Patent Publication Number: US-2010130877-A1

Title: Body compressor and blood pressure monitor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a body compressor and a blood pressure monitor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a body compressor which is used in an automatic blood pressure monitor and which prevents the diameter of a band from being excessively reduced during storage so that, for example, operability can be improved. The present invention also relates to a blood pressure monitor using this body compressor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, blood pressure monitors have come into wide use not only in, for example, hospitals but also in general households for the purpose of health care. The blood pressure monitors for the general households are typically automatic blood pressure monitors that are easy to operate. 
     Automatic blood pressure monitors based on various measurement methods and configurations have been developed, and an oscillometric electronic blood pressure monitor is one such blood pressure monitor. This oscillometric electronic blood pressure monitor detects a pulse wave superposed on the inner pressure of an air bag, and calculates a blood pressure on the basis of changes in the amplitude of the pulse wave. This oscillometric electronic blood pressure monitor includes a body compressor, a pressure sensor, a pump, an exhaust valve, an information processing unit, an operation switch and a display. The body compressor (generally called a cuff) is wound around the upper arm, and has an air bag. The pressure sensor, the pump and the exhaust valve are in communication with the air bag through a tube. The information processing unit is connected to the pressure sensor, the pump and the exhaust valve. The operation switch and the display are connected to the information processing unit. 
     Body compressors of various configurations are used in the automatic blood pressure monitors. 
     One such body compressor includes a band, an annular metal clip and a hook-and-loop fastener. The band has an air bag, a front cover and a rear cover. The air bag is interposed between the front cover and the rear cover. The annular metal clip is attached to longitudinal one end of the band. The hook-and-loop fastener is inserted into the metal clip, and fixes the other end of the band folded via the metal clip. This body compressor is wound around the upper arm of a user. This body compressor has a simple configuration, and is therefore easy to operate and sold at a low price. Owing to these advantages, this body compressor enjoys longstanding popularity. 
     Moreover, various technical improvements have been made in the body compressor to, for example, improve ease of use. 
     (Related Art Examples) 
     For example, Patent document 1 discloses the technique for a blood pressure measurement cuff (body compressor) substantially similar in configuration to the body compressor described above. In this blood pressure measurement cuff, an anti-drop expansion is formed at the other end of the band inserted in a metal clip to prevent the other end of the band from dropping from the metal clip. 
     According to this technique, troublesome work can be eliminated. The troublesome work means the insertion of the other end of the band into the annular metal clip whenever a user winds the body compressor around the upper arm. Patent document 1: Japanese Utility Model Publication Laid-open No. 48-20282 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be solved by the invention 
     However, in the case of the body compressor described in Patent document 1, the other end of the band may be excessively inserted in the metal clip when the user is to take off and store the body compressor after a blood pressure measurement. In such a case, the user has to expand, to a diameter at which the upper arm can be inserted, the body compressor which has been diametrically reduced by the excessive insertion. This expanding work is troublesome work. Therefore, there is a problem that operability disadvantageously decreases. 
     In general, the body compressor described above includes a hook-and-loop fastener. When stored, this body compressor is reduced into a predetermined diameter, and then its other end is folded via the metal clip. Further, a hook surface at the other end is joined to a loop surface at one end. However, when the body compressor is taken off from the upper arm and stored, the hook surface at the other end passes over the loop surface at one end and then contacts a front cover in the vicinity of one end if the other end of the band is excessively inserted in the metal clip. In this case, the front cover in the vicinity of one end rubs against the hook surface at the other end. Therefore, there is a problem that the front cover fluffs and thus spoils the beauty. 
     The present invention has been proposed to solve the problems of the conventional techniques described above. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a body compressor and a blood pressure monitor, wherein an overinsertion preventing member is provided to prevent the other end of a band from being excessively inserted in a metal clip when the body compressor is taken off from the upper arm and stored, in order to enable the improvement of operability and the prevention of fluffing of a front cover in the vicinity of one end due to friction. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     In order to achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides a body compressor including: a band in which an air bag is interposed between a front cover and a rear cover; and an annular metal clip which is attached to longitudinal one end of the band and into which the other end of the band is inserted, wherein an overinsertion preventing member which comes into contact with the metal clip is provided at a position a predetermined distance apart from one end of the band toward the other end thereof. 
