JP2002291890A - Method for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for surely, rapidly and sufficiently achieving mutual understanding between a respiration gas supply unit user, a supporting organ, and a medical organ in many respiration gas supply units individually independently disposed and operatively managed. SOLUTION: The method for processing information comprises the steps of using communication means A, B and C capable of transmitting and receiving pieces of information including at least one of image information, character information and voice information by the respiration gas supply unit user, the respiration gas supply unit using supporting organ and the medical organ, and communicating predetermined information between the means A, the means B and the means C in a method for communicating. In this method, the predetermined information includes at least one of facility information, drive condition information and the drive information of the respiration gas supply unit and patient's vital information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing method, an information processing network system, a computer program, and a recording medium for a user of a respiratory gas supply device such as a patient with a respiratory disease.

[0002] A respiratory gas supply device is usually a device for supplying oxygen-enriched gas to a patient with a respiratory disease, and is sometimes simply referred to as an oxygen concentrator.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, oxygen therapy is supplied to a patient with a respiratory disease from an oxygen cylinder. Recently, a respiratory gas supply for separating and concentrating oxygen in air to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas has been performed. Devices have been developed and oxygen therapy using them has become increasingly popular.

As such a respiratory gas supply device, for example, an adsorption type respiratory gas supply device using an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen as an oxygen concentrating means, or an oxygen selective permeable membrane as an oxygen concentrating means is used. There is a membrane-type respiratory gas supply device. The former is suitable for supplying a gas having an oxygen concentration of about 90% by volume, and the latter is mainly suitable for supplying a gas having an oxygen concentration of about 40% by volume. However, as technology has advanced, the boundaries have become blurred. In addition, an oxygen concentrator using a solid electrolyte method is also known.

As another oxygen supply method using oxygen therapy, there is known a method of supplying oxygen evaporated from liquid oxygen at a suitably controlled rate to a patient.

[0006] Such respiratory gas supply devices are increasingly used not only in hospitals but also in homes for home care. These respiratory gas supply devices are individually arranged in hospitals and homes, and the operating conditions are separately grasped and managed.

[0007] For this reason, the use of the respiratory gas supply device comprises a person who provides technical support for the respiratory gas supply device and a person who is involved in intensively grasping and intensively managing the operation status of the respiratory gas supply device. For a support organization, that is, an organization that supports the user of the respiratory gas supply device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a support organization for short)
It becomes difficult to clearly understand the target person and contents to be supported, and it becomes difficult to procure necessary parts and provide necessary services to users of the respiratory gas supply device at the appropriate timing. A coming situation is assumed.

[0008] Further, from the viewpoint of the user of the respiratory gas supply device, it is supposed that it becomes difficult to share sufficient information with the support organization when seeking advice.

Furthermore, since the user of the respiratory gas supply device is healthy and vulnerable, at least one of the information on the oxygen concentration and the set value in the respiratory gas, arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, Maintain indispensable information such as respiratory rate, body temperature, subjective symptoms and other information essential for the survival of the patient and maintenance of an appropriate health condition (such information is referred to as patient vital information in the present specification). Is important, and it is mainly limited to doctors and nurses (hereinafter doctors and nurses are referred to as "doctors") that can determine appropriate countermeasures for such information. Appropriately manages the flow of information, and at the appropriate time the patient's vital information is delivered from the user of the respiratory gas supply device to the doctor, etc. User There is no such method or system that is provided at present, and despite the fact that it is home medical care, the user of the respiratory gas supply device eventually goes to the hospital as a patient and does not ask for instructions from a doctor etc. There is an irrationality of not becoming.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a number of respiratory gas supply devices which are individually arranged and whose operation is controlled as described above. In addition to providing a method and system to ensure that information is shared quickly and reliably and that patient vital information can be delivered to medical institutions such as hospitals and nurse centers at the right time and in the right form, Is to be resolved.

In particular, the present invention relates to a suction-type respiratory gas supply device and a membrane-type respiratory gas supply device, which are capable of recognizing situations relating to the device and grasping patient vital information by using a respiratory gas supply device user, a support organization, and a medical institution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for surely and quickly sharing and solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors grasp the situation concerning the individual respiratory gas supply devices dispersedly arranged in each home and the like by asking the user of the respiratory gas supply device and the support organization. As a result of intensive studies to provide a method for sure and prompt sharing with medical institutions, the present invention has been reached.

