Patent Description:
Currently, there are many measurement devices that acquire biological information from human bodies in the world. Among the devices, devices that measure pulses have been widely used as pulse sensors that are clock-type devices or wristband-type devices along with the development of wearable devices, and a photoplethysmography (PPG) method has been widely adopted. Furthermore, devices that measure blood flow rates have been widely used in the medical field and the like, and a laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and the like are known. Since pieces of biological information such as a volume pulse wave and a blood flow rate reflect a change in the cardiovascular system of the human body, the biological information is very effective in observing the state of the autonomic nerves of the human body.

Conventionally, it is known that, when the state of the autonomic nerves is observed on the basis of the biological information such as a volume pulse wave and a blood flow rate, a different behavior is exhibited for each blood vessel in a case where the state of the autonomic nerves is generally in a tension state. Therefore, a plurality of pieces of biological information is simultaneously acquired and the state of the autonomic nerves is identified on the basis of the behavior of the plurality of pieces of biological information, whereby the accuracy of the identification is improved. For example, Patent Document <NUM> discloses a technique in which a plurality of volume pulse waves is measured using a plurality of different detection methods, a difference between different pieces of the biological information is calculated, whereby new information is acquired and accuracy of identifying the state of the autonomic nerves is improved.

Other prior art is provided in <CIT> and <CIT>.

However, in a case where as the plurality of different detection methods, transmissive type and reflective type measurements of volume pulse waves are performed using one light source, measurement sites such as blood vessels overlap in the vicinity of the light source. Furthermore, as another detection method, there is also a method of measuring a volume pulse wave using different wavelength light sources. However, in this case, light receiving units are the same as each other, and measurement sites such as blood vessels to be measured overlap in the vicinity of the light receiving unit.

Therefore, in the case of the above-described means, there is a concern about a problem that a volume pulse wave signal has low independence and contains many pieces of biological information derived from the same measurement site and in a case where a difference between the pieces of biological information is calculated, the difference is not clear, and identification accuracy decreases.

Furthermore, there is a concern that even in a case where at least one light emitting element and at least two light receiving elements are disposed on substantially the same plane, it is assumed that different light receiving units receive light having passed through the same optical path in a living body near a light source, and biological information derived from the same measurement site may be included.

Therefore, a main object of the present technology is to provide technology capable of acquiring biological information of different independent measurement sites.

That is, the present technology provides a biological information measurement apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present technology will be described.

Note that embodiments to be described below are representative embodiments of the present technology, and the scope of the present technology is not narrowly interpreted by the embodiments. Note that description of the present technology will be given in the following order.

Hereinafter, configurations of a biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described. Note that the embodiment illustrates a preferred example of the present technology, and the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present technology is not limited to the configurations. Furthermore, in embodiments to be illustrated below, a measurement site is not included in these embodiments.

The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes: a light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates a living body with light; and a light receiving unit <NUM> that receives light scattered at a plurality of measurement sites in the living body, in which the biological information measurement apparatus includes a mechanism S in which the light scattered at the plurality of measurement sites is individually detected by a plurality of the light receiving units or the same light receiving unit.

The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment is worn, for example, on part of skin of a living body (for example, human body) and can take various forms, for example, a wristband type, an earring type, a ring type, a necklace type, an attachment type, a supporter type, and the like.

In the present description, "biological information" refers to any information of the living body. The living body includes, for example, a human body and a body of as an animal or the like other than a human. In the present technology, the biological information is preferably blood vessel information of the living body. The acquisition of the blood vessel information of the living body enables, for example, identification of a state of autonomic nerves.

In the present technology, as illustrated in <FIG>, the number of measurement sites in the living body is plural (at least two or more). In the present technology, the measurement site is preferably a blood vessel of an animal including a human.

The light emitting unit <NUM> is a part that irradiates the living body with light. The light emitting unit <NUM> includes at least one or more light emitting elements.

Examples of the light emitting element include laser light sources such as a light emitting diode (LED), an edge emitting laser (LD), and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).

