JP2017067750A - Defecation gas recovery system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a defecation gas recovery system for recovering defecation gas containing odorous gas such as methyl mercaptan, which enables highly accurate diagnosis.SOLUTION: A defecation gas recovery system 1 is for recovering defecation gas discharged into a toilet bowl, and includes gas recovery bags for recovering defecation gas, connection piping 6 through which a gas sucked in by a suction device is fed, a control valve configured to switch between a mode for feeding the gas sucked in by the suction device into the recovery bags and a mode for discharging the gas without feeding to the recovery bags, and a controller for controlling the suction device and the control valve, which are all configured as a portable recovery device 4. The recovery device is detachably attached to a bowl-side device 2 mounted on the toilet bowl. The bowl-side device 2 includes a suction port that is open on a rear side of the bowl, and the gas suction device 7 configured to suck the gas inside the bowl through the suction port into the bowl-side device 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a defecation gas recovery system, and more particularly to a defecation gas recovery system that recovers defecation gas discharged into a bowl of a toilet bowl.

  For the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer, it is important to observe the intestinal environment every day. Currently, colorectal cancer is examined by a method of observing the intestine with an endoscope or a method of analyzing stool. However, in the method using an endoscope, the endoscope must be inserted into the large intestine from the anus. For this reason, the method using the endoscope places a great burden on the patient. Further, in the method for analyzing stool, it is necessary to collect stool every time, which is a psychological burden on the patient.

  In view of such a situation, the inventors have a strong desire to manufacture a device capable of diagnosing a major illness such as cancer that is less psychologically and physically burdened on a patient and capable of realizing the treatment and prevention of the major illness. He had thoughts and had been researching for a long time.

  Heretofore, the applicant has collected the defecation gas that is mounted on the toilet seat of the Western-style toilet and is discharged into the bowl when the subject defecates, and based on the concentration of carbon dioxide contained in the defecation gas, the biological information An apparatus (see Patent Document 1) for obtaining excretion stool volume as an index has been developed. According to the device described in Patent Document 1, the intestinal state can be easily estimated. However, these devices only estimate the current state of the intestine, and have failed to achieve the inventor's purpose of being able to diagnose a major disease such as cancer.

Further, the following devices are known as devices for detecting the physical condition of the subject based on the defecation gas.
Patent Document 2 discloses a fart detection device in which a gas sensor is disposed so as to be in contact with air in the vicinity of a human excretion portion, and a fart is detected based on a peak value of the gas sensor output. In this fart detection device, the fart of the patient is collected by pulling out the tube from the excretion part in the diaper or underwear of the patient sleeping on the bed and sucking air with a suction pump. Furthermore, this fart detection device distinguishes farting from urination based on the half-value width of the peak of the gas sensor output, and the doctor confirms whether a fart has come out after cecal surgery or detects when to change diapers However, it does not achieve the purpose of the inventor.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a biological monitor device. In this living body monitor device, a gas sensor is attached to a T-band made of cloth so that the gas sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the anus, and a fart discharged from the anus is detected. The signal from the gas sensor is transmitted to the processing device and stored in the memory. It is also known that data stored in a memory is compared with past data, and a warning is displayed on a display device when there is an abnormality such as when the difference is large.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 4 discloses an intestinal gas component measurement method. In this intestinal gas component measurement method, a sampling tube is arranged in the toilet seat portion of the toilet bowl. When the person to be measured turns on the main switch of the apparatus, the suction pump is operated and the gas near the anus is sucked. The indicator gas detector constantly measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in the sucked gas, and when the measured concentration rapidly increases, the control / arithmetic processing unit recognizes that intestinal gas has been diffused. When the intestinal gas is released, another suction pump begins to operate, and a portion of the sucked gas is taken into the sample metering tube. The taken sample is sent to the column to separate the gas components and to be ionized. It is also known that the ionization amount is converted into an electric signal and the concentration of the detection target gas component in the intestinal gas is measured.

  In developing devices capable of diagnosing such major diseases as cancer, it has recently been known that there is a correlation between colorectal cancer diseases and intestinal gas components contained in farts and defecation. . Specifically, colon cancer patients have more methyl mercaptan gas containing sulfur components in gas components in the intestine than healthy individuals.

  Patent Document 5 includes a sensor for measuring methyl mercaptan gas from a sputum component released by a subject, a calculation unit for calculating the concentration of methyl mercaptan gas obtained from the sensor, and a display unit. A portable colorectal cancer risk measurement device that estimates risk is disclosed. However, as described later, methyl mercaptan gas contained in the soot is very small, and it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis with the measuring instrument described in Patent Document 5. Moreover, since the sensor which detects only methyl mercaptan is very large, it is not realistic to detect methyl mercaptan with the apparatus described in Patent Document 5.

Japanese Patent No. 5131646 JP 2003-90812 A JP 9-43182 A Japanese Patent No. 3525157 JP, 2014-160049, A

  The gas component in the intestine is discharged as a fart or defecation gas together with the stool during defecation. Accordingly, the inventors measured the specific gas such as fart discharged during defecation and methyl mercaptan gas in the defecation gas as described in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on January 5, 2015. I thought that I could diagnose cancer, and continued research.

Here, as described above, the amount of methyl mercaptan gas contained in the defecation gas is very small, and further, it becomes very small at the stage before becoming cancer, so measurement is very difficult. Moreover, the sensor which detects only methyl mercaptan is very large. Thus, the inventors have provided a system that can reliably collect fecal gas, and have considered the diagnosis of colorectal cancer by analyzing the components of the fecal gas collected by this system.
However, even when such a system for collecting defecation gas is used, since the amount of methyl mercaptan gas contained in the defecation gas is very small, there is a risk that the diagnostic accuracy may decrease due to various factors such as the toilet space and the subject. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and provides a defecation gas recovery system which is a system for recovering defecation gas containing odorous gas such as methyl mercaptan and which enables highly accurate diagnosis. The purpose is that.

  The present invention is a defecation gas recovery system that recovers defecation gas discharged into a bowl of a toilet, and includes a gas suction device that sucks gas from inside the bowl, and a recovery in which the gas sucked by the gas suction device is sent A passage, a recovery port connected to the recovery passage, a recovery container for recovering the defecation gas, a state provided in the recovery passage and supplying the gas sucked by the suction device to the recovery container, and without supplying the recovery container A control valve that switches between exhaust states, a control device that controls the suction device and the control valve, and a gas sensor that detects defecation gas, the gas sensor detects defecation gas contained in the gas sucked by the suction device When the control device determines that the degassed gas is contained in the sucked gas based on the output of the gas sensor, the control valve supplies the gas sucked by the suction device to the recovery container. The recovery control to switch to the state is performed, and at least the recovery container, a part of the recovery passageway, the control valve, and the control device are configured as a transfer device that can be transferred and moved, and the transfer device is arranged with respect to the toilet The toilet side device is configured to include a suction port that opens to the back side in the bowl and a gas suction device, and the gas suction device is connected to the inside of the bowl from the suction port. Is sucked into the toilet-side device. In addition, the term “arranged with respect to the toilet bowl” here includes the case where it is separately attached to the toilet bowl and the case where it is configured integrally.

  Odorous gas such as methyl mercaptan contained in the defecation gas is very small. For this reason, in order to accurately diagnose cancer and the like, it is necessary to reliably collect the fecal gas excreted by the subject. If the fecal gas excreted by the subject cannot be sufficiently collected, an accurate diagnosis cannot be made, and it may cause a misdiagnosis and cause a psychological burden on the subject.

  In order to sufficiently collect the defecation gas, for example, it is conceivable to collect the gas from the bowl over a period from when the subject is seated to when the subject is seated. However, residual gas is present in the bowl, and this residual gas also contains odorous gas components. If a large amount of such residual gas is recovered, the diagnostic accuracy is lowered. Furthermore, when there is adhering stool, the stool gas of another person is also collected, which may cause a misdiagnosis.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable that a defecation detection sensor is provided in the toilet bowl, and the gas is collected from the bowl when excretion of the stool is detected by the defecation detection sensor. However, even when the stool is detected by the defecation detection sensor and the gas is collected, the stool gas suitable for diagnosis cannot be collected. The inventors have discovered that as a cause of this, fecal gas is excreted from the anus prior to stool.

  In addition, as a result of intensive studies, the inventors have discovered that the gas accumulated at the end near the anus in the large intestine includes the effects of cancer and the like on the entire intestine. This is because the gas accumulated in the terminal part near the anus in the large intestine has passed through the entire intestine over time, so odorous gas components such as methyl mercaptan generated from the affected part such as cancer throughout the large intestine However, the gas accumulated in other parts of the large intestine, especially the upstream part, passes through the downstream part of the large intestine at the time of defecation. This is because even if there is an affected part, the odorous gas component generated from the affected part is not sufficiently contained. For this reason, defecation gas is usually excreted in multiple steps in a single defecation act, but is collected at the end of the large intestine, and is collected into the defecation gas by collecting the defecation gas excreted at the beginning of the defecation act. Information regarding the reflected intestinal environment can be accurately acquired.

The present invention is based on the knowledge obtained through trial and error by the inventors.
First, in the present invention, defecation gas excreted during defecation is collected in a collection container. And the diagnosis of cancer can be performed by analyzing the component of the defecation gas collected in the collection container in this way. Thus, in the present invention, the subject can diagnose cancer only by performing defecation as usual, and the physical burden on the subject is very small compared to an endoscope or the like. Moreover, in this invention, it collects only gas and does not collect stool. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the psychological burden on the subject such as being able to see stool by others.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is set as the structure which attracts | sucks gas from the bowl of a toilet bowl with a gas suction apparatus. Odorous gases such as methyl mercaptan are lighter than air. For this reason, defecation gas will rise immediately after excretion. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the excreted defecation gas is sucked by the gas suction device, the defecation gas can be reliably collected.

  Further, in the present invention, when the control device determines that the evacuated gas is contained in the sucked gas based on the output of the gas sensor, the control valve is in a state of supplying the gas sucked by the suction device to the recovery container. It is configured to switch. For this reason, the fecal gas excreted at the initial stage of the fecal act can be reliably collected, and the fecal gas released before the feces are excreted can also be reliably collected. Thus, according to the present invention, since the fecal gas excreted in the early stage of the fecal act can be reliably collected, the initial fecal gas that well reflects the intestinal environment can be collected, which is high. Diagnostic accuracy can be ensured.

  In addition, it is often difficult for subjects such as cancer patients and elderly people to move to the collective toilet. For this reason, it is desirable that the defecation gas can be collected in a hospital room or a private toilet room attached to a hospital room. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since a part of the recovery passageway, the control valve, the control device, and the gas sensor are configured as a transport device that can be transported, the private toilet room attached to the hospital room Defecation gas can be collected by attaching a transport device to a toilet bowl or a moving toilet bowl transported to a hospital room. Thereby, the physical burden of test subjects, such as a cancer patient and an elderly person, can be reduced.

  Here, the progress of major illnesses such as colorectal cancer and the confirmation of the effects of anticancer agents are not limited to a single analysis of stool gas, but stool gas is continuously collected and analyzed. Make decisions based on changes. For this reason, it is desirable to collect the defecation gas each time under the same conditions as much as possible.

  However, when a part of the defecation gas recovery system is configured to be transportable, it is necessary to attach a tube or the like for recovering the gas to the bowl as in the invention described in Patent Document 4, for example. The fixing position of this tube changes with every installation, and there is a possibility that the collection conditions will be different. If the collection conditions are changed in this way, accurate diagnosis cannot be performed from the defecation gas, which may lead to misdiagnosis.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, a toilet-side device including a suction port that opens on the back side in the bowl and a gas suction device is opened on the back side in the bowl where the suction port is near the anus of the subject. Therefore, the defecation gas containing a trace amount of odorous gas such as methyl mercaptan can be reliably collected under the same conditions.