That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, communication means A, B, and C capable of transmitting and receiving information including at least one of image information, character information, and voice information are provided by a respiratory gas supply, respectively. A communication method for communicating predetermined information between the communication means A, the communication means B, and the communication means C for use by a device user, a respiratory gas supply device use support organization, and a medical institution. The predetermined information is an information processing method including at least one of facility information, operation condition information, and operation information of the respiratory gas supply device and patient vital information.

As other aspects of the present invention, there are an information processing network system for enabling such information processing, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium on which such a computer program is recorded. .

Here, any known communication means may be used as the communication means A, the communication means B, and the communication means C.
As a system for communicating between the support organization, the user of the respiratory gas supply device, and the medical institution using the communication means A, the communication means B, and the communication means C, any known network system can be used. . It is also possible to use an internet line.

Such a function of transmitting and receiving can be realized by attaching a computer to the communication means A, the communication means B and the communication means C.

When a computer is used, a general-purpose personal computer or the like can be used by creating a computer program for executing the above-mentioned communication method. If a computer-readable recording medium on which such a program is recorded is used, it is possible to easily cope with new installation of a respiratory gas supply device and the like.

Normally, the respiratory gas supply device is fixedly installed in a home or the like. However, renewal of the equipment, new installation of the respiratory gas supply device, suspension of use, change of the location of the user of the respiratory gas supply device, etc. The location of the respiratory gas supply device and the usage conditions are changed quite frequently due to the factors described above, and the contents of the above-mentioned information on the respiratory gas supply device change unsteadily. It has been found that it can be a major cause that makes it difficult for institutions to clearly understand who and what to support. In addition, since the user of the respiratory gas supply device is not proficient in the technology related to the respiratory gas supply device, it is conceivable that the communication of the intention cannot be sufficiently achieved only by voice and text information of a telephone or the like.

It has been found that the above information is important in order to communicate this intention.

That is, the information processing method according to the present invention firstly transmits equipment information, operating condition information, and operating information of the respiratory gas supply device between the communication means A, the communication means B, and the communication means C. Thus, it can be transmitted and received as information including at least one of image information, character information, and audio information.

Here, the equipment information of the respiratory gas supply device may include any information on the structure and software of the respiratory gas supply device. The operating condition information can include all conditions related to pressure, flow rate, temperature, humidity, volume, concentration, operating time, and the like used in the respiratory gas supply device. In addition, as the operation information, pressure, flow rate,
Actual values such as temperature, humidity, volume, concentration, operating time, etc. can be included.

As recording means for electronically recording equipment information, operating condition information, and operating information of the breathing gas supply device,
You can also use a computer. This recording means may be attached to the respiratory gas supply device, or may be installed intensively at another location as a collection device.
This information can primarily be used by support agencies to assist in support activities.

The use of information including at least one of image information, character information, and voice information for communication is, as described above, only after a person familiar with a support organization or a medical institution and a technology related to a respiratory gas supply device. This is for the purpose of ensuring reliable and prompt exchange of information with users of the respiratory gas supply device, which are not necessarily present.

In this case, it is particularly desirable to exchange image information. Then, in order to provide for this, it is desirable that the communication means A and / or B is provided with an imaging means. As the imaging means, any means such as a digital camera and a video tape recorder can be used.

Furthermore, as a result of examining information useful for information exchange between the user of the breathing gas supply device and the support organization, the geographical position of the breathing gas supply device, the model of the breathing gas supply device, The personal medical history of the user of the respiratory gas supply has proven to be particularly important.

In addition to these, the pressure and set value in the oxygen concentrating means, the temperature and humidity of the breathing gas, the flow rate and the set value of the breathing gas, the oxygen concentration and the set value in the breathing gas are also communicated. Information was found to be useful.

Furthermore, if possible, an abnormal alarm relating to the respiratory gas supply device, the operating time of the respiratory gas supply device, overcurrent when the respiratory gas supply device has a built-in computer, Information about malfunctions and power supply voltage anomalies is also useful. In the specification of the present application, such information is also included in facility information, operating condition information, and operating information of the gas supply device for breathing.

That is, the ability of the support organization to receive the information on the equipment information, the operating condition information, and the operation information of the respiratory gas supply device is very useful for providing technical support. Although it is not always necessary for the person, it is sometimes necessary. Here, it is desirable that the information relating to the facility information, the operating condition information, and the operating information of the breathing gas supply device include not only current information but also past information.

