Patent Publication Number: US-2011060299-A1

Title: Automatic urine disposal apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to automatic urine disposal apparatuses adapted to take care of urination in an automatic fashion and thereby to assist persons for whom it is difficult to control urination timing on their own will or to clean up after urination. 
     RELATED ART 
     Among aged and/or sick persons, there are persons for whom it is difficult to control urination timing on their own will or to clean up after urination. To assist these persons suffering from such problem, for example, JP2007-44493A discloses an automatic urine disposal apparatus. Generally, such known automatic urine handling apparatus comprises a urine suction device having a urine retainer unit put on the user&#39;s body adapted so as to cover the wearer&#39;s urethral orifice and its peripheral region and vacuum suction means such as a suction pump provided separately of the urine receiver unit so that urine collected by the urine retainer unit may be guided into a urine reservoir under action of the vacuum suction means. Air within the hermetically-sealed urine reservoir may be sucked by the suction pump to generate a differential pressure between the urine retainer unit and the urine reservoir and thereby to guide urine within the urine retainer unit into the urine reservoir. 
     Such urine suction device of known art further comprises a urine sensor adapted to detect urination and to generate a detection signal on the basis of which the suction pump is actuated. The urine sensor includes, in turn, a pair of electrodes arranged in parallel to and spaced from each other. When urination occurs and these two electrodes are electrically connected to each other by the intermediary of urine, a urine detecting circuit constituted by these electrodes is turned on, actuating the suction pump. With the urine suction device put on the wearer&#39;s body, a pair of electrodes extends in a vertical direction and lower ends thereof lie in the vicinity of the wearer&#39;s anus. 
     PATENT DOCUMENT 1: JP2007-44493A 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     The known urine suction devices as has been exemplarily described are provided on the lower end thereof with a defecation sensor. For example, if loose passage moving from the anus toward the urethral orifice clings the urination sensor, the normal operation of the urination sensor will be no more expected. To avoid such situation, the urine suction device disclosed in the JP2007-44493A is constructed so that the presence of feces can be detected by the defecation sensor provided at the lower end of the detecting electrodes before loose passage reaches the urination sensor and the care personnel can be informed of this, for example, in the form of an alarm lamp blinking. However, depending on various factors such as a flow pattern of loose passage and/or whether the urine suction device is put on the wearer&#39;s body properly or improperly, the defecation sensor may not be able to properly function to detect defecation and, in consequence, the urine suction device may not be able to normally function. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic urine disposal apparatus adapted to detect the presence of feces in a wide range. 
     Measure to Solve the Problem 
     According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic urine disposal apparatus comprising a urine suction device including a urine receiver unit adapted to be put on the wearer&#39;s body so as to face the wearer&#39;s urethral orifice and its peripheral skin and a detector unit attached to the urine receiver unit so as to be interposed between the skin and the urine receiver unit and a control unit including a vacuum suction means to which the urine suction device is detachably connected and adapted to put the interior of the urine receiver unit under a negative pressure, the detector unit having a urination detector to detect the presence of urine and a defecation detector to detect the presence of feces so that the vacuum suction means is actuated on the basis of a first detection signal from the urination detector to the urine into the urine receiver unit and the presence of the feces is detected on the basis of a second detection signal from the defecation detector. 
     The improvement according to the present invention is characterized as will be described below: The urination detector is adapted to output the first detection signal when the urination detector is wetted with the urine and comprises a pair of first electrodes spaced from each other and extending in one direction in parallel to each other. The defecation detector is adapted to output the second detection signal when the defecation detector is wetted with moisture contained in the feces and comprises a pair of second electrodes spaced from each other and extending the one direction in parallel to each other. The pair of first electrodes and the pair of second electrodes respectively have portions spaced from and in parallel to one another so that these portions are able to be wetted with the urine or moisture contained in the feces. 
