JP2001046348A - Probe for blood flow meter - Google Patents
Probe for blood flow meterInfo
- Publication number
- JP2001046348A JP2001046348A JP11226899A JP22689999A JP2001046348A JP 2001046348 A JP2001046348 A JP 2001046348A JP 11226899 A JP11226899 A JP 11226899A JP 22689999 A JP22689999 A JP 22689999A JP 2001046348 A JP2001046348 A JP 2001046348A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- light
- blood flow
- flow meter
- living tissue
- irradiation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000017531 blood circulation Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 75
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 35
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 42
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 abstract description 13
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 description 22
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 11
- 210000003743 erythrocyte Anatomy 0.000 description 10
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 7
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 229930182556 Polyacetal Natural products 0.000 description 6
- 229920006324 polyoxymethylene Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 210000004204 blood vessel Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 210000001736 capillary Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002792 vascular Effects 0.000 description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001186 cumulative effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- CPBQJMYROZQQJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N helium neon Chemical compound [He].[Ne] CPBQJMYROZQQJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chloride anion Chemical compound [Cl-] VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000002565 arteriole Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000003363 arteriovenous anastomosis Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003796 beauty Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036770 blood supply Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036760 body temperature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008822 capillary blood flow Effects 0.000 description 1
- 206010061592 cardiac fibrillation Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000002600 fibrillogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000005383 fluoride glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035790 physiological processes and functions Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000000264 venule Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)
- Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【発明が属する技術分野】本発明はレーザーによる血流
測定に使用される血流計用プローブに関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a blood flow meter probe used for measuring blood flow by laser.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】皮膚の微小循環系血管網構築の特徴とし
ては、通常の細動脈−毛細血管−細静脈で構成される血
管網の他に、手、足、顔面等の限られた部分にある動静
脈吻合血管（ＡＶＡ：arteriovenous anastomoses）の
存在が挙げられる。毛細血管は皮膚全体への酸素供給の
役割を担っているのに対して、ＡＶＡ血管は体温調整の
役割を担っている。従って、毛細血管及びＡＶＡ血管の
血流状態を分離して観測することが、皮膚付近の生体組
織における生理機能を調べる上で重要である。これらの
血管の血流状態を分離して観測する血流計としては、レ
ーザー光を利用した血流計が知られている。2. Description of the Related Art The microcirculatory vascular network of the skin is characterized by a vascular network composed of ordinary arterioles, capillaries and venules, as well as a limited portion such as hands, feet and face. The presence of certain arteriovenous anastomotic vessels (AVA: arteriovenous anastomoses). Capillaries play a role in supplying oxygen to the entire skin, whereas AVA vessels play a role in regulating body temperature. Therefore, it is important to separately observe the blood flow state of the capillaries and AVA blood vessels when examining the physiological functions of living tissues near the skin. As a blood flow meter for separately observing the blood flow state of these blood vessels, a blood flow meter using laser light is known.
【０００３】レーザー光を利用した血流計（レーザー血
流計）は、生体組織の静止組織によって散乱されたレー
ザー光の周波数が変調されず、血管内を流れる赤血球に
当たって散乱されたレーザー光の周波数が変調される性
質を利用するものであり、赤血球流速が変調周波数に比
例し、赤血球量が周波数変調された光の量に依存するこ
とから、これらの演算処理によって血流量を算出するも
のである。このようなレーザー血流計としては、生体組
織にレーザー光を照射する照射用ファイバーと、照射用
ファイバーから照射され生体組織内で散乱するレーザー
光の一部を受光する受光用ファイバーとを備える血流計
用プローブを有するレーザー組織血流計（「レーザー生
体組織血流計による皮膚毛細血管血流と細動静脈血管床
血流の分離観測法の研究」、鹿嶋 進 他著、医科機器
学会66,307-313,1996）が知られている。In a blood flow meter using a laser beam (laser blood flow meter), the frequency of laser light scattered by stationary tissue of a living tissue is not modulated, and the frequency of laser light scattered on red blood cells flowing through a blood vessel is not modulated. Is used to modulate the blood flow rate is calculated by these arithmetic processes because the red blood cell flow velocity is proportional to the modulation frequency and the amount of red blood cells depends on the amount of frequency-modulated light. . Such a laser blood flow meter includes a blood supply fiber that irradiates a living tissue with laser light and a light receiving fiber that receives a part of the laser light emitted from the irradiation fiber and scattered in the living tissue. Laser tissue blood flowmeter with flowmeter probe ("Study on separation observation method of skin capillary blood flow and fibrillation venous vascular bed blood flow using laser biological tissue blood flowmeter", Susumu Kashima et al., Medical Instrument Society 66,307 -313,1996) is known.
