JP7016740B2 - The inspection support method, the program that causes the processor to execute the inspection support method, and the inspection device and support device for executing the inspection support method. - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure is an inspection support method executed by at least one processor in an inspection support system including an inspection device carried by a subject to acquire biometric information of the subject and a support device different from the inspection device. is connected with. The present disclosure also relates to a program that causes at least one processor to execute the inspection support method, and a storage medium that stores the program. Further, the present disclosure relates to an inspection device and a support device for carrying out the inspection support method.

To detect arrhythmias, there are tests that collect the subject's electrocardiogram over a long period of time. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of an inspection device used for such inspection.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 08-299293

The test will continue while the subject is not under the control of a healthcare professional. In the meantime, the subject is obliged to record his or her behavior. Specifically, in addition to actions such as getting up, exercising, eating, bathing, defecation, and going to bed, the date and time when the person noticed chest pain is recorded by hand on a predetermined sheet. At a later date, the medical staff analyzes the relationship between the behavior of the subject and the biometric information by confirming the biometric information acquired by the inspection device while referring to the record.

An object of the present disclosure is to reduce the burden on the subject during the long-term examination and to support the analysis of the examination result by the medical staff.

One aspect of the present disclosure for achieving the above object is an inspection support system including an inspection device carried by a subject to acquire biological information of the subject and a support device different from the inspection device. An inspection support method performed by at least one processor,
The step of acquiring information different from the biometric information by the support device, and
A step of identifying support information that cannot be acquired by the inspection device among information different from the biometric information,
It includes a step of recording the support information in association with the biometric information.

With such a configuration, at least a part of the support information that can support the analysis of biometric information by the medical staff is acquired by the support device, so that the configuration that the inspection device prepares for information acquisition is minimized. can. This can reduce the size, weight, and power consumption of the inspection device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the subject due to the long-term examination while supporting the analysis of the electrocardiogram data by the medical staff.

The configuration of the inspection support system according to one embodiment is shown. The functional configuration of the portable electrocardiogram recorder and the support device in the above-mentioned inspection support system is shown. The first example of the inspection support method performed in the above inspection support system is shown. A second example of the inspection support method performed in the above inspection support system is shown. A third example of the inspection support method performed in the above inspection support system is shown.

An example of the embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection support system 1 according to the embodiment includes a portable electrocardiogram recorder 2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as an electrocardiogram recorder 2). The electrocardiogram recorder 2 is carried by the subject S. In other words, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is configured to have dimensions and weight that the subject S can carry. The electrocardiogram recorder 2 is an example of an inspection device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of electrodes E are attached and fixed to the chest of the subject S. Each electrode E detects the bioelectric potential of the attached body part. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 includes an interface 21. The signal corresponding to the bioelectric potential detected through each electrode E is input to the interface 21. The interface 21 includes a circuit that converts the input signal into electrocardiogram data necessary for subsequent processing. Examples of the circuit include an A / D conversion circuit and a filter circuit. That is, the electrocardiogram data is digital data corresponding to the electrocardiogram of the subject S. The electrocardiogram data is an example of biometric information.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of electrodes E are wiredly connected to the electrocardiogram recorder 2. However, the signal corresponding to the bioelectric potential detected through each electrode E may be input to the interface 21 via wireless communication. Alternatively, a configuration in which a plurality of electrodes E are built in the electrocardiogram recorder 2 may be adopted. In this case, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is attached and fixed to the chest of the subject S.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 includes a recording unit 22. The recording unit 22 is configured to include a storage for recording electrocardiogram data. As an example of storage, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like can be exemplified.

The electrocardiogram recorder 2 includes a control unit 23. The control unit 23 includes a processor. The processor is configured to perform at least some of the inspection assistance methods described below. The function of the processor may be realized by a general-purpose microprocessor that operates in cooperation with a memory, or may be realized by a dedicated integrated circuit such as a microcontroller, FPGA, or ASIC.

In the electrocardiogram recorder 2, the interface 21, the recording unit 22, and the control unit 23 are capable of exchanging signals and data with each other via the communication bus 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection support system 1 includes a support device 3. The support device 3 is a device for acquiring information different from the electrocardiogram data. The support device 3 is configured to have dimensions and weight that the subject S can carry.

