Patent Application
20120323194
The present invention relates to an excretion detection device, by which the excretion of bodily waste from a living body is detected, and an absorbent article including such an excretion detection device.
As regards the absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, an excretion detection device configured to detect the excretion of urine or stool from a wearer (living body) of the absorbent article is known. The excretion detection device is loaded in the absorbent article, and upon detection of the excretion of urine or stool from the wearer, the excretion detection device reports the excretion to the outside.
In such an excretion detection device, a method of electrification, by bringing the bodily waste of the wearer in contact with electrodes configured from materials having different ionization tendencies, is known. That is, there has been proposed a device configured to actuate an alarm such as a buzzer by making use of the principle of a voltaic cell rather than using a battery (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
In the excretion detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1, copper or zinc is used as materials of the electrodes. Furthermore, in the excretion detection device disclosed in Patent Document 2, there are described that electrification through the use of the bodily waste (urine) and a battery are put to use together, and gold, silver, copper, or aluminum can be used as materials of the electrodes.
However, the aforementioned conventional excretion detection device has the following problem. That is, although the electrodes are in contact with the bodily waste of the wearer, if the pH of the bodily waste is high, corrosion of the electrodes speeds up. Particularly, the pH of urine of elderly persons is often high due to urinary tract infections and the like, and therefore, when the electrodes come in contact with such urine having a high pH, the electrodes corrode fast, and a sufficient electrification time cannot be secured, which is a point of concern.
Though the use of electrodes with high corrosion resistance is thought of, from the viewpoint of the use of such electrodes in sanitary products as well as the manufacturing cost, this is not a practical solution.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an excretion detection device by which a sufficient electrification time can be secured even in the case of contact with urine with a high pH, without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost, and also to provide an absorbent article having such an excretion detection device.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention has the following characteristics. The characteristic of the present invention is an excretion detection device (excretion detection device 10) configured to detect excretion of bodily waste (bodily waste Ex, e.g., urine and stool) from a living body (wearer W), comprising: a power supply unit (power supply unit 160) having electrodes (electrode 121, electrode 122) configured by using materials with different ionization tendencies; a neutralizer retention unit (neutralizer retention unit 112) configured to retain a neutralizer (neutralizer N) for reducing the hydrogen ion index of the bodily waste; and a notification unit (radio transmission unit 180) operated by the electric power generated by the power supply unit, and configured to notify the excretion from the living body to outside the excretion detection device, wherein the electrodes are provided at a position where the electrodes can be in contact with the bodily waste, and the neutralizer retention unit is provided at a position where the neutralizer can be in contact with the bodily waste.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, the excretion detection device preferably comprises a solution retention unit (electrolyte solution retention unit 111) configured to retain an electrolyte solution (electrolyte solution WT), wherein the electrodes are provided at a position where the electrodes can be in contact with the bodily waste and the electrolyte solution, and can also be in contact with the electrolyte solution before the excretion of the bodily waste.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, the neutralizer retention unit is preferably provided so as to be positioned at the upper side of the electrodes during the use of the excretion detection device.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, the neutralizer retention unit is preferably adjacent to the solution retention unit.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, the neutralizer is preferably made to seep out from the neutralizer retention unit by performing a predetermined operation for the neutralizer retention unit, and the neutralizer is brought in contact with the bodily waste.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, the electrolyte solution is preferably made to seep out from the solution retention unit by performing a predetermined operation (e.g., pressing) for the solution retention unit, and the electrolyte solution is brought in contact with the electrodes.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, an absorbent article (e.g., disposable diaper 10A) worn by a living body and configured to absorb the bodily waste from the living body, wherein the absorbent article includes an excretion detection device configured to detect the excretion of the bodily waste, and the excretion detection device comprises: a power supply unit having electrodes configured by using materials with different ionization tendencies; a neutralizer retention unit configured to retain a neutralizer for reducing the hydrogen ion index of the bodily waste; and a notification unit operated by the electric power generated by the power supply unit, and configured to notify excretion from the living body to outside the excretion detection device, wherein the electrodes are provided at a position where the electrodes can be in contact with the bodily waste, and the neutralizer retention unit is provided at a position where the neutralizer can be in contact with the bodily waste.
