JP2000131316A - Apparatus and system for health care - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information which is fully usable for health care from bodily wastes by a method, wherein continuous living-body information is processed and provided for a plurality of users, in such a way that it can be used by every user as data for health care. SOLUTION: A control unit 200 is constituted of a body, which is separate from a Western-style toilet stool 100 so as to be installed on a floor surface. The control unit 200 and a urine collecting unit 300 are connected by a urine conveyance pipe 202 which conveys collected urine. The urine conveyance pipe 202 fulfills a role in discharging measured urine to the Western-style toilet stool 100 from the control unit 200. Also a feed water pipe 204 which supplies cleaning water is connected to the control unit 200 from a cleaning-water tank 106 at the Western-style toilet stool 100. The urine conveyance pipe 202 and the feed water pipe 204 are connected to the control unit 200 via a selector valve. When the selector valve is changed over, either the urine or the cleaning water which is collected inside the control unit 200 is supplied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a health management device and a health management system for analyzing excrement of a user during stool and providing information on the health management of the user based on the analysis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some human diseases progress very slowly. For example, lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes.
Many of these diseases have no subjective symptoms at the initial stage, although they need to be detected and treated early. In order to detect such a disease at an early stage, it is necessary to undergo a periodic inspection and obtain biological information. On the other hand, these illnesses show a moderate effect of treatment. Therefore, the treatment period is also long, and during that period, it is necessary to regularly undergo a test. In addition, these illnesses are rarely completely cured, and once they develop, they need to be regularly tested to prevent recurrence, even after the symptoms have subsided.

[0003] The test is performed by a specialized organization by various methods such as a blood test and a urine test. Some tests are very expensive depending on the nature of the test. Patients with lifestyle-related diseases and the like are subjected to these tests on a regular basis, and are therefore time-bound and financially burdened. In addition, blood tests are also physically painful. Under such a burden, patients with lifestyle-related diseases and the like are generally tested about several times a year. This is not always sufficient frequency for prevention and treatment of diabetes and the like.

[0004] In view of such circumstances, there has been proposed an apparatus which enables a urine test to be performed in a normal stool operation of a patient without using a specialized organization. As such an apparatus, for example, a urine test apparatus described in JP-A-62-187253 is cited. This device acquires urine during normal stool by a swing arm detachably attached to a Western style toilet,
It is a device that analyzes this urine. Urine contains various components, such as sugars, proteins, and occult blood, whose concentrations vary depending on the health condition of the subject. Therefore, if the urine test apparatus as described above is used, a patient can test his or her own health condition without using a specialized institution. In addition, since there are no various obstacles associated with the examination at the specialized institution, there is an advantage that the examination can be executed at a frequency sufficient to grasp a slowly progressing or improving health condition. Naturally, there is an advantage that prevention and early detection of diabetes and the like are possible even for individuals who have not developed diabetes or the like. These advantages are not limited to lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, but are common to various diseases that can be diagnosed based on individual excretion.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned device is installed on a tray, and one device is used by a plurality of users in daily life. On the other hand, in daily life, the places where individuals use toilets are not limited to one place. It is common to use flights at various places, such as at home or on the go.

[0006] For this reason, the user has to write down the biometric information every time the user performs a bowel movement. Further, even if the above-mentioned device stores biometric information, it is necessary to specify the device and the individual (dedicated toilet) in order to make the biometric information private.

[0007] As described above, the above-mentioned device has a drawback in that an unspecified user frequently and continuously uses it, and is meaningful when an unspecified user measures frequently and continuously. It is unfinished to acquire biological information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a health management device capable of providing information that can be sufficiently utilized for health management from excretions excreted by individuals in daily life. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following constitution. The first health care device of the present invention continuously acquires significant biological information by frequently and continuously measuring significant amounts of excrement of a user mainly obtained by a toilet action in a toilet. Acquisition means, storage means for identifying a plurality of users, and storing the biometric information in a form in which a correlation with the identified users is secured, and using the continuous biometric information for each of a plurality of users. And a first processing / providing means for processing / providing the data so that the data can be used as data for health management.

According to the health management apparatus of the present invention, the biological information obtained by the obtaining means is stored in the storage means in a form in which the correlation with the identified user is ensured. Then, the stored biological information is processed and provided so that the first processing and providing means can be used as data for health management by the user for each user.

[0011] Therefore, the user is required to
It is unnecessary to write down the biological information. In addition, it is unnecessary to specify the device and the individual (dedicated toilet).

[0012] In particular, the first processing / providing means determines a predetermined title, and processes and processes the biometric information stored in the storage means based on the right confirmed by the determining means.
When the information management unit is provided, privacy of biological information is protected, and fraud by another person can be prevented.

Various means can be applied to the user identification means. For example, the user may perform an operation for identifying himself / herself. A method of selecting oneself from a list of users input in advance to the health management device, or an ID for identifying oneself when using the device
May be input. Further, the operation unit of the health management device may have a function of analyzing information unique to each person such as a fingerprint. Furthermore, when it is assumed that the gender differences and age differences of the users are far apart, such as in home use, it is assumed that the users are identified based on information such as weight and capacitance. Is also good.

The excretion may be excretion by urinary or stool-related faeces. In addition, sweat, saliva, semen and the like may be targeted according to the purpose.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention employs the following constitution. The second health care device of the present invention continuously acquires significant biological information by frequently and continuously measuring significant amounts of excrement of a user mainly obtained by a toilet operation in a toilet. The gist of the present invention is to include an acquisition unit and a separation storage unit that stores the biological information acquired by the acquisition unit so as to be physically separable.

According to the health management apparatus of the present invention, the biological information acquired by the acquiring means is stored in the separating and storing means so as to be physically separable.

Therefore, the user is required to
It is unnecessary to write down the biological information. In addition, it is unnecessary to specify the device and the individual (dedicated toilet). Further, the user can carry the biological information by the separation storage means. In addition, the structure of the acquisition means is simplified.

A separating unit for determining a predetermined title; an information managing unit for processing and providing the biological information stored in the storing unit based on the right confirmed by the determining unit; When the information is provided, privacy of the biological information is protected, and fraud by another person can be prevented.

Further, in the case where the separate storage means encrypts and stores the biological information, privacy of the biological information is protected, and fraud by another person can be prevented.

Further, when the separation storage means is constituted by a communication function for transmitting the biological information acquired by the acquisition means to a remote place, the data is effective without being damaged.

In the case where the separation storage means is constituted by a portable storage function for storing the biological information acquired by the acquisition means in a separable storage medium, no work is required as in a dedicated line, Information is not leaked as in a general line.

[0022] Further, a living body information exchange means for receiving living body information from the separate storage means of the health management device according to claim 3;
A second processing / providing means for processing / providing the biometric information received by the biometric information transmitting / receiving means so that the user can use the biometric information as data for health management; The processing / providing means is processed / provided for each user so that the user can use the data as data for health management.

Various means can be applied as the separation storage means. For example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which data can be exchanged between health management devices by communication. In this case, in addition to a mode in which data is directly exchanged between the health management devices, a mode in which data is exchanged via a network is also possible. Also, as a data transfer means,
A method of recording personal health data on a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk may be adopted.

It is more desirable that data can be exchanged with a device other than the health management device, for example, a general-purpose computer. In this way, more appropriate health management can be performed based on the biological information.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following constitution. The second health management device of the present invention is installed in each of a plurality of toilets, and is meaningful by frequently and continuously measuring the excretion of the user obtained by the stool action in the toilet. Acquisition means for acquiring biological information to be obtained, access means for accessing the biological information acquired by the plurality of acquisition means, and use of the biological information accessed by the access means as data for health management. And a third processing / providing means for processing and providing so that it can be provided.

According to the health management system of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of biological information obtained by the obtaining means are accessed by the access means, and the biometric information is used by the third processing / providing means by the user for health management. Process so that it can be used as data.