  In the present invention, preferably, the transfer device has a transfer case that can be transferred and moved, and a part of the recovery passage is in communication with the first recovery passage connected to the recovery container and the first recovery passage. 2 recovery passages, at least the recovery container, the first recovery passage, and the control valve are stored in the transport case, and the second recovery passage is provided outside the transport case, Connectable to the device.

  When a transport device is attached to a toilet in a private toilet room attached to a hospital room, the installation is restricted depending on the size of the private toilet room, the arrangement of the toilet, and the like. On the other hand, according to the present invention having the above configuration, since the second recovery passage is routed from the transfer case and connected to the toilet side device, the suction port is provided even when the private toilet room is narrow. Since the second recovery passage can be connected to the toilet device while the position is fixed, the defecation gas of the subject can always be recovered under the same conditions.

  In the present invention, preferably, the toilet side device has a discharge port for discharging the gas sucked inside by the gas suction device to the outside of the toilet side device, and the gas sensor includes the suction port and the discharge port of the toilet side device. It is provided in the connecting internal passage.

  When the gas sensor is installed at a position away from the toilet, the period from when the gas sensor detects the defecation gas in the sucked gas until it reaches the control valve is shortened, and the control valve is changed to the open state. There is a possibility of missing the initial portion of the defecation gas, which is not in time to do so and the effects of the intestinal environment are most reflected. On the other hand, according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, a sufficient distance from the gas sensor to the control valve can be ensured, so that the initial portion of the defecation gas can be reliably recovered. Moreover, since the attachment position of the gas sensor is fixed inside the toilet device, gas detection can be performed under the same conditions every time.

In this invention, Preferably, the gas sensor is provided in the front-end | tip part connected with the toilet bowl side apparatus of a 2nd collection | recovery channel | path.
According to the present invention having such a configuration, since the gas sensor is configured on the transfer device side and is provided at the distal end portion connected to the toilet side device of the second recovery passageway, from the gas sensor to the control valve. Can be secured sufficiently, and the construction of the toilet-side device that is permanently installed can be simplified.

  In the present invention, preferably, the first recovery passage is branched into a first branch passage that extends to the recovery container and a second branch passage that discharges gas to the outside. A deodorizer is not provided in the path leading to the recovery container via the second recovery passage and the first branch passage, and a deodorizer is provided in the second branch passage.

If the deodorizer is provided in the collection passage leading to the collection container when collecting the defecation gas, the off-flavor gas component in the defecation gas is deodorized, and accurate diagnosis cannot be performed.
On the other hand, according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the deodorizer is not provided in the path leading to the recovery container via the second recovery passage and the first branch passage, Accurate diagnosis can be performed by collecting in a collection container without going through a deodorizer. Further, when the defecation gas is not collected, the gas sucked by the gas suction device is released to the outside through the deodorizer, so that the residual gas in the toilet room can be reduced. Furthermore, since the first collection passage incorporated in the transfer case is branched, it is possible to prevent a pipe connection error and the like.

In the present invention, preferably, a deodorizing device can be detachably attached to the downstream side of the gas suction device in the internal passage of the toilet side device, and the second collection passage is connected to the internal passage with the deodorizing device removed. Are detachably connected.
According to the present invention having the above configuration, when the transport device is not connected to the toilet side device, the gas sucked by the suction device is discharged through the deodorization device by attaching the deodorization device downstream of the suction device. Therefore, even when a toilet bowl is installed in a hospital room, the hospital room can be used without discomfort.

In this invention, Preferably, at least one of a holding part or a wheel is provided on the surface of the transport case of the transport device.
In the system according to the present invention, the transport device is configured to be lightweight by separating a part of functions from the toilet side device, so that it can be transported using a handle or easily transported using wheels.

In the present invention, preferably, a power supply line connected to the transport device is integrally formed with the second collection passage, and power is supplied to the transport device from the toilet device via the power supply line.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, electric power necessary for the transport device can be secured from the toilet device by only a simple operation of attaching the second collection passage of the transport device to the toilet device.

In the present invention, the toilet device preferably has a local cleaning function.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, a device having a local cleaning function can be normally used as a toilet-side device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is a system for collect | recovering the defecation gas containing odorous gas, such as methyl mercaptan, Comprising: The defecation gas collection | recovery system in which a highly accurate diagnosis is possible is provided.

The stool gas recovery system of 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view which shows the state to which the toilet bowl apparatus and the collection | recovery apparatus were connected, (b) is the connection of a toilet bowl apparatus and a collection | recovery apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state released | released. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the defecation gas collection | recovery system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the gas suction apparatus in the defecation gas recovery system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure inside the collection | recovery apparatus of the defecation gas collection | recovery system shown in FIG. (A) shows the state which removed the piping group and collection | recovery bag of the collection | recovery apparatus shown in FIG. 4, (b) is an exploded view of the piping group and collection | recovery bag of a collection | recovery apparatus. It is a figure which shows the piping group and collection | recovery bag which can be removed in the collection | recovery apparatus shown in FIG. 4 with a dotted line. The structure of a flow-path on-off valve is shown, (a) shows an open state, (b) shows a closed state. It is a figure which shows the flow-path on-off valve which removed the soft piping unit. It is a figure which shows the toilet device other than the time of the defecation gas collection | recovery in the defecation gas collection system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the flow which collects defecation gas. It is a figure for demonstrating the replacement | exchange method of a collection bag. It is the graph which showed typically the drive of the detection signal and control valve by each sensor with which the defecation gas recovery system was equipped in one defecation action of a subject. It is a figure for demonstrating collection | recovery control and collection | recovery prohibition control. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow which carries out component analysis of the gas collect | recovered by the collection bag. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of removing the influence of residual gas etc. from the analysis result of a defecation gas. An example of the analysis result displayed on an analysis result display machine is shown. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting method of the reference value in case the detected value detected by the odorous gas sensor tends to increase. It is a figure which shows the result of having measured the amount of the health system gas and the odorous gas which are contained in the defecation gas of the healthy person below 60s, the healthy person of 60-70 generations, the patient of early cancer, and the patient of advanced cancer. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the defecation gas recovery system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a defecation gas recovery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a toilet device and a recovery device are connected, and (b) is a toilet device and a recovery device. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which connection with was released. The defecation gas recovery system of this embodiment is used, for example, in a hospital room of a colon cancer patient or a toilet space attached to a hospital room.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the defecation gas recovery system 1 of the first embodiment includes a toilet device 2 and a recovery device 4. A discharge port 2c for discharging the gas sucked by the gas suction device 7 is provided at the side portion of the toilet device 2, and the tip of the connection pipe 6 extending from the collection device 4 is the discharge port 2c of the toilet device 2. It is connected to the. A gas detection device 8 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the connection pipe 6 on the toilet device 2 side. Further, the toilet device 2 is supplied with power from, for example, an indoor outlet. The power supply cord of the collection device 4 is integrally formed and built in the connection pipe 6, and by connecting the connection pipe 6 to the toilet device 2, power is supplied to the collection device 4 from the toilet device 2 via the power cord. Supplied. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the gas suction device 8 is provided at a portion of the connection pipe 6 between the toilet device 2 and the recovery device 4. It may be provided so as to be located in the discharge port 2c of the toilet device 2.

  The defecation gas recovery system 1 of this embodiment is for recovering the defecation gas discharged into the bowl 2a of the toilet device 2 when the subject defecates the stool. The collected defecation gas is analyzed for gas components contained in, for example, gas chromatography and diagnoses cancer and the like based on the analysis result.

First, the principle of diagnosing cancer by analyzing the gas component of defecation gas will be described.
It is reported in the literature that odorous gas containing sulfur components such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide is discharged simultaneously with defecation from affected areas when suffering from cancer of the digestive system, particularly colorectal cancer. The digestive organs are the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The large intestine can also be classified into the appendix, cecum, rectum, and colon. . Cancer has little change every day and progresses gradually. As cancer progresses, the amount of odorous gas containing sulfur components, particularly methyl mercaptan, increases. That is, when the amount of odorous gas containing a sulfur component increases, it can be determined that cancer is progressing.
Here, in addition to hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, defecation gas excreted during defecation includes nitrogen, oxygen, argon, water vapor, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, acetic acid, trimethylamine, ammonia, propionic acid, methyl disulfide, three Contains methyl sulfide. Among these, in order to determine the disease of cancer, it is necessary to measure the amount of odorous gas containing sulfur-based components, particularly methyl mercaptan.

Furthermore, the inventors have found that the healthy intestines have an acidic intestinal environment, but when they become cancer patients, the intestinal environment becomes alkaline, and the amount of bifidobacteria and the like decreases, resulting in CO ₂ , H _2. We paid attention to the fact that the amount of healthy gas such as fatty acid and other fermentative components is steadily decreased so as to be inversely proportional to the increase in the amount of odorous gas.

  Therefore, the inventors measure the amount of healthy gas and odorous gas contained in the defecation gas of healthy people in their 60s or younger, healthy people in their 60s to 70s, patients with early cancer, and patients with advanced cancer. As a result, the result shown in FIG. 18 was obtained. That is, the defecation gas of a healthy person has a large amount of healthy gas and a small amount of odorous gas. On the other hand, the defecation gas of cancer patients has a small amount of healthy gas and a large amount of odorous gas. And the amount of the health system gas contained in the defeased gas of advanced cancer is decreasing compared with early cancer. Furthermore, when the amount of healthy gas and the amount of odorous gas are intermediate amounts between a cancer patient and a healthy person, it is considered to be a gray zone. For this reason, the inventors can measure the amount of healthy gas and the amount of odorous gas of the subject based on the above knowledge, and can determine the health state with high accuracy based on these correlations. Thought.

In addition, the inventors measured the defecation gas, and when performing a plurality of excretion actions (an act of discharging one fart or one stool) at the time of one defecation, the first excretion It was found that a large amount of stool gas was included in the amount of defecation gas discharged with the action. This is because the defecation gas that is discharged with the first excretion is the gas that accumulates at the end of the large intestine near the anus, and the gas that accumulates at the end of the large intestine passes through the entire intestine over time. Therefore, odorous gas components such as methyl mercaptan produced from affected areas such as cancer are included throughout the large intestine, but accumulated in other parts of the large intestine, but the gas is downstream of the large intestine during defecation. This is because the odorous gas component generated from the affected part is not sufficiently contained even if there is an affected part such as cancer in the downstream part of the large intestine because it passes through the part at once.
Therefore, it is preferable to collect the first defecation gas in order to make an accurate diagnosis based on a small amount of odorous gas. When measuring the gas from the second and subsequent excretion actions, there is a possibility of being affected by the feces excreted by the first excretion action, so this influence can be reduced. For this reason, by collecting the initial part of the defecation gas that is excreted along with the excretion action, the initial part of the defecation gas that is excreted along with the first excretion action, collected at the end near the anus in the large intestine, More accurate diagnosis can be performed.

  The toilet device 2 is a toilet having a local cleaning function, and a gas suction device 7 is incorporated therein. In addition, each device incorporated in the toilet device 2 such as the gas suction device 7 is controlled by the toilet control device 12 (FIG. 2) built in the toilet seat side. In addition, it is preferable that the toilet device 2 has a wheel attached to the bottom and is transportable.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the defecation gas recovery system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet device 2 includes a toilet control device 12 having a CPU 12a. This toilet device 2 includes an entrance detection sensor 24, a seating detection sensor 26, a defecation / urine detection sensor 28, a toilet lid opening / closing device 30, a nozzle driving device 32, a nozzle cleaning device 34, and a gas suction device 7. The toilet flushing device 36, the toilet flushing device 38, the cleaning gas supply device 48, the duct cleaner 56, and the transceiver 58 are connected.