     This ensures that the band is prevented from being disadvantageously reduced into a diameter smaller than the diameter corresponding to the predetermined distance. That is, prevention of the excessive reduction of the diameter of the band is ensured, so that when the body compressor is to be wound around the arm, there is no troublesome work of additionally expanding the diameter in a corresponding amount. This enables an improvement in operability. 
     In addition, in the present invention, the annular metal clip includes a completely annular metal clip, partly cut annular metal clip or partly detachable annular metal clip. 
     Preferably, the body compressor further includes fixing means for fixing the other end of the band folded via the metal clip, the fixing means being used as a hook-and-loop fastener, wherein a hook surface is provided on the other end side of the front cover, and a loop surface is provided from the hook surface to the vicinity of the one end. 
     Thus, the body compressor can be easily attached and removed. That is, when the body compressor is attached to, for example, the left upper arm, the body compressor can be easily attached and removed by pinching the other end with the right hand. 
     Preferably, the predetermined distance L 1  from one end of the band to the other end thereof is L 0 /3&lt;L 1 &lt;L 0 /2, wherein L 0  is the entire length of the band. 
     Thus, when the body compressor is to be stored, the band is diametrically reduced until the overinsertion preventing member comes into contact with the metal clip, and if the band is folded via the metal clip, the hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener is received on the loop surface. That is, the hook surface never passes over the loop surface and does not contact the front cover in the vicinity of one end, so that the hook surface never rubs against the front cover. This makes it possible to avoid the problem of the fluffing of the front cover that spoils the beauty. 
     Preferably, the overinsertion preventing member is provided at a position where this overinsertion preventing member contacts the metal clip when the diameter of the band is a measurable minimum diameter of the body compressor. 
     Thus, a user can easily know whether conditions for the measurable minimum diameter are satisfied. This makes it possible to enhance the added value. 
     In addition, the band is generally flexible, and is not capable of keeping its circular shape on its own. Therefore, in this specification, the diameter of the band means a virtual diameter on the assumption that the band keeps its circular shape. 
     Preferably, a joint of the air bag is protrusively provided on the one end side from the overinsertion preventing member. 
     This makes it possible to prevent the contact between the joint and the metal clip to disadvantageously cause damage to the joint or the root of the joint. 
     Preferably, the overinsertion preventing member is made of an elastic body shaped like an elongate rectangular plate, the elastic body being provided between the front cover and the air bag so that the longitudinal direction of the elastic body intersects with the longitudinal direction of the band. 
     Thus, when air is injected in the air bag, the sensation of a foreign object attributed to the overinsertion preventing member can be reduced. Moreover, the problem of impaired flexibility of the band can be avoided. 
     It should be understood that the overinsertion preventing member is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. For example, the overinsertion preventing member may be provided with a hook surface on its rear surface, and removably attached to the loop surface of the hook-and-loop fastener. As a result, the position of the overinsertion preventing member can be freely adjusted. Therefore, for example, the overinsertion preventing member can be attached at a position suitable for the thickness of the upper arm of the user, and the winding amount (the degree of tightening by winding) can be stable. 
     Preferably, an anti-drop member which comes into contact with the metal clip is provided at the other end of the band. 
     Thus, even if the diameter of the band is excessively expanded, the other end of the band can be prevented from being disadvantageously dropping from the metal clip. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing object, a blood pressure monitor of the present invention uses the body compressor according to any one of claims  1  to  7 . 