Of the above information, the geographical position of the respiratory gas supply device is important, contrary to expectation, in that the respiratory gas supply device is newly installed, discontinued, or used by the user of the respiratory gas supply device. This is because it is important to quickly grasp the latest information in response to factors such as a change in location to support the user of the respiratory gas supply device.

The importance of the information on the type of breathing gas supply device is important because, in the case of rapidly changing technological innovation, the support organization may not be able to immediately respond to all types of breathing gas supply devices. Because it is possible.

It goes without saying that knowing the personal medical history of the user of the respiratory gas supply device will help the communication between the support organization and the user of the respiratory gas supply device.

The following information can be given as examples of other information.

The respiratory gas supply device usually includes a compressor for sending compressed air to the oxygen concentrating means, a cooling fan for removing heat generated by the compression of the air,
Adsorption type or membrane type oxygen concentrating means, means for detecting the pressure in the oxygen concentrating means, means for measuring the flow rate of the respiratory gas supplied to the user of the respiratory gas supply device, supply to the user of the respiratory gas supply device When the oxygen concentration in the respiratory gas to be measured, the pressure in the oxygen concentrator, the flow rate of the respiratory gas, and the oxygen concentration in the respiratory gas are out of the predetermined range, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred. It has a warning means such as a sound when detected, a lamp or the like, a computer system used for the purpose of controlling the operating conditions of the respiratory gas supply device, detecting the above-mentioned abnormality and issuing a warning, and the like.

Among the cases where the pressure in the oxygen concentrating means is out of the predetermined range, the case where the pressure in the oxygen concentrating means is lower than the lower limit corresponds to, for example, a case where some abnormality occurs in the compressor itself, and the upper limit. For example, a case in which water is excessively adsorbed on the adsorbent in the oxygen concentrating means corresponds to the case where the water content exceeds the above.

As a case where the flow rate of the breathing gas is out of the predetermined range, there is a case where the flow rate is lower than an allowable lower limit flow rate with respect to the flow rate set by a doctor or the like. Specifically, if the allowable range is set at 50% or more with respect to the set value of 2 L / min, an abnormal alarm will be issued at less than 50%.

In the case where the oxygen concentration in the respiratory gas is out of the predetermined range, for example, if the oxygen concentration is 90% or more as the set value and the lower limit is 75%, an abnormal alarm will be issued at less than 75%. .

It has been found that the temperature and humidity in the oxygen concentrating means can be an auxiliary means for detecting the above-mentioned abnormality.

The above information is useful for deepening the understanding between the support organization and the user of the respiratory gas supply device about such an abnormal state.

It is to be noted that such information is appropriately performed by the support organization and the user of the respiratory gas supply device, but it is also important to take thorough measures so that secrets do not leak outside. For this reason, it is preferable to perform an encryption process when transmitting information and to perform a decryption process when receiving information.

However, the above information should be allowed to be accessed only by a specific person, and the output destination of such information must be strictly managed. It is also useful to restrict a part of the information content.

The information to be transmitted and received may further include a start time of use of the respiratory gas supply device, equipment information, operation condition information, and operation information of the respiratory gas supply device in the past. one of. This is because the user of the respiratory gas supply device and the support organization often need the past information.

It should be noted that the facility information, operating condition information, and operating information of these breathing gas supply devices are required to a small degree by doctors and the like. Therefore, the information received by the communication means C does not necessarily need to be included.

Next, in the information processing method according to the present invention,
It exchanges vital patient information, such as arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, subjective symptoms, and other vital vital information for maintaining the patient's survival and proper health. It is desirable to include past information as well as current information.

The oxygen concentration in the arterial blood is an important index for recognizing whether or not the user of the respiratory gas supply device using the respiratory gas supply device is taking oxygen appropriately.
At present, there is a commercially available device that can easily measure by simply attaching a sack-shaped device to a finger.

Since the heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature belong to the most basic information for knowing the health condition of the user of the respiratory gas supply device, and are concepts that appear in daily life, the respiratory gas It is not the kind of information that the supply equipment user has to learn the measuring method again. Therefore,
It is extremely useful as information transmitted by the user of the respiratory gas supply device.

When the user of the respiratory gas supply device transmits the information and the information of the subjective symptoms, and the information is received by a support organization or a medical institution, the condition of the user of the respiratory gas supply device is determined. In the event of a significant change in the system, prompt measures can be taken.

