JP5435402B2 - Urination information measuring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to measuring the accumulated water pressure at a position above the bottom of the inside of the bowl, and in particular, urination information suitable for performing highly accurate urine volume measurement without affecting the water pressure change due to the specific gravity of urine. The invention relates to a measuring device.

The conventional urination information measuring device measures the change in the accumulated water pressure due to the accumulated water level change due to excretion with a water pressure sensor, and the relationship between the stored water pressure and the amount of accumulated water in the lower urinary tract such as the urine volume from the relational expression stored in advance. Various types of urination information necessary for diagnosis are measured (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
In this case, the relational expression between the amount of stored water and the stored water pressure is obtained as a constant without considering the specific gravity change of urination. However, in actual urination, the specific gravity for each urination may change due to the change in its components. In such a case, the relationship between the amount of accumulated water and the accumulated water pressure will also be different. Therefore, if the above relational expression is used as it is, it can be used for various types of urination information obtained by using the accumulated water pressure change including the urine amount. There was a problem of causing an error.

  As for the specific gravity of urine, the original urine produced by the kidneys is reabsorbed and concentrated to become urine after being concentrated, and then sent to the bladder. It is said that the action of the kidney can be estimated by measuring the specific gravity of (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  However, the usual method of collecting a urine sample for measuring the urine specific gravity has to be carried out separately from the measurement of the urine volume, and is complicated, and the method for measuring the urine volume with the toilet shown in Patent Document 1 On the other hand, it is possible to save labor in medical practice, but for patients who need to measure specific gravity of urine, collecting urine samples will affect urine volume measurement values, so this method cannot be instructed. There was a problem that the guidance of became complicated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-219977

AlfredH. Free. Ph. D. & HelenM. Free. B. S. Author Masakazu Abe / Yukio Igawa Japanese edition “Thoughts on Urine Testing” published by Miles Sankyo Co., Ltd., March 1991

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to realize highly accurate urine volume measurement that is not affected by the difference in urine specific gravity even when a toilet bowl having no uniform cross-sectional area is used. More preferably, the urine volume and the urine specific gravity are simultaneously measured with the same urine excreted in the toilet.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a toilet comprising a bowl for receiving urine excreted by a user in a state in which accumulated water is formed by a trap communicated with an external drainage pipe ; A stored water pressure measuring means for measuring a water pressure generated by the stored water as a stored water pressure, and a stored water amount and a stored water pressure determined in advance by a change in the stored water pressure measured by the stored water pressure measuring means in accordance with excretion. by applying the equation, the urination information measuring apparatus having a urine amount calculating means, the determining the volume of excreted the urine as urine, a predetermined amount higher position than the bottom of the ball c Le inner surface at one end A first measurement line having an opening that opens to the bottom, and the predetermined position is a urine-only water level when it is assumed that all of the expected maximum urine volume has accumulated and accumulated at the bottom of the bowl. When Serial located within level range between the and the measurement start water level is set below the overflow water level Yabufu level above the trap, the reservoir pressure measuring means in fluid communication with the first measuring tubes By measuring the pressure generated in the first measurement line at the time of excretion as the accumulated water pressure, the measurement value of the accumulated water pressure measuring means can be measured with less influence of the urine specific gravity difference. Accurate urine volume can be obtained even for urine of specific gravity, and the stored water pressure measuring means can be placed at a position away from the bowl surface of the toilet. did.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect of the invention, wherein further comprising a bottom reservoir pressure measuring means for measuring the water pressure occurring in the bottom of the bowl inner surface as a bottom sump water pressure, the urine volume The calculating means obtains the specific gravity of the urination based on a relational expression between the change in the accumulated water pressure associated with the excretion obtained in advance and the change in the bottom accumulated water pressure. It was possible to measure urine volume and urine specific gravity with the same urine excreted in the urine .

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention of claim 2, further comprising a second measuring tubes having an opening that opens to the bottom of the bowl interior surface at one end, said reservoir The water pressure measuring means is provided in fluid communication with the second measurement pipeline, and measures the pressure generated in the second measurement pipeline as the bottom reservoir water pressure. Since the bottom water pressure measuring means can be placed at a position away from the bowl surface, the layout can be freely designed and the device can be designed optimally .

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention of claim 3, jet opening into the bottom of the bowl to discharge sewage piping via siphon phenomenon occurring bowl contents by water ejection A water supply port and a water supply line for supplying water to the water discharge port of the jet, and the second measurement pipe is provided in fluid communication with the water supply line for the jet, and the second measurement pipe is used for excretion. By measuring the water pressure generated in the road as the bottom water pressure, the urine specific gravity can be measured without providing a separate measurement opening, which can reduce the cost of the device. It was.

