Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for examining nerve function. In order to examine the function of a nerve of the human body, the device for examining nerve function of the present invention includes: at least one stimulator for stimulating the human body; and a stimulator-fixing member having a form corresponding to the hands or feet of the human body, wherein the stimulator is located at one side of the simulator-fixing member so as to fix the stimulator to the hands or feet of the human body. The device for examining nerve function of the present invention further includes at least one blood-circulation detection sensor fixed at the stimulator-fixing member. According to the present invention, since the degree of hypoesthesia is examined through the stimulation of the stimulator, test accuracy and reliability may be greatly improved and it is possible to systematically and actively determine a diagnosis and course of treatment for a patient having diabetes or spinal nerve damage, e.g. hypoesthesia.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for examining nerve function, and more specifically, to a device for examining nerve function which examines a sensation in the hands or the feet of a subject such as a patient having diabetes or spinal nerve damage, so as to check a disease condition, to prevent an accident, and to treat the disease. 
         [0002]    In general, diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to absorb sugars entered into the body and the blood sugar level increases, either because an enough amount of insulin that the body requires is not produced, or because the produced insulin does not work properly in the cells. 
         [0003]    The diabetes may lead to serious complications, for example complications in large blood vessels or small blood vessels developed from hardening of the arteries in blood vessels. This may cause renal failure and require long-term hemodialysis, or cause a coronary or cerebrovascular disorder or retinal damage, and even cause necrosis of the foot due to blood supply shortage. 
         [0004]    Especially, when a neurological complication is developed and the peripheral nerve function declines in the nervous system which connects nerves from the head through the body to the hands and the feet, sensation becomes dulled. Even though stones or sand come into the shoes, it is hard to feel this. In such a case, there was a problem that the symptoms were more exacerbated by a secondary bacterial infection when the wound is caused on the foot during activity. The neurological complication, of course, may occur in the hand because the nervous system is connected to the hand. But, it is more common to occur in the foot rather than in the hand. 
         [0005]    The hypoesthesia first occurs in the feet in which blood circulation is not performed smoothly. Unless properly treating or preventing this, small blood vessels in the toes would be blocked and as a result the situation that the toes get rotten may occur. 
         [0006]    This finally may cause a serious situation that the above-knee amputation should be performed when a necrosis area starting from the toes gradually spreads out above the knees. In this case, a diabetic patient would have worse blood circulation and this will lead to not only a serious complication, but also even death. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is very important for diabetic patients to check the hypoesthesia symptom in advance for proper treatment and prevention of wounds. In the conventional arts, in order to examine the hypoesthesia symptom of the diabetic patients, doctors just pricked the patient&#39;s feet with a needle-shaped mono filament, or vibrated a “U”-shaped tuning fork and brought it into contact with the patient&#39;s toe or sole. However, these methods have the following problems: the examination result depending on an inspector is unreliable; since the patient&#39;s sensation condition is determined through empirical methods that are not standardized and not expressed in numbers, the examination is not relatively accurate; and it is unable to systematically check how much the patient&#39;s hypoesthesia has progressed, a specific area of the hypoesthesia, etc. 
         [0008]    In the meanwhile, because paresthesia also happens to patients with spinal nerves damaged due to a spine disease or a spine accident and they show the same symptoms as discussed above, the similar examination is conducted for them like diabetic patients. Therefore, it is very important for those patients to exactly pinpoint the damaged area of nerves and the degree of the damage for selecting a proper treatment method such as emergency surgery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for examining nerve function capable of: greatly improving accuracy and reliability of the examination using a standardized stimulator and a standardized stimulator fixing member; expressing as a number the degree of hypoesthesia or the status of hypoesthesia through the examination for the patient&#39;s nerve function; exactly determining the specific position of the patients&#39; hypoesthesia so as to systematically and actively determine a diagnosis and treatment course for the patients having hypoesthesia for example those suffering diabetes; and especially detecting the state of blood circulation to check the position of hypoesthesia. 
