Patent Description:
For determining occurrence of a failure and predicting a failure, a medical care apparatus such as a chair unit and an X-ray apparatus that are installed in a hospital or a clinic is configured to include a sensor and collect the results detected by the sensor as history information (<CIT>).

Specifically, in a medical apparatus disclosed in <CIT>, a temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of a power device such as a converter and an inverter configured to generate a high voltage to be supplied to an X-ray tube, so as to collect the data, as history information, showing the temperature change obtained by the temperature sensor. In the medical apparatus disclosed in <CIT>, occurrence of a failure is determined or predicted based on the collected history information.

For the medical apparatus disclosed in <CIT>, it is necessary to separately provide a sensor for collecting history information and a configuration for processing the result detected by the sensor. Thus, the existing board needs to be improved. Furthermore, in the medical apparatus disclosed in <CIT>, all of the results detected by the sensor are stored as history information. Accordingly, when the apparatus becomes complicated so that the number of sensors is significantly increased, there occurs a problem that the amount of the history information to be stored dramatically increases.

Further medical care apparatuses are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a medical care apparatus and a medical care system, for which history information can be collected without modifying the existing board and the system configuration, and the amount of history information to be stored can be suppressed.

The object is solved by a medical care apparatus according to claim <NUM> and a medical care system according to the further independent claim.

A medical care apparatus according to the present invention includes: a plurality of control boards configured to communicate with one another and perform a plurality of types of control operations; and a history collection board connected to the plurality of control boards so as to be capable of communicating with the plurality of control boards, the history collection board being configured to collect history information from each of the plurality of control boards. The history collection board includes a collection unit configured to collect history information about each of the plurality of types of control operations from communication data that is transmitted and received among the plurality of control boards, and a storage unit configured to store the history information collected by the collection unit. The collection unit is configured to collect history information that changes from the history information previously stored in the storage unit and cause the storage unit to store the history information collected.

A medical care system according to the present invention includes: the above-described medical care apparatus; and an analysis apparatus configured to analyze history information stored in the medical care apparatus.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram for illustrating the configuration of a medical care system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The medical care system shown in <FIG> consists of: one medical care apparatus (which will be hereinafter also referred to as a care apparatus) <NUM> serving as a chair unit; and one analyzing computer <NUM>. It is to be noted that a plurality of medical care apparatuses <NUM> may be connected to one analyzing computer <NUM>.

First, medical care apparatus <NUM> will be hereinafter described in detail. <FIG> is a block diagram for illustrating the configuration of a medical care apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, medical care apparatus <NUM> includes a medical care chair <NUM>, a foot controller <NUM>, a tray table <NUM>, a control device <NUM>, an instrument holder <NUM>, an operation panel <NUM>, a display monitor <NUM>, a basin unit <NUM>, and a lighting device (operation light) <NUM>.

Medical care chair <NUM> includes a headrest 1a supporting the head of a patient, a backrest 1b supporting the back of the patient, a seat 1c supporting buttocks of the patient, a footrest 1d supporting legs of the patient, and a seat drive unit <NUM>. Seat drive unit <NUM> is formed of a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM) and the like that are mounted on a chair control board, and configured to control driving of each of headrest 1a, backrest 1b, seat 1c, and footrest 1d.

For example, seat 1c is raised or lowered under the control of seat drive unit <NUM>. Each of headrest 1a, backrest 1b and footrest 1d is moved under the control of seat drive unit <NUM> in the direction that is perpendicular or horizontal to seat 1c. When headrest 1a, backrest 1b and footrest 1d are moved in the direction perpendicular to seat 1c, the patient sitting on medical care chair <NUM> is brought into a seated posture. When headrest 1a, backrest 1b and footrest 1d are moved in the direction horizontal to seat 1c, the patient sitting on medical care chair <NUM> is laid on his/her back. In this way, seat drive unit <NUM> drives headrest 1a, backrest 1b, seat 1c and footrest 1d to thereby change the posture of medical care chair <NUM>.

Foot controller <NUM> has a plurality of switches (pedals) configured to receive the pressing-down operation by the user's foot. The user can allocate a prescribed function to each of the plurality of switches.

