WO2015102084A1 - Defecation urination determination device and defecation urination determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises: an absorbent core which is disposed in an absorbent article and absorbs excretions; a pair of conductive members which are disposed in the absorbent article and have conductivity; a detection part which detects the size of impedance between the conductive members; and a control part which detects the presence or absence of excretion on the basis of a change pattern over time of the impedance detected by the detection part and determines whether the excretion is feces or urine on the basis of the percentage of impedance change with respect to time change after a prescribed time has passed after excretion is detected.

Description

Defecation and urination determination device and defecation and urination determination method

The present invention relates to a defecation and urination determination device and a defecation and urination determination method.

Conventionally, disposable diapers have been used as absorbent articles that absorb excrement such as urine. In addition, disposable diapers with an excretion detection function for detecting and informing the excretion of urine and the like are also provided on the market.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an absorbent article including a plurality of conductive contact terminals provided so as to have a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the absorber. In such an absorbent article, when the absorber is wetted by absorbing excrement, the impedance between the terminals changes, and by analyzing the impedance obtained from the associated measurement unit and analysis unit, the absorber wets. Information such as range can be grasped. Patent Document 2 discloses an absorbent article having a moisture sensor having a pair of electrodes made of water-soluble carbon ink. In such a moisture sensor, the electrode is normally electrically insulated. However, when the electrode is electrically connected by urination and becomes conductive, conduction can be detected and a warning can be issued via the connector.

International Publication No. 2012-084924 JP 2011-75347 A

In the invention of Patent Document 1, it is possible to detect information about the range in which excreta is excreted, but it has not been possible to determine whether the excrement is urine or feces. Further, in the invention of Patent Document 2, it is possible to detect that the excrement is excreted, but it is still impossible to determine whether the excrement is urine or feces.

When excrement is feces, it is necessary to immediately replace the absorber. However, in the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is impossible to determine whether excrement is feces or urine. By continuing, there was a risk of stool overflowing from the absorber and leaking to the outside, or the absorption performance of the absorber may be deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to accurately determine whether the excrement is urine or feces in an absorbent article that receives excrement. That is.

A main invention for achieving the above object is an absorbent core provided in an absorbent article for absorbing excrement, a pair of conductive members provided in the absorbent article and having conductivity, and the conductive member Detecting the presence of excretion based on a detection pattern for detecting the magnitude of the impedance between them, and a change pattern according to the time lapse of the impedance detected by the detection unit, after a predetermined period has elapsed since excretion was detected A defecation / urination determination device comprising: a control unit that determines whether the excrement is feces or urine based on a ratio of a change in impedance with respect to a time change.

Other features of the present invention will be clarified by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine whether excrement is urine or feces in an absorbent article that receives excrement.

1A is a schematic plan view of the diaper 101, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1A. It is a schematic plan view of the state which developed urine picking pad 1 as an absorptive article concerning this embodiment on a plane. 3A is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the urine picking pad 1 from the non-skin side. It is a figure explaining the structure of the excrement detection apparatus 70, the control part 80, and the display apparatus 90. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of an example of the conductive member 71p constituting the excretion detection sensor 71, and is an enlarged view of a VII portion in FIG. FIG. 6B is a DD cross-sectional view in FIG. 6A. 7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining a method for detecting excrement by the excretion detection sensor 71. FIG. It is a figure showing the flow of judgment operation by control part 80. It is a figure explaining the algorithm which performs determination based on the time change of an impedance value. FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the determination period D1 in FIG. FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the region of the determination period D3 in FIG.

At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
Absorbent core that is provided in the absorbent article and absorbs excrement, a pair of conductive members that are provided in the absorbent article and have conductivity, and a detection unit that detects the magnitude of impedance between the conductive members And the presence or absence of excretion is detected based on a change pattern according to the time lapse of impedance detected by the detection unit, and based on the rate of change in impedance with respect to the time change after the lapse of a predetermined period after excretion is detected. A defecation and urination determination device comprising: a control unit that determines whether the excrement is feces or urine.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, it is possible to accurately determine whether the excrement is urine or feces in the absorbent article that receives the excrement.

In this defecation / urine determination device, the pair of conductive members are provided so as to have a predetermined interval in the width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core. Is desirable.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, the conductive members provided at a predetermined interval in the width direction are wetted by excrement, so that the conductive members are easily connected. As a result, the impedance value changes greatly, so that the presence or absence of excretion can be accurately detected. Further, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the excreta is feces or urine based on the ratio of the change in the impedance value with respect to the time change.

In this defecation / urine determination device, it is preferable that the pair of conductive members have higher conductivity at both longitudinal ends than at the longitudinal center.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, the range of wetting and spreading in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article changes according to the amount of excretion of urine and stool, so pay attention to the change pattern of the impedance value according to the excretion amount. By doing so, it becomes possible to accurately determine whether the excreta is feces or urine.

In this defecation / urine determination device, the control unit calculates a root mean square indicating a ratio of a change in the magnitude of the impedance with respect to a time change during a certain period, and the calculated mean square slope is a predetermined threshold value. It is desirable to determine that the excrement is urine when it is larger than the urine, and to determine that the excrement is feces when the calculated mean square slope is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, attention is paid to the property that when urine is excreted, the impedance value tends to increase with time, and when stool is excreted, the impedance value hardly increases with time. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine whether the excreta is feces or urine by comparing the magnitude of the mean square slope of the impedance.

In the defecation / urination determination apparatus, the control unit calculates an average of the mean square slope within a predetermined determination period after a predetermined period has elapsed after the excretion is detected, and the control unit calculates the average within the predetermined determination period. When the mean square slope is greater than the predetermined threshold, it is determined that the excrement is urine, and the mean square slope within the predetermined determination period is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold. In some cases, it is desirable to determine that the excrement is feces.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, it is possible to determine whether the excreta is feces or urine after the increase / decrease in the impedance value after excretion converges. Thereby, a more accurate determination becomes possible.