         [0010]    Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a device for examining nerve function capable of: accurately adjusting the degree of stimulation by automatically moving a pressurizer having an actuator; and recording and checking the degree of hypoesthesia in real time and for a long period of time with a subject wearing an elastic clothing, stimulation gloves or stimulation boots in practical life. 
         [0011]    In particular, another object of the present invention is to provide a device for examining nerve function capable of: checking if a subject can feel pain caused by applying pressure, and if a subject can distinguish positions among multiple pressure points (positions of pressure points), and if a subject can detect vibration, if a subject can detect change in temperature, and if a subject can distinguish difference in the applied pressure, through the pain caused by the applied pressure; and checking the state of blood circulation through oxygen saturation or temperature of the hypoesthesia area. In addition, the present invention aims to provide a device for examining nerve function capable of not only proceeding with the process of measuring the above-mentioned capabilities step by step but also reviewing the measured capabilities and the state of blood circulation in an audio or video message or in a printed material. 
         [0012]    In order to achieve the above-described objects, the device for examining nerve function according to the present invention includes at least one stimulator for stimulating the human body to examine nerve function in the human body; and a stimulator fixing member formed in the shape corresponding to the hands or the feet of the human body, in which the stimulator is located at one side of the stimulator fixing member so as to fix the hands or the feet of the human body. 
         [0013]    The stimulator may include at least one of a pressurizer for pressurizing the skin to provide stimulation and a vibrator for applying vibration-type stimulation to the skin. 
         [0014]    The pressurizer may include a hollow holder fixed at one side of the stimulator fixing member; and a stimulating pin inserted into a hollow which is formed inside the hollow holder and moving forward and backward in the hollow, in which the front end portion is moved to pressurize the skin to provide stimulation, and the back end portion may include a pressing unit or an actuator. 
         [0015]    The pressurizer may further include a raised portion formed on the stimulating pin to move together with the stimulating pin; and a stopper formed in the hollow, in which the raised portion is blocked by the stopper. 
         [0016]    Unlike this, the stimulator may include a hollow holder fixed at one side of the stimulator fixing member and having multiple hollows; and at least one stimulating pin inserted into a hollow that is formed inside the hollow holder and moving forward and backward in the hollow, in which the front end portion is moved to pressurize the skin to provide stimulation and the back end portion may include a pressing unit or an actuator. 
         [0017]    The stimulator may further include a holder fixing member for rotatably fixing the hollow holder to the simulator fixing member. 
         [0018]    The holder fixing member is integrally fixed to the simulator fixing member and may include a fixing ring having an inner circumferential surface so as to allow the hollow holder to be fitted to the fixing ring. 
         [0019]    The stimulator may include a toe moving member for moving the position of the toe to stimulate the toe. 
         [0020]    The toe moving member may include a lift for lifting the toe of the feet; and an elevator for elevating the lift. 
         [0021]    The stimulator may include an electric heater for applying heat to the skin to stimulate the skin. 
         [0022]    The present invention may further include at least one blood circulation detecting sensor placed on the stimulator fixing member for detecting blood circulation of the human body. 
         [0023]    The blood circulation detecting sensor may include at least one of an oxygen saturation sensor for measuring oxygen saturation in the blood inside the skin and a temperature measuring sensor for measuring skin temperature. 
         [0024]    The simulator fixing member may include an elastic clothing that is wearable on the hands or feet of the human body. 
         [0025]    The simulator fixing member may include a fixing frame corresponding to the hands or feet of the human body. 
         [0026]    The fixing frame may include a supporting plate for supporting the hands or feet of the human body; and a first extendable rod extending to the upward direction of the supporting plate, in which the stimulator is integrally fixed to the first extendable rod. 
         [0027]    The fixing frame may include a supporting plate for supporting the hands or feet of the human body; a first extendable rod extending to the upward direction of the supporting plate; a second extendable rod extending to the different direction from the first extendable rod and having the stimulator at the front end portion; and a joint for fixing the second extendable rod to the first extendable rod. 