By the nature of the information, the user of the respiratory gas supply device starts transmitting the information using the communication means A, but the communication means B and the communication means C for the past information. It may be sent.

The information is transmitted mainly when a user of the respiratory gas supply device, which is a person, inputs the information to the communication means A. In some cases, the information may be transmitted directly from the device. In this case, the device itself has the role of the communication means C.

Normally, this patient vital information is
It is transmitted from the communication means A to the communication means B and from the communication means B to the communication means C, but there may be other routes.

In order to assist a doctor or the like in prompt processing, a carefully selected type and amount of information transmitted from the communication means A to the communication means B are transmitted from the communication means B to the communication means C. Is desirable.

Further, the arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature can be relatively easily set to the upper limit /
Alternatively, the lower limit is determined, and if the value is out of the lower limit, it is information that can be easily negotiated, such as asking a doctor to make a diagnosis, so that the doctor can check the patient vital information itself. Since it is free from labor, it is useful to set such a limit in advance and to display the warning information on the display device of the communication means C when the limit is exceeded. In addition, it is often desirable that such information can be also displayed on the display device of the communication means A and B.

However, the above information should be allowed to be accessed only by a specific person, and the output destination of such information must be strictly managed. It is also useful to restrict a part of the information content.

When transmission / reception is required at the time of outputting the information contents, it is also desirable to encrypt the transmission contents from the viewpoint of confidentiality.

[0054]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the following is for illustrating a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited by these descriptions, and other forms may be applied as long as they conform to the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, it includes.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a breathing gas supply device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, one or more adsorption cylinders 13 in the respiratory gas supply device 11 filled with an adsorbent 12 capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen have an oxygen concentration increased from air. It is the main part of the oxygen concentrating means for separating the oxygen-enriched gas.

Compressed air is supplied from the compressor 14 to the adsorption cylinder 13 via the flow path switching valve 15.

The gas containing oxygen not adsorbed by the adsorption column 13, that is, the oxygen-enriched air, is stored in the surge tank 16, and the oxygen supply amount is adjusted to be constant by the flow rate setting device 17. Then, it is supplied to the user of the respiratory gas supply device via the nasal cannula 19.

Further, if necessary, a cooling fan 20 for generating cooling air for cooling pump means such as a compressor is provided.

In the respiratory gas supply device 11, the pressure in the oxygen concentrating means is at the position X, and the flow rate of the respiratory gas, the oxygen concentration in the respiratory gas, the temperature and humidity of the respiratory gas are at the position Y. Can be detected.

As the supply means for supplying the breathing gas to the user of the breathing gas supply apparatus, there is a means provided with a conduit means, a nasal cannula, a mask and the like.

FIG. 2 is a model diagram illustrating an information processing method according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a user of a respiratory gas supply device using a respiratory gas supply device 1, a personal computer 2, and a display device 3 of the personal computer 2
And the information from the respiratory gas supply device 1 are transmitted to the system 9 at the support organization. Therefore, the system 4 composed of the respiratory gas supply device 1, the personal computer 2 and the display device 3 corresponds to the communication means A, and the system 9 composed of the personal computer 5 and the display device 6 corresponds to the communication means B. Corresponds to.

A part of the above information is transmitted from the system 9 to the system 10. Therefore, the system 10 including the personal computer 7 and the display device 8 corresponds to the communication unit C.

Note that these devices do not mean essential elements of the communication device. For example, the case where a display device is lacking is also included.

Communication is mainly carried out along routes A → B and B → C. In the route A → B, the equipment information, operating condition information, operating information, and patient vital information of the respiratory gas supply device are expressed as B → In the route C, patient vital information is mainly transmitted.

However, there may be a route shown by a thin arrow in FIG.

Information is displayed on the display devices 3, 6, and 8. As such a display device, a device capable of displaying image information, character information, and voice information is appropriate.

It is desirable that the transmitted information include information for identifying the user of the respiratory gas supply device, the support organization, the medical institution, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the information exchange method of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows that the user of the respiratory gas supply device transmits information including at least one of facility information, operation condition information, and operation information of the respiratory gas supply device to the support organization and patient vital information. The case where warning information regarding patient vital information is transmitted to the institution is described.