In this defecation / urination determination device, it is preferable that the control unit detects that the excretion has been performed when the mean square slope is smaller than a predetermined threshold different from the threshold.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, it is possible to digitize the rapid fluctuation of the impedance value as a slope, so that it is possible to accurately specify the timing at which excretion is performed using such a rapid fluctuation as a trigger. It becomes possible to accurately determine whether the excrement is feces or urine.

Such a defecation / urine determination device is preferably provided with a display device for displaying that urine or feces are excreted based on a result of determination by the control unit.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, information about whether the excrement is feces or urine can be visually provided to the user. In addition, by displaying a warning, it is possible to call attention regarding the replacement timing of the absorbent article

Moreover, the presence or absence of excretion is detected based on the detection of the magnitude of impedance between a pair of conductive members provided in the absorbent article and the change pattern according to the elapsed time of the detected impedance. And determining whether the excrement is feces or urine based on a ratio of a change in impedance with respect to a time change after the lapse of a predetermined period after the excretion is detected. Becomes clear.

According to such a defecation / urine determination device, it is possible to accurately determine whether the excrement is urine or feces in the absorbent article that receives the excrement.

=== Embodiment ===
The absorbent article according to the present embodiment is a urine collecting pad 1. The urine absorbing pad 1 is used by being attached to a disposable diaper 101.

<Basic configuration>
(Diaper 101)
1A is a schematic plan view of the diaper 101, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the diaper 101 has an absorbent core 111 made of a liquid absorbent material such as pulp fiber, and a liquid-permeable cover that covers the absorbent core 111 from the skin side in the thickness direction. It has a top sheet 121 and a liquid-impermeable back sheet 131 that covers the core 111 from the non-skin side. Moreover, the unfolded shape of the diaper 101 has a substantially hourglass shape having a longitudinal direction and a width direction, as shown in FIG. 1A. That is, the central part of the longitudinal direction is constricted in the width direction. And the constricted part is applied to the wearer's crotch as the crotch part, the abdomen part in the longitudinal direction from the crotch part is applied to the wearer's lower abdomen as the front body, and the longitudinal direction from the crotch part. The dorsal portion is applied to the wearer's buttocks as the back body, and is thus worn on the lower body of the wearer. Moreover, let the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the width direction be the width direction of the diaper 101.

Here, the urine absorbing pad 1 according to the present embodiment is placed and attached to the skin side surface of the top sheet 121 of the diaper 101. Then, when the wearer wears the diaper 101 as it is, the urine collecting pad 1 is attached to the lower body of the wearer together with the diaper 101. In some cases, the urine removing pad 1 may be placed in a state where it is placed on the diaper 101 with a non-skin adhesive portion made of hot melt adhesive or a male material of a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the non-skin side surface of the urine removing pad 1. May be fixed so as not to move relative to each other.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the urine collecting pad 1 is developed on a plane. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the urine collecting pad 1 has a longitudinal direction and a width direction as three directions orthogonal to each other. Moreover, it has the width direction which is a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction and the width direction like the diaper 101. And the planar shape prescribed | regulated by the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the urine picking pad 1 has comprised the substantially hourglass shape as an example of vertically long shape. In other words, a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction is constricted in the width direction. 2 also shows an excrement detection sensor 71 described later.

Hereinafter, with respect to the thickness direction, the side in contact with the human body is also referred to as “skin side”, and the side in contact with the underwear is also referred to as “non-skin side”. The longitudinal direction is also referred to as “front-rear direction”, and the width direction is also referred to as “left-right direction”. At the time of mounting on the human body, the front side of the urine collecting pad 1 in the longitudinal direction faces the ventral side of the human body, and the rear side faces the back side of the human body. Moreover, the dimension of the longitudinal direction of the urine picking pad 1 is longer than the dimension of the width direction, and the dimension of the width direction is longer than the dimension of the thickness direction.

(Urine pad 1)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the urine collecting pad 1 has a main body 1 s attached to the diaper 101 during use. The main body 1s includes an absorbent core 11 formed of a liquid absorbent material that absorbs excrement such as urine and feces, and a liquid-permeable surface sheet 21 that covers the absorbent core 11 from the skin side in the thickness direction. And a liquid-impermeable back sheet 31 that covers the core 11 from the non-skin side.

The absorbent core 11 is, for example, a mixture of liquid absorbent fibers and liquid absorbent granular materials mixed at a predetermined blending ratio as two types of liquid absorbent materials in a substantially hourglass shape in plan view as an example of a predetermined shape. Molded. That is, the absorbent core 11 has a shape in which a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction is constricted in the width direction. The constricted portion is applied to the wearer's crotch as the crotch portion 11m of the absorbent core 11, and the front portion 11a in the longitudinal direction of the crotch portion 11m is the ventral portion 11a of the absorbent core 11. The portion 11b on the rear side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the lower crotch portion 11m is applied to the wearer's buttocks as the back side portion 11b of the absorbent core 11.

In this example, pulp fibers are used as the liquid absorbent fibers, and superabsorbent polymers (so-called SAP) are used as the liquid absorbent granules, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the liquid absorbent material may include only one of liquid absorbent fibers and liquid absorbent granular materials, or in addition to the above two types of liquid absorbent material or in place of either of them. Another type of liquid absorbent material may be mixed.

Further, in this example, the absorbent core 11 is covered with the tissue paper 11t as a liquid permeable sheet, but may not be covered. Further, although not provided in this example, an appropriate non-woven fabric or tissue paper may be inserted as a liquid-permeable second sheet between the absorbent core 11 and the top sheet 21.

