JP5908995B2 - Sleep evaluation apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for evaluating sleep.

  A technique for diagnosing sleep apnea syndrome is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a) body temperature (skin temperature, nasal cavity temperature, and deep body temperature as parameters for detecting the depth of sleep of a subject, rectal temperature, oral temperature, vaginal temperature, esophagus At least one of the temperature) and a step of simultaneously detecting a breathing sound during sleep of the subject with a neck contact microphone; b) a time period, a time interval, a frequency, a volume, and the like of the breathing sound; A sleep apnea syndrome is detected and evaluated by analyzing a sleep sound during sleep using a detection end with a body temperature sensor.

JP 2007-61203 A

  The present applicant has conceived that the sleep itself can be evaluated by merely measuring the body temperature of the deep part of the neck during sleep, not the detection and evaluation of such sleep apnea syndrome.

A first aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires time-series data of a temperature obtained from a sensor that measures a temperature of a deep part in a patient's neck.
From the time series data, specifying means for specifying partial time series data indicating a temperature during the sleep period of the patient;
For the temperature at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data, a difference between the temperature and a preset reference temperature is calculated, and a total value of the differences is calculated as the amount of sleep of the patient . 1 calculation means,
A second calculating means for calculating a difference between the lowest temperature among the temperatures at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature as the sleep depth;
And a notification means for notifying the patient of information indicating the quality of sleep, which is predetermined for a combination of the amount of sleep and the depth of sleep.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the acquisition unit of the sleep evaluation device acquires time series data of the temperature obtained from a sensor that measures the temperature of the deep part in the neck of the patient;
A specifying step of specifying partial time-series data indicating a temperature during the sleep period of the patient from the time-series data, by the specifying unit of the sleep evaluation device;
The first calculation means of the sleep evaluation device calculates the difference between the temperature and the reference temperature set in advance for the temperature at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data, and the total value of the differences A first calculation step for calculating the amount of sleep of the patient ;
The second calculating means of the sleep evaluation device calculates a difference between the lowest temperature among the temperatures at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature as the sleep depth. Calculation process;
The notification unit of the sleep evaluation device includes a notification step of notifying the patient of information indicating the quality of sleep, which is predetermined for a combination of the amount of sleep and the depth of sleep. It is characterized by that.

  The sleep itself can be evaluated simply by measuring the deep body temperature in the neck during sleep.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The accompanying drawings are included in the specification, constitute a part thereof, show an embodiment of the present invention, and are used to explain the principle of the present invention together with the description.
The figure which shows the structural example of a system. The block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the sensor 150. FIG. The block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the sleep evaluation apparatus 100. FIG. The figure which shows the waveform example of the time series data of temperature. The figure which shows the structural example of the information used for evaluation. The flowchart of the process for evaluating the quality of sleep. The flowchart of the process for evaluating a sleep awakening rhythm.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below shows an example when the present invention is specifically implemented, and is one of the specific examples of the configurations described in the claims.

[First Embodiment]
First, a configuration example of a system for evaluating sleep of a patient from time series data of a temperature (body temperature) in a deep part of the neck of the patient will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 150 denotes a sensor for measuring the temperature of the deep part of the neck, which is attached to the neck of the patient 190 as shown in FIG. Since the sensor for measuring the temperature in the deep part of the patient's neck, its operating principle, and its usage are well known, description thereof will be omitted.

  The sensor 150 periodically measures the temperature of the deep part in the neck, and transmits the measurement value (that is, the measured temperature) at each measurement timing (time) to the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 wirelessly in association with the measurement timing. To do. The transmission timing is not limited to a specific timing. That is, each time measurement is performed, a set of measured temperatures and measured timings may be transmitted, or a set of a predetermined number may be transmitted collectively.

  The sleep evaluation apparatus 100 includes a display screen 110 that can display various information and buttons 120 for inputting various instructions. The sleep evaluation device 100 holds each set transmitted from the sensor 150. When an instruction to evaluate the sleep of the patient 190 is input by pressing the button 120, the sleep evaluation device 100 stores the set. Used to evaluate the sleep of the patient 190.

  Next, a hardware configuration example of the sensor 150 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The deep part temperature measurement sensor 201 is a sensor for measuring the temperature of the deep part in the part to which the sensor 150 is attached. In this embodiment, since the sensor 150 is attached to the neck of the patient 190, the deep temperature measurement sensor 201 measures the temperature of the deep portion in the neck.