【０００４】このレーザー組織血流計は、照射用ファイ
バーと受光用ファイバーとを適当な間隔をおいて配置す
ることにより、生体組織内の所定の深さにおける血流を
測定しようとするものである。従って１本の照射用ファ
イバーに対して複数（通常は２本）の受光用ファイバー
を配置することで、異なる深さの血流がそれぞれ測定さ
れる。This laser tissue blood flow meter is intended to measure the blood flow at a predetermined depth in a living tissue by arranging an irradiation fiber and a light receiving fiber at appropriate intervals. . Therefore, by arranging a plurality of (usually two) light receiving fibers for one irradiation fiber, blood flows at different depths are respectively measured.
【０００５】[0005]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかし前述したレーザ
ー組織血流計の使用に際しては、照射用ファイバーから
照射されるレーザー光が生体組織表面で散乱しないよう
に、また生体組織表面での散乱光を受光用ファイバーが
受光しないように、前記血流計プローブの先端を生体組
織に接触して配置する必要がある。このため、薬物の塗
布前後における皮膚付近の血流状態を観測する薬効評価
試験等では、血流計用プローブが邪魔になって血流の観
測箇所に薬物を塗布することができず、薬効を正しく評
価できない場合がある。However, when using the above-mentioned laser tissue blood flow meter, the laser light emitted from the irradiation fiber should not be scattered on the surface of the living tissue, and the scattered light on the surface of the living tissue should be reduced. It is necessary to arrange the tip of the blood flow meter probe in contact with the living tissue so that the light receiving fiber does not receive light. For this reason, in a drug efficacy evaluation test or the like for observing the blood flow state near the skin before and after drug application, a blood flow meter probe hinders the application of the drug to a blood flow observation point, and the drug efficacy is reduced. In some cases, evaluation cannot be performed correctly.
【０００６】本発明は前記事項に鑑みなされたものであ
り、生体組織に接触させることなく深度の異なる血流を
測定することができる血流計用プローブの提供を技術的
課題とする。The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its technical object to provide a blood flow meter probe capable of measuring blood flows at different depths without contacting a living tissue.
【０００７】[0007]
【課題を解決するための手段】本発明は血流計用プロー
ブであり、前記技術的課題を解決するための手段として
以下のような構成とされている。すなわち本発明の血流
計用プローブは、生体組織の血流を測定する生体組織血
流計に使用され、生体組織へ光を照射するとともに生体
組織における照射光の散乱成分を受光する血流計用プロ
ーブにおいて、生体組織に所定の偏光方向の光を照射す
る光照射部と、前記光照射部からの照射光と同一の偏光
方向の光を受光する第１受光部と、前記光照射部からの
照射光と垂直な偏光方向の光を受光する第２受光部とを
備えることを特徴とする。The present invention relates to a probe for a blood flow meter, and has the following structure as means for solving the above technical problem. That is, the blood flow meter probe of the present invention is used for a biological tissue blood flow meter that measures the blood flow of a biological tissue, and irradiates light to the biological tissue and receives a scattered component of irradiation light in the biological tissue. In the probe for light, a light irradiation unit that irradiates the living tissue with light in a predetermined polarization direction, a first light reception unit that receives light in the same polarization direction as the irradiation light from the light irradiation unit, and a light irradiation unit. And a second light receiving unit that receives light having a polarization direction perpendicular to the irradiation light.
【０００８】生体組織は強い散乱体であることから、前
記光照射部からの照射光は生体組織内で散乱される。こ
の散乱光は散乱の度に偏光情報を失っていき、多数回散
乱されることで偏光方向がランダムになる。従って前記
構成によれば、前記第１受光部を用いることによって、
生体組織表面付近で散乱され偏光情報を失わずに再び生
体組織外へ出てきた光が受光され、この光のうち周波数
変調された光の変調の度合い及びその光量を演算処理に
より求めることで生体組織表面付近の血流量が算出され
る。また前記第２受光部を用いることによって、生体組
織のより深い所まで多数回散乱され偏光情報を失い生体
組織外へ出てきた光が受光され、この光のうち周波数変
調された光の変調の度合い及びその光量を演算処理によ
り求めることで生体組織のより深い位置における血流量
が算出される。[0008] Since the living tissue is a strong scatterer, the irradiation light from the light irradiation unit is scattered in the living tissue. The scattered light loses polarization information every time it is scattered, and is scattered many times, so that the polarization direction becomes random. Therefore, according to the configuration, by using the first light receiving unit,
Light that is scattered near the surface of the living tissue and comes out of the living tissue again without losing polarization information is received, and the degree of modulation of the frequency-modulated light and the amount of the light are obtained by arithmetic processing. The blood flow near the tissue surface is calculated. In addition, by using the second light receiving unit, light that is scattered many times to a deeper part of the living tissue and loses polarization information and comes out of the living tissue is received, and of this light, the frequency-modulated light is modulated. The blood flow at a deeper position in the living tissue is calculated by calculating the degree and the light amount by arithmetic processing.
