JP4603718B2 - Biological light measurement device - Google Patents

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to a biological light measurement device, and more particularly to a biological light measurement device provided with a phantom for confirming the operation and output of the biological light measurement device.
[Background]
[0002]
A biological light measurement device irradiates a living body with light of a predetermined wavelength and measures changes in the amount of light transmitted through the living body to obtain information such as blood circulation, hemodynamics, and hemoglobin changes inside the living body. In particular, a biological light measurement device in which a plurality of light emitting units and light receiving units are arranged to obtain blood flow information in a relatively wide range as a topography is, for example, a function of the brain such as local focus identification of epileptic seizures. Application to research and clinical practice is expected.
[0003]
Such a living body light measurement apparatus uses a phantom that is a pseudo living body model for confirming the operation and output of the measurement system. For the phantom, usually gel-like silicone is used, and as shown in FIG. 4 (a), this is stored in a box 23 provided with a large number of holes 22 on the upper surface, as shown in FIG. The tip of the optical fiber 3 is attached to the front hole, and light irradiation and detection are performed in the same manner as in the measurement to test whether the measurement system is operating normally and the output is normal.
[0004]
At the time of actual measurement, the tip of the optical fiber is attached to a mounting tool called a shell, and this shell is mounted on the subject.
[Prior art documents]
[Patent Literature]
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-222736 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0006]
As described above, in the conventional biological light measurement, an operation of attaching the optical fiber to the phantom or shell is required for each of the operation test and the actual measurement. Usually, the number of optical fibers fixed to one shell is 10 or more, and it is necessary to attach the light irradiation unit and the light detection unit in a predetermined arrangement. Met. With the progress of measurement systems and the like, the number of fibers tends to increase, and the working efficiency is expected to deteriorate further.
[0007]
In actual measurement, a phantom is not required, but if actual measurement is performed while the phantom is placed on or in the vicinity of the biological light measurement device, there is a possibility that the measurement may be obstructed. Conversely, if the phantom is placed in another location, moving the device with the optical fiber set may break the optical fiber or damage the mounting portion. Also, if the tip of the optical fiber is removed from the phantom and left free, the tip may be damaged.
[0008]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a living body optical measurement device capable of improving the workability of mounting an optical fiber in an operation test and actual measurement using a phantom and capable of performing the operation test and actual measurement extremely easily. And In addition, the present invention provides a biological optical measurement device that improves the safety of the device without the risk of damaging the phantom or the optical fiber due to careless handling or operation both in a non-measurement state and in actual measurement. With the goal.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0009]
The living body light measurement device of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a light irradiation unit that irradiates light to a living body, a light detection unit that detects light transmitted through the living body, and a living body based on the amount of light detected by the light detection unit. A living body light measurement unit equipped with a signal processing unit that creates a topography that represents information, and a plurality of optical fibers connected to the light irradiation unit and the light detection unit are supported in a predetermined arrangement and contacted with a living body measurement site A biological light measuring device including a mounting tool for causing the biological light measuring unit to operate, and the phantom has a shape that engages with the mounting tool.
[0010]
According to this biological optical measurement device, the phantom can be brought into contact with the tip of the optical fiber simply by placing the phantom on a mounting tool that previously supports the optical fibers in a predetermined arrangement, and the optical fiber tip is attached. Even without this, it is possible to easily perform an operation check test of the apparatus.
[0011]
In addition, the biological light measurement device of the present invention includes a housing that stores at least the light irradiation unit and the light detection unit, and includes a storage unit that stores the phantom in the housing.
[0012]
Since the phantom is integrated with the housing, the phantom does not get in the way when measuring biological light, etc., and it can be considered that it can be moved to the bedside and used around the hospital. Even when the body is moved by a caster or the like, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of causing disconnection of the optical fiber or damage to the tip.
