JP2009247690A - Defecation desire informer and detector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify a caregiver of a cared person's defecation desire from within the cared person's body. <P>SOLUTION: The defecation desire informer is an indigestible solid material having the size and shape which the cared person can swallow down, pass through his or her digestive organ to the rectum, and is discharged through the anus. The solid material contains a substance detectable from outside the cared person's body. When the solid material reached his or her rectum, the detectable substance in it is detected from outside his or her body, and the caregiver is notified of it as the cared person's defecation desire. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a care recipient who has a physical disability and needs care at the time of defecation, especially caregiver who cannot recognize constipation or cannot convey it to the caregiver by words, machine operation, etc. The present invention relates to a stool notification device and a stool detector for notifying a caregiver of the convenience of a care recipient.

The mechanism of defecation will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional structure of the rectum / anus. The rectum 51 is an intestinal tract having a total length of about 15 to 20 cm. . The anal canal 54 is 3-4 cm for men and 2-3 cm for women.

  When there is no stool in the rectum 51, the anal canal 54 is closed by a certain pressure due to the action of the internal anal sphincter muscle 52 without being conscious. When the stool moves to the rectum 51 due to the peristaltic movement of the intestine and a certain amount of stool (150 to 250 mL) accumulates in the rectum 51, the internal anal sphincter 52 relaxes due to the spinal reflex to the stimulus, and the anal canal 54 At this time, the anal canal 54 is closed by contracting the external anal sphincter muscle 53 and the anal fistula 55 by feeling convenience. That is, the rectum 51 and the internal anal sphincter 52 hold the stool in an unconscious state, and when the stool is recognized, the external anal sphincter 53 and the like are prevented from leaking. By crouching, the flexion between the rectum 51 and the anal canal 54 expands, and when the internal pressure in the rectum 51 increases due to abdominal pressure (ikimi) or contraction of the rectum 51, the external anal sphincter 53 is reflexively relaxed. The feces are excreted. When the defecation ends, the internal anal sphincter 52 contracts and the anal canal 54 is closed.

  Such excretion is very important for human beings to live, but various problems may arise when a person cannot use the wheelchair or walker due to a physical disability. Will arise. First, a care recipient who cannot go to the toilet himself / herself tells the caregiver his / her convenience and is taken to the toilet with the help of the caregiver. However, due to the caregiver's convenience, the constipation of the care recipient cannot be handled immediately, and the timing of defecation may be missed. In addition, the caregiver is always accompanied by situations in which the caregiver is unable to communicate to the caregiver by language or machine operation, or the caregiver cannot recognize the constipation itself, even if the caregiver is aware of the constipation. However, it is very difficult to take the caregiver's convenience and take it to the bathroom. If the opportunity for defecation is missed from this situation, the stool becomes absorbed and hardened when it reaches the anal canal from the rectum, which may make it difficult to defecate on its own, increasing the burden on the caregiver. There may be a vicious circle that increases.

  By the way, there are many people who need to go to the toilet and defecate while receiving the help of the caregiver. However, in an environment where the caregiver's hands do not turn because of a shortage of personnel, such as an environment where there is no time to accompany him / her to the toilet immediately after receiving a message from the care recipient and to accompany him until the end of the bowel movement The care recipient may be laid in bed and forced to defecate to a diaper. If the care recipient himself / herself cannot be aware of the constipation or cannot be communicated to the caregiver, the care recipient will often be laid down in bed and taken into a diaper defecation. . On the other hand, it is difficult to forcibly defecate from the above defecation mechanism even if the care recipient is regularly taken to the toilet regardless of whether there is any constipation.

  By the way, a defecation detection system for an elderly person who has bedridden dementia installs an IC tag with a temperature sensor in a diaper, transmits temperature information of the diaper with a radio signal, and monitors a change in time to detect defecation to the diaper. It has been developed (Non-Patent Document 1). However, this system is assumed to be used for exchanging diapers after defecation and cannot be used as a system for detecting the convenience of the care recipient as described above.

