MONITEUR DE SIGNES VITAUX EN BOITIER, SUPPORT DE DONNEES, ET AGREGATION D'INFORMATION

VITAL SIGN BOX, MEDIUM, AND INFORMATION AGGREGATION

Abrégé anglais

An vital sign box has a plurality of vital sensors
measuring predetermined biological, chemical, or physical
conditions of a living body; an camera taking a picture of
a predetermined object; and a housing containing the plurality
of vital sensors and the camera.

Revendications

What is Claimed is:
1 . An vital sign box comprising: a plurality of vital sensors
measuring predetermined biological, chemical, or physical
conditions of a living body; an camera taking a picture of
a predetermined object; and a housing containing the plurality
of vital sensors and the camera.
2 . The vital sign box according to claim 1 , further comprising
a base that is rotatable, can be fixed at a predetermined angle,
and houses the camera at the time of detachment.
3 . The vital sign box according to claim 1 , wherein the camera
is rotatable, and can be fixed at a predetermined angle.
4 . The vital sign box according to claim 1 , wherein the camera
is detachable.
5 . The vital sign box according to claim 4 , wherein the camera
is a fixed focus type camera.
6 . The vital sign box according to claim 5 , wherein the camera
comprises:
a string-like or rod-like body that indicates whether
distance between the imaging object and a predetermined section
of the camera becomes predetermined length, and is attached
at the predetermined section of the camera, and has
predetermined length;
instruction receiving means of receiving an imaging
instruction of the imaging object; and
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imaging means of taking a picture of the imaging object
when the instruction receiving means receives the imaging
instruction.
7 . The vital sign box according to claim 5 , wherein the camera
comprises:
range-finding means of detecting distance between the
imaging object and the predetermined section of the camera;
comparing means of comparing distance, detected by the
range-finding means, with predetermined length;
result output means of outputting a comparison result,
obtained by the comparing means, by a sound and/or an image;
instruction receiving means of receiving an imaging
instruction of the imaging object; and
imaging means of taking a picture of the imaging object
when the instruction receiving means receives the imaging
instruction.
8 . The vital sign box according to claim 5 , wherein the camera
comprises:
range-finding means of detecting distance between the
imaging object and a predetermined section of the camera;
comparing means of comparing distance, detected by the
range-finding means, with predetermined length; and
imaging means of taking a picture of the imaging object
when distance, detected by the range-finding means,
substantially coincides with the predetermined length.
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9 . The vital sign box according to claim 1 , wherein the camera
has a lighting section emitting light to the object.
. The vital sign box according to claim 1 , further comprising
a display displaying an object whose image is taken by the
camera.
11. An vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors that measures predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body,
and transmits measurements,obtained by the measurement, with
using an electric wave;
a reception sensor receiving measurements from the
plurality of vital sensors;
memory recording measurements received by the reception
sensor; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors , the
reception sensor, and the memory.
12. The vital sign box according to claim 11, wherein the
electric wave is an infrared ray having a predetermined
wavelength.
13 . An vital sign box comprising: a plurality of vital sensors
measuring predetermined biological, chemical, or physical
conditions of a living body; and a housing with a lid that
contains at least the plurality of vital sensors , wherein the
lid has a shank that becomes a substantially shaft when the
lid is opened and closed;
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wherein the shank is provided in the housing so that a
main body of the housing has a front section and a rear section
to the shank; and
wherein the lid can be fixed in a status that the lid
stands to a bottom section of the vital sign box with using
the shank when the vital sign box is used.
14. The vital sign box according to claim 13, further
comprising a display that is provided and fixed inside the
lid of the housing, and displays measurements measured by the
vital sensors.
15 . An vital sign box comprising: a plurality of vital sensors
measuring predetermined biological, chemical, or physical
conditions of a living body; a display displaying measurements
measured by the vital sensors; and a housing with a lid that
contains the plurality of vital sensors and the display.
16. The vital sign box according to claim 15, wherein the
display is movable;
wherein the housing has a display fixing section to fix
the display; and
wherein the display lies in a bottom section of the housing
at the time of non-use and can be fixed in a status that the
display stands to the bottom section of the housing with using
the display fixing section at the time of use.
17. An vital sign box comprising:
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a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body;
memory recording measurements measured by the vital
sensors;
a display that displays measurements measured by the vital
sensors , and/or a plurality of measurements recorded in the
memory, and determines a display range and/or a display scale
with each of the measurements, which are displayed, being as
a reference; and
a housing that contains the plurality of vital sensors,
the memory, and the display.
18 . The vital sign box according to claim 17 , wherein each
of the measurement to be a reference is a newest measurement
and the item to be determined is a display range.
19. The vital sign box according to claim 17, wherein, when
at least one of the plurality of vital sensors measures upper
and lower limits of the predetermined condition substantially
at the same time, the display simultaneously displays the
measurements , which are measured and are upper and lower limits ,
and/or a plurality of measurements, which are recorded in the
memory , with classifying the measurements into the upper limits
and the lower limits whose display areas are divided
separately.
20. An vital sign box comprising:
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a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological , chemical , or physical conditions of a living body;
a speaker outputting measurements , measured by the vital
sensors, by sound; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors, and
the speaker.
21. An vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body;
an camera taking a picture of a predetermined object;
memory recording measurements measured by the vital
sensors and/or objects whose images are taken by the camera;
a communication terminal of transmitting all or part of
measurements measured by the vital sensors , an object whose
image is taken by the camera, measurements recorded in the
memory, and objects recorded in the memory; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors, the
camera, the memory, and the communication terminal.
22. The vital sign box according to claim 21, wherein the
communication terminal receives predetermined information
from a communication partner, and wherein the vital sign box
comprises a display that is contained in the housing, and not
only displays all or part of measurements measured by the vital
sensors, an object whose image is taken by the camera,
measurements recorded in the memory, and objects recorded in
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the memory, but also displays information from the
communication partner inputted by the communication terminal.
23. The vital sign box according to claim 22, wherein one
of information from the communication partner, which is
displayed in the display, is arrowhead information for
specifying a predetermined position of the display, and the
arrowhead is displayed in the display with all or part of
measurements measured by the vital sensors, an object whose
image is taken by the camera, measurements recorded in the
memory, and objects recorded in the memory that are displayed
in the display.
24. The vital sign box according to claim 23, wherein the
arrowhead information is coordinate information of the
position when the arrowhead is let to be displayed in the display ,
and the display has shape information of the arrowhead to be
displayed and displays the arrowhead on the basis of the
coordinate information from the communication partner.
25. An vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological , chemical , or physical conditions of a living body;
a power supply section that is provided so as not to contact
with the vital sensors and supplies electric power from the
outside of the vital sign box to all or part of the plurality
of vital sensors with using an electromagnetic wave by
electromagnetic induction; and
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a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors, and
the power supply section.
26. An vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body;
a microphone inputting sound;
a communication terminal transmitting sound inputted by
the microphone; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors, the
microphone, and the communication terminal.
27. An vital sign box comprising:
a display displaying inquiry items to a user;
an inquiry result input section of inputting an inquiry
result to inquiries in the display;
a communication terminal transmitting the inquiry result
inputted by the inquiry result input section; and
a housing containing the display, the inquiry result input
section, and the communication terminal.
28. The vital sign box according to claim 27, wherein the
communication terminal is a device inputting predetermined
information from a communication partner to whom the inquiry
result is sent and the display also displays information from
the communication partner that is inputted by the communication
terminal.
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29. The vital sign box according to claim 27, wherein the
communication terminal is a device inputting predetermined
information from a communication partner to whom the inquiry
result is sent, and the vital sign box further comprises a
speaker that is contained in the housing and outputs
information from the communication partner, which is inputted
by the communication terminal, with using sound.
30. An vital sign box comprising:
a speaker outputting inquiry items to a user by sound;
an inquiry result input section inputting an inquiry
result to inquiries from the speaker;
a communication terminal transmitting the inquiry result
inputted by the inquiry result input section; and
a housing containing the speaker, the inquiry result input
section, and the communication terminal.
31. The vital sign box according to claim 30, wherein the
communication terminal is a device inputting predetermined
information from a communication partner to whom the inquiry
result is sent, and the speaker also outputs information from
the communication partner, which is inputted by the
communication terminal, with using sound.
32. The vital sign box according to claim 30, wherein the
communication terminal is a device inputting predetermined
information from a communication partner to whom the inquiry
result is sent, and the vital sign box further comprises the
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display that is contained in the housing and displays
information from the communication partner that is inputted
by the communication terminal.
33 . The vital sign box according to any one of claims 1 , 11 ,
13, 15, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, and 30, wherein the housing
has a lid; wherein a clamp for closing the lid and fixing the
lid to the main body of the housing is provided in each of
a main body of the housing and the lid; and wherein a handle
is provided in the main body of the housing.
34. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 1 to
32, further comprising a password input section of inputting
a password of a user, wherein measurements measured by the
vital sensors , and/or an object whose image is taken by the
camera are managed with being associated with a password
inputted in the password input unit.
35. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 1 to
32 , wherein all or part of the plurality of vital sensors and/or
the camera each have an electric power storage section storing
electric power.
36. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 1 to
32, further comprising a display displaying usage of an vital
sign box.
37. The vital sign box according to claim 36, wherein all
or part of the usage is displayed by an image.
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38. The vital sign box according to claim 37, wherein the
image is a graphic image of measurements measured by a vital
sensor.
39. The vital sign box according to claim 36, wherein the
display is a touch panel type liquid crystal display and changes
display contents by a predetermined portion of the liquid
crystal display being touched by a user.
40. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 1 to
32, further comprising a speaker outputting usage of an vital
sign box by sound.
41. The vital sign box according to claim 40, further
comprising: a display displaying usage of an vital sign box;
and a change instruction input section of inputting an
instruction for changing an output of the usage from an output
where sound from the speaker is used to an output where display
in the display is used.
42. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 10,
14, 15, 17, 22, 27, 32, 36, and 41, wherein the display is
a touch panel type display having a software keyboard function.
43. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 10,
14 , 15 , 17 , 22 , 27 , 32 , 36 , and 41 , wherein at least part of
the housing consists of metallic material, and the vital sign
box comprises a connecting section that consists of metallic
material and connects a heating section, generating heat in
connection with image display to the display, with a metallic
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material section of the housing.
44. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 20,
30 , and 40 , wherein a t least part of the housing consists of
metallic material, and the vital sign box comprises a
connecting section that consists of metallic material and
connects a heating section, generating heat in connection with
a sound output from the speaker, with a metallic material
section of the housing.
45. The vital sign box according to any one of claims 21,
26, 27, and 30, wherein at least part of the housing consists
of metallic material, and the vital sign box comprises a
connecting section that consists of metallic material and
connects a heating section, generating heat in connection with
information communication in the communication terminal , with
a metallic material section of the housing.
46. A medium that bears a program and/or data for letting
a computer execute all or part of functions of the vital sign
box according to any one of claims 36 to 41, the medium with
which a computer can perform processing.
47. An information aggregation, wherein the information
aggregation is a program and/or data for letting a computer
execute all or part of functions of the vital sign box according
to any one of claims 36 to 41.
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Description

CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
SPECIFICATION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Vital Sign Box, Medium, and Information Aggregation
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an vital sign box housing
a plurality of vital sensors such as an electrocardiograph
and a blood pressure monitor.
Description of the Related Art
Recently, in connection with high concern about health
and the coming of super aged society, for the grip of health
conditions, for example, electrocardiographs and blood
pressure monitors that can measure electrocardio and blood
pressure in home have been developed. Medicalcare equipment
such an electrocardiograph or a blood pressure monitor is
called a vital sensor, and the vital sensor utilized in home
isminiaturized,and hence can be carried. Furthermore, vital
signboxs, each of which houses such aplurality of miniaturized
vital sensors in one housing, have been also developed. Fig.
36 is a perspective view showing an vital sign box used in
Medi Data that is an online medical check system developed
by SECOM Co. , Ltd./SECOM home medical care system Co. , Ltd.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
In addition, in connection with the diffusion of
multimedia, systematization of home medical care,
telemedicine, and remote house visit is requested.
As a system for such requests , the above-described Medi
Data of SECOM Co . , Ltd. /SECOM home medical care system Co . ,
Ltd. is known. Medi Data is a system that the above-described
vital sign box is connected to a nurse centervia a communication
line, for example, a patient in home medical care measures
the Patient's own blood pressure with using a vital sensor
contained in the vital sign box to transmit the measurement
to the nurse center. Furthermore, in the nurse center, the
measurement is received and stored, and the transition of the
measurements is reportedto adoctor, who performs telemedicine
with using a telephone and the like on the basis of the
measurements that the doctor are reported.
In addition, as another systemperforming the home medical
care and telemedicine , a home medical care support system by
Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd. is also known. The system consists
of home terminal equipment that is installed in home and to
which a plurality of vital sensors and a camera to take a picture
of patient' s appearance such as a face and the like in home
medical care are connected, and transmits the patient' s images
via a communication line with measurements measured by the
vital sensors to a center. The center grips not only the
measurements measured by the vital sensors, but also the
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
patient' s appearance . In addition, by providing a camera in
the center and 1e sting faces of a doctor and a nurse in the
center know the patient, it is possible to remove the patient' s
anxietyforthe telemedicine. Furthermore,by providingeach
talking unit in the home terminal equipment and the center,
it is possible to perform communication by voice.
