JP6208707B2 - Urination support device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a urination support apparatus, for example, a urination support apparatus for visualizing a local area so that a urination action or an excretion action or the like that requires confirmation of a local area such as intermittent self urination of a female patient can be easily performed. About.

Injuries to the spinal cord, stroke patients, and spina bifida patients (hereinafter referred to as “patients”) may cause dysuria due to bladder dysfunction and may require medical treatment for urination and excretion. . As the medical treatment, a bladder indwelling catheter treatment or intermittent urination is representative. However, a bladder indwelling catheter treatment in which a catheter is placed in the urethra has a high risk of causing urinary tract infections, ureteral stones, and the like, and is not suitable for long-term use. For this reason, treatment using a bladder indwelling catheter is often performed in a short period such as in the acute phase, and thereafter, it is often shifted to intermittent urination.
Intermittent urination is a medical action in which a doctor / nurse inserts a catheter into the patient's urethra and drains urine, and is an important action for life support. However, intermittent urination needs to be performed once every 2 or 3 hours and 5 or 6 times a day. It greatly restricts and becomes an impediment to social participation.
Therefore, if the patient himself / herself acquires the technique and technique of intermittent urination and enables intermittent self-conduction (hereinafter referred to as “self-conduction”), it will contribute to the improvement of patient life and social participation. Leads to improvement of QOL. Self-guided urine is an action in which a patient inserts a catheter himself and urinates and excretes, and the medical staff provides guidance on the technique to the patient.

The difficulty level of learning self-urination technology varies depending on gender, body deformation, body balance ability, and the like. In particular, because the urinary structure differs depending on the sex difference, the period of time until the mastery of the self-urination technique varies greatly depending on the sex difference, and the present situation is that women require a longer time to acquire the self-urination technique than men.
Because of the structure of the body, it is difficult to check the urethra mouth, and using a mirror or light, self-directed urine while checking the mirror image reflected on the mirror surface, so in the small mirror image that reverses the real thing, the urethra mouth and catheter It is difficult to see the observation position immediately. In addition, there was a great difference between the observation position of the urethral orifice or catheter designated by the medical staff and the position recognized by the patient, and it was difficult to provide guidance.
In addition, since the patient conducts self-urination in a crouched forward posture always looking into the mirror part, it is very difficult for a patient who has difficulty in taking the posture to master the self-urination technique.

  In addition, when the medical staff is instructing self-urination technology to the patient, the patient's hand gets in the way, making it difficult for the medical staff to confirm the patient's local area, the position of the catheter, and the insertion position of the catheter. It is a difficult situation to teach self-urination technology.

Therefore, as a conventional technique for solving this problem, for example, a “female self-urination assisting device” of Patent Document 1 is known. This auxiliary device is provided with a mirror part that can adjust the angle at the end of the board, a clip part at the other end of the board, another board attached to the center of the board with bolts, and at both ends of the other board. This is a configuration in which an angle adjustable penlight and a catheter case insertion hole are disposed.
During self-urination, the female self-urination assister with the catheter case inserted into the catheter case insertion hole is clamped to the toilet seat frame using the clip so that the mirror is positioned in front of the sitting toilet. . In this state, the angle of the mirror part is adjusted by the mirror part so that the urethra mouth can be easily seen while reflecting the light of the penlight to the mirror part and illuminating the local part of the patient. This frees both hands for the female patient and facilitates the training of self-conduction by the occupational therapist, and after completion of the training, the patient can easily insert the catheter into the urethral opening.

JP 2011-115617 A

However, the “visual self-urination assisting device for women” in Patent Document 1 also employs a local visualization device with a mirror part that is indirectly clipped to the toilet seat, so that the patient always looks into the mirror part. It is necessary to train with a leaning posture.
In addition, the angle change of the mirror part and the penlight also requires the patient to finely adjust the angle of the mirror part and the penlight with their own hands, which is troublesome and requires skill.

  Therefore, as a result of earnest research, the inventor moved the camera unit by the drive unit in the interior space of the sitting toilet and changed the camera unit to an angle at which the local unit is easy to see. We found that all of the above problems can be solved by taking a picture of the camera under illumination and configuring it to support local self-observation and urination / excretion while viewing the image on the monitor screen. The present invention was completed.

