JPH0784752B2 - Urine component measuring toilet bowl - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a toilet bowl that can easily measure components such as protein and glucose in urine.

(Prior art and its problem) Conventionally, as a toilet bowl equipped with a device for measuring the concentration of a specific component in urine, there is one described in JP-A-59-217844, which is used in the urine collection part of the toilet bowl. The collected urine was introduced into a liquid chromatograph through a filter by a pump and passed through the liquid chromatograph to separate a specific component in the urine.

Since liquid chromatography is used in such a conventional urine component measuring toilet, this device is extremely expensive and difficult to handle, and once used for measuring urinary components, the following In order to perform the measurement, sufficient cleaning must be performed, and it takes a long time for each measurement, resulting in poor efficiency and impracticality.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is a compact urine component measurement capable of continuously measuring the concentrations of various kinds of urine components in a short time. For the purpose of not providing a toilet bowl, the gist of the invention is a urine collector attached to the toilet bowl, and a feeding conduit branched into two or more that can divide and flow the urine collected by the urinal bowl. That is, each feeding pipeline is provided with a reagent feeder and a concentration measuring device for measuring one of a plurality of measuring items such as protein and glucose. The second gist is that the constituent members are detachable cartridges for each of the feeding pipelines.

(Operation) The urine collected by the urine collector passes through the respective supply pipelines that are branched for each measurement item such as protein and glucose, and is disposed in the respective supply pipelines. Reagents are loaded from the reagent dispenser, and the concentration is measured for each measurement item in a separate route for each feed line, so there is no mixing of other reagents, etc., and each measurement item is extremely accurate. It is possible to measure various concentrations. Moreover, since the concentration measurement is performed independently for each measurement item, the measurement speed can be significantly increased. Further, by making the component members such as the reagent feeder and the concentration measuring device, which are arranged for each feeding line, detachable, it is possible to attach and detach as a cartridge for each measurement item, which is required. It is possible to measure a desired urinary component by attaching a cartridge of measurement items.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described based on drawing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the urine component measuring toilet bowl of this example, in which a horizontal horizontal portion 2 is formed in the front part of the toilet bowl 1a of the toilet body 1 constituting the urine component measuring toilet bowl A. A urine collector V is attached from the outside to the horizontal portion 2 in a hanging shape.

The urine collector V is connected to the dilution tank 3 via an electromagnetic valve b and can introduce dilution water into the inside.

The three-way solenoid valves a and c are connected to the urine collector V, and the three-way solenoid valve a is connected to a feed line for sending urine. In this example, the feeding pipeline is divided into four first feeding pipeline 4a, second feeding pipeline 4b, third feeding pipeline 4c, and fourth feeding pipeline.
It is composed of the feeding pipeline 4d, and each feeding pipeline 4a, 4b, 4c, 4
The downstream ends of d are merged again and connected to the return pipe line 10, and this return pipe line 10 is connected to the drain portion 1b of the toilet body 1. A suction pump 9 is arranged in the return pipe 10, and by driving the suction pump 9, the urine is collected from the urine collector V into each of the first to fourth feeding pipes 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Has been sucked in.

Wherein the first feed duct 4a, the three-way electromagnetic valve d _1, the three-way solenoid valve e _1, a mixing coil M _1, is disposed densitometry 7a is toward the sequentially downstream from upstream the three-way solenoid valve d ₁ is connected to a gas injector 5a, the three-way electromagnetic valve d ₁ is oN as shown in FIG. 2, by being OFF operation, the gas injector air from 5a is first fed A bubble layer 16 is provided in the urine sample 15 that is intermittently supplied into the conduit 4a and is flowed into the first supply conduit 4a.
Urine sample 15 is formed between the bubble layers 16 and 16 to form the sample compartment 1
It is configured so that it can be divided into 7 parts.

Moreover, said three-way solenoid valve e ₁ is connected to a reagent insertion unit 6a, this is the reagent charging unit 6a reagent for protein measurement in urine is stored in this example, the three-way solenoid valve e ₁ is sub-controllers S ₁
As shown in FIG. 3, the reagent is intermittently put into each of the sample sections 17 by being controlled to be intermittently turned on and off, and the reagent layers t ₁ and t ₂ is configured to form. The sub-controller S ₁ is connected to and controlled by the main controller 11.

