CA2169848A1 - Measuring system and measuring sensor for measuring a quantity of urine - Google Patents
Measuring system and measuring sensor for measuring a quantity of urineInfo
- Publication number
- CA2169848A1 CA2169848A1 CA 2169848 CA2169848A CA2169848A1 CA 2169848 A1 CA2169848 A1 CA 2169848A1 CA 2169848 CA2169848 CA 2169848 CA 2169848 A CA2169848 A CA 2169848A CA 2169848 A1 CA2169848 A1 CA 2169848A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- measuring
- urine
- beaker
- conducting
- sensor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/20—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons for measuring urological functions restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system
- A61B5/202—Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/20—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons for measuring urological functions restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system
- A61B5/207—Sensing devices adapted to collect urine
- A61B5/208—Sensing devices adapted to collect urine adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Physiology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
- Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Electric Means (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention provides a measuring sensor (30) for measuring the presence of liquid having a relatively low electrical resistance (of the order of 0-1000 .OMEGA.) comprising one or more conductors with high electrical resistance (of the order of 100 k.OMEGA. or more) which are maintained between connecting contacts on a carrier element made of synthetic material, cardboard or paper and which has a substantially meandering shape, wherein the resistance between the connecting contacts is notably reduced in the presence of the conducting liquid.
Description
~ Woss/0s77~ 21698~8 pCT~D~ 2^^
MEA8URING ~.~M AND MEASURING 8~T~P
~OR MEA8~RING A QUA~ OF URINB
An accurate measuring ~n~or for measuring the quantity or flowrate, of released urine, occurring incontinent patients with micturition problems is sought after on a large scale.
The present invention provides a measuring s~nror for measuring the preC~n~e of liquid with a relatively low electrical resistance, in the order of O-1000 n, comprising one or more conductors with high electrical resistance, in the order of 100 kn of more, which are maintained between 10 connecting contacts on a carrier element made of synthetic material, cardboard or paper and which has a substantially m~n~ shape wherein the resistance between the connecting contacts is notably reduced in the presence of the conducting liquid.
For diagnosing urination or micturition problems the rate of flow of urine released by a patient is measured.
For this a patient usually has to urinate in a hospital. Due to unfamiliar ~LLoul,dings and/or the fact that the patient 5 is a day patient, urination is often difficult or does not take place at all. Aberrations in the urination pattern can cause problems in making a correct diagnosis, especially in the case of scientific research. In some cases the patient has to remain in the hospital for many hours and drink as 10 much liquid as possible in order for trustworthy results with repeated measurements to be obtained. Existing flow meters are expensive and are mainly found, in practice, in hospitals.
Existing systems for registrating micturition on 15 the one hand concern direct flow measurement and on the other hand volume measurement, differentiation of which reveals a flow rate. An existing direct flow measuring system comprises a rotating disc which is breaked by the W095/05774 pcT~ns4loo2oo ~
21~9~4~- 2 urine stream. Such an apparatus is transportable with difficulty.
Volume measuring systems make use of, for instance, a pipe in a beaker which measures the pressure 5 therein. Another volume measuring system makes use of two plates in a h~ker and in so doing, determines the volume due to capacity or resistance changes between these plates.
The results of this measurement are greatly influenced by variations in the electrical co~ cting qualities of urine.
10 These known volume measuring systems are extremely sensitive to movement and are likewise su ceptible to displacement.
Furthermore a portable flow meter exists which comprises a large pot and an above mentioned flow meter, which at the utmost can be called transportable.
The present invention provides a system for measuring the quantity of urine or other conducting liquid, for instance per unit time, such as released by an individual, wherein the system comprises:
- one or more carrier elements provided with a 20 measuring C~ncor for measuring the rise rate per unit time of urine in a collecting beaker wherein the measuring sensor is placeable; and - measuring means coupled to the measuring sensor and which are provided with a timer, a memory for storing 25 the measured data and a control member for controlling the measuring sensor, the timer and the memory.
Preferably the measuring system is able to be carried so that the patient can personally carry out the measurements in familiar ~Llo~ln~ing~ mostly at home. A
30 first application of the portable flow meter can co~c~rn study and treatment of prostate enlargement (BPH), i.e. in men.
From the hygiene point of view the receiving h~Ak~s and/or carrier elements are preferably made of 35 plastified paper, cardboard or another disposable material wherein a printed sensor, for instance, is mounted on the wall of the receiving heAker. To compensate for a possible tilted position and possible movements of the receiving ~ WO 95/05774 21 6 9 8 4 8 PCT/NI94/00200 h~Ak~r, which by use at home could obviously occur, preferably three, or in the case of a h~Ak~r with a rectangular form, preferably four measuring sensors are mounted with the aid of a number of carrying elements 5 equidistant along the circumference against the upstAn~;ng walls of the receiving h~Aker.
A related aspect according to the present invention ~o~cDrns a measuring sensor, carrier element and/or receiving heAker.
Furthermore the present invention provides a measuring sensor wherein a number of meAnA~r shaped conducting lines are mounted parallel between conducting connecting contacts on a carrier element and wherein an absorption element is mounted for absorbing urine and the 15 even distribution thereof over the conducting lines, against the side on which the high resistivity conducting lines are mounted, which is especially suitable for use in incontinence nappies and/or training of a baby or a small child.
