AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTION INDICATOR BASED ON PHONOCARDIOGRAM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autonomic nervous system condition evaluating means inexpensive and easy to use. SOLUTION: In a method and a device for measuring the heart rate variation (HRV), computer processing is applied to recorded cardiac sound and this is analyzed to acquire various components characterizing the HRV. The HRV is measured on the basis of cardiac sound signals easily collectable by a microphone easy to attach on a patient or a stethoscopical apparatus to be used for stethoscopy so that speedy diagnosis and information transmission can be performed. The diagnosed result possible to occur is reduced and therefore the rate of survival of the patient is improved. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO