阅读说明：本技术 蠕动运动自动测量方法、蠕动运动自动测量程序、蠕动运动自动测量装置以及蠕动运动自动测量系统 (Automatic peristaltic movement measurement method, automatic peristaltic movement measurement program, automatic peristaltic movement measurement device, and automatic peristaltic movement measurement) 是由 正森良辅 村木洋介 于 2019-10-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种用户可直观地理解消化道蠕动运动的活动性的装置。提供一种蠕动运动自动测量方法,该蠕动运动自动测量方法是使用计算机的蠕动运动自动测量方法,包括获取步骤S100、提取步骤S101和计算步骤S102,在所述获取步骤S100中,获取与消化道的一处或多处的生物体活动性有关的测量信息,在所述提取步骤S101中,从在所述获取步骤S100中获取的与所述生物体活动性有关的测量信息中提取与蠕动运动的活动性有关的信息,在所述计算步骤S102中,根据所述与蠕动运动的活动性有关的信息,得到表示所述蠕动运动的活动性的程度的活动性得分。(The invention discloses a device for a user to visually understand the activity of the peristaltic movement of the alimentary canal. A peristaltic movement automatic measurement method using a computer is provided, which includes an acquisition step S100 of acquiring measurement information related to the activity of a living body at one or more sites of the digestive tract, an extraction step S101 of extracting information related to the activity of peristaltic movement from the measurement information related to the activity of the living body acquired in the acquisition step S100 in the extraction step S101, and a calculation step S102 of obtaining an activity score indicating the degree of the activity of peristaltic movement from the information related to the activity of peristaltic movement.)

1. An automatic measuring method of peristaltic movement using a computer, characterized in that:

the automatic measurement method of the peristaltic movement comprises the following steps:

an acquisition step of acquiring measurement information related to the activity of the living body at one or more sites of the digestive tract,

an extraction step of extracting information on activity of peristaltic motion from the measurement information on the activity of the living body acquired in the acquisition step, and

a calculating step of obtaining an activity score indicating a degree of activity of the peristaltic movement based on the information on the activity of the peristaltic movement.

2. The automatic peristaltic motion measurement method of claim 1, wherein:

the activity score represents a degree of activity of the peristaltic motion in real time.

3. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the calculating step determines the activity score according to a threshold.

4. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

the automatic peristaltic movement measurement method further comprises a display step of displaying at least the activity score on a computer terminal screen.

5. The automatic peristaltic motion measurement method of claim 4, wherein:

the displaying step displays a graph and/or graph corresponding to the activity score on a computer terminal screen.

6. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:

the displaying step displays the activity score or a graph and/or graphic corresponding to the activity score on a computer terminal screen together with an image including at least a human body at a digestive tract.

7. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:

the extracting step removes noise information included in the measurement information acquired in the acquiring step, and acquires the information on the activity of the peristaltic motion.

8. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein:

the automatic peristaltic motion measurement method further includes a notification step of notifying a user according to the activity score.

9. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein:

the acquiring step acquires the measurement information by transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the body and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave.

10. The automatic peristaltic motion measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein:

the automatic peristaltic movement measuring method further comprises a communication step of displaying the activity score or a graph and/or graphic related to the activity score on a computer terminal screen of a user through a wired or wireless communication line.

11. A computer program product having an automatic peristaltic motion measurement program embedded therein, the computer program product comprising:

the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 is performed after the computer is loaded with the program for execution.

12. An automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement is characterized in that:

the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement comprises:

an acquisition unit that acquires measurement information relating to the activity of the living body at one or more sites of the digestive tract, an

And a calculation unit that extracts information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition unit, and obtains an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the activity of peristaltic motion.

13. An automatic measuring system for peristaltic movement, which is realized by a wired or wireless communication line, is characterized in that:

the automatic measuring system for peristaltic movement comprises:

an acquisition device for acquiring measurement information related to the activity of the living body at one or more locations of the digestive tract, an

And a calculation device that extracts information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition device, and obtains an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the activity of peristaltic motion.

Technical Field

The invention relates to an automatic measuring method, an automatic measuring program, an automatic measuring device and an automatic measuring system for the peristaltic movement of a digestive tract.

Background

Food ingested from the mouth passes through the digestive tracts such as the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, etc., and is finally discharged to the outside of the body as excrement. These digestive tracts move ingested food (hereinafter, referred to as contents) by a phenomenon such as peristalsis.

As an example of a technique for analyzing a peristaltic motion, there is a technique disclosed in patent document 1.

Patent document 1 discloses a peristaltic sound detection device including a biological sound detection unit that detects a biological sound emitted from an intestinal tract, a frequency spectrum calculation unit that calculates a frequency spectrum of the biological sound, a matching coefficient calculation unit that calculates a plurality of matching coefficients by respectively matching the frequency spectrum of the biological sound and each of standard frequency spectra of a plurality of peristaltic sounds, and a peristaltic sound determination unit that determines whether or not the biological sound is a peristaltic sound by performing calculation processing on the plurality of matching coefficients. This technique has been described as a technique for discriminating a peristaltic sound from a biological sound.

Patent document 1 Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-150723

Disclosure of Invention

In the invention disclosed in patent document 1, expert knowledge is required to understand the analysis result of the peristaltic movement. Therefore, it is difficult for a general user without expert knowledge to intuitively understand the state of the peristaltic movement. However, in daily life or the like, it is useful for the general user to be able to accurately and intuitively grasp the behavior of peristaltic movement in relation to, for example, the excretion time.

