JPH11104088A - Monitoring system for position and physical condition - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for monitoring remotely in real time the current position and current physical condition of a specific person. SOLUTION: A monitoring device 12 attached to the body of the subject 11 of monitoring is communicated via a wireless network with a center system 15 installed in a medical facility, etc. When the body of the subject 11 of monitoring has some trouble, this is reported without regard to the will and behavior of the subject. To specify his/her position, a radio wave is transmitted from the monitoring device 12 in addition to the specification of a range by a PHS network, and the radio wave is searched to allow quick arrival at the subject 11 of monitoring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring system for a location of a care recipient or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a monitoring system for a place where a physical abnormality may suddenly occur or a person who may wander. The target of monitoring by this system includes not only the location of the subject but also the biological condition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid aging of the population, the number of subjects who desire real-time monitoring of their location and biological condition is increasing rapidly. However, although various proposals have been made in the past, as a means for grasping the whereabouts of such persons, there is still no monitoring system that has been widely spread on a practical level. Indeed, P
A test system for detecting an abandoned position of an antenna using an HS network is known. However, the range of the PHS radio wave from the antenna is wide, and even if the position of the antenna that is communicating radio waves with the target person can be specified, the target person is found in the surrounding range. It takes time. This is completely insufficient to achieve the purpose of early detection and early treatment. For example, a medical institution that governs the area can recognize that there may be situations in which the subject's body needs urgent treatment and that it is necessary to immediately grasp the whereabouts of the person. Even if it is not possible to identify the person's current location and rush to that location, it is not really useful technology.

[0003] Further, even if effective and appropriate monitoring is possible, the wearing of the device extremely restricts the daily life of the monitored person, so that the quality of life (QOL) of the monitored person can be reduced. Is sacrificed. Naturally, for example, a large and heavy device is difficult to wear on the body. Considering that point, a system that can constantly or intermittently monitor the biological state of the subject while keeping the constraints on activities in life to a minimum has not yet been realized at present.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned various situations relating to the conventional whereabouts and living body condition monitoring system, the present invention greatly reduces the time required for finding a target person, especially in the placefinding that has been attempted in the past. The aim is to shorten it. Further, even when such a monitoring system is used, it is another object of the present invention to minimize the restrictions on daily activities and maintain the QOL of the subject at a level satisfactory for the subject. Furthermore, in addition to monitoring whereabouts, it is necessary to have an emergency call function. That is, the biological condition of the subject is monitored constantly or intermittently, and a parameter indicating the physical condition being measured is searched and analyzed by a doctor by performing a search and analysis of data that stores the history of physical data relating to the specific subject. An object of the present invention is to automatically make an emergency call regardless of a person's intention or specific action when the value deviates from a set normal range. The conventional device, which is a pendant type and sends an emergency alert by pressing a switch by a person carrying it, frequently concentrates attention on physical abnormalities and can not press the switch, and it is effective It cannot be said.

[0005] The reason why the history data must be searched is that the range of normal values of various physical parameters which are the basis of the emergency call is based on, for example, age division every 10 years or gender. It is not a general standard, but should be set from the history of the physical data of that particular individual in order to enable more accurate and individualized judgment. With this emergency notification function, it is possible to quickly grasp abnormalities that have occurred in the subject's body and quickly deal with the abnormal situation.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a monitoring system for remotely monitoring the current location and physical condition of a person to be monitored in real time, comprising: a computer for performing the remote real time monitoring; A center system that is a system, a monitoring unit that is attached to a human body that is a monitoring target, and detects a parameter that indicates the biological state of the human, and is placed near or integrated with the monitoring unit. A wireless communication unit that communicates with the center system, further comprising: a monitoring device including the monitoring unit and the wireless communication unit, wherein the human actuates an emergency switch, or automatically. In addition, the location and physical condition information are transmitted to the center system by wireless communication. The monitoring device is configured to transmit at least one of location and physical condition information to the center system in response to an instruction from the center system, wherein the monitoring device is And a voice communication means capable of communicating with the center system by voice.