In addition, in order to facilitate endoscopy, capsule-type endoscopes that collect the necessary examination information from swallowing through the mouth and being excreted from the anus have been developed and are in the practical stage. (Patent Document 1). It has been demonstrated that even if such a foreign body is swallowed by the human body, it is excreted.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-210395 Yasuto Yonezawa and four others, "Development of a defecation detection system using IC tags", Ishikawa Prefectural Industrial Experiment Station 2007 results presentation summary, http://irii.go.jp/theme/2007/pdf/ study04.pdf

  Ideally, a care recipient who can defecate in the toilet even when walking is difficult, it is ideal to be taken to the toilet at the timing of defecation. If this is possible, it will protect the dignity of the care recipient and reduce the physical burden. On the other hand, if the caregiver can detect the defecation timing of the care recipient in advance, it is easy to set up care and the burden is greatly reduced. That is, if it is possible for the caregiver to obtain information that the defecation of the care recipient is near, even if the caregiver cannot respond immediately, the caregiver can take some care and take the care recipient to the toilet.

  To that end, it is important how caregivers perceive the convenience of the care recipient, but at present no such system has been developed. In particular, if the care recipient cannot recognize the constipation, or if the care recipient cannot recognize the constipation by words or machine operation, the constipation of the care recipient is detected. The problem is how to convey the convenience to caregivers.

  In addition, it is possible to conceive not only the care recipient in bed, but also sitting on a wheelchair, for example, in accordance with the timing of defecation so that the stool can easily fall into the rectum and feel stool. At this time, if the caregiver can detect the convenience of the care recipient, even if the caregiver cannot feel the convenience felt to the caregiver, the care recipient can be taken to the toilet, and the care recipient However, it is possible to defecate according to the convenience, and a great rehabilitation effect is expected both mentally and physically.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a stool notification device and a stool detector that can notify the caregiver of the constipation of the care recipient from the body of the care recipient.

  The stool notification device of the present invention has a size and shape that can be swallowed by a care recipient, is a solid material of non-digestible material that passes through the digestive organs and descends to the rectum and is excreted from the anus, and is extracorporeal. When the solid object reaches the rectum, the object to be detected is detected from outside the body and notified as the convenience of the care recipient.

  The detected object of the convenience notification device of the present invention is a magnet, and is configured to detect a solid object that has reached the rectum by the magnetism of the magnet and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient.

  An object to be detected of the convenience notification device of the present invention is a wireless IC chip that transmits a wireless signal, and is configured to transmit a wireless signal to detect a solid object that has reached the rectum and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient.

  The detected object of the convenience notification device of the present invention is a metal substance that can be detected by a metal detector, and is configured to detect a solid material that has reached the rectum by the metal detector and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient.

  The object to be detected of the convenience notification device of the present invention is a substance that can be detected by an ultrasonic detector, and is configured to detect a solid object that has reached the rectum by the ultrasonic detector and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient.

  The stool detection device of the present invention is installed at a position close to the anus outside the body of a care recipient and detects the stool notification device of the present invention that has approached a predetermined detection distance in the rectum, and the detection unit is a stool notification device. And transmitting means for transmitting a first alarm signal indicating the convenience of the care recipient. Furthermore, a strain sensor or a pressure sensor that detects that a care recipient is seated on the chair and outputs a detection signal, and a control unit that operates the detection unit and the transmission unit in response to the input of the detection signal.

  The detection means of the stool detection apparatus of the present invention is configured to be installed on the seat surface of a chair on which a care recipient is seated and at a corresponding position near the anus when the care recipient is seated.

  The convenience detection apparatus of the present invention transmits a body temperature sensor that measures body temperature of a care recipient and outputs body temperature data, and inputs body temperature data, indicating that the body temperature of the care recipient exceeds a predetermined value. And a control means for transmitting a second alarm signal from the means. Furthermore, a strain sensor or a pressure sensor that detects that a care recipient is seated on the chair and outputs a detection signal is provided, and the control unit operates the detection unit, the transmission unit, and the body temperature sensor in response to the input of the detection signal. It is a configuration.

  The convenience notice device according to the present invention can notify the caregiver as the convenience of the care recipient by allowing the care recipient to swallow it with the meal or back and forth, and allowing it to be detected from outside the body when it reaches the rectum. it can.

  The stool detection device of the present invention can detect a stool notification device that has been swallowed by the care recipient and reaches the rectum from outside the body, and further transmits the detection as an alarm signal, so that the convenience of the care recipient can be easily detected. Can be communicated to caregivers.

