Nurse call system

Abstract

To provide a nurse call system capable of simplifying work in installing a camera and having excellent usability.SOLUTION: A dip switch is set for each cradle 10 in which a camera 5 is installed, and a controller 4 is provided with a slave unit / cradle association table storage part for storing association between the ID of a nurse call slave unit 2 and the setting of the dip switch in the cradle 10 corresponding to the nurse call slave unit 2. When the ID setting board is connected to the switch IF as the camera 5 is installed in the cradle 10, the camera CPU reads the setting of the DIP switch, generates a setting signal in which the setting is associated with its own ID, and outputs the setting signal to the controller 4. Further, the controller 4 stores the camera 5 in association with the nurse call slave unit 2 corresponding to the setting of the dip switch in accordance with the reception of the setting signal from the camera 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Some well-known conventional nurse call systems are equipped with cameras for capturing images of patients, such as those placed near beds in hospital rooms (see, for example, Patent Document 1). These cameras are not installed for all patients, but are installed as needed, and the camera installation locations may change as patients are admitted or discharged. Therefore, in the past, each time a camera was installed, the association between the camera and the nurse call handset and patient information had to be manually set. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-170097 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the association between the camera and the nurse call handset and patient information must be manually set up each time a camera is installed, the installation process becomes cumbersome. As mentioned above, the installation location of the camera may be changed as needed, making the process even more cumbersome.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a nurse call system that can simplify the work required to install a camera and is easy to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 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, and a controller for controlling communication between the devices, wherein an ID is assigned to each installation unit for installing the camera, and the ID and the nurse call handset are associated in the controller, and when the camera is installed in the installation unit, a setting signal including the ID is sent to the controller, and the controller associates the camera and the nurse call handset based on the setting signal. The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the ID is set using a dip switch, and when the camera is installed in the installation section, the camera reads the dip switch setting and transmits a setting signal including the setting to the controller. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, an ID is assigned to each installation location for installing a camera, and the ID and the nurse call handset are associated in the control unit. When a camera is installed in the installation location, a setting signal including the ID is sent to the control unit, and the control unit associates the camera with the nurse call handset based on the setting signal. Therefore, by associating the ID and the nurse call handset in advance, it is not necessary to manually associate the camera with the nurse call handset and patient-related information each time the camera is installed. This simplifies the process, particularly when changing the camera's installation location, resulting in a user-friendly nurse call system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a system explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a nurse call system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the camera. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A nurse call system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a system explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the nurse call system 1. Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the camera 5. Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of the controller 4. Nurse call system 1 comprises nurse call handset 2 installed near each bed in a hospital room for patients to call a nurse, hallway lights 6 installed near the entrances and exits of the hospital room to notify patients of calls made by nurse call handset 2 by flashing or other means and to relay the call signal, nurse call master unit 3 installed in a nurse station or other location to notify patients of calls from nurse call handset 2 and to respond to those calls, cameras 5 for capturing images of patients, controller 4 for controlling communication operations and video transmission and reception operations between these devices, and mobile terminals 7 carried by nurses. Nurse call master unit 3, controller 4, cameras 5, and hallway lights 6 are connected to an in-hospital LAN 100.

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

[0012] The nurse call base unit 3 has a large display 31 for displaying the ward layout and a list of patient information, a small display 32 for displaying caller information from the nurse call handset 2, and a handset 33 for responding to calls from the nurse call handset 2. The nurse call base unit 3 also has a base unit communication IF (not shown) for connecting to the hospital LAN 100. When the nurse call base unit 3 receives a call signal from the nurse call handset 2 via the control unit 4, as described below, the caller information is displayed on the small display 32, and by operating the handset 33, a call can be made with the calling nurse call handset 2. If the calling nurse call handset 2 is associated with the camera 5, an image captured by the camera 5 is displayed on the large display 31 upon receiving a call signal from the nurse call handset 2. Furthermore, as will be described later, when the camera 5 detects a patient's posture / movement that has been set in advance, a detection signal relating to the detection is received via the control unit 4, and the image captured by the camera 5 is displayed on the large display unit 31, and by operating the handset 33, it becomes possible to make a call with the nurse call handset 2 associated with the camera 5.

[0013] Camera 5 is installed as needed depending on the need for patient monitoring and can be mounted on cradle 10 attached to the wall near the bed so that it can capture the entire image of the patient being monitored in bed. Camera 5 also includes an imaging unit 51 for capturing images, an image analysis unit 52 for analyzing the images captured by imaging unit 51, a camera CPU 53 for controlling its own operation, a camera communication IF 54 for connecting to the hospital LAN 100, and a switch IF 55 for connecting to an ID setting board 12 equipped with DIP switches 11. When camera 5 detects a predetermined patient posture / movement, such as the patient sitting up, sitting on the edge of the bed, or getting out of bed, via image analysis unit 52, camera CPU 53 generates a detection signal and outputs it to controller 4. When camera 5 is mounted on cradle 10, the ID setting board 12 provided on cradle 10 is connected to switch IF 55 of camera 5. When the camera 5 is started in this state, the camera CPU 53 reads the setting of the dip switch 11, generates a setting signal that associates its own ID with the setting of the dip switch 11, and outputs the signal to the controller 4. The setting of the dip switch 11 differs for each cradle 10.