  The temperature data measured periodically is sent from the deep temperature sensor 201 in time series, and the sent data is registered in the memory 202 together with the data of the measurement timing (timed by the timer 203). However, the time series data of the measured temperature and the measurement time of each temperature are registered in the memory 202.

  The communication unit 204 sends the data stored in the memory 202 to the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 by wireless communication periodically or irregularly. As described above, the transmission timing of the data registered in the memory 202 may be any timing, and is not limited to a specific timing.

  Each unit described above is connected to the bus 205.

  Next, a hardware configuration example of the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 will be described using the block diagram of FIG.

  The CPU 301 executes processing using computer programs and data stored in the RAM 302 and the ROM 303 to control the operation of the entire sleep evaluation apparatus 100, and performs each process described later as what the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 performs. Run.

  The RAM 302 has an area for temporarily storing computer programs and data loaded from the ROM 303 and an area for temporarily storing data received from the sensor 150 by the communication unit 304. The RAM 302 also has a work area used when the CPU 301 executes various processes. That is, the RAM 302 can provide various areas as appropriate.

  The ROM 303 is configured by an EEPROM or the like, and stores a computer program and data for causing the CPU 301 to execute each process described below as what the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 performs. Information unique to the patient 190 and information handled as known information in the processing described later are also stored in the ROM 303.

  As described above, the button 120 is used by the operator of the sleep evaluation device 100 to input various instructions by being operated. Here, the button 120 is composed of one button, but may be provided for each operation described later.

  The display screen 110 is configured by a liquid crystal screen or the like, and is a screen on which the processing result by the CPU 301 can be displayed as an image or text.

  The communication unit 304 is for performing wireless communication with the sensor 150 and for receiving data transmitted from the sensor 150.

  Each unit described above is connected to the bus 305.

  Next, a method for measuring the deep temperature in the neck of the patient 190 in order to evaluate the sleep of the patient 190 will be described. In order to acquire the deep temperature in the neck of the patient 190 used for evaluating the sleep of the patient 190, it is necessary to attach the sensor 150 to the neck of the patient 190 before sleeping. If the sensor 150 is attached to the neck of the patient 190 before sleeping, the deep temperature sensor 201 starts measuring the deep temperature in the neck, so the sensor 150 is attached to the neck in the memory 202 of the sensor 150. Temperature data at each measurement time is recorded together with the measurement time. The patient 190 goes to bed with the sensor 150 attached to the neck. During this time, the deep temperature sensor 201 continues to measure the temperature, and the data recording operation to the memory 202 is continued. The communication unit 204 of the sensor 150 may transmit the set to the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 each time a set (temperature data and measurement time) is recorded in the memory 202, or a specified number of sets are recorded. The predetermined number of sets may be transmitted to the sleep evaluation device 100 each time. The communication unit 304 of the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 receives the data transmitted by the communication unit 204, and the CPU 301 records the received data in the RAM 302. Therefore, the sensor 150 is attached to the neck of the patient 190 in the RAM 302. The temperature data at each subsequent measurement time and the measurement time are recorded. Then, when the patient 190 gets up, the button 120 of the sleep evaluation device 100 that is arranged in advance of the patient 190 is pressed. The push of the button 120 may be performed by the patient 190 himself or another person. The CPU 301 determines the timing at which this depression is detected as the wake-up timing of the patient 190, and stops the data recording operation to the RAM 302. As a result, the RAM 302 records the temperature data and the measurement times at each measurement time from when the sensor 150 is attached to the neck of the patient 190 until the patient gets up.

  In this way, after the “temperature data at each measurement time from when the sensor 150 is attached to the neck of the patient 190 and getting up” and the measurement time are captured in the RAM 302, sleep is performed using the captured data. A process performed by the evaluation apparatus 100 for evaluating the sleep of the patient 190 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 showing a flowchart of the process.

  Note that a computer program and data for causing the CPU 301 to execute processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 are stored in the ROM 303. However, the CPU 301 can execute the processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 by loading the computer program and data from the ROM 303 to the RAM 302 and executing the processing using the loaded computer program and data.

  In step S601, it is determined whether an instruction to start evaluation has been input. In this determination, when it is detected that the button 120 has been pressed, it may be determined that an instruction to start evaluation has been input, or the display screen 110 is a touch panel screen, and the display screen 110 displays an evaluation start. When a button image is displayed and it is detected that the operator of the sleep evaluation device 100 has touched this button image, it may be determined that an instruction to start evaluation has been input. That is, the method of inputting the instruction to start the evaluation and the method of detecting the method are not limited to the specific input method and the specific detection method.

