JP2017533423A - Excrement shape measuring apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an excrement shape measuring apparatus and method. The excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention is in close contact with a crotch portion of a human body and includes an accommodation module in which an accommodation space is formed so as to accommodate excretion excreted from the human body, and flows into the accommodation space of the accommodation module. A measurement module provided on one side of the housing module, and a control module for grasping the form of the excrement based on data captured by the camera of the measurement module.

Description

  The present invention relates to an excrement shape measuring apparatus and method, and more specifically, an excrement shape measuring apparatus capable of processing the excrement of a user whose behavior is inconvenient and simultaneously grasping a user's health condition. And a method.

  In general, patients or elderly people with inconvenient behavior need to perform defecation activities mainly with the help of their parents or caregivers.

  Since such excrement processing requires a lot of human power and time, in order to solve such a problem, it relates to excrement processing treatment that automatically processes the excrement of a patient or the elderly. Development is also underway.

  In particular, as the life expectancy increases and the society ages, the medical care industry develops, and the demand for such excrement disposal treatment is increasing.

  Since most inconvenient users of such behavior are patients or the elderly, management and monitoring for health is very important, but information on defecation activity is one of the most important indicators.

  The University of Bristol, UK, has presented a standard for the hardness scale in the form of stool, called the Bristol Stool Scale, and a standard for patient defecation health.

  However, recording the daily excretion time, amount, and form to monitor the health status of inconvenient patients or the elderly is a problem that requires much effort and time from the parent or caregiver. is there.

  Moreover, when using the apparatus which processes excrement automatically, there exists a problem which cannot acquire such information easily.

  The technical problem of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned in the background art, and to measure the shape of excrement that can grasp the health condition of the user while processing the excrement of the user whose behavior is inconvenient An apparatus and method is provided.

  The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is not limited to the technical problem mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be obtained from the following description based on the general knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. Clearly understood by those who have it.

  The excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention devised to solve the technical problem is closely attached to the crotch portion of the human body, and an accommodation space is formed therein to accommodate excretion excreted from the human body. The storage module, a measurement module in which a camera that captures the excrement flowing into the storage space of the storage module is provided on one side inside the storage module, and the data based on the data captured by the camera of the measurement module You may include the control module which grasps | ascertains the form of excrement.

  Here, the measurement module further includes a light source unit that irradiates the excrement with line-shaped light on one side of the housing module, and the camera projects a line of light projected on the excrement. May be taken.

  At this time, the measurement module may be provided so that the light source unit can move to the housing module so as to irradiate the line-shaped light across the excrement.

  Meanwhile, the measurement module includes a sensor unit that determines whether or not the excrement flows into the accommodation space, and measures the form of the excrement when the excrement is detected by the sensor unit. be able to.

  In addition, the control module may categorize the excrement by comparing the form of the excrement with the form of the excrement based on a Bristol Tool Scale.

  And the excrement shape measuring apparatus by this invention is equipped with the pump which provides a pressure so that the said excrement can move along the said discharge line which discharges | emits the said excrement which flowed into the said accommodation space, and the said discharge line It may further include a discharged module.

  At this time, the measurement module may be provided near an end portion on the inlet side of the discharge line, which is a portion into which the excrement enters the discharge line.

  Meanwhile, according to the method for measuring the shape of excrement according to the present invention, the excrement is detected in the sensing step of sensing whether the excrement flows into the housing module into which excrement excreted by the human body flows. A light projecting step of irradiating the excrement with a line of light across the excrement, and continuously capturing a line of light projected on the excrement while the projecting step proceeds And a measurement step of measuring the form of the excrement three-dimensionally based on a plurality of the light lines imaged in the imaging step.

  Here, the light projecting step may irradiate the light while moving the light source so that the irradiated light crosses the excrement.

  Further, the projecting step includes a discharge process in which the excrement is discharged by the housing module, and the excrement moved in the discharge process is irradiated with line-shaped light to cross the excrement. it can.

  In the measurement step, the volume of the excrement is calculated based on the form of the excrement measured in the measurement step, and the weight of the excrement is calculated by multiplying the volume of the excrement by a specific density. A weight calculation process may be further included.

