JP2008142112A - Biological sound sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a biological sound sensor capable of sufficiently reducing noise sound. <P>SOLUTION: The biological sound sensor includes a sensor main body installed on a living body surface and a biological sound detection part for detecting biological sound and outputting signals, and a cover member for protecting the sensor main body, and the sensor main body and the cover member are separated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological sound sensor.

  The stethoscope is one of the oldest medical devices used by doctors to diagnose respiratory sounds and heart sounds, and it goes without saying that it is useful. On the other hand, in recent years, body sounds have been monitored over a long period of time while being worn on a patient's body. In this case, the sensor for acquiring the body sound is used by being installed on the body.

  For example, cough is a common symptom of respiratory diseases (particularly asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, etc.). The current situation is that the diagnosis of cough relies on an interview, but the patient does not always cough at the time of the examination, and the doctor can only listen to the subjective symptoms from the patient. Moreover, even if the patient remembers the symptoms at the time of awakening during the day, the cough during sleep is limited to expressions such as severe cough and inability to sleep. Therefore, there has been a problem that objective evaluation cannot be performed and effective treatment cannot be performed.

  Therefore, in order to objectively evaluate cough, voice signal information characteristic of cough is stored in advance, and voice signal information input from a microphone or the like is stored based on the voice signal information characteristic of cough. An apparatus for detecting and monitoring a cough by identifying and extracting a cough voice signal is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, the microphone is attached by being wrapped around the neck with Velcro (registered trademark) so as to be in close contact with the neck. The cough is detected by collecting the body sound while the microphone is in close contact with the living body.
JP-A-8-38481

  When a biological sound is acquired by the biological sound sensor, for example, an accurate analysis of the biological sound becomes difficult due to a noise sound caused by rubbing between the biological sound sensor and clothes. When an examiner or an observer measures and analyzes on the spot, even if a noise sound is generated, it can be recognized as a noise sound. When monitoring, it is almost impossible to always grasp the occurrence of noise sound. For this reason, when monitoring a body sound over a long period of time, there is a problem that the analysis is forced to be performed based on a body sound signal on which a noise sound is superimposed, and the accuracy of the analysis is lowered.

  Although the noise sound is considerably reduced by providing a cover on the biological sound sensor, the noise sound that the impact on the cover is transmitted through the connection part with the cover and the noise that is transmitted through the signal line due to the contact with the signal line Sound cannot be removed sufficiently.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above problems, and it aims at providing the biological sound sensor which can fully reduce a noise sound.

  The biological sound sensor of the present invention includes a sensor body including a biological sound detection unit that is installed on the surface of a biological body and detects a biological sound and outputs a signal, and a cover member that protects the sensor body. And the cover member are separated.

  The biological sound sensor of the present invention includes a sensor main body that is installed on the surface of the biological body and includes a biological sound detection unit that detects a biological sound and outputs a signal, and a cover member that protects the sensor main body, The sensor body has a communication line for communicating body sound information related to a signal output from the body sound detection unit to the outside of the sensor, and the communication line is loosened between the sensor body and the cover member. The communication line is fixed inside the cover member so as to be installed in a state.

  According to the present invention, since the transmission of the vibration of the cover member or the vibration of the communication line to the biological sound detection unit is suppressed, the input of the noise sound to the biological sound detection unit can be sufficiently reduced.

  Hereinafter, although this embodiment is described based on a drawing, it is an example and is not limited to this embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a usage image of a biological sound sensor. FIG. 1 shows a case where a wireless biological sound sensor that transmits biological sound data by wireless communication is used. The body sound sensor 1 is attached to the subject P by adhesion or the like on the subject P. The biological sound data acquired by the biological sound sensor 1 is transmitted to the data processing device 2 by wireless communication.

In the data processing device 2, the body sound data transmitted from the body sound sensor 1 is received, and the body sound data is displayed and printed as a waveform, or the body sound data is analyzed (for example, detection of cough). FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the biological sound sensor 1 according to the first embodiment. The biological sound sensor 1 includes an adhesive tape 11 for adhering the biological sound sensor 1 to the subject P, a dome-shaped cover 13 provided on the adhesive tape 11 via a first vibration-proof rubber 12, A second anti-vibration rubber 14 provided along the surface, a first microphone 15 provided on the opposite side of the adhesive tape 11 from the side that adheres to the subject P, and a living body sound collected, and an inner surface of the cover 13 The noise canceling second microphone 16, the first microphone 15 and the second microphone 16 signals are amplified and A / D converted, and then noise canceling from the first microphone 15 signal based on the second microphone 16 signal. From the first circuit 17 for performing transmission, the second circuit 18 and the antenna 19 for wirelessly transmitting the body sound data output from the first circuit 17, the battery 20 for supplying power to the first circuit 17 and the second circuit 18, etc. Structure It is.

