WO2018066678A1 - Estimation device, massage system, estimation method, and estimation program - Google Patents

Abstract

This estimation device comprises: a biological sensor that acquires biological information from an area of an examination subject; and a control unit that calculates the heart rate and a value relating to the stroke volume of the examination subject on the basis of the biological information, and estimates the condition of the body of the examination subject on the basis of the calculated heart rate and the calculated value relating to the stroke volume.

Description

Estimation device, massage system, estimation method and estimation program Cross-reference of related applications

This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-018906 (filed on Feb. 3, 2017) and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-197520 (filed on Oct. 5, 2016). The entire disclosure of the application is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to an estimation device, a massage system, an estimation method, and an estimation program.

Conventionally, a device for estimating the state of the body of a subject (user) receiving a massage is known. For example, an apparatus that calculates the comfort level of a subject using the heart rate of the subject is known (for example, Patent Document 1). An apparatus for estimating the degree of fatigue of a subject using the acceleration pulse wave of the subject is known (for example, Patent Document 2). It is known that there is a relationship between tension or stress and blood flow (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). There is known a method for providing a massage, adjusting a heart rate or blood pressure, and improving autonomic balance (for example, Patent Document 3). The blood pressure can be measured by a blood flow sensor attached to the tragus (for example, Patent Documents 4, 5, and 6). Wearable blood flow sensors are known (for example, Non-Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-334222 A JP 2005-028016 A JP 2010-142593 A JP 2006-136483 A JP 2013-146371 A JP 2007-307152 A

Yoshitaka Higashi, Ph.D. dissertation, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, "Study on danger and human specific analysis in simultaneous processing of car driving and mobile phone", March 2004, p48-p52 NTT Technical Journal, “Blood Flow as seen on Smartphones-Ultra-compact Wearable Blood Flow Sensor”, November 2014, p21-p24

One aspect of the estimation device includes a biological sensor and a control unit. The biological sensor acquires biological information from a part of the subject. The control unit calculates a value and a heart rate related to the blood output of the subject based on the biological information, and based on the calculated value and a heart rate related to the blood output, Estimate the physical condition of the examiner.

One aspect of the massage system includes a biological sensor, a control unit, and a massage unit. The biological sensor acquires biological information from a part of the subject. The control unit calculates a value and a heart rate related to the blood output of the subject based on the biological information, and based on the calculated value and a heart rate related to the blood output, Estimate the physical condition of the examiner. The said control part estimates the effect of the massage which the said subject receives based on the said physical state. The said massage part massages the said subject with the press pattern according to the effect of the said massage.

態 様 One aspect of the estimation method is an estimation method executed by an estimation device including a biological sensor and a control unit. In the estimation method, the biological sensor acquires biological information from a part of the subject, and the control unit determines a value related to a blood output of the subject and a heart rate based on the biological information. Calculating a number, and estimating a body condition of the subject based on the calculated value relating to the amount of blood output and a heart rate.

One aspect of the estimation program is a step of causing a computer to acquire biological information from a site of the subject, and a step of calculating a value and a heart rate related to the blood output of the subject based on the biological information. And a step of estimating the state of the subject's body based on the calculated value relating to the amount of stroke of blood and the heart rate.

It is an appearance perspective view of an estimating device concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication. It is a figure which shows an example of the measurement mechanism of FIG. It is a figure which shows the holding | maintenance state of the measurement mechanism in a left ear at the time of mounting | wearing with the measurement mechanism of FIG. It is a figure at the time of seeing the holding | maintenance state shown in FIG. 3 from the crown side. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the estimation apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the blood flow waveform acquired by the estimation apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process of the measurement of the biometric information by the estimation apparatus of FIG. 1, and estimation of a body state. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of transition of a blood flow waveform. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of transition of a blood flow waveform. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the estimation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this indication. It is a functional block diagram showing a schematic structure of a massage system concerning a 3rd embodiment of this indication. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the control procedure by the massage system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process of the massage by the massage apparatus of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the modification of the massage system shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the standard deviation of an acceleration, and the standard deviation of the value regarding the amount of strokes of blood. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the standard deviation of an acceleration, and the standard deviation of the value regarding the amount of strokes of blood. It is a figure which shows the modification of a measurement mechanism. It is a figure which shows an experiment procedure. It is a figure which shows an experimental result. It is a figure which shows an experimental result. It is a figure which shows an experimental result. It is a figure which shows the difference of HR calculated based on the blood flow rate measured by the fina press, and HR calculated based on the blood flow rate measured by the estimation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an experimental result. It is a figure which shows the difference of HR calculated based on the blood flow rate measured by the fina press, and HR calculated based on the blood flow rate measured by the estimation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an experimental result.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an estimation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The estimation apparatus 100 includes a holding unit 110, a measurement mechanism 120, and a power supply holding unit 130.

The holding unit 110 has, for example, an arch shape. The subject can wear the estimation device 100 by sandwiching the head with the holding unit 110. The measurement mechanism 120 is disposed on the first end 101 side of the holding unit 110. The power supply holding unit 130 is disposed on the second end 102 side opposite to the first end 101 in the holding unit 110. In a state where the subject wears the estimation device 100, the measurement mechanism 120 comes into contact with the ear of the subject that is the test site.

The estimation apparatus 100 includes a control mechanism holding unit 140 on the first end 101 side. The control mechanism holding unit 140 holds a control mechanism that controls each functional block included in the estimation apparatus 100. Details of each functional block included in the estimation apparatus 100 will be described in the description of FIG. 3 to be described later.

The subject holds the measurement mechanism 120 on the first end 101 side, for example, in the left ear, makes the contact portion 150 provided on the second end 102 side contact the upper portion of the right ear, and the holding portion 110 is the head. The estimation device 100 is mounted so as to pass through the top. The subject causes the estimation apparatus 100 to measure biological information while wearing the estimation apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the estimation apparatus 100 measures biological information by the measurement mechanism 120 that contacts the subject's ear.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the measurement mechanism 120 in FIG. The measurement mechanism 120 shown in FIG. 2 is an example in the case of acquiring biological information in the subject's tragus. The measurement mechanism 120 includes an insertion part 121 and a contact part 123.

The insertion unit 121 is inserted into the ear canal when the subject wears the estimation device 100. That is, when the subject wears the estimation apparatus 100, the subject holds the measurement mechanism 120 on the head so that the insertion unit 121 is inserted into the ear canal of the ear. The insertion unit 121 has a function of stabilizing the wearing state of the estimation device 100 and determining the positional relationship between the contact unit 123 and the tragus that is the test site.

The contact portion 123 is a concave member and includes two projecting portions 123a and 123b. The protrusion 123a is positioned on the back of the head when the subject wears the estimation device 100. The protrusion 123b is located on the front side of the head when the subject wears the estimation device 100. When the subject wears the estimation device 100, the contact portion 123 comes into contact with the tragus so that the tragus is sandwiched between concave concave portions formed between the two protruding portions 123a and 123b. . An insertion portion 121 is fixed to the distal end side of the protruding portion 123a, that is, the side positioned on the head side when the subject wears the estimation device 100.

The contact unit 123 includes a biological sensor for optically acquiring biological information. In the present embodiment, the biosensor is mounted inside either the protrusion 123a or 123b. Details of the biosensor will be described later. The measurement mechanism 120 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS.

