Nurse call system

Abstract

To provide a nurse call system for preventing set contents from being reset even when a call is generated from a patient during the setting work of a bed area.SOLUTION: A first touch panel (34) that sets a bed area (S) for the image-analyzing unit (52) to determine bed departure by a manual operation based on an image captured by the camera (5), and a master device (CPU39) that controls setting of the bed area (S), wherein when a setting operation of the bed area (S) by the first touch panel is started, the master device (CPU39) generates a static image from the image captured by the camera (5) to be set and displays the static image on a patient image display unit (31a), Bed area S is set by the operation of first touch panel 35 with respect to the displayed still image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a nurse call system, and more particularly to a nurse call system equipped with a camera for capturing images of a patient. [Background technology]

[0002] Because patients leaving their beds poses the risk of falling and wandering, there are nurse call systems that use cameras to monitor patients and detect when they leave the bed and notify nurses, etc. Systems with this type of function are configured to analyze the images captured by the cameras and detect when a patient leaves the bed. In this case, the image analysis unit recognizes the bed area and the patient and detects when they leave the bed, but if there is an object in the imaging area that could be mistaken for a bed, the bed area is manually set to prevent malfunction. For example, in Patent Document 1, in the image captured by a fixedly installed camera so that the entire bed is within the field of view, multiple lines are manually drawn to correspond to the captured bed area, and if the patient leaves the area surrounded by the lines, it is determined that the patient has left the bed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-59704 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology in Patent Document 1 reduces false positives by manually setting the bed area. However, the setting work of drawing a line to clearly define the bed area is performed by displaying the image captured by the camera on a specified display unit of the nurse call master unit, so the camera continues to capture images and display the captured image while the setting is being performed.

[0005] On the other hand, calls from patients via the nurse call handset take priority over various setting operations, so if a call occurs from the nurse call handset while working on the nurse call main unit, such as setting up a bed area, the transmission path used to transmit the camera footage for setting up the settings is forcibly terminated, and the transmission path is used to transmit information related to the call operation. As a result, the nurse call unit was reset and switched to call mode, displaying the image of the calling patient, etc. Therefore, the bed area settings had to be set up from the beginning after the call was completed. This problem can be solved by increasing the number of transmission paths (number of channels), but increasing the number of channels is not realistic because it requires major design changes.

[0006] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a nurse call system that prioritizes calls from patients while bed area settings are being configured, while preventing settings from being reset without increasing the number of transmission paths. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the configuration of the present invention is a nurse call system having a nurse call handset for patients to call a nurse, a nurse call main unit for responding to calls from patients, a camera for capturing images of the patient, a controller for controlling communication between devices, and an image analysis unit for determining whether the patient has left bed from the image captured by the camera, and the system has an area setting unit that manually sets the bed area for the image analysis unit to determine whether the patient has left bed based on the image captured by the camera, and a setting control unit that controls the setting of the bed area, and when the setting operation by the area setting unit is started, the setting control unit generates a still image from the image captured by the camera to be set and displays it on a specified display unit, and the bed area is set for the displayed still image by operating the area setting unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, bed area settings are made on a still image generated from the camera image, so the camera image only needs to be acquired initially, and the transmission path for acquiring the image is only used for a short time at the beginning and is not used continuously. Therefore, even if a patient calls during setup and the transmission path becomes unavailable, the setup operation is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to resume the setup from the middle without increasing the number of transmission paths or resetting the setup, reducing the burden on nurses. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a nurse call system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of the nurse call base unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a first display section. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a controller. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the camera. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram of bed area settings, and also shows a patient about to get out of bed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a nurse call system according to the present invention; The nurse call system 1 includes a nurse call handset 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "handset") that patients use to call a nurse, a nurse call base unit 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "base unit") that nurses use to respond to calls, a controller 4 that controls communications / calls, a camera 5 that captures images of the patient, a corridor light 6 that alerts patients in front of their rooms when a call is made, and a mobile terminal 7 that nurses carry. The base unit 3, the control unit 4, the camera 5, and the hallway light 6 are connected to an in-hospital LAN 100 installed in the hospital, and are connected to each other.

