JP6627650B2 - Urine volume measuring device and urine volume measuring method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a urine volume measuring device and a urine volume measuring method.

  The urine volume measurement is performed in a medical institution or the like for the purpose of, for example, managing the condition of a patient with a dysuria or controlling the water content of an inpatient. There are various methods for measuring the amount of urine, such as a method using a dedicated container provided with a measuring device and a method of attaching the measuring device to a subject (patient). In addition, as a method capable of measuring urine volume without using a dedicated container and in a non-contact manner, there is a technique of measuring urine volume from an image obtained by imaging urine (simulated urine) discharged from a subject. It has been proposed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which simulated urine is imaged from the side in the discharge direction, and the amount of urine is estimated from a captured image of the simulated urine that appears in a parabolic shape. Specifically, the initial velocity of the simulated urine at the end of the image is calculated by approximating the trajectory of the simulated urine in the image to a parabola. In addition, the thickness of the locus of the simulated urine in the normal direction of the approximated parabola is obtained from the image. The simulated urine in the image is approximated as a cylinder traveling along the trajectory at the calculated initial velocity, and the cross-sectional area of the cylinder determined from the thickness of the trajectory and the initial velocity corresponding to the height of the cylinder (per unit time) ), The volume of the cylinder is determined. The urine volume is estimated by integrating the volume of the cylinder in each image from the start to the end of urination.

Atsushi Isomura, Haruki Kawanaka, Koji Oguri, et al., "Effectiveness of Background Difference Method and Elimination of Noise in Binary Images in Estimating Liquid Flow Rate for Simulated Urination in Men", IEICE Technical Report: IEICE Technical Report, IEICE, March 2015, Vol.114, No.514, pp.139-144

  However, the method of Non-Patent Document 1 cannot be applied unless the inclination of the trajectory of the urine in the image correlates with the velocity of the urine. For example, when urine is discharged from the upper side of the image to the lower side as in the case of urination in a sitting posture, there is no correlation between the trajectory of the urine and the velocity of the urine, and the initial velocity cannot be calculated from the trajectory. That is, the method of Non-Patent Document 1 is typically applicable only to a case where a man urinates in a standing position (upright posture). Therefore, it is desired to be able to measure the amount of urine from an image regardless of gender and without depending on a urination posture such as a standing posture and a sitting posture (seated posture).

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to measure urine volume from a captured image without depending on gender and urination posture. An object of the present invention is to provide a urine volume measuring device and a urine volume measuring method capable of measuring the volume.

In order to achieve the above object, a urine amount measurement device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit configured to continuously image urine discharged from a subject from a side in a discharge direction, and an imaging unit. detecting a liquid portion that has reached the observation line set at Oite predetermined height position in the captured frame image, based on the volume of the liquid portion, and a calculation means for calculating the volume of urine is discharged. In addition, in this specification, the "urine volume" means the total amount (total volume) of urine discharged by one urination.

In urine measuring device according to a first aspect of the invention detects the liquid portion has reached the observation line set at Oite predetermined height position in the frame image captured by the imaging means, based on the volume of the liquid portion And a calculating means for calculating the amount of urine to be discharged. Thereby, the amount of urine can be calculated from the image of the liquid portion that has reached the set observation position, regardless of the moving direction of the urine (liquid portion) in the image. As a result, not only is urine discharged in a parabolic trajectory obliquely downward from the side of the image, such as in a standing position, but also, for example, urine is discharged downward from above the image, such as in a sitting position. Even in such a case, the amount of urine can be obtained from each captured frame image. Thus, according to the present invention, even when measuring the urine amount from the captured image, the urine amount can be measured regardless of the sex and the urination posture.

  In the urine amount measuring device according to the first aspect, preferably, the calculating means calculates a volume of the liquid portion for each frame image, and integrates a volume of the liquid portion for each frame image in a urine discharging process. Calculate urine output. With this configuration, for each frame image from the start to the end of urination, if the volume of the liquid portion reaching the observation position is calculated, the volume of each liquid portion is integrated, so that the urine volume can be easily determined. Can be obtained.

  In this case, preferably, the arithmetic unit acquires the number of frame images included in the unit time from the frame rate of the image captured by the imaging unit, and integrates the volume of the liquid portion in each continuous frame image in the unit time. By doing so, the urine flow rate, which is the amount of urine per unit time, is calculated. With this configuration, the urine flow rate can be easily obtained by integrating the volume of the liquid portion in units of the number of images according to the frame rate of the image to be captured.

  In the urine amount measuring device according to the first aspect, preferably, the imaging unit captures an image at a predetermined frame rate at which the same droplet or liquid column can be captured in at least two consecutive frame images. Is configured to do so. With this configuration, it is possible to grasp before and after the liquid portion reaches the observation position, so that it is possible to more reliably obtain the volume of the liquid portion discharged from the subject. As a result, urine volume can be accurately measured.

