JP2005136585A - Nurse call slave machine system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a cord without using a radio wave. <P>SOLUTION: In a handy unit 109, a calling key 109a outputs a detection signal in accordance with an artificial operation for requesting a nurse call. A call signal output part 109b outputs a call signal in accordance with the output of the detection signal. The call signal is modulated by a modulation part 109e and is inputted to a light emitting element 109f. The light emitting element 109f is driven by an output signal of the modulation part 109e and emits an infrared ray with which the call signal is overlapped. In a fixed unit 110, a signal overlapped with the infrared ray emitted from the light emitting element 109f is extracted by a light receiving element 110a and a demodulation part 110b. The signal is transmitted to a nurse call master machine through an individual information passage light 107. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a nurse call cordless handset system which is applied to, for example, a nurse call system and receives an operation for a nurse call call by a patient, for example.

  The nurse call cordless handset is provided with a nurse call button, and accepts an operation for calling the nurse call by the nurse call button.

Such a nurse call slave is generally connected to a terminal installed on a wall surface of a hospital room via a cord. However, since the cord interferes with the life of the patient and the medical practice at the bedside, it is desired to make the nurse call cordless device cordless. And it is already known to make a nurse call cordless handset using wireless communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP2003-33409A

  However, when wireless communication is used, there is a risk of interference with medical devices and other nurse call slaves. In order to avoid such interference, radio waves must be managed, which is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a nurse call cordless handset system capable of realizing cordlessness without using radio waves.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light emitting element that emits infrared light in a nurse call slave system that constitutes a nurse call system together with a nurse call master that performs a nurse call in response to receiving a call signal. And a means for outputting a detection signal in response to detecting an artificial operation requesting a nurse call, and the light emission for emitting infrared light on which the calling signal is superimposed in response to the detection signal being output. A handy unit comprising a driving means for driving the element, and a fixed unit comprising means for extracting a signal superimposed on the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element and sending the signal to the nurse call master unit; Equipped with.

  By taking such a measure, the handy unit emits infrared light from the light emitting element in which a call signal is superimposed in response to an artificial operation requesting a nurse call. The signal superimposed on the infrared light is extracted by the fixed unit and sent to the nurse call master unit. Accordingly, the call signal is transmitted between the handy unit and the fixed unit by infrared light, and the cordless connection between the handy unit and the fixed unit can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, a nurse call cordless handset system capable of realizing cordless without using radio waves by performing signal transmission between the handy unit and the fixed unit using infrared light. .

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a nurse call system in which a nurse call slave device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. In this embodiment, a nurse call system for nursing support installed in a ward will be described as an example.

  This nurse call system includes hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n installed in each hospital room, and a nurse call master unit 2 as a center device installed in a nurse center. ˜1-n and nurse call master unit 2 are connected via a communication line. The nurse call system also includes a wireless switching device 3 and a private branch exchange (PBX) 4 installed in a communication center in a hospital, for example, and a wireless unit 6 is connected to the wireless switching device 3, and PBX 4 Connected to the public network 5.

  Further, a nursing support server 9 and a printer 10 are connected to the nurse call master unit 2 via, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) 8. The nursing support server 9 stores and manages various information for nursing support. The printer 10 prints out the data stored in the nursing support server 9. In the example of FIG. 1, the nursing support server 9 and the printer 10 are connected to each other via a hub 8 a belonging to the LAN 8 and further connected to the nurse call parent device 2.

  The hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n include a microphone 101 and a speaker 102 installed on the ceiling of a hospital room, a toilet / bathroom push button 103, a representative corridor lamp 104, and a recovery button 105. It is connected to the individual information corridor lamp 107 via the I / O unit 106. In addition, the hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n include an infrared cordless handset system 108. The infrared cordless handset system 108 further includes a handy unit 109 and a fixed unit 110. The fixed unit 110 is installed on the ceiling of the hospital room and is connected to the individual information corridor lamp 107 using a cable.

  Among these, the toilet / bathroom push button 103 is used when the patient calls the nurse, and outputs a call signal according to the operation. This calling signal is transmitted to the individual information corridor lamp 107 via the I / O unit 106. The handy unit 109 is also provided with a push button for the patient to call the nurse. When the push button is pressed, a call signal is transmitted to the individual information corridor lamp 107. When receiving the call signal, the individual information corridor lamp 107 displays the occurrence of the call on its own display unit. At the same time, the individual information corridor lamp 107 transmits a call signal to the nurse call master unit 2. The individual information corridor lamp 107 inserts a push button number or address information into the call signal.

