Wearable device

Abstract

According to the present invention, a first sensor (102) measures skin temperature (skin surface temperature) of a human body, in time series for example. A second sensor (103) measures environment information on surroundings of the human body, in time series for example. A third sensor (104) measures biometric information in the human body, in time series for example. A determination circuit (105) determines a state of the human body on the basis of change in the skin temperature measured by the first sensor (102), change in the environmental information measured by the second sensor (103), and change in the biometric information measured by the third sensor (104).

Description

Wearable devices

[0001] This invention relates to a wearable device.

[0002] Menopausal symptoms primarily affect women in their 40s and 50s and refer to a variety of physical and mental symptoms associated with hormonal changes. Typical symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, and irritability. These symptoms occur day and night and cause sleep disturbances, making them a very unpleasant experience for many women (Non-Patent Literature 1). Furthermore, these symptoms can lead to decreased concentration and reduced work performance, forcing many women to quit their jobs. The resulting economic loss is estimated to be as much as 1.9 trillion yen, highlighting the need for measures to alleviate the symptoms of menopause (Non-Patent Literature 2).

[0003] Among the symptoms of menopause, hot flashes are particularly common and troublesome. Hot flashes are characterized by a sudden rise in body temperature, sweating around the face and neck, and the discomfort that accompanies them. To alleviate hot flashes, it is important to properly control body temperature, and cooling is considered particularly effective. Traditionally, hot flash relief devices have mainly consisted of watch-type devices worn on the wrist to cool the wrist. In addition, neck-type devices that cool the neck, which are versatile for heat countermeasures and outdoor activities, have also been proposed as effective in alleviating hot flashes.

[0004] Q. Zhou et al., "Investigation of the relationship between hot flashes, sweating and sleep quality in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: the mediating effect of anxiety and depression", BMC Women's Health, vol. 21, no. 293, 2021. "Estimation of economic losses due to health issues specific to women and the necessity of health management", Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Healthcare Industry Division, Survey Report on Women's Health Initiatives, 2024.

[0005] Currently, as devices capable of alleviating hot flashes, devices worn on the wrist have been developed. The wrist is not a site where hot flashes directly occur; cooling the wrist reduces the overall body temperature, which is an indirect approach to alleviating hot flashes. In addition, neck cooler devices incorporating cooling functions such as fans or cooling plates for cooling the neck, and gels such as cooling gels, are commercially available.

[0006] These devices are intended for heat countermeasures and outdoor use, and are not specialized for hot flashes unique to menopause, requiring manual operation of the cooling mechanism. For this reason, when a user experiences a hot flash, it is necessary for the user to personally operate the device to activate it and start cooling, and also to personally stop the operation once the hot flash is alleviated. As described above, conventional devices have had the problem of low convenience.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient device capable of alleviating hot flashes.

[0008] The wearable device according to the present invention comprises: a temperature control mechanism that cools or heats a target human body; a first sensor that measures the skin temperature of the human body; a second sensor that measures environmental information around the human body; a third sensor that measures biological information of the human body; a determination circuit that determines the state of the human body based on fluctuations in skin temperature measured by the first sensor, fluctuations in environmental information measured by the second sensor, and fluctuations in biological information measured by the third sensor; and a control circuit that controls the operation of the temperature control mechanism based on the determination result of the determination circuit.

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, the state of the human body is determined based on fluctuations in skin temperature, fluctuations in environmental information, and fluctuations in biological information, so a highly convenient device capable of alleviating hot flashes can be provided.

[0010] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing a part of the wearable device according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between fluctuations in skin surface temperature (dotted line), fluctuations in the external environment (temperature) (solid line), fluctuations in biological information (amount of sweating) (double dotted line), and the occurrence of hot flashes. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the wearable device according to the embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the wearable device according to the embodiment. Figure 5 is a plan view showing a part of the wearable device according to the embodiment.

[0011] Hereinafter, a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. This wearable device comprises a temperature control mechanism 101, a first sensor 102, a second sensor 103, a third sensor 104, a determination circuit 105, and a control circuit 106.