The measurement mechanism 120 acquires biological information from the test site while being in contact with the test site. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a holding state of the measurement mechanism 120 in the left ear when the subject wears the estimation device 100 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a view when the holding state shown in FIG. 3 is viewed from the top of the head. FIG. 4 includes an AA cross-sectional view of the left ear shown in FIG. In order to facilitate understanding of the measurement mechanism 120, in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, components other than the measurement mechanism 120 included in the estimation device 100 are not illustrated. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a control mechanism holding part 140 and a holding part 110 are formed on the upper side of the head part of the frame part 125 shown in FIG. 3. However, the control mechanism holding unit 140 and the holding unit 110 are not shown in FIG. Hereinafter, in this specification, the case of viewing from the top of the head is also expressed as a top view.

The measurement mechanism 120 includes an insertion part 121, a pressing part 122, a contact part 123, and a connection part 124.

The insertion unit 121 is inserted into the ear canal of the left ear when the subject wears the estimation device 100. That is, when wearing the estimation apparatus 100, the subject wears the estimation apparatus 100 while holding the measurement mechanism 120 on the head so that the insertion unit 121 is inserted into the ear canal of the left ear.

When the subject wears the estimation device 100, that is, when the insertion unit 121 is inserted into the external auditory canal, the pressing unit 122 abuts on the concha and biases the concha to the occipital side. When the concha is biased toward the occipital region, the tip of the tragus stands in the direction opposite to the ear canal, that is, in the direction along the ear canal toward the face. This makes it easier to pinch the tragus with the contact portion 123.

The contact part 123 is a concave-shaped member and includes two projecting parts 123a and 123b. The protrusion 123a is positioned on the back of the head when the subject wears the estimation device 100. The protrusion 123b is located on the front side of the head when the subject wears the estimation device 100. When the subject wears the estimation device 100, the contact portion 123 comes into contact with the tragus so that the tragus is sandwiched between concave concave portions formed between the two protruding portions 123a and 123b. . An insertion portion 121 is fixed to the distal end side of the protruding portion 123a, that is, the side positioned on the head side when the subject wears the estimation device 100. A proximal end side opposite to the distal end side is connected to the connecting portion 124. That is, the pressing part 122 and the contact part 123 are connected via the connection part 124.

The contact unit 123 includes a reflective biological sensor 210 for optically acquiring biological information. In one embodiment, the contact unit 123 includes a reflective biosensor 210. The reflective biosensor 210 has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. In the reflection-type biosensor 210, both the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are disposed on the protruding portion 123a. The position of the reflective biosensor 210 in the contact portion 123 is virtually indicated by a dotted line in FIG. Actually, the reflective biological sensor 210 is mounted inside the contact portion 123.

The reflection-type biosensor 210 acquires biometric information in the subject's tragus (test site). Details of the biometric information acquisition method by the reflective biosensor 210 will be described later.

The connection part 124 connects the pressing part 122 and the contact part 123. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the contact portion 123 is directly connected to the connection portion 124 on the base end side. The pressing unit 122 is connected to the connection unit 124 via the frame unit 125 on the first end 101 side of the estimation device 100. The connection part 124 is comprised by the movable member which can change the relative positional relationship of the press part 122 and the contact part 123. FIG. In one embodiment, the connection part 124 may be comprised by elastic members, such as rubber | gum, for example. The connecting portion 124 may be made of a material that can change the relative positional relationship between the pressing portion 122 and the contact portion 123. For example, a spring, resin, plastic, cloth, fiber, or the like can be used as the material of the connection portion 124. The connection part 124 may be configured to be able to change the relative positional relationship between the pressing part 122 and the contact part 123 by a mechanical structure. The mechanical structure may be, for example, a mechanism in which the connecting portion 124 is movable using a gear or the like.

The contact portion 123 can be displaced with respect to the frame portion 125 by the connecting portion 124. When the contact part 123 is displaced with respect to the frame part 125, the relative positional relationship between the pressing part 122 and the contact part 123 changes. With such a configuration of the connection portion 124, the contact portion 123 is displaced with respect to the frame portion 125. Therefore, regardless of the shape of the ear, particularly the positional relationship between the concha and the tragus, the contact portion 123 can easily come into contact with the tragus so as to sandwich the tragus. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the contact portion 123 is inclined about 30 ° in the occipital direction with respect to the perpendicular of the flat portion 125 a of the frame portion 125 in which the connection portion 124 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the frame part 125 has a flat part 125b facing the outer ear canal outside direction when the estimation device 100 is worn on the ear. A connecting portion 124 is formed in the approximate center of the surface of the frame portion 125 on the opposite surface 125b side of the flat portion 125a. In a state where the estimation device 100 is not worn on the ear, the connection portion 124 is not deformed, and therefore the connection portion 124 is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opposite surface 125b of the flat surface portion 125a of the frame portion 125. Has been. The frame part 125 makes it easier for the subject to grasp the position of the connection part 124 when the estimation apparatus 100 is worn on the ear, and the insertion part 121 formed at the end of the connection part 124 is inserted into the ear canal. , And the contact part 123 can be easily attached to the tragus.

The estimation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment acquires biological information in the tragus. The blood vessels in the tragus are less likely to expand or contract under the influence of the outside air temperature than blood vessels such as fingers or earlobe. Therefore, the biological information acquired by the estimation apparatus 100 is not easily affected by the outside air temperature. Thereby, according to the estimation apparatus 100 which concerns on this embodiment, biometric information can be measured with a higher precision.

The subject measures the biological information while wearing the estimation device 100. The estimation apparatus 100 estimates the state of the body based on the measured biological information. The biological information includes, for example, blood flow. The estimation apparatus 100 calculates a value relating to the amount of stroke from the heart and a heart rate based on the blood flow that is biological information. The state of the body is estimated based on the value relating to the stroke volume from the heart and the heart rate. The state of the body is, for example, a relaxed state of the body. The estimation apparatus 100 may estimate the effect of the massage, for example, by estimating the state of the body before and after the subject receives the massage. In the present specification, massage includes means / therapy for activating blood circulation such as finger pressure.

Here, the estimation of the effect of massage will be explained. When a subject receives a massage, the amount of circulating blood that returns from the whole body to the heart increases. When the amount of circulating blood returning to the heart increases, the stroke volume (SV: Stroke Volume) per beat delivered from the heart to the whole body increases. When SV increases, the subject's brain enhances parasympathetic nerves according to Stirling's law. When the parasympathetic nerve is increased, peripheral blood vessels are dilated and the heart rate (HR) is lowered. When parasympathetic nerves become dominant, a relaxed state is realized in the body of the subject. Therefore, whether or not the effect of the massage appears can be determined by whether or not the relaxed state is realized. Whether or not the relaxed state can be realized can be detected by fluctuations in SV and HR. The estimation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment estimates whether or not a relaxed state is realized using a value related to SV that varies in correlation with SV in order to detect variation in SV.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the estimation apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The estimation apparatus 100 includes a biological sensor 210, a control unit 220, an input unit 230, a notification unit 240, and a storage unit 250. The biosensor 210 is mounted inside the contact part 123 as described above. The control unit 220 and the storage unit 250 are mounted on the control mechanism holding unit 140, for example. The input unit 230 and the notification unit 240 are mounted on the power supply holding unit 130 or the control mechanism holding unit 140, for example.

The control unit 220 is a processor that controls and manages the entire estimation device 100 including each functional block of the estimation device 100. The control unit 220 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program that defines a control procedure. Such a program is stored in, for example, the storage unit 250 or an external storage medium connected to the estimation apparatus 100.

The estimation device 100 includes at least one processor 220a to provide control and processing capabilities to perform various functions, as will be described in further detail below.

According to various embodiments, at least one processor 220a may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as a plurality of communicatively connected integrated circuit ICs and / or discrete circuits. Also good. The at least one processor 220a can be implemented according to various known techniques.

In one embodiment, the processor 220a includes one or more circuits or units configured to perform one or more data computation procedures or processes, for example, by executing instructions stored in associated memory. In other embodiments, the processor 220a may be firmware (eg, a discrete logic component) configured to perform one or more data computation procedures or processes.