     Thus, the present invention is also effective in the blood pressure monitor, and can provide a blood pressure monitor having good operability and the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a body compressor according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a front expansion plan and (b) shows a rear expansion plan; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the body compressor according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a view in the arm direction when the diameter is enlarged and (b) shows a view in the arm direction when the diameter is reduced; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the body compressor according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a view in the arm direction when the body compressor is folded and (b) shows an enlarged view of a part A. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     [One Embodiment of Body Compressor] 
     One embodiment of a body compressor of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the body compressor according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a front expansion plan and (b) shows a rear expansion plan. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the body compressor according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a view in the arm direction when the diameter is enlarged and (b) shows a view in the arm direction when the diameter is reduced. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a body compressor  1  is used as a cuff for an automatic blood pressure monitor, and is wound around the upper arm of a user. 
     This body compressor  1  includes a band  10 , a metal clip  14 , a hook-and-loop fastener  2 , an anti-drop member  4  and an overinsertion preventing member  5 . 
     (Band) 
     The band  10  has an air bag  3 , a front cover  11  and a rear cover  12 . The air bag  3  is interposed between the front cover  11  and the rear cover  12 . 
     The air bag  3  is substantially rectangular. The air bag  3  is affixed to the inside of the front cover  11  by, for example, a double-sided tape (not shown) along the longitudinal direction of the band  10 . In the present embodiment, the front cover  11  and both longitudinal ends of the air bag  3  are affixed together by two double-sided tapes. When the double-sided tapes are thus used, the air bag  3  can be fixedly attached with ease. This enables a reduction in manufacturing costs. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, sewing margins may be provided in the outer peripheral parts of both longitudinal ends of the air bag  3 , and the sewing margins in the air bag  3  and the front cover  11  may be stitched together to fix the air bag  3  to the front cover  11 . 
     Moreover, the air bag  3  has a protruding joint  31  on its outer surface to be coupled to a tube of the oscillometric electronic blood pressure monitor described above. This joint  31  is exposed outside through the front cover  11  and a loop surface  22 . 
     Further, the air bag  3  is stored in a region ranging from substantially the longitudinal center of the band  10  to one end side. 
     Resin cloths, which are substantially rectangular, are generally used for the front cover  11  and the rear cover  12 . The front cover  11  and the rear cover  12  are stitched together at their peripheral parts with a thread  101  via an edge cover  13  so as to interpose the air bag  3  therebetween. Substantially in the longitudinal center, the front cover  11  and the rear cover  12  are stitched together with a thread  103  along the arm direction. 
     Moreover, the front cover  11  and the rear cover  12  are smaller in width on the other end side of the thread  103  than on one end side thereof so as to easily fit to the shape of the arm. 
     (Metal Clip) 
     The metal clip  14  is an annular member made of a round bar. The other end of the band  10  is inserted into the metal clip  14 . This metal clip  14  is attached to longitudinal one end of the band  10 . That is, the pair of front and rear covers  11  and  12  are stitched together with a thread  141  so that the metal clip  14  does not move in a state interposed by the folded front cover  11  and the folded rear cover  12 . 
     The metal clip  14  is obliquely attached at an angle of about 80° with the lower side (shoulder side) of the band  10 . Thus, the body compressor  1  can be wound around even the muscular upper arm substantially in close contact with each other. 
     In addition, the ends of the folded front cover  11  and the folded rear cover  12  are stitched together with a thread  102 . 
     (Hook-and-Loop Fastener) 
     In the present embodiment, the hook-and-loop fastener  2  is provided as fixing means. The hook-and-loop fastener  2  is inserted into the metal clip  14 , and fixes the other end of the band  10  folded via the metal clip  14 . 
     The hook-and-loop fastener  2  includes a hook surface  21  and the loop surface  22 . The hook surface  21  is substantially square, and is stitched onto the surface of the front cover  11  on the other end side with a thread  211 . The loop surface  22  is substantially rectangular, and is stitched onto the surface of the front cover  11  with a thread  221  from the hook surface  21  to the vicinity of one end. 
     Thus, the body compressor  1  can be easily attached and removed. That is, when the body compressor  1  is attached to, for example, the left upper arm, the body compressor  1  can be easily attached and removed by pinching the other end with the right hand. 
     While the hook-and-loop fastener  2  is used as the fixing means in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. 
