Device for continuously measuring the skin local sweating rate

• US 5,131,390 A
• Filed: 09/11/1990
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Masao Sakaguchi, Suzuken Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Masao Sakaguchi, Suzuken Company Limited
• Inventors: Sakaguchi, Masao, Kamei, Tomoya, Ohhashi, Toshio, Ono, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASTRZAB, JEFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US07/580,564
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 128/630, 128/734, 128/760, 128/632, 73/29.01, 73/29.05, 73/25.04
• US Class Current: 600/346
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion

Abstract

A device for continuously measuring the skin local sweating rate includes a capsule used for applying on a human skin at a measuring point and an air supply element for supplying dehumidified air to the capsule. A first chamber is formed between the capsule and the skin for receiving water vapor perspired from the skin and the dehumidified air supplied from the air supply element to produce the mixture of perspiration oriented water vapor through the skin and the dehumidified air. A second chamber is also formed within the capsule and connected with the first chamber through a communicating hole. The device further includes a humidity detecting element disposed in the second chamber. The humidity detecting element varies its electrical circuit constant according to the relative humidity of the mixture. A temperature detecting element is disposed in the second chamber for detecting the temperature in the second chamber and for outputting signals corresponding to the temperature. A humidity detecting signal output element is mounted on the capsule and is electrically connected with the humidity detecting element for outputting a humidity detecting signal corresponding to the circuit constant of the humidity detecting element. A calculation circuit calculates the sweating rate which is independent of the temperature of the mixture, based on the signals from the humidity detecting signal output element and the temperature detecting element. An element is provided for continuously recording the data of the sweating rate obtained by the calculation circuit.

Claims

1. A device for continuously measuring the skin local sweating rate comprising:

a capsule used for applying on a human skin at a measuring point;

air supply means for supplying dehumidified air to said capsule;

a first chamber formed between said capsule and the skin for receiving water vapor perspired from the skin and the dehumidified air supplied from said air supply means and for producing a mixture of perspiration oriented water vapor through the skin and the dehumidified air;

a second chamber formed within said capsule and connected with said first chamber through a communicating hole;

humidity detecting means disposed in said second chamber and varying its electrical circuit constant according to the relative humidity of the mixture flown from said first chamber into said second chamber;

temperature detecting means disposed in said second chamber for detecting the temperature in said second chamber and for outputting signals corresponding to the temperature;

humidity detecting signal output means mounted on said capsule and electrically connected with said humidity detecting means for outputting a humidity detecting signal corresponding to the circuit constant of said humidity detecting means; and

calculation means for calculating the sweating rate which is independent of the temperature of the mixture, based on the signals from said humidity detecting signal output means and said temperature detecting means; and

means for continuously recording the data of the sweating rate obtained by said calculation means.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 further including temperature compensation signal output means disposed in the vicinity of said humidity detecting signal output means and having the same electrical construction and the same temperature characteristic as said humidity detecting signal output means, said temperature compensation signal output means outputting a temperature compensation signal substantially corresponding to the temperature of said humidity detecting signal output means, said temperature compensation signal being supplied to said calculation means so as to compensate said humidity detecting signal.

3. A device for continuously measuring the skin local sweating rate comprising:

a capsule used for applying on a human skin at a measuring point;

air supply means for supplying dehumidified air to said capsule;

a first chamber formed between said capsule and the skin for receiving water vapor perspired from the skin and the dehumidified air supplied from said air supply means and for producing a mixture of perspiration oriented water vapor through the skin and the dehumidified air;

a second chamber formed within said capsule and connected with said first chamber through a communicating hole;

humidity detecting means disposed in said second chamber and varying its electrical circuit constant according to the relative humidity of the mixture flown from said first chamber into said second chamber;

temperature detecting means disposed in said second chamber for detecting the temperature in said second chamber and for outputting a temperature detecting signal corresponding to the temperature;

humidity detecting signal output means mounted on said capsule and electrically connected with said humidity detecting means for outputting a humidity detecting signal corresponding to the circuit constant of said humidity detecting means;

a portable box having said air supply means therein; and

portable record means for continuously recording information concerning a function of a human body on detachable recording media for a long time, so that said humidity detecting signal and said temperature detecting signal can be recorded on said portable record means.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 further including:

temperature compensation signal output means disposed in the vicinity of said humidity detecting signal output means and having the same electrical construction and the same temperature characteristic as said humidity detecting signal output means, said temperature compensation signal output means outputting a temperature compensation signal substantially corresponding to the temperature of said humidity detecting signal output means so as to compensate for temperature drift of said humidity detecting signal.

5. A system for continuously measuring the skin local sweating rate for a long time comprising:

a portable section including

a capsule used for applying on a human skin at a measuring point,

air supply means for supplying dehumidified air to said capsule,

a first chamber formed between said capsule and the skin for receiving water vapor perspired from the skin and the dehumidified air supplied from said air supply means and for producing a mixture of perspiration oriented water vapor through the skin and the dehumidified air,

a second chamber formed within said capsule and connected with said first chamber through a communicating hole,

humidity detecting means disposed in said second chamber and varying its electrical circuit constant according to the relative humidity of the mixture flown from said first chamber into said second chamber,

temperature detecting means disposed in said second chamber for detecting the temperature in said second chamber and for outputting a temperature detecting signal corresponding to the temperature,

humidity detecting signal output means mounted on said capsule and electrically connected with said humidity detecting means for outputting a humidity detecting signal corresponding to the circuit constant of said humidity detecting means,

a portable box having said air supply means therein, and

portable record means for continuously recording information concerning a function of a human body on detachable recording media for a long time, so that said humidity detecting signal and said temperature detecting signal can be recorded on said portable record means; and

a stationary section including

regeneration means for regenerating and demodulating said signals recorded on said detachable recording media,

calculation means for calculating the sweating rate, which is independent of the temperature of the mixture from said signals demodulated by said regeneration means, and

means for continuously recording and indicating the data of the sweating rate obtained by said calculation means.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said portable section further includes temperature compensation signal output means disposed in the vicinity of said humidity detecting signal output means and having the same electrical construction and the same temperature characteristic as said humidity detecting signal output means, said temperature compensation signal output means outputting a temperature compensation signal substantially corresponding to the temperature of said humidity detecting signal output means, said temperature compensation signal being supplied to said calculation means so as to compensate said humidity detecting signal.