In FIG. 3, when the user of the respiratory gas supply device transmits information to the support organization using the communication means (communication means A) under his / her own (S1), the support organization receives the information (S2). It is checked whether or not this information includes patient vital information (S3). If the patient vital information is not included, the process ends without doing anything. Alternatively, information may be transmitted to the communication means C.

When patient vital information is included, the arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature are set to a predetermined upper limit and / or a numerical value included in the information.
Or check whether it is between the lower limit (S
4). If the value is between the predetermined upper limit value and / or lower limit value, the process ends without doing anything. Alternatively, information may be transmitted to the communication means C.

If not within the predetermined upper limit value and / or lower limit value, the communication means B transmits warning information (S
5) The information is received by the communication means C (S6) and displayed on the display device (S7). It is desirable to transmit the alarm information immediately.

The display devices associated with the communication devices A, B, and C always display necessary information.

The contents of the present invention are summarized as follows.

(Supplementary Note 1) Communication means A, B, and C capable of transmitting and receiving information including at least one of image information, character information, and voice information are provided by a user of a respiratory gas supply device and a respiratory gas, respectively. A communication method for communicating predetermined information between the communication means A, the communication means B, and the communication means C, which is used by a supply device use support organization or a medical institution, wherein the predetermined information is the respiration. An information processing method including at least one of facility information, operating condition information, and operating information of a gas supply device for a patient and patient vital information.

(Supplementary note 2) The information processing method according to supplementary note 1, wherein the patient vital information includes at least one of arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and subjective symptoms.

(Supplementary note 3) The communication is transmitted from the communication means A to the communication means B for the predetermined information, and is transmitted from the communication means B to the communication means C for the patient vital information. 3. The information processing method according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2.

(Supplementary Note 4) If the patient vital information deviates from a predetermined reference value, warning information is displayed on at least one of the communication means A, B, and C. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

(Supplementary Note 5) An information processing network system including communication means A, B, and C capable of transmitting and receiving information including at least one of image information, character information, and voice information, Regarding the communication between A and the communication means B, the information to be communicated includes at least one of the equipment information, operating condition information, and operating information of the respiratory gas supply device, and arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, Communication between the communication means A and the communication means C and / or the communication means B and the communication means C, including at least one of respiratory rate, body temperature, and patient vital information of subjective symptoms.
An information processing network in which information transmitted from the communication means A and / or the communication means B to the communication means C includes at least one of arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and patient vital information of subjective symptoms. system.

(Supplementary Note 6) A step in which communication means A and B capable of transmitting and receiving information including at least one of image information, character information, and voice information exchange predetermined information; And / or transmitting at least one of arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and patient vital information of subjective symptoms transmitted by the communication means B to at least one of image information, text information, and voice information. The communication means C capable of transmitting and receiving the information including the one or more, and when the patient vital information deviates from a predetermined reference value, at least one of the communication means A, B and C transmits the warning information. And a computer program for causing the information processing network system to execute the step of displaying.

(Supplementary Note 7) A computer-readable recording medium that records the computer program according to Supplementary Note 6.

[0083]

According to the information processing method, system, computer program, and recording medium of the present invention, a large number of respiratory gas supply devices, each of which is independently arranged and whose operation is controlled, can be used for respiratory gas supply. It is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for surely, promptly, and sufficiently communicating between a supply device user, a support organization, and a medical institution. In particular, when an important change occurs in the condition of the user of the respiratory gas supply device, prompt measures can be taken.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a respiratory gas supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a model diagram illustrating an information processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Respiratory gas supply device 2,5,7 Personal computer 3,6,8 display device 4,9,10 system 11 Respiratory gas supply device 12 Adsorbent 13 Adsorption cylinder 14 Compressor 15 Flow path switching valve 16 Surge tank 17 Flow rate Setting device 18 Humidifier 19 Nasal cannula 20 Cooling fan 201 Respiratory gas supply device 201a Display 202 Recording means 203 Display 204 Supporting agency 204a Display

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Communication means A, B, and C capable of transmitting and receiving information including at least one of image information, character information, and voice information are provided by a user of a respiratory gas supply device,
A communication method for communicating predetermined information between the communication means A, the communication means B, and the communication means C, which is used by a respiratory gas supply device use support organization or a medical institution, wherein the predetermined information is An information processing method including at least one of facility information, operating condition information, and operating information of the respiratory gas supply device and patient vital information. 2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the patient vital information includes at least one of arterial blood oxygen concentration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and subjective symptoms.