However, a camera for taking a picture of patient's
appearance such as a face and the like is not provided in the
conventional vital sign box used in Medi Data that is an online
medical check systemmade by SECOM Co. , Ltd. /SECOMhomemedical
care system Co. , Ltd. On the other hand, in the home medical
care support system made by Fukuda Denshi Co . , Ltd. , a camera
can be connected to home terminal equipment. But, since the
camera is used with being fixed in substance and is not a handy
type camera, after it is fixed once, it is possible just to
take a picture of an obj ect in a viewing angle range to some
extent. Nevertheless, it is not possible to take a picture
of, for example, a patient's face sometimes, and to take a
picture of the patient's foot locally in another time.
In addition, in the above-described conventional vital
sign boxs, an input of a measurement measured by each vital
sensor is performed by manually inputting the measurement with
using a ten-key pad after a user confirms the measurement.
The manual input of the measurement using the ten-key pad in
this manner is troublesome work for a user, and a mishit may
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
be performed. Furthermore, there is also a possibility of
false inputting a measuremen:,.
Moreover,each ofthe above-describedconventionalvital
sign boxs includes memory to record measurements measured by
each vital sensor, and a display for displaying, for example,
the transition of measurements for 30 days in a graph.
Nevertheless , daily drif is of measurements may not be expres sed
clearly in the graph displayed in the display. For example,
in case a display area is too large in comparison with the
largeness of drifts or a display scale is not suitable, daily
drifts of measurements are not expressed clearly.
In addition, in a conventional vital sign box, although
it is possible to display a measurement measured by each vital
sensor in a display, for example, a user having poor eyesight
may feel resistance to looking at a displayed measurement.
Thus, depending on a user or a using status, it may be more
convenient to let the user auditorily inform the measurement
by sound than to visually display the measurement in a display .
Furthermore, in the above-described conventional vital
sign box, it is possible to transmit a measurement, measured
by each vital sensor, to an administration section such as
a nurse center via a communication line. Nevertheless, since,
for example, a camera for taking a picture of an affected part
and the like of a patient in home medical care is not provided,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
it is not possible to transmit such an image to the
administration section.
Furthermore, in the above-described conventional vital
sign box, it is possible to transmit a measurement, measured
by each vital sensor, to an administration section such as
a nurse center via a communication line. Nevertheless, in
case of telemedicine, after having received a measurement,
it is necessary for a doctor and a nurse in the administration
section to inquire a user of the vital sign box, who transmitted
the measurement, about health conditions with a telephone or
the like. However, if answers to inquiry items have been
transmitted to the administration section with the
measurements , measured by each vital sensor, beforehand, it
becomes unnecessary for a doctor and a nurse in the
administration section to inquire the sender. Hence they can
have a time margin for medical practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An obj ect of the present invention is to provide an vital
sign box which has means of being able to take a picture of
an object with changing the object and/or an imaging angle
flexibly, in consideration of a subj ect that, in a conventional
vital sign box, a camera taking a picture of an object is not
provided, and even if home terminal equipment has a capability
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
for connecting a camera, it is not possible to flexibly change
an imaging object and/or an imaging angle.
In addition, another obj ect of the present invention is
to provide an vital sign box, having vital sensors which can
input measurements into memory without letting a user manually
input the measurements, in consideration of a subject that,
in a conventional vital sign box, a use is made to manually
input the measurements when inputting the measurements,
measured by the vital sensors, into memory.
Furthermore, still another object of the present
invention is to provide an vital sign box, having a display
to clearly display drifts of measurements which have been
measured by the vital sensors and have been recorded in a
predetermined period, in consideration of a subject that, in
a display of a conventional vital sign box, the drifts of the
measurementsmeasured and recordedin the predetermined period
may not be clearly displayed.
Moreover, a further obj ect of the present invention is
to provide an vital sign box having a speaker, outputting
measurements, measured by vital sensors, with using sound,
in consideration of a subj ect that measurements measured by
vital sensors are not outputted by sound in a conventional
vital sign box.
In addition, a still further object of the present
invention is to provide an vital sign box not only having means
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
of taking a picture of an obj ect but also being able to transmit
an image of the object, that is taken by the imaging means,
to a communication partner, in consideration of a subj ect that,
in a conventional vital sign box, for example, a camera taking
a picture of an affected part and the like of a patient in
home medical care is not provided. Furthermore, an object
of the present invention is also to provide an vital sign box
that receives information from a communication partner and
can perform bi-directional communication.
Moreover, another obj ect of the present invention is also
to provide an vital sign box that inquires a user of the vital
sign box about health conditions , in consideration of a subj ect
that a conventional vital sign box does not inquire the user
of the vital sign box about health conditions.
The lgt invention of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 1) is an vital sign box comprising: a plurality of
vital sensors measuring predetermined biological, chemical,
or physical conditions of a living body; an camera taking a
picture of a predetermined obj ect; and a housing containing
the plurality of vital sensors and the camera.
The 2°d invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 2) is the vital sign box according to lgt invention,
further comprising a base that is rotatable, can be fixed at
a predetermined angle, and houses the camera at the time of
detachment.

CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
The 3rd invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 3) is the vital sign box according to 1St invention,
wherein the camera is rotatable, and can be fixed at a
predetermined angle.
The 4th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 4) is the vital sign box according to 1St invention,
wherein the camera is detachable.
The 5th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 5) is the vital sign box according to 4th invention,
wherein the camera is a fixed focus type camera.
The 6th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 6) is the vital sign box according to 5th invention,
wherein the camera comprises:
a string-like or rod-like body that indicates whether
distance between the imaging obj ect and a predetermined section
of the camera becomes predetermined length, and is attached
at the predetermined section of the camera, and has
predetermined length;
instruction receiving means of receiving an imaging
instruction of the imaging object; and
imaging means of taking a picture of the imaging obj ect
when the instruction receiving means receives the imaging
instruction.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
The 7th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 7) is the vital sign box according to 5'h invention,
wherein the camera comprises:
range-finding means of detecting distance between the
imaging object and the predetermined section of the camera;
comparing means of comparing distance, detected by the
range-finding means, with predetermined length;
result output means of outputting a comparison result,
obtained by the comparing means , by a sound and/or an image ;
instruction receiving means of receiving an imaging
instruction of the imaging object; and
imaging means of taking a picture of the imaging obj ect
when the instruction receiving means receives the imaging
instruction.
The 8th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 8 ) is the vital sign box according to 5th invention
wherein the camera comprises:
range-finding means of detecting distance between the
imaging object and a predetermined section of the camera;
comparing means of comparing distance, detected by the
range-finding means, with predetermined length; and
imaging means of taking a picture of the imaging obj ect
when distance, detected by the range-finding means,
substantially coincides with the predetermined length.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
The 9th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 9) is the vital sign box according to 1st invention,
wherein the camera has a lighting section emitting light to
the object.
The 10th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 10) is the vital sign box according to 1st invention,
further comprising a display displaying an obj ect whose image
is taken by the camera.
The 11th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 11) is an vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors that measures predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body,
and transmitsmeasurements,obtained by the measurement, with
using an electric wave;
a reception sensor receiving measurements from the
plurality of vital sensors;
memory recording measurements received by the reception
sensor; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors , the
reception sensor, and the memory.
The 12th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 12) is the vital sign box according to 11th invention,
wherein the electric wave is an infrared ray having a
predetermined wavelength.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
Thel3thinvention ofthe presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 13) is an vital sign box comprising: a plurality of
vital sensors measuring predetermined biological, chemical,
or physical conditions of a living body; and a housing with
a lid that contains at least the plurality of vital sensors ,
wherein the lid has a shank that becomes a substantially shaft
when the lid is opened and closed;
wherein the shank is provided in the housing so that a
main body of the housing has a front section and a rear section
to the shank; and
wherein the lid can be fixed in a status that the lid
stands to a bottom section of the vital sign box with using
the shank when the vital sign box is used.
The 14th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 14) is the vital sign box according to 13th invention
further comprising a display that is provided and fixed inside
the lid of the housing, and displays measurements measured
by the vital sensors.
The 15th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 15) is an vital sign box comprising: a plurality of
vital sensors measuring predetermined biological, chemical,
or physical conditions of a living body; a display displaying
measurements measured by the vital sensors; and a housing with
a lid that contains the plurality of vital sensors and the
display.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
The 16~h invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim i6) is the vital sign box according to 15'h invention,
wherein the display is movable;
wherein the housing has a display fixing section to fix
the display; and
wherein the display lies in a bottom section of the hous ing
at the time of non-use and can be fixed in a status that the
display stands to the bottom section of the housing with using
the display fixing section at the time of use.
The 17th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 17) is an vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological , chemical , or physical conditions of a living body;
memory recording measurements measured by the vital
sensors;
a display that displays measurements measured by the vital
sensors, and/or a plurality of measurements recorded in the
memory, and determines a display range and/or a display scale
with each of the measurements, which are displayed, being as
a reference; and
a housing that contains the plurality of vital sensors ,
the memory, and the display.
The 18th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 18 ) is the vital sign box according to 17th invention
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
wherein each of the measurement to be a reference is a newest
measurement and the item to be determined is a display range.
The 19th inven Lion of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 19) is the vital sign box according to 17th invention,
wherein, when at least one of the plurality of vital sensors
measures upper and lower limits of the predetermined condition
substantially at the same time, the display simultaneously
displays the measurements, which are measured and are upper
and lower limits , and/or a plurality of measurements , which
are recorded in the memory, with classifying the measurements
into the upper limits and the lower limits whose display areas
are divided separately.
The 20th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 20) is an vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body;
a speaker outputting measurements, measured by the vital
sensors, by sound; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors, and
the speaker.
The 21st invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 21) is a vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, orphysical conditions of a living body;
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
an camera taking a picture of a predetermined object;
memory recording measurements measured by the vital
sensors and/or obj ects whose images are taken by the camera;
a communication terminal of transmitting all or part of
measurements measured by the vital sensors , an obj ect whose
image is taken by the camera, measurements recorded in the
memory, and objects recorded in the memory; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors , the
camera, the memory, and the communication terminal.
The22ndinvention ofthe presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 22) is the vital sign box according to 21St invention,
wherein the communication terminal receives predetermined
informationfromacommunicationpartner, andwhereinthevital
sign box comprises a display that is contained in the housing,
and not only displays all or part of measurements measured
by the vital sensors, an object whose image is taken by the
camera, measurements recorded in the memory, and objects
recorded in the memory, but also displays information from
the communication partner inputted by the communication
terminal.
The23rdinvention ofthe presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 23) is the vital sign box according to 22nd invention,
wherein one of information from the communication partner,
which is displayed in the display, is arrowhead information
for specifying a predetermined position of the display, and
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
the arrowhead is displayed in the display with all or part
of measurements measured by the vital sensors , an obj ect whose
image is taken by the camera, measurements recorded in the
memory, and obj ects recorded in the memory that are displayed
in the display.
The 24th invention of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 24) is the vital sign box according to 23rd invention
wherein the arrowhead information is coordinate information
of the position when the arrowhead is let to be displayed in
the display, and the display has shape information of the
arrowhead to be displayed and displays the arrowhead on the
basis of the coordinate information from the communication
partner.
The 25t'' invention of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 25) is an vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body;
a power supply section that is provided so as not to contact
with the vital sensors and supplies electric power from the
outside of the vital sign box to all or part of the plurality
of vital sensors with using an electromagnetic wave by
electromagnetic induction; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors , and
the power supply section.
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The 26'h invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 26) is an vital sign box comprising:
a plurality of vital sensors measuring predetermined
biological, chemical, or physical conditions of a living body;
a microphone inputting sound;
a communica Lion terminal transmitting sound inputted by
the microphone; and
a housing containing the plurality of vital sensors, the
microphone, and the communication terminal.
The 27th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 27) is an vital sign box comprising:
a display displaying inquiry items to a user;
an inquiry result input section of inputting an inquiry
result to inquiries in the display;
a communication terminal transmitting the inquiry result
inputted by the inquiry result input section; and
a housing containing the display, the inquiry result input
section, and the communication terminal.
The 28th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 28) is the vital sign box according to 27th invention,
wherein the communication terminal is a device inputting
predetermined information from a communication partner to whom
the inquiry result is sent and the display also displays
information from the communication partner that is inputted
by the communication terminal.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
The 29 'h invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 29) is thevital sign box according to 27th invention
wherein the communication terminal is a device inputting
predetermined information from a communication partner to whom
the inquiry result is sent, and the vital sign box further
comprises a speaker that is contained in the housing and outputs
information from the communication partner, which is inputted
by the communication terminal, with using sound.
The 30th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 30) is an vital sign box comprising:
a speaker outputting inquiry items to a user by sound;
an inquiry result input section inputting an inquiry
result to inquiries from the speaker;
a communication terminal transmitting the inquiry result
inputted by the inquiry result input section; and
a housing containing the speaker, the inquiry result input
section, and the communication terminal.
The 31st invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 31) is the vital sign box according to 30th invention
wherein the communication terminal is a device inputting
predetermined information from a communication partner to whom
the inquiry result is sent, and the speaker also outputs
information from the communication partner, which is inputted
by the communication terminal, with using sound.
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The 32nd invention of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 32) is the vital sign box according to 30th invention,
wherein the communication terminal is a device inputting
predetermined information from a communication partner to whom
the inquiry result is sent, and the vital sign box further
comprises the display that is contained in the housing and
displays information from the communication partAer that is
inputted by the communication terminal.
The33rdinvention ofthepresentinvention(corresponding
to claim 33) is the vital sign box according to any one of
1St, 11th, 13th, 15t'', 17th, 20t'', 21St, 25th, 26th, 27t'', and 3pta
inventions, wherein the housing has a lid; wherein a clamp
for closing the lid and fixing the lid to the main body of
the housing is provided in each of a main body of the housing
and the lid; and wherein a handle is provided in the main body
of the housing.
