JP4101432B2 - Urine volume detector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a urine volume detection device that detects the amount of urine discharged into a diaper, and relates to a urine volume detection device that allows a caregiver or the like to know the diaper replacement time.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In nursing homes, bedridden urinary incontinence patients (hereinafter abbreviated as “patients”) are hospitalized, and currently, for example, 50 patients' diapers are pre-set at a rate of 6 to 8 times a day. The caregiver regularly changes the patient's diaper.
[0003]
However, when trying to change the patient's diaper at a predetermined time, the diaper is not urinating, and there is a case where it is not necessary to change the diaper.
[0004]
Moreover, it is uncomfortable and unsanitary for patients if diapers are not changed properly after urinary incontinence. In addition, the patient being cared for received an exchange check more than necessary, which was a mental burden.
[0005]
Therefore, as a solution to the above-described problem, for example, a dipaer with a urinary incontinence monitor described in BME93-120 (1994-01) is known. In this known technique, a thermistor is attached to a paper diaper as a sensor, and the temperature change of the diaper is detected by the thermistor. It is a device that informs the time.
[0006]
This device pays attention to the fact that there is a proportional relationship between the temperature rise time and temperature fall time of diapers and the amount of water (corresponding to urine volume), and sets the initial value of diaper temperature, and the temperature peak value from this initial value The temperature rise time until and the temperature fall time until the temperature peak value returns to the initial value are counted by a counter, and the urine amount is calculated by applying the count value counted by the counter to a certain relational expression.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional apparatus, the urine volume is calculated from the temperature rise time and the temperature fall time when the temperature falls from the initial value and then returns to the initial value again.
[0008]
For this reason, for example, when there is a second urination before returning from the first temperature peak value increased by the first urination to the initial value, the temperature rises to the second temperature peak value due to the second urination. When returning from the second temperature peak value to the initial value, even if an attempt is made to calculate the urine volume by applying the time from the initial value to the next initial value to the above-described constant relational expression, the urine volume measurement accuracy deteriorates. As a result, the caregiver could not know when to change the patient's diapers at an appropriate time.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a urine volume detection device that can measure the urine volume with high accuracy and allow a caregiver to know the diaper replacement time of a patient at an appropriate timing.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the urine volume detection device of the present invention can integrate temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of a diaper attached to a diaper and the temperature change amount of the diaper detected by the temperature detection means. A urine volume calculating means for calculating a urine volume based on the integrated quantity, a data sampling means for sampling the diaper temperature detected by the temperature detecting means at predetermined sampling times to obtain sampling data, and Temperature rise detecting means for detecting a temperature rise of the diaper by comparing each sampling data from the data sampling means and outputting a temperature rise detection signal, and the urine amount calculating means includes a temperature from the temperature rise detecting means. Accumulate the amount of change in each sampling data from the reference value calculated for each sampling data since the rising detection signal was input Obtaining an integral of the temperature variation of the diaper Te.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A urine volume detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a temperature sensor (temperature detection means) 1 and a urine volume detection device body 5 connected to the temperature sensor 1 via a signal line 3. It is prepared for.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 1 is attached to the outer surface of the patient's diaper 7 and measures the surface temperature of the diaper 7 due to urination of the patient. The position where the temperature sensor 1 is attached to the diaper 7 is preferably a position corresponding to the front side of the patient. A position corresponding to the urination point is more preferable.
[0014]
The temperature sensor 1 is composed of a thermistor, a resistor and the like so that a voltage depending on the temperature of the diaper 7 due to urination of the patient is output.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the urine volume detection device main body 5 is fixed by being sandwiched between the edges of the diaper 7 by a fixing clip 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the urine volume detection device main body 5 includes a sampling time oscillation means 11, a data sampling means 13, an initial value memory 15, a temperature rise detection means 17, a urine volume calculation means 19, a urine volume memory 21, and a set urine. A volume memory 23, a urine volume determination means 25, an alarm means 27, a urine volume display means 29, a peak detection means 31, a urination frequency counter (urination frequency count means) 33, and a urination frequency display means 35 are provided. The urine volume calculation means 19, the urine volume determination means 25, the temperature rise detection means 17, and the peak detection means 31 are composed of, for example, a microcomputer.