According to various embodiments, processor 220a may include one or more processors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or the like. The functions of the control unit 220 described below may be executed including any combination of these devices or configurations, or other known devices or combinations of configurations.

The control unit 220 measures the blood flow based on the biological information acquired by the biological sensor 210. The control unit 220 calculates a value related to SV and HR based on the measured blood flow rate. The controller 220 estimates the state of the body based on the measured SV value and HR. Details of the body state estimation processing executed by the control unit 220 will be described later.

The biosensor 210 includes a light emitting unit 211 and a light receiving unit 212. The biosensor 210 irradiates measurement light from the light emitting unit 211 to the tragus which is a test site. The biosensor 210 acquires reflected light (scattered light) from the tissue inside the tragus for the irradiated measurement light in the light receiving unit 212. The biosensor 210 transmits the photoelectric conversion signal of the scattered light acquired by the light receiving unit 212 to the control unit 220.

The light emitting unit 211 emits laser light based on the control of the control unit 220. For example, the light emitting unit 211 irradiates a test site with laser light having a wavelength capable of detecting a predetermined component contained in blood as measurement light. The light emitting unit 211 is configured by, for example, one LD (Laser Diode: Laser Diode).

The light receiving unit 212 receives the scattered light of the measurement light from the test site as biological information. The light receiving unit 212 is configured by, for example, a PD (photodiode).

The control unit 220 calculates the blood flow rate at the test site as biological information based on the photoelectric conversion signal received from the biological sensor 210. Here, a blood flow measurement technique using the Doppler shift by the control unit 220 will be described.

Scattered light scattered from moving blood cells in a living tissue undergoes a frequency shift (Doppler shift) due to the Doppler effect proportional to the moving speed of the blood cells in the blood. The control unit 220 detects a beat signal (also referred to as a beat signal) generated by light interference between scattered light from a stationary tissue and scattered light from a moving blood cell. This beat signal represents the intensity as a function of time. And the control part 220 makes this beat signal the power spectrum which represented power as a function of frequency. In the power spectrum of this beat signal, the Doppler shift frequency is proportional to the blood cell velocity. In the power spectrum of this beat signal, the power corresponds to the amount of blood cells. The controller 220 obtains the blood flow rate by integrating the power spectrum of the beat signal over the frequency.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a blood flow waveform acquired by the estimation apparatus 100. The blood flow waveform shown in FIG. 6 is a blood flow waveform for one pulse of the subject. The blood flow waveform shown in FIG. 6 is a waveform indicating a change in blood flow, and is generated based on the blood flow calculated by the control unit 220, for example. The control unit 220 calculates a value related to SV and HR from a blood flow waveform generated based on the blood flow volume.

Here, the value regarding SV is demonstrated. The value related to SV is an arbitrary value having a correlation with the variation of SV. The value regarding SV is, for example, the wave height of the blood flow that changes due to pulsation (pulsation blood flow wave height q _pp ). The pulsating blood flow wave height q _pp is the maximum difference in blood flow volume in one pulse as shown in FIG. The value related to SV may be, for example, a blood flow rate (pulse blood flow rate) per pulse of blood flow that changes due to pulsation. The pulsating blood flow rate is the blood flow rate in the fluctuation region of the blood flow waveform in one pulse as shown by the hatched region in FIG. The pulsating blood flow is calculated as an integrated value in the fluctuation region of the blood flow waveform in one pulse. The pulsating blood flow height q _{pp, the} pulsating blood flow rate, and the like increase (increase) as the SV delivered from the heart increases. Therefore, the control unit 220, based on the change of the pulsating blood flow crest q _pp and pulsating values for SV blood flow rate, etc., can estimate the fluctuation of the SV. The value related to SV may be, for example, a predetermined several beats of pulsating blood flow wave height q _pp or an average value of pulsating blood flow.

HR is calculated by the control unit 220 from the number of peaks per unit time of the blood flow waveform generated based on the blood flow volume.

The control unit 220 estimates the state of the body by calculating a value related to SV and a change in HR. Details of the estimation process of the body state by the control unit 220 will be described later.

The input unit 230 receives an operation input from the subject, and includes an operation button (operation key), for example. The input unit 230 may be configured by a touch panel, and an operation key that receives an operation input from the subject may be displayed on a part of the display device to accept a touch operation input by the subject.

The notification unit 240 notifies information using sound, vibration, images, and the like. The notification unit 240 may include a speaker, a vibrator, and a display device. The display device may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (OELD: Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or an inorganic EL display (IELD: Inorganic Electro-Luminescence Display). The notification unit 240 notifies, for example, the state of the body and the effect of massage to be described later.

The storage unit 250 can be composed of a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory. The storage unit 250 stores various information and / or a program for operating the estimation apparatus 100 and the like. The storage unit 250 may function as a work memory. The storage unit 250 may store biometric information acquired by the biosensor 210, for example.

Next, the process of measuring biological information and estimating the state of the body by the estimation apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, an example in which the subject receives a massage by a massage device such as a massage chair will be described. The estimation apparatus 100 determines the effect of the massage by estimating whether the body is in a relaxed state as the body state. Even when the subject receives a massage by a masseur, for example, the estimation apparatus 100 can determine the effect of the massage in the same manner as described below.

The subject wears the estimation device 100 before receiving a massage, and performs a predetermined operation input for starting the measurement process by the estimation device 100. The flow shown in FIG. 7 is started when the predetermined operation input is performed.

The estimation apparatus 100 first measures the basal blood flow (step S101). The basal blood flow is the blood flow before receiving a massage. The estimation apparatus 100 measures the basal blood flow as biological information by the biological sensor 210.

The estimation apparatus 100 calculates a value related to SV and HR based on the basal blood flow measured in step S101 (step S102). The SV value and the HR calculation method are as described above.

After the estimation device 100 calculates the SV value and HR, the massage device starts massage for the subject. When the estimation device 100 calculates the SV-related value and HR, the notification device 240 may notify that the calculation has been completed. Thereby, the subject can know the timing which starts a massage.

The estimation apparatus 100 measures the blood flow while the subject is receiving massage (step S103). The estimation apparatus 100 measures the blood flow volume as biological information by the biological sensor 210 as in step S101.

The estimation apparatus 100 calculates a value related to SV and HR based on the blood flow measured in step S103 (step S104).

The estimation apparatus 100 estimates the state of the body based on the SV-related value and HR calculated in step S104 (step S105). For example, the estimation apparatus 100 estimates the body state by comparing the value and HR related to the SV before massage calculated in step S102 with the value and HR related to the SV during massage calculated in step S104. Good.

For example, based on the comparison between the value related to the SV before the massage and the value related to the SV during the massage, it is assumed that the SV during the massage is higher than that before the massage. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is in a relaxed state during the massage as compared to before the massage. On the other hand, for example, based on the comparison between the value related to the SV before massage and the value related to the SV during massage, it is assumed that the SV is decreasing during the massage than before the massage. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is not in a relaxed state.

For example, when the HR during the massage is lower than the HR before the massage, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is in a relaxed state during the massage as compared to before the massage. On the other hand, for example, when the HR during the massage is higher than the HR before the massage, the estimation device 100 can estimate that the body is not in a relaxed state. As another example, for example, based on the comparison between the value and HR related to SV before massage and the value and HR related to SV during massage, SV increases during massage than before massage, and HR Suppose that it is falling. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is in a relaxed state during the massage as compared to before the massage. On the other hand, for example, based on the comparison between the value related to SV before massage and the value related to SV and HR during massage and HR, SV is decreasing or HR is increasing during massage than before massage. To do. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is not in a relaxed state. As another example, for example, based on a comparison between the SV value and HR before massage and the SV value and HR during massage, SV increases and HR decreases during massage than before massage. When any one of the above is observed, the estimation apparatus 100 may estimate that the body is in a relaxed state during the massage as compared to before the massage.