Further, the mixing coil M ₁ is for satisfactorily mixing the reagent layers t ₁ and t ₂ put into each sample compartment 17, and for improving the mixing state of the reagents in the sample compartment 17. belongs to.

The concentration measuring device 7a is composed of a spectrophotometer, and emits light from an LED for projecting light to the sample in the sample compartment 17 flowing in the first feeding conduit 4a. The light receiving photodiode can measure the absorbance at a specific wavelength.

That is, generally, the wavelength of light having the highest absorption varies depending on the type of substance, and the wavelength of light that is easily absorbed varies depending on the type of urine component. Therefore, by measuring the absorbance of light of a specific wavelength using a photometer (not shown) connected to a photodiode, it is possible to detect the concentration of a specific urine component, and further, a color reaction with a specific component in urine. Since the reagent showing the above is used, the concentration of the urinary component can be detected more easily by measuring the absorbance. For example, the maximum absorbance wavelength of protein in urine is 600 nm, and if you use an orange LED with a peak wavelength close to this wavelength (peak wavelength 610 nm),
The light with the peak wavelength of 610 nm emitted from the orange LED is absorbed by the protein in urine, and the passing light is received by the photodiode for receiving light, and from the relational expression between the output from this photodiode and the protein concentration, It is possible to measure the protein concentration in urine. A display device 8 composed of a CRT or the like is connected to the concentration measuring device 7a, and the measured value of the protein concentration is displayed on the display device 8.

Incidentally, in this example, the flow cell 20 constituting the spectrophotometer of the concentration measuring instrument 7a has a structure as shown in FIG. That is, a flat plate portion 20b, which is formed in a flat plate shape in a communicating state, is formed in a cylindrical cylindrical portion 20a having a cross-sectional area Z ₁ which is connected to the first feeding pipeline 4a in a communicating state. The cross-sectional area of 20b is Z ₂ and the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical portion 20a is Z _2.
The cross-sectional area Z ₂ of ₁ and this flat plate portion 20b have the same cross-sectional area. The LEDs 21 and the photodiodes 22 are arranged opposite to each other laterally of the flat plate portion 20b in the longitudinal direction, and the light from the LED 21 is received by the photodiode 22 through the flat plate portion 20b.

In such a configuration of the flow cell 20, the flat plate portion 20b
Has a long distance in the longitudinal direction. That is, since the heat of the liquid layer between 22 and 21 can be made large, a slight change in concentration can be detected, and an accurate measured value can be obtained. Further, when the urine sample is introduced from the cylindrical portion 20a to the flat plate portion 20b as shown by the arrow, since the flat plate portion 20b and the cylindrical portion 20a have the same cross-sectional area, they show a smooth flow and flow into the flat plate portion 20b. There is no possibility that air or the like will be mixed in when the sample is formed, and as described above, the sample section 17 is clearly divided in the flat plate portion 20b by the bubble layer 16 and introduced into the flat plate portion 20b. The bubble layer 16 does not mix in the compartment 17 to cause refraction by the air, and the measured value is not inaccurate. Further, since the cross-sectional areas are the same, the sample in one sample compartment 17 does not remain in the flat plate portion 20b, and the sample specimen of each partition can be satisfactorily measured in concentration in the flat plate portion 20b. It is possible to obtain extremely accurate measurement values.

Incidentally, even the second feed conduit 4b, the three-way electromagnetic valve d _2, the three-way electromagnetic valve e _2, a mixing coil M _2, are arranged densitometry 7b is, three-way electromagnetic valve d ₂ Is connected to a gas injector 5b, and the three-way solenoid valve e ₂ is connected to a reagent injector 6b that stores a glucose measuring reagent. still,
Since the concentration measuring device 7b is for measuring glucose in urine, the maximum absorbance wavelength of glucose in urine is 505 nm, so a green LED 21 (peak wavelength 565 nm) close to this is used.