For example, the user can allocate the function of changing the posture of medical care chair <NUM> to a switch on foot controller <NUM>. When the user uses his/her foot to press down the switch to which the function of changing the posture of medical care chair <NUM> is allocated, foot controller <NUM> outputs a control signal to seat drive unit <NUM>. Based on the control signal, seat drive unit <NUM> drives headrest 1a, backrest 1b, seat 1c, and footrest 1d.

Furthermore, the user can allocate the function of driving medical device <NUM> to a switch on foot controller <NUM>. When the user uses his/her foot to press down the switch to which the function of driving medical device <NUM> is allocated, foot controller <NUM> outputs a control signal to medical device drive unit <NUM>. Based on the control signal, medical device drive unit <NUM> controls driving of medical device <NUM>.

Other functions such as functions of controlling a lighting device <NUM> to be turned on and off can be allocated to switches on foot controller <NUM>.

Tray table <NUM> is used as a table on which tools and the like are placed during the medical care. Tray table <NUM> is connected to an arm (not shown) extending from medical care chair <NUM> or a floor. Accordingly, the user can manually move tray table <NUM> pivotally, horizontally and vertically relative to medical care chair <NUM>.

Control device <NUM> is provided on the bottom surface of tray table <NUM>. To this control device <NUM>, medical care chair <NUM>, a plurality of medical devices <NUM>, instrument holder <NUM>, basin unit <NUM>, operation panel <NUM>, and display monitor <NUM> are connected. Control device <NUM> includes an operation control unit <NUM>, a medical device drive unit <NUM>, a display monitor control unit <NUM>, and a hold-release specifying unit <NUM>, which each are formed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like that are mounted on an operation control board, a drive control board, a monitor control board, and a hold-release specifying control board, respectively.

Medical device <NUM> is, for example, an instrument for dental care such as an air turbine handpiece, a micro motor handpiece, a scaler, a three-way syringe, and a vacuum syringe. Medical device <NUM> is not limited to the above components, but may be an intraoral camera, a photopolymerization irradiator, a root canal length measuring instrument, a three-dimensional scanner and a root canal enlargement instrument, and the like, or may be a non-driving instrument such as a dental mirror, a syringe, and a filling tool.

In medical care apparatus <NUM>, five types of medical devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e are used. For example, medical devices 4a and 4b each are an air turbine handpiece. Medical device 4c is a micro motor handpiece. Medical device 4d is a scaler. Medical device 4e is a three-way syringe.

Each medical device <NUM> is held by instrument holder <NUM>. When medical device <NUM> is removed from instrument holder <NUM>, the held state by instrument holder <NUM> is released, which leads to a state where medical device <NUM> is selected (referred to as a selected state).

Each medical device <NUM> is connected to medical device drive unit <NUM> included in control device <NUM>. Medical device drive unit <NUM> drives each medical device <NUM> based on the user's operation of pressing down foot controller <NUM>. For example, when the user uses his/her foot to press down the switch for driving the air turbine handpiece in foot controller <NUM>, medical device drive unit <NUM> rotates a cutting tool held at a head portion of the air turbine handpiece. In this way, medical device drive unit <NUM> drives medical device <NUM> based on the user's operation performed on foot controller <NUM>.

Instrument holder <NUM> serves as a holding member for holding each medical device <NUM>. Instrument holder <NUM> is connected to operation control unit <NUM> via hold-release specifying unit <NUM> included in control device <NUM>. Hold-release specifying unit <NUM> specifies that the state in which instrument holder <NUM> holds medical device <NUM> has been released, and then, outputs a signal showing the specified result to operation control unit <NUM>. Based on the signal from hold-release specifying unit <NUM>, operation control unit <NUM> specifies medical device <NUM> in the selected state.

As shown in <FIG>, basin unit <NUM> is provided on the side portion of medical care chair <NUM>. Basin unit <NUM> includes a bowl 2a provided with an exhaust port, a cup stand 2b on which a cup is placed, and a water faucet 2c through which water is supplied to the cup. The patient can gargle with water supplied into the cup from water faucet 2c.

As shown in <FIG>, basin unit <NUM> includes a basin control unit <NUM>. Basin control unit <NUM> is configured to control the flow of water that is used in medical care apparatus <NUM>. Basin control unit <NUM> is formed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that are mounted on a basin control board.