     According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pair of first electrodes and the pair of second electrodes are formed on one and same insulating a synthetic resin film. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second electrodes having regions extending beyond full length of the first electrodes and the regions are wetted with moisture contained in the feces. 
     According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum suction means is actuated when the electrical resistance between the pair of first electrodes in the urination detector decreases to a first specified resistance value or lower and the user of the automatic urine disposal apparatus is informed of the presence of the feces when the electrical resistance between the pair of second electrodes in the defecation detector remains at a second specified resistance value or lower which is set to be higher than the first specified resistance value for a predetermined time period or longer. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the urination detector and the control unit cooperate to actuate the vacuum suction means for a predetermined time period and then stop this when the electrical resistance between the pair of first electrodes increases from a value lower than the first specified resistance value up to a value exceeding the first specified resistance value. 
     According to further another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the urination detector and the control unit cooperate to stop the vacuum suction means when the electrical resistance between the pair of first electrodes remains at the specified resistance value or lower for a time period longer than a predetermined time period. 
     According to further alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a value of the second specified resistance value or lower appearing between the second electrodes is a value between the second specified resistance value and the first specified resistance value. 
     EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     In the automatic urine disposal apparatus according to the present invention, the first electrodes for urine detection as well as the second electrodes for feces detection respectively have regions spaced one from another and extending in one direction in parallel one to another. With this unique design, any amount of feces being moving into the regions of the urine suction device used to detect the presence of urine can be detected by the second electrodes and the user of the automatic urine disposal apparatus such as the helper can be informed of the presence of feces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  Schematic diagram illustrating the automatic urine disposal apparatus including the urine suction device. 
         FIG. 2  Diagram illustrating the urine suction device as put on the wearer&#39;s body. 
         FIG. 3  Plan view of the urine suction device. 
         FIG. 4  Sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  Sectional view taken along the line V-V in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  Plan view of the electrode assembly. 
         FIG. 7  Sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  Sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  Plan view of the electrode assembly having the insulating coating peeled off. 
         FIG. 10  Flowchart illustrating the steps of controlling the automatic urine disposal apparatus. 
     
    
    
     IDENTIFICATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           100  automatic urine disposal apparatus 
           100   a  vacuum suction means 
           101  control unit 
           102  urine suction device 
           102   a  urine receiver unit 
           102   b  urination detector 
           102   c  defecation detector 
           143   a  first electrode (feces detecting electrode) 
           143   b  second electrode (feces detecting electrode) 
           218   a  first electrode (urine detecting electrode) 
           218   b  second electrode (urine detecting electrode) 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Details of the automatic urine disposal apparatus will be more fully understood from the description given hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating an automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  comprising a urine suction device  102  according to the present invention and a control unit including a vacuum suction means  100   a  combined with the urine suction device  102 . The urine suction device  102  has an inner side facing the wearer&#39;s skin and an outer side facing a wearer&#39;s garment. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the outer side is illustrated as partially cutaway. 
     The automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  is adapted to collect urine being excreted by the wearer in the urine suction device  102  in preparation to disposal thereof. The urine suction device  102  comprises a urine receiver unit  102   a  and a detector unit  150 . The urine receiver unit  102   a  is adapted to be put on the wearer&#39;s body so as to cover the wearer&#39;s urethral orifice and its peripheral region to collect urine being excreted by the wearer. The detector unit  150  comprises a urination detector  102   b  and a defecation detector  102   c  adapted to detect the presence of feces on the urination detector  102   b  (See  FIG. 6 ). The vacuum suction means  100   a  includes a joint member  104  adapted to be connected to the urine receiver unit  102   a , a urine guide tube  106 , a urine reservoir  106   a , a pump unit  108  and an electric wiring  116 . 
