Biological information measuring device

Abstract

A biological information measuring device (1) is provided with a surface fastener (40) on the surface of a housing (4) on the reverse side of a surface that is in contact with a living body (100).

Description

Biometric information measurement device

[0001] This invention relates to a biological information measurement device that measures biological information such as core body temperature.

[0002] In recent years, monitoring the state of the body through the time-series measurement of biological information such as electrocardiograms, blood pressure, and core body temperature has become increasingly important. From the neonatal period to infancy, children develop the ability to form biological cycles (circadian rhythms) while adapting to new environments, and this ability is completed around the age of two (Non-Patent Literature 1). The biological cycle of children from infancy to early childhood is an indicator that determines the sleep cycle, and the sleep cycle can be predicted by measuring the biological cycle. The biological cycle can be measured based on the secretion rhythm of hormones such as melatonin, but it can also be measured from the diurnal variation of core body temperature.

[0003] Core body temperature is measured using adhesive devices. These devices are attached to the body using double-sided tape or bands. However, attaching these devices to newborns and infants using double-sided tape or bands is physically burdensome and therefore unsuitable for use in such cases.

[0004] Ota, Hidenobu et al., "Development of Fetal and Neonatal Sleep," Baby Science 2016, vol. 16, Japan Society for Infant Science, March 2017, <https: / / jsbs.gr.jp / LEARNED / 16 / Otaetal_BabyScience2016.pdf>

[0005] The present invention was made to solve the above problems and aims to provide a biological information measuring device that can continuously measure biological information while reducing the burden on the living body.

[0006] The present invention is characterized by having hook-and-loop fasteners on the surface of the housing opposite to the surface that comes into contact with the living body.

[0007] According to the present invention, by arranging hook-and-loop fasteners on the housing surface opposite to the surface that comes into contact with the living body, the biological information measuring device can be easily attached to disposable diapers or clothing worn by the living body, thereby reducing the burden on the living body and enabling continuous measurement of biological information.

[0008] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a bio-information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partially cutaway perspective cross-sectional view of a heat conductor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic circuit section according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a side view of a bio-information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a plan view of a bio-information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the bio-information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where it is attached to a living body. Figure 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of a bio-information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the measurement result of core body temperature. Figure 9 is a plan view showing another shape of a hook-and-loop fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a plan view showing another shape of a hook-and-loop fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer realizing a bio-information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a biological information measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The biological information measurement device 1 includes a sensor unit 2 that measures the magnitude of the heat flow transmitted from the living body 100, and the core body temperature T of the living body 100 based on the measured magnitude of the heat flow. ｂｏｄｙ The electronic circuit unit 3 that calculates the value is housed within the housing 4.

[0010] The sensor unit 2 is positioned so that its peripheral edge is in contact with the living body 100 and includes a hollow heat conductor 20 that transports the heat flux from the living body 100 to the upper part of the sensor unit 2, a covering material 21 that fills the space between the living body 100 and the heat conductor 20 and covers the heat conductor 20, and a sensor provided on the surface of the covering material 21 facing the living body 100 that measures the temperature T of the skin surface of the living body 100. ｓｋｉｎ A temperature sensor 22 measures the temperature T inside the covering material 21 directly above the temperature sensor 22. ｔ It is equipped with a temperature sensor 23 for measuring the temperature. The temperature sensors 22 and 23 constitute a detection unit 24 for measuring the magnitude of the heat flow.

[0011] For example, thermistors, thermocouples, platinum resistors, and integrated circuit (IC) temperature sensors can be used as temperature sensors 22 and 23. Temperature sensor 23 is positioned directly above temperature sensor 22. If the distance between temperature sensors 22 and 23 changes during measurement, the core body temperature T ｂｏｄｙ The proportionality constant R for the calculation of ｓｅｎｓｏｒ The core body temperature T of the living organism changes. ｂｏｄｙ Because errors occur in the estimation, the temperature sensors 22 and 23 are held using the covering material 21. Considering heat leakage, it is necessary to use a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the heat conductor 20 as the covering material 21, and the thermal conductivity of the living organism 100 is (0.2 to 0.5 W / m²). ２ It is desirable to use a material with a thermal conductivity of similar magnitude to that of the material in question.

[0012] Furthermore, the covering material 21 maintains the relative positional relationship between the heat conductor 20 and the temperature sensors 22 and 23. Figure 2 is a partially cutaway perspective cross-sectional view of the heat conductor 20. The heat conductor 20 has the shape of a truncated cone, where the area of ​​the top surface away from the living body 100 is smaller than the area of ​​the bottom surface on the living body 100 side. As for the material constituting the heat conductor 20, it is desirable to use a material with high thermal conductivity in order to efficiently transport the heat flux. For example, the heat conductor 20 can be made using a metal such as aluminum.