  This makes it easier for caregivers to take them to the toilet in a timely manner with the convenience of the care recipient, freeing them from filth processing such as changing diapers, and reducing the burden on the caregiver. It is possible to improve the sanitation environment of the facility. In addition, care recipients themselves can naturally defecate in the toilet, so they can be released from humiliating care, such as being put on a diaper or taking out a solid stool. I can concentrate on it.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a stool notification device and a stool detector according to the present invention.
In the drawing, a rectum 51, an internal anal sphincter 52, an external anal sphincter 53, an anal canal 54, and an anal fistula 55 shown as a cross-sectional structure of the rectum / anus are the same as those in FIG.

  The stool notification device 10 has a size and a shape that can be swallowed by a care recipient with meals or before and after the meal, and is made of a non-digestible material that passes through the digestive tract and descends to the rectum 51 and is excreted from the anal canal 54. It includes objects to be detected that are solid and can be detected from outside the body. The stool notification device 10 in FIG. 1 shows a state in which it remains in the rectum 51. Caregivers usually sit on a wheelchair or a special chair to promote bowel movement and encourage defecation after several hours to 10 hours after meals, even if they are lying on the bed. It is desirable to raise the position.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the stool notification device 10. The stool notification device 10 waterproofs the entire magnet 11 with a film 12 made of silicon coating or Teflon (registered trademark), and further coats it with a styrene polymer or silicon, or uses a vegetable elastomer 13. The coated structure is elastic and has a smooth solid surface. In general, the elastomer is made of styrene resin and mineral oil, but the vegetable elastomer 13 uses vegetable resin (resin collected from trees) instead of styrene resin, and vegetable resin instead of mineral oil. It is formed using (steamed oil, sesame oil, etc.). Moreover, you may add fruit juice and a fragrance | flavor to the vegetable elastomer 13. FIG. Furthermore, a vegetable coating agent 14 using a fiber or a gel-like substance such as plant fiber or plant protein is added to the outside of the plant elastomer 13 as necessary, and it seems to have a real relationship with grape and gummy seeds. It may be a form that is easy to drink (easy to eat).

  The magnet 11 is made of a material having a high magnetic flux density, such as a neodymium magnet. For example, the magnet 11 has a shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone having a diameter of about 3 mm and a length of about 4 to 5 mm. 13 and so on, the size is about the size of a capsule or tablet of medicine.

  Normally, the vegetable coating agent 14 of the stool notification device 10 is separated in the digestive tract and reaches the rectum 51 together with the stool in the state of the vegetable elastomer 13. At this time, since the stool notification device 10 is a non-digestible material and is a solid substance having a certain specific gravity, it is easy to reach the rectum 51 prior to the stool body or mixed with the tip of the stool, and the anal canal 54 Temporarily stays at a nearby location. Note that when the stool notification device 10 reaches the rectum 51 and the stool is not sufficiently stored in the rectum 51, it is unlikely that stool will be felt at this point.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the stool detection apparatus 20 of the present invention is installed in a cushion 30 of a chair on which a care recipient is seated and a lower portion thereof. The stool detector 20 includes a magnetic sensor 21, a strain sensor 22, a body temperature sensor 23, a control unit 24 that inputs information detected by each sensor and processes information, and a transmission unit that transmits processing results of the control unit 24 to the outside as an alarm signal. 25. In addition, each part of the stool detection apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 is described as a circuit block diagram.

  The magnetic sensor 21 is embedded in a substantially central portion of the cushion 30 so as to be close to the anus when the care recipient sits on the cushion 30, and reaches the rectum 51 of the care recipient in the stool notification device 10. The magnetism of the magnet 11 is detected, the magnitude thereof is measured and output to the control unit 24. In addition, when the magnetic sensor 21 is divided into a sensor unit that detects magnetism and a measurement unit that measures the magnitude of magnetism, it is installed so that at least the sensor unit is close to the anus of the care recipient.