         [0028]    The simulator fixing member may further include a stimulator movement rail for guiding the path of movement of the stimulator. 
         [0029]    The stimulator movement rail may have a rail groove corresponding to a protrusion formed on one side of the stimulator. 
         [0030]    In the meanwhile, the present invention includes: a stimulator for stimulating the human body to examine nerve function of the human body, having at least one of a pressurizer for pressurizing the skin to provide stimulation, a vibrator for applying vibration-type stimulation to the skin, a toe moving member for moving the position of the toe to stimulate the toe, and an electric heater for applying heat to the skin to stimulate the skin; a stimulator fixing member formed in the shape corresponding to the hands or feet of the human body, in which the stimulator is located at one side so as to fix the stimulator to the hands or feet of the human body; a blood circulation detecting sensor for detecting blood circulation of the human body, placed on the stimulator fixing member and having at least one of an oxygen saturation sensor for measuring oxygen saturation in the blood inside the skin and a temperature measuring sensor for measuring skin temperature; a confirmation button operated by a subject to produce a confirmation signal which confirms that the skin or the toe has been stimulated by the stimulator; a terminal for setting a sequential measurement process by comparing a pre-set stepwise measurement process based on a confirmation signal produced by the confirmation button and a measurement value measured in the blood circulation detecting sensor, or for converting the confirmation signal or the measurement value into printable data; a guiding unit for guiding the sequential measurement process set in the terminal in an audio or video message; and a printer connected to the guiding unit through the terminal  51  so as to communicate with each other for printing out data converted in the terminal. 
         [0031]    According the present invention, because nerve function is examined by checking if sensation is detected by the stimulator, the device for examining nerve function has the following effects: significantly improving precision and reliability of examinations for nerve function; and systemically and actively determining an exact diagnosis for patients having hypoesthesia with the symptoms of diabetes or spinal nerve damage; also exactly diagnosing the area of chronic neurological complications, and accurately adjusting the degree of stimulation; and recording and checking the degree of hypoesthesia in real time and for a long period of time with a subject wearing an elastic clothing, stimulation gloves or stimulation boots in practical life. 
         [0032]    In particular, a systematic and scientific examination is possible because the device is capable of: checking if a subject can feel pain caused by applying pressure, and if a subject can distinguish positions between two pressure points (positions of two areas), and if a subject can detect vibration, if a subject can detect change in temperature, and if a subject can distinguish difference in the applied pressure, through the pain caused by the applied pressure; and checking the degree of hypoesthesia by screening the state of blood circulation through oxygen saturation or temperature of the hypoesthesia area. In addition, because the device is capable of not only guiding the stepwise process of measuring the capabilities by voice or display, it is possible to not only perform examinations with ease, but also to see the measured capabilities and the state of blood circulation in an audio or video message, or in a printed material so as to understand the degree of hypoesthesia with ease. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the pressurizer illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the vibrator illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the movement rail illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first extendable rod, a second extendable rod and a joint of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a device for examining nerve function according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    Hereinafter, the device for examining nerve function according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0046]    First, the device for examining nerve function according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include a stimulator  10  and a stimulator fixing member  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0047]    The stimulator  10 , which generates stimulation on the human body in order to examine nerve function of the human body, includes a pressurizer  11  for pressurizing the skin with a stick-type stimulating pin  112  as shown in  FIG. 2  and/or a vibrator  12  for applying vibration to the skin that comes into contact with a vibration surface  112  with a vibration motor  121  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0048]    The pressurizer  11  may include a hollow holder  111  and a stimulating pin  112  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0049]    The hollow holder  111  is fixed at one side of an elastic clothing  21 , which is a kind of stimulator fixing member  20 , and multiple hollow holders may be provided, for example at an important stimulation point such as a meridian point, at a main check point representing a long distance from the heart, or at a position representing a certain distance from the toes. 
