WO2025121314A1 - Drainage device, monitoring device for drainage circuit, method for monitoring level of liquid surface of cerebrospinal liquid accumulated inside chamber, and drainage system - Google Patents

Abstract

A drainage device (10) comprising a drainage circuit (20) and a monitoring device (50) for the drainage circuit (20), wherein: the drainage circuit (20) has a chamber (30) in which a body fluid (60) can be accumulated, and a body fluid introduction path (40) that is positioned in the chamber (30) and has a dripping port (41) through which the body fluid (60) is dripped into the chamber (30); the monitoring device (50) has a sensor unit (51); and the sensor unit (51) is configured to detect the presence of the body fluid (60) in the chamber (30) in a domain (D) above the dripping port (41).

Description

Drainage device, drainage circuit monitoring device, method for monitoring the height of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber, and drainage system

The first invention relates to a drainage device and a monitoring device for a drainage circuit.

The second invention relates to a drainage device used when draining cerebrospinal fluid, and a monitoring method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber using the drainage device.

The third invention relates to a drainage system used to drain cerebrospinal fluid.

Excess blood, ascites, cerebrospinal fluid, and other bodily fluids that accumulate in the body due to trauma, inflammation, or diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage need to be excreted from the body in order to remove sources of infection, reduce pressure, etc. Also, for patients with kidney disease or urinary disorders, or those who are unable to urinate on their own after surgery, medical intervention is used to excrete urine. To excrete these bodily fluids, a drain is inserted into the patient's body and the fluids are excreted from the body through the drain; this procedure is called drainage.

To perform drainage safely, it is important to check whether bodily fluids are being drained normally. Furthermore, the amount and condition of drained bodily fluids are important indicators in the treatment of patients, so these must be managed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a low-flow meter that measures the flow rate of liquids when the outflow rate is low, for intravenous drip, blood flow control, and measurement of urine excretion. This low-flow meter uses electronic means to count the passage of each droplet leaving a droplet generator, and calculates the flow rate and total volume of liquid by measuring the time interval between successive droplets.

When draining cerebrospinal fluid, a brain surgery drainage chamber as described in Patent Document 2 was used, in which an inlet tube and an outlet tube are attached in parallel to the bottom of the chamber body, which is hung and installed at a specified height, and an air vent tube with an air filter is attached to the top of the chamber body.

JP 2010-286482 A Registered Utility Model No. 3075613

To perform drainage, one end of a drain is inserted into the patient's body, and a chamber that stores bodily fluids is connected to the other end to form a drainage circuit, but the bodily fluids stored in the chamber must be discharged from the chamber in a timely manner to prevent overflow. In particular, in the case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, if the chamber is filled with bodily fluids or the filter installed in the chamber becomes clogged and becomes sealed, negative pressure is created inside the chamber, and overdrainage occurs due to the siphoning phenomenon, which may cause brain herniation and is very dangerous. For this reason, it is necessary to check at any time how high the level of the bodily fluids stored in the chamber has reached relative to the height of the chamber, or whether there is bodily fluid at the top of the chamber due to a malfunction such as the chamber being tilted or vibrating. However, frequent checking of the chamber is a burden for medical personnel, and if it is overlooked, it can lead to a serious accident, so a device that can detect bodily fluids in the chamber is required. However, conventional measuring devices such as those described in Patent Document 1 count the passage of each droplet coming out of the droplet generator, making it difficult to detect the presence of bodily fluids above a certain height of the chamber.

The first invention was made in consideration of the problems with the invention described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, and the first problem corresponding to the first invention is to provide a drainage device and a drainage circuit monitoring device that can detect whether bodily fluids accumulated in the chamber of the drainage circuit are present at or above a predetermined height of the chamber.

In the drainage chamber described in Patent Document 2, if the cerebrospinal fluid containing blood is excessively stored inside the chamber, the cerebrospinal fluid comes into contact with the filter, infiltrates it, and the filter becomes clogged, or if the clamp is forgotten to be released and ventilation through the air hole is not performed, and cerebrospinal fluid continues to be discharged, the inside of the chamber becomes negative pressure, causing a siphoning phenomenon and overdrainage (excessive discharge of cerebrospinal fluid). In addition, if a patient removes a tube inserted in the head or if cerebrospinal fluid leaks from an unintended part, the level of the cerebrospinal fluid stored inside the chamber will drop. In order to be able to respond appropriately to such situations, medical personnel have conventionally visually confirmed the level of the cerebrospinal fluid stored inside the chamber at regular intervals, the rise and fall of the cerebrospinal fluid level, the presence or absence of pulsation, and the presence or absence of dripping of cerebrospinal fluid from the drip port inside the chamber. For this reason, it was necessary to frequently check the condition of the cerebrospinal fluid stored inside the chamber. Additionally, forgetting to set the timer could result in forgetting to go and check on the cerebrospinal fluid that had accumulated inside the chamber, which could delay the detection of any abnormalities and the treatment.

The second and third inventions were made in consideration of the problems with the invention described in Patent Document 2 above, and the second objective of the second and third inventions is to provide a drainage device that can reduce the number of times that it is necessary to check the state of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, and can also make it easier to prevent delays in identifying and treating abnormalities, as well as a method for monitoring the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, and a drainage system.

A drainage device according to an embodiment of the first invention that can solve the first problem described above is as follows.
[1] A drainage device having a drainage circuit and a monitoring device for the drainage circuit,
The drainage circuit includes a chamber capable of storing a bodily fluid, and a bodily fluid introduction path disposed in the chamber and having a drip port for dripping the bodily fluid into the chamber;
A drainage device, wherein the monitoring device has a sensor portion configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid in the chamber in an area above the drip port.

The drainage device is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluids in the chamber in an area above the drip port of the bodily fluid introduction path, so it can detect whether bodily fluids accumulated in the chamber are present above the drip port. As a result, it becomes easier to check the extent to which the bodily fluids accumulated in the chamber have reached the height of the chamber, and measures such as discharging the bodily fluids from the chamber can be taken as necessary, improving the safety of drainage. In addition, if bodily fluids are present in an area above the drip port due to a malfunction such as vibration or tilting of the chamber, there is a risk of medical accidents such as leakage of bodily fluids or over-drainage depending on the type of drainage, but by using the drainage device configured as described above, such accidents can be prevented. Furthermore, the drainage device can be configured to notify medical personnel when it detects the presence of bodily fluids in an area above the drip port, so that medical personnel can check the chamber directly less frequently, thereby reducing the burden on medical personnel.

The drainage device according to the embodiment of the first invention is preferably any one of the following [2] to [12].
[2] A drainage device as described in [1], wherein the sensor portion is positioned above the drip port.
[3] The drainage device described in [1] or [2], wherein the sensor unit detects droplets and/or the liquid level of bodily fluid in the chamber.
[4] A drainage device described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the monitoring device is detachable from the drainage circuit.
[5] A drainage device described in any of [1] to [4], wherein the monitoring device has an opening that allows the inside of the chamber to be viewed from outside the monitoring device.
[6] A drainage device according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the bodily fluid introduction path is connected to the living body side via a drainage catheter.
[7] A drainage device described in any one of [1] to [6], wherein the chamber has an air hole above the drip port.
[8] The drainage device described in [7], wherein the drainage circuit has a filter disposed in the air hole.
[9] The drainage device described in [8], wherein the sensor unit is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid in the chamber in an area above the drip port and below the filter.
[10] A drainage device described in any of [1] to [9], wherein the chamber has an inlet through which the bodily fluid inlet path is introduced below the drip port.
[11] A drainage device described in any one of [1] to [10], wherein the bodily fluid introduction path has a bent portion above the drip port.
[12] A drainage device described in any one of [1] to [11], wherein the drainage circuit has a disk member located above the drip port of the bodily fluid introduction path and in the vicinity of the drip port.

The first invention also provides a monitoring device for a drainage circuit. The monitoring device according to an embodiment of the first invention is as follows.
[13] A drainage circuit monitoring device, comprising:
The drainage circuit includes a chamber capable of storing a bodily fluid, and a bodily fluid introduction path disposed in the chamber and having a drip port for dripping the bodily fluid into the chamber;
the monitoring device is detachably attached to the chamber;
The monitoring device has a sensor unit,
A monitoring device, wherein the sensor portion is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid in the chamber in an area above the drip opening.

The monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is preferably any one of the following items [14] to [16].
[14] The monitoring device according to [13], wherein the sensor unit is positioned above the drip port.
[15] The monitoring device according to [13] or [14], wherein the sensor unit detects droplets and/or the liquid level of bodily fluid in the chamber.
[16] A monitoring device described in any of [13] to [15], having an opening through which the inside of the chamber can be viewed from outside the monitoring device when the monitoring device is attached to the chamber.

A drainage device according to an embodiment of the second invention that can solve the second problem described above is as follows.
[17] A chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid;
A drainage device having a monitoring device that has a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and is detachable from the chamber.

In the above drainage device, the monitoring device has a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, making it possible to monitor whether the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber has reached a predetermined level or above, or fallen below a predetermined level. This allows medical staff to reduce the number of times they have to check on the status of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in identifying and treating abnormalities due to forgetting to check. This reduces the burden on medical staff of the daily tasks of monitoring and adjusting the chamber, and of record-keeping, and makes them more efficient.