  Usually, the length of the anal canal is 3 to 4 cm at most, and it is estimated that the magnet 11 of the stool notification device 10 stays about 3 to 10 cm from the anus. On the other hand, if the magnetic flux density of the magnet 11 is, for example, about 3000 to 4000 mG (Gauss), the distance between the feces indicator 10 and the magnetic sensor 21 in the rectum 51 is 3 to 4 cm and 1 to 20 mG, and the distance is 4 to 10 cm and 1 mG. Weak magnetic field can be detected. The value of geomagnetism is about 0.2 mG. Therefore, if the magnet 11 of the stool notification device 10 is within 10 cm from the anus, the magnetism of the stool notification device 10 is easily measured by measuring the magnetism using the magnetic sensor 21 and comparing the geomagnetism 0.2 mG as a threshold value. Presence can be detected.

  FIG. 3 shows the results of a magnetic measurement experiment in the image of the human rectum. Here, a 10 kg pork block of a size simulating a human buttocks was used, and a 3 cm diameter vinyl tube was passed through it. Furthermore, jelly was put in the tube and a magnet was inserted. The magnetic sensor (vertical axis) was measured while changing the distance (horizontal axis) from the bottom (anus) of the tube to the magnet, and the above results were almost confirmed.

  The control unit 24 inputs a magnetic measurement value from the magnetic sensor 21 and estimates the distance to the stool notification device 10 according to the magnetic measurement value. For example, if the measured value of magnetism is about 1 mG, it is determined that the stool notification device 10 reaches the lower part of the rectum 51 and the tip of the stool is lowered to the anal position. That is, it is determined that the care recipient is feeling constipation, and the constipation information is transmitted from the transmission unit 25 as an alarm signal. By receiving this alarm signal, the caregiver can sense the convenience of the care recipient and stand by, and can take the caregiver to the toilet at an appropriate timing. Thereby, the care recipient can spontaneously defecate in the toilet.

  Note that the alarm signal indicates that the bowel notification device 10 has moved down to the rectal 51 of the care recipient, and although it is certain that the bowel movement is near, there may be a case where the bowel movement is not felt immediately or the bowel movement is not performed. In that case, the timing of bringing the care recipient to the toilet in response to the alarm signal may be adjusted as appropriate based on the rule of thumb for each care recipient. In any case, the fact that the caregiver can sense the convenience of the care recipient is greatly beneficial for the care recipient who cannot communicate it and for the caregiver who cannot always follow the care recipient.

  The strain sensor 22 detects that a care recipient is seated on the cushion 30 and is installed at a position where both thighs hit the cushion 30 and a position where both hips hit. A pressure sensor may be used instead of the strain sensor 22. When it is detected that the care recipient is seated according to the magnitude of the strain applied to the strain sensor 22, a detection signal is output to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 controls the magnetic sensor 21 and the transmission unit 25 to be turned on according to the detection signal. Further, when the strain sensor 22 detects that the care recipient has left the cushion 30, the control unit 24 controls the magnetic sensor 21 and the transmission unit 25 to be turned off. Thereby, the power consumption of the convenience detector 20 can be reduced.

  The body temperature sensor 23 is installed at a position where the body temperature in the vicinity of the anus can be measured from the lower limbs or the buttocks when the care recipient sits on the cushion 30. The body temperature data measured by the body temperature sensor 23 is output to the control unit 24. When the control unit 24 inputs the body temperature data and is higher than the normal heat data stored in advance, the control unit 24 determines that the stool is sufficiently stored in the rectum 51 and the defecation is near, and detects the stool notification device 10 An alarm signal having a higher urgency than the alarm signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 25. By receiving this alarm signal, the caregiver senses that the defecation of the care recipient is imminent, and promptly brings the care recipient to the toilet. Thereby, the care recipient can spontaneously defecate in the toilet. Note that the power consumption of the body temperature sensor 23 can also be reduced by the control unit 24 performing on / off control of the power according to the detection signal of the strain sensor 22. The body temperature sensor 23 may be a body temperature sheet that can detect whether the body temperature is higher or lower than the normal temperature.

  In addition, the transmission / reception system which consists of the transmission part 25 of the convenience detector 20 and the receiving part which receives the transmission signal can utilize a wireless LAN system, for example. Further, a system may be configured in which a wireless LAN system and a nurse call system are linked, and further, detection information of the stool detection device 20 is directly transmitted to a caregiver via a PHS or a mobile phone.

(Example of an object to be detected in place of the magnet 11)
As long as the detection object can be detected by a magnetic sensor, not only a magnet but also a magnetic tag, iron, or the like can be used.