【０００９】前記血流計用プローブは生体組織の血流測
定に際して、生体組織に接触して配置（貼付、接着等）
しても良いが、生体組織とは非接触の位置に配置される
と、血流計用プローブの配置に伴って生体組織の測定部
位が圧迫されず、また前述した薬効評価試験等の場合に
おいて好都合である。[0009] The blood flow meter probe is placed in contact with the living tissue at the time of measuring the blood flow of the living tissue (attachment, adhesion, etc.).
Although it may be, when placed at a position that is not in contact with the biological tissue, the measurement site of the biological tissue is not pressed with the placement of the blood flow meter probe, and in the case of the above-described drug efficacy evaluation test and the like, It is convenient.
【００１０】前記照射光は、生体組織による散乱光を前
記第１受光部または前記第２受光部が受光した際に、赤
血球との衝突による周波数変調を反映する光であれば良
く、本発明に利用される光としては、単色性に優れる
（周波数が一定である）とともに指向性に優れるレーザ
ー光を例示することができる。そしてレーザー光の中で
もレーザー波長の安定度や、赤血球からの散乱光強度、
あるいは測定される血流の測定深度等の観点から、ヘリ
ウム−ネオン（He-Ne）レーザーや半導体レーザーを使
用することが好ましい。The irradiating light may be any light that reflects frequency modulation due to collision with red blood cells when the first light receiving unit or the second light receiving unit receives the scattered light from the living tissue. As the light to be used, a laser beam having excellent monochromaticity (constant frequency) and excellent directivity can be exemplified. And among the laser light, the stability of the laser wavelength, the intensity of scattered light from red blood cells,
Alternatively, it is preferable to use a helium-neon (He-Ne) laser or a semiconductor laser from the viewpoint of the measurement depth of the blood flow to be measured.
【００１１】前記光照射部は生体組織に前記照射光を照
射することができるものであれば良く、光源に接続され
光源からの光を伝達する光伝達手段である光ファイバー
や、生体組織に直接光を照射するレーザー発信素子等を
例示することができる。また光ファイバーとしては、芯
線に石英系のガラスを用いた光ファイバーが好ましい
が、石英系ガラスの他にも塩化物ガラスやフッ化物ガラ
スを用いた光ファイバーであっても良い。The light irradiating unit may be any unit that can irradiate the irradiating light to the living tissue. The light irradiating unit may be an optical fiber which is connected to a light source and transmits light from the light source, or an optical fiber which directly transmits the living tissue. And the like. Further, as the optical fiber, an optical fiber using quartz glass as a core wire is preferable, but an optical fiber using chloride glass or fluoride glass other than quartz glass may be used.
【００１２】前記第１受光部及び前記第２受光部は、生
体組織での散乱光を受光することができるものであれば
良く、受光された散乱光を伝達する光ファイバーや、受
光された散乱光を電気信号等に変換して伝達する光電変
換手段であるフォトダイオード等を例示することができ
る。また散乱光の散乱度合いは測定対象である生体組織
の性状等に依存することから、各受光部は散乱光を受光
するのに好ましい位置に配置されると良く、前記光照射
部と所望の間隔をおいて配置されたり、光照射部からの
照射光に対して所望の角度を有して配置されると良い。The first light receiving portion and the second light receiving portion only need to be capable of receiving scattered light from a living tissue, and may include an optical fiber for transmitting the received scattered light, And the like, which is a photoelectric conversion unit that converts the light into an electric signal and transmits the electric signal. Further, since the degree of scattering of the scattered light depends on the properties of the living tissue to be measured, etc., it is preferable that each light receiving section is disposed at a position suitable for receiving the scattered light, and a desired distance from the light irradiation section. It is good to arrange at a desired angle or to have a desired angle with respect to the irradiation light from the light irradiation unit.
【００１３】前記光照射部及び前記各受光部における偏
光方向の設定手段は、生体組織で散乱する照射光の散乱
位置（深さ）を区別する手段であり、前記設定手段とし
ては所定の偏光方向のみの光を通過させる偏光素子や、
所定の偏光方向のみの光を伝達する偏光方向保存光ファ
イバー等を例示することができる。The means for setting the direction of polarization in the light irradiation section and each of the light receiving sections is means for distinguishing the scattering position (depth) of irradiation light scattered by the living tissue. A polarizing element that allows only light to pass through,
A polarization direction preserving optical fiber or the like that transmits light having only a predetermined polarization direction can be exemplified.