         [0050]    The stimulating pin  112  may be made of wood or of a monofilament of plastic material or nylon material. Such a stimulating pin  112  is inserted into a hollow  111   a  that is formed inside the hollow holder  111  in such a manner so as to be movable forward and backward. 
         [0051]    The stimulating pin  112  may has a blunt front end portion, but it is rather preferable to form an actuate stimulation point  112   a . Also, the back end portion may preferably include a pressing unit  112   b  or an actuator  13  for enabling forward and backward movement of the stimulating pin  112  in a selective manner. Such an actuator  13  can be configured to adjust the movement distance of the stimulating pin  112  which moves forward and backward depending on the magnitude of supplied voltage. 
         [0052]    According to the present invention, inspectors may therefore check an accurate response from the subject&#39;s response when considering the numerical stimulation that is expressed in a certain distance from the toes of the subject, i.e. the length of forward movement of the stimulating pin  112  that is moved forward by the actuator  113 . As a result, the device is capable of automatically and numerically measuring how much the symptoms of hypoesthesia have improved or deteriorated. Especially, in the case that the movement distance of the stimulating pin  112  is adjusted by the actuator  113 , it is able to adjust the strength of the contact of the stimulating pin  112 , thereby precisely checking the sensory reaction from the subject. 
         [0053]    Meanwhile, the stimulating pin  112  described above may be connected to a sensor for detecting the movement distance when moving forward and backward, which is not illustrated. It is preferable that such a sensor is placed in the hollow holder  111  and may include a normal optical sensor or hall sensor. Those skilled in the art could easily understand the configuration of such a sensor, and thus its detailed description will be omitted. 
         [0054]    On the other the hand, multiple pressurizers  11  may be provided with one adjacent to another and with one separated from another. These pressurizers  11  individually pressurize the skin in a state where they are separated from one another. In other words, the pressurizers  11  individually pressurize two areas at the same time. Therefore, the subject may check whether to distinguish two stimulation points at which the stimulation occurs. That is, if the subject is unable to distinguish two stimulation points, it may be determined that the sensation has been reduced at the areas corresponding to the stimulation points. 
         [0055]    In the pressurizers  11 , a raised portion  112   c  may be formed on the stimulating pin  112  so as to prevent the stimulating pin  112  that moves inside the hollow holder  111  from moving away from the hollow holder  111  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a stopper  111   b  may be formed in the hollow  111   a . That is, the raised portion  112   c  is blocked by the stopper  111   b  and thereby restricting the forward/backward distance of the stimulating pin  112 . 
         [0056]    Here, the hollow holder  111  described above, as illustrated, may be integrally fixed to the stimulator fixing member  20  via a movement rail  40 , which will be described below. In other words, the hollow holder  111  may be indirectly fixed to the stimulator fixing member  20 . Such a hollow holder  111  may be fixed to the movement rail  40  in a detachable manner by bolting, and it may also be permanently fixed to the movement rail  40  by welding or bonding. 
         [0057]    Otherwise, the hollow holder  111  may be directly fixed to the stimulator fixing member  20 . In this case, the hollow holder  111  is directly connected to the stimulator fixing member by bolting or bonding. In such a case that the stimulator fixing member  20  is the elastic clothing  21  described above, the hollow holder  111  may be fixed to the elastic clothing  21  by bonding, or fixed to the elastic clothing  21  by bolting using an bracket, which is not illustrated. Of course, the vibrator described above is fixed to the stimulator fixing member  20 , the movement rail  40  or the elastic clothing  21  in the same way as the hollow holder  111 . Those skilled in the art could easily carry out the method of fixing such a hollow holder  111  and a vibrator  12 , and thus its detailed description will be omitted 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the stimulator fixing member  20  may include multiple pressurizers  11  and multiple vibrators  12  at one side to fix the stimulator  10  to the hands  1  or the feet  2  of the human body, and it is formed in the shape corresponding to the feet  2  of the human body, and it may also include the elastic clothing  21  which is wearable on the feet  2 . 
