JP2020006039A - Inhalation determination device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an inhalation determination device that can be readily attached to an inhaler and determine an inhalation motion of a user.SOLUTION: An inhalation determination device 1 for determining inhalation of a drug using an inhaler 9 by a user P includes: a holding motion determination unit 11 for determining a motion of holding in the mouth of the user P with respect to a mouthpiece part 9a provided in the inhaler 9 from which a user inhales a drug; and an inhalation motion determination unit 12 for determining an inhalation motion of the user P after the holding motion determination unit 11 determines that it is held in the mouth of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an inhalation determination device that mainly determines whether a user inhales a medicine using an inhaler.

  BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in the treatment of respiratory patients such as asthma, drug administration using an inhaler has been performed. Usually, a user who is a patient at home or the like performs an inhalation operation while holding the inhaler, whereby a drug is administered to the body of the user. Here, it is a problem whether or not the user properly handles the inhaler. The user administers the medication with the inhaler at a place other than the hospital, such as at home. Therefore, doctors and nurses cannot check the medication status of the patient. In other words, doctors and others can confirm that the amount of the drug has decreased by checking the inhaler later, but if the symptoms of the user do not improve, it may be because the drug is not working or the inhalation is accurate. It cannot be determined whether it is because it is not done. In addition, there is no way for the user himself to check whether the inhalation is being performed properly.

  Therefore, an inhaler that discloses information to a user who is a patient by detecting a droplet in a flow path of the inhaler has been disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4474318

The above-described inhaler is a dedicated device that, when inhalation by the user is started, liquid material ejection is started by a negative pressure condition by the negative pressure sensor. Therefore, an inhaler distributed on the market cannot be used as it is.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inhalation determination device that can be easily attached to an inhaler and that can determine an inhalation operation by a user.

  The present invention solves the above problem by the following means. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, the description will be given with reference numerals corresponding to the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the configuration described with reference numerals may be appropriately improved, or at least a part thereof may be replaced with another component.

A first aspect of the present invention is an inhalation determination device that determines a user's inhalation of a medicine using an inhaler, and the user's gripping operation on a mouth portion provided in the inhaler for inhaling a medicine. And a suction operation determining means for determining an inhalation operation by the user after determining that the user is gripped by the gripping operation determining means. It is an inhalation determination device.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the inhalation determination device according to the first aspect of the invention, the inhalation determination device is provided with a notification unit that notifies a determination result of at least one of the gripping operation determination unit and the suction operation determination unit. Device.
According to a third aspect, in the inhalation determination device according to the second aspect, the inhalation operation determining means determines that the inhalation is performed by the user within a predetermined time after the gripping operation determination means determines that the inhalation is performed. The inhalation determination device is characterized in that it is determined whether or not an operation has been performed, and the notification unit notifies when the inhalation operation by the user has not been determined within the predetermined time.
A fourth invention is the inhalation determination device according to any one of the first invention to the third invention, wherein at least one of the gripping operation determination means and the suction operation determination means is determined via a communication means. And a determination result transmitting means for transmitting the determination result to an external device.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspect of the present invention, the inhalation determination device further includes a first detection unit provided near the mouthpiece, and the gripping operation determination unit includes: An inhalation determination device, characterized in that the user's grip operation is determined using detection data from the first detection unit.
According to a sixth aspect, in the inhalation determination device according to the fifth aspect, the first detection section includes a temperature detection section that detects a temperature provided at a portion held by the user, And a light amount detection unit provided at a position in the mouth of the user for detecting a light amount.
According to a seventh invention, in the inhalation determination device according to any one of the first invention to the sixth invention, a sound acquisition unit provided near the mouth portion, and a reference sound storing a reference sound at the time of inhalation. A storage unit, and a sound obtaining unit that obtains a sound for a predetermined time after being determined to be held by the holding operation determining unit, and a sound obtaining unit that obtains the sound by the sound obtaining unit. An inhalation determination device that compares a sound acquired by a sound acquisition unit with the reference sound stored in the reference sound storage unit and determines an inhalation operation by the user based on a comparison result. It is.
According to an eighth aspect, in the inhalation determination device according to the seventh aspect, when the inhalation operation is determined to be correct by the inhalation operation determination unit, the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit is stored in the acquired sound storage unit. An acquisition sound storage unit, wherein the inhalation operation determination unit compares the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit with the sound stored in the acquisition sound storage unit, and performs the use based on a comparison result. An inhalation determination device for determining an inhalation operation by a person.
According to a ninth aspect, in the inhalation determination device according to the seventh aspect, an acquisition sound storage unit that stores the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit in an acquisition sound storage unit, wherein the inhalation operation determination unit includes the sound acquisition unit. An inhalation determination device that determines an abnormal value when a difference is found as a result of comparing the sound acquired by the means with the sound stored in the acquired sound storage unit.
According to a tenth aspect, in the inhalation determination device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the inhalation determination device can be attached to an outer surface of the mouth portion of the inhaler. Device.
An eleventh invention is directed to the inhalation determination device according to any one of the first invention to the tenth invention, further comprising a chest band attached around the chest of the user and having a second detection unit, wherein the inhalation operation is performed. The determining means is configured to determine an inhalation operation by the user based on a detection result by the second detection unit.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the inhalation determination device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, further comprising an exhalation determination unit that determines a gas component after the determination by the inhalation operation determination unit. Is an inhalation determination device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the inhalation determination apparatus which can be easily attached to an inhaler and can determine the inhalation operation | movement by a user can be provided.

