JP2016129586A - Nurse call slave machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a change in a direction of a sensor head and allow a calling of abnormality to be made without complicating a structure of the sensor head.SOLUTION: A calling control part 22 makes a normal calling when a signal is detected both by a sound sensor 5 and a proximity sensor 6 disposed to a sensor head arranged at the tip of a flexible arm, and makes a calling of abnormality to notify that a direction of the sensor head has changed when a signal is detected only by the sound sensor 5 so that if the direction of the sensor head is correct when a care-receiver produces a sound, a normal calling is made, and if the direction has been changed, a calling of abnormality is made, thereby eliminating the need to provide a direction sensor such as an acceleration sensor to the sensor head, in addition to the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a nurse call child device, and in particular, a nurse call child that can be called by means of sound or contact so that a nurse who cannot move a limb by himself can call a nurse. It is suitable for use in a machine.

  In general, a nurse call system is used in hospitals and care facilities. The nurse call system consists of a nurse call cordless handset installed on the bedside of a caregiver or care recipient (hereinafter referred to simply as “nurse”), a fixed nurse call master set installed in a nurse center, etc. A portable nurse call parent device (hereinafter simply referred to as a nurse call parent device including both a fixed type and a portable type) possessed by a nurse or a caregiver (hereinafter simply referred to as a nurse). In this type of nurse call system, when the care recipient makes a call by pressing the call button of the nurse call slave unit, the nurse call master unit notifies that the call has been made.

  By the way, some of the nurses are conscious, but cannot move their limbs on their own. In order for such a patient to call the nurse, a contact sensor that detects contact of the patient's face or tongue, a proximity sensor that detects that the patient's face or tongue has approached, etc. There is known a nurse call cordless handset that can be called by means such as a sound sensor for detecting a person's voice.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of this type of nurse call slave. As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional nurse call slave device includes a sensor head 3 in which a contact sensor 40, a sound sensor 5, and a proximity sensor 6 are arranged at the tip of a flexible arm 2 having flexibility. By positioning the sensor head 3 in the vicinity of the part that the nurse can move at his / her will (for example, near the mouth), the nurse who cannot press the call button can also make a call.

  The nurse call slave shown in FIG. 5 can be called by the nurse by correctly positioning the sensor head 3 near the mouth of the nurse. For this reason, there is a problem that if the orientation of the sensor head 3 changes due to the patient's unintentional contact with the sensor head 3, the call cannot be made.

  In order to solve such a problem, when the direction sensor detects that the orientation of the sensor head provided on the flexible arm has changed, an announcement is made to call the care recipient and a predetermined time There has been proposed a technique for notifying a nurse call parent device that a sensor head is displaced when a call signal is not input even after a lapse (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, if someone returns the direction of the sensor head in response to the announcement so that the signal can be detected by the sensor, the nurse call master unit does not perform notification. Don't bother nurses. On the other hand, when the notification is given by the nurse call master unit, the nurse who has grasped the notification can rush to the site and restore the direction of the sensor head.

JP 2011-5172 A

  However, in the nurse call system described in Patent Document 1, in addition to the sensor for calling, it is necessary to provide the sensor head with a direction sensor that detects that the direction of the sensor head has changed. There was a problem that became complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can detect a change in the direction of the sensor head and call an abnormality without complicating the structure of the sensor head. The purpose is to be able to.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the nurse call slave of the present invention includes a proximity sensor and a sound sensor in a sensor head disposed at the tip of a flexible arm, and signal detection is performed in both the proximity sensor and the sound sensor. When it is performed, a normal call is performed, and when a signal is detected only in the sound sensor, an abnormal call is made to notify that the direction of the sensor head has changed.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the sensor head is positioned near the face of the cared person, the signal is detected in both the proximity sensor and the sound sensor when the cared person speaks. So that a normal call is made. On the other hand, if the caregiver unintentionally hits the sensor head and changes the direction of the sensor head, when the caregiver speaks, the sound sensor detects the signal, but the proximity sensor detects the signal. Since the detection is not performed, an abnormal call is made to notify that the direction of the sensor head has changed. Therefore, in addition to the proximity sensor and the sound sensor, an abnormality can be called by detecting that the direction of the sensor head has changed without providing a direction sensor such as an acceleration sensor in the sensor head. Thereby, the structure of the sensor head can be prevented from becoming complicated.

