JP2576452B2 - Electronic sphygmomanometer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic sphygmomanometer having an automatic cuff wrapping mechanism, and more particularly, to an electronic sphygmomanometer capable of detecting an appropriate measurement site of a subject. It relates to a sphygmomanometer.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, an electronic sphygmomanometer having an automatic cuff winding function is known. The conventional electronic sphygmomanometer 31 has a main body housing 32 provided with a panel surface 32a and a cuff storage unit 34. The panel surface 32a is provided with indicators 33a, 33b, 33c, a start switch (not shown), and the like. Have been.

An armrest 35 is supported in the cuff housing 34, and one end of a cuff 36 is fixed to the upper surface of the armrest 35. The other end of the cuff 36 is guided to a cuff winding drive mechanism 37 at the bottom of the main body housing 32.

The cuff winding drive mechanism 37 includes a motor 38 and a belt 39 driven by the motor 38. The other end of the cuff 36 is fixed on the belt 39 and is driven in the longitudinal direction of the cuff 36. Reference numeral 40 denotes a limit switch (in FIG. 5, a micro switch is shown, but a photoelectric switch or the like may be used) for detecting a cuff winding limit.

In order to perform measurement with this conventional electronic blood pressure monitor, the subject inserts his arm into the cuff storage unit 34 and places his upper arm on the armrest 35. When the measurement start switch is turned on, the motor 38 starts, and the cuff 36 is wound around the upper arm. The completion of the winding of the cuff 36 is detected, for example, by measuring the load of the motor 38, and the motor 38 is stopped.

Then, the cuff 36 is pressurized by a pump (not shown), and the upper arm of the subject is once blocked. Next, the cuff 36 is evacuated at a very low speed, and a systolic blood pressure value and a diastolic blood pressure value are determined based on cardiovascular information (a Korotkoff sound or a pulse wave) generated in this process.

(C) Problems to be solved by the invention In the above-mentioned conventional electronic sphygmomanometer, if the subject's arm is too thin or too thick with respect to the arm band, a correct blood pressure value cannot be obtained. Therefore, unless the thickness of the arm is detected and notified, or the measurement is not stopped, the measurement is performed for the arm of any thickness, and a measurement error occurs.

Therefore, if the arm is too thin, this is detected by the limit switch 40 and the opening of the cuff storage section 34
A configuration is known in which the diameter of 34a is set to the limit value of the thicker one so that an arm that is too thick is not inserted into the cuff storage part 34.

However, since the limit switch 40 is mechanical and electrical, if it breaks down, there is a problem that the motor 38 is driven forever if the arm is too thin.
In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to insert or pull out the arm, particularly in the case of an arm close to the limit of the thicker one.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic sphygmomanometer capable of notifying the user or stopping the measurement when the thickness of a measurement site is out of an allowable range.

(D) Means and action for solving the problem In order to solve the above problem, the electronic sphygmomanometer of the present invention comprises:
In a device having a cuff winding drive mechanism for driving the cuff to be wound around a measurement site of a subject, a timer means for counting the operation time of the cuff winding drive mechanism, and the time counted by the timer means is a predetermined time. A determination unit that determines that the measurement site of the subject is not suitable for blood pressure measurement using the cuff wrapping drive mechanism if the measurement site is not within the range.

The electronic sphygmomanometer of the present invention detects the thickness of a measurement site by focusing on the fact that if the measurement site of the subject is thin, that is, if the measurement site is small, the time required for driving the cuff to wind is increased. Is made possible. Therefore, when the thickness of the measurement site is not within the allowable range, the measurement can be stopped or the subject can be notified of this.

(E) Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the electronic sphygmomanometer 1 according to this embodiment. The main body housing 2 is provided with a panel surface 2a and a cuff housing 6. On the panel surface 2a, indicators 3a, 3b, 3c for displaying systolic blood pressure values, diastolic blood pressure values, etc., a measurement start switch 4a, a stop switch 4b, and a printer 5 for printing measurement results are provided.

The cuff storage unit 6 is configured to penetrate forward and backward,
An arm molding 7 is provided in the front opening 6a.
The arm molding 7 is for preventing the inner edge of the front opening 6a from hitting the arm of the subject.

