Flow Meter for a Container and Method for Monitoring the Hydration of a Patient

• US 20120094261A1
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hayn, Henning, Conrad, Gabor
• Application Number:
  US13/237,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/247
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/16 combined with drinking vessels or with lids therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7837 Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]

Abstract

A flow meter for a container, for monitoring the dehydration of a patient, has a sensor unit for detecting a flow through the flow meter and a control unit for recording an amount of liquid passing through during a time interval. The flow meter is an adapter for connection to a bottle or a beaker. A patient receives a warning if he should take in liquid. A base station serves for bidirectional transmission of measurement data to an external apparatus, more particularly a telemedical center.

Claims

1. A flow meter for a container, for monitoring the dehydration of a patient, comprising:

a sensor unit configured to detect a flow through the flow meter; and

a control unit configured to record an amount of liquid passing through during a time interval.

2. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising an adapter for connection to a bottle or a beaker.

3. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising a pouring opening designed such that it is possible to drink directly therefrom.

4. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve.

5. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit has a sensor selected from the following group:

a turbine flow meter, a Woltmann meter, a Coriolis mass flow meter, an optical flow meter, an ultrasound flow meter, a calorimetric flow meter and a Venturi meter.

6. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to monitor an amount of liquid passing through over a period and the flow meter has an apparatus for signaling that a user has taken in too little liquid over the period.

7. An assembly, comprising:

a flow meter for a container, for monitoring the dehydration of a patient, including (i) a sensor unit configured to detect a flow through the flow meter, and (ii) a control unit configured to record an amount of liquid passing through during a time interval; and

a base including an apparatus configured to receive measurement data from the flow meter.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the base station is configured to monitor an amount of liquid passing through over a period and has an apparatus for signaling that a user has taken in too little liquid over the period.

9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the base station has a human-machine interface.

10. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising an apparatus configured to distinguish between a plurality of users.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus configured to distinguish between the plurality of users is configured to generate, as a result of identifying a user, a signal for lifting a flow blockage in the flow meter.

12. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising an apparatus configured to transmit measurement data to an external apparatus.

16. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus configured to transmit measurement data to the external apparatus includes a telemedical system.

13. A method for monitoring the dehydration of a patient using a flow meter, comprising:

a) entering an amount of liquid that a patient should take in over an observation period;

b) starting a period;

c) measuring a current amount of liquid that a patient is currently taking in;

d) adding the current amounts of liquid to an overall amount of liquid that a patient has taken in over the period since the start; and

e) displaying the overall amount of liquid.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

f) entering a time profile for the amount of liquid that a patient should take in over a period.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

g) determining the amount of liquid that the patient should take in over the period since the start;

h) checking whether the amount of liquid that the patient has taken in over the period since the start corresponds at least to the amount of liquid that the patient should take in over the period; and

if the amount of liquid that the patient has taken in over the period since the start is less than the amount of liquid that the patient should take in over the period;

i) emitting a warning that the patient should take in liquid.