Further, also the third feed conduit 4c, the three-way electromagnetic valve d _3, and two three-way electromagnetic valve e _3, e _4, a mixing coil M _3, the concentration measuring device 7c is arranged . Therefore third feed line 4c is for occult blood measured in urine, the reagent to be introduced becomes two required, each three-way electromagnetic valve for e _3, e _4, respectively reagent charging unit 6c for, 6d are connected Has been done. Since the maximum absorbance wavelength of occult blood in urine is estimated to be 550 to 560 nm, the concentration measuring instrument 7c in this case uses the orange LED 21 having a peak wavelength of 610 nm.

Even more the fourth feed line in 4d, the three-way electromagnetic valve d _4, 3
The three-way solenoid valves e ₅ , e ₆ , e ₇ , the mixing coil M _4, and the concentration measuring device 7d are arranged. Since urobilinogen in urine is measured in the fourth feeding conduit 4d, it is necessary to add three kinds of reagents for measuring urobilinogen,
Therefore, the reagent injectors are installed in the three-way solenoid valves e ₅ , e ₆ , and e ₇ , respectively.
6e, 6f, 6g are connected. Incidentally, the concentration measuring device in this case
7d shows that the maximum absorbance wavelength of urobilinogen in urine is 562n.
m, so a green LED 21 with a peak wavelength of 565 nm is used.

Further, the concentration measuring instruments 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d are connected to the above-mentioned display device 8, respectively, and the measurement value for each measurement item is displayed in the display device 8. Each three-way solenoid valve
The sub-controllers S _{1 to} S ₇ connected to e _{1 to} e ₇ are connected to and controlled by the main controller 11.

Next, an example of the urine collector V attached to the toilet body 1 described above will be described with reference to FIG. 4, and in FIG.
The urine collecting device V has a urine collecting cylinder 40 that is attached to the horizontal portion 2 of the toilet bowl in a hanging shape, and a pump cylinder 41 that is coaxially attached to the urine collecting cylinder 40 and is integrally screwed to a lower portion thereof. A flange portion 40a protruding outward from an upper end portion of the urine collecting cylinder 40 is fixed to the horizontal portion 2, and the horizontal portion 2
A urine collecting cylinder 40 is fixed to the horizontal portion 2 by screwing a fixing plate 43 on the lower surface of the urine collecting cylinder 40.

Inside the urine collecting cylinder 40 and the pump cylinder 41, a piston 42 is arranged so as to be vertically movable.
O-rings O ₁ and O ₂ are arranged between the inner peripheral surface of 40 and the piston to ensure watertightness. Further, the upper portion of the urine collecting cylinder 40 has a slightly wide inner diameter so that a slight gap M is formed between it and the outer peripheral surface of the piston 42. In addition, the urine collection cylinder 40 and the pump cylinder 41
An air hole 49 that communicates with the outside is formed at the joint portion of, and a discharge port 48 is further formed. Further, a nozzle hole 40c is formed in an upper portion of the urine collecting cylinder 40, and a nozzle 45 capable of spraying dilution water into the urine collecting cylinder 40 in a spray form is attached in the nozzle hole 40c.
Further, guide holes 41c and 41d are formed at the lower end of the pump cylinder 41 so as to communicate with the outside. Incidentally, the urine collection cylinder
The inside of 40 is a urine collection chamber C, and the inside of the pump cylinder 41 is a pump chamber P.

At the lower end of the piston 42, a piston rod 42b is provided in a hanging shape.The piston rod 42b projects into a base frame 51 connected to the lower end of the pump cylinder 41, and is arranged in the base frame 51. Is connected to the slide table 53. The slide table 53 is guided by the pair of guide bars 52, 52, and the base frame 51.
It can move up and down inside, and the left end in the figure of the slide table 53 is a nut portion 53a formed with a female screw. A ball screw shaft 55 having a ball screw formed on the outer peripheral surface is screwed into the nut portion 53a, and the ball screw shaft 55 is rotatably supported by ball bearings 56, 56. The upper end of the ball screw shaft 55 is connected to the motor shaft 60a of the stepping motor 60 via a joint portion 58 arranged in the motor frame 59. The operation of the stepping motor 60 causes the ball screw shaft 55 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions. When the ball screw shaft 55 rotates, the nut portion 53a moves up and down, and accordingly, the piston rod 42b moves up and down, thereby vertically moving the piston 42 in the urine collection chamber C and the pump chamber P. Has become.

