JPH0966035A - Blood pressure measurement device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide a blood pressure measurement device that can be used for an exercise load test or the like with high accuracy. SOLUTION: A cuff 30 that applies a predetermined pressure to a blood pressure value measurement portion, and a pressurizing pump 11 that injects and exhausts a gas to and from the cuff 30.
And exhaust valves 12, 13 and pressure sensor 14 and amplifier 2
3. A blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 having a microphone amplifier 14 for detecting blood vessel information and a detection result from the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 are calculated and a blood pressure value is displayed / printed out and driven to the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10. The main body 50 for supplying electric power is separated into three parts. And cuff 30
The air path between the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 and the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 is directly connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a blood pressure measuring device, and more particularly to a blood pressure measuring device which is less affected by body movement of a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic blood pressure measuring device comprises a cuff and a main body, and an air hose having a certain length between the two and a lead wire of a microphone for collecting Korotkoff sound and the like. Was connected with.

[0003]

Therefore, the generation of noise including fluctuations in the cuff pressure due to movement and vibration of the hose is unavoidable, and it is necessary to ensure a resting state.

Since it is necessary to secure this resting state, a complicated noise elimination program and the installation of a plurality of microphones are required for measurement involving body movements such as the subject's free movement and exercise load test. The current situation is that blood pressure cannot be easily measured.

Further, in consideration of the above points, a blood pressure measuring device in which a cuff and a main body are inseparably integrated has been introduced mainly for personal use. This type of blood pressure measuring device is provided with a cuff for displaying all devices necessary for blood pressure measurement (pressure gauge, pressurizing pump, constant exhaust valve, quick exhaust valve, blood pressure measurement analysis unit, measurement value, etc. The display drive circuit, the power supply circuit, etc.) are mounted. Therefore, the influence of vibration and noise caused by the air hose can be avoided, but because of the large shape and weight of the entire body, the entire blood pressure measurement device vibrates when body movement occurs, or It was inevitable that some people would feel uncomfortable due to wearing a heavy person, and in reality, they could only be used in a resting state. Furthermore, since the cuff and the main body are inseparably connected, only the cuff part cannot be removed, and even if the biological contact part of the cuff part becomes dirty, it cannot be washed and used when it becomes very dirty. I had no choice but to quit. For this reason, it cannot be used in hospitals that are frequently used.

Furthermore, since the main body is integral with the cuff, its function is inevitably limited, and the measurement data is only displayed on the display of that device, and the measurement results cannot be downloaded by other devices. .

As described above, there is currently no blood pressure measuring device that can be used for an exercise load test with high accuracy.

[0008]

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and provides a blood pressure measuring apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems and can be used with high accuracy in an exercise load test and the like. In order to do so, the following configuration is provided.

That is, a cuff for applying a predetermined pressure to the blood pressure value measuring portion, a pressure pump for injecting and exhausting gas to and from the cuff, and a blood pressure measuring mechanism section for detecting a pressure value and blood vessel information having an exhaust mechanism, A blood pressure measuring device that is configured separately from a main body unit that receives a detection result from a blood pressure measuring mechanism unit, calculates a blood pressure value, and outputs the blood pressure value, wherein the cuff is for directly connecting the gas air path of the blood pressure measuring mechanism unit. And a locking portion that removably locks the blood pressure measurement mechanism portion.

Further, for example, the locking portion of the cuff includes a surface fastener disposed on at least a part of a portion which is outside when the living body is attached, and the blood pressure measuring mechanism portion includes the surface fastener when the cuff is attached to the living body. An elastic body with a curvature capable of responding to changes in the diameter of the cuff, and a surface fastener paired with the surface fastener portion of the cuff arranged inside the elastic body,
It is composed of a mechanism portion formed outside the elastic body, and at the time of blood pressure measurement, the gas supply portion of the blood pressure measurement mechanism portion is directly connected to the connection mechanism of the cuff and the locking portions lock each other. Is characterized by.