Furthermore, for example, if the light emitting element is a laser light source that emits coherent light, the light emitting element can be used for measuring biological information such as a volume pulse wave and a blood flow rate. Furthermore, for example, if the light emitting element is a LED that emits non-coherent light, the light emitting element can be used for measuring biological information such as a volume pulse wave and a blood flow rate. In the present technology, light emitted from the light emitting element may be visible light or invisible light (for example, infrared light).

As a wavelength of the light emitting element, for example, a wavelength in a visible region, a near-infrared region, or an infrared region can be used.

The light receiving unit <NUM> is a part that receives the light scattered at the plurality of measurement sites in the living body. The light receiving unit <NUM> includes at least one or more light receiving elements.

The light receiving element includes, for example, a photodiode (PD), a phototransistor, and the like.

Specifically, as the light receiving element, it is possible to adopt, for example, a multi-division photodiode PD having a plurality of light receiving regions disposed one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, a line sensor in which pixels including a PD are disposed one-dimensionally, an image sensor in which pixels including a PD are disposed two-dimensionally, or the like.

The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the mechanism S in which the light scattered at the plurality of measurement sites is individually detected by the plurality of light receiving units or the same light receiving unit (also simply referred to as "mechanism S" in the present specification).

Thus, the provision of the mechanism S allows each optical path to pass through a different independent measurement site and allows a biological signal from the independent measurement site to be acquired. A plurality of pieces of highly independent biological information is handled, whereby it is possible to achieve the measurement of biological information, for example, the state or the like of the autonomic nerves of the living body with high identification accuracy.

The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes at least one or more light emitting units <NUM> and a plurality of (at least two or more) light receiving units <NUM>. Furthermore, a processing unit <NUM> to be described later may be included as necessary. Hereinafter, specific configurations of the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S, and B of <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line Q-Q of A of <FIG>. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the one light emitting unit <NUM> and the two light receiving units <NUM> are disposed in the same straight line. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is transmitted is included.

The member <NUM> includes, for example, a material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of air, and examples of the material include plastic, glass, resin, metal, and the like. The member <NUM> is formed with these materials, whereby the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> can be refracted.

As illustrated in B of <FIG>, the member <NUM> is disposed between the light emitting unit <NUM> and the measurement site. In this case, the transmissive surface X is disposed to be inclined with respect to an irradiation optical path of the light emitting unit <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

Configuration example <NUM> further includes a light shielding unit <NUM> on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that are in contact with the living body or the like. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent stray light and improve measurement accuracy.

Examples of a material constituting the light shielding unit <NUM> include an alloy or organic material, and the like of silver (Ag) and at least one kind selected from titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), carbon (C), chromium oxide (Cr<NUM>O<NUM>), and samarium (Sm). The light shielding unit <NUM> is configured as, for example, a single-layer film or a stacked-layer film including these materials. Furthermore, a light shielding sheet, a light shielding filter, or the like may be attached to the light shielding unit <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the shape of the light shielding unit <NUM> is not particularly limited as long as stray light can be prevented. Furthermore, the disposition of the light shielding unit <NUM> can be also freely designed as appropriate.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S, B of <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line Q-Q of A of <FIG> of <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line Q'-Q' of A of <FIG>. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, four light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the four light receiving units <NUM> are disposed in the diagonal lines of the light emitting unit <NUM> with the one light emitting unit <NUM> interposed between the light receiving units <NUM>. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a light shielding unit <NUM> is included on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that are in contact with the living body or the like. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1, P2, P3, and P4) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P5).

In the present embodiment, the member <NUM> preferably has a conical air layer including the transmissive surface X as illustrated in A to C of <FIG>. With this configuration, even in a case where the number of the light receiving units <NUM> increases as illustrated in configuration example <NUM>, it is possible for all the light receiving units <NUM> to acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1, P2, P3, and P4) without acquiring information of light having passed through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P5).

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> is disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a light shielding unit <NUM> is included on the peripheral surface of the light emitting unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a surface of the light emitting unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that is in contact with the living body or the like. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

Furthermore, B of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> is disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a light shielding unit <NUM> is included on the peripheral surface of the light emitting unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a surface of the light emitting unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that is in contact with the living body or the like. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

In a case where the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present technology includes a plurality of light receiving units <NUM>, the plurality of light receiving units <NUM> can be disposed on substantially the same plane as illustrated in A and B of <FIG>.