Further advantages, characteristics and details of the present invention will become clear with respect to the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings which show:
fig. 1 a partly cut away perspective view of a 25 preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention; and fig. 2 a block diagram of the embodiment from fig. l;
fig. 3 a frontal view of a folded out inner 30 h~Aker, provided with a number of measuring sensors according to the present invention;
fig. 4 a frontal view of a second preferred embodiment of an inner h~Aker when folded out, provided with a number of measuring c~ncors according to the present 35 invention;
fig. 5 an exploded perspective view of a measuring system according to the present invention provided with the inner beaker from fig. 3 or 4;
woss/~s774 2~6~ ~8 PcT~n94/0~20~ ~
fig. 6 a perspective view of the device from fig.
5 by use thereof;
fig. 7 an exploded perspective view of a further 5 preferred embodiment of a h~er to use with the measuring system from fig. 1;
fig. 8 a perspective view of a measuring sensor according to the present invention;
fig. 9 a block diagram of a measuring system for 10 use with the measuring sensor of fig. 6; and fig. 10 a graph of a measured result obtained with the measuring system from fig. 7.
A preferred embodiment 1 (fig. 1) comprises a portable case 2 and one or a number of receiving hP~kPrs 3 15 which are able to be coupled thereto. The patient releases urine into a receiving beaker 3, from which release the rate is measured and stored in the measuring means in the case.
At the start of the measurement a switch 4 is operated whereafter it can be read on two (or three) coloured lamps 20 5, 6 and 7 respectively that the patient can commence urine release.
The receiving heAker is provided on the inside with three, four (or more), measuring sensors, mounted on carrying elements such as those in fig. 2 which are 25 reproAllce~ schematically with 8. A microprocessor 10 is housed in the portable case 2, which is provided with a schematically reproduced RS232 driving element for coupling with a personal computer PC, for reading out and/or printing of the measured data. Furthermore a crystal 12, which makes 30 up part of the timer, is connected to the microprocessor 10.
Via a bus structure 13 which comprises a data bus 14, an address bus 15 and a control bus 16, the microprocessor 10 is ro~n~cted to a memory part 17, 18, 19 respectively, wherein the measured data is stored in memory part 18, for 35 instance, whilst the program memory is formed, for instance, by part 17. The control bus 16 is co~nPcted to the address bus via an address A~co~; ng element 20. The time is noted by the main timer 21 with respect to the data provided from the ~ W095/05774 ~9~ ~ ~ pcT~n~4loo2oo s crystal 12 via the microprocessor 10 on the databus 14.
Furthermore the microprocessor 10 is coupled with a ~oy~ammable current source 22 and a programmable analogue switch unit 23 on which the measuring element unit 8 is 5 cQ~n~cted. A supply source 24 takes care of the electrical supply voltage V for the diverse components.
A measuring sensor 30, such as that comprised within the broken lines in fig. 2, comprises a thin conducting path 31 and a wide return path 32 which are 10 mutually co~ected near the bottom of the receiving h~ker via a cross cQn~ection and which are printed in high resistivity carbon, for instance, as well as a path 33 lain there between which alternately constists of relatively stretched out broad lengths 34 and thin conducting 15 co~n~cting lengths 35.
In the absence of urine in the receiving beaker, a high resistance in the order of 100 kn to 1 Mn will be measured both between the connections 36, 37 respectively as well as between the conn~ctions 38 on the one side and 36 or 20 37 on the other side. The urine will only show a resistance in the order of 10 on and thus causes a relative short circuiting between the conducting paths whereby the resistance between the paths will be determined by the height of the urine level.
Because for instance, due to differing fabrication cirCumst~nc~C the resistance of the conducting paths 31, 32 and 33 can mutually differ, the conducting path 33 is provided with relatively wide areas 34 and thin conducting paths 35 mounted there between, so that the resistance 30 between the connection 38 and one of the other connections 36 or 37 will greatly reduce the moment the urine level reaches a new wide part of the conducting path. In this way it is possible to allow an accurate c~lihration of the changing resistance between the connections 36 and 37 to 35 take place simultaneously with the carrying out of the measurement. Due to the correct processing of the obt~; n~A
measurement data with the aid of the measuring system, or later with the aid of a personal computer, an accurate W095/05774 ~69~ 4 pcT~n94loo2oo ~
measurement of the rate of increase of the urine level in the he~ker can take place, and thus doing, due to the known inner dimensions of the receiving h~Ake~, the quantity of urine in the time pro~lce~.
The diverse measurements are sent to the diverse measuring sensors from the control member 10 and the registrations are stored in the correct manner in RAM, whether or not having being changed from analogue to digital form, with the ~Gl~e~L time and date of the measurement.
10 Because in the shown preferred embodiment the possibility exists of connecting to an external computer, such as a personal computer, measured data can be further processed outside of the measuring system itself and, apart from this, a desired adjustment in the software of the measuring system 15 can be carried out. As will be clear to an expert, a large number of possibilities are available for the carrying out of diverse measurements and the filtering out of interferencè signals and such like with the help of a mi~ ocessor.
In the shown and described preferred emho~iment a patient or another individual can hold the flow meter in the hand during urine release because movement and/or a tilted position thereof has no influence on the results. The measuring sensor can be mounted on a disposable carrying 25 element which is placed in a re-usable beaker or in completely disposable h~Ak~rs provided with such carrying elements with sensor elements.