Referring to FIG. 5, the operation of the urine collecting device V having such a structure will be described. When the piston 42 is located on the lower side, the upper portion of the urine collecting cylinder 40 has an opening shape. Urine is flowed into the urine collecting chamber C of the urine collecting cylinder 40 when the stool operator makes a stool, and urine is stored in the urine collecting chamber C. When the piston 42 is moved upward by the operation of the stepping motor 60 in this state, the urine flowing into the urine collection chamber C is pushed by the upper end portion 42a of the piston 42, and most of the urine flows from the horizontal portion 2 to the toilet bowl 1a. Is leaked in. At this time, a slight amount of urine remains in the gap M. Further, when the piston 42 moves upward, the solenoid valve b with a check valve is opened, and the dilution water is introduced from the dilution tank into the pump chamber P through the guide hole 41d. After that, the solenoid valve b with a check valve is closed, and when the piston 42 moves downward again due to the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 60, the dilution water introduced into the pump chamber P is returned to the nozzle 45
Then, it is sprayed into the urine collection chamber C. In this state, the slightly remaining urine in the urine collection chamber and the diluting water are mixed, and the urine is brought into a favorable diluting state.

When the piston 42 moves up again in this state, most of the diluted urine is discharged, and the slightly diluted urine is collected in the gap M. By opening the three-way solenoid valve a, the collected diluted urine is caused to flow into the feeding pipelines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d by the action of the transaction pump 9 as described above. After the diluted urine has flowed through the three-way solenoid valve a into the feeding pipelines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the three-way solenoid valve a is closed, the stepping motor 60 is activated again, and the piston 42 moves up and down several times. Then, when moving upward, the dilution water is sucked into the pump chamber P as described above, and when moving downward, the dilution water in the pump chamber P is introduced into the urine collecting chamber C, so that the urine collecting chamber C is well cleaned. The preparation for the next urine collection is complete. The cleaning action by the vertical movement of the piston 42 can be performed immediately before collecting urine.
When the user appropriately turns on the operation switch, etc., the stepping motor 60 is operated and the piston 42
Can be moved up and down, and then stopped to issue a signal such as the completion of preparation for urine collection.

The urine collected and diluted by the urine collector V in this manner is distributed to each of the first feeding pipe 4a to the fourth feeding pipe 4d as described above by opening the three-way electromagnetic valve a. , Pump 9
The flow-in is caused by the operation of, and the concentration is measured for each measurement item.

The three-way solenoid valve a is, for example, become a thing of the structure as shown in FIG. 9, which is in a same structure as the other three-way electromagnetic valve c d ₁ to d _4, and e ₁ to e ₇ Yes, the body of the three-way solenoid valve
An electromagnetic coil 14 is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of 13, and a core 25 and a plunger 27 urged by a spring 26 are movably disposed inside the electromagnetic coil 14, and at the tip of the plunger 27. Has a valve body 18 fixed thereto. The valve body 18 is composed of three first pipes 19a, a second pipe 19b, and a third pipe connected to the main body 13.
19c can be opened and closed, respectively. In the state shown in the drawing, the first valve body 18 contacts the third pipe 19c,
The third pipe 19c is closed, and in this state, the first pipe 1c
The urine introduced from 9a flows into the second pipe 19b, and when the electromagnetic coil 14 is excited and the plunger 27 is moved leftward, the third pipe 19c is opened, and at the same time, the first pipe 19c is opened. 19a is closed, and in this state, the third pipe 19c and the second pipe 19b are in communication with each other, and, for example, the reagent or the like flows from the third pipe 19c into the second pipe 19b.