Further , according to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the invention described in claim 3 or 4, the measurement pipe for selectively connecting the first measurement pipe and the second measurement pipe for communication. It further has a path switching means, and the bottom water pressure measuring means is also used as the water pressure measuring means, so that one water pressure measuring means is provided without separately providing the bottom water pressure measuring means. Since the head pressure ratio required for measuring the urine specific gravity can be measured based on the same standard, the urine specific gravity can be measured with higher accuracy .

According to the present invention, by measuring the water pressure at a position higher than the bottom of the bowl, there is an effect that it is possible to measure the amount of urine without the influence of urine specific gravity. More preferably, the effect that the urine volume measurement and the urine specific gravity measurement can be performed by the same excretion action is obtained.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole urination information measuring apparatus in the Example which implemented this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the Example which concerns on this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the operating principle of this invention, and is a figure of a measurement start water level state (1st measurement pipe line communication). It is a schematic diagram explaining the operation principle of the present invention, and is a diagram in a state where urine that can be regarded as having a specific gravity of 1 is introduced. It is a schematic diagram explaining the operation principle of the present invention, and is a diagram of a urine volume measurement state when urine with a specific gravity greater than 1 is input (first measurement line communication). It is a schematic diagram explaining the operation principle of the present invention, and is a diagram of a urine specific gravity measurement state when urine with a specific gravity greater than 1 is input. (Second measurement line communication).

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire urination information measuring device in an embodiment of the present invention. The overall configuration of the urination information measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The urination information measuring device 1 in the present embodiment includes a Western-style toilet 4 having a normal toilet function such as a toilet cleaning function and a sanitary cleaning function, and a toilet function unit 9 integrally incorporated in the Western-style toilet 4; A cabinet 18 installed behind the Western-style toilet 4, a urine volume that is stored in the cabinet 18 and excreted by the subject, a urine flow rate that is an excretion rate per unit time, a urine specific gravity, and the like A urine information measuring unit 5 for measuring the urination information of the urine, and a remote control provided on the wall for the subject to perform operations for instructing various operations of the urine information measuring apparatus 1 and to display the obtained measurement results and the like It is comprised with the operation part 70. FIG.

  The Western-style toilet 4 is made of earthenware, and a resin toilet seat 171 is rotatably attached to the upper part of the bowl. In this embodiment, a commonly used toilet lid is omitted, and a backrest 172 is provided in the cabinet 18 in consideration of supporting the upper body of the patient.

  The urination information measurement unit 5 is used to measure urine information such as urine volume, which is the amount of urine excreted by the subject in the Western-style toilet 4, urine flow rate, which is the excretion rate per unit time, and urine specific gravity. A measuring unit including a mechanism unit that measures a change in the water level of stored water and a control unit that performs operation control, information processing, and the like of the urine amount calculating unit are housed.

  In addition, a urine component measurement unit that measures the concentration of a specific component in urine or the like may be housed inside the cabinet 18 as necessary. The size and shape of the cabinet 18 can be changed according to the occupied volume of the storage.

  The remote control operation unit 70 includes a remote control 72 for measuring urination information and a remote control 71 for toilet operation including a sanitary washing device, and a printer 73 for printing out urination information measurement results and the like is disposed above the cabinet 18. doing. When considering the operability / visibility of the subject, it is recommended that the remote control operation unit 70 be mounted on the wall, but the printer 73 can also be mounted on the wall in consideration of the flow of operation.

  The remote controller 72 is operated when the subject enters the tray and measures urination information, and is provided with a measurement start switch for instructing the start of measurement and a urination end switch for instructing the end of urination. Further, the remote controller 72 is provided with individual switches as personal authentication means necessary for acquiring personal information such as the measurement history of the subject, an input / output device for electronic data, and the like. As personal authentication means, it is possible to use ID card or ID tag reading means.

  The measurement result is disclosed to the subject using the printer 73, but may be disclosed to the subject on the display unit of the remote controller 72. Furthermore, when the urine flow measurement device is installed in a medical institution, it is conceivable that the nurse takes out a plurality of subject data by operating the remote controller 72 at a predetermined time and taking out the data from the printer 73. Also, a method of communicating electronic data of personal information and urination information measurement results using a hospital LAN may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the urination information measuring apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the urination information measuring device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The city water 20 to be supplied is supplied to the bowl 22 by a cleaning water supply means 21 through a water supply pipe line. As will be described later in this embodiment, this water supply pipe is divided into two pipes for rim washing for washing the bowl 22 and zet washing for discharging accumulated water mixed with excrement. Yes.

