JPH08262011A - Urine sampling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a urine sampling device which prevents a urine sample conveyance system from being clogged with a foreign body by a method wherein the entrance opening of a urine sample container is covered with a foreign-body-creeping preventive net and a mesh size is set to be smaller than the inside diameter of a conveyance tube. CONSTITUTION: A swing arm 72 which is supported, so as to be rotatable, by a frame hidden at the lower side of a toilet seat comprises a sampling container 110 at the lower end 108. The container 110 displays a shallow ship-bottom shape whose axis is long so as to be extended to the transverse direction of a toilet stool and which has a rectangular entrance opening 112, and a urine reservoir 114 is formed in the bottom part. In addition, the container is provided with an L-shaped urine sampling tube 116 which is opened toward the bottom of the reservoir 114, and whether urine has been collected or not is detected by an upper-part electrode 118 and a lower-part electrode 120 which protrude into the reservoir 114. The urine sampling tube 116 is connected to a flexible urine conveyance tube 134 which is extended in the hollow part of the arm 72, and the inside diameter of the tube 134 is about 1mm. Then, the opening 112 is covered with a wire net 132 as a stainless steel net whose mesh size is at about 0.3mm to be smaller than the inside diameter of the tube 134, and it is possible to prevent a foreign body from creeping into the container 110.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sampling device for sampling urine excreted in a toilet bowl on the spot for urine analysis in a toilet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A toilet having a urine analysis function has been proposed, which can support the individual's health check by sampling and analyzing urine using the toilet.

For example, in Japanese Utility Model No. 5-30764, a predetermined amount of urine is sampled by a urine collecting device attached to a toilet seat,
A health examination device has been proposed which is designed to be sent to a urine analyzer for analysis. In order to receive and sample the urine excreted by the user sitting on the toilet seat in the air in the bowl space, a swivel arm is attached to the toilet seat, and a urine collection container in the form of a urine collection cup is attached to the free end of this arm. There is. Urine sampled by the urine collection container is aspirated by a manual syringe or an automatic collection syringe, mixed with a liquid reagent, and then sent to an analyzer for urine analysis.

[0004]

In the urine sampling device of the prior art, when foreign matter such as urine stones or dust of clothes which may be mixed with urine and excreted enters the urine sample transport system, a thin urine sample is collected. The sample transfer tube may become clogged, which hinders the measurement and transfer of urine. Even if the carrier pipe is clogged, it is difficult to identify its location, and repair and maintenance are troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a urine sampling device in which clogging of foreign matter in the urine sample transport system is unlikely to occur.

[0006]

Configuration of the Invention

The present invention comprises a urine collection container for collecting urine excreted in a toilet bowl, and a carrier tube for carrying the collected urine sample from the urine collection container to a urine analyzer. In the urine sampling device, the inlet opening of the urine collection container is covered with a foreign substance intrusion prevention mesh, and the mesh size of this mesh is smaller than the inner diameter of the carrier tube (preferably about 1/3 or less of the inner diameter of the carrier tube). Characterize.

[0007]

1 shows a urine analysis unit equipped with a urine sampling device of the present invention attached to a toilet bowl, and FIG. 2 shows a disassembled housing of the urine analysis unit shown in FIG. Referring to these drawings, the toilet 10 has a toilet bowl 12, to which a urine analysis unit 14 equipped with the urine sampling device of the present invention is attached. The toilet bowl 12 has a bowl portion 16 and a wash water supply portion 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning water supply unit is composed of a cistern mounting portion 18, and a cistern 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 18.

The urine analysis unit 14 has a housing 22 fixed to the toilet 12, as will be described later, and a toilet seat 24 is rotatably attached to the housing 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the urine sampling device 26 of the present invention.
Is incorporated in the toilet seat 24. A toilet lid 28 is attached to the housing 22 so as to be openable and closable. A control unit 30 for controlling the components of the urine analysis unit 14 including the urine sampling device 26 and outputting the analysis result can be installed on the sidewall of the toilet.