It is important to note concerning the measuring ~cor, particularly due to the high resistance of the 30 conducting paths, that due to the large difference thereof with the conductance of the urine, differences in the co~llctance of the urine have a neglectable influence on the measured results. However it is also conceivable to fit the printed measuring sensor partly in material with a high 35 resistance and partly in material with a lower resistance.
An inner h~k~r 40 (fig. 3, 4, 5, and 6) for a measuring system 41 according to the present invention, comprises a plate of material 42, for example made of 095/05774 ~1 ' PCT~n~1J~2^~
synthetic material, whereon a number of connecting contacts 43, 44, 45, 46 are mounted which are connected via low resistivity cQ~ cting paths 47-S5 with bro~eneA co~ecting terminals 56-64. High resistivity conducting paths project 5 out from the cQnn~cting contacts 43-46, such as the high resistivity con~llcting paths 65 and 66 with co~n~cting contact 43, each of which are ro~n~cted with low resistivity paths 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 so that on co~ecting one of the good conducting path parts 67-75 with 10 the co~llcting path 66 a clearly reproducable signal is given off to the measuring system.
A recQnA preferred emhoAiment of a round, foldable he~ker according to the present invention (fig. 4) differs from the preferred emhoA;ment shown in fig. 3, in that two 15 return conducting paths 55', 55" respectively are connected to connecting contacts 64', 64" respectively in order to reduce the total length of the conducting paths to be printed and to prevent a large number of conducting paths next to each other near the upper edge of the inner beaker 20 from projecting out, such as in the embodiment of fig. 3.
The plates of material 40 and 40' are preferably made from cardboard with a synthetic material layer, such as polyproylene, associated thereon.
Such a measuring sensor 76 is preferably mounted 25 on the outerside of the measuring beaker 40 (see fig. 5 and 6) which is placed in its roundfolded form in a h~Aker 77 and connected to conn~cting terminals 78 and 79 of the measuring system 41 so that the urine arrives in the h~ker according to arrow A and rises along the outerside of the 30 inner beaker 40 according to arrow B between the inner wall of the h~ker 77 and the outerwall of the inner beaker 40, and direct contact of the urine, has no influence on the measured results if the urine comes into contact with the innerwall of the inner beaker.
The conducting paths are preferably placed on the inner he~ker with the aid of printing techniques.
A further preferred emhoA;ment of an inner beaker 101 (fig. 7) is equipped with two walls wherein a number of 9~
w095/05774 pcT~n~4J~c2A^ ~
measuring ~ncors project between the walls there~f (not shown). A he~ker 101 is preferably provided with a clickable thereon ring like lid 102 with an outer diameter Dl of about 110 mm. The height D2 of the h~ker 101 is preferably 200 mm 5 so that the whole complete measuring system, with these dimensions according to fig. 1, can be held in the hand by the patient during urine release. The h~Aker 101 is preferably pro~llcP~ from polypropylene with a wall thi~xnpcc of 0.7-0.9 mm.
A further application of of the measuring sensor according to the present invention concerns a so called leak detecting system for inconti nenc~ or for the training of children.
The cause of inconti nens~ is to blame on the 15 disruption of the bladder function and/or on the disruption of the function of the closing me~h~n;cm of the bladder.
This can be blamed on uncontrollable bladder contractions or external stress factors such as coughing, laughing or physical excertion. The diagnosis of incont; npnc~ and 20 especially the gravity of the complaint is difficult to pin down. A known t~chn; que consists of following a patient for a period of time and carrying out measurement on the bladder function and/or the closing me~h~n;cm~ for example by measuring pressure. The gravity of incontinence and the 25 correlation with bl ~ r functions measurements and the closing mec~n;cm can be determined by detecting the moment and the extent of urine loss.
A new method for quantifying urine loss concerns pre-dry-weighing of a nappylike band and, after a certain 30 period has ~1APC~ the wet weighing thereof. The weight-difference yields the extent of urine r~le~e. With this, the amount of urine can only be measured, not the moment of urine release. It is not possible to determine the correlation between the bladder function and the closing 35 mec~n;~m and the moment of urine release, and the amount of urine per function thereof can also not be determined.
It is also known to make use of fitting a thin pipe into the urethra. Two electrodes are usually mounted on WO9S/05774 2l 6 PcT~n~4/00200 this pipe for carrying out impedence measurement. Also with this the amount of urine loss per urine release can not be determined. Furthermore the fitting and carrying of the pipe is uncomfortable for the patient.
S Measuring systems are also known wherein strips of silver paper are associated with nappies, for example with press studs. It is also not possible to measure the amount of urine loss with this known system, and such a urine loss can only be determined once. After the system has become 10 wet, further urine loss will yield no significant lowering of the co~ ctance and will also yield no measurement result.
Finally there is a known method wherein a heat sensor is placed in a nappie. On contact of urine with the 15 body temperature, a temperature increase of the sensor is caused which is measured. After a little while the temperature of the s~nCQr will drop back to a level h~n~Ath the bodytemperature of the urine. This known method can indeed determine the time of urine loss, but not the amount 20 of urine loss.
A measuring sensor 80 (fig. 8, 9) according to the present invention comprises a carrier 81 of for example polyester or paper or a combination thereof, whereon, with the help of electric conducting ink, for example with the 25 help of print te~-hn; que, a number of high resistivity meAn~r shaped conducting paths 82, 83 to 90 is mounted. The high resistivity con~-~cting paths 82 to 90 are furthermore connected with the conducting connecting contacts 91 and 92.
