JP2019033879A - Wearable electrode, estimation device of circulatory blood flow, estimation method of circulatory blood flow, estimation device of cardiac output and estimation method of cardiac output - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wearable electrode that can accurately acquire a bioelectric signal under the shock-receiving environment, and provide an estimation device of a circulatory blood flow, an estimation method of the circulatory blood flow, an estimation device of the cardiac output and an estimation method of the cardiac output.SOLUTION: A wearable electrode includes: an ear pad 12 and spats 21 being worn by a pilot 50; and electrodes 13, 22 mounted to the ear pad 12 and spats 21 and coming into contact with the pilot 50 to acquire a biological signal emitted from the pilot 50. The electrodes 13, 22 are mounted to the ear pad 12 and the spats 21 arranged among a helmet 60, a chair 70 and the pilot 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wearable electrode, a circulating blood flow estimation device, a circulating blood flow estimation method, a cardiac output estimation device, and a cardiac output estimation method.

  Health management and safety management for those who sit for a certain period of time, such as a motorcycle or four-wheeled vehicle driver or an aircraft pilot, should be performed effectively by continuously monitoring the circulating blood flow for a certain period of time. Can do. The circulating blood flow is detected using a blood flow meter, for example. As a blood flow meter, there is one using a laser (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). As another blood flow meter, there is one using ultrasonic waves (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2).

Omega Wave Co., Ltd. homepage, fiber optic laser blood flow meter (measurement principle) [online] [searched on July 12, 2017], Internet <URL: http://www.omegawave.co.jp/products/flo/ principle.shtml> Nihon Kohden Corporation homepage, [online] [searched July 12, 2017], Internet <URL: http://www.nihonkohden.co.jp/iryo/clinical/department09/subcat57.html Igarashi et al., “Optimum spot electrode arrangement for electrical impedance cardiac output measurement by detecting change in chest impedance accompanying cardiac blood ejection”, Biomedical Engineering Vol. 46 (2008) No. 6, P587-594, May 22, 2009, Japan Society for Biomedical Engineering

  However, the conventional blood flow meter detects the cardiac output on the assumption that the user is in a stable state. Persons who work in an environment (hereinafter referred to as “impact receiving environment”) that is often exposed to shocks such as vibration or high gravity (hereinafter referred to as “G”), such as the driver and pilot described above. Are rarely in a stable state. In addition, measurement of a person who performs exercise is often performed in an unstable state under an impact receiving environment. For this reason, it has been difficult for a conventional blood flow meter to accurately obtain a biological signal for a user who performs a certain operation under an impact receiving environment.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable electrode, a circulating blood flow estimation device, a circulating blood flow estimation method, a cardiac output estimation device, and a cardiac output estimation method.

  One aspect of the present invention includes a cloth worn by a living body, and an electrode unit that is attached to the cloth and that acquires a biological signal emitted from the living body when in contact with the living body. It is the wearable electrode attached to the fabric arrange | positioned between the shock absorption protector used in an environment, and the said biological body.

  One aspect of the present invention is the wearable electrode, wherein the shock absorption protector is an article used by the living body mounted on a moving body.

  One aspect of the present invention is the wearable electrode, wherein the shock absorbing protector is at least one of a head protecting member worn by the living body and a seating member on which the living body is seated.

  One aspect of the present invention provides a cardiac output comprising the wearable electrode and a cardiac output estimator that estimates a cardiac output of the living body based on a biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode. This is an estimation device.

  One aspect of the present invention is a circulatory blood flow estimation device including the wearable electrode and a circulatory blood flow estimator that estimates a circulatory blood flow of the living body based on a biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode. It is.

  One aspect of the present invention is to estimate a cardiac output by acquiring a biological signal of the living body using the wearable electrode and estimating the cardiac output of the living body based on the biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode. Is the method.

  One aspect of the present invention is a method for estimating a circulating blood flow that acquires a biological signal of the living body using the wearable electrode, and estimates the circulating blood flow of the living body based on the biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode. is there.

  According to the present invention, a biological signal can be acquired with high accuracy under an impact receiving environment.