The main object of the invention is then to show the activity of the peristaltic movement with good precision, intuitively and easily.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides an automatic peristaltic movement measurement method using a computer, including an acquisition step of acquiring measurement information on biological activity at one or more sites of the digestive tract, an extraction step of extracting information on the activity of peristaltic movement from the measurement information on the biological activity acquired in the acquisition step, and a calculation step of obtaining an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of peristaltic movement from the information on the activity of peristaltic movement.

The activity score can represent the degree of activity of the peristaltic motion in real time. The calculating step can determine the activity score according to a threshold.

The automatic measuring method of peristaltic movement according to the present invention may further comprise a displaying step of displaying at least the activity score on a screen of a computer terminal. The displaying step can display a graph and/or graph corresponding to the activity score on a computer terminal screen. And, the displaying step can display, for example, the activity score or a graph and/or a graphic corresponding to the activity score together with an image including at least the human body at the digestive tract on a computer terminal screen.

Next, the extracting step may remove noise information included in the measurement information acquired in the acquiring step, and acquire the information on the activity of the peristaltic motion.

And, the automatic measurement method of peristaltic motion may further include a notification step of notifying a user according to the activity score.

The acquiring step can acquire the measurement information by, for example, transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the body and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave.

The automatic peristaltic movement measuring method may further include a communication step of displaying the activity score or a graph and/or graphic related to the activity score on a computer terminal screen of a user through a wired or wireless communication line.

The present invention also provides a computer program product having an automatic measuring program for a peristaltic movement embedded therein, wherein the measuring method for a peristaltic movement is completed after the program is loaded into a computer and executed.

The present invention also provides a peristaltic motion automatic measurement device including an acquisition unit that acquires measurement information on biological activity at one or more locations of the digestive tract, and a calculation unit that extracts information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition unit, and obtains an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the activity of peristaltic motion.

The present invention also provides a peristaltic movement automatic measurement system including an acquisition device that acquires measurement information on biological activity at one or more locations of a digestive tract, and a calculation device that extracts information on the activity of peristaltic movement from the information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition device, and obtains an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of peristaltic movement from the information on the activity of peristaltic movement.

(Effect of the invention)

By showing the activity of the peristaltic movement of the digestive tract to the user easily and comprehensibly, the user is enabled to understand the activity of the peristaltic movement with good precision and intuition.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of an automatic measurement method of peristaltic movement according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a calculation section of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a calculation section of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a calculation section of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 6 is an example of the change in activity score over time of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 7 is an example of the change in activity score over time of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 8 is an example of the change in the activity score of the same automatic measuring apparatus for peristaltic movement with the lapse of time.

Fig. 9 is a screen of a display unit of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 10 is a screen of a display unit of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 11 is an example of information given graphically corresponding to activity scores of the same automatic peristaltic movement measuring device.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a calculation section of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 13 is a screen of a display unit of the same automatic measuring device for creep motion.

Fig. 14 is a screen of a display unit of the same automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement.

Fig. 15 is an overall configuration diagram of an automatic measurement system for peristaltic movement according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the flow of the automatic measurement method of peristaltic movement of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1. The method comprises at least an acquisition step S100, an extraction step S101 and a calculation step S102.

(1) Acquisition step (S100)

The acquisition step S100 is a step of acquiring measurement information on the activity of a living body at one or more locations in the digestive tract. The acquisition step S100 may acquire the measurement information by, for example, transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the body and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave.

(2) Extraction step (S101)

The extraction step S101 is a step of extracting information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the measurement information on the biological activity acquired in the acquisition step S100. In the extraction step S101, noise information included in the measurement information acquired in the acquisition step S100 may be removed, and information on the activity of the peristaltic motion may be acquired.

(3) Calculating step (S102)

The calculation step S102 is a step of obtaining an activity score indicating the degree of activity of the peristaltic motion from the information on the activity of the peristaltic motion extracted in the extraction step S101. In more detail, the calculating step S102 determines the activity score according to one or more thresholds. The activity score is information indicating the degree of activity of the peristaltic motion in real time. For example, the activity score is not particularly limited, and may be text, symbols, signal information, or the like. Here, "real time" indicates, for example, the same time when the acquisition step S100 acquires the measurement information. Alternatively, the real time may include a predetermined time (for example, several minutes) elapsed from the same time.

The present invention may further include the following display step S103 in addition to the acquisition step S100, the extraction step S101, and the calculation step S102.

(4) Display step (S103)

This displaying step S103 is a step of displaying at least the activity score on a computer terminal screen. In the displaying step S103, a graph and/or a graph corresponding to the activity score may be displayed on the screen of the computer terminal. Also, the displaying step S103 may display the activity score or a graph and/or a graphic corresponding to the activity score on the computer terminal screen together with an image including at least the human body at the digestive tract.

(5) Notification step (not shown)

The present invention may further include a notification step (not shown) of notifying the user based on the activity score. For example, when the degree of activity of peristaltic motion is greater, the user may also be notified of the content.

(6) Communication procedure (not shown)

The invention may also include a communication step (not shown) of displaying the activity score or a graph and/or graphic relating to the activity score on the user's computer terminal screen via a wired or wireless communication line.

The automatic measurement method of peristaltic motion of the present invention can be performed by a program, a device or a system. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an example of the automatic measuring device for peristaltic motion 1 usable in the present invention.

