Abstract: A pulse wave sensor is to detect a pulse wave signal from a measurement target finger, which is a part of fingers of a subject. A placement table is to enable a palm of the subject to be placed thereon. A blood pressure measurement unit is to measure a blood pressure based on the pulse wave signal detected with the pulse wave sensor. An upper surface of the placement table includes a palm placement region that has a shape, which is convex upward with respect to a longitudinal direction of the palm and is inclined to lower on a side of a little finger in a lateral direction of the palm.

Abstract: A pulse wave measuring device includes a light emitter unit, a light receiver unit, a pulse wave measuring unit and a contact portion. The light receiver unit receives reflected light, which is reflected from a finger after transmission of the light from the light emitter unit. The pulse wave measuring unit measures a pulse wave based on the reflected light, which is received with the light receiver unit. The finger contacts the contact portion at a time of measuring the pulse wave. The contact portion has a recess, which receives at least a portion of the finger at the time of measuring the pulse wave, and a protrusion is provided in an inside of the recess.

Abstract: In a pulse wave signal processor, a first filter attenuates a frequency component in an acquired pulse wave signal or in a differentiated pulse wave signal, and the attenuated frequency component is more than or equal to a first frequency. A second filter attenuates a frequency component in the acquired pulse wave signal, and the attenuated frequency component is less than the first frequency and more than or equal to a second frequency. A characteristic-point extractor extracts a characteristic point that exists in each single pulse of the pulse wave signal filtered by the second filter, and a signal separator partitioning the pulse wave signal or the differentiated signal filtered by the first filter into sections such that each section includes one of the extracted characteristic points. The partitioned sections are overlapped such that the characteristic points are coincident with each other, and arithmetically averaged.

Abstract: In a pulse wave signal processor, a first filter attenuates a frequency component in an acquired pulse wave signal or in a differentiated pulse wave signal, and the attenuated frequency component is more than or equal to a first frequency. A second filter attenuates a frequency component in the acquired pulse wave signal, and the attenuated frequency component is less than the first frequency and more than or equal to a second frequency. A characteristic-point extractor extracts a characteristic point that exists in each single pulse of the pulse wave signal filtered by the second filter, and a signal separator partitioning the pulse wave signal or the differentiated signal filtered by the first filter into sections such that each section includes one of the extracted characteristic points. The partitioned sections are overlapped such that the characteristic points are coincident with each other, and arithmetically averaged.

Abstract: A pulse wave measuring device includes a light emitter unit, a light receiver unit, a pulse wave measuring unit and a contact portion. The light receiver unit receives reflected light, which is reflected from a finger after transmission of the light from the light emitter unit. The pulse wave measuring unit measures a pulse wave based on the reflected light, which is received with the light receiver unit. The finger contacts the contact portion at a time of measuring the pulse wave. The contact portion has a recess, which receives at least a portion of the finger at the time of measuring the pulse wave, and a protrusion is provided in an inside of the recess.

Abstract: A sphygmomanometer includes an operation part, a pulse wave sensor that detects a pulse wave signal indicative of a pulse wave in a part of the patient body that is operating the operation part. A first manometer measures a blood pressure based on the pulse wave signal, and a second manometer measures the blood pressure with a cuff that is worn by the patient. A cuff wearing detector detects a wearing of the cuff by the patient. A controller measures the blood pressure with the first manometer when the operation part is operated long enough for a detection of the pulse wave signal and measures the blood pressure with the second manometer when the cuff wearing detector detects that the cuff is worn and that the operation part is being operated.

Abstract: In a pulse wave analyzer, an ECG signal and a pulse wave signal are detected from an object to be analyzed. A plurality of feature points are extracting from the acquired ECG signal, the feature points appearing in a waveform of the ECG signal. The acquired pulse wave signal is segmented into a plurality of pulse wave signal pieces based on times at which the feature points appear. Each of the pulse wave signal pieces is segmented every heart beat. A reference pulse wave is calculated based on the plurality of pulse wave signal pieces, by multiplying the pulse wave signal pieces by coefficients and averaging the pulse wave signal pieces multiplied by the coefficients. The reference pulse wave is used to estimate the blood pressure of the object.

Abstract: An electrocardiograph includes first and second induction electrodes, a signal difference generation section, an electrocardiographic detection section, a signal applying section, and a contact detection section. The signal difference generation section generates a potential difference between a signal from the first induction electrode and a signal from the second induction electrode as a signal difference. The electrocardiographic detection section detects an electrocardiographic complex of a subject based on the signal difference. The signal applying section applies a first signal to the first induction electrode and a second signal to the second induction electrode. The first signal has a property different from the electrocardiographic complex. The second signal has a property different from the electrocardiographic complex and the first signal. The contact detection section detects a contact state of the subject to the first and second induction electrodes based on the signal difference.

