JP2001050954A - Urine analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain urine analyzer which can surely clean all portions exposed in a toilet bowl, such as arm, urine receiving section, etc., having the possibility of being wet with urine with a simple constitution. SOLUTION: A driving means 12 moves a urine receiving section 9 in a straight line between a urine receiving position, in a toilet bowl and a housing position outside the bowl through an arm 3, and wen the section 9 is moved form the urine receiving position to the housing position, the second 9 moves from a first opening 20 to a second opening 17 through a cleaning pipe 19. Since the pipe 19 is connected to a third opening 21 via a cleaning water control means 22 which controls the supply and stoppage of cleaning water from a cleaning water supplying source, and the arm 3 and urine receiving section 9 are cleaned with the cleaning water flowing in through the opening 21, the arm 3 and section 9 exposed in the toilet bowl can be cleaned using a simple constitution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a urine testing apparatus for testing urine discharged from a person into a toilet, and more particularly to a method for cleaning the urine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Urine is an important source of information on the health of individuals, and various functional disorders can be examined by quantitative analysis of urine components. Therefore, when an individual urinates on a daily basis, a proposal has been made to add a function of analyzing a urine component to a toilet at home or at work in order to detect a functional disorder at an early stage by analyzing the urine. I have.

An example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-170512 will be described with reference to FIG. A urine reservoir 1 is formed on the toilet bowl surface, and urine discharged from an individual flows in and accumulates. The sensor 2 is detachably attached to an arm 3, and the arm 3 is attached so as to be slidable up and down along a slider 4. The slider 4 is rotatably mounted at the upper end. Reference numeral 5 denotes a preservation liquid container, and these driving mechanisms and preservation liquid are stored in a box provided on the upper surface of the toilet.

With this configuration, the slider 4 rotates and tilts at a predetermined angle during measurement, and then the arm 3 descends, and the sensor 2 analyzes the urine component when immersed in the urine of the urine reservoir 1. Thereafter, the sensor 2 is drained to wash the sensor 2, the arm 3 is raised and rotated to maintain the vertical state, and then the arm 3 is lowered to insert the sensor 2 into the storage liquid container 5. In this method, the sensor 2 is washed with washing water for washing the toilet, and the urine reservoir 1 is washed.
When the urine is replaced with the washing water, the sensor 2 can be washed. However, there is a possibility that urine may adhere to the portion of the arm 3 exposed in the toilet bowl, and it is difficult to clean all the portion of the arm 3 exposed in the toilet bowl. That is, the flush water of the toilet generally flows along the edge of the toilet bowl, and it is difficult to clean the exposed portion of the arm 3 existing in the space in the toilet bowl.

As a method for solving this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is an example disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 262015, which will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 6 denotes a urine collection container, which appears in the toilet bowl while moving to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and collects urine excreted from an individual. The collected urine is transported to the sensor by the transport means, and the concentration of the specific component contained in the urine is measured. After the measurement, urine collection container 6
Moves together with the arm 3 to the position shown by the solid line in the figure.
7 is a washing room which is substantially sealed except that there is an opening toward the toilet bowl. Then, cleaning water is injected from the cleaning nozzle 8 to clean the urine collection container 6. The washing water in the washing chamber 7 reflects the washing water to wash the entire urine collection container 6. Further, there is a multi-hole cleaning nozzle (not shown) for cleaning the arm 3, and the cleaning water is sprayed to the entire arm 3.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional urine testing apparatus has a problem that the cleaning nozzles for cleaning the urine collection container and the arm are required and the configuration is complicated. Further, since the entire urine collection container is configured to be washed by the reflection of the washing water in the washing chamber, it is necessary to close the urine collection container when the urine collection container moves into the washing chamber, which further complicates the structure. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to wash all parts which may be exposed in a toilet bowl and to which urine may adhere, with a simple structure.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a urine receiving section for receiving urine to be inspected excreted from an individual, an arm having one end connected to the urine receiving section, A driving unit for moving the unit approximately linearly between a urine receiving position in the toilet bowl and a storage position outside the toilet bowl via the arm, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the urine receiving unit and the arm near the storage position. The cleaning device includes a cleaning unit, the cleaning unit includes a cleaning water supply source, and a cleaning pipe connected via a cleaning water control unit that controls supply and stop of cleaning water from the cleaning water supply source. A first opening through which the arm and the urine receiving portion enter and exit; a second opening through which the arm and the urine receiving portion enter and exit and which are substantially closed by the arm or the urine receiving portion; Third opening The urine receiving portion has been configured to clean while moving to the storage position from the urine receiving position.