It is a figure for explaining the inhalation judging device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure showing the functional block of the inhalation judging device concerning a 1st embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of the inhalation determination device according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a gripping operation determination process of the inhalation determination device according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a suction operation determination process of the suction determination device according to the first embodiment. It is a figure for explaining an inhalation judging device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure showing the functional block of the inhalation judging device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows main processing of an inhalation judging device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the inhalation operation | movement determination process of the inhalation determination apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows exhalation judgment processing of an inhalation judgment device concerning a 2nd embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This is only an example, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this.
(1st Embodiment)
<Inhalation determination device 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an inhalation determination device 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the inhalation determination device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The inhalation determination device 1 shown in FIG. 1 (A) is a device provided near the mouth 9a of the inhaler 9 and at a portion where the user P can hold the mouth. The inhalation determination device 1 determines whether or not the inhalation by the inhaler 9 performed by the user P has been properly performed. In this example, the inhaler 9 is equipped with an aerosol can D containing a medicine. However, the inhaler 9 is not limited to this, and for example, may use a powdered medicine.

FIG. 1B is a view of the inhaler 9 as viewed from the mouth 9a. As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the inhalation determination device 1 is fitted to the outer periphery (outer surface) of the mouthpiece 9a. Here, the inhaler 9 is a general one in circulation in the market. Then, when the inhaler 9 is replaced, the inhalation determination device 1 can be detached from the previous inhaler 9 and attached to a new inhaler 9.
As shown in FIG. 1 (C), the user P holds the inhaler 9 by hand so that the mouth 9a of the inhaler 9 is in the downward direction and the aerosol can D is in the upward position. The medicine is inhaled while the mouth 9a is being held.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inhalation determination device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, a power button 30, a speaker 31, a microphone 32 (sound acquisition unit), and a sensor unit 33 (first detection unit). And
The control unit 10 is a CPU (central processing unit) that controls the entire inhalation determination device 1. The control unit 10 executes various functions in cooperation with the above-described hardware by appropriately reading and executing application programs and the like stored in the storage unit 20.
The control unit 10 includes a gripping motion determination unit 11 (grip motion determination unit), a suction motion determination unit 12 (sound acquisition unit, suction operation determination unit), a notification unit 13 (notification unit), and an acquired sound storage control. Unit 14 (acquired sound storage means).

The grip operation determination unit 11 determines whether the user P has properly gripped the suction determination device 1. More specifically, the gripping motion determination unit 11 determines whether or not the gripping motion is accurate based on, for example, detection data from a sensor unit 33 described later.
When the gripping motion determining unit 11 determines that the gripping motion is accurate, the inhalation motion determining unit 12 determines whether the next inhaling motion performed by the user P is accurate. More specifically, the inhalation operation determination unit 12 acquires, for example, a sound generated in the mouth of the user P due to the inhalation operation, and determines whether or not the inhalation operation is accurate based on the acquired sound. judge.

The notifying unit 13 notifies the user P of the determination results by the gripping motion determining unit 11 and the inhaling motion determining unit 12. The notification unit 13 notifies the determination result by a sound output from the speaker 31, for example. Note that the notification unit 13 may notify the user P of the determination result of at least one of the gripping motion determination unit 11 and the inhalation motion determination unit 12. In addition, the notification unit 13 may notify the user P only when the operation is not accurate based on the determination result. Further, the notifying unit 13 may notify the user P even when the inhalation operation is not detected within a predetermined time after determining the gripping operation.
The acquisition sound storage control unit 14 stores the acquisition sound at the time of inhalation when the inhalation operation determination unit 12 determines that the inhalation operation is accurate.
The details of these functions will be described later.