     The pump unit  108  principally includes a control circuit  108   a  adapted to process an electric signal transmitted from the detector unit  150  via the wiring  116  and a suction pump  108   b  adapted to be actuated under control by the circuit  108   a . In the urine suction device  102 , a urine retainer  112  of the urine receiver unit  102   a  is provided in a peripheral wall thereof with a urine outlet  114  to which the urine guide tube  106  is connected via the joint  104 . A distal end of the wiring  116  extending from the pump unit  108  is provided with a clip  120  used for electrical connection of urination detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  (See  FIGS. 3 through 5 ) included in the urination detector  102   b  and defecation detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  of the defecation detector  102   c  to the wiring  116 . With such automatic urine disposal apparatus  100 , upon urination, a detection signal is transmitted from the urination detector  102   b  to the pump unit  108  which actuates, in response to this signal, the suction pump  108   b  to suck air within the urine reservoir  106   a  and thereby to suck urine into the urine retainer  112 . Urine sucked into the urine retainer  112  in this manner is further sucked and collected into the urine reservoir  106   a  via the joint  104  and the guide tube  106 . If any amount of feces is detected to be present in any region of the urine suction device  102 , the defecation detector  102   c  transmits a detection signal to the pump unit  108  whereupon the control circuit  108   a  included in the pump unit  108  is actuated to blink an alarm lamp  504  (See  FIG. 10 ) to inform the care personnel of the presence of feces. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram exemplarily illustrating how to put the urine suction device  102  on the wearer&#39;s body wherein the clip  120  is illustrated to lie on the ventral side. The urine suction device  102  is fixed to an inner side of a crotch belt segment  301  as a part of a T-shaped belt  300 , for example, by pressure-sensitive adhesive or a mechanical fastener known by the trade name “Velcro”. The urine suction device  102  is put on the wearer&#39;s body so that the urine retainer  112  extends for the most part thereof in a longitudinal direction on the wearer&#39;s ventral side with its inner side opposed to the wearer&#39;s urethral orifice and a peripheral region thereof and with its lower end extending toward the anus along an inner surface of the crotch belt segment  301  so as to describe a gentle curve. In the T-shaped belt  300 , opposite ends of a waist belt segment  302  are detachably connected to each other by means of connecting means  303  such as a mechanical fastener while the crotch belt segment  301  is sutured at one end to the waist belt segment  302  and detachably connected at the other end to the waist belt segment  302  by means of a mechanical fastener  304 . The chassis for the urine suction device  102  is not limited to the T-shaped belt  300  and the other appropriate means such as open-type diapers, pants-type diapers, diaper covers and incontinent pants may be used as the chassis of this urine suction device  102 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the inner side of the urine suction device  102 ,  FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in  FIG. 3 . In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , respective members overlapping one another in a thickness direction R of the urine suction device  102  are substantially illustrated to be spaced one from another. The thickness direction R corresponds to a depth direction of the urine receiver unit  102   a.    
     The urine suction device  102  has a longitudinal direction P corresponding to the same direction of the wearer&#39;s body and a transverse direction Q extending orthogonally to the longitudinal direction P. The urine suction device  102  has a relatively large width in the vicinity of ends opposite in the longitudinal direction P and a relatively small width in a middle as viewed in the direction P. The urine suction device  102  has also the thickness direction R and as apparent from  FIG. 4 , comprises a plurality of sheet members overlapping one another, i.e., a liquid-pervious but air-permeation retardant sheet  124 , a liquid-dispersible sheet  126 , a cushion sheet  128 , the electrode assembly  118 , a spacer  130 , a filter  132  and a liquid-pervious skin-contact sheet  134  in this order from the bottom as viewed in the thickness direction R. A pair of leak-barriers  136  overlaps the liquid-pervious skin-contact sheet  134 . The air-permeation retardant sheet  124  and the liquid-dispersible sheet  126  are integrated with the urine retainer  112  to form the urine receiver unit  102   a . The cushion sheet  128 , the electrode assembly  118 , the spacer  130 , the filter  132  and the skin-contact sheet  134  overlap one another to form the detector  150 . 
