Patent ID: 12190624

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a method of acquiring biometric information on small animals according to an embodiment of the present invention and a biometric information acquisition device used in this method will be described with reference toFIG.1toFIG.12.

(Configuration of Biometric Information Acquisition Device)

Firstly, a biometric information acquisition device1according to the present embodiment will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the biometric information acquisition device1includes a housing unit10, an image information acquisition unit20, lighting units30, and an information processing unit40.

<Housing Unit>

The housing unit10is provided for housing small animals whose biometric information is to be acquired, and is formed with a cage10. In the present embodiment, small animals such as a rat or a mouse M are placed in the cage10. In the following, an example of acquiring biometric information on the mouse M will be described.

The cage10is formed in a substantially rectangular shape whose top portion11is opened, and the mouse M is carried in and out of the cage10from the side of the opened top portion11. The cage10also includes four side portions12,13,14,15and a bottom portion16each of which is made of a transparent glass plate. Thus, the mouse M in the cage10is visible from outside of each side surface of the cage10and from outside of the bottom of the cage10.

At the four corners of the bottom portion16of the cage10, legs16a,16b,16c,16D for supporting the cage10are provided, respectively. Each of the legs16a,16b,16c,16dis formed in a rectangular shape, and extends in the direction opposite to the bottom portion16(toward the lower direction of the cage10). The legs16a,16b,16c,16c,16dallow the cage10to be positioned at a predetermined height, whereby a predetermined space is generated between the bottom portion16of the cage10and a mounting surface of a mounting table (not illustrated) on which the cage10is mounted.

<Image Information Acquisition Unit>

The image information acquisition unit20is configured to acquire images of the mouse M, and includes an RGB camera20. The RGB camera20is equipped with a plurality of detecting elements that is sensitive to the light intensity in the wavelength regions corresponding to each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and is configured to acquire image information.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the RGB camera20is installed between the bottom portion16and the mounting surface on which the cage10is mounted. That is, the RGB camera20is installed at the lower side of the bottom portion16of the cage10. Furthermore, the RGB camera20is installed with a lens portion20afacing in the direction toward the bottom portion16of the cage10so as to capture images of the abdomen side of the mouse M in the cage10.

<Lighting Unit>

Each of the lighting units30is provided for illuminating the mouse M in the cage10, and is formed with an LED light. The LED lights30are installed between the bottom portion16of the cage10and the mounting surface on which the cage10is mounted, and arranged on the left and right sides of the RGB camera20, respectively. This arrangement allows the LED lights30to illuminate the mouse M in the cage10from the side of the bottom portion16of the cage10.

In the present embodiment, each of the lighting units30is formed with LED lights, however, infrared lamps may be used to illuminate the mouse M. Since the mouse M reacts to visible light, it is suitable to illuminate the mouse M with the infrared lamps if the influence of visible light on the mouse M is to be avoided.

<Information Processing Unit>

The information processing unit40is configured to process image information on the mouse M captured by the RGB camera20, and formed with a personal computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “PC”)40. The PC40includes a server device41that processes and stores various pieces of information, and a display42that displays various images.

The server device41is connected to the RGB camera20and the display42, and thus can receive the image information from the RGB camera20. In addition to the RGB camera20and the display42, the server device41can also be connected to various other devices (not illustrated) such as a keyboard and a printer.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the server device41includes a control section410, a memory section420, a communication section430, and a power supply section440.

The control section410is configured to control the overall operations of the biometric information acquisition device1, namely, the operations of the server device41, the operations of the RGB camera20connected to the server device41, and the operations of the display42.

The control section410includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) serving as a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) serving as a memory, and/or a RAM (Random Access Memory) serving as a memory.

The memory section420is formed with, for example, an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD each of which serves as a semiconductor memory, and is configured to store information acquired by the control section410.

The communication section430is configured to communicate with external devices over networks such as other server devices.

The power supply section440is configured to receive instructions from the control section410and supply power to each section of the server device depending on whether it is turned on or off. The control section410, the memory section420, and the communication section430are connected to each other by an internal bus (not illustrated).

The server device41also includes a connection section (not illustrated) to which an external information memory medium such as a USB memory is connected.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the CPU loads an information processing program stored in the ROM onto the RAM and executes it, whereby the control section410functions as an image information reading section411, an image information specification section412, a signal information extraction section413, a signal information smoothing section414, a signal information filter section415, a signal information peak detection section416, and a biometric information calculation section417.