【００１４】[0014]
【発明の実施の形態】以下、本発明の血流計用プローブ
の一実施の形態を添付した図面に基づき説明する。まず
本発明の一実施形態である血流計用プローブを備えるレ
ーザー血流計の概略構成について図１に基づき説明す
る。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the blood flow meter probe according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a laser blood flow meter including a blood flow meter probe according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
【００１５】レーザー血流計１０は、波長７８０nmの半
導体レーザーを発信するレーザー光源１１と、照射レー
ザー光の生体組織における散乱光うち周波数が変調され
た光とその光量の情報を電気信号に変換する光電変換部
１２と、レーザー光源１１及び光電変換部１２のそれぞ
れに接続され光電変換部１２からの電気信号を血流量と
して演算処理する演算処理部１３とを備えている。レー
ザー光源１１には照射用光ファイバー２ａが接続され、
光電変換部１２には受光用光ファイバー３ａ、４ａが接
続されている。照射用光ファイバー２ａ及び受光用光フ
ァイバー３ａ、４ａの先端には血流計用プローブ１が形
成されている。The laser blood flow meter 10 converts a laser light source 11 that emits a semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 780 nm, and information on the frequency-modulated light and the amount of light among the scattered light of the irradiating laser light in living tissue to an electric signal. The photoelectric conversion unit 12 includes a photoelectric conversion unit 12 and an arithmetic processing unit 13 connected to each of the laser light source 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12 and performing an arithmetic process on an electric signal from the photoelectric conversion unit 12 as a blood flow. The irradiation optical fiber 2a is connected to the laser light source 11,
The light receiving optical fibers 3a and 4a are connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 12. A blood flow meter probe 1 is formed at the tip of the irradiation optical fiber 2a and the light receiving optical fibers 3a, 4a.
【００１６】血流計用プローブ１は図２に示されるよう
に、測定対象である生体組織に向かって非接触に配置さ
れる照射用光ファイバー２ａ及び照射用光ファイバー２
ａの先端に配置される照射用偏光板２ｂからなる光照射
部２と、生体組織に向かって非接触に配置される受光用
光ファイバー３ａ及び受光用光ファイバー３ａの先端に
配置される第１偏光板３ｂからなる第１受光部３と、生
体組織に向かって非接触に配置される受光用ファイバー
４ａ及び受光用ファイバー４ａの先端に配置される第２
偏光板４ｂからなる第２受光部４とを備えている。As shown in FIG. 2, the blood flow meter probe 1 includes an irradiating optical fiber 2a and an irradiating optical fiber 2 that are arranged in a non-contact manner toward a living tissue to be measured.
a light irradiating section 2 composed of an irradiating polarizing plate 2b disposed at the tip of the optical fiber 3a, a light receiving optical fiber 3a disposed in a non-contact manner toward the living tissue, and a first polarizing plate disposed at the distal end of the light receiving optical fiber 3a. A first light-receiving unit 3 composed of 3b, a light-receiving fiber 4a arranged in a non-contact manner toward the living tissue, and a second light-receiving fiber 4a arranged at the tip of the light-receiving fiber 4a
A second light receiving section 4 made of a polarizing plate 4b.
【００１７】光照射部２は第１受光部３及び第２受光部
４との間に配置されている。第１受光部３と光照射部２
とはレーザー光照射方向に対して所定の角度θ１を有し
て配置されている。第２受光部４と光照射部２とはレー
ザー光照射方向に対して所定の角度θ２を有して配置さ
れている。前記θ１及びθ２は前記生体組織の血流測定
に適した角度であり、第１受光部３及び第２受光部４間
の角度θ（θ＝θ１＋θ２）は０〜１２０゜程度に設定
される。なお照射用偏光板２ｂは所定の偏光方向（矢印
Ｘ１）の光を通過させる偏光板であり、例えば紙面に対
して垂直方向の偏光方向のレーザー光のみを通過させる
偏光板である。第１偏光板３ｂは照射用偏光板２ｂと同
方向の偏光方向（矢印Ｘ２）の光を通過させる偏光板で
ある。第２偏光板４ｂは照射用偏光板２ｂと垂直方向
（矢印Ｘ３）の光、例えば紙面に対して平行方向の偏光
方向の光、を通過させる偏光板である。The light irradiator 2 is arranged between the first light receiver 3 and the second light receiver 4. First light receiving unit 3 and light irradiating unit 2
Is disposed at a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the laser light irradiation direction. The second light receiving unit 4 and the light irradiating unit 2 are arranged at a predetermined angle θ2 with respect to the laser light irradiating direction. Θ1 and θ2 are angles suitable for measuring the blood flow of the living tissue, and the angle θ (θ = θ1 + θ2) between the first light receiving unit 3 and the second light receiving unit 4 is set to about 0 to 120 °. The irradiation polarizing plate 2b is a polarizing plate that allows light in a predetermined polarization direction (arrow X1) to pass therethrough, for example, a polarizing plate that allows only laser light in a polarization direction perpendicular to the paper surface to pass. The first polarizing plate 3b is a polarizing plate that transmits light in the same polarization direction (arrow X2) as the irradiation polarizing plate 2b. The second polarizing plate 4b is a polarizing plate that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the irradiation polarizing plate 2b (arrow X3), for example, light in a polarization direction parallel to the paper surface.