Against the side of the carrier material 81 whereon the 30 conducting paths are mounted, an absorption element of damp absorbing material, preferably of a synthetic material, is secured, for example glued thereon. This absorption element ensures that the released urine is well distributed whereby a determined length of the different paths are 35 shortcircuited due to the total resistance decreasing. This decrease is directly propotional to the total length of the paths which have come into contact with the urine and is proportional to the surface and hence to the total quantity W095/05774 2~9~ PcT~ns4loo2 of released urine. With a new release of urine, even at the same location, the surface of the absorption element will become larger which leads to a further decrease in resistance. The dimensions of the sensor can be chosen so 5 that no urine loss goes unmeasured. The first tests have shown that it is possible to detect a volume of one to a few hundred ml with the material now used. It is also possible to mount a sensor with a relatively thin absorption element on the upper side and a ~?~cor element provided with a 10 relatively thick absorption element on the under side whereby an extremely sensitive sensor with a large measuring range is obt~ine~.
This sensor makes it possible to determine the exact time of urine loss as well as various detections of 15 urine loss, while in an extremely sensitive manner a large measuring range is measured. Furthermore it appears that the position of the sensor in the nappyband is not critical and is not influenced to a great extent by the qualities of urine while, due to the relatively low costs, the sensor can 20 be made disposable.
A heat ~^ncor is preferably used in the measuring system which makes use of the above mentioned sensor, which is used to determine the time when the patient goes to the toilet which can also be important for diagnoses, especially 25 with simultanious measuring of the bladder pressure.
A measuring system 100 (fig. 9) making use of a measuring sensor 80 according to the present invention, preferably comprises a microprocessor 101 on which a schematically shown timer 102 is mounted and which is 30 connected to a periphery apparatus such as a personal computer 104 via a driving element 103. A read only memory (ROM) 109 and a writeable memory 110 are connected to the microproc~scor 101 via a busstructure 105 which comprises a databus 106, an adressbus 107 and a controlbus 108.
35 Furthermore an energy source 111, a programmable current source 112 and a programmable switch element 113 are con~Pcted thereon. The ~P~cor 80 is connected to the ~mmable switch element 113, the exits of which are woss/0s774 1 ~ 8~ PCI~nD4/~020~
- conn~cted to an analog/digital-converter via amplifiers 114 which make up part of the mi~LGp~ocessor 101. Furthermore a schematically shown keyboard control panel 115 for the patient and a sound element for giving off of a sound signal 5 116 are cQnnPcted to the mi~LU~loc~csor 101, the sound element being of importance for example for tr~in;ng goals for a patient, baby or small child.
Fig. 10 shows a measured result of measurements obtained with the help of the measuring system from the 10 blockdiagram of fig. 9. The time t is plotted along the horizontal axis and the conductance C along the vertical axis on a relative scale of 0 to 100. Apart from irregularities which can be easily filtered out with the aid of known filter te~-hnics, it is clear from the graph in fig.
15 10 that urine release occurs with the strongly rising flanks of curve A, while the extent of urine release can be determined from the difference in the co~ ctance with the hardly rising or dipping parts of curve A. The time and extent of urine release can also be determined in sllcc~scive 20 urine releases with the aid of the measuring system of fig. g.
The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described and shown above. The requested rights are rather determined by the following 25 claims.
MEA8URING ~.~M AND MEASURING 8~T~P
~OR MEA8~RING A QUA~ OF URINB
An accurate measuring ~n~or for measuring the quantity or flowrate, of released urine, occurring incontinent patients with micturition problems is sought after on a large scale.
The present invention provides a measuring s~nror for measuring the preC~n~e of liquid with a relatively low electrical resistance, in the order of O-1000 n, comprising one or more conductors with high electrical resistance, in the order of 100 kn of more, which are maintained between 10 connecting contacts on a carrier element made of synthetic material, cardboard or paper and which has a substantially m~n~ shape wherein the resistance between the connecting contacts is notably reduced in the presence of the conducting liquid.
For diagnosing urination or micturition problems the rate of flow of urine released by a patient is measured.
For this a patient usually has to urinate in a hospital. Due to unfamiliar ~LLoul,dings and/or the fact that the patient 5 is a day patient, urination is often difficult or does not take place at all. Aberrations in the urination pattern can cause problems in making a correct diagnosis, especially in the case of scientific research. In some cases the patient has to remain in the hospital for many hours and drink as 10 much liquid as possible in order for trustworthy results with repeated measurements to be obtained. Existing flow meters are expensive and are mainly found, in practice, in hospitals.
Existing systems for registrating micturition on 15 the one hand concern direct flow measurement and on the other hand volume measurement, differentiation of which reveals a flow rate. An existing direct flow measuring system comprises a rotating disc which is breaked by the W095/05774 pcT~ns4loo2oo ~
21~9~4~- 2 urine stream. Such an apparatus is transportable with difficulty.
Volume measuring systems make use of, for instance, a pipe in a beaker which measures the pressure 5 therein. Another volume measuring system makes use of two plates in a h~ker and in so doing, determines the volume due to capacity or resistance changes between these plates.
The results of this measurement are greatly influenced by variations in the electrical co~ cting qualities of urine.
10 These known volume measuring systems are extremely sensitive to movement and are likewise su ceptible to displacement.
Furthermore a portable flow meter exists which comprises a large pot and an above mentioned flow meter, which at the utmost can be called transportable.