The top sheet 21 receives urine and stool excreted from the human body, promptly sucks it in the thickness direction, and leads it to the absorbent core 11. For example, a substantially rectangular sheet larger than the planar shape of the absorbent core 11. Is used. For example, a nonwoven fabric such as an air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric is used as the material of the surface sheet 21, and a thermoplastic resin fiber such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate is used as the constituent fiber of the nonwoven fabric. Moreover, the pressing part E formed by both pressing the surface sheet 21 and the absorptive core 11 together from the skin side of the thickness direction is formed on the skin side surface of the surface sheet 21, thereby the surface sheet 21. And the absorbent core 11 are joined and integrated.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the urine absorbing pad 1 as seen from the non-skin side. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 3, the back sheet 31 is a leak-proof sheet 31 that prevents urine leakage from the non-skin side of the main body 1 s of the urine absorbing pad 1, and the planar shape thereof is the absorbent core 11. Larger hourglass shape. That is, the outer peripheral edge protrudes outward from the absorbent core 11 over the entire circumference. Then, in a state where the absorbent core 11 is placed on the back surface sheet 31, the back surface sheet 31 is joined to the top sheet 21 by heat welding or the like at each end in the longitudinal direction and each end in the width direction, for example. The absorbent core 11 is held between the top sheet 21 and the top sheet 21. Note that the state in which the absorbent core 11 is held between the back sheet 31 and the top sheet 21 corresponds to the main body 1 s of the urine removing pad 1 described above. As a material of the back sheet 31, for example, a film made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate is used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 1 s of the urine collecting pad 1 is made to correspond to each end portion in the width direction of the absorbent core 11 in order to prevent urine leakage to the end side in the width direction. A pair of leak- proof wall portions 40, 40 are provided. A pair of leak- proof wall parts 40 and 40 are formed by the side sheets 41 and 41 which consist of SMS nonwoven fabric etc. which were water-repellent-treated, respectively. Each side sheet 41, 41 is provided so as to cover each end portion in the width direction of the surface sheet 21 from the skin side along the longitudinal direction. And it fixes to the surface sheet 21 by the heat welding etc. in the position corresponding to each edge part of the width direction of the absorptive core 11, and, thereby, the base end part 41b is formed. Note that the portion 41f extending from the base end portion 41b to the substantially central side in the width direction is a free end portion 41f, that is, the portion 41f basically serves as the leak-proof wall portion 40. On the other hand, a portion 41 s extending from the base end portion 41 b to the end in the width direction reaches the end edge in the width direction of the urine collecting pad 1, and the portion is overlapped with the top sheet 21 or the back sheet 31. Then, at the same edge, it is joined to the top sheet 21 or the back sheet 31 by heat welding or the like.

Here, an elastic member 45 such as a thread rubber along the longitudinal direction is fixed to the free end portion 41f by a hot melt adhesive in an extended state. Therefore, when the urine absorbing pad 1 is curved in the longitudinal direction so that the topsheet 21 side is the inner peripheral side, the elastic member 45 contracts in the longitudinal direction and the contracting force is applied to the free end portion 41f. The free end portion 41f contracts in the longitudinal direction and stands up from the surface sheet 21, whereby the free end portion 41f functions as the leak-proof wall portion 40. In the example of FIG. 3B, the free end portion 41f and the base end portion 41b are configured by folding two side sheets 41, and the elastic member 45 is interposed between the two overlapping end portions 41f. However, it is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3C, the front end portion 41fa and the rear end portion 41fb of the free end portion 41f are hung on the top sheet 21, and hot melt adhesive or the like. Thus, the front end portion 41fa and the rear end portion 41fb are non-stand-up portions that do not stand up. Therefore, the contraction force of the elastic member 45 is selectively given only to the intermediate portion 41fm existing between the front end portion 41fa and the rear end portion 41fb of the free end portion 41f, and the intermediate portion 41fm is It shrink | contracts and it stands up as the leak-proof wall part 40. FIG.

<Excretion detection function>
The urine collection pad 1 of this embodiment is provided with an excretion detection function for detecting urination and defecation. In the excrement detection function, by detecting that urine and feces are excreted in the urine collection pad 1 and notifying the user of information on the excretion, before excrement leaks from the urine collection pad 1, The urine collecting pad 1 can be replaced promptly. Moreover, in the excrement detection function in this embodiment, it can be determined whether the excretion excreted in the urine collecting pad 1 is urine or feces. Hereinafter, this excrement detection function will be described.

The excrement detection function is realized by providing the excrement detection device 70 and the control unit 80 to the urine collection pad 1. Further, a display device 90 is separately provided in order to inform the user of the detected state of excretion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the excrement detection device 70, the control unit 80, and the display device 90. FIG. 5 also shows a schematic plan view of the urine absorbing pad 1 shown with the topsheet 21 and the sidesheet 41 removed.

The excrement detection device 70 includes an excretion detection sensor 71 provided in the urine collection pad 1 and a detection unit 75 provided outside the urine collection pad 1.

The excrement detection sensor 71 detects urine and feces excreted in the urine collecting pad 1 as a predetermined signal. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 3A to 3C, the excrement detection sensor 71 is a pair of sensors disposed along the longitudinal direction between the skin side surface of the absorbent core 11 and the surface sheet 21. Conductive members 71p and 71p are provided. The pair of conductive members 71p, 71p are arranged side by side in the width direction with a space between each other. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p are arranged so as to be line-symmetric with respect to the center line CLW in the width direction, and the conductive members 71p and 71p are arranged in the longitudinal direction. It is arranged in a straight line along. Furthermore, the conductive member 71p is electrically connected to the detection unit 75 via a connector 74 (corresponding to a connection portion) at a portion on the front side in the longitudinal direction from the abdominal side portion 11a of the absorbent core 11.

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of an example of the conductive member 71p that constitutes the excrement detection sensor 71, and is an enlarged view of a portion VII in FIG. FIG. 6B is a DD cross-sectional view in FIG. 6A. In the present embodiment, the conductive member 71p includes a strip-shaped sheet member 72s, a conductive ink layer 72i, and an insulating covering member 72c.

The belt-like sheet member 72s is a member that is long in the longitudinal direction, flexible, and has a predetermined insulating property (low conductivity), and is a base material of the conductive member 71p. The total length in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped sheet member 72s is, for example, the same length as the total length in the longitudinal direction of the urine collecting pad 1, and the dimension in the width direction of the strip-shaped sheet member 72s is selected from the range of 4 mm to 12 mm. In the example, the width of the belt-like sheet member 72s is set to a constant width of 8 mm over the entire length, and the dimension in the thickness direction of the belt-like sheet member 72s is selected from a range of 10 μm to 50 μm, and in this example, 25 μm.