【００１８】次に本実施の形態における血流計用プロー
ブ１の作用について説明する。レーザー光源１１から出
力されるレーザー光は照射用光ファイバー２ａを通して
前記生体組織に照射される。レーザー光は照射される前
に照射用偏光板２ｂを通過するため、所定の偏光方向の
光となって生体組織に照射される。Next, the operation of the blood flow meter probe 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The laser light output from the laser light source 11 is applied to the living tissue through the irradiation optical fiber 2a. Since the laser light passes through the irradiation polarizing plate 2b before being irradiated, the laser light is irradiated in a living tissue as light having a predetermined polarization direction.
【００１９】生体組織に照射されたレーザー光は、生体
組織表面または生体組織内で散乱する。生体組織表面付
近（生体組織表面を含む）で散乱され再び生体組織外へ
出てきた散乱光は、散乱回数が少ないことから照射用偏
光板２ｂによる偏光方向を保っているので、第１偏光板
３ｂを通過して第１受光部３へ受光される。第１受光部
３に受光される散乱光の中には生体表面付近の血管中の
赤血球に衝突して周波数が変調された光が含まれてい
る。なお第１受光部３で受光される散乱光は、第２偏光
板４ｂによる偏光方向と直交する偏光方向の光であるた
め第２受光部４には受光されない。The laser light applied to the living tissue is scattered on the surface of the living tissue or in the living tissue. The scattered light scattered around the surface of the living tissue (including the surface of the living tissue) and coming out of the living tissue again maintains the polarization direction of the irradiation polarizing plate 2b because the number of times of scattering is small. The light passes through 3b and is received by the first light receiving unit 3. The scattered light received by the first light receiving unit 3 includes light whose frequency has been modulated by colliding with red blood cells in a blood vessel near the surface of a living body. Note that the scattered light received by the first light receiving unit 3 is light having a polarization direction orthogonal to the polarization direction of the second polarizing plate 4b, and is not received by the second light receiving unit 4.
【００２０】生体組織に照射されたレーザー光のうち生
体組織のより深い位置まで多数回の散乱を繰り返しつつ
到達して生体組織外へ出てきた散乱光は、多数回の散乱
により照射用偏光板２ｂによる偏光方向が消失されてい
るので、第２偏光板４ｂを通過して第２受光部４へ受光
される。第２受光部４に受光される散乱光の中には生体
組織のより深い位置の血管中を流れる赤血球に衝突して
周波数が変調された光が含まれている。第２受光部４で
受光される散乱光も、第１偏光板３ｂによる偏光方向と
直交する偏光方向の光であるため第１受光部３には受光
されない。Of the laser light applied to the living tissue, the scattered light that has reached the deeper position of the living tissue while repeating the scattering many times and has come out of the living tissue is reflected by the polarizing plate by irradiation many times. Since the polarization direction due to 2b has disappeared, the light passes through the second polarizing plate 4b and is received by the second light receiving unit 4. The scattered light received by the second light receiving unit 4 includes light whose frequency has been modulated by colliding with red blood cells flowing in a blood vessel at a deeper position in a living tissue. The scattered light received by the second light receiving unit 4 is also not received by the first light receiving unit 3 because it is light having a polarization direction orthogonal to the polarization direction by the first polarizing plate 3b.
【００２１】第１受光部３で受光された散乱光及び第２
受光部４で受光された散乱光は、それぞれ受光用光ファ
イバー３ａ、４ａを通って光電変換部１２へ送信され
る。光電変換部１２では散乱光のうち周波数変調された
光の変調周波数とその光量を電気信号に変換する。受光
用光ファイバー３ａを通って光電変換部１２に送信され
る散乱光と、受光用光ファイバー４ａを通って光電変換
部１２に送信される散乱光は、それぞれの散乱光に応じ
た電気信号に変換されて演算処理部１３へ送信される。The scattered light received by the first light receiving portion 3 and the second light
The scattered light received by the light receiving unit 4 is transmitted to the photoelectric conversion unit 12 through the light receiving optical fibers 3a and 4a, respectively. The photoelectric conversion unit 12 converts the modulation frequency of the frequency-modulated light of the scattered light and the amount of light into an electric signal. The scattered light transmitted through the light receiving optical fiber 3a to the photoelectric conversion unit 12 and the scattered light transmitted through the light receiving optical fiber 4a to the photoelectric conversion unit 12 are converted into electric signals corresponding to the respective scattered light. And transmitted to the arithmetic processing unit 13.