The34thinvention ofthe presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 34) is the vital sign box according to any one of
1St to 32nd inventions, further comprising a password input
section of inputting a password of a user , wherein measurements
measured by the vital sensors , and/or an obj ect whose image
is taken by the camera are managed with being associated with
a password inputted in the password input unit.
The 35t'' invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 35) is the vital sign box according to any one of
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
1st to 32nd inventions , wherein all or part of the plurality
of vital sensors and/or the camera each have an electric power
storage section storing electric power.
The 36th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 36) is the vital sign box according to any one of
1St to 32nd inventions , further comprising a display displaying
usage of an vital sign box.
The37thinvention of the presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 37) is the vital sign box according to 36th invention,
wherein all or part of the usage is displayed by an image.
The 38th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 38) is the vital sign box according to 37th invention,
wherein the image is a graphic image of measurements measured
by a vital sensor.
The39thinvention of the presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 39) is the vital sign box according to 36th invention,
wherein the display is a touch panel type liquid crystal display
and changes display contents by a predetermined portion of
the liquid crystal display being touched by a user.
The 40th invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 40) is the vital sign box according to any one of
1St to 32nd inventions, further comprising a speaker outputting
usage of an vital sign box by sound.
The 41St invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 41 ) is the vital sign box according to 40th invention,
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further comprising: a display displaying usage of an vital
sign box; and a change instruction input section of inputting
an instruction for changing an output of the usage from an
output where sound from the speaker is used to an output where
display in the display is used.
The42ndinvention ofthepresentinvention(corresponding
to claim 42) is the vital sign box according to any one of
10th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 27th, 32aa~ 36tn~ and 41st inventions,
wherein the display is a touch panel type display having a
software keyboard function.
The43rdinvention ofthepresentinvention(corresponding
to claim 43) is the vital sign box according to any one of
10th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 22°d, 2'7th, 32nd, 36~h, and 41St inventions,
wherein at least part of the housing consists of metallic
material , and the vital sign box comprises a connecting section
that consists of metallic material and connects a heating
section, generating heat in connection with image display to
the display, with a metallic material section of the housing.
The 44th invention of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 44) is the vital sign box according to any one of
20th, 30th, and 40th inventions, wherein at least part of the
housing consists of metallic material, and the vital sign box
comprises a connecting section that consists of metallic
material and connects a heating section, generating heat in
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
connection with a sound output from the speaker, with a metallic
material section of the housing.
The 45th invention of the present invention ( corresponding
to claim 45) is the vital sign box according to any one of
21st, 26'h, 27th, and 30'h inventions, wherein at least part
of the housing consists of metallic material, and the vital
sign box comprises a connecting section that consists of
metallic material and connects a heating section, generating
heat in connection with information communication in the
communication terminal, with a metallic material section of
the housing.
The 46t'' invention of the present invention (corresponding
to claim 46) is a medium that bears a program and/or data for
letting a computer execute all or part of functions of the
vital sign box according to any one of 36th to 41St inventions,
the medium with which a computer can perform processing.
The47thinvention ofthe presentinvention(corresponding
to claim 47) is an information aggregation, wherein the
information aggregation is a program and/or data for letting
a computer execute all or part of functions of the vital sign
box according to any one of 36th to 41St inventions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an vital sign box when
a lid of the vital sign box according to a first embodiment
of the present invention is opened;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the vital sign box when the lid
of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of
the present invention is opened;
Fig. 3 is a top view of the vital sign box when viewing
the vital sign box, the lid of which is opened, according to
the first embodiment of the present invention from an arrow
A in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a front view showing the inside of the lid of
the vital sign box when the lid of the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention is opened
substantially vertically to a bottom face of the vital sign
box and an camera provided in the vital sign box is also stood
substantially vertically to the bottom face of the vital sign
box;
Fig. 5 is a drawing showing a display screen on which
the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the
present invention lets a user input the user' s name andpassword
in order to specify the user;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining that a
display 10 of the vital sign box according to the first
embodiment of the present invention displays the contents shown
in Fig. 5, and if a "Grandfather" portion in the display 10
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
is touched by a user, the "Grandfather" portion is displayed
with blinking;
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen for letting
a user of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment
of the present invention input the user's name;
Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen for letting
a user of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment
of the present invention input a password;
Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a display screen on which
the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the
present invention lets a user select any one of the use of
each vital sensor or an camera 5, display of data stored in
memory 9, or communication with a hospital;
Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining that
a display 10 of the vital sign box according to the first
embodiment of the present inventiondisplays the contents shown
in Fig. 9, and if a "Measurement/Record" portion in the display
is touched by a user, the "Measurement/Record" portion is
displayed with blinking;
Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a display screen on which
the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the
present invention lets a user select whether the user uses
any one of each vital sensor and the camera 5;
Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a chart of
a measurement result of body temperature measured by an earhole
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
clinical thermometer 3 included in the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a chart
of a measurement result of body temperature measured by the
earhole clinical thermometer 3 included in the vital sign box
according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
which is different from the example in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of charts of
measurement results of blood pressure measured by a blood
pressure moni for 2 included in the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a diagram showing another example of charts
of measurement results of blood pressure measured by the blood
pressure monitor 2 included in the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is
different from the example in Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a chart of
a measurement result of pulse rates measured by the blood
pressure monitor 2 included in the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a diagram showing another example of a chart
of a measurement result of pulse rates measured by the blood
pressure monitor 2 included in the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is
different from the example in Fig. 16;
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Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an
electrocardiogram measured by the electrocardiographl of the
vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a display area when
obj ects , whose pictures are taken by an camera 5 of the vital
sign box according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, are displayed in a display 10;
Fig. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a display area when
an obj ect, whose picture is taken by an camera 5 of the vital
sign box according to the first embodiment of the present
invention is displayed in a display 10 with being magnified;
Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a chart of
a measurement result of blood glucose levels measured by a
glucose meter 4 included in the vital sign box according to
the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 22 is a diagram showing another example of a chart
of a measurement result of blood glucose levels measured by
the glucose meter 4 included in the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is
different from the example in Fig. 21;
Fig. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a chart of
a measurement result of body weight measured by a scale that
can perform data transmission to the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
Fig. 24 is a diagram showing another example of a chart
of a measurement result of body weight measured by the scale
that can perform data transmission to the vital sign box
according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
which is different from the example in Fig. 23;
Fig. 25 is a drawing showing a display screen for letting
a user input a name and a telephone number of a communication
partner in order to specify the communication partner of the
vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 26 is a drawing showing inquiry items that are
displayed in the display 10 included in the vital sign box
according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
and about which a user is asked;
Fig. 27 is a drawing showing a display screen for letting
a user of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment
of the present invention input a name and a telephone number
of a communication partner;
Fig. 28 is a drawing showing a display screen for letting
a user of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment
of the present invention input a telephone number of a
communication partner;
Fig. 29 is a drawing showing a display screen first
displayed in the display 10 of the vital sign box and a personal
computer of a communication partner after the vital sign box
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
and the personal computer of the communication partner could
communicate with each other;
Fig. 30 is a drawing showing a display screen where an
arrow is displayed in the display 10 of the vital sign box
and the personal computer of the communication partner while
the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the
present invention and the personal computer of the
communication partner are communicating;
Fig. 31 is a drawing showing a display screen that is
displayed in the display 10 of the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention and is
displayed for instructing a user to turn off the vital sign
box;
Fig. 32 is a side view of an vital sign box when a lid
of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of
the present invention is opened, which is different from the
vital sign box shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 33 is a side view of an vital sign box when a lid
of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of
the present invention is opened, which is different from each
vital sign box shown in Figs. 2 and 32;
Fig. 34 is a configuration of a power supply section 17
supplying electric power to each vital sensor and the camera
of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
the present invention with using an electromagnetic wave
generated by electromagnetic induction;
Fig. 35 is a configuration of another power supply section
17 supplying electric power to each vital sensor and the camera
5 of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment of
the present invention with using an electromagnetic wave
generated by electromagnetic induction, which is different
from the power supply section 17 in Fig. 34; and
Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing a conventional
vital sign box used in Medi Data that is an online medical
check system developed by SECOM Co. , Ltd. /SECOM home medical
care system Co., Ltd.
Description of Symbols
1 Electrocardiograph
la Contact section for a left arm
1b Contact section for a right arm
2 Blood Pressure Monitor
3 Earhole clinical thermometer
4 Blood glucose meter
4a Blood-collecting needle
4b Sensor chip
4c Connection jack
5 Electronic camera
6 Base
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
6a Connecting section
7 LED
8 Reception sensor
9 Memory
10 Display
11 Speaker
12 Microphone
13 Communication terminal
14 Housing
15 Lid
16 Shank
17 Power supply section
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will
be described with reference to drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
First of all, the configuration of an vital sign box of
a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vital sign box when
a lid of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment
of the present invention is opened. Fig. 2 is a side view
of the vital sign box when the lid of the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention is opened.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the vital sign box when viewing the
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
vital sign box, the lid of which is opened, according to the
first embodiment of the present invention. from an arrow A in
Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the inside of the lid
of the vital sign box when the lid of the vital sign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention is opened
substantially vertically to a bottom face of the vital sign
box and an camera provided in the vital sign box is also stood
substantially vertically to the bottom face of the vital sign
box.
As shown in Figs . 1 to 4 , the vital s ign box according
to the first embodiment of the present invention consists of
an electrocardiograph 1 , a blood pressure monitor 2 , an earhole
clinical thermometer 3, a blood glucose meter 4, an camera
5 , a base 6 , an LED 7 , a reception sensor 8 , memory 9 , a display
10 , a speaker 11 , a microphone 12 , a communication terminal
13, and a housing 14.
The electrocardiograph 1 is means of measuring
electrocardio, and, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of a clip-like
contact section for a left arm la and a contact section for
a right arm 1b that contact to left and right arms of a human
body respectively. Those contact section for a left arm la
and contact section for a right arm 1b are connected to a main
body of the vital sign box with connection cords , and are means
of transmitting measurements to the LED 7 through the
connection cords with using electrical signals . In addition,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
inside the contact section for a left arm la and contact section
for a right arm 1b, a circuit for measuring electrocardio is
built in, and the circuit is utilized in electrocardio
measurement.
The blood pressure monitor 2 is means of measuring blood
pressure and a pulse rate, and is a handy type meter.
Furthermore, the blood pressure monitor 2 is means that is
not connected to the main body of the vital sign box with a
connection cord but transmits a measurement to the reception
sensor 8 with using an infrared ray having a predetermined
wavelength.
The earhole clinical thermometer 3 is means of measuring
body temperature, and is a handy type meter similarly to the
blood pressure monitor 2. Furthermore, the earhole clinical
thermometer 3 is means that is not connected to the main body
of the vital sign box with a connection cord but transmits
a measurement to the reception sensor 8 with using an infrared
ray having a predetermined wavelength.
The blood glucose meter 4 is means of measuring sugar
density in blood, and has a blood-collecting needle 4a , a sensor
chip 4b, and a connection jack 4c. Furthermore, when being
housed in the housing 14, the blood glucose meter 4,
blood-collecting needle 4a, sensor chip 4b, and connection
jack 4c are housed separately. Moreover, the blood glucose
meter 4 is a handy type meter, and the sensor chip 4b is mounted
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
and used when a blood glucose level is measured. The blood
glucose meter 4 measures a blood glucose level of the blood
collected by the blood-collecting needle 4a with utilizing
the sensor chip 4b. In addition, when measured data is
transmitted to the main body of the vital sign box, the blood
glucose meter 4 is connected to the connection j ack 4c , and
furthermore, the connection jack 4c is connected to the main
body of the vital sign box. The measured data is transmitted
from the blood glucose meter 4 to the LED 7 in the main body
of the vital sign box through the connection j ack 4c with using
anelectricalsignal. The blood-collecting needle4aismeans
of gathering blood from a human body, the sensor chip 4b is
means of measuring a blood glucose level of the blood collected
by the blood-collecting needle 4a, and the connection jack
4c connects the blood glucose meter 4 to the main body of the
vital sign box.
In addition, the electrocardiograph l, blood pressure
monitor 2 , earhole clinical thermometer 3 , and blood glucose
meter 4 are used as an example of vital sensors according to
the vital sign box of the present invention, the vital sensors
which are described in claims 1, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 21, 25
and 26.
The camera 5 is means of taking a picture of a predetermined
object, has a lighting section lighting the object, and is
detachable from the base 6.
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The base 6 has a connecting section 6a, is connected to
the housing 14 through the connecting section 6a, is rotatable
with the connecting section 6a as a fulcrum, arid not only can
be fixed at a predetermined angle, but also is means of
containing the camera 5.
The LED 7 is means of converting each measurement,
transmitted with using electrical signals from the
electrocardiograph 1 and blood glucose meter 4, into an
infrared ray having a predetermined wavelength and
transmitting each measurement to the reception sensor 8.
The reception sensor 8 is means of receiving each infrared
ray having a predetermined wavelength from the blood pressure
monitor 2, earhole clinical thermometer 3, and LED 7.
The memory 9 is installed with being embedded in the
housing 14 , and is means of not only recording each measurement
on the basis of the infrared ray received by the reception
sensor 8 , but also recording an image of an obj ect recorded
by the camera 5.
The display 10 is means of displaying each measurement
measured by the electrocardiograph 1, blood pressure monitor
2, earhole clinical thermometer 3, and blood glucose meter
4, an object, a picture of which is taken by the camera 5,
and usage of the vital sign boxaccordingto the first embodiment
of the present invention. The display 10 is a touch panel
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
type liquidcrystal display, and hence changes displayconte:.ts
when each of predetermined portions is touched.