It is a block diagram of the estimation apparatus of the circulatory blood flow volume and cardiac output of one Embodiment. It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of the electrode part of a head cap type wearable electrode. It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of the electrode part of a spats-type wearable electrode. It is a flowchart which shows the estimation procedure of the circulating blood flow volume and cardiac output of a pilot.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an estimation device and an estimation method for circulating blood flow and cardiac output according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following drawings, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are adjusted to make the drawings easier to see. As shown in FIG. 1, a circulating blood flow rate and cardiac output estimation device 100 according to an embodiment includes a wearable electrode 1 and a control unit 2. The wearable electrode 1 may be worn by any person. The wearable electrode 1 is used, for example, by being equipped with an aircraft pilot 50 which is a moving body.

  The wearable electrode 1 includes a head cap type wearable electrode 10 and a spats type wearable electrode 20. The head cap type wearable electrode 10 includes a cap part 11. The cap part 11 is formed of a fabric. The shape of the cap part 11 is a so-called hood shape. The cap part 11 is worn and used so that the pilot 50 covers the head.

  Ear pads 12 are respectively attached to the left and right positions of the inner side of the cap portion 11. Although the right ear pad 12 is shown in FIG. 1, the same ear pad 12 is also attached to the left position. As shown in FIG. 2, the ear pad 12 is larger than a size assumed as a human outer ear so as to cover the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50. The ear pad 12 is disposed at a position that covers the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50 when the pilot 50 wears the head cap-type wearable electrode 10.

  Two electrode portions 13 are attached to the inside of the right ear pad 12. The electrode unit 13 includes an electrode and a cloth. The electrode of the electrode part 13 has a conductive layer on the surface in contact with the pilot 50. The electrode part 13 may be attached on the cloth which covers the ear pad 12, or may be directly installed on the surface of the ear pad 12. The back surface of the electrode part 13 may be lined with a waterproof layer. The electrode portion 13 contacts the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50 when the pilot 50 wears the head cap type wearable electrode 10. The electrode unit 13 that is in contact with the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50 acquires the electrical biological signal of the pilot 50. At this time, the electrode unit 13 is sandwiched between the ear pad 12 and the outer ear 51 (or head) of the right ear of the pilot 50. The head cap type wearable electrode 10 is used with the electrode portion 13 being in close contact with the bare skin of the pilot 50 who is a user. The electrode unit 13 is used in close contact with the skin of the outer ear or the surrounding head, but it is particularly preferable that the electrode unit 13 is in close contact with the temporal region in front of the outer ear, and in the region where the superficial temporal artery runs in the temporal region. It is more desirable to adhere. Moreover, it is desirable that the two electrode portions 13 are arranged at intervals above and below the body axis.

  The pilot 50 is used with the helmet 60 attached to the head when operating the aircraft. The helmet 60 is a shock absorbing protector used by the pilot 50 boarded in an aircraft under an impact receiving environment. The helmet 60 is also a head protecting member worn by the pilot 50. The electrode unit 13 is strongly pressed against the ear of the pilot 50 via the ear pad 12 when the pilot 50 wears the helmet 60. For this reason, the electrode part 13 contacts reliably by the outer ear 51 (or head) of the pilot 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the spats-type wearable electrode 20 includes a spats portion 21. The spats part 21 is formed of a fabric. The spats 21 are worn and used when the pilot 50 passes both legs. The spats part 21 is provided with a part that covers the buttocks of the worn pilot 50 and a part that covers the thigh.

  The spats part 21 has an outer surface and a lining. Two electrode portions 22 are attached to the side opposite to the front side of the lining. Similarly to the electrode part 13, the electrode part 22 has a conductive layer on the surface in contact with the pilot 50. When the pilot 50 wears the spats-type wearable electrode 20, the electrode portion 22 contacts at least one of the buttocks and the thigh of the pilot 50. The electrode part 22 that contacts at least one of the buttocks and thighs of the pilot 50 acquires the electrical biological signal of the pilot 50.

  The electrode part 22 is arrange | positioned in the boundary vicinity of the part which covers the buttocks in the spats part 21, and the part which covers a thigh. It is desirable that the two electrode portions 22 be arranged vertically on one side of the buttocks of the pilot 50 or on the thigh. When the pilot 50 gets on the aircraft, the pilot 50 sits on the chair 70 and uses the chair 70. The chair 70 is a shock absorbing protector used by the pilot 50 boarding the aircraft in an impact receiving environment. The chair 70 is also a seating member on which the pilot 50 is seated. When the pilot 50 sits on the chair 70 of the aircraft, the position near the boundary between the thigh and the buttocks of the pilot 50 is arranged on the chair 70. When the pilot 50 is seated on the chair 70, the electrode portion 22 is sandwiched between at least one of the thigh and buttocks of the pilot 50 and the chair 70. The spats-type wearable electrode 20 is used by bringing the electrode portion 22 into close contact with the skin of the pilot 50 who is a user.

