JP7553309B2 - Cover, cover structure, gas information acquisition device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cover, a cover structure, and a gas information acquisition device.

The number of people who spend their time sleeping, resting, and relaxing in beds or futons, but are unable to dispose of their excrement on their own, is increasing year by year. For such people, excrement is disposed of by a caregiver, but if a long time has passed since the person defecates, the person who defecates will be left feeling unsanitary and uncomfortable for a long time, and it will also be more troublesome for the caregiver to dispose of the excrement than if the caregiver were to dispose of the excrement immediately after it was defecate.

There is a known gas information acquisition device that detects excretion by sucking in air near a bed or futon. This gas information acquisition device includes, for example, a tube, a tank, a pump, and an odor sensor, and the pump sends the gas inside the tank that has been sucked in through the tube, which is a tubular member, to the odor sensor. The tube connected to this type of gas information acquisition device needs to be placed on the bed or the like so that it does not become misaligned (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2019-178890 A

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a cover that can prevent the tubular member that sucks in odors associated with excretion from shifting out of position.

This cover is a cover that positions a tubular member that absorbs odors associated with excretion, and has a first region into which the tubular member can be inserted, a pair of second regions located on both longitudinal sides of the first region and capable of accommodating an elastic body , a first insertion opening located at the end of one of the second regions opposite the side that contacts the first region and used when inserting an elastic body into one of the second regions, and a second insertion opening located at the end of the other of the second regions opposite the side that contacts the first region and used when inserting an elastic body into the other of the second regions .

The disclosed technology can provide a cover that can prevent the tubular member that sucks in odors associated with excretion from shifting out of position.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a bed in which a gas information acquisition device according to a first embodiment is disposed. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to the first embodiment. 1 is a plan view illustrating a cover structure according to a first embodiment; 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cover structure according to the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to a second modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a bed in which a gas information acquiring device according to a third modification of the first embodiment is arranged. FIG. 11 is a first plan view illustrating a cover according to Modification 3 of the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a second plan view illustrating the cover according to the third modified example of the first embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a bed in which a gas information acquiring device according to a fourth modified example of the first embodiment is arranged. 13 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to a fourth modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a bed in which a gas information acquiring device according to a fifth modified example of the first embodiment is disposed. 13 is a plan view illustrating a cover structure according to a fifth modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a bed in which a gas information acquiring device according to a sixth modified example of the first embodiment is arranged. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a case of the gas information acquisition device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged side view of the vicinity of the case of the gas information acquisition device according to the first embodiment. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a case of the gas information acquiring device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to a first embodiment; 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to a first embodiment. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to a first embodiment; 1A to 1C are perspective views (part 1) illustrating a method for assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment; 5A to 5C are perspective views (part 2) illustrating a method of assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment; 11A to 11C are perspective views (part 3) illustrating a method of assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment; 11 is a perspective view (part 4) illustrating a method of assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a micro-blower of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a micro-blower of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a filter unit of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the strain gauge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (part 1) illustrating a strain gauge according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view (part 2) illustrating the strain gauge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to a second embodiment. 13A to 13C are perspective views (part 1) illustrating a method for assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the second embodiment; 13 is a perspective view (part 2) illustrating a method of assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the second embodiment; FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a gas information acquiring device according to a third embodiment.

Below, a description of the embodiment of the invention will be given with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations may be omitted.

First Embodiment
[Gas information acquisition device 3]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a bed in which a gas information acquisition device according to the first embodiment is arranged. Referring to Fig. 1, a gas information acquisition device 3 has a gas suction and exhaust device 1 and a cover structure 950. In the example of Fig. 1, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 is housed in a case 300 and cannot be seen from the outside.

In FIG. 1, a mattress is laid on the bed 800, and the top and sides of the mattress are covered with a sheet 810. A cover structure 950 is disposed on a portion of the sheet 810.

The cover structure 950 has a cover 900, a tube 910, and elastic bodies 933 and 934. The cover 900 is a member that positions the tube 910, into which one end of the tube 910 can be inserted, and which can house the elastic bodies 933 and 934. The cover structure 950 is formed by inserting one end of the tube 910 into the cover 900 and housing the elastic bodies 933 and 934.

One end of the tube 910 is inserted into the cover 900, and the other end is connected to the suction side of the gas suction exhaust device 1. The gas suction exhaust device 1 to which the tube 910 is connected is placed near the bed 800. The gas suction exhaust device 1 is placed, for example, on the floor on which the bed 800 is placed.

The gas suction and exhaust device 1 is a device that sucks in gas near the cover 900 through the tube 910 and acquires information about the sucked gas (such as odor and humidity). For example, when a patient wearing a diaper is lying on the cover 900 of the bed 800, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 sucks in odors associated with the patient's excretion through the tube 910.

The tip of the tube 910 inserted into the cover 900 is open, so that gas near the cover 900 can be sucked in from the tip of the tube 910. If necessary, one or more holes for sucking gas may be provided on the side of the tube 910 at the portion inserted into the cover 900. Details of the gas suction and exhaust device 1 will be described later.

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to the first embodiment. Referring to Figure 2, the cover 900 is, for example, made by placing two rectangular pieces of cloth one above the other and sewing them together along the dashed lines. The cover 900 has a first region 901 and a pair of second regions 903 and 904 that are divided by sewing. Note that the cover 900 does not have to be made entirely of cloth as long as the first region 901 is made from a material that has good breathability. Examples of materials other than cloth include rubber and vinyl.

The first region 901 is an elongated region into which the tube 910 can be inserted. Both ends of the first region 901 in the longitudinal direction serve as insertion openings 901a and 901b for inserting the tube 910 into the first region 901. The tube 910 can be inserted from either of the insertion openings 901a and 901b.

However, typically, either one of the insertion openings 901a or 901b is selected, and the tube 910 is inserted from the selected insertion opening up to near the center of the longitudinal direction of the first region 901. In other words, it is sufficient that an insertion opening for the tube 910 is provided on at least one of both ends of the longitudinal direction of the first region 901.

The second region 903 is a region having a rectangular planar shape capable of accommodating the elastic body 933. The second region 904 is a region having a rectangular planar shape capable of accommodating the elastic body 934. The second regions 903 and 904 are located on both sides of the first region 901 in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the first region 901 is sandwiched between the pair of second regions 903 and 904.

In the second region 903, the area near the center of the end opposite the side in contact with the first region 901 is an unsewn area, and serves as an insertion opening 903a for inserting the elastic body 933 into the second region 903. In the second region 904, the area near the center of the end opposite the side in contact with the first region 901 is an unsewn area, and serves as an insertion opening 904a for inserting the elastic body 934 into the second region 904. The insertion openings 903a and 904a are left open and not sewn, but a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, snap button, etc. may be provided in this area.

A surplus area may be defined in a part of the first area 901 and the second areas 903 and 904. For example, the area into which the elastic bodies 933 and 934 are not inserted is the surplus area. For example, in the case of FIG. 2, surplus areas 906 and 907 are defined on the sides of the second areas 903 and 904 in the direction in which the tube 910 extends (on both sides of the area into which the elastic bodies 933 and 934 are to be inserted).

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the cover structure according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cover structure according to the first embodiment, showing a cross section along line A-A in Figure 3. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, in the cover structure 950, one end side of the tube 910 is inserted up to near the center in the longitudinal direction of the first region 901 of the cover 900. In addition, the elastic body 933 is housed in the second region 903, and the elastic body 934 is housed in the second region 904.

Elastomers 933 and 934 are low-load elastic bodies made of an easily deformable material such as urethane rubber. Examples of low-load elastic bodies other than urethane rubber include elastomer materials, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber (silicone rubber, urethane rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, etc.). Here, a low-load elastic body is a soft, moldable material that has elasticity like rubber.

The elastic bodies 933 and 934 may be a gel-like substance, water, hot water, air, etc. By using the elastic bodies 933 and 934 housed in the cover 900 according to the season, a patient on the bed can be placed in a comfortable environment. When water or hot water is housed in the elastic bodies 933 and 934, the second regions 903 and 904 of the cover 900 are formed from a material that does not leak water or hot water. Note that breathability is not required for the second regions 903 and 904.

The elastic body 933 and the elastic body 934 do not have to be made of the same material or have the same shape. For example, if the widths of the elastic body 933 and the elastic body 934 are different, the tube 910 is positioned at a position offset from the center of the cover 900.

In addition, since the elastic body 933 is flexible, it can be easily accommodated in the second region 903 through the insertion opening 903a, which is shorter than the longitudinal direction of the elastic body 933, by deforming it, and once accommodated, it is difficult to come out of the insertion opening 903a. Similarly, since the elastic body 934 is flexible, it can be easily accommodated in the second region 904 through the insertion opening 904a, which is shorter than the longitudinal direction of the elastic body 934, by deforming it, and once accommodated, it is difficult to come out of the insertion opening 904a.

