JPH10155749A - System for monitoring and informing about human health condition - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring informing system of human heath condition which automatically monitors health condition of a person to be inspected without requiring the person to be inspected himself to operate a button or the like to take a proper relieving action by informing a nursing person especially when abnormal condition is discovered. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a life sensor/mountable on the body of a person to be inspected and a life controller 2 installed locally. The life sensor 1 has a sensor to measure information on a living being such as pulse, motion sounds and body heat (information obtained from the living being) and a transmission means to transmit information from the sensor 1. The life controller 2 has a receiving means to receive information from the life sensor 1 and an informing means for inform a nursing person based on the information. At least any one of the life sensor 1 and the life controller 2 is provided with a judging means to judge the normality or abnormality of the information the living being and the informing means of the life controller 2 performs an annunciation to a monitoring center (a) or a portable receiver (c) for wireless calling of the nursing person when abnormal condition is determined. The monitoring center (a) takes a necessary action directly or through a relief center (b).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for monitoring and reporting human health.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the modern society, the number of people living alone at home is increasing with the progress of an aging society. The aging wave has spread to welfare facilities such as nursing homes, and the number of users of these welfare facilities has been increasing rapidly. However, the health monitoring of these solitaires is not sufficient, and there have been pitiful accidents, such as the death of a solitary elderly person without anyone knowing. That is, in the present situation, monitoring of the health condition of a person in these fields is close to a self-service state, and even if it is a system, the subject himself wears a pendant push button,
The system of operating this and reporting itself has only been put to practical use. However, at the time of emergency, it is not easy to press the button, and it is impossible to make a report when it is essential, or there is an erroneous report.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can automatically monitor the health of a subject without the need for the subject to operate buttons and the like. If an abnormality is found, the system informs the caregiver of the abnormality and seeks to provide a system for monitoring and reporting the condition of a person so that appropriate rescue measures can be taken.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a life sensor 1 which can be mounted on a human body of a subject, and a life controller 2 which is installed in a premises. The apparatus includes a sensor 11 for measuring biological information (information obtained from the human body) such as a pulse, a movement, a sound, and a body temperature of a human body, and a transmitting unit 12 for transmitting information from the sensor to the life controller 2. The life controller 2 includes a receiving unit 21 for receiving information from the life sensor 1 and a notifying unit 23 for notifying a caregiver based on the information. At least one of the life sensor 1 and the life controller 2 On the other hand, the health condition of a person is provided with a judgment means 22 for judging whether the biological information is normal or abnormal, and when the abnormal state is judged, the notifying means 23 notifies the caregiver. To provide a monitoring and reporting system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the human health monitoring and notification system according to the first aspect, the life sensor 1 can be fixed in contact with a body such as a wristwatch. The above-mentioned notifying means 23 notifies the monitoring center a where the caregiver is present of an abnormal state via a communication line, and the notification means 23 via a communication line to the radio-calling portable receiver c of the caregiver. A means for providing at least one of means for making a call is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the system for monitoring and reporting human health according to the first or second aspect, when the monitoring center a receives the notification, the monitoring center a calls back to the subject. Means for receiving video information from the camera d installed in the premises where the life controller 2 is provided, and using the microphone and speaker provided in the life sensor 1 or the camera d. There is provided an apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving voice information.

In the invention of the present application, the caregiver may be a family member of the subject or a staff member of the monitoring center a, and means a third party who can take appropriate measures. It is not necessary to have the ability to care.
For example, in the case of the staff of the monitoring center a, it is not necessary for the person to have the ability to care, and it is sufficient that the staff can indirectly care by reporting to the rescue center b such as a hospital facility.

In the present invention, the life sensor 1 and the above-mentioned life controller are used for the biological information such as the pulse, movement, sound, and body temperature of the human body automatically measured by the life sensor 1, that is, various information obtained from the human body. The determination means 22 provided in at least one of the two automatically determines normality or abnormality. If it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, a necessary report is automatically made by the reporting means of the life controller 2, and thereby the subject is automatically received without the need for the subject to operate a button or the like. It is now possible to monitor the examiner's health and take appropriate rescue measures.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a human health monitoring and notification system according to the present invention.