Furthermore, basin unit <NUM> includes a lighting control unit <NUM>. Lighting control unit <NUM> is configured to control lighting device <NUM> to be turned on and off. Lighting control unit <NUM> is formed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that are mounted on an illumination control board.

Furthermore, basin unit <NUM> includes a history collection unit <NUM> configured to collect the history information in medical care apparatus <NUM>. History collection unit <NUM> is formed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that are mounted on a history collection board. Also, history collection unit <NUM> is provided inside basin unit <NUM> that is closed by a maintenance door 2d. Thus, memory 18b cannot be removed from the history collection board unless maintenance door 2d is opened using a prescribed tool. It is to be noted that history collection unit <NUM> corresponds to one embodiment of the "collection unit". Also, memory 18b corresponds to one embodiment of the "storage unit".

The history collection board is provided with an output port 18a through which the history information is output to analyzing computer <NUM>. Thus, a maintenance worker opens maintenance door 2d to connect a wiring line extending from analyzing computer <NUM> to output port 18a, thereby allowing the collected history information to be extracted. Alternatively, analyzing computer <NUM> and history collection unit <NUM> in medical care apparatus <NUM> may be continuously connected to each other through output port 18a.

The history information collected by history collection unit <NUM> is stored in memory 18b that is attachable to and detachable from the history collection board. Memory 18b is a storage medium formed of a nonvolatile memory such as a memory card. Memory 18b can be removed from the history collection board when a maintenance worker opens maintenance door 2d. Accordingly, the wiring line extending from analyzing computer <NUM> does not have to be connected to output port 18a, but memory 18b only has to be removed from the history collection board and connected to analyzing computer <NUM>, so that the collected history information can be extracted. In addition, output port 18a does not have to be provided in the history collection board. When output port 18a is not provided in the history collection board, the history information is to be extracted using only memory 18b from medical care apparatus <NUM> and transferred to analyzing computer <NUM>.

For communication between the control boards inside medical care apparatus <NUM>, relevant known techniques such as CAN (Controller Area Network) communication are applied. In medical care apparatus <NUM>, all of the control boards such as the chair control board, the operation control board, the drive control board, the monitor control board, the hold-release specifying control board, the basin control board, and the illumination control board communicate with one another through CAN communication, so as to share each other's situations for performing control operations. In CAN communication, communication is established among the control boards through transmission of communication packets carrying communication data that includes the information about the control operation by each control board. For the communication among the control boards, if the communication data including the information about the control operation by each control board is transmitted and received among the control boards, it is not necessary to use communication packets for this transmission and reception. In this case, the information about the control operation includes a plurality of pieces of information about a switch, a sensor, an actuator, a status and the like that are controlled by their respective control boards.

When the history collection board is connected to other control boards so as to be capable of CAN communication with these other control boards, history collection unit <NUM> can collect the information about the control operation by each control board as history information. For example, through CAN communication, history collection unit <NUM> collects the information about various types of control operations as history information from the communication packets including: the information about the chair unit position control transmitted from seat drive unit <NUM>; the information about medical device <NUM> transmitted from operation control unit <NUM>; the information about the cup water supply electromagnetic valve control transmitted from basin control unit <NUM>; and the information about the lighting control of lighting device <NUM> transmitted from lighting control unit <NUM>. In addition, the history information collected by history collection unit <NUM> includes at least the operation history about the operation performed by medical care apparatus <NUM>, and the detection history detected by medical care apparatus <NUM>.

Display monitor <NUM> is provided at an arm extending upward from tray table <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Display monitor <NUM> has a screen with a large display area. In other words, display monitor <NUM> can display a great amount of information.

Display monitor <NUM> is connected to operation control unit <NUM> through display monitor control unit <NUM> provided in control device <NUM>. Based on the command from operation control unit <NUM>, display monitor control unit <NUM> causes display monitor <NUM> to display an image, a related image related to the operation image, and the like.

