JP4333603B2 - Fall management server, program, and footwear - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for automatically detecting that a care receiver has fallen.

  A technology that automatically detects that a caregiver has fallen and notifies a caregiver such as a nurse because a car accident may occur if a caregiver such as an elderly person or a patient in a hospital falls. Has been proposed.

  For example, there are techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 as conventional techniques for automatically detecting the care receiver's fall or the like.

The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 compares a video captured by a camera with a reference image captured when a human body exists, and detects a human body overturning operation based on the difference. The technique disclosed in Patent Literature 2 compares a bright spot image acquired using an FG visual sensor with a reference bright spot image to determine the posture of a person. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 determines whether or not the subject's behavior is abnormal based on the posture of the human body detected by an acceleration sensor or the like and the position of the human body detected by a mobile terminal or the like. . Moreover, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 4 detects the movement of a human body from the result of imaging with a camera.
JP 2000-207664 A JP 2001-28086 A JP 2001-101547 A JP 2001-307246 A

  However, as in the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 4, when an abnormality is detected using a camera, it is necessary to install the camera in all places where the fall of the care recipient is predicted. However, it is expensive and expensive, and it is difficult to accurately detect a fall. There is also a problem that even if a fall is detected, it is impossible to determine who the care recipient is.

  With the technology of Patent Document 3, it is possible to identify the position of the care recipient and who it is by using a portable terminal, but it is difficult to accurately detect a fall, and the system is also Expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, accurately detecting or predicting the fall of the care recipient, and promptly notifying the caregiver of the position of the fall and who is the care recipient. The purpose is to provide the technology that enables it.

  The above-described problem is a fall management server for detecting or predicting the fall of a care recipient, and ID information transmitted from footwear provided with a detection sensor that detects the walking state of the care recipient and an RFID tag. Receiving means via an RFID base station, identification means for identifying that a pair of footwear is used by a cared person based on the received ID information, and the identification means It can be solved by a fall management server comprising fall management means for detecting or predicting the fall of the cared person based on the ID information of the pair of footwear of the cared person identified by.

  The identification means identifies a plurality of footwear under a common RFID base station for a predetermined period or more based on the ID of the RFID base station received together with the ID information, and the pair of footwear is selected from the plurality of footwear. It can be configured to identify footwear.

The detection sensor is, for example, a pressure sensor or a sensor that detects inclination.

  The fall management server may further include means for notifying the caregiver of notification means when the fall management means detects or predicts the fall of the care recipient.

  Moreover, you may comprise this invention as a program which functions a computer as each means of a fall detection server.

  Further, the present invention is a footwear comprising a detection sensor for detecting a user's walking state and an RFID tag, and whether the ID is transmitted from the RFID tag according to sensor information output by the detection sensor. It can also be configured as footwear characterized by having control means for controlling whether or not, or changing means for changing the ID transmitted from the RFID tag in accordance with sensor information output by the detection sensor.

  According to the present invention, the footwear is provided with a detection sensor for detecting the walking state of the cared person and the RFID tag, and the fall of the carer is detected or predicted based on the ID information transmitted from the footwear. The walking state of the cared person can be directly detected, and the fall of the cared person can be accurately detected or predicted as compared with the conventional technique using a camera image or the like. In addition, since the RFID ID information is used, it is possible to quickly notify the caregiver of the position of the fall and who is the care recipient.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the case of detecting the fall of a patient in a hospital is taken as an example, but the present invention can be applied to any place that needs to detect the fall of a cared person such as a patient. . In the present specification and claims, “falling” includes falling and general abnormalities during walking or running of the cared person.

(System overview)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present embodiment has an RFID base station 1 (RFID reader), a fall management server 3, and an in-hospital PHS management server 5 installed at predetermined distance intervals. The base station 1, the in-hospital PHS management server 5, and the fall management server 3 are each connected to the in-hospital LAN 7 and can communicate with each other.