【The invention's effect】
[0013]
According to the present invention, as the phantom provided in the biological optical measurement device, a phantom having the same shape as the shell that is a mounting tool for the subject is used, and a space for storing such a phantom is provided in the housing of the device. Therefore, the workability during the operation test and actual measurement of the apparatus can be greatly improved, and accidents such as disconnection of the optical fiber and damage to the tip thereof can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a biological light measurement device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a phantom and a shell of the biological light measurement device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of optical fibers in the shell of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view showing a conventional phantom.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0015]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a biological light measurement device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a biological light measurement device to which the present invention is applied. This biological light measurement device has a light beam applied to a subject inside a housing 4 having wheels 7 as shown in the figure. A light measurement unit 13 that detects light transmitted through the subject, and controls the drive of the light measurement unit 13 and creates a topography representing the biological information of the subject based on the amount of light detected by the light detection unit The signal processing unit 11 and the power supply unit 12 are housed, and a display 9 and a printer 10 for displaying a GUI (Graphic User Interface) necessary for topography and operation are provided on the top of the housing 4. An operation unit 8 for inputting conditions necessary for the measurement is provided on the front surface of the housing 4. The signal processing unit 11 can be built in a general-purpose personal computer. In this embodiment, such a small computer is mounted as the signal processing unit 11.
[0017]
Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the signal processing unit 11 and the power supply unit 12 are installed at the bottom of the housing 4, and the light measurement unit 13 is installed thereon via a partition plate (not shown). The light measurement unit 13 includes a light irradiation unit and a light detection unit, is formed on a substrate, and is connected to a plurality of optical fibers. An air cooling fan 14 is provided above the light measurement unit 13. The optical fiber connected to the light measurement unit 13 is further connected to the optical fiber 3 for mounting on the subject via the fiber attachment unit 6. The optical fiber 3 has a certain length in order to give a degree of freedom in the distance between the subject and the housing 4, and the tip thereof is fixed to a mounting tool (not shown in FIG. 1).
[0018]
In addition, the housing 4 is provided with a storage unit 5 for installing a phantom (not shown in FIG. 1) for an initial operation test using a space on the depth side of the operation unit 8. The phantom is stored in the storage unit 5 together with a mounting tool (shell) for mounting the tip of the optical fiber to the subject.
[0019]
The relationship between the shell and phantom is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the shell 2 has a helmet-shaped shape that matches the head of the subject (person), and each of the fibers 3 of the irradiation optical fiber and the detection optical fiber is provided in a region corresponding to the head on both sides. A socket 21 (shown in FIG. 3 to be described later) is provided for attaching the tip of the socket.
[0020]
At the tip of each of the irradiation optical fiber and the detection optical fiber, an attachment for engaging with the socket is provided, and is detachably attached to the shell. As shown in FIG. 3, the sockets 21 are arranged so as to be alternately positioned at the lattice points of the positive lattice, so that the light emitted from the irradiation fiber arranged at one lattice point surrounds the socket 4. It is detected by a detection fiber arranged at one grid point, and a measurement position is between the grid points. In addition, although the figure shows the case where the number of lattice points is 9 on one side of the temporal region, it may be more or less.
[0021]
The phantom 1 is made of a material having predetermined optical characteristics such as silicone, and has a hemispherical outer shape that substantially matches the inner shape of the shell 2. Such phantom 1 may be fixed to the storage unit 5 may be simply placed on the storage unit 5. When the biological light measurement device is not in operation, the shell 2 is placed on the phantom 1 and stored in the storage unit 5 with the tip of the optical fiber 3 attached to the socket of the shell 2. In this state, the tip of the optical fiber 2 is in contact with the surface of the phantom 1.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the biological light measurement device having such a configuration will be described. First, the power is turned on with the shell 2 placed on the phantom 1, and an initial operation test is performed. In this operation test, light irradiation and detection are performed under predetermined conditions to test whether the output of the light source is sufficient, whether each optical fiber is disconnected, whether the measurement system operates normally, and the like. If the result of this initial test is normal, the casing 4 is moved to a desired measurement location, and only the shell 2 is taken out from the storage unit 5 and attached to the subject 1.