  The room entry detection sensor 24 is, for example, an infrared sensor, and detects entry / exit of the subject into the toilet space R. The entrance detection sensor 24 functions as a subject position confirmation unit that detects the entrance / exit of the subject into the toilet space in which the toilet 2 is provided, that is, the proximity of the subject to the toilet. For example, when using a toilet that can be installed in a private room of a hospital, an infrared sensor that detects entry / exit of a subject within a predetermined distance from the toilet may be used instead of the entrance detection sensor 24. Such a sensor also functions as a subject position confirming means in the same manner as the room entry detection sensor 24.

  The seating detection sensor 26 is, for example, an infrared sensor or a pressure sensor, and detects whether or not the subject is seated on the toilet seat 2b.

  In the present embodiment, the defecation / urine detection sensor 28 is constituted by a microwave sensor, and whether the stool or stool discharged by the subject is stool or whether the stool floats in the sealed water It is configured to detect the state of defecation such as whether it is sinking or whether the stool is diarrhea. Alternatively, the defecation / urination detection sensor 28 may be configured by a CCD, a water level sensor that measures the transition of the sealing water, or the like.

The toilet lid opening / closing device 30 is a device for opening and closing the toilet lid according to the situation based on the detection signal from the entrance detection sensor 24 and the like. Further, the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 can detect that the toilet lid has been opened and closed by the subject without automatically opening and closing.
The nozzle drive device 32 is a cleaning device used for washing the butt, and is a device for washing the butt of the subject after defecation. The nozzle driving device 32 is configured to drive the nozzle to clean the toilet device 2.
The nozzle cleaning device 34 is a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzles of the nozzle driving device 32. In this embodiment, hypochlorous acid is generated from tap water, and the nozzle is cleaned with the generated hypochlorous acid. It is configured as follows.

  The gas suction device 7 includes a fan for sucking the gas in the bowl 2 a of the toilet device 2, and the sucked gas flows through the detection unit such as the odorous gas sensor 16 and then is collected through the connection pipe 6. 4 is sent. The detailed configuration of the gas suction device 7 will be described later.

The toilet bowl cleaning device 36 is a cleaning device for discharging the water or tap water stored in a cleaning water tank (not shown) into the toilet bowl and cleaning the inside of the bowl 2a of the toilet bowl device 2. The toilet cleaning device 36 is normally operated by operating the toilet device 2 by a subject and cleans the inside of the bowl 2a. However, as will be described later, the toilet cleaning device 36 is automatically operated by the control device 12 according to the situation.
The toilet sterilizer 38 is a device that generates sterilized water such as hypochlorous acid water from tap water, sprays the generated sterilized water on the bowl 2a of the toilet device 2, and sterilizes the bowl 2a. is there.

The cleaning gas supply device 48 is a device that supplies a cleaning gas such as air or ozone gas into the collection conduit.
The duct cleaner 56 is a device for cleaning the inside of the recovery passage of the gas suction device 7 with, for example, hypochlorous acid obtained by electrolyzing tap water.
The transceiver 58 is communicably connected to a transceiver 73 possessed by a doctor or nurse via a network. The transceiver 73 is composed of, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a PC.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the gas suction device 7 in the defecation gas recovery system according to the first embodiment. The gas suction device 7 is directed downward, and includes a vertical passage 7a that opens to the back side of the bowl 2a, a lateral passage 7b that extends upward from the opening of the vertical passage 7a, and then extends in a generally horizontal direction. And a suction fan 7c as a suction device disposed on the downstream side of the direction passage 7b. Further, a third recovery passage which is a part of the recovery passage for recovering gas from the bowl 2a to the recovery bag of the recovery device is constituted by the vertical passage 7a and the lateral passage 7b. A cleaning gas supply device 48 and a duct cleaner 56 are provided inside the third recovery passage.

  The suction fan 7c sucks the gas in the bowl 2a of the toilet device 2 into the collection passage. The vertical passage 7a opens in the bowl 2a with the suction port directed downward so that droplets such as urine do not enter the interior. Odorous gases such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen gas have a low molecular weight, so they rise immediately after defecation. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the stool gas containing the discharged odorous gas and hydrogen gas is reliably detected by sucking with the suction fan 7c from the inlet of the vertical passage 7a opened in the bowl 2a. It can be introduced into the recovery device 4 via the device 8. Thus, the gas in the bowl 2 a sucked by the gas suction device 7 is sent to the connection pipe 6.

  The connecting pipe 6 constitutes a second recovery passage that leads from the toilet device 2 to the recovery device 4. The gas detection device 8 includes a hydrogen gas sensor 14, an odorous gas sensor 16, a carbon dioxide sensor 18, a temperature sensor 20, a humidity sensor 22, and a sensor heating heater 46 arranged in the recovery passage. In the present embodiment, the case where the gas detection device 8 is provided in the second recovery passage has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the hydrogen gas sensor 14 is provided in the third recovery passage in the gas suction device 7. The odorous gas sensor 16, the carbon dioxide sensor 18, the temperature sensor 20, the humidity sensor 22, and the sensor heating heater 46 may be arranged, and the gas detection device 8 may be provided in the third recovery passage. Further, as described above, the gas detection device 8 may be provided at the distal end of the connection pipe 6 so as to be positioned in the outlet 2 c of the toilet device 2.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the recovery device 4 of the defecation gas recovery system shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the collection device 4 includes a transport case 86, a pipe group 80 constituting the first collection passage, collection bag opening / closing valves 52 a, 52 b, 52 c as a control valve, and a flow path opening / closing valve 54. , Recovery bags 82 a, 82 b, 82 c, a deodorizing unit 84, and a control unit 87 fixed to the upper part of the transport case 86.

  The transport case 86 is made of, for example, a housing made of resin or metal, and has a wheel 86A on the lower surface of the bottom and a handle 86B on the upper surface of the ceiling. The transport case 86 can be moved by holding the handle 86B with the connection pipe 6 removed from the pipe group 80, and can be moved by the wheel 86A by pushing from the side. One of the handle 86B and the wheel 86A may be omitted.

  5A shows a state in which the piping group 80 and the recovery bag 82 of the recovery device 4 shown in FIG. 4 are removed, and FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the piping group 80 and the recovery bag 82 of the recovery device 4. is there. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a group of pipes 80 and a collection bag 82 that can be detached in the collection device 310 shown in FIG. The pipe group 80 is configured by combining a plurality of cylindrical straight pipes 80a, a plurality of T-shaped branch pipes 80b, and a plurality of soft pipe units 80c. The straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft piping unit 80c are supported by a member that can be easily removed such as a fixing band. A passage heating heater 51 (FIG. 2) such as a heat transfer wire is provided on the outer periphery of the piping group 80, and the piping group 80 can be heated by the passage heating heater 51.

  The straight pipe 80a and the branch pipe 80b are made of hard polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE). However, the pipe 80a and the branch pipe 80b are not limited to this, and pipes obtained by coating PTFE on the inside of pipes made of other hard resin such as vinyl chloride may be used.

  The soft piping unit 80c is configured by connecting a straight straight pipe 80cb made of hard PTFE to both ends of a cylindrical member 80ca made of a flexible soft cylindrical PTFE resin. Note that the soft pipe unit 80c may also be formed by connecting a straight pipe to both ends of a flexible cylindrical member made of a resin other than PTFE and coating the tubular member and the straight pipe with PTFE.

  In the present embodiment, the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft pipe unit 80c are arranged in the lower part of the recovery device 4 from the upstream side (left side in FIG. 4). Connected horizontally in order. A connecting pipe 6 (FIG. 1) extending from the gas suction device 7 of the toilet device 2 is connected to the upstream end of the straight pipe 80a on the most upstream side. Further, a deodorizing unit 84 is connected to the downstream side of the most downstream soft piping unit 80c.

The branch path of each branch pipe 80b opens upward. And the lower end of the soft piping unit 80c extended to an up-down direction is connected to the branch path of each branch pipe 80b, respectively.
The straight pipe 80a, the plurality of T-shaped branch pipes 80b, the plurality of soft pipe units 80c, and the collection bag 82 that constitute the pipe group 80 are connected using a connection tool that can be easily removed such as a pipe band. Yes. The straight pipe 80 a, the branch pipe 80 b, and the soft pipe unit 80 c constituting the pipe group 80 are supported by a fixing band 89. For this reason, as will be described later, it can be easily disassembled and replaced as shown in FIGS.

  Each collection bag 82 is made of a flexible material and has a collection bag body 82A formed in a bag shape, a cylindrical collection port 82B communicating with the collection bag body 82A, and a cock attached to the collection bag body 82A. Nozzle 82C. The collection bag main body 82A is suspended and supported by the collection bag 82 by a suspension member 86a extending from the top plate of the transport case 86 above the collection bag 82. The collection bag 82 is supported such that the collection port 82B is positioned below. Then, the upper ends of the soft piping units 80c2, 80c3, 80c4 extending in the vertical direction are inserted into the recovery ports 82B, and tightened by the pipe band 85 from the outside of the recovery ports 82B, whereby the recovery ports 82B of the recovery bags 82 are soft. It is connected to the piping unit 80c. Each collection bag 82 accommodates rigid PTFE straight pipes 83A, 83B, 83C so as to extend from the collection port 82B to the collection bag main body 82A. This is to prevent the flexible recovery port 82B from being blocked and hindering the smooth recovery of gas into the recovery bag 82.

The deodorizing unit 84 is a device incorporating a deodorizing catalyst, adsorbs the odorous gas in the gas sent through the pipe group 80 to the deodorizing catalyst, and discharges the deodorized gas to the outside.
As shown in FIG. 5B, the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c, the flow path opening / closing valve 54, and the deodorizing unit 84 are fixed to a transfer case 86.

Next, the configuration of the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c and the flow path opening / closing valve 54 constituting the control valve will be described. The collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c and the channel opening / closing valve 54 have the same configuration, and therefore the configuration of the channel opening / closing valve 54 will be described below.
FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the flow path opening / closing valve, where (a) shows an open state and (b) shows a closed state. FIG. 8 is a view showing the flow path opening / closing valve with the soft piping unit removed. As shown in FIG. 7, the flow path opening / closing valve 54 includes a motor unit 88 and a switch 90. The switch 90 includes a pair of pedestal portions attached to opposing surfaces of the first opening / closing member 92A and the second opening / closing member 92B, the torsion spring 94, and the first opening / closing member 92A and the second opening / closing member 92B. 96A, 96B, and surface fasteners 98A, 98B attached to the opposing surfaces of the pair of pedestals 96A, 96B, respectively.

  The first opening / closing member 92A and the second opening / closing member 92B are members configured to be relatively rotatable around a shaft portion 92C in a plane horizontal to the paper surface. In the present embodiment, the switch 90 is provided in a predetermined positional relationship such that the first opening / closing member 92A is distal to the motor unit 88 and the second opening / closing member 92B is close to the motor unit 88. Yes. In the present embodiment, the first opening / closing member 92 </ b> A is fixed to the transport case 86 of the collection device 4. Between the first opening / closing member 92A and the second opening / closing member 92B, a cylindrical member 80ca constituting the soft piping unit 80c1 is disposed.

  The torsion spring 94 is built in the shaft portions of the first opening / closing member 92A and the second opening / closing member 92B, and the first opening / closing member 92A and the second opening / closing member 92B as shown in FIG. The second opening / closing member 92B is biased so as to be separated from the first opening / closing member 92A so as to be in the open state.

  The pedestals 96A and 96B are members made of an elastic member such as rubber, for example. Steps are formed on the opposing surfaces of the pedestal portions 96A and 96B, the portion near the shaft portion 92C is thin, and the portion distal to the shaft portion 92C is thick. And surface fastener 98A, 98B is attached to the thin part of axial part 92C vicinity.