  The slipper 9 worn by a patient who is at risk of falling is attached with a walking state detection sensor 91 and an RFID tag 92 that transmits an ID in response to a signal from the walking state detection sensor 91. Furthermore, it is assumed that a nurse who is a caregiver of the patient has the PHS telephone 11. Details of the walking state detection sensor 91 will be described later.

  In the above system, when the ID information transmitted from the RFID tag 92 is transmitted to the fall management server 3 via the RFID base station 1, and the fall management server 3 detects or predicts the fall, the in-hospital PHS management server 5 is notified to the PHS telephone 11 from the in-hospital PHS management server 5.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the fall management server 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the fall management server 3 includes a fall detection unit 31 that detects a fall based on ID information of an RFID tag, a walk information accumulation unit 32 that accumulates RFID tag ID information in a storage device as walk information, It has a fall prediction unit 33 that predicts a fall based on information, a patient position specifying unit 34 that specifies the position of a patient, and a slipper management unit 35. These functional units are realized by causing a computer that implements the fall management server 3 to execute a program having a processing function corresponding to each functional unit.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the in-hospital PHS management server 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the in-hospital PHS management server 5 includes a nurse PHS calling unit 51 and a nurse PHS mail transmission unit 52. These functional units are realized by causing a computer that implements the in-hospital PHS management server 5 to execute a program having a processing function corresponding to each functional unit.

(Overview of overall system operation)
Next, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5, an outline of the operation of the system will be described in correspondence with the operation of the patient.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart in the case where notification is made when a fall is detected. When the patient starts walking (step 1), ID information corresponding to a signal from a pressure sensor or the like attached to the slipper 9 is transmitted to the fall management server 3 via the RFID base station 1, and the fall management server 3 A walk is detected by receiving the ID information (step 2). When the patient falls (step 3), the fall management server 3 detects the fall from the change in the ID information (step 4). Then, based on the ID of the RFID base station that transmitted the ID information at the time of the fall, the position of the fallen patient is specified (step 5), the hospital PHS management server 5 is notified, and the hospital PHS management server 5 A notification is sent to the nurse's PHS at a location close to the fall position (step 6).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the case of notifying when a fall is predicted. The fall management server 3 detects walking (steps 11 and 12) and accumulates ID information as walking information in a storage device (steps 13 and 14). Then, it is determined whether or not the walking pattern is normal by comparing the accumulated walking pattern with a predetermined length of time with a walking pattern serving as a reference for fall prediction (step 15). When the fall management server 3 determines that the walking pattern is abnormal and indicates a sign of a fall, the fall management server 3 notifies the patient (step 16) and notifies the nurse (step 17). In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the patient also has a PHS telephone.

  Hereinafter, the system configuration and processing contents will be described in more detail.

(About slippers)
As shown in FIG. 1, a walking state detection sensor and an RFID tag are attached to the slipper. As a walking state detection sensor, a commercially available pressure sensor (pressure-resistance conversion type sensor, pressure sensitive switch using pressurized conductive rubber, etc.), a fall detection switch, an inclination sensor, an inclination switch, etc. are used. be able to.

  The walking state detection sensor includes a sensor circuit for sending a signal corresponding to pressure, inclination, or the like to the RFID tag. In addition to the basic function of sending an ID to the RFID base station 1, the RFID tag has a function of changing an ID transmitted based on a signal from a walking state detection sensor, or a signal from a walking state detection sensor. Has a function of determining whether or not to send an ID based on.

  These functions can be realized by using a logic circuit or by using a small computer and a program. In addition, the above-described logic circuit or small computer may be provided in the slipper as a device separate from the RFID tag. However, in the following description, it is assumed that the above-described logic circuit or small computer is included in the RFID tag. Do.

  When a pressure sensor is used as the walking state detection sensor, the pressure sensor detects the pressure applied to the slipper according to the weight of the patient. An RFID tag that acquires a signal related to pressure from a pressure sensor, for example, transmits a unique ID when detecting a signal indicating that pressure is applied, and outputs a signal indicating that pressure is applied. If not detected, nothing is transmitted. The RFID tag may transmit different IDs depending on whether pressure is applied. For example, ID: xxxx1 is transmitted when pressure is applied, and ID: xxxx2 is transmitted when pressure is not applied. Note that the xxxxxxxx portion is a value unique to the RFID tag (that is, one slipper).

