JP2012183199A - Intelligent-rising/rising-predicting sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and program allowing a care giver or the like to remotely recognize rising of a patient or prediction of his/her rising by a quantitative method.SOLUTION: The intelligent-rising/rising-predicting sensor system is formed of a sensor unit, a microcomputer unit for intelligently determining information output from the sensor unit and giving alarm, a LAN unit used for transmitting information, and a power unit. The sensor unit includes: an acceleration sensor for recognizing the transfer of the center of gravity of a head; a living body sensor using a piezo film or acceleration sensor for recognizing the movement of a body, a piezo cable sensor for recognizing the weight of the upper half body, and a piezo cable sensor for recognizing the total body weight of the patient. Simultaneous monitoring of a plurality of beds and patients from a remote place is allowed to be performed by using a cellular phone, or a wireless or wired LAN system. In an emergency, a call for help of a manager or person outdoors can be made by repeatedly shaking an intelligent pillow a predetermined number of times in a predetermined direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to welfare and medical equipment for reducing the burden of nursing care in elderly care and medical facilities, etc., and enables caregivers and the like to remotely recognize a patient's getting out of bed and getting out of bed using a quantitative method. It is aimed at the technical field for providing such devices and programs. It also has functions as a biometric sensor and an emergency communication system.

  In the field of medical care and welfare, it is a big social problem that a patient gets up from a bed or a futon without hesitation and an accident such as a fall or fall occurs in a patient with weak muscle strength or an elderly person with dementia. ing. In addition, it is extremely difficult for nurses and caregivers who are extremely busy to monitor the actions of many patients. In addition, it is difficult for a welfare person or medical staff to check a large number of health conditions and living conditions from a remote place for the elderly living alone at home.

In current hospitals, as a general method, a mat using a foot-type switch is laid at the exit of the bed, and a patient steps on it with a foot to give an alarm or to a remote nursery station etc. A method of reporting is taken.
However, in this method, there is a case where the patient is already standing up and a dangerous situation has occurred. Therefore, even if the caregiver rushes, it may be too late.

  Further, as another method, the weight change of the patient is recognized from the sensor position where the weight recognition sensor mat is laid under the bed mat and the mattress, and the prediction of the bed leaving and the confirmation of the bed leaving are performed. However, in this system, malfunctions occur due to the patient turning over or posture during sleep, and further, the electrical wiring and the like inside the mat frequently cause disconnection and poor contact due to plastic deformation due to repeated bending.

  On the other hand, when a pressure-type touch sensor or a biological sensor using infrared rays or ultrasonic waves is used for the handrail around the bed, a malfunction or a nurse or doctor that touches the sensor even if the patient himself / herself is not willing to get out of bed. Problems such as alarm activation due to sensor recognition at the time of round visits have accumulated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-076178 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-094525

  When mat-type weight recognition sensors are used, it is necessary to solve the deterioration of reliability during use due to malfunctions caused by rolling over, etc., and disconnection / contact failure caused by repeated plastic deformation. The frequency problem is difficult to solve. Further, although it is required to improve the quality of life for removing the discomfort of the sensor mat used when the patient is sleeping and the troublesomeness of the power cord, etc., it is difficult with the current measurement method.

In the sensor for getting out of bed, caregivers are strongly required to report at the time of getting out of bed rather than reporting after getting out of the patient, so the use of multiple sensors and microcomputers tends to make the system complicated and expensive. is there.

In the case of using a biometric recognition sensor recognition sensor using infrared rays or ultrasonic waves, the presence of a human body or a caregiver in the vicinity of the patient is recognized and reported. In order to solve this malfunction, it is difficult to solve the problem even if the installation position of the sensor is changed or a cooperative recognition technique with a touch sensor or the like is used.

Therefore, the present invention provides a low-cost “getting out” and “getting out prediction” system for the purpose of improving the patient's QOL and preventing the malfunction as compared with the prior art. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a system having an emergency communication function and a life monitoring sensor for an elderly person living alone in a remote place.