The details of the construction of the present invention are explained in detail in the following description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations to the embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications and alterations are, of course, included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating the overall location and physical condition monitoring system 10 according to the present invention. The monitoring system 10 basically includes a monitoring device 12 directly attached to the body of a person to be monitored, a center system 15 installed in a medical institution in each region, and data between the two. And a wireless communication network 17 for realizing communication. The center system 15 is a computer system that can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has a function of communicating with the monitoring device 12 worn by a large number of persons to be monitored living in the area. Further, it has a function of communicating via a wireless network 17 with a computer terminal (for example, a workstation 16 having a communication function) in the hands of emergency medical staff such as doctors, nurses, or emergency services. . When an emergency occurs in the body of the monitoring target 11, these emergency medical personnel give appropriate instructions using the communication function of their own workstation 16 and deal with the emergency.

The subject monitoring apparatus 12 comprises a monitoring unit 13 for measuring the physical data of a human and a communication unit 14 for performing wireless communication. The communication unit 14
It has a function of specifying the antenna ID of the PHS network and a function of searching for a radio wave oscillating from the monitoring device 12 using the beacon radio wave searcher 18. The activation of the monitoring system according to the present invention is possible from both the center system 15 and the monitoring device 12. Also,
It also has a voice confirmation function.

[0010] Information on the location and / or biological condition of the person to be monitored detected by the monitoring unit 13 is transmitted to the center system 15 via the wireless network 17. When actually searching for a place, for example, a beacon searcher 18 for searching for a radio wave oscillated and transmitted by the monitoring device 12 is provided in an ambulance vehicle (not shown), and the searcher 18 is received while receiving a beacon radio wave. By mounting and running the vehicle, it is possible to quickly reach the target person's location.

FIG. 2 shows a monitoring device 12 of a location and physical condition monitoring system 10 according to the present invention.
And the center system 15 are illustrated in more detail.
Here, components in FIG. 2 that are common to FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring unit 13 of the monitoring device 12 is mounted on the wrist, and the communication unit 14 is mounted on the waist. Since the mounting position is determined from the viewpoint of minimizing the restriction on the activity of the monitored person, other positions may be used. However, since the measurement of physical data is performed through the skin, the monitoring unit 13 needs to directly touch the skin. Monitoring unit 13, the pulse wave-pulse sensor 20, motion sensor 21, S _p O ₂ sensor 22, the sensor control unit 23, CPU section 24, a communication unit 30 of the storage unit 25, a display unit 26 and monitoring device 12, It comprises a weak radio wave transmitting / receiving unit 27 for communication. The vital signs detected by the sensor units 20, 21, and 22 are sent to the CPU via the sensor control unit 23.
Breaking is performed by the unit 24 and the storage unit 23. If there is an abnormality, the weak radio wave transmitting and receiving unit 27 communicates with the communication unit 14 and further communicates with the center system 15 of the medical institution.

The measurement of various parameters representing the physical condition of the subject depends on the fact that the monitoring unit 13 of the monitoring device 12 according to the present invention is small and is directly attached to the body in a manner that does not lower the QOL. Considering the above, the following various methods can be adopted.
These measurement methods are not used alone, but are naturally combined with the configuration of the present invention in which the current position and the physical condition of the care recipient are confirmed by monitoring the remote and comprehensive constantly or intermittently. Is a feature of the present invention.

1) The monitoring unit 13 includes a pressure change detecting transducer connected to a gas-filled air pad or a pad made of a resilient material attached to a part (for example, a wrist) of the body of the person to be monitored, This transducer enables pulse waves and pulses to be detected. However, the air pad preferably has a structure that removes, or at least reduces, low-frequency noise that may be caused by body movement.