The excess regions 906 and 907 can be tucked under the mattress when the cover structure 950 is placed on the bed 800, for example. For example, in FIG. 1, the cover 900 can be formed slightly longer in the extension direction of the tube, so that the excess regions 906 and 907 can be tucked under the mattress. This can prevent the cover structure 950 from shifting out of position relative to the bed 800. The excess regions 906 and 907 may be used for other purposes. Note that only one of the excess regions 906 and 907 may be provided.

In this way, the cover 900 has a first region 901 into which a tube 910 that sucks up odors associated with excretion can be inserted, and a pair of second regions 903 and 904 located on both longitudinal sides of the first region 901 and capable of housing elastic bodies 933 and 934. The first region 901 has a structure that serves as a guide for the tube 910, and therefore can prevent the tube 910 from shifting out of position when inserted into the first region 901.

In addition, in the cover structure 950 in which one end of the tube 910 is inserted into the first region 901 of the cover 900 and the elastic bodies 933 and 934 are housed in the second region 903, the elastic bodies 933 and 934 are arranged on both sides of the tube 910. The tube 910 sandwiched between the elastic bodies 933 and 934 is guided by the opposing sides of the elastic bodies 933 and 934, and is therefore less susceptible to the movement of a patient or the like on the bed. In other words, the cover structure 950 suppresses the displacement of the tube 910, and the tube 910 hardly ever deviates from the same position.

In addition, elastic bodies 933 and 934 are arranged on both sides of the tube 910, and the tube 910 is buried between the elastic bodies 933 and 934, so that a patient on the bed may touch the elastic bodies 933 and 934 but is unlikely to touch the tube 910. Therefore, the patient on the bed will not feel a foreign body sensation, and there is little risk that the tube 910 will be crushed by the patient's buttocks.

In addition, in the cover structure 950, the cover 900, the tube 910, and the elastic bodies 933 and 934 are unitized, so that even when changing the sheets periodically, it is not difficult to remove or attach them.

Below, a modified example of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to modified example 1 of the first embodiment. The cover structure 950 is placed on the bed 800, and when a patient or the like lies on the bed 800, the buttocks of the patient or the like are located near the center of the longitudinal direction of the bed 800. Therefore, in order to effectively suck in the odor associated with the patient's excretion, as described above, it is preferable that the tube 910 is inserted up to near the center of the longitudinal direction of the first region 901.

In the cover 900A shown in FIG. 5, an insertion restriction portion 901c (stopper) that restricts the insertion of the tube 910 is provided near the center of the longitudinal direction of the first region 901. The center of the longitudinal direction of the first region 901 is a position that corresponds to the buttocks of the person emitting odor. The insertion restriction portion 901c can be provided, for example, by sewing near the center of the longitudinal direction of the first region 901.

That is, in the cover 900, the first region 901 penetrates from the insertion port 901a to the insertion port 902b, but in the cover 900A, the first region 901 does not penetrate from the insertion port 901a to the insertion port 902b, but is divided into two regions by an insertion restriction portion 901c provided near the center. The tube 910 can be inserted from either the insertion port 901a or 902b until the tip reaches the insertion restriction portion 901c.

By providing the insertion restriction portion 901c as in the cover 900A, the position of the tip of the tube 910 can be used as a guide when inserting the tube 910 into the first area 901. This makes it easier to insert the tube 910 into the first area 901, and reduces the variation in the position of the tip of the tube 910. As a result, odors associated with the patient's excretions can be stably sucked in from the tip of the tube 910.

Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to the second modification of the first embodiment. Referring to Fig. 6, in the cover 900B, the insertion openings 901a and 902b of the first region 901 are provided with slip-out prevention portions 901d and 901e that prevent the tube 910 from slipping out. The slip-out prevention portions 901d and 901e are arranged, for example, in the excess regions 906 and 907. Only one of the slip-out prevention portions 901d and 901e may be provided.

The anti-slip portions 901d and 901e have, for example, portions that are inclined with respect to the longest straight portion of the first region 901. When a force is applied to the tube 910 in a direction that would cause the tube 910 to come out, the anti-slip portions 901d and 901e are structured to prevent the tube 910 from coming out by reducing the component of force in the direction that the tube 910 comes out at the inclined portions.

In the example of FIG. 6, the fall-out prevention portions 901d and 901e each have a bent structure having two inclined portions and a substantially inverted V shape, but are not limited to this. For example, the fall-out prevention portions 901d and 901e may each have a structure having one inclined portion.

In addition, instead of a bent structure, a curved structure may be used. In short, any structure may be used as long as it generates resistance to a force generated in the direction in which the tube 910 is pulled out. In addition, if the insertion opening for inserting the tube 910 is determined in advance, only one of the pull-out prevention portions 901d and 901e may be provided on the side of the insertion opening.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a bed in which a gas information acquisition device according to Variation 3 of the first embodiment is placed. Figure 8 is a plan view showing an example of a cover according to Variation 3 of the first embodiment. Note that the gas suction and exhaust device 1 is not shown in Figure 7.

7, a cover structure 950C is disposed in a partial area on the sheet 810. The cover structure 950C has a cover _900C1 , a tube 910, and elastic bodies 933 and 934. The cover _900C1 is a member that positions the tube 910, into which one end of the tube 910 can be inserted, and which can accommodate the elastic bodies 933 and 934. The cover structure 950C is formed by inserting one end of the tube 910 into the cover _900C1 and accommodating the elastic bodies 933 and 934.

7 and 8, in the cover _900C1 , both ends of the first region 901 are bent from the horizontal direction in FIG. 8 toward the insertion opening 904a, and the insertion openings 901a and 901b are disposed on the same side as the insertion opening 904a. The insertion openings 901a and 901b are disposed symmetrically with respect to the insertion opening 904a, for example. In order to facilitate bending and inserting the tube 910 into the first region 901, a portion of the first region 901 extending from the insertion openings 901a and 901b to the horizontal direction is not sewn.

In this way, by changing the positions of the insertion openings 901a and 901b, the other end of the tube 910 can be brought to the foot side of the bed 800. This allows, for example, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 to be fixed to the side wall of the footboard of the bed 800 with screws or the like. In addition, the bent portion of the first region 901 can function as a slip-out prevention portion that prevents the tube 910 from slipping out.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cover 900C ₂ may have an insertion opening 901f on the insertion opening 904a side of the insertion opening 901a at a predetermined interval from the insertion opening 901a. Similarly, the insertion opening 901g may have a predetermined interval from the insertion opening 901b on the insertion opening 904a side of the insertion opening 901b. For example, in FIG. 7, the surplus areas 906 and 907 of the cover 900C ₁ may be inserted under the mattress, but depending on the width of the bed, the insertion opening 901a or the insertion opening 901b may enter under the mattress, and the tube 910 may not be inserted. By providing the insertion openings 901f and 901g on the inside of the insertion openings 901a and 901b, the tube insertion openings can be prevented from entering under the mattress even in the case of a narrow bed. If necessary, three or more tube insertion openings may be provided on both sides of the insertion opening 904a.

The tube 910 does not necessarily have to extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed 800. For example, in FIG. 7, the cover structure may be rotated 90 degrees to allow the tube 910 to extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bed 800. This is the same for the examples other than FIG. 7.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a bed in which a gas information acquisition device according to Variation 4 of the first embodiment is placed. Figure 11 is a plan view showing an example of a cover according to Variation 4 of the first embodiment. Note that the gas suction and exhaust device 1 is not shown in Figure 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, a cover structure 950D is disposed in a partial area on the sheet 810. The cover structure 950D has a cover 900D, a tube 910, and elastic bodies 933 and 934. The cover 900D is a member that positions the tube 910, into which one end of the tube 910 can be inserted, and which can accommodate the elastic bodies 933 and 934. The cover structure 950D is formed by inserting one end of the tube 910 into the cover 900D and accommodating the elastic bodies 933 and 934.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, in cover 900D, first region 901 is bent from the horizontal direction in Figure 11 toward insertion opening 903a, and insertion openings 901a and 901b are disposed on the opposing short sides of cover 900D closer to insertion opening 903a than the center of the short sides. Insertion openings 901a and 901b are disposed symmetrically with respect to insertion opening 903a, for example. To facilitate bending and inserting tube 910 into first region 901, a portion of first region 901 extending from insertion openings 901a and 901b in the horizontal direction is not sewn.