The present invention provides a system for measuring the quantity of urine or other conducting liquid, for instance per unit time, such as released by an individual, wherein the system comprises:
- one or more carrier elements provided with a 20 measuring C~ncor for measuring the rise rate per unit time of urine in a collecting beaker wherein the measuring sensor is placeable; and - measuring means coupled to the measuring sensor and which are provided with a timer, a memory for storing 25 the measured data and a control member for controlling the measuring sensor, the timer and the memory.
Preferably the measuring system is able to be carried so that the patient can personally carry out the measurements in familiar ~Llo~ln~ing~ mostly at home. A
30 first application of the portable flow meter can co~c~rn study and treatment of prostate enlargement (BPH), i.e. in men.
From the hygiene point of view the receiving h~Ak~s and/or carrier elements are preferably made of 35 plastified paper, cardboard or another disposable material wherein a printed sensor, for instance, is mounted on the wall of the receiving heAker. To compensate for a possible tilted position and possible movements of the receiving ~ WO 95/05774 21 6 9 8 4 8 PCT/NI94/00200 h~Ak~r, which by use at home could obviously occur, preferably three, or in the case of a h~Ak~r with a rectangular form, preferably four measuring sensors are mounted with the aid of a number of carrying elements 5 equidistant along the circumference against the upstAn~;ng walls of the receiving h~Aker.
A related aspect according to the present invention ~o~cDrns a measuring sensor, carrier element and/or receiving heAker.
Furthermore the present invention provides a measuring sensor wherein a number of meAnA~r shaped conducting lines are mounted parallel between conducting connecting contacts on a carrier element and wherein an absorption element is mounted for absorbing urine and the 15 even distribution thereof over the conducting lines, against the side on which the high resistivity conducting lines are mounted, which is especially suitable for use in incontinence nappies and/or training of a baby or a small child.
Further advantages, characteristics and details of the present invention will become clear with respect to the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings which show:
fig. 1 a partly cut away perspective view of a 25 preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention; and fig. 2 a block diagram of the embodiment from fig. l;
fig. 3 a frontal view of a folded out inner 30 h~Aker, provided with a number of measuring sensors according to the present invention;
fig. 4 a frontal view of a second preferred embodiment of an inner h~Aker when folded out, provided with a number of measuring c~ncors according to the present 35 invention;
fig. 5 an exploded perspective view of a measuring system according to the present invention provided with the inner beaker from fig. 3 or 4;
woss/~s774 2~6~ ~8 PcT~n94/0~20~ ~
fig. 6 a perspective view of the device from fig.
5 by use thereof;
fig. 7 an exploded perspective view of a further 5 preferred embodiment of a h~er to use with the measuring system from fig. 1;
fig. 8 a perspective view of a measuring sensor according to the present invention;
fig. 9 a block diagram of a measuring system for 10 use with the measuring sensor of fig. 6; and fig. 10 a graph of a measured result obtained with the measuring system from fig. 7.
A preferred embodiment 1 (fig. 1) comprises a portable case 2 and one or a number of receiving hP~kPrs 3 15 which are able to be coupled thereto. The patient releases urine into a receiving beaker 3, from which release the rate is measured and stored in the measuring means in the case.
At the start of the measurement a switch 4 is operated whereafter it can be read on two (or three) coloured lamps 20 5, 6 and 7 respectively that the patient can commence urine release.
The receiving heAker is provided on the inside with three, four (or more), measuring sensors, mounted on carrying elements such as those in fig. 2 which are 25 reproAllce~ schematically with 8. A microprocessor 10 is housed in the portable case 2, which is provided with a schematically reproduced RS232 driving element for coupling with a personal computer PC, for reading out and/or printing of the measured data. Furthermore a crystal 12, which makes 30 up part of the timer, is connected to the microprocessor 10.
Via a bus structure 13 which comprises a data bus 14, an address bus 15 and a control bus 16, the microprocessor 10 is ro~n~cted to a memory part 17, 18, 19 respectively, wherein the measured data is stored in memory part 18, for 35 instance, whilst the program memory is formed, for instance, by part 17. The control bus 16 is co~nPcted to the address bus via an address A~co~; ng element 20. The time is noted by the main timer 21 with respect to the data provided from the ~ W095/05774 ~9~ ~ ~ pcT~n~4loo2oo s crystal 12 via the microprocessor 10 on the databus 14.
Furthermore the microprocessor 10 is coupled with a ~oy~ammable current source 22 and a programmable analogue switch unit 23 on which the measuring element unit 8 is 5 cQ~n~cted. A supply source 24 takes care of the electrical supply voltage V for the diverse components.
A measuring sensor 30, such as that comprised within the broken lines in fig. 2, comprises a thin conducting path 31 and a wide return path 32 which are 10 mutually co~ected near the bottom of the receiving h~ker via a cross cQn~ection and which are printed in high resistivity carbon, for instance, as well as a path 33 lain there between which alternately constists of relatively stretched out broad lengths 34 and thin conducting 15 co~n~cting lengths 35.
In the absence of urine in the receiving beaker, a high resistance in the order of 100 kn to 1 Mn will be measured both between the connections 36, 37 respectively as well as between the conn~ctions 38 on the one side and 36 or 20 37 on the other side. The urine will only show a resistance in the order of 10 on and thus causes a relative short circuiting between the conducting paths whereby the resistance between the paths will be determined by the height of the urine level.
