JP3705454B2 - Urine flow measurement analyzer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a urine flow measurement / analysis device that measures human urine flow and uses the data to provide data for treatment and diagnosis of the urinary system, and in particular, a container for collecting urine and a flow measurement circuit, The present invention relates to a urine flow measurement analyzer that is separated from the urine flow analyzer and installed at different locations.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional urine flowmeters include, for example, a weight type, and the container portion for collecting urine and the urine flow analyzer are integrated and installed in hospitals, etc., and patients go to hospitals. And urinate there.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, such a device is usually installed in a hospital, and even if the patient is urged to urinate at the time of diagnosis, there is no urinary sensation or there is a feeling of mental overpressure. The amount of urination was different, and it was difficult to measure the urine flow rate in a natural state. In addition, there is a problem that it is expensive to install in a home.
[0004]
In view of the above-described problems, the present invention has been devised to solve the problems. The object of the present invention is to install a container and a device for collecting urine in a home. Make it possible to enable natural urination without a sense of pressure, and make urinary data more portable or communicated to the doctor so that the doctor can better diagnose the urinary system than these data. An object of the present invention is to provide an economically inexpensive urine flow measurement and analysis device that can be accurately and easily installed at home.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a container for collecting urine, an ultrasonic transducer that emits ultrasonic waves toward the liquid level of urine flowing into the container and receives the reflected waves thereof, The liquid level of the urine flowing into the container for collecting urine was continuously measured by ultrasonic waves, the volume was calculated from the liquid level, and the flow rate measurement circuit for calculating the urine flow rate by the time change of the volume was calculated by the flow rate measurement circuit. A portable recording medium for recording the urine flow data, and a urine flow analyzer for reading the urine flow data recorded on the recording medium and processing and displaying the urine flow data ; A filter for filtering urine bubbles generated during urination is provided by means provided in a container for collecting urine .
[0006]
Further, the invention of claim 2 is directed to a container for storing urine, an ultrasonic vibrator for emitting ultrasonic waves toward the liquid level of urine flowing into the container and receiving reflected waves, and a container for storing urine. A flow measurement circuit that continuously measures the liquid level of urination by ultrasonic waves, calculates the volume based on the liquid level and calculates the urine flow rate according to the time change of the volume, and communication that transfers urine flow data calculated by the flow measurement circuit Urine flow rate data transferred from the communication means and the urine flow rate analysis device for processing and displaying the urine flow rate data, and a filter for filtering urine bubbles generated during urination collects urine The container consists of means provided .
[0007]
Here, the ultrasonic transducer may have both functions as an ultrasonic oscillator and a receiver, or may be composed of separate units dedicated for ultrasonic oscillation and reception. . Those who have a squeezing mechanism at the start of urination so that the volume of the receptor per unit height at the start of urination will be small so that the minute flow rate at the start of urination can be measured with high sensitivity. Is good . The communication means includes a telephone line.
[0008]
[Action]
The present invention having the above-described configuration operates as follows.
That is, an ultrasonic transducer is disposed on the bottom surface of the container, and ultrasonic waves are continuously transmitted toward the acoustic coupling layer at regular time intervals. Let the transmitted wave at this time be a. At this time, the reflected wave reflected at the interface between the acoustic coupling layer and the air is received.
[0009]
When urination is started in the container, the liquid level of the urine rises, and the reflected wave is received as a reflected wave from the liquid surface of the urine. The height of the urine liquid level is calculated from the time difference between the reflected waves b and c, the urine volume is calculated from the relationship between the height and the volume of the container, and the urine flow rate is calculated from the urine volume and Δt. These calculation results are recorded in a portable storage medium. On the other hand, in this recording, the urine flow rate at the time of urination is reproduced by a urine flow rate analysis device used for urinary diagnosis and the like by reading data such as urine flow rate on the recording medium.
[0010]
In the present invention, the urine flow rate is measured by measuring the urine volume ml (= t ₀ ) calculated based on the time difference between the received pulse b and the received pulse c by ultrasonic transmission, and the urine volume ml calculated again after the unit time Δt. This is done by determining the urine flow rate by dividing the difference from (= t ₀ + Δt) by the unit time Δt.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically based on the embodiments of the invention described in the drawings.
[0012]
Embodiment 1
Here, FIG. 1 is an overall mechanism diagram of the urine flow measurement analyzer.