         [0059]    In general, the elastic clothing  21  may include either a socks-type item of clothing or a stocking-type item of clothing, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0060]    Accordingly, when using the device for examining nerve function according to the present invention, the subject may move in a state where the subject is wearing the elastic clothing  21  and at the same time check the degree of hypoesthesia by receiving various types of stimulation such as pressure or vibration. 
         [0061]    In the meantime, the device for examining nerve function according to the present invention may further include a blood circulation detecting sensor  30  for detecting blood circulation of the human body, which is placed on the stimulator fixing member  20 . 
         [0062]    The blood circulation detecting sensor  30 , which is a sensor for detecting blood circulation of the human body, may include an oxygen saturation sensor  31  for measuring oxygen saturation in the blood inside the skin and/or a temperature measuring sensor  32  for measuring skin temperature, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0063]    Accordingly, when using the device for examining nerve function according to the present invention, the subject may move in a state where the subject is wearing the elastic clothing  21  and at the same time check the patient&#39;s nerve function by measuring oxygen saturation in the blood circulating in the feet or feet temperature. 
         [0064]    In the meanwhile, it is also possible to provide a stimulator movement rail  40  on the stimulator fixing member  20  for guiding the path of movement of the stimulator  10  so as to reduce the number of pressurizers  11  or vibrators  12  arranged on the feet of the subject and to provide stimulation to one point or to some points continuously, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0065]    Here, the stimulator movement rail  40  has a rail groove  41  formed to correspond to a protrusion  13  that is formed on one side of the pressurizer  11  or the vibrator  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the pressurizer  11  or the vibrator  12  could apply stimulation to specific points or to a specific point or to some points continuously moving along the rail groove  41 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the stimulator movement rail  40  may be provided on sensitive boots  23 , which will be described below, and in this case, a scaled ruler  224  may be placed at one side so as to measure the movement distance, height, etc. of the stimulator  10 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the device for examining nerve function according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a fixing frame  22  corresponding to the feet  2  of the human body, as a kind of stimulator fixing member  20 . 
         [0068]    The fixing frame  22  includes a supporting plate  220 , a first extendable rod  221 , a second extendable rod  222  and a joint  223 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0069]    The supporting plate  220  supports the feet  2  of the human body. When the subject puts the feet on the supporting plate  220 , the oxygen saturation sensor  31  and the temperature measuring sensor  32  placed on the supporting plate  220  may check blood condition of the patient&#39;s feet. The oxygen saturation sensor  31  and the temperature measuring sensor  32  of the supporting plate  220  may also be placed at the first extendable rod  221  so that they may operate above the supporting plate  220 , as marked in a broken line in the figure. That is, the oxygen saturation sensor  31  and the temperature measuring sensor  32  may be either placed on the first extendable rod  221  so as to measure the upper portion of the feet  2 , or placed on the supporting plate  220  so as to measure the bottom surface of the feet  2 . 
         [0070]    The first extendable rod  221  is placed in such a manner as to extend above the supporting plate  220 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . If there are scale marks  224  for measuring the height of the pressurizer  11  or the vibrator  12 , the measurement position will be expressed in a number. 
         [0071]    In addition, the first extendable rod  221  is hinge-connected to a hinge shaft  225  placed on the supporting plate  220 . Before the subject puts the feet on the supporting plate  220 , the first extendable rod  221  remains splayed out. When the subject puts the feet on the supporting plate  220 , however, the first extendable rod  221  stands up to the direction of the feet, resulting in easier sensation examination. 