Because for instance, due to differing fabrication cirCumst~nc~C the resistance of the conducting paths 31, 32 and 33 can mutually differ, the conducting path 33 is provided with relatively wide areas 34 and thin conducting paths 35 mounted there between, so that the resistance 30 between the connection 38 and one of the other connections 36 or 37 will greatly reduce the moment the urine level reaches a new wide part of the conducting path. In this way it is possible to allow an accurate c~lihration of the changing resistance between the connections 36 and 37 to 35 take place simultaneously with the carrying out of the measurement. Due to the correct processing of the obt~; n~A
measurement data with the aid of the measuring system, or later with the aid of a personal computer, an accurate W095/05774 ~69~ 4 pcT~n94loo2oo ~
measurement of the rate of increase of the urine level in the he~ker can take place, and thus doing, due to the known inner dimensions of the receiving h~Ake~, the quantity of urine in the time pro~lce~.
The diverse measurements are sent to the diverse measuring sensors from the control member 10 and the registrations are stored in the correct manner in RAM, whether or not having being changed from analogue to digital form, with the ~Gl~e~L time and date of the measurement.
10 Because in the shown preferred embodiment the possibility exists of connecting to an external computer, such as a personal computer, measured data can be further processed outside of the measuring system itself and, apart from this, a desired adjustment in the software of the measuring system 15 can be carried out. As will be clear to an expert, a large number of possibilities are available for the carrying out of diverse measurements and the filtering out of interferencè signals and such like with the help of a mi~ ocessor.
In the shown and described preferred emho~iment a patient or another individual can hold the flow meter in the hand during urine release because movement and/or a tilted position thereof has no influence on the results. The measuring sensor can be mounted on a disposable carrying 25 element which is placed in a re-usable beaker or in completely disposable h~Ak~rs provided with such carrying elements with sensor elements.
It is important to note concerning the measuring ~cor, particularly due to the high resistance of the 30 conducting paths, that due to the large difference thereof with the conductance of the urine, differences in the co~llctance of the urine have a neglectable influence on the measured results. However it is also conceivable to fit the printed measuring sensor partly in material with a high 35 resistance and partly in material with a lower resistance.
An inner h~k~r 40 (fig. 3, 4, 5, and 6) for a measuring system 41 according to the present invention, comprises a plate of material 42, for example made of 095/05774 ~1 ' PCT~n~1J~2^~
synthetic material, whereon a number of connecting contacts 43, 44, 45, 46 are mounted which are connected via low resistivity cQ~ cting paths 47-S5 with bro~eneA co~ecting terminals 56-64. High resistivity conducting paths project 5 out from the cQnn~cting contacts 43-46, such as the high resistivity con~llcting paths 65 and 66 with co~n~cting contact 43, each of which are ro~n~cted with low resistivity paths 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 so that on co~ecting one of the good conducting path parts 67-75 with 10 the co~llcting path 66 a clearly reproducable signal is given off to the measuring system.
A recQnA preferred emhoAiment of a round, foldable he~ker according to the present invention (fig. 4) differs from the preferred emhoA;ment shown in fig. 3, in that two 15 return conducting paths 55', 55" respectively are connected to connecting contacts 64', 64" respectively in order to reduce the total length of the conducting paths to be printed and to prevent a large number of conducting paths next to each other near the upper edge of the inner beaker 20 from projecting out, such as in the embodiment of fig. 3.
The plates of material 40 and 40' are preferably made from cardboard with a synthetic material layer, such as polyproylene, associated thereon.
Such a measuring sensor 76 is preferably mounted 25 on the outerside of the measuring beaker 40 (see fig. 5 and 6) which is placed in its roundfolded form in a h~Aker 77 and connected to conn~cting terminals 78 and 79 of the measuring system 41 so that the urine arrives in the h~ker according to arrow A and rises along the outerside of the 30 inner beaker 40 according to arrow B between the inner wall of the h~ker 77 and the outerwall of the inner beaker 40, and direct contact of the urine, has no influence on the measured results if the urine comes into contact with the innerwall of the inner beaker.
The conducting paths are preferably placed on the inner he~ker with the aid of printing techniques.
A further preferred emhoA;ment of an inner beaker 101 (fig. 7) is equipped with two walls wherein a number of 9~
w095/05774 pcT~n~4J~c2A^ ~
measuring ~ncors project between the walls there~f (not shown). A he~ker 101 is preferably provided with a clickable thereon ring like lid 102 with an outer diameter Dl of about 110 mm. The height D2 of the h~ker 101 is preferably 200 mm 5 so that the whole complete measuring system, with these dimensions according to fig. 1, can be held in the hand by the patient during urine release. The h~Aker 101 is preferably pro~llcP~ from polypropylene with a wall thi~xnpcc of 0.7-0.9 mm.
A further application of of the measuring sensor according to the present invention concerns a so called leak detecting system for inconti nenc~ or for the training of children.
The cause of inconti nens~ is to blame on the 15 disruption of the bladder function and/or on the disruption of the function of the closing me~h~n;cm of the bladder.
This can be blamed on uncontrollable bladder contractions or external stress factors such as coughing, laughing or physical excertion. The diagnosis of incont; npnc~ and 20 especially the gravity of the complaint is difficult to pin down. A known t~chn; que consists of following a patient for a period of time and carrying out measurement on the bladder function and/or the closing me~h~n;cm~ for example by measuring pressure. The gravity of incontinence and the 25 correlation with bl ~ r functions measurements and the closing mec~n;cm can be determined by detecting the moment and the extent of urine loss.