The estimation apparatus 100 determines the effect of the massage based on the body state estimated in step S105 (step S106). For example, when the body is in a relaxed state during the massage, the estimating apparatus 100 determines that there is a massage effect or a high massage effect compared to before the massage. On the other hand, for example, when the body during the massage is not in a relaxed state, the estimating apparatus 100 determines that there is no massage effect or the massage effect is low when compared to before the massage.

The estimation apparatus 100 notifies the massage effect determined in step S106 (step S107). The subject can determine whether or not to continue the massage and suitability of the massage content based on the notification content of the estimation device 100. For example, when notification that there is a massage effect or a massage effect is high is given, the subject can determine to continue the massage. For example, when a notification that there is no massage effect or a massage effect is low, the subject can decide to interrupt the massage by the massage device or change the massage content.

The estimation apparatus 100 may repeatedly execute Step S103 to Step S107 while the subject is receiving massage. The estimation device 100 may estimate the massage effect by performing the operations shown in steps S104 to S107 after the massage is completed. In this case, the estimation device 100 estimates the massage effect by performing the operations shown in steps S104 to S107 after a short time after the massage is finished (for example, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, or 1 minute). May be.

When repeatedly executing step S103 to step S107, the estimating apparatus 100 may estimate the state of the body by comparing the SV-related value and the HR at predetermined time (eg, 3 minutes) intervals in step S105. . For the comparison of the value related to SV and HR, for example, the value related to SV and the average value of HR at a predetermined time or a predetermined number of beats may be compared. Thereby, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate the change of the body state (relaxed state), for example, while performing massage continuously. In step S106, the estimating apparatus 100 can determine the effect of massage at a predetermined time interval. The subject who has received the massage effect notification in step S107 can determine whether or not to continue the massage and whether or not the massage content is appropriate based on the notification content. Thus, when the estimation apparatus 100 repeats step S103 to step S107, the subject can know the change in the effect of the massage during the massage.

8A and 8B are schematic diagrams showing an example of the transition of blood flow waveform. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, the blood flow wave height increases with the passage of time, and the pulse peak interval I increases. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 8A, with time, the value related to SV (pulsating blood flow height or pulsating blood flow) increases and HR decreases. This phenomenon indicates a state in which parasympathetic nerves are dominant. In this case, the estimating apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is in a relaxed state.

On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 8B, with the passage of time, the blood flow wave height decreases, and the pulse peak interval I narrows. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 8B, the value (SV pulse height or pulsating blood flow) related to SV decreases and HR increases with time. This phenomenon indicates a state in which the sympathetic nerve is dominant. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is no longer in a relaxed state.

Thus, according to the estimation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the state of the body is estimated based on the value related to SV and the HR. The estimation apparatus 100 may estimate the state of the body based on one of the value related to SV or HR. The value related to SV is a value that correlates with the blood flow amount delivered from the heart to the whole body, that is, a value that correlates with the blood flow amount flowing in the blood vessel, and is a value that is not easily affected by the properties of the blood vessel, such as the elasticity of the blood vessel. is there. HR is also less susceptible to blood vessel properties. Thus, since the estimation apparatus 100 estimates the state of the subject's body using values that are not easily affected by the properties of blood vessels, the estimation accuracy of the state of the body can be improved. The estimation apparatus 100 can also estimate the effect of massage based on the state of the body. Since the estimation apparatus 100 can improve the estimation accuracy of the body state, the estimation accuracy of the effect of the massage estimated based on the body state can also be improved. When the estimation apparatus 100 notifies the effect of the massage from the notification unit 240, the subject can recognize the effect of the massage.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the estimation apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The estimation apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment includes a biological sensor 210, a control unit 220 including a processor 220a, an input unit 230, a notification unit 240, a storage unit 250, a body temperature measurement unit 260, and a blood pressure measurement unit 270. Is provided. Since the functions of the biosensor 210, the input unit 230, the notification unit 240, and the storage unit 250 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

Body temperature measuring unit 260 measures the body temperature of the subject. The body temperature measurement unit 260 may be constituted by a thermometer, for example. The body temperature measurement unit 260 is mounted on, for example, the measurement mechanism 120 in FIG. The body temperature measurement unit 260 may use, for example, an analog type that measures thermal expansion of a liquid or gas to read the body temperature, or a digital type that measures body temperature with a thermistor or infrared detection circuit controlled by a microcomputer. it can. In this embodiment, a digital type is used.

The blood pressure measurement unit 270 measures the blood pressure value of the subject. The blood pressure measurement unit 270 may be configured by a blood pressure monitor, for example. The estimation apparatus 200 includes, as the blood pressure measurement unit 270, a mechanism that acquires a biological measurement output for calculating a blood pressure value, and the control unit 220 calculates a blood pressure value of the subject based on the biological measurement output. Also good. The sphygmomanometer may be a device that measures blood pressure while listening to Korotkoff sounds with a stethoscope using a mercury column, or an electronic sphygmomanometer that measures Korotkoff sounds with a microphone electronic device. Sphygmomanometers other than these sphygmomanometers can also be used.

The estimation device 200 according to the present embodiment calculates the value and HR related to the SV based on the blood flow rate in the control unit 220, similarly to the estimation device 100 according to the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 220 estimates the state of the body based on the SV-related value, HR, the subject's body temperature, and the subject's blood pressure value.

For example, when the subject receives a massage, the blood flow returning from the whole body to the heart increases, and accordingly, the SV per beat delivered from the heart to the whole body increases. As SV increases, body temperature increases. That is, it can be said that the relaxed state is realized and the effect of the massage appears when the body temperature rises during the massage as compared to before the massage.

The human body has a function to keep the blood pressure value constant even when the SV increases. Therefore, it can be said that the one where the change in the blood pressure value is small before the massage and during the massage is in a relaxed state.

The control unit 220 estimates the state of the body based on the comprehensive comparison of the SV-related values, HR, body temperature, and blood pressure values before and during the massage, based on the tendency of the body temperature and blood pressure values to change. And the control part 220 determines the effect of a massage based on the estimated body state.

For example, based on the comparison of the SV value, HR, body temperature and blood pressure before massage with the SV value, HR, body temperature and blood pressure during massage, SV increases during massage than before massage. Suppose that the body temperature rises, and the change in blood pressure before and during massage is small. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is in a relaxed state during the massage as compared to before the massage. On the other hand, for example, based on the comparison of the SV value before massage, HR, body temperature and blood pressure, and the SV value during massage, HR, body temperature and blood pressure, the SV during massage is less than before massage, It is assumed that HR increases, body temperature decreases, or a change in blood pressure value between before and during massage is large. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 can estimate that the body is not in a relaxed state. As another example, for example, based on a comparison of the value, SV, HR, body temperature and blood pressure regarding SV before massage, and the value, SV, HR, body temperature, and blood pressure during massage, those who are massaged more than before massage, If any one of SV increases, HR decreases, body temperature rises, and changes in blood pressure between massage before and during massage are small, any two, or any three are satisfied To do. In this case, the estimation apparatus 100 may estimate that the body is in a relaxed state during the massage as compared to before the massage.

The estimation process of the body state by the estimation apparatus 200 is the same as that described in FIG. 7 except that the body temperature and the blood pressure value are added to the parameters used for estimating the body state. Description is omitted.