【００２２】演算処理部１３は、生体組織へのレーザー
光の照射と散乱において、散乱光の周波数変調が赤血球
流速に比例し、周波数変調された散乱光の光量が赤血球
量に依存することから、光電処理部１２から送信された
電気信号を演算処理し、血流量を算出する。従って第１
受光部３から受光された散乱光は生体組織表面付近の血
流量として算出され、第２受光部４から受光された散乱
光は生体組織のより深い位置における血流量として算出
される。The arithmetic processing unit 13 determines that the frequency modulation of the scattered light is proportional to the flow rate of the red blood cells and the quantity of the frequency-modulated scattered light depends on the amount of the red blood cells in the irradiation and scattering of the laser light onto the living tissue. The electric signal transmitted from the photoelectric processing unit 12 is arithmetically processed to calculate a blood flow. Therefore the first
The scattered light received from the light receiving unit 3 is calculated as a blood flow near the surface of the living tissue, and the scattered light received from the second light receiving unit 4 is calculated as a blood flow at a deeper position in the living tissue.
【００２３】本実施の形態では血流計用プローブ１が測
定対象である生体組織に対して非接触の位置に配置され
る形態として説明したが、血流計用プローブ１を生体組
織に接触（照射用偏光板２ｂ、第１偏光板３ｂ、及び第
２偏光板４ｂを生体組織に接触）させる形態としても良
い。この場合は生体組織表面における散乱光が前記受光
部に受光されないことから、生体組織表面における散乱
の影響のない測定結果を得ることができる。In this embodiment, the blood flow meter probe 1 has been described as being arranged at a position not in contact with the living tissue to be measured. However, the blood flow meter probe 1 is brought into contact with the living tissue ( The irradiation polarizing plate 2b, the first polarizing plate 3b, and the second polarizing plate 4b may be in contact with living tissue. In this case, since the scattered light on the living tissue surface is not received by the light receiving unit, a measurement result free from the influence of the scattering on the living tissue surface can be obtained.
【００２４】以上の説明からわかるように、本実施の形
態における血流計用プローブ１は、生体組織に所定の偏
光方向の光を照射する光照射部２と、光照射部２からの
照射光と同一の偏光方向の光を受光する第１受光部３
と、光照射部２からの照射光と垂直な偏光方向の光を受
光する第２受光部４とを備える構成としたことから、生
体組織における血流の深度を反映する偏光情報と血流中
の赤血球の挙動を反映する周波数変調等の情報とを含む
散乱光が偏光情報に応じて選択的に第１受光部３または
第２受光部４に受光されるため、測定対象である生体組
織に接触することなく生体組織における異なる深度の血
流をそれぞれ測定することができる。As can be seen from the above description, the blood flow meter probe 1 according to the present embodiment includes a light irradiating section 2 for irradiating a living tissue with light in a predetermined polarization direction, and an irradiating light from the light irradiating section 2. First light receiving unit 3 for receiving light in the same polarization direction as
And the second light receiving unit 4 for receiving light in a polarization direction perpendicular to the irradiation light from the light irradiation unit 2, the polarization information reflecting the blood flow depth in the living tissue and the blood flow The scattered light including information such as frequency modulation reflecting the behavior of red blood cells is selectively received by the first light receiving unit 3 or the second light receiving unit 4 according to the polarization information. The blood flow at different depths in the living tissue can be measured without contact.
【００２５】また本実施の形態における血流計用プロー
ブ１は、生体組織に非接触の位置に配置されることか
ら、血流の測定部位を圧迫せずより自然な状態の血流を
測定することができる。また測定部位が開放されている
ため、血流計用プローブ１を配置した状態で測定部位へ
の薬物塗布等の作業を行うことができるので、前述した
薬効評価試験等に利用することができる。Further, since the blood flow meter probe 1 in the present embodiment is arranged at a position not in contact with the living tissue, it measures the blood flow in a more natural state without compressing the blood flow measurement site. be able to. In addition, since the measurement site is open, it is possible to perform an operation such as applying a drug to the measurement site in a state where the blood flow meter probe 1 is arranged, and thus it can be used for the above-described drug efficacy evaluation test and the like.
【００２６】[0026]
【実施例】以下、前述した実施の形態における血流計用
プローブを使用し、第１受光部３及び第２受光部４の測
定深度を測定する具体例について図３及び図４に基づい
て説明する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a specific example of measuring the measurement depth of the first light receiving section 3 and the second light receiving section 4 using the blood flow meter probe in the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. I do.