This system includes a life sensor 1 that can be worn on a human body of a subject, and a life controller 2. The life controller 2 is installed at an appropriate place in a premises such as a house (home or special elderly nursing home) where the subject usually lives.

As shown in FIG. 2, the life sensor 1 is in the form of a wristwatch and can be always attached to the arm of the subject. As shown in FIG. 3, the life sensor 1 includes a sensor 11 that measures biological information such as a pulse, a movement, a sound, a body temperature, and a blood pressure of a human body, and a transmission unit that sends information from the sensor 11 to the life controller 2. Is provided.
The transmitting means is a transmitting / receiving means 1 capable of receiving as well as transmitting.
It is preferably 2.

The life controller 2 includes a life sensor 1
And a notification unit 23 for notifying a caregiver based on the information. In this embodiment, the life controller 2 is provided with a determination unit 22 for determining whether the biological information is normal or abnormal. When the determining unit 22 determines that the biological information obtained from the subject is abnormal, the determining unit 22 activates the notifying unit 23. Preferably, the receiving means is a transmitting / receiving means 21 which can transmit to the life sensor 1 while receiving. In addition, if there is an inquiry from the monitoring center a, the reporting unit 23 can report past biological information of the subject stored in the storage unit 22b described later.

The notification means 23 automatically sends a report to the monitoring center a shown in FIG. 1 via a communication line such as a telephone line. Call back, confirm the safety,
If the safety is unknown, a staff member is dispatched. In the case of sudden illness, etc., a rescue center b such as a hospital is requested to send an appropriate rescue.

On the other hand, from the reporting means 23, together with or instead of the report from the monitoring center a, a portable paging receiver c such as a pager carried by a family member,
The system is connected to an automatic wireless paging system for making a call application through a telephone line by using an appropriate communication line, and a notification is automatically made.

In this way, if an abnormality occurs in the subject, an appropriate third party such as the monitoring center a, the rescue center b, or a family member can rescue the subject. . Further, a camera d is provided in a premises where the life controller 2 is provided, particularly preferably in a room where the subject always lives, such as the bedroom of the subject, and the camera d and the monitoring center a are connected to each other by a telephone line or other wireless communication. It is also possible to connect with a wired communication line, confirm safety by telephone, and obtain video information from the camera d. This camera d also
It is desirable to provide a sound transmission / reception unit having a microphone and a speaker so that the subject can talk with the monitoring center a while sleeping. Note that the sound transmitting and receiving means provided with the microphone and the speaker provided in the camera d can perform voice communication with the monitoring center a via the transmitting and receiving means and the notification means of the life controller 2 or directly without any intervention. do it. This communication means may be provided separately from the camera d in a room where the subject always lives, such as the bedroom of the subject.

The life sensor 1 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the wristwatch is provided with a belt and a main body so that the life sensor 1 can be worn without difficulty. It is desirable to provide the battery so that it is not necessary to replace the battery for at least one month after continuous use. The life sensor 1 does not have to be a wristwatch type, but uses a body such as a belt (arm, ankle,
It is desirable to provide a means for winding and fixing the sensor body and the like so that the contact state between the sensor main body and the body can be constantly maintained. As shown in FIG. 3, the life sensor 1 has a sensor 11a for detecting the movement of the arm.
Sensor 11b for measuring pulse, sensor 1 for measuring body temperature
1c, a sensor 11d for measuring sound pressure, and more preferably a sensor 11e for measuring blood pressure. As this sensor, for example, a sensor that can measure a pulse, a blood pressure, a body temperature, and the like by capturing a blood flow with infrared rays may be used. It is also desirable to provide the life sensor 1 with a sound transmitting / receiving means provided with a microphone and a speaker. The life sensor 1 communicates directly with the monitoring center a via a transmitting / receiving means and a notifying means of a life controller described below. What is necessary is just to enable voice communication. In this way, for example, the subject can have a conversation with the monitoring center a even while moving to the toilet.

