JPH07246191A - Physiological substance amount detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a physiological substance amount detecting device whose sensor for detecting a physiological substance amount can securely be fixed to a certain portion of a living body, and it does not interfere with the living body and is easily detachable. CONSTITUTION:This device is composed of an attaching tool 120 which is attached to the upper teeth of a living body, a support base 110 which is fixed to the attaching tool 120 and is securely attached to the upper jaw of an oral cavity surface, and a sensor 130 which is fixed to the support base 110 and detects the physiological substance amount in an oral cavity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a physiological amount detecting device for detecting a physiological amount such as oxygen saturation in blood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The pulse oximetry method is known as a method for measuring the blood oxygen saturation level of a living body. This pulse oximetry method is a method of measuring blood oxygen saturation by utilizing the fact that the absorption characteristic of hemoglobin changes depending on its oxygen saturation.As a pulse oximeter sensor, a transmission sensor is generally used. It is used.

As shown in FIG. 20, this transmissive sensor 10 has a light emitting element 11 and a light receiving element 12,
The light emitting element 11 and the light receiving element 12 are attached to a peripheral part such as a fingertip 1 or an earlobe in a state of facing each other. Then, the blood oxygen saturation is measured from the change in the amount of transmitted light when light is applied to a peripheral part such as a fingertip.

Although the above-mentioned transmission type sensor 10 can easily perform measurement by sandwiching the measurement site with a clip type, the measurement site is limited to a peripheral region such as a fingertip, an ear tab or the like, which has good light transmittance, and a peripheral region. The reflective sensor 20 shown in FIG. 21 has a drawback that it does not work in a situation where the blood flow rate of the device decreases, and that the defect can be solved and measurement can be performed in a wider area.

The reflection type sensor 20 has a substrate 21 and a light emitting element 2
2 and the light receiving element 23 are provided on the same plane, and are fixed to the skin 2 of the living body such as the forehead with a tape. And
The light-emitting element 22 is caused to emit light, the reflected light is received by the light-receiving element 23, and the change in the amount of reflected light due to the pulsation of the blood vessel is detected to measure the blood oxygen saturation level.

Since the reflection type sensor 20 is fixed to the skin 2, it is possible to measure at a wide range of sites. However, since the sensor 20 has to be fixed to the skin 2 using a tape, it is difficult to fix the sensor 20 in a stable state, and thus there is a problem that stable measurement is difficult. Also, it is difficult to secure it securely,
In addition, since physical restraints are great, it is difficult to measure for a long time during sleep or exercise.

The problem concerning the fixing of the above-mentioned sensor is not limited to the case of fixing the reflection type sensor 20, but a body temperature sensor for detecting the body temperature of a living body, a respiration sensor for detecting the number of respirations,
It is also a problem common to various sensors that detect physiological amounts, such as a pH sensor that detects saliva pH.

Further, when various physiological quantities (respiration, body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, pulse, saliva pH value, etc.) are simultaneously measured, it is necessary to individually attach a sensor corresponding to each physiological quantity. Therefore, the attachment and detachment of these sensors is very complicated, and the physical restraint is great.

[0009]

As described above, according to the conventional method for detecting the physiological amount, it is difficult to securely fix the sensor for detecting the physiological amount to the living body, and the physical restraint is great. Therefore, it is difficult to measure under daily conditions such as during sleep or exercise, and therefore, it is not suitable for trend analysis of physiological amount over a long period of time. Further, it is very difficult to personally simultaneously measure various physiological quantities because the sensor is difficult to attach and detach.

Therefore, even if it is necessary to measure the continuous changes in various physiological amounts, such as individual health management and home medical care, it has been difficult to perform these measurements.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and a sensor for detecting a physiological amount can be securely fixed to a predetermined part of a living body, and there is no physical restraint and easy attachment / detachment. A first object is to provide a physiological amount detecting device, and a second object is to provide a physiological amount detecting device capable of easily attaching various sensors for measuring various physiological amounts to a predetermined part of a living body. And

[0012]

A physiological amount detecting apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a fixture to be attached to upper teeth in a living body oral cavity, and an upper jaw which is fixed to the fixture and is the inner surface of the oral cavity of the living body. And a sensor that is fixed to the support and that detects a physiological amount in the oral cavity.