     The urine retainer  112  is provided in the form of a tray and made of a soft elastic material such as soft polyethylene or silicon rubber so as to be flexible in the longitudinal direction P as well as in the transverse direction Q but well resistant to any deformation due to a negative pressure exerted thereon during urine suction by the suction pump. The air-permeability retardant sheet  124  is bonded to a peripheral flange  152  of the urine retainer  112  along a joint region  112   a . The depth direction of the urine retainer  112  corresponds to the thickness direction R. 
     The air-permeation retardant sheet  124  is significantly liquid-pervious but substantially or completely air-impermeable. As will be apparent from  FIG. 4 , this sheet  124  covers an upper opening of the urine retainer  112 . The urine retainer  112  provided with the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  in this manner is readily put under a negative pressure as soon as the suction pump  108   b  of the pump unit  108  is actuated and urine collected in the urine retainer  112  can be quickly sucked by the suction pump  108   b . As stock materials for the air-permeation retardant sheet  124 , for example, an SMS nonwoven fabric consisting of a spun bond nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 22 g/m 2 , a melt blown nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 10 g/m 2  and a spun bond nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 22 g/m 2 , preferably modified by surfactant to become hydrophilic. On the basis of the result obtained from measurement of air-permeability carried out according to Method A selected from Method for Air-permeability Measuring Methods prescribed in Section 6.27.1 of JIS L 1096 is, in wet condition, air-permeability of the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  is in a range from 0 to 100 cc/cm 2 /sec., preferably in a range from 0 to 50 cc/cm 2 /sec. In a dry condition, this value is in a range from 20 to 200 cc/cm 2 /sec., preferably in a range from 20 to 100 cc/cm 2 /sec., more preferably in a range from 20 to 50 cc/cm 2 /sec. The term “wet condition” used herein for measurement of the air-permeability refers to a condition in which a moisture content of the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  calculated by a following formula (I) is 100% or higher while the term “dry condition” refers to the condition of this air-permeation retardant sheet  124  after this sheet has been left in a room at a temperature of 20° C. and an RH of 50%. 
       Moisture content=(weight of sheet in a wet condition−weight of sheet in a dry condition)/(weight of sheet in dry condition)  Formula (I)
 
     The liquid-dispersible sheet  126  is formed of a liquid-pervious sheet such as a nonwoven fabric containing hydrophilic fibers such as rayon fibers and serves to disperse urine rapidly over the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  upon urination and thereby to make the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  over an area as large as possible in a wet condition. The air-permeation retardant sheet  124  in such wet condition ensures that a negative pressure is generated within the urine retainer  112  and, in consequence, urine suction into the urine retainer  112  is facilitated. Preferably, the liquid-dispersible sheet  126  is intermittently bonded to the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  to avoid a problem that the liquid-pervious properties of these two sheets might be deteriorated. 
     The cushion sheet  128  is formed of a liquid-pervious sheet such as a thermal bond nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 20 to 30 g/m 2  adapted to promote permeation of urine and thereby to prevent any amount of urine present in the liquid-dispersible sheet  126  and the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  from flowing back toward the electrode assembly  118 . Furthermore, the sheet-like members such as the electrode assembly  118 , the spacer  130  and the filter  132  may be previously overlapped upon the cushion sheet  128  to make it possible for the cushion sheet  128  to serve as a carrier member used to hold these sheet-like members at predetermined positions in the urine suction device  102  in the course of manufacturing the urine suction device  102 . Preferably, the cushion sheet  128  is intermittently bonded to the liquid-dispersible sheet  126  in order not to deteriorate the liquid-pervious property of these two sheets  128 ,  126 . 
     The electrode assembly  118  is obtained, for example, by printing the electrode pair of desired shape on a synthetic resin film with conductive ink and structural details thereof will be described later. The electrode assembly  118  may be bonded to the cushion sheet  128 . 