The drainage device according to the embodiment of the second invention is preferably any one of the following [18] to [29].
[18] The drainage device described in [17], wherein the sensor unit detects droplets and/or a liquid level.
[19] The drainage device according to [17] or [18], which has an introduction passage disposed inside the chamber and having a drip port for dripping cerebrospinal fluid.
[20] The drainage device described in [19], wherein the monitoring device is attached above the drip port.
[21] The drainage device described in [19], wherein the monitoring device is attached below the drip port.
[22] The chamber has an air hole above the drip port, the air hole communicating the outside of the chamber with the inside of the chamber,
A filter is disposed in the air hole,
The drainage device of claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is attached below the filter and above the lower end of the chamber.
[23] The sensor unit includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that receives light emitted by the light-emitting element,
The drainage device according to claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is attached to the chamber so that the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are positioned below the drip port.
[24] A measuring device having a scale and an elongated member extending in a vertical direction,
The drainage device according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the chamber can be moved vertically relative to the elongated member, and the chamber is positioned at a predetermined height in the vertical direction relative to the elongated member, thereby allowing cerebrospinal fluid to be dripped from the drip port.
[25] The drainage device according to any one of [17] to [24], wherein the monitoring device has a portion between an upper end and a lower end of the monitoring device that allows visual observation of the state of cerebrospinal fluid accumulation inside the chamber when the monitoring device is attached to the chamber.
[26] The monitoring device has a first arm portion and a second arm portion,
The drainage device according to any one of claims [17] to [25], wherein the chamber is located between the first arm portion and the second arm portion when the monitoring device is attached to the chamber.
[27] The drainage device described in [26], wherein the first arm portion or the second arm portion is provided with a distance sensor that detects whether or not there is contact with the chamber.
[28] The drainage device described in [26], wherein the first arm portion or the second arm portion is provided with a distance sensor that detects the distance to the second arm portion or the first arm portion.
[29] The drainage device according to any one of [17] to [28], wherein the monitoring device has a force point portion to which an external force is applied, an opening/closing portion having a first tip portion and a second tip portion that are in contact with the force point portion when no external force is applied and that are separated from each other when an external force is applied to the force point portion, and a fulcrum portion that serves as a fulcrum when the opening/closing portion is opened and closed.

The method for monitoring the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is capable of solving the second problem described above, is as follows.
[30] A method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber using a drainage device including a chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid and a monitoring device having a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and that is detachable from the chamber, comprising:
A method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber, comprising a step in which the sensor unit detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber.

The method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber includes a step in which the sensor unit detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, making it possible to monitor the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber. This allows medical personnel to reduce the number of times they have to go to check on the status of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in identifying and treating abnormalities due to forgetting to go and check. This reduces the burden on medical personnel of the daily tasks of monitoring and adjusting the chamber and the tasks of recording, and makes them more efficient.

The method for monitoring the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber in the embodiment of the second invention is preferably any one of the following [31] to [33].
[31] The drainage device has a control unit,
The monitoring method according to claim 30, further comprising a step in which the control unit compares the height of the cerebrospinal fluid level accumulated inside the chamber with a predetermined height.
[32] The predetermined height includes a first predetermined height,
The monitoring method according to [31], wherein the control unit determines whether the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber is equal to or higher than the first predetermined level.
[33] The predetermined height includes a second predetermined height that is lower than the first predetermined height,
The monitoring method according to [32], wherein the control unit determines whether the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber is equal to or lower than the second predetermined level.

The drainage system according to the third embodiment of the invention, which can solve the second problem described above, is as follows.
[34] A chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid;
a monitoring device having a sensor unit for detecting the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and detachable from the chamber;
and a control unit configured to issue a first signal when the liquid level reaches or exceeds a first predetermined height.

In the above drainage system, the monitoring device has a sensor unit that detects the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, so that it can monitor whether the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber has reached a predetermined level or higher. The control unit is configured to emit a first signal when the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber reaches a first predetermined level or higher, so that the medical staff only needs to go to the patient and respond when the first signal is emitted. This allows the medical staff to reduce the number of times they have to go to check on the status of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in confirming and treating abnormalities due to forgetting to go and check. This reduces the burden on medical staff of the tasks related to monitoring and adjusting the chamber and the tasks related to recording that they perform on a daily basis, and makes them more efficient.

The drainage system according to the embodiment of the third invention is preferably any one of the following [35] to [40].
[35] The drainage system according to [34], further comprising an introduction passage disposed inside the chamber and having a drip port for dripping cerebrospinal fluid.
[36] The chamber has an air hole above the drip port, the air hole communicating the outside of the chamber with the inside of the chamber,
A filter is disposed in the air hole,
The drainage system of claim [35], wherein the first predetermined height is located below the filter and above the lower end of the chamber.
[37] The drainage system includes an elongated member having a scale and extending in a vertical direction;
The drainage system according to any one of [34] to [36], wherein the control unit is configured to determine a second height at which to position the sensor unit and the chamber based on an amount of change in the height of the liquid surface when cerebrospinal fluid is dripped for a first predetermined period of time with the sensor unit and the chamber positioned at a first height.
[38] The monitoring device has an output section,
The drainage system according to any one of [34] to [37], wherein the output unit converts the first signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and outputs the converted signal.
[39] The drainage system includes an output located remotely from the monitoring device and the chamber;
The drainage system according to any one of [34] to [37], wherein the output unit is a terminal that converts the first signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and outputs the converted signal.
[40] The terminal has a monitor,
The drainage system of claim 39, wherein the monitor displays information regarding the location where the monitoring device is located and/or information regarding the patient with whom the monitoring device is being used.

In the drainage device and drainage circuit monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluids in the chamber in an area above the drip port of the bodily fluid introduction path, so it is possible to detect whether bodily fluids have accumulated in the chamber above the drip port, or whether bodily fluids are present above the drip port due to a malfunction. As a result, it becomes easier to grasp the amount and condition of bodily fluids stored in the chamber, improving the safety of drainage. In addition, the burden on medical personnel can be reduced because medical personnel need not check the chamber as frequently.

The drainage device and method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber according to the second embodiment of the invention, and the drainage system according to the third embodiment of the invention, can reduce the number of times that the state of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber needs to be checked, and can also help prevent delays in identifying abnormalities and treating them due to forgetting to check.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a drainage device according to an embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a drainage device according to another embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a drainage device according to still another embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of use of the monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a side view of a drainage device according to an embodiment of the second invention and a drainage system according to an embodiment of the third invention. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a modified example of the drainage device according to the second embodiment of the invention and the drainage system according to the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a modified example of the drainage device according to the embodiment of the second invention and the drainage system according to the embodiment of the third invention. FIG. 8 is a side view showing a modified example of the drainage device according to the embodiment of the second invention and the drainage system according to the embodiment of the third invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a monitoring device of a drainage device according to an embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a monitoring device included in a drainage device according to an embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a method for monitoring the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber according to an embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a terminal used in a drainage system according to an embodiment of the third invention.

The present invention will be described below based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can of course be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the intent described above and below, all of which are included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, hatching and component symbols may be omitted in each drawing for convenience, but in such cases, reference should be made to the specification or other drawings. Furthermore, the dimensions of various components in the drawings may differ from the actual dimensions, as priority is given to contributing to an understanding of the features of the present invention.

(First Invention)
First, the first aspect of the invention will be described.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, a drainage device and a drainage circuit monitoring device according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drainage device 10 has a drainage circuit 20 and a monitoring device 50 for the drainage circuit 20. The drainage circuit 20 has a chamber 30 capable of storing bodily fluid 60, and a bodily fluid introduction path 40 disposed within the chamber 30 and having a drip port 41 for dripping the bodily fluid 60 into the chamber 30. The monitoring device 50 for the drainage circuit 20 has a sensor unit 51 that is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in a region D above the drip port 41.

The drainage circuit 20 is used to drain the body fluid 60 from the living body, and has a chamber 30 and a body fluid introduction path 40. The body fluid introduction path 40 has a drip port 41, which is disposed within the chamber 30. The body fluid 60 drained from the living body passes through the body fluid introduction path 40, drips from the drip port 41, and is stored within the chamber 30. Here, the "drainage circuit" refers to a line that constitutes a path through which the body fluid 60 flows when the body fluid 60 is drained from the living body. The drainage circuit 20 may have components other than the chamber 30 and the body fluid introduction path 40, such as a second chamber, a drain pipe, a drainage bag 80 described below, and a drainage catheter 45.

The drainage circuit 20 may be a so-called open drainage circuit in which the body fluid 60 discharged from the living body is exposed to the atmosphere, or a so-called closed drainage circuit in which the body fluid 60 discharged from the living body is not exposed to the atmosphere. While open drainage circuits require caution regarding infection, closed drainage circuits have the advantage that the risk of infection is relatively low. The pressure of the drainage circuit 20 can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the drip port 41, or negative pressure can be applied artificially.

Body fluid 60 is a liquid discharged from a living body, and includes blood, urine, saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreatic juice, ascites, pleural fluid, pus, exudate, digestive fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. Body fluid 60 may be dripped from drip port 41 as intermittent droplets 62, may be dripped as continuous droplets 62, or may be dripped as a continuous liquid that does not separate into droplets. Thus, in this specification, the term "dripping" is used to refer to body fluid 60 being introduced into chamber 30 from drip port 41 in any state.

The bodily fluid introduction path 40 constitutes a path through which the bodily fluid 60 discharged from the living body is stored in the chamber 30. The bodily fluid introduction path 40 preferably includes a flexible tube made of synthetic resin such as silicone resin or rubber such as synthetic rubber. The tube may be made of a single member, or may be made of multiple tubular members connected together.

The body fluid introduction path 40 is preferably arranged so that the end on the living body side is located outside the chamber 30, and the portion including the end opposite the living body side is located inside the chamber 30, and has a drip port 41 for dripping the body fluid 60 into the chamber 30. The drip port 41 may be the end of a tube that constitutes the body fluid introduction path 40, or may be formed in a separate member connected to the end of the tube.