Therefore, the biological information can be managed centrally.

It is further desirable that a means other than the acquisition means, for example, a general-purpose computer be incorporated as a part of the system to exchange data. This simplifies the acquisition means and allows installation in any toilet.

Various means can be applied as the access means. For example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which data can be exchanged between health management devices by communication. In this case, in addition to a mode in which data is directly exchanged between the health management devices, a mode in which data is exchanged via a network is also possible. Also, as a data transfer means,
A method of recording personal health data on a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk may be adopted.

When the access means encrypts and stores the biometric information, privacy of the biometric information is protected and fraud by another person can be prevented.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) Configuration of Apparatus An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is an external view of a health management device as an embodiment of the present invention. This health care device is a Western-style toilet 1
00, the control unit 200, and the urine collection unit 300
And a control panel 400. FIG.
Shows a state where both the toilet seat 102 and the toilet lid 104 of the Western style toilet 100 are opened. As shown in the figure, the urine collection unit 300 is attached by covering the rim portion of the Western style toilet 100.

The control unit 200 is constructed separately from the Western style toilet 100 and is mounted on the floor.
The control unit 200 and the urine collecting unit 300 are connected by a urine pipe 202 that carries the urine obtained. The urine pipe 202 also plays a role of discharging urine after measurement from the control unit 200 to the Western style toilet 100. Control unit 20
0 is also connected to a water supply pipe 204 for supplying cleaning water from the cleaning water tank 106 of the Western style toilet 100 to the control unit 200. A pump (not shown) is attached to the tip of the water supply pipe 204, and the cleaning water in the cleaning water tank 106 can be supplied to the control unit 200 by the action of the pump. As described below,
The urine pipe 202 and the water supply pipe 204 are connected to the control unit 200 via a switching valve, and by switching the switching valve, either the urine or the washing water acquired in the control unit 200 is supplied.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the Western style toilet 100 on which the urine collection unit 300 is mounted, and is an explanatory view showing the function of the urine collection unit 300. The urine collection unit 300 includes a hollow arm 320 and a urine collector 3 attached to a distal end thereof.
It consists of ten. The arm 320 includes a urine collector 310
Are curved along the rim of the Western style toilet 100 so as to be located at the center of the toilet 100. The urine collection unit 300 rotates around the attachment point as shown in FIG.
The three positions of man position B and woman position C are taken. The man position B is set to a position suitable for obtaining urine excreted by a man sitting on the Western-style toilet 100, and the woman position C is set to a position suitable for a woman. Urine collector 31
0 is large enough to completely obtain the excreted urine. Urine obtained from the urine collector 310 passes through the inside of the hollow arm 320 and is sent to the control unit 200 through the urine pipe 202. In this embodiment, urine is transported by suction from the control unit 200.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a urine processing path inside the control unit 200. As shown, the switching valve 20
A buffer tank 208 and a urine volume sensor 220 are provided in the urine processing path connected to the urine transport pipe 202 and the water supply pipe 204 via the line 6, and are provided for detecting each component in the urine. Sensors are provided in parallel. When the switching valve 206 is switched to the urine pipe 202 side, urine is sucked into the control unit 200. When the switching valve 206 is switched to the water supply pipe 204 side, the flush water is supplied from the Western style toilet 100. This washing water is supplied to the control unit 20.
Used to clean the internal piping and each sensor.

The amount of urine supplied from the urine pipe 202 is measured by a urine amount sensor 220. The urine volume sensor 220 of the present embodiment detects the flow rate and elapsed time of urine, and calculates the urine volume. Thereafter, the mixture is mixed with the buffer supplied from the buffer tank 208, divided into a plurality of paths as shown in the drawing, and supplied to the respective sensors. The buffer is a liquid which is added as a carrier for keeping urine PH at a value suitable for detection and for smoothly flowing urine in the control unit. In this embodiment, creatinine sensor 230 and urine glucose sensor 2 are used as sensors for detecting components in urine.
40, a protein sensor 250, an occult blood sensor 260, a sodium sensor 270, and a uric acid sensor 280 are provided. After the concentration of each component is measured by each sensor, the urine supplied to each sensor is transferred to the urine transport pipe 20.
2 and is discharged into the Western style toilet 100.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical connection relationship of the health management device of this embodiment. Inside the control unit 200, a RAM 212, a ROM 214, a hard disk 21
6. The input / output port 218 and the above-mentioned sensors are interconnected by a bus. CPU 210 is a ROM
In accordance with the program stored in 214, urine measurement processing using each sensor, secondary processing of data obtained by measurement, processing of analyzing symptoms and the like based on these data, and the like are executed. The data obtained by the measurement process and the secondary process is finally stored on the hard disk 216.

CPU 210 outputs a signal to urine collection unit 300 through input / output port 218, and controls the operation of urine collection unit 300. Similarly, by exchanging signals with the control panel 400, an instruction from a user is input and predetermined information is displayed on the control panel. Although not shown, the health management device of this embodiment can input / output data to / from a flexible disk via a flexible disk drive connected to an input / output port. The CPU 120 also functions as an artificial intelligence inference unit that refers to the countermeasure database and the inference rule database stored in the hard disk 216, and provides the user with health information based on various data obtained by measuring the obtained urine. Infer and suggest measures for improvement.

Hereinafter, the principle of detecting components in urine by each sensor will be described. First urine sugar sensor 240
Will be described. The urine sugar sensor 240 detects sugar in urine, that is, glucose (glucose). Urine sugar sensor 24
0 can be configured based on various known detection principles. In this embodiment, as one of them, the urine sugar sensor 240 is configured based on the following principle.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of detecting urine sugar in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, glucose oxidase (G
OD). As shown, when GOD and oxygen are added, glucose in urine changes to hydrogen peroxide. Since hydrogen peroxide emits electrons by electrolysis, the concentration of urine glucose can be determined by detecting the amount of the electrons as an electric signal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration for detecting urine sugar. As shown in the figure, when urine is passed through the permeable membrane 241 containing GOD, glucose in urine is changed to hydrogen peroxide by the reaction described above.
Since the electrode for detecting hydrogen peroxide reacts not only with hydrogen peroxide but also with uric acid and ascorbic acid in urine, it is necessary to remove these components in order to detect the concentration of urinary sugar. These components pass through the permeable membrane 241 without deterioration. Therefore, urine decomposed by GOD is passed through the permselective membrane 242 that selectively permeates only hydrogen peroxide having a small molecular weight. Since uric acid and ascorbic acid cannot pass through the permselective membrane 242, hydrogen peroxide obtained by decomposing glucose is separated from these components.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram for quantitatively detecting the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the solution processed through the above process. As shown, the three electrodes of the reference electrode 245, the working electrode 246, and the counter electrode 247 are immersed in the hydrogen peroxide solution. The working electrode 246 is an electrode formed of a selective film that takes in hydrogen ions in hydrogen peroxide. The potentiostat 244 adjusts the current flowing between the working electrode 246 and the counter electrode 247 such that the potential of the working electrode 246 with respect to the reference electrode 245 becomes a positive constant value (for example, +0.6 V). This current changes according to the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, that is, the concentration of urinary sugar. Current sensor 24 provided on counter electrode 247
8 detects this current value and outputs it to the CPU 210.
The CPU 210 calculates the concentration of glucose in urine based on the current value. This calculation is performed by multiplying the detected current value by a proportional coefficient for converting the detected current value into a glucose concentration.