     The spacer  130  is thicker than any other sheet-like members in the detector unit  150  and provided in the form of a mesh-textured liquid-pervious sheet. In the urine suction device  102 , even after operation of suction, the skin-contact sheet  134  might remain in wet condition due to any amount of urine still staying thereon. In this case, the skin-contact sheet  134  might come in direct or indirect contact with the electrode assembly  118 , for example, under the wearer&#39;s body weight and cause a false operation of the electrode assembly  118 . The spacer  130  functions as means to keep the electrode assembly  118  and the filter  132  spaced from each other and thereby to prevent the false operation of the electrode assembly  118 . More specifically, the spacer  130  is not responsible for urine suction but water repellent and has an air-permeability as well as a liquid-permeability higher than those of the air permeation retardant sheet  124 . The spacer  130  maintains its thickness constant even under the wearer&#39;s body weight. Such spacer  130  can be formed by a mesh textured sheet having a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm made of a soft synthetic resin such as vinyl acetate and is preferably bonded to the cushion sheet  128  in a manner that the liquid-permeability of these sheet materials might not be adversely affected. 
     The filter  132  is used to prevent any solid material contained in urine from accumulating on the electrode assembly  118  and becoming permanently conductive and, in view of this, the filter  132  is preferably formed by the sheet having air-permeability and liquid-permeability both higher than those of the air-permeation retardant sheet  124  and more preferably formed of a nonwoven fabric. The filter  132  may be bonded to spacer  130  in a manner that the liquid-permeability of these sheet materials might not be adversely affected. 
     The skin-contact sheet  134  overlies the filter  132  and is adapted to face and come in contact with the wearer&#39;s urethral orifice and peripheral region thereof when the urine suction device  102  is put on the wearer&#39;s body. Such skin-contact sheet  134  may be formed of a soft and liquid-pervious sheet material such as a thermal bond nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 15 to 25 g/m 2 . Similarly to the cushion sheet  128 , the skin-contact sheet  134  is instantaneously impregnated with urine at an initial stage of urination. The skin-contact sheet  134  is bonded to the filter  132  preferably in the intermittent fashion in order to prevent the liquid-permeability of these sheets  134 ,  132  from being adversely affected by this bonding treatment. The skin-contact sheet  134  may be hydrophilic or water-repellent. 
     The leak-barrier  136  is paired in right and left barriers as will be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and adapted to prevent any amount of urine might flow on the skin-contact sheet  134  in the transverse direction Q and leak sideways out from the urine suction device  102 . The leak-barrier  136  shown in  FIG. 4  has its outer side edge  136   c  lying aside toward the outer side edge of the urine suction device  102  is bonded to the skin-contact sheet  134  while its inner side edge  136   d  lying aside toward the middle zone of the urine suction device  102  is not bonded to the skin-contact sheet  134  and provided with an elastic member  136   b  such as rubber thread bonded under tension thereto so as to extending in the longitudinal direction P. A sheet  136   a  which is forming a pair of leak-barriers  136  covers the bottom of the urine retainer  112 . With the urine suction device  102  being put on the wearer&#39;s body, it bows in the longitudinal direction P as will be seen in  FIG. 1  under contraction of the elastic member  136   b  and thereupon the side edge  136   d  of the leak-barrier  136  is spaced upward from the skin-contact sheet  134 . A sheet  136   a  constituting the leak-barrier  136  is preferably liquid-impervious and may be formed, for example, by a soft thermoplastic synthetic resin film or a composite sheet consisting of such film and a nonwoven fabric. As viewed with the urine suction device  102  being flattened (See  FIG. 3 ), upper and lower ends of the leak-barrier  136  are covered with first and second end sheets  138 ,  140 , respectively. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the electrode assembly  118  used in the device illustrated by  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . The electrode assembly  118  comprises insulating film member  260  formed of a synthetic resin film, a pair of urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and a pair of feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  formed on one and the same surface of the film member  260  and insulating coating  170  with which the most part of these electrodes  218   a ,  218   b ,  143   a ,  143   b  are coated. The film member  260  is a rectangular member extending in the longitudinal direction P and a middle zone of this rectangular film member  260  as viewed in the transverse direction Q is cut out in the longitudinal direction P so as to form a substantially rectangular opening  171 . Such film member  260  has an upper end  266  adapted to hold the clip  120  as seen in an upper portion of  FIG. 6 , lateral zones  267   a ,  267   b  extending downward from the upper end  266  on both sides of a center line L 1 -L 1  bisecting a width of the electrode assembly  118 , and lower ends  268  extending downward from the lateral