In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the present invention solves the problem by determining “getting out bed” and “getting out bed” by a microcomputer using a pillow sensor and three different types of sensors.
The first sensor is an acceleration sensor for recognizing the movement of the center of gravity of the head, the second sensor is a biosensor using a piezo film or an acceleration sensor for recognizing the movement of the body part, and the third (1) sensor Is a piezo cable sensor for recognizing the weight of the upper body, and the third (2) sensor is an intelligent sensor unit comprising a piezo cable sensor for recognizing the weight due to the total weight of the patient and the output information of each of them. It consists of a microcomputer unit for judgment, a LAN unit used for information transmission, and a power unit for supplying system power.

Regarding the standard for determining the bed separation of the microcomputer, for example, when the three types of sensors consisting mainly of the other second, third (1) and third (2) are used for the determination of the pillow sensor which is the first sensor. If the two types of sensor outputs are within the numerical values set for the bed leaving level, it is determined that the user has left the bed.

Regarding the criteria for the prediction of getting out of the microcomputer, it is a necessary condition for information transmission that the output from the head measurement sensor inserted into the pillow is at the getting-off level, and the output from the upper body weight sensor is also at the getting-off level, and the patient When the setting condition that the output from the weighted recognition sensor of the vehicle does not reach the bed leaving level is established, the warning for bed leaving is issued by the microcomputer.

  In the system of the present invention, the judgment of “getting out of bed” or “getting out of bed” by a microcomputer is issued by an alarm based on intelligent judgment of information from a plurality of sensors by the logic of the program, so that there are few malfunctions.

  In the present invention, a touch sensor attached to a handrail of a bed for determination of “getting out of bed” or “prediction of getting out of bed”, a foot switch type mat installed at the exit of the bed, or a biometric recognition sensor using infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, or the like Is not used as in the prior art, and it prevents the malfunction of alarms generated by recognizing caregivers and visitors other than patients.

  In the present invention, the sensor body is not installed in a visible place like a conventional sensor for improving patient QOL or dementia patients, and is attached to the inside of a pillow, a cover of a comforter, etc. Therefore, the power cords and the power source are designed so as to have as little discomfort as possible.

  Because it uses a mobile phone or wireless / wired LAN system, it is possible to simultaneously monitor multiple beds and patients remotely.

  According to the present invention, prediction of a bed on a bed or bedding and bed leaving can be achieved by an intelligent technology using a microcomputer and a control program based on logic that positions and prioritizes each sensor using a plurality of sensors simultaneously. It is possible to report the situation to a caregiver or a nurse accurately in real time.

  It is possible to contribute to prevention of falls / falls, prevention of wrinkles, etc. by the nurse and caregiver recognizing the prediction of bed leaving and the bed leaving situation of a patient who needs a resting state by using this bed leaving sensor system.

When the present invention is used for a monitoring sensor such as an elderly person living alone, only information set by selecting information set in real time by a program in a microcomputer in the system is notified to an administrator or a caregiver.

When an elderly person living alone who needs assistance urgently needs to shake the IT intelligence pillow in the specified direction for a specified number of times, an emergency call is sent to the manager or caregiver, and at the same time a resident in the neighborhood In addition, it is possible to call for help by displaying an outdoor diffuse warning light so that the situation can be grasped.

IT intelligence pillow Overhead sensor Weight recognition sensor Human body weight distribution chart System Configuration Judgment method of acceleration sensor input in microcomputer Microcomputer block diagram of pillow sensor Judgment method of sensor input in general microcomputer Control block diagram of the general microcomputer