In this way, by changing the positions of the insertion openings 901a and 901b, the other end of the tube 910 can be brought to the head side of the bed 800. This allows, for example, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 to be fixed to the side wall of the headboard of the bed 800 with screws or the like. In addition, the bent portion of the first region 901 can function as a slip-out prevention portion that prevents the tube 910 from slipping out.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a bed in which a gas information acquisition device according to Variation 5 of the first embodiment is arranged. Figure 13 is a plan view showing an example of a cover structure according to Variation 5 of the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, a cover structure 950E is disposed in a portion of the sheet 810. The cover structure 950E has a cover 900E, tubes 910 and 920, and elastic bodies 933, 934, and 935. The cover 900E is a member that positions the tube 910, into which one ends of the tubes 910 and 920 can be inserted, and which can accommodate the elastic bodies 933, 934, and 935. The cover structure 950E is formed by inserting one ends of the tubes 910 and 920 into the cover 900E and accommodating the elastic bodies 933, 934, and 935.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, cover 900E is, for example, made by placing two rectangular pieces of cloth one above the other and sewing them at the dashed line positions. Cover 900E has first regions 901 and 902 and second regions 903, 904, and 905 that are divided by sewing. Note that cover 900E does not have to be made entirely of cloth as long as first regions 901 and 902 are made from a breathable material.

The first region 901 is an elongated region into which the tube 910 can be inserted. Both ends of the first region 901 serve as insertion openings 901a and 901b for inserting the tube 910 into the first region 901. The tube 910 can be inserted from either the insertion opening 901a or 901b. In the example of Figures 12 and 13, the tube 910 is inserted from the insertion opening 901a up to near the center of the first region 901 in the longitudinal direction.

The first region 902 is an elongated region into which the tube 920 can be inserted. Both ends of the first region 902 serve as insertion openings 902a and 902b for inserting the tube 920 into the first region 902. The tube 920 can be inserted from either the insertion opening 902a or 902b. In the example of Figures 12 and 13, the tube 920 is inserted from the insertion opening 902a to near the center of the first region 902 in the longitudinal direction.

The second region 903 is a region having a rectangular planar shape capable of accommodating the elastic body 933. The second region 904 is a region having a rectangular planar shape capable of accommodating the elastic body 934. The second region 905 is a region having a rectangular planar shape capable of accommodating the elastic body 935. The second regions 903 and 904 are located on both sides of the first region 901 in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the first region 901 is sandwiched between the pair of second regions 903 and 904. The second regions 904 and 905 are located on both sides of the first region 902 in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the first region 902 is sandwiched between the pair of second regions 904 and 905.

In the second region 903, the vicinity of the center of the end opposite the side in contact with the first region 901 is an unsewn region, and serves as an insertion opening 903a for inserting the elastic body 933 into the second region 903. In the second region 905, the vicinity of the center of the end opposite the side in contact with the first region 902 is an unsewn region, and serves as an insertion opening 905a for inserting the elastic body 935 into the second region 905. The elastic body 934 can be inserted, for example, from the unsewn part on the side where the insertion openings 901a and 902a are provided, or the unsewn part on the side where the insertion openings 901b and 902b are provided. In the examples of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the elastic body 933 is inserted into the second region 903, the elastic body 934 is inserted into the second region 904, and the elastic body 935 is inserted into the second region 905.

A surplus area may be defined in a part of the first areas 901 and 902 and the second areas 903, 904, and 905. For example, the area into which the elastic bodies 933, 934, and 935 are not inserted is the surplus area. For example, in the case of FIG. 13, the surplus areas 906 and 907 are defined on the sides of the second areas 903, 904, and 905 in the direction in which the tubes 910 and 920 extend (on both sides of the area into which the elastic bodies 933, 934, and 935 are to be inserted).

In this way, the number of first regions and second regions is not limited, and can be determined arbitrarily depending on the number of tubes used. Of course, three or more tubes may be used. However, regardless of the number of tubes, the number of second regions will be one more than the number of first regions.

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing a bed in which a gas information acquisition device according to the sixth modified example of the first embodiment is arranged. Referring to Figure 14, a cover 900 is arranged on a portion of the sheet 810, as in Figure 1, and a waterproof sheet 850 is further arranged to cover the cover 900.

By placing the waterproof sheet 850 so as to cover the cover 900, even if dirt occurs on the bed, it is possible to replace the waterproof sheet 850, eliminating the need to replace the cover 900. In other words, the frequency of maintenance of the cover 900 can be significantly reduced. The waterproof sheet 850 may have a structure in which multiple layers are stacked to improve waterproof performance.

[Gas suction and exhaust device 1, tube 910]
Here, the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the tube 910, etc. will be described in detail.

Figure 15 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the case of the gas information acquisition device according to the first embodiment.

The gas information acquisition device 3 is a device in which the gas suction and exhaust device 1 arranged in the case 300 sucks in gas in the measurement area through a tube 910 with one end inserted into the cover 900, exhausts the sucked gas toward a sensor 91 (described later) possessed by the gas suction and exhaust device 1, and acquires gas information (such as odor and humidity) using the sensor 91. In this embodiment, the gas to be detected is air.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the gas information acquisition device 3, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 is disposed in an inner area 320 of a box-shaped case 300. The case 300 is formed of, for example, ABS resin. A plate-shaped top cover 330 is provided on the case 300, but is not shown in FIG. 15.

Figure 16 is a partially enlarged side view of the vicinity of the case of the gas information acquisition device according to the first embodiment. Figure 17 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the case of the gas information acquisition device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in Figures 16 and 17, one end of the tube 910 is inserted into the cover 900 and is a hollow tubular member, and the other end is connected to the protrusion 61 (see Figure 18, etc., described later for details) of the upper case 60, which is the suction side of the gas suction and exhaust device 1, via a through hole formed in the wall of the case 300. The cavity of the tube 910 becomes part of the gas flow path. The tube 910 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or vinyl. The inner and outer diameters of the tube 910 can be determined appropriately as needed, but are, for example, about a few mm.

Tube 910 is removably fixed to the wall of case 300 by fixing members 351, 352, and 353. For example, by making fixing members 352 and 353 into a structure that allows them to be screwed together, tube 910 can be easily attached and detached by rotating fixing member 353. Tube 910 extends from the wall of case 300 to above bed 800, which is the measurement area for gas information.

The gas information acquisition device 3 is used, for example, near a bed 800 placed in a hospital. For example, consider a case in which a patient wearing a diaper is sleeping on the cushion 830 of the bed 800 as a person to be monitored.

In this case, when the gas suction and exhaust device 1 is operated constantly or intermittently in the gas information acquisition device 3, gas near the patient's buttocks is sucked in through the tube 910 inserted into the cover 900. The sucked in gas is detected by the sensor 91 of the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

By analyzing the detection results of the sensor 91 with an analysis device arranged outside the gas information acquisition device 3, information on the air near the patient's buttocks can be reliably acquired via the tube 910. For example, if an odor sensor is used as the sensor 91, information on the odor of the air near the patient's buttocks can be reliably acquired via the tube 910. Also, if a humidity sensor is used as the sensor 91, information on the humidity of the air near the patient's buttocks can be reliably acquired via the tube 910.

For example, by analyzing odors with an analyzer placed outside the gas information acquisition device 3, it is possible to easily detect whether excretion (urination or defecation) has occurred on the bed 800. When the analyzer detects that excretion has occurred on the bed 800, it communicates the detection result to a nurse at the hospital by sound or flashing light, etc., so that the nurse can know, for example, when to change the diaper of the patient lying on the bed 800. As a result, the diaper can be changed in a short time after excretion, so the time that the patient is unsanitary and uncomfortable is also short. The nurse who changes the diaper can also change it smoothly because the diaper is not one that has been left out for a long time. Hygiene can also be ensured.

Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment. Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment, showing a longitudinal section cut through the center of the gas suction and exhaust device 1 to bisect the strain gauge 100 in the longitudinal direction. Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment.

Referring to Figures 18 to 20, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 mainly includes a lower case 10, a microblower 20, a microblower support 30, a filter support plate 40, a filter unit 50, an upper case 60, a sensor 91, and a strain gauge 100.

The lower case 10, microblower 20, microblower support 30, filter support plate 40, filter unit 50, and upper case 60 are fixed with screws 70, but are not glued together, so they can be replaced by removing the screws 70 and disassembling the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

The gas suction and exhaust device 1 is a device that, by driving the piezoelectric element of the microblower 20, sucks in gas from the upper case 60 side, exhausts it to the lower case 10 side, and detects odors, moisture, etc. with a sensor 91. The gas sucked in from the upper case 60 side is exhausted to the lower case 10 side via the filter unit 50. By arranging the filter unit 50 on the gas suction side (upper case 60 side) of the microblower 20, dust and dirt are prevented from entering the inside of the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

The gas to be sucked in and exhausted is typically air, but may also be oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), formaldehyde, alternative fluorocarbons, various gases, etc. The various gases include flammable gases, toxic gases, semiconductor material gases, inert gases, city gas, LP gas, etc.