The chamber 30 is a container that can store the bodily fluid 60 that has passed through the bodily fluid introduction passage 40 and dripped from the drip port 41.

The bodily fluid 60 introduced into the chamber 30 is preferably stored within the chamber 30 to form a liquid level 61. By observing and/or detecting the liquid level 61, the amount of bodily fluid 60 stored within the chamber 30 can be known. In the chamber 30, the direction in which the liquid level 61 rises as the bodily fluid 60 is stored is referred to as the height direction h, and the side in the height direction h where the bodily fluid 60 is stored is the lower side of the chamber 30, and the opposite side is the upper side of the chamber 30. As shown in Figure 1, the cylindrical chamber 30 is disposed vertically, and it is preferable that the dripping direction of the bodily fluid 60 is from top to bottom in the height direction h.

The chamber 30 may have a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 1, or may have any shape capable of storing liquid, such as a bag shape. The shape of the cross section perpendicular to the height direction h of the chamber 30 may be, for example, a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse, a polygonal shape such as a square or a rectangle, a rounded polygon with rounded corners, a circle or a polygon, a part of a rounded polygon, a combination of these, or an irregular shape.

The chamber 30 is preferably made of a light-transmitting material. This makes it easier to observe and/or detect the liquid level 61 from outside the chamber 30. The chamber 30 may be transparent or translucent, but is more preferably transparent. The chamber 30 may be formed of a synthetic resin.

The chamber 30 may be formed with a scale 81. The scale 81 is preferably engraved in the height direction h. This allows the amount of bodily fluid 60 accumulated in the chamber 30 to be known.

As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring device 50 of the drainage circuit 20 has a sensor unit 51, which is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in the region D above the drip port 41. As the amount of bodily fluid 60 stored in the chamber 30 increases, the bodily fluid 60 will be present on the upper side of the chamber 30 in the height direction h, and if the amount of bodily fluid 60 exceeds the capacity of the chamber 30, the bodily fluid 60 will overflow from the chamber 30. In addition, in the case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage as shown in FIG. 3 described later, if the filter gets wet and the drainage circuit 20 closes, negative pressure will be generated, which may cause an accident of overdrainage. By detecting the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in the region D above the drip port 41, the sensor unit 51 can prevent such accidents as overflow of the bodily fluid 60 and overdrainage.

Alternatively, factors other than an increase in the amount of bodily fluid 60 stored in the chamber 30, such as a malfunction of the chamber 30 such as vibration or tilting, may cause the bodily fluid 60 to be present in the region D above the drip port 41. This may result in the bodily fluid 60 leaking from unintended areas, or the bodily fluid 60 coming into contact with or infiltrating the filter 33 of the chamber 30 or the filter 83 of the drainage bag 80, which will be described later, may prevent the filter 33 of the chamber 30 or the filter 83 of the drainage bag 80 from venting, resulting in clogging of the drainage circuit 20. Even in such cases, the sensor unit 51 can detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in region D, thereby preventing leakage of the bodily fluid 60 and clogging of the drainage circuit 20.

When the sensor unit 51 detects bodily fluid 60 in the region D above the drip port 41 in the chamber 30, it is preferable for the monitoring device 50 to give a notification such as a warning. By having the monitoring device 50 give notification of monitoring information in this way, it becomes easier for medical personnel to grasp the amount of bodily fluid 60 stored in the chamber 30 and to detect abnormalities in the chamber 30, and since measures can be taken as necessary such as discharging the bodily fluid 60 from the chamber 30 or opening the drainage circuit 20, the safety of drainage can be improved. In addition, the frequency with which medical personnel directly check the chamber 30 can be reduced, thereby reducing the burden on medical personnel.

The notification is preferably displayed on a display device such as a terminal carried by a medical professional via communication. It is preferable to use a relay communication device that relays communication between the monitoring device 50 and the terminal that notifies and/or displays the monitoring information from the monitoring device 50, for the purpose of improving the connection status of communication between the monitoring device 50 and the terminal, improving safety by multiplexing the connection, expanding the communication range, and reducing power consumption required for communication. As a relay communication device, for example, a device that secures power directly from the outlet in the patient's room, transmits and receives monitoring information from the monitoring device 50 via Bluetooth (registered trademark), converts the information to Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication and transmits the information to a remote terminal or other relay point, and has the function of simultaneously transmitting the location information of the relay communication device can be used.

The warning notification from the monitoring device 50 is preferably a voice from a speaker, vibration from a vibrator, blinking of a flash light, display on a display, etc. Furthermore, it is preferable that the notification from the monitoring device 50 includes location information of the monitoring device 50, specifically the location of the patient's room and the room number. This makes it easier for medical staff to take prompt action when they receive a notification from the monitoring device 50.

The sensor unit 51 may be, for example, an optical sensor, a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a millimeter/microwave sensor, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, a dielectric constant sensor, a temperature sensor, a microphone, or a combination of these. Among these, it is preferable that the sensor unit 51 is an optical sensor and/or a camera.

When the sensor unit 51 is an optical sensor, the optical sensor preferably has a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-receiving element measures the intensity of the transmitted light or reflected light emitted by the light-emitting element, thereby making it possible to detect whether or not bodily fluid 60 is present in the target area. The light-emitting element preferably emits light having a wavelength in the infrared to visible light range. One or more light-emitting elements having light sources of these wavelengths can be used. The light-receiving element is preferably an RGB sensor. By using an RGB sensor for the light-receiving element, color information of the bodily fluid 60 can be obtained when bodily fluid 60 is present in the target area. From the color information of the bodily fluid 60, it is possible to ascertain the condition of the disease, such as whether or not there is an abnormality such as inflammation or infection in the affected area.

Alternatively, if the sensor unit 51 is a camera, the liquid surface 61 and droplets 62 can be directly observed by the camera, and information on the position of the liquid surface 61, the state of the body fluid 60, such as its color, and pulsation can be easily obtained. It is also a preferred embodiment to use a vibration sensor in combination with the above. The presence or absence of pulsation can be easily detected by the vibration sensor. However, since using a camera as the sensor unit 51 complicates the configuration of the monitoring device 50, it is preferable that the sensor unit 51 includes an optical sensor, and it is also preferable that information including color information of the body fluid 60 be obtained by the optical sensor.

It is preferable that the sensor unit 51 does not come into direct contact with the bodily fluid 60, and it is preferable that the monitoring device 50 is disposed outside the chamber 30 and the sensor unit 51 detects the bodily fluid 60 while also being disposed outside the chamber 30. This makes it possible to prevent the sensor unit 51 from being contaminated by the bodily fluid 60.

2 and 3, the drainage device 10 may be applied to a configuration in which the bodily fluid 60 accumulated in the chamber 30 is drained into a drainage bag 80. By monitoring whether or not the bodily fluid 60 is present in the region D above the drip port 41 using the monitoring device 50, the clamp 70 provided below the drain port 34 of the chamber 30 can be opened before the bodily fluid 60 fills the chamber 30, allowing the bodily fluid 60 to be drained from the chamber 30 into the drainage bag 80.

It is preferable that the drainage bag 80 has a bag shape capable of storing the bodily fluid 60 discharged from the chamber 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the drainage bag 80 may have a recess 85 in which the chamber 30 can be placed. This allows the shape of the drainage bag 80 and the chamber 30 to be made compact when connected, making it easy to place at the patient's bedside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drainage bag 80 is preferably a drainage bag with a measuring scale on which a scale 81 is formed. The scale 81 is preferably engraved in the height direction h. This allows the amount of bodily fluid 60 discharged from the chamber 30 to be known. It is even more preferable that the drainage bag is a drainage bag with a measuring scale on which the scale 81 is formed on the chamber 30. This allows the amount of bodily fluid 60 stored in the chamber 30 to be known more accurately.

The drainage bag 80 preferably has an air hole 82, and a filter 83 is preferably disposed in the air hole 82. The air hole 82 may be an opening formed in the drainage bag 80. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the air hole 82 may be configured as a tubular member inserted into the body of the drainage bag 80. The tubular member may be configured of the same material as the drainage bag 80 or may be configured of a different material. It is preferable that one end of the tubular member is disposed inside the drainage bag 80 and the other end is disposed outside the drainage bag 80, so that the inside and outside of the drainage bag 80 are in communication with each other through the air hole 82. A clamp 70 may be disposed in the tubular member that constitutes the air hole 82, and the communication between the inside and outside of the drainage bag 80 can be opened and closed by opening and closing the clamp 70.

The drainage circuit 20, which is configured to drain bodily fluid 60 from the chamber 30 into a drainage bag 80 with a measuring meter as shown in FIG. 2, can be used for cerebrospinal fluid drainage by connecting a chamber 30 equipped with a bodily fluid introduction path 40 having a bent portion 42 as shown in FIG. 3 described later, placed on top of the chamber 30 in FIG. 2 as a second chamber.

The drainage bag 80 preferably has a handle hole 84. By hanging a handle such as a hanger or string on the handle hole 84, the drainage bag 80 can be easily placed under the patient's bed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 51 is preferably disposed above the drip port 41. This makes it easier for the sensor unit 51 to detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in the region D above the drip port 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, the entire monitoring device 50 itself may be positioned above the drip port 41. This allows the sensor unit 51 to be easily positioned above the drip port 41.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, at least a portion of the monitoring device 50 may be disposed above the drip port 41, and the other portion may be disposed below the drip port 41. Alternatively, although not shown, the entire monitoring device 50 may be disposed below the drip port 41.

The sensor unit 51 detects the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the region D above the drip port 41, and may also detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the region below the drip port 41. In situations where the bodily fluid introduction path 40 is clogged or removed from the living body, or bodily fluid 60 leaks from an unintended part, abnormalities such as a rapid drop in the height of the liquid level 61 in the chamber 30, a stop in the rise in the height of the liquid level 61, or no drip of bodily fluid 60 from the drip port 41 will occur, but these abnormalities can be discovered by the sensor unit 51 detecting the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the region below the drip port 41.

