JP2001095831A - Diaper wetting sensor and diaper with built-in sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a diaper wetting sensor and a diaper with built-in sensor, capable of reducing manufacturing cost and providing no uncomfortable feeling to a wearing person. SOLUTION: This diaper wetting sensor 2 is constituted by sticking conductive nonwoven fabrics 21, 22 on both front and back surfaces of water-absorbing paper 23, and the sensor 2 is embedded just under a top sheet of a paper diaper 1. When a person to be cared urinates, urine is partially absorbed by the water- absorbing paper 23. Therefore, the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21, 22 are made in the electrified state. Voltage is previously applied to a part between respective conductive nonwoven fabrics 21, 22, and diaper wetting is detected by electrification between the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21, 22. A low-cost and disposable diaper wetting sensor 2 can be obtained by adopting the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21, 22, and fitness feeling in wearing of the diaper is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diaper wetness sensor and a diaper incorporating the sensor. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a sensor configuration for improving a fit when a diaper is worn.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Diaper replacement for a bedridden elderly person or a person whose sensation is paralyzed due to dementia, an accident or the like cannot be performed at an appropriate time because an offer from the person (hereinafter referred to as a cared person) cannot be expected. There are many. For this reason, urine may be left in the diaper for a long time, which is unsanitary and causes rash and the like.

In hospitals and nursing homes, it is common for nurses and caregivers to change diapers at regular intervals. It is preferable in terms of hygiene to periodically change the diaper at relatively short time intervals, but since the diaper is replaced irrespective of dirt, the labor and resources of nurses and the like are wasted. In addition, if the care recipient urinates immediately after the diaper change, the diaper remains dirty until the next diaper change, which is not optimal in terms of hygiene.

On the other hand, in nursing at home, a caregiver replaces a diaper at an appropriate time by opening the diaper or smelling the odor at regular intervals. However, this depends on the caregiver's labor and sense (smell), and the burden on the caregiver is great. In addition, when the time during which care can be performed is limited, there is a high possibility that the interval between diaper changes is long, and there remains a problem regarding hygiene.

In view of the above points, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 178855, there is known a diaper in which a wetting sensor is attached to the diaper and the diaper changing time is optimized by detecting diaper wetting by the sensor.

[0006] According to this, the burden of nursing care for nurses and caregivers can be greatly reduced, the hygiene and comfort of the cared person can be ensured well, and furthermore, diaper replacement more than necessary is economical. Loss can be avoided.

[0007]

However, the conventional diaper wetness sensor has a complicated structure and it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost. Urine is an electrolyte, and when metal is used for the electrode of the sensor, there is a risk of corrosion. Therefore, repeated use is not preferable. In addition, repeated use is not preferable in view of hygiene. Therefore,
It is necessary to dispose the sensor together with the diaper, but it is difficult to realize a disposable sensor unless the manufacturing cost can be reduced as described above.

In addition, the sensor disclosed in the above publication is made of rubber, and cannot be used to avoid a feeling of discomfort (feeling of a foreign body) of a care receiver when the sensor is worn in a diaper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing cost and to incorporate a diaper wetness sensor which does not cause a feeling of discomfort to a wearer. It is to provide a diaper that has been made.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems-Summary of the Invention-In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses the same nonwoven fabric as a material generally used for diapers as an electrode of a diaper wetting sensor, This reduces the manufacturing cost of the diaper wetness sensor and ensures a good fit by ensuring flexibility.

-Solution Means- Specifically, a first solution means adopted by the present invention is based on a diaper wetness sensor built in a diaper. To this diaper wet sensor, a pair of conductive non-woven fabrics are superposed with a water absorbing material interposed therebetween. When the inside of the diaper gets wet, the water absorbing material absorbs water (human urine contains various electrolytes. The urine, which is an aqueous solution, becomes an electrolytic solution and exhibits conductivity), so that the conductive nonwoven fabrics can be energized with each other to detect diaper wetness.