The support device 3 includes a control unit 31. The control unit 31 includes a processor. The processor is configured to perform at least some of the inspection assistance methods described below. The function of the processor may be realized by a general-purpose microprocessor that operates in cooperation with a memory, or may be realized by a dedicated integrated circuit such as a microcontroller, FPGA, or ASIC.

The support device 3 includes a recording unit 32. The recording unit 32 is configured to include storage for storing various data. As an example of storage, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like can be exemplified.

In the support device 3, the control unit 31 and the recording unit 32 can exchange signals and data with each other via the communication bus 33.

FIG. 3 shows a first example of an inspection support method performed in the inspection support system 1 configured as described above. The process executed by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is performed under the control of the control unit 23. The processing executed by the support device 3 is performed under the control of the control unit 31.

The electrocardiogram recorder 2 is carried by the subject S in a state where a plurality of electrodes E are attached to and fixed to a predetermined body part. The electrocardiogram recorder 2 starts recording the electrocardiogram data in the recording unit 22 (STEP 1). The electrocardiogram data is recorded in the recording unit 22 together with the time information indicating the time when the data was acquired.

On the other hand, the support device 3 starts to acquire information different from the electrocardiogram data while being carried by the subject S (STEP 2). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the support device 3 may include a sensor 34. Examples of the sensor 34 include an acceleration sensor and a body temperature sensor. The support device 3 can acquire information related to the body movement of the subject S through the acceleration sensor. The support device 3 can acquire information related to the body temperature of the subject S through the body temperature sensor.

The sensor 34 may be connected to the communication bus 33. The information acquired through the sensor 34 is recorded in the recording unit 32 together with the time information indicating the time when the information was acquired.

After the recording of the electrocardiogram data by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is completed (STEP 3), the medical staff analyzes the electrocardiogram data recorded in the recording unit 22. At that time, the information recorded in the recording unit 32 of the support device 3 is referred to.

Specifically, the support information is first specified (STEP 4). The support information is information that cannot be acquired by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 among the information acquired by the support device 3. In the above example, the support device 3 acquires information on the body movement of the subject S and information on the body temperature. Since neither information can be acquired by the electrocardiogram recorder 2, both information correspond to the support information.

Subsequently, the electrocardiogram data and the support information are associated (STEP 5). Specifically, the electrocardiogram data recorded in the recording unit 22 of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the information recorded in the recording unit 32 of the support device 3 that is identified as support information are read out by an appropriate device. Is done. Examples of such a device include a personal computer capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3 by a USB connection or the like. Each of the electrocardiogram data and the support information is associated with the time information. In the device other than the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3, the electrocardiogram data and the support information are associated with each other via this time information.

For example, if an unusual tendency is found in the electrocardiogram data at a certain time, the medical staff can refer to the support information associated with the time. If the information acquired by the support device 3 at the same time indicates that the subject S has a large body movement and a rise in body temperature, the medical staff is that the subject S is exercising relatively violently at the same time. , The unusual tendency of the electrocardiogram data can be analyzed to be due to the movement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 may be connected to at least one sensor SR different from the electrode E. The sensor SR is a sensor carried by the subject S to acquire information different from the electrocardiogram data. Examples of the sensor SR include an acceleration sensor, a body temperature sensor, a non-invasive arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensor, a brain wave sensor, a GPS sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a pressure pressure sensor, and an altitude sensor. Communication of signals and data between the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the sensor SR may be performed by wired communication or wireless communication. The sensor SR may be built in the electrocardiogram recorder 2.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 also acquires information from the sensor SR while recording the electrocardiogram data (STEP 6). The information acquired through the sensor SR is recorded in the recording unit 22 together with the time information indicating the time when the information was acquired.

For example, when the sensor SR is an acceleration sensor, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 can acquire information related to the body movement of the subject S. Therefore, in this case, among the information acquired by the support device 3 as described above, only the information related to the body temperature of the subject S is specified as the support information in STEP4.