In the urine volume measuring apparatus according to the first aspect, preferably, the calculation means sets an observation area starting from the observation line as a start position and extending downstream in the liquid movement direction, and within the observation area in each frame image. It is configured to calculate the urine volume based on the image of the contained liquid portion. With such a configuration, by determining the volume of the liquid portion included in the observation region, for example, a long liquid column-shaped liquid portion that continues to pass through the observation position over a plurality of continuous frames is also used as the image of each frame image. The volume can be calculated individually by dividing the volume into portions included in the observation region. As a result, the volume of the long liquid column-shaped liquid portion can be obtained with high accuracy.

In the urine amount measuring device according to the second aspect of the present invention, an imager for continuously imaging urine discharged from the subject from the side in the discharge direction, and a frame image in each frame image captured by the imager, Calculating means for calculating the amount of urine to be discharged based on the image of the liquid portion that has reached the observation position set in the frame image. The observation area is set to extend, and in each frame image, the amount of urine is calculated based on the image of the liquid part included in the observation area, and the movement amount of the liquid part between successive frame images Is acquired, and the range of the observation area is set based on the movement amount. With this configuration, even if there is a liquid column-shaped liquid portion longer than the observation region, if the range of the observation region is made to correspond to the movement amount of the acquired liquid portion, the observation region of each continuous frame image is By simply adding up the volumes of the liquid portions included, the volume of the entire liquid columnar liquid portion can be obtained. That is, the volume can be calculated by dividing the liquid column-shaped liquid portion into each observation region of a plurality of frames without overlapping or interruption. As a result, it is possible to more accurately acquire the urine volume from each frame image.

  In the urine amount measuring device according to the first aspect, preferably, the imaging means is attached to the edge of the toilet at a position where the discharged urine can be imaged from the side in the discharge direction, or Are located within the edge of the. According to this configuration, if the imaging means is attached to the edge of the toilet, the urine amount measuring device can be provided for the existing toilet without newly providing (or replacing) new toilet facilities. Further, in the case where a toilet is installed as a new facility, the urine volume measuring device can be integrated with the toilet by arranging the imaging means in the edge of the toilet so as to be embedded therein. The convenience can be improved, for example, by reducing the installation load of the device.

Full urine volume measuring method according to the third aspect of the invention, the urine discharged from a subject, urine discharged from a subject, comprising the steps of continuously captured from the side with respect to the discharge direction, which is imaged detecting a liquid portion that has reached the observation line set at Oite predetermined height position in frame images, based on the volume of the liquid portion, and a step of calculating the volume of urine is discharged.

In the third urine volume measuring method according to aspects of the present invention, to detect the liquid portion has reached the observation line set at Oite predetermined height position in the captured frame image, based on the volume of the liquid portion, the discharge A step of calculating the amount of urine to be performed is provided. Thereby, the amount of urine can be calculated from the image of the liquid portion that has reached the set observation position, regardless of the moving direction of the urine (liquid portion) in the image. As a result, not only in the standing position, but also in the sitting position, the urine volume can be obtained from each of the captured frame images, so that when measuring the urine volume from the captured image, Urine volume can be measured regardless of gender and urination posture. In the urine amount measuring method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the step of continuously imaging urine discharged from the subject from the side in the discharging direction, and the method of measuring the moving amount of the liquid portion between successive frame images. Acquiring, based on the acquired movement amount, setting an observation area range so as to extend to the downstream side in the liquid movement direction with the observation position set in a part of the imaging visual field as a start position; Calculating the amount of urine to be discharged based on the image of the liquid portion included in the observation region in each of the obtained frame images.

  According to the present invention, as described above, even when measuring urine volume from a captured image, it is possible to measure urine volume regardless of gender and urination posture.

It is a block diagram showing a urine volume measuring device by a 1st and 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical perspective view for explaining the urine volume measuring device of the type attached to a toilet. It is a typical sectional view for explaining a urine volume measuring device of the type attached to a toilet (A) and a urine volume measuring device of a type built into a toilet (B). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame image (N frame, N + 1 frame) continuously captured by an imaging unit. It is the figure which showed an example (A) of the volume calculation method of the liquid part of a droplet form, and an example (B) of the volume calculation method of the liquid part of a liquid column shape. It is a figure showing an example of a volume graph of a liquid part for every frame. It is a figure showing an example of a urine flow rate graph per unit time. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the urine volume measurement processing by 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of a frame image for explaining a method of calculating the volume of a liquid portion according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating a volume of a moving liquid portion in an observation region of each frame image. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the urine volume measurement processing by 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of urine volume measuring device)
The configuration of the urine amount measuring device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The urine volume measuring device 100 is a device that measures the urine volume of urine discharged from a subject (not shown). The subject is, for example, a patient with a dysuria or an inpatient at a medical institution such as a hospital. The urine volume measuring device 100 is provided in a medical institution such as a hospital, and is used for urine volume measurement for controlling the state of a subject and controlling the amount of water. The urine volume measuring device 100 may be provided in a general home or the like other than a medical institution.

