APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING URINE FLOW AND/OR QUANTITY

• US 20170086728A1
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kesem Health Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kesem Health Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: HIDAS, Gil
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/208 adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/075 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring at least one measure related to urination of an individual such as urine flow rate and/or urine quantity. The apparatus is configured to produce acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals indicative of the at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover. The invention also provides systems and methods that detect the acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals originating from the apparatus being used by the individual and analyze the detected signals to calculate the at least one measure therefrom by using a designated application module operable via an end device using acoustic sensing means or data receiving means of the end device for detecting the acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring at least one measure related to urination of an individual, said apparatus is characterized by being configured to produce acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals indicative of said at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an acoustic plate configured for vibrating in response to the urine flowing thereover.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said acoustic plate comprises an acoustic membrane.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein said acoustic plate is held in the apparatus in a tilted manner in respect to the direction of gravity to also direct the urine to flow therefrom.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said apparatus further comprises a collecting container configured for hanging over the toilet bowl or seat, said collecting container allows collecting urine for quantitative measuring thereof and/or for improving acoustics of the acoustic plate.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said container comprises an indicator for indicating a measure related to the volume of the urine therein.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said apparatus comprises at least one holder for hanging over a toilet bowl or toilet seat.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus comprising

a) a body configured for hanging over a toilet seat or bowl;

b) a mechanical sensing device for mechanically measuring urine flow and/or urine quantity, said body being configured to direct urine therefrom into said mechanical sensing device; and

c) at least one means for producing electromagnetic signals indicative of the measured flow or quantity during a urination session,

wherein said apparatus is configured such as to mechanically produce an electromagnetic signal indicative of a known quantity of urine whenever such quantity is measured thereby.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mechanical sensing device comprises a paddlewheel sensor based on Hall effect sensing by having at least one magnet connected to the wheel thereof, configured for producing electric signals upon full or partial rotation of a wheel thereof caused by urine flow thereover.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein said body further comprises and holds thereby an acoustic plate for improving urine flow sound, said plate also being configured to direct urine into said mechanical sensing device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a transducer sensor and plate attached thereto configure for sensing urination related vibrations and transforming these vibrations into electronic signals.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising communication means for transmitting the signals outputted by said transducer sensor to a remote end device for processing thereof for measuring urine flow rate and/or urine quantity therefrom.

13. A system for measuring at least one measure related to urination of an individual, said system comprising:

a) an apparatus characterized by being configured to produce acoustic signals indicative of said at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover; and

b) an application module operable via an end device, said application module being configured to detect acoustic signals originating from said apparatus and calculate said at least one measure related to urine flow and/or urine quantity therefrom, wherein said application is adapted to use acoustic sensing means and processing means of the end device via which it operates.

14. The system according to claim 13, said application module further being configured to record the acoustic signals for offline processing thereof.

15. The system according to any one of claims 13 to 14, said application module being configured to calculate at least one of the following measures:

urination flow rate, urination flow rate behavior, urination volume, depending on the type and configuration of the apparatus being used.

16. The system according to any one of claims 13 to 15, said application module being configured for adapting its calculation and measures to the type of apparatus being used by having an interface allowing individuals to select the apparatus type at use.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the types of apparatuses comprise:

acoustic plate apparatus comprising an acoustic plate configured for improving acoustics of urine flow for urine flow rate and flow rate behavior measuring;

acoustic plate combined with a collection container for both flow rate and volume measuring;

a volume measuring apparatus comprising a directing bowl shaped body and a mechanical sensing device configured for direct urine quantity measuring, which produces an indication electromagnetic signal upon sensing a known quantity of urine for the application to detect thereof;

a combined apparatus comprising the volume measuring apparatus and the acoustic plate placed thereover for flow and volume measuring.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said mechanical sensing device comprises a paddlewheel sensing device having a wheel of blades rotatable about an axis upon application of urine thereof, said bowl shaped body being configured to direct the urine to flow through said wheel, wherein said sensing device is configured such as to produce an indication electromagnetic signal upon full or partial rotation of its wheel.

19. The system according to any one of claims 13 to 18, said application module comprises a user interface allowing individuals to define beginning and ending urination session for operating the signals sensing and processing.

20. The system according to claim 19, said application module being further configured to indicate the values of the measured at least one measure using display means of the end device.

21. The system according to any one of claims 13 to 20, said application module being further configured to transmit data including the measured at least one measure to a remote end device.

22. The system according to any one of claims 13 to 21, said application module further being configured to record information measured in multiple urination sessions over time for the individual via a designated voiding diary for monitoring urination behavior of the individual over time.

23. The system according to claim 22, said application module further being configured for analyzing the recorded diary data over time for identifying urinary related condition of the individual and alerting the individual and/or other individuals or entities regarding urination related alerting conditions identified by the application module.

24. A method for measuring at least one measure related to urination of an individual, said system comprising:

a) detecting acoustic signals indicative of urine applied over an apparatus configured for producing the acoustic signals indicative of said at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover, using for the detection a designated application module operated via an end device used by the urinating individual to detect the signals through the end device'"'"'s acoustic sensing means;

b) analyzing the acoustic signals using said application module to calculate said at least one measure from the detected acoustic signals;

c) outputting and/or storing data indicative of the calculated at least one measure.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising recording said detected acoustic signals for offline analysis thereof.

26. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 25, said analysis being adaptable by the application module to the type of apparatus being used.

27. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein said at least one measure comprises at least one of:

urine flow rate, urine flow rate behavior, urine quantity.

28. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 27, said apparatus being configured for at least one of:

measuring urine flow rate by improving acoustics of urine applied thereover;

directly measuring urine volume.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein for flow rate measuring the analysis process comprises:

spectral envelope filtering of the detected acoustic signal resulting in a time-domain signal;

decimation and low-pass filtering of the time domain signal;

Log based scaling of the envelope;

additional low-pass filtering; and

de-convolution for achieving of an approximate linear relationship to the actual urine flow rate.

30. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 29 further comprising recording measured at least one measure of multiple urination sessions of each individual via a designated voiding diary for monitoring urination behavior of the individual over time.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising analyzing the recorded diary data over time for identifying urination related condition of the individual and alerting the individual and/or other individuals or entities regarding urination related alerting conditions identified by the application module.