On the skin side surface of the belt-like sheet member 72s, a conductive ink is continuously applied over the entire length along the longitudinal direction, whereby a conductive ink layer 72i is formed, and the conductive ink is formed. The layer 72i imparts a predetermined conductivity (also referred to as electrical conductivity, the unit is (S / m)) over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the conductive member 71p. The dimension in the width direction of the conductive ink layer 72i is made smaller than the dimension in the width direction of the belt-like sheet member 72s. A non-existing region where the ink layer 72i does not exist is formed. The dimension in the width direction of the conductive ink layer 72i is selected from a range of 3 mm to 8 mm. In this example, the dimension is set to 3 mm. Therefore, each side of the width direction is selected from a range of 1 to 3.5 mm. In this example, the non-existing region is formed with a widthwise dimension of 2.5 mm. The basis weight (g / m ² ) of the conductive ink layer 72i is selected from a range of 10 to 30 (g / m ² ), for example, and in this example, 20 (g / m ² ).

An insulating covering member 72c is provided in a partial region on the skin side surface of the belt-like sheet member 72s so as to cover the skin side surface from the thickness direction together with the conductive ink layer 72i. That is, the insulating covering member 72c is provided so as to protrude in the width direction from both sides in the width direction of the conductive ink layer 72i in order to completely cover the conductive ink layer 72i in a part of the region. The conductivity of the covering member 72c is set to be much lower than that of the conductive ink layer 72i. Therefore, the conductive ink layer 72i is insulated in the region covered with the covering member 72c. In the present embodiment, the conductive member 71p is covered with the insulating covering member 72c in the crotch portion 11m, which is the region of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the urine removing pad 1, of the conductive member 71p as shown by the hatched portion in FIG. Insulated. On the other hand, in the conductive member 71p, the conductive member 71p is the insulating covering member 72c in the ventral side portion 11a that is the region of the front end portion in the longitudinal direction of the urine absorption pad 1 and the back side portion 11b that is the region of the rear end portion in the longitudinal direction. It is exposed without being covered with, and is not insulated.

In addition, the area | region which insulates the conductive members 71p and 71p is good to set as follows. That is, in FIG. 5, the longitudinal length of the abdominal side portion 11a of the absorbent core 11 and the total length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core 11 (that is, the total length of the abdominal side portion 11a, the crotch portion 11m, and the back side portion 11b). It is preferable to set the ratio to the arbitrary value of 0.22 to 0.36. Further, the ratio between the longitudinal length of the back side portion 11b of the absorbent core 11 and the total length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core 11 is preferably set to an arbitrary value of 0.14 to 0.22. If it sets in this way, when urine will diffuse moderately in the absorptive core 11, it will become easy to detect that it became the diffusion state concerned.

As the material of the belt-like sheet member 72s, a biaxially stretched film such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyimide, polyamideimide, polycarbonate, polystyrene or the like can be used. In this example, a polypropylene film is used. However, it is not limited to the above. That is, any material having a lower conductivity than the conductive ink layer 72i can be used. However, desirably, the conductivity of the strip-shaped sheet member 72s is equal to or smaller than the conductivity of the insulating covering member 72c.

The conductive ink related to the conductive ink layer 72i is prepared by kneading conductive powder, a fixing material (binder), a filler, and the like. Examples of the conductive powder include conductive metal powders such as silver, gold, copper, nickel, and aluminum, or conductive non-metallic powders such as carbon and graphite. In this example, conductive carbon and Graphite is used. Examples of the fixing material include polyvinyl chloride resin, polyacrylic resin, epoxy resin, and polyester resin. In this example, a polyester resin is used. The filler is a viscosity modifier that adjusts the viscosity at the time of application of the conductive ink, a dispersing agent that improves the applicability at the time of application, and specifically, is isophorone or anone. The conductive powder, the fixing material, and the filler are blended at a predetermined blending ratio (weight ratio). In this example, the blending ratio is 40:20:40. The conductive ink layer 72i is formed on the belt-like sheet member 72s by, for example, screen printing, direct gravure printing, flexographic printing, or the like.

Examples of the material of the insulating covering member 72c include silicon adhesives, hot-melt coating materials, and warisene. In this example, petrolatum that exhibits high insulation (low conductivity) is used.

The detection unit 75 includes a power source in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are connected to the ends of a pair of conductive members 71p and 71p via a connector 74, and a tester (both not shown) that measures the potential of the conductive member 71p. When excrement detection is performed, a current is supplied between the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p, the magnitude of the voltage of the conductive member 71p is measured every predetermined time, and output as impedance. For example, a weak current is passed with one side of the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p as a positive electrode and the other side as a negative electrode, and the magnitude of the voltage with respect to the supply current value when the conductive members 71p and 71p are conducted is measured. By doing so, an impedance value can be obtained. Moreover, in the detection part 75 of this embodiment, it is possible to switch a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side among a pair of electrically- conductive members 71p and 71p for every predetermined time. That is, at a certain time t, it is possible to supply a negative current to one conductive member 71p (for convenience, 71pl) and a positive current to the other conductive member 71p (for convenience, 71pr). Then, at t + Δt after a lapse of a predetermined time from a certain time t, it is possible to supply a positive current to one conductive member 71pl and a negative current to the other conductive member 71pr.

The control unit 80 determines the presence or absence of excretion from the change pattern according to the passage of time of the impedance value detected by the detection unit 75, determines whether the excrement is urine or feces, or the urine collecting pad 1 Or determine the replacement timing. Further, the control unit 80 controls an operation (for example, a condition such as an impedance value detection interval and a supplied current magnitude) when the detection unit 75 detects impedance. The controller 80 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and a memory (storage device) (both not shown). In FIG. 5, the control unit 80 and the detection unit 75 are illustrated as different units, but the control unit 80 and the detection unit 75 may be configured integrally. A specific determination operation by the control unit 80 will be described later.