  A wiring 30 is connected to the electrode portions 13 and 22 attached to the head cap type wearable electrode 10 and the spats type wearable electrode 20, respectively. The electrode parts 13 and 22 are connected to the control part 2 via the wiring 30. The wearable electrode 1 acquires the electrical biological signal of the pilot 50 by the electrode portions 13 and 22 attached to the head cap type wearable electrode 10 and the spats type wearable electrode 20, respectively. The head cap type wearable electrode 10 and the spats type wearable electrode 20 transmit the acquired electrical biological signal of the pilot 50 to the control unit 2.

  The control unit 2 includes an estimation unit. The estimation unit estimates the circulating blood flow and the cardiac output. The control unit 2 may estimate either the circulating blood flow rate or the cardiac output. The control unit 2 estimates the heartbeat output of the pilot 50 based on the electrical biological signals transmitted from the head cap wearable electrode 10 and the spats wearable electrode 20. The estimation unit may be capable of estimating head blood flow and increase / decrease in head blood flow. The control unit 2 calculates the blood pressure of the pilot 50 from the estimated circulatory blood flow rate and cardiac output. The control unit 2 stores the calculated blood pressure in, for example, a storage unit (not shown) or displays it on a display unit (not shown). The calculated blood pressure of the pilot 50 can be used for the health management and safety management of the pilot 50.

  Next, the estimation process of the cardiac output of the pilot 50 performed in the control unit 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when estimating the cardiac output of the pilot 50, the control unit 2 determines whether or not a biological signal transmitted from the electrode units 13 and 22 has been received (step S10). As a result, when the biological signal is not received (step S10; NO), the control unit 2 repeats the process of step S10 until the biological signal is received.

  When it is determined in step S10 that a biological signal has been received (step S10; YES), the control unit 2 calculates estimated values of the circulating blood flow and cardiac output based on the received biological signal (step S20). . The control unit 2 estimates the cardiac output based on the biological signal measured between the electrode 13 and the electrode 22 across the heart. The control unit 2 estimates the circulatory blood flow volume and blood volume of the blood vessels in the vicinity of the electrodes based on the biological signal measured between the electrodes 13 and 22.

The control unit 2 calculates an estimated value of the cardiac output using the following equation (1). Z is an impedance.
CO = −ρ _b · (L / Z ₀ | _mean ) ² · dZ / dt _min · T _s · HR (1)
In Equation (1), CO: Estimated cardiac output
ρ _b : Blood specific resistance value (for example, 150 Ω · m)
L: Distance between detection electrodes
Z ₀ | _mean: one heartbeat worth of difference _{Z 0} average value
dZ / dt _min : negative peak value of dZ / dt wave calculated from ΔZ wave
T _s : Ventricular ejection time (s)
HR: instantaneous heart rate (1 / min)

  Thus, after calculating the estimated value of the cardiac output, the control unit 2 ends the estimation process of the cardiac output of the pilot 50.

  As described above, the wearable electrode 1 of the circulatory blood flow rate and cardiac output estimation device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention has the electrode portions attached to the head cap type wearable electrode 10 and the spats type wearable electrode 20, respectively. 13 and 22 are provided. The cardiac output estimation apparatus 100 estimates the cardiac output of the pilot 50 based on the biological signals of the pilot 50 acquired by these electrode units 13 and 22.

  The electrode portion 13 of the head cap type wearable electrode 10 of the wearable electrode 1 is attached to the ear pad 12. The ear pad 12 is pressed against the head of the pilot 50 by a helmet 60 worn by the pilot 50. For this reason, the wearable electrode 1 can reliably maintain the contact between the electrode portion 13 and the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50 even when the aircraft generates a strong G or vibrates vigorously. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a biological signal with high accuracy under an impact receiving environment.

