Biomagnetism measuring device

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide a biomagnetism measuring device capable of accurately detecting biomagnetism regardless of the object to be measured. This biomagnetism measuring device (1) is provided with: a plurality of magnetic sensors (11) which detect biomagnetism of a living body (100); a retaining portion (12) including retaining holes (12a) which retain the plurality of magnetic sensors (11) with freedom to move individually; and a movement mechanism which moves the magnetic sensors (11) individually in a contacting/separating direction causing the magnetic sensors (11) to come into contact with or separate from the living body (100). As movement mechanisms there may be mentioned, for example, a pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism (20), a resilient body mechanism (30), a screw mechanism (40) and a gear mechanism (50).

Claims

1. A biomagnetism measuring device comprising: a plurality of magnetic sensors that have detection surfaces and detect magnetism of a living body as a subject to be measured; a retaining portion including retaining holes that hold the plurality of magnetic sensors such that the magnetic sensors can individually move freely; and a movement mechanism that is at least one of a pneumatic mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, a resilient body mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a gear mechanism and moves the magnetic sensors in directions that approach and separate from the subject to be measured causing the magnetic sensors to come into contact with or separate from the subject to be measured, wherein the magnetic sensors are giant magnetoresistance sensors (GMR sensors), tunnel magneto resistance sensors (TMR sensors), anisotropic magneto resistive sensors (AMR sensors), magnetic impedance sensors (MI sensors), or fluxgate sensors, and wherein the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors are provided at vertically upper ends of the magnetic sensors to oppose the subject to be measured and to allow gravity working on the subject to improve contact between the subject and the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors.

2. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 1, wherein some part of the movement mechanism is made of a nonmagnetic material.

3. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling, on the basis of externally acquired biological information, movement of the magnetic sensors using the movement mechanism.

4. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors further include contact detection means for detecting contact with the subject to be measured.

5. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors further include biological information acquisition means for acquiring biological information.

6. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed directly beneath the subject to be measured.

7. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 1, wherein some part of the retaining portion is made of a flexible material.

8. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 2, further comprising control means for controlling, on the basis of externally acquired biological information, movement of the magnetic sensors using the movement mechanism.

9. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensors further include contact detection means for detecting contact with the subject to be measured.

10. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic sensors further include contact detection means for detecting contact with the subject to be measured.

11. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensors further include biological information acquisition means for acquiring biological information.

12. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic sensors further include biological information acquisition means for acquiring biological information.

13. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic sensors further include biological information acquisition means for acquiring biological information.

14. The biomagnetism measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed directly beneath the subject to be measured.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view for illustrating an exemplary configuration of a biomagnetism measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the positional relationship between a subject and magnetic sensors of the biomagnetism measuring device.

(3) FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration in which the magnetic sensors are disposed directly beneath the subject.

(4) FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another configuration in which the magnetic sensors are disposed directly beneath the subject.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism.

(6) FIG. 6 is an expanded schematic diagram of a main portion for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a resilient body mechanism.

(7) FIG. 7 is an expanded schematic diagram of a main portion for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a screw mechanism.

(8) FIG. 8 is an expanded schematic diagram of a main portion for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a gear mechanism.

(9) FIG. 9 is a block diagram for illustrating the configuration of the biomagnetism measuring device.

(10) FIGS. 10(a), (b) and (c) are expanded schematic diagrams of a main portion for illustrating an exemplary configuration in which the magnetic sensor includes a pressure sensor.

(11) FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a configuration of the pressure sensor.

(12) FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an exemplary configuration in which the magnetic sensor includes detection means for detecting biological information.

(13) FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a configuration of a bioelectrode.

(14) FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device in which the retaining portion is made of a flexible material.

PREFERRED MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(15) An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment and may be changed as appropriate without departing from the object of the present invention.

(16) <Biomagnetism Measuring Device 1>

(17) FIG. 1 is a plan view for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the positional relationship between a subject and magnetic sensors of the biomagnetism measuring device and is a cross-section taken along the line A-A′ in the biomagnetism measuring device illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the biomagnetism measuring device 1 includes a plurality of magnetic sensors 11 that detect biomagnetism, a retaining portion 12 formed with retaining holes 12a that hold the magnetic sensors 11 such that the magnetic sensors 11 can move freely and a movement mechanism configured to move detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors 11 in directions that approach and separate from a living body (hereinafter also referred to as a “subject”) 100 as a subject to be measured.