According to the above-mentioned characteristic of the present invention, the absorbent article preferably comprises: a topsheet (topsheet 11) that is in contact with the living body and allows the passage of liquids; and an absorber (absorber 13) configured to absorb the bodily waste, and the excretion detection device is provided between the topsheet and the absorber.
According to the characteristic of the present invention, it is possible to provide an excretion detection device by which a sufficient electrification time can be secured even in the case of contact with urine with a high pH, without increasing the manufacturing cost substantially, and also to provide an absorbent article having such an excretion detection device.
Next, an embodiment of an excretion detection device and an absorbent article according to the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar parts. It will be appreciated that the drawings are schematically shown and the ratio and the like of each dimension are different from the real ones.
Accordingly, specific dimensions should be determined in consideration of the explanation below. Moreover, among the drawings, the respective dimensional relations or ratios may differ.
As shown in
A disposable diaper 10A and a disposable diaper 10B are absorbent articles worn by a wearer W (living body), and to absorb a bodily waste such as urine or stool from the wearer W. The disposable diaper 10A and the disposable diaper 10B are equipped with the excretion detection device 100 configured to detect excretion of bodily waste. Specifically, the excretion detection device 100 is loaded in an open-type (tape-type) disposable diaper 10A and a pant-type disposable diaper 10B.
The excretion detection device 100 detects the excretion of bodily waste from the wearer W. The excretion detection device 100 is configured by an active-type IC tag that can transmit a radio signal to the radio relay station 20, a temperature sensor, and the like, and repetitively transmits a radio signal including the temperature information (environment information) within the disposable diaper, at a predetermined period. The detailed configuration of the excretion detection device 100 is described later.
The radio relay station 20 converts the radio signal received from the excretion detection device 100 to a radio signal in accordance with a predetermined communication system. In the present embodiment, the radio relay station 20 converts the radio signal received from the excretion detection device 100 to a radio signal of the Personal Handy-phone (PHS system), and then transmits the radio signal to a radio base station 30. The radio relay station 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped with one side of a few centimeters or less, which can be installed in the bed as a name tag, and can be installed on to the wearer W. In order to maintain radio communication between the radio relay station 20 and the excretion detection device 100, the radio relay station 20 and the excretion detection device 100 must be positioned within a fixed distance.
The radio base station 30 is configured to receive a radio signal from the radio relay station 20. In the present embodiment, the radio base station 30 transmits and receives a radio signal in accordance with the PHS system. The radio base station 30 is connected to the excretion management server 40 via a wire communication network (not shown in the figure).
The excretion management server 40 stores a plurality of change patterns of the environmental information (such as the temperature, humidity, and odor) concerning urination and defecation. The excretion management server 40 determines the existence or non-existence of urination or defecation by the wearer W based on the temperature information transmitted repetitively from the excretion detection device 100 via the radio relay station 20 and the radio base station 30. Upon determining the occurrence of urination or defecation, the excretion management server 40 transmits an email indicating the excretion to a pre-registered cellular phone terminal 50 and a personal computer 60. When the excretion management server 40 transmits such an email to a pre-registered address in the cellular phone terminal 50 and the personal computer 60, a guardian (caretaker) of the wearer W, who checks the email can quickly take an appropriate measure, such as changing the disposable diaper.
