Animal toilet unit, health support system, information providing method, and information providing program

Abstract

To provide a technology related to a toilet unit for an animal capable of accurately measuring components in urine without impairing convenience.SOLUTION: A urine collection device includes a urination portion 20 that functions as a portion where urine is excreted by an animal, a disposal container 31 that receives and stores urine excreted at the urination portion 20, a sensor mounting portion 35 for disposing a measurement sensor 2 that performs measurement related to a component of urine excreted at the urination portion 20, and a housing portion 10 that supports or stores the urination portion 20, the disposal container 31, and the sensor mounting portion 35. The animal toilet unit 1 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the housing unit 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an animal toilet unit, a health assistance system, an information provision method, and an information provision program. [Background technology]

[0002] For health management of pets, it is effective to conduct urine tests on pet urine. For this purpose, some animal toilet units for pets are equipped with a sensor element that outputs a signal related to the components in the pet urine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6849266 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The accuracy of measurement of components in urine can be affected by the environment inside the animal litter box that the sensor element that performs the measurement is placed in. For example, if the humidity of the environment inside the animal litter box changes due to urine excreted by a pet, this affects the accuracy of measurement of components in urine, and as a result, there is a risk that the measurement of components in urine cannot be performed accurately. On the other hand, if the pet owner is required to take some effort to ensure good measurement accuracy, the owner may find it inconvenient, and as a result, the convenience of the animal litter box unit may be reduced.

[0005] The present disclosure provides technology related to an animal litter box unit that makes it possible to accurately measure components in urine without compromising convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a urinary area that serves as a site of excretion of urine by the animal; a waste container that receives and stores urine excreted in the urination section; a sensor mounting portion for mounting a measurement sensor that measures components of urine excreted in the urination portion; a housing portion that supports or houses the urination portion, the waste container, and the sensor mounting portion, The waste container forms at least a part of a sealed structure and is configured to be detachable from the housing. An animal litter box is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to accurately measure components in urine without sacrificing convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a side cross-sectional view that schematically shows an example of the general configuration of an animal litter box unit according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) that schematically shows an example of the configuration of the main parts of the animal litter box unit of FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a waste container and a guide flow path section within the drawer tray section of the animal litter box unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) that schematically shows an example of the configuration of the main parts of the animal litter box unit of FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the waste container and sensor mounting part within the drawer tray part of the animal litter box unit. [Figure 4] 3 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) that schematically shows an example of the configuration of the main part of the animal litter box unit of FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the CC cross section in FIG. [Figure 5] 3. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram (part 4) that schematically shows an example of the configuration of the main part of the animal litter box unit of FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the cross section taken along the line DD in FIG. [Figure 6]1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an example of the general configuration of a health assistance system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a specific example of processing operations in the health assistance system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view that schematically shows an example of the general configuration of an animal litter box unit according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows an example of the configuration of the main part of the animal litter box unit of FIG. 8, and is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a urine reservoir in a waste container of the animal litter box unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an example of the general configuration of a health assistance system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a specific example of processing operations in a health assistance system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of advice information provided in the health assistance system according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] First Embodiment First, the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described.

[0011] (1) Composition of the animal toilet unit The configuration of the animal litter box unit according to the first embodiment will be described. The animal toilet unit is used as a toilet by animals such as pet cats and dogs, and is used in particular for excreting urine. Note that, while pet cats and dogs are typical examples of animals that use the animal toilet unit, it is not necessarily limited to a specific type of animal.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view that schematically shows an example of the general configuration of an animal litter box unit according to this embodiment, and Figs. 2 to 5 are explanatory views that schematically show an example of the configuration of the main parts of the animal litter box unit of Fig. 1.

[0013] (Overall composition) As shown in FIG. 1, the animal litter box unit 1 according to this embodiment is broadly composed of a housing part 10, a urination tray part 20, and a drawer tray part 30.

[0014] (Housing) The housing 10 is formed in the shape of a container with a bottom and no lid that can be placed on the floor. The open portion of the housing 10 may be covered with a cover member 11 that has an opening on one end.

[0015] A urination tray section 20 is disposed in the open portion of the housing section 10. A drawer tray section 30 is attached to the container of the housing section 10 below the urination tray section 20 so as to be able to be drawn out from the housing section 10 (see arrow A in FIG. 1).

[0016] An inclined slope 12 may be attached to one end of the housing portion 10 (the side of the opening in the cover member 11, if there is one) to guide the animal from the floor to the urination tray portion 20.

[0017] (Urination tray) The urination tray portion 20 is formed in the shape of a tray that is attached to the open portion of the housing portion 10, and functions as a place for the animal to excrete urine. In other words, the urination tray portion 20 functions as the "urination portion" in the present disclosure.

[0018] The urination tray section 20 is provided with a mesh section 21 formed of a mesh plate with a plurality of through-holes or through-slits at a location corresponding to the tray bottom. When an animal urinates above the urination tray section 20, the excreted urine passes through the through-holes or through-slits of the mesh section 21 and falls toward the drawer tray section 30 located below the urination tray section 20.

[0019] The urine tray portion 20 may be provided with excretory granular material (not shown), such as cat litter.

[0020] (Drawer tray section) The drawer tray section 30 is formed in a tray shape and is disposed below the urination tray section 20, and is configured to be able to be drawn out from the housing section 10.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, when the drawer tray section 30 is attached to the housing section 10 without being pulled out from the housing section 10, it is located below the urination tray section 20. Therefore, when attached to the housing section 10, the drawer tray section 30 can be considered to be part of the housing section 10. In this state, when an animal urinates in the urination tray section 20, the urine falls from the urination tray section 20 through the mesh section 21. For this reason, a waste container 31 is arranged inside the tray of the drawer tray section 30 to receive and store urine that passes through the mesh section 21 of the urination tray section 20.

[0022] The waste container 31 is used to receive and temporarily store urine excreted in the urination tray portion 20, and to discard the stored urine.

[0023] For this reason, the waste container 31 is formed in the shape of a container with a lid and a bottom that is large enough to be placed in the tray of the drawer tray section 30. More specifically, the waste container 31 has a container body 31a shaped like a bottomed container and a lid section 31b that covers the open portion of the container body 31a, and the lid section 31b has an opening 31c for receiving urine excreted in the urination tray section 20, and is configured to store urine in the container body 31a through the opening 31c. In this way, the waste container 31 is a container with a lid and a bottom, and forms a sealed structure in which the area other than the opening 31c provided in the lid section 31b is sealed.

[0024] Furthermore, the waste container 31 is configured to be detachable from the housing 10 and the drawer tray 30. If the waste container 31 is detachable, it becomes possible to discard urine contained in the waste container 31 while the waste container 31 is removed from the drawer tray 30. In this case, the waste container 31 may be configured, for example, so that the lid 31b can be opened and closed relative to the container body 31a to allow urine to be discarded, but this is not necessarily limited to this, and urine may be discarded through the opening 31c without opening and closing the lid 31b.

[0025] If the waste container 31 is detachable, it is preferable that the drawer tray section 30 be provided with a positioning member (not shown) for positioning the waste container 31 within the tray (i.e., within the housing section 10). The presence of a positioning member makes it possible to easily and securely attach the waste container 31 to the drawer tray section 30 without causing the waste container 31 to shift position. The positioning member may be configured, for example, as a guide piece that fixes the edge position of the waste container 31, but is not limited to a specific configuration as long as it is possible to position the waste container 31.