The image information reading section411is configured to cause the RGB camera20connected to the server device41to capture images, and then read (load) the images (moving images) captured and obtained by the RGB camera20into the control section410.

The image information specification section412is configured to specify, among pieces of the image information read by the control section410, a piece of the image information from which the signals are to be extracted by the signal information extraction section413.

Specifically, the image information specification section412is configured to automatically specify, among the moving images captured by the RGB camera20, a moving image in which the mouse M is motionless for a certain period of time. Furthermore, the image information specification section412is configured to automatically specify images of the foot (the sole of the foot) L of the mouse among the images of the abdomen side of the mouse M.

In the present embodiment, the image information specification section412is configured to automatically specify the images showing the motionless state and/or the foot L of the mouse M, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The image information specification section412may be configured to specify the images based on an operation signal output from a keyboard or other means. In other words, the image information specification section412may be configured to manually specify the images.

The signal information extraction section413is configured to extract, among the RGB signals in the image of the foot L of the mouse M which has been specified by the image information specification section412, G signals that are predetermined signals in the present invention. Here, the G signals refer to green component image signals, R signals refer to red component image signals, and B signals refer to blue component image signals.

The signal information smoothing section414is configured to remove unnecessary signals, which are so-called noise, contained in the signal information.

The signal information filter section415is configured to extract signals of specific frequencies. The signal information filter section415uses a bandpass filter program stored in the memory to extract these signals.

The signal information peak detection section416is configured to detect peaks of signals which change periodically.

The biometric information calculation section417is configured to calculate various pieces of biometric information on the mouse M based on the peak-to-peak intervals of the signals detected by the signal information peak detection section416.

In the present invention, the signal information smoothing section414, the signal information filter section415, the signal information peak detection section416, and the biometric information calculation section417define a biometric information acquisition section of the present invention.

(Methods of Acquiring Biometric Information on Mouse)

Next, a method of acquiring biometric information on the mouse M using the biometric information acquisition device1will be described with reference toFIG.4.

The RGB camera20is used to capture the images of the mouse M in the cage10(STEP10, hereafter simply referred to as “step S . . . ”).

As described above, the RGB camera20is installed at the lower side of the bottom portion16of the cage10, and the lens portion20aof the RGB camera20faces in the direction toward the bottom portion16of the cage10. Thus, the RGB camera20captures the images of the abdomen side of the mouse M from the lower side of the mouse M.

The image information on the mouse M captured by the RGB camera20is mainly an image (moving image) of the abdomen of the mouse M. The image of the abdomen of the mouse M includes an image of the foot L of the mouse M, and the image of the foot L shows the sole of the foot of the mouse M which is in contact with the bottom portion16(seeFIG.5).

Here, since the heart rate is different between the mouse M and a human, the frame rate (fps) of the RGB camera20at the time of capturing images of the mouse M is set to be, for example, 250 fps which is more than the frame rate (about 60 fps) at the time of capturing images of a human.

After capturing the images of the mouse M, the RGB camera20sends the pieces of image information of the captured images to the server device41. The image information reading section411reads (stores) the pieces of image information on the mouse M which have been sent to the server device41into the memory of the control section410(step S20).

After the pieces of image information on the mouse M are read into the server device41, the image information specification section412specifies, among the moving images which have been read, a moving image in which the mouse M is motionless for a certain period of time. The image information specification section412further specifies the sole part of the foot L of the mouse M from the specified moving image. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.5, the image information specification section412specifies an image area R, from which the signals are to be extracted, from the specified image of the sole of the foot (step S30).

After the image area R from which the signals are to be extracted is specified, the signal information extraction section413extracts G signals from the specified image area (step S40). Specifically, the signal information extraction section413confirms each signal component obtained from the image area R by the Fast Fourier Transform processing or the Wavelet Transformation processing.

After the G signals are extracted, the signal information smoothing section414removes unnecessary signal information from the extracted (confirmed) G signals to smooth the G signals (step S50).

After the G signals are smoothed, the signal information filter section415performs the bandpass filter processing to extract signals of specific frequencies for the smoothed G signals (step S60). Specifically, in this processing, the signal information filter section415extracts respiration signals and heart rate signals of the mouse M, respectively.