Further, for example, the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section include an electric signal interface section for exchanging information with each other by an electric signal, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section are electrically conductive. It is characterized in that it is electrically connected by a signal line. Alternatively, the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section include a wireless signal interface section for exchanging information with each other by a wireless radio wave signal, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section mutually communicate with each other by a radio wave. It is characterized by giving and receiving. Alternatively, the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section include an optical communication interface section for performing mutual exchange of information by optical communication, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section exchange mutual information by optical communication. Characterized by giving and receiving. The main body section has a drive power source section for the blood pressure measurement mechanism section, and supplies driving power to the blood pressure measurement mechanism section.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention according to the present invention, a cuff for applying a predetermined pressure to the blood pressure value measuring portion, a pressurizing pump for injecting and exhausting gas into the cuff, and a blood pressure for measuring the blood pressure value are provided with an exhaust mechanism. A major feature is that the measurement mechanism section and the main body section that receives the measurement result from the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and analyzes and outputs the blood pressure measurement result are separated.

As a result, only the cuff can be separated and washed,
It is possible to always measure blood pressure in a clean state. Therefore, blood pressure can be measured for an unspecified number of subjects. Further, since it is sufficient to replace only the cuff portion, the cuff portion can be configured as a disposable type, for example. For this reason, if you use this type when sweating is severe, as in the case of blood pressure measurement during exercise stress test, you can always use the cuff in a clean state and it is difficult to measure blood pressure accurately until now. It can also be widely used.

The blood pressure measuring device according to this embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing the configuration of a blood pressure measurement device according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blood pressure measuring mechanism portion of this example, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure inside thereof, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a cuff of this example.

1 to 3, 10 is a blood pressure measuring mechanism, and 30 is a cuff. The blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 includes a cuff 3
An elastic body 19 having a constant curvature so as to be applicable to all diameters when measuring a blood pressure of 0, and a mechanism having a similar curvature integrally formed with the elastic body 19 at the outer central portion of the elastic body 19. It is composed of a unit 20 and a unit 20. Then, the inner surface of the elastic body 19 has a hook-and-loop fastener 15 so as to be locked so as not to easily fall off in a state of being integrated with the cuff 30.
Are arranged.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, a microphone connector 2 for connecting with a microphone provided on the cuff 30 for detecting a pulse sound or Korotkoff sound (K sound).
An air connector 21 for supplying pressurizing air to the cuff 30 and the cuff 30 is provided.

Reference numeral 29 is a cable for connecting to a main body (not shown), and a power line for supplying drive power for operating the blood pressure measuring mechanism 20 from a power source on the main body side,
It is composed of a signal line for control described later and a signal line for outputting a measurement result.

On the other hand, the cuff 30 is provided with a corresponding surface fastener 35 paired with the surface fastener 15 at a portion located on the surface fastener 15 of the blood pressure measuring mechanism 10 which is attached to the blood pressure measurement site. . Then, a corresponding microphone connector 32 and an air connector 31 which are paired with the above-described microphone connector 22 and air connector 21 are provided. Furthermore, when the cuff 30 is attached to the blood pressure measurement site, a surface to be paired with the surface fastener 35 for fixing is provided in the vicinity of the rear end of the surface fastener 35 so that the end portion can be easily fixed with the cuff being wound. A fastener 37 is provided.

As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the blood pressure measuring mechanism 10 and the cuff 30 are connected to the pressurizing mechanism by a minimum necessary length rather than by a long hose-shaped tube as in the conventional case. Since it is composed of the length of, even if there is a body movement, the influence can be minimized. FIG. 4 shows a detailed block configuration of a mechanical portion for control and measurement of the present example having the above shape.

In FIG. 4, in the blood pressure measuring mechanism 10, 11 is a pressurizing pump for feeding air into the cuff 30 to pressurize the measurement site of the living body, and 12 is a pressure for rapidly reducing the pressure in the cuff 30. The quick exhaust valve 13 is a constant exhaust valve for reducing the cuff pressure (for example, 2 to 3 mmHg / sec) by exhausting the cuff pressure in a fixed amount in order to measure the blood pressure value after pressurization. Further, 14 is a pressure sensor, and the electrical parameter changes according to the pressure in the cuff 30. Also, 16
Is an air path connecting these parts, and is connected to the cuff 30 via the air connector 21.