  The microphone 101, the speaker 102, and the infrared cordless handset system 108 are used by the patient to make a call with the nurse who has answered the call, and the call signal is transmitted to the nurse call parent via the call path. Is transmitted to and from machine 2. The communication path is established by the nurse responding to the patient's call in the nurse call master unit 2. The recovery button 105 is used when resetting the call.

  The wireless switching device 3 is composed of, for example, a local PHS (Personal Handyphone System) compatible switching device, and includes a plurality of extension interfaces, a local line interface, and a maintenance interface in addition to a switching control unit and a time switch. Radio base stations 6-1 and 6-2 of the radio unit 6 are connected to the extension interfaces, respectively. The radio base stations 6-1 and 6-2 each form a radio area, and are connected to the mobile terminals 7-1 to 7-m existing in the radio area via a radio line. PBX4 is connected to the office line interface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the infrared cordless handset system 108. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the handy unit 109 includes a call button 109a, a call signal output unit 109b, a microphone 109c, an encoding unit 109d, a modulation unit 109e, a light emitting element 109f, a light receiving element 109g, a demodulation unit 109h, a decoding unit 109i, A speaker 109j, an infrared communication inspection unit 109k, and an alarm sound generation unit 109m are included. Fixed unit 110 includes a light receiving element 110a, a demodulation unit 110b, a modulation unit 110c, a light emitting element 110d, and an infrared communication inspection unit 110e.

  The call button 109a is used when the patient calls the nurse, and outputs a detection signal in response to being artificially pressed. The call signal output unit 109b provides a call signal to the modulation unit 109e in response to the detection signal output from the call button 109a. The microphone 109c is used by the patient to make a call with the nurse who has responded to the call, and outputs a voice signal corresponding to the voice uttered by the patient. The encoding unit 109d encodes the audio signal output from the microphone 109c using, for example, PCM. The encoding unit 109d gives the encoded audio signal to the modulation unit 109e. The modulation unit 109e modulates the input signal using a modulation method for infrared light communication. The light emitting element 109f is driven by the output signal of the modulation unit 109e, and emits infrared light on which the signal is superimposed.

  The light receiving element 110a receives the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 109f, and outputs a signal superimposed on the infrared light. The demodulator 110b demodulates the output signal of the light receiving element 110a. The output signal of the demodulator 110b is sent to the individual information corridor lamp 107.

  The signal sent from the individual information corridor lamp 107 is input to the modulation unit 110c. Modulator 110c modulates this input signal with a modulation scheme for infrared light communication. The light emitting element 110d is driven by the output signal of the modulation unit 110c and emits infrared light on which this signal is superimposed.

  The light receiving element 109g receives the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 110d and outputs a signal superimposed on the infrared light. The demodulator 109h demodulates the output signal of the light receiving element 109g. The decoding unit 109i decodes the output signal of the demodulation unit 109h and reproduces the audio signal. The audio signal output from the decoding unit 109i is input to the speaker 109j. The speaker 109j outputs sound corresponding to the input signal.

  The infrared communication inspection unit 109k periodically performs inspection communication to inspect whether or not the light receiving element 109g can receive infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 110d. The infrared communication inspection unit 109k outputs an alarm activation signal when it is determined that light cannot be received. The alarm sound generation unit 109m generates and outputs an alarm sound signal corresponding to the alarm sound in response to the output of the alarm activation signal from the infrared communication inspection unit 109k. This alarm sound signal is input to the speaker 109j.

  The infrared communication inspection unit 110e periodically performs inspection communication to inspect whether or not the light receiving element 110a can receive infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 109f. If the infrared communication inspection unit 110e determines that the light reception is impossible, the infrared communication inspection unit 110e sends an alarm signal to the individual information corridor lamp 107.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the appearance of the handy unit 109. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting element 109f and the light receiving element 109g are fixed to the first movable member 109n so as to be directed to the upper surface side of the first movable member 109n. The first movable member 109n is attached to the first rotating shaft 109p so that the center of gravity is located on the lower surface side. The first rotating shaft 109p is supported by the second movable member 109r. The second movable member 109r is attached to the second rotating shaft 109s. The first movable member 109n, the first rotary shaft 109p, the second movable member 109r, and the second rotary shaft 109s are accommodated in an opening formed at the tip of the housing 109t. The second rotation shaft 109s is supported by the housing 109t. The first rotation shaft 109p and the second rotation shaft 109s are orthogonal to each other in the axial direction.

  Next, the operation of the nurse call system configured as described above will be described. Note that the nurse call system according to the present embodiment is characterized by an operation related to the infrared cordless handset system 108, and this point will be mainly described.