[0013]
In the figure, a container 1 for collecting urine is composed of a urine measurement container 1a for measuring urination using ultrasonic waves described later, and a urine receptor 1b larger than the container 1a adjacent to the urine measurement container 1a. Has been. Among these, the urine measurement container 1a has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and is used in a state in which the urine measurement container 1a is vertically set. An ultrasonic transducer 2 is mounted upward on the lower end surface of the urine measurement container 1a constituting the container 1 for collecting urine. The ultrasonic transducer 2 is a device that measures the liquid level of urine collected in the container 1 above it using ultrasonic waves.
[0014]
A dummy acoustic coupling layer 3 is formed on the ultrasonic transducer 2, and an acoustic coupling material 4 is formed on the upper surface of the dummy acoustic coupling layer 3. The acoustic coupling material 4 forms a container inner bottom surface of a urine measurement container 1a constituting a container 1 for collecting urine. That is, an acoustic coupling material 4 and a dummy acoustic coupling layer 3 are formed in this order below the inner bottom surface of the urine measurement container 1a, and the lower end of the dummy acoustic coupling layer 3, that is, the lower end surface of the urine measurement container 1a. The ultrasonic transducer 2 is attached upward.
[0015]
The ultrasonic transducer 2 emits ultrasonic waves through the dummy acoustic coupling layer 3 and the acoustic coupling material 4 toward the urine measurement container 1a constituting the container 1 for collecting urine, and the urine and air layers The function of receiving the reflected wave reflected at the interface between and the acoustic coupling material 4 and the dummy acoustic coupling layer 3 is achieved.
[0016]
The transmission command circuit 8 is a device that issues a transmission command to the ultrasonic transmission amplifier 9 at regular time intervals. The ultrasonic transmission amplifier 9 is a device that amplifies a weak electric signal sent from the transmission command circuit 8 to the ultrasonic vibrator 2 and increases the electric energy to oscillate ultrasonic waves.
[0017]
The ultrasonic receiving amplifier 10 is a device that amplifies a weak reflected wave converted into an electric signal received by the ultrasonic transducer 2. The reflected wave amplified by the ultrasonic receiving amplifier 10 is sent to a time difference measuring circuit 11 described later.
[0018]
The flow rate measurement circuit 11 calculates the liquid level based on the time difference between the transmission waveform generated at the time of transmission and the reflection waveform from the interface between urine and air from the reception waveform data acquired from the ultrasonic reception amplifier 10, and the amount of urination is calculated from this liquid level. To calculate the urine flow rate at regular time intervals.
[0019]
The IC card writing circuit 12 is a device that transfers the urine flow data calculated by the flow measurement circuit 11 onto, for example, a memory of an IC card 13 as a portable recording medium, and the patient stores an IC card in which this data is stored. The card 13 is brought to the hospital.
[0020]
A urination receptor 1b larger than the container 1a is provided adjacent to the urine measurement container 1a of the container 1 for storing the urine, and the inner bottom surface of the larger urine receptor 1b is inclined so that the urination starts. A squeezing mechanism 5 is formed. A filter 6 for filtering urine bubbles generated at the time of urination is attached to the side surface on the inclined lower end side of the squeezing mechanism 5 at the start of urination.
[0021]
The filter 6 is attached to the connecting portion between the lower end of the squeezing mechanism 5 at the start of urination of the urination receptor 1b and the urination measurement container 1a, and on the inclined bottom surface of the squeezing mechanism 5 at the start of urination of the urination receptor 1b. The urine that has fallen down passes through the filter 6 and flows into the urine measurement container 1a.
[0022]
A funnel 20 is provided above the urination receptor 1b. The funnel 20 is a part that directly takes in the patient's urination, and the patient directly urinates toward the funnel 20. The funnel 20 is supported by a funnel support ring 21 provided so as to protrude horizontally from the upper side surface of the upright support bar 19 and is located above the urine receptor 1b. The urine discharged from the patient is stored in the urine measurement container 1a through the funnel 20 and the urine receptor 1b.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, the urine measuring container 1a, the urine receiving container 1b, and the support bar 19 constituting the container 1 for storing these urinations are integrally mounted on a horizontal base 18 with a leveling device. The reservoir 1 is adjusted so that the level of urine is in a horizontal state by the level of the horizontal base 18 with the level. The reason why this leveled pedestal 18 is necessary is that the directivity of the ultrasonic wave is sharp and the oscillation beam becomes thin. If there is an angle on the reflecting surface, the reflection is deviated by that angle, and finally the reflection does not return. It is.
[0024]
The urine flow analysis device 14 is installed in a hospital away from the above device, reads the urination data stored in the IC card 13 from the IC card 13 delivered to the hospital, analyzes and displays it. Device. The urine flow analysis device 14 also has a storage device, and the urine data of the IC card 13 can be transferred to the urine flow analysis device 14 and stored.