Here, since the activity of the enzyme GOD gradually loses over time, the output of the urine sugar sensor 240 decreases with time. Further, a working electrode 24 for detecting hydrogen peroxide is used.
Oxidation of the surface of No. 6 may reduce the output. In this embodiment, the output is periodically calibrated in order to compensate for the decrease in output due to various factors.
Calibration is performed using a calibration solution containing a fixed amount of glucose. That is, the correction value is set based on the output of the calibration liquid measured by the urine sugar sensor 240. The calibration solution is
It is provided in the control unit 200 so as to be supplied to the urine sugar sensor 240. Since the concentration of the calibration solution is known, the correction value is “concentration of calibration solution / output for calibration solution”.
Given by By multiplying the current value detected by the current sensor 248 by the correction value, the glucose concentration in urine can be accurately detected. Such a method of detecting the concentration using the working electrode constituted by the selective membrane reacting with a specific substance will be hereinafter referred to as an electrode method.

The timing for performing the above calibration can be set variously. The calibration may be performed each time urine is measured. It may be performed periodically regardless of the timing of urine measurement. Various settings such as a time unit and a day unit can be set for the period to be executed periodically according to the detection accuracy to be guaranteed. Further, the result may be recorded each time calibration is performed, and the frequency of calibration may be adjusted according to the rate of change.

As described above, the detection of urine sugar is not limited to the above-described method, and various methods can be applied. For example,
A method of detecting by utilizing the color development of copper dioxide generated by adding copper sulfate to glucose and heating may be applied. However, according to the method adopted in the present embodiment, the device for detecting urine sugar can have a relatively simple configuration and is suitable for repeated measurement over a relatively long period. There are advantages.

Next, the creatinine sensor 230 will be described. Various methods for detecting creatinine are also known. Here, after describing various detection principles of creatinine, the detection method in the present embodiment will be specifically described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a chemical change of creatinine. When an enzyme called creatine diminase (CRDI) is added to creatinine together with water, creatinine is decomposed into ammonia and a substance called N-methylhydantoin. Ammonia combines with hydrogen ions in water and changes to ammonium ions. Therefore, if a selection electrode for taking in ammonium ions is employed as the working electrode 246 shown in FIG. 7, the concentration can be detected. Based on the ammonium ions thus detected, the concentration of creatinine in the solution to be measured can be determined by referring to a calibration curve created by previously detecting the relationship between the creatinine solution having a known concentration and the ammonium ions.

Also, since ammonia is known to have a coloring property with respect to a specific reagent, this reagent is added to a solution decomposed by CRDI, and the concentration of ammonia is detected in accordance with the coloring property. You can also. In order to optically detect the color forming property, light having a wavelength corresponding to the color forming property may be irradiated, and the absorbance thereof may be detected.

[0047] Against the ammonia generated by CRDI, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NA
DH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH)
When ammonia is added, ammonia is converted to a substance called L-glutamate, and NADH is oxidized to NAD + ions. It is known that NADH is a substance that easily absorbs light having a wavelength of 340 nm. Therefore, before and after the addition of GLDH, 340 n
By detecting the reduction rate of the absorbance of the light of m, the concentration of ammonia that has contributed to the reaction can be detected. The creatinine concentration of the solution to be measured can be determined by referring to the calibration curve described above based on the ammonia concentration thus detected.

When water, oxygen and an enzyme called glutamate oxidase (GLOD) are added to the L-glutamate produced by the above reaction, L-glutamate is converted to ammonia, and water and oxygen are converted to hydrogen peroxide. Change. The oxygen added here is dissolved oxygen in water. Therefore, if the amount of dissolved oxygen before and after this reaction is detected by an electrode method using a selective electrode that reacts with oxygen, the amount of L-glutamate can be detected. In addition, an electrode for detecting hydrogen peroxide can be used in the same manner as used for detecting urine sugar. Also in these methods, based on the concentration of dissolved oxygen or hydrogen peroxide,
The creatinine concentration in the solution to be measured can be determined by referring to a calibration curve created by detecting in advance the relationship between the creatinine solution having a known concentration and the concentrations of these components.

From the various detection methods described above,
In this example, the method with the least number of reactions, that is, C
The method for detecting ammonia generated as a result of adding RDI was applied to the creatinine sensor 230. In addition, in order to measure ammonia accurately and quantitatively, ammonia was detected by the same electrode method as in FIG. In addition,
As is well known, urine usually contains ammonia. In order to accurately detect the creatinine concentration, it is necessary to separate ammonia obtained by its decomposition from ammonia originally contained in urine. In this example, the following method was applied.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view schematically showing a method for detecting creatinine in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9A, first, the permselective membrane 2 that does not transmit ammonia
By passing the urine through 32, the ammonia originally contained in the urine is removed. Next, this urine is
When passed through the permeable membrane 234 containing RDI, creatinine in urine is decomposed into ammonia. This concentration of ammonia is detected as an electric signal with the same configuration as that shown in FIG. In the configuration of FIG. 7, a selective film that reacts with ammonia is used as the working electrode 246. As such a selective membrane, a polymer membrane composed of an ionophore such as a crown ether type is known. In the method shown in FIG. 9A, instead of the permselective membrane 232, a “cation exchange membrane” in which ammonia can be replaced with sodium ions.
Can also be used.

In addition to the above configuration, a configuration shown in FIG. 9B may be employed. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9B, the permselective membrane 232 is not used. Instead, the concentration of ammonia in urine before passing through the permeable membrane 234 containing CRDI is detected by an electrode method. What is detected here is
It is the concentration of ammonia originally contained in urine. Next, the concentration of ammonia is detected in the urine after passing through the permeable membrane 234 containing CRDI by the same electrode method. Since the ammonia originally contained in the urine passes through the permeable membrane 234 without deterioration,
The liquid after passing through the permeable membrane 234 contains both the ammonia contained therein and the ammonia obtained by decomposing creatinine. Therefore, the permeable membrane 2
By calculating the difference between the concentrations of ammonia detected before and after passing through the, the concentration of ammonia obtained by decomposing creatinine can be detected, and the concentration of creatinine can be detected.

The creatinine sensor 230 also periodically performs calibration in the same manner as the urine sugar sensor 240. Among the various detection methods described above, if the above-described detection method is applied, there is an advantage that the configuration of the creatinine sensor 230 can be simplified and the detection can be performed quickly. .

Next, the protein sensor 250 will be described. The protein sensor detects albumin in urine. Albumin concentration is used as an indicator of kidney function.In diabetic nephropathy, which develops as diabetes progresses, it is necessary to detect trace amounts of albumin excreted in the early stages for early detection. It is said to be important. In the present embodiment, albumin is detected using an antigen-antibody reaction.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of detecting albumin in this embodiment. Here, an element 252 in which an albumin antibody that reacts with albumin was arranged was used. As shown in FIG. 10A, urine containing albumin is flowed over the element. Albumin in urine is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), it binds to the albumin antibody on the element 252. The number of albumins that bind to the antibody will vary depending on its concentration. By detecting the number of albumins bound to the antibody in this way, the albumin concentration in urine can be detected. Such a detection method utilizing an antigen-antibody reaction is called an immunoassay.

In the present embodiment, the number of albumin bound to the antibody is optically detected. As shown in FIG. 10B, light of a predetermined wavelength is emitted from the light source 254 to the element 252 from the back side where no antibodies are arranged. The light is emitted while changing the incident angle θ within a range in which the light is totally reflected by the element. It is known that when the light is irradiated in this manner, the intensity of the reflected light becomes weak at a specific angle. It is also known that this angle changes according to the ratio of albumin and antibody bound. Therefore, the concentration of albumin can be detected by detecting the angle at which the reflected light is weakened by the optical sensor 256.

The light incident from the back side of the element may be linear light such as a laser or planar light such as a light emitting diode. If planar light is used, light can be emitted at various angles of incidence at a time, so that the mounting mechanism of the light source 254 can be simplified. The light detector may scan a high sensitivity detector such as a photomultiplier so as to draw an arc in FIG. 10B according to the incident angle of the linear light. Also, a large number of CCD detectors and the like may be arranged in the circumferential direction instead of the scanning of the detectors.