【００２７】本実施例は生体組織の代わりに生体組織と
同様の光学特性（散乱係数、吸収係数）を示す樹脂であ
るポリアセタール板５が測定対象である点で前述した実
施の形態と異なるが、その他の構成等については前記実
施の形態と同様である。This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that a polyacetal plate 5 which is a resin having the same optical characteristics (scattering coefficient and absorption coefficient) as the living tissue is measured instead of the living tissue. Other configurations and the like are the same as those in the above embodiment.
【００２８】本実施例では血流計用プローブ１の下、約
１０mmの所から厚さ０.２mmのポリアセタール板５を１
枚ずつ重ねていったときの、第１受光部３及び第２受光
部４における受光量を測定する。ある程度ポリアセター
ル板５を重ねていくと受光量が増えなくなり、このとき
の重ねられたポリアセタール板５の厚みが第１受光部３
または第２受光部４の最大測定深度となる。各受光部に
おける最大受光量を１としたときの、ポリアセタール板
５の累積厚みに対する受光量の特性を図４に示す。この
ときの受光量は累積確率Ｐ（ｔ）として表される。In this embodiment, a polyacetal plate 5 having a thickness of 0.2 mm is placed under the blood flow meter probe 1 from a position of about 10 mm.
The amount of light received by the first light receiving unit 3 and the second light receiving unit 4 when the sheets are stacked one by one is measured. When the polyacetal plates 5 are overlapped to some extent, the amount of received light does not increase, and the thickness of the overlapped polyacetal plates 5 at this time is reduced by the first light receiving unit 3.
Alternatively, it becomes the maximum measurement depth of the second light receiving unit 4. FIG. 4 shows the characteristic of the amount of received light with respect to the accumulated thickness of the polyacetal plate 5 when the maximum amount of received light in each light receiving section is set to 1. The amount of received light at this time is represented as a cumulative probability P (t).
【００２９】図４においてＰは第１受光部３による測定
結果であり、Ｖは第２受光部４による測定結果である。
図４からわかるように、照射光と同方向の偏光方向の散
乱光を受光すると表面から０.５mm程度の深さまで測定
することができる。また、照射光と垂直な偏光方向の散
乱光を受光すると表面から１.０mm程度の深さまで測定
することができる。In FIG. 4, P is the measurement result by the first light receiving unit 3 and V is the measurement result by the second light receiving unit 4.
As can be seen from FIG. 4, when scattered light in the same polarization direction as the irradiation light is received, measurement can be made to a depth of about 0.5 mm from the surface. When scattered light having a polarization direction perpendicular to the irradiation light is received, the measurement can be performed up to a depth of about 1.0 mm from the surface.
【００３０】[0030]
【発明の効果】本発明の血流計用プローブは、生体組織
に所定の偏光方向の光を照射する光照射部と、前記光照
射部からの照射光と同一の偏光方向の光を受光する第１
受光部と、前記光照射部からの照射光と垂直な偏光方向
の光を受光する第２受光部とを備える構成としたことか
ら、生体組織における深度の異なる血流による散乱光を
その偏光情報に応じて各受光部が選択的に受光するた
め、生体組織に接触させることなく深度の異なる血流を
測定することができる。According to the blood flow meter probe of the present invention, a light irradiating section for irradiating a living tissue with light having a predetermined polarization direction, and light having the same polarization direction as the irradiation light from the light irradiating section are received. First
Since the light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit that receives light in the polarization direction perpendicular to the irradiation light from the light irradiation unit are provided, the scattered light due to the blood flows at different depths in the biological tissue is polarized information. Therefore, each light receiving section selectively receives light, so that blood flows at different depths can be measured without contacting the living tissue.
【図１】本発明の一実施の形態である血流計用プローブ
を使用するレーザー血流計の概略構成を示す概略図であ
る。FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a laser blood flow meter using a blood flow meter probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.
【図２】図１で示された血流計プローブの正面図であ
る。FIG. 2 is a front view of the blood flow meter probe shown in FIG. 1;
【図３】実施例における血流計プローブを示す正面図で
ある。FIG. 3 is a front view showing a blood flow meter probe in the embodiment.
【図４】実施例における測定深度と累積関数Ｐ（ｔ）と
の関係を示す相関図である。FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram illustrating a relationship between a measured depth and a cumulative function P (t) in the example.