The speaker 11 is means of outputting each measurement
measured by the electrocardiograph l, blood pressure monitor
2, earhole clinical thermometer 3, and blood glucose meter
4 or usage of the vital sign box according to the first embodiment
of the present invention with using sound.
Microphone 12 is means of collecting sound of voice and
the like of a user of the vital sign box according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
The communication terminal 13 is means of transmitting
each measurement measured by the electrocardiograph l, blood
pressure monitor 2 , earhole clinical thermometer 3 , and blood
glucose meter 4, and an object recorded by the camera 5 to
a communications partner with using a communication line.
The housing 14 is means of having the lid 15 and containing
all of the above-described sections from the
electrocardiograph 1 to the terminal 13. The lid 15 has the
shank 16 that substantially becomes a shaft when the lid 15
is opened and closed, and not only is installed in the housing
14 through the shank 16 , but also can be f fixed at a predetermined
angle of gradient to the housing 14 . In addition, it is assumed
that the electrocardiograph 1, blood pressure monitor 2,
earhole clinical thermometer 3 , blood glucose meter 4 , camera
, base 6 , LED 7 , reception sensor 8 , and memory 9 are contained
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
in a main body of ~.he housing 14, that the display 10, speaker
11 , and microphone 12 are provided inside the lid 15 , and that
the communication terminal 13 is provided outside the main
body of the housing 14.
In addition, as show in Fig. 1, in the housing 14 and
lid 15 each, clamps 20a, 20b, 21a, and 21b are attached for
closing the lid 15 and fixing the lid 15 to the housing 14.
Furthermore, a handle 22 for easily carrying the vital sign
box of the first embodiment when the lid 15 is closed and is
fixed to the housing 14 is provided in the housing 14.
Moreover, although being not shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a
program recording medium that stores a program to let the
display 10 and speaker 11 output the usage of the vital sign
box is built in the vital sign box according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
In addition, it is made that the vital sign box of the
first embodiment of the present invention can receive data
from a scale that is different from the vital sign box and
can transmit a measurement to the vital sign box with using
an infrared ray having a predetermined wavelength. It is made
that the LED 7 receives data from the scale at that time.
Furthermore, it is assumed that the vital sign box
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
is connected to a personal computer in a hospital through the
communication terminal 13.
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Moreover, although having been explained once, Fig. 3
will be explained again. Fig. 3 is a top view showing the
main body of the housing 14 when the electrocardiograph 1,
blood pressure monitor 2 , earhole clinical thermometer 3 , blood
glucose meter 4, camera 5, base 6, LED 7, reception sensor
8, and memory 9 are contained in the main body of the housing
14 and the lid 15 is opened.
Next, the operation of the vital sign box according to
the first embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
First of all, a user switches on the vital sign box, and
opens the lid 15 of the housing 14 as shown in Figs. 1 and
2.
When the vital sign box is turned on, the display 10
provided inside the lid 15 begins displaying the usage of the
vital sign box on the basis of the program stored in the program
recording medium. In addition, similarly, on the basis of
the program stored in the program recording medium, the speaker
11 begins outputting the usage of the vital sign box by sound.
Fig. 5 shows display contents that are first displayed
in the display 10 after the vital sign box was switched on.
Fig. 5 is a drawing showing a display screen on which the vital
sign box lets a user input the user's name and password in
order to specify the user. By the way, the reason why a user
is specified is for the vital sign box to associate a measurement
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measured by eacr. vital sensor and an image a picture of which
is taken by the camera 5 with each user, and to manage the
measurement and imageevery user. In addition, in connection
to it, the reason is also to protect the privacy of the
measurement and the shot image of each user is protected.
Furthermore, when the display ZO displays contents shown in
Fig. 5 , the user touches a portion of any one of "Grandfather, "
"Grandmother," "Registration wait 3," and"Registration wait
4" in the display 10. By the way, the display of the
"Grandfather"and"Grandmother"meansthat namesand passwords
of the "Grandfather" and "Grandmother" have been already
registered. In addition, the display of the "Registration
wait 3" and "Registration wait 4" means that names and passwords
of users are not registered.
Then, if the user is the "Grandfather" or "Grandmother"
and the user's name and password have been registered
beforehand, the user touches an adequateportion,furthermore
touches a "password" to input the user' s password, and goes
to the next step shown in Fig. 9. On the other hand, if the
user is not the "Grandfather" or "Grandmother" but the user' s
name andpassword are not registered, the user touches a portion
of any one of the "Registration wait 3" and "Registration wait
4." The user touches the "Registration wait 3" or
"Registration wait 4" so as to use the vital sign box many
times later and to let the vital sign box manage measurements
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
measured by each vital sensor and/or images taken by the camera
5. When the user touches the "Registration wait 3" or
"Registration wait 4," the display 10 displays the contents
shown in Fig. 7, and lets the user register the user's name
with letting the user utilize the touch panel. If the user
touches a "Confirm" portion after registration, the display
displays the contents shown in Fig . 8 to let the user register ,
for example, four character-password with letting the user
use the touch panel again. In this manner, if the user is
made to register the user' s name and password, the name and
password are managed by the vital sign box after that with
being associated with the "Registration wait 3" or
"Registration wait 4" that was touched before the registration
of the name and password. In addition, if the name and password
are registered, the display 10 displays the contents shown
in Fig. 9.
If the user operates according to the display of the
display 10 as described above, the display 10 displays the
contents shown in Fig. 9.
In addition, for the convenier_ce of explanation, it is
assumed that the user of the vital sign box is a "Grandfather . "
Therefore, in this case, when the display 10 displays the
contents shown in Fig. 5, the user touches the "Grandfather"
portion in the display 10. When the "Grandfather" portion
is touched in this manner, the display 10 displays the
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
"Grandfather" portion with blinking as shown in Fig. 6. In
addition, in Fig. 6, it is assumed that slanted lines of the
portion displaying the "Grandfather" portion denote that the
portion displaying the "Grandfather" blinks. In addition,
it is assumed for the convenience of the following explana tion
as described above that the user of the vital sign box is the
"Grandfather." Nevertheless, itis assumed that, even if the
user is not the "Grandfather" but the user touches the
"Grandmother," "Registration wait 3," or "Registration wait
4" when the display 10 displays the contents shown in Fig.
5, the display 10 displays and blinking the touched portion.
Furthermore, also in the following description, it is assumed
that, if a predetermined portion of the display 10 is touched
by a user, the display 10 displays and blinking the touched
portion.
Moreover, although the usage of the vital sign box only
by the display of the display 10 is explained in the above
description, it is made that the usage is explained
simultaneously with using sound from the speaker 11.
Similarly, also in the following explanation, it is assumed
that the usage of the vital sign box is explained not only
in the display of the display 10 , but also by a sound output
from the speaker 11.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
in addition, in the above description, the display 10
corresponds to a password input section of the present
invention according to claim 34.
Furthermore, as explained when the configuration of vital
sign box according to the first embodiment of the present
invention is described, the display 10 is a touch panel type
liquid crystal display. Hence, for a user, the display 10
is convenient because it is not necessary to use a ten-key
pad or a mouse when the user changes the display contents of
the display 10.
By the way, Fig. 9 is a drawing showing a display screen
for letting a user select any one of using each vital sensor
or the camera 5 of the vital sign box, letting the display
display the data that is stored as measurements and pictures
in the memory 9 , and communicating with a personal computer
in a hospital that is connected to the vital sign box.
In this manner, it is assumed that, when the contents
shown in Fig. 9 is displayed by the display 10, first of all,
the user uses each vital sensor and the camera 5. At this
time, the user touches a "Measurement/Record" in the display
10, and the display 10 displays the "Measurement/record"
portion with blinking the "Measurement/record" portion as
shown in Fig. 10 if the "Measurement/Record" portion is touched.
After that, the display 10 changes the display contents to
the contents shown in Fig. 11. In addition, in Fig. 10, it
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
is assumed that slanted lines of the portion displaying the
"Measurement/Record" denote that the portion displaying the
"Measurement/Record" blinks, similarly slanted lines of the
portion displaying the "Grandfather" in Fig.6.
By the way, Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a display screen
on which the vital sign box lets a user select whether the
user uses any one of each vital sensor and the camera 5. The
"Temperature," "Blood pressure," "Electrocardio," "Camera,"
"Blood glucose level," and "Body weight" that are shown in
Fig . 11 correspond to the earhole clinical thermometer 3 , blood
pres sure monitor 2 , electrocardiograph 1 , camera 5 , and blood
glucose meter 4 in the vital sign box respectively. They are
displayed with images obtained by graphing measurements
measured by respective vital sensors. In addition, because
the "Pulse rate" shown in Fig. 11 is measured by the blood
pressure monitor 2 , the "Pulse rate" corresponds to the blood
pressure monitor 2. Furthermore, the "Body weight"
corresponds to the scale outside the vital sign box.
By the way, it is assumed that, when the contents shown
in Fig. 11 are displayed by the display 10, first of all, a
user is going to measure the "Temperature." At this time,
the user touches the "Temperature" in the display 10 , takes
out the earhole clinical thermometer 3 from the vital sign
box, and measures body temperature by contacting the earhole
clinical thermometer 3 to the user's earhole. Since being
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
a cordless vital sensor, the earhole clinical thermometer 3
is convenient for a user to handle the thermometer 3. Then,
when finishing the measurement of the body temperature, the
user presses a send switch provided in the earhole clinical
thermometer 3. When the send switch is pressed, the earhole
clinical thermometer 3 transmits ameasurement to the reception
sensor 8 with using an infrared ray having a predetermined
wavelength. In this manner, by letting a user press the send
switch to transmit a measurement, it is possible to prevent
the mishit or an input of a devious value that can be generated
when letting the user input a measurement with using the ten-key
pad. In addition, for a user, it becomes unnecessary to perform
such troublesome work that the user inputs the measurement
with using the ten-key pad. Next, when receiving the
measurement from the earhole clinical thermometer 3, the
reception sensor 8 not only outputs information as such to
the speaker 11, but also outputs the information of the
measurement to the memory 9. Then, the speaker 11 outputs
such information that the reception sensor 8 has received the
measurement from the earhole clinical thermometer 3 by sound.
For example, the speaker 11 outputs such a sentence that "The
measurement is received. " by sound. In this manner, if the
receipt information of a measurement is outputted by sound,
a user can confirm that a measured measurement is received
by the main body of the vital sign box. On the other hand,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
when receiving the measurement from the reception sensor 8,
the memory 9 not only lets the display 10 display the :measurement
in a number as shown in Fig. 12, but also lets the display
display the measurements for las t five days including the
measurement inputted from the reception sensor 8. At that
time, the display 10 displays a final measurement on a graph,
in other words, the latest measurement with blinking the
measurement. In Fig. 12, it is assumed that a measurement
on November 11 is the final measurement, the final measurement
is displayed as a black dot, and the black dot portion is
displayed with blinking. In addition,thedisplaylOdisplays
the graph with letting the final measurement be a reference
and determining a predetermined range between a certain higher
value and a certain lower value than the final measurement
as a display range. For example, the display range is a range
having the width of 3.5°C between the final measurement +
1.5°C/-2°C, and is determined so that each measurement in the
display period is displayed in a substantially central part
of the display screen. Thus, since fluctuations do not become
clear if the display range becomes larger than the fluctuations
of measurements , the display range is determined so that the
fluctuationsof the measurementsbecome clear. In thismanner,
by letting a final measurement be a reference and determining
a predetermined range between a certain higher value and a
certain lower value than the final measurement as a display
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
range, the fluc:.uations of daily measurements become clear.
In addition, the display 10 displays with adjusting a display
scale in order to make fluctuations of measurements clear.
Furthermore, as show in Fig. 12, when displaying a graph of
measurementsforpastfive daysincluding thefinalmeasurement,
the display 10 displays a "30-day display" portion for changing
the display contents in the lower left corner of the display
screen simultaneously so that the measurements for past 30
days including the final measurement may be displayed as a
graph . In addition, when the user touches the "30-day display"
portion, the display 10, as shown in Fig. 13, displays the
measurements for the last 30 days, including the final
measurement, in the graph. Also, in regard to the graphical
representation, in order that each measurement in the display
period can be displayed in a substantially central part of
the display screen, a display range is determined by making
the final measurement value be a reference so that a
predetermined range between a certain higher value and a
certain lower value than the final measurement becomes the
display range . In addition, a display scale is also determined
so that fluctuations of measurements become clear.
Furthermore, as show in Fig. 13, when displaying a graph of
measurements for past 30 days including the final measurement,
the display 10 displays a "5-day display" portion for changing
the display contents in the lower left corner of the display
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
screen simultaneously so that the measurements for past 5 days
including the final measurement are redisplayed as a graph.
When the user touches the "5-day display" portion, the display
10, as shown in Fig. 12, redisplays the measurements for the
last 5 days in a graph . By the way, a measurement received
by the reception sensor 8 is outputted as sound from the speaker
11. Then, if the user confirms display contents in Fig. 12
or 13 and touches a "Return" portion, the display 10 displays
contents shown in Fig. 11 once again.
Next, it is assumed that, when the contents shown in Fig.