Furthermore, in the present technology, the shape of the light shielding unit <NUM> is not particularly limited as long as stray light can be prevented, and the light shielding unit <NUM> can be freely designed into a desired shape as illustrated in A and B of <FIG>.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the light emitting unit <NUM> and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> are disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a light shielding unit <NUM> is included on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that are in contact with the living body or the like. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

Furthermore, B of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the light emitting unit <NUM> and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> are disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a light shielding unit <NUM> is included on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that are in contact with the living body or the like. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

In a case where the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present technology includes a plurality of light receiving units <NUM>, the light emitting unit <NUM> and the plurality of light receiving units <NUM> can be disposed on substantially the same plane as illustrated in A and B of <FIG>.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in A of <FIG>, the member <NUM> may have a plurality of conical air layers including the transmissive surface X.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the light emitting unit <NUM> and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> are disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a lens <NUM> through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is transmitted is included.

As illustrated in A of <FIG>, the lens <NUM> is disposed between the light emitting unit <NUM> and the measurement site. Furthermore, as illustrated in A of <FIG>, the lens <NUM> preferably includes a lens light shielding unit <NUM> in a part of the lens <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to remove light in a beam center part, the light having spread after being emitted from the lens, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2). Note that a material constituting the lens light shielding unit <NUM> is similar to the material constituting the light shielding unit <NUM> described above.

B of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the light emitting unit <NUM> and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> are disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a lens <NUM> through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is transmitted is included.

In configuration example <NUM>, similarly to configuration example <NUM>, the lens <NUM> includes a lens light shielding unit <NUM> in a part of the lens <NUM>. The lens light shielding unit <NUM> is preferably provided at a lens center part on a side where the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is incident as illustrated in A of <FIG> or on a side where the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is emitted as illustrated in B of <FIG>. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently remove light in a beam center part, the light having spread after being emitted from the lens. As a result, it is possible to block an optical path passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2). Furthermore, in configuration example <NUM> and configuration example <NUM>, in a case where a lens that is centrosymmetric with respect to incident light is used, even in a case where the number of the light receiving units <NUM> increases, it is possible to cause each light receiving unit <NUM> to acquire information of light at different measurement sites.

Configuration examples <NUM> and <NUM> each further include a light shielding unit <NUM> described above that is different from the lens light shielding unit <NUM> on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a bottom surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> on a side where the measurement site exists. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent stray light and improve measurement accuracy.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> is disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a lens <NUM> through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is transmitted is included.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in A of <FIG>, both the member <NUM> and the lens <NUM> described above may be used in combination, whereby each light receiving unit <NUM> may be configured to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

B of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and a plurality of the light receiving units <NUM> is disposed on substantially the same plane. Furthermore, a member <NUM> having a transmissive surface X through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is transmitted is included, and a lens <NUM> through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is transmitted is included.

In configuration example <NUM>, unlike configuration example <NUM> described above, the lens <NUM> includes a lens light shielding unit <NUM>. Thus, the lens light shielding unit <NUM> can be included as necessary.

Configuration example <NUM> and configuration example <NUM> each further include a light shielding unit <NUM> described above that is different from the lens light shielding unit <NUM> on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a bottom surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> on a side where the measurement site exists (a surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> in contact with the member <NUM> and a surface that faces the surface and that are in contact with the living body or the like). With this configuration, it is possible to prevent stray light and improve measurement accuracy.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>. Furthermore, a diffraction grating unit <NUM> that generates diffracted light on the basis of the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is included.

As illustrated in A of <FIG>, the diffraction grating unit <NUM> is disposed between the light emitting unit <NUM> and the measurement site. With this configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is branched by the diffraction grating unit <NUM>, and it is possible for each light receiving unit <NUM> to individually acquire information of light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) without passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2).

The diffraction grating unit <NUM> can be freely designed as appropriate so that the diffraction grating unit <NUM> freely determines a branching direction of light. Therefore, even in a case where the number of the light receiving units <NUM> increases, light having passed through different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) can be made incident on each of the light receiving units <NUM>.

