JP3465439B2 - Urine sampling unit - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates broadly to a toilet having a urine analysis function. More specifically, the present invention relates to a urine sampling unit capable of efficiently collecting urine when performing urine analysis using a toilet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the aging of people's longevity, interest in health management is increasing. Urine is an important source of personal health information, and quantitative analysis of urinary sugar, urinary protein, urobilinogen, occult blood, and other urinary components enables pancreatic disorders such as diabetes, liver disorders, kidney disorders, and other functions. The disorder can be examined non-invasively.
Therefore, a toilet equipped with a urine analysis function has been proposed, which can support the individual's health check by sampling and analyzing urine by using the toilet at home, workplace, or the like.

For example, JP-A-59-217844, JP-A-63-184057, and JP-A-63-290961.
JP-A-1-178866, JP-A-4-19166
No. 0 proposes to form a urine collecting portion on the bowl surface of a Western-style toilet bowl and collect urine excreted on the bowl surface in the urine collecting portion for sampling. The collected urine sample is designed to be analyzed by a liquid chromatography method, a test strip method, or a polarographic method. The advantage of this sampling method using the urine collecting part on the bowl surface is that urine excreted on the bowl surface can be collected and collected from a considerably large area regardless of the urination direction or the dropping position.

However, the drawback of this sampling system is that it is not possible to use a standard toilet bowl or an existing toilet bowl, and a special toilet bowl for sampling urine having a urine collecting portion formed on the bowl surface is required. That is. Such a special toilet bowl must be specially manufactured separately from the standard toilet bowl, and thus it is difficult to reduce the cost by mass production, so that it is too expensive to spread to general households, workplaces and offices. Also, when modifying an existing toilet equipped with a standard bowl-shaped toilet bowl, it is necessary to first remove the existing toilet bowl and then install a special toilet bowl for urine analysis. The construction costs a lot of money and labor, and causes the disposal of existing equipment. Further, after the toilet bowl is washed, wash water, old urine and excrement remain in the urine collecting portion on the bowl surface, dilute or contaminate new urine to be sampled, so that a good sample may not be sampled.

No. 5-30764 and No. 1-
No. 136573 proposes that urine is sampled by a urine collection container that is provided in the toilet seat and can be moved in and out.
This urine collection method has an advantage that it does not require a special toilet bowl for the purpose of urine sampling and can sample urine using a standard toilet bowl. However, a problem with this urine collection method is that it is difficult to efficiently sample excreted urine.

That is, in general, the urination direction differs between men and women and individuals, and the direction changes depending on the posture of the subject when sitting on the toilet seat. As a result, the trajectory of the urinary column that falls into the bowl space of the toilet bowl fluctuates back and forth and up and down, and also shifts in the left and right direction. Therefore, in order to reliably sample the excreted urine, the urine collection container must be formed as large as possible. Otherwise, if the urinary column does not hit the urine collection container properly, the chance of sampling will be lost. Especially in the case of elderly people who have a high need for urine analysis, the amount of urine output per time is small.
To collect urine reliably, it is necessary to use a large urine collection container.

However, when urine is sampled using a standard type toilet bowl, a toilet having a urine analysis function must be used for the purpose of normal urination, so when the urine collection container is not used. It is desirable to move the urine collection container out of the way. Therefore, on the other hand, the urine collection container is required to be sufficiently small.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reliably collect urine using a standard toilet bowl while using a urine collecting means having a shape that does not interfere with excretion when not in use. An object is to provide a urine sampling unit capable of sampling urine.

In another aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a urine sambling unit that can be retrofitted using an existing toilet bowl or toilet seat.

[0010]

[Constitution of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The sampling unit of the present invention comprises an elongated urine collection trough. The urine collection gutter is adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis adjacent to the front part of the rim of the toilet bowl by a drive mechanism including an electric motor. The urine collecting trough is formed so as to extend obliquely between the substantially front upper region and the substantially central region of the bowl space of the toilet bowl in the substantially vertical urine collecting position. The urine collection gutter opens rearward and upward,
The urine excreted by the subject sitting on the toilet seat flows into the urine collection gutter. There is a small urine reservoir at the bottom of the urine collection gutter.