In this embodiment, for convenience, in the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the upper case 60 side is referred to as the upper side or one side, and the lower case 10 side is referred to as the lower side or the other side. Also, the surface of each part facing the upper case 60 is referred to as one side or top side, and the surface facing the lower case 10 is referred to as the other side or bottom side. However, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 can be used upside down, or placed at any angle. Also, a planar view refers to viewing an object from the normal direction of the top surface of the upper case 60, and a planar shape refers to the shape of an object viewed from the normal direction of the top surface of the upper case 60.

[Method of Assembling the Gas Suction and Exhaust Device 1]
Next, the details of each component of the gas suction and exhaust device 1 will be described through an explanation of a method for assembling the gas suction and exhaust device 1. Figures 21 to 24 are perspective views illustrating an example of a method for assembling the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment.

First, the lower case 10 is prepared as shown by the arrow above in FIG. 21. As shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 21, the lower case 10 is a substantially disk-shaped member made of ABS resin or the like, and has a protruding portion 11 formed on the underside that protrudes on the side opposite the microblower 20. A through hole 12A that serves as a flow path for discharging gas and a through hole 12B that guides the gas to the resistor 130 of the strain gauge 100 are formed in the portion of the protruding portion 11 that faces the microblower 20. In addition, a gauge attachment portion 17 that fixes the strain gauge 100 is formed on the same side of the lower case 10 as the protruding portion 11.

A recess 13 for positioning the microblower 20 is formed on the upper surface side of the lower case 10 (the side opposite to the protrusion 11). The recess 13 is provided in the approximate center of the upper surface side of the lower case 10 and includes a first portion 131 in which the main body 21 of the microblower 20 is disposed, and a second portion 132 provided in the radial direction of the upper surface side of the lower case 10 and in which the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 is disposed. The first portion 131 and the second portion 132 are in communication.

In addition, in the first part 131 of the lower case 10, a substantially semicircular recess 14 that communicates with the first part 131 is formed from the three inner walls, excluding the inner wall on which the second part 132 is provided, toward the outside. In addition, three through holes 15 into which screws are inserted to fasten the various components together are formed at substantially equal intervals on the outer periphery of the lower case 10.

Next, as shown below the arrow in Figure 21, the microblower 20 is placed in the recess 13 provided in the lower case 10. The microblower 20 has a main body 21 and an external connection terminal 22. The main body 21 of the microblower 20 is placed in the first part 131 of the recess 13, and the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 is placed in the second part 132 of the recess 13. The depth of the recess 13 is formed to be approximately the same as the thickness of the microblower 20. Therefore, the upper surface of the lower case 10 and the upper surface of the microblower 20 are approximately flush with each other.

Then, the microblower support 30 is inserted into the recess 23 (seat recess) provided on the outer periphery (e.g., four corners) on one side of the microblower 20. The microblower support 30 is a low-load elastic body that is softer than the lower case 10 and the filter support plate 40 and is made of an easily deformable material such as urethane rubber. Examples of low-load elastic bodies other than urethane rubber include elastomer materials, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber (silicone rubber, urethane rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, etc.). Here, a low-load elastic body is a soft, moldable material that has elasticity like rubber.

The microblower supports 30 are not glued or otherwise attached, but are simply inserted into the recesses 23. One end of each microblower support 30 protrudes from the top surface of the microblower 20.

The tip side of the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 protrudes from the side of the lower case 10, enabling electrical connection between the piezoelectric element 215a (described below) that constitutes the microblower 20 and a circuit provided outside the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

The three semicircular recesses 14 located on the outside of the microblower 20 are provided to make it easier to remove the microblower 20 when replacing the microblower 20 for maintenance or the like. That is, each recess 14 exposes a part of the side of the microblower 20, so that the microblower 20 can be easily removed by pinching the side of the microblower 20. As long as the side of the microblower 20 can be pinched, the recesses 14 can be a shape other than semicircular. Also, as long as the side of the microblower 20 can be pinched, the number of recesses 14 does not have to be three.

Next, as shown above the arrow in FIG. 22, a filter support plate 40 is prepared. The filter support plate 40 is a roughly disk-shaped member made of ABS resin or the like, and has a through hole 41 formed in roughly the center, which becomes part of the gas flow path.

In addition, in the filter support plate 40, a recess 42 for positioning the filter unit 50 is formed around the through hole 41. The recess 42 is provided in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the through hole 41, and the filter unit 50 is disposed therein.

In addition, three through holes 43 into which screws are inserted to fasten each component are formed at approximately equal intervals on the outer periphery of the filter support plate 40. The filter support plate 40 is positioned so that the position of each through hole 43 coincides with each through hole 15 of the lower case 10.

Next, as shown below the arrow in Figure 22, the filter support plate 40 is placed on the lower case 10 and the microblower 20. The opening 219a (described below) of the microblower 20 is exposed in the through hole 41 of the filter support plate 40.

When the filter support plate 40 is placed on the lower case 10 and the microblower 20, the protruding parts of each microblower support 30 are pressed and deformed (crushed) by the filter support plate 40 placed opposite the lower case 10 with the microblower 20 in between. As a result, the microblower support 30 presses the microblower 20 towards the lower case 10, so that the microblower 20 is stably held within the recess 13 of the lower case 10.

Next, as shown in the upper arrow of FIG. 23, the filter unit 50 is prepared. Then, as shown in the lower arrow of FIG. 23, the filter unit 50 is placed in a recess 42 that positions the filter unit 50 and is provided in the filter support plate 40. The outer periphery of the filter unit 50 is placed in the recess 42.

The depth of the recess 42 is formed to be approximately the same as the thickness of the filter unit 50. Therefore, the upper surface of the filter support plate 40 and the upper surface of the filter unit 50 are approximately flush with each other.

The filter unit 50 is simply positioned in the recess 42 of the filter support plate 40, and is not fixed with adhesive or the like. In other words, the filter unit 50 is held in a removable state by the filter support plate 40, which is a filter holding member, and can be easily replaced by disassembling the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

Next, the upper case 60 is prepared as shown above the arrow in FIG. 24. As shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 24, the upper case 60 is a substantially disk-shaped member made of ABS resin or the like, and a protrusion 61 is formed at the approximate center of the upper surface, protruding on the opposite side to the filter unit 50. A through hole 62 is formed at the approximate center of the protrusion 61, which serves as a flow path for sucking in gas. The tip side of the protrusion 61 is, for example, chamfered to form a truncated cone shape.

Three recesses 63 (counterbores) are formed at approximately equal intervals on the outer periphery of the top surface of the upper case 60, and each recess 63 has three through holes 64 through which screws are inserted to fasten each component together.

Next, as shown below the arrow in FIG. 24, the upper case 60 is placed on the filter support plate 40 and the filter unit 50, and screws 70 are inserted into each through-hole 64. The screws 70 are inserted, for example, into the through-holes 64 of the upper case 60, the through-holes 43 of the filter support plate 40, and the through-holes 15 of the lower case 10, protruding from the underside of the lower case 10, and fixed by nuts on the underside of the lower case 10. This completes the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

Finally, it is preferable to fill any gaps that occur near the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 with adhesive or the like. This is to prevent the gas inside the gas suction and exhaust device 1 from leaking to the outside, and to prevent dust and the like from entering the inside of the gas suction and exhaust device 1.

[Microblower 20]
Next, the microblower 20 will be described. Fig. 25 is a plan view illustrating the microblower of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the microblower of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment, showing a cross section along line B-B in Fig. 25.

Referring to Figures 25 and 26, the microblower 20 is a device that drives a piezoelectric element to suck in and expel gas, and has a main body 21 and an external connection terminal 22. The size of the main body 21 is, for example, approximately 20 mm long x 20 mm wide x 2 mm high.

The main body 21 has an outer case 211 and an inner case 212. The outer case 211 covers the outside of the inner case 212 without contacting it with a specified gap. The outer case 211 has a cylindrical cavity 211a that is open at the top, and the circular inner case 212 is housed in the cavity 211a with a specified gap.

The inner case 212 is elastically supported on the outer case 211 via, for example, spring connectors 214. A gas inflow passage 217a is formed between the outer case 211 and the inner case 212. A plurality of spring connectors 214 (four in the example of Figs. 25 and 26) are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction between the inner wall of the outer case 211 and the outer wall of the inner case 212.

The top of the inner case 212 is open, and a vibration plate 215 is fixed to close the opening of the inner case 212, forming a first blower chamber 216 between the inner case 212 and the vibration plate 215. The vibration plate 215 has a unimorph structure in which a piezoelectric element 215a made of piezoelectric ceramic is attached to the center of a diaphragm 215b made of a thin elastic metal plate. By applying a voltage of a predetermined frequency to the piezoelectric element 215a, the entire vibration plate 215 is resonantly driven in bending mode. The piezoelectric element 215a is fixed, for example, to the surface of the diaphragm 215b opposite the first blower chamber 216 side.