The information of the measurement result of each sensor 11 is transmitted to the life controller 2 by the transmission / reception means 12. This transmission may be made by wire, but it is desirable to make it wireless so that the freedom of the subject's behavior is not restricted. It is desirable that the operating distance be at least 100 m from the life controller 2 using a low power radio wave or a weak radio wave. The transmission may be performed continuously, or may be performed at regular intervals (for example, every 10 minutes).

It is also desirable that the measurement results of each sensor can be displayed on the liquid crystal display section 13 as shown in FIG. More specifically, the liquid crystal display section 13 can display the pulse rate, the body temperature, the state of the sound pressure level, and the state of sensing the movement of the arm. The emergency push button 14 by the subject may be provided in parallel with the life sensor 1 so that the operation status of the emergency push button can be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 13. If possible, it can be used as a watch instead of a watch. These display changes may be made by using the display switching button 15. Further, an electronic buzzer may be mounted so that the buzzer sounds when the battery replacement time is approaching or when the emergency push button 14 is operated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the life controller 2 receives the above-mentioned information sent from the life sensor 1 by the transmission / reception means 21 and determines whether the biological information received by the reception means is normal or not. The determination means 22 determines the abnormality. The determining means 22 includes a calculating means 22a such as a CPU,
By this calculating means 22a, biological information and storage means 2
By comparing the set value stored in 2b with the set value, it is determined whether the value is within the set value range. The set values stored in the storage unit 22b include a pulse allowable value,
Body temperature tolerance, arm motion insensitivity tolerance, sound pressure level tolerance,
Various set values corresponding to the biological information from the life sensor 1, such as the blood pressure allowable value. This set value may be set based on medical grounds. For example, the allowable pulse value is (x−y1) times / minute or more and less than (x + z1) times / minute. In this example, x is an average pulse rate, y1 is a lower allowable range, and z1 is an upper allowable range. Note that this x
Can be the average pulse rate by age, or the average pulse rate of a person with the same pre-existing condition if the subject has a pre-existing condition (eg, high blood pressure). Similarly, y1, z1 Alternatively, it may be set as an allowable value for each age and each chronic disease. In addition, taking the allowable value of the no-motion detection as an example, it is assumed that the duration of the non-sensing state is within w hours. This w can be set in consideration of the duration of the inactive state of the person such as during sleep. Furthermore, the past data of the subject is accumulated,
The setting value may be automatically corrected based on the stored data. These setting values may not be changeable, but may be changeable by input means 24 such as a numeric keypad or by a communication line from the monitoring center a. These data are stored in a non-volatile memory so that the data will not be lost even if the power is turned off.
It is desirable to be able to provide the data upon request from.

The calculating means 22a compares these permissible values with the biological information and determines whether or not the abnormality is normal. If it is determined that the abnormality is abnormal, the notifying means 23 is operated to make a predetermined notification. . At this time, if biological information outside a permissible value for one type of factor such as a pulse is obtained, it may be determined to be abnormal, but it is determined to be abnormal only when a plurality of factors are out of the permissible value. You may make it. Further, for one factor, allowable values in a plurality of stages may be set, and conditions for determining an abnormality may be different for each stage.
For example, taking the above-described pulse allowable value as an example, the first allowable value of the pulse is (x−y1) times / minute or more to (x +
z1) times / min, and as the second allowable value, the lower limit is (xy1-y2) times / min or more to (xy)
1) Less than times / minute and upper limit (x + z1)
Times / minute or more and less than (x + z1 + z2) times / minute. Here, y2 is a lower limit second allowable range, and z2 is an upper limit second allowable range. Then, other factors are considered in the second allowable value, but other than the first and second allowable values, it is determined that there is an abnormality irrespective of other factors.