  A trap 24 communicated with a building drainage pipe 26 through a drainage socket 25 is provided inside the bowl western-style toilet 4, and bad odors and sanitary pests generated inside the drainage pipe 26 are contained in the bowl 22. Reservoir 23 for preventing entry into the inside is formed. The accumulated water mixed with excrement excreted by the user is discharged to the drainage pipe 26 via the drainage socket 25.

  The urination information measuring unit 5 is obtained by the stored water level calculation unit 50 that obtains the water level of the accumulated water 23 that varies depending on the urination of the subject, the control of various operations of the urination information measurement device 1, and the stored water level calculation unit 50. The control unit 6 for obtaining urine information such as urine volume, urine specific gravity and other urination information from the stored water level, the measurement start water level forming unit 60 for forming the water level at the start of measurement, and the stored water level and the amount of stored water depending on the shape of the bowl 22 A urine calibration curve creation unit 80 is provided for obtaining the above relationship as a calibration curve.

  The stored water level calculation unit 50 measures the pressure (water head pressure) generated by the water level of the stored water 23 using the stored water pressure measuring means 51, and applies a calibration curve between the water level and the pressure obtained in advance to the measured value. Thus, the water level of the stored water 23 that changes due to urination is obtained, and the stored water pressure measuring means 51 that measures the head pressure generated by the water level of the stored water 23 is connected via a measurement pipe line that communicates with the stored water 23. ing.

  In the present embodiment, two measurement pipes that are fluidly communicated with each other at a water level position different from that of the stored water 23 so that one stored water pressure measuring means 51 can perform not only urine volume measurement but also urine specific gravity measurement. And a measuring line switching means 52 for selectively selecting the measuring line and connecting to the accumulated water pressure measuring means 51.

  The first measurement pipe 532 is a pipe that communicates with the accumulated water 23 at a water level position used at the time of measuring urine volume, and the second measurement pipe 543 is at a water level position used at the time of measuring urine specific gravity. 23 is a pipe line communicating with 23. Here, the detailed configuration of the position of the communication port provided on the inner surface of the bowl 22 and the measurement pipe line for this communication will be described later.

  The stored water level calculation unit 50 further calculates drainage pipe pressure measuring means 56 for measuring the drainage pipe pressure that affects the stored water level, and calculates the amount of influence the obtained drainage pipe pressure has on the stored water level. Drain pipe pressure fluctuation correcting means 57 for correcting the water level is provided. The drainage pipe pressure fluctuation correcting means 57 obtains the amount of influence that the pressure fluctuation generated in the drainage pipe has on the stored water level, and corrects it to the stored water level where there is no pressure fluctuation.

  The urine volume calibration curve creation unit 80 measures the relationship between the water level and the amount of water stored in the bowl 22 of the Western-style toilet 4 to be used, especially when the bowl 22 is a pottery because of the large variation in shape of each individual. It is measured and stored at the time of installation of the device, and is rewritten at regular inspections. The procedure is as follows. First, a predetermined amount of water is discharged from the first measurement pipe 53 into the bowl 22, and the water pressure due to the water level at that time is measured by the water pressure measuring means 51 to record the relationship between the water pressure and the amount of water. To do. Next, by repeating this series of operations a plurality of times, the relationship between the accumulated water pressure and the accumulated water amount in the predetermined water level range of the bowl 22 is learned and stored. Since the water level that is formed is also affected by the floor inclination of the installation site and the internal pressure of the drainage piping, it is essential to create and store a urine calibration curve when performing high-precision measurements. .

  In addition to the part that controls the operation of each part of the urination information measuring apparatus 1, the control unit 6 includes a urine volume calculation unit 30 that calculates the urine volume of urine excreted by the subject, and a urine specific gravity calculation unit 40 that calculates the urine specific gravity. It has.

  The urine volume calculation means 30 includes a urine volume calibration curve storage unit 31 for storing the urine volume calibration curve created by the urine volume calibration curve creation unit 80, and the stored water level information calculated by the stored water level calculation unit 50; The urine volume of the subject is calculated from the stored urine volume calibration curve.

  The urine specific gravity calculating means 40 calculates the urine specific gravity from two types of measurement results of the accumulated water pressure measuring means 51 obtained when the first measurement pipe 53 and the second measurement pipe 54 are alternatively connected as measurement pipes. It comes to calculate. The principle of urine specific gravity measurement will be described later.