  The first opening / closing member 92A, the second opening / closing member 92B, and the cylindrical member 80ca are detachably attached without being fixed. Specifically, hook and loop fasteners 100B and 100A are respectively attached to the upper and lower portions of the flexible tubular member 80ca constituting the soft piping unit 80c1. The surface fasteners 100B and 100A attached to the cylindrical member 80ca constituting the soft piping unit 80c1 are detachable from the surface fasteners 98A and 98B attached to the first opening and closing member 92A and the second opening and closing member 92B, respectively. It is attached.

  With such a configuration, the soft piping unit 80c1 can be easily detached from the flow path opening / closing valve 54. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, with the flow path opening / closing valve 54 open, the surface fasteners 98A, 98B of the flow path opening / closing valve 54 are attached to the outer surface of the tubular member 80ca of the soft piping unit 80c1. The soft piping unit 80c1 can be removed from the flow path opening / closing valve 54 only by removing the surface fasteners 100B and 100A.

  The motor unit 88 includes a motor 102 that rotationally drives the shaft 102A, and a pressing member 104 that is fixed to the shaft 102A. As shown in FIG. 7A, the motor unit 88 rotates and drives the motor 102, so that the shaft 102A is separated from the second opening / closing member 92B of the switch 90, and as shown in FIG. 7B. It is possible to switch between the state where the second opening / closing member 92B is pressed.

  In order to close the cylindrical member 80ca by the flow path opening / closing valve 54, the motor 102 of the motor unit 88 is driven to rotate, and the pressing member 104 is used for the second opening / closing of the switch 90 as shown in FIG. It switches to the state which presses the member 92B. Then, the second opening / closing member 92B rotates toward the first opening / closing member 92A, and the second opening / closing member 92B sandwiches the tubular member 80ca with the first opening / closing member 92A. Thereby, the space in the cylindrical member 80ca is closed and switched to the closed state.

  In order to open the tubular member 80ca by the flow path opening / closing valve 54, the motor 102 of the motor unit 88 is rotationally driven, and the pressing member 104 is used for the second opening / closing of the switch 90 as shown in FIG. The state is switched to a state separated from the member 92B. As a result, the second opening / closing member 92B biased by the torsion spring 94 rotates in a direction away from the first opening / closing member 92A. At this time, the hook and loop fasteners 100B and 100A attached to the cylindrical member 80ca constituting the soft piping unit 80c1 are attached to the hook and loop fasteners 98A and 98B attached to the first opening and closing member 92A and the second opening and closing member 92B, respectively. Therefore, when the second opening / closing member 92B rotates in the direction away from the first opening / closing member 92A, the space in the tubular member 80ca is opened and switched to the open state. The collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, and 52c can be similarly controlled to switch between the open state and the closed state.

  With such a configuration, the straight pipe 80a and the branch pipe 80b can be removed from the transport case 86 without removing the deodorizing unit 84, the collection bag open / close valves 52a, 52b, 52c, and the flow path open / close valve 54 from the transport case 86 as necessary. The soft piping unit 80c and the collection bag 82 can be removed, and a new straight pipe 80a, branch pipe 80b, the soft piping unit 80c, and the collection bag 82 can be attached. Further, only one of the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft piping unit 80c can be removed and replaced.

  The control unit 87 includes a collection unit control device 60 having a CPU 60a and a storage device 60b, a time acquisition device 72 (FIG. 2), a personal authentication device 62 (FIG. 2), a display device 68 (FIG. 2), and a speaker. 70 (FIG. 2). The CPU 60a is configured with an analysis circuit that detects whether the fart has been excreted based on the outputs of the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the odorous gas sensor 16, the carbon dioxide sensor 18, and the defecation / urine detection sensor 28.

  The collection unit control device 60 can communicate with the toilet control device 12. The storage device 60b stores past defecation gas recovery information. Specifically, the subject identification information for identifying the subject, the collection date information regarding the date and time when the defecation gas was collected, the collection bag identification information for identifying the collected collection bag 82, and the collected gas remain in the bowl Gas information regarding whether the gas is residual gas, defecation gas, or fart is stored in association with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recovery unit control device 60 includes a hydrogen gas sensor 14, an odorous gas sensor 16, a carbon dioxide sensor 18, a temperature sensor 20, a humidity sensor 22, and a sensor heating heater 46 of the gas detection device 8. A time acquisition device 72, a personal authentication device 62, a passage heater 51, a collection bag opening / closing valve 52, a flow path opening / closing valve 54, a display device 68, and a speaker 70 are connected.

  The temperature sensor 20 measures the temperature of a catalyst such as the odorous gas sensor 16. Sensor sensitivity of the odorous gas sensor 16 or the like slightly changes depending on the temperature of the catalyst. In the present embodiment, since the amount of the odorous gas is very small, the toilet CPU 22a determines the temperature sensor 20 according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 so that the minute amount of gas can be detected accurately and stably. In order to accurately maintain the sensor temperature in a predetermined range, a sensor heating heater 46 described later is controlled to adjust to a predetermined temperature environment.

The humidity sensor 22 measures the humidity of the gas sucked by the gas suction device. Note that these sensors and devices are not essential, and are desirably provided to improve accuracy.
The sensor heating heater 46 is for heating and activating a catalyst such as the odorous gas sensor 16. Each sensor can accurately detect a predetermined gas component by maintaining the catalyst at a predetermined temperature.

The time acquisition device 72 is, for example, a clock, and provides the collection unit control device 60 with time information related to the date and time when the defecation gas was collected.
The personal authentication device 62 is composed of, for example, a barcode reader, reads a barcode possessed by the subject, and acquires subject identification information for identifying the subject.

  First, in the defecation gas recovery system 1 of the present embodiment, semiconductor gas sensors are used as the odorous gas sensor 16 and the hydrogen gas sensor 14 of the gas detection device 9 in order to detect odorous gas and hydrogen gas. Further, as the carbon dioxide sensor 18 for detecting carbon dioxide, a solid electrolyte sensor is used in the gas detection device 9.

  The semiconductor gas sensor has a catalyst made of a metal oxide film containing tin oxide or the like. When the catalyst is heated to several hundred degrees and the heated catalyst is exposed to a reducing gas, an oxidation / reduction reaction occurs between oxygen adsorbed on the surface and the reducing gas. The semiconductor gas sensor can detect the reducing gas by electrically detecting a change in the resistance value of the catalyst due to the oxidation / reduction reaction. The reducing gas that can be detected by the semiconductor gas sensor includes hydrogen gas and odorous gas. In this embodiment, the semiconductor gas sensor is used for both the sensor for detecting odorous gas and the sensor for detecting hydrogen gas. However, the catalyst used in the odorous gas sensor reacts strongly to the odorous gas. In addition, the components of the catalyst are adjusted so that the catalyst used in the hydrogen gas sensor reacts strongly with hydrogen gas.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the “semiconductor gas sensor” is used as the “odor gas sensor”. As described above, this “semiconductor gas sensor” is other than the methyl mercaptan gas to be detected. The general thing which reacts also widely with odorous gas is used. In addition, a solid electrolyte sensor can be used as an “odor gas sensor” as will be described later, but the solid electrolyte sensor also reacts widely with other odorous gases in addition to methyl mercaptan gas as with the semiconductor gas sensor. You can use a common one. As described above, the gas sensor employed in the present embodiment is a sensor that also reacts with methyl mercaptan gas and odorous gas other than methyl mercaptan gas. It will be referred to as “odorous gas sensor”. Representative examples of the odorous gas to which the “odorous gas sensor” employed in the present embodiment reacts include methyl mercaptan gas, hydrogen sulfide gas, ammonia gas, and alcohol-based gas.

  In this embodiment, a case where a semiconductor gas sensor is used as a sensor for detecting odorous gas and hydrogen gas will be described. However, a solid electrolyte sensor can be used instead. The solid electrolyte sensor is a sensor that detects a gas based on an ion permeation amount that passes through the solid electrolyte by heating a solid electrolyte such as stable zirconia, for example. Gases that can be detected by the solid electrolyte sensor include hydrogen gas and odorous gas. In this embodiment, a solid electrolyte sensor is used as a sensor for detecting carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide sensor is not limited to these, and an infrared method or the like may be used. In the present embodiment, the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the odorous gas sensor 16, and the carbon dioxide sensor 18 are provided as gas sensors for detecting the defecation gas, but at least one may be provided.

  The sensor heating heater 46 is provided to heat the catalysts of the odorous gas sensor 16 and the hydrogen gas sensor 14. Also, the carbon dioxide sensor 18 needs to heat the solid electrolyte to a predetermined temperature, and a sensor heating heater 46 is provided. These sensor heating heaters 46 also function as an odor removing device for heating and removing the odorous gas component adhering to the sensor. Even when a solid electrolyte sensor is used as an odorous gas sensor or a hydrogen gas sensor, it is necessary to provide a sensor heating heater for heating the catalyst.

  The sensor heating heater 46 also functions as a means for removing deposits attached to each sensor. Although the gas that has passed through the filter 74 has foreign substances removed, the sucked gas contains various off-flavor gas components. Such off-flavor gas components adhere to each gas sensor and can cause noise when measuring a minute amount of odorous gas. On the other hand, by heating the catalyst of the sensor by the sensor heating heater 46, the off-flavor gas adhering to the sensor can be removed by heating without providing a new device. Moreover, the control apparatus 12 controls the sensor heating heater 46 so that the temperature of each gas sensor becomes constant before the subject's defecation behavior is started. That is, the control device 12 controls the sensor heating heater 46 so as to suppress the temperature of each gas sensor from being lowered due to contact with the airflow. Thereby, during the test subject's defecation period, the sensitivity of each gas sensor is managed by predetermined value, and the measurement error by each gas sensor can be suppressed.

  The air in the bowl 2 a sucked by the gas suction device 7 of the toilet device 2 passes through the third recovery passage in the gas suction device 7 and is sent to the connection pipe 6 from the discharge port on the side surface of the toilet device 2. The gas sent into the connection pipe 6 passes through the gas detection device 8 through the second recovery passage and is sent to the pipe group 80 constituting the first recovery passage of the recovery device 4. When the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is open and the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c are closed, the gas sent to the piping group 80 is deodorized by the deodorizing unit 84, and the toilet Released into the space R. When the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is in a closed state and any of the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c is in an open state, the gas sucked by the gas suction device 7 is released. The bags are collected into the collection bags 82 corresponding to the bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c. The flow path opening / closing valve 54 and the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c are provided on the downstream side at a predetermined distance or more from the gas detection device 8 so that the defecation gas can be reliably collected.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the toilet device 2 at a time other than when defecation gas is collected in the defecation gas collection system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting pipe 6 is removed from the toilet device 2 except during the defecation gas recovery. And the deodorizing unit 10 is attached to the discharge port of the gas suction device 7 of the toilet device 2. For example, a deodorizing catalyst is built in the deodorizing unit 10. The gas sucked from the bowl 2a by the gas suction device 7 passes through the deodorizing unit 10, thereby performing a deodorizing process. And the air deodorized by the deodorizing unit 10 is discharged indoors.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a flow of collecting the defecation gas by the defecation gas recovery system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a flow of collecting the defecation gas.
The defecation gas recovery system 1 of the present embodiment is for recovering the defecation gas released by the subject during defecation. Then, the amount of odorous gas, mainly methyl mercaptan contained in the collected defecation gas, and the amount of health gas are analyzed, and the physical condition analysis including the determination of cancer based on the amount of gas obtained by this analysis It can be performed.