  The urine amount measuring device 100 has a function of measuring the amount of urine from an image obtained by imaging the urine 1 discharged from the subject. Thus, it is possible to measure the urine volume in a non-contact and non-invasive manner without attaching a dedicated measuring device or catheter to the subject.

  The urine volume measurement device 100 includes an imaging unit 10 and a control device 20. The imaging unit 10 is an example of the “imaging unit” in the claims.

  The imaging unit 10 is a camera including an image sensor 11 such as a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. The imaging unit 10 has a function of continuously capturing images at a predetermined frame rate to obtain a moving image. The imaging unit 10 is configured to continuously image the urine 1 discharged from the subject from the side in the discharge direction 2. The imaging unit 10 outputs the captured image to the control device 20. The “lateral to the discharge direction” is a direction substantially orthogonal to a plane including a path (see FIG. 2) through which the urine 1 to be discharged passes. The imaging unit 10 is attached as a separate unit to a toilet used for excretion, or is provided integrally with the toilet. The arrangement of the imaging unit 10 will be described later.

  The control device 20 is electrically connected to the imaging unit 10 and has a function of performing control processing of the imaging unit 10 and calculating urine volume based on a captured image. The control device 20 is a computer mainly including an arithmetic unit 21 composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit 22 composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). It is. The calculation unit 21 is an example of the “calculation unit” in the claims.

  The calculation unit 21 performs a calculation process related to urine volume measurement by executing a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 22. The storage unit 22 is configured to store a program 22a for urine volume measurement, image data 22b acquired from the imaging unit 10, measurement data 22c as a urine volume measurement result, and the like. The measurement data 22c is recorded and managed in an electronic medical record or the like as a urine volume measurement result for each subject (patient). The measurement data 22c may be transmitted to the management computer by, for example, wired communication or wireless communication, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a flash memory in the control device 20 and read out by the management computer. Good.

(Configuration example of urine volume measurement device)
The urine amount measuring device 100 is configured to be attachable to a toilet 90, for example, as shown in FIG.

  In the configuration example of FIG. 2, the imaging unit 10 is attached to the edge 91 of the toilet 90 at a position where the urine 1 to be discharged can be imaged from the side in the discharge direction 2. Specifically, the imaging unit 10 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the edge 91 via the bracket 30 that engages with the edge 91 (rim) of the upper opening 93 of the bowl 92 as a water storage unit. . The imaging unit 10 is disposed at a substantially middle portion of the edge 91 in the depth direction of the toilet 90, and is attached toward the center of the upper opening 93 of the bowl 92. That is, the imaging direction of the imaging unit 10 substantially matches the width direction of the toilet 90. Thereby, the imaging unit 10 images the urine 1 to be discharged from the side in the discharge direction 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the bracket 30 is formed in a U-shaped cross section (an inverted U-shape), and comes into contact with the upper surface, the inner peripheral surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the edge 91, thereby forming the bracket 30. Is engaged. The imaging unit 10 is attached to the bracket 30 on the inner peripheral side of the edge 91. The control device 20 is attached to the bracket 30 on the outer peripheral side of the edge 91. Further, the bracket 30 has a function of guiding and protecting a wiring connecting the imaging unit 10 and the control device 20.

  The imaging unit 10 may be configured integrally with the toilet 90. For example, in the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 3B, the imaging unit 10 is disposed in the edge 91 of the toilet 90 at a position where the discharged urine 1 can be imaged from the side in the discharge direction 2. I have. Although illustration is omitted, the circumferential position of the peripheral edge portion 91 may be considered to be the same as that of the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, and the imaging unit 10 is directed toward the center of the upper opening 93 of the bowl portion 92. Is provided. In this case, for example, a translucent window member 94 for imaging by the imaging unit 10 is provided on a part of the inner peripheral surface of the edge 91, and the imaging unit 10 is discharged through the window member 94. Urine 1 is imaged from the side in the discharge direction 2. The control device 20 is connected to the imaging unit 10 by wire or wirelessly. In addition to the imaging unit 10, the control device 20 may be incorporated as a part of the toilet unit.

  2 and 3 show an example in which the urine volume measuring device 100 is attached to a so-called Western urinal unit, but the urine volume measuring device 100 (imaging unit 10) is used for a Japanese-style toilet or a urinal. Can be attached or incorporated in a similar manner.

(Urine volume measurement method)
Next, a urine volume measuring method by the urine volume measuring device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIGS.

  As described above, the imaging unit 10 captures the urine 1 discharged from the subject as a moving image at a predetermined frame rate. As shown in FIG. 4, the calculation unit 21 acquires each frame image 40 continuously captured. In each frame image 40, a liquid part 50 as a part of the urine 1 is shown. In the continuous frame images 40, the liquid portion 50 is imaged while moving by a time interval corresponding to the frame rate. In the case of urination in the upright position (upright posture), the liquid portion 50 moves obliquely downward from above in each frame image 40 along a parabolic trajectory like the route R1 in FIG. In the case of urination in a sitting position (seated position), the liquid portion 50 moves downward from above in each frame image 40 as shown by a route R2 in FIG. In any case, the liquid portion 50 moves downward from above in the continuous frame images 40 by the action of gravity.