  As described above, when the RFID tag sends out ID information that can identify whether or not the slipper is under pressure, the fall management server 3 side is in a state where the slipper is under weight or is under weight. Can be identified (the slipper is away from the ground), and as a result, walking can be detected. Note that the pressure-sensitive portion of the pressure sensor is disposed, for example, in a portion where the patient's heel of the slipper hits. Alternatively, a high-sensitivity pressure sensor may be attached to the back of the slipper (the part in contact with the ground) to directly detect the grounding / non-grounding of the slipper.

  It is also possible to encode the contact time of the slipper or the time during which pressure is applied to an ID sent out by the RFID tag and transmit the ID. For example, if the grounding time is 0.1 seconds, ID: xxxx001, if 0.2 seconds, ID: xxxx002, etc. Here, xxxx is a value unique to the slipper. In this process, for example, a small computer or logic circuit provided in the RFID tag has a timer, and based on sensor data acquired at a predetermined time interval, the grounding time or the time during which pressure is applied is measured, and according to the measurement result. This can be realized by encoding.

  When using a sensor that detects the inclination, such as an inclination sensor or a switch, the sensor detects a predetermined inclination of the slipper with respect to the horizontal plane. The RFID tag transmits an ID only when the inclination is larger than a predetermined inclination (for example, when the RFID tag is turned over). Alternatively, different IDs are sent depending on whether the inclination is larger than a predetermined inclination. Thereby, it becomes possible to detect the state of walking.

  Both the pressure sensor and the sensor for detecting the inclination may be mounted on the slipper, the pressure sensor may perform a fall prediction based on the walking pattern, and the sensor for detecting the inclination may detect a sudden fall or the like.

  Now, power is supplied by a battery to the logic circuit of the RFID tag and the small computer. Since it is desirable for the slipper to replace the battery as little as possible, it is desirable to minimize power consumption and extend the life of the battery. For this purpose, the power supply ON / OFF control of the RFID tag circuit is performed using the output information of the walking state detection sensor with low power consumption.

  More specifically, for example, after the pressure sensor detects the pressure, the timer provided in the sensor circuit is reset and started, and power is supplied to the RFID tag only for a predetermined time. . Therefore, for example, if the state in which the pressure sensor does not detect pressure continues for the predetermined time, the supply of electric power ends. As a result, power is not supplied to the logic circuit and computer of the RFID tag when not walking, so that power consumption can be reduced.

  In general, an RFID tag transmits an ID at a fixed period, but the ID may be transmitted only when necessary, not at a fixed period. For example, the ID is transmitted only when there is a change in the sensor information. Thereby, power consumption can be reduced.

(Fall detection method)
Next, a method for detecting the fall by the fall detection unit 31 of the fall management server 3 based on the ID information sent from the slipper will be described.

  The fall is determined based on a walking pattern or the like, but in order to grasp the walking pattern, it is necessary to recognize a pair of both feet of slippers worn by a certain patient. When the patient and the slipper are associated with each other and the patient always uses the same pair of slippers, the fall management server 3 stores a table as shown in FIG. The server 3 can identify a pair of slippers and a patient from the received RFID tag ID information.

  The slipper ID in FIG. 6 is the ID when the RFID tag sends out one ID, and when the RFID tag sends out a plurality of IDs such as xxxx1, xxxx2, etc. xxxx part. In the following description, what is transmitted by the RFID tag may be referred to as ID, and identification information unique to the RFID tag (ID itself or xxxx part) may be referred to as identification information.

  When the patient and the slipper are not associated with each other and there is a possibility that the patient uses various slippers, the slipper pair is recognized as follows.

  As described above, one piece of identification information is assigned to each (one) slipper, and the fall detection server 3 recognizes which slipper is used in a pair from the slipper position information and the received ID information. To do.