[0012] The temperature control mechanism 101 cools or heats the target human body. The temperature control mechanism 101 can be made up of, for example, a Peltier element. The first sensor 102 measures the skin temperature (skin surface temperature) of the human body. The first sensor 102 measures the skin surface temperature over time, for example. The second sensor 103 measures environmental information around the human body. The second sensor 103 measures environmental information around the human body over time, for example. The second sensor 103 can measure, for example, air temperature, humidity, amount of ultraviolet radiation, atmospheric pressure, etc.

[0013] The third sensor 104 measures biological information in the human body. For example, the third sensor 104 measures biological information in a time series. For example, the third sensor 104 can measure body temperature (core body temperature), sweat volume, heart rate, blood flow rate, etc. For example, a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor can be used to measure heart rate and blood flow rate. In addition, the third sensor 104 is composed of acceleration sensors and can measure the posture of the human body. For example, the posture of a subject can be estimated by using the measurement results of three acceleration sensors that measure acceleration in three mutually orthogonal directions.

[0014] The determination circuit 105 determines the state of the human body based on the fluctuations in skin temperature measured by the first sensor 102, the fluctuations in environmental information measured by the second sensor 103, and the fluctuations in biological information measured by the third sensor 104. The determination circuit 105 determines the occurrence of a hot flash in the human body based on the fluctuations in skin temperature measured by the first sensor 102, the fluctuations in environmental information measured by the second sensor 103, and the fluctuations in biological information measured by the third sensor 104.

[0015] The determination circuit 105 determines that a hot flash has occurred in the human body if the fluctuation in skin temperature measured by the first sensor 102 does not match the fluctuation in environmental information measured by the second sensor 103, and there is a sudden change exceeding a threshold in the biological information measured by the third sensor 104.

[0016] For example, as shown in Figure 2, if the fluctuations in skin surface temperature, shown by the dashed line, and the fluctuations in the external environment (temperature), shown by the solid line, do not match, and a region 151 occurs where the biological information (amount of sweating), shown by the double dashed line, exceeds a threshold, the determination circuit 105 determines that the subject has experienced a hot flash. The control circuit 106 controls the operation of the temperature control mechanism 101 based on the determination result of the determination circuit 105.

[0017] Furthermore, the aforementioned determination circuit and control circuit can be implemented as a computer device equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), main memory, external memory, and a network connection device. The CPU operates (executes the program) based on a program stored in the main memory, thereby realizing the aforementioned functions. The program described above is a program for the computer to execute the functions shown in the above-described embodiment. The network connection device can be connected to a network. In addition, each function can be distributed across multiple computer devices.

[0018] Traditionally, hot flashes have been detected primarily based on changes in skin temperature. However, it is known that when a hot flash occurs, multiple physiological changes occur in addition to an increase in skin temperature, such as changes in blood flow, an increase in heart rate, and an increase in sweating. Therefore, conventional temperature-dependent detection mechanisms may not be able to accurately detect hot flashes. Furthermore, it is known that physiological changes are also affected and altered by changes in the external environment, such as changes in ambient temperature (Reference 1). As a result, it is difficult to distinguish whether a change in biological information is due to a change in the external environment or a hot flash, which may lead to false detections or missed detections.

[0019] Due to these factors, it has traditionally been difficult to automatically control the cooling mechanism. Users had to manually activate the device and start the cooling process when they experienced a hot flash, and then stop it themselves once the symptoms subsided. In such situations, there was a risk of the body temperature not being properly regulated or the body being overcooled. Users also had to constantly be aware of controlling the device, which made it inconvenient.

[0020] In contrast to the conventional technology described above, the embodiment measures not only skin temperature but also ambient environmental information and biological information to determine hot flashes, allowing users to appropriately regulate their body temperature without being aware of controlling the device. Furthermore, by adjusting the cooling mechanism according to the surrounding environment, for example, minimizing cooling when the outside temperature is low, overcooling can be prevented. In addition, personalized health management can be expected based on comprehensive conditions, including environmental conditions.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the wearable device may include a module 121 and a wearable device 122 to which the module 121 is fixed and attached to the collar of the human body. The module 121 includes a temperature control mechanism 101, a first sensor 102, a second sensor 103, a third sensor 104, a determination circuit 105, and a control circuit 106.