A new method for quantifying urine loss concerns pre-dry-weighing of a nappylike band and, after a certain 30 period has ~1APC~ the wet weighing thereof. The weight-difference yields the extent of urine r~le~e. With this, the amount of urine can only be measured, not the moment of urine release. It is not possible to determine the correlation between the bladder function and the closing 35 mec~n;~m and the moment of urine release, and the amount of urine per function thereof can also not be determined.
It is also known to make use of fitting a thin pipe into the urethra. Two electrodes are usually mounted on WO9S/05774 2l 6 PcT~n~4/00200 this pipe for carrying out impedence measurement. Also with this the amount of urine loss per urine release can not be determined. Furthermore the fitting and carrying of the pipe is uncomfortable for the patient.
S Measuring systems are also known wherein strips of silver paper are associated with nappies, for example with press studs. It is also not possible to measure the amount of urine loss with this known system, and such a urine loss can only be determined once. After the system has become 10 wet, further urine loss will yield no significant lowering of the co~ ctance and will also yield no measurement result.
Finally there is a known method wherein a heat sensor is placed in a nappie. On contact of urine with the 15 body temperature, a temperature increase of the sensor is caused which is measured. After a little while the temperature of the s~nCQr will drop back to a level h~n~Ath the bodytemperature of the urine. This known method can indeed determine the time of urine loss, but not the amount 20 of urine loss.
A measuring sensor 80 (fig. 8, 9) according to the present invention comprises a carrier 81 of for example polyester or paper or a combination thereof, whereon, with the help of electric conducting ink, for example with the 25 help of print te~-hn; que, a number of high resistivity meAn~r shaped conducting paths 82, 83 to 90 is mounted. The high resistivity con~-~cting paths 82 to 90 are furthermore connected with the conducting connecting contacts 91 and 92.
Against the side of the carrier material 81 whereon the 30 conducting paths are mounted, an absorption element of damp absorbing material, preferably of a synthetic material, is secured, for example glued thereon. This absorption element ensures that the released urine is well distributed whereby a determined length of the different paths are 35 shortcircuited due to the total resistance decreasing. This decrease is directly propotional to the total length of the paths which have come into contact with the urine and is proportional to the surface and hence to the total quantity W095/05774 2~9~ PcT~ns4loo2 of released urine. With a new release of urine, even at the same location, the surface of the absorption element will become larger which leads to a further decrease in resistance. The dimensions of the sensor can be chosen so 5 that no urine loss goes unmeasured. The first tests have shown that it is possible to detect a volume of one to a few hundred ml with the material now used. It is also possible to mount a sensor with a relatively thin absorption element on the upper side and a ~?~cor element provided with a 10 relatively thick absorption element on the under side whereby an extremely sensitive sensor with a large measuring range is obt~ine~.
This sensor makes it possible to determine the exact time of urine loss as well as various detections of 15 urine loss, while in an extremely sensitive manner a large measuring range is measured. Furthermore it appears that the position of the sensor in the nappyband is not critical and is not influenced to a great extent by the qualities of urine while, due to the relatively low costs, the sensor can 20 be made disposable.
A heat ~^ncor is preferably used in the measuring system which makes use of the above mentioned sensor, which is used to determine the time when the patient goes to the toilet which can also be important for diagnoses, especially 25 with simultanious measuring of the bladder pressure.
A measuring system 100 (fig. 9) making use of a measuring sensor 80 according to the present invention, preferably comprises a microprocessor 101 on which a schematically shown timer 102 is mounted and which is 30 connected to a periphery apparatus such as a personal computer 104 via a driving element 103. A read only memory (ROM) 109 and a writeable memory 110 are connected to the microproc~scor 101 via a busstructure 105 which comprises a databus 106, an adressbus 107 and a controlbus 108.
35 Furthermore an energy source 111, a programmable current source 112 and a programmable switch element 113 are con~Pcted thereon. The ~P~cor 80 is connected to the ~mmable switch element 113, the exits of which are woss/0s774 1 ~ 8~ PCI~nD4/~020~
- conn~cted to an analog/digital-converter via amplifiers 114 which make up part of the mi~LGp~ocessor 101. Furthermore a schematically shown keyboard control panel 115 for the patient and a sound element for giving off of a sound signal 5 116 are cQnnPcted to the mi~LU~loc~csor 101, the sound element being of importance for example for tr~in;ng goals for a patient, baby or small child.
Fig. 10 shows a measured result of measurements obtained with the help of the measuring system from the 10 blockdiagram of fig. 9. The time t is plotted along the horizontal axis and the conductance C along the vertical axis on a relative scale of 0 to 100. Apart from irregularities which can be easily filtered out with the aid of known filter te~-hnics, it is clear from the graph in fig.
15 10 that urine release occurs with the strongly rising flanks of curve A, while the extent of urine release can be determined from the difference in the co~ ctance with the hardly rising or dipping parts of curve A. The time and extent of urine release can also be determined in sllcc~scive 20 urine releases with the aid of the measuring system of fig. g.
The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described and shown above. The requested rights are rather determined by the following 25 claims.
