CONTAINER FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL FLUIDS

• US 20080156092A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UroSense Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Future Path Medical, LLC (Future Path Medical Holding Company, LLC)
• Inventors: Boiarski, Anthony A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/304R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4404 Details or parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid

Abstract

A container includes a chamber for containing fluid. At least one sensor is disposed within the chamber for sensing a property of fluid in the container. A unit that receives a signal from the sensor communicates with a device that displays the property of the fluid in the container. The container may include first and second chambers. A first sensor is disposed within the first chamber. The first sensor is in contact with fluid in the first chamber. The first sensor senses a volume of fluid in the first chamber. A second sensor is disposed within the second chamber. The second sensor is in contact with fluid in the second chamber. The second sensor senses a volume of fluid in the second chamber. A diverter may direct fluid from an inlet to a bottom portion of the chamber and prevents the fluid from contacting the sensor. A releasable device may prevent fluid from flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. The releasable device permits fluid to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber upon release of the releasable device. An element of the sensor may have a first portion with an electrical resistance per unit length greater than an electrical resistance per unit length of a second portion of the element. A shunt resistor extending between lower portions of first and second elements of the sensor may have a resistance equal to approximately 0.08 times a resistance of the sensor when the chamber is empty.

Claims

1. A container for fluid comprising:

a chamber for containing fluid;

a sensor disposed within the chamber for sensing a property of fluid in the container;

a unit that receives a signal from the sensor and communicates with a device that displays the property of the fluid in the container.

2. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the unit communicates wirelessly with the device that displays the property of the fluid.

3. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor senses volume of fluid in the container.

4. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an element that extends along the length of the container.

5. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a conductive element and a resistive element.

6. The container as set forth in claim 5 wherein the conductive element is made of a silver-particle-based material and the resistive element is made of a carbon-particle-based material.

7. The container as set forth in claim 4 wherein the element includes a resistive element.

8. The container as set forth in claim 7 wherein the resistive element is made of a carbon-particle-based material.

9. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container includes a plurality of chambers having different volumes, the plurality of chambers being arranged so that fluid flows into the smallest chamber first and then fills subsequent larger volume chambers, a plurality of different length sensors sense the volume of fluid in each of the chambers, the fluid interacting with a shortest sensor of the plurality of sensors first and interacting with subsequent longer length sensors of the plurality of sensors in the subsequent larger volume chambers.

10. The container as set forth in claim 9 wherein the plurality of sensors sense the volume of fluid in the plurality of chambers independently of each other, each of the plurality of sensors having a conductive element and a resistive element.

11. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor is formed by one of screen printing and ink-jet printing,

12. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor is connected to an inner surface of a wall of the container.

13. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor is connected to a strip that is placed within the chamber of the container

14. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container includes a plurality of different volume chambers that are adjacent to each other such that fluid fills a smallest chamber of the plurality of chambers first, then overflows to fill a subsequent larger volume chamber through a flow passage, a plurality of different length sensors sensing the volume of fluid in each of the plurality of chambers, the fluid interacting with a shortest sensor of the plurality of sensors in the smallest volume chamber first, then interacting with a subsequent longer length sensor in a larger volume chamber.

15. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container includes a plurality of different volume chambers that are stacked inside each other such that fluid fills a smallest chamber of the plurality of chambers first then overflows to fill a subsequent larger volume chamber through a flow passage, a plurality of different length sensors sensing the volume of fluid in each of the plurality of chambers, the fluid interacting with a shortest sensor of the plurality of sensors in the smallest volume chamber first, then interacting with a subsequent longer length sensor in a larger volume chamber.

16. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a diverter directs fluid flowing into the container and prevents the fluid from interacting with the sensor when the fluid flows into the container.

17. The container as set forth in claim 16 wherein the diverter includes a tube directing inlet fluid to a bottom of the container.

18. The container as set forth in claim 16 wherein the diverter includes a flow deflector inside that directs flow around the sensor.

19. The container as set forth in claim 16 wherein the diverter includes a channel formed in the container to direct fluid to the bottom of the container.

20. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container includes a device to prevent fluid in the container from initially coming in contact with the sensor in such a way as to result in possible contamination of the fluid due to leaching of material from the sensor.

21. The container as set forth in claim 20 wherein the device is releasable prior to fluid delivery from the container to causes the fluid to interact with the sensor so that the sensor substrate can determine a property of the fluid.

22. The container as set forth in claim 21 wherein the device includes a valve in a wall between first and second chambers at a bottom of said container.

23. The container as set forth in claim 21 wherein the device includes a linear device extending along a length of first and second chambers.

24. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a catheter-tip sensor is connected to the unit.

25. The container as set forth in claim 24 wherein the catheter-tip sensor senses core body temperature.

26. The container as set forth in claim 24 wherein the catheter tip sensor senses fluctuations in internal pressure that may give an indication of one of patient heart rate and blood pressure.

27. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a temperature sensor is placed within the container to sense temperature of fluid within the container.

28. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a device is disposed within the container to communicate information to another device outside the container through a wall of the container.

29. The container as set forth in claim 28 wherein the device is an RFID tag.

30. The container as set forth in claim 28 wherein a loop of wire outside the container acts as an antenna to transmit and collect electronic signals from the device.

31. The container as set forth in claim 30 wherein the loop of wire is placed in at least one physical area of interest to determine where the container is physically located.

32. The container as set forth in claim 28 wherein an optical device is used to transmit light signals through a wall of the container that are received by an output device containing an optical detector.

33. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an electrode trace with a smaller width at the bottom of the container to provide increased measurement sensitivity for low volumes of fluid entering the container, a shunt resistor having an optimum resistance connecting first and second electrode traces at a bottom of the sensor substrate to provide increased measurement sensitivity for very low volumes of fluid entering the container.

34. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is a flexible bag.

35. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is a rigid container.

36. The container as set forth in claim 33 wherein the optimum resistance of the shunt resistor is determined by varying the shunt resistance relative to the overall sensor resistance to determine the optimum value that provides optimum sensor response at very low collection volumes.

37. The container as set forth in claim 36 wherein the optimum resistance is approximately 8 percent of the overall resistance of the sensor.

38. The container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a hydrophobic coating is located between first and second sensor elements of the sensor.

39. The container as set forth in claim 38 wherein the hydrophobic coating is one of a moisture-cured and ultraviolet-cured silicone rubber.

40. The container as set forth in claim 38 wherein the hydrophobic coating is a wax material.

41. A container for fluid comprising:

a first chamber for containing fluid;

a second chamber for containing fluid;

a first sensor disposed within the first chamber, the first sensor being in contact with fluid in the first chamber, the first sensor sensing a volume of fluid in the first chamber; and

a second sensor disposed within the second chamber, the second sensor being in contact with fluid in the second chamber, the second sensor sensing a volume of fluid in the second chamber.

42. The container as set forth in claim 41 wherein the first chamber is smaller than the second chamber.

43. The container as set forth in claim 42 wherein the first chamber fills with fluid prior to the second chamber filling with fluid.

44. The container as set forth in claim 43 wherein the first chamber is below the second chamber when the container receives fluid.

45. The container as set forth in claim 42 wherein the first sensor extends along a length of the first chamber and the second sensor extends along a length of the second chamber, the first chamber and the first sensor being shorter than the second chamber and the second sensor.

46. The container as set forth in claim 42 wherein an orifice connects the first and second chambers.

47. The container as set forth in claim 41 wherein the first and second chambers are located adjacent each other, an orifice at top portions of the first and second chambers connecting the first and second chambers.

48. The container as set forth in claim 41 wherein said first chamber is located within said second chamber, an orifice at the top portions of the first and second chambers connecting the first and second chambers.

49. A container for fluid comprising:

a chamber for containing fluid;

an inlet directing fluid into the chamber;

a sensor disposed within the chamber for sensing a volume of fluid in the chamber; and

a diverter for directing fluid from the inlet to a bottom portion of the chamber and preventing the fluid from contacting the sensor.