After detecting the albumin concentration in this way,
As shown in FIG. 10C, the element 252 is washed with a dissociating agent that dissociates the binding between albumin and the antibody. The element 252 after the separation of the albumin can be used for the detection of the albumin again. Note that the protein sensor 250 based on such a principle does not use an enzyme or an electrode, and therefore, changes in accuracy with time are small. However, in this embodiment, calibration is executed periodically to guarantee accuracy.

Various other methods for detecting albumin are known. For example, there is a method in which the ratio of the antibody to which albumin is bound in the above-described element 252 is determined based on the coloring property. In this method, a solution containing the same type of antibody is flowed over the element 252 in a state where albumin is bound to the antibody. However, this antibody is one in which a component that develops a color in response to a specific reagent is previously bound. When such a solution flows, the antibody in the solution and the albumin immobilized on the element 252 are bound. When a reagent is allowed to flow in this state to cause color development, the degree of color development changes in accordance with the concentration of albumin, so that the albumin concentration can be detected.

As another method, there is a method called immunoturbidimetry. In this method, urine is mixed into a liquid containing an albumin antibody. When albumin is present in urine, the solution becomes turbid by binding to the albuminga antibody. The degree of turbidity varies depending on the concentration of albumin. Therefore, by detecting this turbidity, the concentration of albumin can be detected.

As a method for detecting albumin, any of the methods described above may be employed. However, if the method applied in this embodiment is adopted, there are advantages that the concentration of albumin can be detected relatively accurately and that the element 252 can be used repeatedly.

Next, the occult blood sensor 260 will be described. In the present embodiment, the occult blood concentration is detected by an immunological method, similarly to albumin. When detecting albumin, an element 252 in which an albumin antibody reacting with albumin was arranged was applied. On the other hand, when detecting occult blood, an element in which hemoglobin antibodies that react with hemoglobin in blood are arranged is used. A device in which a hemoglobin antibody is arranged in place of the albumin antibody is prepared on the device shown in FIG. When urine flows over this, hemoglobin in the urine binds to the antibody. Thus, the ratio of the antibody bound to hemoglobin is optically detected by the method shown in FIG. After the detection, as shown in FIG. 10C, the hemoglobin is separated from the element by a dissociating agent and washed.

Various other methods can be applied as a method for detecting occult blood. For example, a method of directly counting the number of red blood cells in urine can be applied. Alternatively, the concentration of hemoglobin may be detected by utilizing a well-known coloring reaction called hemoglobin pseudo-peroxidase-like activity, and by its coloring property or absorbance of light having a specific wavelength. Of course, other methods are also applicable. Among these various methods, if the above-mentioned immunization method is applied, the configuration of the occult blood sensor 260 can be made relatively simple, the occult blood concentration can be detected with high accuracy, and the element is repeatedly used. There are advantages that can be.

Next, the sodium sensor 270 will be described. In this embodiment, the concentration of sodium ions is detected by the same electrode method as urine sugar. Working electrode 2 shown in FIG.
As 46, a selective membrane that reacts with sodium ions may be used. The sodium sensor 270 directly detects sodium ions contained in urine, and does not perform processes such as decomposition using an enzyme or separation using a permselective membrane unlike other components. In general, it is known that a selective membrane sensitive to sodium is also sensitive to potassium ions. However, potassium ions excreted in urine
Since the amount is very small as compared with that of sodium ions, the detection result is not significantly affected without treatment such as separation.

Various well-known methods can be applied to the method for detecting the sodium concentration. For example, a method called flame photometry may be applied. Flame photometry is a method of spraying urine as a sample into a flame and measuring the intensity of light of a specific wavelength emitted from sodium. Among these methods, when the method of this embodiment is applied, there is an advantage that the sodium ion concentration can be detected relatively accurately with a simple configuration and the detection can be repeated.

Next, the uric acid sensor 280 will be described.
In this embodiment, uric acid is detected by the electrode method. FIG.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of decomposition of uric acid. As shown in the figure, when an enzyme called uricase is mixed into uric acid together with water and oxygen, uric acid is decomposed into a substance called allantoin, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can be detected using the electrodes shown in FIG. 7, as described for the urine sugar sensor 240.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the uric acid sensor 280. As shown in the figure, when urine is passed through the permeable case 282 containing uricase, hydrogen peroxide is generated by the reaction shown in FIG. On the other hand, ascorbic acid in urine passes through the permeable membrane 282 without being deteriorated. This ascorbic acid gives an error to the detection of hydrogen peroxide by the electrode method. Therefore, the decomposed urine is passed through the permselective membrane 284 that allows only hydrogen peroxide to pass.
Since ascorbic acid cannot pass through the permselective membrane 284, hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid can be separated. If the concentration of hydrogen peroxide thus separated is detected as a current value by the method shown in FIG. 7, the concentration of uric acid can be obtained. Note that, in this method, the accuracy changes over time as in the case of the urine sugar sensor 240,
In this embodiment, the calibration is periodically performed. The calibration method is the same as that described for the urine sugar sensor 240.

Various known methods can be applied to the method for detecting uric acid. For example, the concentration of uric acid may be detected based on the color of the solution after being decomposed by uricase. When the method of this embodiment is applied among various methods, there is an advantage that the concentration of uric acid can be accurately detected with a relatively simple configuration, and the method is suitable for repeated detection.

Next, the control panel 400 for allowing the user to instruct the operation of the health management device will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the control panel 400. The control panel 400 includes a man switch 481, a woman switch 482, a cancel switch 483, a memory / call switch 484, a personal identification switch 485, a cleaning mode switch 486, a time setting switch 487, a calibration time switch 488, and an adjustment switch 4.
89 switches are provided.

The control panel 400 includes a display unit 4
91 are provided. The display unit 491 is configured by a liquid crystal display. The display unit 491 displays an input screen for inputting data such as urine acquisition conditions, an output screen for displaying a measurement result and a measure corresponding to the measurement result, a status display screen for indicating an operation state of the apparatus, and the like. .

The health management apparatus of this embodiment having such a device configuration acquires and measures urine according to the operation of the user and stores the data. Further, the health condition of the user is analyzed based on the acquired data, and a measure corresponding to the health condition is displayed.

(2) Measurement Control The operation of the health management device of this embodiment will be described along a measurement control routine for acquiring and measuring urine.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the measurement control routine.
This routine is executed by a user instructing through the control panel 400 to control the CP in the control unit 200.
This is a routine executed by U210. The user selects the man switch 481 on the control panel 400 according to the gender.
Alternatively, when the female switch 482 is pressed, the CPU 210 starts a measurement control routine, and urine acquisition and measurement start.

When the measurement control routine is started, the CPU
Executes initialization and inspection processing of the apparatus (step S
10). In this embodiment, as initialization of the apparatus, the origin position of the urine collection unit 300 is adjusted, the switching valve 206 of the control unit 200 is switched to the urine pipe 202 side, and the control unit 200 is filled with a buffer to drain urine. Make it ready for transport. Inspection processing includes checking the life of each sensor, checking the amounts of the calibration solution and buffer solution, and checking whether a short circuit or disconnection has occurred in the circuit. In this embodiment, the upper limit of the number of times of measurement is normally set for each sensor, and the life of the sensor is determined based on the cumulative number of times of measurement. For example, the measurement may be performed using a calibration liquid, and the life may be determined from the output.

After the initialization and the inspection process are completed, the CP
U210 executes a urine collection process (step S20). When the user presses the man switch 481, the urine collector 310 is moved to the man position B shown in FIG. 2, and when the user presses the man switch 482, the urine collector 310 is moved to the man position C shown in FIG. . In addition, the urine collection unit 300
In order to transport urine to the control unit 200, suction in the urine pipe 202 is executed.