The storage unit 20 is a storage area such as a semiconductor memory device for storing programs, data, and the like necessary to execute the control unit 10.
The storage unit 20 includes a program storage unit 21, a reference sound storage unit 22, an acquired sound storage unit 23, and a guide voice storage unit 24.
The program storage unit 21 is a storage area for storing a program for executing each function of the control unit 10.

The reference sound storage unit 22 is a storage area for storing a reference sound. Here, the reference sound is a sound generated at the time of inhalation, and is an inhalation sound at the time of appropriate inhalation. The reference sound storage unit 22 may collect a plurality of inhalation sounds when appropriately inhaled, and store learning data obtained by learning the plurality of collected inhalation sounds as a reference sound. Further, the reference sound storage unit 22 may store, as a reference sound, result data obtained by frequency-analyzing the suction sound.
The acquired sound storage unit 23 is a storage area for storing a sound generated in accordance with the inhalation operation of the user P. The acquired sound storage unit 23 stores the acquired sound acquired during the inhalation operation when the inhalation operation by the user P is determined to be accurate.

That is, the reference sound storage unit 22 stores learning result data obtained by learning inhalation sounds acquired from a plurality of users. Therefore, what is stored in the reference sound storage unit 22 is leveled general sound data. On the other hand, the acquired sound storage unit 23 stores data of the inhalation sound of the user P. Therefore, what is stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23 is sound data unique to the user P.
The guide voice storage unit 24 is a storage area for storing a guide voice for prompting the user P to perform an operation or notifying the user P of the operation.

The power button 30 is for turning on or off the power of the inhalation determination device 1. When the user P operates the power button 30, power is supplied from a battery (not shown), and the inhalation determination device 1 enters a processable state. Note that the power supply may be automatically turned off when a specific time has elapsed without receiving an operation.
The speaker 31 is a device that outputs a guide voice. When the user P holds the inhaler 9 to which the inhalation determination device 1 is attached, the speaker 31 is desirably provided outside the mouth portion.
The microphone 32 is a device that receives sound. When the user P holds the inhaler 9 to which the inhalation determination device 1 is attached, the microphone 32 is desirably provided in a portion located in the mouth of the user P.

The sensor unit 33 includes a temperature sensor 33a (temperature detecting unit) and a light amount sensor 33b (light amount detecting unit).
The temperature sensor 33a detects a temperature and outputs detected data to the control unit 10. The temperature sensor 33a is preferably provided on the lips of the mouth when the user P holds the inhaler 9 to which the inhalation determination device 1 is attached.
The light amount sensor 33b detects the light amount and outputs detection data to the control unit 10. The light quantity sensor 33b is desirably provided in a portion located in the mouth of the user P when the user P grips the inhaler 9 to which the inhalation determination device 1 is attached.

  Note that a computer refers to an information processing device including a control unit, a storage device, and the like, and the inhalation determination device 1 is an information processing device including a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, and the like, and is included in the concept of a computer. .

<Description of processing>
Next, processing in the inhalation determination device 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of the inhalation determination device 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the gripping operation determination process of the inhalation determination device 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the inhalation operation determination process of the inhalation determination device 1 according to the first embodiment.

The main process shown in FIG. 3 is started when the power of the inhalation determination device 1 is turned on by the user P operating the power button 30 (see FIG. 2) of the inhalation determination device 1.
In step S (hereinafter simply referred to as “S”) 10 in FIG. 3, the control unit 10 (notification unit 13) outputs the guide voice at the start of the process stored in the guide voice storage unit 24. The guide voice at the start of the process is, for example, "Please hold the inhaler."
The user P who has heard this voice performs an operation of holding the mouth 9 a of the inhaler 9.
In S11, the control unit 10 (holding motion determination unit 11) performs a holding motion determination process.

Here, the gripping motion determination processing will be described with reference to FIG.
In S20 of FIG. 4, the control unit 10 starts measuring time.
In S21, the control unit 10 (holding motion determination unit 11) acquires a detection value, which is detection data detected by the temperature sensor 33a, from the temperature sensor 33a.
In S22, the control unit 10 (holding motion determination unit 11) determines whether the temperature based on the detected value is within a threshold. Here, if the user P holds the mouth 9a of the inhaler 9, the temperature sensor 33a provided on the lips of the user P detects a temperature close to the body temperature. Therefore, the threshold value can be, for example, 30 ° C. (degrees) or more and 38 ° C. or less. When the temperature based on the detected value is within the threshold (S22: YES), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S23. On the other hand, when the temperature based on the detected value is not within the threshold (S22: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S26.

