×

Apparatus and method for non-invasively and automatically measuring the volume of urine in a human bladder

DC
  • US 4,926,871 A
  • Filed: 07/28/1988
  • Issued: 05/22/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An apparatus for automatically measuring the volume of urine in a human bladder defined by a border, comprising:

  • means for transmitting a plurality of ultrasound signals into the bladder in first and second planes, wherein the first and second planes are in first and second directions, respectively, which are substantially orthogonal to each other and wherein the transmitting means is movable so that ultrasound signals may be transmitted into the bladder in a plurality of planes in both the first and second directions as the transmitting means is moved;

    means for receiving the returning plurality of ultrasound signals from each of said first and second planes;

    means for developing initial ultrasound image information of the bladder in said first and second planes;

    means for automatically processing the initial ultrasound image information to accurately determine the true border of the bladder in the first and second planes and develop enhanced ultrasound image information therefor;

    means for displaying at least one of the initial ultrasound image information and the enhanced ultrasound image information;

    means for selectively storing the enhanced ultrasound image information for said first and second planes;

    means for automatically determining the distance between the opposing portions of the border of the bladder for each ultrasound signal in said first and second planes from the enhanced ultrasound image information;

    means for automatically determining the area of the bladder in said first and second planes from the determined distance information;

    means for automatically determining the volume of said bladder and hence the volume of urine in the bladder from the determined areas of the bladder in said first and second planes; and

    means for displaying said volume in numeral form, wherein the apparatus is characterized in that the initial ultrasound image information, the enhanced ultrasound image information, and the volume of urine in the bladder are provided in substantially real time.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×