The reporting means 23 is a means for reporting the abnormality to the monitoring center a by another wired or wireless communication line such as a telephone line or a cable television, and a predetermined person such as a family possesses the communication line. Means for making a call to the portable paging receiver c. Further, the radio pager c can be specifically exemplified by an NTT pager or the like, and may be a mobile phone or a PHS carried by a predetermined person such as a family member. This monitoring center a
The means for notifying the user and the means for notifying the portable receiver for radio paging can be set to be performed at the same time, or can be set to perform only one of them. Although the content of the report may be only that the information is abnormal, the data of the biological information, the video information from the camera d, and the like may be transmitted.
In addition, it may be possible to report to two or more radio paging portable receivers c, and a plurality of types of message contents to the radio paging portable receiver c may be prepared. Further, in addition to the case of the abnormality, the operation of the emergency push button, the necessity of battery replacement, the removal of the life sensor 1 by the subject, and the movement of the life sensor 1 out of the receivable area may be reported. Good.

As other functions, the values of the biological information from the life sensor 1, the operation status of the emergency push button 14, the battery replacement time, the current time, and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display screen. You may. In addition, a display when the power supply is abnormal, a display when the biological information is determined to be abnormal, a display that the emergency push button 14 is pressed, an operation state of the life sensor 1 (when the subject is wearing the Various information, such as when the user is detaching or moving outside the receivable area), the need for battery replacement, or the use of the communication line, may be displayed by a lamp such as a light emitting diode. In addition, these various kinds of information are converted into sounds (speech synthesis messages).
May be issued. For example, when the subject removes the life sensor 1 or moves out of the receivable area, a lamp may be displayed and a message to that effect may be played by voice. Also, for example, in a general home, two life sensors 1 can be used for one life controller 2, and in a nursing home, one life controller 2 can be used.
A plurality of life sensors 1 may be used for one life controller 2 so that ten life sensors 1 can be used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the system according to this embodiment. The operation of this system will be described based on the flowchart. In the figure, LS indicates the life sensor 1,
LC indicates the life controller 2 and PB indicates the portable receiver for radio paging c.

First, when the operation is started, data measured by each of the life sensors (LS) in s1 is transmitted to the life controller (LC) at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 10 minutes). Next, in s2, when the life controller (LC) receives the measurement data from the life sensor (LS), the process proceeds to s3, otherwise, proceeds to s4. At s3, the received data is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the life controller (LC). Also,
At this time, the life controller (LC) transmits to the life sensor (LS), and the life controller (LC)
The time of the life sensor (LS) is corrected by the clock of s5. The received data (measured value) is compared with the above-mentioned tolerance by the life controller (LC).
6, s7 for determining whether it is normal or abnormal. If normal, proceed to s8; if abnormal, proceed to s9. On the other hand, s
In No. 4, since the measurement data could not be received at the predetermined time, it is determined that the subject having the life sensor (LS) has moved out of the area, and the process proceeds to s9.

In step s9, depending on the type of data, it is determined whether the battery has been replaced, the emergency push button has been activated, the abnormal value has been measured, the out-of-area movement has occurred, and the life sensor (LS) has been removed from the subject. This data is stored in the storage means of the life controller (LC) in s8. Next, in s10, a notification sentence based on speech synthesis according to each condition is created and notified to the outside in s11. At this time, it is determined whether or not the notification is set to the radio paging portable receiver (PB) s12, and the radio paging mobile receiver (PB) is determined.
If the message is not to be sent to the portable paging receiver (PB), the process proceeds to s13. In s14, transmission to the monitoring center device is performed, polling from the monitoring center device, transmission of stored data from the life controller (LC) are performed, and a message of the reception is automatically received by the life controller (LC) s1.
5. On the other hand, in s13, the transmission is made to the radio paging portable receiver (PB) through the radio call service by the existing telephone line. This transmission is performed by the radio paging portable receiver (P
B) is received in s16, and confirmation of the reception of the paging portable receiver (PB) by the caregiver is performed in s17. When the reception is confirmed, the received message is automatically received by the life controller (LC) s15. If the reception is not confirmed, the life controller (L
S18 where retransmission from C) is performed. In this case, although not shown in the drawing, the process returns to s13.