When mounting on the existing toilet bowl, the hook portion of the sampling unit of the present invention is hooked and fixed to the front portion of the rim of the toilet bowl. In addition, when the toilet seat is attached to a toilet seat that is pivotally attached to the toilet bowl, the front portion of the toilet seat is fixed by being sandwiched by the sandwiching portion of the sampling unit.

When collecting urine, the urine collecting trough is positioned at an almost vertical arbitrary urine collecting position by an electric drive mechanism. Urine excreted from the subject flows into the urine collection gutter,
It is collected in the urine collection.

Since the urine collection gutter of the sampling unit is elongated and extends obliquely from the front upper region to the bottom central region of the bowl space, it has a considerable spread in the vertical direction and the front-back direction. Therefore, even if the fall position of the ureter fluctuates up and down or back and forth due to gender difference and individual difference,
You can certainly receive urine.

When the trajectory of urine deviates to the left or right with respect to the vertical center plane of the toilet bowl, the urine collection gutter can be rotated by an electric motor and brought to a desired angular position to adapt to the lateral displacement. it can.

As described above, since the urine sampling unit of the present invention can be adapted to the vertical, front-back, and left-right variations of the urinary column, urine can be efficiently sampled. Further, it can be retrofitted to an existing toilet bowl or a toilet seat rotatably attached to the toilet bowl. Therefore, it is possible to simply sample urine using a standard toilet bowl without using a special toilet bowl for the purpose of collecting urine in which a wide urine collecting portion is formed on the bowl surface of the toilet bowl. Also, since the urine collection gutter is elongated, it can be easily stored under the toilet seat when not in use.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the urine collection gutter is first positioned at a desired angular position, and then the urine collection gutter is swung within a predetermined angle range around this angular position to collect urine. ing. By swinging the urine collection gutter in this way, it is possible to better adapt to the lateral displacement of the urinary column.

The urine collection trough is preferably curved to follow the inner contour of the toilet seat. With this configuration, the urine collection gutter can be stored near the back surface of the toilet seat by rotating it to a substantially horizontal angular position when not in use.

The above-mentioned features and effects of the present invention, as well as other features and advantages, will be made clear by the description of the following embodiments.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a urine sampling unit 1 of the present invention.
A toilet with urine analysis function is shown. The toilet 10 has a commercially available standard flush toilet bowl 12.
The toilet bowl 12 is of a standard type such as a vortex type, a siphon type, a siphon jet type, a washdown type, or the like, and has an ordinary bowl (bowl) portion 14.

A housing 16 accommodating a well-known bidet device (not shown) is attached to the toilet bowl 12, and a toilet seat 18 and a toilet lid 20 are rotatably attached to the housing 16. Further, the housing 16 houses a pump and a urine analyzer (not shown) for transporting a urine sample collected by the urine sampling unit of the present invention.
The control unit 22 that controls the urine sampling unit, the transport pump, and the urine analyzer can be installed on the wall of the toilet.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat 18 can be formed by joining an upper half body 18A and a lower half body 18B made of impact resistant resin or the like by ultrasonic welding, for example. The toilet seat 18 is supported on the upper surface of the rim 26 of the toilet bowl 12 by, for example, four legs (one of which is indicated by reference numeral 24).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the urine sampling unit 1 of the present invention is attached to the rim 26 of the toilet bowl by the hook portion 30. Therefore, the toilet bowl 12
In the front region of the urine sampling unit 1, a storage space 31 is formed, in which a stepping motor 32 with a reduction gear is stored. The motor 32 is controlled by the control unit 22.

The output shaft 34 of the motor 32 has an axis passing through the vertical median plane 36 (FIG. 3) of the toilet bowl 12 and adjacent the front of the rim 26. On the output shaft 34 of the motor 32,
A urine collecting trough 38 is attached, and the urine collecting trough 38 is rotated in the bowl 14 space as the motor 32 rotates. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the urine collection trough 38 is open rearward and upward. Figure 3
As shown in, the urine collection trough 38 is curved to follow the inner contour of the toilet seat 18.