[0022] Furthermore, the temperature control mechanism 101, the first sensor 102, the second sensor 103, the third sensor 104, the determination circuit 105, and the control circuit 106 can be mounted on a predetermined flexible substrate made of a flexible sheet-like material. The flexible substrate can be made of silicone rubber, polyethylene, foamed polyethylene, polyimide, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and the like.

[0023] The accessory 122 can be a scarf, neckerchief, tie, stole, or muffler. The accessory 122 can be made of a sweat-absorbing fabric, such as polyester or rayon. In the center of module 121, a temperature control mechanism 101 is positioned so as to be in contact with the skin surface at the neck of the human body. In addition, a first sensor 102 and a third sensor 104 are positioned on the sides of module 121 so as to be in contact with the skin surface at the neck of the human body.

[0024] Module 121 can be made detachable from accessories 122, such as scarves, which are made of fabric. By making them detachable, only the accessories 122 can be washed, making maintenance easy even if the accessories 122 absorb sweat, allowing for hygienic and repeated use, and improving the user experience.

[0025] For example, as shown in Figure 4, the male snap button 123a can be fixed to the module 121, and the female snap button 123b can be fixed to the attachment 122, allowing the module 121 to be attached to and detached from the attachment 122 using the snap button. Alternatively, the module 121 can be attached to and detached from the attachment 122 using a magnet, fastener, hook-and-loop fastener, or the like. Furthermore, the module 121 can be attached to and detached from the attachment 122 using a sliding fixing mechanism.

[0026] Because the wearable device 122 is soft, it can be worn not only during daytime activities but also while sleeping. It can also address sudden hot flashes during sleep and prevent the decline in sleep quality that is characteristic of menopause.

[0027] Conventional devices designed to alleviate hot flashes are either wrist-worn or handheld, and there are no devices that are worn on the neck, which is the primary site of hot flashes. While cooling devices that can be worn around the neck have been proposed for heat relief and outdoor activities, they are designed for heat relief and outdoor activities and are not specifically for hot flashes. Furthermore, these types of cooling devices are bulky, unfashionable, and inconvenient for everyday use. In addition, existing devices are protected by plastic-covered materials, which cannot absorb sweat generated by hot flashes. This means that a separate handkerchief or towel is needed to wipe away sweat, which is inconvenient and can cause discomfort due to the sweat becoming stuffy.

[0028] The wearable device, which uses a fitted accessory 122 to which the module 121 described above is fixed, can detect biological fluctuations and perform cooling that leads to the alleviation of hot flashes, while the sweat-absorbing fibrous material can absorb the large amount of sweat generated by hot flashes. By rapidly and effectively reducing the discomfort of hot flashes through the cooling mechanism and sweat absorption, and by adopting, for example, a scarf-type fitted accessory 122, the appearance is inconspicuous and easy to wear on a daily basis, making it possible to deal with sudden hot flashes that can occur at any time.

[0029] Incidentally, since this wearable device is used by wrapping it around the curved surface of the neck, the module needs to be flexible. Conventional devices have often used rigid substrates as the base material for the module. In this case, when wrapped around the neck, the rigid substrate does not adhere closely to the body, which can lead to problems such as ineffective temperature control and wasted power consumption. Furthermore, the tensile stress applied when wrapping increases the risk of damage to the rigid sensor substrate. In addition, if the sensor that measures ambient temperature, the sensor that measures skin temperature, and the temperature control mechanism are placed on the same substrate, the sensors may be susceptible to the influence of the temperature control mechanism, leading to a decrease in measurement accuracy.

[0030] In contrast, according to this embodiment, since a flexible substrate is used, the module can be easily wrapped around the neck, the temperature control mechanism can be more closely fitted to the skin, and efficient temperature control can be achieved. Furthermore, if polyimide is used as the flexible substrate, heat is 2.8 times less easily transferred compared to the FR-4 substrate, which is mainly used as a rigid substrate and is made of glass fiber woven into a cloth and impregnated with epoxy resin. The thermal conductivity of polyimide is 0.28 to 0.34 W / m·k, while the thermal conductivity of FR4 is approximately 0.4 W / m·k. Therefore, it can be expected that the influence of the temperature control mechanism on the sensor will be reduced (References 2 and 3).