  The adhesive tape 11 corresponds to the holding member of the present invention. The first vibration isolation rubber 12 and the second vibration isolation rubber 14 correspond to the first vibration isolation member and the second vibration isolation member of the present invention, respectively. The cover 13 corresponds to the cover member of the present invention. The first microphone 15 and the second microphone 16 correspond to the biological sound detection unit and the noise sound detection unit of the present invention, respectively. Further, the first microphone 15, the first circuit 17, the second circuit 18, the antenna 19, and the battery 20 constitute a sensor body of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, the cover 13 of the body sound sensor 1 is separated from the first microphone 15 that collects body sounds, and a second vibration-proof rubber 14 is provided on the inner surface of the cover 13. . Further, the cover 13 is not in direct contact with the subject P, but is in contact with the first vibration isolating rubber 12.

  For this reason, even when an impact is applied to the cover 13, the vibration of the cover 13 is not transmitted to the first microphone 15 via the components constituting the biological sound sensor 1. The cover 13 and the first microphone 15 are connected by the signal line of the second microphone 16 for noise cancellation, but the signal line is in a relaxed state (not stretched) as shown in FIG. Since it is attached, that is, the cover 13 and the first microphone 15 are substantially separated, the vibration of the cover 13 rapidly attenuates when propagating through the signal line, and the first microphone 15 Transmission is suppressed.

  Further, it is conceivable that the vibration of the cover 13 is transmitted to the first microphone 15 through the air between the cover 13 and the first microphone 15, but the vibration is attenuated by the second vibration-proof rubber 14, Transmission to the first microphone 15 is suppressed.

  Furthermore, although it is conceivable that the vibration of the cover 13 is transmitted to the first microphone 15 through the subject P, the vibration is attenuated by the first vibration isolating rubber 12 and transmitted to the first microphone 15. It is suppressed.

  With the configuration of the biological sound sensor 1 described above, the transmission of the vibration of the cover 13 to the first microphone 15 is considerably reduced, but even if the vibration of the cover 13 is transmitted to the first microphone 15, the vibration is It is detected by the second microphone 16 and removed by the noise cancellation processing of the first circuit 17.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the transmission of the vibration of the cover 13 to the first microphone 15 is suppressed, the input of noise sound to the first microphone 15 can be sufficiently reduced.

  In addition, the 1st anti-vibration rubber | gum 12, the 2nd anti-vibration rubber | gum 14, and the 2nd microphone 16 in this embodiment are used for showing a preferable form, and are not an essential component in this invention.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the biological sound sensor 1 according to the second embodiment. A description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The biological sound sensor 1 of the second embodiment is a wired biological sound sensor that communicates with the data processing device 2 via a wired connection. Except for changing the antenna 19 in the biological sound sensor 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 to the communication line 21, it is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The communication line 21 is fixed to the inner surface of the cover 13 with a fastener 22 via the second vibration isolating rubber 14. At this time, the communication line 21 from the second circuit 18 to the fastener 22 is attached in a loose state (a state where it is not stretched). By loosening the communication line 21 in this manner, it is possible to suppress a problem that the communication line 21 outside the cover 13 is pulled or that vibrations when something touches the cover are transmitted through the communication line 21. In particular, when a soft signal line is used to provide a loose connection, the vibration is rapidly attenuated when propagating through the loose portion, and the vibration is suppressed from being transmitted to the second circuit 18 and the first microphone 15.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the transmission of vibration of the communication line 21 to the first microphone 15 is suppressed, the noise sound input to the first microphone 15 can be sufficiently reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the first microphone 15 and the cover 13 are provided on the same adhesive tape 11. However, the adhesive tape 11 may be divided and the first microphone 15 and the cover 13 may be provided on different adhesive tapes. Good. The divided adhesive tapes correspond to the sensor body holding member and the cover holding member of the present invention, respectively. For example, when the adhesive tape 11 is configured to include a thick base material, the vibration of the cover 13 may be transmitted to the first microphone 15 through the base material. At this time, it is effective to divide the adhesive tape 11 as described above. Conversely, providing the first microphone 15 and the cover 13 on the same adhesive tape 11 as in this embodiment is advantageous in terms of cost and ease of use during installation.