zones  267   a ,  267   b , respectively. At the upper end  266  of the film member  260 , the electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  as well as the electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are exposed. In the lateral zones  267   a ,  267   b , the insulating coating  170  is formed with a plurality of relatively narrow spots as first non-coated regions  169   a ,  169   b  to define exposed regions  102   d  free from the insulating coating  170 , allowing the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  to be wetted with urine. In the lateral zones  267   a ,  267   b , the insulating coating  170  is further formed with a plurality of relatively wide spots as second non-coated regions  269   a ,  269   b  to define exposed regions  102   e  free from the insulating coating  170 , allowing the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  to be wetted with moisture contained in feces. The exposed regions  102   e  in the lower end  268  is to lie in the vicinity of the anus when the urine suction device  102  is put on the wearer&#39;s body and effective for rapid detection of feces being entering the urine suction device  102 . 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 , showing the exposed regions  102   d  of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b . Referring to  FIG. 7 , a circuit  250  and the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are covered with the insulating coating  170 . 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 6 , showing a manner in which the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are exposed in the regions  102   e . Referring to  FIG. 8 , the circuit  250  and the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are covered with the insulating coating  170 . 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view showing the electrode assembly  118  having the insulating coating  170  peeled off. The film member  260  is provided in the lateral zones  267   a ,  267   b  thereof with a pair of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  extending in the longitudinal direction P so as to be parallel to and spaced from each other. A plurality of portions  175   a ,  175   b  distributed in the respective electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are exposed in the first non-coated regions  169   a ,  169   b  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Between the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b , the breaking detector circuit  250  is formed. The breaking detector circuit  250  is electrically connected with the respective lower ends  173   a ,  173   b  of the respective urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and extends along the peripheral edge of the opening  171  as illustrated. The film member  260  is further provided in the lateral zones  267   a ,  267   b  thereof with a pair of the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  extending in the longitudinal direction P so as to be parallel to and spaced from each other. A plurality of portions  475   a ,  475   b  of these feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are exposed in the second non-coated regions  269   a ,  269   b  as shown by  FIG. 6 . Lower ends  144   a ,  144   b  of the respective feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  extend downward beyond the lower ends of the respective urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and the lower ends  144   a ,  144   b  also are formed with the portions  475   a ,  475   b.    
     In the electrode assembly  118 , the film member  260  is preferably formed by polyester film having a thickness of 50 to 100 μm. The urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  may be obtained by printing them in desired shapes on the film member  260  with conductive ink or conductive coating material. The conductive ink or the conductive coating material may contain, for example, carbon black of 3 to 7% by weight, artificial graphite such as carbon graphite of 10 to 30% by weight and an appropriate quantity of silver pigment. Each of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  is configured to have a width of 0.5 to 2.0 mm and a resistance value of 150 KQ or lower wherein each of the portions  175   a ,  175   b  may have an appropriate width to be easily exposed in the first non-coated regions  169   a ,  169   b . The breaking detector circuit  250  may be obtained, for example, by printing them in desired shape on the film member  260  with ink containing carbon black in 3 to 7% by weight and artificial graphite in 5 to 10% by weight. It is essential for this circuit  250  to exhibit a resistance value substantially higher than a resistance value exhibited by the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and preferably has a width of 0.3 to 1 mm and a resistance value of 2 to 10 MΩ. The feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  also may be obtained by printing them on the film member  260  with the same ink or coating material as those used for the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and sometimes by vacuum deposition of aluminum. Each of the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  also is configured to have a width of 0.5 to 2.0=wherein the portions  475   a ,  475   b  may have an appropriate width to be easily exposed in the second non-coated regions  269   a ,  269   b . An electric resistance between the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  which are spaced from and parallel to each other is infinite. 