In the above-described example, it has been described that the estimation device 200 measures the body temperature and the blood pressure value. However, the acquisition of the body temperature and the blood pressure value by the estimation device 200 is not limited to this method. The estimation apparatus 200 may acquire the body temperature and the blood pressure value by, for example, inputting a value measured by the subject using a thermometer and a sphygmomanometer independent of the estimation apparatus 200 using the input unit 230. Good. In this case, the estimation apparatus 200 may not necessarily include the body temperature measurement unit 260 and the blood pressure measurement unit 270.

The estimation apparatus 200 may not include at least one of the body temperature measurement unit 260 and the blood pressure measurement unit 270. The estimation apparatus 200 may include other measurement units that measure other biological information other than the body temperature measurement unit 260 and the blood pressure measurement unit 270. In this case, the estimation apparatus 200 may estimate the state of the body based on other biological information measured by the other measurement unit.

According to the estimation apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, since the state of the subject's body is estimated using values that are not easily affected by the properties of the blood vessels, The estimation accuracy can be improved. According to the estimation apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, since the body state is estimated based on a comprehensive comparison of the SV-related value, HR, body temperature, and blood pressure value, the estimation accuracy is further improved.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a massage system according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The massage system 500 includes an estimation device 300 and a massage device 400 configured to be able to communicate with each other by wire or wireless.

The estimation apparatus 300 is configured with the same external shape as that described in FIG. The estimation apparatus 300 includes a biological sensor 210, a control unit 220, an input unit 230, a notification unit 240, a storage unit 250, and a communication unit 280. The functions of the biosensor 210, the control unit 220, the input unit 230, the notification unit 240, and the storage unit 250 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

The communication unit 280 transmits and receives various types of information by performing communication with the massage device 400 by wired communication or wireless communication or a combination of wired communication and wireless communication. For example, the communication unit 280 transmits information related to the state of the subject's body estimated by the estimation device 300 or the massage effect determined by the estimation device 300 to the massage device 400.

The massage apparatus 400 includes a massage unit 410, a control unit 420, a storage unit 430, and a communication unit 440. The massage device 400 is an arbitrary device that performs massage such as a massage chair or a foot massager.

The massage unit 410 performs massage by pressing the body of the subject. The massage unit 410 presses the body in a predetermined pattern based on the control of the control unit 420, for example. The massage unit 410 may be, for example, a mechanism that massages by moving a roller with a motor controlled by a microcomputer, or a mechanism that performs massage with air pressure. Other massage mechanisms may be used. The massage pattern performed by the massage unit 410 may include, for example, mumbling, striking, pressing, rolling a roller, and the like.

The control unit 420 is a processor that controls and manages the entire massage apparatus 400 including each functional block of the massage apparatus 400. The control unit 420 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program that defines a control procedure. Such a program is stored in, for example, the storage unit 430 or an external storage medium connected to the massage device 400. For example, the control unit 420 determines a pressing pattern (massage menu) in the massage unit 410 based on information on the body state of the subject or the effect of the massage acquired by the massage device 400 from the estimation device 300. The control unit 420 drives the massage unit 410 with the determined predetermined pressing pattern.

The massage device 400 includes at least one processor 420a to provide control and processing capabilities to perform various functions, as described in further detail below.

According to various embodiments, at least one processor 420a may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as a plurality of communicatively connected integrated circuit ICs and / or discrete circuits. Also good. The at least one processor 420a can be implemented according to various known techniques.

In one embodiment, the processor 420a includes one or more circuits or units configured to perform one or more data computation procedures or processes, for example, by executing instructions stored in associated memory. In other embodiments, processor 420a may be firmware (eg, a discrete logic component) configured to perform one or more data computation procedures or processes.

According to various embodiments, processor 420a may include one or more processors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or the like. The functions of the control unit 420 described below may be executed including any combination of these devices or configurations, or other known devices or combinations of configurations.

The storage unit 430 can be composed of a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory. The storage unit 430 stores various information and / or a program for operating the massage device 400 and the like. The storage unit 430 may function as a work memory. The memory | storage part 430 may memorize | store multiple press patterns by the massage part 410, for example.

The communication unit 440 performs transmission / reception of various information by performing communication with the estimation apparatus 300 by wired communication or wireless communication or a combination of wired communication and wireless communication. For example, the communication unit 440 receives, from the estimation device 300, information related to the body state of the subject estimated by the estimation device 300 or the massage effect determined by the estimation device 300.

Next, an example of a control procedure by the massage system 500 will be described with reference to FIG. The subject wears the estimation device 300 and the massage device 400 and performs a predetermined operation input for starting the measurement process by the estimation device 300. The sequence shown in FIG. 11 is started when the predetermined operation input is performed.

First, the estimating apparatus 300 measures the basal blood flow (step S201), and calculates a value and HR related to SV based on the measured basal blood flow (step S202). Details of step S201 and step S202 are the same as steps S101 and S102 of FIG. 7, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

The estimation device 300, after calculating the SV value and HR, transmits an instruction to start the massage to the massage device 400 (step S203).

The massage device 400 starts massage to the subject by the massage unit 410 based on an instruction to start massage (step S204).

The subject may perform the operation input for starting the massage by himself / herself, instead of step S203 and step S204, after the estimation apparatus 300 calculates the SV value and HR in step S202.

The estimation apparatus 300 measures the blood flow during the massage by the massage apparatus 400 (step S205). The estimation apparatus 300 calculates a value related to SV and HR based on the blood flow measured in step S205 (step S206). Then, the estimation apparatus 300 estimates the body state based on the SV-related value and HR calculated in step S206 (step S207), and determines the massage effect based on the estimated body state (step S208). Details of step S205 to step S208 are the same as step S103 to step S106 of FIG.

The estimating apparatus 300 notifies the massage apparatus 400 of the effect of the massage determined in step S208 (step S209).

The massage apparatus 400, when acquiring information related to the massage effect from the estimation apparatus 300, executes control according to the acquired massage effect (step S210).

In step S209, the estimation apparatus 300 may transmit information on the body state estimated in step S207 to the massage apparatus 400 in place of the massage effect. In this case, the massage device 400 may determine the effect of the massage in the same manner as Step S208 by the estimation device 300 based on the acquired information on the body state.

The estimation apparatus 300 may repeatedly execute Step S205 to Step S209 while the subject is receiving massage.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of massage processing by the massage apparatus 400. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of step S210 in FIG.

The massage apparatus 400 determines whether or not the information regarding the massage effect acquired from the estimation apparatus 300 in step S209 of FIG. 11 is information indicating that there is a massage effect or a high massage effect (step S301). ).

When the information regarding the massage effect acquired from the estimation device 300 is information indicating that there is a massage effect or a high massage effect (Yes in step S301), the massage device 400 has the same content by the massage unit 410. Continue the massage. This is because it is expected that the body of the subject is further relaxed by continuing the massage with the same content.

When the massage apparatus 400 is information indicating that the massage effect acquired from the estimation apparatus 300 is not effective or the massage effect is low (No in step S301), the massage apparatus 400 starts the massage, It is determined whether or not the massage pressing pattern has been changed (step S302).

When the massage apparatus 400 determines that the massage pressing pattern has not been changed since the massage was started (No in step S302), the massage device 400 changes the pressing pattern (step S303). Thus, when there is no effect of the massage currently performed with respect to a subject, or the effect is low, the massage apparatus 400 can massage with the changed press pattern.

On the other hand, when the massage apparatus 400 determines that the massage pressing pattern has been changed after starting the massage (Yes in step S302), the massage apparatus 400 stops the massage (step S304). The massage device 400 determines that the massage pressing pattern has been changed when it has been determined that the massage has no effect or is less effective at least once after the massage is started, and the pressing pattern has been changed. That is, the massage device 400 stops the massage when there is no massage effect or the effect is low even with the two types of press patterns of the press pattern after the start of the massage and the press pattern that has been changed once. As described above, in any of the two types of pressing patterns, when the effect of massage is not effective or low, the massage device 400 determines that it is difficult to perform effective massage, and automatically massages. Can be stopped.