The display device 90 is a device that displays information on excretion or issues a warning based on the result of determination by the control unit 80. The information regarding excretion in the present embodiment is mainly information regarding the replacement timing of the urine collecting pad 1 and information regarding whether the excreta is urine or feces. The display device 90 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with three color lamps: a blue lamp 91a, a yellow lamp 91b, and a red lamp 91c. Each lamp emits light or blinks according to the determination result of the control unit 80, thereby transmitting the determination result to the user as visual information. Further, a speaker (not shown) may be provided in the display device 90, and the determination result may be transmitted to the user by producing a sound such as a warning sound.

<Principle of excrement detection>
A method for detecting urine and feces excreted in the urine collecting pad 1 by the excrement detection sensor 71 will be described. 7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining a method for detecting excrement by the excretion detection sensor 71. FIG.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state of the urine collecting pad 1 when a small amount of urine is excreted in the urine collecting pad 1. As shown in the figure, the pair of conductive members 71p, 71p of the excrement detection sensor 71 are arranged apart from each other in the width direction. Between the conductive members 71p and 71p, the low-conductivity absorbent core 11 (urine collecting pad 1) is disposed. Therefore, when the absorbent core 11 is in a dry state, the conductive members 71p and 71p are non-conductive and current does not easily flow, so a relatively large impedance is detected between the conductive members 71p and 71p.

Here, when a small amount of urine is excreted, as shown in FIG. 7A, the urine wets and spreads in the crotch portion 11m, which is the region in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the urine collecting pad 1, and between the conductive members 71p and 71p. The absorptive core 11 will be in a wet state. However, since the conductive ink layer 72i of the conductive member 71p is covered with the insulating covering member 72c in the region of the crotch 11m, even if the absorbent core 11 is wet in that region, the conductive member 71p. , 71p are still non-conductive. Therefore, even if a small amount of urine is excreted, the detected impedance has a high value. That is, when the amount of excretion is small enough to expand only in the area of the crotch part 11m, or when there is no excretion itself, a high impedance value is detected. At this time, in the display device 90, for example, the blue lamp 91a may be turned on to display that the amount of excretion of urine or the like is small and that it is not excreted young.

Next, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a state of the urine removing pad 1 when a medium amount (a larger amount than in the case of FIG. 7A) of urine is excreted in the urine collecting pad 1. As shown in the figure, urine spreads from the crotch part 11m of the urine collecting pad 1 to the region of the abdominal side part 11a. In this case, in the region of the crotch part 11m, as in FIG. 7A, the conductive members 71p and 71p are non-conductive and current does not flow easily. On the other hand, when urine spreads to the region of the ventral portion 11a, the absorbent core 11 becomes wet in this region. Then, since the conductive members 71p from which the conductive ink layer 72i is exposed are conducted to each other, current easily flows in this region, and the detected impedance value is reduced at a stretch. Thereby, it can detect that urine etc. were excreted. At this time, in the display device 90, for example, the yellow lamp 91b may be turned on to display that urine or the like has been excreted.

If the amount of excreted urine is smaller than the allowable absorption amount of the absorbent core 11, urine is absorbed by the absorbent core 11, so that the state between the conductive members 71 p and 71 p is gradually dried from the wet state. become. Therefore, it is difficult for the current to gradually flow between the conductive members 71p and 71p, and the detected impedance value increases accordingly. In this embodiment, the replacement timing of the urine removing pad 1 can be determined by utilizing this phenomenon. Details of the determination will be described later.

Next, FIG. 7C is a diagram showing the state of the urine removing pad 1 when a large amount (larger amount than in the case of FIG. 7B) of urine is excreted in the urine collecting pad 1. As shown in the figure, urine spreads from the abdominal side portion 11a to the back side portion 11b of the urine collecting pad 1. In this case, the absorbent core 11 is in a wet state in the region of the abdomen portion 11a and the back portion 11b, and the conductive members 71p are electrically connected. By increasing the conducting region, it becomes easier for current to flow, and the detected impedance value is further reduced. Thereby, it can be detected that urine or the like has spread over a wide range. At this time, in the display device 90, for example, the red lamp 91c may be turned on to display that there is a possibility that excrement may leak outside the urine collection pad 1. Even when the amount of excreted urine per one time is small, it is conceivable that the excretion of several times may spread over a wide area as shown in FIG. 7C.

<About judgment operation>
In the present embodiment, a method for determining the replacement timing of the urine removing pad 1 and a method for determining whether the excreta is urine or feces will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of determination operation by the control unit 80. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an algorithm for making a determination based on a change in impedance value over time.

When the determination operation is started, as described above, the excrement detection sensor 71 detects the impedance between the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p arranged in the urine collection pad 1 (S101). The impedance is detected at predetermined time intervals. For example, in the case of FIG. 9, the impedance value is detected every second (s). The state of the detected impedance over time is shown as data A in FIG. In FIG. 9, measurement is started when the time is 8:45, and the impedance value is detected while fluctuating in the range of about 4.5 to 4.75 until 8:57. The fluctuation of the impedance value of about 0.25 is due to the influence of errors due to noise and the like, and does not affect the determination result. Note that, when the impedance is detected by the excrement detection sensor 71 of the present embodiment, the measurement is performed while switching the polarity of the electrodes of the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p as described above. The value is a value in which positive and negative are switched at every measurement interval (in FIG. 9, every second). Therefore, in FIG. 9, the impedance value is represented by an absolute value.

Next, the control unit 80 calculates a moving average value Z of the measured impedance values (S102). The moving average value Z is a value obtained by taking an average (sample average value) of impedance values that fluctuate in a time range (a period of interest) of a predetermined length. For example, when calculating a moving average value for n seconds at a certain time t, (n + 1) impedance values y (t−n) to be detected during an attention period of n seconds from (t−n) to t. It is represented by the following formula (1) using y (t).

