DEFECATION DETECTION APPARATUS

• US 20120253303A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Miou, Fujioka, Yoshihisa
• Application Number:
  US13/503,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/451 Genital or anal receptacles A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence ; other body securing means A61F5/4408; devices for taking faeces samples A61B10/0038; devices for taking urine samples A61B10/007

Abstract

A defecation detection apparatus includes: a feces receiving member placed to face a body of a wearer to receive discharged feces; a first temperature sensor placed at a defecation position of the feces receiving member where discharged feces are received; a second temperature sensor placed at a non-defecation position of the feces receiving member where discharged feces are not received; and a control section that detects whether the discharged feces is present or not based on a signal output from the first temperature sensor and a signal output from the second temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A defecation detection apparatus comprising:

a feces receiving member placed to face a body of a wearer to receive discharged feces;

a first temperature sensor placed at a defecation position of the feces receiving member where discharged feces are received;

a second temperature sensor placed at a non-defecation position of the feces receiving member where discharged feces are not received; and

a control section that detects whether the discharged feces is present or not based on a signal output from the first temperature sensor and a signal output from the second temperature sensor.

2. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control section detects whether the discharged feces is present or not based on a signal obtained by subtracting the signal output from the second temperature sensor from the signal output from the first temperature sensor.

3. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second temperature sensor is placed at a position facing the groin or a position between the position facing the groin and the defecation position when the feces receiving member faces the body.

4. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are formed on a single insulating synthetic resin film.

5. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification section that make a notification that feces have been discharged,

wherein the control section actuates the notification section when detecting that feces have been discharged.

6. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a urine detection section that detects urine discharged into the feces receiving member.

7. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the urine detection section includes paired electrodes formed on the insulating synthetic resin film with spacing therebetween, and

urine is detected based on a change in voltage between the paired electrodes caused by the discharged urine.

8. A defecation detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a urine suction device detachably attached to the feces receiving member, the urine suction device allowing sucking of urine discharged in the feces receiving member,

wherein the control section actuates the urine suction device to suck urine in the feces receiving member when the urine detection section has detected urine.