The massage apparatus 400 performs the determination by step S302, when the information regarding the effect of the massage acquired from the estimation apparatus 300 is information indicating that there is no massage effect or the massage effect is low (No in step S301). Instead, the process may automatically shift to step S303 to change the pressing pattern. In this case, the massage apparatus 400 continues to change the pressing pattern until it is determined that there is a massage effect or a high effect.

Thus, according to the massage system 500 according to the third embodiment, in order to estimate the state of the body of the subject using values that are not easily affected by the properties of blood vessels, as in the first embodiment, The estimation accuracy of the body state can be improved. According to the massage system 500 according to the third embodiment, the content (pressing pattern) of the massage can be automatically changed based on the state of the body of the subject or the effect of the massage.

The estimation apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment may estimate the body state based on the SV-related value, HR, body temperature, and blood pressure value, like the estimation apparatus 200 described in the second embodiment.

The massage system 500 may further include a terminal device that can communicate with the estimation device 300 and the massage device 400. The massage system 500 may include an estimation device 300, a massage device 400, and a terminal device 600, for example, as shown in FIG. The terminal device 600 may have a part of the above-described functions included in the estimation device 300.

The terminal device 600 can communicate with the estimation device 300 and the massage device 400, respectively. In the modification shown in FIG. 13, for example, the estimation device 300 acquires the blood flow rate as biological information while the subject is being massaged by the massage device 400 while being worn by the subject. The estimation device 300 transmits the acquired blood flow volume to the terminal device 600. The terminal device 600 calculates a value related to SV and HR based on the acquired blood flow volume. The terminal device 600 estimates the state of the body based on the value related to SV and HR. The terminal device 600 can determine the effect of the massage based on the estimated body state. The terminal device 600 may notify the subject by displaying the determined massage effect on a display or the like provided on the terminal device 600. The terminal device 600 may transmit information regarding the determined massage effect to the massage device 400. The massage apparatus 400 which acquired the information regarding the effect of a massage can perform control according to the effect shown, for example in FIG.

Each control described in the third embodiment may not necessarily be executed by the device associated in the above description. Each control may be executed by a device different from the device associated in the above description, for example. For example, in FIG. 12, step S301 and step S302 have been described as being executed by the massage device 400, but may be executed by the estimation device 300 or the terminal device 600. When steps S301 and S302 are executed by the estimation device 300, the estimation device 300 may transmit a signal for controlling the massage device 400 to the massage device 400 according to the determination results of step S301 and step S302. Good.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the control unit 220 calculates an index value that is not easily affected by the displacement of the biological sensor 210 as the SV-related value, and based on the calculated index value, The body condition of the subject may be estimated. When the estimation device 100 (or 200 or 300) is worn on the subject, the wearing state may be shifted (displaced). When the wearing state of the estimation apparatus 100 is shifted, the positional relationship between the biosensor 210 and the test site changes. Thereby, an error may occur in the calculation result of the value regarding SV. The control unit 220 can estimate the body state of the subject with higher accuracy by estimating the body state using the index value that is not easily affected by the displacement of the biological sensor 210 as the SV value. .

An index that is not easily affected by the displacement of the biosensor 210 is, for example, pulsating blood flow. That is, the control unit 220 can estimate the body state based on the pulsating blood flow rate and the HR.

The inventor has obtained the knowledge that the pulsating blood flow volume can be used as an index that is not easily affected by the displacement of the biosensor 210 through experiments. Here, an experiment conducted by the inventor will be described.

In the experiment, an estimation device having a holding part having an arch shape as shown in FIG. 1 was used. The estimation device used in the experiment includes biosensors at the first end and the second end of the holding unit, respectively. One of the biosensors provided at the first end and the second end is a sensor that acquires biometric information using the concha as the test site, and the other acquires bioinformation using the tragus as the test site. It is a sensor. The subject wears the estimation device to bring the biosensor in contact with the concha of one of the left and right ears and the biosensor in contact with the tragus on the other. The measurement device used in the experiment further includes an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor detects the magnitude of acceleration acting on the estimation device worn on the subject. The estimation apparatus used in this experiment may be a combination of a measurement mechanism that uses the concha, which is described with reference to FIG. 15, on the right ear side of the estimation apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

In the experiment, a correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of the value indicated by each index related to SV was calculated. The standard deviation of the acceleration can be calculated by the control unit based on the acceleration acquired by the acceleration sensor. The standard deviation of the value related to SV can be calculated by the control unit based on the biological information acquired from the concha and tragus by the biological sensor. In the following description, the correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of the speed and the standard deviation of the value related to the SV is obtained. However, the correlation coefficient between the speed and the value related to the SV is obtained, and It may be determined that the index is not easily affected by the sensor displacement.

In the experiment, the blood flow volume, the blood flow velocity, the blood volume, the pulsating blood flow height, and the pulsating blood flow were verified as values related to SV. The blood flow rate is the amount (volume) of blood flowing through a predetermined position of the blood vessel per unit time, and the unit is [m ³ / s]. The blood flow velocity is the velocity of blood flowing through a predetermined position of the blood vessel, and its unit is [m / s]. The blood volume indicates the volume of blood at a predetermined position of the blood vessel, and its unit is [m ² ]. The pulsating blood flow height and the pulsating blood flow are as described above. The value related to SV is calculated by the control unit based on the biological information acquired by the biological sensor.

In the experiment, data of 23 subjects were acquired. In the experiment, each subject wears an estimation device and sits on a massage chair. As the massage chair, AS-1000 manufactured by Fuji Medical Co., Ltd. was used. While sitting on the massage chair, the subject rested for 1 minute, then performed a massage for 16 minutes with the massage chair, and rested again for 1 minute. In the meantime, the data of the acceleration of an estimation apparatus and the value regarding SV of a test subject were acquired by the estimation apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of values related to SV. In FIG. 14, blood flow volume and pulsating blood flow wave height are shown as values related to SV. That is, FIG. 14 shows the relationship between the standard deviation of the acceleration of the estimation device and the standard deviation of the blood flow volume and the pulsating blood flow wave height. In FIG. 14, the horizontal axis represents the standard deviation of acceleration, and the vertical axis represents the standard deviation of blood flow volume or pulsating blood flow wave height.

FIG. 14 (a) shows an example in which the correlation between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of blood flow volume and pulsating blood flow wave height is high. In the example shown in FIG. 14A, the correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of blood flow is 0.79. In the example shown in FIG. 14A, the correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of the acceleration and the standard deviation of the pulsating blood flow height is 0.85. As a case where the correlation between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of blood flow volume and pulsating blood flow wave height is high, for example, the acceleration applied to the estimation device may be large.

FIG. 14B shows an example in which the correlation between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of blood flow volume and pulsating blood flow wave height is low. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of blood flow is 0.12. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of the acceleration and the standard deviation of the pulsating blood flow height is 0.06. As a case where the correlation between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of blood flow volume and pulsating blood flow wave height is low, for example, the acceleration applied to the estimation device may be small.

The acceleration acquired by the acceleration sensor is a value reflecting the displacement of the estimation device (that is, the biological sensor mounted on the estimation device). For this reason, the smaller the correlation coefficient between the standard deviation of acceleration and the standard deviation of values related to SV, the smaller the value related to SV is an index that is less susceptible to acceleration. That is, it can be said that the smaller the correlation coefficient related to the SV value index, the less likely the index is to be affected by the displacement of the biosensor.