  The remote controllers 71 and 72 constituting the remote controller operation unit 70 are provided with various operation switches for operating the urination information measuring apparatus 1. Each operation of the remote control operation unit 70 is transmitted as an operation signal to the control unit 9 operated by a microcomputer by wireless communication means such as infrared communication, and the urination information measurement unit 5 and the toilet function unit 9 of the urination information measurement apparatus 1 perform this control. Integrated control is performed by the unit 6.

  FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the urination information measuring apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a specific configuration of the urination information measuring apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. However, the detailed configuration of the toilet function unit 9 including the sanitary washing device 91 is omitted.

  The toilet 4 is connected to a drain pipe 26 via a drain socket 25. The stored water 23 formed by the trap 24 has a function of sealing water that blocks communication with the drainage pipe, so that odors and hygiene pests generated in the drainage pipe do not enter the toilet. Considered.

  Water supply from an external water supply source such as a water supply is provided with a stop cock 210 that constitutes the cleaning water supply means 21. By means of the branch fitting 211 and the three-way valve 213, a rim water supply line 214 directed to the rim water discharge port 215, a jet water supply line 216 directed to a jet water discharge port 541 that also functions as a measurement communication port of the present invention described later, and measurement The water is branched and supplied to a urine volume measuring unit water supply pipe 217 directed to a replenishment tank 61 provided for forming a starting water level.

  Water supply to the replenishing tank 61 is performed by the on-off valve 611, and a predetermined amount is detected by the float switch 612, and the water supply is stopped. However, in the unlikely event of malfunction, the overflow tank 64 passes through the trap tank 551 on the way. The drainage pipe 562 is discharged toward the drainage pipe 26, and consideration is given to preventing the occurrence of water leakage outside the apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, in order to measure the water level of the stored water 23, a first portion of the present invention is provided in an opening 531 provided at a predetermined position of the rising pipe portion connecting the bowl 22 and the trap 24 on the inner surface of the bowl 22. A pipe line 532 constituting the measurement pipe line is connected, and the pressure sensor 512 of the urination information measuring unit 50 and the stored water 23 in the bowl 22 are communicated with each other. An opening / closing valve 533 is provided in the middle of the conduit 532 for opening and closing the conduit when the urination information measuring unit 5 is attached to and detached from the Western-style toilet.

  Further, a branching tool 542 is provided in the middle of the jet water supply pipe 216, and a pipe 543 that communicates with the pressure sensor 512 and constitutes the second measurement pipe of the present invention is connected. An opening / closing valve 521 and an opening / closing valve 524 for opening and closing the pipeline, and an opening / closing valve 544 for opening / closing the pipeline when the urination information measuring unit 5 is attached to and detached from the Western-style toilet unit are provided in the middle of the pipeline 543. Is provided.

  Further, a branching tool 545 is provided in the middle of the pipe line 543, and a pipe line 63 communicating with the water replenishing tank 61 is branched and connected. On the way, an opening / closing valve 522 for opening and closing the pipe line 63 is provided.

  A branching tool 546 is further provided in the middle of the pipe line 543, and an open / close valve 525 for opening and closing the pipe line and a calibration pump 811 for sucking the accumulated water 23 are provided in the middle, and the pipe communicates with the trap tank 551. A path 812 is connected. The trap tank 551 is a drain tank that performs a trap function for the drain pipe in order to discharge surplus water such as overflow water generated by the operation of each part to the drain pipe 26.

  Next, the actual operation in this embodiment will be described.

  When toilet flushing is performed, after all of the accumulated water 23 is discharged to the drainage pipe 26 by the siphon phenomenon induced by the jet discharge from the jet outlet 541, overflow from the trap 24 is generated by the discharge from the rim outlet 215. The rim water discharge is continued until the water discharge is stopped, and the water discharge 23 is stopped to obtain the accumulated water 23 at the overflow water level H.

  Further, at the time of the measurement start water level forming operation for creating the measurement start water level, first, all the accumulated water 23 is discharged to the drain pipe 26 by the siphon phenomenon induced by the jet water discharge from the jet water outlet 541 by the water supply from the pipe line 216. . Next, the on-off valve 524 and the on-off valve 525 are closed, the on-off valve 521 and the on-off valve 522 are opened, and the replenishing tank 61 and the accumulated water 23 are communicated with each other through the pipe line 63 and the pipe line 543. In this state, the water supply pump 62 is operated for a predetermined time at a predetermined water supply rate, and the water stored in the water replenishment tank 61 is discharged from the jet water outlet 541, whereby the water level of the stored water is set to the break water level X of the trap 24. The operation of setting the water level measurement start water level Y higher by a predetermined amount is performed.