The housing 22 of the urine analysis unit 14 is
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it can be composed of a housing substrate 32, an upper casing 34, and left and right lower casings 36 and 38. These parts of the housing 22 can be manufactured by resin injection molding,
The housing 22 is formed by fastening them together with screws or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet bowl 12 is provided with a pair of toilet seat mounting holes 40 between the bowl portion 16 and the flush water supply portion 18, and the housing 22 is installed by using these toilet seat mounting holes 40. Mounted. Therefore, the board 32 of the housing 22 has two T bolts 4 on the bottom surface of the board 32 as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-6291.
2 by T-groove fitting, these T bolts are inserted into the toilet seat mounting holes 40, and the corresponding nuts 44 are fastened to the upper surface 46 of the toilet 12 between the bowl portion 16 and the cistern mounting portion 18. Fixed.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the base plate 32 has a central portion extending transversely to the toilet bowl 12 and side parts extending forward from both ends of the central portion, and the upper casing 34 also has a base portion. It has a shape corresponding to 32. Therefore, the base plate 32, the upper casing 34, and the left and right lower casings 36 and 38 cooperate with each other to form a housing central portion 22C, a left side portion 22L, and a right side portion 2.
2R (FIG. 1) is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a measurement unit 48 for analyzing a urine sample sampled by the urine sampling device 26 is provided on the left side portion 22L of the housing.
An electric syringe pump 50 for transporting a urine sample or carrier liquid to the measuring unit 48, and a carrier liquid tank 52.
The calibration liquid tank 54 can be accommodated. As the measurement unit 48, a polarographic type or absorptiometer type flow cell can be used. A finger sphygmomanometer unit 56 may be arranged on the left side portion 22L of the housing, and the blood pressure may be measured by engaging with the left second finger of the subject. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing central portion 22C is provided with a conventional bidet device 60 having a cleaning nozzle 58, a conventional warm air drying device 62, and a conventional deodorizing device 64 including an ozonizer. Therefore, when the toilet 10 including the urine analysis unit 14 is used for a normal purpose, it provides respective functions. However, these additional features are not essential and can be omitted. Right part 2 of the housing
The power supply device 66 of the unit 14 and the operation panel 68 of the bidet device can be housed in the 2R.

Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 9, the toilet seat 2
The urine sampling device 26 incorporated in the No. 4 will be described. Referring to FIG. 3, the urine sampling device 26 includes a frame or case 70, which is appropriately attached to the lower surface of the toilet seat 24 with screws or the like. The frame 70 is curved substantially along the contour of the toilet seat so that when the frame 70 is attached to the toilet seat, the frame 70 is generally hidden under the toilet seat. A curved swing arm 72 is rotatably supported on the frame 70, and is swingable by an electric drive mechanism 74. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the upper end of the swing arm 72 is attached to a spindle 76, and the spindle is pivotally supported on the frame 70 by a pair of bearings 78 and 80. The spindle 76 is driven by a stepping motor 82 via a belt transmission mechanism. Therefore, the driven gear 84 is provided on the spindle 76, and the toothed belt 86 is engaged with the driven gear 84.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the motor 82 is arranged rearwardly from the spindle 76 of the swing arm 72. As shown in FIG. 5, a recess 88 is formed in the lower surface of the toilet seat 24 so as to accommodate the motor 82 and the upper portion of the belt 86.

As shown in FIG. 6, the output shaft of the motor 82 is splined to a spindle 94, which is fixed to a frame 70 by a bearing block 96.
Is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 98 and 100. A drive gear 102 is provided on the spindle 94, and a belt 86 is engaged with the drive gear 102. Therefore, when the motor 82 is rotated, the swing arm 72 is rotationally driven. As shown in FIG. 3, an upward spring-loaded slider 104 is arranged on the frame 70, and a tension pulley (not shown) that engages with the lower run of the belt 86 is attached to this slider. Therefore, the slack of the belt 86 is removed. The chamber accommodating the motor 82 and the belt transmission mechanism is sealed and waterproofed by the packing 106 sandwiched between the frame 70 and the lower surface of the toilet seat 24.

