Method of urinary continence training based on an objective measurement of the bladder

• US 6,970,091 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roe, Donald Carroll
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/071,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.5, 128/886, 600/438, 600/439, 600/443, 600/456, 600/449
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/48 Devices for preventing wetting or pollution of the bed

Abstract

Method of urinary continence training utilizing an objective measurement indicative of the state of fullness of the bladder of the subject to identify the occurrence of an appropriate continence training opportunity. When the objective measurement equals or exceeds a signal threshold value, set to correspond to a bladder volume that is less than a reflexive urination volume, a signal is provided to the subject or to a caregiver. The objective measurement may be performed by a bladder monitor, using any of several modalities of automatic sensing, and preferably using ultrasound. The signal threshold value may be recalculated and increased, so as to continue to correspond to a relatively full bladder, as the subject grows and/or achieves progress toward continence. The method may include other steps directed to help the subject associate the physical sensation of a full bladder with voluntary urination, such as informing the subject that urination is imminent.

Claims

1. A method for training a child to achieve urinary continence, comprising the steps of:

measuring a reflexive urination volume for the child;

setting a signal threshold value to correspond to a bladder volume that is less than the reflexive urination volume;

obtaining an objective measurement indicative of a state of fullness of the child'"'"'s bladder;

providing a signal to the child or to a caregiver when the measurement equals or exceeds the signal threshold value;

identifying an appropriate continence training opportunity based on an occurrence of the signal; and

using the identified opportunity to train the child to associate a physical sensation of the state of fullness with voluntary urination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the caregiver queries the child regarding his or her perceived physical sensations in order to train the child to associate the physical sensation of the state of fullness with voluntary urination.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the caregiver informs the child that urination is possible or imminent in order to train the child to associate the physical sensation of the state of fullness with voluntary urination.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the caregiver takes the child to a desired location for urination in order to train the child to associate the physical sensation of the state of fullness with voluntary urination.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the caregiver places the child in a proper position to urinate into a designated receptacle in order to train the child to associate the physical sensation of the state of fullness with voluntary urination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the caregiver encourages the child to attempt urination in order to train the child to associate the physical sensation of the state of fullness with voluntary urination.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

using a bladder monitor to measure the reflexive urination volume;

using the bladder monitor to obtain the objective measurement; and

using the bladder monitor to store data for tracking and assessment of progress toward achievement of urinary continence.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

initially providing the signal to the child; and

directing the signal to the caregiver if potential continence training opportunities are missed due to behavior by the child.

9. A method for training a child to achieve urinary continence, comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one reflexive urination volume for the child over at least one time period during which at least one urination occurs;

setting a signal threshold value to correspond to a bladder volume that is less than the reflexive urination volume;

obtaining an objective measurement indicative of a state of fullness of the child'"'"'s bladder;

providing a signal to the child or to a caregiver when the measurement equals or exceeds the signal threshold value; and

identifying an appropriate continence training opportunity based on an occurrence of the signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the reflexive urination volume is a lowest observed reflexive urination volume.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the reflexive urination volume is a highest observed reflexive urination volume.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the reflexive urination volume is an average reflexive urination volume.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the signal threshold value is set to correspond to an average daytime urination volume of the child.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the signal threshold value is set to correspond to about 80% of the reflexive urination volume.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the signal threshold value is set to correspond to a sensible bladder volume of the child.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the signal threshold value is set to correspond to a bladder volume that is less than an observed local maximum volume of the child'"'"'s bladder prior to a significant decrease in the volume of the child'"'"'s bladder.

17. A method for training a child to achieve urinary continence, comprising the steps of:

measuring a sensible bladder volume for the child;

setting a signal threshold value to correspond to the sensible bladder volume;

obtaining an objective measurement indicative of a state of fullness of the child'"'"'s bladder;

providing a signal to the child or to a caregiver when the measurement equals or exceeds the signal threshold value;

identifying an appropriate continence training opportunity based on an occurrence of the signal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the sensible bladder volume is less than a reflexive urination volume for the child.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

measuring a reflexive urination volume for the child; and

resetting the signal threshold value to at least one higher value as the reflexive urination volume increases over time, thereby increasing the difference between the sensible bladder volume and the reflexive urination volume.