According to this specific matter, the pair of conductive nonwoven fabrics is insulated by the water absorbing material before the care receiver urinates. When the care receiver urinates, a part of the urine is absorbed by the water absorbing material. As a result, the conductive non-woven fabrics are in a state where they can be energized. By applying a voltage between the conductive nonwoven fabrics in advance, it is possible to detect diaper wetness due to energization between the conductive nonwoven fabrics. As a result, for example, by notifying the caregiver that the diaper has become wet, the diaper can be replaced immediately after the care recipient's urination. In addition, since the diaper wetness sensor can be manufactured at low cost by adopting the conductive nonwoven fabric, it is possible to realize a diaper wetness sensor that can be disposable together with the diaper after the diaper is replaced. Nonwoven fabric is a material generally used for disposable diapers and the like, and can be incinerated at the time of disposal of diapers, does not generate toxic gas, and does not lead to environmental pollution. In addition, the use of the conductive non-woven fabric can ensure the flexibility of the entire diaper, provide a good fit when worn, and guarantee the comfort of the cared person.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the diaper wetness sensor is disposed immediately below the top sheet that the wearer's skin touches.

According to this specific matter, after urination of the cared person,
Urine can be immediately absorbed by the water-absorbing material, and it is possible to detect that the diaper is wet immediately after the care recipient has excreted urine.

A third solution relates to a diaper incorporating the diaper wetness sensor. In other words, a pair of conductive non-woven fabrics are stacked with a water-absorbing material interposed therebetween, and when the inside of the diaper is wet, the conductive non-woven fabrics can be electrically connected to each other due to the water absorption of the water-absorbing material, and the diaper is configured to be detectable. This is a diaper with a built-in diaper wetness sensor.

According to this specific matter, the same operation as the operation according to the first solving means can be obtained.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

-Description of Configuration of Disposable Diaper- FIG. 1 shows an inner surface (a surface on the side where the care-receiver's skin comes into contact) with the disposable diaper 1 according to the present embodiment opened. In FIG. 1, a top sheet (generally made of a nonwoven fabric) constituting the inner surface of the disposable diaper 1 is omitted.

The upper part in FIG. 1 is a front body 11. On the other hand, the lower part is the back body 12. Also, on both sides of the back body 12, fastening tapes 13, 13,
... are provided. When the disposable diaper 1 is mounted, one end of the fastening tape 13, 13,.
1 is attached to the outer surface.

A characteristic of the disposable diaper 1 is that a diaper wetness sensor 2 for detecting that the inside of the diaper has become wet due to urination is built in. Hereinafter, the diaper wetness sensor 2 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the diaper wetting sensor 2 includes a top sheet 14 that forms the inner surface of the paper diaper 1.
(Indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 2). By burying the diaper wet sensor 2 at this position, urine is immediately discharged from the care receiver after urination.
So that it can be flowed into. As shown in FIG. 1, the embedding position of the diaper wet sensor 2 is a portion extending from a connection region 15 between the front body 11 and the back body 12 to the front body 11. This is an area into which urine flows during urination regardless of the posture of the care receiver.

The diaper wetness sensor 2 includes a pair of conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 and a water absorbing paper 23 as a water absorbing material. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 (an exploded perspective view of a part of the diaper wetting sensor 2), conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 are attached to both front and back surfaces of the water-absorbing paper 23 (the water-absorbing paper 23).
2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, each conductive nonwoven fabric 2
1 and 22 are formed in the same shape, and the width and length of the water-absorbing paper 23 are slightly larger than those of the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22. Thereby, the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 do not directly contact (short circuit). In other words, the configuration is such that electricity can be supplied between the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 only when the water-absorbing paper 23 absorbs water. In addition, as these conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22,
For example, copper is used as the conductive material, and nickel-coated copper is used. For this reason, problems such as corrosion and poor current supply are unlikely to occur, and the diaper wetness sensor 2
Function can be maintained stably.

As shown in FIG. 1, one end (region A in FIG. 1) of each of the conductive non-woven fabrics 21 and 22 is taken out from one end edge of the front body 11, so that electrical wirings 31 and 31 described later can be connected. ing. At the portions where the conductive non-woven fabrics 21 and 22 are taken out, the take-out positions are shifted in the left-right direction in the drawing so that the conductive non-woven fabrics 21 and 22 do not come into direct contact with each other and cause a short circuit.