  Further, the electrode portion 22 of the spats-type wearable electrode 20 of the wearable electrode 1 is disposed near the boundary between the thigh and the buttocks of the pilot 50. The vicinity of the border between the thigh and buttocks of the pilot 50 is a position where the chair 50 is sandwiched between at least one of the thigh and buttocks of the pilot 50 and the chair 70 when the pilot 50 sits on the chair 70. For this reason, the electrode portion 22 is pressed against the thigh and buttocks of the pilot 50 due to the reaction from the chair 70 due to the weight of the pilot 50. For this reason, the wearable electrode 1 can reliably maintain contact between the electrode portion 22 and the thigh and buttocks of the pilot 50 even when the aircraft has a strong G or vibrates vigorously. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a biological signal with high accuracy under an impact receiving environment.

  In addition, since the wearable electrode 1 can accurately acquire a biological signal even under an impact receiving environment, the circulating blood flow rate and cardiac output estimation device 100 accurately estimates the cardiac output of the pilot 50 even under the impact receiving environment. it can. Therefore, the cardiac output estimation apparatus 100 can perform the health management and safety management of the pilot 50 with high accuracy.

  The article that presses the electrode portions 13 and 22 of the wearable electrode 1 against the body of the pilot 50 is a shock absorption protector such as a helmet 60 and a chair 70. These shock absorption protectors are used in an environment where there is a risk of receiving an impact or in a moving body that generates vibration. Therefore, the wearable electrode 1 does not need to separately prepare a member or the like for pressing the electrode parts 13 and 22 in order to press the electrode parts 13 and 22 against the body of the pilot 50. The shock absorbing protector is, for example, a protector including a cushioning material. For example, in addition to the helmet 60 and the chair 70 described above, a headgear, a headcap, a face mask, an inner cap, a neck collar, an earmuff, an impact resistance Wear etc. can be illustrated.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the wearer (living body) wearing the wearable electrode 1 may be other than the pilot 50 of the aircraft. For example, a wearer of wearable electrode 1 (hereinafter referred to as “wearer”) may be a person who rides on a moving body, particularly a moving body that moves at high speed. In this case, for example, the wearer may be a driver who drives a motorcycle (motorcycle) or a driver of an automobile (automobile). Two-wheeled vehicles and automobiles are often placed under an impact receiving environment during movement, but when the wearer wears the wearable electrode 1, the wearable electrode 1 accurately obtains a biological signal under the impact receiving environment. it can.

  Further, the wearer may be a person other than the person who rides on the moving body as long as the person is likely to be placed in an impact receiving environment. For example, the wearer may be a worker who works using a vibration generating device such as a drill or a chainsaw in a construction site or a forest, or may be a worker who works on a construction site or a civil engineering site. Alternatively, the wearer may be an exerciser. Further, the impact receiving environment includes not only an environment subject to high G and vibrations but also an environment subject to other impacts such as reverse G (minus G) and zero G (weightlessness).

  Moreover, although the wearable electrode 1 is provided with the four electrode parts 13 and 22, three or two may be sufficient and five or more may be sufficient. Moreover, the electrode parts 13 and 22 may be attached only to the ear pad 12 of the head cap type wearable electrode 10, or to the part of the spats type wearable electrode 20 that contacts at least one of the buttocks and thighs of the pilot 50. It may be attached only to. The electrode unit 13 may be attached to the left ear pad 12 instead of the right ear pad 12. Further, instead of the ear pad 12 contacting the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50, the cap portion 11 may be sandwiched between the ear pad 12 and the pilot 50. At this time, the electrode portion 13 may be attached to a position where the electrode portion 13 contacts the outer ear 51 of the pilot 50 of the cap portion 11. Moreover, the electrode part 13 may be attached to the inside of the ear cuff which contacts the outer ear 51 or head of the pilot 50, for example, and may be provided in the inside of the face mask.

  Moreover, the electrode parts 13 and 22 should just be arrange | positioned on both sides of a wearer's heart. For example, when the electrode part 13 is provided on the ear pad 12, the electrode part 22 may be provided in contact with the trunk, lower limbs, upper arm, etc. instead of the wearer's buttocks and thighs. In this case, a biological signal is measured between the electrode part 13 and the electrode part 22 across the wearer's heart. From this biological signal, it is possible to estimate the cardiac output and the circulating blood flow and blood volume of the blood vessels in the vicinity of the electrode part. Moreover, you may arrange | position the electrode parts 13 and 22 without pinching a wearer's heart. In this case, from the biological signal measured between the electrode parts 13 and 22, the blood flow volume and the blood volume of the blood vessel near the electrode part and the wearer's body sandwiched between the electrode parts can be estimated.