A urine collection container 110 is provided at the lower end 108 of the swing arm 72. As you can see from Figure 8,
The urine collection container 110 has a shallow ship bottom shape having a substantially rectangular inlet opening 112 having a long axis extending transversely with respect to the toilet bowl 12, and a urine reservoir 114 is formed at the bottom thereof. The urine collection container 110 is provided with an L-shaped urine collection tube 116 that opens toward the bottom of the urine reservoir 114. In order to detect the accumulation of urine in the urine reservoir 114, a pair of covered upper electrode 118 and lower electrode 120 are projected into the urine reservoir.

The L-shaped urine collecting tube 116 has a swing arm 72.
It is connected to a flexible urine transport tube 134 that extends the hollow interior of the. As the transfer tube 134, it is preferable to use "Tygon Tube" (trademark) commercially available from Norton Co., Ltd. as a tube that does not easily deposit deposits. Preferably, the transfer tube 134 has an inner diameter of about 1 mm. The transfer tube 134 extends the hollow inside of the spindle 76 and is guided rearward from the window 136 of the spindle 76 as shown in FIG.
Connected to 0. Similarly, urine sensing electrodes 118 and 12
0 is also connected to lead wires 138 and 140, which extend inside the hollow of the swing arm and the spindle 76, respectively. These leads are connected to the control circuit of the urine analysis unit 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the urine collection container 110 is
Upright annular side wall 124, bottom wall 126, and bottom wall 126
It has a front wall 128 sloping rearward toward and a right wall 130 sloping leftward toward a bottom wall 126. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the inlet opening 112 of the urine collection container 110 has a radial surface 72A passing through the rotation axis of the swing arm 72.
Is almost perpendicular to.

The inlet opening 112 of the urine collection container 110 is covered with a wire mesh 132 made of stainless steel or the like,
A foreign substance is prevented from entering the urine collection container 110. The wire netting 132 also has a function of preventing the urine hitting the urine collecting container 110 from scattering due to reflection, and makes it possible to effectively collect the urine that has fallen into the urine collecting container. According to the invention, the mesh size of this wire mesh 132 is smaller than the inner diameter of the carrier tube 134,
It is about 0.3 mm.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 9, a storage case for forming a channel-shaped storage / washing chamber 142 opening downward toward the bowl 16 for storing the urine collection container 110 and the swing arm 72 when not in use. 14
4 is provided. This storage case 144 is a frame 70
Can be integrally formed with. This storage case 144
Is the rim 9 from the side to the front of the rim 90 of the toilet bowl 12.
It is curved and extends along the contour of 0, and is arranged inside the rim 90.

As shown in FIG. 3, a jet nozzle 146 is directed to the storage and cleaning chamber 142, and pressure water is jetted to the urine collection container 110 stored at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. The urine collection container 110 and the swing arm 72 are cleaned. The injection nozzle 146 can be fixed to a mounting block 148 attached to the frame 70, and the injection nozzle 146 can be supplied with pressurized water from a hose 150 connected to a water pipe via a solenoid valve (not shown). it can. Channel-shaped storage case 14
4 is reduced in size toward the rear, forming a drain gutter 152.

When not in use, the urine collection container 110 is stored in the storage / cleaning chamber 142 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 9, and the toilet seat 24 can be rotated together with the urine sampling device 26 in this state. In the use position, the toilet seat 24 has the upper surface of the rim 90 of the toilet bowl with cushioned legs 154 (two of which are shown in FIG. 5, the other two not shown being located on the lower surface of the frame 70). 9
Supported by 2.

In sampling and analyzing urine, when a subject sits down on the toilet seat 24 and presses the start switch 30A provided in the control unit 30, the motor 82 rotates and the swing arm 72 rotates. In general, there is a difference between men and women in the urination direction, and the urinary column tends to fall relatively forward in the case of men and backward in the case of women. Therefore, when the user is a male, the swing arm is rotated in advance so that the urine collection container 110 is positioned in the vicinity of the position A shown by the phantom line in FIG. 9, and the position is changed according to the user's command. Fine-tuned. Urine collection container 1 if the user is a woman
Numeral 10 is positioned substantially horizontally near the position B indicated by the phantom line, and can be moved to the extreme position C in response to a command from the user.