In S23, the control unit 10 (the gripping motion determination unit 11) acquires from the light amount sensor 33b a detection value that is detection data detected by the light amount sensor 33b.
In S24, the control unit 10 (the gripping motion determination unit 11) determines whether or not the light amount based on the detected value is equal to or less than the threshold. Here, if the user P holds the mouthpiece 9a of the inhaler 9 properly, the light amount sensor 33b provided in the mouth of the user P is located at a position where external light is blocked. Detect light intensity or detect very small light intensity. On the other hand, if the user P does not properly hold the suction opening 9a of the inhaler 9 and there is a gap or the like, the light amount larger than the threshold is detected. When the light amount based on the detected value is equal to or smaller than the threshold (S24: YES), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S25. On the other hand, when the light amount based on the detected value is not within the threshold (S24: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S26.

In S25, the control unit 10 (the gripping motion determination unit 11) determines that the gripping motion is accurate. Thereafter, the control unit 10 ends this processing, and moves the processing to S12 in FIG.
On the other hand, in S26, the control unit 10 (the grip operation determination unit 11) determines whether the first time has elapsed. Here, the first time is a time required for the user P to hold the mouth 9 a of the inhaler 9, and is set to, for example, 10 seconds. If the first time has elapsed (S26: YES), the controller 10 shifts the processing to S27. On the other hand, when the first time has not elapsed (S26: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S21.
In S27, the control unit 10 (the grip operation determination unit 11) determines that the grip operation is not accurate. Thereafter, the control unit 10 ends this processing, and moves the processing to S12 in FIG.

In S12 of FIG. 3, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the gripping motion determined by the gripping motion determination processing is accurate. When the gripping operation is accurate (S12: YES), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S13. On the other hand, when the gripping operation is not accurate (S12: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S19.
In S13, the control unit 10 (notification unit 13) outputs the guide sound of the next process stored in the guide sound storage unit 24. The guide voice for the next process is, for example, "Please inhale."
The user P who has heard this voice performs the inhalation operation while holding the mouth 9 a of the inhaler 9.
In S14, the control unit 10 (inhalation operation determination unit 12) performs an inhalation operation determination process.

Here, the suction operation determination process will be described with reference to FIG.
In S30 of FIG. 5, the control unit 10 starts measuring time.
In S31, the control unit 10 (the inhalation operation determination unit 12) acquires a sound for a certain period of time from the microphone 32.
In S32, the control unit 10 (the inhalation operation determination unit 12) compares the acquired sound with the reference sound stored in the reference sound storage unit 22. Then, the control unit 10 (inhalation operation determination unit 12) determines whether or not the acquired sound is similar to the reference sound as a result of the comparison. In this processing, for example, a score is calculated by comparing the acquired sound with a reference sound, and it is determined whether or not the score is approximated by the calculated score. The sound comparison may be a comparison of frequency data obtained by frequency-analyzing the sound. Then, if the user P performs an appropriate inhalation operation, the acquired sound becomes similar to the reference sound. However, if the user P has not started the suction operation or the suction input is low, the acquired sound does not approximate the reference sound. When the acquired sound is similar to the reference sound (S32: YES), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S33. On the other hand, when the acquired sound is not similar to the reference sound (S32: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S38.

  In S33, the control unit 10 (the inhalation operation determination unit 12) determines whether or not sound data is stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23. When the inhalation determination device 1 is used for the first time, no sound data is stored in the obtained sound storage unit 23. Even if the inhalation determination device 1 is used a plurality of times, if the acquired sound is not close to the reference sound, no sound data is stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23. On the other hand, if the inhalation determination device 1 is acquired one or more times and the acquired sound is similar to the reference sound, sound data is stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23 as described later. When the sound data is stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23 (S33: YES), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S34. On the other hand, when no sound data is stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23 (S33: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S35.

  In S34, the control unit 10 (the inhalation operation determining unit 12) compares the acquired sound with the acquired sound stored in the acquired sound storage unit 23. Then, the control unit 10 (inhalation operation determination unit 12) determines whether or not the acquired sound is similar to the acquired sound as a result of the comparison. In this process, similarly to the comparison with the reference sound, for example, the acquired sound is compared with the stored acquired sound to calculate a score, and it is determined whether or not the score is approximated by the calculated score. When the acquired sound is similar to the acquired sound in the acquired sound storage unit 23 (S34: YES), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S35. On the other hand, when the acquired sound is not similar to the acquired sound in the acquired sound storage unit 23 (S34: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S39.