     When the electrode assembly  118  and the control unit  101  are electrically connected with each other via the clip  120 , the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  as well as the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are supplied with weak current from a power source  116   a  (See  FIG. 1 ). In the control circuit  108   a  for the pump unit  108 , an electrical resistance between the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  or the other physical value corresponding to this electrical resistance as is continuously or intermittently measured along with an electrical resistance between the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  or the other physical value corresponding to this electrical resistance. It should be appreciated here that the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are electrically connected with each other via the breaking detector circuit  250  and a weak current passing them is detected by the control circuit  108   a . When such weak current can not be detected even after a predetermined time period has elapsed, it will be determined that the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are out of order and the control circuit  108   a  generates an alarm to the user of the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100 . Occurrence of urination in the urine suction device  102  causes the exposed portions  102   d  of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  to be electrically connected to each other to reduce an electrical resistance between the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and, on the basis of such reduced resistance represented in the form of a detection signal, the control circuit  108   a  determines that urine is present in the urination detector  102   b , i.e., urination has occurred and actuates the suction pump  108   b . A degree of such resistance reduction depends on various conditions of the urine suction device  102  such as areas at which the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are exposed in the first non-coated regions  169   a ,  169   b . In view of this, the illustrated embodiment of urine suction device  102  is designed so that the electrical resistance between the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  is reliably reduced down to 0.4 kΩ or lower in response to urination and this electrical resistance of 0.4 kΩ or lower lasting for a predetermined time period, e.g., 0.2 sec. is set as a critical resistance value, i.e., a threshold value to actuate the suction pump  108   b . The suction pump  108   b  is preferably able to complete urine suction by the urine suction device  102  within 1 to 2 minutes and, so far as the suction pump having such ability is used, it can be determined that the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  is out of order if operation of the suction pump  108  continues, for example, for 3 minutes or longer. 
     If loose passage moves into the urine suction device  102  put on the wearer&#39;s body and the exposed portions  102   e  of the paired feces detecting electrode  143   a ,  143   b  are electrically connected with each other via moisture contained in such loose passage, the electrical resistance between these feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  is reduced. Generally, such reduction of the electrical resistance due to the presence of feces is less remarkable than reduction of the electrical resistance due to the presence of urine. However, reduction of the electrical resistance due to the presence of feces also depends on various conditions of the urine suction device  102  and, in view of this, the illustrated embodiment of the pump unit  108  is designed so that the electrical resistance between the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  is reliably reduced down to 0.5 kΩ or lower in response to defecation and this electrical resistance higher than 0.4 kΩ lasting for a predetermined time period, e.g., 10 minutes is set as a critical resistance value, i.e., a threshold value on the basis of which an alarm is generated to remind exchange of the urine suction device  102 . 
     In the detector unit  150 , a pair of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b , the film member  260  and the insulating coating material  170  cooperated together to form the urination detector  102   b  while a pair of feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b , the film member  260  and the insulating coating material  170  cooperate together to form the defecation detector  102   c . The urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  as well as the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are respectively spaced from each other and extend in parallel in the longitudinal direction P as will be seen in  FIG. 9 . These electrodes respectively have the exposed portions  102   d ,  102   e  formed intermittently in the longitudinal direction P and all of these electrodes are formed on one and same surface of the single film member  260 . With this unique construction, the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  can quickly detect the presence of feces in the region of the detector unit  150  allocated for detection of urine and thereby can effectively prevent the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  from being put in abnormal situation in which the apparatus otherwise could not achieve the desired urine suction due to the presence of feces. 