It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the nurse call subunit | mobile_unit by 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example implement | achieved by the microcomputer which the main body of the nurse call subunit | mobile_unit by 1st Embodiment incorporates. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the nurse call subunit | mobile_unit by 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example implement | achieved by the microcomputer which the main body of the nurse call subunit | mobile_unit by 2nd Embodiment incorporates. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the conventional nurse call subunit | mobile_unit.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a nurse call slave device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the nurse call slave device 10 according to the first embodiment includes a main body 1, a flexible arm 2, and a sensor head 3.

  The main body 1 is placed around a place where the head of the nurse is located on a bed used by the nurse. Alternatively, the main body 1 is placed on a table or the like placed around the head of the nurse. The main body 1 has a built-in microcomputer and controls calling of a nurse call described later.

  The flexible arm 2 is configured to be able to be maintained in a state where the middle from the base end 2a to the front end 2b fixed to the main body 1 is freely curved. A base end 2 a of the flexible arm 2 is fixed to the upper part 1 a of the main body 1. A sensor head 3 is disposed at the tip 2 b of the flexible arm 2. That is, the sensor head 3 a is connected to the tip 2 b of the flexible arm 2.

  The sensor head 3 is provided with a sound sensor 5, a proximity sensor 6, and a confirmation lamp 7. The sensor head 3 includes a substrate (not shown) on which the sound sensor 5, the proximity sensor 6, and the confirmation lamp 7 are mounted. A wiring (not shown) connecting the substrate of the sensor head 3 and the microcomputer of the main body 1 is passed through the flexible arm 2. The surface of the flexible arm 2 is composed of a non-conductive member.

  The sound sensor 5 detects the sound pressure of the utterance by the care recipient. For the detection unit 5a of the sound sensor 5, for example, a condenser microphone can be used. Note that a piezoelectric microphone may be used instead of the condenser microphone. A semiconductor capacitive pressure sensor may be used as a pressure sensor.

  The proximity sensor 6 detects that a part of the body (such as the face or tongue of the nurse) is approaching, and an optical sensor is used in this embodiment. That is, the proximity sensor 6 includes a light projecting unit 6a and a light receiving unit 6b, and projects a signal such as infrared light from the light projecting unit 6a and reflects it back to the face or tongue of the care recipient. The signal is received by the light receiving unit 6b. Then, when the time from when the infrared rays are projected until when the infrared rays are received is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is detected that a part of the body of the nurse is in proximity to the proximity sensor 6.

  The confirmation lamp 7 is lit to notify the care recipient that a general call (ordinary call) of a nurse call has been performed by detecting a signal from both the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6.

  Note that a button 1b for adjusting the sensitivity and detection time of the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6 and an indicator lamp 1c for displaying the adjusted sensitivity and detection time level are arranged on the upper part 1a of the main body 1. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration realized by the microcomputer included in the main body 1 of the nurse call slave device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the microcomputer 20 according to the first embodiment controls the call of the nurse call based on the detection results of the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6. A unit 21 and a call control unit 22 are provided. Note that the functions of the detection determination unit 21 and the call control unit 22 are realized by operating a program stored in a recording medium such as a RAM, a ROM, or a semiconductor memory under the control of the CPU provided in the microcomputer 20.

  The detection determination unit 21 determines whether signals are detected in the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6, respectively. That is, the detection determination unit 21 determines whether or not the utterance by the cared person is detected by the sound sensor 5 and determines whether or not the proximity of the cared person is detected by the proximity sensor 6.