  In the first embodiment, the calculation unit 21 determines the amount of urine to be discharged based on the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41 set in the frame image 40 in each of the frame images 40 captured by the imaging unit 10. Is calculated.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the observation position 41 is set as an observation line arranged at a predetermined height position below the imaging field of view of the imaging unit 10. That is, the observation position 41 is a predetermined height position of the imaging visual field, and is a linear area extending in the horizontal direction in the image from one end to the other end of the imaging visual field. By calculating the urine volume from the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41, a common measurement process can be applied to both cases of the route R1 and the route R2.

  The calculation unit 21 is configured to calculate the volume of the liquid portion 50 for each frame image 40, and to calculate the urine volume by integrating the volume of the liquid portion 50 for each frame image 40 in the urine 1 discharging process. ing. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the Nth frame (N is a natural number), the calculation unit 21 calculates the volume of the liquid portion 50a that has reached the observation position 41. In the Nth frame image 40, the liquid portion 50a is followed by the liquid portion 50b. In the next (N + 1) th frame, the calculation unit 21 calculates the volume of the liquid portion 50b that has reached the observation position 41. When there are a plurality of liquid portions 50 that reach the observation position 41 in one frame image 40, the calculation unit 21 calculates the total value of the volumes of the liquid portions 50, and calculates the total value of the liquid portions that have reached the observation position 41. The volume is assumed to be 50.

  The calculation unit 21 records the volume value of the liquid portion 50 for each frame image 40 in the storage unit 22 by calculating the volume of the liquid portion 50 reaching the observation position 41 in each frame image 40. Thereby, the calculation unit 21 creates a volume graph 61 for each frame as shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal axis indicates the number of frames, and the vertical axis indicates the volume of the liquid portion 50 calculated in each frame image 40. In FIG. 6, for example, the volume value Va of the liquid portion 50a is recorded in N frames, and the volume value Vb of the liquid portion 50b is recorded in N + 1 frames.

  The calculation unit 21 acquires the urine volume [mL] in one urination by integrating the volume values of each frame image 40 from the start of urination to the end of urination. The urine volume is calculated as the calculated total volume (total volume) of the liquid portion 50.

  For calculating the volume from the liquid portion 50 shown in the frame image 40, a known method can be adopted. Specifically, a method of approximating the image of the liquid portion 50 to a predetermined three-dimensional shape can be adopted. For example, when an image of the liquid portion 50 in the form of a droplet shown in FIG. 5A is obtained, the calculation unit 21 approximates a sphere or a spheroid having a cross-sectional shape of the obtained image to thereby obtain the liquid portion 50. Calculate the volume of 50. For example, when an image of the liquid column-shaped liquid portion 50 shown in FIG. 5B is obtained, the calculation unit 21 calculates the volume of the liquid portion 50 by approximating a cylinder having a cross-sectional shape of the obtained image. I do.

  What kind of three-dimensional shape the individual liquid portion 50 approximates can be determined by, for example, performing case division based on the length in the major axis direction or the aspect ratio between the major axis and the minor axis. it can. In approximation to a three-dimensional shape, errors are easier to reduce when the liquid portion 50 is in the form of droplets than when it is in the form of columns (liquid column). Therefore, it is preferable that the imaging unit 10 is arranged so as to be able to image the urine 1 dispersed in a droplet form.

  In the first embodiment, the urine volume measurement device 100 can measure the urine flow rate in one urination in addition to the urine volume measurement in one urination. The urine flow rate is the amount of urine discharged per unit time, and the unit time is, for example, 1 second.

  Specifically, the calculation unit 21 first obtains the number of frame images 40 included in the unit time from the frame rate of the image captured by the imaging unit 10. For example, when the frame rate is 240 fps, the number K of the frame images 40 included in the unit time (= 1 sec) is 240. The calculation unit 21 calculates the urine flow rate [mL / sec] by integrating the volume of the liquid portion 50 in each continuous frame image 40 in a unit time. That is, the computing unit 21 integrates the volume value of the volume graph 61 for each frame shown in FIG. 6 for each K frame to form a volume graph for each unit time (urine flow rate graph 62) shown in FIG. Convert. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the total volume (ie, urine flow rate) of the liquid portion 50 calculated from the frame images 40 included in each unit time. For example, the volume values (Va, Vb,...) For K frames from N frame to N + (K−1) frame in FIG. Vs is calculated as the volume per corresponding unit time (= urine flow rate). Thereby, the urine flow rate at each unit time is obtained.