  Thus, the location of the body where the circulating blood flow and blood volume can be measured can be set by the arrangement of the electrode portions 13 and 22. For example, when the electrode part 13 is brought into contact with the abdomen and the electrode part 22 is brought into contact with the buttocks, the circulating blood flow and blood volume from the abdomen to the buttocks can be estimated. The combination of the electrode parts 13 and 22 is not singular, but by bringing the electrode part into contact with a plurality of body parts and acquiring biological signals, the main circulating blood flow, blood volume, and blood distribution in various parts of the body, Depending on the arrangement position of the electrode part, the cardiac output can be estimated.

  Moreover, you may make it determine the attachment position of an electrode part according to a wearer's property. For example, when the wearer is a motorcycle driver, the electrode portion may be attached to an inner portion of a helmet that contacts the wearer's outer ear, or may be attached to a crotch portion of a spats-like undergarment. When the wearer is an automobile driver, the attachment position of the electrode portion may be on the back side of a glove that touches a finger or palm that the wearer grips the steering wheel, or a spats-type wearable worn by the pilot 50. It is good also as a position similar to the electrode part in an electrode. In addition, in the case of a wearer who wears a seat belt and rides on a moving body, such as an automobile driver or a pilot, the electrode portion may be a position pressed against the seat belt in the front body of the clothes. When the pilot 50 or the like wears headphones without wearing a helmet, the headphones may be a shock absorbing protective device.

  Further, the biological signal may be any biological signal as long as it is an electrical signal or a change in electrical characteristics caused by a physiological phenomenon such as heartbeat, brain wave, pulse, respiration, sweating, and the like. The target to be estimated or calculated based on the biological signal may be other than the cardiac output. For example, the control unit 2 may be able to measure an electromyogram based on a biological signal transmitted from the wearable electrode 1 or may be able to measure an electrocardiogram.

  In one embodiment, the biological signal acquired by the electrode units 13 and 22 is transmitted to the control unit 2 via the wiring 30. However, the biological signal acquired by the electrode units 13 and 22 may be transmitted to the control unit 2 by wireless communication or the like instead of the wiring 30. Further, information such as cardiac output obtained by the control unit 2 may be transmitted to an external device with priority or wirelessly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wearable electrode, 2 ... Control part (cardiac output estimation part, circulatory blood flow estimation part) 10 ... Head cap type wearable electrode, 11 ... Cap part, 12 ... Ear pad (fabric), 13 ... Electrode part, 20 ... Spats type wearable electrode, 21 ... Spats part (fabric), 22 ... Electrode part, 30 ... Wiring, 50 ... Pilot (living body), 60 ... Helmet (shock absorbing protective device, head protection member), 70 ... Chair (impact) Absorption protector, seating member), 100 ... Circulating blood flow rate and cardiac output estimation device

Claims (7)

A fabric worn by a living body;
An electrode part attached to the fabric and acquiring a biological signal emitted from the living body in contact with the living body,
The wearable electrode, wherein the electrode part is attached to a fabric disposed between an impact absorbing protector used in an impact receiving environment and the living body.   The wearable electrode according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorption protector is an article used by the living body mounted on a moving body.   The wearable electrode according to claim 2, wherein the shock absorbing protector is at least one of a head protecting member worn by the living body and a seating member on which the living body is seated. The wearable electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Based on a biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode, a circulating blood flow estimation unit that estimates the circulating blood flow of the living body,
An apparatus for estimating circulating blood flow. The wearable electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A cardiac output estimator for estimating the cardiac output of the living body based on the biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode;
An apparatus for estimating cardiac output comprising: The biological signal of the living body is acquired by the wearable electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A method for estimating a circulatory blood flow, wherein the circulatory blood flow of the living body is estimated based on the biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode. The biological signal of the living body is acquired by the wearable electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A cardiac output estimation method for estimating a cardiac output of the living body based on the biological signal acquired by the wearable electrode.

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