According to the above invention, the driving means moves the urine receiving portion substantially linearly between the urine receiving position inside the toilet bowl and the storage position outside the toilet bowl via the arm, and moves from the urine receiving position. When moving to the storage position, the cleaning pipe moves from the first opening to the second opening. The washing pipe is connected at a third opening via washing water control means for controlling supply and stop of washing water from a washing water supply source, and washing water flowing from the third opening is sealed in a second opening. Since it is not discharged from the opening but discharged from the first opening, it is possible to wash all the arms and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl with a simple configuration.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A urine test apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a urine receiving portion for receiving urine to be inspected excreted from an individual, an arm having the urine receiving portion connected to one end, and a urine receiving device. A driving unit for moving the unit approximately linearly between a urine receiving position in the toilet bowl and a storage position outside the toilet bowl via the arm, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the urine receiving unit and the arm near the storage position. The cleaning device includes a cleaning unit, the cleaning unit includes a cleaning water supply source, and a cleaning pipe connected via a cleaning water control unit that controls supply and stop of cleaning water from the cleaning water supply source. A first opening through which the arm and the urine receiving portion enter and exit; a second opening through which the arm and the urine receiving portion enter and exit and which are substantially closed by the arm or the urine receiving portion; Has a third opening And configured to wash while moving to the storage position of the urine receiving portion from said urine receiving position.

The driving means moves the urine receiving portion approximately linearly between the urine receiving position in the toilet bowl and the storage position outside the toilet bowl via the arm, and moves from the urine receiving position to the storage position. Then, the cleaning pipe moves from the first opening to the second opening. The washing pipe is connected at a third opening via washing water control means for controlling supply and stop of washing water from a washing water supply source, and washing water flowing from the third opening is sealed in a second opening. Since it is not discharged from the opening but discharged from the first opening, it is possible to wash all the arms and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl with a simple configuration.

[0012] The urine test apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention comprises:
The first opening is provided at the edge of the toilet bowl, and the cleaning drainage is configured to drop into the toilet bowl.

The first opening for discharging the flush drainage is provided at the edge of the toilet bowl, and the flush drainage is dropped into the toilet bowl. Therefore, the arm and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl have a simple configuration. All can be washed.

The urine test apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises:
The cleaning pipe was provided in the gap between the toilet and the toilet seat.

[0015] Since the cleaning pipe for cleaning the arm and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl is provided in the gap between the toilet and the toilet seat, it does not hinder the urination operation and can be used for the existing toilet and toilet seat. With a simple configuration that can be mounted,
All the arms and urine receiving portions exposed in the toilet bowl can be washed.

[0016] The urine test apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises:
A sensor carrying an enzyme was provided in the urine receiving section, and a storage solution container containing a storage solution for immersing the sensor was provided in the storage position, and the storage solution container was connected to the washing pipe.

