Bladder function monitoring methods, apparatuses, media and signals

• US 20060281992A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hegln (Dalian) Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hegln (Dalian) Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Inventors: Gagnon, Roy E., Stothers, Lynn, MacNab, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/438
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• 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 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts

Abstract

Bladder function monitoring methods, apparatuses, media and signals are disclosed. A method includes receiving signals from an electromagnetic radiation detector, the signals representing electromagnetic radiation detected from the bladder during irradiance of the bladder with electromagnetic radiation, and further includes storing data indicative of bladder function, in response to the signals. The received signals may represent near infrared (NIR) detected from the bladder during NIR irradiance of the bladder.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring bladder function in an animal having a bladder, the method comprising:

(a) receiving signals from an electromagnetic radiation detector, the signals representing electromagnetic radiation detected from the bladder during irradiance of the bladder with electromagnetic radiation; and

(b) storing data indicative of bladder function, in response to said signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving signals representing near infrared (NIR) detected from the bladder during NIR irradiance of the bladder.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising irradiating the bladder with an electromagnetic radiation emitter while detecting the electromagnetic radiation from the bladder.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein irradiating and detecting comprise irradiating and detecting during bladder activity.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein irradiating and detecting respectively comprise emitting and detecting near infrared (NIR), and wherein storing comprises storing near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) data.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising positioning the emitter and the detector on the animal'"'"'s skin adjacent to the animal'"'"'s bladder.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein irradiating comprises emitting coherent electromagnetic radiation.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning comprises ultrasonic positioning.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning the detector on the animal'"'"'s skin comprises positioning the detector about 10 mm cephalic of the symphysis pubis of an adult human.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein ultrasonic positioning comprises:

(a) transmitting ultrasonic energy from a transducer; and

(b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy to determine the location of the animal'"'"'s bladder.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein emitting NIR comprises emitting electromagnetic radiation within a wavelength range of 750-950 nanometers.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the stored NIRS data is indicative of the animal'"'"'s level of one or more of:

oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂);

de-oxygenated hemoglobin (Hb);

oxidized cytochrome a, a₃;

reduced cytochrome a, a₃;

oxidized minus reduced forms of the cytochrome C oxidase (Cyt).

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising shielding the emitter and the detector from ambient electromagnetic radiation.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising attenuating the electromagnetic radiation with which the bladder is irradiated.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein attenuating comprises filtering the electromagnetic radiation with which the bladder is irradiated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein filtering comprises filtering the electromagnetic radiation with a filter chamber having selectable variable density filters, operable to incrementally filter emitted electromagnetic radiation.

17. The method of claim 3, further comprising obtaining ultrasonic measurements of bladder parameters of the animal.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning comprises positioning the emitter and the detector to have a separation of about 15-90 mm therebetween.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving comprises receiving signals representing detected near infrared electromagnetic radiation (NIR) from the bladder, and wherein storing comprises storing near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) data for the animal, wherein the NIRS data corresponds to a first plurality of times during a first time period.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving and storing urodynamic data for the animal, the urodynamic data corresponding to a second plurality of times during a second time period wherein said first and second pluralities of times are recorded with reference to a common timeline.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving and storing subject feedback data for bladder sensation corresponding to an additional plurality of times during an additional time period, wherein the animal is a human subject.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving and storing subject feedback data for bladder sensation corresponding to an additional plurality of times during an additional time period, wherein the animal is a human subject.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising comparing said NIRS data with said urodynamic data in association with the common timeline.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising comparing said NIRS data with one or more of said urodynamic data and subject feedback data in association with the common timeline.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying a representation of said NIRS data.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying a representation of said NIRS data with a representation of said urodynamic data in association with the common timeline.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying said NIRS data with one or more of said urodynamic data and subject feedback data in association with the common timeline.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the urodynamic data comprises one or more of the following:

bladder volume data;

void volume data;

uroflow data;

filling cystometrogram data; and

pressure flow data.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said NIRS data is indicative of the animal'"'"'s level of one or more of:

oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂);

de-oxygenated hemoglobin (Hb);

oxidized cytochrome a, a₃;

reduced cytochrome a, a₃; and

oxidized minus reduced forms of the cytochrome C oxidase (Cyt).

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the first plurality of times is different from the second plurality of times.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the first plurality of times is the same as the second plurality of times.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein said first time period at least partly overlaps with said second time period.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein said first plurality of times is different from said additional plurality of times.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein said first plurality of times is the same as said additional plurality of times

35. The method of claim 21, wherein said first time period at least partly overlaps with said additional time period.

36. An apparatus for monitoring bladder function in an animal having a bladder, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving signals from an electromagnetic radiation detector, the signals representing electromagnetic radiation detected from the bladder during irradiance of the bladder with electromagnetic radiation; and

(b) means for storing data indicative of bladder function, in response to said signals.

37. An apparatus for monitoring bladder function in an animal having a bladder, the apparatus comprising:

a) a storage medium; and

b) a processor circuit in communication with an electromagnetic radiation detector and with the storage medium, wherein the processor circuit is configured to;

(i) receive signals from the detector, the signals representing electromagnetic radiation detected from the bladder during irradiance of the bladder with electromagnetic radiation; and

(ii) store data indicative of bladder function in the storage medium, in response to the signals.

38. A computer-readable medium storing instruction codes for directing a processor circuit to:

(a) receive signals from an electromagnetic radiation detector, the signals representing electromagnetic radiation detected from the bladder during irradiance of the bladder with electromagnetic radiation; and

(b) store data indicative of bladder function, in response to said signals.

39. A signal embodied in a communications medium, the signal comprising code segments for directing a processor circuit to:

(a) receive signals from an electromagnetic radiation detector, the signals representing electromagnetic radiation detected from the bladder during irradiance of the bladder with electromagnetic radiation; and

(b) store data indicative of bladder function, in response to said signals.