Then, analyzing computer <NUM> will be hereinafter described in detail. <FIG> is a block diagram for illustrating the configuration of analyzing computer <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Analyzing computer <NUM> includes: a CPU <NUM> configured to execute various programs including an operating system (OS); a memory unit <NUM> in which the data required for executing the program by CPU <NUM> is temporarily stored; and a hard disk drive (HDD) <NUM> in which the program executed by CPU <NUM> is stored in a non-volatile manner. Also, the program for implementing analysis is stored in advance in hard disk drive <NUM>, and read by a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive <NUM> and the like from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM 214a.

CPU <NUM> receives instructions from the user and the like through an input unit <NUM> formed of a keyboard, a mouse or the like, and outputs the analysis result and the like obtained as a result of execution of the program to a display device 204a through a display output unit <NUM>. These units are connected to one another through a bus <NUM>. Furthermore, an interface unit <NUM> can be connected to output port 18a of medical care apparatus <NUM>. In the above description, analyzing computer <NUM> and medical care apparatus <NUM> are connected in a wired manner through output port 18a, but may be connected wirelessly.

Then, a detailed explanation will be given with regard to the process in which history collection unit <NUM> collects history information from each control board in medical care apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram for illustrating the contents of communication packets that are transmitted and received among the control boards. It is to be noted that the contents of the communication packets shown in <FIG> are shown merely by way of example, and other types of data are also allocated to communication packets.

Each control board performs CAN communication, in which communication is established through communication packets carrying a plurality of pieces of information about the switch, the sensor, the actuator, the status and the like that are controlled by their respective control boards (the information about control). For all of the control boards provided in medical care apparatus <NUM>, the formats for the communication packets are defined in advance such that each information about the switch, the sensor, the actuator, the status and the like controlled by their respective control boards can be identified. Specifically, for the communication packets shown in <FIG>, a communication packet ID "<NUM>" is allocated to the drive control board (medical device drive unit <NUM>); a communication packet ID "<NUM>" is allocated to the chair control board (seat drive unit <NUM>); a communication packet ID "<NUM>" is allocated to the basin control board (basin control unit <NUM>); and a communication packet ID "<NUM>" is allocated to the operation control board (operation control unit <NUM>).

For the communication packet allocated with communication packet ID " <NUM>", and regarding medical device drive unit <NUM> controlling a sensor A, a sensor B, a status A, and a status B, (i) the information about sensor A is allocated to "DATA1", (ii) the information about sensor B is allocated to "DATA2", (iii) the information about status A is allocated to "DATA3", and (iv) the information about status B is allocated to "DATA4". Sensor A serves, for example, to detect the drive signal for medical device 4a of the air turbine handpiece controlled by medical device drive unit <NUM>. Sensor B serves, for example, to detect the drive signal for medical device 4c of the micro motor handpiece controlled by medical device drive unit <NUM>. Status A indicates, for example, the information showing the driving mode of medical device 4a driven by medical device drive unit <NUM>. Status B indicates, for example, the information showing the driving mode of medical device 4c driven by medical device drive unit <NUM>.

For the communication packet allocated with communication packet ID "<NUM>", and regarding seat drive unit <NUM> controlling a sensor C, an actuator A, an actuator B, and an actuator C, (i) the information about sensor C is allocated to "DATA1", (ii) the information about actuator A is allocated to "DATA2", (iii) the information about actuator B is allocated to "DATA3", and (iv) the information about actuator C is allocated to "DATA4". Sensor C serves, for example, to detect abnormalities in the actuator provided in medical care chair <NUM>. Actuator A is, for example, provided in headrest 1a of medical care chair <NUM>. Actuator B is, for example, provided in backrest 1b of medical care chair <NUM>. Actuator C is, for example, provided in seat 1c of medical care chair <NUM>.

Similarly, for the communication packet allocated with communication packet ID "<NUM>", and regarding basin control unit <NUM> controlling an actuator D, an actuator E, an actuator F, and a status C, (i) the information about actuator D is allocated to "DATA1", (ii) the information about actuator E is allocated to "DATA2", (iii) the information about actuator F is allocated to "DATA3", and (iv) the information about status C is allocated to "DATA4". For the communication packet allocated with communication packet ID "<NUM>", and regarding operation control unit <NUM> controlling a switch A, a switch B, a switch C, and a switch D, (i) the information about switch A is allocated to "DATA1", (ii) the information about switch B is allocated to "DATA2", (iii) the information about switch C is allocated to "DATA3", and (iv) the information about switch D is allocated to "DATA4".