(18) [Magnetic Sensor 11]

(19) The magnetic sensors 11 are configured to detect biomagnetism generated by the living body 100 to be measured. Examples of the type of sensor used as the magnetic sensor 11 include a giant magnetoresistance sensor (GMR sensor), a tunnel magneto resistance sensor (TMR sensor), an anisotropic magneto resistive sensor (AMR sensor), magnetic impedance sensor (MI sensor) and a fluxgate sensor. The magnetic sensor 11 used in this embodiment may be any kind of magnetic sensor provided that the magnetic sensor can detect a magnetic field (normal component) between about 10.sup.−4 T (tesla) and 10.sup.−10 T (tesla). The magnetic sensor 11 used in this embodiment can acquire the same amount of information as a SQUID sensor, can be used at room temperature and does not need to be disposed in a dewar that stores refrigerant. In addition, the magnetic sensors 11 can be brought closer to the living body 100 and are easier to handle than when SQUID sensors are used.

(20) The magnetic sensors 11 may or may not have wiring for giving/receiving signals and power supply. However, because the plurality of magnetic sensors 11 are disposed in the biomagnetism measuring device 1, the biomagnetism measuring device 1 preferably includes wiring as illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to prevent complex wiring.

(21) Signals detected by the magnetic sensors 11 are sent to a control unit. The control unit generates biomagnetic information from the signals detected by the magnetic sensors 11 and visualizes and outputs this information to a display device.

(22) [Retaining Portion 12]

(23) The retaining portion 12 is formed with the retaining holes 12a that hold the plurality of magnetic sensors 11 such that the magnetic sensors 11 can individually move freely. The retaining holes 12a are arranged in an array. FIG. 1 shows an example where the retaining holes 12a are arranged in a 5×5 array. However, the number of retaining holes 12a (magnetic sensors 11) and the direction the retaining holes 12a are arranged in may be appropriately selected according to the subject to be measured and the measurement site.

(24) The above-described retaining portion 12 is preferably made of a plastic material such as an acrylic resin, a nonferrous metal such as aluminum, titanium, copper, brass or specially processed stainless-steel alloy, or a nonmagnetic material such as wood. Forming the retaining portion 12 of a nonmagnetic material can suppress fluctuation in environmental magnetism even if the retaining portion 12 vibrates due to the subject 100 moving, for example, breathing. Therefore, the influence of fluctuation in environmental magnetism on the magnetic sensors 11 can be suppressed.

(25) The retaining portion 12 is preferably placed directly beneath the subject to be measured so as to enhance contact between the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors 11 and the subject to be measured. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the subject 100 may lay face-up on an examination table 2 incorporated with the retaining portion 12. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the subject 100 may lay face-down on the examination table 2. Through the subject 100 laying down on the examination table 2 incorporated with the retaining portion 12, gravity works on the subject 100 to improve contact between the body surface of the subject 100 and the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors 11. As a result, the biomagnetism measuring device 1 can obtain more accurate biomagnetic information.

(26) [Movement Mechanisms]

(27) The movement mechanisms separately move the magnetic sensors 11 in a contact or separation direction to cause the magnetic sensors 11 to come into contact with or separate from the living body 100, to thereby cause close contact between the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors 11 and the living body 100 as the subject to be measured. The movement mechanisms are not particularly limited provided that the movement mechanisms can move the magnetic sensors 11 to a predetermined position. Examples of the movement mechanisms include a pneumatic mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, a resilient body mechanism, a screw mechanism and a gear mechanism.

(28) (Pneumatic/Hydraulic Mechanism 20)

(29) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism. In FIG. 5, components that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference symbols and a description thereof is omitted. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism 20 increases/reduces pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure in the retaining holes 12b using a pump 21 to move the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors 11 in the retaining holes 12b in a direction approaching the subject to be measured or in a direction separating from the subject to be measured. The pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism 20 uses air or oil that does not affect the sensitivity of the magnetic sensors 11.