         [0072]    The second extendable rod  222  is placed in such a manner as to extend to the different direction from the first extendable rod  221 , in which the pressurizer  11  or the vibrator is placed at the front end portion of the second extendable rod. At this time, it is preferable that the second extendable rod  222  is placed in such a manner as to extend to the perpendicular direction with regard to the first extendable rod  221 . Here, it is possible not to provide the second extendable rod  222  when the pressurizer  11  or the vibrator  12  is placed on the first extendable rod  221 . In other words, the pressurizer  11  or the vibrator  12  may be placed on the first extendable rod  221 . The pressurizer  11  or the vibrator  12  may be embedded into the supporting plate  220 . 
         [0073]    The joint  223  fixes the second extendable rod  222  to the first extendable rod  221 . Here, the joint  223 , which fixes the first extendable rod  221  and the second extendable rod  222  to each other using a fixing unit such as a clamping screw  226 , may freely adjust the horizontal position and vertical position of the stimulator  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0074]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the device for examining nerve function according to the third embodiment of the present invention may include sensitive boots  23  which are wearable on the feet  2  of the human body, as a kind of stimulator fixing member  20 . 
         [0075]    The sensitive boots  23  may include a pressurizer  11 , a vibrator  12 , an oxygen saturation sensor  31  and a temperature measuring sensor  32 , all of which were described above. 
         [0076]    Further, the sensitive boots  23  may include a data storage unit  100  for storing measurement values measured in the oxygen saturation sensor  31  and temperature measuring sensor  32 , so that the subject can measure changes in oxygen saturation and temperature of the feet  2  in practical life for a long period of time, and a battery  200  for supplying power to the stimulator  10  and the data storage unit  100 . 
         [0077]    Accordingly, the subject can record and check the degree of hypoesthesia in real time and for a long period of time, wearing the sensitive boots  23  in practical life. 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the device for examining nerve function according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may include sensitive gloves  24  which are wearable on the hands  1  of the human body, as a kind of stimulator fixing member  20 . 
         [0079]    The sensitive gloves  24  may include a pressurizer  11 , a vibrator  12 , an oxygen saturation sensor  31  and a temperature measuring sensor  32 , all of which were described above. 
         [0080]    Further, the sensitive gloves  24  may include a data storage unit  100  for storing measurement values measured in the oxygen saturation sensor  31  and temperature measuring sensor  32 , so that the subject can measure changes in oxygen saturation and temperature of the hands  1  in practical life for a long period of time, and a battery  200  for supplying power to the stimulator  10  and the data storage unit  100 . 
         [0081]    Accordingly, the subject can record and check the degree of hypoesthesia in real time and for a long period of time, wearing the sensitive gloves  24  in practical life. 
         [0082]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the device for examining nerve function according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the device according to the first embodiment, except that there is an only difference from the first embodiment in that the stimulator includes an electric heater  19 . This electric heater  19  generates heat with an internal electric coil (not illustrated) to stimulate the skin through the heat by applying the heat of the electric coil to the skin. Therefore, the subject may detect the stimulation by the heat and check the area of hypoesthesia. That is, the subject may determine that the sensation is not reduced on the area where the electric heater  19  is located if the subject feels the heat from the electric heater  19 . Otherwise, it may be determined that the sensation has been reduced. 
         [0083]    The electric heater  19  may be placed on the stimulator fixing member  20  together with the pressurizer  11  and the vibrator  12  described above, but it may also be placed on the stimulator fixing member  20  alone. When the electric heater  19  is arranged in the above-described movement rail  40  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it may move along the movement rail  40 . 
         [0084]    The configuration of the electric heater  19  could easily be not only understood but also embodied by those skilled in the art, and thus its detailed description will be omitted. 
         [0085]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the device for examining nerve function according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is different from the device according to the embodiment described above only in that the stimulator includes a toe moving member  15 . The toe moving member  15  elevates the toe to move the position of the toe. 
         [0086]    The toe moving member  15 , for example, may include a lift  15   a  for lifting the toe and an elevator for elevating the lift  15   a , as illustrated. 