In this embodiment, the urine collector 310 is provided with electrodes, and the electrodes conduct when urine is excreted. When the electrode is once in a conducting state and then in a non-conducting state, it is determined that excretion of urine has been completed. When the user has finished excreting urine, CPU 210 returns urine collecting unit 300 to standby position A shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since the excreted urine volume is measured by the urine volume sensor 220, the urine volume sensor 2
It is also possible to determine that the excretion of urine has ended when the output of 20 no longer changes.

When the urine collection is completed, the CPU 210 executes input of urine collection conditions (step S30). The user inputs the urine collection conditions through the control panel 400. The user first presses a switch assigned to one of the personal identification switches 485. Thus, the user is specified. In this embodiment, up to four users can be handled. Next, the user inputs a meal time immediately before urine collection as a urine collection condition. The default meal time displayed on the display unit 491 is corrected by pressing the adjustment switch 489 to input the meal time. If no meal is taken between the last urine collection and the current urine collection, the input of the meal time can be canceled. As the urine collection condition, information such as the content of a meal, the amount of calories and water intake, and the like may be input. CPU2
Reference numeral 10 also inputs the time at which urine was collected, as a urine collection condition, separately from these pieces of information input by the user.

Next, the CPU 210 executes a urine measurement process (step S40). The measurement process is executed in parallel by each sensor provided in the control unit 200. As described above, the measurement contents in this example are seven items of urine volume, creatinine concentration, urine sugar concentration, albumin concentration, occult blood concentration, sodium ion concentration, and uric acid concentration.

The contents of the measurement process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the measurement processing routine, the CPU 2
10 first executes the detection of urine volume (S42). The urine volume is detected by the urine volume sensor 220. Actually, the urine amount sensor 220 sequentially outputs the flow rate of urine during excretion of urine. The CPU 210 calculates the urine volume by integrating these output results.

Next, the CPU 210 executes measurement of each component (step S44). The above components such as creatinine concentration are detected by respective sensors. CPU 210
Controls the operation of each sensor and detects each component based on its output. The CPU 210 calculates the creatinine ratio based on the various amounts thus detected (step S46). That is, the detected concentration of each component is
It is also divided by the detected creatinine concentration.
As already described, it is known that the amount of creatinine excreted in a day is almost constant for each individual.
Therefore, by calculating the creatinine ratio, the value of each component can be normalized to the urinary value of the concentration containing creatinine in a unit amount, and the influence of the urine concentration that fluctuates each time it is excreted is reduced. Almost removed data can be obtained. If the amount of creatinine excreted per day TCR is detected in advance by another means, it is also possible to estimate the amount of each component excreted per day by calculating the product of the above creatinine ratio and TCR. It is.

The CPU 210 also calculates 24-hour urine data based on the detected data (step S4).
8). The 24-hour urine data is not a value accumulated for each date, but an accumulated value of each component contained in urine for the past 24 hours. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of calculating 24-hour urine data. The health management device stores the past measurement results in the hard disk 216 together with the urine acquisition time. FIG. 16 shows time on the horizontal axis, and shows measured data at each time as a band graph. This shows that urine collection is performed several times for each of the dates D1, D2, and D3. Data N indicates data acquired this time. The CPU 210 determines data up to 24 hours before based on the latest data N acquisition time. Data included in section H in FIG. 16 corresponds to data for 24 hours. The CPU 210 obtains a cumulative value for each component with respect to the data included in the section H and uses the data as 24-hour urine data.

CPU 210 executes statistical processing using the data detected this time and data detected in the past (step S50). Data detected in the past is stored in the hard disk 216. In this embodiment,
As statistical processing, the average value and standard deviation of these data are obtained.

Next, CPU 210 determines whether or not the collected data corresponds to the second urine in the morning (step S5).
2). The second urine is urine excreted for the second time after waking up. Since the health management device records the past urine acquisition results together with the acquisition time, it is possible to easily determine whether or not it is the second excretion after waking up based on the history of the acquisition time. In the present embodiment, data that satisfies the two conditions, that is, data acquired in the morning and data acquired 5 hours or more from the previous acquisition, is determined to be urine 1 Is determined to be the second urine. The reason why the first of the data acquired in the morning was not recognized as urinary urine is to consider the case where the patient goes to bed after midnight. Of course, the second urine determination condition may be set to various conditions other than those described above so that it can be appropriately determined according to actual life.

If it is determined that the urine is the second urine, it is further determined whether or not the data is data before breakfast (step S54). Since the user inputs the meal time as the urine collection condition, it can be easily determined whether or not the data is before breakfast by comparing the meal time with the urine collection time. In this way, when both the condition of the second urine and the condition of before the breakfast are satisfied, the value 1 is assigned to the second urine flag (step S56). If any one of the conditions is not satisfied, the value 0 is substituted for the second urine flag (step S54). The reason why the data of the second urine (hereinafter, referred to as urine immediately before breakfast) acquired before breakfast is thus identified is that such data has great significance in health management. The significance of urine immediately before breakfast on health management will be described later.

When the above processing is executed, the CPU 210 ends the measurement processing routine and returns to the measurement control routine. In the measurement control routine, the CPU 210 executes an advice setting process based on the measurement result (step S6).
0). FIG. 17 shows an outline of this processing. As shown
The advice setting process is a process of setting a user's health management countermeasure with reference to a countermeasure database stored in the hard disk 216.

Data to be input for referring to the countermeasure database includes urine collection conditions, current measurement results, creatinine ratio, 24-hour urine data, urine data immediately before breakfast, and daily data thereof. As the output data, for example, a determination result such as the possibility of diabetes is output as the health condition of the user. In addition, advice for improving the health condition is set. Such advice includes meals. For example, it may indicate a specific menu candidate, or may indicate a target value of calories or nutrients to be taken.

An example of data stored in the countermeasure database of this embodiment is shown. FIG. 18 is a graph showing a change in blood glucose level after glucose load. When you check your blood sugar,
The sugar load is given by drinking a glucose solution having a predetermined concentration. In a normal life, a meal corresponds to the sugar load. As shown in FIG. 18, the blood sugar level changes depending on the elapsed time after a meal. As shown, the blood glucose level was 1 on an empty stomach before meals.
If the dose is 40 mg / dl or more, and if the blood glucose level is 200 mg / dl or more 2 hours after a meal, there is a high risk of diabetes. The normal value is a fasting blood glucose level of 110.
mg / dl or less, and a blood glucose level of 2 hours after a meal is 1
20 mg / dl or less.

On the other hand, it is said that sugar is excreted in urine when the blood sugar level exceeds a predetermined threshold. In other words, even if the blood sugar rises, urine sugar is hardly excreted by a person with a high threshold, and is easily excreted by a person with a low threshold. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the abnormality only by the urine sugar level.
On the other hand, the urinary glucose level changes with the change in the blood glucose level shown in FIG.
It changes according to the elapsed time after eating. Based on such properties, the countermeasure database stores data for determining whether or not the subject has diabetes based on a change in the urine sugar level according to the elapsed time after eating. When diabetes increases, as shown in FIG. 18, the speed at which the blood glucose level raised by eating returns to the fasting value decreases. This tendency has a difference in response time,
It also appears in urine sugar levels. In the present embodiment, as a countermeasure database, a daily change in the elapsed time until the urinary sugar level increased by a meal returns to the fasting value is analyzed for each individual, and data for determining the hypertension state of diabetes is analyzed. I remember.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between diabetic nephropathy and albumin detection. As diabetes progresses,
It is known that one of the complications causes diabetic nephropathy. In diabetic nephropathy, a small amount of albumin is excreted in urine in the early stage. Therefore, the relationship between the diabetic nephropathy and the excretion amount of albumin is stored in the countermeasure database. Generally, it is said that diabetic nephropathy is strongly suspected when the ratio between albumin and creatinine is 22 mg / g · Cr or more.