Next, the electric circuit 3 formed by connecting the electric wires 31 to the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3 (schematic diagram of the electric circuit 3), each conductive nonwoven fabric 21, 22 is connected to a connector 32, 32 such as a clip.
Are removably connected to the electric wirings 31 and 31 via. The electric wires 31 are connected to an external device 33. The external device 33 includes a power supply 34 and an alarm 35. In other words, when the water-absorbing paper 23 absorbs water and it becomes possible to conduct electricity between the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22, the power supply 3
4. The alarm 35 and the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 are configured in a closed circuit, and a current flows through the alarm 35 to generate a "diaper wet alarm". As the "diaper wet alarm", for example, the external device 33 emits a sound (buzzer or melody sound) or light (emission of an LED), or a wireless alarm signal to a receiver placed near a caregiver,
Means such as this receiver emitting sound or light can be adopted.

The alarm 35 has a hold function and a reset button (not shown). In a state where the electric current flows through the electric circuit 3 and the alarm 35 generates the “diaper wet alarm”, the operation state is maintained until the reset button is pressed, and the “diaper wet alarm” is maintained.
Is to continue to emit. In addition, after the alarm 35 has issued the “diaper wet alarm”, the diaper is replaced. At that time, the operating state of the alarm 35 is released by pressing the reset button until the current flows through the electric circuit 3 again. "Diaper wet alarm" is not issued.

The external device 33 is disposed at a position that does not interfere with the care recipient, such as being attached to the waist of the care recipient. In addition, this external device 3
3 may be installed at a position away from the care receiver and close to the caregiver.

-Description of Operation of Diaper Wet Sensor 2- When the care recipient wearing the disposable diaper 1 configured as described above urinates, a part of the urine is absorbed by the water absorbing paper 23. As a result, the conductive non-woven fabric 21 and 22 are brought into a conductive state. As a result, a current flows through the electric circuit 3 and the alarm 35 issues a "diaper wet alarm".

Thus, the caregiver recognizes that the disposable diaper 1 has become wet, and replaces the diaper. This diaper changing operation is performed by disconnecting the diaper wetness sensor 2 and the electrical wiring 31 by the connectors 32 and 32. Further, after the new disposable diaper 1 is attached to the care receiver, the diaper wet sensor 2 and the electric wiring 31 are connected by the connectors 32 and 32, and the "diaper wet alarm" is generated by pressing the reset button of the alarm 35. The diaper changing operation is completed after the release.

Since urination of the cared person can be quickly detected in this manner, diapers can be changed immediately after urination of the cared person, and hygiene and comfort of the cared person can be guaranteed. It is possible to avoid economical loss due to unnecessary diaper change.

-Effects of Embodiment- As described above, in this embodiment, the electrodes of the diaper wetness sensor 2 are made of a material generally used for the paper diaper 1 (for example, a material used for the top sheet 14). The same nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22 are used. Therefore, the diaper wet sensor 2 can be manufactured at a lower cost than when a special electrode is used, and the sensor 2 can be disposable together with the paper diaper 1 after the diaper is replaced. This nonwoven fabric 2
Since materials 1 and 22 have been conventionally used for disposable diapers, they can be incinerated when the disposable diaper 1 is discarded, do not generate toxic gas, and do not lead to environmental pollution. In addition, the conductive nonwoven fabric 2 which is a material having high flexibility
With the use of the diapers 1 and 22, the flexibility of the entire disposable diaper 1 can be secured well, a good fit when worn can be obtained, and the comfort of the cared person can be guaranteed.

-Experimental Example- In order to confirm the above effects, the inventors of the present invention conducted an experiment for confirming the reliability of the diaper wetting sensor 2. Hereinafter, this experiment will be described.

FIG. 4 shows an experimental apparatus. This experimental apparatus includes a pair of conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 sandwiching a water absorbing paper 23,
22 are connected to electric wirings 31 and 31,
An alarm 35 composed of a dry battery 34, a resistor 36, and an LED is attached to 1, 31. The lower end of the water-absorbing paper 23 extends below the lower ends of the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22.