In the inner case 212, the wall 212a facing the vibration plate 215 constitutes one wall surface of the first blower chamber 216. A through hole 212b that connects the inside and outside of the first blower chamber 216 is formed in the part of the wall 212a facing the center of the vibration plate 215. A wall 211b is provided in the part of the outer case 211 facing the wall 212a, and a through hole 211c is formed in the center of the wall 211b, i.e., in the part facing the through hole 212b. The through hole 211c serves as a gas discharge port. A predetermined inflow space 217b is formed between the wall 211b and the wall 212a, and the inflow space 217b constitutes a part of the inflow passage 217a described above. The inflow space 217b has the role of guiding the gas introduced from the inflow passage 217a to the vicinity of the through holes 212b and 211c.

A wall portion 219 is provided on the upper surface of the outer case 211, i.e., on the opposite side of the vibration plate 215 from the first blower chamber 216, to form the second blower chamber 218 between the vibration plate 215. The wall portion 219 is, for example, a lid member fixed to close the opening at the upper end of the outer case 211. An opening portion 219a is formed in the center of the wall portion 219 to connect the outside to the second blower chamber 218.

The volume of the second blower chamber 218 and the opening area of the opening 219a are set so that a pseudo-resonant space can be formed in association with the vibration of the diaphragm 215. The second blower chamber 218 and the inflow passage 217a are interconnected. Therefore, the gas that flows into the second blower chamber 218 through the opening 219a is supplied to the inflow space 217b through the inflow passage 217a.

In the microblower 20, when an AC voltage of a predetermined frequency is applied to the piezoelectric element 215a via the external connection terminal 22, the vibration plate 215 is resonantly driven, and the volume of the first blower chamber 216 changes periodically. When the volume of the first blower chamber 216 increases, the air in the inflow space 217b is sucked into the first blower chamber 216 through the through hole 212b. Conversely, when the volume of the first blower chamber 216 decreases, the air in the first blower chamber 216 is discharged into the inflow space 217b through the through hole 212b.

Since the vibration plate 215 is driven at high frequency, the high-speed, high-energy gas flow discharged from the through-hole 212b into the inflow space 217b passes through the inflow space 217b and is discharged from the through-hole 211c. At this time, the gas is discharged from the through-hole 211c while drawing in the surrounding gas in the inflow space 217b. Therefore, a continuous gas flow is generated from the inflow passage 217a toward the inflow space 217b, and the gas is continuously discharged from the through-hole 211c as a jet. The gas flow is indicated by arrows in FIG. 26.

[Filter unit 50]
Next, the filter unit 50 will be described. Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the filter unit of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the first embodiment. Referring to Fig. 27, the filter unit 50 has a filter support 51, a filter 52, and a filter support 55. These members are fixed to each other, for example, in the order shown in the figure, by double-sided tape arranged on the outer periphery between each member. The double-sided tape can be, for example, of the same shape as the filter support 51.

The filter supports 51 and 55 are members that hold the filter 52 from both sides, and are formed, for example, from a polyimide film. The filter support 51 side is the gas intake side, and the filter support 55 side is the gas exhaust side. The filter supports 51 and 55 may be provided as needed. For example, if the strength of the filter unit 50 is sufficient, one or both of the filter supports 51 and 55 may not be provided.

The filter 52 is a member that prevents dust and dirt from entering the inside of the gas suction and exhaust device 1, and is preferably capable of removing dust and dirt at the submicron level. The filter 52 can be made of, for example, polyester, polyethylene, rayon, polypropylene, etc., but any material can be used as long as it has the above-mentioned functions.

[Strain gauge 100]
Next, the strain gauge 100 will be described. Fig. 28 is a plan view illustrating the strain gauge according to the first embodiment. Fig. 29 is a cross-sectional view (part 1) illustrating the strain gauge according to the first embodiment, showing a cross section along line CC in Fig. 28. With reference to Figs. 28 and 29, the strain gauge 100 has a substrate 110, a resistor 130, wiring 140, and a terminal portion 150.

As shown in FIG. 19, the strain gauge 100 is fixed to the underside of the protruding portion 11 with double-sided tape or adhesive so that the resistor 130 is exposed in the through-hole 12B, and is further fixed to the gauge mounting portion 17 with screws 71. The terminal portion 150 of the strain gauge 100 protrudes from the side of the lower case 10, allowing electrical connection between the strain gauge 100 and a circuit provided outside the gas suction and exhaust device 1. The base material 110 of the strain gauge 100 also serves as a strain body.

The substrate 110 is a flexible member that serves as a base layer for forming the resistor 130 and the like. There are no particular limitations on the thickness of the substrate 110, and it can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose, but it can be, for example, about 5 μm to 500 μm. In particular, a thickness of 5 μm to 200 μm is preferable in terms of the transmission of strain from the surface of the strain generator 54 that is joined to the underside of the substrate 110 via double-sided tape or the like, and dimensional stability against the environment, and a thickness of 10 μm or more is even more preferable in terms of insulation.

The substrate 110 can be formed from an insulating resin film such as PI (polyimide) resin, epoxy resin, PEEK (polyether ether ketone) resin, PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) resin, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) resin, polyolefin resin, etc. Note that a film refers to a flexible material with a thickness of about 500 μm or less.

Here, "formed from an insulating resin film" does not prevent the base material 110 from containing fillers, impurities, etc. in the insulating resin film. The base material 110 may be formed from an insulating resin film containing fillers such as silica or alumina.

Examples of materials other than resin for the base material 110 include _SiO2 , _ZrO2 (including YSZ), Si, _Si2N3 , _Al2O3 (including sapphire), ZnO, perovskite ceramics ( _CaTiO3 , _BaTiO3 ), etc. Metals such _as aluminum, aluminum alloys (duralumin), and titanium may also be used as the material for the _base material 110. In this case, for example, an insulating film is formed on the metal base material 110.

The resistor 130 is a thin film formed in a predetermined pattern on the substrate 110, and is a sensing part that generates a resistance change when strained. The predetermined pattern is, for example, a zigzag folded pattern. The resistor 130 may be formed directly on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110, or may be formed on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 via another layer. For convenience, the resistor 130 is shown in FIG. 28 as having a matte pattern.

The resistor 130 can be formed, for example, from a material containing Cr (chromium), a material containing Ni (nickel), or a material containing both Cr and Ni. That is, the resistor 130 can be formed from a material containing at least one of Cr and Ni. An example of a material containing Cr is a Cr mixed phase film. An example of a material containing Ni is Cu-Ni (copper-nickel). An example of a material containing both Cr and Ni is Ni-Cr (nickel-chromium).

Here, the Cr mixed phase film is a film in which Cr, CrN, Cr ₂ N, etc. are mixed together. The Cr mixed phase film may contain inevitable impurities such as chromium oxide.

The thickness of the resistor 130 is not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose, but can be, for example, about 0.05 μm to 2 μm. In particular, a thickness of 0.1 μm or more is preferable in that the crystallinity of the crystals constituting the resistor 130 (for example, the crystallinity of α-Cr) is improved, and a thickness of 1 μm or less is even more preferable in that film cracks caused by internal stress in the film constituting the resistor 130 and warping from the substrate 110 can be reduced.

For example, when the resistor 130 is a Cr mixed phase film, the stability of the gauge characteristics can be improved by making the main component α-Cr (alpha chromium), which is a stable crystal phase. In addition, by making the resistor 130 mainly composed of α-Cr, the gauge factor of the strain gauge 100 can be set to 10 or more, and the gauge factor temperature coefficient TCS and the resistance temperature coefficient TCR can be set within the range of -1000 ppm/°C to +1000 ppm/°C. Here, the main component means that the target substance accounts for 50 mass% or more of the total substance constituting the resistor, but from the viewpoint of improving the gauge characteristics, it is preferable that the resistor 130 contains α-Cr at 80 weight% or more. Note that α-Cr is Cr with a bcc structure (body-centered cubic lattice structure).

Wires 140 are connected to both ends of the resistor 130, and each of the wires 140 is connected to a pair of terminals 150. The terminals 150 are formed, for example, in a plan view, to be wider than the wires 140 and have a generally rectangular shape. The terminals 150 are a pair of electrodes for outputting the change in resistance value of the resistor 130 caused by distortion to the outside, and for example, lead wires for external connection are joined to the terminals 150.

The wiring 140 and the terminal portion 150 can be formed integrally with the resistor 130, for example, in the same process as the resistor 130 using the same material. A conductor layer (e.g., copper, etc.) having a lower resistance than the resistor 130 may be provided on the upper surface of the terminal portion 150. The upper surface of the terminal portion 150 may also be covered with a metal (e.g., copper, gold, etc.) having better solderability than the terminal portion 150.