The sensor unit 51 preferably detects droplets 62 and/or the liquid level 61 of the bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30. If the sensor unit 51 can detect droplets 62 and/or the liquid level 61 of the bodily fluid 60, it can detect abnormal behavior of the droplets 62 and abnormal rise or fall of the liquid level 61, and events causing these can be identified and dealt with early, improving the safety of drainage.

Events that can cause abnormalities include bending or clogging of the bodily fluid introduction path 40, changes in pressure due to changes in the height of the chamber 30, abnormalities in the clamps 70 provided on the chamber 30 or the bodily fluid introduction path 40, etc., wetting of the filter 33 provided on the chamber 30, wetting of the filter 83 provided on the drainage bag 80 in which the bodily fluid 60 discharged from the chamber 30 accumulates, leakage from the wound where the bodily fluid 60 is discharged, etc. Since these abnormalities require immediate attention, monitoring of the drainage circuit 20 with the monitoring device 50 is useful.

The monitoring device 50 is preferably detachable from the drainage circuit 20. The drainage circuit 20 is used disposable for each patient to prevent infection, but by making the monitoring device 50 detachable from the drainage circuit 20, the monitoring device 50 can be used to monitor a different drainage circuit 20, allowing for efficient use. In addition, the configuration of the drainage circuit 20 and the characteristics of the sensor unit 51 make it easy to attach the monitoring device 50 to an appropriate position on the drainage circuit 20. The monitoring device 50 is preferably detachably attached to the outside of the chamber 30. There are no particular limitations on the shape of the monitoring device 50, so long as it can be detachably attached to the outside of the chamber 30.

The monitoring device 50 can be attached to and detached from the drainage circuit 20 by, for example, clamping the chamber 30 with a clip-shaped monitoring device 50, inserting the chamber 30 into an insertion hole formed in the monitoring device 50, engaging with a fitting portion formed on the contact surface between the monitoring device 50 and the chamber 30, or fixing the monitoring device 50 to the chamber 30 with a fixing member such as a belt attached to the monitoring device 50. That is, examples of the shape of the monitoring device 50 include a clip shape, a tube shape, and a belt shape.

The shape of the monitoring device 50 may be any shape as long as it can be attached to and detached from the drainage circuit 20 as described above, but a rounded shape is preferable from the standpoint of ease of handling by medical personnel and reducing damage to other components.

The monitoring device 50 preferably has an opening 52 through which the inside of the chamber 30 can be viewed from outside the monitoring device 50. This allows the sensor unit 51 of the monitoring device 50 to detect the presence of bodily fluids 60, and also allows the state inside the chamber 30 at the position where the monitoring device 50 is attached to be visually confirmed, making it easier to monitor the drainage circuit 20.

The opening 52 may be, for example, a window as shown in FIG. 1, and the periphery of the opening 52 of the monitoring device 50 may be closed. Alternatively, the monitoring device 50 may be formed in a clip shape, and the space between both arms of the clip may form the opening 52. Alternatively, the monitoring device 50 may have a portion formed of a transparent material, and this portion may function as the actual opening 52.

As shown in FIG. 3, the end of the body fluid introduction path 40 opposite the drip port 41 is preferably connected directly or indirectly to the living body 90. The body fluid introduction path 40 is preferably connected to the living body 90 via a drainage catheter 45. One end of the drainage catheter 45 is preferably inserted percutaneously or endoscopically into the target site from which the body fluid 60 is to be discharged, and the other end is preferably connected to the body fluid introduction path 40 via a three-way stopcock or the like. The end of the body fluid introduction path 40 opposite the drip port 41 or the end of the drainage catheter 45 on the living body 90 side can be inserted from a small incision in the living body 90 into the thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, pericardial cavity, bladder, intracranial cavity, joint cavity, etc. In addition, the opening at one end of the drainage catheter 45 inserted into the target site from which the body fluid 60 is to be discharged is set to be lower than the drip port 41 in the case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the bodily fluid introduction path 40 may be introduced from an introduction port 31 located higher than the drip port 41 of the chamber 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the bodily fluid introduction path 40 may be introduced into the chamber 30 through an introduction port 31 formed in the chamber 30.

The chamber 30 preferably has an air hole 32 above the drip port 41. By having the chamber 30 have the air hole 32, the drainage circuit 20 can be an open drainage circuit that can be used for cerebrospinal fluid drainage, for example.

The air hole 32 may be an opening formed in the chamber 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening may be provided at the tip of a tubular portion extending from the cylindrical main body of the chamber 30 where the body fluid 60 is stored. The tubular portion preferably has a smaller diameter than the main body of the chamber 30, and may have a bent portion. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the air hole 32 may be formed of a tubular member inserted into the main body of the chamber 30 and having a smaller diameter than the main body of the chamber 30. The tubular member may be made of the same material as the chamber 30 or a different material. The tubular member may also have a bent portion. It is preferable that one end of the tubular member is disposed inside the chamber 30 and the other end is disposed outside the chamber 30, so that the inside and outside of the chamber 30 are in communication with each other through the air hole 32. A clamp 70 may be disposed on the main body side of the chamber 30 at the portion where the air hole 32 is disposed, such as the tubular portion or the tubular member, and the communication between the inside and outside of the chamber 30 can be opened and closed by opening and closing the clamp 70.

The drainage circuit 20 preferably has a filter 33 disposed in the air hole 32. The filter 33 allows air to circulate through the air hole 32 while preventing foreign matter from entering the chamber 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 51 of the monitoring device 50 is preferably configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in an area D1 above the drip port 41 and below the filter 33. When the presence of bodily fluid 60 is detected in area D1, the monitoring device 50 issues a notification such as a warning, making it possible to detect abnormalities in advance, such as the bodily fluid 60 rising from the top of the chamber 30 to the air vent 32, the bodily fluid 60 contacting and infiltrating the filter 33 and wetting the filter 33, or the bodily fluid 60 coagulating, and thus preventing over-drainage and leakage of the bodily fluid 60.

As shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 30 preferably has an inlet 31 through which the bodily fluid introduction path 40 is introduced below the drip port 41. This allows the bodily fluid introduction path 40 to be introduced from the bottom of the chamber 30.

In the above case, it is preferable that the body fluid introduction path 40 has a bent portion 42 above the drip port 41. With this configuration, even if the body fluid introduction path 40 is introduced from the bottom of the chamber 30, the drip direction of the body fluid 60 from the drip port 41 can be from top to bottom in the height direction h of the chamber 30. With this configuration, when performing cerebrospinal fluid drainage, the height of the patient's external ear canal is set as the zero point, and the height of the drip port 41 can be adjusted based on the zero point so that the intracranial pressure becomes the set pressure. This allows the drainage circuit 20 to be used as a cerebrospinal fluid drainage circuit that maintains a constant intracranial pressure and drains only excess cerebrospinal fluid. By monitoring the cerebrospinal fluid drainage circuit with the monitoring device 50, over-drainage that can cause brain herniation, which can be fatal, can be prevented, thereby improving the safety of cerebrospinal fluid drainage. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the body fluid 60 may be discharged from the chamber 30 and collected in a drainage bag 80. A clamp 70 is disposed between the chamber 30 and the drainage bag 80, and the body fluid 60 can be drained from the chamber 30 to the drainage bag 80 by opening the clamp 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drainage circuit 20 preferably has a disk member 43 located above and near the drip port 41 of the bodily fluid introduction path 40. If the bodily fluid introduction path 40 has a bent portion 42, the disk member 43 is preferably disposed between the drip port 41 and the bent portion 42. The presence of the disk member 43 makes it difficult for the drip port 41 to come into contact with the inner wall of the chamber 30, making it easier to detect and visually observe the bodily fluid 60 dripping from the drip port 41 using the sensor unit 51. This makes it easier to check the flow and pulsation of the bodily fluid 60.

As shown in FIG. 3, a handle 36 may be attached to the chamber 30. The handle 36 may be integrally formed with the chamber 30, or a separate member may be connected to a connection portion such as a handle hole provided in the chamber 30. By having the chamber 30 with the handle 36, it becomes easy to set the chamber 30 on a stand such as an IV stand and adjust the height of the drip port 41, for example, based on the external ear canal. The handle 36 may be set on the stand so that the chamber 30 is attached to a plate-shaped member having a scale. This makes it easy to grasp the height of the drip port 41.

The first invention also provides a monitoring device 50 for a drainage circuit 20, the drainage circuit 20 having a chamber 30 capable of storing a bodily fluid 60, and a bodily fluid inlet passage 40 disposed within the chamber 30 and having a drip port 41 for dripping the bodily fluid 60 into the chamber 30, the monitoring device 50 being detachable from the chamber 30, the monitoring device 50 having a sensor unit 51, and the sensor unit 51 being configured to detect the presence of the bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in a region D above the drip port 41.

Details about the monitoring device 50 can be understood by referring to the above detailed description of the drainage device 10, as the same reference numerals are used for each component of the drainage device 10 described above.

The sensor unit 51 is preferably located above the drip port 41. This makes it easier for the sensor unit 51 to detect the presence of bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30 in the region D above the drip port 41.

The sensor unit 51 preferably detects droplets 62 and/or the liquid surface 61 of the bodily fluid 60 in the chamber 30.

It is preferable that the monitoring device 50 has an opening 52 that allows the inside of the chamber 30 to be viewed from outside the monitoring device 50 when the monitoring device 50 is attached to the chamber 30.