Further, 23 is a pressure detection amplifier which detects an electric parameter of the pressure sensor 22 which changes in accordance with a change in the cuff pressure, converts it into a corresponding electric signal, amplifies and outputs it.
A microphone amplifier 24 is a microphone amplifier that detects and amplifies a change in an electric signal from a microphone positioned at an upper position of a blood vessel for measuring blood pressure in the cuff 30, and includes a pressure detection amplifier 23 and a microphone amplifier. The output of 24 is output to the interface unit 26. The main body 50
The power for driving the respective components of the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 sent from the interface 26 is supplied from the interface 26.

In the above description, an example in which a microphone provided in the cuff 30 detects, for example, a K sound or a pulse sound to measure blood pressure, but the present invention is not limited to the above example. Alternatively, the blood pressure may be measured by utilizing the change in the pressure of the cuff 30 due to the pulsation or the like and detecting the change in the pressure due to the pulsation or the like by the pressure sensor 14.

According to this example, since there is no long tube or the like between the cuff and the pressurizing pump as in the conventional case, this pressure change can be detected with less influence of noise. This eliminates the need for a microphone and eliminates the influence of microphone position on measurement accuracy.

Further, the pulsating arterial blood flow is irradiated with light from an LED or the like, and the reflected light of the light due to the arterial blood flow is detected by a phototransistor or the like to detect a change in intravascular volume and measure blood pressure. It may be configured. Any method can be used as the blood pressure measuring method according to the present invention, and the method is not limited to that method.

The interface section 26 of the blood pressure measuring mechanism section 10 is connected to the main body 50 through an electric signal line and a power supply line in this example. Since the main body is not attached to the living body, there are almost no restrictions on its shape or the like. Therefore, it can be formed into an arbitrary shape according to various uses, and can be incorporated into any other apparatus such as other biometric information processing apparatus, inspection apparatus, computer system, or the like. Therefore, the blood pressure measurement result can be easily made available to any device.

As an example of the main body, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the main body of the blood pressure measuring device is constituted by, for example, a one-chip CPU. That is, the main body 50 shown in FIG. 4 is a one-chip CPU 51, a ROM 52 in which operation programs of the CPU 51 and various parameters for blood pressure measurement are stored, a RAM 53 for storing measurement results and measurement progress, a blood pressure measurement, etc. A buzzer 54 that outputs various accompanying sounds, a display (LCD) 55 that can display measurement results, measurement guidance, and the like are included.

An interface 56 for controlling the blood pressure measuring mechanism unit 10, an operation unit 58 for inputting various instructions such as a blood pressure measuring instruction, a power supply unit for supplying drive power of the main body and operating power of the blood pressure measuring mechanism unit 10. It is equipped with 59. Furthermore, since the measurement signal from the pressure sensor of the blood pressure measurement mechanism section 10 and the detection signal from the microphone are sent as analog signals in this example, the A / D conversion section 57 for converting this signal into a corresponding digital signal is used. Have

In addition to this, a printer is further provided,
It is also possible to print out the measurement results.
Even in this case, since there is no particular restriction on the shape of the main body, the printer may be built in the main body or may be connected to another general commercially available printer and output to it. Further, it is possible to control the blood pressure monitor from a device such as an electrocardiograph via the communication unit 60.

In the above configuration, the CPU 51 causes the interface unit 56 to operate when the wearing of the cuff 30 on the subject is completed, the blood pressure measurement preparation is completed, and a measurement start instruction or the like is input from the operation unit 58. Via the interface section 26 of the blood pressure measurement mechanism section 10, the exhaust from the exhaust valves 12 and 13 is stopped, the pressurizing pump 11 is started, air is sent to the cuff 30, and the cuff pressure is increased. And then exhaust valve 1
Blood pressure is measured by controlling signals 2 and 13 by a known method and using detection signals from the pressure sensor 14 and a microphone.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the main body portion, the cuff, and the blood pressure measuring mechanism portion are configured to be separable from each other, so that they can be manufactured, sold, and exchanged independently. For example, the cuff is used. Even if it becomes dirty due to, the cuff portion can be separated and washed. For this reason, it can be always maintained in a clean state. Moreover,
Even if the frequency of use increases, if only this cuff part is separately replaced, the other part does not need to be newly purchased, and the convenience is improved.

