cooling time (time T) is pre-stored in the body cooling program 13A as an initial value used to calculate the cooling time. Furthermore, a calculation formula for determining heart rate from personal information and cooling conditions is also pre-stored in the body cooling program 13A.

[0064] For example, a mathematical human body model can be used as a calculation formula for calculating heart rate. In a mathematical human body model, by inputting various conditions such as six thermal elements (temperature, humidity, radiation, wind speed, amount of clothing, metabolic rate), four attribute elements (age, sex, mean blood pressure, body composition), heart rate or blood pressure, activity content, and duration of activity as needed, the amount of sweat, blood flow (and the associated blood pressure), and body temperature of each part of the human body model can be calculated, and future heart rates can also be calculated.

[0065] Furthermore, in the mathematical human body model, even if the personal information acquisition unit 11A acquires blood pressure instead of heart rate as personal information, it can still calculate future heart rates.

[0066] Next, the calculation unit 11D calculates the heart rate of the person being supported after the activity (post-activity heart rate C2) from the calculated post-cooling heart rate C1 and the acquired activity conditions (activity location, activity content, activity time, thermal environment information of the activity location, and amount of clothing worn by the person being supported) (see step S110 and Figure 5 described later).

[0067] At this time, if the post-activity heart rate C2 is outside the predetermined conditions, the calculation unit 11D adjusts the planned cooling time to determine the cooling time (see step S116, etc., described later, in Figure 5).

[0068] "Outside of specified conditions" means, for example, that the post-activity heart rate C2 is greater than the specified heart rate C3, as shown in Figure 4(A). The specified heart rate can be set arbitrarily, but one example is "(180 - age) / minute".

[0069] At this time, the calculation unit 11D adjusts the planned cooling time, as shown in Figure 4(B). That is, it adds a predetermined time (time ΔT) to the planned cooling time (time T) to create a new planned cooling time (time T+ΔT). This lowers the post-cooling heart rate (post-cooling heart rate C1') and makes it possible to set the heart rate of the person being supported after the action (post-action heart rate C2') to a predetermined heart rate C3 or lower.

[0070] If the post-activity heart rate does not fall within the predetermined conditions after a single adjustment of the planned cooling time, the calculation unit 11D repeats the adjustment of the planned cooling time until the post-activity heart rate falls within the predetermined conditions. In Figures 4(A) and (B), for the sake of explanation, activity is performed immediately after the body has cooled down, but there may be a gap between the end of cooling and the start of activity.

[0071] (Control Unit) The control unit 11E controls the cooling device 30 based on the cooling time determined by the calculation unit 11D to cool the body of the person being assisted. For example, the control unit 11E can open the flow rate adjustment valve of the cooling device 30 only for the duration of the determined cooling time. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 11E can open the discharge flow rate adjustment valve of the cooling device 30 after a predetermined amount of water has been stored in the water storage container and the determined cooling time has elapsed.

[0072] Thus, the method of cooling the body of the person being supported by the control unit 11E is arbitrary. In this case, a notification mechanism using images or videos may be used so that the person being supported can easily understand the start and stop times of the cooling.

[0073] <effect> Next, the operation of the body cooling system 80 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 5. In response to execution instructions from the user via the input unit 14, the CPU 11 of the control device 10 executes the body cooling program 13A, thereby executing the body cooling process shown in Figure 5.

[0074] When the execution of the body cooling program 13A begins, in step S100, the CPU 11 waits for the acquisition of personal information. Once the personal information has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0075] In step S102, CPU11 retrieves attribute information of the person being supported whose personal information has been obtained. After step S102, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0076] In step S104, CPU11 obtains the cooling conditions. After step S104, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0077] In step S106, the CPU 11 performs the calculation of post-cooling physiological volume (post-cooling heart rate). After step S106, the process proceeds to step S108.

[0078] In step S108, CPU 11 obtains the action conditions. After step S108, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0079] In step S110, CPU 11 performs the calculation of post-activity physiological volume (post-activity heart rate). After step S110, the process proceeds to step S112.

[0080] In step S112, the CPU 11 determines whether the calculated post-activity physiological volume (post-activity heart rate) is within a predetermined range. If the determination in step S112 is positive, the process proceeds to step S114. On the other hand, if the determination in step S112 is negative, the process proceeds to step S116.

[0081] In step S114, the CPU 11 determines the cooling time. That is, it determines the cooling time to be the time at which the post-activity physiological load (post-activity heart rate) is judged to be within the predetermined conditions. Then it controls the cooling device 30 to perform cooling on the person being supported. After step S114, the process proceeds to step S118.

[0082] In step S116, the CPU 11 adjusts the planned cooling time. After step S116, the process returns to step S106, and the post-cooling physiological volume (post-cooling heart rate) is calculated based on the adjusted planned cooling time.

[0083] In step S118, the CPU 11 determines whether the body cooling process has reached its end. If the determination is positive, the body cooling process is terminated. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S100. This termination timing occurs, for example, when the user inputs the end of the body cooling process via the input unit 14.

[0084] Note that steps S106 and S108 may be performed in any order. In this case, the post-cooling physiological volume calculation process in step S106 and the post-activity physiological volume calculation process in step S110 can be performed consecutively.

[0085] As explained above, the body cooling system 80 and body cooling program 13A according to this embodiment make it easier to prevent heatstroke and other related illnesses in the person being supported because the body cooling time is calculated based on future activity conditions. In contrast, when cooling is performed after an activity, it is possible to alleviate symptoms of heatstroke and other related illnesses that have occurred, but it is difficult to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

[0086] Furthermore, according to this body cooling system 80, the calculation unit 11D calculates the cooling time from personal information, cooling conditions, and behavioral conditions. Based on personal information, the cooling time can be set according to the physical conditions of the person being supported. Also, based on cooling conditions, the cooling time can be set according to the cooling temperature, cooling environment conditions, etc.