  Here, it is difficult to suck all the defecation gas discharged by the subject with the suction device 7, and in the state of toilets and toilets being very unsanitary, this becomes a disturbance and affects the gas detection. There is a possibility that defecation gas cannot be detected by the apparatus, or the analysis accuracy is lowered.

  On the other hand, as described above, when performing a plurality of excretion actions (an act of discharging one fart or one stool) at the time of one defecation, the first excretion action is performed. The defecation gas is a large amount of gas and further contains a lot of odorous gas that well reflects the intestinal environment. For this reason, in the defecation gas collection system 1 of this embodiment, the defecation gas accompanying the first excretion act at the time of one defecation is collected. Furthermore, the residual gas is also collected during the non-defecation period in which the subject does not defecate so that the influence of the residual gas remaining in the surrounding environment can be considered during the component analysis.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the collection of the defecation gas at the time of one defecation action by the defecation gas collection system 1 of the present embodiment, an environment maintenance step S1 before collection, a collection start preparation step S2, and a non-collection determination step S3, recovery step S4, deodorization / storage step S5, and post-recovery environment maintenance step S6 are executed.

  The pre-collection environment maintenance step S1 is a step performed before the subject enters the toilet space R. Whether or not the subject has entered the toilet space R is detected by the entrance detection sensor 24 (FIG. 2). In the pre-recovery environment maintenance step S1, the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is opened, and the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c are closed.

  In the pre-collection environment maintenance step S1, the recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet control device 12 change the sensor heating heater 46, the gas suction device 7, and the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 to the recovery standby mode and control them. In the recovery standby mode, the sensor heater 46 is based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 and the temperature of the catalyst of the odorous gas sensor 16 is lower than the temperature at the time of measurement (for example, 370 ° C.). To be controlled. The gas suction device 7 is controlled so that the suction air volume is minimized in the recovery standby mode. The toilet lid opening / closing device 30 is controlled so that the toilet lid is closed in the collection standby mode.

  Further, in the pre-recovery environment maintenance step S1, regular cleaning control is performed as follows. The catalyst of the odorous gas sensor 16 is lower than the optimum temperature because the sensor heating heater 46 is in the recovery standby mode, but the gas concentration of the odorous gas can be measured. When there is a generation source of off-flavor gas in the bowl 2a, such as when there is attached stool in the toilet device 2, the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 becomes a predetermined value or more. The toilet control device 12 periodically detects odorous gas with the odorous gas sensor 16 in the pre-recovery environmental maintenance step S1, and the gas concentration value (residual gas amount) measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is predetermined. If the value is exceeded, toilet bowl cleaning is performed. Specifically, the toilet-side control device 12 discharges the cleaning water from the nozzle by the nozzle driving device 32 to forcibly wash the bowl 2a. The water stored in the cleaning water tank by the toilet cleaning device 36 is stored in the bowl 2a. Or the inside of the bowl 2a is washed, or the toilet sterilizer 38 generates sterilized water such as hypochlorous acid water from tap water, and the generated sterilized water is sprayed on the bowl 2a, and the bowl 2a Sterilize.

  When the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the toilet control device 12 operates the gas suction device 7 to suck the gas in the bowl 2a and discharge it from the deodorizing unit 84. The gas concentration can also be reduced. In addition, by sucking the gas with the gas suction device 7 with the toilet lid open, not only the bowl 2a but also the toilet space R can be deodorized. Preferably, when deodorizing with the gas suction device 7 and the deodorizing unit 84, the amount of gas sucked by the gas suction device 7 is set larger than when collecting within the defecation period of the subject.

  Alternatively, a ventilator (not shown) provided in the toilet space R may be configured to be controlled by the toilet control device 12, and the gas concentration may be lowered by operating the ventilator. In this way, the concentration of the odorous gas remaining in the bowl 2a is reduced, and the influence of residual gas noise caused by the remaining gas is reduced.

  Further, in the pre-recovery environment maintenance step S1, if the gas amount measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 does not become less than a predetermined value even after cleaning the toilet bowl and the recovery passage described above, the toilet-side control device 12 The transmitter / receiver 58 notifies the subject to the transmitter / receiver 73 possessed by the doctor or nurse to wash the toilet.

  Further, in the pre-measurement environment maintenance step S1, the collection unit control device 60 and the toilet control device 12 periodically perform suction environment cleaning. Specifically, the toilet-side controller 12 drives the duct cleaner 56 and sprays cleaning water into the vertical passage 7a of the gas suction device 7 to clean the vertical passage 7a and the like. Further, the hydrogen heater 14, the odorous gas sensor 16 and the carbon dioxide sensor 18 are heated to a high temperature by the sensor heating heater 46, and the off-flavor gas components adhering to the surfaces of the gas sensors 14, 16 and 18 are burned out. The toilet control device 12 periodically supplies the cleaning gas into the recovery passage by the cleaning gas supply device 48 and forcibly cleans the gas components remaining in the recovery passage. Further, the pipe group 80 is heated to about 200 ° C. by the passage heater 51 provided in the pipe group 80, and the pipe group 80 is heated and cleaned.

  Next, when the entrance detection sensor 24 detects the entrance of the subject, the recovery unit control device 60 performs the recovery start preparation step S2 in synchronization with the toilet control device 12. The period before the subject detection sensor 24 detects that the subject has entered the room and before the seating detection sensor 26 detects the subject sitting on the toilet 2 is referred to as a defecation preparation period.

  In the collection start preparation step S <b> 2, first, the subject is specified by the personal authentication device 62. Specifically, the personal authentication device 62 reads a barcode possessed by the subject and reads subject identification information. And the collection | recovery unit control apparatus 60 acquires the defecation gas collection | recovery information corresponding to test subject identification information with reference to the memory | storage device 60b.

  In the recovery start preparation step S2, the recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet control device 12 control the sensor heating heater 46, the gas suction device 7, and the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 to the recovery mode. In the recovery mode, the sensor heating heater 46 is controlled based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 so that the temperature of the catalyst of the odorous gas sensor 16 becomes a constant temperature (400 ° C.) suitable for measurement. .

  Further, in the recovery mode, the gas suction device 7 controls the suction fan 7c so that the number of rotations of the suction fan 7c becomes the first number of rotations. And is controlled to be constant so as not to fluctuate from such air volume. Further, the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 is controlled to open the toilet lid in the collection mode.

  When the odorous gas concentration detected by the odorous gas sensor 16 is high in the recovery start preparation step S <b> 2, the toilet control device 12 performs sterilization in the bowl 2 a by the toilet sterilization device 38.

  Further, the recovery unit control device 60 sets the measurement value obtained by the odorous gas sensor 16 as a reference value that is a noise level that is a base for defecation gas recovery. Further, the recovery unit control device 60 determines whether or not an accurate analysis is possible after recovery based on the measurement value obtained by the odorous gas sensor 16. That is, the recovery unit control device 60 determines that the toilet-side control device 12 is accurate when the amount of odorous gas contained in the non-defecation gas determined based on the output of the odorous gas sensor 16 is not less than a measurable threshold. Determine that analysis is not possible. If the recovery unit control device 60 determines that accurate analysis is impossible, the recovery unit control device 60 does not perform non-defecation gas recovery control described below, and further performs recovery control of the defecation gas in the recovery step S4. Absent.

  In addition, before detecting that the subject is seated by the seating detection sensor 26 during the defecation preparation period, the toilet-side control device 12 sets the reference value at the same time as or after setting the reference value. Non-defecation gas recovery control is performed to recover residual gas (non-defecation gas) in the recovery bag 82a. When the reference value is low, there is almost no odorous gas in the toilet space or the bowl. In this case, it is considered that the odorous gas present in the toilet space or the bowl has little influence on the diagnosis. Therefore, in the present embodiment, this non-defecation gas recovery control is not performed when the amount of odorous gas contained in the non-defecation gas obtained based on the output of the odorous gas sensor 16 is a predetermined value or less, and is odorous. It is performed only when it is determined that the measured value of the odorous gas detected by the gas sensor 16 is larger than a predetermined value.

  In addition, before this non-defecation gas collection control is completed, it is not seated until the non-defecation gas collection control is completed by the display device 68 or the speaker 70 which is a notification device for the subject, or the defecation action is not performed. It is good to inform so that it does.

  In the present embodiment, this non-defecation gas recovery control is performed after detecting that the subject has entered the room using the entrance detection sensor 24 as the subject position confirmation unit. As described above, the infrared sensor that detects the entrance / exit of the subject within a predetermined distance from the toilet, the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 that detects that the subject opened / closed by the subject, the personal authentication device 62, A switch or the like for detecting that the subject has approached the toilet bowl may be used.

  Next, when the seating detection sensor 26 detects that the subject is seated, the recovery unit control device 60 performs the recovery impossibility determination step S3 in synchronization with the toilet control device 12. In addition, when the seating detection sensor 26 repeats detection and non-detection a predetermined number of times due to the effect of cleaning the toilet seat by the subject, it is desirable to return to S1 in such a case.

  In the unrecoverable determination step S <b> 3, the recovery unit control device 60 performs subject adhesion odor noise determination, which is determination of the noise level caused by the subject, based on the measurement value measured by the odorous gas sensor 16. When the subject adhesion noise level caused by the subject is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the toilet control device 12 sends a signal to the nozzle driving device 32, which is a local cleaning device, to actuate it, and performs the butt washing of the subject. Alternatively, the recovery unit control device 60 notifies the subject through a display device, a speaker, or the like so that the subject performs the buttocks cleaning. If the measurement value measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 does not sufficiently decrease even after the subject's buttocks are washed in this way, the recovery unit control device 60 stops the gas recovery, and displays that information on the display device 68 or The subject is notified by the speaker 70.

  Next, as will be described in detail later, the recovery unit control device 60 causes the measured value by the odorous gas sensor 16 to rise greatly from the final reference value after the seating detection sensor 26 detects that the subject has been seated ( That is, when the subject increases by a predetermined amount or more from the reference value), it is determined that the subject has performed excretion. Thus, if it determines with a test subject having performed the excretion action, the collection | recovery unit control apparatus 60 and the toilet bowl side control apparatus 12 will perform collection | recovery process S4. In addition, fart is included in the excretion act here.

  In the collection step S4, first, in the collection start preparation step S2, whether or not it is necessary to collect the defecation gas is determined based on the collection date information regarding the date and time when the defecation gas is collected in the acquired defecation gas collection information. One characteristic of cancer is that the condition progresses gradually over a long period of time. For this reason, even when the subject performs a defecation action a plurality of times a day, it is not always necessary to collect the defecation gas every time. In addition, when defecation is performed more than once a day, defecation gas containing a large amount of odorous gas is excreted during the first defecation, but the defecation gas discharged during the second and subsequent defecation acts Does not contain much odorous gas and is not suitable for cancer determination. For this reason, when it is determined that the collection unit control device 60 is the defecation action after the second time based on the collection date and time information, the defecation gas is not collected. Whether or not the defecation gas needs to be collected may be determined based on the period from the previous defecation gas collection, in addition to the number of times the defecation gas is collected in a day.

  When it is determined that the defecation gas needs to be collected, the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the odorous gas sensor 16, and the carbon dioxide sensor 18 detect that the defecation gas has been released. The initial part is collected in the collection bag 82. Then, after collecting the initial portion including the gas accumulated in the distal end of the large intestine among the defecation gases, the toilet control device 12 performs the collection prohibition control for prohibiting the collection of the defecation gases.

  Next, the recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet control device 12 perform the deodorization / storage process S5 when the recovery of the defecation gas is completed or when the seating detection sensor 26 detects that the subject has left the seat. To start. Specifically, the toilet-side control device 12 operates the gas suction device 7 to suck the gas in the bowl 2 a and discharges it from the deodorizing unit 84. Thereby, the air in the bowl 2a and the toilet space R is deodorized by the deodorizing unit 84 and then returned to the toilet space R. At this time, in order to further improve the deodorizing performance, the suction fan 7c is controlled so that the rotation speed becomes a second rotation speed larger than the first rotation speed, and the suction air volume is increased to the second air volume. The air flow is controlled so as not to fluctuate.

