JP2007150702A - Nurse call system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nurse call system wherein a communication means at a nurse side can freely select voice or character information communication media even when a communication means at a patient side selects voice for communication media. <P>SOLUTION: A nurse call slave unit includes a means for detecting the utterance of a prescribed voice volume, the means calls a nurse call control unit and allows the call control unit to form a speech path when detecting the utterance of the prescribed voice volume or over, and a nurse call processing apparatus includes a means that applies voice recognition to a voice signal transmitted from the nurse call slave unit to recognize a kind and contents of the call, and a means that converts the recognized voice signal into character information and transmits the character information to a mobile terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a nurse call device used in a hospital or welfare care facility.

As is well known, nurse call devices are mainly installed in hospitals and welfare care facilities for talking with nurses (caregivers at welfare care facilities) and patients. In this nurse call device, each bed is equipped with a caller that the patient uses for calling, and the nurse call parent is installed in the nurse station.
You can talk between them. (See Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent No. 2887552 Patent Publication 2003-283680

In the nurse call device, the communication means exchanged between the patient and the nurse is mainly voice. However, in recent years, it has been developed into a comprehensive nursing system such as displaying patient information, nursing records, nursing schedules, etc., from the function of simply calling. Combined with in-hospital LAN in hospital, receives patient information from electronic medical record system, receives medication, surgery and nursing schedule from doctor from order entry system, and displays and processes various information with nurse call processing device It has become.

A portable terminal, which is carried by a nurse in a hospital room and refers to patient information or inputs a nursing record, exchanges data via a wireless LAN or directly connected to a nurse call processing device with a communication adapter. However, no audio is handled. Therefore, the nurse must bring both a hospital mobile phone (PHS) for communicating with the patient and a portable terminal for inputting and outputting data to the hospital room.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means for converting a communication medium to / from character information suitable for computer processing, whereas the communication means of a nurse call device is a voice, thereby restricting the terminal as hardware. It will be solved.

A proposal shown in Patent Document 2 is proposed for a patient who cannot make a voice or a hearing-impaired patient. This proposal is based on the premise that a nurse uses voice and a patient uses text information. On the other hand, an object of the present invention is to allow the patient side to freely select the communication medium by voice or text information even if the patient uses voice as the communication medium.

The nurse call cordless handset is provided with means for detecting that a volume above a certain level is emitted, and when the nurse call cordless handset detects a volume above a certain level, the nurse call control device is called to form a speech path, and a nurse call processing device. Comprises means for recognizing the voice signal transmitted from the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call controller and recognizing the type and content of the call.

Furthermore, the nurse call processing device converts the recognized voice signal into character information and transmits it to the portable terminal, and the nurse call master unit and the PHS capable of making a voice call via the nurse call controller. A means for notifying a call from the nurse call slave is provided.

The portable terminal has means for displaying the character information transmitted from the nurse call processing device on the display unit and means for displaying a response candidate for the character information. When a response is selected from the displayed response candidates, the response content Is transmitted to the nurse call processing device.

The nurse call processing device comprises means for synthesizing the response content transmitted from the portable terminal from character information and converting it into a voice signal, and means for sending the voice signal to the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call controller. Prepare.

When the nurse call processing device recognizes the voice signal transmitted from the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call control unit and determines that the request content from the patient can be answered by internal processing, the nurse call processing device executes the processing. Means, means for synthesizing the processed result from character information and converting it into a voice signal, and means for sending the voice signal to the nurse call slave via a nurse call controller.

The portable terminal has means for inputting a sentence to be transmitted to the patient and a destination (patient name or room number / bed number), and means for transmitting the sentence and the destination to the nurse call processing device when the input is executed. The nurse call processing device comprises means for synthesizing a sentence and converting it into a voice signal, and means for sending the voice signal to a designated nurse call slave unit via a nurse call controller.

According to the present invention, the nurse call processing device includes means for voice recognition and voice synthesis, so that a portable terminal without a call function can communicate with a patient, and a portable telephone (PHS) does not necessarily have to be carried around. good. In addition, even if the nurse does not respond to the patient's request, the nurse call processing device automatically answers after the internal processing, so that the nurse's effort can be saved and the efficiency of nursing work can be reduced. Will improve. When viewed from the patient side, the nurse call can be called only by voice without operating the call button or the like when calling the nurse call, so the nurse call can be called even by a patient who has difficulty in hand, finger or body.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a nurse call device. A nurse call cordless handset (1) is installed at the bedside of the hospital room and connected to the nurse call control unit (3) and the nurse call communication line (12) via the corridor lamp (2) installed near the entrance to the hospital room. Is done.

The nurse call controller (3) is connected to the nurse call processing device (4), the nurse call parent device (5), and the PHS main device (8) to transmit and receive information. The nurse call master (5) performs a call function with the nurse call slave (1), call display, and various settings. The PHS main unit (8) is connected via a mobile phone (PHS) (10) carried by the nurse and the PHS wireless fixed station (9), and makes a call between the nurse call slave unit (1). To play a role of relay.