  When a patient who is a user of the handy unit 109 presses the call button 109a, a detection signal is output from the call button 109a. In response to this, a call signal is output from the call signal output unit 109b. The calling signal is modulated by the modulation unit 109e and transmitted by infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 109f. The call signal is received by the light receiving element 110a and the demodulator 110b in the fixed unit 110, and is sent to the individual information corridor lamp 107. When the call signal arrives, the individual information corridor lamp 107 displays the occurrence of the call on its own display unit and transmits the call signal to the nurse call master unit 2. As a result, in response to the pressing of the call button 109a, the call at the nurse call parent device 2 is executed.

  Now, the voice uttered by the patient to talk to the nurse who answered the call is input by the microphone 109c. An audio signal (hereinafter referred to as an upstream audio signal) is output from the microphone 109c. The upstream audio signal is encoded by the encoding unit 109d and modulated by the modulation unit 109e, and then transmitted by infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 109f. The upstream audio signal is received by the fixed unit 110 by the light receiving element 110a and the demodulator 110b and sent to the individual information corridor lamp 107. The individual information corridor lamp 107 transmits an upstream audio signal to the nurse call parent device 2. As a result, the nurse call parent device 2 can reproduce and output the voice of the patient.

  On the other hand, if an audio signal (hereinafter referred to as a downlink audio signal) indicating a voice uttered by the nurse to talk to a patient using the handy unit 109 is transmitted from the nurse call master unit 2, the downlink audio is transmitted. The signal is sent to the fixed unit 110 via the individual information corridor lamp 107. Then, in the individual information corridor lamp 107, the downstream audio signal is superimposed on the infrared light and transmitted by the modulator 110c and the light emitting element 110d. The downlink audio signal is received by the handy unit 109 by the light receiving element 109g and the demodulation unit 109h, decoded by the decoding unit 109i, and input to the speaker 109j. As a result, the nurse's voice is output from the speaker 109j.

  As described above, the calling signal and the voice signal are transmitted between the handy unit 109 and the fixed unit 110 using infrared light. That is, the handy unit 109 does not need to be connected using a cable or the like, and cordlessness is realized.

  By the way, since it is a patient who operates the handy unit 109, a situation where it is difficult to point the handy unit 109 toward the fixed unit 110 is conceivable. However, since the light emitting element 109f and the light receiving element 109g are attached in the state shown in FIG. 3 in the handy unit 109, the light emitting element 109f and the light receiving element 109g are always directed in a direction close to the vertical direction. That is, the first movable member 109n and the second movable member 109r can freely rotate in directions around the respective axes of the first rotating shaft 109p and the second rotating shaft 109s that are orthogonal to each other, In addition, since the center of gravity of the first movable member 109n is located on the lower surface side, the directing directions of the light emitting element 109f and the light receiving element 109g on the upper surface side of the first movable member 109n always try to approach the direction close to the vertical direction. To do.

  For this reason, even if the handy unit 109 is not correctly directed to the fixed unit 110, the light emitting element 109f and the light receiving element 109g can be directed toward the ceiling, that is, the fixed unit 110. As a result, the communication state between the handy unit 109 and the fixed unit 110 can be maintained satisfactorily.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e.
As shown in FIG. 4, in step ST1, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e wait for the periodically determined inspection timing to arrive. If the inspection timing has arrived, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e proceed from step ST1 to step ST2.

  In step ST2, the infrared communication inspection sections 109k and 110e perform inspection communication between the handy unit 109 and the fixed unit 110. Subsequently, in step ST3, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e confirm whether or not the inspection communication is successful. If the inspection communication fails, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e proceed from step ST3 to step ST4.

  In step ST4, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e send out an alarm activation signal or an alarm signal. Thus, in the handy unit 109, the alarm sound generation unit 109m outputs an alarm sound signal, and the alarm sound is output from the speaker 109j. In addition, an alarm signal is sent to the individual information corridor lamp 107 and the nurse call master unit 2, and an alarm can be output based on the alarm signal.

  When step ST4 is completed, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e return to the standby state of step ST1. When the inspection communication is successful, the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e return from step ST3 to the standby state of step ST1 without executing step ST4.

  Thus, the patient can know that the handy unit 109 cannot communicate with the fixed unit 110 based on the alarm sound output from the speaker 109j. As such a situation, the handy unit 109 may be placed in a position hidden from the fixed unit 110 or the battery of the handy unit 109 may be exhausted. It is possible for the patient to know this, and it is possible to quickly cope with such an abnormality.

  In addition, the nurse can know that the handy unit 109 is in an abnormal state as described above based on the alarm output from the nurse call master unit 2, so that it can be promptly performed without waiting for a contact from the patient. Treatment can be performed.