Although not shown, at the monitoring center a receiving the notification of the abnormality, the subject is called back by telephone, the state is checked, and if necessary, care is taken from the monitoring center a or the rescue center b. Dispatched. In addition, the caregiver who received the message with the portable receiver for wireless calling (PB)
Necessary measures (rush to the phone or the subject) will be taken.

In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention can be embodied with appropriate modifications within the scope of the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, the life controller 2 is provided with the determination means for determining whether the biological information is normal or abnormal. However, this is provided in the life sensor 1, and when the life sensor 1 determines that the biological information is abnormal. May be notified to the outside via the life controller 2 only.
The place of implementation of this system can be adopted in hospitals as well as ordinary homes and nursing homes. In hospitals, in particular, the overwork of nurses is regarded as a problem, and there are also complaints that voices from inpatients can hinder sleep at late-night temperature readings. Can be solved.

[0028]

According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically monitor the health condition of the subject without operating the buttons and the like by the subject himself. To a caregiver to take appropriate rescue measures. In particular, by enabling the life sensor 1 to be worn on the arm of a person in the form of a wristwatch, the subject can be comfortably worn for 24 hours, and the notification means is provided by the monitoring center a where the caregiver is located. At least one of means for reporting an abnormal state via a communication line, and means for calling via a communication line to a portable paging receiver c of a caregiver. This makes it possible to obtain an appropriate report destination according to the home situation of each subject. In addition,
By making it possible to receive the video information from the camera d, it is possible to make a more accurate situation determination even at the remote monitoring center a.

As described above, the present invention provides a system that is extremely useful in a modern society in which a single person with a medical condition is expected to become younger in the next 20 years or so. It could be provided. In particular, in the modern society as described above, there is a tendency for the consciousness of families to decline, and it is thought that the number of solitary people with poor health will increase, while as a social trend, the advanced information society will further develop in the future It is anticipated that the present invention will contribute to improving the welfare of these technologies and preventing lonely deaths in homes that tend to occur frequently. It should be noted that the present invention is expected to be effective in facilities that are monitored 24 hours a day, such as nursing homes and hospitals, and in reducing the burden on nurses.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a human health monitoring and notification system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a life sensor in the system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a life sensor and a life controller in the system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Life sensor 2 Life controller 11 Sensor 12 Transmission / reception means (transmission means) 21 Transmission / reception means (reception means) 22 Judgment means 23 Reporting means a Monitoring center b Rescue center c Portable radio receiver d Camera

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 11/04 H04M 11/04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A life sensor that can be worn on a human body of a subject.
(1) and a life controller (2) installed on the premises. The above-mentioned life sensor (1) measures biological information (information obtained from the human body) such as pulse, movement, sound, and body temperature of the human body. And a transmitting means (12) for transmitting information from the sensor (11) to the life controller (2) .The life controller (2) includes a life sensor (1). Receiving means (21) for receiving information from the user, and a notifying means (23) for notifying a caregiver based on the information, at least one of the life sensor (1) and the life controller (2). In addition, there is a determination means (22) for determining whether the biological information is normal or abnormal, and when it is determined that the biological information is abnormal, the notifying means (23) notifies the caregiver of the health information of the person. Monitoring and reporting system. 2. The life sensor (1) can be fixed in contact with the body of a wristwatch or the like, and the notification means (23) communicates with a monitoring center (a) where a caregiver is present. Means for reporting an abnormal state via a line;
2. The monitoring of a person's health condition according to claim 1, wherein the means is at least one of a means for making a call to a wireless paging portable receiver (c) of a caregiver via a communication line. Notification system. 3. The monitoring center (a), upon receiving the report,
Communication means for calling back to the subject, the communication means being capable of receiving video information from a camera (d) installed on the premises where the life controller (2) is provided,
The human health monitoring and notification system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein voice information can be transmitted and received by a microphone and a speaker provided in the life sensor (1) or the camera (d).