Table 1 shows the results of the experiment conducted by the above method. The experimental results in Table 1 show the average value of the correlation coefficient calculated through the experiment of 23 subjects for each value index related to SV. The experimental results in Table 1 show the case where the test site is the concha and the case of the tragus, respectively.

According to the results shown in Table 1, among the blood flow, blood flow velocity, blood volume, pulsating blood flow height, and pulsating blood flow, the pulsating blood flow is the same regardless of whether the test site is the concha or tragus. As a result, the correlation coefficient was the lowest. That is, from this experimental result, it can be said that the pulsating blood flow volume is the index that is least affected by the displacement of the biosensor among the above-described indices. Therefore, the estimation apparatus uses the pulsating blood flow rate as a value related to SV, so that the estimation accuracy of the body state is higher than when other indicators are used.

According to the results shown in Table 1, the correlation coefficient is lower when biometric information is acquired with the concha than when biometric information is acquired with the tragus. In other words, from this experimental result, it can be said that biometric information can be obtained with higher accuracy when biometric information is acquired in the concha rather than the tragus. This is considered to be because the deviation between the test site and the biosensor is smaller when the biosensor is brought into contact with the concha than with the tragus.

In order to fully and clearly disclose the present disclosure, several embodiments have been described. However, the appended claims should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but all modifications and alternatives that can be created by those skilled in the art within the scope of the basic matters shown in this specification. Should be configured to embody such a configuration. Each requirement shown in some embodiments can be freely combined.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the measurement mechanism 120 acquires biological information in the subject's tragus, but the acquisition position of the biological information is not limited to the tragus, and an arbitrary position where the biological information can be acquired. can do. For example, the measurement mechanism 120 can acquire biological information in the concha of the subject.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a modification of the measurement mechanism 120, and is a diagram showing an outline of the measurement mechanism 120 that can acquire biological information in the concha of the subject. The measurement mechanism 120 includes an insertion part 131 and a contact part 132.

The insertion unit 131 is inserted into the ear canal when the subject wears the estimation device. That is, when the subject wears the estimation device, the subject holds the measurement mechanism 120 on the head so that the insertion unit 131 is inserted into the ear canal of the ear. The contact portion 132 is a member having a curved surface that contacts the concha. The contact unit 132 includes a biological sensor for optically acquiring biological information on the side of the contact surface to the concha. In FIG. 15, the position on the contact surface where the biosensor 210 is provided is indicated by a broken line. The estimation apparatus described in the above embodiment can measure blood flow as biometric information using the concha.

The inventors conducted an experiment in order to confirm that the apparatus described in the above embodiment improves the estimation accuracy of the body state. Here, an experiment conducted by the inventors will be described.

In the experiment, a massage synchronized with the heartbeat of the subject (hereinafter also referred to as “heartbeat synchronized massage”) and a massage that is not synchronized with the heartbeat of the subject (hereinafter also referred to as “heartbeat asynchronous massage”). And went. Heartbeat-synchronized massage refers to massage that presses according to the heartbeat of a subject. Specifically, the heart rate synchronous massage presses the subject at a timing when the blood flow of the subject flows from the terminal side to the heart side. On the other hand, a heartbeat asynchronous massage refers to a massage that performs pressing at a timing unrelated to the subject's heartbeat. The heart-beat synchronized massage is considered to increase the effect of the massage because the blood flow of the subject is further promoted more easily than the heart-rate asynchronous massage. In other words, it is considered that the synchronized heart massage has higher SV and lower HR than the asynchronous heart massage. The inventors have estimated the body state by the apparatus described in the above embodiment based on the judgment criteria of which is evaluated that the effect of the massage is higher when the heart rate synchronous massage and the heart rate asynchronous massage are performed. It was confirmed that the accuracy improved. That is, based on the values of SV and HR calculated based on the blood flow measured when performing the heart rate synchronous massage and when performing the heart rate asynchronous massage, the body by the device described in the above embodiment The estimation accuracy of the state of was evaluated.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an experimental procedure of an experiment conducted by the inventors. The subject was instructed not to drink the day before and to have enough sleep. Subjects were instructed not to eat or smoke within 2 hours of the start of the experiment. The experiment was performed in a room at a temperature of 22 ° C to 26 ° C. Throughout the experiment, a metronome application with a constant tempo was used to output sound, and subjects were instructed to breathe in time with the sound. This is because the autonomic nerve may be affected by respiration, and thus the variation in the experimental result due to the variation in respiration is reduced.

In the experiment, the subject wears an estimation device having the structure described in this specification on the head, and the cuff of the Finapres (Medical Systems) Finapress (Finometer (registered trademark) PRO) is applied to the fingertip of the middle finger of the left hand. It was performed in the state of wearing. However, in the experiment, an estimation device having a structure for measuring blood flow in the subject's ear concha was used. In view of the purpose of the experiment, the estimation device used in the experiment is used only for blood flow measurement, and does not estimate the body state as described in the embodiment. Finapless is a device that can measure the hemodynamics of a subject.

The subject wearing the estimation device and the FINA press was seated on a massage device (massage chair) to determine the posture during the test, and was first rested for 10 minutes as shown as “rest 0” in FIG.

When the period of rest 0 ended, as shown in FIG. 16 as “data acquisition start”, the estimation device and FINAPRESS were started, and measurement of the blood flow (data) of the subject by the estimation device and FINAPRESS was started. The measurement of the blood flow is continued until a second refresh period to be described later ends.

When measurement of blood flow was started, the subject maintained a resting state for 10 minutes, as shown as “rest 1” in FIG. During this time, blood flow is measured by the estimation device and FINAPRESS.

After 10 minutes “rest 1” period, the massage device was activated and the subject was subjected to heart rate synchronized massage for 10 minutes. While performing the heart rate synchronous massage, the average value of the subject's SV during the “rest 1” period was calculated based on the blood flow of the subject measured with Finapless during the “rest 1” period.

After 10 minutes of heart rate synchronized massage, the massage device was stopped and a 10 minute first refresh period was provided. A 1st refresh period is a period provided in order to return test subject's SV to SV before performing heart rate synchronous massage. Thereby, the condition at the start of the next heart rate asynchronous massage can be brought closer to the condition at the start of the heart rate synchronized massage. If the subject's SV did not return to the SV before performing the heart rate synchronized massage even after the first refresh period of 10 minutes, an additional refresh period was provided. The additional refresh period may continue until the subject's SV returns to the SV prior to the heart rate synchronized massage.

In the first refresh period, the subject's SV was returned to the SV before performing the heart rate synchronous massage, and then the massage device was activated to perform the heart rate asynchronous massage for the subject for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes of heart rate asynchronous massage, the massage device was stopped and a second refresh period of 10 minutes was provided.

After the second refresh period, the estimation device and FINAPRESS were stopped, the blood flow measurement was finished, and the experiment was finished.

Such an experiment was carried out on 10 subjects, and the measurement accuracy of blood flow with Finapress and an estimation device was considered.

First, let us consider the accuracy of blood flow measurement by FINAPRESS. The inventors have four periods, a period during which a heartbeat-synchronized massage is performed, a first refresh period, a period during which a heartbeat asynchronous massage is performed, and a second refresh period, based on the blood flow measured by Finapless. HR and SV were calculated for each.

17 and 18 are diagrams showing experimental results. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the FINAPRESS. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing SV calculated based on the blood flow measured by Finapless. 17 and 18, the horizontal axis indicates four periods. In FIG. 17, the vertical axis indicates the pulse rate for 1 minute. In FIG. 18, the vertical axis represents the average SV value in each period.