11 are displayed in the display 10, the user is going to measure
"Blood pressure" and/or "Pulse rate. " At this time, the user
touches the "Blood pressure" or "Pulse rate" in the display
10, takes out the blood pressure monitor 2 from the vital sign
box, and measures the blood pressure and pulse rate by wrapping
the bloodpressure monitor 2 around the user' s arm. In addition,
the blood pressure and pulse rate are measured at the
substantially same time by the blood pressure monitor 2 . Since
being a cordless vital sensor, the blood pressure monitor 2
is convenient for a user to handle the blood pressure monitor
2 . Then, when finishing the measurement of the blood pressure
and pulse rate, the user presses a send switch provided in
the blood pressure monitor 2 . When the send switch is pressed,
the blood pressure monitor 2 transmits a measurement to the
reception sensor 8 with using an infrared ray having a
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
predetermined wavelength . In this manner, by 1e sting a user
press the send switch to transmit a measurement, it is possible
to preven t the mishit or an input of a devious value that can
be generated when letting the user input a measurement with
using the ten-key pad. Next, when receiving the measurement
from the blood pressure monitor 2, the reception sensor 8 not
only outputs information as such to the speaker 11, but also
outputs the information of the measurement to the memory 9.
Then, the speaker 11 outputs by sound such information that
the reception sensor 8 has received the measurement from the
blood pressure monitor 2.
On the other hand, when receiving the measurement from
the reception sensor 8 , the memory 9 not only lets the display
10 display the measurement in a number as shown in Fig. 14,
but also lets the display 10 display the measurements for last
five days, including the measurement inputted from the
reception sensor 8, in a graph. At that time, as shown in
Fig. 14, the display 10 displays highest blood pressure level
value s and lowest blood pres sure values independently in graphs
in the same screen with dividing the display area . In addition,
the display 10 displays final measurements on the graphs, in
other words, the latest measurements with blinking the
measurements. Furthermore, when displaying the graphs, the
display 10 determines display ranges with the final measurement
values as respective references. For example, the display
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
range is a range having the width of 50 mmHg between the final
measurement +i5 mmHg/-35 mmHg, and is determined so that each
measurement in the display period is displayed in a
subs tantially central part of the display screen. Thus, since
fluctuations do not become clear if the display range becomes
larger than the fluctuations of measurements , the display range
is determined so that the fluctuations of the measurements
become clear. In this manner, by letting each final
measurement be a reference and determining a predetermined
range between a certain higher value and a certain lower value
than each final measurement as each display range, the
fluctuationsof daily measurementsbecomeclear. In addition,
the display 10 displays with adjusting each display scale in
order to make fluctuations of measurements clear.
Furthermore, as show in Fig. 14, when displaying each graph
of measurements for past five days including each final
measurement, the display 10 displays each "30-day display"
portion for changing the display contents in the lower left
corner of the display screen simultaneously so that the
measurements for past 30 days including each final measurement
are displayed as each graph . In addition, when the user touches
the "30-day display" portion, the display 10, as shown in Fig.
15, displays the measurements for the last 30 days, including
each final measurement, in each graph. Also, in regard to
the graphical representation, in order that each measurement
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
in the display period can be displayed in a substantially
central part of the display screen, each display range is
determined by making the final measurement value be a reference
so that each predetermined range between a certain higher value
and a certain lower value than the final measurement becomes
each display range. In addition, each display scale is also
determined so that fluctuations of measurements become clear.
Furthermore, as show in Fig. 15, when displaying each graph
of measurements for past 30 days including each final
measurement, the display 10 displays a "5-day display" portion
for changing the display contents in the lower left corner
of the display screen simultaneously so that the measurements
for past 5 days including each final measurement are
redisplayed as each graph. When the user touches the "5-day
display" portion, the display 10, as shown in Fig. 14,
redisplays the measurements for the last 5 days in each graph.
By the way, a measurement received by the reception sensor
8 is outputted as sound from the speaker 11.
In this manner, if a screen showing the measurement result
of blood pressure is displayed in the display 10 and display
contents do not change from that status, for example,
predetermined time of five seconds passes, the display 10 not
only displays measurements in numbers about the measurement
result of pulse rates as shown in Fig. 16, but also displays
as a graph the measurements for past five days including the
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
measurement inputted from the reception sensor 8. At that
time, the di splay 10 not only blinks and displays the final
measurement, but also displays the graph after determining
a display range with the final measurement as a reference so
that each measurement in a display period is displayed in a
substantiallycentralpart ofthe displayscreen. In addition,
a display scale is also determined so that fluctuations of
measurements become clear, and the graph is displayed.
Furthermore, as show in Fig. 16, when displaying a graph of
measurements of pulse rates for past five days including the
final measurement, the display 10 displays a "30-day display"
portion for changing the display contents in the lower left
corner of the display screen simultaneously so that the
measurements for past 30 days including the final measurement
are displayed as a graph. In addition, when the user touches
the "30-day display" portion, the display 10, as shown in Fig.
17, displays the measurements for the last 30 days, including
the final measurement, in the graph. Also, in regard to the
graphical representation, in order that each measurement in
the display period can be displayed in a substantially central
part of the display screen, the display range is determined.
In addition, a display scale is also determined so that
fluctuations of measurements become clear. Furthermore, as
show in Fig. 17 , when displaying a graph of measurements for
past 30 days including the final measurement, the display 10
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
displays a "5-day display" portion for changing the display
contents in tr.e lower left corner of the display screen
simultaneously so that the measurements for past 5 days
including the final measurement are redisplayed as a graph.
When the user touches the "5-day display" portion, the display
10, as shown in Fig. 16, redisplays the measurements of pulse
rates for the last 5 days in a graph . In addition, a measurement
of a pulse rate received by the reception sensor 8 is also
outputted as sound from the speaker 11.
Now, if a screen showing the measurement result of pulse
rates is displayed in the display 10 and display contents do
not change from that status, for example, predetermined time
of five seconds passes, the display 10 changes display contents
from the measurement result of the pulse rates to the contents
shown in Fig. 14 about the measurement result of bloodpressure .
In this manner, if not receiving the user's instruction for
changing the display of the measurement period of the graph
within predetermined time, the display 10 changes display
contents so as to switch between the measurement result of
blood pressure and measurement result of pulse rates.
In any case, if the user confirms the display contents
when the display 10 displays any one of Figs. 14 to 17, and
touches a "Return" portion, the contents shown in Fig. 11 are
displayed once again in the display 10.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
It is assumed that, when contents shown in Fig. 11 are
next displayed in the display 10 , the user is going to measure
"Electrocardio." At this time, the user touches the
"Electrocardio" in the display 10, takes out the
electrocardiograph 1 from the vital sign box, and measures
the electrocardio by contacting the contact section for a left
arm la, and contact section for a right arm 1b to left and
right arms respectively. The user presses a send switch
providedin theelectrocardiographl during theelectrocardio
measurement, and when the send switch is pressed, the
electrocardiograph 1 transmits a measurement to the LED 7
through a connection cord with using an electrical signal.
In this manner, by letting a user press the send switch to
transmit a measurement, it is possible to prevent the mishit
or an input of a devious value that can be generated when letting
the user input a measurement with using the ten-key pad. The
LED 7 converts each measurement, transmitted with using
electrical signals from the electrocardiograph l, into an
infrared ray having a predetermined wavelength and transmits
the measurement to the reception sensor 8. When receiving
the measurement by the electrocardiograph 1 from the LED 7
in the infrared ray, the reception sensor 8 not only outputs
information as such to the speaker 11 , but also outputs the
information of the measurement to the display 10 and the memory
9. Then, the speaker 11 outputs by sound such information
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
that the reception sensor 8 has received the measurement from
the electrocardiograph 1. The display 10, as shown in figure
18, displays an electrocardiographic waveform on the basis
of the measurement received by the LED 7, in real time for
a predetermined period of , for example , 10 seconds . At that
time, the display 10 displays the electrocardiographic
waveform so that the electrocardiographic waveform is
continuously displayed. In addition, if one electrocardio
measuring period is, for example, 50 seconds, at the time of
finishing the measurement the display 10 displays the waveform
equivalent to the last predetermined time of predetermined
electrocardio measuring time of, for example, the last ten
seconds. In addition, so as to make fluctuations of the
electrocardio clear when displaying an electrocardiographic
waveform, the display 10 displays an electrocardiogram so that
a status of the fluctuations of the electrocardio is displayed
in a substantially central part of the display screen. In
addition, the display 10 displays the electrocardiogram with
adjusting a display scale in order to make fluctuations of
measurements clear. On the other hand, the memory 9 records
waveform data for the last predetermined time in a
predetermined electrocardio measuring time,for example,for
last ten seconds, which is displayed at the time of finishing
the measurement in the display 10 . Then, if the user confirms
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
display contents in Fig. 18 and touches a "Return" portion,
the display 10 displays contents shown in Fig. 11 once again.
Next, it is assumed that, when contents shown in Fig.
11 are displayed in the display 10, the user is going to use
the camera 5. At this time, the user touches a "Camera" portion
in the display 10.
By the way, a main body of the housing 14 of the vital
sign box is put on a predetermined mount and the like so that
the height of a CCD of the camera 5 becomes substantially equal
to the height of a central part of the user's face when the
base 6 is stood substantially vertical to the bottom face of
the vital sign box with using the connecting section 6a while,
as shown in Fig. 4, the camera 5 is housed in the base 6. When
the user is going to take a picture of the user's own face
with the camera 5, the user lets the camera 5 take a picture
of the user's own face with practically vertically standing
and fixing the base 6 to the bottom face of the vital sign
box while the camera 5 is housed in the base 6. Then, an image
shot by the camera 5 is displayed as any one of camera images
1 to 4 in the display 10 that are shown in Fig. 19. By the
way, the display 10, as shown in Fig. 19, displays "Screen
zoom" and "Screen erase" in the lower side of the screen when
displaying the image of an object such as a face. When the
user is going to enlarge any one of the camera images 1 to
4, the user touches the image among the camera images 1 to
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
4 that the user is going to enlarge, and furthermore, touches
the "Screen zoom" portion. When the "Screen zoom" portion
is touched, the image among the camera images 1 to 4 that is
touched by the user beforehand is enlarged and displayed in
the display 10 as shown in Fig. 20. In case of finishing the
zoom, when the user touches the "Return" portion in display
contents that are shown in Fig. 20 and are displayed in the
display 10, the contents shown in Fig. 19 are displayed once
again in the display 10. In addition, if the user is going
to erase any one of the camera images 1 to 4 , the user touches
the image among the camera images 1 to 4 that the user is going
to erase, and touches the "Screen erase" portion. The image
is erased if the "Screen erase" is touched. Furthermore, when
a user is going to record any image among the camera images
1 to 4 in the memory 9 , the user touches the image among the
camera images 1 to 4 that the user is going to record. When
the image that the user is going to record in the memory 9
is displayed in a frame of the camera image touched, the user
presses a switch that is used to record an image and is provided
in the camera 5. In this manner, when the switch is pressed,
the image at that timing is recorded in the memory 9 as a static
image. In addition, since the camera 5 is connected to the
main body of the vital sign box with a connecting cord, the
image that is shot is outputted through the connecting cord
to the display 10 and/or memory 9 . Furthermore, it is assumed
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
that the memory 9 can record up to four images. Moreover,
different four images that are taken by the camera 5 can be
displayed in the display 10 simultaneously as shown in Fig.
19. Then, it is assumed that it is possible that, so as to
display the fifth image different from the images displayed,
for example, the fifth image enters into the frame of the camera
image 1, and other images are sequentially shifted and
displayed as the image having been included in the frame of
the camera image 1 enters into the frame of the camera image
2 and so on.
By the way, differently from the above-described status,
there is a case that, for example, the main body of the housing
14 of the vital sign box is not put on the predetermined mount
described above, and the height of the CCD of the camera 5
is not equal to the height of the central part of the user' s
face when the base 6 is stood substantially vertically to the
bottom face of the vital sign box while the camera 5 is housed
in the base 6. Nevertheless, in case a user is going to take
a picture of the user's own face with the camera 5, the user
takes a picture of the user' s own face by rotating the base
6 with using the connecting section 6a of the base 6 while
the camera 5 is contained in the base 6, and fixing the base
6 with inclining the base 6 at a predetermined angle to the
bottom face of the vital sign box. The base 6 is rotatable
and can be f fixed at the predetermined angle of gradient . Hence ,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
it is possible to take a picture of the user' s own face and
the like with the camera 5 without changing the user' s posture
by fixing the base 6 in a predetermined direction and at a
predetermined angle of gradient.
In addition, the camera 5 is detachable from the base
6. Hence, if a user is going to take a picture of, for example,
the user' s ankle instead of the user' s face with the camera
5, the user takes out the camera 5 from the base 6, and can
take a picture of the ankle with holding the camera 5 in user's
hands and so on.
Furthermore , since having a lighting section for lighting
an imaging obj ect, the camera 5 can take a clear picture . In
addition, since having a function capable of enlarging and
shrinking an image, the camera 5 can take an image, which is
enlarged or shrunk, and lets the display 10 display the image.
After that, if the user confirms display contents in Fig.
19 and touches a "Return" portion, the display 10 displays
contents shown in Fig. 11 once again.