By expressing the impedance value y as the moving average value Z during a predetermined period, the influence of noise and the like can be reduced. For example, if the impedance value suddenly drops due to the influence of noise at a certain moment during measurement of the impedance value, an erroneous determination may occur that it is the replacement timing based on the impedance value at that moment, or the urine collection pad 1 may actually be There is a possibility that information different from the state of is displayed. However, by treating the impedance value as a moving average value during a certain period of interest, it is possible to eliminate the effects of instantaneous fluctuations and errors, and more accurate data can be obtained. Note that the period of interest when calculating the moving average value is preferably about 1 to 600 seconds in order to efficiently remove noise. In this embodiment, the impedance value is detected at a relatively long interval with a measurement interval of 1 second. Therefore, even if the impedance value changes greatly during the 1 second, noise is obtained by taking as long a period of interest as possible. It can be made difficult to be affected by the above. In FIG. 9, the change state of the moving average value Z of the impedance is shown as data B. In FIG. 9, the moving average value Z is calculated from 181 impedance values with the target period of 180 seconds. By paying attention to this moving average value Z of impedance, it is possible to accurately recognize the impedance change pattern corresponding to the time change. For example, the impedance value suddenly increases at time t5 in FIG. This is considered to be an instantaneous fluctuation (that is, noise) of the impedance value due to a temporary change in the state between the conductive members 71p and 71p by moving the body where the wearer of the diaper 1 turns over. . However, by calculating the moving average value Z of the impedance, it is possible to obtain accurate data in which the influence of such noise is removed in the vicinity of time t5.

Also, the mean square slope m is calculated from the impedance value y (S103). The root mean square slope m represents a ratio of a change in impedance value with respect to a time change during a certain period (a period of interest), and is calculated by the following equation (2).

In equation (2), y _avg represents an average value of impedance values during the period of _interest , t represents time, and t _avg represents the average time of the period of _interest . In FIG. 9, the state of change in the root mean square slope m of impedance is shown as data C. The magnitude of the change in impedance value during a certain period (period of interest) can be visually recognized by the magnitude of the root mean square slope m. For example, if the mean square slope m is a negative value, it indicates that the impedance value decreases with time, and that the greater the absolute value of the mean square slope m at that time, the greater the decrease rate of the impedance value. . In FIG. 9, the focus period is 180 seconds for the mean square slope m. By calculating the root mean square m using a large amount of data, the influence of noise can be easily removed, while small changes are easily overlooked. Therefore, the period is preferably 1 to 600 seconds.

9 is created by the above-described steps S101 to S103, which shows how the impedance value, moving average Z, and mean square slope m change with time. A specific determination algorithm will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the presence or absence of excretion is detected. The control unit 80 compares the value of the mean square slope m with a predetermined threshold value Se (referred to as the excretion threshold value) (S104 in FIG. 8), and the value of the mean square slope m is smaller than the excretion threshold value Se. When it becomes (S104 is Yes), it determines with having been excreted in the urine picking pad 1 (S105).

As described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, when urine or the like is excreted in the urine collection pad 1, the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p of the excrement detection sensor 71 is wetted and energized. The detected impedance value decreases rapidly. Using this property, when the mean square slope m becomes smaller than the predetermined threshold value Se, it is determined that urine or the like is excreted between the conductive members 71p and 71p. In FIG. 9, the moving average value Z of the impedance starts to drop rapidly at time t1, and the mean square slope m also turns negative with this, and becomes smaller than the excretion threshold value Se at time te1. Therefore, it is determined that urine or feces are excreted at time te1 (excretion flag). The excretion threshold value Se is set to an optimum value by conducting an experiment or the like in advance. In FIG. 9, the excretion threshold value Se = −0.002 (1 / s).

In FIG. 9, since the mean square slope m is smaller than the excretion threshold value Se at time te2 (around 9:12 minutes), it is determined that the second excretion has been performed at time te2. Similarly, at the time of time te3 (around 9:28), the mean square slope m is smaller than the excretion threshold value Se, and it is determined that the third excretion has been performed.

When excretion is detected in S105, the replacement determination of the urine removing pad 1 is performed after a predetermined time Ti has elapsed from the time when the excretion is detected (S106). In FIG. 9, the moving average value Z of impedance decreases rapidly at time t1, and then reverses and rises at time t2. This is because, when urine or feces are excreted in the urine collection pad 1, immediately after excretion, the conductive members 71p and 71p are wet as shown in FIG. 7B or FIG. 7C. If the absorbent core 11 maintains sufficient water absorption, the urine excreted over time is absorbed, and the conductive members 71p and 71p gradually become dry, making it difficult to energize again. (See FIG. 7A). Therefore, after it is determined that urine or feces are excreted at time te1, the time for which water is absorbed by the water absorbent core 11 is determined by performing the replacement determination of the urine removing pad 1 after a predetermined time Ti has elapsed. It is necessary to ensure. By securing the predetermined time Ti after excretion is performed, the moving average value Z of the impedance is easily converged to a constant value, and the influence of large fluctuations and flickering of data can be eliminated. That is, it is possible to acquire stable data, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous determination regarding the replacement timing of the urine collection pad 1 and the like.

In the example of FIG. 9, it is assumed that Ti = 300 seconds, and the replacement determination of the urine removing pad 1 is performed about 5 minutes after the detection of excretion. The moving average value Z decreases again at time t3 during the second excretion, and increases at time t4. Also in this case, the replacement determination of the urine removing pad 1 is started after a predetermined time Ti (= 300 seconds) has elapsed from the time te2 when the second excretion is detected. The same applies to the third excretion, and the moving average value Z rapidly decreases at time t6, whereby the urine removing pad 1 is replaced after a predetermined time Ti (= 300 seconds) after excretion is detected at time te3. Judgment is started.

In the replacement determination of the urine removing pad 1, the moving average value Z of the impedance is compared with a predetermined threshold value Sr (referred to as the replacement threshold value) (S107), and the value of the moving average value Z becomes smaller than the replacement threshold value Sr. In this case (S107 is Yes), it is determined that the replacement timing is reached, and a warning for replacement is displayed on the display device 90 or the like (S108). If the moving average value Z is equal to or greater than the replacement threshold Sr (No in S107), the replacement timing warning is not performed.