  FIG. 1A is a detailed view of the IT intelligent pillow sensor. Since the control capsule of 2 is fixed to the metal fitting of the pillow body with 4 fixing wires, when the patient uses the pillow, the control capsule of 2 greatly vibrates due to vibration or load. At this time, the central material of the six pillow bodies uses urethane to make the inside of the hollow hollow, thereby enabling movement of the two control capsules. Other materials for the pillow part can be used freely as appropriate, such as feathers, buckwheat husks, cotton, and plastic materials. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the control capsule 2. The accelerometer unit base 7 can be used for one axis, two axes, and three axes, and can perform measurement according to its performance. The output voltage by measurement is connected to 8 microcomputers, and when a voltage higher than the set value is output, the use confirmation of the patient is confirmed by the 8 microcomputer control program. However, if the output voltage of the accelerometer 7 is equal to or lower than the set value, it is determined that the patient is not in use, a signal is sent to the 9 transmission unit, and information is sent to the 28 general microcomputers.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the top sensor. It is a flexible film-like cloth sensor having a rectangular shape of about 25 cm × 45 cm × 0.3 cm. At the four corners, 11 hook-and-loop fasteners and fasteners can be attached to the duvet cover and the blanket cover. Inside the sensor, 15 strip-shaped piezo films are in the state of cloth folding, and each strip-shaped piezo film is connected by a lead wire, and a voltage of about 0.5 V is generated from the plastic deformation of the sensor due to patient movement. . In order to prevent damage to the 15 piezo film, 15 piezo films are placed on 16 thin cloths and further covered with 14 protective films such as polyethylene. The output from the 13-up sensor is transmitted in real time to the 28 general microcomputers via the 10 microcomputer connectors, with the voltage value generated from the 15 piezo-films in relation to the movement in the X and Y directions depending on the use state of the patient.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the weight recognition sensor. FIG. 3 (1) is an internal situation diagram in which the central part is vertically divided. The 20 flexible bar materials use flexible hollow pipes such as polyethylene and vinyl chloride. The length in the longitudinal direction corresponds to the width of the bed. Inside this, 17 tension adjusting brackets are fixed on both sides. It is used as a pair with 22 adjustment nuts, and the tension fitting is threaded, so when the 22 adjustment nuts are tightened, the tension of 19 wires is increased. This adjusts the slack of the wire. The 18 piezo cables are looped through the upper end of the 27 mounting brackets as shown in Fig. 3 (2) details of the hanging brackets, and then tightened so as not to come off with the 26 crimping brackets. The 24 fixing nuts are fixed to the 17 tension adjusting brackets, and the 25 flexible joints serve to prevent the 18 piezoelectric cables from being twisted. The 19 wires and 18 piezo cables are fixed in the same manner as in the case of the 27 mounting brackets, with each other looped and fixed with 26 caulking brackets. (Refer to the detailed drawing for fastening)
In use, two weight sensors are used, one is installed on the upper back of the bed, and the other is installed on the waist of the center of the bed so as to be perpendicular to the bed frame.
When the patient is on the bed, the output voltage is input to 28 general microcomputers via 21 microcomputer connectors by plastic deformation of 20 flexible bars.