As shown in
The excretion detection device 100 is provided between the topsheet 11 and the absorber 13. The excretion detection device 100 may be provided between the backsheet 12 and the absorber 13, however, in order to be sure that the stool, which has a higher viscosity as compared to urine, is brought in contact with an electrode unit 120 of the excretion detection device 100, it is desired that the excretion detection device 100 be provided between the topsheet 11 and the absorber 13. Furthermore, even in the case of the open-type disposable diaper 10B, the excretion detection device 100 is desired to be provided between the topsheet 11 and the absorber 13. The disposable diaper 10B can be also manufactured according to a well-known method (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP2005-58755).
The excretion detection device 100 includes a solution and neutralizer retention unit 110, the electrode unit 120, a temperature sensor 130, and an active tag 150. The solution and neutralizer retention unit 110 has an electrolyte solution retention unit 111 and a neutralizer retention unit 112. The electrolyte solution retention unit 111 retains an electrolyte solution. The neutralizer retention unit 112 retains a neutralizer for reducing the hydrogen ion index (pH) of the bodily waste. In the present embodiment, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided adjacent to the electrolyte solution retention unit 111. Specifically, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided adjacent to the upper side of the electrolyte solution retention unit 111.
The electrode unit 120 is provided at the lower side of the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 (towards the absorber 13). The temperature sensor 130 is provided on the opposite side of an electrode 121 and an electrode 122, with the active tag 150 being disposed, as the reference, therebetween, in order to prevent coming in contact with the electrolyte solution seeping out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 and the neutralizer seeping out from the neutralizer retention unit 112. The electrode 121 and the electrode 122 are provided at a position where the electrodes can come in contact with the bodily waste from the wearer W and the electrolyte solution seeping out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111. That is, the electrode 121 and the electrode 122 can be brought in contact with the electrolyte solution seeping out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 before the excretion of urine and the like.
The active tag 150 is connected to the electrode unit 120 and the temperature sensor 130, and is provided at a position where the active tag 150 does not overlap the solution and neutralizer retention unit 110.
As described above, the solution and neutralizer retention unit 110 has the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 and the neutralizer retention unit 112.
The electrolyte solution retention unit 111 retains an electrolyte solution prepared by dissolving an electrolyte in a solvent such as water. For example, the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 can use an aqueous solution including approx. 1 wt. % to 5 wt. % of sodium chloride (NaCl). That is, an NaCl aqueous solution similar to the urinary constituent is used as the electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution retention unit 111 is a bag-shaped container that can store the liquid, and in the present embodiment, the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 is configured from a thermoplastic film of polyolefin.
By performing a predetermined operation for the electrolyte solution retention unit 111, for example, by pressing the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 from the topsheet 11 side, the electrolyte solution is made to seep out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111. That is, by pressing the electrolyte solution retention unit 111, the bag-shaped electrolyte solution retention unit 111 configured from a thermoplastic film is torn, and the electrolyte solution seeps out near the periphery of the electrode unit 120. As a result, the electrolyte solution comes in contact with the electrode 121 and the electrode 122.
The electrolyte solution retention unit 111 stores only solvents such as water, and powdered sodium chloride may be placed in the proximity of the electrolyte solution retention unit 111. In such a case, the powdered sodium chloride dissolves in the water seeping out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 to result in an electrolyte solution. This case also applies to a case where an electrolyte solution is retained by the electrolyte solution retention unit 111.
The neutralizer retention unit 112 retains a neutralizer, such as citric acid, for reducing the pH of the bodily waste. Besides citric acid, tartaric acid and succinic acid may also be used as the neutralizer. The neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided at a position where the neutralizer can be in contact with the bodily waste. Specifically, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided to be positioned at the upper side of the electrode unit 120 (towards the backsheet 12) during the use of the excretion detection device 100.
Same as the electrolyte solution retention unit 111, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is configured from a thermoplastic film of polyolefin. Furthermore, by performing a predetermined operation for the neutralizer retention unit 112, for example, by pressing the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 from the topsheet 11 side, the neutralizer is made to seep out from the neutralizer retention unit 112. That is, by pressing the neutralizer retention unit 112, the bag-shaped neutralizer retention unit 112 configured from a thermoplastic film is torn, and the neutralizer seeps out near the periphery of the bodily waste. As a result, the neutralizer comes in contact with the bodily waste. Therefore, the corrosion of the electrode 121 and the electrode 122 is prevented even when the bodily waste is urine with a high pH, for example.