Then, the lower end of the water-absorbing paper 23 was immersed in 0.85% physiological saline 41 contained in the container 4, and this state was maintained, and the time until the alarm 35 emitted light was measured.

As a result, the annunciator 35 emitted light several seconds later. Thereby, the salt solution 41 is absorbed by the water absorbing paper 23,
It was confirmed that current flowed through the electric circuit 3. Moreover,
After the water absorbing paper 23 is immersed in the saline solution 41, the alarm 35 emits light in a short time. Therefore, according to the present diaper wetness sensor 2, the disposable diaper 1 is provided to the caregiver immediately after the cared person urinates. This confirms that the user can be notified of the wetness.

-Other Embodiments- In the above-described embodiment, the diaper wetness sensor 2 is disposed immediately below the top sheet 14. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be disposed on the surface of the top sheet 14 or other portions. For example, it is disposed immediately below water-absorbing paper that wraps pulp or a water-absorbing polymer.

The diaper wetting sensor 2 and the disposable diaper 1 of the present invention can be applied not only to the disposable diaper for adults but also to the disposable diapers for infants.

Further, sodium chloride may be previously distributed around the conductive nonwoven fabrics 21 and 22. in this case,
During urination, the electrolyte concentration of urine flowing into the diaper wetness sensor 2 can be increased, and diaper wetness can be detected with high sensitivity.

In addition, when the present invention is adopted for a hospital for centrally managing a plurality of cared persons, a transmitter is built in the annunciator 35 and a receiver is located at a remote location (eg, a nurse center). When it is installed, the care receiver who needs to change diapers can be recognized while staying at a remote location.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited.

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, the same non-woven fabric as the material generally used for diapers is used as the electrode of the diaper wet sensor, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the diaper wet sensor. Good fit is ensured by securing flexibility. Therefore, it is possible to realize a diaper wetness sensor that can be disposable together with the diaper after the diaper is replaced.
Further, since the diaper wetting sensor is a nonwoven fabric, no toxic gas is generated even if it is incinerated with the diaper, and does not lead to environmental pollution. Furthermore, by securing flexibility, a good fit at the time of diaper wearing is obtained,
The comfort of the cared person can be obtained well, and a highly practical diaper can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the diaper wetness sensor is disposed immediately below the top sheet where the wearer's skin touches. Therefore, the urine can be absorbed by the water-absorbing material immediately after the care recipient urinates, and it is possible to detect that the diaper is wet immediately after the care recipient urinates.
Therefore, it becomes possible to change diapers immediately after urination of the cared person, and it is possible to guarantee hygiene and comfort of the cared person,
Further, it is possible to avoid economical loss due to unnecessary diaper change.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an inner side surface of a disposable diaper according to an embodiment in an opened state.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the diaper wetness sensor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an electric circuit constituted by a diaper wetness sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an experimental apparatus according to an experimental example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disposable diaper 14 Top sheet 2 Diaper wetness sensor 21 and 22 Conductive nonwoven fabric 23 Water absorbing paper (water absorbing material)

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G060 AA07 AE40 AF01 AG11 FA01 HC10 HD01 HD02 3B029 BE04 4C098 AA09 CC07 CC14 CD08 CD09 CE06 DD10

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A diaper wetting sensor built in a diaper, wherein a pair of conductive non-woven fabrics are overlapped with a water-absorbing material therebetween, and when the inside of the diaper is wet, the conductive non-woven fabrics are connected with each other as the water-absorbing material absorbs water. A diaper wetness sensor which is configured to be able to conduct electricity and detect diaper wetness. 2. The diaper wetness sensor according to claim 1, wherein the diaper wetness sensor is disposed immediately below a top sheet touched by a wearer's skin. 3. A structure in which a pair of conductive non-woven fabrics are overlapped with a water-absorbing material interposed therebetween, and when the inside of the diaper is wet, the conductive non-woven fabrics can be electrically connected to each other as the water-absorbing material absorbs water, so that diaper wetting can be detected. A diaper characterized by incorporating a diaper wetness sensor as described above.