  When the detection determination unit 21 determines that the signal has been detected in both the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6, the call control unit 22 performs a normal call with the call type “general call”. When the detection determination unit 21 determines that the signal has been detected only in the sound sensor 5, the call control unit 22 sets the call type “abnormal call” to notify that the direction of the sensor head 3 has changed. ”Is called.

  If the sensor head 3 is properly positioned near the face of the cared person, the signal is detected by both the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6 when the cared person speaks. Is done. On the other hand, if the caregiver unintentionally hits the sensor head 3 and the direction of the sensor head 3 changes, when the caregiver speaks, the sound sensor 5 detects a signal, but the proximity sensor Since no signal is detected at 6, an abnormal call is made to notify that the orientation of the sensor head 3 has changed.

  That is, when the cared person speaks, a normal call is made if the direction of the sensor head 3 is correct, and an abnormal call is made if the direction has changed. For this reason, according to the nurse call slave device 10 of the first embodiment, the sensor head 3 can be provided without providing a direction sensor such as an acceleration sensor in addition to the sound sensor 5 and the proximity sensor 6. An abnormal call can be made by detecting the change of direction. Thereby, the structure of the sensor head 3 can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  In particular, in the first embodiment, since the cared person does not accurately know how close the face or tongue of the cared person is to the proximity sensor 6 to detect the signal, the sensor Even when the orientation of the head 3 has changed, the nurse may try to make a normal call. In this case, if no signal is detected by the proximity sensor 6, an abnormality is called. Therefore, the nurse who has grasped the notification based on the abnormal call can rush to the site and restore the orientation of the sensor head 3.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a nurse call slave device according to the second embodiment. 3 that have the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 have the same functions, redundant description thereof will be omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the nurse call slave 10 ′ according to the second embodiment includes a main body 1, a flexible arm 2, and a sensor head 3 ′. The sensor head 3 ′ is provided with a contact sensor 4, a sound sensor 5, and a confirmation lamp 7. That is, in the second embodiment, the sensor head 3 ′ includes the contact sensor 4 instead of the proximity sensor 6.

  The sensor head 3 ′ incorporates a substrate (not shown) on which the sound sensor 5 and the confirmation lamp 7 are mounted. A wiring (not shown) connecting the substrate of the sensor head 3 ′ and the microcomputer of the main body 1 is passed through the flexible arm 2.

  The contact sensor 4 detects that a part of the body of the nurse (such as the face or tongue of the nurse) has come into contact, and is disposed at the tip 3b of the sensor head 3 ′, and the above-described substrate is electrically connected. Connected. The contact sensor 4 is composed of a flexible arm 4c that can be maintained in a freely curved state from a base end 4a to a front end 4b fixed to the front end 3b of the sensor head 3 ′, and the front end 4b is detected. It has a surface structure. Then, the detection surface 4b is positioned at the nurse's mouth.

  The detection surface 4b of the contact sensor 4 is formed so as to be able to detect the contact of the care recipient from all directions. Specifically, the entire detection surface 4b is made of conductive stainless steel. The flexible arm 4c is also made of stainless steel, so that the entire flexible arm 4c can be configured as a detection surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible arm 2 that connects the main body 1 and the sensor head 3 ′ and the flexible arm 4 c of the contact sensor 4 are both cylindrical, and the diameter of the flexible arm 4 c is larger than the diameter of the flexible arm 2. small. As a result, the flexible arm 4 c of the contact sensor 4 can bend a specific part at an acute angle as compared with the flexible arm 2.

  The button 1b 'disposed on the upper part 1a of the main body 1 is a button for adjusting the sensitivity and detection time of the contact sensor 4 and the sound sensor 5.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example realized by a microcomputer included in the main body 1 of the nurse call slave 10 'according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 20 ′ according to the second embodiment controls the call of the nurse call based on the detection results by the contact sensor 4 and the sound sensor 5. A determination unit 21 ′ and a call control unit 22 ′ are provided. Note that the functions of the detection determination unit 21 ′ and the call control unit 22 ′ are realized by operating a program stored in a recording medium such as a RAM, a ROM, or a semiconductor memory under the control of the CPU provided in the microcomputer 20 ′. The

  The detection determination unit 21 ′ determines whether or not signals are detected in the contact sensor 4 and the sound sensor 5. That is, the detection determination unit 21 ′ determines whether or not contact by the care recipient is detected by the contact sensor 4, and determines whether or not utterance by the care receiver is detected by the sound sensor 5.

