JPH07171136A - Mastication frequency recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a mastication frequency recording device in which it can easily be carried out with a small-sized lightweight device to digitally catch the vertical motion of the jaws when a person masticates food, and record and display the frequency. CONSTITUTION:A mastication frequency recording device is formed of a base part 1 to be made to closely adhere to a human body to keep the position, a detecting part 2 having a detecting means 2a positioned continuously to the base part 1 to detect the movement derived from mastication, and a recording part 3 for receiving the signal transmitted from the detecting part 2 and recording and displaying it as a mastication frequency. The base part 1 may consists of a flat elastic material having an adhesive body to be stuck to the cheek of the human body on the surface opposite to the detecting part 2, or a conical elastic material having a thickness capable of being inserted to the outer auditory canal of the human body, and having the detecting part 2 arranged in the inner part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can easily and numerically capture the vertical movement of the jaw when a person chews food or the like and record and display the number of times with a small and lightweight device. The present invention relates to a chewing frequency recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An action and a process involving muscular movement performed in the oral cavity until a person takes food into the oral cavity, swallows it, and swallows it is called "chewing".
Conventionally, various machines, instruments, and devices have been devised in order to investigate this masticatory movement academically, and have been used for the study of masticatory pressure and masticatory movement path. However, all of these machines, instruments, and devices are expensive because they have high accuracy and high performance, and they are not provided to the general public because they are only installed in a dental school of a university or a large specialized hospital.

[0003] In such a situation, in a general dental clinic or the like, while treatments mainly on dental prostheses and preservation such as caries treatment are performed, jaw function abnormalities caused by temporomandibular disorders and occlusal abnormalities etc. This is because the treatment such as belongs to a relatively high-level and large-scale treatment act, and it is because the department of dentistry of the aforementioned university or a large specialized hospital etc. is involved in such high-level and large-scale treatment, and as a result, the aforementioned mastication is performed. Machines, instruments, and devices for academically investigating exercise were mainly used to confirm the healing status during treatment.

On the other hand, in recent years, children tend to prefer soft foods such as snacks as food, which leads to a decrease in the number of times of mastication and a decrease in masticatory power of children, and in turn, the development of the jawbone. It is also a cause of various irregularities in the body associated with the development of irregular dentition due to immaturity and the development of masseter muscle.

With the increase in the number of elderly people, the problem of so-called "blurring" is widely taken up in newspapers and magazines. Recent studies have reported that a decrease in the amount and number of meals due to aging and a decrease in the number of times of chewing due to the heavy use of liquid foods are also the reason that causes blurring in the elderly, which can lead to recovery from blurring and blurring. The need to properly stimulate the brain with masseter muscle movement by mastication is being emphasized in order not to become sick.

[0006]

Under such circumstances, it is possible to check and record the number of mastications by using the high precision and high accuracy provided in the dentistry departments of universities and large specialized hospitals. Because of its high performance, it is expensive, and as a result, it is the only group of devices that are mainly used only to study masticatory movements academically. It is possible to easily check the number of mastications in general households, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, nursing homes, etc. The present situation is that there is no device capable of recording or recording, and the present invention numerically defeats such a situation and vertically moves the jaw when a person chews food or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for recording the number of mastications, in which a small and lightweight device can easily capture and record and display the number of times.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a result of various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors can easily check and record the number of times of mastication in general households, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, nursing homes, etc. In order to make it possible, a base part for closely contacting with the human body and maintaining its position, and a detection means for continuously detecting the movement derived from the mastication are continuously positioned on the base part. If the detection unit and the recording unit for receiving the signal emitted by the detection unit and recording and displaying the signal as the number of mastications are displayed, it will be an obstacle even if this recording unit is always worn. The present invention has been completed by clarifying that the number of times of chewing can be recognized at a glance even by a small child by making it compact and lightweight so that it does not occur.