It is assumed that, when contents shown in Fig. 11 is
next displayed in the display 10, the user is going to measure
a "Blood glucose level." At this time, the user touches a
"Blood glucoses" portion in the display 10, and takes out the
blood glucose meter 4, blood-collecting needle 4a, and sensor
chip 4b from the vital sign box to attach the sensor chip 4b
at a predetermined position of the blood glucose meter 4 . Next,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
_ the user collects the user' s own blood of about 5 ail (micro
1i ter) with using the blood-collecting needle 4b to drip the
blood, which is collected, on the sensor chip 4b. Then, the
user measures sugar density in the blood with using the sensor
chip 4b attached on the blood glucose meter 4. When finishing
the measurement of the sugar density in the blood, the user
connects the connection jack 4c to the blood glucose meter
4, and furthermore, connects the connection jack 4c to the
main body of the vital sign box to press the send switch provided
in the blood glucose meter 4 . When the send switch is pressed,
the blood glucose meter 4 transmits the measurement to the
LED 7 , provided in the main body of the vital sign box, through
the connection jack 4c with using an electrical signal. The
LED 7 converts the measurement, transmitted with using the
electrical signal from the blood glucose meter 4, into an
infrared ray having a predetermined wavelength and transmits
the measurement to the reception sensor 8. When receiving
the measurement by the blood glucose meter 4 from the LED 7
in the infrared ray, the reception sensor 8 not only outputs
information as such to the speaker 11 , but also outputs the
information of the measurement to the memory 9. Then, the
speaker 11 outputs by sound such information that the reception
sensor 8 has received the measurement from the blood glucose
meter 4. On the other hand, when receiving the measurement
from the reception sensor 8, the memory 9 not only lets the
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
display 10 display the measurement in a number as shown in
Fig. 21 , but also lets the display 10 display the measurements
for last five days including the measurement inputted from
the reception sensor 8. At that time, the display 10 displays
and blinks the final measurement. In addition, the display
displays the graph with letting the final measurement be
a reference and defining a predetermined range between a
certain higher value and a certain lower value than the final
measurement as a display range. Furthermore, in order that
each measurement in the display period can be displayed in
a substantially central part of the display screen, the graph
is displayed. In addition, the display 10 displays the graph
with adjusting a display scale in order to make fluctuations
of measurements clear. Furthermore, as show in Fig. 21, when
displaying each graph of measurements for past five days
including each final measurement, the display 10 displays each
"30-day display" portion for changing the display contents
in the lower left corner of the display screen simultaneously
so that the measurements for past 30 days including each final
measurement are displayed as each graph. In addition, when
the user touches the "30-day display" portion, the display
10, as shown in Fig. 22, displays the measurements for the
last 30 days, including the final measurement, in the graph.
Also, in regard to the graphical representation, in order that
each measurement in the display period can be displayed in
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
a substantially central part of the display screer_, each
display range is determined by making the final measurement
value be a reference so that each predetermined range between
a certain higher value and a certain lower value than the final
measurement becomes each display range. In addition, a
display scale is also determined so that fluctuations of
measurements become clear . Furthermore , as show in Fig . 22 ,
when displaying a graph of measurements for past 30 days
including the final measurement, the display 10 displays a
"5-day display" portion for changing the display contents in
the lower left corner of the display screen simultaneously
so that the measurements for past 5 days including the final
measurement are redisplayed as a graph . When the user touches
the "5-day display" portion, the display 10, as shown in Fig.
21 , redisplays the measurements for the last 5 days in a graph.
By the way, a measurement received by the reception sensor
8 is outputted as sound from the speaker 11. Then, if the
user confirms display contents in Fig. 21 or 22 and touches
a "Return" portion, the display 10 displays contents shown
in Fig. 11 once again.
Next, it is assumed that, when contents shown in Fig.
11 are displayed in the display 10, the user is going to measure
"Body weight. " At this time, the user touches a "Body weight"
portion in the display 10 . Then, the user measures the user' s
own body weight by mounting the scale outside the vital sign
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
box, the scale that can transmit the measurement to the vital
sign box with using an infrared ray having a predetermined
wavelength. When finishing the measurement of the body weight,
the scale transmits a measurement to the reception sensor 8
with using the infrared ray having the predeterminedwavelength .
When receiving the measurement from the scale, the reception
sensor 8 not only outputs information as such to the speaker
11, but also outputs the information of the measurement to
the memory 9. Then, the speaker 11 outputs by sound such
information that the reception sensor 8 has received the
measurement from the scale. On the other hand, when receiving
the measurement from the reception sensor 8, the memory 9 not
only lets the display 10 display the measurement in a number
as shown in Fig. 23, but also lets the display 10 display the
measurements for last five days including the measurement
inputted from the reception sensor 8 . At that time , the display
displays and blinks the final measurement. In addition,
with letting the final measurement be a reference and
determining a predetermined range between a certain higher
value and a certain lower value than the final measurement
as a display range, the display 10 displays the graph, so that
each measurement in the display period can be displayed in
a substantially central part of the display screen. In
addition, the display 10 displays with adjusting a display
scale in order to make fluctuations of measurements clear.
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Furthermore, as show in Fig. 23 , when displaying each graph
of measurements for past five days including each final
measurement, tr.e display 10 displays each "30-day display"
portion for changing the display contents in the lower left
corner of the display screen simultaneously so that the
measurements for past 30 days including each final measurement
are displayed as each graph . In addition , when the user touches
the "30-day display" portion, the display 10, as shown in Fig.
24, displays the measurements for the last 30 days, including
the final measurement, in the graph. Also, in regard to the
graphical representation, in order that each measurement in
the display period can be displayed in a substantially central
part of the display screen, each display range is determined
by making the final measurement value be a reference so that
each predetermined range between a certain higher value and
a certain lower value than the final measurement becomes each
display range . In addition, a display scale is also determined
so that fluctuations of measurements become clear.
Furthermore, as show in Fig. 24, when displaying a graph of
measurements for past 30 days including the final measurement,
the display 10 displays a "5-day display" portion for changing
the display contents in the lower left corner of the display
screen simultaneously so that the measurements for past 5 days
including the final measurement are redisplayed as a graph.
When the user touches the "5-day display" portion, the display
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, as shown in Fig. 23 , redisplays the measurements for the
last 5 days in a graph. By the way, the measurement received
by the reception sensor 8 is outputted as sound from the speaker
11. Then, if the user confirms display contents in Fig. 23
or 24 and touches a "Return" portion, the display 10 displays
contents shown in Fig. 11 once again.
As described above, when all or part of the respective
vital sensors, camera 5, and scale are used and the use is
finished, the contents shown in Fig. 11 are displayed in the
display 10 . At this time, the user touches the "Return" portion
in Fig. 11, and when the "Return" is touched by the user, the
display 10 displays the contents shown in Fig. 9.
It is assumed that, when contents shown in Fig. 9 are
next displayed in the display 10, the user lets the display
10 display measurements and/or shot images stored in the memory
9. At this time, the user touches a "Display" in the display
10 , and the display 10 displays and blinks the "Display" portion
when the "Display" portion is touched, and after that, changes
the display contents to the contents shown in Fig. 11.
In addition, when the contents shown in Fig. 11 are
displayed in the display 10, the user determines which data
of the "Temperature, "Blood pressure," "Pulse rate,"
"Electrocardio," and "Blood glucose level" measured by
respective vital sensors , images taken by the camera 5 , and
the "Body weight" measured by the scale, that are stored in
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the memory 9 , is displayed in the display 10 . Then, the user
touches an adequate portion among the "Temperature, " "Blood
pressure," "Pulse rate," "Electrocardio," "camera," "Blood
glucose level," and "Body weight" in the display 10 that
corresponds to the data determined. The display 10 reads
measurements and graph(s), or data of shot images, which
correspond to the portion touched by the user, from the memory
9, and displays them. In addition, the data displayed in the
display 10 is the data displayed in realtime in the display
at the time of measuring an obj ect or taking a picture that
are explained with using Figs. 12 to 24.
Furthermore, although there are two kinds of graphs of
measurements relating to, for example, "Body weight" and the
like as shown in Figs . 12 and 13 , first of all a 5-day graph
shown in Fig. 12 is displayed in the display 10. Then,
similarly to the above description on the display method of
measurements in a graph, by the user touching the "30-day
display" portion displayed in the display 10 so as to let display
10 display the 3 0-day graph , the 3 0-day graph shown in Fig .
13 is displayed in the display 10 . In this manner, it is assumed
that, in the case of letting the display 10 display data stored
in the memory 9 and being able to display the data obtained
by the respective vital sensors, camera 5, or scale as two
kinds of screens , which screen is to be displayed is determined
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similarly to the case of letting the display 10 display a
measurement measured in realtime and a shot image.
In addition, when the user confirms the display contents
of data, recorded in the memory 9, in the display 10, the user
touches the "Return" portion of the screen to change the display
contents in the display 10 to the contents shown in Fig. 11.
Furthermore, the user touches the "Return" portion shown in
Fig. 11 to change the contents shown in Fig. 9.
It is assumed that, when the contents shown in Fig. 9
are next displayed in the display 10, the user is going to
communicate with the personal computer connected to the vital
sign box via a communications line . At this time , the user
touches a "Telephone" portion in the display 10, and the display
10 displays and blinks the "Telephone" portion when the
"Telephone" portion is touched, and after that, changes the
display contents to the contents shown in Fig. 25. Fig. 25
is a drawing showing a display screen for letting a user input
a name and a telephone number of a communication partner in
order to specify the communication partner of the vital sign
box. When the display 10 displays the contents shown in Fig.
25, the user touches any one of "Matsushita Hospital," "xx
clinic," "Registration wait 3," and "Registration wait 4,"
and "Misc." portions. By the way, the display of the
"Matsushita Hospital" and "xx clinic" means that names and
telephone numbers of the "Matsushita Hospital" and "xx clinic"
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have been already registered. Furthermore, the display of
the "Registration wait 3," "Registration wait 4" and "Misc."
means that names and telephone numbers of communication
partners have not been registered yet.
Then, if a communication partner is the "Matsushita
Hospital" or "xx clinic" and the name and telephone number
have been registered be forehand, the usertouchestheconcerned
portion. When the concerned portion is touched, the display
displays inquiry items to the user as shown in Fig. 26.
The user replies to the inquiry items shown in Fig. 26, and
when the answer is finished, the user touches a "Confirmed"
portion. In addition, the display 10 is used as an inquiry
result input unit of the present invention according to claim
27 . By the way, when the contents shown in Fig. 26 is displayed
in the display 10 and the "Confirmed" portion is touched by
the user, the vital sign boxs communicates with the
communication partner through the communication terminal 13 ,
and the display in the display 10 goes to the next step shown
in Fig. 29. On the other hand, if the communication partner
is not the "Matsushita Hospital" or "xx clinic" and its name
and telephone number are not registered, the user touches any
one of the "Registration wait 3 , " "Registration wait 4 , " and
"Mist." portions. If considering to contacts many times to
a specific communication partner in future, the user touches
the "Registration wait 3" or "Registration wait 4" portion,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
or if not, the user touches the "Misc." portion. If the user
touches the "Registration wait 3" or "Registration wait 4,"
the display 10 displays the contents shown in fig. 27 to let
the user register a name and a telephone number of the
communication partner with letting the user utilize the touch
panel. If the user touches the "Confirmed" portion after the
regis tration, the vital sign box contacts to the communication
partner through the communication terminal 13 , and the display
10 displays the contents at the next step. In this manner,
by letting a user register a name and a telephone number of
a communication partner, thereafter, the name and telephone
number are associated with the "Registration wait 3" or
"Registration wait 4" that is shown in Fig. 25 and touched
before the registration of the name and telephone number, and
are managed by the vital sign box. On the other hand, if the
user touches the "Misc . " portion when the display 10 displays
the contents shown in Fig. 25, the display 10 displays the
contents shown in Fig. 28 to let the user input a telephone
number of a communication partner with letting the user utilize
the touch panel . If the user touches the "Confirmed" portion
after the input, the vital sign box contacts to the
communication partner through the communication terminal 13 ,
and the display 10 displays the contents at the next step.
In addition, as explained at the time of describing the
configuration of an vital sign box of a first embodiment of
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the present invention, for the convenience of the following
explanation, it is assumed that the communication partner of
the vital sign box is the "Matsushita Hospital."
Moreover, although the contact method to a communication
partner only by the display in the display 10 is explained
in the above description, it is assumed that the contact method
to the communication partner is explained simultaneously with
using sound from the speaker 11 . In this manner, as described
above, also in the following explanation, it is assumed that
the usage of the vital sign box is explained not only with
the display in the display 10, but also with a sound output
from the speaker 11.
By the way, it is assumed that a user of the vital sign
box is a "Grandfather, " a communication partner of the vital
sign box is the "Matsushita Hospital," and the vital sign box
can communicate with the personal computer in the "Matsushita
Hospital" on the basis of the contact from the vital sign box.
In the display 10 of the vital sign box, as shown in Fig. 29,
data, which relates to the "Grandfather, " is measured by each
vital sensor, and is graphed, among data stored in the memory
9 , newest images taken by the camera 5 , data that is measured
by the scale and graphed, and the inquiry result are displayed
separately with sharing an display area. Each graph in Fig.
29 is different from each graph shown in Fig. 11, and is obtained
by graphing values that are shown in Figs. 13, 15, 17, 18,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
19 , 22 , and 24 and are actually measured. In addition, when
displaying the contents shown in Fig. 29, the display 10
displays that the vital sign box becomes communicable with
the personal computer in the "Matsushita Hospital" that is
the communication partner. Furthermore, the speaker 11 also
outputs by sound that the vital sign box becomes in the status
of being able to communicate. In addition, at that time, the
vital signboxs inputs a face image of a doctor in the "Matsushita
Hospital, " which is taken by a camera connected to the personal
computer, from the personal computer of the communication
partner through the communication terminal 13. Then, the
display 10 displays the doctor' s image in the top right portion
of the screen. In addition, the vital sign boxs transmits
data displayed in the display 10 to the personal computer of
the communication partner through the communication terminal
13, and lets the contents, which are shown in Fig. 29 and
displayed in the display 10, displayed on a screen of the
personal computer . Furthermore , the "Grandfather" who is a
user of the vital sign box lets the camera 5 take a picture
of the user's own face with fixing an angle of gradient of
camera 5 at a predetermined angle . The vital sign box transmits
the user ' s real time image , taken by the camera 5 , to the personal
computer of the communication partner through the
communication terminal 13. In addition, at that time, the
microphone 12 becomes in a status that the microphone 12 can
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
collect sonic reflection of realtime voice of the
"Grandfather," and can transmit the voice to the personal
computer of the communication partner through the
communication terminal 13. Furthermore, the display 10
becomes in a status that the display 10 can input information
from the communication partner through the communication
terminal 13 and can display the information. Moreover, the
speaker 11 becomes in a status that the speaker 11 can input
information such as the voice of the doctor in the communication
partner through the communication terminal 13 and can output
the information as sound. In this manner, by also using the
vital sign box as a picture phone, the "Grandfather" that is
a user of the vital sign box receives telemedicine from the
doctor in the communication partner.