Abstract: A living body state monitor apparatus includes: a living body information acquisition device to acquire living body information containing an electrocardiography waveform and a pulse waveform from a user; an irregular heartbeat detection section to detect an irregular heartbeat from the electrocardiography waveform; and a pulse wave feature quantity extraction section to extract a pulse wave feature quantity from a pulse wave corresponding to the irregular heartbeat. Further, a living body state determination section is included to determine a danger degree on user's living body state using both of (A) information on kind and/or continued time period of an irregular heartbeat detected by the irregular heartbeat detection section, and (B) a pulse wave feature quantity extracted by the pulse wave feature quantity extraction section, and/or a variation of the extracted pulse wave feature quantity.

Abstract: An electrocardiograph includes first and second induction electrodes, a signal difference generation section, an electrocardiographic detection section, a signal applying section, and a contact detection section. The signal difference generation section generates a potential difference between a signal from the first induction electrode and a signal from the second induction electrode as a signal difference. The electrocardiographic detection section detects an electrocardiographic complex of a subject based on the signal difference. The signal applying section applies a first signal to the first induction electrode and a second signal to the second induction electrode. The first signal has a property different from the electrocardiographic complex. The second signal has a property different from the electrocardiographic complex and the first signal. The contact detection section detects a contact state of the subject to the first and second induction electrodes based on the signal difference.

Abstract: A living body state monitor apparatus includes: a living body information acquisition device to acquire living body information containing an electrocardiography waveform and a pulse waveform from a user; an irregular heartbeat detection section to detect an irregular heartbeat from the electrocardiography waveform; and a pulse wave feature quantity extraction section to extract a pulse wave feature quantity from a pulse wave corresponding to the irregular heartbeat. Further, a living body state determination section is included to determine a danger degree on user's living body state using both of (A) information on kind and/or continued time period of an irregular heartbeat detected by the irregular heartbeat detection section, and (B) a pulse wave feature quantity extracted by the pulse wave feature quantity extraction section, and/or a variation of the extracted pulse wave feature quantity.

Abstract: In a pulse wave analyzer, an ECG signal and a pulse wave signal are detected from an object to be analyzed. A plurality of feature points are extracting from the acquired ECG signal, the feature points appearing in a waveform of the ECG signal. The acquired pulse wave signal is segmented into a plurality of pulse wave signal pieces based on times at which the feature points appear. Each of the pulse wave signal pieces is segmented every heart beat. A reference pulse wave is calculated based on the plurality of pulse wave signal pieces, by multiplying the pulse wave signal pieces by coefficients and averaging the pulse wave signal pieces multiplied by the coefficients. The reference pulse wave is used to estimate the blood pressure of the object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a health care support system that can give appropriate advice depending on a situation. At first step, whether a driver is seated is checked using a signal from a pressure sensor. At second step, whether the driver is in a resting state is checked using heart rate and the like. At third step, physical information is acquired. At forth step, a health status is judged based on the measured pieces of physical information and the like. At fifth step, activity status information is acquired. At sixth step, an activity status is judged based on the activity status information. At seventh step, an appropriate piece of advice for the driver is selected based on a judgment result of the health status and a judgment result of the activity status. At eighth step, the selected piece of advice is displayed on a displaying section and audibly outputted.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a SiC single crystal from a SiC seed crystal is provided. The method includes the steps of: measuring a diameter of the SiC single crystal during a crystal growth of the SiC single crystal; and controlling the diameter of the SiC single crystal to be a predetermined diameter on the basis of the measured diameter. The method provides the SiC single crystal with high quality and large size.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide single crystal includes the steps of: setting a substrate as a seed crystal in a reactive chamber; introducing a raw material gas into the reactive chamber; growing a silicon carbide single crystal from the substrate; heating the gas at an upstream side from the substrate in a gas flow path; keeping a temperature of the substrate at a predetermined temperature lower than the gas so that the single crystal is grown from the substrate; heating a part of the gas, which is a non-reacted raw material gas and does not contribute to crystal growth, after passing through the substrate; and absorbing a non-reacted raw material gas component in the non-reacted raw material gas with an absorber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a SiC single crystal from a SiC seed crystal is provided. The method includes the steps of: measuring a diameter of the SiC single crystal during a crystal growth of the SiC single crystal; and controlling the diameter of the SiC single crystal to be a predetermined diameter on the basis of the measured diameter. The method provides the SiC single crystal with high quality and large size.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide single crystal includes the steps of: setting a substrate as a seed crystal in a reactive chamber; introducing a raw material gas into the reactive chamber; growing a silicon carbide single crystal from the substrate; heating the gas at an upstream side from the substrate in a gas flow path; keeping a temperature of the substrate at a predetermined temperature lower than the gas so that the single crystal is grown from the substrate; heating a part of the gas, which is a non-reacted raw material gas and does not contribute to crystal growth, after passing through the substrate; and absorbing a non-reacted raw material gas component in the non-reacted raw material gas with an absorber.

Abstract: A crucible for growing a single crystal therein has a seed crystal attachment portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the seed crystal attachment portion through a gap provided therebetween. The seed crystal attachment portion has a support surface for holding a seed crystal on which the single crystal is to be grown, and the support surface is recessed from a surface of the peripheral portion. The seed crystal is attached to the support surface to cover an entire area of the support surface. Accordingly, no poly crystal is formed on the seed crystal attachment portion, and the single crystal can be grown on the seed crystal with high quality.