After the bandpass filter processing is performed and the respiration signals and heart rate signals of the mouse M are extracted, the signal information peak detection section416detects the peaks of the respiration signals and heart rate signals which periodically change (step S70).

After the peaks of the respiration signals and heart rate signals of the mouse M are detected as described above, the biometric information calculation section417calculates the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M based on the number of peaks per unit time. Furthermore, the biometric information calculation section417calculates various pieces of biometric information such as changes in the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M based on the intervals between the peaks (step S80).

The various pieces of biometric information on the mouse M, such as the detected respiratory rate and heart rate, are stored in the memory and displayed on the display42or the like.

As described above, biometric information such as the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M is calculated from the images of the foot L of the mouse M. Since implantation of an electrocardiograph for calculating such as the respiratory rate and heart rate into the body of the mouse M is not necessary, there is no need to incise the body of the mouse M. As a result, it is possible to calculate biometric information such as the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M without causing physical burden and/or stress to the mouse M.

Furthermore, the images of the abdominal side of the mouse M are captured at the time of photographing the mouse M, thereby enabling acquisition of, not only the images of the abdominal side of the mouse M, but also the images of the foot L of the mouse M. As a result, it is possible to acquire the images of the foot L, which are necessary for calculating the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M, through an operation of capturing images of the mouse M.

Still further, the RGB camera is installed at the lower side of the bottom portion16of the cage10that is made of a transparent glass plate so that the images of the mouse M can be captured from below the position of the mouse M in the cage10. This allows the RGB camera20to capture the images of the hand (palm) and/or foot (sole) L of the mouse M which is in contact with the bottom portion16of the cage10, and thus the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M can be calculated from the images of the foot thereof. As a result, since the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M can be calculated without restricting the movement of the mouse M by, for example, fixing the mouse M to capture the images of the foot L, it is possible to calculate biometric information on the mouse M that is in a natural state without giving stress thereto. Furthermore, the foot L of the mouse M is always in contact with the bottom portion16within the cage10, and accordingly, for example, even when the mouse M stands up, the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M can be calculated from the images of the foot L that is in contact with the bottom part16. This makes it possible to calculate biometric information on the mouse M without being affected by the movement of the mouse M in the cage10.

In the present embodiment, the RGB camera20is used to capture images of the foot L of the mouse M, however, the present invention is not limited thereto as long as a camera to be used can capture images from which signals allowing the pulse wave of the mouse to be detected can be extracted. For example, an infrared camera may be used to capture images of the foot L of the mouse M so as to calculate the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M based on the infrared light. Since the mouse M reacts to visible light, this is especially effective when the influence of light on the mouse M is to be reduced.

Still further, in the present embodiment, the biometric information on the mouse M is calculated based on the G signals extracted from the image information, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, biometric information on the mouse M may be calculated based on the R signals or the B signals, or combinations of each of the R, G, and B signals.

Still further, in the present embodiment, the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M, as well as changes in the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M are calculated based on the G signals, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, various pieces of biometric information on the mouse M, such as blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and a value of bilirubin, can also be calculated based on the RGB signals or infrared light.

Still further, in the present embodiment, the foot L of the mouse M is specified from the images captured by the RGB camera20for the purpose of calculation of the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M from the captured images of the foot L, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the hand (palm) of the mouse M may be specified from the images for the purpose of calculation of biometric information such as the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M from the hand or foot L, or both of them. That is, any images can be used for calculation as long as they show the hand or foot L of the mouse M.

Still further, in the present embodiment, the RGB camera20connected to the server device41is used for capturing images of the foot L of the mouse M to calculate the respiratory rate, heart rate, and the like of the mouse M from the captured images, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the image information on the foot L of the mouse M obtained by a camera other than the biometric information acquisition device1may be used to calculate biometric information such as the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M. The image information obtained described above is transferred to the server device41via the Internet or a USB memory, and then the calculation of biometric information is performed using the transferred image information.

Still further, in the present embodiment, the camera20is installed at the lower side of the bottom portion16of the cage10so as to capture images of the abdominal side of the mouse M from the lower side of the mouse M in the cage10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto as long as a camera to be used is designed to capture images of the abdominal side including the hand and foot L of the mouse M. For example, a reflective object such as a mirror is installed at the lower side of the bottom portion16of the cage10so that the RGB camera20can take images of the abdominal side including the hand and foot L of the mouse M reflected in the mirror from the upper side of the cage10(from above the mouse M).