  On the other hand, in the method for measuring excrement shape according to the present invention, the form of the excrement is determined by comparing the form of the excrement measured in the measurement step with the form of the excrement using a Bristol Stool scale. It may further include a care stage.

  According to the excrement shape measuring apparatus and method according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

First, it is possible to easily handle the excrement of a user who is inconvenient in behavior.
Second, it is possible to save effort and time for a parent who takes care of a user who is inconvenient in behavior to process the user's excrement.
Third, the user's health condition can be easily grasped through the state of the user's excrement.
Such effects according to the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

It is drawing which illustrated one Embodiment of the excrement shape measuring apparatus by this invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating a measurement module of the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the measurement module of FIG. 2 measures the shape of excrement. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the light source unit of FIG. 2 moves in a direction across the excrement. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which excrement of FIG. 2 moves and passes light emitted from a light source unit. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a general toilet. It is drawing which shows the procedure of the measuring method of the excrement shape by this invention. 1 is a view showing a Bristol Tool Scale.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing the present invention, descriptions of functions or configurations already known are omitted to clarify the gist of the present invention.

  At the same time, in describing the present invention, the terms indicating directions, such as front / rear or upper / lower, are described so that those skilled in the art can clearly understand the present invention. This does not limit the scope of rights as it indicates direction.

<Excretion shape measuring device>
First, with reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 6, the structure of one Embodiment of the excrement shape measuring apparatus by this invention is demonstrated in detail.

  Here, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a measurement module of the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention.

  3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the measurement module of FIG. 2 measures the shape of excrement, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the light source unit of FIG. 2 moves in a direction across the excrement. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the excrement of FIG. 2 moves and passes light emitted from the light source unit.

  FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a general toilet.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the excrement shape measurement apparatus according to the present invention may include a storage module 100, a measurement module 200, and a control module 300.

  The storage module 100 is configured to be in close contact with the crotch portion of the human body and store excretion excreted from the human body, and in this embodiment, a “C” -shaped groove that is in close contact with the crotch portion of the user is formed. In addition, it may be configured in the form of a container in which a storage space 110 in which a user's excrement is stored is formed.

  The receiving space 110 is advantageously formed below the vicinity of the site where the user's excrement flows and is sufficiently sized to accommodate the user's excrement.

  If such a storage module 100 is formed so as to be in close contact with the user's crotch and is configured to store the user's excrement therein, the shape and material thereof are not limited and various. May be.

  On the other hand, the measurement module 200 is configured to be provided on one side of the housing module 100 so as to measure the form of excrement flowing into the housing space 110 of the housing module 100. The light source unit 220 and the sensor unit 230 may be included.

  The camera 210 may be applied as a configuration for capturing the form of the excrement, and may be applied to directly capture the form of the excrement. In the present embodiment, light emitted from the light source unit 220 described later is projected onto the excrement. It may be configured to take a photograph of the formed form.

  Further, the light source unit 220 is configured to irradiate the excrement with light, and in the present embodiment, may be configured to irradiate the excrement with line-shaped light.

  The sensor unit 230 is configured to determine whether or not excrement can flow into the storage space 110 of the storage module 100, and configured to check whether or not excrement can flow into the storage module 110 using an infrared sensor. Or the sensor part 230 is comprised so that the inflow of excretion can be confirmed by weight in the bottom face of the lower part of the accommodation space 110. FIG. If the sensor unit 230 is provided so as to be able to confirm whether or not the excrement can flow in, the configuration thereof is not limited and is various.

  When excrement is detected by such a sensor unit 230, measurement of the shape of excrement can be started.

  A more detailed description of the configuration in which the measurement module 200 having the above-described configuration measures the shape of excrement will be described later.

  On the other hand, the control module 300 is configured to grasp the form of excrement based on the data taken by the camera 210 of the measurement module 200. In this embodiment, the control module 300 confirms the inflow of excrement through the sensor unit 230, and the light source unit After adjusting the driving of 220 and receiving data from the camera 210, the configuration of the excrement can be measured.