  FIG. 4 (1) shows the situation when the human body lies on the bedding. When the weighted distribution is measured, it is proved that the weight distribution of the human body is weighted on the bedding as well as the sleeping position as shown in the mesh diagram of FIG. Based on this result, the weight recognition sensor shown in FIG. 3 is installed at three places, the upper part of the bed, the central part of the bed, and the lower part of the bed as shown in FIG. 4 (3). The weight changes due to weight shift. As a result, it is possible to infer the patient's situation from the set value and sensor input position of the sensor input level at the time of bed leaving in the 28 integrated microcomputers.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention. (1) of FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram assuming a case where a plurality of beds and hospital beds are managed. The reason why only the pillow is composed of 7 accelerometer units, 8 microcomputers, and 9 transmission units is usually when the usage of the pillow is expected to be used quite messy and the patient's head is not placed Assuming that, the pillow is made intelligent and judgment is made so that the movement of the patient due to slight contact can be predicted and the judgment of getting out can be made. In addition, it is possible to predict the sense of alienation and various troubles by using wired information, and to transfer wireless information directly to the server. For the same reason, the power source used has a charging function simultaneously with the supply from the 100V home appliance outlet. Output from other weight recognition sensors and 13 top sensors is judged to be a bed leaving level while being compared with the set voltage that is directly input to the 28 general microcomputers and processed by the CPU in the microcomputer and written to the main program. If it is done, it is recognized as getting out of bed or getting out of bed comparing with the output status with other sensors. This result is transmitted to 31 receivers via wireless and wired LAN systems in 45 transmission units (2). These data are transmitted in real time to 29 display monitors (servers) via 30 hubs. However, when using only the IT intelligent pillow sensor when configuring the system arrangement, do not use 28 integrated microcomputers, but directly to 31 display monitors (servers) via 31 receivers and 30 hubs. It is possible to send.
(2) of FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram using a wide area network. The main purpose is to manage individual houses for disabled persons living alone and elderly people living alone. As described above, data transmission from 29 general microcomputers and pillow sensors is performed via 33 internets via 32 routers in 45 transmission units (2), and 39 routers (2 ) To display on 29 display monitors (servers). However, when measuring using only the IT intelligent pillow sensor at the time of system configuration, do not use 28 general microcomputers, but directly connect 32 routers and 33 routers via 33 Internet ( 2) It can be sent to 29 display monitors (servers). Further, when the patient wants to make an emergency call, it also has a function as an emergency signal transmission device by adding a predetermined number of amplitudes in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 6 shows a method for determining the input of the 7 accelerometer unit in the microcomputer. The operation of the IT intelligent pillow sensor shown in FIG. 7, that is, the method for detecting bed leaving and bed prediction according to the present invention will be described. Note that the set value (SA) and the response frequency (SHz) of the 7 accelerometer unit input voltage are stored in advance in the storage unit 37. 35 The comparison unit compares the input voltage and response frequency from the 7 accelerometer unit with the set value (SA) and (SHz), and sets the result as voltage (V1) and response frequency (Hz1). Next, when the input voltage (V1) is larger than the set value (SA), the patient is on the bed, so measure again as no problem.
However, when V1 is smaller than SA, the target patient may not be on the bed. Here, “send bed warning 1 is transmitted.” Next, when the response frequency (Hz 1) is also smaller than the set value (S Hz), it is determined that “gets out of bed” and the alarm 1 is ended. However, when the input voltage (V1) is larger than the set value (SA) and the response frequency (Hz1) is also larger than the set value (S Hz), it is predicted that the patient's movement is activated on the bed. The alarm 2 is transmitted as a correction and the process ends. The difference between the alarm 1 and the alarm 2 is distinguished by, for example, a flashing display or a lighting display on a server display board or the like. On the other hand, it is possible to distinguish between colors to be displayed and to give a warning by voice.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a method of determining acceleration bed input and bed prediction in 38 pillow microcomputers used in IT intelligent pillow sensors. The 38 pillow microcomputers operated by a battery or a charging power source have 34 input channels, 37 storage units, 35 comparison units, and 36 output units. The 34 input channels, 35 comparison unit, and 36 output unit are composed of a CPU and its control program. The 7 accelerometer unit is connected to one of 34 input channels and measures the voltage output from the sensor in real time. Nine transmission units are connected to the 36 output unit. On the other hand, the comparison unit 35 stores the input value of the 7 accelerometer unit and the voltage value at a predetermined time when the patient is on the bed in advance in the storage unit 37 as the set value S. When the measured voltage at a certain time is smaller than the set value by comparison, a warning 1 is transmitted. When the patient is not on the bed, the output voltage is very close to 0, and when the frequency response per minute is small, it is determined that the person is getting out of bed. Also, if the input voltage (V1) from the 7 accelerometer unit is small and the frequency response (Hz1) fluctuates greatly in one minute, it is determined as “predicted bed leaving” and the alarm is switched to 2. The output unit of 36 holds the operation of the transmission unit of 9 until it is reset to the administrator of the 29 display monitor (server). In the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between “premature bed prediction” and “getting out bed”, so that one person manages a plurality of beds, and even if an abnormal situation occurs at the same time, a caregiver or nurse promptly takes care of the patient. It is possible to determine the priority to be performed.

