WO2016002363A1

WO2016002363A1 - Measuring device

Info

Publication number: WO2016002363A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/064072
Authority: WO
Inventors: 西村　望; 勉篠崎; 敏晶深井; 右一佐藤; 悠平福島
Original assignee: 日本電気株式会社
Priority date: 2014-07-03
Filing date: 2015-05-15
Publication date: 2016-01-07
Also published as: JPWO2016002363A1

Abstract

A measuring device (10) is provided with a housing (100), a light transmitting member (110), a light emitting section (120), a partitioning member (130), and an optical detection section (140). The housing (100) is provided with an opening (102). The light transmitting member (110) is positioned in the opening (102), and transmits light having a first wavelength. The light emitting section (120) and the optical detection section (140) are disposed in the housing (100). The light emitting section (120) emits light, including the light having the first wavelength, to the light transmitting member (110), said light emitting section diagonally emitting the light with respect to an outer surface of the light transmitting member (110). The light detection section (140) is disposed in the direction in which the optical axis thereof passes through the light transmitting member (110), and measures the intensity of the light having the first wavelength. The partitioning member (130) is disposed in the housing (100), said partitioning member being positioned between the light emitting section (120) and the optical detection section (140). A part of the partitioning member (130) is in contact with the housing (100).

Description

measuring device

The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus that detects specific components using light.

One method for detecting a specific component contained in a measurement target is to irradiate the measurement target with light having a wavelength absorbed by the component and measure the amount of light absorbed by the measurement target. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for measuring a blood sugar level in blood. In this apparatus, a light source, a light receiving element, and a waveguide are provided on the upper surface of the base portion. Then, a part of the waveguide is exposed on the lower surface of the base part, the light generated by the light source is irradiated from the part, and the reflected light is received and guided to the light receiving element.

Further, Patent Document 2 describes that light is irradiated in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the skin, and a plurality of light receiving portions are arranged obliquely and spaced apart. The technique described in Patent Document 2 is intended to measure glucose contained in skin and blood.

In Patent Document 3, it is described that light is irradiated in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the skin, and the light receiving portion is disposed obliquely. In Patent Document 3, a patch is applied to the skin. Then, for example, the amount of glucose in the dermis layer is measured by pressing a measuring device against this patch. Moreover, in patent document 3, the light-shielding plate is arrange | positioned between the light emission part and the light-receiving part.

JP 2011-245069 A JP 2005-513491 A JP 2008-86705 A

When the light from the light source is incident on the light receiving element without passing through the measurement object such as the skin, the reliability of the calculation result is lowered even if a component such as glucose is calculated based on the signal from the light receiving element. In addition, it is necessary to control the depth of the measurement site with high accuracy. For example, in Patent Document 3, since the patch is deformed together with the skin, it is difficult to control the depth of the measurement site with high accuracy. An object of the present invention is to control the depth of a measurement site with high accuracy and to prevent light from a light source from entering a light receiving element without passing through a measurement target such as skin.

According to the present invention, a housing;
An opening provided in a part of the housing;
A translucent member that is located within the opening and constitutes part of the housing, and transmits light of a first wavelength;
A light emitting means that is disposed inside the housing and emits light including a first wavelength obliquely to the light transmitting member with respect to an outer surface of the light transmitting member;
A light detecting means disposed inside the housing, facing the light transmissive member, and detecting light of the first wavelength;
A partition member disposed inside the housing, located between the light emitting means and the light detecting means, and a part of the partition member in contact with the housing;
A measuring device is provided.

According to the present invention, the depth of the measurement site can be controlled with high accuracy, and the light from the light source can be prevented from entering the light receiving element without passing through the measurement target such as the skin.