  This invention can support actions such as local self-observation and local urination / excretion while looking at the monitor screen in an easy posture without bending forward, and can change the camera observation position. An object of the present invention is to provide a urination support device that can be carried.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera unit for photographing a local part of a patient, an illuminating part for illuminating the local part of the patient, an apparatus base on which the camera part and the illuminating part are arranged, and spaced apart from the apparatus base A urination support apparatus that is arranged and is configured to display on a monitor screen imaging data obtained by photographing by the camera section, wherein the apparatus base body has a substantially inverted U-shape. The camera unit and the illumination unit are housed in a portion that is detachably attached to the sitting toilet and is disposed inside the bowl portion of the sitting toilet, and the portion that is disposed outside the bowl portion. This is a urination support device that houses a control board .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the local situation is photographed by the camera unit while irradiating light from the illumination unit in the internal space of the sitting toilet where the patient is seated. Imaging data (image data) photographed by the camera unit is displayed on a monitor screen of a monitor unit provided away from the apparatus base (that is, from a sitting toilet). Therefore, the patient can visually observe the situation on the screen, not the cramped forward bend looking into the conventional mirror part, but the local self-observation in a comfortable position, and local urination / excretion such as self-conduction Can be performed alone. At that time, for example, when a patient's hand or the like gets in the way, the orientation of the camera unit can be changed to a position where the local part can easily see by the camera orientation adjusting means.
In addition, since the monitor unit is separated from the device base that is detachably attached to the sitting toilet (because it is not integral), it is easy to carry the urination support device. A toilet can also support local self-observation, urination, and excretion.

A urination support device is a device for supporting local self-observation and visualizing urination / excretion actions and for easily performing these actions. For example, this device makes it possible to visualize the self-conduction (including training) of a female patient (woman with a physical disability) who needs urination and the status of a manic patient (eg anal prolapse situation). . It is also possible to see the pressure sores on the tailbone with this device.
A local part here means the pubic part including an anus.
The camera unit includes a camera and accessories, and a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, or the like having a light receiving unit in which a large number of solid-state imaging devices are arranged in a plane can be employed.
As the illumination unit, for example, a white LED, a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, or the like can be employed.
The stool toilet is a stool (Western style) urinal having a toilet body including a bowl portion with a bowl-shaped inner surface serving as a filth receiving surface, and a toilet seat provided thereon.

The “internal space of the sitting toilet” here means an internal space (in the bowl portion) of the toilet body.
As the material of the device base, for example, various synthetic resins such as silicon resin, polyamide resin, polypropylene resin, and polyvinyl chloride resin, various metals such as stainless steel and aluminum alloy, and various ceramics can be employed.
The configuration and shape of the apparatus base may include a part that is disposed in the interior space of the sitting toilet and where a camera unit and an illumination unit are disposed, and a part that is detachably attached to an arbitrary part of the sitting toilet. Is optional. For example, the camera / illumination arrangement portion can be formed in a rectangular plate (box or sheath) with a predetermined thickness curved along the toilet inner wall.

The attachment position of the apparatus base on the sitting toilet is arbitrary. For example, it can be a rim portion of the toilet body, a sewage receiving surface of the toilet body, an outer surface of the toilet body, or the like.
Examples of a method for detachably attaching the apparatus base to a stool toilet include, for example, hook-like hooking on the rim portion of the toilet body, sticking to the stool receiving surface of the toilet body and the outer surface of the toilet body with an adhesive, Adsorption by a suction cup can be used.

For example, the camera orientation adjustment means has a drive unit made of, for example, a motor, etc., and by operating the drive unit, the camera unit can be moved (moved) to adjust the predetermined camera orientation intermittently or continuously. It shall be
Responsive means that the camera unit moves (for example, rotates by a predetermined angle around the axis) in response to movement of the drive unit (rotation of the output shaft in the case of a motor).
The response direction of the camera unit by the camera orientation adjusting means may be one direction or two or more directions (the camera can rotate about a predetermined angle about one axis and can also rotate about another axis, Including sliding up, down, left and right).
As the monitor unit, for example, a liquid crystal display can be employed. Specifically, a tablet or a mobile phone can be used as the monitor unit. Either wired or wireless transmission may be employed for transmitting imaging data (image data) from the camera unit to the monitor unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the device base has a generally inverted U-shape formed by resin molding, and is sandwiched so as to straddle the rim due to its elasticity, and is firmly held by the rim. A urination support apparatus according to claim 1.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the device base is substantially inverted U-shaped and integrally molded with resin , the device base can be firmly fixed to the rim by sandwiching the rim.
When changing the orientation of the camera unit arranged on the apparatus base, the camera unit is rotated up and down around the vertical rotation axis by the vertical rotation actuator and the left and right rotation axis by the left and right rotation actuator. The camera unit is rotated right and left as appropriate. Accordingly, the camera unit can be tilted (rotated) by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction with respect to the apparatus base (that is, the direction of the camera can be adjusted) with a simple structure, and the patient's local area can be easily observed. it can.