According to the above configuration, since at least a part of the support information that can support the analysis of the electrocardiogram data by the medical staff is acquired by the support device 3, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is provided for the information acquisition. It can be minimized. As a result, it is possible to suppress at least one of the increase in size, weight, and power consumption of the electrocardiogram recorder 2. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the subject S by the long-term examination while supporting the analysis of the electrocardiogram data by the medical staff.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support device 3 may include an interface 35 in addition to or in place of the sensor 34. The interface 35 includes a communication interface capable of communicating with an external information source EI. As such a communication interface, a communication interface compliant with standards such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi can be exemplified. The support device 3 can acquire information that cannot be acquired by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 from the external information source EI via the interface 35.

The interface 35 may be connected to the communication bus 33. The information acquired via the interface 35 is recorded in the recording unit 32 together with the time information indicating the time when the information was acquired.

For example, when the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is configured so that the position information cannot be acquired from the GPS system, the support device 3 can acquire the current position information of the subject S from the GPS system as the external information source EI. The acquired current position information is recorded in the recording unit 32 together with the current time information indicating the time when the information was acquired.

For example, when the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is configured so that environmental information cannot be acquired, the support device 3 can acquire environmental information around the subject S from an external device as an external information source EI. The environmental information is information indicating the temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, altitude, weather, etc. at the location of the subject S. The acquired environmental information is recorded in the recording unit 32 together with the current time information indicating the time when the information was acquired. The external source EI can be a service site that provides environmental information on a public network.

The sensor SR described above can also be an external source EI. In this case, the signal from the sensor SR is input to the interface 35 of the support device 3 instead of the interface 21 of the electrocardiogram recorder 2.

Since the information acquired from the external information source EI is originally information that cannot be acquired by the electrocardiogram recorder 2, it is specified as support information in STEP 4. The information acquired from the external information source EI is associated with the electrocardiogram data via the time information as support information (STEP 5).

With such a configuration, while minimizing the configuration provided by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3 for information acquisition, the degree of freedom of choice of support information that can support the analysis of the electrocardiogram data by the medical staff is increased. Can be enhanced.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 may include a communication unit 25. The communication unit 25 may be connected to the communication bus 24. On the other hand, the support device 3 may include a communication unit 36. The communication unit 36 may be connected to the communication bus 33. The communication unit 25 and the communication unit 36 may be configured to include a communication interface capable of wireless communication between the communication unit 25 and the communication unit 36. As such a communication interface, a communication interface compliant with standards such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi can be exemplified.

FIG. 4 shows a second example of the inspection support method performed in the inspection support system 1 configured as such. The same step numbers are assigned to the processes that are substantially the same as those in the first example. Similar to the first example, the process executed by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is performed under the control of the control unit 23. The processing executed by the support device 3 is performed under the control of the control unit 31.

In this example, the information acquired by the support device 3 is wirelessly transmitted to the electrocardiogram recorder 2 via the communication unit 36 (STEP 7). The electrocardiogram recorder 2 receives the information via the communication unit 25 (STEP 8).

Subsequently, the support information is specified in the electrocardiogram recorder 2 (STEP 9). Since there is a possibility that the information that can be acquired by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the information that can be acquired by the support device 3 are duplicated, the information to be associated with the electrocardiogram data is selected in this step. For example, when the information acquired through the accelerometer and the body temperature sensor is received from the support device 3 and the sensor SR connected to the electrocardiogram recorder 2 includes the acceleration sensor, only the information acquired through the body temperature sensor is supported. Specified as information.

If the information that can be acquired through the sensor SR in the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the information acquired by the support device 3 overlap, the information acquired from the support device 3 is prioritized and the information acquired through the sensor SR is used. Support information may be specified so as not to.

The electrocardiogram recorder 2 records the specified support information in the recording unit 22 in association with the electrocardiogram data (STEP 10). Similar to the first example, the association between the electrocardiogram data and the support information is made via the time information.

According to such a configuration, the acquired information can be aggregated in the electrocardiogram recorder 2. Therefore, the subject S need only hand over the electrocardiogram recorder 2 to the medical staff for analysis. The medical staff can perform the analysis based only on the data recorded in the electrocardiogram recorder 2. Therefore, the burden on both the subject S and the medical staff can be reduced.

