JP2000088845A - Measuring device for salt content in urine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure a salt concentration contained in a urine by a simple mechanism by collecting a urine in a urine-collecting container at a bowl space of a closet and measuring a conductivity between electrodes immersed in the urine. SOLUTION: At the time of a urine analysis, a person to be tested sits on a seat and pushes a start switch of an operation indication portion 62 of a control unit 50. So, a control device 52 rotates a motor to turn a swing arm 32 and a urinecollecting container 30 is moved from a storing washing chamber to a urine-collecting position in a closet space. When the urine-collecting container 30 is positioned at an appropriate position the person urinates. When a urine pillar hits the urine-collecting container 30, it is detected that the urine is accumulated in a urine reservoir 70 by a signal from electrodes 74A, 74B and a current flows between the electrodes 74A, 74B. The current is converted to a voltage by a resistor in the control device 52 and is converted to a direct voltage by a detection circuit and is further A/D converted. A micro-computer takes in it as a digital data and detects a salt concentration in the urine. An operation indication portion 62 indicates it as a salt concentration and the urine- collecting container 30 is returned to the storing/washing chamber by a turning of the swing arm 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for sampling urine excreted by an individual in a house, office, or other toilet at the time of urine analysis, and measuring the salt concentration contained in the urine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the longevity and aging of people, individual interest in health care is increasing. In particular, in recent years, early detection of a disease and self-health check for the purpose of health management during or after treatment of the disease have become important themes. Urine is an important source of information about an individual's health.Quantitative analysis of urinary sugar, urine protein, urobilinogen, occult blood, and other urine components allows for pancreatic disorders such as diabetes, liver disorders, kidney disorders, and other functions. Disorders can be tested in a non-invasive manner. Therefore, various devices have been proposed that can sample and analyze urine using a toilet at home, workplace, or the like, and support an individual's health check.

[0003] In the prior art, there has been proposed an apparatus for measuring the components contained in urine by sampling urine using an existing toilet equipped with a standard toilet (for example, JP-A-7-198660). No. and International Publication WO95 / 1837
Four). In one embodiment, the urine collection device includes a frame attached to the back of the toilet seat, and a swing arm carrying a urine collection container is swingably supported by the frame. Urine is collected by swinging the arm by a motor and moving the urine collection container in the toilet bowl space. In the collected urine, the sugar content (glucose) contained in the urine is measured by the biosensor.

[0004]

However, in this measuring apparatus, for example, in order to measure components other than the above-mentioned sugars (for example, urine protein, urobilinogen, occult blood, salt), it is necessary to add another measuring apparatus. However, the size and complexity of the apparatus are increased, and extra expenses and trouble are required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for measuring the concentration of salt contained in urine by a simple mechanism. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of measuring the concentration of salt contained in urine and entering urine into a urine collection container, that is, detecting urine with the same electrode.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a urine collection container for collecting urine in a ball space of a toilet bowl, and a pair of electrodes provided in the urine collection container. The electrode is immersed, the electric conductivity between the electrodes is measured, and the concentration of salt contained in urine is measured based on the electric conductivity.

[0007] Since the concentration of salt contained in urine can be measured by such a simple mechanism, it can be used not only as a simple salt measuring device, but also by transporting collected urine and using a biosensor or SPR sensor. The analysis makes it possible to measure other components contained in urine.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the electrode for measuring the salt concentration in urine also functions more as a urine detecting means for detecting the entry of urine into a urine collection container for collecting urine in the bowl space of the toilet. Enhance and reduce costs. The above features and effects of the present invention, as well as other features and advantages, will be clarified according to the description of the following embodiments.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a salt measuring apparatus 10 of the present invention attached to an existing toilet bowl. The toilet comprises any type of conventional toilet bowl 12, and toilet flush water is supplied, for example, from a cistern 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the toilet bowl is equipped with a housing 16 containing a conventional bidet device (not shown), and the toilet seat 18 and the toilet lid 20 are pivotally supported on the bidet device housing 16 in a well-known manner. It is. However, the bidet device can be omitted, in which case the toilet seat and the toilet lid can be attached to the toilet in a known manner by a pair of toilet seat posts.
The toilet seat 18 is of any type of conventional type and comprises, for example, four legs, which are designed to be mounted on the upper surface of the rim 22 of the toilet bowl. In FIG. 1, a pair of front legs of the legs of the toilet seat 18 are denoted by reference numeral 24.
, And a pair of rear legs is indicated by reference numeral 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the salinity measuring device 10 has a support 28 adapted to be mounted on the front half of the rim 22. The support 28 is for supporting a swing arm 32 (described later) carrying the urine collection container 30, and is formed by injection molding of a shock-resistant resin or the like. The support 28 is curved in a semicircular or C-shape along the outline of the substantially front half of the rim 22, and is mounted on the rim so as to cover the upper surface of the substantially front half of the rim 22. The support 28 is formed so as to be almost hidden under the toilet seat 18 when the toilet seat 18 is lowered to the use position.

Next, the urine collecting mechanism will be described. The urine collecting container 30 and the swing arm 32 are basically composed of
It is similar to the second embodiment of WO95 / 18374. The intermediate portion of the swing arm 32 is curved so that it can be stored in the curved storage and cleaning chamber 42. The swing arm 32 is formed hollow, and a boss is formed at the upper end thereof.

The swing arm 32 is driven to rotate by driving means such as a stepping motor. The motor can be arranged on the side of the support 28, and when the motor is rotated, the swing arm 32 is swung in the toilet bowl space 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, a urine collection container 30 is provided at the lower end of the swing arm 32. The urine collection container 30 has a shallow ship bottom shape, and a urine reservoir 70 is formed at the bottom.
The urine collection container 30 is configured such that when the swing arm 32 is swung downward, the entrance opening takes a substantially horizontal posture, and as shown in FIG. It is supported by a swing arm 32. Therefore,
Urine can be efficiently received, and can be easily stored in the storage and cleaning chamber 42 which is narrow in the front-rear direction when not in use.

The urine collection container 30 is provided with an L-shaped urine collection tube 72 that opens toward the bottom of the urine reservoir 70. A pair of covered upper and lower electrodes 74A and 74B protrude into the urine pool to detect the accumulation of urine in the urine pool 70. The inlet opening of the urine collection container 30 is covered with a wire mesh 76 made of stainless steel or the like,
The urine which has been poured into the urine collection container 30 is prevented from being scattered or scattered, and foreign matter is prevented from entering.

The L-shaped urine collection tube 72 is a flexible transfer tube 7
8, and the electrodes 74 are respectively connected to a pair of lead wires 80. These transfer tubes 78 and lead wires 8
0 extends the hollow interior of the swing arm 32 and is guided into the control analysis unit 50.

After the support 28 is mounted on the rim 22 of the toilet as described above, the salt measuring device 10 uses the locking means including a pair of left and right brackets 34 (see FIG. 2) to connect the support to the toilet. Can be firmly fixed to the toilet bowl by locking to the rim 22. Instead of the bracket 34, the support 28 may be fixed to the rim 22 of the toilet bowl by a suction device.

When the salinity measuring device 10 is firmly fixed to the toilet in this way, the fluid piping and electric wiring of the salinity measuring device are connected to the control analysis unit 50. The control analysis unit 50 may be arranged on the floor of the toilet as shown in FIG. 1 or may be installed in the housing 16 of the bidet device. As shown in FIG. 1, the control analysis unit 50
Includes a control device 52, a syringe pump unit with a switching valve 54, a urine analysis unit 56 with a flow cell,
A buffer solution tank 58, a solenoid valve (not shown) and the like can be arranged. These components are described in the above-mentioned JP-A-7-198660.
No detailed description will be required as it can be configured in a manner similar to that described in the article.

The salt content measuring device 10 and the control analysis unit 50
1, 2 and 3, a flexible tube 60 is extended from the side of the salinity measuring device to the control analysis unit 50 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Is protected in the flexible tube 60. The urine transport tube 78 from the urine collection container 30 is connected to the syringe pump unit 54, and the lead wire 80 from the electrode 74 and the electric wiring of the motor 64 are connected to the control device 52.