The urine receiving portion is provided with a sensor carrying an enzyme, a storage solution container is provided at the storage position, and the storage solution container is connected to the washing pipe. Since it is quickly stored in the storage liquid container, the arm and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl can be cleaned with a simple configuration, and the sensor can be reliably stored.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a urine test apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a urine receiving portion made of a hard material, which holds the planar enzyme sensor 2. The urine receiving portion 9 is connected to a rack 10 made of a soft material via an arm 3 made of a soft material. A pinion 11 is provided on the rack 10 so as to mesh with the rack 10, and the pinion 11 is rotated by a rotating shaft of a motor 12 as a driving unit. Reference numeral 13 denotes a rack guide made of a hard material formed in a U-shaped cross section and provided so as to be in contact with the rack 10. When the motor 12 rotates in this configuration, the urine receiving section 9 and the enzyme sensor 2 move in the direction of the arrow in the figure via the rack 10 and the arm 3. 14 is a pulley and arm 3
Are arranged so that they can move smoothly. Here, by using a generally known stepping motor as the motor 12, the moving direction, the moving amount, and the moving speed can be appropriately controlled.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a preservation liquid container which contains a preservation liquid therein and has two openings 16 and 17.
7 is provided with a sealing material 18. In the figure, the state shown by the solid line is a non-measurement state, in which the enzyme sensor 2 held in the urine receiving section 9 is in the storage position, is stored in the storage liquid container at the storage position, and is immersed in the storage liquid. Contact.
Further, since the two openings 16 and 17 of the storage solution container 15 are sealed by the urine receiving portion 9, the storage solution does not leak.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a guide for moving the urine receiving portion 9,
The cleaning pipe for cleaning the sensor 2, the arm 3, and the urine receiving section 9 is a pipe made of a hard material. In the drawing, the state shown by the broken line is a measurement state, in which the urine receiving portion 9 and the enzyme sensor 2 are exposed from the storage liquid container, and are led out along the washing pipe 19 to the urine collection position in the toilet bowl. The washing pipe 19 has a first opening 20 through which the urine receiving section 9 enters and exits the toilet bowl, and a second opening 20 so that the urine receiving section 9 enters and exits the storage solution container.
The second opening is one opening that also serves as the opening 17 of the storage liquid container, and the second opening 17
Is connected to the storage solution container. Further, a third opening 21 into which the washing water flows is also provided. In the storage liquid container 15 in all states from the non-measurement state to the measurement state, the two openings 16 and 17 are sealed by the urine receiving portion 9 or the arm 3, and the storage liquid does not leak.

The washing means for washing the sensor 2, the arm 3, and the urine receiving part 9 comprises a washing pipe, washing water control means, and a washing water supply source. The washing pipe 19 is connected to a water supply (not shown) as a washing water supply source via an electromagnetic valve 22 as washing water control means. When the solenoid valve 22 is opened, tap water flows into the cleaning pipe 19 from the third opening 21. The opening of the storage liquid container 15 is connected to the second opening 17 of the cleaning pipe.
Is always sealed by the arm 3 or the urine receiving portion 9, so that the water flowing into the washing pipe 19 flows out of the first opening 20 into the toilet bowl. With this configuration, the washing water does not enter the storage solution container 15. Since the cleaning water supply source is a tap water, there is no possibility that an aromatic or a chemical is mixed into the cleaning water, and the sensor 2, the arm 3, and the urine receiving section 9 can be reliably cleaned.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a substrate for fixing the motor 12, the rack guide 13, the pulley 14, the storage liquid container 15, the washing pipe 19, and the solenoid valve 22, and is made of sheet metal. Substrate 23
Are bent, so that the two toilet mounting portions 24, 2
5 is provided. The toilet mounting portions 24 and 25 are mounted on and fixed to the rim of the toilet. One toilet mounting part 25
The preservation liquid container 15 is attached to the hole 26 formed by folding to form the preservation liquid container, so that the volume of the preservation liquid container can be made sufficiently large. Reference numeral 27 denotes a water pipe outlet provided on the substrate 23, which is a pipe outlet for connecting the solenoid valve 22 and water.

Numeral 28 designates a control means comprising a cleaning control means 29 for controlling the electromagnetic valve 22 and a speed control means 30 for controlling the motor 12. The cleaning control means 29 controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 22 based on the signal from the sensor 2. The speed control means 30 controls the speed of the motor 12. When the sensor 2 and the urine receiving portion 9 are moved from the storage position to the urine collection position in order to start the measurement, the motor 12 is rotated at a high speed and the measurement is started. After termination, the sensor 2 and the urine receiving section 9
When returning to the storage position, rotate at low speed. When the sensor 2 and the urine receiving portion 9 are returned to the storage position, the portion exposed in the toilet bowl including the arm 3 is washed in the washing pipe, so that the motor 12 is rotated at a low speed and slowly moved to ensure the washing. Increases sex.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the above-described components are put in a case and attached to a toilet. That is, 31
Is a case that contains components such as the preservation liquid container 15, the motor 12, the substrate 23, and the control means 28.
At 4 and 25, it is attached to the rim side of the toilet bowl 32. An operation unit 33 and a display unit 34 are provided on the upper surface of the case 31. The figure shows a state where the toilet seat 35 is set up,
When the toilet seat 35 is folded down, the legs 3 attached to the toilet seat 35
The cleaning pipe 19 is located in the gap between the toilet seat 35 and the toilet bowl 32 formed by 6. The figure shows a state where the urine receiving portion 9 is exposed inside the bowl of the toilet bowl 32.