  Further, the collection unit control device 60 stores the collection information in the storage device 60b. Specifically, the subject identification information acquired by the personal authentication device 62, the recovery date information regarding the date and time when the defecation gas acquired by the time acquisition device 72 is recovered, and the recovery bag identification information for identifying the recovered recovery bag 82 And gas information relating to whether the recovered gas is residual gas (non-defecation gas), defecation gas, or fart, is stored in association with each other.

  After leaving, the subject drains the toilet bowl and leaves the toilet room. The bowl may be drained automatically after the entrance detection sensor 24 detects that the subject has left. The recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet-side control device 12 perform a post-recovery environment maintenance step S6 after the entrance detection sensor 24 detects that the subject has left the room. In the present embodiment, the post-recovery environment maintenance step S6 is performed after detecting that the subject has exited by the entrance detection sensor 24 serving as the subject position confirmation means. As described above, the infrared sensor that detects the entrance / exit of the subject within a predetermined distance from the toilet, the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 that detects that the subject opened / closed by the subject, the personal authentication device 62, You may use the switch etc. for detecting that a test subject approached and separated from the toilet bowl.

  First, in the post-collection environment maintenance step S6, a doctor or a nurse or the like replaces the collection bag 82 that collects the defecation gas or residual gas. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of replacing the collection bag 82. As shown in FIG. 11A, in order to collect the collection bag 82, first, the straight pipe 83 arranged in the collection port 82B of the collection bag 82 is moved into the collection bag main body 82A. Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, the sealing clip 106 is sandwiched from the front and rear by the recovery bag 82, and the recovery port 82B is sealed. Next, as shown in FIG. 11C, the pipe band 85 that fixes the recovery port 82B of the recovery bag 82 to the straight pipe 80cb of the soft piping unit 80c is removed. At this time, the collection bag opening / closing valve 52 is in a closed state. Next, as shown in FIG. 11D, the collection bag 82 is lifted upward, and the collection port 82B is detached from the straight pipe 80cb of the soft piping unit 80c. Thereby, the collection bag 82 that collects the defecation gas or the residual gas can be removed in a state where the collection port 82B is sealed by the sealing clip 106.

  Next, a new collection bag 82 is attached to the straight pipe 80cb of the soft piping unit 80c. To attach the collection bag 82, first, the straight pipe 83 is inserted from the collection port 82B into the collection bag 82 from which the internal gas has been sufficiently exhausted. Next, the straight pipe 80cb of the soft piping unit 80c is inserted into the collection port 82B of the collection bag 82 while preventing air from entering the collection bag 82 as much as possible. And the pipe band 85 is attached from the outer periphery of the collection port 82B, and the collection bag 82 is fixed to the straight pipe 80cb of the soft piping unit 80c. Thus, the exchange of the collection bag 82 is completed.

  The recovery unit control device 60 measures the gas concentration by the odorous gas sensor 16 in the post-recovery environment maintenance step S6. Then, the recovery unit control device 60 reduces or removes the residual gas when the gas concentration of the residual gas measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is larger than the predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of the defecation period. Implement residual gas recovery suppression control. Specifically, first, the recovery unit control device 60 determines that there is feces adhering to the bowl 2a of the toilet device 2 as the residual gas recovery suppression control, and the cleaning stored in the wash water tank by the toilet cleaning device 36 Water is discharged into the bowl 2a, and the inside of the bowl 2a is forcibly washed by automatic control. In addition, as the residual gas recovery control, the toilet sterilizer 38 generates sterilized water such as hypochlorous acid water from tap water, sprays the generated sterilized water onto the bowl 2a, and sterilizes the bowl 2a. Do.

  Further, the recovery unit control device 60 heats the pipe group 80 to about 200 ° C. by the passage heater 51 provided in the pipe group 80 as the residual gas recovery suppression control in the post-recovery environment maintenance step S6. to clean up.

  Further, when the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the recovery unit control device 60 operates the gas suction device 7 as the residual gas recovery suppression control so that the bowl 2a The gas inside can be sucked and discharged from the deodorizing unit 84 to reduce the gas concentration. Further, for example, the toilet room may be ventilated as residual gas recovery suppression control by configuring the toilet-side control device 12 in conjunction with a ventilation fan provided in the toilet room.

  Further, the toilet control device 12 supplies cleaning gas into the recovery passage by the cleaning gas supply device 48 as a residual gas recovery suppression control in the post-recovery environment maintenance step S6, and removes gas components remaining in the recovery passage. Force cleaning.

  Preferably, toilet cleaning automatically performed as residual gas recovery suppression control in the post-recovery environmental maintenance step S6 is a normal operation performed by the subject operating a cleaning switch (not shown) of the toilet device 2. Set the cleaning power higher than the toilet bowl cleaning. Specifically, the toilet bowl cleaning in the post-recovery environmental maintenance step S6 is performed by setting a larger number of times of washing water discharge to the bowl 2a, or by setting a higher flow rate of the washing water, so that the normal toilet bowl cleaning is performed. It is better to carry out with a large amount of water. Further, the sterilization of the bowl 2a in the post-recovery environment maintenance step S6 sets the sterilization power stronger than the normal bowl sterilization performed by the subject operating the sterilization switch (not shown) of the toilet device 2. Keep it. Specifically, the bowl is sterilized in the post-recovery environmental maintenance step S6 so that a higher concentration of sterilized water is sprayed or a larger amount of sterilized water is sprayed than normal sterilization.

  Furthermore, if the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is larger than a predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of the defecation period, it is determined that the vertical passage 7a is dirty, and the residual gas is recovered. As the suppression control, the duct cleaner 56 is operated. The duct cleaner 56 cleans the inside of the vertical passage 7a attached to the gas suction device 7 with hypochlorous acid or the like obtained by electrolyzing tap water.

  In addition, when the above cleaning and sterilization processes are executed, the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is not sufficiently lowered, and when it exceeds a predetermined value, the toilet side control is performed as the residual gas recovery suppression control. The transmitter / receiver 58 connected to the device 12 notifies the transmitter / receiver 73 possessed by the doctor or nurse of a message that prompts the cleaning of the toilet device 2. The notification to the transmitter / receiver 66 is not necessarily performed after cleaning and sterilization processing, and is performed immediately when the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 is larger than a predetermined value. Also good.

  Thus, if the gas concentration measured by the odorous gas sensor 16 still does not decrease sufficiently even after the cleaning with the duct cleaner 56 and the cleaning of the toilet device 2 by a doctor or nurse, It is possible that odorous gas is attached to the surface. In such a case, the straight pipe 80a constituting the pipe group 80, the plurality of T-shaped branch pipes 80b, and the plurality of soft pipe units 80c are exchanged. Specifically, a connecting instrument such as a pipe band connecting the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft piping unit 80c is removed. Then, the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft piping unit 80c are removed from the transfer case 86. At this time, the collection bag opening / closing valve 52, the flow path opening / closing valve 54, and the deodorizing unit 84 remain fixed to the frame. And the new straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft piping unit 80c are arrange | positioned, and adjacent piping is connected with connection tools, such as a pipe band. In this way, the straight pipe 80a, the branch pipe 80b, and the soft pipe unit 80c constituting the pipe group 80 can be replaced. The pipes need not be replaced all at once, but only the flexible pipe unit 80c in the vicinity of the collection bag opening / closing valve 52 and the flow path opening / closing valve 54 and the pipe at the bent portion are replaced with priority. May be.

  Then, the recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet control device 12 change the sensor heating heater 46, the gas suction device 7, and the toilet lid opening / closing device 30 to the recovery standby mode in the post-recovery environment maintenance step S6. The collection of the times is finished.

  After such a defecation gas recovery operation is completed, the connection pipe 6 is preferably removed from the toilet device 2 and the deodorizing unit 10 is attached to the exhaust port of the gas suction device 7 as described with reference to FIG. . And the collection | recovery apparatus 4 is moved as needed.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the detection value detected by each sensor provided in the defecation gas recovery system 1 of the present embodiment and the flow of defecation gas recovery based thereon will be described. FIG. 12 is a graph schematically showing detection signals and drive of the control valve by each sensor provided in the defecation gas recovery system 1 in one defecation behavior of the subject. In FIG. 12, detection signals from the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the carbon dioxide sensor 18, the odorous gas sensor 16, the humidity sensor 22, the temperature sensor 20, the seating detection sensor 26, the entrance detection sensor 24, and the defecation / urination detection sensor in order from the top. The waveform is shown. Furthermore, driving of the collection bag opening / closing valves 52a, 52b, 52c and the flow path opening / closing valve 54 of the collection device 4 is shown below.

First, at time t ₁ in FIG. 12, the room entry detection sensor 24 detects the entrance of the subject. As described above, the recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet-side control device 12 are in a state before the subject enters and exits the toilet space R by the entrance detection sensor 24 (time t _{0 to} t ₁ ) as described above. The odorous gas sensor 16 measures the amount of odorous gas. Even in this state, the odorous gas sensor 16 reacts and outputs a certain level of detection signal due to the influence of the fragrance or the residual stool adhering to the bowl 2a of the toilet device 2. In the state before the entrance detection sensor 24 detects the entrance, the odorous gas sensor 16 and the gas suction device 7 are in a power saving state, and the sensor heating heater 46 for heating the catalyst of the odorous gas sensor 16 is used. The temperature is set low, the rotational speed of the suction fan 7c is suppressed, and the flow rate passing therethrough is also low.

Next, when the entrance detection sensor 24 detects that the subject has entered the room at time t ₁ , the toilet control device 12 proceeds to the collection start preparation step S2, and the odorous gas sensor 16 and the gas suction device 7 are turned on. Activated. As a result, the temperature of the sensor heating heater 46 of the odorous gas sensor 16 rises, and the number of rotations of the suction fan 7c of the gas suction device 7 increases to the first number of rotations so that a predetermined flow rate of gas is sucked. Become. As a result, the value detected by the temperature sensor 20 rises once and then converges to an appropriate temperature (from time t _{1 in} FIG. 12).

In the present specification, a period (time t _{1 to} t _{13 in} FIG. 12) in which the entrance detection sensor 24 detects entry of the subject into the toilet space R is called one “defecation action”. . Further, when the subject enters the room, the detection signal detected by the odorous gas sensor 16 increases. This is because the odorous gas sensor 16 reacts to the body odor of the subject, the perfume used, the hair styling agent, and the like. That is, the increase from the residual gas noise before the subject enters the toilet space R is subject noise caused by the subject. The recovery unit control device 60 detects residual gas noise caused by the gas remaining in the bowl 2a and subject noise caused by the subject.

The odorous gas sensor 16 is set with extremely high sensitivity for the purpose of detecting an extremely small amount of odorous gas contained in the ppb order in the defecation gas discharged into the toilet bowl. It also reacts to odors that cannot be felt. After the entrance detecting sensor 24 that the subject has entered is detected, the detection value of the odorous gas sensor 16 is to some extent stabilized, at time t _2, the recovery unit controller 60 the reference value of the residual gas the detected value Set as.

