JPH04256727A - Blood pressure detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability and measurement accuracy at the time of blood pressure measurement by inserting a measuring part consisting of a blood flow detecting element and a pressure sensitive element into the external auditory meatus and measuring the blood pressure. CONSTITUTION:The light from a light emitting diode of the blood flow detecting element 12 falls onto the anterior auricular artery and the reflected light thereof is received by a light receiving element when the measuring part 16 is inserted into the inlet of the external auditory meatus. If there is a change in the blood flow in the anterior auricular artery, this change is outputted as a blood flow signal from the light receiving element. The internal pressure of a cuff 11 is made to follow up the internal pressure of the artery by pressurizing the cuff 11 if there is the blood flow signal of the blood flow detecting element 12 and by reducing the pressure of the cuff 11 if there is no blood flow signal. The internal pressure of the cuff 11 following up the internal pressure of the artery is outputted as the max. blood flow signal by the pressure sensitive element 13.

Description

Translated fromJapanese

【発明の詳細な説明】[Detailed description of the invention]

【０００１】0001

【産業上の利用分野】本発明は、血圧検出器に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a blood pressure detector.

【０００２】0002

【従来の技術】従来の血圧検出器は、上腕部や指に、ま
たは浅側頭部や耳介部などにカフを装着し、外方から血
管に圧力を加えて、間接的に血圧を測定している。これ
らの方法は、外方から加圧するので、圧力が加圧反対方
向に逃げないように、カフと受圧側とを固定したり、筒
型にして構成している。[Prior Art] Conventional blood pressure detectors indirectly measure blood pressure by applying pressure to blood vessels from the outside by attaching a cuff to the upper arm or finger, or to the superficial temporal region or the auricle. are doing. Since these methods apply pressure from the outside, the cuff and the pressure-receiving side are fixed or configured in a cylindrical shape to prevent pressure from escaping in the opposite direction.

【０００３】しかしこのような従来の検出器によって検
出するときは、測定しようとする動脈の周囲に厚い皮下
組織や筋肉があるために、カフの容積や形状が大きくな
り、カフ装着時の操作性や血流を検出する際の感度向上
を妨げている。また長時間にわたる連続測定を困難とし
ている。However, when detecting with such a conventional detector, the volume and shape of the cuff are large due to the thick subcutaneous tissue and muscles surrounding the artery to be measured, making it difficult to operate when the cuff is attached. This hinders the improvement of sensitivity when detecting blood flow. It also makes continuous measurement over a long period of time difficult.

【０００４】0004

【発明が解決しようとする課題】本発明は、間接的血圧
測定のための血流信号、圧力値を検出するに当たり、そ
の操作性の向上ならびに、血流信号、圧力値の検出感度
、精度を向上させることを目的とする。[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention improves the operability of detecting blood flow signals and pressure values for indirect blood pressure measurement, and improves the detection sensitivity and accuracy of blood flow signals and pressure values. The purpose is to improve.

【０００５】[0005]

【課題を解決するための手段】本発明は、外耳道入口か
ら外耳道内方へ挿通自在とされている測定部を有し、こ
の測定部には、前耳介枝動脈を加圧できるカフと、前耳
介枝動脈の血流を検出する検出素子と、カフの圧力を検
出する感圧素子とを設けてなることを特徴とする。[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has a measuring section that can be freely inserted into the internal auditory canal from the entrance of the external auditory canal, and this measuring section includes a cuff that can pressurize the anterior auricular branch artery; It is characterized by being provided with a detection element that detects blood flow in the anterior auricular branch artery and a pressure-sensitive element that detects the pressure of the cuff.