2) A pulse wave and a pulse are detected by monitoring a change in the body temperature of the subject using an ultra-thin film resistor or a thermistor instead of a change in pressure.

3) The monitoring unit 13 includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, and outputs light (wavelength from visible light to infrared light).
Or light of multiple wavelengths) transmitted or diffused to a part of the body.
Is reflected is measured from the absorbance spectrum, pulse wave, pulse and S _p O ₂ (oxygen saturation concentration).

4) The monitoring unit 13 detects a pulse wave and a pulse by using a condenser microphone for detecting a sound wave generated from a blood flow as a sensor.

5) The monitoring unit 13 includes an acceleration sensor (for example, a semiconductor) that grasps the movement of the subject's body.

6) The monitoring unit 13 preferably includes an amplifier circuit having a logarithmic output and / or an amplifier circuit of automatic level adjustment in order to prevent saturation (saturation) due to noise that may be caused by body movement. .

7) CPU of control unit of monitoring unit 13
(23, 24) performs a first derivative and / or a second derivative of the detected pulse wave data, separates the pulse wave by comparing with a pulse wave waveform pattern, and detects a body motion sensor by the body motion sensor. It is preferable to have a signal processing function for signal accuracy calibration, such as extracting a pulse wave waveform with higher accuracy by comparing with the data obtained by the above method.

These methods are exemplary and do not cover what can be used in the present invention. If it is a method that can be used based on the configuration of the present invention,
Other methods can also be used.

At this time, the normal / abnormal judgment is made by the CPU 24
The determination is based on the normal ranges of various parameters stored in the storage unit 23 and set for the specific individual. Since the monitoring device 12 is intended to be small and lightweight, the storage unit 2
3 has limited memory capacity and may not be able to store a long-term history of an individual's physical data. However, the storage unit 3 in the center system 15
For 5, it is sufficiently possible to use a large-capacity storage device. In the storage unit 35 of the center system 15, a database storing long-term physical data of an individual who is a monitoring target person in charge of the medical institution is constructed. From the large amount of data, a normal value of a specific physical parameter P of a specific individual A is individually set by a doctor, for example, X ≦ P ≦ Y.
It is natural that this range has individual differences, and it is a feature of the present invention that the range can be finely adjusted for each individual. This normal value range X ≦ P ≦ Y is stored in the storage unit 25 of the monitoring device 12 carried by the individual A via the communication network. Updates are also made at regular time intervals via the communication network. The same applies to parameters other than P. With this degree, the data can be sufficiently stored in the storage unit 25 having a relatively small memory capacity. When the value of the parameter P measured by the monitoring unit 13 deviates from X ≦ P ≦ Y, the CPU 24 makes an emergency call as described above.

The monitoring unit 13 transmits a normal signal to the communication unit 14 at a predetermined time interval and further to the center system 15. As a result, the subject 11
It can be confirmed at a medical institution that the physical condition of the patient is maintained normally. Further, the monitoring unit 13
The time, state, and the like are displayed on the display unit 26. The communication unit 14 of the monitoring device 12 includes a CPU / wireless network interface unit 28, a weak radio wave transmitting / receiving unit 27, and a radio wave oscillating unit 30 for beacon search, and receives a signal from the monitoring unit 13 by the weak radio wave transmitting / receiving unit 29. P
While being controlled by the HS module 28, the communication section 31 transmits location information and / or biometric data to the center system 15.

When the activation is performed from the center system 15, various commands transmitted through the wireless network 17 are received by the communication unit 30, and the location data and / or the biometric data are transmitted to the center system in the same manner as described above. Send to system 15.

