Device for measuring the volume of a body cavity

• US 6,359,190 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Ter-Ovanesyan, Evgeny, Roe, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOGART, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/643,008
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 604/361, 604/22, 600/449, 340/573, 364/413.02, 364/413.25, 364/413.13, 364/413.15, 128/885, 128/886, 128/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/204 Determining bladder volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/392 Detecting gastrointestinal contractions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/82 with means for attaching to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8473 for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8479 including electric or magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/24 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/56 Wetness-indicators or colourants
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5308 for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites

Abstract

A device adapted to measure the volume of a body cavity including a base, a sensor adapted to detect when a body cavity of the wearer reaches a predetermined volume and a signal mechanism. The sensor is moveably mounted on the base so as to facilitate aiming of the sensor toward the body cavity. The signal mechanism is adapted to provide a signal once the predetermined body cavity volume is reached. Alternatively, the device may comprise a first sensor and a second sensor which are oriented differently toward the body cavity and which each measure a distance between the front wall and the back wall of the body cavity. The device also includes a signal mechanism which provides a once a predetermined volume of the body cavity is reached, wherein the volume is calculated based on the greater of the distances measured between the front wall and the back wall of the body cavity.

Claims

1. A garment comprising a device adapted to measure a volume of a body cavity of a wearer, the device comprising at least one sensor and a signal mechanism adapted to provide a signal to the wearer or a caregiver once the volume of the body cavity reaches a predetermined threshold.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the transducer has a frequency in the range of about 0.5 MHz to about 5 MHz.

4. The garment of claim 3 wherein the transducer has a frequency in the range of about 3 MHz to about 5 MHz.

5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the body cavity has opposed walls and the sensor is adapted to detect a distance between the opposed walls.

6. The garment of claim 5 wherein the device correlates the distance between the opposed walls to a calculated body cavity volume.

7. The garment of claim 6 wherein the device comprises at least two sensors directed toward different regions of the body cavity and adapted to detect distances between the opposed walls in the different regions.

8. The garment of claim 7 wherein the device is adapted to measure the volume of the body cavity using a greatest of the detected distances between the opposed walls.

9. The garment of claim 1 wherein the sensor is moveably mounted on a base so as to facilitate aiming of the sensor toward the body cavity.

10. The garment of claim 9 wherein the base comprises a reservoir containing a fluid.

11. The garment of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the sensor is hermetically sealed within the reservoir.

12. The garment of claim 9 wherein the device includes a locking element adapted to retain the sensor in a particular orientation with respect to the base.

13. The garment of claim 1 wherein the body cavity is a rectum, a bladder, or a colon.

14. The garment of claim 13 wherein the body cavity is the bladder.

15. The garment of claim 14 wherein the device is adapted to serve as a pre-micturition enuresis alarm.

16. The garment of claim 1 wherein the device measures the volume at a predefined interval.

17. The garment of claim 1 wherein the signal mechanism provides a signal in the form of an audible signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.

18. The garment of claim 17 wherein the signal is provided in a form and at a location so as to alert the wearer.

19. The garment of claim 17 wherein the signal is provided in a form and at a location so as to alert the caregiver.

20. The garment of claim 1 wherein the predetermined threshold volume is about 80 percent of an observed minimum voiding volume.

21. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is selected from the group including absorbent articles, diapers, training pants, swim pants, incontinence briefs, and undergarments.

22. The garment of claim 21 wherein the garment is an absorbent article including a backsheet and an absorbent core joined to the backsheet.