  In any case, if it is determined that an instruction to start evaluation has been input, the process proceeds to step S602, and unless it is detected that the input has been input, the process waits in step S601.

  In step S602, temperature time series data (partial time series data) in the sleep period is specified from temperature data at each measurement time stored in the RAM 302, that is, temperature time series data. The process in this step will be described in detail.

  Since the temperature measurement time is associated with each temperature data, each temperature represented by the temperature time-series data is referred to in order from the first measurement time, and reaches the temperature that is lower than the reference temperature by the specified amount for the first time. The measured time can be specified.

  This reference temperature is a temperature set in advance for the patient 190. The average body temperature of the patient 190 may be measured in advance and stored in the ROM 303 as a reference temperature. It is not limited to this method.

  Then, the period from the specified measurement time to the end time in the time series data of temperature (that is, the time when the CPU 301 detects that the patient 190 has woken up and pressed the button 120) is defined as a sleep period, From the time series data of temperature, partial time series data indicating the temperature at each measurement time during the sleep period is specified.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a temperature waveform represented by temperature time-series data stored in the RAM 302. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the measurement time, and the vertical axis indicates the temperature. In FIG. 4, a waveform 401 is a waveform represented by temperature time-series data, and a straight line 402 indicates a reference temperature. In the case of FIG. 4, the measurement time when the waveform 401 reaches the temperature that is lower than the reference temperature by the specified amount for the first time is t1, so in step S602, this t1 is first specified. In FIG. 4, since the time when the CPU 301 detects that the patient 190 has woken up and pressed the button 120 is t2, in step S602, the waveform from t1 to t2 is displayed during the sleep period of the patient 190. It is determined that the temperature waveform in FIG. Of course, the method for specifying the time series data of the temperature during the sleep period from the time series data of the temperature is not limited to the above method, and other methods can be considered.

  In step S603, the difference between the temperature at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature is calculated, and the total value of the differences is calculated as the amount of sleep of the patient 190. In the example of FIG. 4, for each measurement time from t1 to t2, the difference between the temperature at the measurement time and the reference temperature is calculated. And the total value of the difference calculated | required about each measurement time from t1 to t2 is calculated as an amount of sleep of the patient 190. Obtaining this total amount is equivalent to integrating the region sandwiched between the waveform 401 and the straight line 402 from t1 to t2 in the case of FIG.

  Next, in step S604, the difference between the lowest temperature among the temperatures at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature is calculated as the sleep depth of the patient 190. In the example of FIG. 4, the difference DT between the lowest temperature (temperature at the measurement time t3) in the waveform 401 and the reference temperature represented by the straight line 402 is obtained as the sleep depth of the patient 190.

  Next, in step S605, the sleep quality of the patient 190 is determined from the combination of the sleep amount determined in step S603 and the sleep depth determined in step S604, and the determined result is displayed on the display screen 110. indicate. Here, in the ROM 303, as illustrated in FIG. 5 (5 a), for each combination of whether or not the amount of sleep is greater than or equal to a threshold and whether or not the depth of sleep is greater than or equal to the threshold, Quality is registered in advance. FIG. 5 (5 a) is a diagram schematically shown for the sake of simplicity, and how the sleep quality corresponding to each combination is registered in the ROM 303 as data is specified separately. It is not limited to this method.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (5a), if the amount of sleep is greater than or equal to a threshold (for example, 2) and the depth of sleep is greater than or equal to a threshold (for example, 0.5), the quality of sleep is good. If the amount of sleep is equal to or greater than the threshold and the depth of sleep is less than the threshold, sleep is shallow sleep. If the amount of sleep is less than the threshold and the depth of sleep is greater than or equal to the threshold, the sleep time is insufficient. Moreover, if the amount of sleep is less than a threshold and the depth of sleep is less than a threshold, sleep is insufficient.

  However, referring to the combination table shown in FIG. 5 (5a), the magnitude comparison result between the amount of sleep obtained in step S603 and the threshold value, and the magnitude comparison between the sleep depth obtained in step S604 and the threshold value. Information on the quality of sleep corresponding to the combination of the results is obtained.

  Then, a screen corresponding to the obtained information is displayed on the display screen 110. For example, “the quality of sleep is good”, “the sleep is a light sleep”, “the sleep time is insufficient”, You may display text information such as “Sleep is not enough”, and icons corresponding to these (for example, “Sleep quality is good”, a smiling face icon, "If there is", a face icon that seems to be a little sleepy, and if you have "sleeping time is insufficient" or "sleeping is insufficient", a more sleepy face icon) good.