That is, the present invention is provided with a base part for closely contacting with the human body and maintaining its position, and a detection means for continuously detecting the movement derived from the mastication, which is continuously located on the base part. The present invention relates to a mastication number recording device, comprising: a detection unit and a recording unit that receives a signal emitted by the detection unit and records and displays the signal as the number of mastications.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the chewing frequency recording device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a mastication frequency recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a structure of a base portion and a detection unit of the mastication frequency recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a side view of the recording unit of the mastication frequency recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the base portion and the detection unit of the mastication frequency recording apparatus shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the chewing frequency recording device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view showing structures of a base portion and a detecting part of the chewing frequency recording device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the mastication frequency recording device shown in FIG. 5 is maintained at the external auditory canal of the human body.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a base for closely contacting a human body and maintaining its position, and its shape can be attached to a cheek 4 of a human body as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is a flat plate shape as shown in FIG. 5, 6 and 7, and the thickness is a conical shape with a thickness that can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the human body. In any case, it is necessary that the material has a function of keeping close contact with the human body and maintaining its position, and a function of following the movement due to mastication, and therefore it should be made of a rubber-based elastic material. Preferably, when the shape is a flat plate, the adhesiveness of the elastic material itself constituting the base part 1 is often insufficient, so an adhesive body for sticking to a human body is provided. Preferably.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a detection section which is continuously positioned on the base section 1 and is provided with detection means 2a for detecting a motion caused by mastication. As the detection means 2a,
If the base 1 has a flat shape so that it can be attached to the cheek 4 of the human body as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a tension detection sensor or a muscle voltage detection sensor can be used. Use a pressure sensor when the base 1 has a conical shape with a thickness that can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the human body, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. However, it is also possible to use a tension detection sensor. In addition,
Reference numeral 2b is a lead wire for transmitting a change derived by the masticatory movement detected by the detecting means 2a to the recording unit 3 described later as an electric signal.

A base portion 1 for closely contacting and maintaining the position of such a human body and a detection means 2a for continuously detecting the movement derived from the mastication are continuously positioned on the base portion 1. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the shape of the base part 1 in the combined body with the detecting part 2 is the cheek 4 of the human body.
If it has a flat plate shape so that it can be attached to, the base part 1 has a diameter of 15 to 25 mm and a thickness of 1 to 3 mm.
It is preferable that the detecting means 2a has a diameter of 5 to 7 mm, and the total thickness of the base portion 1 and the detecting portion 2 is about 5 mm, and the shape of the base portion 1 is as shown in FIG. 6 and 7
When the thickness is a conical shape with a thickness that can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the human body, the outer diameter of the base 1 is used by inserting it into the external auditory canal from children to adults. It is preferable to set it to 3 to 8 mm so as to obtain it.

When the detecting means 2a in the detecting section 2 detects a motion caused by mastication and is transmitted as an electric signal through the lead wire 2b, the electric signal 3 is received and recorded and displayed as the number of mastications. The switch 3b, a button battery (not shown) that is a power source, a microcomputer unit (not shown) for calculating the received electric signal to perform digital display, and this microcomputer unit A digital display unit 3a for counting the calculated masticatory movement as a number and displaying it is provided.

When the recording unit 3 is in the form of a flat plate as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is almost the size of a business card and a thickness of 5 to 7 mm in terms of usability. It is preferable because it can be stored in the pocket, the pocket is not overinflated, and it is not thin enough to be easily bent, and the overall weight can be reduced. When the recording unit 3 has a flat plate shape as described above, a locking member 3c for locking the recording unit 3 on clothes is provided on the surface of the recording unit 3 opposite to the surface on which the digital display unit 3a is located. It is preferable that the locking member 3c is provided with a clip-shaped pen cap as shown in FIG. 3 or a function such as a velvet type fastener so that the recording unit 3 does not easily come off from clothes. If so, there is no particular restriction on its shape or size.

Further, when the recording section 3 has a suspension member 3d for suspending it on the auricle 5 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the size thereof is 40 in height from the viewpoint of usability. ~
It is preferable that the suspension member 3d has a width of about 50 mm and a width of about 10 mm. For the sake of convenience, the suspension member 3d is made of an elastic material. Since the size of the ear shell 5 can be freely adjusted, the operability is further improved. The total weight of the recording unit 3 and the suspension member 3d is preferably 40 g or less, and particularly preferably 10 to 20 g so as not to give a feeling of strangeness even when used for a long time.