  The calculating unit 21 calculates, for example, the maximum value of the urine flow rate in one urination (maximum urine flow rate) and the average value of the urine flow rate in one urination (average urine flow rate). The urine volume measuring device 100 can output the calculated maximum urine flow rate, average urine flow rate, and a urine flow rate graph 62 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the configuration in which the urine volume and the urine flow rate are calculated from the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41, it is possible to more surely image each liquid portion 50 when reaching the observation position 41. Is preferred. In the first embodiment, the imaging unit 10 is configured to perform imaging at a predetermined frame rate for imaging each liquid portion 50 when reaching the observation position 41. The frame rate of the imaging unit 10 is higher than 30 fps or 60 fps generally used in television and the like.

  The imaging unit 10 is configured to perform imaging at a predetermined frame rate at which the same droplet or liquid column (liquid portion 50) can be captured in at least two consecutive frame images 40. For example, the moving speed of the urine 1 discharged outside the body is approximately 1 [m / s] to approximately 3 [m / s]. Assuming that the moving speed of the urine 1 is 2 [m / s] and the frame rate is 240 fps, the moving amount D between frames is about 8.3 [mm]. In this case, it is sufficiently possible to capture the same liquid portion 50 in two consecutive frame images 40 for the imaging unit 10 having a general visual field size.

  The higher the frame rate, the more reliably the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41 can be imaged. Therefore, the higher the frame rate, the more the measurement accuracy can be improved. For example, in the first embodiment, the frame rate at which the amount of movement D of the liquid portion 50 between frames is smaller than the average size of the liquid portion 50 (the length of the frame image 40 in the vertical direction) is equal to the frame rate. May be set. In this case, it is possible to reliably image the liquid portion 50 having a size larger than the average at the observation position 41 and calculate the volume. When the same liquid portion 50 is continuously present at the observation position 41 in the plurality of frame images 40, the calculation unit 21 skips without calculating the volume in the frame image 40 after the first volume calculation.

(Urine volume measurement processing)
Next, a urine volume measurement process performed by the urine volume measurement device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control of the urine volume measurement process is performed by the control device 20.

  In step S1 of FIG. 8, imaging by the imaging unit 10 is started. The imaging unit 10 continuously performs imaging at the above-described predetermined frame rate. When the subject starts urinating, a frame image 40 including the liquid portion 50 is obtained.

  In step S2, the arithmetic unit 21 determines whether or not there is a liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41 in one frame image 40 acquired in the current frame (Nth frame). If there is no liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41, the calculation unit 21 does not calculate the volume of the current frame image 40, and proceeds to the processing in step S4. If there is a liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41, the calculation unit 21 proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, the calculation unit 21 calculates the volume of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41. The calculation unit 21 approximates the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41 to a three-dimensional shape, and calculates the volume. In step S4, the calculation unit 21 creates the volume graph 61 for each frame shown in FIG. That is, the volume value of the liquid portion 50 calculated in the current frame is recorded in the volume graph 61. In step S2, in the frame where it is determined that there is no liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41, 0 is recorded as the volume value.

  In step S5, the calculation unit 21 determines whether or not to end shooting. For example, when the liquid portion 50 is not observed for a predetermined time-out period, the end of imaging may be determined to be the end of imaging, or an operation switch for inputting the end of measurement may be provided separately, and the end of imaging may be determined. Operation input may be accepted. When determining that the photographing is not to be ended, the calculation unit 21 returns to step S2 and performs the processing of steps S2 to S4 on the next frame image 40. If the calculation unit 21 determines that the shooting is to be ended, the processing proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, the calculation unit 21 creates the urine flow rate graph shown in FIG. That is, the calculation unit 21 obtains the number K of the frame images 40 for the unit time (1 second) from the frame rate of the imaging unit 10 and calculates the volume value for each number K, thereby forming the urine flow rate graph 62. create.

  In step S7, the calculation unit 21 calculates the urine volume and the urine flow rate from the graphs created in steps S4 and S6. The measured data 22c such as the calculated urine volume, urine flow rate, and the urine flow rate graph 62 are recorded in the storage unit 22 for transmission to a management computer or the like.

  As described above, the urine volume measurement processing by the urine volume measurement device 100 is performed.

(Effect of First Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, as described above, in each of the frame images 40 captured by the imaging unit 10, the amount of urine discharged based on the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41 set in the frame image 40 Is provided. Thereby, the amount of urine can be calculated from the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the set observation position 41 regardless of the moving direction of the urine 1 (liquid portion 50) in the image. As a result, not only when urine 1 is discharged in a parabolic trajectory obliquely downward from the side of the image such as in a standing position (path R1), but also in a state of sitting, for example, the urine 1 is discharged from above to below. Even when the urine 1 is discharged (path R2), the amount of urine can be obtained from each of the captured frame images 40. Thereby, according to the urine amount measuring apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, even when measuring the urine amount from the captured image, the urine amount can be measured regardless of the gender and the urination posture.