(30) (Resilient Body Mechanism 30)

(31) FIG. 6 is an expanded schematic diagram of a main portion for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a resilient body mechanism. In FIG. 6, components that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference symbols and a description thereof is omitted. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in a resilient body mechanism 30, a resilient body member 31 such as a coil screw is provided in each retaining hole 12a. Repulsive force generated by the subject to be measured increases or reduces the expansion/contraction of the resilient body member 31 to achieve close contact between the subject to be measured and the detection surfaces of the magnetic sensors 11 in the retaining holes 12a. The resilient body mechanism 30 has a simple configuration that does not require a drive source.

(32) (Screw Mechanism 40)

(33) FIG. 7 is an expanded schematic diagram of a main portion for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a screw mechanism. In FIG. 7, components that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference symbols and a description thereof is omitted. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a screw mechanism 40 includes a screw shaft 41 and a screw nut 42 to which the screw shaft 41 is screwed in. A drive motor (not shown) rotationally drives the screw nut 42 to increase/reduce rotation of the screw shaft 41 to move the detection surface of the magnetic sensor 11 in the retaining hole 12a in a direction approaching the subject to be measured or in a direction separating from the subject to be measured. As described later, in the screw mechanism 40, a control unit increases/reduces rotation of the screw shaft 41 to allow the magnetic sensors 11 to be separately moved to a predetermined position.

(34) (Gear Mechanism 50)

(35) FIG. 8 is an expanded schematic diagram of a main portion for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device that includes a gear mechanism. In FIG. 8, components that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference symbols and a description thereof is omitted. As illustrated in FIG. 8, a gear mechanism 50 includes a gear 51 and a meshing portion 52 that meshes with the gear 51. A drive motor (not shown) rotationally drives the gear 51 to increase/reduce movement of the meshing portion 52 and move the magnetic sensor 11 in the retaining hole 12a. The gear 51 may be configured of a plurality of gears. As described later, in the gear mechanism 50, a control unit increases/decreases movement of the meshing portion 52 to allow the magnetic sensors 11 to be separately moved to a predetermined position.

(36) The above-described movement mechanisms such as the resilient body mechanism 30, the screw mechanism 40 and the gear mechanism 50 are preferably made of a plastic material such as an acrylic resin, a nonferrous metal such as aluminum, titanium, copper, brass or a specially processed stainless-steel alloy, or a nonmagnetic material such as wood. Even if the members move due to operation of the movement mechanism, fluctuations in environmental magnetism can be suppressed because the members are made of a nonmagnetic material. Therefore, influence of fluctuations in environmental magnetism on the magnetic sensors 11 can be suppressed.

(37) [Control Unit]

(38) In the biomagnetism measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment, the movement of each magnetic sensor 11 caused by the movement mechanism may be controlled by a control unit. For example, the control unit may control the movement mechanism such as the pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism 20, the screw mechanism 40 and the gear mechanism 50 on the basis of externally acquired biological information to adjust the movement of each magnetic sensor 11.

(39) FIG. 9 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration of the biomagnetism measuring device including a control unit that determines movement on the basis of externally acquired biological information. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a control unit 13 of the biomagnetism measuring device 1 may store previously acquired biological information 101 in a memory 14 and use a central processing unit (CPU) 15 to calculate the number of revolutions of a plurality of drive motors 16 provided in the movement mechanisms on the basis of the stored biological information 101. Then, the control unit 13 may control the movement of each magnetic sensor 11. As a result, the biomagnetism measuring device 1 can move each magnetic sensor 11 to an appropriate position on the basis of the biological information 101. The externally acquired biological information 101 is, for example, information on a biological cross-section of the body type of the subject 100 obtained by MRI measurement.

(40) [Modification Example of Magnetic Sensor]

(41) The magnetic sensors 11 may further include detection means for detecting information other than magnetic information on the living body 100. Examples of such detection means include contact detection means that detects contact between the magnetic sensor 11 and the living body 100 and biological information acquisition means that acquires information on the living body 100.

(42) (Magnetic Sensor Including Contact Detection Means)

(43) The magnetic sensor 11 may include a pressure sensor or a position sensor as the contact detection means for detecting contact with the living body 100. FIGS. 10(a), (b) and (c) are expanded schematic diagrams of a main portion for illustrating an exemplary configuration in which the magnetic sensor includes a pressure sensor that detects contact with a body. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10(a), the magnetic sensor 11 may include, on a detection surface 11a that opposes the subject to be measured, a pressure sensor 61 that detects contact with the living body 100. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 10(b), the magnetic sensor 11 may include the pressure sensor 61 on a surface 11b that opposes the detection surface 11a of the magnetic sensor. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 10(c), the magnetic sensor 11 may include pressure sensors 61 on both the detection surface 11a of the magnetic sensor 11 and the surface 11b that opposes the detection surface 11a. The pressure sensor 61 disposed on the surface 11b that opposes the detection surface 11a of the magnetic sensor 11 detects stress. This stress is a combination of stress from the subject to be measured and stress from the movement mechanism. Then, the control unit 13 determines whether the magnetic sensor 11 and the living body 100 are in contact with each other on the basis of detection results from the pressure sensor 61.