Still further, in the present embodiment, the mouse M is used as an example of small animals which are targets of biometric information acquisition, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, other animals such as dogs or cats may be used. That is, any animals can be placed as long as they have the skins such as the palms of the hands and/or soles of the feet, which are in contact with the bottom portion16when they are in the cage10.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but includes modifications within the scope of the object to be achieved of the invention. Some modifications of the present embodiment will be described below. Note that, in the following, the modifications will be described only with respect to the points that differ from the embodiment which has been already described above. The same reference signs are provided with the same features, and the repetitive explanation therefor will be omitted.

First Modification

(Configuration of Biometric Information Acquisition Device)

An image information acquisition unit21of a biometric information acquisition device1A according to a first modification includes a plurality of RGB cameras. In the first modification, as illustrated inFIG.6, the RGB camera includes five RGB cameras, namely, the RGB cameras21a,21b,21c,21d,21e. The RGB cameras21a,21b,21c,21d,21eare installed in the four corners and near the center of the bottom portion16, respectively, so as to capture images of the entire bottom portion16of the cage10.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the control section410also functions as a mouse location specification section418. The mouse location specification section418is configured to specify the location of the mouse M in the cage10from the images captured by the RGB cameras21a,21b,21c,21d,21e.

(Method of Acquiring Biometric Information on Mouse)

Next, a method of acquiring biometric information on the mouse M using the biometric information acquisition device1will be described with reference toFIG.8.

In the first modification, upon acquiring the image information on the mouse M by the five RGB cameras21a,21b,21c,21d,21e(step S10), the location of the mouse M within the cage10is specified from the acquired image information (step S21). Then, after specifying the location of the mouse M, the biometric information on the mouse M is acquired (steps S30to S80).

As described above, in the first modification, the plurality of RGB cameras21a,21b,21c,21d,21ecaptures images of the mouse M, thereby enabling specification of the location of the mouse M within the cage10. This makes it possible to observe the behavior of the mouse M within the cage10. Furthermore, it is also possible to calculate the respiratory rate, heart rate, and the like in accordance with a position of the mouse M in the cage10, whereby the biometric information in accordance with the behavior of the mouse M can be obtained.

In the first modification, the five RGB cameras21a,21b,21c,21d,21eare installed at the lower side of the bottom portion16of the cage10, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The number of RGB cameras to be installed may be, for example, three or eight. That is, as long as the plurality of RGB cameras can capture the images of the entire bottom portion16of the cage10, the number of cameras to be installed and/or positions thereof can be arbitrarily set.

Second Modification

(Configuration of Biometric Information Acquisition Device)

An image information acquisition unit22of a biometric information acquisition device1B according to a second modification includes a plurality of RGB cameras. In the second modification, in the same manner as the first modification, five RGB cameras22a,22b,22c,22d,22eare installed in the four corners and near the center of the bottom portion16, respectively, so as to capture images of the entire bottom portion16of the cage10. In addition, as illustrated inFIG.9, the image information acquisition unit22further includes a RGB camera22fat the upper side of the cage10.

The RGB camera22fat the upper side of the cage10is installed with a lens22fafacing in the direction toward the side of the cage10in order to capture images of the mouse M in the cage10. Thus, in the second modification, the RGB camera22fis used to capture the images of the mouse in the cage10from the upper side as well. In other words, in the second modification, the images of the mouse M in the cage10are captured from the upper and lower sides.

Then, in the second modification, the respiratory rate, heart rate, and the like are calculated from the images of the foot L of the mouse M captured by the RGB cameras22a,22b,22c,22d,22einstalled at the lower side of the cage10. In addition, in the second modification, a locus of the behavior of the mouse M in the cage10is specified from the images of the mouse M captured by the RGB camera22finstalled at the upper side of the cage10. The specified locus is used to calculate, for example, the amount of locomotion of the mouse M in the cage10.

As described above, the respiratory rate, heart rate, and the like of the mouse M are calculated from the images captured by the RGB cameras22a,22b,22c,22d,22einstalled at the lower side of the cage10, and also, the amount of locomotion of the mouse M is calculated from the images captured by the RGB camera22finstalled at the upper side of the cage10. This enables simultaneous measurement of the biometric information such as the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M and the biometric information such as the amount of locomotion of the mouse M. As a result, the respiratory rate and heart rate of the mouse M can be measured in combination with the amount of locomotion, thereby making it possible to observe the mouse M based on various pieces of biological information.