  In the first embodiment, as described above, the calculation unit 21 calculates the volume of the liquid portion 50 for each frame image 40 and integrates the volume of the liquid portion 50 for each frame image 40 in the urine 1 discharging process. Thus, the urine volume is calculated. Thereby, if the volume of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation position 41 is calculated for each frame image 40 from the start to the end of urination, the volume of each liquid portion 50 is integrated, so that the urine volume can be easily determined. Can be obtained.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as described above, the arithmetic unit 21 obtains the number K of the frame images 40 included in the unit time (1 second) from the frame rate of the image captured by the imaging unit 10, It is configured to calculate the urine flow rate, which is the amount of urine per unit time, by integrating the volume of the liquid portion 50 in each continuous frame image 40 in the unit time. Thus, the urine flow rate can be easily acquired by integrating the volume of the liquid portion 50 in units of the number of images (K images) corresponding to the frame rate of the image to be captured.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as described above, the imaging unit 10 is provided with at least a predetermined liquid droplet or liquid column (liquid portion 50) which can capture the same droplet or liquid column (liquid portion 50) in two consecutive frame images 40. It is configured to perform imaging at a frame rate. Thereby, since it is possible to grasp before and after the liquid portion 50 reaches the observation position 41, it is possible to more reliably acquire the volume of the liquid portion 50 discharged from the subject. As a result, urine volume can be accurately measured.

  In the first embodiment, as described above, the imaging unit 10 is attached to the edge 91 of the toilet 90 at a position where the urine 1 to be discharged can be imaged from the side in the discharge direction 2 (FIG. 3). (See FIG. 3A), or arranged in the edge 91 of the toilet 90 (see FIG. 3B). Thus, if the imaging unit 10 is attached to the edge 91 of the toilet 90, the urine amount measuring device 100 can be provided for an existing toilet without newly providing (or replacing) new toilet equipment. In the case where a toilet is installed as a new facility, the urine amount measuring device 100 can be integrated with the toilet 90 by arranging the imaging unit 10 inside the edge 91 of the toilet 90 so as to be embedded. Therefore, the convenience can be improved, for example, by reducing the installation burden of the urine volume measuring device 100.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a urine volume measuring device 200 (see FIG. 1) according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 9 to 11. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which the volume of the liquid portion 50 reaching the observation position 41 set in a line shape is calculated, the volume of the liquid portion 50 included in the observation region 140 is calculated. An example will be described.

  The device configuration of the urine volume measurement device 200 (see FIG. 1) is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the processing of the calculation unit 121 (see FIG. 1) is different from that of the first embodiment. Description of the device configuration of the urine volume measurement device 200 is omitted. The calculation unit 121 is an example of the “calculation unit” in the claims.

  In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the calculation unit 121 sets the observation region 140 so as to extend to the downstream side in the liquid movement direction with the observation position 41 as a start position. It is configured to calculate the urine volume based on the image of the liquid portion 50 included in 140. Since the liquid portion 50 moves downward from above in the image in both of the above-described paths R1 and R2, the “downstream side in the liquid moving direction” corresponds to the lower side of the image.

  In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 9, the observation area 140 is set as an area between the observation line indicating the observation position 41 and the observation line indicating the end position 141 disposed downstream of the observation position 41. I have. That is, the observation region 140 is set as a band-shaped region extending in the horizontal direction with a predetermined width in the frame image 40.

  The calculation unit 121 calculates the volume of the portion 150 included in the observation region 140 among the liquid portions 50 that have reached the observation region 140 in each frame image 40. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the Nth frame, the calculation unit 121 calculates the volume of the liquid portion 50c included in the observation region 140. In the N-th frame image 40, a long liquid column-shaped liquid portion 50d follows the liquid portion 50c. In the next (N + 1) th frame, the calculation unit 121 calculates the volume of the portion 150 included in the observation region 140 among the liquid portions 50d that have reached the observation region 140. That is, the calculation unit 121 cuts out the observation region 140 in the frame image 40 and calculates the volume of the portion 150 cut by the observation region 140. With respect to the portion 151 of the liquid portion 50d that has not reached the observation region 140 in the (N + 1) th frame, the volume is calculated at the time when the portion 151 is included in the observation region 140 in the subsequent N + 2th frame and thereafter.

  Here, in the second embodiment, the calculation unit 21 is configured to acquire the movement amount D of the liquid portion 50 between the continuous frame images 40 and set the range of the observation region 140 based on the movement amount D. ing. As described above, when imaging the liquid portion 50 at a frame rate at which the same droplet or liquid column (liquid portion 50) can be captured in two consecutive frame images 40, two consecutive frames are taken. By comparing the positions of the same liquid portion 50 in the image 40, the movement amount D of the liquid portion 50 between frames can be obtained. For example, in FIG. 9, the calculation unit 21 acquires the vertical movement amount D of the liquid portion 50 between the Nth frame and the (N + 1) th frame by performing image recognition on the same liquid portion 50d.