An armrest base 8 is provided in the cuff housing 6, and an armrest 9 is placed on the armrest base 8 (see FIG. 3). The side of the armrest 9
It protrudes to the side of the armrest base 8, bends downward, and forms a guide 9 a of a cuff 11 described later.

One end 11a of the cuff 11 is fixed to the armrest 9. The cuff 11 is guided downward along the guide 9a so as to surround the armrest 9, and reaches the winding drive mechanism 12 at the bottom of the main body housing 2.

The winding drive mechanism 12 includes a slider 14 provided on the rods 13 and 13 so as to be movable left and right in FIG.
The other end 11b of the cuff 11 is fixed to the slider 14.

The slider 14 is driven right and left by a belt 15. The belt 15 is stretched between pulleys 16 and 17, and the pulley 17 is driven to rotate by a motor 18. 19 is a cuff release switch for detecting the cuff release. In FIG. 3, a mechanical micro switch is shown as the cuff opening switch 19, but a photoelectric switch or the like may be used and the design can be changed as appropriate.

A sub armrest 22 is provided behind the cuff storage unit 6. The sub armrest 22 has a groove 22a for receiving the forearm of the subject.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the electronic blood pressure monitor 1 according to the embodiment. The cuff 11 is connected to a pressure sensor (pressure detecting means) 23, a pressurizing pump (pressurizing means) 26, a quick exhaust valve (decompression means) 27, and a slow exhaust valve (decompression means) 28.

After the output signal of the pressure sensor 23 is amplified by the amplifier 24, the output signal is converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital (A / D) converter 25 and taken into the CPU 29. CPU29, arm not inserted,
It has a function of detecting improper insertion, a function of controlling winding of the cuff 11, a function of determining a blood pressure value, and the like. The pressurizing pump 26 and the quick exhaust valve 27 are controlled by the CPU 29.

The indicators 3a, 3b, 3c, the measurement start switch 4a, the stop switch 4b, and the cuff release switch 19 are connected to the CPU 29.

The cuff drive motor 18 is also controlled by the CPU 29. The motor 18 includes a motor load detection circuit 21, and the output is taken into the CPU 29.

Next, the operation of the electronic blood pressure monitor 1 of the embodiment will be described below mainly with reference to FIG.

First, the subject inserts his arm into the cuff storage unit 6, places his upper arm on the armrest 9, and places his forearm on the groove 22 of the sub-armrest 22.
Put in a.

When the measurement start switch 4a is turned on, the determination in step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1 becomes YES [FIG.
Reference], and proceed to the determination of ST2.

In ST2, it is determined whether the cuff release switch 19 is on. When the determination is YES, the process branches to ST5, and when the determination is NO, the process branches to ST3. In ST3, the cuff drive motor 18 is moved to the open side, that is, the slider 14 is driven rightward in FIG. 3 to open the cuff 11. In the next ST4, it is determined whether or not the cuff opening switch 19 is ON. If NO, the cuff opening is continued, and if YES, the process branches in ST5. This is the winding time T
This is a process necessary to determine the origin of the count.

In ST5, the cuff drive motor 18 is wound and driven.
That is, the slider 14 is driven to the left in FIG. 3, and the cuff 11 is wound around the subject's upper arm. Next, the timer T starts (ST6).

In ST7, it is determined whether the motor load is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. When the cuff 11 is wound around the upper arm and fitted, the load of the cuff drive motor exceeds this predetermined value.
The determination in ST7 is YES, and the process proceeds to ST10.

On the other hand, if the determination in ST7 is NO, the process branches to the determination in ST8. In ST8, it is determined whether or not the winding time T has reached the limit value _TL , and if this determination is NO, the process returns to ST7 to continue the winding drive of the cuff 11. On the other hand, when the determination in ST8 is YES, for example, when the measurement start switch 4a is turned on even though the arm is not inserted, the process branches to ST9 and the timer T
And proceeds to ST22 described later.