[0016]
The sampling time oscillating means 11 oscillates a clock signal for data sampling every sampling time (for example, 1 minute), and outputs this clock signal to the data sampling means 13. The data sampling means 13 receives the clock signal from the sampling time oscillating means 11, samples the terminal voltage data from the temperature sensor 1 at every sampling time determined in accordance with the period of the clock signal, and outputs the sampling data. .
[0017]
The initial value memory 15 stores sampling data output from the data sampling means 13 when the temperature is stable (constant value) as an initial value (corresponding to a reference value). The temperature rise detection means 17 compares the respective sampling data output from the data sampling means 13 every sampling time, and when the current sampling data becomes larger than the previous sampling data, the temperature rise detection is performed. The signal is output to the urine volume calculation means 19. That is, it corresponds to detecting the urination of the patient by the temperature rise of the diaper 7.
[0018]
The urine volume calculating means 19 inputs each sampling data from the data sampling means 13, a clock signal from the sampling time oscillating means 11, and an initial value from the initial value memory 15, and a temperature rise from the temperature rise detecting means 17. When the detection signal is input, integration of the temperature change amount of the diaper 7 is started.
[0019]
The urine volume calculating means 19 calculates the change amount of the sampling data from the initial value, that is, the temperature change amount for each sampling data, and accumulates the change amount of each sampling data to integrate the temperature change amount of the diaper 7. Get. Moreover, the urine volume calculation means 19 calculates the urine volume that the patient urinates based on the integrated amount of the temperature change amount of the diaper 7 obtained. When the value of the sampling data from the data sampling unit 13 becomes equal to the value in the initial value memory 15, the urine volume calculating unit 19 ends the integration.
[0020]
The urine volume memory 21 stores the urine volume calculated by the urine volume calculating means 19. The set urine volume memory 23 stores a preset set urine volume for exchanging the patient's diaper 7.
[0021]
The urine volume determination means 25 compares the set urine volume stored in the set urine volume memory 23 with the urine volume calculated by the urine volume calculation means 19 to determine whether or not the urination volume has reached the set urine volume. When the determined and calculated urine volume reaches the set urine volume, an alarm signal is output to the alarm means 27. The alarm unit 27 is an alarm buzzer or a lamp, and generates an alarm by an alarm signal from the urine volume determination unit 25. The urine volume display means 29 is a 7-segment display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and displays the urine volume calculated by the urine volume calculation means 19.
[0022]
The peak detection means 31 compares the respective sampling data output from the data sampling means 13 every sampling time, and after inputting the temperature rise detection signal from the temperature rise detection means 17, the peak detection means 31 is more current than the previous sampling data. When the sampling data becomes smaller, it is detected that the sampling data has a peak value, and a peak detection signal is output to the urination frequency counter 33.
[0023]
The urination frequency counter 33 increments the count value by one each time a peak detection signal is input from the peak detection means 31 and counts the urination frequency. As the urination frequency display means 35, a 7-segment display or a liquid crystal display is used, and the urination frequency counted by the urination frequency counter 33 is displayed.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the urine volume detection apparatus configured as described above will be described.
[0025]
The temperature sensor 1 is attached in advance to the outer surface of the patient's diaper 7. When the patient urinates, the temperature of the diaper 7 changes, and the electrical resistance value of the thermistor 8 of the temperature sensor 1 changes according to the change in temperature. By using this change in electrical resistance value, a voltage depending on the temperature of the diaper 7 is output to the data sampling means 13.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows a temporal change in the voltage output to the data sampling means 13 at this time. It has been experimentally confirmed that the terminal voltage is small when the amount of urine is small and the terminal voltage is large when the amount of urine is large.
[0027]
Next, the data sampling means 13 samples the terminal voltage data from the temperature sensor 1 at each sampling time Δt based on the clock signal from the sampling time oscillating means 11, and the sampled terminal voltage data is sampled into the sampling data V ₀ , Output as V ₁ , V ₂ .