The electrode unit 120 is provided at a position where the electrode unit 120 can be in contact with the bodily waste. Specifically, the electrode unit 120 is provided at the lower side of the solution and neutralizer retention unit 110 (towards the absorber 13), and on the absorber 13. The pair of electrode 121 and electrode 122 configuring the electrode unit 120 are connected to the power supply unit 160. The electrode 121 and the electrode 122 are configured using materials having different ionization tendencies. In the present embodiment, a combination of aluminum and silver (each being a mixture combined with carbon) is used as the electrode 121 and the electrode 122. That is, the power supply unit 160 having such an electrode unit 120 functions as a so-called voltaic cell through the interposition of the electrolyte solution or the bodily waste between the electrode 121 and the electrode 122. A voltaic cell is a cell that generates electric current by moving electrons through the immersion of electrodes using a metal with a large ionization tendency and a metal with a small ionization tendency, in an electrolyte solution.
As described above, the electrode 121 and the electrode 122 can be brought in contact with the electrolyte solution seeping out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 before the excretion of urine and the like. Therefore, a difference in potential occurs between the electrode 121 and the electrode 122 due to the electrolyte solution prior to excretion, and due to the electrolyte solution or the bodily waste after excretion, and electromotive force is obtained.
The temperature sensor 130 is configured to detect the environmental information that changes as a result of excretion from the wearer W. Specifically, in the disposable diaper 10A, the temperature sensor 130 detects the temperature of the region where the bodily waste is excreted (the region in which the absorber 13 is provided) as the environment information. The temperature sensor 130 is operated by the electric power generated by the power supply unit 160.
In the present embodiment, a thin-film thermistor (hereinafter, thermistor) is used as the temperature sensor 130. In the temperature sensor 130, a synthetic-resin film on which the electrode for detecting urine or stool, and the electrode for supplying electric power to the thermistor are marked by a conductive ink is used. A thermistor that is easily affected by the surrounding temperature at which the heat capacity is less, for example, the ET-103 thermistor manufactured by SEMITEC CORPORATION, is desired to be used as the temperature sensor 130.
The active tag 150 is an active-type IC tag with which the electrode unit 120 and the temperature sensor 130 are connected. That is, the active tag 150 can transmit a radio signal without depending on another radio communication device, for example.
The power supply unit 160 has an electrification circuit 161 and an electricity-storage circuit 162. The electrode 121 and the electrode 122 are connected to the electrification circuit 161. The electrification circuit 161 is electrified due to the difference in potential that occurs between the electrode 121 and the electrode 122, and stores the generated electric power in the electricity-storage circuit 162. The electricity-storage circuit 162 is configured from a capacitor, for example.
The control unit 170 is operated by the electric power generated by the power supply unit 160. Specifically, based on the value output from the temperature sensor 130, the control unit 170 generates data indicating the temperature information, and then outputs the generated data to the radio transmission unit 180.
The radio transmission unit 180 is operated by the electric power generated by the power supply unit 160. The radio transmission unit 180 notifies the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 130 to outside the excretion detection device 100. In the present embodiment, the radio transmission unit 180 configures a notification unit configured to notify excretion from the wearer to outside the excretion detection device 100.
Specifically, the radio transmission unit 180 transmits a radio signal including the data indicating the temperature information towards the radio relay station 20. In the present embodiment, the radio transmission unit 180 repetitively transmits radio signals at a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds).
As described above, because the excretion detection device 100 functions as a voltaic cell before and after excretion, the excretion detection device 100 is a battery-less type device in which a battery is not loaded for operating the temperature sensor 130, the control unit 170, and the radio transmission unit 180.