The above-described object and other objects, features, and advantages will be further clarified by a preferred embodiment described below and the following drawings attached thereto.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the measuring apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the measuring apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the measuring apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the measuring apparatus which concerns on the modification of 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

In the following description, each component of the measuring apparatus 10 is not a hardware unit configuration but a functional unit block. For example, the control unit 150 and the calculation unit 160 are arbitrary CPUs, memories, programs loaded in the memory, storage media such as a hard disk for storing the programs, and network and network interface interfaces. Realized by a combination of There are various modifications of the implementation method and apparatus.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a measurement apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The measuring apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 100, a translucent member 110, a light emitting unit 120, a partition member 130, and a light detecting unit 140. The housing 100 is provided with an opening 102. The translucent member 110 is located in the opening 102 and transmits light of the first wavelength. The light emitting unit 120 and the light detection unit 140 are disposed inside the housing 100. The light emitting unit 120 irradiates (emits) light including the first wavelength toward the translucent member 110 and radiates the light obliquely with respect to the outer surface of the translucent member 110. The light detection unit 140 is disposed toward the translucent member 110 and detects light having the first wavelength. For example, the optical axis of the light detection unit 140 passes through the translucent member 110 and detects the intensity of the first wavelength light. The optical axis of the light detection unit 140 is defined as a line that passes through the center of the light receiving surface of the light detection unit 140 and is perpendicular to the light receiving surface of the light detection unit 140, for example. The partition member 130 is disposed inside the housing 100 and is located between the light emitting unit 120 and the light detection unit 140. A part of the partition member 130 is in contact with the housing 100. Details will be described below.

The measuring device 10 is a device that measures a sugar content (for example, glucose) contained in an interstitial fluid of living skin, for example, dermal tissue. In this case, the first wavelength is in the near infrared region (for example, 1200 nm or more and 3000 nm or less). And the measuring apparatus 10 is used in the state which pressed the translucent member 110 on skin.

The housing 100 is formed using, for example, resin or metal. An opening 102 is provided on one surface of the housing 100. The housing 100 may be composed of a plurality of parts. The opening 102 is blocked by the translucent member 110. In other words, a part of the housing 100 is constituted by the translucent member 110. The translucent member 110 is a plate-like member made of, for example, glass or resin, and transmits light having the first wavelength. The translucent member 110 is not deformed when pressed against the measurement site. The translucent member 110 also has a function of extending the wrinkles at the measurement site. The translucent member 110 may be a flat plate or may be slightly curved. The housing 100 may be configured by a plurality of members.

The light emitting unit 120 has a light emitting element such as an LED or a laser diode as a light source. This light source preferably emits light of the first wavelength stronger than light of other wavelengths. The optical axis of the light emitting unit 120 is disposed obliquely with respect to the outer surface of the translucent member 110. For this reason, when the translucent member 110 of the housing | casing 100 is pressed on the skin of a biological body, the optical axis of the light emission part 120 becomes diagonal with respect to the surface of skin.

The light detection unit 140 has a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode. This photoelectric conversion element preferably has higher sensitivity to light of the first wavelength than sensitivity of light of other wavelengths. The light receiving surface of the light detection unit 140 is disposed obliquely with respect to the outer surface of the translucent member 110. Preferably, the optical axis of the light detection unit 140 is disposed obliquely with respect to the outer surface of the translucent member 110, and intersects the optical axis of the light emitting unit 120 outside the translucent member 110. In this case, the distance d between the intersection α of the two optical axes and the outer surface of the translucent member 110 is 2 mm or less, preferably 1.5 mm or less. Moreover, it is preferable that the space | interval d is 0.5 mm or more. Moreover, the angle θ formed by the two optical axes is, for example, 60 ° or more and 120 ° or less. The angle formed by the optical axis of the light emitting unit 120 with respect to the outer surface of the light transmissive member 110 and the angle formed by the optical axis of the light detecting unit 140 with respect to the outer surface of the light transmissive member 110 are preferably equal to each other.

The partition member 130 is disposed in the measuring apparatus 10 and is located between the light emitting unit 120 and the light detecting unit 140. A part of the partition member 130 is in contact with the housing 100, specifically, the translucent member 110. The portion of the translucent member 110 that is in contact with the partition member 130 is a portion of the translucent member 110 that intersects the optical axis of the light emitting unit 120 and a portion of the translucent member 110 that intersects the optical axis of the light detecting unit 140. Located between. Moreover, the partition member 130 is configured not to transmit light having the first wavelength. For this reason, it can suppress that the light which the light emission part 120 light-emitted enters into the light detection part 140, without passing through the exterior of the housing | casing 100. FIG. In addition, the partition member 130 is formed using resin, for example.