【０００６】[0006]

【作用】測定部位を外耳の外耳道入口付近とし、カフお
よび血流検出素子、感圧素子によって構成されている測
定部を、外耳道入口に挿入する。カフは外耳道壁に沿っ
て動脈を加圧するので、カフの外方に逃げる圧力成分は
ほとんど発生しない。またこの部位においては、動脈の
周囲は僅かな皮下組織があるだけで、血流信号検出感度
が極めてよく、またカフによる加圧効果もよい。したが
ってカフは小容積で構成できる。また測定部は外耳道に
挿入して測定するので、とくに測定部ひいては検出器の
保持機構を必要としない。[Operation] The measurement site is set near the entrance of the external auditory canal, and the measuring section consisting of a cuff, a blood flow detection element, and a pressure sensitive element is inserted into the entrance of the external auditory canal. Since the cuff pressurizes the artery along the wall of the external auditory canal, little pressure component escapes outside the cuff. Furthermore, in this region, there is only a small amount of subcutaneous tissue around the artery, so the detection sensitivity of blood flow signals is extremely high, and the pressurizing effect of the cuff is also good. Therefore, the cuff can be constructed with a small volume. Furthermore, since the measuring section is inserted into the external auditory canal for measurement, no particular holding mechanism is required for the measuring section and thus the detector.

【０００７】[0007]

【実施例】本発明の実施例を図によつて説明する。１は
耳輪、２は本発明による血圧検出器、３は耳垂、４は外
耳道入口、５は外耳道、６は前耳介枝動脈、７は軟骨、
８は通気孔、９は挿入ガイド、１０はケース、１１はカ
フで、筒状に形成されてあつて、透光性とされている。[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. 1 is the ear helix, 2 is the blood pressure detector according to the present invention, 3 is the ear lobe, 4 is the entrance of the external auditory canal, 5 is the external auditory canal, 6 is the anterior auricular branch artery, 7 is the cartilage,
8 is a ventilation hole, 9 is an insertion guide, 10 is a case, and 11 is a cuff, which is formed into a cylindrical shape and is translucent.

【０００８】１２は血流検出素子で、光源である発光ダ
イオード１９と、受光素子２０とによって構成されてあ
る。１３は感圧素子、１４は圧発生部で、マイクロモー
タ１７と、ポンプ１８とによって構成されてある。１５
は圧制御部で、増幅部２１、加減圧弁別部２２およびモ
ータ駆動部２３によって構成されてある。１６は測定部
である。Reference numeral 12 denotes a blood flow detection element, which is composed of a light emitting diode 19 serving as a light source and a light receiving element 20. 13 is a pressure sensitive element, 14 is a pressure generating section, which is composed of a micro motor 17 and a pump 18. 15
Reference numeral denotes a pressure control section, which is composed of an amplification section 21, a pressure increase/decrease discrimination section 22, and a motor drive section 23. 16 is a measuring section.

【０００９】測定部１６を外耳道入口４に挿入すると、
血流検出素子１２の発光ダイオード１９からの光は、前
耳介枝動脈６を照射し、その反射光は受光素子２０によ
り受光される。When the measuring section 16 is inserted into the external auditory canal entrance 4,
The light from the light emitting diode 19 of the blood flow detection element 12 illuminates the anterior auricular branch artery 6, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 20.

【００１０】このとき前耳介枝動脈６に血流の変化（血
圧の変化による）があると、受光素子２０から血流信号
として出力する。この血流信号を増幅部２１によって増
幅して、脈拍出力として出力するとともに、加減圧弁別
部２２へ送る。At this time, if there is a change in blood flow in the anterior auricular branch artery 6 (due to a change in blood pressure), the light receiving element 20 outputs a blood flow signal. This blood flow signal is amplified by the amplifying section 21 and output as a pulse output, and is also sent to the pressurization/depression discriminating section 22 .

【００１１】加減圧弁別部２２は、前記血流信号がある
ときは、モータ駆動部２３を介してマイクロモータ１７
を正転させてポンプ１８によりカフ１１を加圧する。カ
フ１１を逐次加圧し、カフ圧がカフ１１による血圧測定
部位である前耳介枝動脈６の内圧より高くなると、前記
血流検出素子１２の血流信号が消滅する。[0011] When the blood flow signal is present, the pressurization/depressurization discrimination section 22 controls the micromotor 17 via the motor drive section 23 .
is rotated in the normal direction to pressurize the cuff 11 with the pump 18. When the cuff 11 is sequentially pressurized and the cuff pressure becomes higher than the internal pressure of the anterior auricular branch artery 6 where the blood pressure is measured by the cuff 11, the blood flow signal from the blood flow detection element 12 disappears.