A cover layer (insulating resin layer) may be provided on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 so as to cover the resistor 130 and the wiring 140 and expose the terminal portion 150. By providing the cover layer, mechanical damage to the resistor 130 and the wiring 140 can be prevented. Furthermore, by providing the cover layer, the resistor 130 and the wiring 140 can be protected from moisture and the like. The cover layer may be provided so as to cover the entire portion except for the terminal portion 150.

The cover layer can be formed from an insulating resin such as PI resin, epoxy resin, PEEK resin, PEN resin, PET resin, PPS resin, or composite resin (e.g., silicone resin, polyolefin resin). The cover layer may contain a filler or pigment. There is no particular limit to the thickness of the cover layer, and it can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but it can be, for example, about 2 μm to 30 μm.

To manufacture the strain gauge 100, first, a substrate 110 is prepared, and the resistor 130, wiring 140, and terminal portion 150 having a planar shape as shown in FIG. 28 are formed on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110. The materials and thicknesses of the resistor 130, wiring 140, and terminal portion 150 are as described above. The resistor 130, wiring 140, and terminal portion 150 can be integrally formed from the same material.

The resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 can be formed, for example, by depositing a film by magnetron sputtering using a raw material capable of forming the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 as a target, and then patterning the film by photolithography. Instead of magnetron sputtering, the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 may be deposited by reactive sputtering, vapor deposition, arc ion plating, pulsed laser deposition, or the like.

From the viewpoint of stabilizing the gauge characteristics, it is preferable to vacuum-form a functional layer having a thickness of about 1 nm to 100 nm on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 as a base layer, for example, by conventional sputtering, before forming the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150. After forming the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 on the entire upper surface of the functional layer, the functional layer is patterned into the planar shape shown in FIG. 28 together with the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 by photolithography.

In this application, the functional layer refers to a layer that has the function of promoting the crystal growth of at least the upper layer, the resistor 130. The functional layer preferably also has the function of preventing oxidation of the resistor 130 due to oxygen and moisture contained in the substrate 110, and the function of improving the adhesion between the substrate 110 and the resistor 130. The functional layer may also have other functions.

The insulating resin film that constitutes the substrate 110 contains oxygen and moisture, and since Cr forms a self-oxidizing film, particularly when the resistor 130 contains Cr, it is effective for the functional layer to have the function of preventing oxidation of the resistor 130.

The material of the functional layer is not particularly limited as long as it has the function of promoting the crystal growth of at least the upper layer, the resistor 130, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the functional layer may be one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Cr (chromium), Ti (titanium), V (vanadium), Nb (niobium), Ta (tantalum), Ni (nickel), Y (yttrium), Zr (zirconium), Hf (hafnium), Si (silicon), C (carbon), Zn (zinc), Cu (copper), Bi (bismuth), Fe (iron), Mo (molybdenum), W (tungsten), Ru (ruthenium), Rh (rhodium), Re (rhenium), Os (osmium), Ir (iridium), Pt (platinum), Pd (palladium), Ag (silver), Au (gold), Co (cobalt), Mn (manganese), and Al (aluminum), an alloy of any of the metals in this group, or a compound of any of the metals in this group.

Examples of the alloy include FeCr, TiAl, FeNi, NiCr, CrCu, _etc. Examples of the compound include TiN, TaN, _Si3N4 , _TiO2 , _Ta2O5 , _SiO2 , _etc.

The functional layer can be formed in a vacuum by conventional sputtering, for example, using a raw material capable of forming the functional layer as a target and introducing Ar (argon) gas into a chamber. By using conventional sputtering, the functional layer is formed while etching the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 with Ar, so that the amount of the functional layer formed can be minimized and the effect of improving adhesion can be obtained.

However, this is just one example of a method for forming the functional layer, and the functional layer may be formed by other methods. For example, a method may be used in which the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 is activated by plasma treatment using Ar or the like before forming the functional layer, thereby improving adhesion, and then the functional layer is vacuum-formed by magnetron sputtering.

There are no particular restrictions on the combination of the material of the functional layer with the material of the resistor 130, wiring 140, and terminal portion 150, and these can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. For example, it is possible to use Ti for the functional layer, and form a Cr mixed phase film with α-Cr (alpha chromium) as the main component for the resistor 130, wiring 140, and terminal portion 150.

In this case, for example, the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 can be formed by magnetron sputtering using a raw material capable of forming a Cr mixed phase film as a target and introducing Ar gas into the chamber. Alternatively, the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150 can be formed by reactive sputtering using pure Cr as a target and introducing an appropriate amount of nitrogen gas into the chamber together with Ar gas.

In these methods, the growth surface of the Cr mixed-phase film is determined by the functional layer made of Ti, and a Cr mixed-phase film can be formed that is mainly composed of α-Cr, which has a stable crystal structure. In addition, the Ti that constitutes the functional layer diffuses into the Cr mixed-phase film, improving the gauge characteristics. For example, the gauge factor of the strain gauge 100 can be set to 10 or more, and the gauge factor temperature coefficient TCS and the resistance temperature coefficient TCR can be set within the range of -1000 ppm/°C to +1000 ppm/°C. Note that when the functional layer is formed from Ti, the Cr mixed-phase film may contain Ti and TiN (titanium nitride).

When the resistor 130 is a Cr mixed phase film, the functional layer made of Ti has all of the following functions: promoting crystal growth of the resistor 130, preventing oxidation of the resistor 130 due to oxygen and moisture contained in the substrate 110, and improving adhesion between the substrate 110 and the resistor 130. The same applies when Ta, Si, Al, or Fe is used instead of Ti as the functional layer.

In this way, by providing a functional layer under the resistor 130, it is possible to promote crystal growth of the resistor 130, and a resistor 130 consisting of a stable crystalline phase can be produced. As a result, the stability of the gauge characteristics of the strain gauge 100 can be improved. In addition, the material constituting the functional layer diffuses into the resistor 130, thereby improving the gauge characteristics of the strain gauge 100.

After forming the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150, if necessary, a cover layer that covers the resistor 130 and the wiring 140 and exposes the terminal portion 150 is provided on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110, thereby completing the strain gauge 100. The cover layer can be produced, for example, by laminating a semi-cured thermosetting insulating resin film on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 so as to cover the resistor 130 and the wiring 140 and expose the terminal portion 150, and then heating and curing the film. The cover layer may also be produced by applying a liquid or paste-like thermosetting insulating resin to the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 so as to cover the resistor 130 and the wiring 140 and expose the terminal portion 150, and then heating and curing the resin.

When a functional layer is provided on the upper surface 110a of the substrate 110 as an underlayer for the resistor 130, the wiring 140, and the terminal portion 150, the strain gauge 100 has a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 30. The layer indicated by the reference numeral 120 is the functional layer. When the functional layer 120 is provided, the planar shape of the strain gauge 100 is the same as that shown in FIG. 28.

[Sensor 91]
In the gas suction and exhaust device 1 , a wiring board 92 on which a sensor 91 is mounted is fixed to the lower case 10 by screws 94 via a plurality of columnar spacers 93 .

The sensor 91 is disposed on the gas exhaust side of the microblower 20 and has the function of acquiring gas information. In this embodiment, the sensor 91 is disposed on the gas exhaust side of the protrusion 11 of the lower case 10 and acquires information on the gas exhausted from the through-hole 12A. The diameter of the through-hole 12A may be enlarged so that the sensor 91 is disposed within the through-hole 12A. In this case, the side of the sensor 91 is surrounded by the inner wall of the through-hole 12A, thereby improving the detection power of the sensor 91. In addition, two or more through-holes through which the sensor 91 acquires gas information may be provided.

The sensor 91 is, for example, an odor sensor that detects the odor of the gas as information about the gas discharged from the through-hole 12A. As the odor sensor, for example, a well-known sensor such as a semiconductor type or a quartz oscillator type can be used. The sensor 91 may also be a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, or another sensor.

The wiring board 92 is a resin board such as a glass epoxy board, a silicon board, a ceramic board, or the like, on which a wiring pattern and component mounting lands are formed. The wiring board 92 is provided with connectors and wires for inputting and outputting signals from and to the outside of the gas suction and exhaust device 1. The wiring board 92 may be equipped with a circuit for driving the piezoelectric element 215a, an analog front end for connecting to the terminal portion 150 of the strain gauge 100, and the like. The analog front end may include, for example, a bridge circuit, an amplifier, an analog/digital conversion circuit (A/D conversion circuit), and the like. The analog front end may include a temperature compensation circuit.

By equipping the gas suction and exhaust device 1 with a sensor 91, it becomes possible to easily detect the odor, humidity, etc. of the gas.

In this way, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 uses a microblower that drives a piezoelectric element to suck in and exhaust gas, so it can be made smaller than conventional pumps that drive motors, etc. As a result, it is possible to make the gas information acquisition device 3, which consists mainly of the gas suction and exhaust device 1, smaller.