For example, an electric motor, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electric cylinder, or the like can be employed as the type of the vertical rotation actuator and the left / right rotation actuator. As an attachment position of each actuator, it can be set as the part arrange | positioned, for example among the apparatus base | substrates in the interior space of a sitting toilet.
"The width direction of the device base" is a direction orthogonal to the length direction (not the thickness direction). For example, when the device base is arranged in a spatula or plate shape in the toilet interior space Means a direction orthogonal to the length direction (front-rear direction) of the apparatus base.
The structure of the vertical rotation mechanism part is arbitrary as long as it has a vertical rotation axis (axis extending in the vertical direction) and the camera part can be rotated up and down around this axis. The configuration of the left-right rotation mechanism is arbitrary as long as it has a left-right rotation axis (an axis extending in the left-right direction) and the camera unit can be rotated left-right around this axis.
The tilt angle of the camera unit with respect to the apparatus substrate surface by the camera orientation adjusting means (for example, an angle formed by the optical axis direction of the lens and the substrate surface in a CCD camera) is arbitrary. For example, it is 1 ° to 45 °, preferably 5 ° to 30 °.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the apparatus base includes a photographing unit storage case that is curved along the filth receiving surface of the bowl portion, and the camera unit and the illumination unit are provided inside the photographing unit storage case. The urination support apparatus according to claim 2, which is housed in a urine .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the apparatus base is hooked to the rim portion, the photographing portion storage case curved along the filth receiving surface is disposed at the bottom portion of the bowl portion. And the illumination part will be located facing the patient's local part. Therefore, local shooting is facilitated.
For example, when the apparatus base has a waterproof function, it is possible to prevent water from entering the electrical parts of the camera unit and the lighting unit, even though it is used in the interior space of the toilet body. In addition, since the device base is substantially U-shaped so as to straddle the rim portion and is hooked on the upper edge portion of the toilet body, the device base can be easily attached to and detached from the rim portion, and the device base is attached to the rim. The camera unit and the illumination unit can be moved to an optimal local observation position by sliding along the upper surface of the unit.

“The device base has a waterproof function” means that the device base is a solid or hollow member having water tightness (having a seal structure). Inside the apparatus base, for example, an angle changing means (for example, a motor) is provided in addition to each electrical component of the camera unit and the illumination unit.
`` It is hooked so as to straddle the rim part of the toilet body '' means that when the device base is considered separately in the portion of the device base placed in the interior space of the sitting toilet and the portion other than this, It means that a hook portion for hooking the entire apparatus base body on the rim portion of the toilet bowl body is formed in this excluded portion. For example, the hook portion and a part of the apparatus base can be resin-molded into a U shape, the toilet body can be sandwiched by the elasticity of the hook portion, and firmly held by the rim portion.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the interior space of the sitting toilet where the patient is seated, the local area of the patient is imaged by the camera unit while irradiating light from the illuminating unit, and the imaging data (image data) is obtained from the device. The image is displayed on a monitor screen of a monitor unit provided apart from the base (for example, provided at a position such as a wall surface on which a seated patient can view normally). As a result, patients can perform local self-observation, self-conduction, excretion, etc. in an easy posture rather than the conventional crouching posture of looking into the mirror while visually checking the situation on the screen. it can. In this case, if a hand or the like gets in the way, for example, the camera direction adjusting means can be operated to change the camera unit to an angular position so that the local part can be easily seen (the camera direction, that is, the CCD camera). Now you can change the optical axis direction of the lens).
In addition, since the monitor unit and the device base are separated and formed, the urination support device can be easily carried, so that local observations and self urination can be performed even in a sitting toilet in a facility different from the home.・ Excretion can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus base can be strongly fixed to the rim portion. Moreover, the attachment / detachment becomes easy.
For example, when changing the orientation of the camera unit, the camera unit is rotated up and down about the vertical rotation axis by the vertical rotation actuator, and the camera unit is rotated left and right about the horizontal rotation axis by the left and right rotation actuator. As appropriate. Thereby, with a simple structure, the camera unit can be inclined (rotated) by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction with respect to the apparatus base, and the patient's local part can be easily observed. That is, by operating these actuators, the direction of the camera (in the CCD camera, the lens optical axis direction) can be arbitrarily adjusted.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it becomes easy to photograph the local area of the patient.
In addition, when the apparatus base body is waterproofed, the electrical parts of the camera unit and the lighting unit do not get wet with water even though the device base is used in the interior space of the toilet body.
Further, the apparatus base is hooked on the upper edge of the toilet body so as to straddle the rim. For this reason, it is easy to attach and detach the apparatus base. Further, the apparatus base can be attached by sliding along the upper surface of the rim part, and the camera part and the illumination part can be easily moved to a position where it is easy to observe the self-urination state in the local part.