In S35, the control unit 10 (inhalation operation determination unit 12) determines that the inhalation operation is accurate.
In S36, the control unit 10 (acquired sound storage control unit 14) stores the acquired sound in the acquired sound storage unit 23. Thereafter, the control unit 10 ends this processing, and moves the processing to S15 in FIG.

On the other hand, in S38, the control unit 10 (the suction operation determination unit 12) determines whether or not a second time (a predetermined time) has elapsed. Here, the second time is a delay time from when the user P holds the mouth 9a of the inhaler 9 to when the user P performs an inhalation operation, for example, 10 seconds. When the second time has elapsed (S38: YES), the controller 10 shifts the processing to S39. On the other hand, when the second time has not elapsed (S38: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S31.
In S39, the control unit 10 (the suction operation determination unit 12) determines that the suction operation is not accurate. Thereafter, the control unit 10 ends this processing, and moves the processing to S15 in FIG.

In S15 of FIG. 3, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the suction operation determined by the suction operation determination process is accurate. If the inhalation operation is accurate (S15: YES), the control unit 10 ends this processing. At this time, the control unit 10 may output a sound indicating that the inhalation operation has been properly performed. On the other hand, if the suction operation is not accurate (S15: NO), the control unit 10 shifts the processing to S19.
In S19, the control unit 10 (notification unit 13) notifies by voice output that the corresponding operation among the gripping operation and the inhalation operation is not accurate. Thereafter, the control unit 10 ends the processing.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, the inhalation determination device 1 has the following effects.
(1) Since it is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth part 9a of the inhaler 9, it can be applied to the inhaler 9 which is distributed on the market. In addition, even when the inhaler 9 is replaced, the inhalation determination device 1 may be replaced, so that the usability is good. Furthermore, since it is attached to the mouth part 9a of the inhaler 9, a compact device can be realized.
(2) It is determined whether or not the gripping operation is accurate. If the gripping operation is accurate, then it is determined whether or not the suction operation is accurate. Therefore, if the inhalation operation is accurate, it can be determined that a series of operations starting from the gripping operation is accurate, and as a result, it can be determined that the medicine has been accurately inhaled into the body.
(3) If it is determined that the gripping operation is not accurate or if the inhalation operation is not accurate, the user is notified to determine whether or not the handling of the inhaler 9 is appropriate. Can be.

(4) Since the gripping operation is determined by the temperature sensor 33a and the light amount sensor 33b, it is possible to easily determine whether the user P has accurately performed the gripping operation by using various sensors.
(5) Since the inhalation operation is determined by the inhalation sound generated at the time of the inhalation operation, the microphone 32 can easily determine whether or not the user P has performed the inhalation operation accurately.
(6) Since it is determined whether or not the inhalation operation is accurate by comparing the inhalation sound with the reference sound, it is possible to determine the inhalation operation of various users P.
(7) It is determined whether or not the inhalation operation is accurate by comparing the inhalation sound with the acquired sound which is the inhalation sound of the user P in the past. The operation is different from the normal operation, and it can be determined that the operation is not accurate.

(2nd Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the determination by the inhalation determination device is performed using still other data. In the following description, portions that perform the same functions as in the above-described first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals at the end, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate.

<Inhalation determination device 201>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an inhalation determination device 201 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the inhalation determination device 201 according to the second embodiment.
An inhalation determination device 201 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B includes a ring device 204, which is a portion corresponding to the inhalation determination device 1 of the first embodiment (FIG. 1A), , An external device 206.

As shown in FIG. 6 (B), the user P wears the inhaler 209 (FIG. 6 (A)) in which the ring device 204 is provided in the mouth part 9a with the chest band 205 worn around the chest. To perform the inhalation operation. The chest band 205 has a function as an inhalation confirmation device.
After performing the inhalation operation, the user P exhales with the band 206a to the external device 206 attached to the inhaler 209. The external device 206 has a function as a breath confirmation device.
By doing so, the inhalation determination device 201 determines whether or not the inhalation of the user P using the inhaler 209 has been properly performed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ring device 204 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, a power button 30, a speaker 31, a microphone 32, and a first sensor unit 233 (first detection unit). The chest band 205 includes a second sensor unit 235 (second detection unit), and the external device 206 includes a third sensor unit 236.