  In addition, the method for notifying the operator of the sleep evaluation device 100 of the quality of sleep is not limited to such display. For example, when the sleep evaluation device 100 has a voice output function, Messages such as “sleep quality is good”, “sleep is light sleep”, “sleep time is insufficient”, “sleep is insufficient”, and the like may be output.

  Also, you can carry sleep quality evaluation results such as “sleep quality is good”, “sleep is light sleep”, “lack sleep time”, “lack sleep” You may make it output with respect to external apparatuses, such as a telephone, and you may make it notify with respect to the user of an external apparatus. In other words, the output destination of the sleep quality evaluation result is not limited to a specific output destination.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the sleep quality of the patient 190 is evaluated from the partial time series data. In this embodiment, the sleep awakening rhythm of the patient is evaluated from the partial time series data. In the following, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described mainly, and unless otherwise noted below, the same as the first embodiment is assumed. That is, the temperature of the deep part in the neck of the patient 190 is measured using the system having the configuration shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, instead of or in addition to the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed. Among the processing steps shown in FIG. 7, processing steps that perform the same processing as the processing steps shown in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  In step S701, the time length from the start time of the sleep period to the measurement time when the temperature is the lowest is calculated as the sleep intensity of the patient 190. In the case of FIG. 4, the time length D from t1 to t3 is calculated as the sleep intensity of the patient 190.

  In step S702, among the temperatures at the measurement times represented by the partial time series data, the temperature at the end time of the sleep period (that is, the time when the CPU 301 detects that the patient 190 has woken up and pressed the button 120) and the reference The difference between the temperature and the temperature is calculated as the degree of arousal from the sleep of the patient 190. In the case of FIG. 4, the difference KT between the temperature at t <b> 2 and the reference temperature is calculated as the degree of arousal from the sleep of the patient 190.

  In step S703, the sleep awakening rhythm of the patient 190 is determined from the combination of the sleep intensity determined in step S701 and the awakening level determined in step S702, and the determined result is displayed on the display screen 110. Here, in the ROM 303, as illustrated in FIG. 5 (5b), for each combination of whether the intensity of sleep is equal to or higher than the threshold and whether the arousal level is equal to or higher than the threshold, a corresponding sleep / wake rhythm Is registered in advance. FIG. 5 (5b) is a diagram schematically shown for the sake of simplicity, and how the corresponding sleep awakening rhythm for each combination is registered in the ROM 303 as data is specified separately. It is not limited to this method.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (5b), if the intensity of sleep is greater than or equal to a threshold value (eg, 300) and the arousal level is greater than or equal to a threshold value (eg, 0.3), the sleep / wake rhythm is abnormal. Further, if the intensity of sleep is equal to or greater than the threshold value and the arousal level is less than the threshold value, the sleep is poor. Moreover, if the intensity of sleep is less than the threshold and the arousal level is greater than or equal to the threshold, awakening is poor. Moreover, if the intensity of sleep is less than the threshold and the arousal level is less than the threshold, the sleep wake rhythm is good.

  However, referring to the combination table as shown in FIG. 5 (5b), the magnitude comparison result between the sleep intensity and the threshold obtained in step S701 and the magnitude comparison result between the arousal level and the threshold obtained in step S702. And information related to the sleep wakefulness rhythm corresponding to the combination of.

  Then, a screen corresponding to the obtained information is displayed on the display screen 110. The display may be displayed as character information or may be displayed as an icon as in the first embodiment. . Moreover, the notification method of the evaluation result of the sleep awakening rhythm is not limited to the display as in the first embodiment, and may be notified by voice. Further, the output destination of the evaluation result of the sleep / wakefulness rhythm is not limited to a specific output destination as in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
Both the sleep quality evaluation result notification described in the first embodiment and the sleep awakening rhythm evaluation result notification described in the second embodiment may be performed. That is, both the processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 are executed (the overlapping portion is omitted), and the evaluation result of the sleep quality and the evaluation of the sleep / wakefulness rhythm are displayed on the display screen 110. The results may be displayed side by side. In addition, instead of displaying both evaluation results at once, the sleep quality evaluation result and the sleep / wakefulness rhythm evaluation result may be alternately switched and displayed each time the button 120 is pressed. This alternate display may be performed without the pressing of the button 120.

  Further, a screen for causing the operator of the sleep evaluation apparatus 100 to select which of the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the process according to the flowchart of FIG. One process selected by the operator using the button 120 may be executed.