Also at this time, only the cuff 30 and the blood pressure measuring mechanism 10 are attached to the subject, and
The blood pressure measurement mechanism unit 10 and the cuff 30 are in a so-called direct connection state. For this reason, there is no extra air passage for connecting each other, and unlike a conventional sphygmomanometer, it is susceptible to vibration and noise due to body movement, and connects between the cuff and the pressure sensor or pressure pump. The tube (air hose) can be eliminated, making it possible to measure blood pressure with extremely high accuracy even if there is physical activity.

Further, even when the blood pressure measuring mechanism and the cuff are integrally attached to the living body, the portion attached to the living body can be formed in a small shape because it is separated from the main body.
Moreover, the weight can be reduced.

For this reason, it has been very difficult to measure blood pressure with high accuracy in the past, but it is also difficult to measure blood pressure during exercise with body movement.
According to the sphygmomanometer of this example, it is possible to perform the measurement accurately and easily. It should be noted that the connection signal line between the main body and the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit in this example may be configured to be connected by a connector that can be attached and detached with one touch, for example.

[Other Embodiments of the Invention] In the embodiment described above, the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism are connected by a signal line, and the operating power of the blood pressure measuring mechanism is supplied entirely from the main body. It was As a result, the blood pressure measuring mechanism has a small and lightweight shape. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples. That is, in the above example, the signal was transmitted and received between the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism by the signal line. However, when the blood pressure measuring device of the present invention is used at the time of exercise load, when the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism are used. If the part is completely separated, the signal line will not get in the way,
The wearing feeling of the subject is further improved.

In view of the above points, the signal line between the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism is eliminated, and the control signal and the detection signal between the two components are exchanged by a radio signal. Another example of the embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the example of FIGS. 5 and 6, unlike the first example described above, it is not possible to receive all the driving power supplies of the blood pressure measuring mechanism section from the main body side through the power line.
Due to improvements in battery technology and power-saving technologies such as motors in recent years, small high-performance motors and batteries have been developed. Even if a drive or a display device is not driven, a large power supply is built in. It can be one that does not consume power. Therefore, with the blood pressure measuring mechanism and the cuff, even if a battery is incorporated as a power source for driving, the weight does not increase so much and the size does not increase.

In the example of FIG. 5, various information is exchanged between the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism section by radio waves, and in the example of FIG. 6, various information between the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism section is transmitted by the modulated light. By exchanging data, the connection by the signal line with the main body is lost. In the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6, the interface unit of the first example shown in FIG. 4 is replaced with a transmission / reception unit. For example, on the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit side, each analog signal is converted into a corresponding digital signal A It suffices to provide an A / D conversion circuit, use the A / D conversion circuit to convert a signal to and from the main body into a digital signal, and transmit / receive the digital signal in a time division manner.

In this way, by adopting a structure in which the respective devices are connected by a wireless signal, it is not necessary to physically connect the main body and the blood pressure measuring mechanism unit, and the range of application can be further widened. .

Further, in this case, it becomes possible to have a degree of freedom by using the interface, and the present invention is not limited to the case where the measurement data is sent to a dedicated sphygmomanometer. For example, the measurement data can be directly sent to another biological information processing apparatus. It can be transmitted, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism of this example can be easily controlled.

As a result, it becomes possible to directly send the blood pressure measurement data to a bedside monitor device, an exercise load tester capable of measuring during exercise with a treadmill ergometer, and the like.

In this example, among the respective configurations of the sphygmomanometer, the blood pressure value is measured from the detection values from the blood pressure measuring mechanism unit in which the cuff and the sensor unit and the pressurizing pump, the exhaust valve are integrated, and the sensor unit, A display that displays the measurement results and a printer that prints out the measured blood pressure value and the like as needed are separately configured into three parts that are separately provided in the main body, and in particular, the cuff and the blood pressure measurement mechanism part are tubeless (airless). Hoseless)
With this configuration, it is possible to minimize the effects of vibration and noise due to body motion even when the blood pressure is not in a resting state. The first feature is in the above point, and a publicly known communication method can be used as the above-mentioned wireless communication method.