The nurse call processing device (4) displays nurse call calls and instructions, displays patient status and information, manages various patient records and history information, manages nursing schedules and schedules, manages nursing plans, wards Information management and bed management, management and display / printing of various forms, various settings, transmission / reception of patient information by connecting to mobile terminal (7) via wireless fixed station (6) via wireless LAN (13) It has various functions such as a function to perform.

Next, a procedure for calling a nurse call will be described. When calling from the patient side, if the voice is a little louder than normal conversation, the nurse call handset (1) detects the volume above a certain level and activates the call to the nurse call control unit (3). FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a nurse call slave that activates a call. In FIG. 3, the sound input from the microphone (25) is compared with the comparative sound volume level set by the level setting unit (29) by the level comparator (28). The nurse call cordless handset (1) calls the nurse call control unit (3) from the corridor lamp interface unit (30) via the corridor lamp (2) when the input voice exceeds the comparison level for a certain time or more. Multiply.

The nurse call controller (3) that has received the call forms a communication path with the nurse call slave (1) and receives the patient's voice signal input from the microphone (25). Send to 4). The nurse call processing device (4) recognizes the type of call and the request for the call by recognizing the voice signal.

The nurse call processing device (4) sends the recognized result to the nurse call controller (3) and the portable terminal (7). The nurse call controller (3) notifies the call to the PHS (10) via the nurse call master (5), the PHS main unit (8), and the PHS wireless fixed station (9) according to the type of the call. .

The notification of the call to the portable terminal (7) is notified by character information and sounding. FIG. 4 shows an example of a call display. The voice signal recognized by the nurse call processing device (4) is converted into character information, transmitted, and displayed on the display unit (31) of the portable terminal (7). Response (32) candidates from the nurse are displayed at the same time, and when the nurse selects the response button, the response content is transmitted to the nurse call processing device (4), converted into a voice signal, and the nurse call controller (3). Is sent to the nurse call cordless handset (1) and transmitted to the patient by voice from the speaker (26) of FIG.

In FIG. 4, A of the response button (32) indicates “I will go now”. When responding that is not included in the response candidates, the mobile terminal (7) may be input with characters to respond.

The nurse call master unit (5) and the PHS (10), which are notified of the call, inform the nurse that there is a call with the ringing sound and display of the call, and can make a call with the patient when the nurse answers.

When calling a patient from the nurse side, it is the same as in the case of the nurse call master unit (5) and PHS (10), but from the portable terminal (7), after inputting the contents to be transmitted to the patient, The patient is selected and transmitted to the nurse call processing device (4). The nurse call processing device (4) synthesizes voice information transmitted from the portable terminal (7), converts it into a voice signal, and sends it to the nurse call slave as a destination via the nurse call controller (3). Send to (1). The transmission destination is transmitted to all patients (referred to as broadcast), selected patients (referred to as broadcast), and individually designated patients.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a nurse call processing device (4) that performs voice recognition, voice synthesis, and voice / character conversion. The configuration of the nurse call processing device (4) consists of a nurse call controller (3) and a nurse call controller interface unit (18) for exchanging data and voice signals, and a control processing unit for controlling and calculating the whole. (16), display unit (23) and display interface unit (19), operation unit (24) and operation interface unit (20), storage unit (17), portable terminal (7) and wireless LAN (13) ), And a nurse call dedicated LAN interface unit (22).

The storage unit (17) includes software such as a speech recognition program (the program is abbreviated as PG in FIG. 2), a speech synthesis program, a call control program, an internal processing program, a speech / character conversion program, and a character / speech conversion program. Is stored.

When the control processing unit (16) receives the voice signal from the nurse call slave (1), the control processing unit (16) activates the voice recognition program to perform voice recognition processing, and determines the call type and content. When it is determined that the call type is emergency call, general call, toilet assistance call, drip end call, or the like, the call control program is activated and notified to the nurse call controller (3).

In addition, the control processing unit (16) activates the voice / character conversion program, converts the voice into character information, and transmits it to the portable terminal (7) via the wireless LAN interface unit (21).

As a method for recognizing speech, a plurality of standard speech data is stored in advance divided into sentences, phrases, words, and characters, and the closest sentences, phrases, words, etc. compared to the input speech. Is selected and converted to character information associated with standard audio data.
As another method, each patient can utter a specific phrase such as a call, and voice data stored in advance can be used.

If the result of the voice recognition is an item that can be answered to the patient by internal processing without bothering the nurse, the control processing unit (16) starts the internal processing program without calling the nurse and performs processing. The result is converted from the character information into a voice signal by a voice synthesis program, and the voice signal is transmitted to the nurse call slave (1) via the nurse call controller (3).

Examples that can be answered only by internal processing include nursing schedule inquiries, surgery and treatment inquiries, patient status inquiries, bathing reservations, nurse call volume adjustment, meal menu inquiries, and the like.
These items can be answered without bothering the nurse if the nurse call processing device (4), the server (11), and the nurse call controller (3) hold data.