When comparing the HR between the period during which heart rate synchronized massage is performed and the period during which heart rate asynchronous massage is performed, among the 10 subjects, the period during which heart rate synchronized massage is performed is the period during which heart rate asynchronous massage is performed It was 4 people who got the result that HR was lower than that. Comparing the SV of the period during which the heart rate synchronized massage is performed and the period during which the heart rate asynchronous massage is performed, among the 10 subjects, the period during which the heart rate synchronized massage is performed is the period during which the heart rate asynchronous massage is performed. Five people had a higher SV. As described above, it is considered that the HR is lower and the SV is higher in the period during which the heart rate synchronized massage is performed, compared to the period during which the heart rate asynchronous massage is performed. As a result, the period when the heart rate synchronized massage is performed is lower than the period when the heart rate synchronized massage is performed, and the period when the heart rate synchronized massage is performed than the period when the heart rate asynchronous massage is performed. When the results of higher SV were defined as accurate measurement results, about half of the results were obtained with FINAPRESS. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain an accurate measurement result in the measurement with the FINA press, and the blood flow measurement is not necessarily highly accurate.

Next, the measurement accuracy of the blood flow measured by the estimation device will be considered. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating experimental results, and is a diagram illustrating HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the estimation device. In FIG. 19, the horizontal axis shows four periods, and the vertical axis shows the value of HR. In considering the measurement accuracy of the blood flow measured by the estimation device, first, the reliability of the data was determined. The data reliability determination is to determine whether or not the data is reliable, and specifically refers to a process of eliminating data including noise, for example. The reliability of the data was determined by comparing the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by Finapless and the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the estimation device. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a difference between the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the FINA press and the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the estimation device. In FIG. 20, the horizontal axis indicates each period, and the vertical axis indicates the difference. The difference approaches 0 as the value of HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by Fina Press and HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the estimation device are closer.

Here, if the difference shown in FIG. 20 is close to 0, it can be said that the data is reliable. Because HR is calculated based on the peak of the blood flow waveform, if the blood flow can be appropriately measured without including noise, the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured with a finger by Finapless. This is because the HR calculated based on the blood flow measured by the concha by the estimation device takes almost the same value. For the same reason, it can be said that the more the difference shown in FIG. Based on the diagram shown in FIG. 20, the inventors determined that the data for the seven persons shown in the region R are reliable data.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing experimental results, and is a diagram showing SV calculated based on blood flow measured by the estimation device. In FIG. 21, the horizontal axis indicates four periods, and the vertical axis indicates the average SV value in each period. FIG. 21 illustrates data for seven persons determined to be reliable. Among the seven persons shown in FIG. 21, six persons obtained a result that SV was higher in the period during which heart rate synchronous massage was performed than in the period during which heart rate asynchronous massage was performed. That is, according to the estimation apparatus, 6 out of 7 people obtained accurate measurement results. Therefore, it can be said that the estimation apparatus has higher blood flow measurement accuracy than the FINA press.

In order to confirm reproducibility, the inventors further conducted an experiment described with reference to FIG. 16 for one subject for four consecutive days. The inventors performed data reliability determination using the same method as described above for the data acquired in the four-day experiment, and as shown in FIG. It was determined that

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing experimental results, and is a diagram showing SV calculated based on blood flow measured by the estimation device. In FIG. 23, the horizontal axis indicates four periods, and the vertical axis indicates the average SV value in each period. FIG. 23 illustrates data for three days determined to be reliable. Among the data for 3 days shown in FIG. 23, for 2 days, the result that SV was higher in the period during which heart rate synchronous massage was performed was higher than the period during which heart rate asynchronous massage was performed. As a result, it can be said that a certain degree of reproducibility was confirmed.

From the above experimental results, it can be said that the estimation device has higher blood flow measurement accuracy than the FINA press. That is, it can be said from experiments that blood flow can be measured with higher accuracy in the concha, and the effectiveness of blood flow acquisition in the concha was confirmed. The experiment was performed by acquiring blood flow through the concha. For example, the tragus also has a small number of shunts connecting arteries and veins, as in the concha. ) Has little influence, and the same effect can be obtained. That is, it can be said that blood flow can be measured with high accuracy even in the tragus.

100, 200, 300 Estimating device 101 First end 102 Second end 110 Holding part 120 Measuring mechanism 121, 131 Insertion part 122 Pressing part 123, 132 Contact part 123a, 123b Protruding part 124 Connection part 125 Frame part 125a, 125b Plane part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 130 Power supply holding | maintenance part 140 Control mechanism holding | maintenance part 150 Contact part 210 Biosensor 211 Light emission part 212 Light-receiving part 220,420 Control part 220a, 420a Processor 230 Input part 240 Notification part 250, 430 Storage part 260 Body temperature measurement part 270 Blood pressure measurement part 280, 440 Communication unit 400 Massage device 410 Massage unit 500 Massage system 600 Terminal device

Claims (20)

A biological sensor for acquiring biological information from a part of the subject;
Based on the biological information, a value related to the blood output of the subject and a heart rate are calculated, and based on the calculated value related to the blood output and heart rate, the body of the subject is calculated. A control unit for estimating the state;
An estimation apparatus comprising: The estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit estimates a state of the body of the subject who receives a massage, and estimates an effect of the massage based on the state of the body. The estimation device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the state of the body. The estimation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biological sensor acquires the biological information using the subject's tragus or concha as the part. The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the value relating to the blood output is a pulsating blood flow. A temperature measuring unit for measuring the body temperature of the subject;
A blood pressure measurement unit for measuring the blood pressure value of the subject;
Further comprising
The said control part estimates the said body state based on the value regarding the amount of strokes of the said blood, the said heart rate, the said body temperature, and the said blood-pressure value in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5. The estimation apparatus according to one item. A biological sensor for acquiring biological information from a part of the subject;
Based on the biological information, a value related to the blood output of the subject and a heart rate are calculated, and based on the calculated value related to the blood output and heart rate, the body of the subject is calculated. A control unit that estimates a state and estimates an effect of the massage that the subject receives based on the state of the body;
A massage system comprising: a massage unit that massages the subject with a pressing pattern according to the effect of the massage. The massage system according to claim 7, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the state of the body. The massage system according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the biological sensor acquires the biological information using the tragus or concha of the subject as the part. The massage system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the value relating to the blood output is a pulsating blood flow. An estimation method executed by an estimation device including a biological sensor and a control unit,
The biological sensor acquiring biological information from a portion of the subject;
The control unit is
Based on the biological information, calculating a value and a heart rate related to the blood output of the subject; and
Estimating the state of the subject's body based on the calculated value relating to the stroke volume of blood and the heart rate; and
An estimation method including: In the estimating step, the control unit estimates the state of the body of the subject receiving massage,
The estimation method according to claim 11, further comprising a step in which the control unit estimates an effect of the massage based on the state of the body. The estimation apparatus further includes a notification unit,
The estimation method according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a step in which the notification unit notifies the state of the body. The estimation according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein in the acquiring step, the biological sensor acquires the biological information using the subject's tragus or concha as the part. Method. The estimation method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the value relating to the blood output is a pulsating blood flow. On the computer,
Obtaining biological information from a part of the subject;
Based on the biological information, calculating a value and a heart rate related to the blood output of the subject; and
Estimating the condition of the subject's body based on the calculated value relating to the stroke volume of blood and the heart rate; and
An estimation program that executes In the estimating step, the state of the body of the subject receiving massage is estimated,
The estimation program according to claim 16, further causing a step of estimating the effect of the massage based on the state of the body. The estimation program according to claim 16 or 17, further causing the step of informing the state of the body to be executed. The estimation program according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein in the obtaining step, the biological information is obtained by using the tragus or concha of the subject as the part. The estimation program according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the value relating to the blood output is a pulsating blood flow.

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