The other components also have general normal values. For example, the uric acid concentration is 4.0-7.0 mg / dl for adult males and 3.0-3.5 for adult females.
mg / dl is said to be a normal value. 50 per day
It is said that 0 to 800 mg is excreted. It is said that sodium ion is 80 to 250 mmol / liter. These values are stored in the countermeasure database.

In the case of occult blood concentration, the detection itself is abnormal. However, since there is a so-called sudden hematuria in which occult blood is temporarily detected for unknown reasons, it is not appropriate to judge that the occult blood is abnormal when occult blood is detected. It is preferable to make the determination based on the history of occult blood detection. On the other hand, when the concentration of urine is low, it may not be detected as occult blood even though blood is mixed. Therefore, the countermeasure database stores data for determining the credibility of the occult blood detection result based on the urine concentration and data for determining an abnormality in the health condition based on the occult blood detection history.

As described above, the countermeasure database stores data relating to the normal value of each component in relation to various diseases. This data is data corresponding to the concentration of the component detected as needed, data corresponding to the creatinine ratio,
The data is prepared in correspondence with data in various modes such as data corresponding to 24-hour urine and data corresponding to daily changes over several days.

Further, the countermeasure database stores countermeasures according to the health condition. For example, a target value of sugar or energy intake is stored in order to control blood sugar according to the degree of diabetes. Further, for diabetic nephropathy and the like, a target value of protein intake and the like are stored. The same applies to diseases involving other components. The measures database also stores exercise guidelines and the like as one of the measures for improving the health condition.

Further, the countermeasure database also stores advice on how to use the health management device. Taking diabetes as an example, a specific example of advice is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the subjects are classified into three types according to the degree of progress of diabetes, and for each subject, a time zone and a health condition suitable for measuring a urinary sugar level as a method of using a health management device. Measures to improve the condition are stored. These advices are displayed on the control panel 400.

According to this countermeasure database, when it is determined that the user is suspected of diabetes from the analysis data related to the urinary sugar level, that is, when it is determined that the user is a boundary type,
Instructions are given to measure urinary sugar levels 2-3 hours after a meal. As explained above, urine sugar levels are generally highest 2-3 hours after a meal. In the case of the boundary type,
Since the urine sugar level is relatively hard to detect, the measurement accuracy can be improved by prompting the user to consciously perform the measurement during such a time period. Further, in the case of the boundary type, since it may be due to a temporary factor, an advice for prompting the user to continuously check is displayed as a countermeasure.

When it is determined that the condition is mild, in which the suspicion of diabetes is stronger than that of the borderline type, instructions are given to check before meals and 2-3 hours after meals. As diabetes progresses,
Urinary sugar is often detected even before a meal, so that prompting a check before a meal enables appropriate judgment to be made. At this stage, the suspicion of diabetes is relatively strong,
When urine sugar is detected, a display for urging a doctor's diagnosis is also displayed.

If the condition further progresses and the condition is determined to be moderate or more, a usage instruction is displayed so that a pre-meal check is mainly performed. This is because in order to measure the effect of the treatment, it is effective to check the urine sugar level before meals. Also,
If the urine sugar level is higher than before, a display urging the guidance of a doctor is also displayed.

By instructing a preferred time zone for the measurement in accordance with the medical condition in this way, the health management apparatus of the present embodiment can appropriately determine the health condition and set the advice. Here, the diabetes has been described as an example, but a time zone suitable for measurement can be similarly designated for other lifestyle-related diseases. In some cases,
Not only the time period, but also the contents of the meal and the amount of water to be acquired before the measurement may be indicated. In the above example, the health management device is described as automatically determining the health condition of the user. However, the user selects one of the subjects in FIG. 20 according to a doctor's instruction. It may be made possible.

Note that the judgment of the health condition and the setting of countermeasures, etc., need to be judged organically based on a plurality of measurement results. In the present embodiment, such determination is made by applying the technology of artificial intelligence. The hard disk 216 stores, in addition to the countermeasure database storing the above-described knowledge, an inference rule database necessary for performing these inferences. The advice setting process of FIG. 14 (step S6)
In (0), the CPU 210 refers to these databases to infer and set health conditions, measures, and the like.

When the determination of the health condition and the countermeasures are set, the CPU 210 displays the result (step S70). The result is displayed on the display unit 491 of the control panel 400. The displayed contents are the result of the current measurement, the result of the judgment of the health condition, the countermeasure, and the like. The display content can be arbitrarily selected by the user operating the adjustment switch 489 of the control panel 400.

CPU 210 displays the result and records data such as the measurement result on hard disk 216 (step S80). FIG. 21 shows the data structure in this embodiment. As illustrated, the measurement result is stored in a state where ID data for identifying an individual, urine collection condition data, and measurement result data are associated with each other. The urine collection condition data is data such as elapsed time after meal, water intake, meal contents, and the like, which are set based on urine collection conditions input by the user in addition to the urine collection time. The measurement result data is data detected by various sensors in addition to urine volume and creatinine concentration. These data include, in addition to directly detected values, data processed into creatinine ratios, 24-hour urine data, and the like. The second urine flag is also stored at the same time.

When the data recording is completed, the CPU 210
Executes the cleaning and emptying processes of the apparatus (step S
90). That is, the CPU 210 switches the switching valve 206 shown in FIG. 3 to the water supply pipe 204 side to suck the cleaning water, and cleans each sensor inside the control unit 200. Further, cleaning water is also supplied to a cleaning nozzle provided in the urine collection unit 300, and the urine collection unit 300 is cleaned. When these washings are completed, the CPU 210 drains the washing water, sucks air, and removes water droplets inside the control unit 200 and the urine collecting unit 300. The reason why the emptying process is performed is to avoid an error in the next urine collection and measurement due to water remaining inside the urine collection unit 300 and the control unit 200. When the preparation for the next urine collection is completed by this processing, the CPU
210 ends the measurement control routine and enters a standby state waiting for an instruction from the user.

In this embodiment, the control panel 400
By the operation described above, it is possible to execute only some of the various processes described above. For example, by operating the storage / call switch 484 and selecting one of the users with the personal identification switch 485, only the result display processing and the data recording processing in the measurement control routine can be executed. As described above, the health management device according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to exchange data with another health management device via a flexible disk. The store / recall switch 484 is operated and the adjustment switch 489 is operated.
By selecting a flexible disk as a data input destination, data is input from the flexible disk and displayed on the display unit 491 of the control panel 400. Personal identification switch 48 as data recording destination
If any one of 5 is designated, data input from the flexible disk can be stored in the hard disk 216. Conversely, personal data stored in a hard disk can be transferred to a flexible disk. Further, by operating the cleaning mode switch 486 of the control panel 400, only the cleaning and emptying processes among the processes described above can be executed.

According to the health management device of the present embodiment described above, the health condition of the user can be appropriately managed based on the usual stool action. Therefore, it is possible to continuously obtain analysis data at a frequency sufficient to capture changes in health conditions that progress very slowly, such as lifestyle-related diseases, etc., which will be useful for early detection and treatment of various diseases. Can be.

The health management apparatus of the present embodiment stores urine measurement results together with urine collection conditions,
It is processed into 4 hour urine data and stored. The results obtained by measuring urine are affected by various error factors such as the elapsed time after eating and the concentration of urine. According to the health management device of the present embodiment, appropriate health management is enabled by managing the measurement results as data that can grasp or remove the influence of these error factors.

FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 show data specifically detected by the health management device of this embodiment. Here, urine sugar among the measurable components will be described as an example. FIG.
(A) is a graph showing the daily change in urine sugar of the subject. FIG. 22 (b) is a graph showing a change in blood glucose level measured at the same time as urine collection. Both show large diurnal fluctuations, and the values increase significantly after meals. However, the tendency of the fluctuation of the blood sugar level and the fluctuation of the urine sugar do not coincide. It is considered that various error factors mentioned above influence urine sugar.