１ 血流計用プローブ ２ 光照射部 ２ａ 照射用光ファイバー ２ｂ 照射用偏光板 ３ 第１受光部 ３ａ、４ａ 受光用光ファイバー ３ｂ 第１偏光板 ４ 第２受光部 ４ｂ 第２偏光板 ５ ポリアセタール板 １０ レーザー血流計 １１ レーザー光源 １２ 光電変換部 １３ 演算処理部 Ｘ１ 照射用偏光板２ｂが通過させる光の偏光方向を示
す矢印 Ｘ２ 第１偏光板３ｂが通過させる光の偏光方向を示す
矢印 Ｘ３ 第２偏光板４ｂが通過させる光の偏光方向を示す
矢印Reference Signs List 1 blood flow meter probe 2 light irradiation unit 2a irradiation optical fiber 2b irradiation polarization plate 3 first light receiving unit 3a, 4a light receiving optical fiber 3b first polarizing plate 4 second light receiving unit 4b second polarizing plate 5 polyacetal plate 10 laser Blood flow meter 11 Laser light source 12 Photoelectric conversion unit 13 Arithmetic processing unit X1 Arrow indicating polarization direction of light passed by irradiation polarizing plate 2b X2 Arrow indicating polarization direction of light passed by first polarizing plate 3b X3 Second polarization Arrow indicating the direction of polarization of light transmitted by plate 4b
───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (72)発明者 舛田 勇二 神奈川県横浜市金沢区福浦２−12−１株式 会社資生堂第二リサーチセンター内 (72)発明者 高橋 元次 神奈川県横浜市金沢区福浦２−12−１株式 会社資生堂第二リサーチセンター内 (72)発明者 塚田 弘行 東京都品川区西五反田３−９−１株式会社 資生堂ビューティーサイエンス研究所内 Ｆターム(参考） 4C017 AA11 AC23 AC28 4C038 KL05 KL07 VC01 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Masuda 2-12-1 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Shiseido Second Research Center Co., Ltd. (72) Motoji Takahashi 2 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture -12-1 Inside Shiseido Second Research Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Tsukada 3-9-1 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Shiseido Beauty Science Laboratory F-term (reference) 4C017 AA11 AC23 AC28 4C038 KL05 KL07 VC01
Claims (2)
計に使用され、生体組織へ光を照射するとともに生体組
織における照射光の散乱成分を受光する血流計用プロー
ブにおいて、 生体組織に所定の偏光方向の光を照射する光照射部と、 前記光照射部からの照射光と同一の偏光方向の光を受光
する第１受光部と、 前記光照射部からの照射光と垂直な偏光方向の光を受光
する第２受光部と、を備えることを特徴とする血流計用
プローブ。1. A blood flow meter probe which is used in a biological tissue blood flow meter for measuring a blood flow of a biological tissue and which irradiates light to the biological tissue and receives a scattered component of irradiation light in the biological tissue. A light irradiating unit that irradiates light with a predetermined polarization direction to the first light receiving unit that receives light having the same polarization direction as the irradiation light from the light irradiating unit; A blood flow meter probe, comprising: a second light receiving unit that receives light in a polarization direction.
織とは非接触の位置に配置されることを特徴とする請求
項１記載の血流計用プローブ。2. The blood flow meter probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe is arranged at a position not in contact with the living tissue when measuring the blood flow of the living tissue.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11226899A JP2001046348A (en) | 1999-08-10 | 1999-08-10 | Probe for blood flow meter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11226899A JP2001046348A (en) | 1999-08-10 | 1999-08-10 | Probe for blood flow meter |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JP2001046348A true JP2001046348A (en) | 2001-02-20 |
Family
ID=16852347
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11226899A Withdrawn JP2001046348A (en) | 1999-08-10 | 1999-08-10 | Probe for blood flow meter |
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| JP2002345787A (en) * | 2001-05-29 | 2002-12-03 | Institute Of Tsukuba Liaison Co Ltd | Thrombus measuring device |
| AU2003271418B2 (en) * | 2002-10-17 | 2008-11-06 | Perfusion Diagnostics Pty Ltd | Method and apparatus for measuring trends in tissue perfusion |
| WO2004034895A1 (en) * | 2002-10-17 | 2004-04-29 | Perfusion Diagnostics Pty Ltd | Method and apparatus for measuring tissue perfusion |
| AU2003271418C1 (en) * | 2002-10-17 | 2009-04-02 | Perfusion Diagnostics Pty Ltd | Method and apparatus for measuring trends in tissue perfusion |
| JP2005319290A (en) * | 2004-04-19 | 2005-11-17 | Wheels Bridge Ab | Non-invasive method for observing microcirculation |
| WO2005099572A1 (en) * | 2004-04-19 | 2005-10-27 | Wheelsbridge Ab | Non-invasive method to monitor microcirculation |
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| KR101147652B1 (en) | 2010-06-11 | 2012-05-23 | 경상대학교산학협력단 | Electronic acupuncture |
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