     (Anti-Drop Member) 
     The anti-drop member  4  is a cylindrical member made of a resin. This anti-drop member  4  is provided at the other end of the band  10  so as to be interposed between the front cover  11  and the rear cover  12 . In order to prevent the movement of the anti-drop member  4  in the present embodiment, the front cover  11  and the rear cover  12  on both sides of the anti-drop member  4  are stitched together with a thread  401 . 
     The anti-drop member  4  is elastically deformed to lose its cylindrical shape and thereby inserted into the metal clip  14  (see  FIG. 2(   a )). However, the anti-drop member  4  after passed through the metal clip  14  is restored to the cylindrical shape. Thus, the other end comes into contact with the metal clip  14  even if the other end attempts to come out of the metal clip  14 . This makes it possible to prevent the other end of the band  10  from disadvantageously dropping from the metal clip  14  even if the diameter of the band  10  is increased. 
     (Overinsertion Preventing Member) 
     The overinsertion preventing member  5  is a member to be in contact with the metal clip  14 . The overinsertion preventing member  5  is provided at a position a predetermined distance L 1  apart from one end of the band  10  toward the other end thereof. This ensures that the band  10  can be surely prevented from being disadvantageously reduced to a diameter smaller than the diameter corresponding to the predetermined distance (see  FIG. 2(   b )). That is, the diameter of the band  10  can be prevented from being excessively reduced. As a result, there is no need for troublesome work of additionally expanding the diameter in a corresponding amount (amount of the excessive reduction of the diameter) when the body compressor  1  is wound around the arm. This enables an improvement in operability. 
     The overinsertion preventing member  5  in the present embodiment is an elastic body shaped like an elongate rectangular plate. The overinsertion preventing member  5  is provided between the front cover  11  and the air bag  3  so that the longitudinal direction of this elastic body intersects with the longitudinal direction of the band  10 . That is, although not shown, the overinsertion preventing member  5  is stitched onto the front cover  11  with a thread. Thus, when air is injected in the air bag  3 , the sensation of a foreign object attributed to the overinsertion preventing member  5  can be reduced. Moreover, the problem of impaired flexibility of the band  10  can be avoided. 
     Here, preferably, the predetermined distance L 1  from one end of the band  10  to the other end thereof is L 0 /3&lt;L 1 &lt;L 0 /2, wherein L 0  is the entire length of the band  10  (the entire length in the center of the width direction (see  FIG. 1(   b ))). 
     Thus, when the body compressor  1  is to be stored, the band  10  is diametrically reduced until the overinsertion preventing member  5  comes into contact with the metal clip  14 , and if the band  10  is folded via the metal clip  14 , the hook surface  21  of the hook-and-loop fastener  2  is received on the loop surface  22  (see  FIG. 3 ). That is, the hook surface  21  never passes over the loop surface  22  and does not contact the front cover  11  in the vicinity of one end, so that the hook surface  21  never rubs against the front cover  11 . This makes it possible to avoid the problem of the fluffing of the front cover  11  that spoils the beauty. 
     The overinsertion preventing member  5  may be provided at a position where this overinsertion preventing member  5  contacts the metal clip  14  when the diameter of the band  10  is a measurable minimum diameter of the body compressor  1 . Thus, the user can easily know whether conditions for the measurable minimum diameter are satisfied. This makes it possible to enhance the added value. 
     Furthermore, the joint  31  of the air bag  3  in the present embodiment is provided protrusively toward the front surface through the front cover  11  and the loop surface  22 . In this case, the joint  31  of the air bag  3  should be protrusively provided on the one end side from the overinsertion preventing member  5 . As a result, the overinsertion preventing member  5  contacts the metal clip  14  before the joint  31  contacts the metal clip  14 , thereby preventing excessive insertion. That is, the joint  31  does not contact the metal clip  14 , thereby making it possible to ensure that the joint  31  or the root of the joint  31  is disadvantageously damaged. 
     Now, the operation and effects of the body compressor  1  having such a configuration are described. 