[0026] When the waste container 31 is attached to the drawer tray unit 30, it may be positioned within the drawer tray unit 30 while it is attached to the housing 10 so that it is located near the center of the housing when the housing 10 is viewed from above. In this case, a positioning member for the waste container 31 is disposed within the drawer tray unit 30 so that the waste container 31 is located near the center of the housing. However, this is not necessarily limited to this, and the waste container 31 may be positioned in another location. Examples of other locations include a location near an opening / closing portion for accessing the inside of the housing 10, or more specifically, a location near the edge of the drawer tray unit 30 that can be pulled out from the housing 10.

[0027] The waste container 31 also has a urine reservoir 31d for collecting a predetermined amount of urine below the opening 31c provided in the lid 31b (see FIGS. 3 to 5). The waste container 31 is configured to collect urine that overflows from the urine reservoir 31d. In other words, the waste container 31 is configured so that urine obtained through the opening 31c is first received in the urine reservoir 31d, and then urine that overflows from the urine reservoir 31d is collected in the container. The amount of urine that the urine reservoir 31d collects (i.e., the predetermined amount) needs only to be sufficient to immerse the electrodes of the measurement sensor 2, which will be described later.

[0028] The waste container 31 described above is preferably configured as a disposable item. This is because disposable items do not require cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, etc. for reuse, which is effective in terms of hygiene and infection prevention. Furthermore, disposable items can eliminate concerns about the presence of residues such as contamination when reused, and can suppress a decrease in testing accuracy due to residues.

[0029] In addition to the waste container 31 described above, a guide channel section 32 that guides urine excreted in the urination tray section 20 to the opening 31c of the waste container 31 is arranged within the tray of the drawer tray section 30.

[0030] The guide flow path section 32 has a cylindrical section 32a shaped to correspond to the opening 31c, and an inclined sheet section 32b formed by an inclined surface continuing to the cylindrical section 32a. When the guide flow path section 32 is disposed above the waste container 31 and below the urination tray section 20, urine received by the inclined sheet section 32b from the urination tray section 20 is guided to the cylindrical section 32a by utilizing the inclination of the inclined sheet section 32b, and then guided from the cylindrical section 32a through the opening 31c into the waste container 31 (see arrow B in FIG. 1).

[0031] The guide channel section 32 is supported within the tray of the drawer tray section 30 by support beams 33 formed on the drawer tray section 30, and is thereby positioned above the waste container 31 and below the urination tray section 20. The guide channel section 32 is detachably supported by the support beams 33. In other words, the guide channel section 32 is configured to be detachable from the housing section 10 and the drawer tray section 30, allowing a used guide channel section 32 to be removed from the drawer tray section 30 and an unused guide channel section 32 to be newly attached to the drawer tray section 30.

[0032] When the guide channel section 32 is detachable, it is preferable that a positioning member be attached to the support beam section 33 of the drawer tray section 30 to position the guide channel section 32 within the tray (i.e., within the housing section 10). The presence of a positioning member makes it possible to easily and reliably attach the guide channel section 32 to the drawer tray section 30 without causing misalignment of the guide channel section 32. The positioning member may be, for example, a positioning pin 33a disposed on the support beam section 33 (see FIG. 2), but is not limited to a specific configuration as long as it is possible to position the guide channel section 32.

[0033] The guide flow path section 32 described above is preferably configured as a disposable item. This is because disposable items do not require cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, etc. for reuse, and are effective in terms of hygiene and infection prevention. Furthermore, disposable items can eliminate concerns about the presence of residues such as contamination when reused, and can suppress a decrease in testing accuracy due to residues.

[0034] In addition to the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 described above, an adsorption member 34 is disposed within the tray of the drawer tray section 30, for example, on the bottom surface of the drawer tray section 30 (see FIG. 1). The adsorption member 34 has at least one of hygroscopicity and water absorption properties. As a result, the adsorption member 34 having at least one of hygroscopicity and water absorption properties is disposed within the housing section 10. The adsorption member 34 may be in sheet form or granular form as long as it has hygroscopicity or water absorption properties. The adsorption member 34 may also have properties other than hygroscopicity or water absorption (for example, deodorizing properties, fragrance properties, etc.).

[0035] Furthermore, in addition to the waste container 31, the guide flow path section 32, and the adsorption member 34, a sensor mounting section 35 for placing the measurement sensor 2 is provided inside the tray of the drawer tray section 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The measurement sensor 2 measures the components of urine excreted in the urination tray section 20, and details of this will be described later.

[0036] The sensor mounting section 35 functions as a mounting table (arrangement table) on which the measurement sensor 2 is set. To this end, the sensor mounting section 35 is configured to include at least a mounting surface 35a that supports the measurement sensor 2 and a positioning member 35b that positions the measurement sensor 2 on the mounting surface 35a. The mounting surface 35a and the positioning member 35b are not limited to a specific configuration as long as the measurement sensor 2 can be set thereon.

[0037] However, the sensor mounting part 35 is configured so that the measurement sensor 2 set therein (i.e., the measurement sensor 2 placed in the sensor mounting part 35) measures urine collected in the urine reservoir 31d of the waste container 31. More specifically, the sensor mounting part 35 is configured such that the position and shape of the mounting surface 35a and the positioning member 35b are such that, when the measurement sensor 2 is set in the sensor mounting part 35, the electrodes of the set measurement sensor 2 are positioned so that they are immersed in urine collected in the urine reservoir 31d of the waste container 31. With this configuration, the measurement sensor 2 placed in the sensor mounting part 35 naturally measures urine collected in the urine reservoir 31d of the waste container 31.

[0038] (External configuration) The animal litter box unit 1 including the housing part 10, the urination tray part 20 and the drawer tray part 30 described above preferably has the following external appearance configuration.

[0039] The animal litter box unit 1 preferably has an exterior configuration that allows the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc. to be visible from outside the animal litter box unit 1 when the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc. are attached, i.e., when the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc. are attached to the drawer tray portion 30 and the drawer tray portion 30 is disposed within the housing portion 10. Specifically, for example, the housing portion 10 and the drawer tray portion 30 may be formed from transparent materials, thereby making the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc. visible from outside the animal litter box unit 1. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, the housing portion 10 may be provided with an openable / closable window portion through which the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc. can be visible. With this exterior configuration, the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc. can be visually observed from outside the animal litter box unit 1 even when the animal litter box unit 1 is in use.

[0040] It is also possible to form the waste container 31, the guide flow path section 32, etc. from a transparent material, which makes it possible to visually check the state of urine contained in the waste container 31 from the outside.

[0041] (2) Health support system configuration Next, the configuration of the health support system according to this embodiment will be described. The health assistance system is a system configured to include the animal litter box unit 1 described above, and is intended to assist the animals that use the animal litter box unit 1 in maintaining their health.

[0042] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows an example of the general configuration of the health assistance system according to this embodiment.

[0043] (Overall composition) As shown in the figure, the health support system of this embodiment is configured to include, in addition to the animal toilet unit 1 described above, a measurement sensor 2 and an external information terminal device (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as an "external terminal device" or "terminal device") 3.