  Since the stored water level during standby in this embodiment is the measurement start water level Y, the level of the sealed water level is set so that there is no risk of running out of water (breaking) due to pressure fluctuations generated in the drain pipe during standby. The predetermined amount, which is also referred to as the sealing depth from the water depth from X, is set to 50 mm or more and 100 mm or less as indicated in the Building Standard Act Construction Order. By securing a predetermined amount of sealing water, it is not necessary to pay attention to sanitary problems such as odor in the sewage pipe leaking into the toilet or sanitary pests entering the toilet. If the user uses only as a toilet, the user should wait at the overflow water level H described above. However, it is necessary to consider that there is no need for waiting time for water level transition.

  In this embodiment, in order to measure not only the urine volume but also the urine specific gravity, the pipes 532 and 543 serving as two measurement pipes are provided as described above. All of these pipe lines are connected to a pressure sensor 512 as a stored water pressure measuring means in the present invention, and a measuring pipe 511 is connected to the pressure sensor 512. Then, the control unit 6 appropriately operates each on-off valve provided in the pipe line to selectively select both communication pipes so as to communicate with each other, whereby the pressure sensor 512 is connected to the accumulated water 23 in the bowl 22. The communication position can be selected.

  The measurement pipe 511 has an open atmosphere end 511 a that extends into the trap tank 551 and is open to the atmosphere, and includes a U-shaped pipe that is open at both ends including the bowl 22 that communicates with the measurement pipe. A road system is formed. The measurement tube 511 in the present embodiment is not included in the accumulated water pressure measuring means in the present invention, but is formed by a thin tube having a predetermined inner diameter, and thus is a measurement tube due to the ripple of the water surface of the accumulated water 23 due to urination. The vibration component transmitted in the road can be fluidly attenuated, and the pressure sensor 512 is configured to measure the water pressure of the stored water 23 with higher accuracy.

  Further, since the output of the pressure sensor 512 changes depending on the temperature change of the installed environment and the change of the sensor itself with time, the measurement tube 511 also has a function of a calibration tube for calibrating the output of the pressure sensor 512. . That is, with the on-off valves 521, 523, 525 closed and the on-off valves 522, 524, 526 open, the water supply pump 62 is operated to guide the water stored in the water supply storage tank 61 to the measurement pipe 511, and By overflowing the open end 511a into the trap tank 551 and filling the measuring tube 511 with water, a water column having a height equal to the length of the measuring tube 511 having a fixed length is created. Then, by measuring the water head pressure of the water column of a certain height with the pressure sensor 512, output calibration is performed to associate the relationship between the output value of the pressure sensor 512 and the water level with the water level value based on the atmospheric pressure at the time of calibration. .

  The trap tank 551 has a drain socket connected to a drain pipe connecting pipe 562 extending from a position where a sealed water is formed inside in order to discharge overflow water from the measurement pipe 511 at the time of output calibration to the drain pipe 26. 25 is connected to a drainage pipe connection port 563 provided at 25, and functions as an edge cutting means for sealing the connection pipe line with the drainage pipe by water sealing.

  Moreover, the urination information measuring device 1 of the present embodiment has a function of measuring the correspondence between the water level of the stored water 23 and the amount of stored water at the installation site and storing it as a calibration relationship in the present invention. For this purpose, a calibration pump 531 which is a quantitative suction type pump capable of sucking an arbitrary amount is provided, and the stored water 23 is sucked by this calibration pump 531 using the pipeline 532 which is the first measurement pipeline in the present invention. It is configured to be able to discharge toward the drain pipe via the trap tank 551 and the drain pipe connecting pipe line 562.

  Then, from the state where the water level of the accumulated water 23 is set to a level equal to or higher than the maximum water level in the urine volume measurement range at the installation site, the accumulated water 23 is sucked and discharged from the bowl 22 by a predetermined amount by the calibration pump 531. By measuring the water head pressure generated by the stored water level with the pressure sensor 512 and calculating the water level, the calibration relationship between the stored water level and the stored water amount is acquired.

  In addition, as a method for obtaining a calibration curve, in the case of having two pipelines of the first measurement pipeline and the second measurement pipeline in the present invention as in the configuration of the present embodiment, either of them is a reservoir in the present invention. You may make it connect with a water pressure measurement means. This is because in the case of a liquid having a uniform specific gravity such as when the water 23 is only water, there is no difference between the two as described later.

