Hamamatsu-photonics K.k.

Tsunehiko Takeuchi

Takehiro Kurono

Takahito Kato

A mastication monitoring deviceis provided with a probewhich is attached to a cheek in order to detect the concentration of reduced hemoglobin in the masticatory muscles. A photodetectorof the probedetects light scattered in the masticatory muscles and delivers a signal of the amount of light received to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unitcomputes the reduced hemoglobin concentrations (time-series changes) from the signals of the amount of light received, and further computes outputs S (time-series changes) corresponding to the time-series changes in the reduced hemoglobin concentrations. A mastication iteration counting unitdetects peaks in periodical changes of Sd which is the difference between the output S and the moving average value Sma of the output S and counts the peaks in periodical changes of Sd as the mastication iterations.

Mastication monitoring device

A muscular strength estimation device according to the present invention comprises load supply means for applying a prescribed exercise load to a subject; oxygen saturation measuring means for measuring, while the exercise load is being applied to the subject, the oxygen saturation in the blood circulating through the muscle to which the exercise load is applied; minimum value detection means for detecting the oxygen saturation minimum value during measurement; recording means for recording in advance a correlation table showing the correlation between the subject's oxygen saturation and muscular strength; and calculation means for calculating the muscular strength corresponding to the oxygen saturation minimum value, from the correlation table.

Exhibited muscular power estimating apparatus

A light irradiating section irradiates a muscle used for occlusion of teeth, with light, and a light detecting section detects scattered light from the muscle. An oxygen saturation acquiring section acquires an oxygen saturation of the muscle, based on the scattered light thus detected. Further, based on correlation data between oxygen saturation and occlusal force stored in a correlation data storing section, an occlusal force calculating section calculates the occlusal force of the subject corresponding to the oxygen saturation acquired.

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Hamamatsu, Japan

Tsunehiko Takeuchi