[0028]
The sampling data V ₀ when the temperature is stable among the sampling data output from the data sampling means 13 is stored in the initial value memory 15 as an initial value.
[0029]
Further, the temperature rise detection means 17 detects the presence or absence of urination of the patient by comparing the respective sampling data output from the data sampling means 13 every sampling time Δt. Here, when the current sampling data is larger than the previous sampling data, it is detected that urination has occurred due to the temperature rise of the diaper 7, and the temperature rise detection signal is used as the urine volume calculation means 19 and the peak. It outputs to the detection means 31. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the temperature rise detection signal is sent to the urine volume calculation means 19 and the peak detection means 31 at the time of the sampling data V ₁ , the sampling data V ₇ , the sampling data V ₁₁ , and the sampling data V _19. Is output.
[0030]
On the other hand, the peak detection means 31 compares the respective sampling data output from the data sampling means 13 every sampling time, and after inputting the temperature rise detection signal from the temperature rise detection means 17, the peak detection means 31 is more than the previous sampling data. If the current sampling data becomes smaller, it is detected that there is a peak value of the sampling data.
[0031]
The urination frequency counter 33 increments the count value by one each time the peak detection means 31 inputs a peak detection signal to count the urination frequency, and the urination frequency display means 35 counts the urination frequency counted by the urination frequency counter 33. Display the number of times.
[0032]
Next, the urine volume calculating means 19 inputs each sampling data from the data sampling means 13, the clock signal from the sampling time oscillating means 11, and the initial value from the initial value memory 15, and from the temperature rise detecting means 17. Integration of the temperature change amount of the diaper 7 is started from the time when the temperature rise detection signal is input. In the example shown in FIG. 4, it begins the integration of the temperature variation of the diaper 7 from the time of the sampling data V _1.
[0033]
Next, the urine volume calculation means 19 calculates the change amount of the sampling data from the initial value for each sampling data, and accumulates the change amount of each sampling data to obtain the integral amount of the temperature change amount of the diaper 7. . In the example shown in FIG. 4, the integral amount S1 of the temperature change amount is (V ₁ −V ₀ ) + (V ₂ −V ₀ ) + (V ₃ −V ₀ ) + (V ₄ −V ₀ ) + (V ₅ −V ₀ ) +. Here, V ₀ is an initial value.
[0034]
Since the integrated amount of the obtained temperature change amount is proportional to the amount of urine discharged by the patient, the urine amount calculating means 19 calculates the urine amount m1 based on the obtained integrated amount of the temperature change amount. The urine volume m1 calculated by the urine volume calculation means 19 is temporarily stored in the urine volume memory 21.
[0035]
In order to quantitatively calculate the urine volume, a correlation equation that correlates the integral amount S of the temperature change amount and the urine amount m is prepared in advance, and the urine is calculated from the integral amount S of the temperature change amount according to this correlation equation. The quantity m can be calculated. This correlation equation is, for example, S = a0 + a1 · m + a2 · m ² + a3 · m ³ +... An · ^mn . Here, a1, a2,..., An are coefficients.
[0036]
Next, the urine volume determination means 25 compares the set urine volume stored in the set urine volume memory 23 with the urine volume calculated by the urine volume calculation means 19 so that the urine volume m1 reaches the set urine volume. It is determined whether or not.
[0037]
If the calculated urine volume m1 has not reached the set urine volume, urine volume calculating means 19 determines whether the value of the sampling data becomes the initial value V _0, the value of the sampling data is the initial value When it becomes V ₀ , the integration by the urine volume calculation unit 19 is interrupted, and it waits for the temperature rise detection means 17 to output the temperature rise detection signal again.
[0038]
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the integration of the temperature change amount is started again from the time of the sampling data V ₇ , and the obtained temperature change amount integration amount S2 is (V ₇ −V ₀ ) + (V ₈ −V _0). ) + (V ₉ −V ₀ ). Further, at the time of the sampling data V _10, since the sampling data V ₁₀ becomes the initial value V _0, and ends the integration of the temperature variation. Then, according to the above-described correlation equation, a new urine volume m2 is calculated from the integrated volume S2, the urine volumes m1 and m2 are accumulated, and the total urine volume m is calculated. In this case, the urine volume stored in the urine volume memory 21 is rewritten with a new urine volume.