The automatic measuring device 1 for peristaltic movement shown in fig. 2 is a so-called computer-based device, and includes an acquisition unit 11, a calculation unit 12, a storage unit 13, a communication unit 14, a notification unit 15, a display unit 16, an input unit 17, and a detection unit 18. The acquisition unit 11 acquires measurement information related to the biological activity of the user. The calculation unit 12 extracts information on the activity of the peristaltic movement from the acquired measurement information, obtains an activity score indicating the degree of the activity of the peristaltic movement, and the like. The notification unit 15 notifies the user of the calculation result. The display 16 displays at least the activity score. The storage unit 13 stores information necessary for processing of the automatic measuring device for creep motion 1. The input unit 17 receives input of information from a user. The detection unit 18 detects information related to the movement of the user. The communication unit 14 communicates with the terminal 3 via a wired or wireless communication line.

The automatic measuring device 1 for peristaltic movement is not limited to a dedicated device for measuring peristaltic movement. The automatic peristaltic movement measurement device 1 may be a server, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or the like, for example. For example, when a smartphone is used, a program that performs the processing shown in fig. 1 may be installed in the memory of the smartphone. In this case, the display of the smartphone may be the display unit 16.

[ ACQUIRING SECTION ]

The acquisition unit 11 acquires measurement information related to the biological activity. As a method of acquiring the measurement information, for example, an ultrasonic measurement technique can be used. As an example of the ultrasonic measurement technique, there is a Continuous Wave Doppler (CWD) method. The continuous wave doppler method is a technique of continuously transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and analyzing a difference between a frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic wave and a frequency of the received reflected wave. The larger the movement of the object, the larger the difference. Conversely, the smaller the movement of the object, the smaller the difference. In the medical field, the continuous wave doppler method is used to measure the direction and velocity of blood flow. The acquisition unit 11 includes an ultrasonic transmission unit (not shown) and an ultrasonic reception unit (not shown). The ultrasonic wave transmitting unit transmits an ultrasonic wave into the body, and the ultrasonic wave receiving unit receives a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave. The acquisition step of the acquisition unit 11 analyzes the difference between the frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmission unit and the frequency of the reflected wave received by the ultrasonic wave reception unit, and thereby acquires measurement information on the biological activity. The greater the biological activity, the greater the difference between the transmitted ultrasound and the received reflected wave, and the smaller the biological activity, the smaller the difference between the transmitted ultrasound and the received reflected wave.

The acquisition unit 11 may include a probe (not shown) that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, for example. At this time, a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves may be disposed on the skin of the lower abdomen of the user. The elements of the probe transmit ultrasonic waves to the lower abdomen of the user and receive reflected waves of the transmitted ultrasonic waves. Thus, the acquisition step of the acquisition unit 11 acquires measurement information relating to the biological activity in the lower abdomen.

The removing part 11 may be provided on the skin as described above, or may not be in contact with the skin. The acquisition unit 11 may be physically separated from the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1. The acquisition unit 11 may be inserted into the body of the user.

The place where the acquisition unit 11 is provided may be one place or a plurality of places.

The place where the acquisition part 11 is preferably provided is a place suitable for the purpose of acquisition. For example, when the high or low possibility of the content being excreted is predicted, it is preferable to acquire measurement information of 4 of the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon of the digestive tract. This is because combining the measurement information at these 4 points is suitable for prediction of the high or low likelihood of the content being excreted. Therefore, in the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1, the acquisition unit 11 is disposed at a position corresponding to the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon of the digestive tract. A method of predicting the level of possibility of content excretion by combining the measurement information at these 4 points will be described later.

Calculation section

The calculation unit 12 has an extraction step of extracting information on the activity of the peristaltic motion from the measurement information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition unit 11 in the acquisition step. The calculation unit 12 further includes a calculation step of obtaining an activity score based on the information on the activity of the peristaltic movement. When the automatic measuring device 1 for peristaltic movement is, for example, a smartphone or a server, the CPU, the memory, or the like corresponds to the calculation unit 12. Alternatively, a microcomputer, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or the like may be used as the calculation unit 12.

Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of the extraction step (including S1 and S2) and the calculation step (including S3 and S4) of the calculation section 12. First, the extraction step of the calculation unit 12 extracts information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the measurement information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition unit 11 in the acquisition step. Specifically, in the extraction step of the calculation unit 12, a frequency feature and an amplitude feature are extracted from the acquired measurement information on the biological activity by a specific analysis method (S1). Examples of the analysis technique include Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), and filters (Band Pass Filter, High Pass Filter, Low Pass Filter).

Next, the extraction step extracts a frequency feature and an amplitude feature corresponding to the activity of the peristaltic motion by removing noise information that is not required to obtain an activity score from the frequency feature and the amplitude feature extracted in step S1 (S2). The unnecessary noise information includes information related to the motion of the user and information unrelated to the motion of the user. Examples of the noise information related to the movement of the user include frequency characteristics related to the user's breathing, pulse, change in posture, walking, exercise, turning, friction between clothes and the acquisition unit, contact between the user and the acquisition unit, and the like. Examples of the noise information that is not related to the user's motion include frequency characteristics related to wind activity, vibration of the user's vehicle, and the like.

A detection unit 18 may be included, and the detection unit 18 may be configured to detect noise information (e.g., a change in posture, walking, exercise, turning, etc.) related to the movement of the user, which is included in the acquired measurement information. For example, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like can be used as the detection unit 18. The detection unit 18 may be a well-known device. The extraction step of the calculation unit 12 removes, from the measurement information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition unit 11, noise information unnecessary for obtaining the activity score, based on the noise information on the motion of the user detected by the detection unit 18. Therefore, the calculation section 12 can obtain information on the activity of the peristaltic movement more accurately.

Next, the calculation step of the calculation section 12 acquires the degree of the activity of the peristaltic motion by focusing on the frequency characteristic and the amplitude characteristic corresponding to the activity of the peristaltic motion and the duration data of the peristaltic motion (S3).