At time t ₂ , the recovery unit control device 60 sets the detected value as a reference value for the residual gas, and at the same time, recovers the residual gas (non-defecation gas) as described above. Specifically, at time t ₂ , the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is closed, and the collection bag opening / closing valve 52 a is opened after a while from the closing of the flow path opening / closing valve 54. Thereby, the gas in the bowl 2a is recovered in the recovery bag 82a. Then, a sufficient amount of gas into the collection bag 82a from the opening of the collecting bag off valve 52a is after a lapse of a predetermined time, such as is collected, closing the collection bag off valve 52a at time t _3. Further, the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is opened after a while from the closing of the collection bag opening / closing valve 52a. Thereby, the residual gas in the bowl 2a is recovered in the recovery bag 82a. The period for collecting the non-defecation gas may be equal to the period for collecting the defecation gas, which will be described later, but is shorter than the period for collecting the defecation gas so that the subject can perform the defecation action as soon as possible. Is preferred.

Next, at time t ₄ in FIG. 12, when the subject is seated on the toilet seat 2b is detected by the seating detection sensor 26, this point is set as the starting point of one bowel movement period of the subject. In the present specification, the period during which the seating detection sensor 26 detects the subject's seating on the toilet seat 2b (time t _{4 to} t 12 in FIG. ₁₂ ) is called a single “defecation period”.

Then, as described above, at time t ₄ in FIG. 12, when the toilet side control unit 12 that the subject is seated is detected by the seating detection sensor 26, collection unit controller 60 synchronized while unrecoverable determination process S3 I do.

After the recovery of the residual gas, the detected value of the humidity sensor 22 increases between times t _{5 and} t ₆ , and the defecation / urine detection sensor 28 detects it. This is the detection of urination of the subject, and since the detection value of the odorous gas sensor 16 has hardly changed, the recovery unit control device 60 determines that no excretion is performed. Next, at time t ₇ , the detection values of the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the carbon dioxide sensor 18, and the odorous gas sensor 16 rise rapidly. Thus, if the detected values of the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 rise rapidly from the reference value of the residual gas by a predetermined threshold or more during the defecation period after the subject is seated, the recovery unit control device 60 performs the first excretion action. Is determined to have been performed.

At time t ₇ , the detection values of the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the carbon dioxide sensor 18, and the odorous gas sensor 16 suddenly rise, and the defecation / urine detection sensor 28 also detects. As described above, when the detection values of the gas sensors 14, 16, and 18 rise by a predetermined amount or more from the reference value and the defecation / urine detection sensor 28 detects, the toilet control device 12 performs the excretion of stool. The stool gas is collected. The determination of the recovery of the defecation gas by the analysis circuit is performed in the branch pipe 80b located near the collection bag 82b, more specifically below the collection bag 82c after the defecation gas passes through the gas sensors 14, 16, and 18. Judgment is made at a time earlier than the arrival.

Specifically, the recovery unit control device 60 closes the flow path opening / closing valve 54 at time t ₈ after a predetermined time from time t ₇ , and waits for a while from closing the flow path opening / closing valve 54. The collection bag open / close valve 52b is opened. Thereby, the gas sucked from the bowl 2a by the gas suction device 7 is recovered in the recovery bag 82b. The defecation gas at a predetermined amount in the collection bag 82b from the opening of the collecting bag off valve 52b is after a lapse of a predetermined time, such as is collected, closing the collection bag off valve 52b at time t _9. Further, the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is opened after a while from the closing of the collection bag opening / closing valve 52b. Thereby, the gas sucked by the gas suction device 7 is deodorized by the deodorizing unit 84 and exhausted into the toilet space R. When collecting the defecation gas, the collection unit control device 60 collects the defecation gas in any collection bag by the same subject on the same day based on the identification information of the subject acquired by the personal authentication device 62. Even if it is determined that the defecation gas has been collected, the defecation gas is not collected in addition to the collection bag in which the defecation gas has already been collected, but the defecation gas is collected in a new collection bag (with no defecation gas collected).

Here, the length of the period (t _{7 to} t ₈ ) from the sudden increase in the detection values of the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 to the opening of the collection bag opening / closing valve 52 b is from the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 in the collection passage to the collection bag. It is determined based on the distance to 82 and the air volume of the gas suction device 7. Specifically, the length of time (t ₇ ~t ₈₎ is defecation gas excreted passed through the gas sensor 14, 16, 18, slightly shorter than the time to reach the recovery bag off valve 52b It is time. For this reason, when the defecation gas that has passed through the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 reaches the collection bag 82b, more specifically, the branch pipe 80b located below the collection bag 82b, the collection bag opening / closing valve 52b and the flow The path opening / closing valve 54 is switched to a state of collecting gas. Therefore, in addition to the defecation gas, the gas collected in the collection bag 82b includes the gas sucked by the gas suction device 7 before the predetermined amount of the defecation gas is discharged and the gas collected in the collection bag 82b. Includes the initial portion of the defecation gas accumulated at the end of the large intestine of the subject. In addition, when recovering gas to the other recovery bags 82a and 82c, the period from the sudden increase of the detection values of the gas sensors 14, 16, and 18 to the opening of the recovery bag opening / closing valves 52a and 52c is similarly determined.

In this way, once the initial portion of the gas is collected during a single defecation action of the subject, the toilet control device 12 performs the collection prohibition control that does not collect the defecation gas. Specifically, after the recovery of the initial defecation gas, at time t _10, the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the detection value of the carbon dioxide sensor 18 and odorous gas sensor 16 is up sharply. In addition, the defecation / urine detection sensor 28 detects defecation. As described above, when the detection values of the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 rapidly rise from the reference value of the residual gas by a predetermined threshold or more, the recovery unit control device 60 determines that the second stool excretion has been performed. . However, even when the second stool excretion is detected as described above, the recovery unit control device 60 determines that the recovery of the stool gas associated with the second stool excretion is unnecessary, and the recovery bag opening / closing valve Switching of 52a, 52b, 52c and the flow path opening / closing valve 54 is not performed. Note that the recovery unit control device 60 also determines that the recovery of the defecation gas is unnecessary as in the second time even when detecting the excretion action of the third and subsequent stool.

Then, after the recovery of the initial defecation gas, at time t _11, the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the detection value of the carbon dioxide sensor 18 and odorous gas sensor 16 is up sharply. Here, at time t ₁₁ , the defecation / urination detection sensor 28 does not detect defecation or urination. In such a case, the toilet control device 12 determines that the subject has excreted the fart by the analysis circuit configured in the CPU 12a of the toilet control device 12. In addition, when it is determined that the fart has been released in this way, if it is the gas of the initial part during the defecation action, the recovery is performed, and when the recovery has already been performed as in this embodiment The collection control is prohibited.

Then, once the defecation period unseated is detected subjects completed by the seating detection sensor 26 at time t ₁₂ in FIG. 12, the collection unit controller 60 and the toilet bowl side control device 12, as described above, deodorization / storage Perform the process. When the entrance detection sensor 24 detects that the subject has left the room at time t ₁₃ , one defecation action is completed, and the recovery unit control device 60 and the toilet control device 12 perform the post-recovery environment maintenance process. The collection of the times is finished.

Here, the collection control and the collection prohibition control will be described in more detail. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the collection control and the collection prohibition control. In FIG. 13, the horizontal axis indicates time, and (a) to (c) indicate the output of the odorous gas sensor 16. FIG. 13 also shows opening / closing control of the collection bag opening / closing valve in accordance with the output of the odorous gas sensor 16. As described with reference to FIG. 12, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), when the detection value of the odorous gas sensor 16 greatly increases from the reference value at time t _A , the recovery bag opening / closing valve 52b and the flow path The collection control is performed over a predetermined time so that the opening / closing valve 54 collects the initial portion of the defecation gas in the collection bag. In order to collect the initial portion of the defecation gas, it is desirable to perform the collection control every time, for example, about 30 seconds (20 to 40 seconds). When the collection control is completed at time t _B , collection prohibition control is performed. During the collection prohibition control, even if the output of the odorous gas sensor 16 increases, the defecation gas is not collected.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 13B, the initial portion of the defecation gas is recovered even when the increase in the output of the odorous gas sensor 16 first detected at time t _A is small within the defecation period. Thus, the recovery control is performed for a predetermined time. In this way, when the output of the odorous gas sensor 16 is small, there is a possibility that the amount of the defecation gas collected in the collection bag is small, but once the collection control is performed, the collection prohibition control is performed at time t _B. Implement and do not collect again.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), the output of the odorous gas sensor 16 increases at time t _A is carrying out the recovery control for a predetermined time, the output of the odor gas sensor 16 again during the recovery control is increased If this happens, the collection control is continued without stopping. When the collection control is completed at time t _B , collection prohibition control is performed.

  The gas recovered in the recovery bag 82 as described above is subjected to component analysis by a gas analyzer such as gas chromatography. Hereinafter, the flow of component analysis will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the flow of component analysis of the gas collected in the collection bag. First, the recovery bag 82 recovered from the defecation gas recovery system 1 is transported to a place where the gas analyzer is located in a state where the recovery port 82B is sealed with the sealing clip 106. In addition, the subject identification information, the collection date information, and the gas information stored in the storage device 60b are sent to the gas analyzer 112.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14A, the nozzle 82 </ b> C with the cock of the collection bag 82 is connected to the nozzle 110 </ b> A with the cock of the sample bag 110 through the connection pipe 108. And the nozzle 82C with a cock of the collection bag 82 and the sample bag 110 and the nozzle 110A with a cock of the sample bag 110 are opened, and the gas in the collection bag 82 is moved to the sample bag 110. Then, the cocked nozzle 110 </ b> A of the sample bag 110 is closed, and the sample bag 110 is removed from the connection pipe 108.

  Next, the sample bag 110 is attached to the gas analyzer 112. A carrier gas cylinder 114 and an analysis result display 116 are connected to the gas analyzer 112. The gas analyzer 112 analyzes the gas amount of each odorous gas and the gas amount of each health gas contained in the gas in the sample bag 110 by gas chromatography, and the analysis result is displayed on the analysis result display unit 116. The