The user can urinate toward the urine collection container 110 when the urine collection container 110 is brought to an appropriate position. The urine will hit the urine collection container 110 as indicated by arrows 156 or 158 in FIG. Urine droplets dropped on the inclined front wall 128 of the urine collection container are in the rear urine pool 1
Flow toward 14 and accumulate in the urine reservoir as indicated by the hatched area in FIG. When it is detected by the signals from the electrodes 118 and 120 that urine has accumulated in the urine reservoir 114 up to the level of the upper electrode 118, the syringe pump 50 operates and the L-shaped urine collecting tube 116 and the carrier tube 1
Urine is sucked through 34 and conveyed to the measuring unit 48 together with the carrier liquid in the carrier liquid tank 52, and the urine sample is subjected to quantitative analysis.

The measuring unit 48 comprises, for example, a polarographic flow cell provided with a glucose oxidase-immobilized membrane, and outputs a signal corresponding to the glucose content in urine to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 calculates the glucose concentration based on the signal from the measurement unit 48, displays it on the display unit 30B, and outputs it to the printer 30C in response to the subject's command.

When the urine collection is completed, the swing arm 72 is rotated to return the urine collection container 110 to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. Next, by activating the solenoid valve, cleaning water is sprayed from the nozzle 146. The sprayed cleaning water forms a spray or a mist, and advances along the channel-shaped storage cleaning chamber 142, and the urine collection container 1
The outside of 10 is washed and the surface of the swing arm 72 is washed. A part of the spray is reflected forward by the inner wall of the washing chamber 142, passes through the wire mesh 132 of the urine collection container 110 which is in a vertical posture now, and enters the inside of the urine collection container to wash the inside of the urine collection container. The used wash water falls into the bowl 16. When you flip up the toilet seat,
Residual drops of wash water are guided by the drain gutter 152 to the rear of the frame 70 and fall to the rear of the bowl.

In order to effectively prevent foreign matter from entering,
It is preferable that the mesh of the wire net 132 be as fine as possible. However, the finer the mesh, the more difficult it is to pass the spray of wash water. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, if a part 124A of the side wall of the urine collection container 110 is tilted forward, the wash water that has entered the urine collection container will be allowed to enter the urine collection tube 116 and the electrode 11 by the side wall part 124A.
The limited amount of flush water that has entered the inside of the urine collection container can be maximized as it is guided to flow towards 8 and 120 and effectively cleans them. As shown in FIG. 8, the urine collection container 11 facing the nozzle 146.
If the notch 160 is provided on the peripheral wall 124 of No. 0, cleaning of the inside of the urine collection container can be promoted.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various design changes can be made. For example, the shapes of the swing arm and the urine collection container can be appropriately changed.

[0028]

In the urine sampling device of the present invention, since the inlet opening of the urine collection container is covered with a wire mesh having a mesh size smaller than the inner diameter of the urine sample transport tube, foreign matter is prevented from entering the urine collection container. It is possible to prevent the urine sample transfer tube from being blocked. Therefore, failure of the urine sampling device can be prevented and maintenance can be simplified. Even if the wire mesh itself becomes clogged, it can be easily inspected and replaced. This wire mesh also has the effect of preventing urine splash and improves the efficiency of urine collection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a urine analysis unit equipped with a urine sampling device of the present invention attached to a toilet bowl.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing of the urine analysis unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the urine sampling device shown in FIG. 1, in which the storage and cleaning chamber is shown with a part cut away.

4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the seat upside down.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the swing arm shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the urine collection container shown in FIG. 3, with a part cut away.

9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12: Toilet bowl 26: Urine sampling device 72: Swing arm 110: Urine collection container 112: Inlet opening of urine collection container 132: Foreign substance intrusion prevention net

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A urine sampling device comprising: a urine collection container for collecting urine excreted in a toilet bowl; and a carrier tube for carrying a collected urine sample from the urine collection container to a urine analyzer. A urine sampling device, characterized in that the inlet opening of the container is covered with a foreign matter intrusion prevention mesh, and the mesh size of the mesh is smaller than the inner diameter of the carrier tube. 2. The mesh size is about 1 / the inner diameter of the carrier pipe.
The urine sampling device according to claim 1, which is 3 or less.