The control unit 210 includes a gripping motion determining unit 11, an inhaling motion determining unit 212 (inhaling motion determining unit), a notifying unit 213 (notifying unit), an acquisition sound storage control unit 14, and an exhaling determining unit 215 (expiratory determining unit). Means).
When the gripping motion determining unit 11 determines that the gripping motion is accurate, the inhalation motion determining unit 212 determines whether the next inhalation motion performed by the user P is accurate. More specifically, the inhalation operation determining unit 212 determines whether or not the inhalation operation is accurate based on, for example, a sound generated in the mouth of the user P in association with the inhalation operation. In addition, the inhalation operation determining unit 212 determines whether or not the inhalation operation is accurate based on, for example, detection data from the second sensor unit 235 attached to the sternum 205.

The notifying unit 213 notifies the user P of the determination result by the gripping motion determining unit 11, the inhaling motion determining unit 212, and the breath determining unit 215 described below.
When the inhalation operation is determined to be accurate by the inhalation operation determination unit 212, the exhalation determination unit 215 determines whether or not the user P has properly inhaled the body by the next exhalation operation. . More specifically, when the user P puts the external device 206 near the mouth, for example, and the user P exhales, the exhalation determination unit 215 outputs the detection data from the third sensor unit 236. , It is determined whether or not the medicine has been appropriately inhaled into the body.

The storage unit 220 is a storage area such as a semiconductor memory device for storing programs, data, and the like necessary to execute the control unit 210.
The storage unit 220 includes a program storage unit 221, a reference sound storage unit 22, an acquired sound storage unit 23, and a guide voice storage unit 24.
The program storage unit 221 is a storage area for storing a program for executing each function of the control unit 210.
The first sensor unit 233 includes a temperature sensor 33a and a light amount sensor 33b.

The second sensor unit 235 includes a pressure sensor 235a.
Air enters the lungs of the user P by the inhalation operation, and the chest of the user P expands. Therefore, pressure sensor 235a attached to chest band 205 detects chest pressure and outputs detection data to control section 210. Although not shown, the second sensor unit 235 has a communication function, and transmits detection data by wireless communication with the ring device 204, for example.

The third sensor unit 236 includes a gas determination sensor 236a.
The gas determination sensor 236a detects a gas component contained in the exhaled breath when the user P exhales to the external device 206, and outputs the detection data to the control unit 210. Here, the gas determination sensor 236a uses, for example, a light scattering method for measuring light scattering of particles. Although not shown, the gas determination sensor 236a includes a light source and a light receiving unit, and determines the type and number of particles based on scattered light from the particles. Although not shown, the third sensor unit 236 has a communication function, and transmits detection data by wireless communication with the ring device 204, for example.

<Description of processing>
Next, processing in the inhalation determination device 201 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of the inhalation determination device 201 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an inhalation operation determination process of the inhalation determination device 201 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a discharge operation determination process of the inhalation determination device 201 according to the second embodiment.

First, before starting this processing, the user P wears the chest band 205 around the chest of the user P.
Next, processing by the inhalation determination device 201 will be described.
Steps S210 to S213 in FIG. 8 are the same as steps S10 to S13 in the first embodiment (FIG. 3). In the case where S212 is NO, the control section 210 shifts the processing to S219.
In S214, the control unit 210 (inhalation operation determination unit 212) performs an inhalation operation determination process.

Here, the suction operation determination process will be described with reference to FIG.
The processing from S230 to S234 in FIG. 9 and the processing in S238 are the same as the processing from S30 to S34 and the processing in S38 in the first embodiment (FIG. 5). In the case of NO in S234 and in the case of YES in S238, control unit 210 shifts the processing to S239.
In S234a, the control unit 210 (the suction operation determination unit 212) acquires a detection value, which is detection data detected by the pressure sensor 235a, from the pressure sensor 235a.

In S234b, the control unit 210 (inhalation operation determination unit 212) determines whether the pressure based on the detected value is equal to or greater than a threshold. Here, when the user P performs the inhalation operation, the pressure sensor 235a in the chest band 205 attached around the chest of the user P expands due to the air being taken into the lungs of the user P. , A pressure equal to or higher than the threshold value is detected. As a result of the detection, when the pressure based on the detected value is equal to or larger than the threshold (S234b: YES), the control unit 210 shifts the processing to S235. On the other hand, if the pressure based on the detected value is less than the threshold value (S234b: NO), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S239.
The processing of S235, S236, and S239 is the same as S35, S36, and S39 of the first embodiment (FIG. 5).

Returning to FIG. 8, in S215, the control unit 210 determines whether or not the inhalation operation determined by the inhalation operation determination process is accurate. If the inhalation operation is accurate (S215: YES), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S216. On the other hand, when the suction operation is not accurate (S215: NO), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S219.
In S216, the control unit 210 (notification unit 213) outputs the guide sound of the next process stored in the guide sound storage unit 24. The guide voice for the next process is, for example, "Please exhale to the breath checker."
The user P who has heard this voice stops the mouth 9 a of the inhaler 209 and performs an operation of exhaling air to the external device 206.
In S217, control unit 210 (expiration determination unit 215) performs an exhalation determination process.