In addition, because the gas suction and exhaust device 1 uses only one tube, the number of microblowers to be connected and other parts and electrical circuits used can be reduced, making it possible to miniaturize the gas information acquisition device 3. In addition, the miniaturization of the gas information acquisition device 3 also improves the freedom of where the gas information acquisition device 3 is installed.

In addition, because the gas suction and exhaust device 1 uses only one tube, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount (length) of tubes used compared to conventional devices that used around six tubes, which offers price benefits.

In addition, the gas suction and exhaust device 1 uses only one tube, which simplifies the configuration of the gas suction and exhaust device 1 and makes maintenance easier.

The gas suction and exhaust device 1 also has a filter unit 50 on the suction side, and the strain gauge 100 can detect clogging of the filter 52 (amount of gas suctioned). The strain gauge 100 can also detect the condition of the tube 910. The condition of the tube 910 includes whether the tube 910 is crushed or bent, whether holes are clogged, etc.

In other words, a load is applied to the strain gauge 100 by the gas sucked in by the microblower 20. This causes the strain gauge 100 to deform, and the resistance value of the resistor 130 of the strain gauge 100 to change. By measuring the change in the resistance value of the resistor 130 via the wiring 140 and the terminal portion 150, the clogging state of the filter 52 and the state of the tube 910 can be detected.

That is, as the clogging state of the filter 52 or the crushing or bending of the tube 910 increases, the suction force decreases, and the load applied from the gas to the resistor 130 of the strain gauge 100 through the through hole 12B decreases, and the resistance value of the resistor 130 decreases. Therefore, the strain gauge 100 can accurately detect the clogging of the filter 52 and the crushing or bending of the tube 910 based on the change in the resistance value of the resistor 130. For example, when the resistance value of the strain gauge 100 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, it is possible to determine the clogging of the filter 52 and the crushing or bending of the tube 910. By monitoring the clogging state of the filter 52 and the crushing or bending of the tube 910, it is possible to constantly suck in and discharge the appropriate gas, and accurately detect the presence or absence of excrement.

In addition, in the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the lower case 10 is provided with a recess 14 that exposes the side of the microblower 20, making it easy to remove the microblower 20 when replacing it for maintenance, etc.

The microblower 20 also uses the piezoelectric element 215a to move the gas, but because it is very delicate, the microblower 20 cannot operate accurately if a load is applied to any part other than the outer periphery. For this reason, in the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the microblower 20 is fixed by inserting a microblower support 30, which is a low-load elastic body, into a recess 23 provided on the outer periphery (e.g., the four corners) of the microblower 20. This reduces the risk of stress being applied to the microblower 20, which could affect the operation of the piezoelectric element 215a, and enables the microblower 20 to operate accurately.

In addition, attaching the microblower 20 to the lower case 10 using double-sided tape is undesirable because it may cause problems such as tilted attachment or the double-sided tape protruding when attached, and it is also possible that performance may be damaged when replacing the microblower 20. By using the microblower support 30 to fix the microblower 20, the occurrence of such problems can be avoided.

In addition, once attached, the microblower support 30 cannot be reused when fixed with double-sided tape or adhesive, but by inserting the microblower support 30, which is a low-load elastic body, into the recess 23, the microblower support 30 can be reused.

In addition, when a Cr mixed-phase film that provides a high gauge factor is used as the material for the resistor 130 of the strain gauge 100, clogging of the filter 52 and crushing or bending of the tube 910 can be detected with high sensitivity.

Second Embodiment
In the second embodiment, an example of a gas information acquisition device including a gas suction and exhaust device having a plurality of micro-blowers is shown. Note that in the second embodiment, the description of the same components as those in the previously described embodiments may be omitted.

Figure 31 is a perspective view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to the second embodiment. Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a gas suction and exhaust device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment, showing a longitudinal section cut through the center of the gas suction and exhaust device 1A to bisect the strain gauge 100 in the longitudinal direction.

The gas information acquisition device 3 may have a gas suction and exhaust device 1A instead of the gas suction and exhaust device 1. Referring to Figures 31 and 32, the gas suction and exhaust device 1A differs from the gas suction and exhaust device 1 having one microblower 20 (see Figures 18, 19, etc.) in that the gas suction and exhaust device 1A has four microblower 20. The gas suction and exhaust device 1A has a lower case 10, four microblower 20, a microblower support 30, a filter support plate 40, a filter unit 50, an upper case 60, and three microblower cases 80.

Next, the details of each component of the gas suction and exhaust device 1A will be described through an explanation of the assembly method of the gas suction and exhaust device 1A. Figures 33 and 34 are perspective views illustrating an assembly method of the gas suction and exhaust device according to the second embodiment.

First, the same assembly as in FIG. 21 of the first embodiment is performed, and the first microblower 20 is placed in the recess 13 of the lower case 10. Next, as shown above the arrow in FIG. 33, a microblower case 80 is prepared, and as shown below the arrow in FIG. 33, the microblower case 80 is placed on the lower case 10 with the first microblower 20 placed in the recess 13.

The microblower case 80 is a substantially disk-shaped member made of ABS resin or the like, and has the same structure as the lower case 10, except that it does not have a protruding portion 11 and has a through hole 82 instead of the through holes 12A and 12B. However, the thickness of the microblower case 80 may be thicker than that of the lower case 10.

A recess 83 for positioning the microblower 20 is formed on the upper surface side of the microblower case 80. The recess 83 is provided in the approximate center of the upper surface side of the microblower case 80 and includes a first portion 831 in which the main body 21 of the microblower 20 is disposed, and a second portion 832 in the radial direction of the upper surface side of the microblower case 80 in which the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 is disposed. The first portion 831 and the second portion 832 are in communication. A through hole 82 that serves as a flow path for discharging gas is formed in the approximate center of the first portion 831.

In addition, in the first part 831 of the microblower case 80, a substantially semicircular recess 84 that communicates with the first part 831 is formed from the three inner walls, excluding the inner wall on which the second part 832 is provided, toward the outside. In addition, three through holes 85 into which screws are inserted to fix each component to each other are formed at substantially equal intervals on the outer periphery of the microblower case 80.

Next, as shown above the arrow in Figure 34, a second microblower 20 is placed in the recess 83 of the microblower case 80. The main body 21 of the microblower 20 is placed in the first part 831 of the recess 83, and the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 is placed in the second part 832 of the recess 83. The depth of the recess 83 is formed to be approximately the same as the thickness of the microblower 20. Therefore, the top surface of the microblower case 80 and the top surface of the microblower 20 are approximately flush with each other.

Then, as shown below the arrow in Figure 34, the microblower supports 30 are inserted into the recesses 23 on the outer periphery of the microblower 20. The microblower supports 30 are not glued or otherwise attached, but are simply inserted into the recesses 23. One end of each microblower support 30 protrudes from the top surface of the microblower 20.

The tip side of the external connection terminal 22 of the microblower 20 protrudes from the side of the microblower case 80, enabling electrical connection between the piezoelectric element 215a constituting the microblower 20 and a circuit provided outside the gas suction and exhaust device 1A.

The three semicircular recesses 84 located on the outside of the microblower 20 are provided to make it easier to remove the microblower 20 when replacing the microblower 20 for maintenance or the like. That is, each recess 84 exposes a part of the side of the microblower 20, so that the microblower 20 can be easily removed by pinching the side of the microblower 20. As long as the side of the microblower 20 can be pinched, the recesses 84 may be any shape other than semicircular.

Furthermore, in the same manner as in FIG. 33, a second microblower case 80 is placed on the first microblower case 80 in which a second microblower 20 is placed in the recess 83. Then, in the same manner as in FIG. 34, a third microblower 20 is placed in the recess 83 of the second microblower case 80.

Furthermore, in the same manner as in FIG. 33, a third microblower case 80 is placed on the second microblower case 80 in which the third microblower 20 is placed in the recess 83. Then, in the same manner as in FIG. 34, a fourth microblower 20 is placed in the recess 83 of the third microblower case 80.

Next, in the same manner as in Figures 22 to 24 of the first embodiment, the filter support plate 40, filter unit 50, and upper case 60 are sequentially placed on the third microblower case 80 in which the fourth microblower 20 is placed in the recess 83, and fixed with screws 70. This completes the gas suction and exhaust device 1A.

Finally, it is preferable to fill any gaps that occur near the external connection terminals 22 of each microblowers 20 with adhesive or the like. This is to prevent the gas inside the gas suction and exhaust device 1A from leaking to the outside and to prevent dust and the like from entering the inside of the gas suction and exhaust device 1A.