[0011] The handset 2 has a call grip button 2a that the patient operates to make a call, and a plate handset 2b with a communication function, and is installed on each bed. The plate handset 2b is installed on the wall and has a communication section (not shown) with a microphone and speaker, a connection terminal 21 to which the call grip button 2a is connected, and is connected to the corridor light 6 via a signal line L1. When the call grip button 2a is operated to make a call, the plate handset 2b generates a call signal and sends it to the corridor light 6.

[0012] The base unit 3 is equipped with a large first display unit 31 that displays a list of patient information in the ward, a small second display unit 32 that displays caller information, and a handset 33 for making calls. As shown in the functional block diagram of Figure 2, the base unit 3 includes, in addition to the first display unit 31, the second display unit 32, and the handset 33, a first touch panel (operation unit) 34 provided on the first display unit 31, a second touch panel (operation unit) 35 provided on the second display unit 32, an information memory unit 36 ​​that stores various setting information related to the base unit 3, an image processing unit 37 that processes images displayed on the first display unit 31 and the second display unit 32, an audio processing unit 38 that processes call audio, a base unit CPU 39 that controls the base unit 3, and a base unit communication IF 40 that connects to the in-hospital LAN 100 to communicate with other devices. The master CPU 39 also has a function as a setting control section for manually setting the bed area.

[0013] 3, the first display unit 31 has a main display area E1 and a sub-display area E2 that displays images captured by the camera 5. The main display area E1 displays various patient information such as a list of patient information for the ward, and the sub-display area E2 has a patient image display section 31a that displays patient images captured by the camera 5.

[0014] As shown in the functional block diagram of Figure 4, the control unit 4 includes a mobile terminal / nurse association table memory unit 41 that stores the association between the mobile terminal 7 and nurses, a nurse / patient association table memory unit 42 that stores the patient's nurse in charge in addition to patient information, a setting information memory unit 43 that stores various setting information, a control unit CPU 44 that controls communication between devices and also controls the control unit, and a control unit communication IF 45 that connects to the in-hospital LAN 100 to communicate with other devices.

[0015] The camera 5 is installed near and above the bed so that the entire patient being monitored on the bed can be captured. As shown in the functional block diagram of Figure 5, in addition to the imaging unit 51, it is equipped with a video analysis unit 52, a camera CPU 53 that controls the camera, a camera communication IF 54 for connecting to the hospital LAN, etc. When the video analysis unit 52 detects a predetermined posture / motion of the patient, such as sitting up, sitting on the edge of the bed, or getting out of bed, the camera CPU 53 generates a detection signal and outputs it to the controller 4.

[0016] A corridor light 6 is installed in each hospital room, and is equipped with a call notification unit 6a that notifies the patient when a call is made by a patient in the hospital room operating the handset 2, and a patient information display unit 6b that displays information about the patient in the hospital room. The corridor light 6 also relays the call signal from the handset 2 and transmits it to the control unit 4, and relays calls between the handset 2 and the base unit 3 or mobile terminal 7.

[0017] The mobile terminal 7 is, for example, a smartphone, and can establish a communication path between the base unit 3 or the handset 2, and further between the mobile terminals 7, via a base station 8 installed at an appropriate location in the hospital. That is, calls from patients via the handset 2 can be answered, and calls can be made between nurses. Furthermore, it is possible to display images captured by the camera 5. The base station 8 is connected to a PBX (switchboard) 9 that manages communications with the mobile terminals 7 via a communication line L2, and the PBX 9 is connected to the controller 4 via a signal line L3.

[0018] Reference numeral 101 denotes a hub that constitutes the hospital LAN 100, which is made up of a PoE switch and supplies power to the connected cameras 5 and the like.