  By the way, in the case of a patient who can move freely to some extent, it may be possible to cope with the abnormal state as described above. When the patient copes with the abnormal state in this way, if the nurse call master unit 2 outputs an alarm, the nurse's hand is unnecessarily bothered. Therefore, the infrared communication inspection unit 110e of the fixed unit 110 generates an alarm signal when the inspection communication fails even after a predetermined time (for example, 1 to 2 minutes) has elapsed since the first time that the inspection communication failed was detected. May be transmitted.

  In this way, if the patient appropriately copes with the alarm output from the handy unit 109, the alarm call is not output from the nurse call master unit 2, so that the nurse's hand can be prevented from being bothered unnecessarily. . If the patient is notified of the abnormality without dealing with the abnormality, the nurse call master unit 2 outputs an alarm, so that the nurse can take an appropriate action according to the alarm.

  In addition, patients with various medical conditions are mixed in one medical institution. That is, there may be a mixture of patients who can cope with the abnormal state of the handy unit 109 and patients who cannot. Therefore, whether to send out the alarm signal from the infrared communication inspection unit 110e as described above or whether to send out the alarm signal promptly in response to the failure of the inspection communication is described for each handy unit 109. If it is possible to set to the above, it is possible to cause the nurse call master unit 2 to perform appropriate alarm output according to various patients as described above, which is further convenient. Further, it is effective for improving the convenience even if the above-mentioned fixed time for which the infrared communication inspection unit 110e waits until an alarm signal is sent can be changed.

This embodiment can be variously modified as follows.
Only one of the infrared communication inspection units 109k and 110e may be provided.
In order to make it possible to add or replace the handy unit 109 or the fixed unit 110 individually, the handy unit 109 or the fixed unit 110 is produced, or the handy unit 109 or the fixed unit 110 is transferred. Etc. or importing.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a nurse call system in which a nurse call slave device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. The block diagram which shows the structure of the infrared type subunit | mobile_unit system 108 in FIG. The perspective view which shows a part of external appearance of the handy unit 109 in FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the infrared communication test | inspection part 109k, 110e in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  110e ... Infrared communication inspection unit, 1 ... Hospital room unit, 2 ... Nurse call master unit, 108 ... Infrared cordless handset system, 109 ... Handy unit, 110 ... Fixed unit, 109a ... Call button, 109b ... Call signal output unit 109c ... microphone, 109d ... encoding unit, 109e ... modulation unit, 109f ... light emitting element, 109g ... light receiving element, 109h ... demodulation unit, 109i ... decoding unit, 109j ... speaker, 109k, 110e ... infrared communication inspection unit, 109m ... alarm generating unit, 109n, 109r ... movable member, 109p, 109s ... rotating shaft, 109t ... housing, 110a ... light receiving element, 110b ... demodulating part, 110c ... modulating part, 110d ... light emitting element.

Claims (5)

In the nurse call cordless handset system that constitutes the nurse call system together with the nurse call master unit that makes a nurse call in response to receiving the call signal,
A light emitting device emitting infrared light;
Means for outputting a detection signal in response to detecting an artificial operation requesting a nurse call;
A handy unit comprising driving means for driving the light emitting element to emit infrared light on which the calling signal is superimposed in response to the detection signal being output;
A nurse call slave system comprising: a fixed unit provided with means for extracting a signal superimposed on infrared light emitted from the light emitting element and sending the signal to the nurse call master unit. The fixing unit is
Further comprising transmission means for transmitting infrared light superimposed with a downstream audio signal output from the nurse call master unit,
The handy unit is
A light receiving element that receives infrared light;
Means for extracting the downstream audio signal superimposed on the infrared light received by the light receiving element;
Means for outputting audio based on the downlink audio signal;
Means for inputting voice and outputting an upstream voice signal;
The nurse call slave unit system according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit drives the light emitting unit to emit infrared light on which the uplink audio signal is superimposed. The handy unit is
The nurse call according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a movable mechanism to which the light emitting element or the light receiving element is attached and which moves so that a directivity direction of the light emitting element or the light receiving element approaches a vertical direction. Child machine system. The handy unit is
Means for periodically inspecting whether or not infrared light emitted by the transmission means can be received by the light receiving element;
The nurse call cordless handset system according to claim 2, further comprising means for generating an alarm sound when it is determined that the infrared light cannot be received by the inspection. The fixing unit is
Means for periodically inspecting whether infrared light emitted by the light emitting element can be received by the receiving means;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting an alarm signal to the nurse call master unit when it is determined that the infrared light cannot be received by the inspection. Or the nurse call cordless handset system according to claim 2.

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