As the sensor for detecting the physiological amount, a reflex pulse oximeter sensor for detecting the blood oxygen saturation of a living body, a body temperature sensor for detecting the body temperature, a respiration sensor for detecting the number of respirations, and a pH for detecting saliva pH. There are sensors, etc.

A physiological amount detecting apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a fixture that is attached to the upper teeth in the oral cavity of a living body, and a support that is fixed to this fixture and that is closely attached to the upper jaw side on the oral surface of the living body. A table, a reflection-type pulse oximeter sensor that is fixed to the support table in an arrangement that can be in close contact with the oral surface and that detects the blood oxygen saturation of the living body, and the support in an arrangement that can be in close contact with the oral surface. A body temperature sensor fixed to a table to detect the body temperature of the living body, and a breath to detect the number of respirations of the living body, which is fixed to the support table so as to be located on the side opposite to the inner surface of the oral cavity with the support table in between. A sensor,
And a pH sensor that is fixed to the fitting and is capable of closely contacting the inner surface of the oral cavity and detects saliva pH.

[0015]

In the first aspect of the invention, the sensor for detecting the physiological amount is located at a predetermined position in the oral cavity when the fixture is attached to the upper teeth of the oral cavity of the living body and the support is brought into close contact with the surface of the oral cavity.

In the second aspect of the present invention, when a fixture is attached to the upper teeth of the oral cavity of the living body to bring the support base into close contact with the surface of the oral cavity, the reflection type pulse oximeter sensor, the body temperature sensor, the respiration sensor and the pH sensor are respectively provided. It is located at a position suitable for detecting a physiological amount.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

1 to 6 are views showing a first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a physiological amount detecting device, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device, and FIG. 3 is a pulse oximeter sensor of the device. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is FIG.
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4 is a view showing another example of the pulse oximeter sensor of the same apparatus. FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. ) BB line sectional view, FIG.
Is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of the pulse oximeter sensor of the same apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the same apparatus is mounted in the oral cavity.

The physiological amount detecting apparatus 100 of this example is a plate-shaped support base 110 that is closely attached to the upper jaw side on the inner surface of the oral cavity of a living body, and fittings provided at three locations around the periphery of the support base 110. 120 and a reflection type pulse oximeter sensor 130 provided on the surface side of the support 110. The manufacturing process of this device will be described below.

1. Creation of a small reflective pulse oximeter sensor 130 for use in the oral cavity (see FIG. 3). The light emitting element 132 and the light receiving element 133 are horizontally mounted on the circuit board 131 made of black plastic, and the lead wire 134 is connected to the circuit board 131. The barrier 1 is provided between the light emitting element 132 and the light receiving element 133 so as not to directly enter the light receiving element 133.
The sensor 130 is provided to prevent the influence of external light.
A barrier 136 is provided so as to surround the both elements 132 and 133 so as to stably fix them in the oral cavity. Both the barriers are integrally formed of elastic plastic and are made of an opaque material such as black. The end surfaces of the barriers 135 and 136 are processed in conformity with the shape of the measurement site in the oral cavity on a tooth mold that models the shape of the oral cavity. In this example, the measurement target of the sensor 130 is the “maural palate artery”, and the measurement site of the sensor 130 is considered to be optimally the upper inside of the molar of the maxilla.
30 is the position shown in FIG. In order to enhance the effectiveness of the reflection type pulse oximeter in the oral cavity, the sensor 130 can be improved as follows. 1) In the oral cavity, the surface skin is thin and the influence of light reflection by this layer is small. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the width of the barrier 135 should be wide and the end surface of the barrier 135 should be white for reflecting light. With this, it is possible to increase the pulsating component generated by the pulsation of the blood vessel in the light reflected from the living body. 2) If the barriers 135 and 136 are made of an elastic material and the tips are slightly projected from the surface 111 of the support 110, as shown in FIG. 5, the tips of the barriers 135 and 136 can easily adhere to the surface of the living body. It is possible to prevent a gap from being formed between the surface of the living body and the sensor 130.