In addition, after the measurement is completed for each item in each of the feeding pipelines 4a to 4d, the three-way solenoid valve c is opened to pass from the three-way solenoid valve c through the three-way solenoid valve a to each first feed. Pipe line 4a ~
The wash water is flowed into the fourth supply pipeline 4d, and each of the supply pipelines 4a-
The inside of 4d is washed.

Next, the three-way solenoid valve c is switched, and instead of the cleaning liquid, the air flows from the three-way solenoid valve c through the three-way solenoid valve a and each feed pipe line 4a.
Introduced within ~ 4d. This is to introduce the air and form a dividing layer of the air with the previously introduced cleaning liquid layer, and the insides of each of the supply pipe lines 4a to 4d are well cleaned with the cleaning liquid and flow in. Due to the separated air layer of the air, even when new urine, which is the next sample, is introduced into each of the feeding pipelines 4a to 4d, the new sample is not mixed with the cleaning liquid and the next measurement is performed. It has a structure that allows continuous measurement and continuous measurement at extremely high speed.

Incidentally, in this example, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the feeding pipelines 4a to 4d is configured to be separable into a cartridge type, and each cartridge has a structure as shown in FIG. The solenoid valve, mixing coil and concentration meter are compactly arranged.

For example, a three-way solenoid valve arranged in the first feeding line 4a
d ₁ , three-way solenoid valve e ₁ , mixing coil M ₁ and concentration measuring instrument 7a
Is incorporated in the protein cartridge 12a. The protein cartridge 12a can be attached and detached along the toilet body 1 by opening the door from the front side of the toilet body 1. When set, urine protein can be measured.

In this way, the constituent members in each of the feeding pipelines 4b, 4c, 4d are also housed in individual cartridges, and the glucose cartridge 12b, the occult blood cartridge 12c, and the urobilinogen cartridge 12d can be attached to and detached from the toilet body 1 respectively. It has a structure that can be attached to. The cartridges 12a to 12d may be formed in the vertical direction, and the reagent injectors 6a to 6g for each item may be integrated in each of the cartridges 12a to 12d.

In this example, the reagent feeders 6a to 6g are separately configured as one reagent tank T and are connected to the cartridges 12a to 12d, respectively.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the reagent tank T has seven compartments in this example, and can store different reagents. Each chamber of the reagent tank T has a different capacity. A reagent with a large volume to be added to a urine sample is a chamber with a large volume, and a reagent with a small volume is stored in a narrow chamber. It is a reward. For example, for the measurement of protein in urine, pyrogallol red, ammonium molybdate, and a surfactant are used as reagents, and the amount used is 3 at a ratio of 1 to the urine sample. Corresponding reagent tank T
The interior of the room 6a has a volume of 3 as a ratio. or,
Mutarotase, which is a reagent for measuring glucose, is contained in 6b.
A reagent composed of glucose oxidase, aminoantipyrine, etc. is stored, and the volume ratio is 3 because it is necessary at a ratio of 3 to the urine sample 1. or,
6c and 6d are for reagents for measuring occult blood in urine, and two types of reagents are required for measuring occult blood. Phenolphthalein reagent is stored in 6c at a volume ratio of 1 and is stored in 6d. The hydrogen peroxide solution is stored at a volume ratio of 1. Further, 6e, 6f, 6g is for reagents for measuring urobilinogen in urine, three kinds of reagents are required, ascorbic acid is stored in 6e, Ehrlich reagent is stored in 6f, 6g Saturated sodium acetate is stored inside. In addition, ascorbic acid is required for the urine specimen 4.32 at a ratio of 10, Ehrlich reagent is at a ratio of 1 and saturated sodium acetate is at a ratio of 2, and thus each chamber is formed at a volume ratio corresponding to the ratio.

In this way, the reagent tank T is integrated and has a chamber having a volume corresponding to the usage amount of each reagent. Therefore, if the reagents are filled in the respective chambers in the reagent tank T, respectively, Since all the reagents are consumed evenly and all the rooms are emptied when the reagent tank T is emptied, it is possible to replenish all the reagents, for example, once a month, etc., and maintenance is very good. Can be done.

If one liquid level sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor is attached to the reagent tank T somewhere, the remaining amount in the entire room can be easily known.