Configuration example <NUM> further includes a light shielding unit <NUM> described above on the peripheral surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, the peripheral surface excluding a bottom surface of each of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> on a side where the measurement site exists. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent stray light and improve measurement accuracy.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S. Configuration example <NUM> includes one light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiates the inside of a living body with light, two light receiving units <NUM> that receive light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>. Furthermore, a light dividing unit <NUM> that divides the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> described above is included.

The light dividing unit <NUM> is, for example, one that divides light into two and includes a half beam splitter (HBS), a branching waveguide, and the like. With this configuration, an optical path is branched into two and sites of the living body where light is incident are separated, whereby pieces of information of different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) can be individually acquired by different light receiving parts <NUM>.

In configuration example <NUM>, a member <NUM> having a refractive surface R in which light divided by the light dividing unit <NUM> is refracted is further included. The member <NUM> is disposed between the light emitting unit <NUM> and a plurality of the measurement sites. The refractive surface R is disposed to be inclined with respect to an optical path of the light divided by the light dividing unit <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to refract the light divided by the light dividing unit <NUM> and irradiate one (for example, blood vessel P1) of the plurality of measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) with light.

Similarly to the member <NUM> described above, the member <NUM> includes, for example, a material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of air, and examples of the material include plastic, glass, resin, metal, and the like.

Furthermore, a reflection surface having a high reflectance such as aluminum or gold may be added to the refractive surface R to actively reflect light.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the processing unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> analyzes the biological information (for example, a state of the autonomic nerves) on the basis of output from the light receiving unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> can include, for example, an extracting unit <NUM>, a recording unit <NUM>, and an analyzing unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the processing unit <NUM> may include a controlling unit <NUM> that integrally controls each part as necessary.

The processing unit <NUM> may be provided in the housing <NUM> described above and connected to the light receiving unit <NUM>, may be provided integrally with the housing <NUM> outside the housing <NUM> and connected to the light receiving unit <NUM>, or may be provided outside the housing <NUM> and connected to the light receiving unit <NUM> in a wired or wireless manner.

The extracting unit <NUM> extracts information of a plurality of measurement sites from the output of the light receiving unit <NUM>. The extracting unit <NUM> is achieved by, for example, a low-pass filter.

The low-pass filter is connected to an output end of the light receiving unit <NUM>, cuts off a high-frequency component (noise component) of a signal output from the light receiving unit <NUM>, and outputs a signal obtained by cutting off the high-frequency component. The signal via the low-pass filter is transmitted to the recording unit <NUM> and the analyzing unit <NUM> to be described later. Note that, in a case where the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present technology includes a plurality of light receiving units <NUM>, the low-pass filter may be provided for each light receiving unit <NUM>.

The recording unit <NUM> records the information of the plurality of measurement sites extracted by the extracting unit <NUM>. The recording unit <NUM> is achieved by, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a memory such as a flash memory, a hard disk, or the like. The recording unit <NUM> is connected to an output end of the low-pass filter, and holds or updates the signal via the low-pass filter.

The analyzing unit <NUM> analyzes at least the information of the plurality of measurement sites recorded in the recording unit <NUM>, and analyzes the biological information (for example, a state of the autonomic nerves) on the basis of a result of the analysis. The analyzing unit <NUM> is achieved by, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like together with the controlling unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the analyzing unit <NUM> acquires a difference between information of each measurement site (for example, each blood vessel) recorded in the recording unit <NUM> and information of the measurement site (for example, the blood vessel) extracted by the extracting unit <NUM> after the information of the measurement site is recorded in the recording unit <NUM>. Then, the analyzing unit <NUM> analyzes the biological information on the basis of a result of the acquisition.

More specifically, the analyzing unit <NUM> acquires, for example, a correlation of a difference in information for each measurement site of the living body and discriminates a state of the living body on the basis of a result of the acquisition. Examples of the "correlation" as used herein include feature amounts such as a variance, standard deviation, difference, skewness, kurtosis, correlation, p-quantile, average value, and median value.