[0044] (measurement sensor) The measurement sensor 2 electrochemically measures specific components in the test liquid. In this embodiment, the test liquid is urine excreted from an animal in the animal toilet unit 1. The specific components to be detected are uric acid, urinary sugar, arginine, albumin, creatinine, ketone bodies, glucose, etc. contained in urine. In other words, in this embodiment, the measurement sensor 2 is configured to measure components contained in urine excreted from an animal.

[0045] Electrochemical measurement means that substances contained in urine, which is the test liquid, are electrolyzed under specific conditions, and the resulting electrochemical reaction (e.g., redox reaction) is used to measure the concentration of a specific component in urine. It is known that the concentration of a specific component in urine is measured, for example, by the three-electrode method. The three-electrode method is a technique for performing electrochemical measurement using a combination of three electrodes: a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode. However, the method is not limited to the three-electrode method, and other techniques may also be used to measure the concentration of a specific component.

[0046] In order to perform such measurements, the measurement sensor 2 is configured to include a sensor stick portion 2a and a measuring device portion 2b.

[0047] The sensor stick 2a has a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode arranged on one end of a stick-shaped substrate, and is configured so that the other end of the substrate can be inserted into an insertion port (slot) of the measuring device 2b. Each electrode on the substrate is connected via wiring to a terminal arranged on the other end of the substrate. As a result, each electrode on the substrate is electrically connected to the measuring device 2b when the other end of the substrate is inserted into the insertion port of the measuring device 2b.

[0048] The sensor stick 2a having such a configuration is preferably configured as a disposable product, because disposable products do not require cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, etc. for reuse, even when used in contact with urine, and are therefore effective in terms of hygiene and infection prevention.

[0049] The measuring device 2b, which may be called a potentiostat, is configured to perform a predetermined voltage sweep operation while electrically connected to each electrode of the sensor stick 2a inserted into the insertion port. To this end, the measuring device 2b includes, for example, a voltage application unit, a current measurement unit, a potential difference measurement unit, and a potential adjustment unit. The voltage application unit is configured to apply a voltage between the working electrode and the counter electrode of each electrode of the sensor stick 2a once a predetermined circuit is formed by connecting the electrodes. The current measurement unit is configured to measure the current generated by the oxidation-reduction reaction of a specific component in urine. The potential difference measurement unit is configured to measure the potential difference between the working electrode and the reference electrode. The potential adjustment unit is configured to maintain the potential of the working electrode constant based on the potential difference measured by the potential difference measurement unit, with the potential of the reference electrode as a reference.

[0050] The measurement sensor 2, with the sensor stick portion 2a inserted into the insertion opening of the measuring device portion 2b, is set in the sensor attachment portion 35 provided in the drawer tray portion 30 of the animal litter box unit 1 for use. When the measurement sensor 2 is set and positioned in the sensor attachment portion 35, the electrodes arranged on one end of the sensor stick portion 2a of the measurement sensor 2 are positioned so as to be immersed in urine collected in the urine reservoir portion 31d of the waste container 31 in the drawer tray portion 30. In other words, by setting the measurement sensor 2 in the sensor attachment portion 35, the electrodes on the sensor stick portion 2a of the measurement sensor 2 are positioned so as to be immersed in urine collected in the urine reservoir portion 31d of the waste container 31.

[0051] Therefore, when urine excreted in the urination tray 20 accumulates in the urine reservoir 31d of the waste container 31 with the measurement sensor 2 set in the sensor mounting part 35, the electrodes of the sensor stick part 2a of the measurement sensor 2 are immersed in the urine accumulated in the urine reservoir 31d. As a result, the measurement sensor 2 targets the urine accumulated in the urine reservoir 31d as a measurement target, and each electrode comes into contact with the urine, making it possible to measure the concentration of a specific component in the urine. In other words, by setting the measurement sensor 2, which is a combination of the sensor stick part 2a and the measuring device part 2b, in the sensor mounting part 35, the function of an electrochemical sensor that measures a specific component in urine is realized.

[0052] Information relating to the results of such measurements (hereinafter simply referred to as "measurement result information") is output from the measuring unit 2b to the external information terminal device 3. In other words, the measuring unit 2b has a function for communicating with the external information terminal device 3. Communication using this communication function may be either wireless or wired communication, but considering the flexibility of installation of the measurement sensor 2, wireless communication is preferable.

[0053] It should be noted that, with respect to the sensor stick portion 2a and the measuring device portion 2b of the measurement sensor 2, specific configurations other than those described above may be made using known techniques, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted here.

[0054] (External information terminal device) The external information terminal device 3 is a terminal device capable of communicating with the measuring device section 2b of the measurement sensor 2, and is configured as a smartphone, tablet terminal, laptop computer, or the like that has computer functions. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the external information terminal device 3 is a smartphone used by the owner of the animal that uses the animal litter box unit 1. In other words, in this embodiment, the external information terminal device 3 is a mobile terminal device used by the owner of the animal.

[0055] A predetermined application program is installed in the external information terminal device 3 to communicate with the measuring device section 2b of the measurement sensor 2 and process information obtained through this communication. By executing this application program, the external information terminal device 3 performs testing processing on urine excreted in the animal litter box unit 1 based on measurement result information from the measurement sensor 2. The "testing processing on urine" here primarily refers to analytical processing on components contained in urine (e.g., processing to test the concentration of specific components), but may also include processing to determine the health status of animals using the animal litter box unit 1 (e.g., processing to determine whether the animal is healthy, requires observation, requires treatment, etc.).

[0056] The external information terminal device 3 may display and output information relating to the processing results of the urine testing process on the external information terminal device 3, and may also output the information to another device communicably connected via a network to the external information terminal device 3. Examples of the other device include a printer device that prints out a printout and a computer device (host server or cloud server) at a veterinary hospital where the animal's doctor is located.

[0057] Furthermore, in addition to outputting information to other devices, the external information terminal device 3 may receive information transmitted from other devices on the network and display and output the received information on the external information terminal device 3. Examples of other devices on the network include the computer devices of the veterinary clinics mentioned above, and computer devices (host servers or cloud servers) managed by various companies that cooperate with the veterinary clinics. Examples of information transmitted from other devices include information related to diagnostic results at the veterinary clinics, product advertising information provided in accordance with the diagnostic results, and the like.

[0058] Note that, with regard to the external information terminal device 3, specific configurations other than those described above may be those utilizing publicly known technology, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted here.

[0059] (3) Example of processing operation of health support system Next, an example of the processing operation in the health support system configured as described above will be described.

[0060] The health assistance system of this embodiment makes it possible to assist in maintaining the health of animals using the animal toilet unit 1 by utilizing output information (information regarding the processing results of urine testing processing) from the external information terminal device 3.

[0061] A series of processing steps for this purpose will be explained below using a specific example. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing operations in the health support system according to this embodiment.

[0062] When using the health assistance system according to this embodiment, the system is first prepared for use (step 101; hereinafter, step is abbreviated as "S"). Specifically, as preparation for use, the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 are attached to the tray of the drawer tray section 30 in the animal litter box unit 1, and the measurement sensor 2 is set to the sensor attachment section 35 in the tray (S102). This transitions the animal litter box unit 1 to an operational state, making the health assistance system ready for use. The operational state of the animal litter box unit 1 refers to a state in which, after going through the above-described preparation for use, at least urine excreted in the urination tray section 20 can be stored in the waste container 31 in the drawer tray section 30 and the measurement sensor 2 can measure the urine. Furthermore, it is preferable that particulate material such as cat litter is disposed in the urination tray section 20 and that an adsorption member 34 is disposed around at least the waste container 31 in the drawer tray section 30.