     First, the user to have his/her blood pressure measured inserts the arm into the body compressor  1  in which the band  10  is expanded at the maximum. Then, when the body compressor  1  has reached the upper arm, the other end is pulled. Thus, the band  10  is wound around the upper arm. Further, the band  10  is folded via the metal clip  14 , and the hook surface  21  is joined to the loop surface  22 . Here, as shown in  FIG. 2(   a ), the anti-drop member  4  can maintain the maximum expansion of the band  10 , so that the operability of the body compressor  1  improves. 
     Then, when the user finishes the blood pressure measurement, the other end of the band  10  is pulled, and the hook surface  21  comes away from the loop surface  22 . Further, the body compressor  1  is taken off from the arm while the band  10  is being expanded. 
     Then, the user stores the body compressor  1 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 2(   b ), the band  10  is diametrically reduced until the overinsertion preventing member  5  comes into contact with the metal clip  14 . Further, the other end of the band  10  is moved in a folding direction so that the hook surface  21  may be joined to the loop surface  22 . In this state, four layers of the band  10  are stacked up as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ), thereby saving storage space. Further, in the body compressor  1  in this state, the hook surface  21  of the hook-and-loop fastener  2  is received on the loop surface  22  so as to allow for a margin of a distance Δ, as shown in  FIG. 3(   b ). That is, the hook surface  21  never passes over the loop surface  22  and does not contact the front cover  11  in the vicinity of one end. Thus, the hook surface  21  never rubs against the front cover  11 . This makes it possible to avoid the problem of the fluffing of the front cover  11  that spoils the beauty. 
     Then, the user to have his/her blood pressure measured by use of the body compressor  1  in a stored state first pulls the other end of the band  10  starting from the state shown in  FIG. 3(   a ), thereby separating the hook surface  21  from the loop surface  22 . Further, the body compressor  1  is brought into the state shown in  FIG. 2(   b ). Here, while the band  10  is diametrically reduced, the body compressor  1  has a predetermined diameter regulated by the overinsertion preventing member  5 . As a result, the band  10  can be pinched with the hand and thus easily increased in diameter (see  FIG. 2(   a )). 
     Thus, according to the body compressor  1  in the present embodiment, the overinsertion preventing member  5  is provided such that the other end of the band  10  can be prevented from being excessively inserted into the metal clip  14 . This enables a significant improvement in operability. Moreover, the body compressor  1  can be compactly stored with ease. When the body compressor  1  is to be stored, the hook surface  21  never rubs against the front cover  11  in the vicinity of one end. This makes it possible to effectively avoid the problem of the fluffing of the front cover  11  in the vicinity of one end that spoils the beauty. 
     In addition, the present invention is also advantageous to a blood pressure monitor used in the body compressor  1 . The blood pressure monitor of the present invention has about the same effects as the body compressor  1 . That is, it is possible to provide a blood pressure monitor having good operability. 
     The preferred embodiment of the body compressor and the blood pressure monitor according to the present invention has been illustrated above. However, it goes without saying that the body compressor and the blood pressure monitor according to the present invention are not exclusively limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. 
     For example, the body compressor  1  is not exclusively used in the oscillometric electronic blood pressure monitor. The body compressor  1  can also be applied to, for example, an automatic blood pressure monitor which measures a blood pressure on the basis of Korotkoff sounds. 
     Furthermore, the overinsertion preventing member  5  is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, although not shown, the overinsertion preventing member may be provided with a hook surface on its rear surface, and removably attached to the loop surface  22  of the hook-and-loop fastener  2  which is stitched onto the front cover  11 . As a result, the position of the overinsertion preventing member can be freely adjusted. Therefore, for example, the overinsertion preventing member can be attached at a position suitable for the thickness of the upper arm of the user, and the winding amount (the degree of tightening by winding) can be stable. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As described above, the body compressor of the present invention is not exclusively used in a blood pressure monitor cuff. For example, the present invention can also be effectively applied to a stanching body compressor which requires an accurate measurement of a pulse wave during pressure elevation.