[0031] Furthermore, in this wearable device, it is crucial to protect the inside of the module from sweat and humidity. On the other hand, in order to accurately measure skin temperature and biometric information, it is essential that the sensors make contact with the skin. For example, the large amount of sweat generated during a hot flash can cause degradation of various components within the module. Therefore, it is important to protect each component. Failure to do so may reduce the reliability and durability of the device and shorten its lifespan.

[0032] Traditionally, the modules were housed and protected in rigid plastic cases, and since rigid substrates were used, there were no problems. However, this configuration eliminates flexibility, undermining the advantages of flexible substrates. Furthermore, if the module is housed and protected in a case, the bioelectrodes and optical sensors do not come into contact with the skin, making it difficult to acquire accurate biological information.

[0033] For the protection described above, for example, as shown in Figure 5, the entire flexible substrate 124 constituting the module 121 is molded with a protective layer 125 made of an elastically deformable material such as silicone, rubber, or elastomer. In addition, the protective layer 125 is left open in areas that should come into contact with the skin, such as the temperature control mechanism 101, the first sensor 102, and the sensor electrode 104a of the third sensor.

[0034] By molding with a protective layer 125, the detection circuit (not shown) and control circuit (not shown) are prevented from coming into contact with sweat, thereby suppressing degradation and increasing the reliability of the device. Furthermore, the protective layer 125 prevents hard parts from directly touching the skin, which is expected to improve the user experience. By adopting a structure in which only the necessary areas are open and come into contact with the skin, accurate biometric information can be collected while minimizing the degradation of circuits and other components.

[0035] As described above, according to the embodiment, the state of the human body is determined based on fluctuations in skin temperature, environmental information, and biological information, making it possible to provide a highly convenient device that can alleviate hot flashes.

[0036] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is clear that many modifications and combinations can be implemented within the technical concept of the present invention by those with ordinary skill in the art.

[0037] [Reference 1] N. Charkoudian, "Skin Blood Flow in Adult Human Thermoregulation: How It Works, When It Does Not, and Why", Mayo Clinic Proceedings, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 603-612, 2003. [Reference 2] Hakko Electric Co., Ltd., Q&A kit, properties of nonmetallic solids, [retrieved February 7, 2020], (https: / / www.hakko.co.jp / library / qa / qakit / html / h01010.htm). [Reference 3] 370HR is the industry's “best in class” lead-free compatible product for high-reliability applications across a wide range of markets. , Industry Leading Epoxy Laminate and Prepreg, [Retrieved February 7, 2025], (https: / / www.google.com / url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https: / / www.isola-group.com / wp-content / uploads / data-sheets / 370hr.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiTq--Zu6aLAxWQlFYBHSR2OzYQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2UciXKOlxhWnnr3ZKwKrQ2).

[0038] 101...Temperature control mechanism, 102...First sensor, 103...Second sensor, 104...Third sensor, 105...Determination circuit, 106...Control circuit.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising: a temperature control mechanism for cooling or heating a target human body; a first sensor for measuring the skin temperature of the human body; a second sensor for measuring environmental information surrounding the human body; a third sensor for measuring biological information in the human body; a determination circuit for determining the state of the human body based on fluctuations in skin temperature measured by the first sensor, fluctuations in environmental information measured by the second sensor, and fluctuations in biological information measured by the third sensor; and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the temperature control mechanism based on the determination result of the determination circuit.

2. A wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the determination circuit determines the occurrence of a hot flash in the human body based on fluctuations in skin temperature measured by the first sensor, fluctuations in environmental information measured by the second sensor, and fluctuations in biological information measured by the third sensor.

3. A wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the determination circuit determines that a hot flash has occurred in the human body when the fluctuation of skin temperature measured by the first sensor does not match the fluctuation of the environmental information measured by the second sensor, and there is a sudden change exceeding a threshold in the biological information measured by the third sensor.

4. A wearable device according to claim 1, comprising a module having the temperature control mechanism, the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the determination circuit, and the control circuit, and a wearable item to which the module is fixed and attached to the collar of the human body.

5. A wearable device according to claim 4, wherein the worn item is a scarf, neckerchief, tie, stole, or muffler.

6. A wearable device according to claim 4, wherein the temperature control mechanism, the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the determination circuit, and the control circuit are mounted on a flexible substrate.

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