It is the whole perspective view which shows the use condition of the urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a whole block diagram of the urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the use condition of the apparatus base | substrate which comprises some urination assistance apparatuses which concern on Example 1 of this invention. It is the expansion perspective view which shows the use condition which notched a part of apparatus base | substrate which comprises a part of urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is the principal part enlarged plan view which removed the cover of the imaging | photography part storage case which comprises a part of urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the length direction of the imaging | photography part storage case which comprises a part of urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view orthogonal to the length direction of the imaging | photography part storage case which comprises a part of urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the signal and data transmission system of the urination assistance apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention.

  Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below. Here, as an example, a urination support device is used when a female patient with spinal cord injury who has difficulty in urinating performs self-urination training or the like under the guidance of medical staff.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a urination assisting apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a camera unit 11 that images a urethra mouth of a female patient, an illumination unit 12 that illuminates the imaging direction of the camera unit 11, A camera base 11 and a lighting unit 12 are disposed, and a device base 14 is detachably attached to the sitting toilet 13 so that the camera unit 11 and the lighting unit 12 are disposed in the inner space of the sitting toilet 13. ,have. The urination assisting apparatus 10 is provided on the apparatus base 14, and the camera unit 11 is rotated in a predetermined direction by an up / down rotation actuator (drive unit) 50 and a left / right rotation actuator (drive unit) 51. The camera orientation adjusting means 15 that adjusts the orientation of the camera 11 and the apparatus base 14 are arranged (separately) apart from the apparatus base 14 and monitor imaging data obtained by photographing the object by the camera unit 11. And a monitor unit 16 displayed on the screen 16a.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1-8, these structures are demonstrated concretely.
The camera unit 11 is a CCD camera having a light receiving unit in which a large number of image sensors are arranged in a plane, and an A / D converter that converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor into digital image data. Built-in.
The illumination part 12 is comprised from one white LED.
The sitting toilet 13 has a ceramic toilet body 17 having a glaze layer formed on the surface (FIG. 1). The toilet body 17 has a skirt formed in the lower part thereof, and a bowl part 18 formed in the front half of the upper half. The bowl portion 18 has a bowl-shaped filth receiving surface 18a and a rim portion 18b constituting an upper edge portion, and a rotatable toilet seat 19 is placed on the rim portion 18b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus base 14 has a generally inverted U-shape as a whole, and includes a short frame plate 22 disposed inside the bowl portion 18 and a length disposed outside the bowl portion 18. A frame plate 23, a short upper frame plate 24 that is disposed above the rim portion 18 b and integrally connects the short frame plate 22 and the long frame plate 23, and is connected to the tip of the short frame plate 22; In addition, the camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, and the angle changing unit 15 have an imaging unit storage case 27 in which the camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, and the angle changing unit 15 are stored.
The short frame plate 22, the long frame plate 23, and the upper frame plate 24 have a waterproof function including a substantially inverted J-shaped sheet-shaped core material 20 and a covering material 21 that covers the sheet-shaped core material 20 as a whole. It is a thick plate with a constant width.

The short frame plate 22 is a vertically long member having an arc shape in a side view in which an intermediate portion in the length direction protrudes outward.
A base portion of a photographing unit storage case 27 to be described later is connected to the distal end portion of the short frame plate 22.
The long frame plate 23 is a vertically long member having a length that is approximately twice the length of the short frame plate 22, and the device base 14 is disposed on the inner side of the lower end (original portion) of the long frame plate 23. A hollow bulging portion 23a having an arcuate cross-section that suppresses rattling of the apparatus base 14 when hooked to 18b is integrally formed. The hollow bulging portion 23a is configured by a balloon-like inner peripheral wall integrally formed of the same material at the other end portion of the sheet-like core member 20, and a covering material covering the inner peripheral wall.
A control board A and a camera control battery 35 are accommodated in the internal space of the inner peripheral wall. The camera control battery 35 is a member serving as a power source (power source) for components attached to the apparatus base 14. Specifically, the camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, the vertical rotation actuator 50, and the horizontal rotation actuator 51. The power supply for the control board A is used. On the control board A, an imaging data transmitter 32 (FIG. 8), a command signal receiver 33, and a device controller 34 are mounted.
The imaging data transmitter 32 transmits imaging data from the camera unit 11 to the monitor unit 16. The command signal receiver 33 receives a command signal for instructing operations of the camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, and the camera orientation adjusting unit 15 transmitted from the monitor unit 16. The device control unit 34 analyzes the command signal received by the command signal receiver 33 and transmits an operation command signal to the camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, and the camera orientation adjusting unit 15.
The upper frame plate 24 is a horizontally long member having substantially the same length as the short frame plate 22. The base portion of the short frame plate 22 is integrally connected to the front end portion (one end portion) of the upper frame plate 24. Further, the leading end portion of the long frame plate 23 is integrally connected to the base portion (the other end portion) of the upper frame plate 24.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the storage case 27 is a rectangular casing having a waterproof function, and a case main body 38 disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the bowl portion 18 when used, and a center of the bowl portion 18 when used. The lid 37 is disposed on the side and closes the opening of the case main body 38. The storage case 27 has a shape that is curved (bent in a bow) so that its length direction is along the filth receiving surface 18 a of the sitting toilet 13.
The case body 38 has a rectangular case body bottom surface 52 in plan view and a case body side surface provided so as to surround the case body bottom surface.
The camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, the up / down rotation actuator 50, and the left / right rotation actuator 51 are arranged on the bottom surface 52 of the case body. The camera unit 11, the illumination unit 12, the up / down rotation actuator 50, and the left / right rotation actuator 51 are stored in the storage case 27.
On the bottom surface 52 of the case body, the camera unit 11 is disposed at one end portion in the width direction at an intermediate portion in the length direction, and the illumination unit 12 is fixed to the other end portion in the width direction via a pedestal bracket 53. ing.
A window portion 54 that is long in the width direction of the lid body 37 is formed at a substantially intermediate portion in the length direction of the lid body 37, and a transparent filter 55 is attached thereto. The camera unit 11 and the illumination unit 12 are exposed through the window unit 54.