[0063] After the animal litter box unit 1 is transitioned to an operating state, a pet animal uses the animal litter box unit 1 as a place to excrete urine. Specifically, the animal using the animal litter box unit 1 goes up to the urination tray portion 20 and urinates there (S103). At this time, if the animal litter box unit 1 is provided with an inclined slope 12, the urinating animal can use the inclined slope 12 to move up to the urination tray portion 20. Therefore, for example, even if the urinating animal is in poor health, it can easily use the inclined slope 12 to reach the urination tray portion 20, which is the excretion place. This also means that the inclined slope 12 allows for more space to be secured below the urination tray portion 20. In other words, by securing the space, it is possible to arrange the guide flow path section 32 between the urination tray section 20 and the waste container 31, which allows the excreted urine to be guided to the waste container 31 efficiently without loss, and also ensures sufficient freedom in the configuration and placement of the waste container 31, measurement sensor 2, etc., thereby enabling cost reduction of the measurement sensor 2, etc.

[0064] When an animal urinates on the urination tray section 20, the excreted urine passes through the mesh section 21 of the urination tray section 20 and falls onto the drawer tray section 30. The urine then flows over the inclined sheet section 32b of the guide channel section 32 attached to the drawer tray section 30, and is guided from the tubular section 32a of the guide channel section 32 through the opening 31c of the waste container 31 into the waste container 31. The urine guided into the waste container 31 is temporarily collected in the urine reservoir section 31d of the waste container 31, and then the urine that overflows from the urine reservoir section 31d is collected in the waste container 31 (S104).

[0065] In this case, the waste container 31 that stores urine has a sealed structure in which all parts except for the opening 31c are sealed. This prevents the effects of, for example, urine evaporation from affecting the environmental conditions (e.g., humidity) inside the tray of the drawer tray section 30 and inside the housing of the housing section 10, even when the waste container 31 stores urine. In other words, because the waste container 31 has a sealed structure, it is possible to prevent the storage of urine in the waste container 31 from changing the environmental conditions inside the animal litter box unit 1. This is also very useful in preventing the generation of odors associated with the storage of urine. Note that the placement of an adsorbent member 34 inside the drawer tray section 30 is also very useful for preventing changes in the environmental conditions and the generation of odors.

[0066] At this time, the measurement sensor 2 is set in the sensor mounting part 35 in the drawer tray part 30. Therefore, when urine accumulates in the urine reservoir part 31d of the waste container 31, the electrodes of the sensor stick part 2a of the measurement sensor 2 set in the sensor mounting part 35 are immersed in the urine accumulated in the urine reservoir part 31d (S104). As a result, the measurement sensor 2 placed in the sensor mounting part 35 measures the urine accumulated in the urine reservoir part 31d of the waste container 31.

[0067] In this way, the measurement sensor 2 measures not only urine dripping from the urine tray 20 through the guide channel 32, but also urine temporarily stored in the urine reservoir 31d. Therefore, even if an animal using the animal litter box unit 1 (i.e., an animal that is the subject of health management) excretes only a small amount of urine, as long as at least a predetermined amount of urine (i.e., an amount necessary and sufficient for immersing the electrodes of the measurement sensor 2) accumulates in the urine reservoir 31d, each electrode of the sensor stick 2a of the measurement sensor 2 can be reliably immersed in the urine. In other words, the urine excreted from the animal can be measured by the measurement sensor 2 efficiently without loss. Furthermore, if the urine that has been temporarily stored in the urine storage section 31d is used as the measurement target, it is easier to prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy in the measurement sensor 2 due to impurities such as contamination, compared to when the urine that overflows from the urine storage section 31d and is stored in the waste container 31 is used as the measurement target. Therefore, it is very useful for ensuring good measurement accuracy of the measurement sensor 2 that the measurement sensor 2 measures urine in the urine reservoir 31d.

[0068] After each electrode of the sensor stick 2a of the measurement sensor 2 is immersed in the urine in the urine reservoir 31d, the measuring device 2b of the measurement sensor 2 performs electrochemical measurement (S105). Any known technique may be used for the electrochemical measurement. By performing such electrochemical measurement, the measuring device 2b measures the concentration of a specific component in the urine stored in the urine reservoir 31d (i.e., in the urine excreted by an animal using the animal litter box unit 1). The measuring device 2b then outputs measurement result information obtained by the electrochemical measurement to the external information terminal device 3 (S106).

[0069] When information is output from the measurement sensor 2, the external information terminal device 3 acquires the output information (S107). Then, the external information terminal device 3 performs a test process on the urine that was the object of measurement by the measurement sensor 2 based on the acquired information (S108).

[0070] Specifically, as a urine testing process (S108), the concentrations of specific components contained in the urine, such as uric acid, urinary sugar, arginine, albumin, creatinine, ketone bodies, glucose, etc., are measured based on information acquired from the measurement sensor 2. Note that the testing process (S108) performed by the external information terminal device 3 may include, in addition to measuring the concentrations of specific components in the urine as described above, a determination process regarding the health status of the animal using the animal litter box unit 1 (for example, a process of determining whether the animal is healthy, requires observation, requires treatment, etc.).

[0071] When the inspection process (S108) is performed, the external information terminal device 3 outputs information relating to the processing results of the inspection process (hereinafter simply referred to as "processing result information") (S109). Specifically, for example, the processing result information is displayed and output on a display unit of the external information terminal device 3. Furthermore, for example, if the external information terminal device 3 is connected to another device such as a computer device at a veterinary clinic so that they can communicate with each other, the external information terminal device 3 outputs the processing result information to the other device. This allows the other device to share the processing result information from the external information terminal device 3, and the user of the other device (for example, the attending physician of the animal using the animal litter box unit 1) to refer to and understand the contents of the processing result information, and can give instructions for the next medical examination based on the understood contents.

[0072] Furthermore, in addition to outputting the processing result information, the external information terminal device 3 may also output various types of information related to the processing result information (hereinafter simply referred to as "related information") on the display unit (S110). In this case, the related information is transmitted from another device on the network that is communicatively connected to the external information terminal device 3. Examples of other devices on the network include the computer device of the veterinary clinic mentioned above and computer devices (host servers or cloud servers) managed by various companies that cooperate with the veterinary clinic. Examples of information transmitted from other devices include information related to the diagnosis results at the veterinary clinic and product advertising information provided in accordance with the diagnosis results.

[0073] By having the external information terminal device 3 output this information, the user of the external information terminal device 3 (i.e., the owner of the animal using the animal litter box 1) can refer to the information output by the external information terminal device 3 and understand the content of that output information (S111). Therefore, by utilizing the content of the information output by the external information terminal device 3, it is possible to help maintain the health of the animal using the animal litter box unit 1.

[0074] On the other hand, after an animal using the animal litter box unit 1 urinates on the urination tray portion 20 (S103), the owner of the animal performs post-cleaning of the animal litter box unit 1 (S112). Specifically, as post-cleaning, the waste container 31 and the guide channel portion 32 are removed from within the tray of the drawer tray portion 30 in the animal litter box unit 1 (S113). The sensor stick portion 2a of the measurement sensor 2 set in the sensor attachment portion 35 is also removed in the same manner.