In this way, the gas suction and exhaust device 1A has an increased number of micro-blowers 20, which improves the suction and exhaust force. In this embodiment, four micro-blowers 20 are arranged in series with the gas suction and exhaust directions aligned, but the number of micro-blowers 20 may be two, three, five or more. The more micro-blowers 20 there are, the more the suction and exhaust force can be improved. Therefore, when using the gas suction and exhaust device 1A in the gas information acquisition device 3, the number of micro-blowers 20 can be selected so as to satisfy the suction and exhaust force required by the gas information acquisition device 3. Note that the micro-blowers 20 are originally small, so they have almost no effect on the overall size of the case 300.

In addition, in the gas suction and exhaust device 1A, as in the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the filter unit 50 is disposed on the gas suction side of any of the microblowers 20, so that dust and dirt can be prevented from entering the inside of the gas suction and exhaust device 1A. Also, as in the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the strain gauge 100 can detect the clogged state of the filter 52 and the crushing or bending of the tube 910. By monitoring the clogged state of the filter 52 and the crushing or bending of the tube 910, it is possible to always properly suction and discharge gas.

In addition, in the gas suction and exhaust device 1A, the lower case 10 and each microblower case 80 are provided with a recess that exposes the side of the microblower 20, making it easy to remove the microblower 20 when replacing it for maintenance, etc.

In addition, in the gas suction and exhaust device 1A, like the gas suction and exhaust device 1, the microblower 20 is fixed by inserting the microblower support 30, which is a low-load elastic body, into the recess 23 provided on the outer periphery of the microblower 20. This allows the microblower 20 to operate accurately.

In addition, once attached, the microblower support 30 cannot be reused if it is fixed with double-sided tape or adhesive, but by inserting the microblower support 30, which is a low-load elastic body, into the recess 23, the microblower support 30 can be reused.

Third Embodiment
In the second embodiment, an example of a gas information acquisition device in which a gas suction and exhaust device is integrated with a deodorizing unit, etc. In the third embodiment, the description of the same components as those in the embodiments already described may be omitted.

Figure 35 is a perspective view illustrating a gas information acquisition device according to the second embodiment. Note that in Figure 35, the top cover of the housing 400 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 35, the gas information acquisition device 3A has a gas suction and exhaust device 1A and a cover structure 950. However, in FIG. 35, the cover structure 950 is not shown except for the other end side of the tube 910. In the gas information acquisition device 3A, the gas suction and exhaust device 1A, the deodorizing unit 410, and the circuit board 420 are housed in the same housing 400.

The housing 400 is made of, for example, resin or a metal plate. The size of the housing 400 can be, for example, about 180 mm in length × 90 mm in width × 50 mm in height. However, by miniaturizing the circuit board 420, it is possible to reduce the size to about 1/3 in the vertical direction and about 1/2 in the height direction. The housing 400 is provided with a through hole 400x for discharging gas to the outside. In this embodiment, the sensor 91 is an odor sensor.

The deodorizing unit 410 is provided to eliminate the odor of the gas sucked in by the gas suction and exhaust device 1A through the tube 910 and exhausted to the sensor 91 side. The deodorizing unit 410 may be, for example, activated carbon that adsorbs and absorbs unpleasant odors to remove them, a bio-deodorizer that biologically processes them, or a deodorizer (fragrance) that changes unpleasant odors into a gentle scent. Biological processing is a process in which microorganisms take in malodorous substances and components that are the source of odors in order to survive, oxidize and decompose them, and convert them into energy.

The circuit board 420 may be provided with, for example, a power supply circuit to supply power to the microblower 20, a circuit connected to the sensor 91, a circuit for detecting the presence or absence of excrement, and transmitting the results to the outside. In addition, the circuit board 420 is provided with a connector 430, which allows electrical connection to the outside. The connector 430 may be disposed on the side opposite to the side to which the tube 910 is connected.

In this way, in the gas information acquisition device 3A, by disposing the deodorizing unit 410 inside the housing 400, even if the gas discharged by the gas suction and exhaust device 1A has an unpleasant odor (bad smell), the gas can be deodorized by the deodorizing unit 410 before being released to the outside through the through-hole 400x. Therefore, the room in which the gas information acquisition device 3A is installed can be made into a comfortable environment free of unpleasant odors (bad smells). Furthermore, since there is no unpleasant odor (bad smell) associated with the gas exhausted by the gas information acquisition device 3A in the room, the sensor 91 can detect the odor that it should have detected, preventing erroneous detection.

Although the preferred embodiments have been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.

For example, in each embodiment and its modified examples, the measurement area is on the bed, but the measurement area is not limited to the bed and may be on any bedding on which the person to be monitored (care recipient, patient, etc.) can lie. Examples of bedding include beds, futons, mattresses, cushioning materials, and the like.

In addition, in each gas suction and exhaust device, a pressure gauge may be used instead of a strain gauge to detect the clogged condition of the filter and the condition of the tube.

1, 1A Gas suction and exhaust device, 3, 3A Gas information acquisition device, 10 Lower case, 11, 61 Protrusion, 12A, 12B, 15, 41, 43, 62, 64, 82, 85, 400x Through hole, 13, 14, 23, 42, 63, 83, 84 Recess, 17 Gauge mounting part, 20 Microblower, 21 Main body, 22 External connection terminal, 30 Microblower support, 40 Filter support plate, 50 Filter unit, 51, 55 Filter support, 52 Filter, 60 Upper case, 70 Screw, 80 Microblower case, 91 Sensor, 92 Wiring board, 93 Spacer, 94 Screw, 100 Strain gauge, 110 Base material, 110a Upper surface, 120 Functional layer, 130 Resistor, 131, 831 First part, 132, 832 Second part, 140 Wiring, 150 Terminal part, 211 Outer case, 211a Cavity, 211b, 212a, 219 Wall part, 211c, 212b Through hole, 212 Inner case, 214 Spring connection part, 215 Vibration plate, 215a Piezoelectric element, 215b Diaphragm, 216 First blower chamber, 217a Inflow passage, 217b Inflow space, 218 Second blower chamber, 219a Opening, 300 Case, 320 Area, 330 Top cover, 351, 352, 353 Fixing member, 400 Housing, 410 Deodorizing unit, 420 Circuit board, 430 Connector, 800 Bed, 810 Sheets, 900, 900A, 900B, _900C1 , _900C2 , 900D, 900E Cover, 901, 902 First area, 901a, 901b, 901f, 901g, 902a, 902b, 903a, 904a Insertion opening, 903, 904, 905 Second area, 906, 907 Excess area, 910, 920 Tube, 933, 934, 935 Elastic body, 950, 950C, 950D, 950E Cover structure

Claims (15)

A cover for positioning a tubular member for sucking odors associated with excretion,
a first region into which the tubular member can be inserted;
A pair of second regions located on both sides of the first region in a longitudinal direction and capable of accommodating an elastic body;
a first insertion opening located at an end of one of the second regions opposite to a side in contact with the first region and used when inserting an elastic body into one of the second regions;
A cover having a second insertion opening located at the end opposite to the side contacting the first area on the other side of the second area, and used when inserting an elastic body into the other side of the second area . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the first insertion opening and the second insertion opening are located on either side of the first area in a longitudinal direction and are arranged to face each other with the first area therebetween. The second region and the second region are rectangular in shape,
The cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a longitudinal direction of the first region is parallel to a long side of the rectangle. The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the second regions is one more than the number of the first regions. The cover according to claim 1 , wherein an excess region is defined on either side of the second region in the extending direction of the tubular member. The cover according to claim 1 , further comprising an insertion restriction portion that restricts insertion of the tubular member at a predetermined position in the first region. The cover according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined position is a position corresponding to the buttocks of a person emitting the odor. At least one of both ends of the first region serves as an insertion port for the tubular member,
The cover according to claim 1 , further comprising a slip-out prevention portion that prevents the tubular member from slipping out, the slip-out prevention portion being provided on the insertion opening side of the first region. The cover according to claim 8 , wherein the slip-off prevention portion has a portion that is inclined with respect to the longest straight portion of the first region. 10. A cover structure according to claim 1, wherein one end of the tubular member is inserted into the first region of the cover, and an elastic body is housed in the second region. A cover structure according to claim 10 ;
a gas suction and exhaust device including a microblower that suctions and exhausts gas, and a sensor that is disposed on the gas exhaust side of the microblower and acquires information about the gas;
The other end of the tubular member is connected to the suction side of the gas suction and exhaust device. The gas information acquisition device according to claim 11 , wherein the cover structure is placed on a bedding on which a person to be monitored can lie. The gas information acquiring device according to claim 11 or 12 , wherein the gas suction and exhaust device includes a plurality of micro-blowers arranged in series with the gas suction and exhaust directions aligned. 14. The gas information acquiring device according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor is an odor sensor that detects an odor of the gas as the information about the gas. The gas information acquiring device according to claim 14 , wherein the gas suction and exhaust device and a deodorizing unit are housed in the same housing.

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