In the example shown in this drawing, the shape of the partition member 130 is a triangular prism. One of the sides of the triangular prism is in contact with the translucent member 110. In addition, one of the two surfaces constituting the side is directed in the direction along the optical axis of the light emitting unit 120, and the other surface is directed in the direction along the optical axis of the light detection unit 140. ing. Here, these surfaces may or may not be parallel to the optical axis. The remaining one of the side surfaces of the partition member 130 is supported by another member (not shown). Other members (for example, a holding member that holds the light emitting unit 120 and the light detecting unit 140) and the partition member 130 may be integrally formed. Further, the side of the partition member 130 that is in contact with the translucent member 110 may be chamfered.

As described above, when the measuring apparatus 10 is used, the translucent member 110 is pressed against the skin of the living body. In this state, the light emitting unit 120 emits light. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 120 enters at least the dermis tissue of the skin and is scattered by the cell wall or the like. The light detection unit 140 detects a part of the scattered light. In the optical path until the light emitted from the light emitting unit 120 is detected by the light detecting unit 140, a part of this light is absorbed by a specific component in the skin, for example, sugar such as glucose contained in the interstitial fluid. . Therefore, the concentration of a specific component in the skin can be calculated based on the light intensity detected by the light detection unit 140.

On the other hand, scattered light from tissues other than the dermis tissue (specifically, epidermis and subcutaneous tissue) in the skin is inappropriate as a signal for detecting sugar. For example, the epidermis contains glucose, but this glucose concentration is difficult to follow the glucose concentration in the blood. Moreover, since the subcutaneous tissue is mainly composed of adipose tissue, the glucose concentration is low. For this reason, the light from the light emitting unit 120 needs to be scattered at an appropriate depth after entering the skin.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the translucent member 110 is pressed against the skin of the living body, the intersection α between the optical axis of the light emitting unit 120 and the optical axis of the light detecting unit 140 is always from the surface of the skin. Located at depth d. d is 2 mm or less, preferably 1.5 mm or less. For this reason, the light detected by the light detection unit 140 includes many components scattered at an appropriate depth in the skin. Therefore, when the concentration of a specific component in the skin is calculated based on the light intensity detected by the light detection unit 140, the reliability of the calculation result is improved.

In the housing 100, a partition member 130 is located between the light emitting unit 120 and the light detecting unit 140. A part of the partition member 130 is in contact with the housing 100 (for example, the translucent member 110). For this reason, it can suppress that the light which the light emission part 120 light-emitted enters into the light detection part 140, without passing through the exterior of the housing | casing 100. FIG. Therefore, when the concentration of a specific component in the skin is calculated based on the light intensity detected by the light detection unit 140, the reliability of the calculation result is further improved.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the measurement apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment. The measurement apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the measurement apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment except for the following points.

First, the housing 100 has a first opening 102 a and a second opening 102 b as the opening 102. A first translucent member 112 is fitted in the first opening 102a, and a second translucent member 114 is fitted in the second opening 102b. The optical axis of the light emitting unit 120 extends to the outside of the housing 100 via the first light transmissive member 112, and the optical axis of the light detecting unit 140 is external to the housing 100 via the second light transmissive member 114. It extends to. The partition member 130 is in contact with a portion of the housing 100 located between the first opening 102a and the second opening 102b.

The light emitting unit 120 has a light source 122 and a lens 124. The light source 122 has the light emitting element shown in the first embodiment. The lens 124 condenses the light from the light source 122. A condensing point of light from the light source 122 by the lens 124 is located outside the translucent member 110. And the distance of this condensing point and the outer surface of the translucent member 110 is 2 mm or less, Preferably it is 1.5 mm or less, and Preferably it is 0.5 mm or more. In addition, this condensing point may overlap with the optical axis of the light detection unit 140. However, when the distance between the above-described condensing point and the outer surface of the translucent member 110 is greater than 2 mm, the optical axis of the light detection unit 140 does not overlap the above-described condensing point.