When the control processing unit (16) receives a response to the patient's request from the portable terminal (7) or a message from the nurse, the control processing unit (16) activates a voice synthesis program to convert the character information into a voice signal, and the nurse call controller It transmits to the nurse call cordless handset (1) via (3).

In FIG. 2, a server (11), a nurse call processing device (4), a gateway (14), and the like are connected to the nurse call dedicated LAN (15). Patient information and various other information are centrally managed in the server (11), and the nurse call processing device (4) reads the information when necessary.
When receiving patient information from an electronic medical record system or an order entry system, the patient information is received through a gateway (14) connected to the hospital LAN and stored in the server (11).

In FIG. 2, the nurse call processing device (4) is provided with voice recognition, voice synthesis, and a voice / character conversion program. However, the nurse call controller (3) may be provided in one direction.
The formation of the communication path between the nurse call slave unit (1) and the nurse call control unit (3) has been described by a method in which the nurse call slave unit (1) detects a sound volume above a certain level. Any method such as a method for detecting a touch by a contact sensor, a method for detecting blocking or reflection of light, or a method for detecting breath blowing has the same effect.

Nurse call device overall configuration Internal structure of a nurse call processor that performs speech recognition, speech synthesis, and speech / character conversion Configuration of nurse call cordless handset Display example of the mobile terminal when calling

Explanation of symbols

1.
Nurse call handset
2.
Corridor light
3.
Nurse call control machine
Four.
Nurse call processing equipment
Five.
Nurse call parent machine
6.
Wireless fixed station
7.
Mobile device
8.
PHS main unit
9.
PHS radio fixed station
Ten.
PHS (cell phone)
11.
server
12.
Nurse call communication line
13.
Wireless LAN (local area network)
14.
gateway
15.
Nurse call dedicated LAN
16.
Control processing unit
17.
Memory
18.
Nurse call controller interface
19.
Display interface section
20.
Operation interface
twenty one.
Wireless LAN interface section
twenty two.
Nurse call dedicated LAN interface
twenty three.
Display section
twenty four.
Operation part
twenty five.
microphone
26.
Speaker
27.
amplifier
28.
Level comparator
29.
Level setting section
30.
Hallway light interface
31.
Display section
32.
Show answer button
33.
Manual operation button

Claims (4)

A nurse between a plurality of nurse call slaves installed on a patient's bedside, a plurality of hallway lights installed near the entrance of a hospital room and capable of displaying calls from the nurse call slaves, and the nurse call slave units A nurse call parent device that can call, communicate, and communicate with each other via a call controller, a nurse call processing device connected to the nurse call control device, and a wireless LAN from the nurse call processing device
To make a call between a portable terminal carried by a nurse and connected to the nurse call controller and a nurse call slave connected to the local call network (Local Area Network) via a wireless fixed station In a nurse call device composed of a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) main device and a mobile phone (PHS) connected to the PHS main device and a PHS radio base station, a sound volume above a certain level was emitted. When the nurse call slave unit detects the call, the nurse call control unit is called to form a speech path between the nurse call slave unit and the nurse call control unit, and the nurse call processing device The type of call by recognizing the voice signal sent from the nurse call handset via the voice recognition And means for recognizing the contents, converting voice into character information and transmitting it to the portable terminal, displaying the character information on the display unit in the portable terminal, and the nurse call master capable of making a voice call A nurse call device having means for notifying the PHS of a call from the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call control unit. When the nurse call cordless handset detects that a volume higher than a certain level is generated, the nurse call control device is called, and a call path is formed between the nurse call cordless handset and the nurse call control device, and the nurse call The processing device has means for recognizing a voice signal transmitted from the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call controller and recognizing the type and content of the call, and the request content of the patient is the nurse call process. If it can be achieved by the internal processing of the device or the nurse call controller, the corresponding processing of the recognition content is performed, and the response content to the patient is synthesized by voice from the character information and the voice signal is passed through the nurse call controller. The nurse call device according to claim 1, further comprising means for sending to the nurse call slave. When the nurse call cordless handset detects that a volume higher than a certain level is generated, the nurse call control device is called, and a call path is formed between the nurse call cordless handset and the nurse call control device, and the nurse call The processing device has means for recognizing a voice signal transmitted from the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call controller and recognizing the type and content of the call, and converting the voice into character information to convert the voice into character information. When the mobile terminal has means for displaying character information on the display unit on the display unit and means for displaying response candidates for the character information on the display unit, and selects a response from the displayed response candidates The response content is transmitted to the nurse call processing device, and the nurse call processing device synthesizes the response content to the patient from text information and synthesizes the nurse with a voice signal. Nurse call device according to claim 1, characterized by having means for sending via Lumpur controller to the nurse call handset. When character information is input at the portable terminal and the nurse call slave as a transmission destination is selected, the character information is sent from the portable terminal to the nurse call processing device, and the nurse call processing device synthesizes the character information into speech. The nurse call device is converted into a voice signal by the means and sent to the nurse call slave unit via the nurse call controller.