A urine reservoir 40 is provided at the lower end of the urine collection gutter 38. As shown in FIG. 6, a suction tube 42 is opened at the bottom of the urine reservoir 40 to suck the urine sample accumulated in the urine reservoir 40. The suction tube 42 is connected to a suction pump in the housing 16 via a urine transport tube 44 (FIG. 5) so as to transport the urine sample to the urine analyzer in the housing 16.

In the urine reservoir 40, a pair of vertically spaced electrodes 46 and 48 (FIG. 6) are exposed, and these electrodes are controlled via leads 50 and 52 (FIG. 5). It is connected to the unit 22. The control unit 22 applies a predetermined voltage between the electrodes 46 and 48,
The conductivity of the fluid existing between the electrodes 46 and 48 in the urine reservoir 40 may be detected based on the voltage drop to determine whether or not fresh urine has accumulated in the urine reservoir 40. it can.

The control unit 22 has a urine analysis start /
A switch 54A (FIG. 1) is provided. Control unit 2
No. 2 is programmed to drive the motor 32 so that when the subject presses this start switch, the urine collection trough 38 is pre- brought to the vertical angular position shown in solid lines in FIG. The control unit 22 is also provided with a fine adjustment switch 54B, which is operated to position the urine collecting trough 38 at an arbitrary angular position offset left and right from the vertical position as shown by the chain line in FIG. Can be configured to.

To explain the mode of operation and use of the urine sampling unit 1, when the subject sitting on the toilet seat 18 presses the start switch 54A, the control unit 22 drives the motor 32 and the urine collection gutter 38 is shown. 3 is rotated from the horizontal position shown by the solid line to the vertical position shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 4, and stopped at that position. If the subject presses any one of the fine adjustment switches 54B, the angular position of the urine collection gutter 38 can be finely adjusted to the left or right in response to this. The control unit 22 is further provided with another switch 54C,
It is preferable to push the switch 54C to swing the urine collection gutter 38 left and right within a predetermined range around the position after the fine adjustment as shown in FIG.

When the subject urinates in this state, the urine that has fallen into the urine collecting trough 38 flows down along the urine collecting trough 38 and accumulates in the urine reservoir 40. By covering the entrance opening of the urine collection gutter 38 with a corrosion-resistant wire mesh (not shown) or the like, it is possible to prevent the urine column from colliding with the urine collection gutter 38 and to be scattered around, and to collect a urine sample effectively. Preferably. Further, in this way, foreign matter can be prevented from entering the urine collection gutter.

Generally, there is a difference between men and women in the trajectory of urine. In the case of a male, the ureter falls relatively forward as shown by an arrow 56 in FIG. 2, and in the case of a female, as shown by an arrow 58. Fall backwards. Furthermore, there are individual differences in the direction of urination. Since the urine collecting gutter 38 of the present invention extends diagonally over a considerable area from the front upper region to the bottom central region of the space of the bowl 14, urine can be reliably received regardless of gender and individual differences. Further, if the angular position of the urine collecting trough 38 is finely adjusted in the left-right direction, the urine column can be easily hit by the urine collecting trough 38.

When it is detected that urine has accumulated in the urine reservoir 40 up to the level of the upper electrode 46, the control unit 22 automatically actuates the carrier pump arranged in the housing 16 to remove the urine sample from the urine reservoir 40. Aspirate and send to urine analyzer. Since the urine reservoir 40 is provided with a suction tube 42 opened at the bottom thereof, only the urine sample containing no bubbles is sent to the analyzer. The urine sample is subjected to quantitative analysis by the urine analyzer, the control unit 22 displays the analysis result on the display unit 60, and the printer 6 responds to the instruction from the subject.
Output to 2.

When the urine sampling is completed in this manner, the urine collecting trough 38 is washed with washing water. For this reason, the urine collecting trough 38 is provided with a washing nozzle 64, which is connected to a water pipe through a washing water supply tube and a solenoid valve (not shown). The control unit 22 opens the solenoid valve to inject the washing water from the washing nozzle 64 toward the urine collecting trough 38 as shown in FIG.
Wash off 8.