Here, the exhalation determination process will be described with reference to FIG.
In S240 of FIG. 10, control section 210 starts measuring time.
In S241, the control unit 210 (expiration determination unit 215) acquires from the gas determination sensor 236a a detection value that is detection data detected by the gas determination sensor 236a.

  In S242, the control unit 210 (the breath determination unit 215) determines whether or not the drug content based on the detected value is within a threshold range. Here, if the inhalation by the user P is performed appropriately, the medicine is in a state where the medicine has properly entered the lungs of the user P. Therefore, the exhaled breath exhaled thereafter contains a small amount of the drug even if it is contained. On the other hand, if the inhalation by the user P has not been performed properly, for example, the medicine remains in the mouth of the user P. Therefore, the exhaled breath subsequently contains many drugs, and the drug content based on the detected value exceeds the threshold range. Further, when the user P does not perform the discharging operation or does not perform the discharging operation toward the external device 206, the medicine cannot be detected, and the content of the medicine based on the detection value is smaller than the threshold range. Become. When the content of the medicine based on the detected value is within the threshold range (S242: YES), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S243. On the other hand, when the drug content based on the detected value is not within the threshold range (S243: NO), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S244.

In S243, control unit 210 (expiration determination unit 215) determines that inhalation has been appropriately performed. After that, the control unit 210 ends this processing, and moves the processing to S218 in FIG.
On the other hand, in S244, control unit 210 (expiration determination unit 215) determines whether the third time has elapsed. Here, the third time is a grace time until the user P exhales after the inhalation operation, and is set to, for example, 10 seconds. If the third time has elapsed (S244: YES), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S245. On the other hand, when the third time has not elapsed (S244: NO), control unit 210 shifts the processing to S241.
In S245, control unit 210 (expiration determination unit 215) determines that the inhalation is not being properly performed. After that, the control unit 210 ends this processing, and moves the processing to S218 in FIG.

In S218, control unit 210 determines whether or not it has been determined by the expiration determination process that the inhalation has been properly performed. When it is determined that the inhalation has been properly performed (S218: YES), the control unit 210 ends this processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that the liquid has not been properly inhaled (S218: NO), the control unit 210 shifts the processing to S219.
In step S219, when a transition is made from the process of the gripping operation or the inhalation operation, the control unit 210 (notification unit 213) notifies the user that the corresponding operation is not accurate by voice output. Further, when a transition is made from the process of the exhalation determination based on the exhalation operation, the control unit 210 (notification unit 213) notifies by voice output that the inhalation is not properly performed. After that, the control unit 210 ends this processing.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the inhalation determination device 201 has the following effects.
(1) Whether or not the inhalation operation is accurate is further determined based on data detected by the pressure sensor 235a provided in the chest band 205. Therefore, the inhalation operation can be determined based on the inflated state of the lungs of the user P, and the inhalation operation can be determined with higher accuracy.
(2) Even if the inhalation operation itself is accurate, it is determined whether or not the medicine has properly entered the lungs (in the body) of the user P based on the detection data of the gas determination sensor 236a provided in the external device 206. Therefore, since it is determined whether or not the medicine has been appropriately inhaled into the body, more accurate determination can be made.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Further, the effects described in the embodiments merely enumerate the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects according to the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments. Note that the above-described embodiment and the modified examples described below can be used in appropriate combinations, but detailed description is omitted.

(Modified form)
(1) In the first and second embodiments, an example in which a determination result is reported by a guide voice has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the user can be informed, for example, an LED unit may be provided to notify by the color of light, or by a buzzer sound or the like. Further, the notification may be made by vibration (vibration) or the like.
(2) In addition, the inhalation determination device includes a communication unit for performing communication with an external device, and transmits the determination result to, for example, a portable information terminal of a user or a terminal of a medical professional such as a doctor. A determination result transmitting means for transmitting may be provided. The portable information terminal of the user or the terminal of a medical worker such as a doctor stores the received determination result so that the doctor can refer to the treatment at the next medical examination.
Further, the inhalation determination device includes a communication unit for performing communication with an external device, and when the operation is not accurate, notifies the fact to a portable information terminal or the like of a preset family of the user. You may do so. By notifying the portable information terminal of the user's family when the operation is not accurate, the family can be instructed on an appropriate inhalation operation.

