EP0714264A1 - Systeme et capteur de mesure d'une quantite d'urine - Google Patents

Systeme et capteur de mesure d'une quantite d'urine

Info

Publication number
EP0714264A1
EP0714264A1 EP94929039A EP94929039A EP0714264A1 EP 0714264 A1 EP0714264 A1 EP 0714264A1 EP 94929039 A EP94929039 A EP 94929039A EP 94929039 A EP94929039 A EP 94929039A EP 0714264 A1 EP0714264 A1 EP 0714264A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
measuring
urine
beaker
measuring sensor
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP94929039A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hessel Wijkstra
Petrus Leonardus Kersten
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
URITEL BV
Original Assignee
URITEL BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by URITEL BV filed Critical URITEL BV
Publication of EP0714264A1 publication Critical patent/EP0714264A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

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

Definitions

  • the present invention provides a measuring sensor for measuring the presence of liquid with a relatively low electrical resistance, in the order of 0-1000 ⁇ , comprising one or more conductors with high electrical resistance, in the order of 100 ⁇ of more, which are maintained between connecting contacts on a carrier element made of synthetic material, cardboard or paper and which has a substantially meander shape wherein the resistance between the connecting contacts is notably reduced in the presence of the conducting liquid.
  • An existing direct flow measuring system comprises a rotating disc which is breaked by the 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 therein. Another volume measuring system makes use of two plates in a beaker 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 conducting qualities of urine. These known volume measuring systems are extremely sensitive to movement and are likewise susceptible 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 measuring sensor for measuring the rise rate per unit time of urine in a collecting beaker wherein the measuring sensor is placeable;
  • - measuring means coupled to the measuring sensor and which are 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.
  • the measuring system is able to be carried so that the patient can personally carry out the measurements in familiar surrounding, mostly at home.
  • a first application of the portable flow meter can concern study and treatment of prostate enlargement (BPH) , i.e. in men.
  • the receiving beakers and/or carrier elements are preferably made of plastified paper, cardboard or another disposable material wherein a printed sensor, for instance, is mounted on the wall of the receiving beaker.
  • a printed sensor for instance, is mounted on the wall of the receiving beaker.
  • preferably three, or in the case of a beaker with a rectangular form preferably four measuring sensors are mounted with the aid of a number of carrying elements equidistant along the circumference against the upstanding walls of the receiving beaker.
  • a related aspect according to the present invention concerns a measuring sensor, carrier element and/or receiving beaker. Furthermore the present invention provides a measuring sensor wherein a number of meander 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 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.
  • FIG. 2 a block diagram of the embodiment from fig. 1; fig. 3 a frontal view of a folded out inner beaker, 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 beaker when folded out, provided with a number of measuring sensors according to the present 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; fig. 6 a perspective view of the device from fig. 5 by use thereof;
  • fig. 7 an exploded perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a beaker 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 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 beakers 3 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.
  • a switch 4 is operated whereafter it can be read on two (or three) coloured lamps 5, 6 and 7 respectively that the patient can commence urine release.
  • the receiving beaker is provided on the inside with three, four (or more) , measuring sensors, mounted on carrying elements such as those in fig. 2 which are reproduced 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.
  • a crystal 12 which makes 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 connected to a memory part 17, 18, 19 respectively, wherein the measured data is stored in memory part 18, for instance, whilst the program memory is formed, for instance, by part 17.
  • the control bus 16 is connected to the address bus via an address decoding element 20.
  • the time is noted by the main timer 21 with respect to the data provided from the crystal 12 via the microprocessor 10 on the databus 14.
  • the microprocessor 10 is coupled with a programmable current source 22 and a programmable analogue switch unit 23 on which the measuring element unit 8 is connected.
  • 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 mutually connected near the bottom of the receiving beaker via a cross connection 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 connecting lengths 35.
  • the conducting path 33 is provided with relatively wide areas 34 and thin conducting paths 35 mounted there between, so that the resistance 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.
  • 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 can be carried out.
  • 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 element which is placed in a re-usable beaker or in completely disposable beakers provided with such carrying elements with sensor elements.
  • An inner beaker 40 for a measuring system 41 according to the present invention, comprises a plate of material 42, for example made of synthetic material, whereon a number of connecting contacts 43, 44, 45, 46 are mounted which are connected via low resistivity conducting paths 47-55 with broadened connecting terminals 56-64.
  • High resistivity conducting paths project out from the connecting contacts 43-46, such as the high resistivity conducting paths 65 and 66 with connecting contact 43, each of which are connected with low resistivity paths 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 so that on connecting one of the good conducting path parts 67-75 with the conducting path 66 a clearly reproducable signal is given off to the measuring system.
  • a second preferred embodiment of a round, foldable beaker according to the present invention differs from the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 3, in that two 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 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 on the outerside of the measuring beaker 40 (see fig. 5 and 6) which is placed in its roundfolded form in a beaker 77 and connected to connecting terminals 78 and 79 of the measuring system 41 so that the urine arrives in the beaker according to arrow A and rises along the outerside of the inner beaker 40 according to arrow B between the inner wall of the beaker 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 beaker with the aid of printing techniques.
  • a further preferred embodiment of an inner beaker 101 is equipped with two walls wherein a number of measuring sensors project between the walls thereof (not shown) .
  • a beaker 101 is preferably provided with a clickable thereon ring like lid 102 with an outer diameter DI of about 110 mm.
  • the height D2 of the beaker 101 is preferably 200 mm 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 beaker 101 is preferably produced from polypropylene with a wall thickness 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 incontinence or for the training of children.
  • the cause of incontinence is to blame on the disruption of the bladder function and/or on the disruption of the function of the closing mechanism 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 incontinence and especially the gravity of the complaint is difficult to pin down.
  • a known technique consists of following a patient for a period of time and carrying out measurement on the bladder function and/or the closing mechanism, for example by measuring pressure.
  • the gravity of incontinence and the correlation with bladder functions measurements and the closing mechanism 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 period has elapsed, the wet weighing thereof.
  • the weight- difference yields the extent of urine release. 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 mechanism and the moment of urine release, and the amount of urine per function thereof can also not be determined.
  • 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 help of print technique, a number of high resistivity meander shaped conducting paths 82, 83 to 90 is mounted.
  • the high resistivity conducting paths 82 to 90 are furthermore connected with the conducting connecting contacts 91 and 92.
  • 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 shortcircuited due to the total resistance decreasing.
  • This sensor makes it possible to determine the exact time of urine loss as well as various detections of 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 be made disposable.
  • a heat sensor 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 with simultanious measuring of the bladder pressure.
  • a measuring system 100 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 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 microprocessor 101 via a busstructure 105 which comprises a databus 106, an addresssbus 107 and a controlbus 108.
  • an energy source 111, a programmable current source 112 and a programmable switch element 113 are connected thereon.
  • the sensor 80 is connected to the programmable switch element 113, the exits of which are connected to an analog/digital-converter via amplifiers 114 which make up part of the microprocessor 101. Furthermore a schematically shown keyboard control panel 115 for the patient and a sound element for giving off of a sound signal 116 are connected to the microprocessor 101, the sound element being of importance for example for training 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 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.
  • 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 conductance with the hardly rising or dipping parts of curve A.
  • the time and extent of urine release can also be determined in successive urine releases with the aid of the measuring system of fig. 9.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