Further, the measuring apparatus 10 includes a control unit 150, a calculation unit 160, a display unit 170, and an input unit 180.

The input unit 180 is operated by the user of the measuring apparatus 10. The input unit 180 is, for example, a push type or contact type switch, and is located on the outer surface of the housing 100. The control unit 150 causes the light emitting unit 120 to emit light when input is made to the input unit 180.

The calculation unit 160 calculates the amount or concentration of the specific component in the detection target, for example, the amount or concentration of sugar (for example, glucose) contained in the interstitial fluid of the skin, according to the detection result of the light detection unit 140. Then, the calculation unit 160 causes the display unit 170 to display the calculated result. Since the display unit 170 is located on the outer surface of the housing 100, the user of the measurement apparatus 10 can recognize the measurement result obtained by the measurement apparatus 10 by viewing the display unit 170.

Also according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the translucent member 110 is divided into two parts, a first translucent member 112 and a second translucent member 114, and the partition member 130 is provided between the first translucent member 112 and the second translucent member 114 in the housing 100. It is made to contact the part located in. For this reason, it can also suppress that the light from the light emission part 120 injects into the light detection part 140 by making the translucent member 110 into a light guide path.

Further, the distance between the condensing point of the light from the light source 122 by the lens 124 and the outer surface of the translucent member 110 is 2 mm or less, preferably 1.5 mm or less. For this reason, the intensity | strength of the light scattered by dermal tissue among the lights from the light source 122 becomes strong. Therefore, the S / N ratio of the signal output from the light detection unit 140 is increased, and as a result, the reliability of the calculation result by the calculation unit 160 is improved.

Note that the partition member 130 may be formed integrally with the housing 100.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the measurement apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment. The measuring apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the measuring apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment except that the wavelength filter 190 is provided. FIG. 3 shows a case similar to that of the second embodiment.

The wavelength filter 190 is disposed in front of the light detection unit 140, transmits light of the first wavelength, and cuts light of other wavelengths. Thereby, light other than the first wavelength is cut from the light incident on the light detection unit 140.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wavelength filter 190 may be arranged in front of the light emitting unit 120 instead of in front of the light detecting unit 140. The wavelength filter 190 may be disposed in front of the light detection unit 140 and in front of the wavelength filter 190, respectively.

Also in this embodiment, the same effects as those in the first or second embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since light other than the first wavelength is cut from the light incident on the light detection unit 140, the measurement accuracy by the measurement apparatus 10 is further improved.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, these are exemplifications of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above can be adopted.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-138027 filed on July 3, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

Claims

A housing,
An opening provided in a part of the housing;
A translucent member that is located within the opening and constitutes part of the housing, and transmits light of a first wavelength;
A light emitting means that is disposed inside the housing and emits light including a first wavelength obliquely to the light transmitting member with respect to an outer surface of the light transmitting member;
A light detecting means disposed inside the housing, facing the light transmissive member, and detecting light of the first wavelength;
A partition member disposed inside the housing, located between the light emitting means and the light detecting means, and a part of the partition member in contact with the housing;
A measuring apparatus comprising:
The measuring apparatus according to claim 1,
A measuring device in which a tip of the partition member is in contact with the translucent member.
The measuring apparatus according to claim 1,
The opening includes a first opening and a second opening,
The translucent member includes a first translucent member located in the first opening and a second translucent member located in the second opening,
The optical axis of the light emitting means extends outside the housing via the first light transmissive member,
The optical axis of the light detection means extends outside the housing via the second light transmissive member,
The tip of the partition member is a measuring device in contact with a portion of the housing located between the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member.
The measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The measuring device is used in a state where the translucent member is pressed against the skin of a living body,
The first wavelength is a wavelength in the near infrared region,
further,
A measuring device comprising a calculating means for calculating the amount of sugar contained in the skin based on the intensity of light of the first wavelength detected by the light detecting means.