[0013] In addition to metals, the material for the heat conductor 20 may also be a resin containing metals, graphite, or carbon nanotubes, or a material in which metal fibers are woven into a predetermined shape. Furthermore, by orienting graphite or carbon nanotubes within the plane of a sheet-like resin, a heat conductor 20 can be realized that has thermal conductivity anisotropy, where the thermal conductivity in the in-plane direction perpendicular to the thickness direction is higher than the thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, as well as flexibility. Alternatively, a liquid such as grease containing graphite, carbon nanotubes, or metal may be used as the heat conductor 20. As illustrated in Figure 2, through holes 25 may be formed on the top surface of the heat conductor 20.

[0014] When the heat conductor 20 is sufficiently larger than the temperature sensors 22 and 23, the peripheral portion of the heat conductor 20 in contact with the living body 100 is arranged at a position sufficiently separated from the temperature sensors 22 and 23. Therefore, the heat flux from the living body 100 outside the temperature sensors 22 and 23 is collected by the heat conductor 20 and transported to the top surface of the heat conductor 20. In this way, the heat conductor 20 functions to suppress the heat flux that escapes from the temperature sensors 22 and 23 and flows out to the outside air by efficiently transporting the heat flux from the living body 100 upward outside the temperature sensors 22 and 23. The effect of the heat conductor 20 suppressing the heat flux that escapes from the temperature sensors 22 and 23 and flows out to the outside air is the highest at a position near the center line (L in FIG. 2). Therefore, it is desirable to arrange the temperature sensors 22 and 23 near the center line L of the heat conductor 20.

[0015] As described above, a through hole 25 may be formed in the top surface of the heat conductor 20. By appropriately adjusting the size of the through hole 25, it becomes possible to adjust the depth at which the deep body temperature T ｂｏｄｙ of the living body 100 is measured when measuring. However, providing the through hole 25 in the heat conductor 20 is not an essential component in the present invention.

[0016] If a flexible material is used for the coating material 21, the heat conductor 20, and the housing 4, it is possible to deform according to the complex shape of the living body 100. Similarly, for the electronic circuit unit 3 described later, if it is mounted on a flexible substrate such as polyimide and a flexible material is used for the housing 4, it becomes possible to deform according to the shape of the living body 100. For this reason, it becomes easy to attach the sensor unit 2 and the electronic circuit unit 3 to the living body 100. In addition, the feeling of attachment to the living body 100 can be improved.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit unit 3. The electronic circuit unit 3 includes a storage unit 30 for storing data, and a deep body temperature T of the living body 100 based on the measurement results of the temperature sensors 22 and 23 ｂｏｄｙ is calculated by the arithmetic unit 31, and the deep body temperature T ｂｏｄｙThe system includes a communication unit 32 that transmits data to an external terminal, a control unit 33 that controls the reading and writing of data to the storage unit 30 and communication, and a power supply unit 34 such as a battery that supplies power to the storage unit 30, the arithmetic unit 31, the communication unit 32, and the control unit 33. The electronic circuit unit 3 is mounted on a substrate 35 covered with a covering material 21, as shown in Figure 1.

[0018] Figure 4 is a side view of the biological information measurement device 1, and Figure 5 is a top view of the biological information measurement device 1. In order to reduce the burden on the skin of the living organism 100, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, it is desirable that the housing 4 of the biological information measurement device 1 has rounded corners in both the shape viewed from the side and the shape viewed from above and below. It is desirable that the rounding of the corners be R2 mm or more.

[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a hook-and-loop fastener 40 is provided on the side of the housing 4 opposite to the side that contacts the living body 100. One method of fixing the hook-and-loop fastener 40 is to adhere it to the housing 4. Figure 6 shows the state in which the biological information measuring device 1 is attached to the living body 100. When the side of the biological information measuring device 1 with the hook-and-loop fastener 40 is pressed against the side of the disposable diaper 101 that contacts the skin of the infant (living body 100), the disposable diaper 101 and the hook-and-loop fastener 40 engage. In this way, the biological information measuring device 1 is fixed to the inside of the disposable diaper 101 so that the side of the biological information measuring device 1 on which the temperature sensor 22 is provided contacts the skin of the newborn.

[0020] The disposable diaper 101 is made of nonwoven fabric. By pre-selecting a hook-and-loop fastener 40 with a structure that easily engages with nonwoven fabric, it is possible to attach the hook-and-loop fastener 40 to the disposable diaper 101. Similarly, when fixing the biological information measuring device 1 to clothing worn by a living organism 100, a hook-and-loop fastener 40 with a structure that easily engages with the fabric of the clothing should be pre-selected.

[0021] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the biological information measurement device 1. The temperature sensor 22 measures the temperature T of the skin surface of the living body 100. ｓｋｉｎ The temperature sensor 23 measures the temperature T inside the covering material 21 at a position away from the living body 100. ｔThe temperature is measured (Figure 7, step S100). The measurement data from the temperature sensors 22 and 23 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 30.