  Further, instead of displaying the sleep evaluation result in the sleep evaluation device 100, the sleep evaluation device 100 transfers the data group received from the sensor 150 to an external device such as a PC (personal computer), and the external device You may make it perform sleep evaluation using the transferred data.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, in order to make the scope of the present invention public, the following claims are attached.

Claims (12)

An acquisition means for acquiring time series data of the temperature obtained from a sensor for measuring a deep temperature in the neck of the patient;
From the time series data, specifying means for specifying partial time series data indicating a temperature during the sleep period of the patient;
For the temperature at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data, a difference between the temperature and a preset reference temperature is calculated, and a total value of the differences is calculated as the amount of sleep of the patient . 1 calculation means,
A second calculating means for calculating a difference between the lowest temperature among the temperatures at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature as the sleep depth;
A sleep evaluation apparatus comprising: a notification unit configured to notify the patient of information indicating the quality of sleep, which is predetermined for a combination of the amount of sleep and the depth of sleep. The specifying means is:
By referring to each temperature represented by the time series data in order from the first measurement time, the measurement time when the temperature reaches a temperature that is lower than the reference temperature by a specified amount for the first time is specified, and the patient wakes up from the specified measurement time The partial time-series data indicating the temperature during the sleep period is specified from the time-series data, with the period between the time when the instruction indicating this is detected as the sleep period. The sleep evaluation apparatus described. The notification means includes
The sleep according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the amount of sleep is equal to or greater than a threshold and the depth of sleep is equal to or greater than the threshold, the sleep is notified to the patient. Evaluation device. The notification means includes
If the amount of sleep is equal to or greater than a threshold and the depth of sleep is less than the threshold, the patient is notified that the sleep is a shallow sleep. The sleep evaluation apparatus according to item 1. The notification means includes
5. The patient according to claim 1, wherein if the amount of sleep is less than a threshold and the depth of sleep is greater than or equal to a threshold, the patient is notified that the sleep time is insufficient. The sleep evaluation apparatus according to any one of the above. The notification means includes
If the amount of sleep is less than a threshold and the depth of sleep is less than a threshold, the patient is notified that the sleep is insufficient. The sleep evaluation apparatus according to item 1. Furthermore,
A third calculating means for calculating the length of time from the start time of the sleep period to the measurement time at which the temperature becomes the lowest as the intensity of the sleep;
A fourth calculation means for calculating a difference between the temperature at the end time among the temperatures at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature as the arousal level from the sleep;
With
The notification means, in place of the notification, or together with the notification, information indicating the sleep awakening rhythm of the patient, which is predetermined for a combination of the intensity of sleep and the arousal level from the sleep, The sleep evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein notification is made to a patient. The notification means includes
The said sleep intensity | strength is more than a threshold value, and if the said arousal level is more than a threshold value, it will notify with respect to the said patient that a sleep awakening rhythm of the said patient is abnormal. Sleep evaluation device. The notification means includes
9. The patient according to claim 7 or 8, wherein if the sleep intensity is equal to or greater than a threshold and the arousal level is less than the threshold, the patient is informed that the sleep awakening rhythm is poor. The sleep evaluation apparatus described. The notification means includes
10. The patient is informed that the sleep awakening rhythm of the patient is poor if the sleep intensity is less than a threshold and the arousal level is greater than or equal to the threshold. The sleep evaluation apparatus according to any one of the above. The notification means includes
11. The patient is notified that the sleep awakening rhythm of the patient is good if the sleep intensity is less than a threshold value and the arousal level is less than the threshold value. The sleep evaluation apparatus according to item 1. A method for controlling a sleep evaluation device, comprising:
The acquisition means of the sleep evaluation device acquires the time series data of the temperature obtained from a sensor that measures the temperature of the deep part in the neck of the patient, and
A specifying step of specifying partial time-series data indicating a temperature during the sleep period of the patient from the time-series data, by the specifying unit of the sleep evaluation device;
The first calculation means of the sleep evaluation device calculates the difference between the temperature and the reference temperature set in advance for the temperature at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data, and the total value of the differences A first calculation step for calculating the amount of sleep of the patient ;
The second calculating means of the sleep evaluation device calculates a difference between the lowest temperature among the temperatures at each measurement time represented by the partial time series data and the reference temperature as the sleep depth. Calculation process;
The notification unit of the sleep evaluation device includes a notification step of notifying the patient of information indicating the quality of sleep, which is predetermined for a combination of the amount of sleep and the depth of sleep. The control method of the sleep evaluation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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