In the second modification, the single RGB camera22fis installed at the upper side of the cage10, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the number of RGB cameras to be installed at the upper side of the cage10may be four. That is, as long as the locus of the behavior of the mouse M in the cage10can be specified, the number of cameras to be installed and/or positions thereof can be arbitrarily set.

Third Modification

(Configuration of Biometric Information Acquisition Device)

A biometric information acquisition device1C according to a third modification includes the cage10whose bottom portion (bottom plate of the cage10)16is made of an acrylic plate. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.10, an LED lamp160is provided on one end side of the side surface of the bottom portion16made of the acrylic plate.

The LED lamp160is provided such that a light emission portion (not illustrated) thereof faces (comes in contact with) the side surface of the bottom portion16so as to illuminate the inside of the bottom portion16from the side surface of the bottom portion16. This allows the light from the LED lamp160to enter only the acrylic plate that is the bottom portion16.

In the third modification, the LED lamp160is provided in order to let the light enter only the acrylic plate. In this way, the light from the LED lamp160enters only the acrylic plate, thereby causing only a contact area where the mouse M is in contact with the front surface of the bottom portion16to emit light while the other non-contact areas do not.

Then, in the third modification, the mouse M is placed in the cage10in a state where the light from the LED lamp16keeps entering the bottom portion (acrylic plate)16. On the front surface of the bottom portion16, an area with which the mouse M is in contact emits light while the other areas do not. For example, the foot L of the mouse M in the cage10is in contact with the front surface of the bottom portion16. On the contact area of the foot L (for example, the sole of the foot), as illustrated inFIG.11, only a part of the bottom portion16with which the foot L is in contact emits light by the LED lamp160(illuminated by the LED lamp160).

As described above, the LED lamp160is used to let the light therefrom enter only inside the acrylic plate that defines the bottom portion16, thereby allowing the area of the bottom portion16where the mouse M (for example, the sole of the foot) is in contact to be illuminated (emit light). This makes it easier to acquire biometric information, such as the pulse wave of the mouse M, because the light enters the skin of the mouse M which is in contact with the bottom portion16.

Furthermore, the light reaches only the area of the bottom portion16where the mouse M in the cage10is in contact, but does not reach the other areas. Accordingly, for example, the eyes of the mouse M do not receive light. This reduces the influence of the light from the LED lamp160on the mouse M. As a result, it is possible to reduce the influence of the light and acquire more accurate biometric information on the mouse M.

Still further, since only the foot L and/or hand that is in contact with the bottom portion16emits light, it is easy to track the foot L and/or hand that is emitting light, and by which the behavior history of the mouse M can be easily obtained.

In the third modification, the LED lamp160is provided on one end of the side surface of the bottom portion16, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The LED lamps160may be provided on both ends of the side surface of the bottom portion16, respectively, or on all the side surfaces of the bottom portion16, respectively. In other words, any means can be used as long as it can let the light therefrom enter only the acrylic plate that is the bottom portion16.

Furthermore, in the third modification, the bottom portion16is made of an acrylic plate, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the bottom portion16may be made of polycarbonate, urethane, or glass. That is, any material can be used as long as it allows the light of the LED lamp160to enter the bottom portion16so as to cause the contact area of the foot L and/or hand of the mouse M to emit light when the foot L and the like comes into contact with the bottom portion16.

Fourth Modification

As illustrated inFIG.12, a system S for connecting a plurality of biometric information acquisition devices1located in different regions and places via the Internet to acquire biometric information on each mouse M may be constructed.

As described above, the biometric information acquisition devices1are connected to each other via the Internet, thereby enabling acquisition of biometric information on each mouse M in different places, respectively.

The present invention has been described as above, however, it is not limited to the embodiment and modifications described above. Other modifications, variations, and/or changes in the combinations of each feature can be made within the scope of the object to be achieved of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

M small animal (mouse)I biometric information acquisition device20image information acquisition unit (RGB camera)413signal information extraction section414biometric information acquisition section (signal information smoothing section)415biometric information acquisition section (signal information filter section)416biometric information acquisition section (signal information peak detection section)417biometric information acquisition section (biometric information calculation section)