2. Incorporation of the pulse oximeter sensor 130 The sensor 13 is attached to the measurement target site on the above tooth profile.
0 is temporarily fixed with an adhesive or the like. The support base 110 is formed on the tooth mold using a resin such as acrylic resin, and the sensor 130 is embedded in the support base 110 with the measurement surface side of the sensor 130 exposed to the outside. In this case, the support base 110 is made thin so that it does not feel uncomfortable when mounted. The fixture 120 is made of plastic and placed on the dental mold. In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixture 120 is installed so that it can be fixed by the three teeth of the left and right back teeth 3 and front teeth 4. Then, a resin is sprinkled on the fixture 120 to embed the base end side of the fixture 120 in the support base 110, and the fixture 120 is integrated with the support base 110. In this work, the lead wire 134 is rotated to the rear of the back tooth so that the lead wire 134 does not interfere with the tooth engagement.
It is fixed at 0.

As shown in FIG. 6, the physiological amount detecting device 100 manufactured through the above steps is attached and fixed to the intraoral surface 6 on the upper jaw 5 side of the subject, and the lead wire 134 is placed between the cheek and the tooth. It is passed and led out from the end of the mouth. Then, the light emitting element 132 is caused to emit light, the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 133, and the change in the amount of reflected light is captured to measure the blood oxygen saturation level.

In this measurement, as described above, the device 100 is made in conformity with the shape of the subject's oral cavity. Therefore, the fixture 120 can firmly hold the upper teeth at three places, the support base 110 can be surely brought into close contact with the oral cavity surface 6, and the sensor 130 can be accurately positioned at the measurement site. The measurement surface can be brought into close contact with the oral surface 6. Therefore, the device 100 is firmly fixed in the oral cavity, and the sensor 130 does not deviate from the measurement site, so that accurate measurement can be performed. Further, since the measurement is performed in the oral cavity, stable measurement can be performed because the influence of external light can be blocked. Furthermore, since the present apparatus 100 uses the inside of the oral cavity near the central site as the measurement site, it is possible to detect changes in blood oxygen saturation in the central site.

On the other hand, since the apparatus 100 is of a mouthpiece type, it can be easily attached and detached by the subject himself, and since the body parts can be freely restrained and body movements can be freely performed, the apparatus can be used during sleep or exercise. It is possible to monitor blood oxygen saturation for a long time.

From the aspect of strengthening the fixing of the apparatus 100, it is also effective to apply the denture stabilizer at the time of mounting.

7 to 9 are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a physiological amount detecting device, FIG. 8 is a rear view of the device, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state equipped with inside. The apparatus 100A of this example has the same configuration as that of the first example except the configuration of the fixture 120A.

That is, in this example, a wire is used as the fixture 120A, the wire is arranged around the support base 110, and several portions 121 are embedded in the support base 110. And when mounting | wearing the apparatus 100A in an oral cavity, the upper teeth 7 are inserted between the wire as the fixture 120A, and the support stand 110, and the upper teeth 7 mainly.
The root portion of is fixed by the fixture 120A. According to this example, the upper and lower teeth can be engaged with each other without being obstructed by the fixture 120A. Other configurations, operations, and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

10 and 11 are views showing a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a physiological amount detecting device, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of the same.

The apparatus 100B of this example is mainly configured to be mounted between the left and right posterior teeth in the oral cavity.
B is the plastic part 122 and this plastic part 122
And a wire 123 for fixing the same to the support base 110. When the device 100B is mounted in the oral cavity, the outer surface side of the left and right back teeth is held by the plastic part 122 of the fixture 120B. In this example, even if the device 100B is mounted in the oral cavity, since the tip surfaces of the back teeth are exposed, the upper and lower back teeth can be engaged with each other. Other configurations, operations, and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the fourth embodiment. The device 100C is configured to be partially mounted in the oral cavity. That is, the present device 100C is configured by approximately half of the device shown in FIG. 10 to which the sensor 130 is attached.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the fifth embodiment. In this device 100D, the entire upper tooth is covered with a fitting 120D made of plastic,
The support base 110D is configured to be in close contact with the inner surface of the oral cavity between the left and right back teeth. Other configurations, operations, and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

14 to 17 are views showing a sixth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the physiological amount detecting device, FIG. 15 is a plan view of the device, and FIG. 16 is the device being installed in the oral cavity. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state in which the above is performed, and FIG.