In the determination, the control unit 80 compares the average value of the moving average value Z during the determination period having a predetermined length with the replacement threshold value Sr. For example, in the case of FIG. 9, after the first excretion is detected at time te <b> 1, in a determination period (area represented by D <b> 1 in FIG. 9) after a predetermined time Ti (= 300 seconds) has elapsed. The average value of the moving average value Z is compared with the exchange threshold value Sr. In the first excretion, the moving average value Z of the impedance shows a value larger than the replacement threshold value Sr throughout the determination period D1, and therefore it is not necessary to replace the urine collection pad 1. Subsequently, at the time of the second excretion, after the excretion is detected at time te2, a determination period of 60 seconds from the point when a predetermined time Ti (= 300 seconds) has elapsed (area represented by D2 in FIG. 9). ), The average value of the moving average value Z and the magnitude of the replacement threshold value Sr are compared. Then, since the average value of the moving average value Z is larger than the replacement threshold value Sr, it is determined that there is no need to replace the urine collection pad 1. Note that the moving average value Z in the determination period D2 is smaller than the moving average value Z in the determination period D1. This has shown that the absorption margin of the absorptive core 11 has become small by absorbing the excrement for 2 times. Subsequently, at the time of the third excretion, after the excretion is detected at time te3, a determination period of 60 seconds from the point when a predetermined time Ti (= 300 seconds) has elapsed (area represented by D3 in FIG. 9). ), The average value of the moving average value Z and the magnitude of the replacement threshold value Sr are compared. In this region, since the moving average value Z of the impedance shows a value smaller than the replacement threshold value Sr throughout the determination period D3, it is determined that the urine removing pad 1 needs to be replaced, and the user is informed accordingly. A warning is given to inform you. In the example of FIG. 9, it can be seen that the water absorption capacity by the absorbent core 11 has reached its limit by excretion three times. On the other hand, when a large amount of urine is excreted or when stool is excreted, a warning of the replacement timing may be performed once.

In the above example, the average value of the moving average value Z during the determination period is compared with the replacement threshold value Sr. However, the comparison method is not limited to this. For example, the minimum value of the moving average value Z during the determination period may be compared with the replacement threshold value Sr. In this case, since the moving average value Z may be smaller than the replacement threshold Sr in the determination period D2, it is determined that it is the replacement timing at the second excretion stage.

In the above example, the replacement timing is determined by one type of replacement threshold Sr. However, the determination may be performed by a plurality of replacement thresholds. For example, two types of replacement threshold values Sr1 and Sr2 having different sizes are provided (Sr1 <Sr2). In the determination, the moving average value Z and the two types of replacement threshold values Sr1 and Sr2 are displayed, and warnings are displayed step by step. For example, if the comparison results in Sr1 <moving average value Z <Sr2, the urine removing pad 1 is not required to be replaced, but it is displayed that the replacement timing is close. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the yellow lamp 91b of the display device 90 may be turned on to alert the user. As a result of the comparison, when the moving average value Z <Sr1, the urine absorbing pad 1 exceeds the absorption limit, and therefore it is displayed that it is an exchange timing. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7C, the red lamp 91c of the display device 90 may be turned on to give a warning. By displaying warnings in stages, the user can predict the replacement time to some extent, so that it becomes easier to replace the urine collection pad 1 before excrement overflows.

Next, it is determined whether the excrement in the urine collecting pad 1 is urine or feces (S109). The control unit 80 compares the mean square slope m with a predetermined threshold value Sf (determined as a stool determination threshold value), and if the mean square slope m is greater than the stool judgment threshold value Sf (Yes in S109), the excreta is present. It is determined that it is “urine” (S110). On the other hand, when the mean square slope m is equal to or less than the fecal determination threshold value Sf (No in S109), it is determined that the excrement is “stool”. Note that the determination in S109 may be performed in the same determination period (D1 to D3 in FIG. 9) as in S107, or may be determined separately.

The principle of determining whether the excrement is “urine” or “stool” is as follows. First, when “urine” is excreted in the urine absorbing pad 1, the urine is absorbed by the absorbent core 11, and the space between the conductive members 71p and 71p changes from the wet state to the dry state. The impedance value is likely to increase with time. For example, after excretion is confirmed at time te1 in FIG. 9, the impedance value increases after time t2, and thus the mean square slope m is a positive value. That is, when the excreta is “urine”, the mean square slope m during the determination period is likely to show a positive value.

On the other hand, when “stool” is excreted in the urine collection pad 1, the water contained in the stool tends to be retained in the stool and is not easily absorbed by the absorbent core 11. Therefore, since stool remains in the urine collection pad 1 and the conductive members 71p and 71p are difficult to dry, the impedance value is less likely to increase compared to the case of “urine”. Further, “stool” staying in the urine absorbing pad 1 gradually permeates the absorbent core 11 and enters between the fibers on the surface of the absorbent core 11. Thereby, since it becomes easy to energize between the electrically- conductive members 71p and 71p, an impedance value may fall slightly. For example, after excretion is confirmed at time te3 in FIG. 9, since the impedance value gradually decreases after time t7, the mean square slope m is a negative value. That is, when the excrement is “stool”, the possibility that the mean square slope m during the determination period shows a positive value is low. Therefore, if the stool determination threshold value Sf is set to a predetermined value close to zero, whether or not the excrement is “urine” by focusing on the magnitude relationship between the mean square slope m and the stool determination threshold value Sf, Can be determined.

The control unit 80 compares the mean square slope m with the flight determination threshold value Sf based on such properties. In the present embodiment, the flight determination threshold value Sf = 0.0001 (1 / s) is set. FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the determination period D1 in FIG. FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the determination period D3 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10A, in the determination period D1, the mean square slope m is larger than the flight determination threshold value Sf. Therefore, it is determined that the first excretion is urine. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, in the determination period D3, the mean square slope m is smaller than the flight determination threshold value Sf. Therefore, it is determined that the third excretion is feces. In making the determination, the mean value of the mean square slope m during the judgment period may be compared with the flight judgment threshold value Sf, and the maximum value or the minimum value of the mean square slope m during the judgment period may be compared. The flight determination threshold value Sf may be compared. Further, when it is determined that the excrement is “stool”, a warning for replacing the urine collecting pad 1 is given by turning on the red lamp 91c of the display device 90 in the same manner as in step S108. It is good to keep.