[0014] The control unit 4 controls the operation of the entire nurse call system 1, including, for example, the sending and receiving of signals related to call / response operations between the nurse call handset 2 and the nurse call base unit 3, and patient monitoring operations using the camera 5.It includes a control unit CPU 44 for controlling communication between devices and the operation of the control unit 4 itself, a mobile terminal / nurse association table memory 41 for storing the association between the mobile terminal 7 and the nurse, a nurse / patient association table memory 42 for storing the patient's assigned nurse in addition to patient information, a handset / cradle association table memory 46 for storing the association between the ID of the nurse call handset 2 and the setting of the dip switch 11 on the cradle 10 corresponding to the nurse call handset 2, a setting information memory 43 for storing various setting information, and a control unit communication IF 45 for connecting to the hospital LAN 100.

[0015] The hallway light 6 has a call notification unit 6a for notifying the patient when a call is made by a patient in a hospital room operating the nurse call handset 2, and a patient information display unit 6b for displaying information about the patient in the hospital room. The hallway light 6 relays the call signal from the nurse call handset 2 and sends it to the control unit 4, and also relays calls between the nurse call handset 2 and the nurse call base unit 3 or mobile terminal 7.

[0016] Mobile terminal 7 is, for example, a smartphone, and can establish a communication path between nurse call handset 2 and nurse call base unit 3, and even between mobile terminals 7, 7, via base stations 8 installed at appropriate locations within the hospital. That is, mobile terminal 7 can respond to calls from patients via nurse call handset 2, and can also communicate with other nurses. Mobile terminal 7 can also display images captured by camera 5. The base station 8 is connected to a PBX (switchboard) 9 via a communication line L2, and the PBX 9 is connected to the control device 4 via a signal line L3. Reference numeral 101 denotes a hub that constitutes the in-hospital LAN 100, and is configured with a PoE switch, supplying power to the connected cameras 5 and the like.

[0017] Here, we will explain how to associate camera 5 with nurse call handset 2 and patient information when installing camera 5 in cradle 10 in room 101. When installing camera 5 in cradle 10 in room 101, ID setting board 12 is connected to switch IF 55 as described above. Camera 5 then reads the setting of dip switch 11 on cradle 10 in room 101, generates a setting signal that associates the setting with its own ID, and outputs it to controller 4. Meanwhile, when controller 4 receives the setting signal from camera 5, it associates camera 5 with the nurse call handset 2 that corresponds to the setting of dip switch 11 and stores the signal. In other words, camera 5 is automatically associated with nurse call handset 2 and patient information in controller 4.

[0018] Furthermore, when installing the camera 5 that was installed in room 101 in room 103, the camera 5 is simply removed from the cradle 10 in room 101 and installed in the cradle 10 in room 103. A setting signal including the setting of the dip switch 11 on the cradle 10 in room 103 is then output to the control unit 4. Upon receiving this new setting signal, the control unit 4 clears the association between the camera 5 and the nurse call handset 2 in room 101 and stores the association of the camera 5 with the nurse call handset 2 in room 103.

[0019] In the nurse call system 1 configured as described above, a dip switch 11 is set for each cradle 10 on which a camera 5 is installed, and the controller 4 is provided with a handset / cradle association table storage unit 46 that stores the association between the ID of each nurse call handset 2 and the setting of the dip switch 11 on the cradle 10 corresponding to that nurse call handset 2. When the ID setting board 12 is connected to the switch IF 55 upon installation of the camera 5 in the cradle 10, the camera CPU 53 reads the setting of the dip switch 11, generates a setting signal associating the setting with its own ID, and outputs the signal to the controller 4. Furthermore, upon receiving the setting signal from the camera 5, the controller 4 associates the camera 5 with the nurse call handset 2 corresponding to the setting of the dip switch 11 and stores the association. Therefore, by associating the setting of the dip switch 11 with the nurse call handset 2 in advance, it is not necessary to manually associate the camera 5 with the nurse call handset 2 or patient information each time the camera 5 is installed. Therefore, the work involved in changing the installation position of the camera 5 can be simplified, making the nurse call system 1 easy to use.

[0020] The nurse call system of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the overall configuration of the nurse call system as well as the configuration relating to the association between the camera and the nurse call handset can be modified as needed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0021] For example, in the above embodiment, the setting in the dip switch is used as the ID related to the installation unit for installing the camera, and the camera is configured to generate a setting signal and send it to the control unit. However, instead of such a configuration, it is also possible to configure the camera so that a circuit board equipped with a CPU is installed in a cradle and the circuit board is connected to the control unit, and when the camera is connected to the circuit board to install it in the installation unit, the CPU on the circuit board reads the camera's ID, generates a setting signal, and sends it to the control unit.

[0022] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the camera is installed in a cradle, but the camera installation section may be provided on the ceiling, and the position and specific structure of the installation section can be appropriately modified in design. Furthermore, if there are multiple beds in one hospital room, a different installation unit may be provided for each bed, and a unique ID may be set for each installation unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1··Nurse call system, 2··Nurse call handset, 3··Nurse call main unit, 4··Controller, 5··Camera, 10··Cradle (installation unit), 11··DIP switch, 12··ID setting board, 43··Controller CPU, 46··Handset / cradle related table memory unit, 53··Camera CPU, 55··Switch IF.

Claims

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, and a controller for controlling communication between the devices, An ID is assigned to each installation unit for installing the camera, and the ID and the nurse call handset are associated in the control unit, A nurse call system characterized in that when the camera is installed in the installation section, a setting signal including the ID is sent to the control unit, and the control unit associates the camera with the nurse call handset based on the setting signal.

2. The ID is set by a DIP switch, The nurse call system of claim 1, characterized in that when the camera is installed in the installation section, the camera reads the setting of the dip switch and transmits a setting signal including the setting to the controller.

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