  Such a control module 300 can keep a record regarding the form of the measured excrement and provide it to a user or a guardian, a doctor, etc., and record and statistics about the time, amount and form regarding the defecation activity. By providing, it can be useful for the health management of the user.

  In addition, the control module 300 can classify the type of excrement as compared with the form of the excrement based on the Bristol Stool scale (Bristol Stool Scale).

  In such a case, since the health status of the user can be grasped based on the state of the user's excrement based on the Bristol stool scale, the control module 300 can identify the user's excrement as a type of the Bristol stool scale. And information on the user's condition can be transmitted to the user's guardian.

  In addition, when the user's excrement is a specific type of excrement, the control module 300 can also perform the role of user care, such as setting so that an alarm signal can be transmitted to the guardian.

  On the other hand, the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention may further include a discharge module 400 that discharges excrement flowing into the storage space 110 of the storage module 100.

  In the present embodiment, the discharge module 400 is connected to the inside of the storage space 110 of the storage module 100 on one side so that the waste can move along the discharge line 410 serving as a passage through which the waste is discharged. A pump 420 for providing pressure may be provided.

  Such a configuration of the discharge module 400 may be applied in various ways, such as sucking excrement using air pressure or pushing out excrement to the discharge line 410 using water pressure.

  However, when the shape of the excrement is measured in the process in which the discharge module 400 discharges the excrement, it is advantageous to configure the discharge module 400 so that the excrement can be discharged as much as possible.

  In addition, in order to measure the shape of the excrement in the process in which the discharge module 400 discharges the excrement, the measurement module is located near the end portion on the inlet side of the discharge line 410, which is a part where the excrement enters the discharge line 410. 200 is advantageously provided.

  A more detailed description of the configuration for measuring the shape of excrement in the process of excretion will be described later.

  On the other hand, in addition to the above-described configuration, a cleaning module (not shown) for cleaning the interior of the storage space 110 in which excreta is stored may be further included to clean the storage module 100.

  In addition, it is advantageous to wash not only the housing module 100 but also the user's crotch portion using such a washing module.

  Next, the configuration in which the measurement module 200 having the above-described configuration measures the shape of excrement will be described in more detail as follows.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source unit 220 irradiates the excrement S with line-shaped light, and the camera 210 projects the light emitted from the light source unit 220 onto the surface of the excrement S. You may be comprised so that the line form of light may be image | photographed.

  That is, in the light source unit 220, the irradiated line-shaped light forms a light surface L1, and excreted on the surface of the excrement S while the light surface L1 is irradiated on the excrement S. The light line L2 having a form corresponding to the outline of the cross section of the object S can be projected, and the camera 210 can photograph the form of the light line L2 projected on the surface of the excrement S. .

  Due to such a configuration, the light source unit 220 can irradiate the line-shaped light L1 using an interference system or the like. The camera 210 is advantageously configured to further include a filter such as a band pass filter so that a clearer line of light L2 can be photographed.

  On the other hand, when such a measurement module 200 measures the shape of the excrement S, it is advantageous that the line-shaped light L1 emitted from the light source unit 220 is provided so as to cross the excrement S.

  In such a case, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the light L1-1 to L2-5 irradiated by the light source unit 220 forms a multilayer layer, and a plurality of light lines L2− are formed on the surface of the excrement S. 1 to L2-5 can be formed.

  Therefore, the camera 210 can photograph a plurality of light lines L2-1 to L2-5, and can measure the shape of the three-dimensional excrement S by combining them.

  In the present embodiment, five layers formed while the light source unit 220 irradiates the light L1-1 to L2-5 are visible, but this is not limited to the present embodiment, and more layers are formed more densely. The more the line L2 of light is photographed, the more accurate the form of the excrement S can be measured as the configuration is made.

  As described above, in order to provide the light source unit 220 so that the light L1 emitted from the light source unit 220 crosses the excrement S, the following configuration may be applied.

  First, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the light source unit 220 is provided so as to move inside the housing module 100, and the light L <b> 1 irradiated while the light source unit 220 moves is configured to cross the excrement S. .

  In such a case, the light source unit 220 moves while irradiating the light L1 toward the position where the excrement S has flowed into the housing module 100, and forms a light line on the surface of the excrement S. it can.

  Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the excrement S may move and pass through the light L <b> 1 irradiated by the light source unit 220.

  In such a case, the structure which measures the shape of the excrement S in the process in which the excrement S moves by the discharge module 400 mentioned above may be applied.

  As described above, in order to measure the shape of the excrement in the process in which the discharge module 400 discharges the excrement, the vicinity of the end portion on the inlet side of the discharge line 410 that is a part into which the excrement enters the discharge line 410. Advantageously, a measuring module 200 is provided.

  That is, the excrement S moving so as to be discharged by the discharge module 400 forms a plurality of light lines through the light surface L1 irradiated by the light source unit 220, and the camera takes images of the excrement. The three-dimensional shape of S can be measured.

  Using the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention including the above-described configuration, it is easy to process the excrement of a user with inconvenient behavior while saving time and effort, and uses the excrement according to the form of excrement. The effect that can grasp the health condition of the person.

  Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the measurement module 200 is also applied to a toilet T of a general form. Thus, the excrement shape measuring apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various configurations may be applied.

<Measurement method of excrement shape>
Next, the configuration of the excrement shape measuring method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Here, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure of a method for measuring excrement shape according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a Bristol Stool scale.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the excrement shape measuring method according to the present invention may include a sensing step (S100), a light projecting step (S200), a photographing step (S300), and a measuring step (S400). .

  The sensing step (S100) may be a step of sensing whether or not the excrement can flow into the housing module into which excretion excreted by the user flows.

  A separate sensor is used to detect whether excrement has flowed into the storage module, and if no excrement is detected, no further progress can be made. When the inflow of excreta is detected, the process can be advanced to a stage described later.

  The light projecting step (S200) is a step of irradiating a line-shaped light on the surface of the excrement across the excrement when the inflow of the excrement is detected in the sensing step (S100).

  If line-shaped light is irradiated on the surface of the excrement, a line of light having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the excrement is projected on the surface of the excrement. Multiple light lines are obtained in the process of irradiation across the excrement.

  At this time, the light source may be configured to move so as to cross the excrement while being irradiated with line-shaped light.

  Alternatively, the excrement may move and pass through the line-shaped light. In such a case, the light projecting step (S200) is a discharge process (S210) in which the excrement is discharged by the storage module. ) Can be included.

  A line-shaped light is irradiated on the movement path of the excrement discharged in the discharge process (S210), and a plurality of light lines are formed on the surface of the excrement while passing the line-shaped light irradiated with the excrement. It may be formed.

  On the other hand, the photographing stage (S300) is a stage in which the line of light projected on the excrement is continuously photographed while the above-described projecting stage (S200) is advanced.

  A light line is formed on the surface of the excrement while the light source or excrement moves in the light projecting step (S200), and the light line is formed along the form of the excrement. The form may change.

  At this time, if the light line is continuously photographed through a camera provided to photograph the light line projected on the surface of the excrement, the light line in a form corresponding to the cross-sectional form of the excrement is obtained. You can get several.

  The measurement step (S400) is a step of measuring the three-dimensional shape of excrement based on the plurality of light lines obtained in the imaging step (S300) described above.

  The plurality of light lines obtained in the imaging step (S300) correspond to the excrement cross-sectional shape of the portion irradiated with the line-shaped light on the excrement, and therefore, when combining the plurality of light line shapes, The form of typical excreta can be measured.

  In addition, the measurement step (S400) may further include a weight calculation process for calculating the weight of excrement.

  The weight calculation process is a method of calculating the volume of excrement based on the form of excrement measured in the measurement step (S400) and calculating the weight of excrement by multiplying the volume of excrement by a specific density. Thus, data on the weight of excrement can be obtained.

  In such a case, it is advantageous to use a general density of excrement that has been set according to the type of excrement form.

  Or the structure which equips the inside of the accommodation module in which excrement is accommodated with a weight sensor, and measures the weight of excrement directly is also applicable.

  Such a process can be executed by a separate control module. The control module can store not only the data regarding the form of the excrement but also the data regarding the time and the amount related to the defecation activity, and provide the statistics for the data to help the user's health care.