Next, the calculation step of the calculation unit 12 obtains an activity score from information relating to the activity of the peristaltic movement (for example, a frequency characteristic corresponding to the activity of the peristaltic movement). Specifically, the calculation unit 12 determines the level of the activity score based on one or more (for example, 5) thresholds (S4). For example, the activity score may be determined to be higher when the frequency is above a specified threshold. For example, when the amplitude is greater than a prescribed threshold, the activity score may be determined to be high. For example, a higher activity score indicates a more vigorous activity for peristaltic movements. The lower the activity score, the smoother the activity indicative of peristaltic motion.

The calculation unit 12 may determine information related to the contents in the digestive tract based on the acquired activity score. Examples of the information related to the content include the presence or absence of the content, the position of the content, the moving speed of the content, the degree of possibility of excretion of the content (for example, the degree of possibility of excretion by a user using a force in a toilet), and the time until the content is excreted.

The calculation unit 12 may determine the presence or absence of the content by analyzing information on the extracted activity of the peristaltic motion. For example, when there is a content in a place where peristaltic movement is performed, there is a high possibility that specific information such as a signal (high-frequency component) having a high speed is included in the information on the activity of the peristaltic movement. The reason is that the liquid-like contents are moving in the digestive tract. On the other hand, when there is no content in a place where peristaltic movement is being performed, there is a high possibility that specific information such as a signal (high-frequency component) having a high speed is not included in the information on the activity of peristaltic movement.

The threshold for determining the level of the activity score may be stored in the storage unit 13 described later. As for the setting of the threshold, a value that divides the minimum value to the maximum value of the information on the activity into equal ranges may be set as the threshold. Alternatively, the range of the threshold value relating to a specific activity score may be set to be wide, and the range of the threshold values relating to activity scores other than that may be set to be narrow. For example, if a small change in activity affects the determination of the activity score, the range of the threshold may be set to be narrow. Conversely, if the activity score is not determined to be affected by a large change in activity even if the activity is largely changed, the threshold value range can be set to be wide.

Also, since there is a possibility that there is an individual difference in the threshold value, the threshold value may be changed as needed. For example, the highest value of the activity score of some people reaches 5, and the highest value of the activity score of other people reaches only 3. The threshold value may be changed according to the individual difference.

Alternatively, the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1 may include an input unit 17 for urging the user to input information related to the contents. Examples of the information input by the user include information on food and drink consumed by eating, information on excretion, and the like. Examples of the information on the food or beverage to be consumed by eating include the time for consuming the food or beverage, the type of the food or beverage (vegetables, meat, etc.), the amount of the food or beverage (for example, the ratio of the food or beverage consumed by the user to the total amount of the food or beverage to be provided), and the like. Examples of the information on excretion include time to excrete, time to feel a sense of defecation, amount of excretion (for example, a metaphorical expression using the number of bananas), hardness of excretion (for example, classification of the state of nature of feces by the bristol scale), and the like.

By using these pieces of information as input information to the calculation unit 12, it is possible to expect improvement in accuracy in estimating the information on the contents. For example, the time of peristaltic movement of the digestive tract may be predicted based on the time food and beverages are placed in the mouth. Since the moving speed of the content changes according to the kind of food and drink, the level of the possibility that the content is excreted can be predicted more accurately according to the kind of food and drink. The size of the contents can be estimated based on the amount of food and drink. Since the harder the excrement is, the more time is required for digestion, the time required for the contents to move in the digestive tract can be estimated from the hardness of the excrement. The time of the next excretion can be estimated from the time of excretion.

In addition, the place where the activity score is obtained may be one place or a plurality of places in the digestive tract. In the following description, a case where activity scores of 4 places are obtained will be described as an example. The 4 places are, for example, the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon.

Fig. 4 shows a flow of a process of predicting content with a high possibility of excretion from the activity scores of the above 4 places. First, activity scores are obtained for the 4 places (S6). Then, if the activity score at least at any one of the 4 places is higher than a specific value (S7: Yes), it is judged that the possibility of content being excreted is high (S8).

In the above example, if the activity score at least one arbitrary place is higher than a specific value, it is determined that the possibility of excretion is high. For example, the sigmoid colon closer to the anus may be judged to have a high possibility of excretion, and the ascending colon farther from the anus may be judged to have a high possibility of excretion, when the activity score is high.

However, there may be a certain relationship between where the activity score becomes high and the level of the possibility of excretion. For example, some people excrete shortly after the activity score becomes high at a site further from the anus. On the other hand, some people do not excrete unless the activity score of a part near the anus is high. Therefore, history information of the relationship between the place where the activity becomes high and the level of the possibility of excretion may be stored in the storage unit 13 described later. This can be expected to improve the accuracy of prediction of excretion.

In the prediction of the excretion of the content, a weight coefficient may be set for each of the points where the activity of the peristaltic movement is calculated. For example, the weighting factor of the sigmoid colon closer to the anus and the weighting factor of the ascending colon farther from the anus may be set to different values. This can be expected to improve the accuracy of prediction of excretion. For example, assume a case where the activity score of the ascending colon farther from the anus is, for example, 3, and the activity score of the sigmoid colon closer to the anus is, for example, also 3. Generally, the latter contents are more likely to be excreted. The reason is that the sigmoid colon is closer to the anus. Therefore, even if the activity score of the ascending colon and the activity score of the sigmoid colon are the same, a difference occurs in the level of the possibility of being excreted. Therefore, different weight coefficients can be set for the ascending colon and the sigmoid colon, respectively. Due to the setting of the weighting factor, the activity score of the ascending colon farther from the anus becomes lower, and the activity score of the sigmoid colon closer to the anus becomes higher.