In the illustrated example, information is received from the support device 3 at any time during the recording of the electrocardiogram data by the electrocardiogram recorder 2. However, the reception of the information from the support device 3 may be performed collectively after the recording of the electrocardiogram data is completed. That is, the above STEPs 7 to 10 can be performed after STEP3. In this case, the processing load of the control unit 23 of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 can be reduced.

In the second example, the identification of the support information is performed by the electrocardiogram recorder 2. However, the support information may be specified in advance by the support device 3. FIG. 5 shows a third example of the inspection support method performed in the inspection support system 1 configured as such. The same step numbers are assigned to the processes that are substantially the same as those in the first example. Similar to the first example, the process executed by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is performed under the control of the control unit 23. The processing executed by the support device 3 is performed under the control of the control unit 31.

In this example, first, the support information is specified based on the specifications of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 (STEP 11). That is, among the information required for the analysis support of the electrocardiogram data, the information that cannot be acquired by the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is specified. The support information may be manually specified by the user, or may be automatically specified by the control unit 31 through communication of data according to the specifications with the electrocardiogram recorder 2.

When the support device 3 includes the sensor 34, the identified support information is acquired through the sensor 34 (STEP 12). When the application operating on the support device 3 can acquire the specified support information, the support information is acquired through the application. The acquired support information is recorded in the recording unit 32.

The support information acquired by the support device 3 is wirelessly transmitted to the electrocardiogram recorder 2 via the communication unit 36 (STEP 13). The electrocardiogram recorder 2 receives the support information via the communication unit 25 (STEP 14).

The electrocardiogram recorder 2 records the received support information in association with the electrocardiogram data in the recording unit 22 (STEP 15). Similar to the first example, the association between the electrocardiogram data and the support information is made via the time information.

According to such a configuration, since the minimum necessary information is acquired and communicated as the support information, the redundancy related to the amount of data in the inspection support system 1 can be reduced. Therefore, the processing load on the control unit 23 of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the control unit 31 of the support device 3 can be reduced.

At least a portion of the support information identified in STEP 11 can be obtained from an external source EI. For example, when the current position information of the subject S is required as the support information, the support device 3 can acquire the current position information from the GPS system via the interface 35. If the support device 3 is equipped with a map application, the support device 3 can activate the map application based on the current position information acquired from the GPS system and acquire the altitude information. ..

In the illustrated example, the support information is received from the support device 3 at any time during the recording of the electrocardiogram data by the electrocardiogram recorder 2. However, the reception of the support information from the support device 3 may be performed collectively after the recording of the electrocardiogram data is completed. That is, the above STEPs 13 to 15 can be performed after STEP3. In this case, the processing load of the control unit 23 of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 can be further reduced.

The above-mentioned examination support method is realized by executing a program by the processor of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the processor of the support device 3. The program may be pre-installed in a memory that cooperates with each processor, or may be read from a storage medium that stores the program. Such a storage medium may be provided as a portable storage medium such as an SD card or a USB memory, or may be a storage medium included in a server device to which the support device 3 can be connected via a communication network. ..

The above embodiments are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure. The configuration according to the above embodiment may be appropriately changed or improved without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

In the second and third examples, which are premised on the configuration in which wireless communication is possible between the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3, the support device 3 obtains the support information from the electrocardiogram recorder 2 to the support device. Can be initiated based on communication to 3. For example, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 may notify the support device 3 via the communication unit 25 that the recording of the electrocardiogram data is started (STEP 1) or that the acquisition of the support information is requested to be started. In this case, the support device 3 starts acquiring information (STEP 2) in response to the notification received via the communication unit 36. According to such a configuration, since the support device 3 starts acquiring the support information only when the electrocardiogram recorder 2 requires it, the processing load and the power consumption in the support device 3 can be reduced.