[0075] Then, with the waste container 31 removed from the drawer tray 30, the urine contained in the waste container 31 is disposed of (S114). Furthermore, the waste container 31 itself after the urine has been disposed of, as well as the guide channel section 32 and sensor stick section 2a removed from the drawer tray 30, are also disposed of. In this case, it is preferable that the waste items are combustible, as this makes disposal within the home easier.

[0076] Thereafter, it is determined whether or not preparation for the next new use is necessary for the animal litter box unit 1 (S115), and if so, the above-described series of steps (S101 to S115) are carried out again. If preparation for the next new use is not necessary, use of the health assistance system is terminated.

[0077] (4) Effects of this embodiment The animal litter box unit 1 and the health assistance system including the animal litter box unit 1 described above provide one or more of the following effects.

[0078] (a) The animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment is used with a measurement sensor 2 disposed in the sensor mounting section 35, which allows the measurement sensor 2 to measure components of urine excreted by animals using the animal litter box unit 1. This makes it possible to assist in maintaining the health of animals using the animal litter box unit 1 based on measurement result information obtained by electrochemical measurement using the measurement sensor 2. Moreover, the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a waste container 31 that receives and stores urine excreted by animals, and the waste container 31 forms a sealed structure. Therefore, even when the waste container 31 stores urine, it is possible to prevent the storage of the urine from changing the environmental conditions inside the animal litter box unit 1. Furthermore, it is very useful in preventing the generation of odors that accompany the storage of urine. In this way, if changes in the environmental conditions inside the animal litter box unit 1 can be suppressed, it is also possible to prevent the effects of these changes on the measurement accuracy of the measurement sensor 2. In other words, the measurement sensor 2 can perform accurate measurements of the components in urine. Furthermore, the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the waste container 31 is detachable, and when the waste container 31 is attached, urine excreted from the animal will naturally be collected in the waste container 31. This prevents the animal owner from feeling inconvenienced, and as described above, it is possible to suppress changes in the environmental conditions within the animal litter box unit 1 and ensure good measurement accuracy by the measurement sensor 2. Furthermore, because the waste container 31 is detachable, it is easy to dispose of the urine contained in the waste container 31 and to make the waste container 31 itself disposable, which is also useful in ensuring good measurement accuracy by the measurement sensor 2. As described above, the animal toilet unit 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to accurately measure the components in the urine excreted by animals using the animal toilet unit 1 without compromising the convenience of users of the animal toilet unit 1 (such as animal owners).

[0079] (b) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, a guide channel section 32 is disposed between the urination tray section 20 and the waste container 31, and the guide channel section 32 guides urine excreted in the urination tray section 20 to the opening 31c of the waste container 31. This makes it possible to efficiently guide urine excreted in the urination tray section 20 to the waste container 31 without loss, which is particularly useful when the animal using the animal litter box unit 1 excretes only a small amount of urine. Furthermore, the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the guide channel section 32 is detachable. Therefore, the presence of the guide channel section 32 does not hinder the attachment and detachment of the waste container 31, and the guide channel section 32 itself can easily be made disposable, etc., which is extremely useful in ensuring convenience for users of the animal litter box unit 1 (animal owners, etc.).

[0080] (c) The animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment is equipped with positioning members (e.g., positioning pins 33a) that position the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32. Therefore, even if the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 are configured to be detachable, they can be easily and appropriately replaced or attached, which is extremely useful in ensuring convenience for users of the animal litter box unit 1 (animal owners, etc.).

[0081] (d) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 are configured as disposable items. Therefore, the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 do not need to be cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, etc. before they can be reused, which is very effective in terms of hygiene and infection prevention. Furthermore, disposable items eliminate the concern that residue such as contamination may remain when they are reused, and can suppress a decrease in the measurement accuracy of the measurement sensor 2 due to residue.

[0082] (e) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, the waste container 31 has a urine reservoir 31d, and the measurement sensor 2 placed in the sensor attachment part 35 measures the urine in the urine reservoir 31d. Therefore, even if an animal using the animal litter box unit 1 (i.e., an animal that is the subject of health management) excretes only a small amount of urine, as long as at least a predetermined amount of urine (i.e., an amount necessary and sufficient for immersing the electrodes of the measurement sensor 2) accumulates in the urine reservoir 31d, each electrode of the sensor stick 2a of the measurement sensor 2 can be reliably immersed in the urine. In other words, the urine excreted from the animal can be measured by the measurement sensor 2 efficiently without loss. Furthermore, by measuring urine that has been temporarily stored in the urine storage section 31d, it is possible to easily prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy in the measurement sensor 2 due to impurities such as contamination, compared to when measuring urine that overflows from the urine storage section 31d and is stored in the waste container 31. As described above, according to the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, the measurement sensor 2 measures urine in the urine reservoir 31d, which is very useful in ensuring good measurement accuracy in the measurement sensor 2.

[0083] (f) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32, an adsorption member 34 is arranged within the drawer tray section 30. Therefore, the adsorption member 34 also has the effect of suppressing changes in the environmental conditions (e.g., humidity) within the tray of the drawer tray section 30 and within the housing of the housing section 10. It is also useful for suppressing the generation of odors, etc. In other words, the arrangement of the adsorption member 34 makes it even more effective to suppress changes in the environmental conditions within the animal litter box unit 1 and the generation of odors.

[0084] (g) As given as an example of this embodiment, when the disposal container 31 is positioned near the center of the housing when the housing part 10 is viewed in a plan view, the height dimension of the animal litter box unit 1 can be prevented from increasing. In this case, with the disposal container 31 positioned above the disposal container 31, the cylindrical part 32a is also positioned near the center of the inclined sheet part 32b when the guide channel part 32 is viewed in a plan view. Therefore, even if the inclination of the inclined sheet part 32b is ensured so that urine flows, the height dimension of the inclined sheet part 32b can be reduced.

[0085] (h) As in another example of this embodiment, when the waste container 31 is positioned near the opening / closing section for accessing the inside of the housing section 10, the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 can be easily attached and detached. This provides great convenience for users of the animal litter box unit 1 (such as animal owners).

[0086] (i) The health assistance system including the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment comprises, in addition to the animal litter box unit 1, a measurement sensor 2 that measures components of urine excreted in the animal litter box unit 1, and an external information terminal device 3 that can communicate with the measurement sensor 2. The external information terminal device 3 is configured to analyze the urine excreted from the animal (make a health-related judgment) based on measurement result information from the measurement sensor 2. Therefore, according to the health support system including the animal toilet unit 1 of this embodiment, by using the animal toilet unit 1, it is possible to accurately measure the components in the urine excreted by animals using the animal toilet unit 1 without compromising the convenience of the user (such as the animal owner). Furthermore, by referring to the processing result information output by the external information terminal device 3, the user of the external information terminal device 3 (i.e., the owner of the animal using the animal litter box 1) can understand the content of that information. Therefore, by utilizing the content of the processing result information output by the external information terminal device 3, it is possible to support the health maintenance of animals using the animal litter box 1.

[0087] (j) As described in this embodiment, when the external information terminal device 3 outputs related information in addition to the processing result information (for example, information regarding the diagnosis results at the veterinary clinic and product advertising information provided in accordance with the diagnosis results), the user of the external information terminal device 3 can obtain various information that may be useful in assisting in maintaining the health of the animals using the animal toilet unit 1, making it even more convenient.