Next, the camera orientation adjusting means 15 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the camera direction adjusting means 15 rotates the camera unit 11 in the vertical direction by the vertical rotation actuator 50 around a pair of vertical rotation shafts 56 extending in the width direction of the apparatus base 14. A left-right rotation that causes the camera unit 11 to rotate left and right by a left-right rotation actuator 51 around a vertical rotation mechanism unit 57 to be moved and an output shaft (left-right rotation shaft) 58 orthogonal to the vertical rotation shaft 56 The mechanism part 59 is provided.

Hereinafter, these components will be specifically described.
The left / right rotation actuator 51 is fixed to the bottom surface 52 of the case body at the tip of the bottom surface 52 of the case body and at one side of the width direction of the bottom surface 52 of the case body. The vertical rotation actuator 50 is fixed to the bottom surface 52 of the case main body at the base end portion of the bottom surface 52 of the case main body and at the other side portion in the width direction of the bottom surface 52 of the case main body. Each actuator 50, 51 is composed of a servo motor capable of controlling the rotation angle of each output shaft 58, 60.

The output shaft 58 of the left / right turning actuator 51 is provided so as to protrude from the exterior of the left / right turning actuator 51. The protruding direction of the output shaft 58 of the left / right rotation actuator 51 is the same as the direction from the base end to the tip end of the case main body bottom surface 52.
A gate-shaped bracket 63 in which a pair of left and right side frame plates 62 are connected to both end portions of an intermediate frame plate 61 that is long in the width direction of the case main body bottom surface 52 is fixed to the distal end portion of the output shaft 58 of the left / right rotation actuator 51. ing. Specifically, an intermediate portion in the length direction of the intermediate frame plate 61 is connected to the output shaft 58. A pin hole 62 a is formed at the tip of each side frame plate 62. In each pin hole 62a, a base portion of a pair of short vertical rotating shafts 56 extending in parallel with the intermediate frame plate 61 is rotatably inserted.

  A rectangular camera bracket 64 in a plan view in which the camera unit 11 is fixed is accommodated in the internal space of the portal bracket 63 so as to be vertically rotatable via the pair of vertical rotation shafts 56. The camera bracket 64 includes a rectangular intermediate plate 65 in plan view on which the camera unit 11 is placed on the upper surface, and intermediate portions in the length direction at both ends in the width direction of the case main body bottom surface 52 of the intermediate plate 65. And a pair of left and right side plates 66 connected to each other. Therefore, the shape of the camera bracket 64 when viewed from the front is H-shaped. Each side plate 66 has a trapezoidal shape in which the upper part sandwiching the camera unit 11 is rectangular when viewed from the side, and the lower part is tapered gradually when viewed from the side. A pair of pin insertion holes 66 a are formed in the central portion of the upper portion of each side plate 66. The other end of each vertical rotation shaft 56 is inserted into each pin insertion hole 66a. Thus, the camera unit 11 is attached to the portal bracket 63 via the camera bracket 64 so as to be rotatable up and down.

  A torsion coil spring C having one end fixed to the camera bracket 64 and the other end fixed to the gate bracket 63 is extrapolated to the vertical rotation shaft 56 on the illumination unit 12 side. The camera bracket 64 is constantly biased in the direction of rotating the camera unit 11 downward by the spring force of the torsion coil spring C. In addition, a pair of pin fixing holes 66b is formed at the lower end of each side plate 66. A single driven pin 67 that is parallel to the vertical rotation shaft 56 and rotates the camera unit 11 up and down is horizontally placed between the pair of side plates 66 via the pin fixing holes 66b.