  When the detection determination unit 21 ′ determines that the signal is detected in both the contact sensor 4 and the sound sensor 5, the call control unit 22 ′ performs a normal call with the call type as “general call”. . In order to enable such control, the contact sensor 4 is used by bending the flexible arm 4 c and positioning the detection surface 4 b at the tip thereof in the vicinity of the sound sensor 5. When the detection determination unit 21 ′ determines that the signal has been detected only in the sound sensor 5, the call control unit 22 ′ sets the call type to notify that the direction of the sensor head 3 ′ has changed. An abnormal call is made as “abnormal call”.

  When the sensor head 3 ′ is correctly positioned near the face of the patient and the flexible arm 4 c of the contact sensor 4 is bent so that the detection surface 4 b is positioned near the sound sensor 5, Since a signal is detected by both the contact sensor 4 and the sound sensor 5 by speaking while touching the detection surface 4b, a normal call is performed.

  On the other hand, if the direction of the sensor head 3 ′ is changed by hitting the sensor head 3 ′ unintentionally, the patient cannot touch the detection surface 4 b. Therefore, when the cared person speaks, the sound sensor 5 detects a signal, but the contact sensor 4 does not detect the signal, so that the direction of the sensor head 3 ′ is changed. An abnormal call is made.

  For this reason, according to the nurse call slave device 10 ′ of the second embodiment, in addition to the contact sensor 4 and the sound sensor 5, the sensor head 3 ′ can be provided with no direction sensor such as an acceleration sensor. An abnormal call can be made by detecting that the direction of 3 'has changed. As a result, the structure of the sensor head 3 ′ can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  In the second embodiment, the nurse can be aware that the face or tongue of the nurse is not touching the contact sensor 4. Therefore, when the direction of the sensor head 3 ′ is changed and the contact sensor 4 can no longer be touched, the nursing person calls out an abnormality by his / her own intention by speaking, and based on this abnormal calling The nurse who grasps the notification can return the direction of the sensor head 3 'to the original direction.

  The first and second embodiments described above are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. It will not be. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

3, 3 'Sensor head 4 Contact sensor 5 Sound sensor 6 Proximity sensor 10, 10' Nurse call cordless handset 20, 20 'Microcomputer 21, 21' Detection judgment part 22, 22 'Call control part

Claims (2)

Proximity sensor that is provided on the sensor head arranged at the tip of the flexible arm and detects that a part of the body of the nurse is approaching,
A sound sensor provided on the sensor head for detecting the utterance of the nurse;
A controller for controlling the calling of a nurse call based on the result of detection by the proximity sensor and the sound sensor,
The above controller
A detection determination unit that determines whether or not signal detection is performed in each of the proximity sensor and the sound sensor;
When the detection determination unit determines that the signal has been detected in both the proximity sensor and the sound sensor, a normal call is performed, and when the signal is detected only in the sound sensor, the detection determination unit A nurse call handset comprising: a call control unit for calling an abnormality for notifying that the direction of the sensor head has changed when it is determined. In place of the proximity sensor, comprising a contact sensor for detecting that a part of the body of the care recipient has contacted,
The detection determination unit determines whether or not a signal is detected in each of the contact sensor and the sound sensor,
The call control unit performs a normal call when the detection determination unit determines that the signal is detected in both the contact sensor and the sound sensor, and the signal is detected only in the sound sensor. The nurse call slave device according to claim 1, wherein when the detection determination unit determines that an abnormality has occurred, an abnormal call is made to notify that the orientation of the sensor head has changed.

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