  In addition, when the individual difference of the shape of the bowl surface 22 of the Western-style toilet 4 to be used is small and the relationship between the stored water level and the stored water amount is constant, the entire calibration-related measuring means is omitted, and a calibration curve prepared in advance is used. It may be stored in the urine calibration curve storage unit 31 and used as a calibration curve for each device. For example, this configuration can be applied when the toilet is at least a bowl part made of resin.

  The drain pipe pressure measuring sensor 561 constituting the drain pipe pressure measuring means 56 according to the present invention is attached to the trap tank 551 and is generated in the drain pipe via the drain pipe connecting pipe 562 that connects the trap tank 551 and the socket 25. The measured pressure is measured as the drainage pipe pressure. The drainage pipe pressure fluctuation correcting means 57 calculates the influence amount of the measured drainage pipe pressure on the stored water level as a correction amount of the stored water level measurement value, and the water pressure measurement value measured by the stored water pressure measurement means 51 is always the same. Correction processing converted to a value in a state where there is no fluctuation in the drainage pipe pressure is performed.

  Next, the principle of measuring the amount of urination according to the present invention will be described below. The measurement principle described below is based on new knowledge found by a preliminary experiment by the present inventor. The measurement principle of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 simulating the case where two measurement pipes are provided in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the measurement start water level state, in which the first measurement pipeline (pipe 532 in this embodiment) in the present invention is communicated, and the second measurement pipeline (pipe 543 in this embodiment). ) Is closed. At this time, the ball 22 and the measurement pipe 511 constitute a U-shaped pipe channel system via a pipe line 532 which is a first measurement pipe line, and water supplied from a water supply source to any of them ( Here, for the convenience of explanation, the specific gravity is 1), and therefore, the water level difference between them based on the pressure sensor position is the same (b0, B0). Therefore, the pressure applied to the pressure sensor 512 corresponding to the stored water pressure measuring means of the present invention is the same as the water head pressure generated by the water column of the water level difference A0 generated in the bowl 22.

  5A and 5B are schematic views when urine having a specific gravity that can be regarded as the same specific gravity 1 as that of the stored water 23 before urination is input. (A) is the case where the first measurement pipeline is connected. In this case, since the specific gravity of water and urine in the measuring tube 511 is the same and the specific gravity of the liquid in the U-shaped pipe channel system can be regarded as uniform, the water level of the bowl 22 and the measuring tube 511 is the same (b1 = B1), The pressure applied to the pressure sensor 512 is the same as the water head pressure PB1 due to the water column of the water level difference B1 generated in the bowl 22.

  Moreover, (b) is a case where the measurement pipe is switched from the state (a) and the second measurement pipe is communicated. Similarly, in this case, the same water level difference (d2 = D2) is balanced in pressure (Pd2 = PD2), and it can be regarded that there is no movement of liquid in the U-shaped pipe channel system. D2 is the same as the water level difference D1 in the state (a) described above and does not change. Therefore, the pressure applied to the pressure sensor 512 is the same pressure PA1 (PA1 = PA2) as in the case of (A). That is, when urine having a specific gravity 1 that can be regarded as the same specific gravity 1 as that of the stored water 23 before urination is input, the same stored water pressure is used regardless of which of the first measurement pipe and the second measurement pipe is connected to the pressure sensor 512. Will be measured.

6 and 7, the amount of urine input is the same as in FIG. 5, but when the urine whose specific gravity is not negligibly greater than the specific gravity 1 of the stored water 23 before urination is input. It is the schematic diagram which modeled the new knowledge mentioned above.

  In our preliminary experiments, when urine with a specific gravity greater than 1 is introduced, urine and water are immediately mixed uniformly within a relatively short time, such as urination time, which is the actual measurement time. It was confirmed that the urine with a large specific gravity settled along the inner surface of the bowl, and the urine with a large specific gravity settled along the inner surface of the bowl and settled at the bottom of the bowl.

  FIG. 6 shows a water level state when urine having a specific gravity greater than 1 is introduced in a state where the first measurement pipe line is communicated. As shown in the drawing, the urine in this case settles at the bottom in a state like an aggregate due to the difference in specific gravity from the stored water before urination.

  In this case, assuming that the position where the first measurement pipe line communicates with the water stored in the bowl is provided at the water level position above the aggregate of the settled urine, the same as in FIG. Thus, since the liquid specific gravity is equal to 1 in the U-shaped pipe system, the water level in the bowl 22 and the water level in the measuring pipe 511 are balanced in pressure with the same water level difference (a3 = A3). (Pa3 = PA3). Moreover, if the volume of excreted urine is the same as that in FIG. 5 (a), the total volume of liquid in the U-shaped conduit system does not change, so the water level difference D3 is also the same as in FIG. Is equal to the water level difference D1. Therefore, the pressure sensor 512 detects the pressure PA1 having the same water level difference A1 (= A3), although the specific gravity of urine is different from that in FIG. In other words, the amount of urine can be measured without being affected by the difference in specific gravity of urine.