The output shaft 60 of the vertical rotation actuator 50 is provided so as to protrude from the exterior of the vertical rotation actuator 50. The protruding direction of the output shaft 60 of the vertical rotation actuator 50 is the same direction as the direction from the other end portion in the width direction of the case main body bottom surface 52 to the one end portion.
The output shaft 60 protrudes in parallel with the driven pin 67 from the side surface of the corner portion of the vertical rotation actuator 50 on the camera unit 11 side. An upper end portion of an operation lever 68 having a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction and whose lower end portion is rounded is fixed to the output shaft 60. At the lower end portion of the operation lever 68, a base portion of a rotation operation pin 69 that is opposed to the driven pin 67 in a parallel state is fixed.
Further, at the base end portion of the bottom surface 52 of the case main body and at one end portion in the width direction thereof, a substantially U-shape is formed through a pedestal bracket 70 as viewed in plan and long in the length direction of the bottom plate 52. The pin bracket 71 is fixed. The pin bracket 71 has a rectangular notch 71a formed on the side of the driven pin 67 side on the side of the vertical rotation actuator 50 side. The rotation operation pin 69 is disposed at a substantially intermediate portion in the length direction of the rectangular notch 71a in plan view. A thick rectangular block 72 is integrally formed on the lower surface (back surface) of the end portion of the pin bracket 71 on the driven pin 67 side. A long slide hole 72 a is formed in the central portion of the upper end portion (base end portion) of the rectangular block 72 in a direction orthogonal to the driven pin 67. Due to the spring force of the torsion coil spring C, one end of the slide hole 72a is always in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the rotation operation pin 69, and the other end is the outer periphery of the intermediate portion in the length direction of the driven pin 67. A kick pin 73 that is always in contact with the surface is slidably inserted.

Next, the monitor unit 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 8.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the monitor unit 16 has a monitor main body 74 that is a rectangular casing having a portable size. A monitor board 75 and a monitor battery 47 as a power source for the monitor unit 16 are housed in the internal space of the monitor body 74.
The monitor board 75 includes an imaging data receiver 42, an imaging data processing unit 41, a liquid crystal display (liquid crystal screen) 40, a controller 44, a command signal transmitter 43, an imaging data change input unit 45, and a monitor control unit 46. And are installed.
The imaging data receiver 42 receives imaging data transmitted from the imaging data transmitter 32.
The liquid crystal display 40 displays camera images (still images or moving images) obtained by an imaging data processing unit 41 described later on the monitor screen 16a.
The controller 44 controls the rotation direction and rotation angle of the camera unit 11 by the vertical rotation actuator 50 and the left / right rotation actuator 51, the focus adjustment / zoom adjustment of the camera unit 11, the ON / OFF / illuminance of the illumination unit 12, and the like. It is used when controlling (operation command). In this embodiment, the controller 44 (input key) is provided on one side frame of the monitor main body 74. However, if the liquid crystal display 40 is of a touch panel type, the controller 44 may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 40. Good.
The command signal transmitter 43 transmits the control for the up / down rotation actuator 50, the left / right rotation actuator 51, the camera unit 11, and the illumination unit 12 input from the controller 44 to the command signal receiver 33 as operation command signals. .
The imaging data changing input unit 45 is an input means for inputting an imaging data processing command to the camera imaging displayed on the monitor screen 16a. The imaging data processing command input by the imaging data changing input unit 45 is transmitted to the imaging data processing unit 41. The imaging data processing command is a command that causes the imaging data processing unit 41 to perform left-right inversion, upside-down inversion, rotation, and zoom processing for the camera imaging displayed on the monitor screen 16a. In this embodiment, the imaging data changing input unit 45 (input key) is provided on the other side frame of the monitor main body 74. However, if the liquid crystal display 40 is a touch panel type, the imaging data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 40. The change input unit 45 may be displayed.
The imaging data processing unit 41 not only converts the imaging data received by the imaging data reception unit 42 into camera imaging so that it can be displayed on the monitor screen 16a, but also captures the camera imaging displayed on the monitor screen 16a. It has a reversing function for reversing up and down, left and right, a rotating function for rotating camera imaging by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction, and a zoom function for scaling camera imaging to an arbitrary magnification.
The control unit 46 of the monitor unit controls the electrical devices of the imaging data receiver 42, the imaging data processing unit 41, the liquid crystal display (liquid crystal screen) 40, the controller 44, the command signal transmitter 43, and the imaging data change input unit 45. Is for.