The level of likelihood of the contents being excreted can also be predicted from the total activity score. The total activity score is, for example, a score after summing the activity scores of each place of the digestive tract together. For example, when the activity score of the ascending colon is 3, the activity score of the transverse colon is 2, the activity score of the descending colon is 1, and the activity score of the sigmoid colon is 1, the total activity score is 7(3+2+1+1 ═ 7).

Fig. 5 shows a flow of a process in which the calculation section 12 predicts excretion from the total activity score. First, an activity score is obtained for each place of the digestive tract (S10). Next, a total activity score is obtained by summing together each activity score (S11). Then, when the total activity score becomes higher than a predetermined threshold value (S12: Yes), it is judged that the possibility that the content is excreted is high (S13).

In notifying the user of the alarms of the plurality of stages, the judgment result shown in fig. 4 or fig. 5 may be used in the notification of the alarm (one alarm) of the initial stage. The user may be notified of one alarm based on the determination result of the activity score in any one place shown in fig. 4, and then notified of the last alarm with higher accuracy than the one alarm based on the determination results of the other activity scores. Alternatively, the user may be notified of an alarm based on the determination result of the total activity score shown in fig. 5 in addition to the activity score at any one place shown in fig. 4.

The level of the possibility of excretion of the content may be predicted from the change in the activity score over time. For example, as shown in fig. 6, when the activity score of each of the "ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon" arranged in order farther from the anus changes from the state (1) of "3, 1" to the state (2) of "1, 3", the calculation unit 12 predicts that the content is highly likely to be excreted. The reason is that the activity score of the sigmoid colon closer to the anus becomes high, and it can be assumed that the contents exist at a position closer to the anus.

Due to peristaltic movements of the digestive tract, the contents will in principle move towards the rectum. Therefore, the content is more likely to move toward the rectum. However, the contents do not necessarily move towards the rectum. By the peristaltic movement of the digestive tract, the contents move toward the rectum while repeatedly moving back and forth. Therefore, it sometimes moves in the opposite direction to the rectum. Also, when the peristaltic movement is too violent, or too irregular, it is difficult for the digestive tract to smoothly move the contents.

Then, the calculation unit 12 may predict the position, the moving direction, and the like of the content based on the change of the activity score with the lapse of time. For example, as shown in fig. 7, it is assumed that the activity scores of the "ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon" arranged in order farther from the anus are changed in the order of (1) (2) (3) (4). Assume that each activity score of state (1) is "3, 1", each activity score of state (2) is "1, 3, 1", each activity score of state (3) is "1, 3, 1", and each activity score of state (4) is "1, 3".

In fig. 7, in state (1), the activity score of the ascending colon farther from the anus is 3, higher, and the activity score of the sigmoid colon closer to the anus is 1, lower. It is presumed that the content exists at a position where the activity score is high, and the content exists at a position farther from the anus. Then, as the state changes from (2), (3), and (4), the part with the higher activity score approaches the anus. This phenomenon can be used to estimate that the contents are moving toward the anus.

The calculation unit 12 may predict the degree of possibility of excretion of the contents based on the estimated moving distance of the contents, the time required for the movement, and the length of the digestive tract. As shown in fig. 8, there are, for example, 3 places where the activity score is obtained, and the points a, B, and C are in this order from a place farther from the anus. Let us assume that the content is excreted when it moves to point C. The distance from the point a to the point B is X1, and the distance from the point B to the point C is X2.

In fig. 8, a case is assumed where the activity score of each point changes in the following order of (1), (2), and (3). For example, the activity score of each point in the state (1) is "3, 1", the activity score of each point in the state (2) is "1, 3, 1", and the activity score of each point in the state (3) is "1, 3". The time required for the change from (1) to (2) was T1, and the time required for the change from (2) to (3) was T2. Since it can be assumed that the content exists at a place with a high activity score, it can be assumed that the content has moved from point a to point B and from point B to point C. In other words, the time required for the contents to move from point a to point B is T1, and the time required for the contents to move from point B to point C is T2.

The moving speed S of the content between the point a and the point B can be calculated by dividing the time T1 required for the content to move from the point a to the point B by the distance X1 between the point a and the point B. Here, assuming that the moving speed of the content between the points a and B and the moving speed of the content between the points B and C are the same, the time T2 required for the content to move from the point B to the point C can be calculated by dividing the distance X2 from the point B to the point C by the moving speed S.

In the above example, assuming that the moving speed of the content between the points a and B and the moving speed of the content between the points B and C are the same, the time T2 required for the point B to move to the point C can be calculated even when the moving speeds are different from each other. The history information of the moving speed may be stored in the storage unit 13 described later. The future moving speed can be predicted by referring to history information of the moving speed. For example, the time T2 required for the point B to move to the point C may be calculated by dividing the distance X2 from the point B to the point C by the moving speed S2 of the content between the point B and the point C.

Display part

As shown in fig. 9, the display section 16 has a display step of displaying at least the activity score on the computer terminal screen. The display unit 16 displays a graph and/or graph corresponding to the activity score on the screen of the computer terminal. And, the displaying step of the display part 16 displays the activity score or a graph and/or a graphic corresponding to the activity score on the computer terminal screen together with an image including at least the human body at the digestive tract. The display step of the display unit 16 is only required to display the place where the digestive tract is present, and does not necessarily display the model diagram of the digestive tract. The image of the human body includes a picture, a photograph, a model diagram, and the like. This makes it possible to provide an effect that the user can intuitively understand the peristaltic movement. When the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1 is a smartphone, for example, the display screen corresponds to the display unit 16.

