JP2569373B2 - Will communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a nystagmus signal using corneal retinal potential, ie, EN
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intention transmitting device that transmits an intention using a G (Electro Nystagmography) signal.

[Conventional technology]

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, paralysis and muscular atrophy extend from the limb muscles to the facial muscles as the symptoms progress, making it difficult to communicate in long-term patients. In such a case, a switch utilizing the remaining functions of the lower jaw, facial muscles, and the like is often manufactured and used according to the patient.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In view of such a point, the present invention focuses on the fact that the eye movement function is relatively maintained until the end stage, and uses the nistagmographic signal to communicate will. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device for making a decision.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, two nistagographic signals detected respectively by two pairs of electrodes arranged above, below, right and left of an eyeball are inputted, and the signal level is obtained. Generates four kinds of eye movement signals by discriminating the polarity of a nistagmographic signal that is larger than a signal level caused by involuntary eye movement and exceeds a threshold corresponding to a predetermined movement amount of the eye. Eye-movement detecting means, and timer means for outputting four timer signals belonging to the eye-movement signal when the continuous generation time of the eye-movement signal exceeds a predetermined time width longer than involuntary eye-movement; Notification means for performing four types of notification in response to various types of timer signals.

In the case where the notification means continues the notification operation until the reset signal is generated by the operation of the timer means itself or the holding of the timer signal, an external operation switch for generating a reset signal is provided according to claim 2.

[Action]

The eyeball movement detecting means detects two varnish tagmograph signals exceeding a predetermined amount of movement of the eyeball, and discriminates their polarities to generate four kinds of eyeball movement signals. When the continuous generation time of the eyeball movement signal exceeds a predetermined time width, the timer means outputs four types of timer signals belonging to each eyeball movement signal. The notification means responds to these four types of timer signals, thereby notifying by light or sound in accordance with the directions of the eye movements of up, down, left, and right that are promised in advance, thereby confirming the four intentions.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a will communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an LED display for displaying the polarity and signal level of an ENG signal input from a pair of electrode plates mounted on the left and right periphery of the left and right eyeballs.
For example, levels are displayed in five steps from 0% at the center position to ± 100% at both side positions. The level of the ENG signal increases with the polarity according to the left and right nystagmus directions, corresponding to the amount of nystagmus, ie, the amount of movement.

An eyeball movement detection circuit 3 responds to the + ENG signal of right nystagmus. The eyeball movement detection circuit 3 performs level discrimination with respect to the threshold value of the switch 4 which is set in three stages of 80, 60 and 40%. During this period, an eye movement signal is generated. 3a is
Similarly, it is an eyeball movement detection circuit that performs level discrimination of the −ENG signal of left nystagmus. Reference numeral 5 denotes a timer which measures five steps from 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds set by the switch 6 while the eye movement signal supplied from the eye movement detection circuit 3 is being input, and reaches the set time. Then, a timer signal is continuously generated until the reset switches 7 and 18 are set. 5a is a timer similarly set by the eye movement signal of the eye movement detection circuit 3a. Reference numeral 5b denotes an automatic reset circuit which automatically generates a reset signal to the timers 5 and 5a when a predetermined time elapses after the timer signal is generated when the switch 5c is turned on. This timer time can be adjusted by an external operation.

8 is a speaker as a notifying means, and when the remote-local switch 9 is set to the local side, it depends on which timer signal of the eye movement detection circuit 3 or 3a is output by the drive circuit 8a. It is driven so as to generate different timbres depending on the length of the intermittent time and the level of the frequency. During this time, a local use signal is transmitted through the switch 9, and the red light emitting element 16 is turned on instead of the normal blue light emitting element 15 in another room.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a nurse call signal generating circuit, which generates a nurse call signal in response to any of the two types of timer signals input when the remote-local switch 9 is set to the remote side. The nurse call signal is
The sound is transmitted to another room to sound the piezoelectric sounder 17 as the notification means. However, it is also possible to transmit two types of timer signals as they are and use them for two types of intention display.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a circuit portion that performs another two types of notification in response to ENG signals of another pair of electrodes mounted on the upper and lower sides of one eyeball. This circuit portion basically has an input ENG signal level larger than a signal level due to involuntary eye movement, and corresponds to a predetermined amount of movement of the eyeball as in the case of the left and right electrode pairs. Eye movement detection means 3b and 3c for generating two kinds of eye movement signals by discriminating the polarity of the signal exceeding the threshold value, and a predetermined continuous movement time of the eye movement signal being longer than an involuntary eye movement When the time width is exceeded, the timer means 5b and 5c for outputting two kinds of timer signals belonging to the two kinds of eye movement signals, and the notifying means 2 for making two more kinds of notifications in response to these timer signals
It is composed of 1 and 22.