After cleaning the urine collecting trough 38, the control unit 22 drives the motor 32 to rotate the urine collecting trough 38 to the substantially horizontal standby position shown by the solid line in FIG. Since the notch 66 is provided at the lower end of the urine collecting trough 38, the flush water is washed by the bowl 14 as the urine collecting trough 38 rotates to the horizontal position.
Fall inside. The urine collecting trough 38 can be rotated until it almost contacts the lower surface of the toilet seat 18. In this position, the urine collection trough 38 is hidden under the toilet seat 18 as shown in FIG. 3 so that it does not interfere with the use of the toilet for normal toilet purposes.

Next, the second aspect of the present invention will be described based on the description of FIG.
An example will be described. Similarly, components common to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
This embodiment is characterized in that the urine sampling unit 1 is attached to the toilet seat 18, and specifically, the sandwiching portion 31 is brought into close contact with the toilet seat surface and fixed by the locking portion 33.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various design changes can be made. For example, the urine sampling unit 1 has been described as being attached to the rim 26 of the toilet bowl or the toilet seat 18, but a size that employs a spacer made of a soft material, a screw tightening mechanism, etc. so that the urine sampling unit 1 can be installed in various toilet bowls or toilet seats. It is also possible to provide an adjusting mechanism.

[0035]

As described above, since the urine collecting trough 38 of the urine sampling unit of the present invention is elongated and extends obliquely from the front upper region of the bowl space to the center region of the bottom, there is a difference between men and women. Even if the fall position of the urinary column fluctuates up and down or back and forth due to individual differences, urine can be reliably received.

Since it can be retrofitted to an existing toilet bowl or an existing toilet seat, a urine sampling device can be provided at low cost.

When the trajectory of urine deviates from side to side with respect to the vertical center plane of the toilet bowl, the urine collecting trough can be rotated by an electric motor and brought to a desired angular position.

As described above, the urine sampling unit of the present invention can be easily adapted to the vertical, front-back, and left-right displacement of the urinary column, so that urine can be sampled efficiently.

Since the urine collection gutter 38 is elongated, it can be easily stored under the toilet seat when not in use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet with urine analysis function including a urine sampling unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

3 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, in which the urine collection gutter is shown rotated in a horizontal position by a solid line, and is shown in a vertical position. The urine collection gutter is shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of a urine collection gutter.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a urine sampling unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Urine sampling unit 12: Standard toilet bowl 14: Standard toilet bowl 18: Toilet seat 26: Toilet rim 32: Electric motor 36: Vertical center plane of toilet bowl 38: Urine collection gutter 40: urine collection

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 33/48 E03D 9/00 G01N 1/00 G01N 1/10 G01N 33/493

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An elongated member which is hooked on a front portion of a rim of an existing standard toilet bowl and which extends obliquely between a substantially front upper region and a substantially central region of a bowl space of the standard toilet bowl and opens rearward and upward. A urine collection gutter, an electric drive mechanism for rotating the urine collection gutter in the bowl space around a horizontal axis passing through the vertical center plane of the toilet bowl and adjoining the front part of the rim of the toilet bowl, and at the lower end of the urine collection gutter. A urine reservoir provided and positioning the urine collection trough at a predetermined rotation angle position; urine excreted from a subject sitting on the toilet seat is flowed into the urine collection trough and collected in the urine reservoir Urine sampling unit that can be retrofitted. 2. A rear portion of the standard toilet bowl which is rotatably attached to a front portion of a toilet seat and extends diagonally between a substantially front upper region and a substantially central region of a bowl space of the standard toilet bowl. An elongated urine collection gutter that opens upward, an electric drive mechanism that rotates the urine collection gutter in the bowl space about a horizontal axis that passes through the vertical center plane of the toilet bowl and is adjacent to the front of the rim of the toilet bowl, With a urine reservoir provided at the lower end of the collection gutter,
A urine sampling unit that can be retrofitted, characterized in that the urine collection gutter is positioned at a predetermined rotation angle position; urine excreted from a subject sitting on the toilet seat is introduced into the urine collection gutter and collected in the urine reservoir. . 3. The urine sampling unit according to claim 1, wherein when not in use, the urine collection gutter is rotated to a substantially horizontal angular position about the axis and stands by.