50. The container as set forth in claim 49 wherein the diverter includes a tube extending from the inlet to the bottom portion of the chamber.

51. The container as set forth in claim 49 wherein the tube is spaced from the sensor.

52. The container as set forth in claim 49 wherein the diverter includes a member extending from a wall of the container into the chamber on opposite sides of the sensor.

53. The container as set forth in claim 52 wherein the diverter and the sensor are connected to an inner surface of the wall of the container.

54. The container as set forth in claim 49 wherein the diverter includes a wall of the container defining at least a portion of the chamber.

55. A container for fluid comprising:

a first chamber for containing fluid;

a second chamber for containing fluid;

a sensor in the second chamber for sensing a property of fluid in the second chamber; and

a releasable device that prevents fluid from flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber, the releasable device permitting fluid to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber upon release of the releasable device.

56. The container as set forth in claim 55 wherein the releasable device includes a valve communicating with the first and second chambers.

57. The container as set forth in claim 55 wherein the releasable device is a zipper member.

58. The container as set forth in claim 55 wherein the sensor senses a volume of fluid in the first and second chambers when the releasable device is released.

59. The container as set forth in claim 55 wherein the sensor senses a temperature of fluid in the first and second chambers when the releasable device is released.

60. The container as set forth in claim 55 wherein the first and second chambers are located adjacent each other so that the chambers have approximately the same length.

61. A container for fluid comprising:

a chamber for containing fluid;

a sensor for sensing a volume of fluid in the chamber, the sensor having first and second elements extending from an upper portion of the chamber to a lower portion of the chamber, the first element having a first portion with an electrical resistance per unit length greater than an electrical resistance per unit length of a second portion of the first element.

62. The container as set forth in claim 61 wherein the second element has a first portion with a resistance per unit length greater than a resistance per unit length of a second portion of the second element.

63. The container as set forth in claim 61 wherein the first portion is a lower portion of the first element and the second portion is an upper portion of the first element.

64. The container as set forth in claim 63 wherein the upper portion of the first element has a width greater than a width of the lower portion.

65. The container as set forth in claim 64 wherein the second element has an upper portion with a width greater than a width of a lower portion of the second element.

66. The container as set forth in claim 65 wherein the width of the upper portion of the first element is the same as the width of the upper portion of the second element.

67. The container as set forth in claim 66 wherein the width of the lower portion of the first element is the same as the width of the lower portion of the second element.

68. The container as set forth in claim 61 wherein a shunt resistor connects lower portions of the first and second elements.

69. The container as set forth in claim 68 wherein the shunt resistor has a resistance equal to approximately 0.08 times a resistance of the sensor when the chamber is empty.

70. A container for fluid comprising:

a chamber for containing fluid;

a sensor for sensing a volume of fluid in the chamber, the sensor having first and second elements extending from an upper portion of the chamber to a lower portion of the chamber, a shunt resistor extending between the lower portions of the first and second elements, the shunt resistor having a resistance equal to approximately 0.08 times a resistance of the sensor when the chamber is empty.

71. The container as set forth in claim 70 wherein the first element has an upper portion with an electrical resistance per unit length different than an electrical resistance per unit length of a lower portion of the first element, the second element having an upper portion with a resistance per unit length different than a resistance per unit length of a lower portion of the second element.

72. The container as set forth in claim 71 wherein the electrical resistance per unit length of the lower portion of the first element is greater than the electrical resistance per unit length of the upper portion of the first element, the electrical resistance per unit length of the lower portion of the second element being greater than the electrical resistance per unit length of the upper portion of the second element.

73. The container as set forth in claim 72 wherein the upper portion of the first element has a width greater than a width of the lower portion, the upper portion of the second element having a width greater than a width of the lower portion of the second element.

74. The container as set forth in claim 73 wherein the width of the upper portion of the first element is the same as the width of the upper portion of the second element.

75. The container as set forth in claim 73 wherein the width of the lower portion of the first element is the same as the width of the lower portion of the second element.