  FIG. 7 shows the water level when the urine having a specific gravity greater than 1 is introduced and the measurement pipe is connected to the second measurement pipe in the state shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the measurement tube 511 constitutes a U-shaped pipe water channel and the bowl 22 containing urine having a specific gravity greater than specific gravity 1 settling in the vicinity of the bottom. The water level of the bowl 22 having a large specific gravity is slightly lowered (D4 <D3), the water level in the measuring tube 511 having a relatively small specific gravity is increased (d4> d3), and the water level difference (d4) and the water level difference (D4). ) And pressure balance (Pd4 = PD4). Therefore, the pressure sensor 512 detects not the water level difference A4 but the water head pressure (Pa4) of the water level difference a4.

  Here, a4 / a3 described above is a value that varies depending on the urine specific gravity of the urine to be measured, and the pressure generated by the difference between the water levels is measured by appropriately switching the first measurement line and the second measurement line. Thus, the urine specific gravity is estimated.

  Since the actual urine accumulation state is not completely separated into two solutions as assumed in the above description, the relationship between the water level difference ratio a4 / a3 is previously used for each toilet using the urine specific gravity calibration curve. If it is experimentally determined and stored in accordance with the measurement environment, a specific urine specific gravity can be measured by measuring a3 and a4 (Pa3 and Pa4).

  Further, if the first measurement pipe is provided at a predetermined position in the present invention, it is possible to measure the urine volume using the stored water pressure measuring means without being affected by the specific gravity of urine. For the same reason as above, if a3 / a1 is actually obtained experimentally and stored in advance, a more accurate measurement of urine volume becomes possible.

  In the above explanation of the principle, the U-shaped pipe system using the measurement pipe 511 employed in the present embodiment has been explained for the sake of simplicity, but the pressure sensor 512 is not provided with the measurement pipe 511. It is good also as a structure arrange | positioned at the measurement pipe line end. In this case, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 512 is the water head pressure of the water level difference A3 / B3 (when measuring urine volume) or the water level difference A4 / D4 (when measuring urine specific gravity).

  As for the predetermined position of the opening in the bowl of the first measurement pipe in the present invention, the urine water level and the measurement start water level when it is assumed that all of the expected maximum urine volume is accumulated and stored in the bottom of the bowl. What is necessary is just to set the said predetermined position in the water level range between Y.

  In addition, the bottom of the bowl related to the position of the opening in the bowl of the second measurement pipe in the present invention is a portion where urine settles in a normal urination state, as shown in FIGS. What is necessary is just to obtain and set an optimum position in the vicinity of the bottom experimentally.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment described above, both urine volume and urine specific gravity can be measured. However, in the present invention, only the urine volume measurement may be performed using only the first measurement line. Further, as another invention, only the second measurement pipe line may be configured to separately obtain a relational expression between the stored water level change and the stored water pressure change in consideration of the urine specific gravity, and measure only the urine specific gravity.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment described above, the measurement pipe switching means for selectively connecting the first measurement pipe and the second measurement pipe is provided, and one pressure sensor is provided in the present invention. However, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which a pressure sensor is provided in each of the two measurement pipes without providing the measurement pipe switching means. In that case, it will be necessary to perform output calibration based on atmospheric pressure for each pressure sensor and to obtain a relational expression between the pressure and the amount of stored water. It becomes possible.

  In the present embodiment described above, the measurement line switching means is configured by combining a plurality of relatively inexpensive electromagnetic on-off valves, but a normal electromagnetic line switching valve can also be used.