Generally, a man stands in a standing position and stands the toilet seat 35 to urinate. In this case, since the location of the urine receiving section 9 and the urination curve can be visually recognized, it is easy to hit urine regardless of the location of the urine receiving section 9. On the other hand, women generally have toilet seats 3
Defeat 5 and urinate in a sitting position. In this case, the location of the urine receiving section 9 and the urination curve are not visible. Therefore, it is desirable to make the urine receiving portion 9 protrude in a place where urine naturally hits the urine receiving portion 9 when a woman urinates in a sitting posture, and protrudes so as to be located slightly behind the center of the toilet. ing.

The urine receiving portion 9 holds the planar type enzyme sensor 2. When urine is received by the urine receiving portion 9, the enzyme sensor 2
And urine are in contact with each other, and a signal having a correlation with the concentration of a specific component contained in the urine can be output. The configuration of the planar enzyme sensor 2 will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 304330, and includes a polyimide film (PI film) 37, a pair of metal electrodes 38 as hydrogen peroxide electrodes, a polymer film 39 having two layers, Enzyme membrane 40 composed of layers
, A polymer adhesive film 41, and a polycarbonate film (PC film) 43 covered with a polymer film 42.

The pair of metal electrodes 38 formed on the PI film 37 captures an increase or decrease in oxygen or hydrogen peroxide accompanying an enzyme reaction in the enzyme film 40 as a change in oxidation current. Polymer film 39 formed on metal electrode 38
Are formed by coating the metal electrode 38 and heating it further. By this heat treatment, the permeability of the electrode interfering substance can be sufficiently restricted while maintaining the permeability of hydrogen peroxide as compared with the case of only the coating, and the inherent properties of the material are improved. Therefore, even if urine comes into direct contact with the enzyme sensor 2, urine components can be analyzed.

Glucose oxidase is used as the immobilized enzyme film 40 formed on the polymer film 39. In this case, the enzymatic reaction becomes Glucose + O ₂ → gluconic acid + H ₂ O ₂ , and along with the decomposition of glucose, oxygen is consumed to generate hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid.

The hydrogen peroxide generated here is supplied to the metal electrode 38.
Is decomposed into water and oxygen while emitting electrons by the catalytic action of. By measuring the emitted electrons as a current, the sugar concentration in urine can be measured.

Since the enzyme sensor 2 is held in the urine receiving portion 9, the urine receiving portion 9 can analyze urine components only by receiving a small amount of urine. 9 can be made sufficiently small and can be driven with a simple configuration.

Next, the operation of the control means 28 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The subject first stands in front of the toilet 32 (mainly male) or sits on the toilet seat 35 (mainly female). Here, when the measurement switch 33 is pressed, the motor 12
The urine rotates clockwise at a high speed by a predetermined amount, and the urine receiving portion 9 and the enzyme sensor 2 move to the urine collecting position slightly behind the center in the bowl of the toilet bowl 30 and stop. Here, the subject starts urinating, the urine receiving section 9 receives the urine discharged from the subject, and the enzyme sensor 2 comes into contact with the urine.

Since the output of the enzyme sensor 2 starts to change when it comes into contact with urine, it can be seen that urine has been received. Further, the concentration of the sugar contained in the urine is calculated from the change in the output, and is displayed on the display unit 34. Next, the electromagnetic valve 22 is opened, and the cleaning water flows into the cleaning pipe 19. Toilet 3
The arm 3 exposed in the second bowl can be washed. While the inflow of the washing water is continued, the motor 12
Is rotated counterclockwise at a low speed. Here, the urine receiving portion 9 and the enzyme sensor 2 start moving in the cleaning pipe 19 toward the storage liquid container 15, and the arm 3, the urine receiving portion 9, and the enzyme sensor 2 are sequentially washed.