  When the residual gas is also collected in the collection bag, the components contained in the collected residual gas are analyzed, and the influence of the residual gas and the like is removed from the analysis result of the defecation gas. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a method of removing the influence of residual gas or the like from the analysis result of the defecation gas. As shown in FIG. 15, the gas collected by the defecation gas recovery control mainly includes the defecation gas to be analyzed, the gas generated from the subject (subject-attached off-flavor gas component), the toilet space and the inside of the bowl Of residual gas. On the other hand, the gas collected by the non-defecation gas recovery control includes gas generated from the subject and residual gas. Therefore, it becomes an analysis object by taking the difference of various gas components contained in the gas collected by the non-defecation gas recovery control from the various gas components contained in the gas collected by the defecation gas recovery control. The amount (ratio) of various gas components contained in the defecation gas can be determined. Note that the gas collected by the defecation gas recovery control and the gas collected by the non-defecation gas recovery control have the same concentration of the gas generated from the subject and the residual gas even if the collected gas amount is different. It is. For this reason, the amount of gas collected by non-defecation gas recovery control need not be equal to the amount of gas collected by defecation gas recovery control.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of the analysis result displayed on the analysis result display. A diagnostic table is stored in the gas analyzer 112 in advance. This diagnosis table is a table determined based on the experiment conducted by the inventors described above, and the disease state is associated with the relationship between the gas amount of the health gas and the gas amount of the odorous gas. ing. Specifically, in the diagnostic table, depending on the relationship between the amount of healthy gas and the amount of odorous gas, “large colorectal cancer concern”, “early colorectal cancer concern large”, “early colorectal cancer suspect” , “Physical dysfunction level 3”, “Physical dysfunction level 2”, “Physical dysfunction level 1”, “Health condition”, “Intestinal dysfunction (diarrhea)”, and “Suspected mismeasurement” are set. . On the server-side diagnosis table set in this manner, the past measurement data of the subject is plotted over time. Based on the position of the plot point, the doctor makes a determination regarding cancer diseases such as “large colorectal cancer concern”, “early large colorectal cancer concern”, and “early early colorectal cancer suspect”. The doctor can inform the subject of his / her physical condition based on the indicated plot points.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, the reference value of the residual gas is constant. However, even when the reference value is not constant, it is possible to estimate the discharge amount of odorous gas. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a reference value setting method when the detection value detected by the odorous gas sensor tends to increase. As shown in the figure, for example, when the detected value detected by the odorous gas sensor 16 tends to increase, the rate of change of the detected value detected by the odorous gas sensor 16 before the start of excretion is increased. Suppose that the auxiliary line A drawn before and after the excretion action is the reference value. The amount of the odorous gas can be estimated by determining that the point when the detected value by the odorous gas sensor 16 increases from the auxiliary line A by a predetermined value or more is the time when one excretion is started.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the defecation gas excreted during defecation is collected in the collection bag 82. The diagnosis of cancer can be performed by analyzing the components of the fecal gas collected in the collection bag 82 in this way. Thus, according to the above-described embodiment, the subject can diagnose the cancer only by performing the defecation as usual, and the physical burden on the subject is very small compared to an endoscope or the like.
Moreover, according to the said embodiment, it collects only gas and does not collect stool. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the psychological burden on the subject such as being able to see stool by others.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, it is set as the structure which attracts | sucks gas from the bowl of a toilet bowl with the gas suction apparatus 7. FIG. Odorous gases such as methyl mercaptan are lighter than air. For this reason, defecation gas will rise immediately after excretion. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the excreted fecal gas is sucked by the gas suction device 7, the fecal gas can be reliably collected.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the control device determines that the evacuated gas is contained in the sucked gas based on the output of the gas suction device 8, the control device opens the collection bag opening / closing valve 52 and the flow path opening / closing valve 54. The gas suctioned by the suction device 7 is switched to a state where the gas is supplied to the collection bag 82. For this reason, it is possible to reliably collect the defecation gas accumulated at the end of the large intestine and excreted at the beginning of the defecation action, and to reliably collect the defecation gas released before the stool is excreted. it can. Thus, according to the above embodiment, since the fecal gas excreted in the early stage of the fecal act can be reliably collected, the initial fecal gas that well reflects the intestinal environment can be collected. High diagnostic accuracy can be secured.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, since the piping group 80, the collection | recovery bag on-off valve 52, the flow-path on-off valve 54, and the collection | recovery unit control apparatus 60 are comprised as the collection | recovery apparatus 4 which can carry and move, a hospital room The recovery device 4 can be attached to a toilet device 2 such as a toilet in a private toilet room attached to the toilet or a moving toilet that has been transported to a hospital room to collect the defecation gas. Thereby, the physical burden of test subjects, such as a cancer patient and an elderly person, can be reduced.

  Here, the progress of major illnesses such as colorectal cancer and the confirmation of the effects of anticancer agents are not limited to a single analysis of stool gas, but stool gas is continuously collected and analyzed. Make decisions based on changes. For this reason, it is desirable to collect the defecation gas each time under the same conditions as much as possible. On the other hand, according to the above embodiment, since the suction port of the toilet device 2 is attached so as to open to the back side in the bowl in the vicinity of the anus of the subject, a small amount of defecation gas can be reliably obtained under the same conditions. Can be collected.

  When a transport device is attached to a toilet in a private toilet room attached to a hospital room, the installation is restricted depending on the size of the private toilet room, the arrangement of the toilet, and the like. On the other hand, according to the above embodiment, since the connection pipe 6 is routed from the transfer case 86 and connected to the toilet device 2, the position of the suction port is maintained even when the private toilet room is narrow. Since the connection pipe 6 can be connected to the toilet device 2 in a fixed state, the subject's fecal gas can always be collected under the same conditions.

  In the above embodiment, the hydrogen gas sensor 14, the odorous gas sensor 16, the carbon dioxide sensor 18, the temperature sensor 20, the humidity sensor 22, and the sensor heating are provided in the third recovery passage in the gas suction device 7. The heater 46 may be disposed, and the gas detection device 8 may be provided in the third recovery passage.

  When the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 are installed at positions away from the toilet, the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 detect the defecation gas in the sucked gas and then reach the collection bag opening / closing valve 52. , The collection bag opening / closing valve 52 cannot be changed to the open state in time, and there is a possibility that the initial part of the defecation gas in which the influence of the intestinal environment is most reflected is missed. On the other hand, according to the configuration in which the gas detection device 8 is provided in the third recovery passage, a sufficient distance from the gas sensors 14, 16, 18 to the recovery bag opening / closing valve 52 can be secured. The initial part of the defecation gas can be reliably recovered. Moreover, since the attachment position of gas sensor 14, 16, 18 is being fixed inside the toilet device, gas detection can be performed on the same conditions every time.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, since the gas detection apparatus 8 is provided in the front-end | tip part connected with the toilet device 2 of the connection piping 6, the distance from the gas detection apparatus 8 to the collection bag open / close valve 52 is enough. And the configuration of the toilet device 2 that is permanently installed can be simplified.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the piping group 80 is branched to the 1st branch channel | path extended to the collection bag 82, and the 2nd branch channel | path which discharges | emits gas outside, and is connected from the suction port of the toilet device 2 A deodorizing unit is not provided in the path leading to the collection bag 82 via the pipe 6 and the pipe group 80, and a deodorizing unit 84 is provided in the second branch passage.

  If the deodorization unit is provided in the collection passage leading to the collection bag 82 when collecting the defecation gas, the off-flavor gas component in the defecation gas is deodorized, and accurate diagnosis cannot be performed. On the other hand, according to the above configuration, since the deodorizing unit is not provided in the path leading to the collection bag 82 via the connection pipe 6 and the pipe group 80, the defecation gas does not pass through the deodorizing unit. By collecting in the collection bag 82, an accurate diagnosis can be performed. Further, when the defecation gas is not collected, the gas sucked by the gas suction device 7 is released to the outside through the deodorizing unit 84, so that the residual gas in the toilet room can be reduced. Furthermore, since the piping group 80 incorporated in the transfer case 86 is configured to be branched, it is possible to prevent piping connection errors and the like.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, when the collection | recovery apparatus 4 is not connected to the toilet device 2, the gas suck | inhaled by the gas suction apparatus 7 is attached to the downstream of the gas suction apparatus 7 by attaching the deodorization unit 10 to the deodorization unit. Since it is discharged through 10, the patient room can be used without discomfort even when a toilet is installed in the patient room.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, the handle 86B and the wheel 86A are provided in the surface of the conveyance case 86 of the collection | recovery apparatus 4. FIG. In the defecation gas recovery system 1, the recovery device 4 is configured to be lightweight by separating some functions from the toilet device 2, so that it can be transported using the handle 86 </ b> B or easily transported using the wheel 86 </ b> A. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the power supply line connected to the recovery device 4 is configured integrally with the connection pipe 6, and power is supplied to the recovery device 4 from the toilet device 2 via the power supply line. The electric power necessary for the collection device 4 can be secured from the toilet device 2 only by a simple operation of attaching the collection device 4 to the toilet device 2.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the toilet device 2 has a local washing | cleaning function, and the apparatus which has a local washing | cleaning function can be utilized as the toilet device 2 normally.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Defecation gas recovery system 2 Toilet device 2a Bowl 4 Recovery device 6 Connection piping 7 Gas suction device 7a Vertical passage 7b Horizontal passage 7c Suction fan 8 Gas detection device 10 Deodorizing unit 12 Toilet side control device 12a CPU
14 Hydrogen gas sensor 16 Odor gas sensor 18 Carbon dioxide sensor 20 Temperature sensor 22 Humidity sensor 24 Entrance detection sensor 26 Seat detection sensor 28 Defecation / urination detection sensor 30 Toilet lid opening / closing device 32 Nozzle driving device 34 Nozzle cleaning device 36 Toilet cleaning device 38 Toilet bowl Disinfection device 46 Sensor heating heater 48 Cleaning gas supply device 52 Recovery bag opening / closing valve 54 Flow path opening / closing valve 56 Duct cleaner 60 Remote control device 60a CPU
60b Storage device 62 Personal authentication device 72 Time acquisition device 80 Piping group 80a Straight pipe 80b Branch pipe 80c Soft pipe unit 80ca Tubular member 80cb Straight pipe 82 Collection bag 82A Collection bag body 82B Collection port 82C Nozzle with cock 83A, 83B, 83C Straight pipe 84 Deodorizing unit 85 Pipe band 86 Carrying case 86a Hanging member 86A Wheel 86B Handle 87 Control unit 88 Motor unit 90 Switch 92A First opening / closing member 92B Second opening / closing member 94 Torsion springs 96A, 96B Base portions 98A, 98B Hook fastener 100B, 100A Hook fastener 102 Motor 102A Shaft 104 Press member 106 Sealing clip 108 Connection pipe 110 Sample bag 110A Nozzle with cock 112 Gas analyzer 114 Carrier gas cylinder 116 Analysis result display machine

Claims (9)

A defecation gas collection system for collecting defecation gas discharged into a bowl of a toilet bowl,
A gas suction device for sucking gas from inside the bowl;
A recovery passage through which the gas sucked by the gas suction device is sent;
A collection port connected to the collection passage and collecting the defecation gas;
A control valve that is provided in the recovery passage and switches between a state in which the gas sucked by the suction device is supplied to the recovery container and a state in which the gas is exhausted without being supplied to the recovery container;
A control device for controlling the suction device and the control valve;
A gas sensor for detecting the defecation gas,
The gas sensor detects defecation gas contained in the gas sucked by the suction device;
If the control device determines that the aspirated gas contains defecation gas based on the output of the gas sensor, the control valve causes the control valve to supply the gas sucked by the suction device to the recovery container. Implement recovery control to switch,
At least the collection container, a part of the collection passage, the control valve, and the control device are configured as a transfer device that can move and move, and the transfer device is disposed on the toilet side Removably attached to the device,
The toilet side device includes a suction port that opens to the back side in the bowl, and the gas suction device, and the gas suction device draws gas in the bowl from the suction port of the toilet side device. Suck inside,
A defecation gas recovery system. The transport device has a transport case capable of transport movement,
A part of the recovery passage is composed of a first recovery passage connected to the recovery container and a second recovery passage communicating with the first recovery passage.
At least the collection container, the first collection passage, and the control valve are stored in the transfer case,
The defecation gas recovery system according to claim 1, wherein the second recovery passage is provided outside the transfer case and is connectable to the toilet device. The toilet side device has a discharge port for discharging the gas sucked inside by the gas suction device to the outside of the toilet side device,
The defecation gas recovery system according to claim 2, wherein the gas sensor is provided in an internal passage that connects the suction port and the discharge port of the toilet device.   The defecation gas recovery system according to claim 2, wherein the gas sensor is provided at a distal end portion of the second recovery passage connected to the toilet device. The first recovery passage is branched into a first branch passage that extends to the recovery container and a second branch passage that discharges the gas to the outside.
A deodorizer is not provided in the path from the suction port of the toilet side device to the collection container via the second collection passage and the first branch passage,
The defecation gas recovery system according to claim 3, wherein a deodorizer is provided in the second branch passage. A deodorizing device can be detachably attached to the downstream side of the gas suction device of the internal passage of the toilet side device,
The defecation gas recovery system according to claim 5, wherein the second recovery passage is detachably connected to the internal passage in a state where the deodorizing device is removed.   The defecation gas recovery system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein at least one of a grip portion and a wheel is provided on a surface of the transfer case of the transfer device. A power supply line connected to the transfer device is configured integrally with the second recovery passageway,
Power is supplied to the transport device from the toilet side device via the power supply line.
The defecation gas recovery system according to claim 7.   The defecation gas recovery system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the toilet device has a local cleaning function.