Each control board transmits the communication packets (shown in <FIG>) carrying each information about the switch, the sensor, the actuator, the status and the like to other control boards, so that all of the control boards can operate in cooperation with one another. Thus, the history collection board is connected to the wiring line capable of receiving a communication packet, so that history collection unit <NUM> can collect, from a plurality of control boards, a plurality of pieces of information about the control operations by the plurality of control boards as a plurality of pieces of history information.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating history information collected by history collection unit <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For the communication packet that is transmitted and received among the control boards, the information is identified by an event code attached according to the format shown in <FIG>. For example, when the communication packet includes the information about sensor A ("DATA1") of the drive control board (communication packet ID "<NUM>"), history collection unit <NUM> generates communication packet ID "<NUM>" showing information for identifying the drive control board and an event code "<NUM>" corresponding to the information for identifying sensor A, and then, stores the generated ID and code as history information. Accordingly, the communication packet ID and the event code that corresponds to the information for identifying the sensor and the like are stored without fail as the history information collected by history collection unit <NUM>. Thus, it becomes possible to identify as to which control board the information indicates, as to which sensor the information indicates, and the like. Specifically, "<NUM>", "<NUM>" and "<NUM>" are allocated as event codes corresponding to sensor B ("DATA2"), status A ("DATA3") and status B ("DATA4"), respectively, of the drive control board (communication packet ID "<NUM>"). Furthermore, "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>", and "<NUM>" are allocated as event codes corresponding to sensor C ("DATA1"), actuator A ("DATA2"), actuator B ("DATA3"), and actuator C ("DATA4"), respectively, of the chair control board (communication packet ID "<NUM>").

Furthermore, history collection unit <NUM> generates an event parameter corresponding to the data included in the communication packet, and stores the generated event parameter as history information. For example, when the communication packet includes the information showing that sensor A ("DATA1") of the drive control board is in an OFF state, history collection unit <NUM> generates an event parameter "<NUM>" corresponding to the information "DATA1"showing that sensor A is in an OFF state, and stores the generated event parameter as history information. As the history information collected by history collection unit <NUM>, the information about date, time and the like is also stored together with the event codes and the event parameters. In history collection unit <NUM>, not all of the communication packets are stored as will be described later. Instead, when there are time-dependent changes in communication packet ID and data that are included in the communication packet (when an event occurs), an event code and an event parameter are generated and stored as history information.

Specifically, as history information shown in <FIG>, the information of the event code "<NUM>" with the event parameter of "<NUM>" is stored in memory 18b (see <FIG>) together with the information about the date (<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>) and the time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). Similarly, as history information shown in <FIG>, the information of the event code "<NUM>" with the event parameter of "<NUM>" is stored in memory 18b (see <FIG>) together with the information about the date (<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>) and the time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In this case, the event code "<NUM>" shows actuator A ("DATA2") of the chair control board (communication packet ID "<NUM>"), and the event parameter "<NUM>" shows that actuator A is in an OFF state.

In CAN communication, even when the subject controlled by the control board does not change, the communication packet carrying information is transmitted to other control boards. Specifically, when medical device 4a of the air turbine handpiece is not operated, the communication packet carrying the information showing that sensor A of the drive control board is in the OFF state is continuously transmitted to other control boards. Thus, when every information showing that sensor A is in the OFF state is collected by history collection unit <NUM> from the communication packets transmitted from the drive control board, and the collected information is stored in memory 18b, then, the amount of information to be stored enormously increases to exceed the capacity that can be stored in memory 18b in a short period of time.

Thus, in history collection unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment, when the subject controlled by the control board changes (when an event occurs), history information is collected from the communication packets. <FIG> is a diagram for illustrating: the timing at which history collection unit <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention collects history information; and an analysis result thereof. <FIG> shows: sensor A ("DATA1") of the drive control board (communication packet ID "<NUM>"); and actuator A ("DATA2") of the chair control board (communication packet ID "<NUM>"), both of which are subjects for which history information is collected. Furthermore, history collection unit <NUM> collects history information from the communication packets at a sampling point at intervals of one second.

