JP2008054835A - Health state diagnosing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure the health state easily and continuously without stressing a living body. <P>SOLUTION: The health state diagnosing system comprises an imaging part 31 for imaging an object including biological information, an image processing means 27 for extracting the quantity of characteristics related to the health state of the living body based on the image information obtained by the imaging, and a determination means 28 for determining the health state of the living body based on the extracted quantity of characteristics. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a health condition diagnosis system that diagnoses a health condition by image processing.

  In recent years, self-medication for managing one's own health has progressed, and there has been an increasing demand for a health assist device that can easily and continuously grasp his / her health. Conventionally, a health scale is grasped by using a weight scale, a body fat scale, a blood pressure monitor and the like.

Further, as a health condition measuring apparatus using an image, for example, a system described in Patent Document 1 is known. This Patent Document 1 describes that the degree of health is determined using tongue color information and the like.
JP 2005-137756 A

  The present invention provides a health condition diagnosis system that can easily and continuously measure a health condition without imposing a load on a living body and can appropriately manage a health condition from a plurality of people to a person living alone. The purpose is that.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that images a target object including biological information, an image processing unit that extracts a feature quantity related to the health state of the living body based on image information obtained by imaging, and an extraction unit. And determining means for determining the health state of the living body based on the feature amount.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a determination result of the determination unit, a storage unit that stores a determination result of the determination unit, and displays current or past information on the display unit according to a request. And a display control means.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes a communication unit for communicating via a network, and transmits and receives required information.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes a sensor, and the determination unit performs determination using information of the sensor.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes illumination means for irradiating an object including biological information.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention is provided with an individual specifying information input means for inputting information for specifying an individual.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that the determination means performs determination based on color information and shape information.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising timing determination means for determining the timing at which the determination means acquires an image for determining the health condition based on image information obtained by imaging.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes a light amount control unit that changes the light amount of the illumination unit based on image processing.

  The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention images a target object including biological information, extracts a feature amount related to the health state of the living body based on the image information, and determines the health state of the living body based on the feature amount. It is easy to measure the health status continuously and with little burden on humans. The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention stores the determination result and displays current or past information as required, so that it can be visually checked including the history and facilitates the management and management of the health condition. In addition, the health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes communication means for communicating via a network, and can send and receive required information. In addition, the health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes a sensor, can perform determination using information of the sensor, and enables more appropriate determination. Since the health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention includes the illumination unit, an image having a necessary luminance can be captured and image-processed. The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention can input information for identifying an individual and can be used for a plurality of people. In the health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention, the determination is performed based on the color information and the shape information, so that a more appropriate determination can be made. In the health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention, the timing for acquiring the image for determining the health condition is determined based on the image information obtained by imaging, so that it is possible to acquire and determine a sufficient image for determination. The health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention changes the amount of light by the illumination unit based on image processing, so that the illumination state of the object can be made appropriate, and an image with necessary luminance can be captured and processed.

  Embodiments of a health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a health condition diagnosis system according to the present invention. The main body 10 is configured around a control unit 20 configured by, for example, a personal computer, and an imaging unit 31 and an illumination unit 32 are connected to the control unit 20. The imaging unit 31 is a CCD or CMOS imaging device that obtains a color image signal, and is installed in the toilet seat 101 at a position where the excrement can be imaged, as shown in FIG. 2 together with the illumination unit 32. . The illumination unit 32 is configured by an LED or the like that is capable of dimming control and that irradiates an object with a necessary amount of light.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 20 has a display unit 21 constituted by a CRT, an LCD, etc., an external storage interface 22 for connecting an external storage device 33, and a sensor interface for connecting a sensor 34. 23, and an input unit 24 for inputting information for identifying an individual is connected. Further, a communication unit 25 including a communication interface is connected, and connected to a computer 41 such as a hospital via the network 40, so that required information can be transmitted and received.

  The input unit 24 is disposed at a toilet entrance or the like, and a keyboard can be used as the input unit 24, but a biometric authentication device can also be used. As the sensor 34, a pressure sensor that detects seating, an odor sensor that mainly detects a gas odor, such as H2S, and the like are used.

  The control unit 20 includes a memory 26, an image processing unit 27, and a determination unit 28. The memory 26 stores color sample information for specifying a color, an analysis table in which color and shape information are associated with health state information as shown in FIGS.

  The image processing unit 27 extracts a feature amount related to the health state of the living body based on image information obtained by imaging, and detects a color and a shape from the excrement as a feature amount. For color detection, for example, comparison with color sample information stored in the memory 26 is performed, and information on the color sample having the highest similarity is detected. To identify the shape, edge detection, which is known in image processing, is performed, and the area of the contour by the edge, the entire spread area, and the threshold of height are determined for each shape shown in FIG. Detect which one is applicable. Regarding the height, the imaging unit 31 is configured to move by turning or the like, and the height is detected by changing the imaging position under the control of the control unit 20.