Next, the signal / data transmission of the urination support apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
In the signal / data transmission circuit of the device base 14, the camera unit 11 and the command signal receiver 33 are connected to the input port of the device control unit 34. The output port of the apparatus control unit 34 is connected to the illumination unit 12, the vertical rotation actuator 50 and the left / right rotation actuator 51, which are drive units of the camera orientation adjusting means 15, and the imaging data transmitter 32. Yes.
In signal / data transmission provided in the monitor unit 16, a power switch, an imaging data processing unit 41, an imaging data receiver 42, a controller 44, and an imaging data changing function are connected to an input port of the control unit 46 of the monitoring unit. The input unit 45 is connected. In addition, a liquid crystal display 40, an imaging data processing unit 41, and a command signal transmitter 43 are connected to the output port of the control unit 46 of the monitor unit.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a method for training a female patient with spinal cord injury as a method for using the urination assisting apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, before the self-urination training, the monitor unit 16 is first detachably attached to the toilet wall or shelf using, for example, double-sided tape, hooks, screws, or the like. Others may be held by medical staff. On the other hand, the toilet seat 19 of the sitting toilet 13 is erected, and the apparatus base 14 is hooked on one side portion of the front portion of the rim portion 18b of the bowl portion 18 so as to straddle the rim portion 18b.
At this time, the short frame plate 22 is arranged in the internal space of the bowl portion 18, the upper frame plate 24 is placed on the upper surface of the rim portion 18 b, and the long frame plate 23 is arranged outside the bowl portion 18. In this state, the toilet seat 19 is returned to the original position, and the upper frame plate 24 of the apparatus base 14 is sandwiched between the toilet seat 19 and the rim portion 18b.

Next, at the time of self urination training, the female patient sits on the toilet seat 19 of the sitting toilet 13 and performs self urination training according to instructions from the medical staff. During this training, the camera unit 11 captures the situation of the position of the catheter and the hand for self-urination while irradiating the LED white light from the illumination unit 12 in the internal space of the bowl unit 18. Imaging data obtained by photographing by the camera unit 11 is displayed on a monitor screen 16a of the monitor unit 16 away from the device base 14 attached to the sitting toilet 13.
Specifically, when the power switch of the monitor unit 16 is turned on, the urination support apparatus 10 starts to operate, and a power input signal is wirelessly transmitted from the command signal transmitter 43 to the apparatus base 14 side. The command signal receiver 33 receives this input signal, and when this signal is input to the device control unit 34, a shooting command is sent from the device control unit 34 to the camera unit 11, and the LED 12 emits light to the illumination unit 12. A command is sent. Thereby, LED light is irradiated from the illumination part 12 to the imaging region of the female patient, and the local part illuminated by this light is imaged by the camera part 11. The analog image data output from the image sensor with the shooting is converted into digital image data by an A / D converter built in the camera unit 11 and input to the apparatus control unit 34. Thereafter, the imaging data reaches the imaging data transmitter 32 from the apparatus control unit 34 and is wirelessly transmitted from here to the monitor unit 16. Thereafter, the imaging data receiver 42 receives the wireless (imaging) data, and this data is input to the control unit 46 of the monitor unit, whereby the imaging data is transmitted to the imaging data processing unit 41. The imaging data receiving unit 42 not only converts the received imaging data into camera imaging that can be displayed on the monitor screen 16a, but also when an imaging data processing command is input in advance from the imaging data change input unit 45, Predetermined processing such as left-right inversion is performed.
The imaging data (image data) subjected to this processing is sent to the liquid crystal display 40, and the imaging data (image data) is displayed on the monitor screen 16a.

When a female patient or medical staff wants to change (image processing) the displayed local imaging data (image data) so as to be easily visible, manual input is performed from the imaging data changing input unit 45 of the monitor unit 16. In order to make the local area easy to see on the monitor screen 16a, the imaging data (image data) displayed on the monitor screen 16a is reversed up and down, left and right, rotated at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction, and at an arbitrary magnification. Perform processing such as scaling.
Further, when it is desired to change the shooting angle by the camera unit 11, the controller 44 of the monitor unit 16 selects the rotation direction (up and down rotation direction, left and right rotation direction) of the camera unit 11 and inputs this. To do. The input signal (command signal) is sent to the command signal transmitter 43 through the control unit 46 of the monitor unit, and is transmitted to the apparatus base 14 as wireless data therefrom. In the device base 14, the command signal receiver 33 receives this command signal, and thereafter, a predetermined output shaft 58 based on the command signal is sent from the device control unit 34 to the vertical rotation actuator 50 and the horizontal rotation actuator 51. A command for the rotational direction and the rotational speed of 60 is transmitted, and the camera unit 11 rotates by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction.

  For example, when the camera unit 11 is rotated in either the left or right direction, the output shaft 58 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the left / right rotation actuator 51. As a result, the camera bracket 64 to which the camera unit 11 is fixed rotates in the same direction by the same angle via the portal bracket 63 fixed to the tip of the output shaft 58 and the pair of vertical rotation shafts 56. .