In the example of fig. 9, an image including a human body in the digestive tract (large intestine) is displayed in the center of the display unit 16. In order to show the activity scores (activity amounts) of 4 places (A, B, C and D) of the large intestine, the 4 places were specified. The activity scores for the 4 places are shown on the lower right side of the image of the human body. On the left side of the activity score there is shown a graph corresponding to the activity score. Since the higher the activity score is, the longer the bar of the graph is, the user can intuitively understand the level of activity of the peristaltic motion. Note that, when there is a place where the activity score is particularly high, a message of the content may be displayed on the display portion 16.

In the example of fig. 9, images of meals, stools, toilets, and the like are displayed on the lower portion of the graph corresponding to the activity score. It is also possible to display a screen for the user to input information corresponding to each image by causing the user to select the image. For example, a screen for the user to input information on eating food and drink can be displayed by an image for the user to select a meal. For example, a screen for allowing the user to input information on the amount of excrement may be displayed by allowing the user to select an image of excrement. For example, a screen for allowing the user to input the time to go to a toilet may be displayed by allowing the user to select an image of the toilet.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 10, the display step of the display unit 16 may be performed by superimposing a graph corresponding to the activity score on an image of a human body such as a model diagram of the digestive tract.

The graphics corresponding to the activity score may also be given information such as colors, text, alphanumeric characters, symbols, images, etc. The graphic may be animated as an animation, or may be colorless and transparent. Alternatively, instead of the graphics, information such as colors, letters, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and images may be displayed.

As shown in fig. 11, taking color as an example, red may be given a graphic if the activity score is high. Conversely, if the activity score is low, blue may be assigned a graphic. By superimposing the graphics on the model map of the digestive tract, a region where the peristaltic movement is more intense can be displayed in red in the model map of the digestive tract.

For example, if the activity score is high, the text "high" may be assigned to the graphic. Conversely, if the activity score is low, the text "low" or the like may be assigned to the graphic.

For example, in the case of an alphanumeric character, if the activity score is high, the alphanumeric character may be given "a" or "3". Conversely, if the activity score is low, the alphanumeric characters "C" or "1" may be assigned.

For example, if the activity score is high, the symbol "∘" or "%" or the like may be assigned. Conversely, if the activity score is low, a symbol "x" or "↓" or the like may be assigned.

Taking an image as an example, if the activity score is high, an image in which the width of the digestive tract is enlarged may be given. Conversely, if the activity score is low, an image in which the width of the digestive tract is narrowed may be given.

For example, animation may be used to change the width of the digestive tract over time by using animation techniques such as gif (graphics exchange format). The place with higher activity score may be displayed as a place with large variation amplitude, and the place with lower activity score may be displayed as a place with small variation amplitude.

The graphics themselves may also be deformed. For example, if the activity score is high, the activity score may be deformed into a pattern such as a thunder or a crying face. Conversely, if the activity score is low, the pattern may be distorted to a sun or smile.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a flowchart for determining information given to a graph corresponding to an activity score. In this example, it is assumed that the activity score is set to 5 stages, and a color is given to the graph. First, when the activity score is 5(S15: Yes), it is determined that the color given to the figure is "red" (S16). When the activity score is not 5(S15: No) but 4(S16: Yes), it is judged that the color given to the figure is "orange" (S17). When the activity score is not 4(S16: No) but 3(S18: Yes), it is judged that the color given to the figure is "yellow" (S19). When the activity score is not 3(S18: No) but 2 (S20: Yes), it is judged that the color given to the figure is "green" (S21). When the activity score is not 2 (S20: No), the color assigned to the figure is determined to be "blue" because it becomes 1 (S22).

The display step of the display unit 16 may be performed by combining a plurality of pieces of information to be given to the graphics. For example, if the activity score is high, a number "3" is assigned to the graphic, and the number "3" may also be displayed in red.

In the display step of the display unit 16, the display area of the graph corresponding to the activity score may be changed according to the activity score. As shown in fig. 13, the higher the activity score, the larger the area of the graph may be displayed. Conversely, the lower the activity score, the smaller the area of the graph may be displayed.

The difference in size of an object having a specific shape can be intuitively understood more than the difference in the number, character, and the like, the meaning of which needs to be understood. Therefore, the display step of the display unit 16 has an effect of allowing the user to intuitively understand the degree of activity by changing the display area of the graph corresponding to the activity score.

In the display step of the display unit 16, not only the graph corresponding to the activity score but also the graph corresponding to the content can be displayed. For example, a graphic provided with a color, a character, an alphanumeric character, a symbol, an image, or the like can be displayed at the position of the content.

For example, when it is estimated that a content exists in a descending colon, a graphic of the content may be displayed in a place of the descending colon in an image of a human body. Instead of the graphics, numbers indicating the size of the contents may be displayed at the positions where the contents are estimated to be present. When a plurality of contents exist in the digestive tract, letters "a", "B", and "C", numerals "1", "2", and "3", symbols "o" and "x", and the like for distinguishing the contents may be displayed.

As shown in fig. 10, the display step of the display unit 16 may display a number indicating the activity score or the likelihood of excretion.

Fig. 14 shows an example of a case where the display step of the display unit 16 displays the total activity score (total activity amount). Note that in this example, the total activity score in fig. 14 and the activity score in fig. 9 are not associated.

Communication section

The communication section 14 has a communication step of displaying the activity score or a graph and/or graphic relating to the activity score on the screen of the computer terminal 3 of the user through a wired or wireless communication line. When the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1 is, for example, a smartphone, for example, a wireless LAN adapter or a BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) adapter or the like corresponds to the communication section 14.