Monitoring of the drainage circuit 20 by the monitoring device 50 can be carried out, for example, according to a flow chart as shown in FIG. 4. First, the drainage circuit 20 is installed so that the bodily fluid 60 can be discharged from the target site of the living body, and drainage of the bodily fluid 60 by the drainage circuit 20 is started. For example, in the case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, the clamp 70 that was closed when the drainage circuit 20 was installed is opened according to a procedure, and drainage of the bodily fluid 60 by the drainage circuit 20 can be started.

After drainage of the bodily fluid 60 has begun, it is preferable for the sensor unit 51 of the monitoring device 50 to perform detection. This makes it possible to check, for example, whether the bodily fluid 60 is dripping normally from the drip port 41, and whether there is pulsation in the case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage. If dripping or pulsation is not observed due to an abnormality such as blockage of the drainage circuit 20 or improper insertion of the drainage catheter 45, the drainage circuit 20 can be checked to correct the abnormality. Note that since pulsation is not observed with closed drainage, checking for pulsation can be omitted.

It is preferable that the sensor unit 51 of the monitoring device 50 continues to detect the body fluid 60 even while the body fluid 60 is being drained. This makes it possible to obtain information such as the amount of drainage, the drainage speed, the state of the drained body fluid 60, and abnormalities in the chamber 30. The monitoring device 50 preferably issues a warning when an abnormality is detected, and the warning can be used to take measures such as draining the body fluid 60 from the chamber 30. In addition to drainage, it is possible to grasp events that may cause abnormalities detected by the sensor unit 51, such as incorrect operation of the clamp 70, wetting of the filter 33 and/or filter 83, blockage of the drainage circuit 20 due to bending of the body fluid introduction path 40 and/or drainage catheter 45, pressure changes due to changes in the height of the chamber 30, and changes in the properties of the lesion, and these events can be immediately dealt with.

If the abnormality is resolved, drainage can be continued while monitoring is performed using the monitoring device 50. In this manner, it is possible to perform safer drainage while reducing the burden on medical staff.

(Second and third inventions)
Next, the second and third aspects of the invention will be described.

With reference to Figures 5 to 11, a drainage device according to a second embodiment of the invention and a method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber will be described. Also, with reference to Figures 5 to 12, a drainage system according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described.

In the following explanation and in Figures 5 to 12, when the drainage device and drainage system are in use, the horizontal direction is indicated by x and the vertical direction is indicated by y. Furthermore, when each member or part is divided into two equal parts in the vertical direction y, the upper part of each member or part is referred to as the upper part of each member or part, and the lower part of each member or part is referred to as the lower part of each member or part. The lower end of each member or part is the end that is located at the lowest position of each member or part. The upper end of each member or part is the end that is located at the highest position of each member or part. The end includes the peripheral portion of the end. In other words, the lower end refers to the peripheral portions of the lower end and the lower end, and the upper end refers to the peripheral portions of the upper end and the proximal end.

First, we will explain the drainage device according to the second embodiment of the invention and the drainage system according to the third embodiment of the invention.

The gist of the drainage device according to the second embodiment of the invention is that it has a chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid, and a monitoring device that has a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and is detachable from the chamber.

The drainage system according to the third embodiment of the invention has a chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid, a monitoring device that has a sensor unit that detects the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and is detachable from the chamber, and a control unit that is configured to emit a first signal when the level of the fluid reaches or exceeds a first predetermined level.

As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the drainage device 10 has a chamber 30 and a monitoring device 50.

As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the drainage system 11 has a chamber 30, a monitoring device 50, and a control unit 53.

The chamber 30 is a container capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid 60a. At least the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is stored in the chamber 30. The cerebrospinal fluid 60a may be mixed with blood or the like.

The monitoring device 50 has a sensor unit 51. The sensor unit 51 may detect the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30. The sensor unit 51 may detect the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30. For example, the drainage device 10 may use a sensor unit 51 that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30. The drainage system 11 may use a sensor unit 51 that detects the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30. The monitoring device 50 is detachable from the chamber 30. By configuring the monitoring device 50 to be detachable from the chamber 30, the monitoring device 50 can be attached to the chamber 30 of another patient and used repeatedly. This makes the monitoring device 50 environmentally friendly and economical.

The control unit 53 provided in the drainage system 11 is configured to emit a first signal when the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a reaches or exceeds a first predetermined height.

In the drainage device 10, the monitoring device 50 has a sensor unit 51 that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, so that it can monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is above a predetermined height or below a predetermined height. This allows medical personnel to reduce the number of times they have to check on the status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in identifying and treating abnormalities due to forgetting to check. This reduces the burden on medical personnel of the daily tasks of monitoring and adjusting the chamber 30 and the tasks of recording, and makes them more efficient.

In the drainage system 11, the monitoring device 50 has a sensor unit 51 that detects the level of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, so that it can monitor whether the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 has reached a predetermined level or higher. The control unit 53 is configured to emit a first signal when the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 reaches a first predetermined level or higher, so that the medical staff can go to the patient and respond when the first signal is emitted. This allows the medical staff to reduce the number of times they have to go to check on the status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in confirming and treating abnormalities due to forgetting to go and check. This reduces the burden on the medical staff's daily work of monitoring and adjusting the chamber 30 and record-keeping, and can improve efficiency.

The chamber 30 can be of any shape capable of storing liquid. For example, the chamber 30 may be cylindrical or bag-shaped. The outer shape of the chamber 30 in a cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction y may be, for example, a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse, a polygonal shape such as a square, a rectangle, or a pentagon, a rounded polygon with rounded corners, a combination of these, or an irregular shape.

The chamber 30 is preferably made of a material that is optically transparent. This makes it easy to observe and/or detect the cerebrospinal fluid 60a from outside the chamber 30. The chamber 30 may be transparent or translucent, but is more preferably transparent. The chamber 30 can be made of synthetic resin, glass, etc.

As shown in Figures 5 and 8, the chamber 30 may be formed with a scale 81. The scale 81 on the chamber 30 is preferably engraved in the vertical direction y. This makes it easier to visually check the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a that has accumulated inside the chamber 30.

The monitoring device 50 is configured to be detachable from the chamber 30. For example, the monitoring device 50 may be shaped like a clip. This allows the monitoring device 50 to pinch and grip the chamber 30 and release it. The monitoring device 50 may have a through hole penetrating in the vertical direction y, and may be configured to be detachable by inserting and removing the chamber 30 into and from the through hole. The monitoring device 50 may have a first fitting portion, the chamber 30 may have a second fitting portion that fits into the first fitting portion, and the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion may be configured to be detachable, thereby making the monitoring device 50 detachable from the chamber 30. The monitoring device 50 may have a fixing member such as a belt, and the fixing member may allow the monitoring device to be attached and detached from the chamber 30.

The shape of the monitoring device 50 may be any shape as long as it is detachable from the chamber 30 as described above, but a rounded shape is preferable from the standpoint of ease of handling by medical personnel and reducing damage to other components and instruments.

The sensor unit 51 may be, for example, an optical sensor, a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a millimeter/microwave sensor, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, a dielectric constant sensor, a temperature sensor, a microphone, or a combination of these. Of these, it is preferable to use an optical sensor and/or a camera as the sensor unit 51.

When an optical sensor is used as the sensor unit 51, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the sensor unit 51 preferably includes a light-emitting element 51a and a light-receiving element 51b that receives light emitted by the light-emitting element 51a. The light-receiving element 51b measures the intensity of the light emitted by the light-emitting element 51a after passing through the target area, or the light emitted by the light-emitting element 51a after being reflected by the target area, to detect whether or not cerebrospinal fluid 60a is present in the target area, or the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a. The light-emitting element 51a preferably emits light having a wavelength in the range from infrared light to visible light. Only one light-emitting element 51a may be provided, or multiple light-emitting elements 51a may be provided. The light-receiving element 51b may be an RGB sensor. By using the light-receiving element 51b as an RGB sensor, information on the color of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a can be obtained when cerebrospinal fluid 60a is present in the target area. From the information on the color of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a, the condition of the disease, such as whether or not there is an abnormality such as inflammation or infection in the affected area, can be grasped.

When a camera is used as the sensor unit 51, it is preferable that the sensor unit 51 includes an imaging element. The imaging element can capture images of the liquid surface 61 and droplets 62, making it easy to grasp the position of the liquid surface 61, the state of the color of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a, and the presence or absence of pulsation. However, using a camera as the sensor unit 51 complicates the configuration of the monitoring device 50, so it is preferable that the sensor unit 51 includes an optical sensor, and it is preferable that information related to the color of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is also obtained by the optical sensor.

In addition to the optical sensor and camera mentioned above, a vibration sensor can also be used. The vibration sensor makes it easy to detect the presence or absence of pulsation.

It is preferable that the sensor unit 51 does not come into direct contact with the cerebrospinal fluid 60a. It is more preferable that the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a or the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is detected with the entire monitoring device 50 disposed outside the chamber 30. This makes it possible to prevent the sensor unit 51 from being contaminated by the cerebrospinal fluid 60a.

The sensor unit 51 preferably detects the droplets 62 and/or the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a. If the sensor unit 51 can detect the droplets 62 and/or the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a, it can confirm the presence or absence of the droplets 62 dripping and the abnormal rise or fall of the liquid level 61.

The drainage device 10 or the drainage system 11 preferably has an introduction path 40a disposed inside the chamber 30. The introduction path 40a is a portion that constitutes the path inside the chamber 30 through which the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is stored inside the chamber 30. The introduction path 40a has a drip port 41 that drips the cerebrospinal fluid 60a into the chamber 30. It is preferable that the chamber 30 is capable of storing the cerebrospinal fluid 60a dripped from the drip port 41.