[0088] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described. Here, differences from the first embodiment described above will be mainly described, and descriptions of other points will be omitted.

[0089] Fig. 8 is a side cross-sectional view that schematically shows an example of the general configuration of an animal litter box unit according to a second embodiment, and Fig. 9 is an explanatory view that schematically shows an example of the configuration of a main part of the animal litter box unit of Fig. 8.

[0090] The animal litter box unit 1 described in this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configurations of the waste container 31, the guide flow path section 32, and the sensor mounting section .

[0091] (disposal container) In this embodiment, the waste container 31 is formed in the shape of a container with a bottom and no lid that is large enough to be placed in the tray of the drawer tray unit 30. Because it is a container with a bottom and no lid, the waste container 31 does not have a lid 31b or an opening 31c, unlike the first embodiment.

[0092] The waste container 31 is configured to form a sealed structure in combination with a guide channel section 32, which will be described later. In other words, the waste container 31 forms at least a part of the sealed structure. The sealed structure formed by the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 will be described in detail later.

[0093] The waste container 31 has a urine reservoir 31d (see FIG. 9), similar to the first embodiment.

[0094] (Guide flow path section) As in the first embodiment, the guide channel section 32 is for guiding urine excreted in the urination tray section 20 into the waste container 31. However, in this embodiment, the guide channel section 32 has an inclined sheet section 32b, but differs from the first embodiment in that an opening 32c is provided instead of the cylindrical section 32a.

[0095] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide channel section 32 has a rib section 32d provided so as to protrude downward from the rear surface of the inclined sheet section 32b (the surface located on the lower side when the waste container is installed in the drawer tray section 30). The rib section 32d is formed so as to have the same planar shape as or a similar planar shape to the side wall section of the waste container 31, and is configured so as to be able to engage with the side wall section. By engaging such rib portion 32d onto the side wall portion of the waste container 31, the guide flow path portion 32 is removably attached within the drawer tray portion 30 while being supported by the waste container 31. Furthermore, by engaging the rib portion 32d with the side wall portion of the waste container 31, a space is formed above the waste container 31 that is enclosed by the inclined sheet portion 32b and the rib portion 32d of the guide channel portion 32. As a result, the waste container 31 and the guide channel portion 32, when combined, form a sealed structure in which the area except for the opening 32c of the guide channel portion 32 is sealed. In other words, the waste container 31 forms part of the sealed structure, and the combination of the waste container 31 and the guide channel portion 32 forms the sealed structure. The engagement structure between the rib portion 32d and the side wall portion of the waste container 31 is not limited to a specific structure as long as it can form a sealed structure.

[0096] In this embodiment, a protective sheet 36 may be disposed on the surface of the inclined sheet portion 32b in the guide flow path portion 32 so as to cover the inclined sheet portion 32b. In this case, it is preferable that the protective sheet 36 is configured as a disposable item. This is because a disposable item does not require cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, etc. for reuse, and is effective in terms of hygiene and infection prevention. Furthermore, a disposable item can eliminate concerns about the presence of residues such as contamination when reused, and can suppress a decrease in testing accuracy due to residues. If the protective sheet 36 is disposable, then the guide flow path section 32 does not need to be disposable. Therefore, by using the disposable protective sheet 36, the cost burden on users of the animal litter box unit 1 can be reduced compared to when the guide flow path section 32 is disposable.

[0097] (sensor attachment part) As in the first embodiment, the sensor mounting section 35 is for mounting the measurement sensor 2. However, in this embodiment, the sensor mounting section 35 is not disposed in the tray of the drawer tray section 30, but is attached to the guide flow path section 32, which is different from the first embodiment.

[0098] Specifically, in this embodiment, the sensor mounting section 35 is configured by a support member provided on the back surface of the inclined sheet portion 32b in the guide flow path section 32 (see FIG. 8). When the waste container 31 and the guide flow path section 32 are combined to form a sealed structure with the support member configuring the sensor mounting section 35 supporting the measurement sensor 2, the measurement sensor 2 is positioned so that the electrodes of the measurement sensor 2 are immersed in urine collected in the urine reservoir section 31d of the waste container 31 (see FIG. 9).

[0099] (Example of processing operation) When using the animal litter box unit 1 configured as described above, the measurement sensor 2 is set in the sensor mounting part 35, and the guide channel part 32 is engaged with the waste container 31, and this combination forms a sealed structure. This makes the animal litter box unit 1 ready for use.

[0100] In this state, when a pet animal uses the animal toilet unit 1 as a place to excrete urine, the excreted urine is guided by the inclined sheet portion 32b and the protective sheet 36 of the guide flow path portion 32 and is led into the waste container 31 through the opening 32c of the guide flow path portion 32. The urine led into the waste container 31 is temporarily stored in the urine reservoir portion 31d of the waste container 31, and then the urine that overflows from the urine reservoir portion 31d is collected inside the waste container 31.

[0101] At this time, the waste container 31 that stores the urine forms a sealed structure in combination with the guide flow path section 32. This prevents the storage of urine in the waste container 31 from changing the environmental conditions inside the animal litter box unit 1. Furthermore, it is also very useful in preventing the generation of odors that accompany the storage of urine. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sealed structure is formed by combining the waste container 31 and the guide flow path section 32, which makes it easier to simplify the structure of the animal toilet unit 1 and reduce costs, compared to when the sealed structure is formed using the waste container 31 alone.

[0102] At this time, the measurement sensor 2 is set in the sensor attachment part 35. Therefore, when urine accumulates in the urine reservoir 31d of the waste container 31, the electrodes of the sensor stick part 2a of the measurement sensor 2 are immersed in the urine accumulated in the urine reservoir 31d. In other words, the measurement sensor 2 measures not only urine dripping from the opening 32c of the guide flow path part 32, but also urine temporarily accumulated in the urine reservoir 31d. Therefore, the measurement sensor 2 can efficiently measure urine excreted from the animal without loss, and can easily prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy caused by impurities such as contamination. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sensor mounting section 35 that supports the measurement sensor 2 is provided in the guide flow path section 32, so that the space within the housing section 10 of the animal toilet unit 1 can be effectively utilized, and it becomes possible to easily accommodate miniaturization and cost reduction of the animal toilet unit 1, etc.

[0103] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the present embodiment described above, in addition to the effects achieved in the first embodiment, one or more of the following effects are achieved.

[0104] (k) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, the waste container 31 forms part of the sealed structure, and the combination of the waste container 31 and the guide channel section 32 forms the sealed structure. Therefore, in addition to the sealed structure suppressing changes in the environmental conditions and the generation of odors within the animal litter box unit 1, it is also possible to more easily simplify the structure of the animal litter box unit 1 and reduce costs compared to when the sealed structure is formed from the waste container 31 alone.

[0105] (l) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, the sensor mounting section 35 is attached to the guide flow path section 32. This allows for effective use of the space within the housing section 10, making it easy to accommodate reductions in size and cost of the animal litter box unit 1.

[0106] (m) In the animal litter box unit 1 of this embodiment, the protective sheet 36 that is arranged to cover the surface of the inclined sheet portion 32b of the guide flow path portion 32 is configured as a disposable item. This eliminates the need for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, etc. for reuse, and makes it possible to prevent a decrease in inspection accuracy due to residue, while also reducing the cost burden on users of the animal litter box unit 1 compared to when the guide flow path portion 32 is a disposable item.

