KR102116665B1 - Portable apparatus for detecting bowel movements - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable defecation monitoring device which uses a unique gas constituent contained in excrement and urine to correctly sense and notify which type of defection occurs as well as whether defecation occurs. The portable defecation monitoring device comprises: a first gas sensor sensing at least one among indole, scandium, hydrogen sulfide and methane in the air; a second gas sensor sensing ammonia in the air; a defecation checking unit checking whether defecation occurs and what kind of defecation occurs based on the sensing result of the first and second gas sensor or checking whether the defecation treatment is completed; a bedsore estimation unit measuring the time elapsed after defecation and estimating possibility of a bedsore based on the time elapsed after defecation, the kind of defecation and a skin state; an alarm information generation unit generating alarm information for notifying whether defecation occurs, which kind of defecation occurs, how much time has elapsed after defecation and whether a bedsore can be caused; and a communication unit forming a communication channel with a manager terminal and receiving and storing identification information of a person under care and the skin state provided from the manager terminal or mapping the identification information of the person under care with the alarm information to transmit the mapped information to the manager terminal.

Description

PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR DETECTING BOWEL MOVEMENTS}

The present invention relates to a portable defecation monitoring device, and more particularly, to a portable defecation monitoring device that enables accurate detection and notification of defecation type as well as defecation using specific gas components according to feces and urine.

Most of the severely disabled and dementia patients have difficulty in covering their cattle / feces themselves, so that a caregiver or a caregiver frequently checks the patient's bowel movements and changes diapers.

This stool treatment process is a source that causes agility and shame not only in the caregiver but also in the patient, and as a result, stool management is not carried out at the right time, causing serious complications such as bedsores and skin diseases or being exposed to the risk of infection. It is reality.

In addition, the rapid increase in the dementia population of the elderly and the mental, physical, and economic costs of the guardians against medical expenses and potential symptoms are increasing every year, and social and psychological anxiety of the aging generation is emerging as a social problem, but our society The condition is that there is no terminal or system enough to satisfy the patient and family.

However, there has been proposed a technique for detecting and notifying the wearer of a diaper through a disposable discolored diaper or a diaper cover made of a cloth or a device embedded therein, but all of them are based on a change in temperature or humidity caused by defecation. By detecting the presence of defecation, there is a disadvantage that the accuracy is relatively low. In other words, there is a problem in that it is not possible to distinguish between urine and urine, and a change in sweat or body temperature of a diaper wearer is often mistaken for a bowel movement.

In addition, it was implemented as a diaper itself, or implemented in a form combined with a diaper.

Domestic registration number 10-1742792 (Registration date: 2017.05.26)

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to provide a portable bowel movement monitoring device that is gas-based and can be implemented in a portable form.

In addition, by identifying and distinguishing specific gas components according to feces and urine, it is intended to provide a portable defecation monitoring device capable of accurately detecting and notifying not only defecation but also defecation type.

In addition, it is intended to provide a portable defecation monitoring device that can calculate and guide even the possibility of pressure sores according to defecation activity.

In addition, by checking and analyzing whether there is defecation based on motion as well as gas, it is possible to check and notify the abnormal activity of the manager.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

As a means for solving the above problems, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a first gas sensor for sensing at least one of indole, sodium, hydrogen sulfide, and methane in the air; A second gas sensor for sensing ammonia in the air; A bowel movement confirmation unit for confirming the bowel movement and the type of bowel movement or confirming the completion of bowel processing based on the sensing results of the first and second gas sensors; A pressure sore predicting unit for counting the elapsed time after defecation, and calculating the possibility of pressure sores based on the elapsed time after defecation, the type of defecation, and skin condition; An alarm information generator configured to generate alarm information informing of the defecation, the defecation type, the elapsed time after the defecation, and the possibility of pressure sores; And a communication unit that forms a communication channel with the manager terminal, receives and stores the skin condition and management target identification information provided from the manager terminal, or maps the management target identification information to the alarm information and transmits it to the manager terminal. It provides a portable bowel movement monitoring device comprising a.

The portable bowel movement monitoring device may further include a display unit for audio-visually outputting the alarm information.

The alarm information generating unit repeatedly generates and outputs alarm information until the defecation confirmation is confirmed by the defecation confirmation unit, and sequentially increases the audio-visual stimulus intensity in proportion to the number of times the alarm information is provided. .

In addition, the portable bowel movement monitoring device is implemented in the form of a pad that can be located on the lower side of the subject's hip, and may further include a motion sensor that senses a 3D movement of the target's hip.

At this time, the defecation confirmation unit may further include a function of pre-registering a movement pattern for detecting a defecation, and further confirming whether or not defecation is performed by comparing and analyzing the sensing result of the motion sensor with the movement pattern for detecting a defecation.

In addition, when only the gas-based bowel movement is detected without the motion-based bowel movement, the alarm information generating unit may further include a function of confirming and notifying the occurrence of an abnormal symptom.

In addition, the alarm information generating unit may further include a function of tracking and monitoring a defecation occurrence pattern, and confirming and notifying a defecation abnormal state when the defecation occurrence pattern changes rapidly.