The introduction path 40a preferably includes a flexible tube made of synthetic resin such as silicone resin or rubber such as synthetic rubber. The tube may be made of only one tubular member, or may be made by connecting multiple tubular members.

The drainage device 10 or the drainage system 11 may have a drainage catheter 45 that is disposed outside the chamber 30 and is connected to the introduction path 40a. This allows the introduction path 40a to be indirectly connected to the human body via the drainage catheter 45.

One end of the drainage catheter 45 is connected to the introduction path 40a, and the other end of the drainage catheter 45 is preferably inserted into the target area from which cerebrospinal fluid 60a is to be discharged. More specifically, the end of the drainage catheter 45 that is located opposite the end to which the introduction path 40a is connected is preferably inserted into the skull through a small incision made in the patient's head.

The chamber 30 shown in Figures 5 to 7 is preferably capable of storing the cerebrospinal fluid 60a dripped from the drip port 41 and is positioned above the patient's outer ear. By attaching a monitoring device 50 to this chamber 30, it is possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 has exceeded a predetermined height or fallen below a predetermined height. This makes it possible to know if there is over-drainage, if the patient removes the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head, or if the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is leaking from an unintended location.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drainage device 10 may have a first chamber 301 and a second chamber 302 as a chamber 30 capable of storing the cerebrospinal fluid 60a dripped from the drip port 41. More specifically, the drainage device 10 may have a first chamber 301 arranged above the patient's outer ear, and a second chamber 302 connected to the first chamber 301 and arranged below the patient's outer ear. By attaching a monitoring device 50 to the first chamber 301, it is possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the first chamber 301 has reached a predetermined height or has fallen below a predetermined height. This makes it possible to know the occurrence of over-drainage, the patient removing the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head, or the cerebrospinal fluid 60a leaking from an unintended part. By attaching the monitoring device 50 to the second chamber 302, it is possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the second chamber 302 has reached a predetermined height or higher. This makes it possible to prevent the cerebrospinal fluid 60a from overflowing from the second chamber 302 and contaminating the floor of the hospital room.

As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the chamber 30 has an air hole 32 above the drip port 41 that connects the outside of the chamber 30 to the inside of the chamber 30, and it is preferable that a filter 33 is disposed in the air hole 32. By disposing the filter 33 in the air hole 32, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the chamber 30 while allowing ventilation from the air hole 32.

As shown in Figures 5 to 8, it is preferable that the air hole 32 is located above the drip port 41. This makes it difficult for the cerebrospinal fluid 60a that has accumulated inside the chamber 30 to come into contact with the filter 33.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the air hole 32 may be an opening 35 that the chamber 30 has. As shown in Figure 6, the opening 35 that constitutes the air hole 32 may be the end of a tubular portion 35a that the chamber 30 has. It is preferable that the tubular portion 35a has a bent portion. The material that constitutes the tubular portion 35a and the material that constitutes the chamber 30 other than the tubular portion 35a may be the same or different.

As shown in FIG. 6, a clamp 70 may be attached to the cylindrical portion 35a. By opening and closing the clamp 70, communication between the outside of the chamber 30 and the inside of the chamber 30 can be opened and closed.

The sensor unit 51 preferably has a function of measuring time intervals. This makes it possible to detect that the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 has not changed during a predetermined time interval, that the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a inside the chamber 30 does not exceed a predetermined height, and that the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a inside the chamber 30 does not fall below a predetermined height, etc. More specifically, it is possible to detect that the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 has not changed during a predetermined time interval, that the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a inside the chamber 30 does not exceed a first predetermined height, and that the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a inside the chamber 30 does not fall below a second predetermined height, which will be described later, etc.

As shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the monitoring device 50 is attached above the drip port 41. By attaching the monitoring device 50 above the drip port 41, a relatively large amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a can be stored in the chamber 30 until the sensor unit 51 detects the cerebrospinal fluid 60a. This makes it easier to reduce the number of times medical personnel need to check the condition inside the chamber 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the monitoring device 50 is preferably attached below the drip port 41. By attaching the monitoring device 50 below the drip port 41, it becomes easier to detect earlier a significant rise or fall in the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, or a halt in the change in the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the monitoring device 50 is preferably attached below the filter 33 and above the lower end of the chamber 30. By attaching the monitoring device 50 below the filter 33, it becomes easier to detect when the liquid level has not yet reached the height at which the filter 33 is located. This makes it easier to prevent the filter 33 from becoming clogged and causing over-drainage. It also makes it easier to prevent cerebrospinal fluid 60a from leaking beyond the filter 33 through the air hole 32.

The position where the monitoring device 50 is attached is not particularly limited. As shown in FIG. 6, the monitoring device 50 may be attached to the chamber 30 so that the light-emitting element 51a and the light-receiving element 51b are positioned above the drip port 41. As shown in FIG. 8, the monitoring device 50 may be attached to the chamber 30 so that the light-emitting element 51a and the light-receiving element 51b are positioned below the drip port 41.

7, the sensor unit 51 may include an upper light-emitting element 511, an upper light-receiving element 512 that receives light emitted by the upper light-emitting element 511, a lower light-emitting element 513 that is located below the upper light-emitting element 511 and the upper light-receiving element 512, and a lower light-receiving element 514 that is located below the upper light-emitting element 511 and the upper light-receiving element 512 and receives light emitted by the lower light-emitting element 513. It is preferable that the monitoring device 50 is attached to the chamber 30 so that the upper light-emitting element 511 and the upper light-receiving element 512 are located above the drip port 41, and the lower light-emitting element 513 and the lower light-receiving element 514 are located below the drip port 41. The upper light-emitting element 511 and the upper light-receiving element 512 can monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 has reached a predetermined height or more, for example, a first predetermined height or more, thereby preventing over-drainage. The lower light emitting element 513 and the lower light receiving element 514 can monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is below a predetermined height, for example, below a second predetermined height, making it easier to detect situations in which the patient may have removed the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head, the cerebrospinal fluid 60a may have leaked from an unintended location, or the path to the drip port 41 may have become blocked.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drainage device 10 preferably has a long member 75 having a scale 81 and extending in the vertical direction y. By using the long member 75, the discharge rate of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a and the intraventricular pressure can be easily adjusted, monitored, and recorded. In addition, the chamber 30 can be moved in the vertical direction y relative to the long member 75, and the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is dripped from the drip port 41 by placing the chamber 30 at a predetermined height in the vertical direction y relative to the long member 75, making it easier to drip the cerebrospinal fluid 60a from the drip port 41 appropriately.

The monitoring device 50 has a first arm portion 501 and a second arm portion 502, and when the monitoring device 50 is attached to the chamber 30, it is preferable that the chamber 30 is located between the first arm portion 501 and the second arm portion 502. Figures 9 and 10 show plan views of the monitoring device 50. That is, they show the state in which only the monitoring device 50 is viewed from above when the drainage device 10 is in use.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, it is preferable that the first arm portion 501 or the second arm portion 502 is provided with a distance sensor 515 that detects whether or not there is contact with the chamber 30. This makes it possible to detect whether or not the monitoring device 50 is properly attached to the chamber 30.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, it is preferable that the first arm section 501 or the second arm section 502 is provided with a distance sensor 515 that detects the distance to the second arm section 502 or the first arm section 501. This makes it possible to estimate the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a that the chamber 30 to which the monitoring device 50 is attached can store, and which manufacturer's chamber the chamber 30 to which the monitoring device 50 is attached belongs to.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the monitoring device 50 may have a force point portion 503 to which an external force is applied, an opening/closing portion 504 having a first tip portion 504a and a second tip portion 504b that are in contact when no external force is applied to the force point portion 503 and are separated when an external force is applied to the force point portion 503, and a fulcrum portion 505 that serves as a fulcrum when the opening/closing portion 504 is opened or closed.

The monitoring device 50 preferably has an angle sensor that detects the angle α formed by the line segment L1 connecting the first tip 504a and the fulcrum 505 and the line segment L2 connecting the second tip 504b and the fulcrum 505. This makes it possible to estimate the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a that the chamber 30 to which the monitoring device 50 is attached can store, and which manufacturer's chamber the chamber 30 to which the monitoring device 50 is attached belongs to.

It is preferable that the first tip 504a or the second tip 504b is provided with a distance sensor 515 that detects the distance to the second tip 504b or the first tip 504a. This makes it possible to estimate the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a that the chamber 30 to which the monitoring device 50 is attached can store, and which manufacturer's chamber the chamber 30 to which the monitoring device 50 is attached belongs to.

When the monitoring device 50 is attached to the chamber 30, it is preferable that the monitoring device 50 has a portion 52a (hereinafter referred to as the visible portion 52a) between the upper end of the monitoring device 50 and the lower end of the monitoring device 50, where the storage state of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a inside the chamber 30 can be visually observed. This allows the sensor portion 51 of the monitoring device 50 to detect the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a, and also allows the state inside the chamber 30 to be visually confirmed at the position where the monitoring device 50 is attached, making it easier to monitor the chamber 30.

The visible portion 52a may be an opening in the monitoring device 50 as shown in FIG. 5, or a gap between the upper and lower ends of the monitoring device 50 as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drainage device 10 and the drainage system 11 may have a drainage bag 80. This allows the cerebrospinal fluid 60a stored inside the chamber 30 to be drained into the drainage bag 80. By monitoring the condition of the dripped cerebrospinal fluid 60a with the monitoring device 50, the clamp 70 provided at the lower end of the chamber 30 can be opened before the cerebrospinal fluid 60a overflows from the chamber 30, allowing the cerebrospinal fluid 60a to be drained from the chamber 30 into the drainage bag 80.