Then, before the enzyme sensor 2 enters the storage solution container 15, the motor 12 is stopped once, the enzyme sensor 2 is immersed in washing water, and the completion of the washing is detected from the output of the enzyme sensor 2 to detect the solenoid valve. 22 is closed. Then, the motor 12 is further rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined amount, and
The enzyme sensor 2 is housed. The rotation during this time may be either high speed or low speed. When the enzyme sensor 2 is brought into contact with urine for measurement, it is preferable to provide the enzyme sensor 2 for a predetermined time until the next measurement is permitted. For this purpose, the timer is started when the washing is completed or when the storage solution is stored, and the measurement switch 3
3 is no longer accepted. When the measurement switch 33 is pressed again after a predetermined time has elapsed, the above operation is repeated.

In the above description, the configuration in which the enzyme sensor 2 is held in the urine receiving portion 9 has been described. However, the urine is merely stored without holding the enzyme sensor in the urine receiving portion 9, and the stored urine is removed by the enzyme. It may be transported to a place where the sensor is located. In this case, the urine receiving part does not have to be immersed in the preservative solution. Similar effects can be obtained by using an optical sensor or the like without using an enzyme sensor as the sensor.

[0035]

As described above, the urine test apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.

According to the urine testing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the driving means moves the urine receiving portion through the arm substantially linearly between the urine receiving position in the toilet bowl and the storage position outside the toilet bowl. The cleaning pipe moves from the first opening to the second opening when moving from the urine receiving position to the storage position. The washing pipe is connected at a third opening via washing water control means for controlling supply and stop of washing water from a washing water supply source, and washing water flowing from the third opening is sealed in a second opening. Since it is not discharged from the opening but discharged from the first opening, it is possible to wash all the arms and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl with a simple configuration.

According to the urine test apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first opening for discharging the flush drainage is provided at the edge of the toilet bowl, and the flush drainage falls into the toilet bowl, so that the configuration is simple. Therefore, all the arms and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl can be washed.

According to the urine test apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the cleaning pipe for cleaning the arm and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl is provided in the gap between the toilet and the toilet seat. With a simple configuration that can be attached to existing toilet bowls and toilet seats without obstruction, all the arms and urine receiving portions exposed in the toilet bowl can be washed.

According to the urine test apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the urine receiving section is provided with a sensor carrying an enzyme, the storage liquid container is provided at the storage position, and the storage liquid container and the washing pipe are connected. Since the urine receiving portion and the sensor cleaned by the cleaning pipe are immediately stored in the storage liquid container, the arm and the urine receiving portion exposed in the toilet bowl are all cleaned with a simple configuration, and the sensor can be stored. It can be performed reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a urine test apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the urine test apparatus of the embodiment is attached to a toilet bowl.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the sensor of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a urine test apparatus according to a first conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a urine test apparatus according to a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Sensor 3 Arm 9 Urine Receiving Unit 12 Driving Means 15 Preservation Liquid Container 17 Second Opening 19 Cleaning Pipe 20 First Opening 21 Third Opening 22 Cleaning Water Controlling Means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Miki Ueda 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Pref.Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Hideki Ohno 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kazuma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (reference) 2G045 AA15 AA36 BB14 CB03 DA31 FB01 HA08 JA07

Claims (4)

[Claims] A urine receiving portion for receiving urine to be inspected excreted from an individual; an arm having the urine receiving portion connected to one end; and a urine receiving position in the toilet bowl via the arm. A drive unit for moving the storage unit out of the toilet bowl in a substantially linear manner with a storage position, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the urine receiving unit and the arm near the storage position, wherein the cleaning unit includes a cleaning water supply source. A washing pipe connected via washing water control means for controlling supply and stop of washing water from the washing water supply source, wherein the washing pipe has a first opening through which an arm and a urine receiving portion enter and exit; And a second opening through which the urine receiving portion enters and exits and which is substantially closed by an arm or a urine receiving portion, and a third opening connected to the washing water control means. From the position to the storage position Urinalysis apparatus for cleaning while moved. 2. The urine test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first opening is provided at an edge of the toilet bowl, and flush drainage falls into the toilet bowl. 3. The urine test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning pipe is provided in a gap between the toilet and the toilet seat. 4. A urine receiving part is provided with a sensor carrying an enzyme, and a storage position is provided with a storage liquid container storing a storage liquid for immersing the sensor, and the storage liquid container is connected to a washing pipe. 2. The urine test apparatus according to 1.