FIG. 8 shows a method for determining each sensor input in the overall microcomputer. The operation of the decision block diagram of the general microcomputer shown in FIG. 9, that is, the method for detecting bed leaving and bed prediction according to the present invention will be described. Note that the set value (SV) and the response frequency (SHz) of the 7 accelerometer unit input voltage are stored in advance in the storage unit (2) 41. In addition, the set values (SB), (SC), (SD), (SD) are also applied to the sensor inputs of 46 weight recognition sensor (1), 47 weight recognition sensor (2), 48 top sensor (2), 49 and other sensors. SE) is similarly stored in 41 storage unit (2). 42 Comparison part (2) uses the judgment result from 7 accelerometer units as the first priority input, compares the voltage at other sensor inputs V1 to V4 with each set value, and two or more types of sensor responses are If it is compatible with the CPU program logic of, alarm 1 is issued from the 50 alarm transmission unit. When this condition is not satisfied for each sensor, the output voltage V1 to V4 are measured again. However, when two or more types of sensors are smaller than the set value S in this voltage measurement, the comparison value (AHz) and the measurement results (BHz) to (EHz) are compared in the 42 comparison unit (2). To do. If this result is smaller than the set value (Hz2) to (Hz5) in two or more types of sensors, the information from 7 accelerometer units is given first priority and the other sensor comparison results are taken into account, and an alarm is issued from 50 alarm transmission units. 2 is announced. Evaluation of the final result and error correction are determined by the following logic. When the input voltage of each sensor is larger than the set value (SV), the patient is on the bed, so it is measured again as no problem. However, when the input voltage V of each sensor is smaller than the set value, there is a possibility that the subject patient does not exist on the bed. Here, “send bed warning 1 is transmitted.” Next, when the response frequency (Hz) is also smaller than the set value (SHz), it is determined that “gets out of bed” and alarm 1 is ended. However, when the input voltage (V1) is larger than the set value (SV) and the response frequency (Hz) is also larger than the set value (SHz), it is predicted that the patient's movement is activated on the bed. As a result, the alarm 2 is autonomously corrected and the process ends.
The difference between alarm 1 and alarm 2 is distinguished by the difference in blinking display or lighting display on the display board of the server. On the other hand, it is possible to distinguish between colors to be displayed and to enable warning by voice.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the bed leaving and bed leaving prediction system using the plurality of sensors illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The 7 accelerometer unit is directly connected to the 42 comparison unit (2), and the determination result output from the 38 pillow microcomputer is input as the first priority information. Also, the voltage input of the outputs of the 46 weight recognition sensor (1), the 47 weight recognition sensor (2), the 48 overlay sensor (2) and the 49 other sensors can be input to the 40 inputs CH (2). As shown in the figure, the 28 integrated microcomputers operate from batteries and a power source for home appliances. The 40-input CH (2), 41 storage unit (2), 42 comparison unit (2), and 43 end determination unit are composed of a CPU and its control program. The 40 input CH (2) is supplied with voltages according to the measurement status from the sensors 46, 47, 48, and 49 as V1, V2, V3, and V4. As described with reference to FIG. 8, when the input voltages V1 to V4 are equal to or higher than the set value S, the other sensor inputs are compared with the set values again without transmitting from the 44 output unit (2). However, when the input voltages V1 to V4 have the same or lower set value S, the result is stored in the storage unit and the result of the sensor input with the same or lower set value S of another sensor is awaited. If priority is given to these four types of sensor input results and two or more sensor results are equal to or less than the set value S, immediately compare with the judgment result of the 7-acceleration watch sensor by the program logic. An alarm according to the result is issued from the 50 alarm transmission unit. In the comparison of the set value S and the output voltages V1 to V4 from each sensor, the 42 comparison unit (2) warns 1 when the measured voltage is smaller than the set value S when two or more types of sensors are determined as above. To send. When the patient is not on the bed, the output voltage is very close to 0, and when the frequency response per minute is small, it is determined that the person is getting out of bed. Also, if the input voltage (V1) from the 7 accelerometer unit is smaller than the set value (SV) and the frequency response (Hz1) fluctuates significantly in one minute, it is judged as “getting out of bed” and the alarm is switched to 2. . The 44 output unit (2) holds the operation of the 50 alarm transmission unit until it is reset to the 29 display monitor (server) manager. In the present invention, because of the determination by the comparison method using many sensors, it is possible to more accurately determine the judgment distinction between “getting out of bed” and “getting out of bed”. Even if this occurs, the caregiver or nurse can determine the priority order for the patient to be dispatched.