As described above, according to each example of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to easily send the measured value as a connection state to each dedicated model prepared for each usage environment. Therefore, in addition to the rest blood pressure measurement as in the past,
It can be easily connected to any device such as a device for patient monitoring that can be centrally managed and a device for exercise load testing that can measure during exercise with a treadmill and ergometer.

Moreover, only the cuff portion can be easily separated, and the cuff that directly contacts the living body can be washed without using a special method. Therefore, blood pressure can be measured in a clean state. Furthermore, since only the cuff part can be easily replaced, the cuff part can be configured as a disposable type, especially when measuring blood pressure accompanied by sweating such as an exercise load test without using the cuff used by another person. It is possible to provide products that are excellent in hygiene.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily send the measured value as a connection state to each dedicated model prepared for each use environment. Therefore, it is possible to easily connect to an arbitrary device such as a dedicated device for each usage environment.

Moreover, only the cuff portion can be easily separated, and the cuff directly contacting the living body can be washed without using a special method. Therefore, blood pressure can be measured in a clean state.

[0045]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a blood pressure measurement mechanism unit of a sphygmomanometer according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cuff locking surface of a blood pressure measurement mechanism portion in FIG. 1 of the blood pressure monitor of this example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cuff portion of the blood pressure monitor of this example.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sphygmomanometer of the present example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of connection between a sphygmomanometer main unit and a blood pressure measurement mechanism unit in another embodiment of the present invention according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of connection between a sphygmomanometer main body and a blood pressure measuring mechanism according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 10 blood pressure measuring mechanism section 11 pressurizing pump 12 rapid exhaust valve 13 constant exhaust valve 14 pressure sensor 15, 35, 37 surface fastener 16 air passage 19 elastic body 20 mechanism section 21, 31 air connector 22, 32 microphone Connector 23 Pressure detection amplifier 24 Microphone amplifier 26, 56 Interface section 30 Cuff 50 Main body 51 CPU 52 ROM 53 RAM 54 Buzzer 55 Display (LCD) 57 A / D conversion section 58 Operation section 59 Power supply section 60 Communication section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cuff for applying a predetermined pressure to a blood pressure value measurement part, a pressure pump for injecting and exhausting gas to and from the cuff, and a blood pressure measurement mechanism section for detecting a pressure value and blood vessel information, and A blood pressure measurement device configured to be separated from a main body unit that receives a detection result from a blood pressure measurement mechanism unit, calculates a blood pressure value, and outputs the blood pressure value, wherein the cuff is for directly connecting an air passage of a gas of the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit. 2. A blood pressure measurement device, comprising: a connection mechanism of 1) and a locking portion that removably locks the blood pressure measurement mechanism portion. 2. The locking portion of the cuff includes a surface fastener disposed on at least a part of an outer side portion when the living body is attached, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism portion includes the surface fastener when the cuff is attached to the living body. An elastic body having a curvature capable of accommodating changes in the diameter of the cuff, a surface fastener paired with the surface fastener portion of the cuff arranged inside the elastic body, and formed on the outside of the elastic body. It is comprised from a mechanism part, and at the time of blood pressure measurement, the gas supply part of the blood pressure measurement mechanism part is directly connected to the connection mechanism of the cuff, and the locking parts lock each other. Blood pressure measurement device. 3. The blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section include an electric signal interface section for exchanging information with each other by an electric signal, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section are electrically conductive signals. The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the blood pressure measurement device is electrically connected by a wire. 4. The blood pressure measuring mechanism section and the main body section include a wireless signal interface section for exchanging information with each other by a wireless radio wave signal, and the blood pressure measuring mechanism section and the main body section use a wireless radio wave. The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the blood pressure measurement device exchanges information with each other. 5. The blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section include an optical communication interface section for exchanging information with each other by optical communication, and the blood pressure measurement mechanism section and the main body section are mutually connected by optical communication. 3. The blood pressure measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted and received. 6. The body according to claim 1, further comprising a driving power supply unit for driving the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit to supply driving power to the blood pressure measurement mechanism unit. Blood pressure measuring device.