  Specifically, for example, the slipper management unit 35 of the fall detection server 3 manages the RFID base station ID sent from the RFID base station 1 and the identification information of the RFID tag in the form of a table shown in FIG. To do. That is, the ID of the RFID base station that is the transmission source of the identification information is recorded at regular time intervals in association with the received identification information of the RFID tag. Then, the slipper management unit 35 determines that the slippers corresponding to the two pieces of identification information transmitted from the common RFID base station are a pair for a certain period (for example, time 1 to time 3). That is, in FIG. 7, it is determined that the slippers of the identification information 1 and the identification information 2 are a pair.

  In addition, when there are three or more IDs sent from the same RFID base station during a certain period of time, the transmission / non-transmission pattern of each ID or the pattern of changing each ID is compared. Ask for a pair. For example, in the case of the transmission / non-transmission pattern shown in FIG. 8, it can be determined that the ID of pattern 1 and the ID of pattern 2 are a pair, and the IDs of patterns 3 and 4 are a pair. Alternatively, a pair may be obtained only from an ID pattern without performing the determination in the table shown in FIG.

  The fall detection unit 31 of the fall management server 3 performs fall detection based on the time series pattern of the pair determined to be a pair by the above processing. An example of the fall detection will be described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 9, until time A, when one slipper 1 of the pair is grounded, the other slipper 2 is ungrounded, and when the slipper 2 is ungrounded, the slipper 1 is grounded. It is shown that Further, after time A, until time B, both slipper 1 and slipper 2 are grounded, and after time B, both slipper 1 and slipper 2 are ungrounded.

  Since the pattern up to the time A is considered that the patient is walking normally, the fall detection unit 31 does not determine that the pattern falls until the time A. However, after time A, since the pattern is not seen in the normal walking state, the fall detection unit 31 determines that the fall has occurred.

  That is, the fall detection unit 31 receives the ID state (transmission / non-transmission, grounding ID / non-grounding ID, etc.) for each ID of the slippers determined to be a pair received at predetermined time intervals. Each time the ID is received, it is checked whether transmission / non-transmission or switching between grounding ID / non-grounding ID and the like are alternately performed by the two slippers. Then, as in the case of time A or later, when transmission / non-transmission or grounding ID / non-grounding ID does not appear alternately in each slipper (or even if a predetermined time has elapsed from that point, it is abnormal. When the predetermined time has passed in the case, it is determined that the vehicle has fallen.

  As described above, in addition to the method of checking and determining ID every ID reception, the ID pair pattern for a predetermined period and the reference stored in the storage device of the fall management server 3 in advance A fall may be detected by comparing the pattern. In this case, for example, a normal walking pattern is set as a reference pattern, and walking is abnormal when a deviation from the reference pattern (for example, an integrated value of deviation in the above period) is larger than a predetermined threshold. Is determined.

  In addition, as a reference pattern, a pattern collected by actually falling may be used, or a pattern collected at the time of a previous fall may be used. In this case, if the deviation between the detection target pattern and the reference pattern is within a predetermined threshold, it is determined to fall. In addition, a time series data analysis method such as an AR model can be used for pattern comparison.

(Fall prediction method)
The fall prediction by the fall prediction unit 33 of the fall management server can also be performed by the above pattern comparison. That is, by comparing the past walking pattern with the current walking pattern, the patient's fall is predicted before the fall occurs. For example, a patient's fall simulation is performed to obtain a pattern that is a precursor to a fall and set it as a reference pattern. In addition, pattern data that is a precursor to a previous fall can also be used as reference data.

  In addition to predicting the fall by pattern comparison, if the grounding cycle of each pair of ID information is monitored and the grounding cycle of one of the slippers is disturbed (if it becomes non-constant), there is a risk of falling You may make it determine.

  Also, treatment information such as the patient's medication time is stored in the fall management server 3 together with the patient identification information. For example, in the fall prediction for a certain patient, if the medication time is before, the threshold is lowered, and even a slight abnormality By determining that it is, it is possible to improve the accuracy of abnormality prediction.