[0087] Furthermore, this body cooling system 80 adjusts the planned cooling time if the post-activity heart rate is outside the predetermined range. This makes it easier to adjust the post-activity heart rate within the predetermined range. As a result, it is possible to prevent insufficient or excessive cooling.

[0088] Furthermore, this body cooling system 80 repeatedly adjusts the planned cooling time until the post-activity heart rate falls within a predetermined range. This makes it easier to further adjust the post-activity heart rate within the predetermined range.

[0089] Furthermore, in this body cooling system 80, personal information includes physiological information such as the heart rate or blood pressure of the person being supported immediately before cooling, as well as attribute information such as the age, height, and weight of the person being supported. For example, by obtaining the physiological amount (heart rate) immediately before cooling, it is possible to set a cooling time that takes into account the effect of pre-cooling activities on post-activity physiological amounts (post-activity heart rate). In addition, attribute information allows for setting a cooling time appropriate to the physique and age of the person being supported.

[0090] Furthermore, in this body cooling system 80, the person being supported cools by exposing or immersing a part of their body in cooling water. The cooling conditions include the temperature of the cooling water, thermal environment information of the cooling location, and the contact area of ​​the person being supported with the cooling water. This allows for setting a cooling time that takes into account the thermal environment information of the cooling location, the temperature of the cooling water, and the contact conditions of the person being supported with the cooling water.

[0091] Furthermore, in this body cooling system 80, the activity conditions include the activity content, activity duration, thermal environment information of the activity location, and amount of clothing worn. This allows for setting a cooling time that takes into account the thermal environment information of the activity location, the activity content, activity duration, and amount of clothing worn.

[0092] <Other Embodiments> In the above embodiment, a case was described in which, when the post-activity heart rate is greater than a predetermined heart rate, the planned cooling time is increased by a predetermined time and adjusted as the new planned cooling time. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this.

[0093] For example, if the post-activity heart rate is "lower" than a predetermined heart rate, the planned cooling time may be adjusted by subtracting a predetermined time from the planned cooling time. This allows for the calculation of the minimum necessary and sufficient cooling time. According to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the decrease in work efficiency due to excessive cooling and to reduce the amount of water required for cooling.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the planned cooling time is repeatedly adjusted until the post-activity heart rate falls within predetermined conditions, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this. For example, even with a single adjustment (i.e., when step S116 in Figure 5 is performed only once), the post-activity heart rate can be brought closer to the predetermined conditions.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, attribute information such as age, gender, height, weight, body composition, and mean blood pressure was input, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this. For example, it is sufficient to obtain age, height, and weight as attribute information. Moreover, age, height, and weight do not need to be manually input into the input unit 14; they may be estimated, for example, by image recognition of an image captured by a camera.

[0096] In the above embodiment, for example, the hardware structure of the processing unit that executes the personal information acquisition unit 11A, the cooling condition acquisition unit 11B, the behavior condition acquisition unit 11C, the calculation unit 11D, and the control unit 11E can be any of the following types of processors. As mentioned above, these types of processors include a CPU, which is a general-purpose processor that executes software (programs) and functions as a processing unit, as well as programmable logic devices (PLDs), such as FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), which are processors whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacturing, and dedicated electrical circuits, such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), which are processors with circuit configurations specifically designed to execute specific processes.

[0097] The processing unit may consist of one of these various processors, or it may consist of a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, a combination of multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). Alternatively, the processing unit may consist of a single processor.

[0098] Examples of configuring a processing unit with a single processor include, firstly, a configuration where one or more CPUs and software combine to form a single processor, as is common in client and server computers, and this processor functions as the processing unit. Secondly, a configuration using a processor that realizes the functions of the entire system, including the processing unit, on a single IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, as is common in System-on-a-Chip (SoC) systems. Thus, the processing unit is configured, in terms of hardware structure, using one or more of the above-mentioned types of processors.

[0099] Furthermore, the hardware structure of these various processors can more specifically utilize an electrical circuit (circuitry) that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. Thus, the present invention can be implemented in various forms. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0100] 11A Personal information acquisition department 11B Cooling condition acquisition section 11C Behavior condition acquisition part 11D Calculation Unit 80 Body Cooling System

Claims

1. Based on the future behavioral conditions of the person receiving support, the cooling time for cooling a part of the person receiving support's body is calculated. Body cooling system.

2. The Personal Information Acquisition Department acquires the personal information of the aforementioned support recipients, A cooling condition acquisition unit that acquires cooling conditions, A behavioral condition acquisition unit that acquires the aforementioned behavioral conditions, A calculation unit that calculates the cooling time from the aforementioned personal information, the aforementioned cooling conditions and the aforementioned behavioral conditions, A body cooling system according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The calculation unit described above, Based on the aforementioned personal information and cooling conditions, the physiological volume of the person to be supported after the planned cooling time has elapsed is calculated. From the calculated physiological amount and the behavioral conditions, the physiological amount after the activity is calculated. If the physiological volume after the aforementioned action is outside the predetermined conditions, the planned cooling time is adjusted to determine the cooling time. The body cooling system according to claim 2.

4. The calculation unit described above, If the physiological volume after the aforementioned action is outside the predetermined conditions, The time obtained by adding or subtracting a predetermined amount of time from the aforementioned planned cooling time is adjusted as the new planned cooling time. The adjustment of the planned cooling time is repeated until the physiological volume after the aforementioned action falls within the predetermined conditions. The body cooling system according to claim 3.

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