The center system 15 includes a wireless communication interface unit 33, a processor unit 34, a storage unit 35, and an I / O interface unit 36. The center system 15 further communicates via a communication line with a workstation 16 at hand of a medical professional. The wireless communication interface unit 33 inputs data and instructions transmitted from the communication unit 14 of the monitoring device 12 via the wireless communication network 17 and the wireless communication network computer 32 therein to the processor unit 34. Processor part 3
4 and the storage unit 35 have a function of analyzing, determining, and storing data and control signals included in the received information. The analysis result is sent to the workstation interface unit 36.
To the workstation 16 and communicated to doctors, nurses, emergency services and the like. Conversely, a doctor, a nurse, a rescue squad or the like gives an instruction from the workstation 16 to the processor unit 34 of the center system 15, and the processor unit 34 transmits the instruction to the wireless communication interface unit 33 and the wireless network 1.
By giving an instruction to the communication unit 14 of the monitoring device 12 through 7, the biological condition data is collected. In the monitoring system according to the present invention, the monitoring device 12 is devised so that monitoring of the location can be performed only by the communication unit 14. In addition, the communication unit 14 of the monitoring device 12 has a function of performing voice communication with a medical staff operating the workstation 16 as needed under the control of the center system 15.

At the time of detecting the whereabouts according to the present invention, taking into account the fact that the monitoring unit 13 of the monitoring device 12 according to the present invention is small and is directly attached to the body in a manner that does not lower the QOL, Various methods such as the following can be adopted. Some of these communication methods are widely known to those skilled in the art. However, the feature of the present invention lies in that these known communication methods are not used alone but are naturally combined with the configuration of the present invention.

1) The position is measured by a Global Positioning System (GPS) using artificial satellites.

2) Wireless communication with a plurality of satellites of a satellite communication system (satellite communication according to the Iridium Project, etc.) is performed, and the position of the subject is detected from radio waves from the satellites.

3) Using a PHS communication network, a satellite communication network, a portable communication network, a two-way pager network, or a private radio network, and starting from the monitoring device 12 or the center system 15, the location and / or location of the subject. Obtain information on the biological state.

In this embodiment, the monitoring unit 13 and the communication unit 14 in the monitoring device 12 are constituted by separate housings. The monitoring unit 13 is fixed to a wrist or the like, and the communication unit 14 is fixed to a waist belt or the like. Communication between them is made by, for example, weak radio waves or electromagnetic induction. By integrating the monitoring unit 13 and the communication unit 14,
It can also be worn on the body (such as the wrist).

[0030]

According to the system of the present invention, not only a range having a certain width but also a search to the person's whereabouts can be supported when searching for the place of the subject, and a quick discovery can be performed. Will be possible. Further, since a voice confirmation function is provided as necessary, useless search can be prevented.

When the body condition monitoring function is also used, when a physical abnormality is detected, a notification can be automatically sent from the subject monitoring device to a doctor, a nurse, a rescue squad or the like of a workstation through a center system. During emergency services, you can quickly find out where you are and deal with it. It is a system that contributes to a rapidly increasing number of subjects as the aging process proceeds at a rapid pace.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a location and condition monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a whereabouts / state monitoring system according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 10 Whereabouts and biological condition monitoring system 11 Monitoring target person 12 Monitoring device 13 Monitoring device monitoring unit 14 Monitoring device communication unit 15 Center system 16 Workstation 17 Wireless communication network 18 Beacon radio wave searcher 20 Monitoring device monitoring unit pulse wave-pulse sensor section 21 monitoring device monitoring unit body motion sensor unit, 22 monitoring device monitoring unit S _p O ₂ sensor 23 monitoring device monitoring unit sensor, the control unit 24 the monitoring device monitoring unit CPU section 25 monitoring device monitoring Unit storage unit 26 Monitoring device monitoring unit display unit 27 Monitoring device monitoring unit Weak radio wave transmission / reception unit 28 Monitoring device communication unit CP Unit / wireless network interface unit 29 monitoring device communication unit weak radio wave transmitting / receiving unit 30 monitoring device communication unit beacon radio wave oscillation unit 31 monitoring device communication unit wireless communication network interface unit 32 monitoring device communication unit wireless communication network computer 33 center system radio Communication interface 34 Center system processor (computer central processing unit) 35 Center system storage unit 36 Center system workstation interface unit