         [0087]    The lift  15   a  may be formed either in the shape of the plate so as to support a lower portion of the toe as illustrated, or in a cylinder so as to allow the toe to be inserted. 
         [0088]    The elevator may include a rotating motor  15   d , a pivot shaft  15   c  which is pivotally rotated by the rotating motor  15   d  on the supporting plate, and an elevation nut  15   b  that is screw-connected to the pivot shaft  15   c  to be elevated and connected to the lift  15   a . In other words, the toe moving member  15  may include a lift  15   a , a rotating motor  15   d , a pivot shaft  15   c  and an elevation nut  15   b.    
         [0089]    The pivot shaft  15   c  is pivotally rotated by the rotating motor  15   d  to elevate the lift  15   a  along with the elevation nut  15   b , thereby moving the position of the toe. As a result, the subject may check the area of the toe where the sensation is reduced through the stimulation to the toe produced by the movement of the position. That is, the subject may determine that the sensation of the examined toe is not reduced if the subject detects the stimulation by the movement of the position. Otherwise, it may be determined that the sensation of the examined toe has been reduced. 
         [0090]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the device for examining nerve function according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention is configured in a different manner from the above-described ones in the pressurizer  11 . Such a pressurizer  11 , for example, may include a hollow holder  111 ′ fixed to the stimulator fixing member  20  described above through the movement rail  40  and having multiple hollows  111   a , and at least one stimulating pin  112  inserted into a hollow  111   a  that is formed inside the hollow holder  111 ′ and moves forward and backward in the hollow, in which the front end portion is moved to pressurize the skin to provide stimulation and the back end portion comprises a pressing unit  112   b  or an actuator  113 , as illustrated. At this time, the hollow holder  111 ′ is fixed at one end of the movement rail  40  to be connected to the stimulator fixing member  20  described above. 
         [0091]    Here, the pressurizer  11  described above may further include a holder fixing member for rotatably fixing the hollow holder  111 ′ to the movement rail  40  on the stimulator fixing member  20  described above. The holder fixing member, for example, is integrally connected to the movement rail  40  on the stimulator fixing member  20  described above, and may include a fixing ring having an inner circumferential surface so as to allow the hollow holder to be fitted to the fixing ring. In other words, the hollow holder  111 ′ is mounted into the fixing ring  114  to be fixed to the movement rail  40 , thereby being rotatably fixed to the movement rail  40 . 
         [0092]    The fixing ring  114  may be fixed to the movement rail  40  in a detachable manner by bolting, or permanently fixed to the movement rail  40  by welding or bonding. Such a fixing ring  114  preferably has an end portion which is formed in such a manner as to be bent inwards as illustrated. Therefore, the bent end portion allows the fixing ring  114  to rotatably bind the hollow holder  111 ′. 
         [0093]    Meanwhile, the stimulating pins  112  comes in various thickness and each is inserted into one of multiple hollows  111   a . That is, the stimulating pins  112  include multiple pins which are different from each other in thickness. Therefore, only one of the stimulating pins  112  comes out of the hollow holder  111 ′ to stimulate the skin as needed. When the hollow holder  111 ′ rotates in the same way as the revolver in the gun, the stimulating pins  112  come out one by one based on their thickness to stimulate the skin. In other words, the inspector may examine the subject&#39;s skin in various ways. 
         [0094]    On the other the hand, in the case that the stimulation fixing member  20  includes the above-described fixing frame  22  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the hollow holder  111 ′ or the fixing ring  114  described above is placed on the fixing frame  22 . Of course, the hollow holder  111 ′ or the fixing ring  114  is fixed to the first extendable rod  221  or the second extendable rod  222  of the fixing frame  22 . At this time, the hollow holder  111 ′ or the fixing ring  114  is preferably fixed to the first extendable rod  221  or the second extendable rod  222  via the joint  223  described above. 
         [0095]    Also, the device for examining nerve function according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention described above may be configured to examine a patient in a state where the patient is lying. This could be easily understood by those skilled in the art, and thus its detailed description will be omitted. 