Claims (9)
1. A system for measuring a quantity of body fluid, for instance urine per unit time such as for instance released by an individual, said system comprising a collecting beaker for collecting the body fluid;
- one or more carrier elements provided with a measuring sensor for measuring the rise amount per unit time of the urine in the collecting beaker wherein the measuring sensors are placeable: and - measuring means coupled with the collecting beaker, and with the measuring sensor, said measuring means provided with a timer, a memory for storing the measured data and a control member for controlling the measuring sensor, the timer and the memory, characterized in that three or four measuring sensors are mounted to the upstanding wall of the collecting beaker from three or four locations along the circumference thereof.
- one or more carrier elements provided with a measuring sensor for measuring the rise amount per unit time of the urine in the collecting beaker wherein the measuring sensors are placeable: and - measuring means coupled with the collecting beaker, and with the measuring sensor, said measuring means provided with a timer, a memory for storing the measured data and a control member for controlling the measuring sensor, the timer and the memory, characterized in that three or four measuring sensors are mounted to the upstanding wall of the collecting beaker from three or four locations along the circumference thereof.
2. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means comprise a case of such dimensions, in which the control element, the timer and the memory are housed that it can be held in the hand during urine release.
3. A measuring system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control element comprises a micro-processor, the memory comprises a memory part for storing programs, and said measuring system is provided with a bus structure, including a databus, an address bus and a control bus.
4. A measuring system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, provided with a driving element for connecting the measuring means to a personal computer and/or other peripheral equipment.
measuring means to a personal computer and/or other peripheral equipment.
measuring means to a personal computer and/or other peripheral equipment.
5. A measuring system according to anyone of claims 1-4, wherein the measuring sensors are mounted on the outerside of an inner beaker to be placed in the collecting beaker.
6. A measuring system according anyone of claims 1-4, provided with a double walled beaker wherein the measuring sensors project upwardly between the inner and outer wall thereof.
7. A measuring sensor for measuring for measuring the presence of liquid with a relatively low electrical resistance, in the order of 0-1000 .OMEGA., comprising one or more conductors of high electrical resistance, in the order of loo k.OMEGA. or more, which are mounted between connecting contacts on a carrier element made of synthetic material, cardboard or paper and which are substantially meander shaped wherein the resistance between the connecting contacts is notably lowered by the presence of the conducting liquid.
8. A measuring sensor according to claim 7 provided with a number of relatively broad conducting paths of predetermined dimensions which are connected to one another with a relatively thin conducting part of even greater resistance.
9. A measuring sensor according to claim 7, wherein a number of meander shaped conducting parts are mounted parallel between connecting contacts on a carrier element and wherein against the side on which the high resistivity conducting paths are mounted, an absorption element for absorbing urine and evenly distributing the urine over the conducting paths is mounted.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL9301449 | 1993-08-20 | ||
| NL9301449A NL9301449A (en) | 1993-08-20 | 1993-08-20 | Measuring system and measuring sensor for measuring the amount of urine. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2169848A1 true CA2169848A1 (en) | 1995-03-02 |
Family
ID=19862786
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2169848 Abandoned CA2169848A1 (en) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-08-22 | Measuring system and measuring sensor for measuring a quantity of urine |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0714264A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH09504708A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU7823294A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2169848A1 (en) |
| NL (1) | NL9301449A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995005774A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1144029A1 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2001-10-17 | Alcor Medical Instruments | Method and device for monitoring fluid level |
| TWI286853B (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2007-09-11 | Syspotek Corp | Detecting method for liquid level in fuel cell container and the device of the same |
| GB2455778B (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-11-04 | Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals | Apparatus for measuring parameters of fluid flow |
| SE534493C2 (en) * | 2009-06-23 | 2011-09-06 | Observe Medical Aps | Device and method for measuring urine production in patients carrying urinary catheters |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3245068A (en) * | 1963-08-02 | 1966-04-05 | Thomas V Fullen | Calibrated body fluid detection device |
| DE2623557A1 (en) * | 1976-05-26 | 1977-12-08 | Juergen Dr Med Poertener | Measurement of urine discharged per unit time - using closed end pipe with vertical row of holes directed into collecting receptacle |
| US4277773A (en) * | 1976-11-18 | 1981-07-07 | Blatnik Edward F | Liquid level sensor |
| US4448207A (en) * | 1981-11-03 | 1984-05-15 | Vital Metrics, Inc. | Medical fluid measuring system |
| US4658834A (en) * | 1983-03-16 | 1987-04-21 | C.R. Bard, Inc. | Medical apparatus for monitoring body liquid discharge |
| US5062304A (en) * | 1989-05-12 | 1991-11-05 | Endotherapeutics | Urine collection monitor with temperature sensing |
| JPH0796028B2 (en) * | 1989-12-15 | 1995-10-18 | 株式会社村田製作所 | Medical fluid discharge measuring device |
| GB9010606D0 (en) * | 1990-05-11 | 1990-07-04 | Lundy William | Moisture detection garment |
-
1993
- 1993-08-20 NL NL9301449A patent/NL9301449A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1994
- 1994-08-22 EP EP94929039A patent/EP0714264A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1994-08-22 JP JP7507485A patent/JPH09504708A/en active Pending
- 1994-08-22 CA CA 2169848 patent/CA2169848A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-08-22 AU AU78232/94A patent/AU7823294A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-08-22 WO PCT/NL1994/000200 patent/WO1995005774A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0714264A1 (en) | 1996-06-05 |
| NL9301449A (en) | 1995-03-16 |
| JPH09504708A (en) | 1997-05-13 |
| AU7823294A (en) | 1995-03-21 |
| WO1995005774A1 (en) | 1995-03-02 |
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