Capteur (30) de mesure de la présence d'un liquide présentant une résistance électrique relativement faible (de l'ordre de 0 à 1000 Φ). Le capteur comporte un ou plusieurs conducteurs présentant une résistance électrique élevée (de l'ordre d'au moins 100 kΦ), et s'étendant entre des contacts de connexion sur un élément support en matière synthétique, en carton ou en papier, ledit élément étant muni de pistes conductrices sensiblement sinueuses, et la résistance entre les contacts de connexion étant sensiblement réduite en présence du liquide conducteur.
EP94929039A 1993-08-20 1994-08-22 Systeme et capteur de mesure d'une quantite d'urine Ceased EP0714264A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL9301449A NL9301449A (nl) 1993-08-20 1993-08-20 Meetsysteem en meetsensor voor het meten van de hoeveelheid urine.
NL9301449 1993-08-20
PCT/NL1994/000200 WO1995005774A1 (fr) 1993-08-20 1994-08-22 Systeme et capteur de mesure d'une quantite d'urine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0714264A1 true EP0714264A1 (fr) 1996-06-05

Family

ID=19862786

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94929039A Ceased EP0714264A1 (fr) 1993-08-20 1994-08-22 Systeme et capteur de mesure d'une quantite d'urine

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0714264A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH09504708A (fr)
AU (1) AU7823294A (fr)
CA (1) CA2169848A1 (fr)
NL (1) NL9301449A (fr)
WO (1) WO1995005774A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU1794700A (en) * 1998-12-22 2000-07-12 Alcor Medical Instruments Ltd. 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 (sv) * 2009-06-23 2011-09-06 Observe Medical Aps Anordning och metod för mätning av urinproduktionen hos patienter bärande urinkateter

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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 (de) * 1976-05-26 1977-12-08 Juergen Dr Med Poertener Vorrichtung zur messung ausgestossener harnmengen
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 (ja) * 1989-12-15 1995-10-18 株式会社村田製作所 医療用体液排出量測定装置
GB9010606D0 (en) * 1990-05-11 1990-07-04 Lundy William Moisture detection garment

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9505774A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2169848A1 (fr) 1995-03-02
AU7823294A (en) 1995-03-21
JPH09504708A (ja) 1997-05-13
WO1995005774A1 (fr) 1995-03-02
NL9301449A (nl) 1995-03-16

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