Next, the operation of the thus configured willingness communication device will be described.

In use, the polarity and level of the input ENG signal of the left and right electrode pairs are displayed on the LED display 1, and the switch 4 prompts the eye movement detection circuit 3 or 3a in response to the maximum level which differs depending on the condition of the patient. A threshold value is set, and the timer times of the timers 5 and 5a are set by the switch 6 according to the nystagmus ability of the patient.

Normally, the remote-local switch 9 is set to the remote side, and the light emitting element 15 emits blue light to indicate that the apparatus is operating. When the patient consciously moves the eyeball to the left or right for a nurse call and moves for more than the timer time, the eyeball movement detection circuit 3 or 3a generates an eyeball movement signal and the timer 5 or 5a is set. When the period during which the eyeball movement signal is generated reaches the timer time, the timer signal is output. As a result, the nurse call signal is transmitted from the nurse call signal generation circuit 10 and the piezoelectric sounder is transmitted.
17 sounds until the local reset switch 7 or the reset switch 18 in another room is operated. Alternatively, by operating the switch 5c, the reset signal from the automatic reset circuit 5b automatically stops the sounding after a set time has elapsed, thereby enabling the timers 5 and 5a to be operated again. Normal brief gaze during awakening lacks exercise time, and involuntary eye movements during sleep do not respond due to insufficient signal level or exercise time.

When it is desired to interact with the patient, the remote-local switch 9 is set to the local side. As a result, it can be confirmed that the light emitting element 16 emits red light and that the light emitting element 16 is being used locally even in another room. In advance, "YES" will be indicated on the right side,
That is, it is determined that the eyeball movement detection circuit 3 responds and the intention indication of “NO” is left gaze, that is, the eyeball movement detection circuit 3a responds. Then, when the patient moves the eyeball largely in any direction in response to the verbal question, an ENG signal having a correspondingly large polarity level is generated, and a sound of a responding tone is emitted from the speaker 8. When the user understands, the reset is performed by the reset switch 7. Similarly, automatic reset is also possible. When the conversation is completed, the remote-local switch 9 is switched to the remote side.

ENG of small level and short time width by switching switches 4 and 6 in consideration of the decrease of S / N ratio according to the progress of symptoms
Set to be able to respond to signals.

Similarly, when the patient consciously moves the eyeball upward or downward and moves the timer for a timer time or more, the circuit section 20 issues one of the two corresponding notifications.

In the above-described embodiment, a light emitting element can be used instead of the speaker. The present invention can be applied not only to patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but also to other uses in which an intention is displayed by eye movement in some cases. The left and right electrodes may be around the left and right of one eyeball. In addition, various modifications should be considered within the scope of the present invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a device capable of optionally transmitting four kinds of intentions by eye movement with a simple configuration in which two pairs of electrodes are arranged around the top and bottom and right and left of the eye. In addition, since it does not rely on electromyographic signals, it can be effectively used for patients with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. By providing the reset external operation switch and continuing the notification operation until the reset signal is generated, the intention display can be surely confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a will communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7, 18: reset switch, 8: speaker, 17: piezoelectric sounder.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-240860 (JP, A) Eguilibrium Res 47 [4] (1988) Iho P. 449-453, "Principle of nystagmus ENG based on dipole theory" Eguilibrium Res 47 [2] (1988) Iho P. 196-203 "Study of corneal retina potential distribution around the orbit" Jichi Medical University Annual Report of Clinical Technology, Vol. 10 (1985) Akiba et al. 174-181 "Equilibrium function test-ENG test"

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising a plurality of eyepieces arranged around the upper, lower, right and left sides of an eyeball.
Two varnish tagmographic signals detected by the pair of electrodes are input, and the signal level is higher than the signal level caused by involuntary eye movement and the threshold value corresponds to a predetermined movement amount of the eyeball Eye movement detection means for generating four kinds of eye movement signals by discriminating the polarity of the varnish tagmograph signal exceeding, and a predetermined time longer than an involuntary eye movement for a continuous generation time of the eye movement signal A timer means for outputting four types of timer signals belonging to the eye movement signal when the width exceeds the width, and a notification means for performing four types of notification in response to the four types of timer signals. Communication device. 2. The intention transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the notifying means continues the notifying operation until a reset signal is generated, and further comprises an external operation switch for generating the reset signal.