(3) In each of the embodiments, an example using a temperature sensor and a light amount sensor has been described as an example of determining the gripping operation, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may use the pressure sensor which detects the pressure by holding with a mouth. Alternatively, the captured state may be confirmed by analyzing an image captured by the camera.
(4) In each embodiment, the inhalation operation is determined by using the acquired sound as an example. However, a motion sensor such as a gyro sensor may be used to detect that the inhaler is in the correct posture. It may be.

  (5) In each embodiment, the case where the acquired sound is stored in the acquired sound storage unit when the inhalation operation is determined to be accurate has been described as an example, but the invention is not limited to this. The sound obtained from the microphone may be stored in the obtained sound storage unit every time, and when a difference from the sound stored in the obtained sound storage unit occurs, the sound may be determined to be an abnormal value.

(6) In the second embodiment, the external device is described as being attached to the inhaler, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be separate from the inhaler. In addition, even if it is attached to the inhaler, its position is not limited to that of the second embodiment.
(7) In the second embodiment, the chest band is provided with the pressure sensor to determine the inhalation operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a device such as a stethoscope that acquires inhalation sound to the lungs in the thoracic band may be provided to determine the inhalation operation.

1,201 Inhalation judging device 9,209 Inhaler 9a Suction unit 10,210 Control unit 11 Mouth operation judging unit 12,212 Suction operation judging unit 13,213 Notification unit 14 Acquired sound storage control unit 20,220 Storage unit 22 Reference sound storage unit 23 Acquired sound storage unit 24 Guide sound storage unit 31 Speaker 32 Microphone 33 Sensor unit 33a Temperature sensor 33b Light intensity sensor 204 Ring device 205 Chest band 206 External device 215 Expiration determination unit 233 First sensor unit 235 Second sensor Part 235a Pressure sensor 236 Third sensor part 236a Gas determination sensor P User

Claims (12)

An inhalation determination device that determines inhalation of a drug by a user using an inhaler,
A gripping operation determining means for determining a gripping operation of a user with respect to a mouth portion provided in the inhaler for inhaling a medicine,
An inhalation operation determining means for determining an inhalation operation by the user after determining that the user is being held by the gripping operation determining means,
Having,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to claim 1,
Providing a notifying means for notifying a determination result of at least one of the gripping motion determining means and the inhaling motion determining means,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to claim 2,
The inhalation operation determining means, within a predetermined time after determining that the gripping operation is determined by the gripping operation determining means, to determine whether there is an inhalation operation by the user,
The notifying unit, when it is not possible to determine the inhalation operation by the user within the predetermined time, to notify,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A determination result transmitting unit that transmits a determination result of at least one of the gripping operation determination unit and the suction operation determination unit to an external device via a communication unit,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. An inhalation determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A first detection unit provided near the mouthpiece;
The gripping motion determining means determines the gripping motion of the user using the detection data by the first detection unit;
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to claim 5,
The first detection unit is provided at a position in the mouth of the user when the user grips, and a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature provided at a part held by the user and detects a light amount. A light amount detection unit;
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. An inhalation determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A sound acquisition unit provided near the mouthpiece,
A reference sound storage unit that stores a reference sound at the time of inhalation,
Sound acquisition means for acquiring a sound for a certain period of time after being determined to be held by the gripping operation determination means, and acquiring the sound by the sound acquisition unit.
With
The inhalation operation determining unit compares the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit with the reference sound stored in the reference sound storage unit, and determines an inhalation operation by the user based on a comparison result. ,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to claim 7,
When the inhalation operation is determined to be correct by the inhalation operation determination unit, an acquisition sound storage unit that stores the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit in an acquisition sound storage unit,
The inhalation operation determination unit compares the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit with the sound stored in the acquired sound storage unit, and determines an inhalation operation by the user based on the comparison result. thing,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to claim 7,
The sound acquired by the sound acquisition means, acquisition sound storage means for storing in the acquisition sound storage unit,
As a result of comparing the sound acquired by the sound acquisition unit with the sound stored in the acquired sound storage unit, when a difference occurs, the inhalation operation determination unit determines an abnormal value.
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
It can be attached to the outer surface of the mouth portion of the inhaler,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. The inhalation determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A chest band provided around the chest of the user and provided with a second detection unit;
The inhalation operation determining means determines an inhalation operation by the user based on a detection result by the second detection unit;
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned. An inhalation determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
After the determination by the inhalation operation determining means, comprises an exhalation determining means for determining a gas component,
An inhalation determination device characterized by the above-mentioned.

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