The analyzing unit <NUM> includes, for example, a subtracting unit, a correlation acquiring unit, and a state discriminating unit.

The subtracting unit is connected to the output terminal of the low-pass filter and the recording unit <NUM>. The subtracting unit subtracts a signal (old signal) recorded (held or updated) by the recording unit <NUM> from a signal (new signal) transmitted via the low-pass filter after a predetermined time from the time of the recording, and outputs a result of the subtraction (difference). Note that, in a case where the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present technology includes a plurality of light receiving units <NUM>, the subtracting unit may be provided for each low-pass filter provided in each light receiving unit <NUM>.

The correlation acquiring unit is connected to an output end of the subtracting unit. The correlation acquiring unit acquires a correlation of the result of the subtraction (difference) in the subtracting unit (calculates the feature amount described above), and outputs a result of the acquisition (result of the calculation).

The state discriminating unit is connected to an output end of the correlation acquiring unit. The state discriminating unit discriminates the state of the living body on the basis of the correlation acquired by the correlation acquiring unit.

Here, for example, a signal of each channel has a waveform corresponding to the behavior of a corresponding blood vessel. Since the behavior of a blood vessel is different for each blood vessel, a waveform of a signal acquired for each blood vessel is also different. However, a waveform of a result of the subtraction between the new and old signals of each channel described above (waveform of the difference) is information reflecting the presence or absence of a change in the state of the autonomic nerves regardless of a waveform of a signal for each blood vessel. While the autonomic nerves continuously remain in the same state, it is considered that the waveforms of the difference between the signals of each channel are approximate to each other. Hence, if the waveforms of the difference between the signals of each channel are approximate to each other, it can be estimated that the autonomic nerves continuously remain in the same state.

Therefore, in a case where the result of the acquisition (correlation) in the correlation acquiring unit, that is, the feature amount described above is, for example, less than a threshold, the state discriminating unit determines that the autonomic nerves continuously remain in the same state and outputs a result of discrimination about the state of the autonomic nerves corresponding to a result of the determination (for example, discrimination as to whether the state of the autonomic nerves is a resting state or a tension state).

Meanwhile, when the state of the autonomic nerves changes, it is considered that the waveforms of the difference between the new and old signals of each channel are not approximate to each other. Hence, if the waveforms of the difference between the new and old signals of each channel are not approximate to each other, it can be estimated that the state of the autonomic nerves has changed.

Therefore, in a case where the result of the acquisition (correlation) in the correlation acquiring unit, that is, the feature amount described above is, for example, the threshold or more, the state discriminating unit determines that the state of the autonomic nerves has changed and outputs a result of discrimination about the state of the autonomic nerves corresponding to a result of the determination (for example, discrimination as to whether the state of the autonomic nerves is a resting state or a tension state).

Note that, although a method of acquiring the difference by the subtracting unit has been described so far, a dividing unit may be included instead of the subtracting unit and a method of acquiring a result of division may be used.

Furthermore, the correlation may be acquired (the feature amount described above may be calculated) from the signal recorded in the recording unit without using subtraction or division, and a result of the acquisition (result of the calculation) may be output. In this case, the correlation includes a correlation coefficient and the like.

The biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of light emitting units <NUM> and at least one or more light receiving units <NUM>. Hereinafter, specific configurations of the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. Note that the present embodiment is similar to the biological information measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment described above except that the present embodiment includes the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> and the at least one or more light receiving units <NUM>.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S, and B of <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line Q-Q of A of <FIG>. Configuration example <NUM> includes two light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiate the inside of a living body with light, one light receiving unit <NUM> that receives light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting units <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM>, and a plurality of the light emitting unit <NUM> and the one light receiving unit <NUM> are disposed in the same straight line. Furthermore, a light shielding unit <NUM> that shields a part of light emitted from the plurality of the light emitting units and scattered at a plurality of measurement sites in the living body is included.

The light shielding unit <NUM> is disposed between the light receiving unit <NUM> and the measurement site and is preferably disposed in a straight line connecting the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2) propagated in the living body and the light receiving unit <NUM>. With this configuration, light passing through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2) is blocked by the surface of the living body, and information of different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) can be acquired by the light receiving unit <NUM>. Note that a material constituting the light shielding unit <NUM> is similar to the material constituting the light shielding unit <NUM> described above.