[0019] The nurse call system 1 configured as described above operates as follows. However, since the calling operation by operating the handset 2 and the response operation by the base unit 3 or mobile terminal 7 are the same as in the past, explanations will be omitted here. Instead, the case of detecting a specific posture of the patient from the image captured by the camera 5 will be explained. As an example, the case of detecting a posture of the patient sitting on the edge of the bed as a sign of the patient getting out of bed will be explained. The image analysis unit 52 of the camera 5 recognizes the patient and bed area being monitored from the image captured by the imaging unit 51, and when the patient being monitored moves a certain amount of their body outside the bed area, it recognizes this as being in an edge-sitting state and outputs a bed exit detection signal.

[0020] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of bed area setting, showing a patient sitting on the edge of the bed. The image analysis unit 52 can automatically recognize the bed area from the image captured by the camera 5, but if there is an object nearby that could easily be mistaken for a bed, the bed area is manually set in advance. This setting is performed by a nurse operating the first touch panel 34 (area setting unit) of the base unit 3. By performing a predetermined operation on the first touch panel 34 of the base unit 3, such an image is displayed on the patient image display section 31a in the sub-display area E2 of the base unit 3, and the bed area can be set.

[0021] In FIG. 6, B indicates a bed, M indicates a patient, and S indicates a set bed area. When the bed area setting operation is started, a still image is displayed on the patient image display section 31a, which normally displays the image captured by the camera 5. The parent CPU 39, having recognized that this is a bed area setting operation, obtains the image captured by the camera 5 to be set and displays, for example, the first image frame transmitted as a still image. Once the still image is generated and displayed, the acquisition of the captured image is terminated.

[0022] A bed area S is set manually for this still image. For example, by touching the corners of the displayed bed B in order, straight lines are generated between the touched corners under the control of the master CPU 39, and the area enclosed by the generated straight lines is recognized as the bed area S. The set bed area information is stored in the setting information storage unit 43 of the control unit 4 together with information about the camera 5 to be set.

[0023] The image analysis unit 52 judges whether the patient M has left the bed area S. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, if the patient M sits on the edge of the bed B and, for example, 50% or more of the patient's body part is outside the bed area S, it is judged that the patient M has started to leave the bed, and a bed leaving detection signal is generated and sent before the patient M completely leaves the bed area S. Furthermore, the image analysis unit 52 of the camera 5 reads the set bed area S from the control unit 4 if it has been set, and if it has not been set, determines the patient's movement to get out of bed based on the bed area read from the image.

[0024] In this way, since the bed area S is set up on a still image generated from the image captured by the camera 5, the image captured by the camera 5 only needs to be obtained initially, and the transmission line to obtain the image is only used for a short time at the beginning and is not used continuously. Therefore, even if a call is made by the patient during setup and the transmission line becomes unavailable, the setup operation is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to resume from where it left off without resetting the setup and without increasing the number of transmission lines, reducing the burden on nurses.

[0025] In the above embodiment, the setting information of the bed area S is stored in the control unit 4, but the set camera 5 itself may store it, or the master unit 3 may store it. Furthermore, the camera 5 is provided with an image analysis unit 52 for detecting a specific posture of the patient, but it may be provided in the controller 4 or the like independently of the camera 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1··Nurse call system, 2··Handset (nurse call handset), 3··Main unit (nurse call main unit), 4··Controller, 5··Camera, 6··Corridor light, 7··Mobile terminal, 31··First display unit, 31a··Patient image display unit, 35··First touch panel (area setting unit), 39··Main unit CPU (setting control unit), 43··Setting information memory unit, 52··Image analysis unit, S··Bed area.

Claims

[Claim 1] A nurse call system having a nurse call handset for a patient to call a nurse, a nurse call master unit for responding to calls from patients, a camera for capturing images of the patient, a controller for controlling communication between the devices, and an image analysis unit for determining whether the patient has left bed based on the image captured by the camera, The image analysis unit includes an area setting unit that manually sets a bed area for determining whether the patient is getting out of bed based on the image captured by the camera, and a setting control unit that controls the setting of the bed area. When the setting operation by the area setting unit is started, the setting control unit generates a still image from the image captured by the camera to be set and displays the still image on a predetermined display unit; A nurse call system characterized in that a bed area is set for the displayed still image by operating the area setting unit.

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