FIG. 22 (a) shows both the values detected by the health management device of this embodiment and the values detected by a clinical tester for detecting a commonly used urine sugar level. Indicated. Since they are almost the same,
The health management device of the present embodiment is based on the principle shown above,
It can be seen that the urine sugar level is detected with high accuracy.

FIG. 23 (a) is a graph showing the creatinine ratio obtained by dividing the urine sugar value by the creatinine concentration with respect to the detection result shown in FIG. 22 (a). FIG. 23 (a) and FIG. 22 (b)
As is clear from the comparison with, the tendency of the creatinine ratio to fluctuate almost coincides with the blood glucose level.

FIG. 24 shows an example relating to uric acid. FIG.
(A) shows the change in the daily urine volume of the subject, and FIG. 24 (b) shows the change in uric acid. It can be seen that both fluctuate greatly within the day. In particular, the concentration of uric acid greatly fluctuates from a value close to 0 mg / dl to a value close to 80 mg / dl, and it is difficult to judge a health condition based on this. FIG. 24 (c) is a graph showing a change in the creatinine ratio of uric acid. As shown, it can be seen that the creatinine ratio fluctuates in a relatively narrow range around the value 0.5.
Therefore, if the creatine ratio is used, it is possible to appropriately determine whether it is normal or not.

As shown in the above examples, it is understood that the use of the creatinine ratio can reduce the influence of the urine concentration on each component. According to the health management device of the present embodiment, since the data of the creatinine ratio can be provided to the user as the measurement result, the health management can be appropriately performed.

Further, the health management device of this embodiment can calculate 24-hour urine data. As described above, a normal value may be given based on 24-hour urine data depending on a component. In addition, since the 24-hour urine data is for calculating the absolute amount of the component excreted during the 24-hour period, the data is not affected by the urine concentration fluctuation or the like. According to the health management device of the present embodiment, 24
Since time urine data can be provided, appropriate health care can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 22A, errors in measurement data vary greatly depending on acquisition conditions. For example,
Urine sugar levels are completely different before and after a meal. According to the health management device of the present embodiment, the measurement data is acquired and stored in association with the acquisition condition. Therefore, the relationship between the acquired measurement result and the health condition can be appropriately determined according to the acquisition condition.

As an example, the health management device of this embodiment is capable of identifying urine measurement data immediately before breakfast. The activity of an individual such as exercise also affects the components in urine. It is considered that such an effect is almost completely eliminated by sleep. Therefore, urine immediately after waking up is considered to have a very small effect of the activity status. On the other hand, the content of meal affects the components in urine. Immediately after waking up, the effects of dinner the previous day may remain. From these viewpoints, the second urine obtained before breakfast is considered to have the least external error factors.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing the daily change of urinary sugar in urine immediately before breakfast. FIG. 25 (a) shows changes in urine sugar level and creatinine ratio in urine immediately before breakfast, respectively.
FIG. 25 (b) is a graph showing a change in blood glucose level measured at the same time as urine collection. It can be seen that the changes in urine sugar level and creatinine ratio in urine immediately before breakfast almost coincide with changes in blood sugar level. In addition, the urine immediately before breakfast has almost the same change in the urinary sugar level and the creatinine ratio, indicating that the influence of the urine concentration fluctuation is very small. The health management device of the present embodiment stores the urine measurement result, the acquisition condition, and the correlation in a correlated state, so that it is possible to select the data that is least likely to be affected by the external error factor. Because it is possible, the health condition can be appropriately managed.

The data selected from the acquired data is not necessarily limited to urine immediately before breakfast. FIG. 23B is a graph showing a change in the average urine sugar level. This graph shows that one hour after breakfast, two hours after breakfast,
It is an estimated value of urinary sugar when urine is excreted only at each time after time and before lunch. As shown in the figure, the urine sugar level increases with time. Based on such a tendency, for example, for a relatively mild diabetic patient in which urine sugar is difficult to be detected, only data obtained for the first time after several hours have passed after a meal can be selected. In addition, it is possible to select various data under appropriate acquisition conditions according to the health condition of the user, the purpose of measurement, and the like.

Since the health management device of this embodiment stores the past measurement data in the hard disk 216, various statistical processes can be performed based on the data. For example, it is possible to obtain the average value of the past measurement data or obtain the standard deviation. As described above, various errors are included in the measurement result, and these errors usually fall within a predetermined range of variation. Therefore, the effect of the error can be reduced by performing the statistical processing. Since the health management device of this embodiment stores the measurement results together with the acquisition conditions, it is also possible to perform statistical processing using data under similar acquisition conditions.

Further, the health management device of the present embodiment can perform health management based on the following statistical processing. As described above, it is generally considered that the error of the measurement data falls within a predetermined range of variation. Conversely, when measurement data that deviates from the predetermined variation is obtained, it can be assumed that a cause other than a normal error factor, that is, some abnormality has occurred in the user's health condition. From such a viewpoint, the health management device of the present embodiment calculates the standard deviation and the average value, and extracts the measurement data that is outside the range of the predetermined variation defined based on the standard deviation with respect to the average value. Further, the value and occurrence frequency of the extracted measurement data are calculated. By setting target values for these values in advance, the health condition can be managed based on a comparison between the result of the statistical processing and the target values. By applying these statistical processes, according to the health management device of the present embodiment, health management can be appropriately performed.

The health management apparatus of this embodiment can exchange data with another apparatus via a flexible disk. There is not only one place where individuals use toilet in daily life. It is common to use flights at various places, such as at home or on the go. According to the health management device of the present embodiment, since the analysis data can be exchanged between a plurality of devices, the analysis data can be centrally managed even when the stool is used in different places. . As a result, personal analysis data can be acquired more frequently, and more appropriate health management can be performed. Further, since the health management device of the present invention stores data with identification data for each user attached thereto, even if a single health management device is used by a plurality of persons, the health management device of each individual Health management can be performed appropriately.

The health management device of the present embodiment can suggest an appropriate action to the user based on the measurement result.
Therefore, even a user who does not have specialized knowledge can perform appropriate health management.

Based on the various effects described above, according to the health management device of the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately manage the health status without imposing a special burden on the user. In particular, since the test can be performed frequently and continuously based on daily urinary deeds, it is effective for early detection of very slowly progressing diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases. In addition, many of these illnesses are often relieved by long-term treatment such as dietary treatment. According to the health management device of the present embodiment, an index indicating whether or not such treatment is appropriately performed can be given to the user, so that appropriate treatment can be continuously performed.

Various modifications of the health management device of the present embodiment are conceivable. As for the configuration of the device, the embodiment employs a configuration having a urine collection unit 300 that can be attached to and detached from the rim of a Western-style toilet bowl. On the other hand, the device may have a portable size. In addition to making the entire device portable, portable devices can be configured in various modes. For example, only a unit for collecting and storing urine and a unit for storing conditions for collecting urine may be configured as a portable device, and the analysis of urine itself may be performed ex-post by the installed health management device main body. Further, a simple method may be employed as a sensor for measuring each component in urine. Furthermore, you may comprise as an apparatus which limited the component to be analyzed. In this way, measurement data can be acquired without selecting a toilet, and measurement data that can be used for health management can be acquired more frequently and continuously. In addition, since an apparatus can be prepared for each individual, there is an advantage that the user can be easily specified.

It is also possible to incorporate the urine collection unit into the toilet seat. This makes it possible to stably attach the urine collection unit to the Western style toilet. Naturally, by replacing the toilet seat itself, it is possible to later attach the health management device to an already installed Western-style toilet. In addition, it goes without saying that the health management device may be built in a Western-style toilet or cabinet. The urinal to which the urine collection unit is attached is not limited to a Western urinal. Further, the urine collection unit does not need to be a part that actively obtains urine by the movable part, and may be a type in which various sensors of the present embodiment are arranged in a flow path part of the toilet bowl where urine flows.