         [0096]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the device for examining nerve function according to the eighth embodiment of the present includes a stimulator  10 , a stimulator fixing member  20 , a blood circulation detecting sensor  30 , a confirmation button  59 , a terminal  51 , a printer  57 , and a guiding unit. 
         [0097]    The stimulator  10  includes at least one of a pressurizer  11 , a vibrator  14 , a toe moving member  15 , and an electric heater  19 , all of which were described above. And the stimulator fixing member  20  includes an elastic clothing  21  or a fixing frame  22 , both of which were described above. Further, the blood circulation detecting sensor  30  includes an oxygen saturation sensor  31  and/or a temperature measuring sensor  32 , both of which were described above. In addition, the terminal  51  may include a common personal computer (PC). Also, the guiding unit may include, for example, a monitor  52  or a speaker  55  as illustrated. 
         [0098]    The confirmation button  59  is connected to the terminal  51 . When the subject operates the confirmation button, the resultant confirmation signal is transmitted to the terminal  51 . 
         [0099]    In the device for examining nerve function according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, a confirmation signal is transmitted to the terminal  51  by the confirmation button  59  when either the skin or the toe is stimulated by the stimulator  10  and the subject operates the confirmation button  59 , and the measurement value that is measured in the blood circulation detecting sensor  30  is also transmitted to the terminal  51 . Therefore, the terminal  51  sets a sequential measurement process by comparing the pre-set stepwise measurement process based on the confirmation signal produced by operating the confirmation button and the measurement value measured in the blood circulation detecting sensor  30 , or converts the confirmation signal or the measurement value into printable data. The terminal  51  sets the sequential measurement process through an installed drive program. Also, the terminal  51  is capable of storing the printable data in a file, transmitting the data online, or storing the data on a storage medium in a CD type. In addition, the terminal may inform the patient&#39;s condition, based on the confirmation signal produced by the confirmation button, through a guiding unit. This could be easily understood or embodied by those skilled in the art, and thus its detailed description will be omitted. 
         [0100]    Here, the pre-set stepwise measurement process described above refers to the order of the stepwise operation of the stimulator  10 . That is, the stepwise measurement process is a process of performing many different types of examinations in order using the multiple types of stimulators  10  including a pressurizer  11 , a vibrator  14 , a toe moving member  15 , and an electric heater  19 . In more detail, the stepwise measurement process may include the following steps in order: pressurizing the skin with the pressurizer  10 ; and then vibrating the skin with the vibrator  14 ; and thereafter stimulating the toe with the two moving member  15 , and finally stimulating the skin with the electric heater  19 . 
         [0101]    In the meanwhile, the terminal  51  guides the stepwise measurement process in a video or audio message via a monitor  52  or a speaker  55 . Once the stimulation by the pressurizer  11  is complete, the terminal  51  informs via a monitor  52  or a speaker  55  that another examination will be carried out by the vibrator  14 . At this time, the terminal  51  is confirmed that the stimulation by the pressurizer  11  has been complete through a confirmation signal produced by the confirmation button  59 . And then, the terminal  51  informs via a monitor  52  or a speaker  55  that another examination will be carried out by the toe moving member  15  once it is confirmed by the confirmation button  59  that the stimulation by the vibrator  14  has been complete. The terminal  51  guides patients in such a way until the final examination by the electric heater  19  is complete. 
         [0102]    The printer  57  may be connected to the guiding unit through the terminal  51  so as to communicate with each other. The printer  57  prints out the data converted in the terminal  51 . Accordingly, the inspector may see the subject&#39;s examination results at a single look. 
         [0103]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the claims cover all such modifications and other changes encompassed by the accompanying claims, not by the description. 
         [0104]    The device for examining nerve function according to the present invention can check if the sensation is detected by a stimulator to examine nerve function, and it is therefore capable of greatly improving accuracy and reliability of examinations for nerve function.