The present invention is driven based on a gas so that it can be implemented in a portable form, so that the convenience of use can be maximized.

In addition, by distinguishing and identifying the specific gas components according to feces and urine, it is possible to accurately detect and notify not only the defecation but also the type of defecation, and to calculate and guide the possibility of pressure sores according to the defecation activity.

In addition, by checking and analyzing whether there is defecation on the basis of motion as well as gas, it is possible to check and notify the abnormal activity of the manager.

1 and 2 are views illustrating a portable bowel movement monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view for explaining a bowel movement monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 and 5 are views illustrating a portable bowel movement monitoring device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The objectives and effects of the present invention, and technical configurations for achieving them, will be clarified with reference to embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary depending on a management target, an operator's intention, or a custom.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms. Only the present embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and to fully inform the person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, the scope of the present invention being defined by the scope of the claims. It just works. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 and 2 is a view showing a portable bowel movement monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 is a configuration diagram, Figure 2 is an external view.

1 and 2, the portable bowel movement monitoring device 100 of the present invention is implemented in the form of a portable hardware device, and the first gas for sensing at least one of indole, sodium, hydrogen sulfide, and methane in the air The sensor 111, the second gas sensor 112 for sensing ammonia in the air, the first and second gas sensors 111,112 based on the sensing results to determine whether the bowel movement and the type of bowel movement, or to confirm the completion of bowel processing The defecation confirmation unit 120, after counting the elapsed time after defecation, the decubitus prediction unit 130 for calculating the likelihood of pressure sores based on the elapsed time after defecation, the type of defecation, and the skin condition, whether or not the defecation The type of bowel movement, the elapsed time after the bowel movement, an alarm information generating unit 140 for generating alarm information informing the possibility of bedsores, a communication channel with a manager terminal, and skin condition and subject identification information through the manager terminal And a communication unit 150 for acquiring and storing or transmitting the alarm information to the manager terminal.

3 is a view for explaining a bowel movement monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For reference, during human bowel movements, stool produces various gases through physiological processes of food debris generated during food digestion and absorption in the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Sodium, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and ammonia. On the other hand, urine, unlike feces, is the result of blood being filtered out of the kidneys and mainly contains water and ammonia water.

Accordingly, the present invention includes two types of gas sensors, such as the first and second gas sensors 111 and 112, and gas components (ie, air) that can be generated by stool activity through the first gas sensor 111. Heavy indole, scandium, hydrogen sulfide, at least one of methane) is sensed, and a gas component (ie, ammonia in the air) that may be generated by urine activity is sensed through the second gas sensor 112 (S1, S2).

At this time, the first and second gas sensors 111 and 112 are implemented in a type adopting a semiconductor material, a mems type, a type adopting a nanomaterial such as a carbon nanotube, and the like, and the unique component particles contained in feces or urine are among the sensors. It can be driven in a manner that detects a change in the micro-current according to the change in the electrical resistance caused by the collision with the fine wire. However, such a gas sensor has already been commercialized or the study has been completed, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the first and second gas sensors 111 and 112 notify the target gas detection at the same time, the bowel movement confirmation unit 120 confirms and notifies the stool activity of the management target (S3), and only the second gas sensor 112 is the target gas When the detection is notified, the subject of management is asked to confirm and notify the urine activity (S4). On the other hand, if both the first and second gas sensors 111 and 112 fail to detect the target gas, the management subject makes sure that the bowel activity has not been performed and notified (S5).

When the bowel movement confirming unit 120 confirms and notifies the feces or urine activity of the management subject, the pressure sore predicting unit 130 starts counting the elapsed time after bowel movement through a timer built in itself (S6).

Then, the likelihood of bedsores is calculated based on the elapsed time after defecation, the type of defecation, and skin sensitivity (S7).

Equation 1 is an equation for calculating the likelihood of pressure sores according to feces, and equation 2 is an equation for calculating the likelihood of pressure sores due to urine.

[Equation 1]

Possibility of bedsores = (α1 + β) × Elapsed time after defecation

[Equation 2]

Possibility of bedsores = (α2 + β) × Elapsed time after defecation

At this time, α1 is a constant value corresponding to the stool, α2 is a constant value corresponding to the stool, and has a value smaller than α1. β is a constant corresponding to skin sensitivity, and the higher the skin sensitivity, the higher the value.

That is, according to the present invention, the possibility of bedsores is increased in the case of feces rather than urine, and the higher the sensitivity of the skin, the greater the probability of pressure sores. Make it possible.

Then, the alarm information generating unit 140 collects information obtained through the defecation confirmation unit 120 and the pressure sore prediction unit 130 (that is, at least one of whether defecation, defecation type, elapsed time after defecation, or pressure sores) The alarm information is generated and wirelessly transmitted to the external manager terminal through the communication unit 150 (S8). Accordingly, the owner of the manager terminal can check information on at least one of whether the subject is defecated, the type of defecation, the elapsed time after defecation, and the possibility of bedsores through the alarm information provided by the portable defecation monitoring device, and can take follow-up actions accordingly. There will be.