The reagent tank T can be installed in a concealed manner along the side wall surface of the toilet body 1, and the cartridges 12a to 12d are provided.
At the same time, it can be compactly placed around the toilet bowl and used in an easy state such as maintenance management.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

That is, in this example, the reagent feeder shown in FIG.
6a~6g and a summary, also the three-way electromagnetic valve d ₁ to d _4, and
e _{1 to} e ₇ and mixing coils M _{1 to} M ₄ are combined into one,
Further, the concentration measuring devices 7a to 7d and the suction pump 9 are integrated into one unit, and they are divided and framed in stages.
This is configured as an individual analysis unit E. The analyzing unit E can be arranged in a concealed manner on the rear side surface side of the toilet body 1 via a cover or the like. In addition, in FIG.
Reference numeral B is an operating unit for operating the urine collector V and for operating the three-way solenoid valves a, c and the suction pump 9. As shown in detail in FIG. 12, in the analysis unit E, a reagent injector having a reagent storage function is arranged in the upper stage, and a three-way solenoid valve and a mixing coil for dividing and stirring the sample are arranged in the middle stage. Since the pump and the concentration measuring instrument that perform the detection and suction functions are installed in the lower stage, all the components can be assembled in a compact space, and good maintenance and management is performed for each function. It is configured to get to.

(Effects of the Invention) The urine component measuring toilet of the present invention comprises a urine collecting device attached to the toilet bowl, and a feeding pipe line branched into two or more capable of dividing and flowing the urine collected by the urine collecting device. And, in each feed line,
By providing a reagent feeder and a concentration measuring device for measuring one of a plurality of measuring items such as protein and glucose, one feeding system has one measuring system. , Each urine component can be measured in a separate route for each measurement item, and accurate measurement values can be obtained for each measurement item without mixing other reagents. It has an effect that the measurement for each item can be completed in an extremely short time.

In addition, since the constituent members are detachable cartridges for each of the feeding pipelines, it is possible to easily attach and detach the cartridges and select the required measurement items, and it is extremely easy to maintain and manage the constituent members. It has an effect that can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a urine component measuring toilet bowl, and FIG. 2 is a sectional configuration diagram in a state in which an air layer is formed on a sample in each delivery pipeline, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which a reagent is intermittently mixed in each sample compartment, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of a urine collector, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the action of the urine collector shown in FIG. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the layout of the urine component measuring toilet,
FIG. 7 is an internal structure diagram of each cartridge in FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the reagent tank in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a sectional configuration view of a three-way solenoid valve, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a flow cell constituting a concentration measuring instrument, and FIG. 11 is a second embodiment. 6th to show
FIG. 12 is a perspective configuration diagram corresponding to the figure, FIG. 12 shows the analysis unit in FIG. 11, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a right side view. 1 ... Toilet body, 3 ... Diluting tank 4a ... 1st feeding pipeline, 4b ... 2nd feeding pipeline 4c ... 3rd feeding pipeline, 4d ... 4th feeding pipeline 5a , 5b, 5c, 5d …… Gas injector 6a ～ 6g …… Reagent injector (reagent tank) 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d …… Concentration measuring instrument 8 …… Display device, 9 …… Suction pump 10 …… Return Pipe lines 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d …… Cartridge 15 …… Sample, 16 …… Bubble layer 17 …… Sample compartment, 20 …… Flow cell 20a …… Cylinder part, 20b …… Plate part 21 …… LED, 22… … Photodiode A …… Urine component measuring toilet, V …… Urine collector T …… Reagent tank, E …… Analyzing unit a, c …… Three-way solenoid valve, d _{1 to} d ₄ …… Three-way solenoid valve e ₁ to e ₇ ... 3-way solenoid valve

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A urine collector attached to a toilet bowl, two or more branched supply conduits capable of dividing and flowing urine collected by the urine collector, and each of the supply conduits A urine component measuring toilet, comprising a reagent injector and a concentration meter for measuring one of a plurality of measurement items such as protein, glucose and the like. 2. The urine component measuring toilet according to claim 1, wherein the constituent member is a detachable cartridge for each of the feeding pipelines.