This device 100E is a multi-type physiological amount detecting device provided with various sensors. That is, in the device 100E, the support base 110 that is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the oral cavity and the fixture 120 that is fixed to the upper teeth.
1 has almost the same configuration as the device 100 shown in FIG. 1, but a pulse oximeter sensor 130, a body temperature sensor 140, a respiration sensor 150 and a pH sensor 160 are provided on the support base 110 or the fixture 120. The signals detected by these sensors 130 to 160 are the lead wires 1
It is processed in an external device via 34.

The configuration of the pulse oximeter sensor 130 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the measurement target and measurement site are also the same as those of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the body temperature sensor 140 has a thermistor 141 that senses temperature as an element, and is embedded in the support base 110 with the temperature sensing surface 142 exposed. This body temperature sensor 140
Since it is necessary to prevent contact with the tongue and measure the body temperature in the deep part, the temperature sensing surface 1 is located on the inner surface of the mouth behind the upper jaw.
The support 42 is arranged in a state in which 42 is in close contact.
In addition, the thermistor 141 is covered with a material 143 having a high thermal conductivity in order to accurately transmit the temperature of the oral cavity surface to the thermistor 141. Further, the thermistor 141 is prevented from radiating heat to the support base 110 and the temperature of the oral cavity is controlled. In order to avoid the influence, the periphery of the material 143 is covered with a heat insulating material 145 except for the temperature sensing surface 142.

As shown in FIG. 17B, the respiration sensor 150 has a thermistor 151 as an element, and calculates the number of respirations from the temperature difference between the exhaled air temperature and the inhaled air temperature.
Therefore, it is provided on the support base 110 so as to be located on the rear side of the upper jaw and on the side opposite to the inner surface of the oral cavity so that the flow of respiratory air can be easily detected. Further, in order to catch a minute change, the thermistor 151 is installed as it is, and the guide 152 is placed in a state in which the flow of breathing air is not disturbed so that the tongue does not come into contact with the thermistor 151.
It is provided around 51.

As shown in FIG. 17 (c), the pH sensor 160 is composed of an ISFET (ion-sensitive field effect transistor) 161 as an element, and the measurement site is the parotid duct with the largest salivary secretion. Near the opening (upper buccal side of upper second molar). Therefore, the pH sensor 160 is provided on the outer surface side of the fixture 120 fixed to the posterior teeth so as to be installed at the site. Also, element 1
A cover 162 for protecting 61 is provided, and this cover 162 has a mesh shape so that saliva can easily pass therethrough.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a multi-sensor system using the physiological amount detecting device 100E. The signals of the light receiving element 133 of the pulse oximeter 130, the body temperature sensor 140, the respiration sensor 150, and the pH sensor 160 are amplified by the amplifier 181 and then the multiplexer 182.
, One of the various signals is selected by the multiplexer 182, the signal is digitized by the A / D converter 183 and sent to the CPU 184, and various processing is performed by the CPU 184 to perform the display. The data is sent to the recorder 185 and the recorder 186. Further, the data sent from the light receiving element 133 is also sent to the controller 187 via the CPU 184, and the controller 1
87 controls the output level of the light emitting element 132 based on this data.

On the other hand, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 15, the apparatus 100E is made into a telemeter by providing the support base 110 with the telemetry system section 187, and the lead wire 134 is used.
Can also be removed. With such a configuration, it is possible to achieve further restraint, and it is possible to simultaneously measure a plurality of data for a long time. Figure 1
FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a multi-telemetry sensor system when the device 100E is made into a telemeter. The data of SpO2 (oxygen saturation), body temperature, respiratory rate and pH detected by various sensors 130, 140, 150 and 160 are used in the telemetry system section 18.
At 7, various processes are performed, modulated, and wirelessly transmitted. This data is demodulated by the demodulator 188, digitized by the A / D converter 183, and sent to the CPU 184.
The CPU 184 performs various kinds of processing and outputs it to the display device 185 and the recording device 186.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where a sensor for detecting blood oxygen saturation, body temperature, respiration rate, and saliva pH as physiological values is provided has been described, but pulse oximetry method is used to measure the pulse rate. Is also possible. Further, a sensor for measuring other physiological amount that can be measured in the oral cavity, such as skin impedance or salivary hormone, may be provided on the support base 110 or the fixture 120. Also, the combination of various sensors is not limited to the embodiment, and various combinations can be made as necessary. Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned examples, the fixture attached to the upper tooth in the oral cavity and the support fixed to the fixture and closely attached to the upper jaw part in the oral cavity were composed of different members, If a suitable material such as elastic hard plastic is used, it can be configured as one member, in which case the manufacturing process can be further simplified.