In configuration example <NUM>, since there is one light receiving unit <NUM>, information of different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1 and P3) can be acquired by time-divisionally driving the light receiving unit <NUM> and the two light emitting units <NUM> (for example, first light emitting unit and second light emitting unit) as illustrated in <FIG>.

In the configuration example <NUM>, a member T having a transmissive surface through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> is transmitted may be further included, and the member T may be disposed, for example, between the light emitting unit <NUM> and the measurement sites and between the light receiving unit <NUM> and the measurement sites, as illustrated in B of <FIG>. With this configuration, the light emitting unit <NUM> and the light receiving unit <NUM> can be stably disposed, and furthermore, when a blood flow rate is measured using a laser in the light emitting unit <NUM>, a signal intensity is increased by providing a distance between the surface of the living body or the like and the light receiving unit <NUM>. Thus, the signal intensity can be increased by increasing the distance between the surface of the living body or the like and the light receiving unit <NUM> with the member T interposed therebetween. Note that a material forming the member T is similar to the material of the member <NUM> described above.

A of <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating configuration example <NUM> of the mechanism S, B of <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line Q-Q of A of <FIG> of <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line Q'-Q' of A of <FIG>. Configuration example <NUM> includes four light emitting unit <NUM> that irradiate the inside of a living body with light, one light receiving unit <NUM> that receives light scattered in the living body and acquire a biological signal, and a housing <NUM> including the light emitting units <NUM> and the light receiving units <NUM>, and the four light emitting units <NUM> are disposed in the diagonal lines of the light receiving units <NUM> with the one light receiving units <NUM> interposed between the light emitting units <NUM>. Furthermore, a light shielding unit <NUM> that shields a part of light emitted from a plurality of the light emitting units and scattered at a plurality of measurement sites in the living body is included.

The light shielding unit <NUM> is disposed in a straight line connecting the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2) propagated in the living body and the light receiving unit <NUM>. With this configuration, even in a case where the number of the light emitting units <NUM>, light having passed through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P5) is blocked by the surface of the living body, and pieces of information of different measurement sites (for example, blood vessels P1, P2, P3, and P4) can be individually acquired by the light receiving unit <NUM>.

Note that in configuration example <NUM> and configuration example <NUM>, the shape of a portion where the light shielding unit <NUM> does not exist is substantially circular, but the present technology is not limited to this shape as long as the light having passed through the same measurement site (for example, blood vessel P2) can be blocked by the surface of the living body. Furthermore, the disposition of the light shielding unit <NUM> can be also freely designed.

Furthermore, a biological information measurement system according to the present technology includes: a light emitting device that irradiates a living body with light; and a light receiving device that receives light scattered at a plurality of measurement sites in the living body, in which the biological information measurement system includes a mechanism in which the light scattered at the plurality of measurement sites is individually detected by a plurality of light receiving units or the same light receiving unit.

The light emitting device may include, for example, a light emitting unit <NUM> described above. Since the light emitting unit <NUM> is similar to that described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

Furthermore, the light receiving device may include, for example, a light receiving unit <NUM> described above. Since the light receiving unit <NUM> is similar to that described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

Moreover, since the mechanism is similar to the mechanism S described above, the description thereof will be omitted here.

Claim 1:
A biological information measurement apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a light emitting unit (<NUM>) configured to irradiate a living body with light;
a plurality of light receiving units (<NUM>) configured to receive light scattered at a plurality of measurement sites in the living body, wherein
the biological information measurement apparatus includes a mechanism in which the light scattered at the plurality of measurement sites is individually detected by a plurality of the light receiving units;
said mechanism comprising a lens (<NUM>) through which the light emitted from the light emitting unit is transmitted, wherein
the lens is disposed between the light emitting unit (<NUM>) and the measurement site , characterised in that the lens includes a lens light shielding unit (<NUM>) at a lens center part on a side where the light emitted from the light emitting unit is incident or emitted.