  Then, the calculation unit 21 sets the range W of the observation area 140 in the current frame image 40 based on the movement amount D between the immediately preceding frame (N) and the current frame (N + 1). Specifically, the calculation unit 21 sets the distance between the observation position 41 and the end position 141 as the range W of the observation region 140 set in the (N + 1) th frame so as to match the acquired movement amount D. . When the speed of the liquid portion 50 (that is, the movement amount D between frames) changes, the range W of the observation region 140 is reset according to the change.

  By setting the range W of the observation region 140 in this manner, in each frame image 40, the liquid portion 50 moves by a distance D substantially equal to the range W of the observation region 140. Therefore, overlapping of the observation regions 140 set in each frame image 40 and generation of a gap between the observation regions 140 are suppressed. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the liquid portion 50d moves by the same length as the range W of the observation region 140 in N + 2 frames and N + 3 frames after the N + 1 frame. As a result, the liquid columnar liquid portion 50d is divided by the observation regions 140 of the three frames without any overlap, and the volume is calculated for each divided portion (portion 150) of each observation region 140. By integrating the volume for each divided portion, the volume of the liquid portion 50d can be obtained.

  The calculation unit 121 also calculates the volume of the portion 150 included in the observation region 140 for each subsequent frame, thereby obtaining the volume graph 61 (the volume graph for each frame) of each frame image 40 shown in FIG. ). The calculation unit 121 acquires the urine volume [mL] in one urination by integrating the volume values of each frame image 40 from the start of urination to the end of urination.

(Urine volume measurement processing)
Next, a urine volume measurement process performed by the urine volume measurement device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control of the urine volume measurement process is performed by the control device 20. Steps S11 and S16 to S18 in FIG. 11 are the same as steps S1 and S5 to S7 in FIG.

  In step S12, the calculation unit 121 compares the frame image 40 of the immediately preceding frame with the frame image 40 of the current frame by image recognition, and acquires the movement amount D of the liquid portion 50 between the frames.

  In step S13, the calculation unit 121 sets the range W of the observation region 140 based on the acquired movement amount D. That is, the line at the end position 141 of the observation area 140 is set at a position shifted downward from the predetermined observation position 41 by the moving amount D.

  In step S14, the calculation unit 121 calculates the volume of the liquid portion (portion 150) included in the observation region 140. In step S15, the calculation unit 121 creates the volume graph 61 for each frame. The calculation unit 121 records the volume value calculated in the current frame in the volume graph 61. In a frame where the liquid portion 50 has not reached the observation area 140 (the observation position 41), the movement amount D in steps S12 to S14, the setting of the observation area 140, and the calculation of the volume are not performed. Is recorded.

  Thereafter, similarly to the first embodiment, the urine flow rate graph 62 is created (Step S17), and the urine volume and the urine flow rate are calculated (Step S18), thereby measuring the urine volume.

  Other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Effect of Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the amount of urine to be discharged is calculated based on the image of the liquid portion 50 that has reached the observation area 140 including the observation position 41, so that the amount of urine discharged from the captured image is calculated. Even when measuring the urine volume, the urine volume can be measured regardless of the sex and the urination posture.

  Further, in the second embodiment, as described above, the observation region 140 is set so as to extend to the downstream side in the liquid movement direction with the observation position 41 as the start position, and is included in the observation region 140 in each frame image 40. The calculation unit 121 is configured to calculate the urine volume based on the image of the liquid portion 50 (portion 150). Thus, by calculating the volume of the liquid portion 50 (portion 150) included in the observation region 140, the long liquid column-shaped liquid portion 50 (liquid portion 50d) that continues to pass through the observation position 41 over a plurality of continuous frames is obtained. ), The volume can be calculated by dividing the frame image 40 into portions 150 included in the observation region 140. As a result, the volume of the long liquid columnar liquid portion 50d can be obtained with high accuracy.

  Further, in the second embodiment, as described above, the calculation unit obtains the movement amount D of the liquid portion 50 between the continuous frame images 40 and sets the range W of the observation region 140 based on the movement amount D. 121. Thus, even if there is a liquid column-shaped liquid portion 50 (the liquid portion 50d) longer than the observation region 140, if the range W of the observation region 140 is made to correspond to the acquired movement amount D of the liquid portion 50d, it is continuous. By simply adding up the volumes of the liquid portions 50d included in the observation region 140 of each frame image 40, the entire volume of the liquid columnar liquid portion 50d can be obtained. That is, the volume can be calculated by dividing the liquid column-shaped liquid portion 50 into each of the observation regions 140 of a plurality of frames without overlapping or interruption. As a result, the urine volume can be more accurately acquired from each frame image 40.

[Modification]
It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications (modifications) within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the observation position is set in the form of a horizontal line has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, a rectangular area having a predetermined size or the like may be set in the frame image (in the field of view of the image) and set as the observation position. The observation position may be set, for example, as a vertically extending line near one end or the other end in the horizontal direction in the frame image according to the moving direction of the liquid portion (in the case of the route R1 or the like).

