Massage machine and physiological quantity measuring circuit for use in the machine

• US 20050137503A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Yoshihisa, Hiyamizu, Kazuya, Hori, Kunihiko, Nonoue, Torahiko, Koma, Toshiki
• Application Number:
  US11/053,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137503A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/062 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/00 Measuring physical parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/13 including biological sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/19 including biological sensor

Abstract

The invention provides a massage machine for health care which comprises a living body information sensor 5 for detecting living body information of the autonomic nervous system of the person to be massaged, a control circuit 6 for judging the psychological state of the person based on the living body information detected, and a memory 61 for holding histories of psychological states of persons to be massaged. The machine is adapted to judge the physical condition of the person based on the history of psychological states of the person, and to judge whether the condition of the person'"'"'s health is improved by massage so as to utilize the result of judgement as guidelines for health care.

Claims

1. A massage machine for giving massage by therapeutic members to the person to be massaged, the massage machine being useful for health care and comprising a living body information sensor for detecting living body information of the autonomic nervous system of the person, means for judging the psychological state of the person based on the living body information detected, and means for holding histories of psychological states of persons to be massaged.

2. A massage machine for health care according to claim 1 wherein the living body information sensor includes one or a plurality of sensors selected from among a galvanic skin response sensor, a pulse sensor and a skin temperature sensor.

3. A massage machine for health care according to claim 2 wherein when the living body information sensor comprises the galvanic skin response sensor, the psychological state judging means interprets an impaired galvanic skin response as indicating a relaxed state, and a higher galvanic skin response as indicating a tense state.

4. A massage machine for health care according to claim 2 wherein when the living body information sensor comprises the pulse sensor, the psychological state judging means interprets a reduced pulse rate as indicating a relaxed state, and an increased pulse rate as indicating a tense state.

5. A massage machine for health care according to claim 2 wherein when the living body information sensor comprises the skin temperature sensor, the psychological state judging means interprets a rise in the skin temperature as indicating a relaxed state, and a drop in the skin temperature as indicating a tense state.

6. A massage machine for health care according to claim 2 wherein the psychological state judging means judges the level of activity of the person in accordance with variations in at least one item of living body information selected from among galvanic skin response, pulse rate and skin temperature, and interprets low activity as indicating a relaxed state and high activity as indicating a tense state.

7. A massage machine for health care according to claim 1 wherein the history holding means comprises means for counting the frequency with which the person is judged to be in a tense state when massaged at each of different body parts, and the count obtained by the counting means is held as a history of psychological state.

8. A massage machine for health care according to claim 7 which comprises means for displaying variations in the count involved in massaging particular one of the body parts.