Examples of the terminal 3 communicating with the communication unit 14 include a PC, a tablet computer, and a smartphone. The activity score determined by the calculation unit 12 may be displayed on the screen of the terminal 3 instead of the display unit 16. The terminal 3 may be notified of an alarm concerning excretion or may be displayed with an image of a human body on the terminal 3.

Alternatively, the user may be prompted to input information to be input to the input unit 17 to the terminal 3. For example, the user may be prompted to input the eating and drinking time of food and drink, information on the type of the food and drink (vegetables, meat, etc.), excretion time, and the like to the terminal 3.

Notification section

The notification unit 15 includes a notification step of notifying the user based on the activity score. When the automatic measuring device 1 for peristaltic movement is a smartphone, for example, the speaker corresponds to the notification unit 15.

For example, when the degree of activity of peristaltic motion is large, the user can be notified of the content. For example, when the peristaltic movement is too violent, or the peristaltic movement is irregular, the content can be notified to the user. For example, when the colon is in a constipation state, the content can be notified. For example, when it is predicted that the possibility that the content is excreted is high, the content can be notified.

As a means for notifying the step notification, for example, light, sound, vibration, or the like can be given. As for the light, it can be mentioned that the LED lamp emits light. The sound may be, for example, a buzzer. As the vibration, for example, a vibrator can be given vibration.

Storage section

The storage unit 13 stores information necessary for processing of the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1. When the automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement 1 is, for example, a smartphone, the memory corresponds to the storage unit 13, for example.

Examples of the information about the acquisition unit 11 stored in the storage unit 13 include measurement information (for example, frequency characteristics, amplitude characteristics, voltage, amplification factor, and the like), the number of measurement sites, and the positions of the measurement sites.

Examples of the information about the calculation unit 12 stored in the storage unit 13 include information about peristaltic exercise, information about contents, and information about the digestive tract. Examples of the information related to the peristaltic exercise include a threshold value of an activity score, a history of the activity score, a time period during which the peristaltic exercise is performed, a weight coefficient for each part of the measurement, and a pattern of a combination of one or more activity scores. Examples of the information on the contents include the presence or absence of the contents, the position of the contents, the type of the contents (meat, vegetables, etc.), and the moving speed of the contents. Examples of the information on the digestive tract include the length of the digestive tract.

Examples of the information about the communication unit 14 stored in the storage unit 13 include information for identifying a terminal performing communication (for example, an IP address), information for performing communication, and the like.

Examples of the information about the notification unit 15 stored in the storage unit 13 include information about notification, information about notification by light, information about notification by sound, and information about notification by vibration. Examples of the information related to the notification include the time and type (precursor alarm or final alarm) of the notification or the notification. Examples of the information related to the notification by light include the color of light, the time interval of light flash melt, and the like. Examples of the information related to the notification by sound include the level of sound and the length of time for which the sound is emitted. Examples of the information related to the notification by vibration include the intensity of vibration and the time interval of vibration.

Examples of the information on the display unit 16 stored in the storage unit 13 include a graph and/or a graph corresponding to the activity score, an image including at least the human body in the digestive tract, and the like.

Examples of the information on the input unit 17 stored in the storage unit 13 include information on food and drink consumed by eating, information on excretion, and the like.

One embodiment of the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer or other usable or readable medium. The computer program may be stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be downloaded to the terminal via the internet, for example. For example, when a user implements the present invention using a smartphone, the present invention can be implemented by, for example, loading a computer program product into the smartphone via the internet, installing and executing a peristaltic motion automatic measurement program incorporated in the computer program product.

One embodiment of the present invention is a recording medium on which the automatic measurement program of peristaltic movement is recorded. The program recorded in the recording medium is read by the CPU, and the same processing as described above is executed by the control of the CPU.

The program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable media and supplied to a computer. The non-transitory computer readable medium includes various types of recording media (readable storage media) having entities. Examples of the non-transitory computer readable medium include magnetic recording media (e.g., floppy disks), magnetic tapes, hard Disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), CD-R, CD-R/W, semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), flash ROM, Random Access Memory (RAM)). Also, the program may be provided to the computer through various types of transient computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electronic signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer readable medium can supply the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber, or a wireless communication path.

An embodiment of the present invention may be in the form of a system implemented by a wired or wireless communication line. Here, fig. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of the automatic peristaltic movement measuring system according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 15, the automatic measurement system 30 for peristaltic movement includes an acquisition device 31 and a calculation device 32. The acquisition means 31 and the calculation means 32 are connected together by a wired or wireless communication line 2. The acquisition step of the acquisition means 31 acquires measurement information relating to the activity of the living body at one or more places of the digestive tract in the body of the user.

The extraction step of the calculation means 32 extracts information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the measurement information on the activity of the living body acquired by the acquisition means 31. Then, the calculation step of the calculation means 32 obtains an activity score indicating the degree of activity of the peristaltic movement from the information on the activity of the peristaltic movement. The detailed steps of the acquisition unit 32 and the calculation unit 32 are the same as those of the acquisition unit 11 and the calculation unit 12 of the automatic peristaltic measuring device 1. The computing device 32 can be implemented, for example, as a physical server or a virtual server. The automatic peristaltic movement measuring system 30 may also comprise a plurality of acquisition means 31 or a plurality of calculation means 32.

Alternatively, the data acquired by the acquisition step of the acquisition device 31 may be transmitted to the computing device 32, which is a computer of the cloud environment, via the information communication network. Data processed in the extraction step and the calculation step of the computing device 32, which is a cloud environment computer, may be transmitted to the computer terminal of the user via the information communication network. The displaying step of the user's computer terminal may display the data on the terminal screen.