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A monitoring system for remotely monitoring the current location and physical condition of a person to be monitored in real time, wherein the center system is a computer system that performs the remote real time monitoring. Monitoring means mounted on the body of a human being as a subject and detecting a parameter representing the biological state of the human; and wireless communication for communicating with the center system, which is disposed near or integrated with the monitoring means. And a monitoring device comprising the monitoring means and the wireless communication means, wherein the human system activates an emergency switch, or automatically, the wireless communication means. Toward the present location and physical condition information of the human Transmitted, further, the monitoring device,
In response to an instruction from the center system, it is configured to transmit location information and physical condition information to the center system, wherein the monitoring device has voice communication means capable of communicating with the center system by voice. System. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, as the location searching means, the monitoring device performs communication with the center system using a PHS communication network, and an ID of a PHS base station (antenna) communicating with the center system. Means for detecting the antenna ID from the detected antenna ID, transmitting the radio wave of a specific wavelength to the center system, transmitting the radio wave of a specific wavelength, and the monitoring device. A radio wave source searcher separately prepared, and a system further comprising: 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location detection is performed using a GPS. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said location detection is performed using a satellite communication system including an iridium program. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network includes a PHS communication network, a satellite communication network, a mobile communication network, a two-way pager network, and a private wireless network, and the monitoring device and the center system. The information on at least one of the whereabouts and the physical condition of the human being is transmitted from the monitoring device to the center system by activation from both of the system. 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is connected to a gas-filled air pad or a pad made of a resilient material, which is attached to the human body. Wherein the communication unit further comprises means for transmitting a location to the center system when at least one of the detected pulse wave and pulse deviates from a predetermined range. Features system. 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring unit further comprises an ultra-thin film resistor or thermistor mounted on the human body and detecting a pulse wave and a pulse by measuring a change in body temperature. Features system. 8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring unit includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and transmits and diffuses light from the visible region to the infrared region or a plurality of wavelengths through a part of the body. or is reflected, it is from the absorbance spectrum pulse-pulse, by measuring the S _p O _2, characterized by monitoring the state of a living body of a subject system. 9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring unit includes a condenser microphone that detects a sound wave generated from a blood flow to measure a pulse wave and a pulse. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit further comprises an acceleration sensor for grasping the movement of the human body. 11. The system according to claim 6, wherein said gas-filled air pad or pad made of a resilient material comprises means for reducing low-frequency noise due to body movements. Features system. 12. The system according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring unit includes an amplifying circuit whose output is logarithmic and an automatic level adjusting amplifying circuit to prevent saturation (saturation) due to noise due to body movement. A system comprising at least one. 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of the monitoring device includes: means for performing first-order differentiation and second-order differentiation of the detected pulse wave data; A system comprising: a unit that separates the pulse wave; and a unit that extracts a pulse wave waveform with higher accuracy by comparing with data detected by the body motion sensor. 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit and the communication unit are formed of separate housings, and communicate between the monitoring unit and the communication unit by weak radio waves or electromagnetic induction. A system further comprising: 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said center system and said monitoring device include means for confirming that said center system is in a normal state at predetermined time intervals. 16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a pulse wave and an S signal together with a normality confirmation signal.
sends _p O ₂ data to the center system, said center system and to store and analyze the data system. 17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device transmits at least one of a pulse wave and a pulse as a nearest vital sign of the human when transmitting the abnormality notification signal to the center system. Transmitting a vital sign after the transmission of the abnormal signal to the center system. 18. The system according to claim 2, wherein the radio wave transmitting unit that oscillates for the location search has a unit that transmits a radio wave including a code for identifying the person to be monitored, and the separately prepared radio wave. A system, wherein the source searcher has means for identifying a monitoring target person by recognizing the identification code.