In addition, suppose that, when the "Grandfather" that
is a user of the vital sign box receives telemedicine from
the doctor in the communication partner, the doctor observes,
for example, a graph of blood pressure in a screen of the personal
computer and finds an abnormal indication. Then, when the
doctor controls the screen to magnify only the graph in order
to pay attention to the graph, not only the graph of blood
pressure is magnified on the screen of the doctor' s personal
computer, but also the graph of blood pressure is magnified
and displayed in the display 10 of the vital sign box by the
zoom control being inputted into the vital sign box through
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
the communication terminal 13. Furthermore, when the doctor
locates an arrowhead on the graph as shown in Fig. 30 in order
to specify the abnormal point, coordinate information of the
arrowhead is inputted into the vital sign box through the
communication terminal 13 from the doctor' s personal computer .
Hence, also on the graph of blood pressure in the vital sign
box, an arrowhead is displayed in a location that substantially
corresponds to the location that the doctor specifies. In
this manner, the above-described arrowhead is utilized as,
for example, an arrowhead for informed consent. By the way,
since the display 10 stores shape information of an arrowhead
to be displayed, it is possible to display the arrowhead by
not only being based on the coordinate information of the
arrowhead from the doctor's personal computer, but also
utilizing the shape information of the arrowhead stored.
Up to here, for the description of communication between
the vital sign box and the doctor's personal computer, an
example of communication is explained with using the graphs
of blood pressure shown in Figs. 29 and 30. Nevertheless,
the communication between the vital sign box and the doctor' s
personal computer is not limited to the application of the
graph of blood pressure shown in Fig. 29. Thus, other graphs
and data shown in Fig. 29 are also used similarly to the graph
of blood pressure shown in Fig. 29, and the information of
images and/or sound is exchanged between both parties.
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Then, when the user of the vital sign box finishes
communication with the communication partner, the user touches
an "End" portion displayed in the display 10 at that time when
the contents shown in Fig. 29 is displayed in the display 10,
and changes the display of the display 10 to the contents shown
in Fig. 9. On the other hand, if the display contents in the
display 10 at the time of finishing communication is the
contents shown in Fig. 30 , the user touches the "Return" portion
displayed in the display 10 to let the display 10 display the
contents shown in Fig. 29, and touches the "End" portion to
change the display in the display 10 to the contents shown
in Fig. 9. In any case, if the contents shown in Fig. 9 are
displayed in the display 10, the user next touches the "End"
portion shown in Fig. 9 . In this manner, when the "End" portion
shown in Fig. 9 is touched, the display 10, as shown in Fig.
31, displays information to instruct the user to finish the
use of the vital sign box and turn off the vital sign box,
and lets the user to turn off the vital sign box.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
the base 6 is rotatable, and not only can be fixed at a
predetermined angle, but also is means of containing the camera
5, and the camera 5 is detachable from the base 6. Nevertheless,
it can be also performed that, without providing the base 6
in the vital sign box, the camera 5 is rotatable with connecting
to the housing 14 and can be fixed at a predetermined angle.
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In addition,-in the above-described first embodiment,
the lid 15 of the vital sign box, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided
through the shank 16 substantially in one edge side of an upper
surface of the main body of the housing 14 . In such a structure ,
there is a possibility of causing such an unstable status that,
as shown in Fig. 2, when the lid 15 is let to be vertical to
the bottom face of the vital sign box, mainly because of the
weight of the display 10 inside the lid 15, the lid 15 falls
down to the side where the shank 16 of the housing 14 is provided,
and in connection with it, the main body of the housing 14
rises with one side of the bottom section of the housing 14,
which faces to the shank 16, as a substantial shaft. Then,
in order to solve such structural instabili ty, it can be also
performed in regard to the structure of the vital sign box
that the shank 16, as shown in Fig. 32, is located so that
the main body of the housing 14 is divided into a front section
and a rear section, the lid 15 is provided through the shank
16 , and the display 10 is provided inside the lid 15 with letting
the lid 15 be fixed in a status that the lid 15 is vertical
to the bottom section of the vital sign box with using the
shank 16 at the time of using the vital sign box. In this
manner, if the main body of the housing 14 has the front section
and rear section to the shank 16, it is possible to avoid the
unstable status that the main body of the housing 14 rises
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
when the lid 15 is let to be vertical to the bottom section
of the vital sign box.
In addition, in order to solve the structural problems
that are described above and depends on a mounted location
of the lid 15 of the housing 14 as shown in Fig. 2, it can
be also performed that the display 10 provided inside the lid
15 is thinned and lightened.
Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described
structural instability depending on a mounted location of the
lid 15 of the housing 14 as shown in Fig. 2, instead of providing
the display 10 inside the lid 15, it can be also performed
that, as shown in Fig. 33 , the display 10 is made to be movable
so that the display 10 can be contained in the main body of
the housing 14 in a condition that the display 10 lies in a
bottom section of the main body of the housing 14 at the time
of non-use, and can be fixed in a condition that the display
is vertical to the bottom of the main body of the housing
14 at the time of use. Moreover, it can be also performed
that, so as to fix the display 10 in a condition that the display
10 is vertical to the bottom section of the housing 14 at the
time of using the display 10, a fixing section of the display
10 is provided in the main body of the housing 14.
In addition, although each driving power supply of the
respective vital sensors and camera 5 is not explained in the
above-described first embodiment, it can be performed that,
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
by mounting each battery in the respective vital sensors and
camera 5 , the respective vital sensors and camera 5 are driven
by electric power from the batteries respectively.
Alternatively, it can be also performed that, by supplying
electric power to the respective vital sensors and camera 5
with using the following method, the respective vital sensors
and camera 5 are driven by the electric power . Thus , as shown
in Fig. 34, for example, it is such a structure that a power
supply section 17 is provided in the bottom of the housing
14 of the vital sign box, the power supply section 17 which
cor_sists of a predetermined conductive wire that is configured
les t the conductive wire should contact to each vital sensor
and the camera 5 and further supplies electric power from the
outside of the vital sign box to each vital sensor and the
camera 5 with using an electromagnetic wave by electromagnetic
induction. In addition, the power supply section 17 is
provided inside the main body of the housing 14 so that the
power supply section 17 becomes substantially in parallel to
the bottom face of the main body of the housing 14. In this
case, as shown in Fig. 34, a shape of the power supply section
17 in a position corresponding to each housing location at
the time of each vital sensor and the camera 5 being housed
in the housing 14 is made to be a winding wire shape.
Furthermore, each electric power storage section storing the
electromagnetic wave from the power supply section 17 as
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
electric power is provided in each vital sensor and the camera
5. Moreover, with usir_g an electromagnetic wave by
electromagnetic induction from each winding wire section by
applying the current to the power supply section 17 from the
outside of the vital sign box external when electric power
is supplied to each vital sensor and the camera 5 , the electric
power is supplied to each vital sensor and the camera 5. In
this way, it becomes not necessary to mount each battery in
each vital sensor and the camera 5. By the way, it can be
also performed that, for example, instead of such a structure
that each winding wire section is provided only in the specific
location as shown in Fig. 34, the power supply section 17
provided in the bottom section of the housing 14 is configured
by a predetermined conductive wire whose entire shape is a
winding wire shape. In brief, the power supply section 17
is sufficient so long as the power supply section 17 does not
contact to each vital sensor and the camera 5 , and supplies
electric power from the outside of the vital sign box to each
vital sensor and the camera 5 with using an electromagnetic
wave by electromagnetic induction. In addition, it is not
always necessary to supply electric power with using an
electromagnetic wave by above-described electromagnetic
induction to all of the vital sensors and camera 5, but it
is also good to supply the electric power to part of the vital
sensors and camera 5.
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Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is assumed that the display 10, as shown in Fig. 26, displays
inquiry i terns to a user of the vital sign box j ust before the
vital sign box and the personal computer of the "Matsushita
Hospital" or "xx clinic" can communicate with each other.
Nevertheless, the display of the inquiry items to a user by
the display 10 is not limited to the display performed just
before communication. For example, the display of the inquiry
items to a user by the display 10 can be performed after the
vital sign box and personal computer of the "Matsushita
Hospital" or "xx Clinic" can communicate with each other . In
brief , the display 10 of the vital sign box according to the
first embodiment of the present invention is sufficient so
long as the display 10 displays the inquiry items to a user .
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment,
although it is assumed that inquiry items to a user of the
vital sign box are displayed by the display 10, the inquiry
can be also performed with using sound from the speaker 1i.
The inquiry to a user of the vital sign box with using sound,
s imilarly to the display by the display 10 , can be also performed
in any timing. By the way, if the inquiry items are outputted
with using sound, it becomes necessary to provide an inquiry
result input section, into which the user inputs answers to
the inquiry items, in the vital sign box. It is possible to
use, for example, the display 10 as the inquiry result input
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
section. In addition, it is made to provide a communication
terminal for transmi sting answers to inquiry items , which the
inquiry result input section inputs , to a communication partner .
As the communication terminal, for example, the communication
terminal 13 can be also used. In addition, by also using the
communication terminal to be used so as means of inputting
information from a communication partner, it can be performed
no t only to let the display 10 display the information from
the communicationpartner, but also to let the speaker 11 output
the informationfromthecommunicationpartnerwithusingsound.
Nevertheless, the information from the communication partner
can be also outputted with using one out of the display 10
ar_d speaker 11.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
although it is made that the usage of the vital sign box is
outputted by the display performed by the display 10 and by
sound from the speaker 11, the usage of the vital sign box
car. be also performed by any one of the display by the display
and the sound from the speaker 11. Furthermore, if the
usage of the vital sign box is output only by sound from the
speaker 11 , a change instruction input section for inputting
an instruction from a user can be also provided in the vital
sign box so that an output method of the usage is changed to
the display by the display 10.
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment, as
described at the time of describing the configuration of the
vital sign box according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, the electrocardiograph l, blood pressure monitor
2, earhole clinical thermometer 3, and blood glucose meter
4 are used as an example of vital sensors in the vital sign
box of the present invention according to each of claims 1 ,
11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 21, 25 and 26. Nevertheless, the vital
sensors that are provided in the vital sign box of the present
invention according to each of the above-described claims are
notlimited tothe electrocardiographl,bloodpressure monitor
2, earhole clinical thermometer 3, and blood glucose meter
4. All of the electrocardiograph 1, blood pressure monitor
2, earhole clinical thermometer 3, and blood glucose meter
4 can be provided in the vital sign box of the present invention,
or only the part of them can be also provided. In addition,
for example, other vital sensors such as a blood oxymeter
measuring blood oxygen concentration can be also provided.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
as shown in Fig. 11, it is made that the usage of the vital
sign box is displayed in graphic images of measurements
measured by respective vital sensors, images taken by the
camera 5 , a graphic image of measurements measured by the scale ,
and letters . Nevertheless , the usage of the vital sign box
can be displayed only in graphic images of measurements
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
measured by respective vital sensors, images taken by the
camera 5, and a graphic image of measurements measured by the
scale, or can be also displayed only in letters . Furthermore ,
only the images, only the letters, or images combined with
letters can be also used and displayed every screen . Moreover,
although each graph in Fig. 11 is made to be a graphic image
of measurements measured by each vital sensor, if a user's
data has been already stored in the memory 9 at that time,
a graph of the data stored can be also used as each graph in
Fig. 11. In addition, also as for an image to be taken by
the camera 5, if a user's image has been already stored in
the memory 9 at that time , the memory can be also substituted
by the image stored.
Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that a measurement measured by each vital sensor
is displayed in the display 10 with using a number of the
measurement or in a transition graph of measurements for last
days or 30 days including the measurement. In addition,
it is made that a measurement is also outputted from the speaker
11 by sound. However, a measurement measured by each vital
sensor can be also displayed only in a number in the display
10, or can be also displayed only in a graph in the display
. Moreover , only sound can be also outputted from the speaker
11 . Furthermore, the display of only a number in the display
10 and an output by sound from the speaker 11 can be also
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CA 02330843 2001-O1-12
performed. Alternatively, the display of only a graph in the
display 10 and an output by sound from the speaker 1 1 can be
also performed.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that, for example, as shown in Figs . 12 , 13 , and
14 , a measurement measured by each vital sensor is displayed
in the display 10 as a transition graph of measurements for
days or 30 days including the measurement. However, in the
display 10 , a transition graph of measurements for the last
days can be also displayed without displaying the transition
graph showing the measurements for 5 days or 30 days . In brief ,
a graph displayed in the display 10 is sufficient so long as
the graph shows the transition of measurements in a
predetermined period. Moreover, by providing means of a user
inputting, for example, an instruction for specify the period
in the vital sign box, it is also possible to let the display
10 change the period according to the instruction each time
a graph is displayed.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
for example, as shown in Figs . 12 and 13 , when measurements
measured by each vital sensor are displayed on the display
10 as a graph so as to show the transition during the last
5 days or 30 days, a display range is determined with a final
measurement as a reference. Nevertheless, the display range
can be also determined by letting a mean value of measurements
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in a period to be displayed be a reference, and defining the
period be a range between predetermined higher value and lower
value than the value that is the reference.