It should be noted that the embodiment is premised on the measurement of peristaltic movement of the large intestine. However, the digestive tract measured by the present invention is not limited to the large intestine. The invention can also be used to measure peristaltic movements of the digestive tract in the lower abdomen, e.g. stomach, small intestine, large intestine, etc.

One of the effects of the present invention is to be able to predict the likelihood of excretion in daily life. The present invention can be practically applied to patients with dysuria, elderly people who are difficult to go to the toilet by their own power, or people who are difficult to excrete with a reduced Quality Of Life (QOL) although they are not going to the hospital as serious as possible. Since the possibility of excretion can be grasped, nurses, home attendants, nursing welfare agents, nursing managers, and the like can appropriately assist excretion.

One of the effects of the present invention is to enable appropriate selection of drugs such as cathartics. Laxatives are widely available. For example, there are drugs that activate the activity of peristaltic movement, drugs that increase the amount of water in the body, drugs that swell the rectum, drugs that stimulate the small intestine, and the like. It is necessary to select appropriate drugs and the like to improve constipation. However, in the current state, no appropriate selection is made in the care facility. Because peristaltic movements are not easily measured.

One of the effects of the present invention is to confirm the effect of a drug such as a laxative. For example, a nurse can administer a large intestine-stimulating cathartic to a patient who suffers from constipation with reduced motility due to peristaltic movement, and confirm the effect. Large intestine stimulant laxatives are laxatives that promote defecation by allowing the large intestine to perform peristaltic movements. After the patient has been administered the large intestine stimulant laxative, if the degree of the activity of the peristaltic movement is confirmed to be high by the present invention, the nurse can judge that the large intestine stimulant laxative has exerted its effect. Thus, the nurse can appropriately guide the patient to the toilet.

One of the effects of the present invention is to confirm the effect during rehabilitation training. The therapeutic effect of exercise therapy, food therapy, etc. can be easily confirmed.

One of the effects of the present invention is to confirm the effect of a drug in gastroscopy. In gastroscopy, in order to improve the examination efficiency and the like, it is sometimes necessary to suppress excessive peristaltic movement of the stomach by a drug. The present invention can confirm whether the effect of the drug is sufficient by measuring the peristaltic movement of the stomach.

One of the effects of the present invention is to confirm whether progesterone is normally secreted during pregnancy. Progesterone secreted during pregnancy is known to inhibit peristaltic movements of the small intestine. The invention can confirm whether the secretion of the progesterone is normal or not by measuring the peristaltic movement of the small intestine.

The effects described in the present specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and may have other effects.

It should be noted that all the points in the embodiments disclosed herein are examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The scope of the patent is indicated not by the above description but by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

The present invention can be embodied as follows.

[ 1 ] an automatic measurement method of the peristaltic movement, which comprises:

an acquisition step of acquiring measurement information related to the activity of the living body at one or more sites of the digestive tract,

an extraction step of extracting information on activity of peristaltic motion from the measurement information on the activity of the living body acquired in the acquisition step, and

a calculating step of obtaining an activity score indicating a degree of activity of the peristaltic movement based on the information on the activity of the peristaltic movement.

The method of automatic measurement of peristaltic motion according to claim 1, the activity score representing the degree of activity of the peristaltic motion in real time.

[ 3 ] the automatic measurement method of peristaltic movement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculating step determines the level of the activity score according to a threshold value.

The automatic peristaltic movement measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a display step of displaying at least the activity score on a computer terminal screen.

[ 5 ] the automatic measurement method of peristaltic movement according to claim 4, the displaying step displaying a graph and/or graph corresponding to the activity score on a computer terminal screen.

[ 6 ] the automatic measurement method of peristaltic movement according to claim 4 or 5, the displaying step displaying the activity score or a graph and/or graphic corresponding to the activity score on a computer terminal screen together with an image including at least the human body at the alimentary tract.

[ 7 ] the automatic measurement method of peristaltic motion according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the extracting step removes noise information included in the measurement information acquired in the acquiring step, and acquires the information on the activity of the peristaltic motion.

The automatic peristaltic movement measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a notification step of notifying a user in accordance with the activity score.

The automatic measurement method of peristaltic motion according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the acquisition step acquires the measurement information by transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a body and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave.

[ 10 ] the automatic peristaltic movement measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a communication step of displaying the activity score or a graph and/or graphic relating to the activity score on a screen of a computer terminal of a user through a wired or wireless communication line.

A computer program product with an automatic measuring program for peristaltic movements embedded therein, for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 after the program is loaded into a computer for execution.

[ 12 ] an automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement, comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires measurement information relating to the activity of the living body at one or more sites of the digestive tract, an

And a calculation unit that extracts information on the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition unit, and obtains an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of peristaltic motion from the information on the activity of peristaltic motion.

[ 13 ] an automatic measurement system for peristaltic movement, which is implemented by a wired or wireless communication line, comprising:

an acquisition device for acquiring measurement information related to the activity of the living body at one or more locations of the digestive tract, an

And a calculation device that extracts information on the activity of the peristaltic motion from the information on the biological activity acquired by the acquisition device, and obtains an activity score indicating a degree of the activity of the peristaltic motion from the information on the activity of the peristaltic motion.

(description of symbols)

S100, an obtaining step; s101, an extraction step; s102-calculating; s103, a display step; 1-automatic measuring device for peristaltic movement; 11-an acquisition section; 12-a calculation section; 13-a storage section; 14-a communication section; 15-a notification section; 16-a display section; 17-an input; 18-a detection section; 30-automatic measuring system of peristaltic movement; 31-an acquisition device; 32-a computing device; 2-a communication line; and 3, terminating.