[0039]
On the other hand, when the value of the sampling data is not the initial value V ₀ , the integration and the determination process as to whether the set urine amount has been reached are repeated. In the example shown in FIG. 4, again from the time of the sampling data V _11, to begin integration of the temperature variation, but calculates the integral value S3 of the temperature change amount, in this case, at the time of the sampling data V _18, since the sampling data V ₁₈ is not the initial value V _0, and continues the integral of temperature change until the sampling data V _24. Therefore, the integral value S3 _{becomes (V 11 -V 0) + (} V 12 -V 0) + (V 13 -V 0) + ··· (V 24 -V 0).
[0040]
Then, according to the above-described correlation equation, a new urine volume m3 is calculated from the integrated volume S3, and the current urine volume m3 is added to the previous urine volume (m1 + m2) to obtain a new urine volume. The calculated urine volume increases as the number of urinations increases as shown in FIG.
[0041]
When the calculated urine volume reaches the set urine volume, an alarm signal is output to the alarm unit 27, and the alarm unit 27 generates an alarm by the alarm signal from the urine volume determination unit 25. In the example of FIG. 5, the alarm value exceeds 80 cc in approximately 20 minutes.
[0042]
As described above, the urine volume detection device according to the present embodiment samples the terminal voltage data from the temperature sensor 1 at regular intervals, calculates the change amount of each sampling data from the initial value, and changes the change amount of each sampling data. Is accumulated to calculate the integrated amount of the temperature change amount of the diaper 7, and the urine amount is calculated using the obtained integrated amount.
[0043]
Therefore, even when the sampling data V ₁₈ shown in FIG. 4 does not return to the initial value and rises again from the sampling data V ₁₈ to the sampling data V ₁₉ , the urine volume can be calculated with high accuracy. Accordingly, the caregiver can know the replacement time of the diaper 7 at an appropriate timing, and the caregiver can be saved and the burden can be reduced.
[0044]
Furthermore, since it is not necessary to replace the diaper 7 unnecessarily, the amount of garbage can be reduced. Moreover, it is not necessary for the patient to be cared to receive the diaper 7 replacement check more than necessary, and the mental burden on the patient can be reduced.
[0045]
In addition, since the number of urinations of the patient is displayed on the urination frequency display means 35, the caregiver can easily know how many times the patient urinates. Furthermore, since the urine volume calculated by the urine volume calculation means 19 is displayed on the urine volume display means 29, the caregiver can grasp the urine volume urinated by the patient.
[0046]
Each function of the above-described urine volume detection device can be configured by a logic circuit in which logic elements such as a gate circuit and a shift register are combined, but can be more easily realized by an embedded microcomputer using a microprocessor. If an embedded microcomputer with an A / D converter is used, the urine volume detection device body 5 can be configured by externally attaching the urine volume display means 29, the alarm means 27, and the urination frequency display means 35. A schematic flowchart at that time is shown in FIG.
[0047]
A flag is monitored by a subtraction counter (sampling time oscillation means) of a timer built in the built-in microcomputer (S11). Since the zero flag is turned on when the set time has elapsed, the counter is initialized to Δt and the waiting loop S11 is exited to maintain the sampling interval at a constant Δt.
[0048]
When exiting the waiting loop, the output of the temperature sensor is taken in from the A / D converter and the temperature change amount is sampled (S12). At this time, if the temperature change amount exceeds the predetermined amount by comparison with the previous sampling, it is determined that urination has occurred, the urination flag is turned on, and when the initial value is reached, the urination flag is turned off. (S13), urine volume is displayed (S13a). Since this flow is complicated, the initial value setting is omitted.
[0049]
If the urination flag is off, the process returns to the timer wait state. If the urination flag is on, the subsequent peak detection, urination count / display and urine volume display (S14a to S14c), urine volume calculation (S15), alarm processing, etc. are performed. (S16a-S16b). Details of each process correspond to the operation of each means described above, and will be omitted.
[0050]
In this example, the urine volume display is rewritten at the time of peak detection and at the time of alarm, so as to facilitate caregiver's convenience.