Next, the operation and use of the salt measuring apparatus 10 will be described. When the salt measuring apparatus 10 is not used, most of the swing arm 32 and the urine collection container 30 are connected to each other as shown in FIG.
As shown by a solid line in FIG. Except for a part of the storage and washing room 42, the salt content measuring device is almost concealed under the toilet seat 18, so that it is unlikely to cause trouble or discomfort when sitting on the toilet seat and using the toilet normally. . In the case of standing male urine, the toilet seat can be flipped up and the toilet can be used with the salt content measuring device 10 attached. When the salt content measuring device becomes dirty, it can be easily cleaned as described above.

In the urine analysis, the subject is seated on the toilet seat,
When a start switch (not shown) of the operation display unit 62 is pressed, the control device 52 rotates the above-described motor and swings the arm to move the urine collection container 30 from the storage / washing room 42 to the urine collection position in the toilet bowl space. 32 is rotated. Generally, there is a gender difference in the trajectory of urine, and the urinary column falls relatively forward in the case of a man, and relatively backward in the case of a woman.
Accordingly, when the male start switch is pressed, the control device 52 moves the urine collection container to the position A indicated by a virtual line in FIG.
, And when the female start switch is pressed, it is preferably brought near the position B. When the female start switch is kept pressed, the urine collection container 30 can be moved to the last position C.

The user can urinate toward the urine collection container when the urine collection container 30 is brought to an appropriate position. When the urinary column hits the urine collection container 30, the signal from the electrode 74 detects that urine has accumulated in the urine reservoir 70 of the urine collection container. Subsequently, when urine is accumulated in the urine reservoir 70, a current flows between the electrodes 74. As shown in FIG. 4, at this time, the current also flows through a resistor 82 connected in series to the electrodes, where the current is converted to a voltage.

Next, the voltage generated here is applied to the differential amplifier 84.
However, since this output is AC and difficult to handle, it is converted into a DC voltage by the detection circuit 86. If the DC voltage output here is low, the DC amplifier 8
After being amplified by the A / D converter 8, the data is converted by the A / D converter 90 and is taken into the microcomputer as digital data. These circuits are mounted on the control device 52.

In the data sent to the microcomputer, the salinity in urine is detected from the correlation with the salinity, and displayed on the operation display section 62 of the control analysis unit 50 as the salinity.

When the urine collection is completed, the control device 52 returns the urine collection container 30 into the storage and cleaning chamber 42 by rotating the swing arm 32. Next, the swing arm 32 may be washed by operating the solenoid valve, and the used washing water may be dropped into the toilet bowl.

As another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to convey the collected urine to the urine analysis unit 56 of the control analysis unit 50 to measure the urinary component according to the use.
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various design changes can be made.

[0026]

In short, in the apparatus for measuring salt content of the present invention, the concentration of salt in urine can be measured by a simple mechanism, and a combination with a known apparatus for measuring urine components can be realized at a low cost. It is also possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where the salt content measuring device of the present invention is attached to a toilet.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state where the salt content measuring device of the present invention is attached to a toilet. Part of the toilet seat is shown cut away.

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

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Salt content measuring device 12: Toilet 22: Toilet rim 28: Support 30: Urine collection container 32: Swing arm 74: Electrode

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2D038 KA00 2G045 AA15 AA36 CB03 DB09 DB16 FA34 GC16 GC18 GC20 HA06 HA08 HA09 JA01 JA07 JA08 2G060 AA07 AC02 AD06 AE16 AF03 AF08 AG03 FA01 HC08 HC13 HE03 JA06 4C038 DD01 VB40 VC20

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A urine collection container for collecting urine in a ball space of a toilet bowl, and a pair of electrodes provided in the urine collection container, wherein the electrode is immersed in urine collected in the urine collection container, and An apparatus for measuring urinary salt, comprising: measuring electric conductivity; and measuring a salt concentration contained in urine based on the electric conductivity. 2. The urine salt measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrode also serves as urine detecting means for detecting the entry of urine into the urine collection container.