As described above, the present invention can be applied to a system in which urine collection is performed with a Western-style toilet and the change in the accumulated water level is known by measuring the accumulated water pressure to determine the amount of urination. That is,
This method can be applied not only when the specific gravity of the urine excreted by the subject is similar to that of water relative to the specific gravity of the initial water in the bowl, but also when the specific gravity differs to a degree that cannot be ignored.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Urination information measuring device 4 ... Western-style toilet 5 ... Urination information measurement part 6 ... Control part 7 ... Input / output part 70 ... Remote control operation part 71 ... Remote control (toilet bowl For operation)
72 ... Remote control (for urination information measuring device)
73 ... Print output unit 9 ... Toilet bowl function unit 91 ... Sanitary washing device unit 171 ... Toilet seat 172 ... Backrest 18 ... Cabinet 20 ... City water 21 ... Washing water supply Means 210 ... Stop cock 211 ... Branch fitting 212 ... Toilet wash water supply line 213 ... Three-way valve 214] ... Rim water supply line 215 ... Rim spout 216 ... Zet water supply line 217 ... Urine volume measuring unit water supply line 22 ... Bowl 23 ... Reservoir 24 ... Trap 25 ... Drain socket 26 ... Drain pipe 30 ... Urine volume calculation Means 31 ... Urine calibration curve storage unit 40 ... Urine specific gravity calculation unit 41 ... Urine specific gravity calibration line storage unit 50 ... Reserved water level calculation unit 51 ... Reserved water pressure measurement unit 511 ... Reservoir pressure measuring tube 511a ... Open end (reserved water pressure measuring tube)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 512 ... Pressure sensor 513 ... Open / close valve 52 ... Measurement line switching means 521 ... Open / close valve 522 ... Open / close valve 523 ... Open / close valve 524 ... Open / close valve 525 ... Open / close Valve 526 ··· Open / close valve 53 ··· First measurement pipeline 531 ··· Measurement communication port 532 · · · First measurement pipeline 533 · · Stop cock (first measurement pipeline)
54 ... second measurement pipe line part 541 ... zette water outlet (measurement communication port)
542 ... Branching tool 543 ... Second measurement pipe 544 ... Stop cock (second measurement pipe side)
551 ... Trap tank 56 ... Drain piping pressure measuring means 561 ... Drain piping pressure measuring sensor 562 ... Drain piping connecting pipe 563 ... Drain piping connecting port 57 ... Drain piping pressure fluctuation correction Means 60 ... Measurement start water level forming part 61 ... Replenishment tank 611 ... Open / close valve 612 ... Float switch 62 ... Replenishment pump 63 ... Replenishment pipeline 64 ... Overflow pipeline 80 ··· Urine calibration curve creation unit 811 ··· Calibration pump 812 ··· Calibration pipeline 812a · · · Open end (urine calibration curve creation pipeline)
X: Breaking water level Y: Measurement starting water level Z, Z1 to Z4: Water level after urination H: Overflow water level
L ... Measurement communication water level (first measurement line communication)

Claims (5)

A toilet bowl provided with a bowl for receiving urine excreted by a user in a state in which accumulated water is formed by a trap communicated with an external drain pipe
A stored water pressure measuring means for measuring a water pressure generated by the stored water as a stored water pressure;
By applying a relational expression between the amount of accumulated water and the accumulated water pressure to the change in the accumulated water pressure measured by the accumulated water pressure measuring means along with the excretion, the volume of the excreted urine is used as the urine volume. In a urination information measuring device having a urine volume calculating means to obtain,
Further comprising a first measuring tubes having an opening that opens to a predetermined amount higher position than the bottom of the ball c Le inner surface at one end,
The predetermined position was set to be equal to or higher than the urine-only water level and the trapped water level of the trap and below the overflow water level when it is assumed that all urine of the maximum urine volume expected was accumulated and stored at the bottom of the bowl. Located within the water level range between the measurement start water level,
The urine water pressure measuring means is provided in fluid communication with the first measurement line, and measures the pressure generated in the first measurement line during excretion as the stagnation water pressure. . Bottom water pressure measurement means for measuring water pressure generated at the bottom of the bowl inner surface as bottom water pressure,
Urine specific gravity calculating means for obtaining a specific gravity of the urination based on a relational expression between the change in the accumulated water pressure associated with excretion obtained in advance and the change in the bottom accumulated water pressure. The urination information measuring device according to claim 1. A second measuring line having an opening at one end of the inner surface of the bowl;
The reservoir water pressure measuring means is provided in fluid communication with the second measurement pipeline, and measures the pressure generated in the second measurement pipeline as the bottom reservoir water pressure. 2. The urination information measuring device according to 2. In order to carry the bowl contents to the sewage pipe by a siphon phenomenon generated by water supply, a jet water outlet opening at the bottom of the bowl, and a jet water supply line for supplying water to the jet water outlet,
The second measurement pipe is provided in fluid communication with the jet water supply pipe, and measures the water pressure generated in the second measurement pipe during excretion as the bottom reservoir water pressure. The urination information measuring device according to claim 3. A measurement line switching means for selectively selecting and communicating the first measurement line and the second measurement line;
The urination information measuring device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the bottom water pressure measuring means is also used as the water pressure measuring means .

Images