[0023]
To ensure contact between the optical fiber tip and the subject head surface, remove the optical fiber from the socket as necessary, and remove the hair, for example, and reattach the optical fiber tip to the socket. . Since this operation is performed in a state where the correspondence between the tip of each optical fiber and the socket is determined in advance, it can be easily performed with less complexity than setting the optical fiber in a predetermined arrangement from the beginning. it can.
[0024]
After making contact between the tip of the optical fiber and the surface of the subject in this way, actual measurement is performed. That is, the light irradiation unit applies different modulation to the light generated from the light source, and irradiates the subject with the plurality of lights via the plurality of optical fibers. Light that is irradiated onto the subject and transmitted through the surface of the subject is input to the light detection unit via a plurality of optical fibers. The light detection unit converts the light transmitted through the subject into a signal for each measurement position, further converts it into a digital signal, and sends it to the signal processing unit 11. Based on the signal for each measurement position, the signal processing unit 11 forms a topography representing the change in the amount of hemoglobin at the measurement site and displays it on the display 9.
[0025]
Such biological light measurement can be performed while working the subject or performing surgery on the subject. At that time, the phantom 1 used for the initial operation test is stored in the housing 4. Therefore, the work can be performed smoothly without hindering the work.
[0026]
When the device is not in operation, the optical fiber tip is attached to the shell so that it is covered with the phantom 1 and stored in the housing 4. Damage to the optical fiber and its tip can be prevented.
[0027]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in these drawings, and various modifications can be made. For example, FIG. 1 shows a living body optical measurement device in which the optical measurement unit 13 and the signal processing unit 11 are housed in one housing 4, but the optical measurement unit 13, the optical fiber 3, and the shell are integrated into one housing. It can be similarly applied to a biological light measurement device that stores and separates from the signal processing unit 11 and transmits and receives signals through a transmission line or the like.
[0028]
In the above description, the helmet-type shape is shown as the shape of the shell 2, but the phantom having the shape shown in FIG. 2 can be applied to a shell divided into two corresponding to the heads on both sides. .
[0029]
Furthermore, any available gap in the housing 4 can be used for the storage unit 5 for storing the phantom and the shell.
[Explanation of symbols]
[0030]
1 Phantom, 2 shell, 3 optical fiber, 4 housing, 5 storage unit , 11 signal processing unit, 13 optical measurement unit

Claims (5)

An optical measuring unit for detecting the light irradiated with light, transmitted through the living body to a living body,
A signal processing unit for creating topography representing biological information based on the amount of light detected by the light measurement unit ;
A housing for accommodating at least the light measurement unit and the signal processing unit;
A mounting tool for supporting the tips of a plurality of optical fibers connected to the light measurement unit in a predetermined arrangement and bringing them into contact with a measurement site of a living body ,
An operation unit provided to project from the side surface of the housing;
A living body light measuring device comprising:
A phantom for confirming the operation of the biological light measurement unit is provided,
A living body light measurement apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores the phantom in a depth direction from the operation unit to the housing . The mounting tool is a shell configured to contact and attach the tips of the plurality of optical fibers to a measurement site of the living body via a socket,
The biological light measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the shell is stored in the storage portion in a state of being attached to the phantom when the biological light measurement device is not operated. The biological light measurement device according to claim 2, wherein when the biological light measurement device is in operation, the biological light measurement device is configured such that the shell is detached from the phantom and attached to a measurement site of the biological body. An optical measuring unit for detecting the light irradiated with light, transmitted through the living body to a living body,
A signal processing unit for creating topography representing biological information based on the amount of light detected by the light measurement unit ;
A housing for accommodating at least the light measurement unit and the signal processing unit;
A mounting tool for supporting the tips of a plurality of optical fibers connected to the light measurement unit in a predetermined arrangement and bringing them into contact with a measurement site of a living body ,
A living body light measuring device comprising:
A phantom for confirming the operation of the biological light measurement unit is provided,
A living body light measurement apparatus comprising: a housing portion that houses the phantom in a state where the mounting tool is attached to a part of the housing . 5. The biological light measurement device according to claim 4, wherein when the biological light measurement device is in operation, the wearing tool is configured to be detached from the phantom and attached in contact with the measurement site of the biological body.

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