[0107] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Here, differences from the first or second embodiment will be mainly described, and a description of other points will be omitted.

[0108] In this embodiment, the overall configuration of the health assistance system is different from that of the first or second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a health assistance system according to this embodiment.

[0109] (Overall composition) As shown in the figure, the health assistance system according to this embodiment includes a plurality of animal litter box units 1, and a measurement sensor 2 is attached to each of the animal litter box units 1. Each measurement sensor 2 is configured to be able to communicate with an external terminal device present on a communication line 6 such as a wide area network via the communication line 6.

[0110] Examples of external terminal devices on the communication line 6 include smartphones 301, 302, 303, etc., which are mobile terminal devices used by animal owners, and computer devices 401, 402, 403, etc., present on the communication line 6. The computer devices 401, 402, 403, etc. include, for example, those installed in veterinary clinics staffed by the animal's attending physicians, and those managed by companies that provide pet-related products and services. Furthermore, the external terminal devices on the communication line 6 include an information processing device 500 that can communicate with each of the measurement sensors 2, the smartphones 301, 302, 303, and the computers 401, 402, 403. In other words, in this embodiment, the external terminal devices on the communication line 6 include the information processing device 500.

[0111] (Information processing device) The information processing device 500 has computer functions and is configured to execute a pre-installed predetermined program (software) so that the software and the computer's hardware resources work together to perform various information processing. The information processing performed by the information processing device 500 includes, for example, the provision of advice information. The advice information includes, for example, information indicating recommended actions that a target person should take and advertising information aimed at the target person, and details of which will be described later with specific examples.

[0112] In order to perform the process of providing advice information, the information processing device 500 has at least the functions of an information extraction unit 501 , an information provision unit 502 , and an information database unit 503 . The information extraction unit 501 has a function of extracting advice information that matches the measurement results obtained by the measurement sensor 2 from the information database unit 503 . The information providing unit 502 has a function of providing the advice information extracted by the information extracting unit 501 to at least one of the external terminal devices on the communication line 6 other than the information processing device 500 . The information database unit 503 has a function for storing and accumulating in advance various pieces of advice information that are suited to the measurement results that are expected to be obtained by the measurement sensor 2, while associating them with the measurement results.

[0113] Of these functions, at least the functions of the information extraction unit 501 and the information provision unit 502 are realized by executing a predetermined program in the information processing device 500. In this case, the predetermined program corresponds to a specific example of the "information processing program" in this embodiment. In addition, as a specific example of an "information processing program," if a specific program can be installed in the information processing device 500, it may be provided by being stored on a recording medium (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, etc.) that can be read by the information processing device 500, or it may be provided from outside via a network such as the Internet or a dedicated line.

[0114] (Example of processing operation) Next, an example of the processing operation in the health support system described above will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing operations in the health support system according to this embodiment.

[0115] In the health assistance system according to this embodiment, when an animal excretes urine in any of the animal litter box units 1, the measurement sensor 2 attached to that animal litter box unit 1 measures the components of the urine excreted in that animal litter box unit 1 (S201). Then, the measurement sensor 2 transmits the measurement results via the communication line 6 to the information processing device 500 on that communication line 6. As a result, the information processing device 500 obtains the measurement results of the urine measured by the measurement sensor 2 (S202).

[0116] When the measurement results are acquired by the measurement sensor 2, the information processing device 500 first determines the quality level of the urine from which the measurement results were obtained based on the acquired measurement results (S203). The quality level is an index indicating the quality of the urine components. For example, if the content of a specific component in the urine to be evaluated can be quantified, the quality level can be determined in multiple stages according to the content, such that the higher the content, the lower the quality level, and the lower the content, the higher the quality level. More specifically, the content of the specific component may be classified into five ranges, and the quality level may be classified into five stages, with "0 (very good)," "1 (good)," "2 (average)," "3 (caution)," and "4 (poor or unsatisfactory)" in order of decreasing content. Note that the quality level is not necessarily limited to a specific form (e.g., a five-stage classification) as long as it is classified based on any predetermined threshold.

[0117] After determining the quality level, the information processing device 500 then extracts advice information that matches the measurement results obtained by the measurement sensor 2 (S204). Specifically, after determining the quality level, the information extraction unit 501 accesses the information database unit 503 and reads out advice information that matches the determined quality level. At this time, it is assumed that the information database unit 503 has previously stored and retained the quality levels and the corresponding multiple pieces of advice information that are associated with each other as advice information that matches the measurement results obtained by the measurement sensor 2.

[0118] Thereafter, in the information processing device 500, the information providing unit 502 provides the advice information extracted by the information extracting unit 501 to the external terminal device on the communication line 6 (S205). The external terminal device to which the advice information is provided is at least one of the smartphones 301, 302, 303, ... and the computer devices 401, 402, 403, ... other than the information processing device 500.

[0119] At this time, the smartphones 301, 302, 303, ··· or computer devices 401, 402, 403, ··· to which the advice information is provided will be used by at least either a user of the service using the animal litter box unit 1 or a provider of the service. For example, the smartphones 301, 302, 303, . . . are primarily used by animal owners, and therefore will be used by users of the service that uses the animal litter box unit 1. For example, if the computer devices 401, 402, 403, etc. are installed in a veterinary clinic where the animal's doctor is located, they may be used by a provider of a service that uses the animal litter box unit 1, and may also be used by a user of the service. Also, if the computer devices are managed by a company that provides pet-related products and services, they will be used by a provider of a service that uses the animal litter box unit 1.

[0120] In this way, the advice information is provided to at least one of a terminal device used by a user of a service using the animal toilet unit 1, or a terminal device used by a provider of a service using the animal toilet unit 1.

[0121] Here, the advice information to be provided will be described using a specific example. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of advice information provided in the health assistance system according to this embodiment.

[0122] For example, consider the case where advice information is provided to animal owners (i.e., owners of the animal litter box unit 1). In this case, the information recipients are the animal owners, who are also users of the service that uses the animal litter box unit 1. The advice information is provided to smartphones 301, 302, 303, etc. that are used by the information recipients (i.e., animal owners).

[0123] In this case, the advice information to be provided may include information indicating recommended actions that the information recipient should take, advertising information targeted to the information recipient, etc. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 12(a), text information such as "Please consult your doctor immediately," which indicates recommended actions that the information recipient should take, is displayed and output on the display screens of the smartphones 301, 302, 303, etc., along with the determined quality level, as advice information that matches the quality level. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 12(b), advertising information regarding pet food, exercise goods, veterinary clinics, thermometers, etc. targeted to the information recipient is displayed and output on the display screens of the smartphones 301, 302, 303, etc., along with the determined quality level, as advice information that matches the quality level.

[0124] As described above, when the information recipient is an animal owner, it is conceivable to provide at least one of information indicating recommended behaviors that the information recipient should take and advertising information aimed at the information recipient as advice information that is useful to the animal owner.

[0125] Also, for example, consider a case where advice information is provided to a veterinarian at a veterinary clinic (for example, the animal's attending physician). In this case, the information recipient is the veterinarian at the veterinary clinic, but while they may be users of the service using the animal litter box unit 1, they may also be providers of the service using the animal litter box unit 1. The advice information is provided to computer devices 401, 402, 403, etc. installed at the veterinary clinic.