(Notification method)
When the fall detection or the fall prediction is performed, the patient position specifying unit 34 refers to the table as shown in FIG. 10 stored in the storage device, so that the RFID of the ID transmission source of the slipper detected or predicted to fall is stored. The patient's position is specified from the ID of the base station. Then, the fall detection unit 31 or the fall prediction unit 33 notifies the in-hospital PHS management server 5 of the position and information indicating that the fall has been detected or has been predicted to fall. If the slipper and the patient are associated with each other and the patient can be identified from the RFID tag ID, the patient identification information is also notified to the in-hospital PHS management server 5.

  The in-hospital PHS management server 5 calls an appropriate nurse's PHS based on the information on the position. Moreover, you may send mail. In the case of fall prediction, if a patient can be identified, the patient's own PHS is also called to give attention. In addition, you may make it warn a patient by installing a speaker and a display apparatus in the dangerous location in a hospital.

(About the effect of this system)
As described above, in the system of the present embodiment, even when the pair of slippers changes frequently, it can be determined that the same patient is using it, and when the patient falls, it is detected quickly. Then, by identifying the patient's position and urgently notifying the nurse of the information, the trouble caused by the fall can be minimized. Moreover, when an abnormality of a patient is predicted, an abnormality such as a fall can be prevented in advance by sending a warning to the patient or nurse.

  Further, in the system of the present embodiment, since ID information is notified using RFID, the infrastructure can be shared with the RFID system used for article management or the like in the hospital, and the system construction cost can be reduced. Further, by mounting the RFID on the slipper, there is an advantage that the patient can have a device for grasping the position without being conscious of the patient.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of a fall management server. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the hospital PHS management server. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement outline | summary of a system. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement outline | summary of a system. It is a figure which shows the example of the table which a fall management server stores. It is a figure which shows the example of the table which a fall management server stores. It is a figure which shows the example of the pattern of ID information. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the fall detection method. It is a figure which shows the example of the table which a fall management server stores.

Explanation of symbols

1 RFID base station 3 Fall management server 5 Hospital PHS management server 7 Hospital LAN
9 slipper 31 fall detection unit 32 walking information storage unit 33 fall prediction unit 34 patient position specifying unit 51 nurse PHS call unit 52 nurse PHS mail transmission unit 91 walking state detection sensor 92 RFID tag

Claims (7)

A fall management server for detecting or predicting the fall of a care recipient,
A receiving means for receiving ID information transmitted from footwear provided with a detection sensor that detects a walking state of a care receiver and an RFID tag via an RFID base station;
Identification means for identifying that a pair of footwear is used by a care recipient based on the received ID information;
A fall management server, comprising: fall management means for detecting or predicting fall of the care recipient based on ID information of the pair of footwear of the care recipient identified by the identification means.   The identification means identifies a plurality of footwear under a common RFID base station for a predetermined period or more based on the ID of the RFID base station received together with the ID information, and the pair of footwear is selected from the plurality of footwear. The fall management server according to claim 1 for identifying footwear. The sensor may fall management server according to claim 1 or 2, which is a sensor for detecting a pressure sensor, or the inclination. By the fall management unit, when said fall of the care person is detected or predicted, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising means for performing notification to a means of notifying the caregiver Fall management server. A program that causes a computer to realize a function as a fall management server for detecting or predicting a fall of a care recipient, the computer comprising:
A receiving means for receiving ID information transmitted from footwear provided with a detection sensor for detecting the walking state of the cared person and the RFID tag via the RFID base station;
Identification means for identifying that a pair of footwear is used by a cared person based on the received ID information;
A fall management means for detecting or predicting the fall of the cared person based on the ID information of the pair of footwear of the cared person identified by the identifying means;
A program characterized by functioning as Footwear comprising a detection sensor for detecting a user's walking state and an RFID tag,
Control means for controlling whether or not an ID is transmitted from the RFID tag according to sensor information output from the detection sensor, or an ID transmitted from the RFID tag according to sensor information output from the detection sensor Footwear characterized by having a changing means for changing. The footwear according to claim 6 , wherein the detection sensor is a pressure sensor or a sensor that detects inclination.

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