As shown in
In step S20, the assistant presses the solution and neutralizer retention unit 110 embedded at the lower side of the topsheet 11 of the disposable diaper 10A. As a result of such an operation by the assistant, the bag-shaped electrolyte solution retention unit 111 and the neutralizer retention unit 112 are torn.
In step S30, the electrolyte solution (sodium chloride solution) seeps out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 near the periphery of the electrode unit 120. Furthermore, the neutralizer seeps out from the neutralizer retention unit 112 near the periphery of the electrode unit 120.
Here, the state in which the electrolyte solution and the neutralizer seep out near the periphery of the electrode unit 120 is explained with reference to
In step S35, the assistant puts on the disposable diaper 10A to the subject, such as an infant or toddler. The task of putting on the disposable diaper 10A by the assistant is thus complete.
In step S40, the power supply unit 160 (electrification circuit 161) is electrified due to the interposition of the electrolyte solution between the electrode 121 and the electrode 122, and generates electric power.
In step S50, the excretion detection device 100 starts operating as a result of the electric power generated by the power supply unit 160.
In step S60, the radio transmission unit 180 periodically transmits the temperature information acquired by the temperature sensor 130 to the excretion management server 40. Specifically, as described above, the radio transmission unit 180 transmits the temperature information to the excretion management server 40 via the radio relay station 20 and the radio base station 30.
In step S70, based on the received temperature information, the excretion management server 40 determines whether or not the temperature change pattern matches the already-stored pattern. In the present embodiment, the excretion management server 40 stores the temperature change pattern that occurs as a result of urination, and the temperature change pattern that occurs as a result of defecation.
For example, if a temperature change pattern during defecation is compared with that during urination, the rise in the temperature is sharper during urination, and the convergence of temperature change is also faster, as compared to defecation. On the other hand, the rise in the temperature is slow during defecation, and the convergence of temperature change is also slow. Based on such differences in the temperature change pattern, the excretion management server 40 identifies urination and defecation.
When the temperature change pattern based on the received temperature information matches the temperature change pattern of urination or defecation (YES in step S70), then in step S80, the excretion management server 40 transmits an email indicating the occurrence of urination or defecation to a pre-registered address (the cellular phone terminal 50 and the personal computer 60).
Furthermore, in step S85, the neutralizer (citric acid) that has seeped out near the periphery of the electrode 121 and the electrode 122 reduces the pH of the bodily waste (for example, urine), and neutralizes alkalinity of the bodily waste. Specifically, as shown in
In step 90, as a result of receipt of the email, the assistant of the wearer W quickly recognizes urination and defecation by the wearer W, and changes the disposable diaper. In order to prevent interference between the radio signal transmitted by the excretion detection device 100 embedded in the disposable diaper after use, and the radio signal transmitted by the excretion detection device 100 embedded in the new disposable diaper after change, the assistant must take away the disposable diaper after use by more than a fixed distance from the radio relay station 20.
According to the excretion detection device 100 explained above, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided at a position where the neutralizer can be in contact with the bodily waste. Specifically, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided at the upper side of the electrode unit 120 (electrode 121 and electrode 122). Furthermore, as a result of pressing of the neutralizer retention unit 112, the neutralizer seeps out near the periphery of the electrode unit 120, and the neutralizer comes in contact with the bodily waste. Therefore, the alkalinity of the bodily waste Ex can be neutralized by the neutralizer N.
Thus, the fast corrosion of the electrode unit 120 by urine can be prevented even in a disposable diaper for elderly persons whose pH of urine is often high due to urinary tract infections and the like. Materials such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, aluminum, iron, and carbon, and mixtures of these materials have been disclosed in the prior art documents as materials for electrodes, and the use of two different materials with a large difference in ionization tendencies is highly effective in obtaining the electromotive force. However, in view of using the electrodes in a disposable diaper, a combination of aluminum and silver is desired from the viewpoint of safety and the manufacturing cost, as mentioned in the present embodiment.
