System and method for assessing urinary function

• US 20030028075A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Tracey, Michael R., Ulmsten, Ulf, Nohilly, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,255,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/202 Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/204 Determining bladder volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/205 Determining bladder or urethral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/208 adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end

Abstract

A method is provided for assessing urinary function including removably coupling a first test module to a portable control device, selecting from a plurality of different tests a first test to assess urinary function, the selection being made based on first module identification information obtained by the control device from the test module, and performing the first test. The method may also include one or more of the steps of inserting an insert member coupled to the first test module at least partially into a patient'"'"'s urinary tract, infusing fluid through the insert member into the urinary tract, and measuring pressure within the urinary tract as fluid is infused therein. The method may further include uncoupling the first test module from the portable control device, coupling a second test module to the portable control device, selecting a second test to assess urinary function based on second module identification information obtained by the control device from the second test module, and performing the second test.

Claims

1. A method for assessing urinary function comprising:

removably coupling a first test module to a portable control device;

selecting from a plurality of different tests a first test to assess urinary function, the selection being made based on first module identification information obtained by the control device from the test module; and

performing the first test.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performing step further comprises the steps of:

inserting an insert member coupled to the first test module at least partially into a patient'"'"'s urinary tract; and

determining a pressure within the urinary tract.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the inserting step further comprises inserting the portion of the insert member into the urethral canal distal of the urethral sphincter.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising infusing fluid through the insert member and into the urethral canal distal of the urethral sphincter, and determining pressure within the urethral canal distal of the urethral sphincter as fluid is infused therein.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the determining pressure step comprises determining the Urethral Resistance Pressure.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the control device includes a processor, the method further comprising the step of providing electronic information corresponding to the determined pressure to the processor.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the control device further includes a display device, the method further comprising the step of displaying on the display device information corresponding to the determined Urethral Resistance Pressure.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the inserting step further comprises inserting at least a portion of the insert member into the bladder.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising infusing fluid through the insert member and into the bladder, and determining pressure within the bladder as fluid is infused therein.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the control device includes a processor, the method further comprising the step of providing electronic information corresponding to the determined pressure to the processor.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

uncoupling the first test module from the portable control device;

coupling a second test module to the portable control device;

selecting a second test to assess urinary function from the plurality of tests, the selection being made based on second module identification information obtained by the control device from the second test module; and

performing the second test.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first test is selected from the group consisting of a stress urinary incontinence test, a simple cystometrogram, a complex cystometrogram, and a uroflometry test.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second tests are selected from the group consisting of a stress urinary incontinence test, a simple cysometrogram, a complex cystometrogram, and a uroflometry test.

15. A method for assessing a medical condition comprising:

removably coupling a first test module to a control device to form a portable medical system;

selecting from a plurality of tests, a first medical assessment test based on first module identification information obtained from the first test module;

inserting an insert member coupled to the first test module at least partially into a predetermined location in a patient'"'"'s body;

obtaining pressure information from the predetermined location using the medical system;

utilizing the obtained pressure information in performing the first medical assessment test.

11. The method according to claim 19, wherein the control device further includes a display device, the method further comprising the step of displaying on the display device information corresponding to the determined pressure.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the selecting step is performed by a processor within the control device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the control device includes a module detection device and the first test module includes a module identification device, wherein the module identification information is obtained by the module detection device from the module identification device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the control device processor is electrically coupled to the module detection device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the insert member includes a channel therethrough, and the test module further includes a tubing assembly including a first fluid conduit between a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet coupled to the insert member, the method further comprising the steps of:

infusing fluid through the first fluid conduit and insert member channel and into a patient'"'"'s urethral canal; and

obtaining the pressure information as fluid is infused therein.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the insertion step comprises inserting at least a portion of the insert member into the urethral canal distal of the urethral sphincter.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the pressure information is the Urethral Resistance Pressure.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the control device includes a processor, the method further comprising the step of providing electronic information corresponding to the determined pressure to the processor.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the control device further includes a display device, the method further comprising the step of displaying on the display device information corresponding to the determined pressure.

24. A method for assessing urinary function comprising:

removably coupling a first test module to a control device having a processor and memory storing therein a plurality of software routines corresponding to a plurality of different tests to assess urinary function, whereby said coupling enables the processor to identify the test module attached thereto, and based on said identification to select one of said plurality of software routines;

inserting an insert member coupled to the first test module at least partially into a patient'"'"'s urinary tract;

infusing fluid into the patient'"'"'s urinary tract through the insert member; and

the first test module in combination with the control device measuring pressure within the urinary tract as fluid is infused therein.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the test module includes a tubing assembly defining a first fluid conduit between a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, and wherein the insert member is coupled to the first fluid outlet so that fluid infused through the first fluid conduit passes through the insert member.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the insert member is a meatus plug dimensioned for insertion into the urethral canal distal of the urethral sphincter.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the insert member is a catheter dimensioned for insertion into the patient'"'"'s bladder.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

uncoupling the first test module from the control device;

coupling a second test module to the control device, whereby said coupling enables the processor to identify the second test module attached thereto, and based on said identification to select a different one of said plurality of software routines;

inserting a second insert member coupled to the second test module at least partially into a patient'"'"'s urinary tract;

infusing fluid into the patient'"'"'s urinary tract through the second insert member; and

the second test module in combination with the control device measuring pressure within the urinary tract as fluid is infused therein.