Similarly, the acquisition of the support information by the support device 3 may be terminated based on the communication from the electrocardiogram recorder 2 to the support device 3. For example, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 may notify the support device 3 via the communication unit 25 that the recording of the electrocardiogram data is completed (STEP 3) or that the acquisition of the support information is requested to be completed. In this case, the support device 3 ends the acquisition of information in response to the notification received via the communication unit 36. According to such a configuration, when the needs of the electrocardiogram recorder 2 are satisfied, the support device 3 ends the acquisition of the support information, so that the processing load and the power consumption of the support device 3 can be reduced.

In the second and third examples, which are premised on the configuration in which wireless communication is possible between the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3, as shown in the first example, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device are also used. The electrocardiogram data and the support information can be associated with each other in the device other than 3. That is, the support information itself does not have to be transmitted from the support device 3 to the electrocardiogram recorder 2.

In this case, when the support device 3 starts acquiring the support information, the request for the time information is transmitted to the electrocardiogram recorder 2 via the communication unit 36. The electrocardiogram recorder 2 receives the request via the communication unit 25 and transmits time information as a response. The support device 3 receives the time information via the communication unit 36. The received time information is recorded in the recording unit 32 in association with the acquired support information.

According to such a configuration, time information can be shared between the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3. Compared with the first example in which the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3 record based on individual time information, the time accuracy at the time of associating the electrocardiogram data and the support information can be improved. Further, since the support device 3 does not need to transmit the support information to the electrocardiogram recorder 2, the communication time and the amount of communication data can be reduced, and the power consumption in the electrocardiogram recorder 2 and the support device 3 can be suppressed.

In the above embodiment, signals from the plurality of electrodes E are input to the interface 21 of the electrocardiogram recorder 2. However, a configuration in which a signal from a single electrode E is input to the interface 21 can also be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the electrocardiogram recorder 2 is exemplified as an inspection device. However, the inspection support system 1 can be configured as long as it is an inspection device that is carried by the subject S and configured to acquire the biological information of the subject S for a long period of time.

1: Inspection support system 2: Portable electrocardiogram recorder, 23: Control unit 3: Support device, 31: Control unit, EI: External information source, S: Subject, SR: Sensor

Claims (13)

An inspection support method performed by at least one processor in an inspection support system including an inspection device carried by a subject to acquire biometric information of the subject and a support device different from the inspection device.
The step of acquiring information different from the biometric information by the support device, and
A step of identifying support information that cannot be acquired by the inspection device among information different from the biometric information,
A step of recording the support information in association with the biometric information is included.
Inspection support method. It comprises the step of acquiring at least a portion of the support information from the inspection device and an external source different from the support device.
The inspection support method according to claim 1. At least the support information is wirelessly transmitted from the support device to the inspection device.
The support information is recorded in the inspection device in association with the biometric information.
The inspection support method according to claim 1 or 2. The wireless transmission of the support information to the inspection device is performed collectively after recording the biometric information.
The inspection support method according to claim 3. The identification of the support information is performed in advance in the support device.
The inspection support method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The acquisition of the support information by the support device is started based on the communication from the inspection device to the support device.
The inspection support method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The acquisition of the support information by the support device is terminated based on the communication from the inspection device to the support device.
The inspection support method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The step of recording the support information in association with the biological information is performed in a device other than the inspection device and the support device.
The inspection support method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. It is an inspection support method executed by at least one processor in a support device different from the inspection device that is carried by the subject and acquires the biological information of the subject.
Steps to acquire information different from the biometric information,
A step of identifying at least support information that cannot be acquired by the inspection device among information different from the biometric information.
The step of making the support information in a state that can be associated with the biometric information,
Including,
Inspection support method. An inspection support method performed by at least one processor in an inspection device carried by a subject.
The step of acquiring the biometric information of the subject and
A step of receiving the information from a support device that acquires information different from the biometric information, and
A step of identifying support information that cannot be acquired by the inspection device among the information received from the support device, and
A step that enables the biometric information to be associated with the support information,
Including,
Inspection support method. To have at least one processor execute the inspection support method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
program. A support device comprising at least one processor that performs the inspection support method of claim 9. It comprises at least one processor that performs the inspection assist method according to claim 10.
Inspection equipment.

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