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the urine volume and the urine flow rate are calculated has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, it is sufficient to calculate at least the urine volume, and it is not necessary to calculate the urine flow rate. Also, a measurement value other than the urine volume and urine flow rate associated with urination may be acquired. For example, the time required from the start to the end of urination (urination time) may be measured based on the captured image, or the color tone of urine may be measured when the urine is captured as a color image.

  In the first and second embodiments, a numerical example of 240 fps is shown as an example of the frame rate, but the present invention is not limited to this. The frame rate may be a value other than 240 fps.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the image of the liquid portion is approximated to a predetermined three-dimensional shape and the volume is calculated has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For the volume calculation, any method may be used as long as the volume can be obtained from the image of the liquid portion.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the volume graph is created for each frame when calculating the urine volume has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not necessary to create a volume graph for each frame. The urine volume from the start to the end of urination may be calculated by adding each time the volume value for each frame is calculated.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, an example in which a graph of the urine flow rate is created when calculating the urine flow rate has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, it is not necessary to create a graph of the urine flow rate.

  Further, in the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the movement amount of the liquid portion is calculated between consecutive frames, but the present invention is not limited to this. The movement amount of the liquid portion may be calculated at predetermined time intervals. In that case, the calculated movement amount may be commonly applied to each frame image during the predetermined time interval. If the frame rate is sufficiently high, the time interval between frames is shorter than the change in the moving speed of the liquid portion (change in the amount of movement between frames). no problem. In this case, the calculation load for calculating the moving amount can be suppressed.

  In the first and second embodiments, for convenience of description, the urine volume measurement process has been described using the flow-driven flow in which the processes are sequentially performed along the processing flow, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Absent. In the present invention, the processing of the image processing unit may be performed by event-driven (event-driven) processing that executes processing in event units. In this case, it may be performed in a completely event-driven manner, or may be performed in a combination of event-driven and flow-driven.

1 urine 10 imaging unit (imaging means)
21, 121 operation unit (operation means)
40 frame image 41 observation position 50 liquid part 90 toilet bowl 91 rim 100, 200 urine volume measuring device 140 observation area

Claims (9)

Imaging means for continuously imaging urine discharged from the subject from the side in the discharge direction,
Detecting a liquid portion that has reached the observation line set at Oite predetermined height position in the frame image captured by the imaging unit, based on the volume of the liquid portion, calculating means for calculating the volume of urine is discharged A urine volume measurement device comprising:   2. The urine volume according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates a volume of the liquid portion for each frame image, and calculates a urine volume by integrating a volume of the liquid portion for each frame image in a urine discharging process. 3. Urine volume measurement device. The calculating means includes:
From the frame rate of the image captured by the imaging unit, obtain the number of the frame images included in unit time,
The urine flow measuring device according to claim 2, wherein a urine flow rate, which is a urine flow per unit time, is calculated by integrating a volume of the liquid portion in each of the continuous frame images in the unit time.   4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is configured to perform imaging at a predetermined frame rate at which the same droplet or liquid column can be captured in at least two consecutive frame images. 5. The urine volume measurement device according to any one of the above. The calculating means includes:
With the observation line as a start position, an observation area is set to extend downstream in the liquid movement direction,
The urine amount measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urine amount is calculated based on an image of a liquid portion included in the observation region in each of the frame images. Imaging means for continuously imaging urine discharged from the subject from the side in the discharge direction,
Computing means for calculating the amount of urine to be discharged, based on an image of the liquid portion that has reached the observation position set in the frame image in each frame image captured by the imaging means,
The calculating means includes:
With the observation position as a start position, an observation area is set to extend downstream in the liquid movement direction,
Based on the image of the liquid portion included in the observation region in each of the frame images, and configured to calculate the amount of urine, to obtain the amount of movement of the liquid portion between successive frame images, A urine amount measurement device configured to set the range of the observation region based on a movement amount. The imaging means, the imaging position capable laterally applied discharge direction urine discharged, either attached to the edge of the stool unit, or are located within the edge of the toilet bowl, according to claim 1 The urine volume measuring device according to any one of claims 6 to 6. Urine discharged from the subject, a step of continuously imaging from the side in the discharge direction,
Detecting a liquid portion that has reached the observation line set at Oite predetermined height position in the captured frame image, based on the volume of the liquid portion, and a step of calculating the volume of urine is discharged, urine Quantity measurement method. Urine discharged from the subject, a step of continuously imaging from the side in the discharge direction,
Obtaining a moving amount of the liquid portion between the successive frame images,
Based on the obtained movement amount, the observation position set in a part of the imaging field of view as a start position, the step of setting the range of the observation region to extend downstream in the liquid movement direction,
Calculating a discharged urine amount based on an image of the liquid portion included in the observation region in each of the captured frame images.

Images