The drainage bag 80 preferably has a bag shape capable of storing the cerebrospinal fluid 60a discharged from the chamber 30. As shown in FIG. 8, the drainage bag 80 may have a recess 85 in which the chamber 30 can be placed. This allows the shape of the drainage bag 80 and the chamber 30 to be compact when connected, making it easier to place at the patient's bedside.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drainage bag 80 is preferably formed with a scale 81. The scale 81 on the drainage bag 80 is preferably engraved in the vertical direction y. This allows the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a discharged from the chamber 30 to be known.

The drainage bag 80 preferably has an air hole 82 that connects the inside of the drainage bag 80 to the outside of the drainage bag 80, and a filter 83 is preferably disposed in the air hole 82. The air hole 82 may be an opening formed in the drainage bag 80. The air hole 82 may be the inner cavity of a tubular member inserted into the drainage bag 80. The material constituting the tubular member may be the same as or different from the material constituting the drainage bag 80. One end of the tubular member is disposed inside the drainage bag 80, and the other end of the cylindrical member is disposed outside the drainage bag 80, so that the inside and outside of the drainage bag 80 are connected to each other via the air hole 82. A clamp 70 may be disposed in the tubular member constituting the air hole 82, and the connection between the inside and outside of the drainage bag 80 can be opened and closed by opening and closing the clamp 70.

The drainage bag 80 preferably has a handle hole 84. By hooking a handle such as a hanger or string to the handle hole 84, the drainage bag 80 can be easily placed below the patient's outer ear.

The drainage device 10 may have an output section that outputs at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information when the height of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 reaches or falls below a predetermined height. This makes it easier for medical personnel to grasp the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 and to discover the occurrence of abnormalities. In addition, the frequency with which medical personnel need to directly check the chamber 30 can be reduced, thereby reducing the burden on medical personnel.

Output devices include terminals, monitors, lights, speakers, vibrators, etc.

The monitoring device 50 may have an output section.

The drainage device 10 may have an output section located away from the monitoring device 50 and the chamber 30.

In order to improve the connection status of the communication between the monitoring device 50 and the output unit that outputs information on the storage status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a, improve safety by multiplexing the connection, expand the communication range, and reduce the power consumption required for communication, it is preferable to use a relay communication device that relays the communication between the monitoring device 50 and the output unit. As a relay communication device, for example, a device that secures power directly from the outlet in the patient's room, transmits and receives information on the storage status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a from the monitoring device 50 via Bluetooth (registered trademark), converts it to Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication and transmits it to a remote terminal or other relay point, and simultaneously transmits information on the location where the monitoring device 50 is located can be used.

The first predetermined height is preferably located below the filter 33 and above the lower end of the chamber 30. By setting the first predetermined height below the filter 33, it is possible to easily detect the liquid level before it reaches the height at which the filter 33 is located. This makes it easier to prevent the filter 33 from becoming clogged and causing over-drainage. It also makes it easier to prevent cerebrospinal fluid 60a from leaking beyond the filter 33 and out of the air hole 32.

The first predetermined height is preferably located above the drip port 41. By setting the first predetermined height above the drip port 41, a relatively large amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a can be stored in the chamber 30 before it is detected. This makes it easier to reduce the number of times medical personnel need to check the condition inside the chamber 30.

The control unit 53 is preferably configured to issue a second signal when the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a falls below a second predetermined level that is lower than the first predetermined level. In the event that the patient removes the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head or the cerebrospinal fluid 60a leaks from an unintended location, the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 drops. Since the control unit 53 is configured to issue a second signal after the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 falls below the second predetermined level, the medical staff can know that such an event has occurred when the second signal is issued. This makes it easier for the medical staff to reduce the number of times they need to check the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30.

The second predetermined height is preferably located below the drip port 41 and above the lower end of the chamber 30. By setting the second predetermined height below the drip port 41, it becomes easier to detect earlier any significant rise or fall in the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, or any halt in the change in the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a.

The chamber 30 shown in Figures 5 to 7 is preferably capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid 60a dripped from the drip port 41 and is positioned above the patient's outer ear. By attaching a monitoring device 50 to this chamber 30, it is possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 has reached or exceeded a first predetermined height. This makes it possible to know if there is over-drainage, if the patient removes the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head, or if the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is leaking from an unintended location.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drainage system 11 may have a first chamber 301 and a second chamber 302 as a chamber 30 capable of storing the cerebrospinal fluid 60a dripped from the drip port 41. More specifically, the drainage system 11 may have a first chamber 301 arranged above the patient's outer ear, and a second chamber 302 connected to the first chamber 301 and arranged below the patient's outer ear. By attaching a monitoring device 50 to the first chamber 301, it is possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the first chamber 301 has reached or exceeded a first predetermined height. This makes it possible to know the occurrence of over-drainage, the patient removing the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head, or the cerebrospinal fluid 60a leaking from an unintended part. By attaching the monitoring device 50 to the second chamber 302, it is possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the second chamber 302 has reached or exceeded a first predetermined height. This makes it possible to prevent the cerebrospinal fluid 60a from overflowing from the second chamber 302 and contaminating the floor of the hospital room.

For example, the upper light emitting element 511 and the upper light receiving element 512 may monitor whether the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a has reached a first predetermined height or higher. The lower light emitting element 513 and the lower light receiving element 514 may monitor whether the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a has reached a second predetermined height or lower.

The drainage system 11 preferably has a long member 75 having a scale 81 and extending in the vertical direction y. By using the long member 75, the discharge rate of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a and the intraventricular pressure can be easily adjusted, monitored, and recorded. In addition, the control unit 53 is preferably configured to determine a second height at which the sensor unit 51 and the chamber 30 are positioned based on the amount of change in the height of the liquid level 61 when the cerebrospinal fluid 60a is dripped for a first predetermined time with the sensor unit 51 and the chamber 30 positioned at the first height. This allows the medical staff to know the appropriate height at which the chamber 30 is positioned as the second height without having to calculate it themselves.

The second height may be calculated by a computer, or a database prepared in advance may be stored in the memory unit 54 so that the corresponding value can be derived.

To check the installation status and installation position of the chamber 30, the monitoring device 50 may have at least one of an air pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a gyro sensor.

The drainage system 11 may have an output unit 55 that converts the first signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and outputs it. This makes it easier for medical personnel to take prompt action.

Examples of the configuration of the output unit 55 that converts the first signal into visual information and outputs it include a terminal 65, a monitor, a light, etc.

An example of the configuration of the output unit 55 that converts the first signal into auditory information and outputs it is a speaker, etc.

An example of the configuration of the output unit 55 that converts the first signal into vibration information and outputs it is a vibrator.

The output unit 55 may convert the second signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and output it. This makes it easier for medical personnel to take prompt action.

As shown in FIG. 7, the monitoring device 50 may have an output section 55.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drainage system 11 may have an output unit 55 located away from the monitoring device 50 and the chamber 30. From the viewpoint of convenience, the output unit 55 is preferably a terminal 65 that converts the first signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and outputs the converted information.

Examples of the terminal 65 include a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet, a PHS, a mobile phone, a nurse call system, etc. As shown in FIG. 12, the terminal 65 has a monitor 66, which preferably displays information related to the location where the monitoring device 50 is located and/or information related to the patient on whose behalf the monitoring device 50 is being used.

In addition to the above, the monitor 66 of the terminal 65 may display information from the monitoring device 50 regarding the retention status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a. For example, when a first signal is issued, the monitor 66 may display information regarding the retention status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a indicating that the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a has reached or exceeded a first predetermined height.

The information regarding the location where the monitoring device 50 is located is preferably the position of the monitoring device 50 shown on a map, or the name of the location where the monitoring device 50 is located. Examples of the name of the location where the monitoring device 50 is located include the room number or symbol of the hospital room where the monitoring device 50 is located, the name of the ward, the name of the room, or a combination of these.

A GPS sensor, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), a magnetic sensor, an air pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or a combination of these can be used as a means for acquiring information related to the location of the monitoring device 50.

Information relating to the patient for whom the monitoring device 50 is being used may include the name, age, sex, name of the disease of the patient for whom the monitoring device 50 is being used, or a combination of these.

In order to improve the connection status of the communication between the monitoring device 50 and the output unit 55, which converts and outputs at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information, improve safety by multiplexing the connection, expand the communication range, and reduce the power consumption required for communication, it is preferable to use a relay communication device that relays communication between the monitoring device 50 and the output unit 55. As a relay communication device, for example, a device that secures power directly from the outlet in the hospital room, transmits and receives information on the storage status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a from the monitoring device 50 (for example, the first signal and the second signal, the level of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a stored inside the chamber 30, the amount of cerebrospinal fluid 60a stored inside the chamber 30, etc.) via Bluetooth (registered trademark), converts the information to Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication and transmits it to a remote terminal 65 or other relay point, and simultaneously transmits information on the location where the monitoring device 50 is located can be used.

Next, a method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber according to an embodiment of the second invention will be described. The method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber may be referred to simply as the monitoring method below. Note that the configuration of the drainage device according to the embodiment of the second invention used in this monitoring method has already been described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber according to the second embodiment of the invention is a method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber using a drainage device having a chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid, and a monitoring device that has a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and is detachable from the chamber, and is characterized in that the sensor unit has a step of detecting the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber.

In the monitoring method according to the second embodiment of the invention, the drainage device 10 according to the second embodiment of the invention described above is used.

As shown in FIG. 11, the monitoring method includes a step in which the sensor unit 51 detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30.

The method for monitoring the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber includes a step in which the sensor unit 51 detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, making it possible to monitor the level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30. This allows medical personnel to reduce the number of times they have to go to check on the status of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in identifying and treating abnormalities due to forgetting to go and check. This reduces the burden on medical personnel of the daily tasks of monitoring and adjusting the chamber 30 and the tasks of recording, and makes it more efficient.