In ST10, the cuff drive motor 18 stops, and in ST11, the timer T stops. In ST12, the winding time T is equal to the thick arm determination value T _S
It is determined whether or not it is below, and if this determination is YES, ST2
Branch to 2.

On the other hand, if the determination in ST12 is NO, the process branches to ST13, where it is determined whether the winding time T is equal to or longer than the thin arm determination value _TF . If this determination is YES, the process branches to ST22; if NO, ST1
Branch to 4.

In ST14, the quick exhaust valve 27 is closed. Then, the pressurizing pump 26 is turned on (ST15), and the cuff 11 is pressurized. ST
At 16, it is determined whether or not the cuff pressure detected by the pressure sensor 23 has reached a target pressurization set value. The target pressurization set value is
A pressure that is sufficient to occlude the brachial artery, that is, a value slightly higher than the systolic blood pressure value is required, and is set to a fixed value of, for example, 170 mmHg. If the determination in ST16 is NO, wait here,
The pressurization of the cuff 11 is continued.

If the determination in ST16 is YES, the process branches to ST17, where the pressurizing pump 26 is stopped, and the slow exhaust process by the slow exhaust valve 28 starts. The systolic blood pressure value and the diastolic blood pressure value are determined based on the pulse wave information obtained in this slow exhaust process (ST18). Since the present invention does not involve determining the blood pressure value as a main part, the details are omitted. Further, the cuff 11 may be provided with a microphone to detect Korotkoff sounds and determine the blood pressure value, and the design may be changed as appropriate.

In ST19, the measurement results are displayed on the displays 3a, 3b, 3c,
In 20, the quick exhaust valve 27 is opened and the cuff 11 is quickly exhausted. In ST21, it is determined whether the cuff pressure is 5 mmHg or less,
If this determination is NO, the system waits here and continues rapid exhaust.

If the determination in ST21 is YES, it is determined that the cuff 11 has been exhausted, and the cuff drive motor 18 is driven in a direction in which the cuff 11 is opened. In ST23, it is determined whether or not the cuff release switch 19 is on. When the determination is NO, the CPU waits here to continue the opening drive of the cuff 11, and when the determination is YES, branches to ST24 to stop the cuff drive motor 18 and ends the measurement.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which a motor is used as the cuff winding drive mechanism, but a configuration using an air cylinder may be used. In this case, the timer may be started when the operation of the air cylinder is started, and the timer may be stopped when the pressure of the air cylinder reaches a predetermined value.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the arm is too thin or the arm is too thick, the measurement is to be terminated. However, instead of or in conjunction with this, a buzzer, a warning light or other notifying means is operated. The design may be changed as appropriate.

(F) Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention measures the operating time of the cuff winding drive mechanism in an electronic sphygmomanometer having a cuff winding drive mechanism for driving the cuff to be wound around a measurement site of a subject. Timer means, and determination means for determining that the measurement site of the subject is not suitable for blood pressure measurement using the cuff wrapping drive mechanism unless the time measured by the time measurement means is within a predetermined time range in advance. It is characterized by having. Therefore, when the measurement site of the subject is too thin or too thick, this can be detected to stop the measurement or to notify the subject of this. In addition, a new mechanism for detecting the thickness of the measurement site is not required, a functionally superior product can be obtained with a small number of parts, and the measurement accuracy of a subject having a measurable measurement site is improved, and reliability is improved. The performance is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are flowcharts illustrating the operation of an electronic sphygmomanometer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block illustrating the circuit configuration of the electronic sphygmomanometer. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a part of the electronic sphygmomanometer cut away, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the electronic sphygmomanometer, and FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view which fractures | ruptures and shows. 11: Cuff, 12: Cuff winding drive mechanism, 19: Cuff release switch, 23: Pressure sensor, 26: Pressurizing pump, 27: Quick exhaust valve, 28: Slow exhaust valve, 29: CPU.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic sphygmomanometer having a cuff wrapping drive mechanism for wrapping and driving a cuff around a measurement site of a subject, wherein: An electronic sphygmomanometer, comprising: a determination unit that determines that the measurement site of the subject is not suitable for blood pressure measurement using the cuff wrapping drive mechanism unless the time is within a predetermined time range in advance.