  Further, when the camera unit 11 is rotated in any one of the vertical directions, the output shaft 60 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the vertical rotation actuator 50. As a result, the operation lever 68 and the rotation operation pin 69 rotate in the same direction as the output shaft 60 by the same angle. At this time, due to the spring force of the torsion coil spring C, one end portion of the kick pin 73 inserted through the pin hole 72a of the pin bracket 71 is always in contact with the rotation operation pin 69. Therefore, when the rotation operation pin 69 is moved, the kick pin 73 is moved in the length direction of the case main body 38 with the pin hole 72a as a guide, whereby the driven pin 67 is centered on the vertical rotation shaft 56. It rotates integrally with the bracket 64. Thus, the camera unit 11 fixed to the camera bracket 64 rotates upward or downward by a predetermined angle. The output shaft rotation command to the vertical rotation actuator 50 and the left / right rotation actuator 51 is transmitted while the command signal receiver 33 receives a command signal associated with the operation of the controller 44.

In this way, the patient, together with the medical staff, should perform self-urine training in an easy posture, not a cramped leaning posture that looks into the conventional mirror while visually checking the situation on the monitor screen 16a. Can do. Further, since the device base 14 is detachably attached to the sitting toilet 13 and the monitor unit 16 is separated from the device base 14, the urination support device 10 can be carried. Self-urination (training) can also be performed in the sitting toilet 13.
In addition, since the device base 14 has a waterproof function, electrical components such as the camera unit 11 and the illumination unit 12 do not get wet with water even though the device base 14 is used in the internal space of the toilet body 17. Furthermore, since the apparatus base 14 is hooked on the upper edge of the toilet body 17 so as to straddle the rim 18b, the apparatus base 14 can be easily attached to and detached from the rim 18b, and the apparatus base 14 is attached to the rim. The camera unit 11 and the illuminating unit 12 can be moved to the optimal observation position for self-urination by sliding or removing once along the upper surface of 18b.
At that time, when the patient's hand gets in the way, the angle changing means 15 can automatically change the inclination angle of the camera unit 11 and the illumination unit 12 to a position where the catheter and the urinary orifice can be easily seen. .
Further, manual input is performed from the imaging data changing input unit 45 of the monitor unit 16 so that the local unit can be easily viewed on the monitor screen 16a, with respect to the imaging data (image data) displayed on the monitor screen 16a. By performing processing such as left / right reversal, rotation at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction, and expansion / contraction at an arbitrary magnification, it is possible to easily see the status of the local hand and catheter position on the monitor screen. As a result, it is possible to safely give guidance, self urination and excretion.

In the urination support device 10 according to the first embodiment, the device base 14 and the monitor unit 16 are wirelessly connected. However, the device base 14 and the monitor unit 16 may be connected by wire. In this case, the imaging data transmitter 32, the imaging data receiver 42, the command signal transmitter 43, and the command signal receiver 33 are unnecessary.
Further, the urination assisting apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment may be provided with an illumination unit orientation adjusting unit having the same configuration as the camera orientation adjusting unit 15 so that the orientation of the illumination unit 12 can be adjusted.
Furthermore, you may enable it to control the angle of a storage case with a controller.

  The urination support apparatus according to the present invention is a technique for visualizing a local area so that self-conduction can be easily performed for a female patient who needs urination, such as a spinal cord injury person, a stroke patient, and a spina bifida. Useful as.

10 urination support device,
11 Camera part,
12 Illumination part,
13 Stool toilet,
14 device base,
15 Camera orientation adjustment means,
16 monitor section,
16a monitor screen,
17 Toilet body,
50 Actuator for vertical rotation,
51 Actuator for left-right rotation,
57 Vertical rotation mechanism,
56 Vertical rotation axis,
59 Left-right rotation mechanism,
58 Output shaft (left-right rotation shaft),
18b Rim part.

Claims (3)

A camera unit for imaging a patient's local area;
An illumination unit that illuminates a local area of the patient;
An apparatus base on which the camera unit and the illumination unit are disposed;
A urination assisting device provided with a monitor unit that is arranged apart from the device base and displays on the monitor screen imaged data obtained by the camera unit photographing,
The device base is
The camera portion and the illumination portion are housed in a portion that is generally reverse U-shaped and is detachably attached to the sitting toilet and is disposed inside the bowl portion of the sitting toilet,
A urination support apparatus in which a control board is housed in a portion disposed outside the bowl portion. The urination support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus base body has a generally inverted U shape formed by resin molding, is sandwiched so as to straddle the rim part due to its elasticity, and is firmly held by the rim part . The said apparatus base | substrate has the imaging | photography part storage case curved so that the filth receiving surface of the said bowl part might be followed, The said camera part and the said illumination part were accommodated in this imaging | photography part storage case inside. Urination support device.

Images