In addition, the alarm information generating unit 140 of the present invention repeatedly generates and outputs alarm information until the bowel processing is confirmed. In particular, by sequentially increasing the audio-visual stimulus intensity in proportion to the number of times the alarm information is provided, it is possible to repeatedly induce prompt follow-up of the manager.

Accordingly, the administrator performs follow-up measures such as changing the diaper of the person to be managed so that gas by stool or urine is no longer generated, and the first and second gas sensors 111 and 112 stop responding to the output of the sensing signal. do. Then, the defecation confirmation unit 120 confirms and notifies the completion of the defecation process, and the alarm information generation unit 140 immediately stops providing the alarm information (S9).

As described above, the present invention includes a gas sensor that detects gas generated only during stool activity and a gas sensor that detects gases commonly generated during stool and urine activity, and uses them to check not only the bowel movement but also the type of bowel movement and Be informed.

In addition, after calculating the likelihood of pressure sores based on the elapsed time after defecation, the type of defecation, and skin condition, the information is also provided to the manager, so that the manager can induce faster follow-up.

4 and 5 is a view showing a portable bowel movement monitoring device according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a configuration diagram, Figure 5 is an external view.

4 and 5, the portable bowel movement monitoring device of the present invention is implemented in the form of a pad that can be located on the underside of the management subject's hip, and further includes a motion sensor 170 that senses the movement of the management's hip. It may include.

For reference, a person who maintains normal life activity basically performs a bowel movement and at the same time shakes the body finely. However, a person who has difficulty maintaining normal life activities will have abnormal bowel movements without vital signs such as tremors.

Accordingly, the present invention is to check the presence of defecation on the basis of body movement as well as gas, and when the defecation activity is performed without biological signs such as body tremor, it is possible to immediately confirm the occurrence of abnormal signs and notify the manager immediately.

To this end, the defecation confirmation unit 120 of the present invention pre-registers a movement pattern for defecation detection, and compares and analyzes the sensing result of the motion sensor with the movement pattern for defecation detection to further confirm the defecation. In other words, it is possible to confirm bowel movements based on body movement as well as gas.

In addition, the alarm information generating unit 140 prompts the administrator terminal to immediately notify the occurrence of an abnormality when only the defecation activity according to gas is detected while the defecation confirmation unit 120 detects no defecation activity due to body movement. . In other words, it is possible to confirm and notify that abnormal bowel movements have occurred due to a problem in the physical activity of the subject.

In addition, the alarm information generation unit 140 of the present invention calculates and tracks the defecation occurrence pattern based on the information obtained through the defecation confirmation unit 120, and when the defecation occurrence pattern changes rapidly, checks the defecation abnormal state And to be notified.

In other words, if the management subject who has been doing stool activity once a day fails to stool for more than 3 days, or if the subject to urinate 4 times a day or urinates more than 10 times, the condition of bowel movement is immediately notified. By doing so, follow-up measures such as medical examinations can also be performed.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical spirits within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A first gas sensor that senses at least one of indole, scandium, hydrogen sulfide, and methane in the air;
A second gas sensor for sensing ammonia in the air;
A bowel movement checking unit for checking bowel movement and bowel movement based on the sensing results of the first and second gas sensors, or confirming the completion of bowel processing;
A pressure sore predictor for counting the elapsed time after defecation, and calculating the likelihood of pressure sores based on the elapsed time after defecation, the type of defecation, and skin condition;
An alarm information generator configured to generate alarm information informing of the defecation, the defecation type, the elapsed time after the defecation, and the possibility of pressure sores; And
A communication unit that forms a communication channel with the manager terminal, receives and stores the skin condition and management target identification information provided from the manager terminal, or maps the management target identification information to the alarm information and transmits it to the manager terminal Portable bowel movement monitoring device. According to claim 1,
Portable bowel movement monitoring device further comprises a display unit for audio-visually outputting the alarm information. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm information generating unit
A portable defecation monitoring device characterized by repeatedly generating and outputting alarm information until the defecation processing is confirmed by the defecation confirmation unit, and sequentially increasing the audiovisual stimulus intensity in proportion to the number of times the alarm information is provided. According to claim 1,
Portable bowel movement monitoring device, characterized in that it is implemented in the form of a pad that can be located on the lower side of the management subject's hip, and further includes a motion sensor that senses the 3D movement of the management subject's hip. The method of claim 4, wherein the bowel movement confirmation unit
Further comprising a function for pre-registering a movement pattern for detecting a bowel movement and further confirming whether a bowel movement is performed by comparing and analyzing whether a 3D movement of a hip of a subject sensed through the motion sensor matches the movement pattern for detecting a bowel movement. Portable bowel movement monitoring device. The method of claim 5, wherein the alarm information generating unit
A portable defecation monitoring device further comprising a function for confirming and notifying the occurrence of an abnormal symptom when only gas-based defecation activity is detected without motion-based defecation activity. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm information generating unit
A portable defecation monitoring device further comprising a function of tracking and monitoring a defecation occurrence pattern, and confirming and notifying a defecation abnormal state when the defecation occurrence pattern is rapidly changed.

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