History collection unit <NUM> starts to collect the history information from time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>) on date (<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>). First, at time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>), history collection unit <NUM> collects: the information showing that sensor A is in the OFF state; and the information showing that actuator A is in the OFF state. Then, history collection unit <NUM> stores the history information in memory 18b, as shown in <FIG>.

Then, history collection unit <NUM> collects the information at time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In this case, however, since sensor A remains in the OFF state and actuator A remains in the OFF state, the collected information is not stored as history information in memory 18b, as shown in <FIG>.

Then, history collection unit <NUM> collects the information at time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In this case, since sensor A has changed into the ON state, the history information is stored in memory 18b, as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, history collection unit <NUM> causes memory 18b to store the information of the event code" <NUM>" with the event parameter of "<NUM>" together with the information of the date (<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>) and the time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In addition, since actuator A remains in the OFF state, history collection unit <NUM> does not cause memory 18b to store the history information about actuator A, as shown in <FIG>. History collection unit <NUM> performs the similar process also for the time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>).

History collection unit <NUM> collects information at time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, and <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). However, in this case, since sensor A remains in the OFF state and actuator A remains in the OFF state, the collected information is not stored as history information in memory 18b, as shown in <FIG>.

History collection unit <NUM> collects information at time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In this case, since actuator A has changed into the ON state, the history information is stored in memory 18b, as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, history collection unit <NUM> causes memory 18b to store the information of the event code "<NUM>" with the event parameter of "<NUM>" together with the information of the date (<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>) and the time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In addition, since sensor A remains in the OFF state, history collection unit <NUM> does not cause memory 18b to store the history information about sensor A, as shown in <FIG>.

History collection unit <NUM> collects information at time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In this case, since actuator A has changed into the OFF state, the history information is stored in memory 18b, as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, history collection unit <NUM> causes memory 18b to store the information of the event code "<NUM>" with the event parameter of "<NUM>" together with the information of the date (<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>) and the time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>). In addition, since sensor A remains in the OFF state, history collection unit <NUM> does not cause memory 18b to store the history information about sensor A, as shown in <FIG>.

As having been described with reference to <FIG>, history collection unit <NUM> collects, from the communication packets, the history information that has changed from the previously stored history information, and then causes memory 18b to store the collected history information. Accordingly, the history information stored in memory 18b can be reduced in amount as shown in <FIG>, which eliminates the need to prepare memory 18b with a large capacity. Even when analyzing computer <NUM> is connected to output port 18a of the history collection board so as to extract the history information stored in memory 18b, but when the amount of the history information stored in memory 18b is relatively small, analyzing computer <NUM> can extract the history information stored in memory 18b in a short period of time.

Analyzing computer <NUM> analyzes the history information extracted from memory 18b. For example, by the history information shown in <FIG>, it is difficult to understand how the states of sensor A and actuator A have changed. Thus, analyzing computer <NUM> plots a graph shown in <FIG> to show the temporal change of the history information shown in <FIG>. In the graph shown in <FIG>, it can be recognized at a glance that sensor A is in the ON state from time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>) to time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>), and, during this time period, actuator A is in the ON state from time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>) to time (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>).

Since analyzing computer <NUM> includes display device 204a, it can cause display device 204a to display the history information stored in medical care apparatus <NUM> as a time series chart as shown in <FIG>. By displaying the time series chart of the history information on display device 204a, the temporal change of the history information in medical care apparatus <NUM> can be readily grasped.

As described above, the medical care apparatus (medical care apparatus <NUM>) according to the present first embodiment collects the history information about various types of control operations from the communication packets that are transmitted and received among a plurality of control boards. Accordingly, the history information can be collected without modifying the existing board and the system configuration. Particularly, the history collection board merely receives and monitors the communication packet, which does not influence the control over the entire apparatus. In other words, the algorithm for collecting the history information does not influence the system of the apparatus at all, so that the existing apparatus can be readily modified into an apparatus capable of collecting history information. Furthermore, in the medical care apparatus according to the present first embodiment, the history information that has changed from the previously stored history information is stored, so that the amount of the history information to be stored can be reduced.