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment, as
shown in Figs . 12 and 14, it is made that the display 10 displays
and blinks a final measurement in a 5-day graph of measurements
when displaying the graph of measurements measured by each
vital sensor. On the other hand, it can be also performed
that the display 10 displays and blinks the final measurement
when displaying a 30-day graph of measurements, or that the
display 10 displays and does not blink the final measurement.
Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment,
a communication partner of the vital sign box is the "Matsushita
Hospital." Nevertheless, the contents, first displayed in
the display 10 when the vital sign box can communicate with
another communication partner, is not limited to the contents
shown in Fig. 29. It is also good to display some one except
inquiry items among contents shown in Fig. 29, or to display
only a message that the vital sign box becomes communicable
with a communication partner. In brief, this means that, if
a communication partner of the vital sign box is not the
"Matsushita Hospital," when the vital sign box becomes
communicable, the contents displayed in the display 10 are
not limited.
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In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that, when the vital sign box becomes communicable
with a personal computer of the "Matsushita Hospital" that
is a communication partner of the vital sign box, a latest
image taken by the camera 5 is displayed in Fig. 29 displayed
in the display 10 . Nevertheless , so long as the image is an
image taken by the camera 5, it is not necessary to display
the latest image in the display 10 displaying the contents
shown in Fig. 29. For example, it is also good to display
an image to be selected by letting a user select beforehand
the image to be displayed. Furthermore, it is also good that,
if image data is not stored in the memory 9, an image taken
by the camera 5 is displayed.
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment,
although it is assumed that a communication partner of the
vital sign box is "Matsushita Hospital, " it is also good that
the communication partner is, for example, a personal computer
of a relative who lives apart from the "Grandfather" who is
a user of the vital sign box. In that case, it is also possible
to use the camera 5 in the vital sign box as means of taking
a realtime picture of the "Grandfather" that is a user, or
as a picture phone for performing communication with the
relative.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
although a communication partner of the vital sign box is a
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personal computer of the "Matsushita Hospital." The
communication partner of the vital sign box is not limited
to a personal computer so long as the partner can communicate
with the vital sign box via a communication line such as a
telephone line. For example, by connecting two vital sign
boxs with each other via a communication line, both vital sign
boxs can communicate with each other, and hence it is also
possible to use the partner's vital sign box as an alternative
of a personal computer . Furthermore , it is also possible to
use both vital sign boxs as alternatives of picture phones .
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment, it
is made that it may happen that, when the vital sign box becomes
communicable with a personal computer of the "Matsushita
hospital" that is a communication partner, as shown in Fig.
30, arrowhead information for displaying an arrowhead in a
graph is transmitted from the personal computer to the vital
sign box. In addition, in that case, it is made that the
arrowheadinformation is coordinate information and the vital
sign box displays the arrowhead on the basis of the coordinate
information of the arrowhead from the personal computer by
utilizingshapeinformationof the arrowheadstored. However,
it is also good that arrowhead information transmitted from
the personal computer to the vital sign box is coordinate
information and shape information, and the arrowhead is
displayed in a predetermined position by decoding the arrowhead
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from the shape information by the vital sign box and further
using the coordinate information. However, in this case, an
amount of information of the arrowhead information from the
personal computer to the vital sign box increases in comparison
to a case of only the coordinate information.
Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment,
although it is described that the vital sign box is operated
by a user himself/herself, a user of the vital sign box can
be a person, who assists a patient who cannot operate the vital
sign box by oneself, such as a family member of a bedridden
home health care patient or a visiting nurse.
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment,
al though it is made that the display 10 is a touch panel type
liquid crystal display, the display 10 can be a CRT display.
In brief, it is good that the display 10 is a display just
displaying each measurement measured by each vital sensor such
as the electrocardiograph 1 and the blood pressure monitor
2, an object taken by the camera 5, the usage of the vital
sign box, and the like. In addition, it is better that the
display changes display contents when a predetermined portion
is touched.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that, for example, as described in Fig. 6, when
a predetermined portion such as the "Grandfather" in the
display 10 is touched by a user , the portion touched is displayed
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and blinked. Nevertheless, it is also good that, when the
predetermined portion in the display 10 is touched by the user,
a color of the touched portion changes so that the touched
portion is distinguished from other portion. In brief, it
is sufficient only that, when a predetermined portion on the
display .0 is touched by a user, the portion touched is displayed
so that the portion is distinguished from the other portion.
Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that, if contents displayed in the display 10 are
not change in a predetermined period, the measurement result
of blood pressure and a pulse rate measured by the bloodpressure
monitor 2 are displayed with being mutually changed to an
opponent measurement. Nevertheless, it is also good that,
by providing switching means of changing themeasurement result
between blood pressure and a pulse rate, which is displayed
in the display 10 , in the vital sign box, the display 10 changes
display contents when a user instructs the switching means .
Moreover, it is also good to substitute the touch panel type
display 10 for the switching means.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that a user presses a switch, which is provided
in the camera 5 , for recording an image in the memory 9 when
an image taken by the camera 5 is recorded in the memory 9.
Nevertheless, recording means of recording an image in the
memory 9 can be provided in the main body of the vital sign
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box . It is also good to substitute the touch panel type display
for the recording means . In brief , it is sufficient only
that the recording means of recording an image taken by the
camera 5 in the memory 9 is provide in the vital sign box.
In addition, if the display 10 ir. the above-described
vital sign box is a touch panel type display and a software
keyboard function shown in Fig. 7 is provided and displayed
in the display 10, a merit that a user can input characters
is created without connecting a keyboard to the vital sign
box. The software keyboard function can be utilized for the
above-described inquiry result input, and further can be used
for inputting questions to a doctor.
Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment,
although it is made that an image to be recorded in the memory
9 is a static image, an image stored in the memory 9 can be
a moving image.
Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment, it
is made that the vital sign box receives data from a scale
that is outside the vital sign box and can transmits a measured
value to the vital sign box with using an infrared ray having
a predetermined wavelength. But, it is also good that it is
made that the vital sign box cannot receive data from such
a scale . Alternatively, it can be performed that the vital
sign box receives data from equipment, which is outside the
vital sign box and can transmit a measurement to the vital
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sign box with using an infrared ray having a predetermined
wavelength, besides a scale, and records and manages the
measurement with data from each vital sensor.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment,
it is made that the vital sign box is used by any user among
a "Grandfather," a "grandmother," "Registration wait 3," and
"Registration wait 4," that are shown in Fig. 5, that is, a
user having been already registered, or a user who is going
to be registered from now on . Nevertheless , it can be performed
to provide, for example, a function for making it possible
for a houseguest to an owner of the vital sign box, a one-time
user, and the like, that is, a person, whose name and password
are not registered, to use the vital sign box.
Furthermore, although the camera 5 in the vital sign box
according to the above-described first embodiment is used,
for example, for taking a picture of an arm injury, it is
necessary to adequately adjust a focus at that time. Although
fixed focus adjustment and automatic focus adjustment can be
listed as the focus adjustment, it can be assumed that the
camera 5 in this embodiment is a fixed focus type camera. If
so, it is possible to make the camera be smaller, lighter,
and cheaper than an automatic focusing type camera.
In this way, if the camera 5 is a fixed focus type camera
like this, it is desirable to provide range-finding means,
which is used for measuring the distance between an imaging
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obj ect such as an arm inj ury and a predetermined section such
as a lens of the camera 5, in the camera 5. The reason is
because it is necessary to condense rays of light from the
camera 5 to the imaging object and to adjust the focus.
By the way, it is possible to use a string-like body or
a rod-like body, which is attached in a predetermined location
such as a lens of the camera 5 and has predetermined length,
as the above-described range-finding means. The length of
the string-like body or rod-like body may be set in such a
manner that in taking a picture of the imaging object, when
the tip of the string-like body or rod-like body is brought
into contact with the imaging obj ect , the focus can be adj usted .
For example, it is recommended that the length is 3 cm.
In addition, instruction receiving means such as a button
for receiving an imaging instruction from a user, and imaging
means of taking a picture of an imaging obj ect when the imaging
instruction is received are provided in the camera 5. It is
made that the user takes a picture of the imaging obj ect by
performing the imaging instruction to the camera 5 through
contacting an end of the above-described string-like body or
rod-like body with the imaging obj ect, and pressing the button
at that time when the user is going to take a picture of the
imaging object such as an arm injury. By performing this,
it becomes possible to take a picture at a correct focus.
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In addi tion, the range-finding means is not limi red to
the above-described string-like body or rod-like body, but
it is possible to use means, which utilizes an electromagnetic
wave such as an ultrasonic wave or an infrared ray, as the
range-finding means. Concretely, means of emitting an
electromagnetic wave such as an infrared ray and detecting
means of detec ring the electromagnetic wave such as an infrared
ray reflected by an imaging object is provided in the camera
5. Further, the distance between the imaging object and a
predetermined position such as a lens of the camera is measured
from the result detected by the detecting means . At that time,
if comparison. result output means of comparing the measured
distance wit:~ tre predetermined distance that the imaging
obj ect can be adequately shot, and outputting the comparison
result by a sound and an image is provided in the camera 5,
a user can perform an imaging instruction by pressing a button
when the imaging object is located in an appropriate focal
position. For example, the result that it becomes possible
to adequately take a picture of the imaging obj ect by accessing
the imaging object by 2 cm more corresponds to the comparison
result. Byperformingso, it becomes possible to takeapicture
at a correct focus. In addition, it can be performed that
the above-described comparison result output means outputs
information as such by a sound or an image when the imaging
object is located in an appropriate focal position.
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Furthermore, if the distance between the imaging object
and camera is measured with using an electromagnetic wave as
described above , it can be performed that the imaging means
automatically takes a picture of the imaging obj ect when the
detected distance is the distance that the imaging object can
be shot adequately.
Moreover, it can be performed that at least part of the
housing 14 of the above-described vital sign box consists of
metallic material , and a connecting section that connects a
heating section, which generates heat in connection with image
display to a display, outputting of sound from a speaker, and
information communication at a communication terminal, such
as a CPU (central control processing unit) and an HDp (hard
disk drive) that are housed in the housing 14, and a metallic
material section of the above-described housing 14 , and that
consists of metallic material (for example, a copper wire)
is provided in the vital sign box. Then, heat in the heating
section can be discharged outside the vital sign box through
the connecting section.
For example, if the body temperature of a human body is
measured with a clinical thermometer contained in the vital
sign box, it is necessary to keep the temperature of the clinical
thermometer itself at about room temperature before
measurement. Hence, by discharging heat in this way, the
clinical thermometer is kept to be at about room temperature,
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and hence this has a merit that the clinical thermometer can
be used effectively. In addition, even if the clinical
thermometerisan actually measuring typeclinicalthermometer
or a forecasting type clinical thermometer, the heat radiation
effect is the same so long as the clinical thermometer is a
device measuring body temperature electrically.
Furthermore, if heat radiation is neglected, it is
conceivable that the measurement accuracy of a clinical
thermometerdeteriorates. Nevertheless,asdescribed above,
for example, by providing a connecting section consis ring of
a copper wire or the like, heat can be radiated with using
heat transfer in the connecting section, and hence it becomes
possible to suppress the temperature rise of the vital sign
box. Moreover, in regard to an vital sign box, when sensor
installation locations are designed, it is effective to arrange
the vital sign box apart from a clinical thermometer.
Furthermore, a medium that bears a program and/or data
for letting a computer execute all or part of functions of
the above-described vital sign box, from which the computer
can read the above-described program and/or data, and with
which the above-described program and/or data that are read
execute theabove-described functionswith collaborating with
the above-described computer also belongs to the present
invention.
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Moreover, an information aggregation that is a program
and/or data for letting a computer execute all or part of
functions of the above-described vital sign box, from which
the computer can read the above-described program and/or data,
and with which the above-described program and/or data that
are read execute the above-described functions with
collaborating with the above-described computer also belongs
to the present invention.
The data includes data structure, a data format, and a
kind of data. The medium includes a recording medium such
as ROM, a communication medium such as the Internet, and a
transmission medium such as light, a radio wave, and a sound
wave . The bearing medium includes , for example , a recording
medium recording a program and/or data, a transmission medium
transmitting a program and/or data, and the like.
The processability by a computer includes readability
by a computer in case of , for example , a recording medium such
as ROM, and processability of a program and/or data, which
are obj ects of transmiss ion and have been actually transmitted,
by a computer in case of a transmission medium.
The information aggregation includes, for example,
software such as a program and/or data.
Apparently from the above description, the present
invention can provide an vital sign box that has means of being
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able to take a picture wi th flexibly changing an imaging obj ect
and/or an imaging angle.
In addi Lion, the present invention can provide an vital
sign box that has a vital sensor that can input a measurement
into memory without letting a user perform a manual input.
Furthermore, the present invention can provide an vital
sign box including a display to clearly display the
fluctuations of measurements in a predetermined period that
are measured and recorded by a vital sensor.
Moreover, the present invention car. provide an vital sign
box including a speaker outputting a measurement, which is
measured by a vital sensor, with using sound.
In addition, the present invention can provide an vital
sign box that includes imaging means of taking a picture of
an object, and can transmit an image of the object that is
taken by the imaging means to a communication partner.
Furthermore, the present invention can provide an vital sign
box that receives information from a communication partner,
and can perform bi-directional communication.
Moreover, the present invention can provide an vital sign
box inquiring health conditions of a user of the vital sign
box.
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Dessin représentatif