However, aluminum is an amphoteric element, and can be dissolved in both acid and alkali. Therefore, as shown below, generally, a lytic reaction with aluminum occurs in a strong base solution.
2Al+10H2O+2OH-→2[Al(OH)4(H2O)2]-+3H2
Particularly, in elderly persons, for example, when the pH of urine becomes high due to urinary tract infections and the like, aluminum gets dissolved. According to the aforementioned excretion detection device 100, even in such cases, the time until when aluminum gets dissolved can be prolonged.
That is, according to the excretion detection device 100, because relatively low-cost and safe aluminum is used primarily in the electrode 121 and the electrode 122, the manufacturing cost also does not increase substantially. Furthermore, because the time until when the aluminum configuring the electrode 121 and the electrode 122 dissolves is prolonged, a sufficient electrification time can be secured even in the case of contact with urine with a high pH.
In the present embodiment, the electrode unit 120 is provided at a position where the electrode unit 120 can be in contact with the bodily waste of the wearer W and the electrolyte solution retained by the electrolyte solution retention unit 111. Additionally, the electrode unit 120 can also be contact with the electrolyte solution before excretion by the wearer W. Therefore, electrification by the power supply unit 160 is possible even before urination and defecation.
So far, the present invention is disclosed through the above embodiments. However, it should not be interpreted that the statements and drawings constituting a part of the present disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, a variety of alternate embodiments, examples, and applicable techniques will become apparent to one skilled in the art.
For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, the neutralizer retention unit 112 is provided at the upper side of the electrolyte solution retention unit 111, however, the positions of the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 and the neutralizer retention unit 112 may be exchanged. Alternatively, the neutralizer retention unit 112 may also be provided adjacent to the electrolyte solution retention unit 111, in a plan view (see
In the aforementioned embodiment, the temperature information is transmitted by using the radio transmission unit 180, however, rather than transmitting the temperature information by the radio transmission unit 180, an alarm such as a buzzer may be operated.
In the aforementioned embodiment, the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 is torn by pressing the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 from the topsheet 11 side, and the electrolyte solution is made to seep out from the electrolyte solution retention unit 111, however, the electrolyte solution may be made to seep out by performing an operation other than pressing. For example, the electrolyte solution retention unit 111 may be torn by pulling thread-like members connected to the electrolyte solution retention unit 111.
Furthermore, the excretion detection device 100 is not just loaded in a diaper, but may also be loaded in an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin. Additionally, the absorbent article is not just used for human beings, but may also be used for animals, such as pets.
As described above, needless to say, the present invention includes various embodiments and the like not described here. Therefore, the technical range of the present invention is to be defined only by the inventive specific matter according to the adequate claims from the above description.
The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-009301 (filed on Jan. 19, 2010) are incorporated in the present description by reference.
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excretion detection device by which a sufficient electrification time can be secured even in the case of contact with urine with a high pH, without increasing the manufacturing cost substantially, and also to provide an absorbent article having such an excretion detection device.
1: excretion management system, 10A, 10B: disposable diaper, 11: topsheet, 12: backsheet, 13: absorber, 20: radio relay station, 30: radio base station, 40: excretion management server, 50: cellular phone terminal, 60: personal computer, 100: excretion detection device, 110: solution and neutralizer retention unit, 111: electrolyte solution retention unit, 112: neutralizer retention unit, 120: electrode unit, 121, 122: electrode, 130: temperature sensor, 150: active tag, 160: power supply unit, 161: electrification circuit, 162: electricity-storage circuit, 170: control unit, 180: radio transmission unit, Ex: bodily waste, N: neutralizer, W: wearer, WT: electrolyte solution
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2010-009301 | Jan 2010 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2011/050867 | 1/19/2011 | WO | 00 | 8/27/2012 |