The medical care system according to the present first embodiment includes analyzing computer <NUM> configured to analyze the history information, so that the history information collected in medical care apparatus <NUM> can be analyzed. Specifically, analyzing computer <NUM> plots a time series chart of the history information, so that the history information collected in medical care apparatus <NUM> can be rendered visible.

In the medical care system according to the present first embodiment, the history information of medical care apparatus <NUM> installed in a clinic is merely collected and analyzed. However, at least one of the collected history information of medical care apparatus <NUM> and the analysis result thereof can be shared in common among a plurality of medical care apparatuses provided in the clinic. Furthermore, at least one of a plurality of pieces of history information collected from a plurality of medical care apparatuses <NUM> installed in a plurality of clinics; and the analysis results thereof can also be shared in common among the medical care apparatuses installed in the plurality of clinics. For example, the medical care systems installed in a plurality of clinics are connected to a server on a cloud managed by the manufacturer of the medical care systems, so that the collected plurality of pieces of history information of medical care apparatuses <NUM> and the analysis results thereof are shared in common. Specifically, <FIG> is a schematic diagram for illustrating a system to which a plurality of medical care systems are connected. In the system shown in <FIG>, an analyzing computer 20A of a medical care system installed in A dental clinic is connected to a server <NUM> on a cloud <NUM> through a network line. In this system, similarly, an analyzing computer 20X of another medical care system installed in X dental clinic is connected to server <NUM> on cloud <NUM> through the network line. In other words, in the present system, at least one of a plurality of pieces of history information about medical care apparatuses <NUM> collected in a plurality of medical care systems installed in dental clinics from A dental clinic to X dental clinic; and the analysis results thereof can be shared in common through server <NUM> on cloud <NUM>. In addition, analyzing computer <NUM> provided in each clinic is connected to the network line through interface unit <NUM>.

In server <NUM> on cloud <NUM>, a plurality of pieces of history information about medical care apparatuses <NUM> collected from the plurality of clinics and the analysis results thereof can be summarized to calculate the overall average value, or a plurality of pieces of history information about medical care apparatuses <NUM> collected from a plurality of clinics in a specific area and the analysis results thereof can be summarized to calculate an average value for the specific area. Furthermore, in server <NUM> on cloud <NUM>, based on the plurality of pieces of history information of medical care apparatuses <NUM> and the analysis results thereof, the information for improving medical care apparatus <NUM> can be provided to each clinic. Also, by comparing the history information of medical care apparatus <NUM> and the analysis results thereof between one clinic and other clinics, the information proposing methods of utilizing and managing medical care apparatus <NUM> can be provided.

As described above, in the medical care system according to the present second embodiment, at least one of the history information stored in medical care apparatus <NUM> and the analysis result thereof can be transmitted through analyzing computer <NUM> to server <NUM>. In other words, analyzing computer <NUM> corresponds to a communication unit.

In addition, analyzing computer <NUM> does not necessarily have to be provided in each clinic, but there may be a communication unit (for example, a transmission server and the like) through which at least one of the history information collected from medical care apparatus <NUM> in each clinic and the analysis result thereof can be transmitted to server <NUM> on cloud <NUM>. Furthermore, the analyses of a plurality of pieces of history information conducted by analyzing computer <NUM> may be collectively performed in server <NUM> on cloud <NUM>.

However, the medical care system can be applied not only to dentistry but also to the medical examination of all medical departments such as ophthalmology, otolaryngology, radiology, and a veterinary medicine.

Claim 1:
A medical care apparatus (<NUM>) comprising: a plurality of units, the plurality comprising a seat drive unit (<NUM>), and operation control unit (<NUM>),
the plurality of units being configured to communicate with one another and perform a plurality of types of control operations; and
a history collection unit (<NUM>) connected to other control units (<NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM>) configured to communicate with the control units (<NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM>), the history collection device being configured to collect usage data from each of the control units (<NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM>),
the history collection unit including
a collection unit(<NUM>) configured to collect usage data about each of the plurality of types of control operations from communication data that is transmitted and received among the control units (<NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM>), and
a storage unit (18b) configured to store the usage data collected by the collection unit (<NUM>),
the collection unit (<NUM>) being configured to collect usage data and cause the storage unit (18b) to store collect usage data that has changed with respect to usage data currently stored in the storage unit (18b).