【００１２】血流検出素子１２の血流信号が消滅すると
、加減圧弁別部２２は、モータ駆動部２３を介してマイ
クロモータ１７を逆転させて、ポンプ１８によりカフ１
１を減圧する。カフ１１を減圧し、カフ圧が前耳介枝動
脈６の内圧より低くなると、前記血流検出素子１２から
再び血流信号が出力される。When the blood flow signal from the blood flow detection element 12 disappears, the pressure adjustment/depression discrimination section 22 reverses the micromotor 17 via the motor drive section 23 and causes the pump 18 to pump the cuff 1.
Depressurize 1. When the cuff 11 is depressurized and the cuff pressure becomes lower than the internal pressure of the anterior auricular branch artery 6, the blood flow detection element 12 outputs a blood flow signal again.

【００１３】以上のように血流検出素子１２の血流信号
があるときはカフ１１を加圧し、血流信号がないときは
カフ１１を減圧することによつて、カフ１１の内圧は、
動脈内圧に追従する。動脈内圧に追従するカフ１１の内
圧を感圧素子１３によって、最高血圧信号として出力す
る。As described above, by pressurizing the cuff 11 when there is a blood flow signal from the blood flow detection element 12 and depressurizing the cuff 11 when there is no blood flow signal, the internal pressure of the cuff 11 can be adjusted to
Follows arterial pressure. The pressure sensing element 13 outputs the internal pressure of the cuff 11, which follows the arterial internal pressure, as a systolic blood pressure signal.

【００１４】なお図の例では、圧発生部１４、圧制御部
１５をケース１０内に一体的に設けているが、これに代
えてこれらをケース１０から分離し、これを耳介裏に装
着するようにしてもよい。In the example shown in the figure, the pressure generating section 14 and the pressure controlling section 15 are provided integrally within the case 10, but instead of this, they can be separated from the case 10 and attached to the back of the auricle. You may also do so.

【００１５】[0015]

【発明の効果】以上説明したように本発明によれば、測
定部を外耳道に挿入して血圧を測定するようにしたので
、検出器装着による生体の負担度は極めて軽微であり、
従来の検出器のように、被検者に与える拘束感や緊迫感
はほとんどなく、更に長時間にわたる連続測定測定にお
いても、高安定、高精度性能が発揮されるといった効果
を奏する。[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, blood pressure is measured by inserting the measuring section into the external auditory canal, so that the burden on the living body due to wearing the detector is extremely small.
Unlike conventional detectors, there is almost no sense of restraint or tension on the subject, and it also provides high stability and high precision performance even during continuous measurements over a long period of time.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

【図１】本発明の実施例を示すもので、左半分を断面と
した正面図である。FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view with the left half in section.

【図２】図１の平面図である。FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

【図３】検出器内部のブロック図である。FIG. 3 is a block diagram inside the detector.

【図４】使用状態を示す部分断面図である。FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the state of use.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

１１　　カフ１２　　血流検出素子１３　　感圧素子１６　　測定部１９　　光源２０　　受光素子11 Cuff12 Blood flow detection element13 Pressure sensitive element16 Measurement part19 Light source20 Photo receiving element

Claims (1)

Translated fromJapanese

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims]【請求項１】　　外耳道入口から外耳道内方へ挿通自在
とされている測定部を有し、前記測定部には、円筒状と
されてあって、かつ加圧によって外方に向かって拡張自
在のカフと、前記カフによる血圧測定部位に光を照射す
る光源並びに前記血圧測定部位からの反射光を受光する
受光素子とからなる血流検出素子と、前記カフの圧力を
検出する感圧素子とを設けてなる血圧検出器。1. A measuring part that can be inserted into the inside of the external auditory canal from the entrance of the external auditory canal, and the measuring part has a cylindrical shape and can be expanded outwardly by applying pressure. A blood flow detection element comprising a cuff, a light source that irradiates light onto a blood pressure measurement site by the cuff, and a light receiving element that receives reflected light from the blood pressure measurement site, and a pressure sensitive element that detects the pressure of the cuff. Blood pressure detector provided.