  The object to be detected may be configured to use a wireless IC chip that transmits a wireless signal, transmit a wireless signal, detect a solid object that has reached the rectum, and notify the user as caregiver's convenience. In this case, the convenience detection apparatus 20 uses, for example, an IC card reader instead of the magnetic sensor 21, and receives a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless IC chip. In addition, the wireless IC chip may be configured to supply power by electromagnetic induction from the IC card reader side without being required as a power source such as a battery inside. Moreover, the antenna of a radio | wireless IC chip is installed in the length direction inside the convenience reporter 10 (vegetable elastomer 13).

  Further, the detected object may be configured to use a metal substance that can be detected by a metal detector, detect a solid object that has reached the rectum by the metal detector, and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient. In this case, the convenience detector 20 uses a metal detector instead of the magnetic sensor 21 to detect a metal substance that has reached the rectum.

  Further, the detection object may be configured to use a substance that can be detected by an ultrasonic detector, detect a solid object that has reached the rectum by the ultrasonic detector, and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient. In this case, the convenience detector 20 uses an ultrasonic detector instead of the magnetic sensor 21 and detects the substance that has reached the rectum by pressing the ultrasonic detector against the lower abdomen.

The figure which shows embodiment of the stool notification device and stool detector of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the bowel notification device. The figure which shows the result of the magnetic measurement experiment which imaged the rectum of a human body. The figure which shows the cross-section of a rectum / anus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Consciousness notification device 11 Magnet 12 Film 13 Plant elastomer 14 Plant coating agent 20 Consciousness detection device 21 Magnetic sensor 22 Strain sensor 23 Body temperature sensor 24 Control unit 25 Transmission unit 30 Cushion 51 Rectum 52 Internal anal sphincter 53 External anal sphincter muscle 54 Anal Tube 55 anal fistula

Claims (10)

A non-digestible material that has a size and shape that can be swallowed by a care recipient, descends to the rectum through the digestive organs, and is excreted from the anus. Including
When the solid object reaches the rectum, the object to be detected is detected from outside the body and notified as the convenience of the care recipient. The stool notification device according to claim 1,
The said to-be-detected object is a magnet, The said solid object which arrived at the said rectum by the magnetism of a magnet is detected, and it is the structure which notifies as a convenience of a care recipient. The stool notification device according to claim 1,
The detected object is a wireless IC chip that transmits a wireless signal, and is configured to transmit the wireless signal, detect the solid object that has reached the rectum, and notify it as the convenience of the care recipient. A bowel notification device. The stool notification device according to claim 1,
The object to be detected is a metal substance that can be detected by a metal detector, the solid object that has reached the rectum is detected by the metal detector, and is notified as the convenience of the care recipient. Notification device. The stool notification device according to claim 1,
The object to be detected is a substance that can be detected by an ultrasonic detector, the solid object that has reached the rectum is detected by an ultrasonic detector, and is notified as convenience of a care recipient. A bowel notification device. The detection means for detecting the stool notification device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is installed at a position close to the anus outside the body of the care recipient and close to a predetermined detection distance in the rectum,
A stool detection device, comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a first alarm signal indicating the stipulation of the care recipient when the detection unit detects the stool notification device. In the stool detection apparatus of Claim 6,
The detection means is configured to be installed on a seat surface of a chair on which the care recipient is seated, and to be installed at a corresponding position near the anus when the care recipient is seated. apparatus. In the stool detection apparatus of Claim 6,
A strain sensor or a pressure sensor that detects that the care recipient is seated on the chair and outputs a detection signal;
And a control means for operating the detection means and the transmission means in response to an input of the detection signal. In the stool detection apparatus of Claim 6,
A body temperature sensor that measures the body temperature of the care recipient and outputs body temperature data;
Control means for transmitting a second alarm signal from the transmitting means when the body temperature data is input and the body temperature of the care recipient exceeds a predetermined value. apparatus. In the convenience detection apparatus according to claim 9,
A strain sensor or a pressure sensor for detecting that the care recipient is seated on the chair and outputting a detection signal;
The said control means is the structure which operates the said detection means, the said transmission means, and the said body temperature sensor according to the input of the said detection signal. The convenience detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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