(44) The pressure sensor 61 may be any sensor provided that the pressure sensor 61 outputs a pressure signal according to the applied pressure to the control unit 13. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the pressure sensor 61 measures pressure from the subject to be measured using a pressure-sensitive element through a diaphragm 61a, converts the pressure into an electrical signal and sends this electrical signal to the control unit 13 via two connection cables 61b and 61c.

(45) With the control unit 13, contact between the magnetic sensor 11 and the living body 100 can be determined on the basis of the electrical signal output from the pressure sensor 61 or the position sensor. The control unit 13 may be configured not to give and receive signals or supply power between magnetic sensors 11 that are not in contact with the subject to be measured, to thereby save power. In addition, the control unit 13 can select only information from magnetic sensors 11 that are in contact with the subject to be measured and generate biomagnetic information.

(46) (Magnetic Sensor Including Biological Information Acquisition Means)

(47) In addition, the magnetic sensor 11 may include a bioelectrode or a pressure sensor as biological information acquisition means for acquiring biomagnetic information. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an exemplary configuration in which the magnetic sensor includes detection means for detecting biological information. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the magnetic sensor 11 may include a bioelectrode 62 as biological information acquisition means on a detection surface that opposes the subject to be measured. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the bioelectrode 62 includes an electrode portion 62a and biological information acquired by the electrode portion 62a is sent to the control unit 13 via the connection cable 62b. Examples of the biological information acquired by the bioelectrode 62 or the pressure sensor includes an electrocardiogram, heart rate, pulse, number of breaths or muscle potential.

(48) With the control unit 13, biological information other than biomagnetic information can be acquired and the biological information can be visualized and output to a display device. Therefore, the person conducting the measurement can circumstantially acquire a plurality of types of information in one measurement with one biomagnetism measuring device.

(49) [Modification Example of Retaining Portion]

(50) The retaining portion 12 illustrated in FIG. 2 is made of a rigid material, but the retaining portion may be made of a flexible material. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an example of a biomagnetism measuring device in which the retaining portion is made of a flexible material. As illustrated in FIG. 14, a retaining portion 12′ is made of a flexible material. Therefore, even if the subject to be measured has a curved or uneven surface, the retaining portion 12′ deforms to fit the shape of the subject to be measured. Because of this, the magnetic sensors 11 held by the retaining portion 12′ can achieve increased contact area between the detection surfaces and the subject to be measured and biomagnetism can be detected more accurately.

(51) In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the magnetic sensors 11 in the retaining portion 12′ may include a position sensor 63 that detects the position of the magnetic sensor 11 or an angle sensor 64 that detects the inclination of the magnetic sensor 11. With the control unit 13, a relative position between the magnetic sensor 11 and the subject to be measured may be calculated on the basis of the results of detection by the position sensor 63 or the angle sensor 64 and magnetic distribution of biomagnetism or the currents source may be estimated using this information. In addition, the control unit 13 may visualize the detection results and display and output the results to a display device.

(52) The flexible material used for the retaining portion 12′ may be a resilient material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber, or a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, polycarbonate, vinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The entire retaining portion 12′ does not need to be made of a flexible material. For example, a plurality of fixing portions that respectively fix the retaining holes may be made of a rigid material and the fixing portions may be linked to each other with hinges made of a flexible material.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(53) 1 biomagnetism measuring device 2 examination table 11 magnetic sensor 12 retaining portion 12a, 12b retaining hole 13 control unit 14 memory 15 CPU 20 pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism 21 pump 30 resilient body mechanism 31 resilient body member 40 screw mechanism 41 screw shaft 42 screw nut 50 gear mechanism 51 gear 52 meshing portion 61 pressure sensor 62 bioelectrode 63 position sensor 64 angle sensor 100 living body (subject) 101 biological information