[0025]
The urine flow analysis device 14 includes an IC card reading circuit 15 that reads urination data stored in the IC card 13, a data processing circuit 16 that processes urination data read by the IC card reading circuit 15, and a display device that displays urination data. 17 is mainly composed.
[0026]
The display device 17 includes a display, a printer, and the like, and urination data can be viewed through the screen of the display device 17 or can be ejected through the printer of the display device 17 and can be copied.
[0027]
Next, the operation based on the configuration of the embodiment of the invention will be described below.
The patient urinates in a container 1 for collecting urine installed at home. Urination is performed toward the funnel 20. The urine urinated by the funnel 20 flows through the funnel 20, and flows through the filter 6 by being inclined by the squeezing mechanism 5 at the start of urination provided at an inner bottom surface of the urine receptor 1 b disposed below the funnel 20. And flows into the urine measuring container 1a. When the urine passes through the filter 6, bubbles generated during urination are removed and the urination flows into the urine measurement container 1a.
[0028]
At this time, the amount of urine collected in the urine receptor 1b constituting the container 1 for collecting urine is extremely small, most of the urine flows into the urine measurement container 1a, and the liquid level per ml at the start of urination rises highest, for example. .
[0029]
As urination continues, for example, the rise in liquid level per ml gradually decreases. When the urination becomes a liquid level higher than the squeezing mechanism 5 at the start of urination, for example, the rising liquid level per 1 ml becomes constant.
[0030]
A change in the liquid level due to urination of the urine measurement container 1 a constituting the container 1 for collecting urine is detected by the ultrasonic transducer 2. That is, the weak electric signal emitted from the transmission command circuit 8 is amplified by the ultrasonic transmission amplifier 9 and sent to the ultrasonic transducer 2, and the ultrasonic transducer 2 transmits the ultrasonic wave on the upper dummy sound based on this signal. The sample is fired into the urination measuring container 1a via the mechanical coupling layer 3 and the acoustic coupling material 4. The ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 2 are reflected at the interface between the urine and the air layer on the surface of the liquid level of the urine measurement container 1 a and pass through the acoustic coupling material 4 and the dummy acoustic coupling layer 3. Then, it is received again by the ultrasonic transducer 2.
[0031]
The reflected wave received by the ultrasonic transducer 2 is converted into an electric signal by the ultrasonic transducer 2, amplified by the ultrasonic receiving amplifier 10, and sent to the flow measurement circuit 11. The flow measurement circuit 11 calculates the liquid level based on the time difference between the transmission waveform generated at the time of transmission and the reflection waveform from the interface between urine and air from the reception waveform data acquired from the ultrasonic reception amplifier 10, and the urine output is calculated from this liquid level. Calculate the urine flow rate at regular time intervals.
[0032]
The data of the amount of urination calculated by the flow measurement circuit 11 is transferred to the memory of the IC card 13 through the IC card writing circuit 12. Since the data transferred to the IC card 13 has a storage capacity that can store, for example, urine data for one week, the IC card 13 containing the data stored once a week can be easily brought to a hospital or the like. Can do.
[0033]
When the delivered IC card 13 is inserted into the IC card reading circuit 15 of the urine flow analysis device 14 at the hospital, the urine data on the memory of the IC card 13 is transferred to the urine flow analysis device 14 via the IC card reading circuit 15. Transferred. The transferred urination data is processed by the data processing circuit 16 and then displayed as a graph on the screen of the display device 17. The displayed graph screen can be copied using a printer or the like.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of a received wave when no urine is collected in the urine measurement container 1a of the container 1 for collecting urine. Here, a is a transmission waveform of the ultrasonic transducer 2, and b is a reflection waveform from the acoustic coupling material 4. Thus, the time difference between the transmitted waveform and the reflected waveform when no urine is collected in the urine measurement container 1 a of the container 1 for collecting urine is that the ultrasonic waves reciprocate between the ultrasonic transducer 2 and the acoustic coupling material 4. Equal to the time to do.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a reflection waveform diagram from the liquid level when urine is collected in the urine measurement container 1a of the container 1 for collecting urine. Here, a is a transmission waveform of the ultrasonic transducer 2, and c is a reflection waveform when urine flows into the urination measurement container 1 a and accumulates to a certain liquid level 7. In the figure, t is the time required for the ultrasonic wave to reciprocate between the acoustic coupling material 4 and the liquid level 7. The height of the liquid level 7 is determined by the time t and the ultrasonic velocity, and the urine volume is determined from this height. Of course, the time t increases as the urine volume increases.