[0016]

The operation of the mastication frequency recording apparatus according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described below. When the base part 1 has a flat plate shape so that it can be attached to the cheek 4 of the human body as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the front of the person's cheek 4 slightly below the earlobe 5a. This position is located almost at the end of the outer pterygoid muscle used for masticatory movements, and is suitable for detecting the movement due to mastication by the tension detection sensor or muscle voltage detection sensor that is the detection means 2a of the detection unit 2. It is a good position. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the base portion 1 has a conical shape with a thickness that can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the human body, first the base portion 1 is As shown in 7, it is inserted so as to be in close contact with the wall surface of the person's external auditory canal.

Then, the switch 3b of the recording unit 3 is turned on, and when the recording unit 3 is flat as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the recording unit 3 is housed in the pocket, or the locking member 3c is used for desired clothing. If the recording portion 3 has a suspension member 3d for suspending it on the ear shell 5 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, if the suspension member 3d is suspended on the ear shell 5, Preparation is complete. Thereafter, when food is taken into the oral cavity and chewing is started, the cheeks 4 to which the base 1 is brought into close contact expands or contracts or the shape of the external auditory canal changes according to the movement. This expansion or contraction or deformation is detected by the detection means 2a of the detection unit 2 as one mastication, and a signal is transmitted to the recording unit 3. The recording unit 3 accumulates the received signal as the number of mastications, and the number is digitally displayed. It is recorded and displayed in the section 3a.

It is known that one mastication takes about 0.5 seconds to 1.2 seconds, depending on the nature of food,
If the time and the number of times required for all chewing can be recorded and displayed together in the recording unit 3, it is possible to instruct an appropriate number of times of chewing for each food, which further improves the convenience.

[0019]

As described in detail above, the mastication frequency recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a base portion for adhering to a human body and maintaining the position thereof, and a continuous position on the base portion. Relatively simple consisting of a detection unit equipped with a detection unit for detecting movements caused by mastication, and a recording unit for receiving a signal emitted by this detection unit and recording and displaying this as the number of times of mastication Since it has a structure and the object of detection is specified by the number of times of chewing, it can be made compact and lightweight, and can be freely used anywhere such as at home, school, or nursing home. The chewing frequency recording device according to the present invention can be used as if a pedometer is used. Therefore, by grasping the chewing frequency, it contributes to maintaining and recovering the health of people around the world. Is large. Moreover, since the number of mastications can be set as a numerical target, it is possible to present the target value of the number of mastications to the children in order to promote the development of the jawbone and suppress the occurrence of irregular tooth rows, and to the elderly, it is possible to set the target value from the blur. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as being able to provide a target value for the number of mastications to moderately stimulate the brain by masseter muscle movements due to mastication in order to prevent recovery and blurring. It is a thing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a chewing frequency recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the structures of a base portion and a detection portion of the mastication frequency recording device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a recording unit of the chewing frequency recording device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the base portion and the detection portion of the device for recording the number of times of mastication shown in FIG. 1 are brought into close contact with the cheeks of the human body and their positions are maintained.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the chewing frequency recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view showing structures of a base portion and a detection portion of the mastication frequency recording device shown in FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the device for recording the number of mastications shown in FIG. 5 is maintained at the external auditory canal of the human body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base part 2 Detection part 2a Detection means 2b Lead wire 3 Recording part 3a Digital display part 3b Switch 3c Locking member 3d Suspension member 4 Cheeks 5 Ear shell 5a Earlobe

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A base part (1) for closely contacting with a human body and maintaining its position, and a detection for detecting a motion that is continuously located on the base part (1) and is derived from mastication. A detection unit (2) having means (2a), and a recording unit (3) for receiving a signal emitted by the detection unit (2) and recording and displaying the signal as the number of mastications. A device for recording the number of mastications. 2. The base part (1) has a flat plate shape, and an adhesive body for sticking to the cheek (4) of the human body is provided on the surface opposite to the detecting part (2). The mastication frequency recording device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means (2a) of the detection unit (2) is made of an elastic material and is a tension detection sensor or a muscle voltage detection sensor. 3. The base part (1) is made of an elastic material whose thickness is conical so that it can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the human body, and the detection means (2a) has a pressure detection sensor therein. Is the detector
The chewing frequency recording device according to claim 1, wherein (2) is provided. 4. The mastication frequency recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit (3) is in the form of a small thin plate. 5. The masticatory frequency recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit (3) has a locking member (3c) for locking the clothes. 6. The chewing frequency recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit (3) has a suspension member (3d) for suspending the ear shell (5). .