  In this embodiment, an adhesive tape (so-called double-sided tape) is used as the holding member, but a paste-like or gel-like adhesive can also be used. For example, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on the bottom surface of the first microphone 15 and the contact portion of the cover member 13 with the subject P. In addition, the entire sensor body or the entire cover member 13 can be wrapped and held with the adhesive. In these cases, the adhesive that holds the sensor body corresponds to the sensor body holding member of the present invention, and the adhesive that holds the cover member 13 corresponds to the cover holding member.

  It is also possible to use a so-called single-sided tape in which an adhesive is coated on one side of the substrate as the holding member. In this case, the sensor body or the cover member 13 is stuck on the subject P so as to be pressed from above with a single-sided tape. From the viewpoint of holding force and pressing force, the base material of the single-sided tape preferably has stretchability. The single-sided tape that holds the sensor body corresponds to the sensor body holding member of the present invention, and the single-sided tape that holds the cover member 13 corresponds to the cover holding member.

  Further, the cover member 13 may be held in a band shape such as a bandage or a stomach band so as to be wound around the subject P.

  Further, the sensor body holding member and the cover holding member need not be of the same type. For example, the sensor body is held by an adhesive tape (double-sided tape), and the cover member 13 is held by a single-sided tape. May be.

  In this embodiment, the biological sound data converted into digital data by the first circuit 17 is transmitted by the second circuit 18. However, the analog signal from the first microphone 15 is directly transmitted to the second circuit 18 for analog signal transmission. It is also possible to use and transmit.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the usage image of a biological sound sensor. It is a block diagram of the biological sound sensor which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the biological sound sensor which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body sound sensor 11 Adhesive tape 12 1st vibration-proof rubber 13 Cover 14 2nd vibration-proof rubber 15 1st microphone 16 2nd microphone 17 1st circuit 18 2nd circuit 19 Antenna 20 Battery 21 Communication line 22 Fastening

Claims (12)

A sensor body including a biological sound detection unit that is installed on the surface of the biological body and detects a biological sound and outputs a signal;
A cover member for protecting the sensor body;
Have
The biological sound sensor, wherein the sensor main body and the cover member are separated. The biological sound sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor body includes a second circuit and an antenna for wirelessly transmitting biological sound information related to a signal output from the biological sound detection unit. The sensor body includes a first circuit for converting a signal output from the biological sound detection unit into biological sound data that is digital data, and the second circuit wirelessly uses the biological sound data as the biological sound information. The biological sound sensor according to claim 2, wherein the biological sound sensor is transmitted. A sensor body including a biological sound detection unit that is installed on the surface of the biological body and detects a biological sound and outputs a signal;
A cover member for protecting the sensor body;
Have
The sensor body has a communication line for communicating body sound information related to a signal output from the body sound detection unit to the outside of the sensor, and the communication line is loosened between the sensor body and the cover member. A biological sound sensor characterized in that the middle of the communication line is fixed to the inside of the cover member so as to be installed in an open state. The biological sound according to claim 4, wherein the sensor main body includes a second circuit for transmitting biological sound information related to a signal output from the biological sound detection unit via the communication line. Sensor. The sensor body includes a first circuit for converting a signal output from the biological sound detection unit into biological sound data that is digital data, and the second circuit transmits the biological sound data as the biological sound information. The biological sound sensor according to claim 5, wherein: The biological sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor body includes a battery. A noise sound detection unit that is provided on the cover member and detects a noise sound of the cover member and outputs a signal,
The biological body according to claim 1, wherein the noise sound detection unit and the sensor main body are connected by a signal line, and the signal line is installed in a loose state. Sound sensor. The biological sound sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a holding member for holding the sensor body and the cover member on the surface of the biological body. The holding member includes a sensor main body holding member for holding the sensor main body on the biological surface, and a cover holding member for separating the sensor main body holding member and holding the cover member on the biological surface. The biological sound sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The biological sound sensor according to claim 1, wherein a first vibration isolation member is provided between the cover member and the holding member. The biological sound sensor according to claim 1, wherein a second vibration isolation member is provided on an inner surface of the cover member.

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