The drainage device 10 further includes a control unit 53, and the control unit 53 preferably includes a step of comparing the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 with a predetermined height. This makes it possible to monitor whether the height of the liquid surface 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is above a predetermined height or below a predetermined height. This allows medical personnel to reduce the number of times they have to check the condition of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30, and also makes it easier to prevent delays in identifying abnormalities and treating them due to forgetting to check.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 53 may be provided in the monitoring device 50. Although not shown, the control unit 53 may be provided in an apparatus provided in the drainage device 10 separate from the chamber 30 and the monitoring device 50.

The predetermined height may be stored, for example, in the memory unit 54 shown in FIG. 7. Although not shown, a device provided in the drainage device 10 separate from the chamber 30 and the monitoring device 50 may have a memory unit 54, and the memory unit 54 may store the predetermined height.

The above-mentioned predetermined height includes a first predetermined height, and the control unit 53 is preferably configured to determine whether the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is equal to or higher than the first predetermined height. By the control unit 53 determining whether the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is equal to or higher than the first predetermined height, the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 can be monitored so that it does not exceed the first predetermined height, thereby preventing over-drainage. This makes it easier for medical personnel to reduce the number of times they need to check the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30.

The above monitoring method may further include a step of outputting at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information. For example, it is preferable that the control unit 53 is configured to output at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information when the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is equal to or higher than a first predetermined height. This allows medical personnel to respond when the information is output, making it easier to reduce the number of times that medical personnel must check the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30.

The above-mentioned predetermined height includes a second predetermined height that is lower than the first predetermined height, and the control unit 53 is preferably configured to determine whether the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated in the chamber 30 is equal to or lower than the second predetermined height. By the control unit 53 determining whether the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is equal to or lower than the second predetermined height, it is possible to monitor the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 so that it does not fall below the second predetermined height, making it easier to detect a drop in the liquid level that may indicate an incident such as the patient removing the drainage catheter 45 inserted in the head or the cerebrospinal fluid 60a leaking from an unintended part. This makes it easier for medical personnel to reduce the number of times they go to check the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30.

The above monitoring method may further include a step of outputting at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information. For example, it is preferable that the control unit 53 is configured to output at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information when the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30 is equal to or lower than a second predetermined height. This allows medical personnel to respond when an output is received, making it easier to reduce the number of times that medical personnel must check the height of the liquid level 61 of the cerebrospinal fluid 60a accumulated inside the chamber 30.

This application claims the benefit of priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-204380 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-204381, filed on December 4, 2023. The entire contents of the specifications of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-204380 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-204381, filed on December 4, 2023, are incorporated by reference into this application.

10: Drainage device 11: Drainage system 20: Drainage circuit 30: Chamber 301: First chamber 302: Second chamber 31: Inlet 32: Air hole 33: Filter 34: Outlet 35: Opening 35a: Tubular portion 36: Handle 40: Body fluid inlet path 40a: Inlet path 41: Drip port 42: Bent portion 43: Disk member 45: Drainage catheter 50: Monitoring device 501: First arm portion 502: Second arm portion 503: Force point portion 504: Opening/closing portion 504a: First tip portion 504b: Second tip portion 505: fulcrum portion 51: sensor portion 51a: light-emitting element 51b: light-receiving element 511: upper light-emitting element 512: upper light-receiving element 513: lower light-emitting element 514: lower light-receiving element 515: distance sensor 52: opening 52a: visible portion 53: control portion 54: memory portion 55: output portion 60: bodily fluid 60a: cerebrospinal fluid 61: liquid surface 62: droplet 65: terminal 66: monitor 70: clamp 75: long member 80: drainage bag 81: scale 82: air hole 83: filter 84: handle hole 85: recess 90: living body

Claims (40)

1. A drainage device having a drainage circuit and a monitoring device for said drainage circuit,
The drainage circuit includes a chamber capable of storing a bodily fluid, and a bodily fluid introduction path disposed in the chamber and having a drip port for dripping the bodily fluid into the chamber;
A drainage device, wherein the monitoring device has a sensor portion configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid in the chamber in an area above the drip port. The drainage device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor portion is disposed above the drip port. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor unit detects droplets and/or the liquid level of the bodily fluid in the chamber. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the monitoring device is detachable from the drainage circuit. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the monitoring device has an opening through which the inside of the chamber can be viewed from outside the monitoring device. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bodily fluid introduction passage is connected to the living body side via a drainage catheter. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber has an air hole above the drip port. The drainage device according to claim 7, wherein the drainage circuit has a filter disposed in the air hole. The drainage device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor unit is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid in the chamber in an area above the drip port and below the filter. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber has an inlet through which the bodily fluid introduction path is introduced below the drip port. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bodily fluid introduction path has a bent portion above the drip port. The drainage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drainage circuit has a disk member located above the drip port of the bodily fluid introduction path and in the vicinity of the drip port. 1. A drainage circuit monitoring device, comprising:
The drainage circuit includes a chamber capable of storing a bodily fluid, and a bodily fluid introduction path disposed in the chamber and having a drip port for dripping the bodily fluid into the chamber;
the monitoring device is detachably attached to the chamber;
The monitoring device has a sensor unit,
A monitoring device, wherein the sensor portion is configured to detect the presence of bodily fluid in the chamber in an area above the drip opening. The monitoring device according to claim 13, wherein the sensor unit is located above the drip port. The monitoring device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the sensor unit detects droplets and/or the liquid level of the bodily fluid in the chamber. The monitoring device according to claim 13 or 14, which has an opening through which the inside of the chamber can be viewed from outside the monitoring device when the monitoring device is attached to the chamber. A chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid;
A drainage device having a monitoring device that has a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and is detachable from the chamber. The drainage device according to claim 17, wherein the sensor detects droplets and/or a liquid level. The drainage device according to claim 17, further comprising an introduction passage disposed inside the chamber and having a drip port for dripping cerebrospinal fluid. The drainage device according to claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is attached above the drip port. The drainage device according to claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is attached below the drip port. the chamber has an air hole above the drip port, the air hole communicating the outside of the chamber with the inside of the chamber;
A filter is disposed in the air hole,
20. The drainage device of claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is mounted below the filter and above the lower end of the chamber. The sensor unit includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that receives light emitted by the light-emitting element,
The drainage device according to claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is attached to the chamber so that the light emitting element and the light receiving element are positioned below the drip port. a vertically extending elongated member having a scale;
The drainage device of claim 19, wherein the chamber can be moved vertically relative to the elongated member, and cerebrospinal fluid is dripped from the drip port by positioning the chamber at a predetermined height in the vertical direction relative to the elongated member. The drainage device according to claim 17, wherein the monitoring device has a portion between the upper end and the lower end of the monitoring device that allows visual observation of the state of cerebrospinal fluid accumulation inside the chamber when the monitoring device is attached to the chamber. The monitoring device has a first arm portion and a second arm portion,
The drainage device according to claim 17, wherein the chamber is located between the first arm portion and the second arm portion when the monitoring device is attached to the chamber. The drainage device according to claim 26, wherein the first arm portion or the second arm portion is provided with a distance sensor that detects whether or not the first arm portion is in contact with the chamber. The drainage device according to claim 26, wherein the first arm portion or the second arm portion is provided with a distance sensor that detects the distance to the second arm portion or the first arm portion. The drainage device according to claim 17, wherein the monitoring device has a force point to which an external force is applied, an opening/closing part having a first tip and a second tip that are in contact with the force point when no external force is applied and are separated when an external force is applied to the force point, and a fulcrum part that serves as a fulcrum when the opening/closing part is opened and closed. A method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber using a drainage device having a chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid and a monitoring device having a sensor unit that detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and that is detachable from the chamber, comprising:
A method for monitoring the level of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside a chamber, comprising a step in which the sensor unit detects the presence of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber. The drainage device has a controller,
The monitoring method according to claim 30, further comprising a step of the control unit comparing the height of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber with a predetermined height. the predetermined height comprises a first predetermined height,
The monitoring method according to claim 31 , wherein the control unit determines whether the height of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber is equal to or higher than the first predetermined height. The predetermined height includes a second predetermined height that is lower than the first predetermined height,
The monitoring method according to claim 32, wherein the control unit determines whether the height of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber is equal to or lower than the second predetermined height. A chamber capable of storing cerebrospinal fluid;
a monitoring device having a sensor unit for detecting the level of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated inside the chamber and detachable from the chamber;
and a control unit configured to issue a first signal when the liquid level reaches or exceeds a first predetermined height. The drainage system according to claim 34, wherein the drainage system has an introduction passage disposed inside the chamber and having a drip port for dripping cerebrospinal fluid. the chamber has an air hole above the drip port, the air hole communicating the outside of the chamber with the inside of the chamber;
A filter is disposed in the air hole,
36. The drainage system of claim 35, wherein the first predetermined height is below the filter and above a lower end of the chamber. The drainage system includes a vertically extending elongate member having a scale;
The drainage system of claim 34, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a second height at which to position the sensor unit and the chamber based on an amount of change in the height of the liquid surface when cerebrospinal fluid is dripped for a first predetermined period of time while the sensor unit and the chamber are positioned at a first height. the monitoring device has an output;
The drainage system according to any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein the output unit converts the first signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and outputs the converted signal. the drainage system having an output located remotely from the monitoring device and the chamber;
The drainage system according to any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein the output unit is a terminal that converts the first signal into at least one of visual information, auditory information, and vibration information and outputs the converted signal. The terminal has a monitor;
40. The drainage system of claim 39, wherein the monitor displays information regarding the location where the monitoring device is located and/or information regarding the patient with whom the monitoring device is being used.

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