1 Power connector 2 Control capsule
3 Charging unit 4 Fixed wire 5 Fastening bracket 6 Pillow body 7 Accelerometer unit 8 Microcomputer 9 Transmitting unit
10 Microcomputer connector
11 hook-and-loop fastener
12 Lead wire
13 Top sensor
14 Protective film
15
Piezo film
16 thin cloth
17 Tension adjustment bracket
18 Piezo cable
19 wire
20 Flexible bar
21 Microcomputer connector
22 Adjustment nut
23 Hanging bracket
24 Fixing nut
25 Flexible joint
26 Caulking bracket
27 Mounting bracket
28 General MCU
29 Display monitor (server)
30 hub
31 Receiver
32 router
33 Internet
34 Input CH
35 Comparison section
36 Output section
37 Memory
38 Pillow microcomputer
39 Router (2)
40 Input CH (2)
41 Memory unit (2)
42 Comparison part (2)
43 End determination part
44 Output section (2)
45 Transmitter unit (2)
46 Weight recognition sensor (1)
47 Weight recognition sensor (2)
48 Top sensor (2)
49 Other sensors
50 Alarm transmission unit

Claims (9)

  When sleeping or resting using bedding such as a bed and mattress, an acceleration sensor attached to the pillow, a piezo film or acceleration sensor attached to the top, and a piezo cable sensor attached to the mattress or bed frame From the weight recognition sensor used and the output of the sensor, the judgment of bed leaving or bed leaving prediction is made and a signal is output. Also, a bed leaving and bed leaving prediction system having propagation means capable of transmitting the microcomputer output to a remote place.   2. The bed leaving according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer comprises a program and a logic for notifying a bed leaving or bed leaving prediction only when two or three types of sensor outputs of a plurality of sensor outputs do not sense a value compared with a set value. And bed leaving prediction system.   The microcomputer sets numerical values indicating the possibility of getting out of the floor from the numerical information in each sensor output (hereinafter referred to as the “bed-off level”), and other numerical information is automatically canceled. The bed leaving and bed leaving prediction system according to claim 1, wherein the overall microcomputer controls and makes a judgment based on the bed leaving level.   As a power source for the system, a household power source, a battery such as a lithium battery, or a photovoltaic system is used. The system can use a general-purpose wireless / wired LAN, etc., and it can also set the numerical value to the external output using the current nurses for the notification of getting out of bed. The above-mentioned system is the information required by autonomous judgment by remotely monitoring the bed leaving situation and the resting state on the bed, which is limited to 24 hours or arbitrary time at the same time for a large number of patients and homes. Allows provision and prevention of malfunctions.   Using a hub and LAN server, it is possible to simultaneously monitor multiple bed situations and patient bed-out conditions from a remote location. In addition, a system that makes it possible to use a router and the Internet or a mobile phone terminal for remote home care.   7. The bed leaving prediction and bed leaving recognition system according to claim 1, wherein said system has a function of displaying and storing obtained information and a means for outputting the stored information to the outside.   When the user of this system needs urgent help, the IT intelligent pillow sensor uses a 3-axis accelerometer. Repeat the same operation with a gap. (In other words, the manager and others are in need of help by means such as a Morse signal.)   When the communication means described above is used, it is possible to notify other people and neighbors of an emergency by displaying on an indicator lamp such as a diffused warning light in a conspicuous place outdoors. In addition, the system power supply can be supplied from a solar power generation system, a battery, or a household power supply.