[0051]
The present invention is not limited to the urine volume detection device of the above-described embodiment. In the embodiment, the initial value is set as the reference value for the temperature change amount, but other reference values (outside air temperature) or the like can be used in addition to the initial value.
[0052]
Further, for example, the patient's urine pattern representing the temperature change of the diaper 7 corresponding to the temporal change of the terminal voltage as shown in FIG. At a later date, referring to the patient's urination pattern stored in the urine volume memory 21, it is possible to detect the dehydration of the patient or use it to guide recovery of urine.
[0053]
Further, the urine volume detection device main body 5 shown in FIG. 1 is separated into, for example, a first device provided with a sampling time oscillating means 11 and a data sampling means 13 and a second device provided with the remaining means. The data transmitting means may be provided in the second apparatus, and the data receiving means may be provided in the second apparatus so that data can be transmitted and received between the first apparatus and the second apparatus wirelessly. According to this, even when the caregiver is remote, it is possible to know the replacement time of the patient's diaper 7. The alarm means 27 and the number of urination display means 35 can also be appropriately selected to display information by sound or light. Moreover, it cannot be overemphasized that it can use as an apparatus for infants not only for nursing.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the temperature of the diaper detected by the temperature detecting means is sampled at a predetermined sampling time by the data sampling means to obtain sampling data, and each sampling from the data sampling means by the temperature rise detecting means is obtained. The urine volume calculating means detects the temperature rise of the diaper by comparing the data, and the urine volume calculating means receives each sampling data from the reference value calculated for each sampling data from the time when the temperature rise detecting signal is input from the temperature rise detecting means. Since the amount of change in the temperature of the diaper is obtained by accumulating the amount of change, and the amount of urine is calculated using the obtained amount of integration, the amount of urine can be calculated with high accuracy. As a result, the caregiver can know when to change the diaper at an appropriate timing. Further, since the number of urinations of the patient is displayed, the caregiver can easily know how many times the patient urinates.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a urine volume detection device of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a view showing attachment of a temperature sensor to a diaper.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the urine volume detection device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a temporal change in a terminal voltage of a temperature sensor.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of urinations and the amount of urine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Temperature sensor, 3 ... Signal wire, 5 ... Urine volume detection apparatus main body, 6 ... Fixing clip, 7 ... Diaper, 8 ... Thermistor, 11 ... Sampling time oscillation means, 13 ... Data sampling means, 15 ... Initial value memory , 17 ... Temperature rise detection means, 19 ... Urine volume calculation means, 21 ... Urine volume memory, 23 ... Set urine volume memory, 25 ... Urine volume determination means, 27 ... Alarm means, 29 ... Urine volume display means, 31 ... Peak Detection means, 33 ... urination frequency counter, 35 ... urination frequency display means.

Claims (3)

Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the diaper attached to the diaper;
A urine volume calculating means for calculating the urine volume based on the integrated amount obtained by integrating the temperature change amount of the diaper detected by the temperature detecting means;
Data sampling means for obtaining sampling data by sampling the temperature of the diaper detected by the temperature detection means at a predetermined sampling time;
A temperature rise detecting means for detecting a temperature rise of the diaper by comparing each sampling data from the data sampling means and outputting a temperature rise detection signal;
The urine volume calculating means accumulates the change amount of each sampling data from the reference value calculated for each sampling data from the time when the temperature rise detection signal is input from the temperature rise detecting means, and the temperature change amount of the diaper Urine volume detection device that obtains the integrated amount of . Urine volume determination means for determining whether the urine volume calculated by the urine volume calculation means has reached a predetermined set urine volume;
Alarm means for generating an alarm when it is determined by the urine volume determination means that the urine volume has reached the set urine volume;
The urine volume detection device according to claim 1, comprising: Peak detection means for detecting a peak value of the temperature of the diaper detected by the temperature detection means and outputting a peak detection signal;
  Urination frequency counting means for counting the number of urinations based on the number of input of peak detection signals from the peak detection means,
  Urination frequency display means for displaying the urination frequency counted by the urination frequency counting means;
The urine volume detection device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

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