Thereafter, when the determination operation is terminated (S112 is Yes), each process such as impedance value detection is terminated, and when the determination operation is not terminated (S112 is No), the process returns to S101 to continue each process. . In the example of FIG. 9, the urine removing pad 1 is replaced at time t8, and the impedance value returns to the initial value (about 4.7).

=== Other Embodiments ===
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. Further, the present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and needless to say, the present invention includes equivalents thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the urine collecting pad 1 is exemplified as the absorbent article, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, you may provide said excrement detection apparatus 70 with respect to a disposable diaper.

In the above-described embodiment, the pair of conductive members 71p and 71p are inserted as the excrement detection sensor 71 between the top sheet 21 and the absorbent core 11, but the arrangement position of the conductive member 71p is anything. Not exclusively. For example, you may insert between the absorptive core 11 and the back surface sheet 31, and may be inserted in positions other than these. However, from the viewpoint of detectability of urine and stool, it is desirable to insert a conductive member 71p between the topsheet 21 and the absorbent core 11.

In the above-described embodiment, the conductive member 71p includes the strip-shaped sheet member 72s and the conductive ink layer 72i formed on the skin side surface, and the conductive ink layer 72i is covered with the insulating covering member 72c. However, it is not limited to this. For example, you may use the covered electric wire which coat | covers the outer periphery of a metal wire with a suitable insulating coating member like the vinyl coating copper wire as the electrically-conductive member 71p. In this case as well, the covered electric wire is disposed along the longitudinal direction, the rear end portion of the covered electric wire is located on the back side portion 11b of the absorbent core 11, and the covering of the rear end portion is peeled off to form a metal The line is exposed.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5, the conductive member 71p is arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as long as the conductive member 71p is disposed along the longitudinal direction, the position in the width direction may slightly change depending on the position in the longitudinal direction. For example, it may be arranged extending in the longitudinal direction while slightly wavy in the waveform. In other words, the meaning of the phrase “the conductive member 71p is provided along the longitudinal direction” in this case means that “the extending direction of the conductive member 71p is within an angle range of less than 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction. In a narrow sense, it means that the direction in which the conductive member 71p extends is within an angle range of less than 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction. The direction in which 71p extends is within an angle range of less than 10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the display device 90 is connected to the control unit 80 by wire and displays a warning or the like, but is not limited thereto. For example, information such as a warning to be displayed on the display unit 90 may be transmitted to a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a user's home computer by wireless communication so that the information can be confirmed on the terminal. In this way, information can be obtained freely even when away from home or at home. In addition to communication, a small memory device (for example, a USB flash memory) may be used to provide expandability.

1 Urine pad (absorbent article), 1s body part,
11 Absorbent core,
11a ventral side, 11m crotch, 11b dorsal side,
11t tissue paper,
21 Top sheet, 31 Back sheet,
40 leak-proof wall part, 41 side sheet, 41b base end part,
41f free end part, 41fa front end part, 41fb rear end part, 41fm middle part,
41s part,
45 elastic member,
70 excrement detection device, 71 excrement detection sensor, 71p conductive member,
72 s strip-shaped sheet member, 72 i conductive ink layer, 72 c insulating coating member,
74 Connector (connection part),
75 detector,
80 control unit,
90 display device, 91a blue lamp, 91b yellow lamp, 91c red lamp,
E pressing part, CLW central line,

Claims (8)

1. An absorbent core that is provided in the absorbent article and absorbs excreta;
   A pair of conductive members provided on the absorbent article and having conductivity;
   A detection unit for detecting the magnitude of impedance between the conductive members;
   The presence or absence of excretion is detected based on a change pattern according to the time lapse of the impedance detected by the detection unit, and excrement is based on the rate of change in impedance with respect to the time change after the lapse of a predetermined period after the excretion is detected. A control unit for determining whether the urine is stool or urine;
   A defecation and urination determination device.
   
2. The defecation / urination determination device according to claim 1,
   The pair of conductive members is provided so as to have a predetermined interval in the width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core.
   
3. A defecation and urination determination device according to claim 1 and 2,
   The defecation / urine determination device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of conductive members has higher conductivity at both ends in the longitudinal direction than at the central portion in the longitudinal direction.
   
4. The defecation and urination determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   The control unit calculates a root mean square representing a ratio of a change in the magnitude of the impedance with respect to a time change during a certain period,
   When the calculated mean square slope is greater than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the excrement is urine,
   A defecation / urine determination device, wherein the excrement is determined to be feces when the calculated mean square slope is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.
   
5. A defecation / urination determination device according to claim 4,
   The control unit calculates an average of the mean square slope within a predetermined determination period after a predetermined period has elapsed since the excretion was detected,
   When the average of the mean square slope within the predetermined determination period is larger than the predetermined threshold, it is determined that the excrement is urine,
   The defecation and urination determination device, wherein the excrement is determined to be feces when an average of the mean square slope within the predetermined determination period is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold.
   
6. A defecation and urination determination device according to claim 4 or 5,
   The defecation / urination determination device, wherein the control unit detects that the excretion has been performed when the mean square slope is smaller than a predetermined threshold different from the threshold.
   
7. The defecation and urination determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   A defecation / urination determination device, comprising: a display device that displays that urine or feces are excreted based on a result of determination by the control unit.
   
8. Detecting the magnitude of impedance between a pair of conductive members having conductivity provided in the absorbent article;
   Detecting the presence or absence of excretion based on a change pattern according to the elapsed time of the detected impedance;
   Determining whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the ratio of the change in impedance to the time change after the lapse of a predetermined period since the excretion was detected;
   A method for determining defecation and urination.

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