In this embodiment, it is possible to exchange data with another device via a flexible disk. Further, data transmission / reception may be enabled by using other means.
For example, the health management apparatuses may be connected to each other or the health management apparatus and a computer via a cable to transfer data. Further, data may be transmitted / received via communication via a network. In addition, the communication may be wireless.

In this embodiment, the control panel 400
The user is identified by the personal identification switch 485 of (1). On the other hand, the user may be identified by inputting an ID or a name for identifying an individual. Such an ID is stored in the control panel 40
It may be input from 0, or may be read from an IC card or a flexible disk prepared for each user.

In this example, urine volume, creatinine, urine sugar, albumin, occult blood, uric acid, and sodium can be detected. More components may be detectable, or only some of them may be detected. Further, a component to be detected may be selectable according to a user.

In the present embodiment, data that can be used for health management is obtained in the form of creatinine ratio, 24-hour urine, etc., but only one of them may be obtained. Further, data may be acquired in a further different form as long as the influence of an external error factor can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the case where the health management is performed based on the data acquired only by the health management device has been described.However, it is also possible to enable the input of the test result by the specialized organization and perform the health management using both results. Good.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user inputs data such as the contents of meals from the control panel 400. Various means for simplifying the input of these data may be applied. For example, the control panel may be installed near the dining table, and the data may be input during a meal. When a meal to be supplied is determined, such as in a hospital, the contents of the meal may be collectively input on the hospital side. Further, predetermined information may be readable from a card that displays nutrients, energy, and the like included in the menu, such as those provided in some food service industries.

In this example, urine volume was detected, and 24-hour urine data was obtained. On the other hand, data corresponding to 24-hour urine data may be calculated based on the creatinine concentration. As described above, it is known that the daily amount of creatinine is almost constant for each individual. On the other hand, the creatinine ratio means the amount of each component discharged per unit weight of creatinine. Therefore, if the user's daily creatinine emission is measured in advance and input to the health management device, the daily output of each component can be estimated by the product of this value and the creatinine ratio. . This eliminates the need to measure the amount of urine, and can simplify the configuration of the device. According to this method, data corresponding to 24-hour urine data can be obtained based on one detection result. Of course, it is more preferable to use the average value of the data thus calculated as 24-hour urine data.

In this embodiment, the urine volume is measured using a flow meter. On the other hand, the amount of urine may be detected based on the weight of urine, or may be detected based on the volume.
When the weight of urine is detected, the weight of urine itself may be directly detected, or the weight of urine may be obtained from the weight difference of the user before and after excretion.

In this embodiment, a measure is suggested based on the measurement result. The suggestions shown in the present embodiment are merely examples, and various levels can be considered. For example, it may indicate whether or not a doctor should be diagnosed. The contents of the meal may be indicated by menu candidates. Since these countermeasures are set by referring to the countermeasure database, a configuration may be employed in which a countermeasure database corresponding to the user's health condition can be used. For example, the countermeasure database may be provided on a medium such as a CD-ROM, and various media such as those for healthy users and those for diabetics may be prepared. In this way, it is possible to apply the present invention to a wide range of applications such as a healthy user's health check and a full-scale diet.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an apparatus for measuring urine has been described as an example, but health management may be performed using stool. Depending on the purpose, other excrement may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a health management device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a Western style toilet 10 equipped with a urine collection unit 300.
0 is a side view.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing route for urine and the like inside a control unit 200;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical connection relationship of the health management device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of detecting urine sugar in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration for detecting urine sugar.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram for quantitatively detecting the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide solution.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a chemical change of creatinine.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a method for detecting creatinine in the present example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of detecting albumin in this example.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of decomposition of uric acid.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of a uric acid sensor 280.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a control panel 400.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a measurement control routine.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a measurement process.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of calculation of 24-hour urine data.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of an advice setting process.

FIG. 18 is a graph showing a change in blood glucose level after glucose load.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between diabetic nephropathy and albumin detection.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of advice regarding diabetes.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure recorded on a hard disk 216.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing the daily fluctuation of urine sugar level and blood sugar level.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing changes in creatinine ratio and average urinary sugar level.

FIG. 24 is a graph showing the daily fluctuation of uric acid level.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing the daily change of urine sugar level and blood sugar level.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 ... Western toilet 102 ... Toilet seat 104 ... Toilet lid 106 ... Washing water tank 200 ... Control unit 202 ... Urine pipe 204 ... Water supply pipe 206 ... Switching valve 208 ... Buffer tank 216 ... Hard disk 218 ... I / O port 220 ... Urine volume Sensor 230: creatinine sensor 232: selective permeable membrane 234: permeable membrane 240: urine sugar sensor 241: permeable membrane 242 ... selective permeable membrane 244: potentiostat 245 ... reference electrode 246 ... working electrode 247 ... counter electrode 248 ... current sensor 250 ... protein Sensor 252 element 254 light source 256 optical sensor 260 occult blood sensor 270 sodium sensor 280 uric acid sensor 282 permeable membrane 284 selective permeation membrane 300 urine collection unit 310 urine collector 320 arm 400 control panel 481 When Switch 482 ... woman switch 483 ... cancel switch 484 ... memory / call switch 485 ... personal identification switch 486 ... cleaning mode switch 487 ... time setting switch 488 ... calibration time switch 489 ... control switch 491 ... display unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2D037 EA00 2G045 AA15 AA36 AA39 BA13 BB04 BB14 BB41 CB03 DA01 DA31 DA36 DA38 DA42 DB06 DB09 DB21 FA11 FA29 FB01 FB03 GC10 GC11 GC12 HA06 HA08 HA09 HA14 JA01 JA02 JA05

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An acquisition means for continuously acquiring meaningful biological information by frequently and continuously measuring a significant amount of biological information from a user's excrement mainly obtained by a toilet operation in a toilet; A storage unit that identifies a user and stores the biological information in a form in which a correlation with the identified user is ensured; and that the continuous biological information is used for health management by a plurality of users. A first processing / providing means for processing / providing so as to be used as data; 2. The health management device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing / providing unit stores a determination unit for determining a predetermined title, and the storage unit based on the right confirmed by the determination unit. A health management device comprising: an information management unit that processes and provides stored biological information. 3. Acquisition means for continuously acquiring meaningful biological information by frequently and continuously measuring, from the excrement of a user mainly obtained by a toilet action in a toilet, and the acquisition. A separation storage unit that stores the biological information acquired by the unit so as to be physically separable. 4. The health management device according to claim 3, wherein the separated storage unit determines a predetermined right, and a living body stored in the storage unit based on the right confirmed by the determination unit. An information management unit that processes and provides information. 5. The health management device according to claim 3, wherein the separated storage unit stores the biometric information in an encrypted form. 6. The health management device according to claim 3, wherein the separation storage unit includes a communication function of transmitting the biological information acquired by the acquisition unit to a remote location. 7. The health management device according to claim 3, wherein the separation storage unit is configured by a portable storage function of storing biological information acquired by the acquisition unit in a separable storage medium. Health management device. 8. A health information transmitting / receiving means for receiving biometric information from the separate storage means of the health management device according to claim 3, and a user can use the biometric information received by said biometric information sending / receiving means as data for health management. And a second processing / providing means for processing / providing as described above. 9. The excrement of a user, which is installed in each of a plurality of toilets and obtained by a stool action in the toilets,
Acquisition means for acquiring significant biological information by frequently and continuously measuring; access means for accessing the biological information acquired by the plurality of acquisition means; and biological information accessed by the access means. Processed so that users can use it as data for health management,
A health management system comprising: a third processing / providing means to be provided. 10. The health management system according to claim 9, wherein the access unit encrypts the biological information acquired by the acquisition unit.