[0022] The memory unit 30 contains the proportionality constant R ｓｅｎｓｏｒ This is stored in advance. The calculation unit 31 calculates the temperature T ｓｋｉｎ , T ｔ and proportionality constant R ｓｅｎｓｏｒ Based on this, the core body temperature T of the living organism 100 ｂｏｄｙ For example, this is calculated using formula (1) (Figure 7, step S101). ｂｏｄｙ = T ｓｋｉｎ +R ｓｅｎｓｏｒ × (T ｓｋｉｎ -T ｔ ) ... (1)

[0023] Note that T Ｓｋｉｎ -T ｔ Calculating this is equivalent to calculating the heat flux flowing from the living body 100 to the sensor unit 2. The communication unit 32 communicates the core body temperature T ｂｏｄｙ The data is transmitted to an external terminal, such as a PC (Personal Computer) or smartphone (Figure 7, step S102). The external terminal receives the core body temperature T from the biological information measurement device 1. ｂｏｄｙ Based on this, for example, the biological cycle can be calculated.

[0024] The biological information measuring device 1 performs the processes in steps S100 to S102 at regular intervals. The core body temperature T of the infant is measured using the biological information measuring device 1. ｂｏｄｙ The results of the measurement are shown in Figure 8.

[0025] As described above, in this embodiment, by using a biological information measuring device 1 equipped with a hook-and-loop fastener 40 that engages with the disposable diaper or clothing worn by the living body 100, the burden on the living body 100 is reduced, while the core body temperature T ｂｏｄｙ This makes it possible to continuously measure the value.

[0026] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the surface fastener 40 that is circular in plan view is used. However, as shown in FIG. 9, a surface fastener 40 that is annular in plan view may also be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a surface fastener 40 having a shape that radially extends outward from the center of the biological information measuring device 1 when viewed from above may be used. According to the shapes shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the biological information measuring device 1 can be easily removed from the diaper or clothes. Further, in the case of the shape of FIG. 10, by extending the surface fastener 40 5 mm or more outward from the center of the biological information measuring device 1, the rotation of the biological information measuring device 1 during attachment to the living body 100 can be suppressed.

[0027] In this embodiment, an example of measuring deep body temperature as biological information has been described. However, other biological information such as an electrocardiogram may be measured.

[0028] The storage unit 30, the calculation unit 31, the communication unit 32, and the control unit 33 described in this embodiment can be realized by a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device, and an interface, and a program that controls these hardware resources. A configuration example of this computer is shown in FIG. 11.

[0029] The computer includes a CPU 200, a storage device 201, and an interface device (I / F) 202. Hardware such as the temperature sensors 22 and 23 and the communication unit 32 is connected to the I / F 202. In such a computer, a program for realizing the biological information measurement method of the present invention is stored in the storage device 201. The CPU 200 executes the processing described in this embodiment according to the program stored in the storage device 201.

[0030] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited thereto.

[0031] (Supplementary Note 1) The biological information measuring device of the present invention is characterized in that a surface fastener is arranged on the surface of the housing on the side opposite to the surface in contact with the living body.

[0032] (Supplementary Note 2) In the biological information measuring device according to Supplementary Note 1, the surface fastener is circular in plan view.

[0033] (Supplementary Note 3) In the biological information measurement device described in Supplementary Note 1, the surface fastener is annular in a plan view.

[0034] (Supplementary Note 4) In the biological information measurement device described in Supplementary Note 1, the surface fastener has a shape extending radially outward from the center of the biological information measurement device.

[0035] (Supplementary Note 5) In the biological information measurement device described in Supplementary Note 1, the housing has a shape with rounded corners when viewed from the side and when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0036] (Supplementary Note 6) The biological information measurement device described in Supplementary Note 1 further includes a sensor unit configured to measure the magnitude of the heat flow transmitted from the living body, and an electronic circuit unit configured to calculate the deep body temperature of the living body based on the magnitude of the heat flow measured by the sensor unit.

[0037] 1... Biological information measurement device, 2... Sensor unit, 3... Electronic circuit unit, 4... Housing, 40... Surface fastener.

Claims

1. A biological information measuring device characterized by having hook-and-loop fasteners on the housing surface opposite to the surface that comes into contact with the living body.

2. A biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook-and-loop fastener is circular in plan view.

3. A biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook-and-loop fastener is annular in plan view.

4. A biological information measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook-and-loop fastener has a shape that extends radially outward from the center of the biological information measuring device.

5. A biological information measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a shape with rounded corners when viewed from the side and when viewed from above.

6. A biological information measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor unit configured to measure the magnitude of heat flow transmitted from a living body; and an electronic circuit unit configured to calculate the core body temperature of a living body based on the magnitude of heat flow measured by the sensor unit.

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