[0036]
[Embodiment 2]
Here, FIG. 5 is an overall mechanism diagram of the urine flow measurement analyzer.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a communication unit is used instead of a portable recording medium, and other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0037]
That is, for example, a telephone line 25 is used as a communication means, and a communication transmitter 23 for transmitting the urine flow data measured and calculated by the flow rate measurement circuit 11 via the communication line 22 such as a modem via the telephone line 25 is provided. The communication circuit 22 is connected. A communication receiver 24 for receiving urine flow data transmitted through the telephone line 25 is connected to the urine flow analyzer 14. The telephone line 25 may be wireless in addition to a wired cable.
[0038]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the invention described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the above embodiment, the case where the ultrasonic transducer has both functions as an ultrasonic oscillator and a receiver has been described. May be. Moreover, although the case where the IC card 13 was used as the portable recording medium has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and a magnetic card or the like may be used.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the urine flow measurement and analysis device according to the present invention, the container for collecting urine, the flow measurement circuit and the urine flow analysis device can be separated and installed at different locations. By installing a container and a flow rate measurement circuit in a household, natural urination without mental overpressure can be achieved. Since the urine flow rate data measured at home can be delivered to the doctor via a portable recording medium or communication, the doctor can more accurately diagnose the urinary system from these data. Moreover, only the container for collecting urine and the flow measurement circuit are installed in the home, and it is not necessary to install the urine flow analysis device. Therefore, the cost of the device installed in the home can be reduced accordingly, economically. It has a very new and beneficial effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall mechanism diagram of a urine flow rate measuring / analyzing apparatus showing Embodiment-1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a waveform diagram of a received wave when no urine is collected in a container for collecting urine.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a reflection waveform diagram from the liquid level when urine is collected in a container for collecting urine.
FIG. 4, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a perspective view in the case of having a horizontal pedestal.
FIG. 5 is an overall mechanism diagram of a urine flow measurement analyzer showing Embodiment-2 of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 1a which collects urination Urine measurement container 1b Urine receiver 2 Ultrasonic vibrator 3 Dummy acoustic coupling layer 4 Acoustic coupling material 5 Squeezing mechanism 6 at the time of urination start Filter 7 Liquid level 8 Transmission command circuit 9 Ultrasonic transmission Amplifier 10 Ultrasonic wave receiving amplifier 11 Flow measurement circuit 12 IC card writing circuit 13 IC card 14 Urine flow analysis device 15 IC card reading circuit 16 Data processing circuit 17 Display device 18 Horizontal base with level 19 Support rod 20 Funnel 21 Funnel support ring 22 Communication circuit such as modem 23 Communication transmission unit 24 Communication reception unit 25 Telephone line a Transmission waveform b Reflected waveform from acoustic coupling material c Reflected waveform from liquid level

Claims (6)

A container for storing urine, an ultrasonic transducer that emits ultrasonic waves toward the liquid level of urine flowing into the container and receiving reflected waves thereof, and a liquid level of urine flowing into the container for storing urine by ultrasonic waves A flow measurement circuit that continuously measures and obtains a volume based on the liquid level and calculates a urine flow rate according to a time change of the volume; and a portable recording medium that records to transfer urine flow data calculated by the flow measurement circuit; A container for reading urine flow data recorded on the recording medium, processing and displaying the urine flow data, and displaying the urine flow data, and a filter for filtering urine bubbles generated during urination to collect urine A urine flow rate measuring and analyzing apparatus characterized by being provided . A container for storing urine, an ultrasonic transducer that emits ultrasonic waves toward the liquid level of urine flowing into the container and receiving reflected waves thereof, and a liquid level of urine flowing into the container for storing urine by ultrasonic waves A flow measurement circuit that continuously measures and obtains a volume based on the liquid level and calculates a urine flow rate according to a time change of the volume, a communication unit that transfers urine flow data calculated by the flow rate measurement circuit, and a communication unit that is transferred from the communication unit A urine flow rate analyzer that reads and processes the urine flow rate data and displays the urine flow rate data, and that the container for collecting urine is provided with a filter for filtering urine bubbles generated during urination. Characteristic urine flow measurement and analysis device.   The urine flow measurement / analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer functions as both an ultrasonic oscillator and a receiver.   The urine flow measurement and analysis apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is made of a separate component dedicated to ultrasonic oscillation and reception.   A squeezing mechanism at the start of urination is provided so that the volume of the receptor per unit height at the start of urination is reduced so that the minute flow rate at the start of urination of the container for urination can be measured with high sensitivity. The urine flow measurement analyzer according to claim 1 or 2.   The urine flow measurement and analysis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication means comprises a telephone line.

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