  The determination unit 28 determines the health state of the living body based on the feature amount extracted by the image processing unit 27. Here, based on the color and shape, determinations such as “health” and “too much water” are made from the tables shown in FIGS.

  Since the health condition diagnosis system having the above configuration operates according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation will be described based on the flowcharts. The control unit 20 detects whether or not there is an input (S11). When the input is made, an analysis is performed (S12) to detect whether or not the user is seated (S13).

  If it is detected in step S11 that the user is not seated, processing is performed based on the contents requested from the input unit 24, such as display of history information and transmission via the network 40 (S14). If it is detected in step S11 that the user is seated, the image processing means 27 and the determination means 28 are activated (S15).

  The flowchart of FIG. 7 corresponds to the operations of the image processing means 27 and the determination means. The activated image processing means 27 captures and digitizes the image sent from the imaging unit 31 (S21), obtains the brightness level, and detects whether the light quantity is appropriate (brightness level) based on a preset threshold value. (S22). In step S22, if the appropriate amount of light has not been reached, the light amount of the illumination unit 32 is controlled (S23; light amount control means).

  If it is detected in step S22 that the appropriate amount of light has been reached, the timing at which the determination means 28 acquires an image for determining the health condition is determined based on image information obtained by imaging (S24; timing). Decision means). For example, when there is no change in the image, or immediately before being washed with water, it is determined which image is to be processed by capturing the background difference or the like. Next, the determined feature amount is extracted (S25). In this step S25, the color sample information stored in the memory 26 is compared, and the color sample information having the highest similarity is detected. Further, edge detection known in image processing is performed, and an area defined by an edge contour, an overall spread area, and a height threshold are determined for each shape shown in FIG. The shape is identified by detecting whether it falls under.

  Following step S25, the feature amount is sent to the determination means 28 (S26). The determination means 28 obtains from the table shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 based on the color and shape which are the feature values. If it is soft, a determination such as “too much moisture” is made (S27). When an odor sensor is used, a determination is made by associating a health condition (possibility of enteritis) with the detected information. For example, when the feature values and the determination results by the sensors are all adopted, for example, when “111” in the table of FIG. 3 corresponds, “health” is obtained from the table shown in FIG. These are combined to say, “Health but there is a possibility of dietary fiber shortage”. The determination result is displayed on the display unit 21 and stored in the external storage device 33 together with the personal identification information (S28).

  In addition to the above, the control unit 20 creates normal state information based on the information stored in the external storage device 33 together with the personal identification information, and when the same feature amount is obtained, the determination unit 28 determines “healthy”. It is also possible to make a decision by creating information. Further, as the timing determining means, it is possible to detect when the seating sensor is moved away from the seating and use the image at this time.

  In addition, when the color of the water of washing influences, feature extraction is performed after removing this component for image processing, and a plurality of illumination units that output light having different spectral characteristics are provided as the illumination unit 32. In addition, processing may be performed on images at the time of each illumination or at the time of one illumination.

The block diagram which shows the Example of the health-diagnosis system which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the attachment state of the principal part member in the Example of the health-conditions diagnosis system which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the content of the table used in order to take out a health condition from the shape and color used for the Example of the health condition diagnosis system which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the content of the table used for the Example of the health-conditions diagnosis system which concerns on this invention in which the color and the health condition were matched. The figure which shows the content of the table used in the Example of the health-conditions diagnosis system which concerns on this invention in which the shape and the health condition were matched. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement in the Example of the health-diagnosis system which concerns on this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement in the Example of the health-diagnosis system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 20 Control part 21 Display part 22 External storage interface 23 Sensor interface 24 Input part 25 Communication part 26 Memory 27 Image processing means 28 Determination means 31 Imaging part 32 Illumination part 40 Network 41 Computer

Claims (9)

Imaging means for imaging an object containing biological information;
Image processing means for extracting feature quantities relating to the health state of the living body based on image information obtained by imaging;
A health condition diagnosis system comprising: a determination unit that determines a health condition of a living body based on the extracted feature value. Display means for displaying a determination result by the determination means;
Storage means for storing a determination result by the determination means;
The health condition diagnosis system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying current or past information on the display means in response to a request. The health condition diagnosis system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit for communicating via a network, wherein the necessary information is transmitted and received. Equipped with sensors,
The health condition diagnosis system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination unit performs determination using information of the sensor. The health condition diagnosis system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising illumination means for irradiating an object containing biological information. The health condition diagnosis system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising personal identification information input means for inputting information for identifying an individual. The health condition diagnosis system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the determination means performs determination based on color information and shape information. 8. The timing determination unit according to claim 1, further comprising a timing determination unit that determines a timing at which the determination unit acquires an image for determining a health condition based on image information obtained by imaging. Health condition diagnosis system. 6. The health condition diagnosis system according to claim 5, further comprising light amount control means for changing a light amount by the illumination means based on image processing.

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