     A pair of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and a pair of the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are formed on one and same surface of the film member  260  and a distance between these electrodes as viewed in the depth direction of the urine retainer  112  corresponding to the thickness direction R in  FIG. 4  is 0 mm so far as the illustrated embodiment is concerned. However, the electrode assembly  118  available for the present invention is not limited to such illustrated embodiment. For example, it is possible to print a pair of the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and a pair of the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  on two separate film members so as to obtain the electrode assembly  118 . It is also possible to sandwich nonwoven fabric between these two film members printed with the electrodes, then to bond these two film members to the nonwoven fabric and thereby to obtain the electrode assembly  118 . In any case, it should be noted that a pair of urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and a pair of the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are arranged close to one another as viewed in the depth direction of the urine retainer  112  preferably so as to be spaced from one another only by a distance of 0 to 2 mm in order to ensure that urine as well as feces can be detected as soon as urination as well as defecation occurs. 
     In the control unit  101 , the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are adapted to detect a specified resistance value of 0.4 kΩ and the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are adapted to detect a specified resistance value higher than 0.4 kΩ. Consequentially, a malfunction would not occur in the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  even when the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are electrically connected with each other via the presence of urine and the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  are electrically connected with each other via the presence of feces. 
       FIG. 10  is a control flow chart for the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100  with the urine suction device  102  electrically connected to the control unit  101  shown in  FIG. 1 . The control unit  101  has a power source  116   a  (See  FIG. 1 ) adapted to supply the urine suction device  102  with weak current in continuous manner and the control circuit  108   a  measures electrical resistance or the other physical quantity such as voltage appearing between the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and electrical resistance or the other physical quantity such as voltage appearing between the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b . On the basis of variation appearing, for example, in the electrical resistance, the control circuit  108   a  actuates or stops the suction pump  108   b  and informs the care personnel of the abnormal situation by blinking the alarm lamps  503 ,  504 . The control flow chart of  FIG. 10  exemplarily indicates a particular embodiment of operating conditions of the automatic urine disposal apparatus  100 . According to this particular embodiment, the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  and the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  are supplied from the power source  116   a  with current. In the pump unit  108 , electrical resistance between the urine detecting electrodes  218   a ,  218   b  is measured by a first resistance meter  501  once per 0.1 sec. If the electrical resistance exceeds the specified resistance value of 0.4 kΩ, it is determined that no urination occurs and the suction pump  108   b  is left stopped. If the electrical resistance drops to a level lower than 0.4 kΩ at least for 0.2 sec, it is determined that urination has occurred and the suction pump  108   b  is actuated so that the urine suction device  102  begins to suck urine. When the electrical resistance rises again from the level lower than 0.4 kΩ up to 0.4 kΩ or higher, it is determined that urine suction has been completed and the suction pump  108   b  is actuated for further 90 sec to dry the skin-contact sheet  134  of the urine suction device  102  and then stopped. If the electrical resistance remains lower than 0.4 kΩ for 3 minutes, it is determined that the urine suction device  102  is out of order and the suction pump  108   b  is stopped. Thereupon, the alarm lamp  503  is blinked to remind the care personnel to check the urine suction device  102 . 
     In the pump unit  108 , electrical resistance between the feces detecting electrodes  143   a ,  143   b  is measured by a second resistance meter  502  once per 0.5 sec. If the electrical resistance is measured to exceed the specified resistance value of 0.5 kΩ, it is determined that no feces is present in the urine suction device  102  and the resistance measurement is continued. If the electrical resistance decreases to a level lower than 0.5 kΩ and remains at such lower level for 10 minutes, it is determined that any amount of feces being moving into the urine suction device  102 . On the basis of such determination, the alarm lamp is blinked to remind the care personnel to exchange the urine suction device  102 . It is essential to set the electrical resistance as the threshold value for blinking of the alarm lamp  504  to be higher than the specified resistance value as the threshold value for actuation of the suction pump  108   b.