  On the other hand, the method for measuring excrement shape according to the present invention includes a care step (S500) in which the form of excrement measured in the measurement step (S400) is compared with the form of excrement by Bristol Stool Scale (Bristol Stool Scale). Further, it may be included.

  As shown in FIG. 8, according to the Bristol stool scale, the form of excrement is divided into seven types based on the degree of hardness of excrement.

  In the care step (S500), the shape of the excrement measured by the method for measuring the excrement shape according to the present invention is compared with the Bristol stool scale, and the form of the excrement of the user is the most in any type on the Bristol stool scale. You can judge whether you are approaching.

  Without being limited to simply providing information based on such a determination, if it is determined that the user's health condition is poor, a warning signal can be transmitted to the guardian or doctor.

  However, the judgment of the health condition based on the type of excrement may vary depending on the patient, and it may be advantageous to make a judgment based on a conventional prescription or setting.

  Using the method for measuring the shape of excrement according to the present invention including the above-described steps, it is easy to process the excrement of a user who has inconvenient behavior while saving time and effort, and based on the form of excrement The effect of grasping the health condition of the user can be obtained.

  In addition, as described above, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and does not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made. Therefore, such modifications or variations should not be individually understood from the technical idea and viewpoint of the present invention, and it should be said that the modified embodiments belong to the claims of the present invention. .

100 accommodating module 110 accommodating space 200 measuring module 210 camera
220 light source unit 230 sensor unit 300 control module 400 discharge module 410 discharge line
420 pump

Claims (12)

An accommodation module in which an accommodation space is formed so as to accommodate excretion excreted from the human body;
A measurement module in which a camera for photographing the excrement flowing into the accommodation space of the accommodation module is provided on one side inside the accommodation module; and the excrement of the excrement based on data taken by the camera of the measurement module; An excrement shape measuring device including a control module for grasping the form. The measurement module includes:
The light source unit that irradiates the excrement with line-shaped light is further provided on one side of the housing module, and the camera captures a line of light projected on the excrement. The excrement shape measuring apparatus described. The measurement module includes:
The excrement shape measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light source unit is provided so as to be able to move to the housing module so as to irradiate the line-shaped light across the excrement. The measurement module includes:
The sensor unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor unit that determines whether or not the excrement flows into the accommodation space, and measuring the form of the excrement when the excrement is detected by the sensor unit. Excrement shape measuring device. The control module is
The excrement shape measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the excrement is classified into a type of the excrement in comparison with an excretion based on a Bristol Stool scale.   The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharge module provided with a discharge line for discharging the excrement flowing into the housing space, and a pump for providing pressure so that the excrement can move along the discharge line. The excrement shape measuring apparatus described. The measurement module includes:
The excrement shape measuring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the excrement shape measuring apparatus is provided near an end portion on an inlet side of the discharge line, which is a portion into which the excrement enters the discharge line. A sensing step of sensing whether or not the excrement can flow into the housing module into which excrement excreted by the human body flows;
A projecting step of irradiating a line-shaped light on the excrement across the excrement when the excrement is detected in the sensing step;
An imaging step of continuously photographing a line of light projected on the excrement while the light projecting step proceeds; and a form of the excrement based on the plurality of light lines photographed in the imaging step A method for measuring excrement shape, comprising: The projecting step includes
The method for measuring excrement shape according to claim 8, wherein the light is irradiated while the light source is moved so that the irradiated light crosses the excrement. The projecting step includes
The excrement shape according to claim 8, comprising a discharge process in which the excrement is discharged by the storage module, and the excrement moved in the discharge process is irradiated with line-shaped light to cross the excrement. Measuring method. The measuring step includes
Calculating a volume of the excrement based on the form of the excrement measured in the measurement step, and further including a weight calculation step of calculating a weight of the excrement by multiplying the volume of the excrement by a specific density, The excrement shape measuring method according to claim 8.   The excretion according to claim 8, further comprising a care step of determining a form of the excrement by comparing the form of the excrement measured in the measurement step with the form of the excrement according to a Bristol Stool Scale (Bristol Stool Scale). Measuring method of object shape.

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