[0126] In this case, the advice information to be provided includes information indicating recommended actions that the information recipient should take. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 12(c), together with the determined quality level, text information such as "Please determine the history of changes and whether a medical examination is necessary," which indicates recommended actions that the information recipient should take, is displayed and output on the display screen of the computer devices 401, 402, 403, ... as advice information that matches the quality level. Note that, here, an example of information indicating recommended actions when the information recipient corresponds to a service provider has been given, but this is merely an example, and if the information recipient corresponds to a service user, information with content corresponding to this may be provided.

[0127] As described above, when the information recipient is a veterinarian, it is conceivable to provide information indicating recommended actions that the information recipient should take as advice information that is useful to the veterinarian.

[0128] Also, for example, consider a case where advice information is provided to a company that provides pet-related products, pet-related services, etc. (hereinafter simply referred to as "providing company"). In this case, the information recipient is the providing company or a business person at the providing company, which corresponds to a provider of a service using the animal litter box unit 1. The recipient of the advice information is computer devices 401, 402, 403, etc. managed by the providing company.

[0129] The advice information to be provided in this case includes various types of advertising information. Specifically, for example, as shown in Fig. 12(d), in addition to the result of determining the quality level, advertising information about services, products, etc. that should be advertised to service users is displayed on the display screens of the computers 401, 402, 403, etc. as advice information that matches the quality level.

[0130] As described above, when the information recipient is a provider company, it is conceivable to provide advertising information about services, products, etc. that should be advertised to service users as advice information that is useful to the provider company.

[0131] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the present embodiment described above, in addition to the effects achieved in the first and second embodiments, one or more of the following effects are achieved.

[0132] (n) The health assistance system of this embodiment provides advice information that matches the measurement results from the measurement sensor 2 to at least one of a terminal device used by a user of a service that uses the animal litter box unit 1 and a terminal device used by a provider of a service that uses the animal litter box unit 1. Therefore, by understanding the content of the advice information, a person who receives the advice information can easily and appropriately determine what treatment or response should be taken for an animal that uses the animal litter box unit 1. In other words, users of the health assistance system can enjoy extremely excellent convenience.

[0133] <Other embodiments> Although each embodiment of the present disclosure has been specifically described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be used in appropriate combinations, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0134] For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the measurement sensor 2 measures the concentration of a specific component in urine by a three-electrode method, but this is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the concentration of a specific substance in a test liquid may be measured by a two-electrode method. In this case, the sensor electrode only needs to have two electrodes: a working electrode and a counter electrode (or reference electrode).

[0135] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the measurement sensor 2 measures the concentration of a specific component in urine using an electrochemical reaction (e.g., an oxidation-reduction reaction), but this is not necessarily limited to this. That is, the measurement sensor 2 may measure other methods or other items as long as it measures urine components. Other methods include, for example, colorimetry that uses results obtained by optical processing or imaging processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1...Animal litter box unit, 2...Measuring sensor, 2a...Sensor stick section, 2b...Measuring instrument section, 3...External information terminal device, 6...Communication line, 10...Housing section, 11...Cover member, 12...Inclined slope, 20...Urination tray section (urination section), 21...Reticulated section, 30...Drawer tray section, 31...Disposal container, 31a...Container main body section, 31b...Lid section, 31c...Opening, 31d...Urine storage section, 32...Guide flow path section, 32a...Cylindrical portion, 32b...inclined sheet portion, 32c...opening portion, 32d...rib portion, 33...support beam portion, 33a...positioning pin, 34...suction member, 35...sensor mounting portion, 35a...mounting surface, 35b...positioning member, 36...protective sheet, 301, 302, 303...smartphone, 401, 402, 403...computer device, 500...information processing device, 501...information extraction unit, 502...information provision unit, 503...information database unit

Claims

1. a urinary area that serves as a site of excretion of urine by the animal; a waste container that receives and stores urine excreted in the urination section; a sensor mounting portion for mounting a measurement sensor that measures components of urine excreted in the urination portion; a housing portion that supports or houses the urination portion, the waste container, and the sensor mounting portion, The waste container forms at least a part of a sealed structure and is configured to be detachable from the housing. Animal toilet unit.

2. a guide flow path portion that guides urine excreted in the urination portion into the waste container, The guide flow path portion is configured to be detachable from the housing portion. The animal litter box unit of claim 1.

3. The waste container and the guide channel portion constitute the sealed structure. The animal litter box unit according to claim 2.

4. The sensor mounting portion is attached to the guide flow path portion. The animal litter box unit according to claim 2.

5. a positioning member for positioning the waste container and the guide channel portion within the housing portion; The animal litter box unit according to claim 2.

6. The waste container is configured as a disposable item. The animal litter box unit according to claim 5.

7. At least one of the guide flow path section and the protective sheet arranged to cover the guide flow path section is configured as a disposable item. The animal litter box unit according to claim 5.

8. The waste container has a urine reservoir that stores a predetermined amount of urine, and is configured to collect urine that overflows from the urine reservoir into the container. The sensor mounting section is configured so that the measurement sensor disposed on the sensor mounting section measures urine in the urine reservoir. The animal litter box unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. An adsorbent member having at least one of hygroscopicity and water absorption properties is disposed within the housing. The animal litter box unit according to claim 8.

10. The waste container is disposed in the housing so as to be located near the center of the housing when the housing is viewed from above. The animal litter box unit according to claim 8.

11. The waste container is disposed in the housing so as to be located near an opening / closing portion for accessing the inside of the housing. The animal litter box unit according to claim 8.

12. The animal litter box unit according to claim 1; a measurement sensor disposed in the sensor mounting portion of the animal litter box; A health support system comprising:

13. The measurement sensor is configured to be able to communicate with an external terminal device. The health assistance system according to claim 12.

14. The external terminal device includes a mobile terminal device used by the owner of the animal. The health assistance system according to claim 13.

15. the external terminal device includes an information processing device having a function as a computer, The information processing device includes: an information extraction unit that extracts advice information that matches the measurement results obtained by the measurement sensor; an information providing unit that provides the advice information extracted by the information extracting unit to the external terminal device other than the information processing device; The health assistance system according to claim 13, comprising:

16. The information providing unit provides the advice information to at least one of a terminal device used by a user of a service that uses the animal litter box unit and a terminal device used by a provider of a service that uses the animal litter box unit. The health assistance system according to claim 15.

17. a measuring step of measuring components of urine excreted in the animal litter box using a measuring sensor attached to the animal litter box according to claim 1; an information extraction step of extracting advice information that matches the measurement results obtained by the measurement sensor; an information providing step of providing the extracted advice information to at least one of a terminal device used by a user of a service using the animal litter box unit or a terminal device used by a provider of a service using the animal litter box unit; Methods of providing information, including:

18. A computer communicably connected to the measurement sensor attached to the animal litter box unit according to claim 1, a measuring step of acquiring results of measuring components of urine excreted in the animal litter box using the measurement sensor; an information extraction step of extracting advice information that matches the measurement results obtained by the measurement sensor; an information providing step of providing the extracted advice information to at least one of a terminal device used by a user of a service using the animal litter box unit or a terminal device used by a provider of a service using the animal litter box unit; An information providing program that executes the above.

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