[0040]

As described above, in the physiological amount detecting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sensor for detecting the physiological amount is firmly fixed to the measurement site in the oral cavity, the accurate physiological amount can be measured. .

Since this device can be mounted in the oral cavity like a mouthpiece, it can be easily attached and detached by the subject himself. Also, since it is installed in the oral cavity, there are few restrictions on each part of the body. Therefore, the body movements can be freely performed, so that it becomes possible to monitor the physiological amount for a long time during sleep or exercise.

Further, blood oxygen saturation, body temperature, respiratory rate,
With respect to physiological quantities such as saliva pH for which accurate data can be obtained when the measurement site is in the oral cavity, there is an advantage that a sensor that detects these physiological quantities can be easily attached to a predetermined position in the oral cavity.

In the physiological amount detecting device according to the second invention, since the reflection type pulse oximeter sensor, the body temperature sensor, the respiration sensor and the pH sensor are provided in the device, in addition to the effect of the first invention, a plurality of them are provided. It has an effect that the physiological amount of can be simultaneously measured. In addition, by a simple work of mounting the device in the oral cavity, various sensors can be simultaneously and reliably positioned at predetermined positions in the oral cavity, and various sensors can be simultaneously removed by simply removing the device. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a physiological amount detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device of FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a pulse oximeter sensor of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another pulse oximeter sensor.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing still another pulse oximeter sensor.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the device of FIG. 1 is installed in the oral cavity.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a physiological amount detecting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the device of FIG.

9 is a view showing a state in which the device of FIG. 7 is mounted in the oral cavity.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a physiological amount detection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a physiological amount detecting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a physiological amount detection device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a physiological amount detecting device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the device of FIG.

16 is a diagram showing a state in which the device of FIG. 14 is mounted in the oral cavity.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a sensor provided in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a multi-sensor system using the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a multi-telemetry sensor system using the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a conventional transmission type pulse oximeter sensor.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a conventional reflection type pulse oximeter sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Physiological amount detection device 110 Support stand 120 Fixture 130 Pulse oximeter sensor 140 Body temperature sensor 150 Respiration sensor 160 pH sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A fixture attached to an upper tooth in a living body's oral cavity, a support fixed to the fixture and closely attached to the upper jaw side on the oral surface of the living body, and the support or the fixture. A physiological amount detecting device, comprising: a sensor fixed to the body to detect a physiological amount in the oral cavity. 2. The sensor is a reflective pulse oximeter sensor for detecting the blood oxygen saturation level of a living body, and is arranged on a support base in close contact with the inner surface of the oral cavity. The physiological amount detection device described in 1. 3. The physiological amount detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a body temperature sensor for detecting a body temperature of a living body, and is arranged on the support base in a state of being in close contact with the inner surface of the oral cavity. 4. The sensor is a respiratory sensor for detecting the number of respirations of a living body, and is arranged on the support base so as to be located on the side opposite to the inner surface of the oral cavity with the support base interposed therebetween. The physiological amount detection device according to claim 1. 5. The physiological amount detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pH sensor for detecting saliva pH, and is arranged in the fixture in a state of being in close contact with the inner surface of the oral cavity. 6. A fixture that is attached to the upper teeth of a living body oral cavity, a support that is fixed to the fixture and that is closely attached to the upper jaw side of the oral cavity surface of the living body, and closely attached to the oral cavity surface. A reflection type pulse oximeter sensor that is fixed to the support table in a position to obtain the blood oxygen saturation of the living body and a body temperature of the living body that is fixed to the support table in a position that can be in close contact with the oral cavity surface. A body temperature sensor, a breathing sensor that is fixed to the support so as to be located on the opposite side of the oral surface with the support in between, and a respiration sensor that detects the number of respirations of the living body, and is closely attached to the oral surface. A physiological amount detecting device, comprising: a pH sensor fixed to the fixture in a position to obtain salivary pH.