Ambulatory device for measuring urine flow

• US 7,691,092 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamdx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: McGill University
• Inventors: Wu, Ke, Gauthier, Jules, Corcos, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US11/124,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 604317-319, 414/41, 414/42, 161/101, 161/131, 16408-410, 190/105, 190/115
• US Class Current: 604/318
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/208 adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume

Abstract

An ambulatory device for measuring urine flow comprises a portable hand-held container and a handgrip mounted thereto. A flow-measuring device is located in the container, and a means for collecting the data measured by the flow-measuring device is also provided. The parameters of the urine flow in the container are measured by the flow-measuring device and are processed by the aforementioned means for collecting data. The handgrip is pivotally mounted to the container by a double-pivot mechanism for maintaining the container substantially vertical in a number of positions of the handgrip. The flow-measuring device includes a sensor that measures a displacement of an air column related to a variation of pressure due to a variation of a urine level in the container.

Claims

1. A handgrip assembly for an ambulatory device for measuring urine flow comprising a container housing a first chamber adapted for receiving urine and retaining the urine;

and a second chamber adapted for receiving a flow-measuring device, said container being aligned in a vertical direction for ease of collection of the urine and accurate measurement of a variation of a liquid level in said first chamber independently of a grip of a user on said handgrip assembly comprising a handle, for the user to hold the container using a single hand as the user collects his urine in said container, and a bracket, said bracket being connected to said container by at least one radial pivot, said handle being connected to said bracket by a second pivot, said second pivot being perpendicular to said at least one radial pivot, said second pivot allowing a relative rotation of said handle relative to said bracket about a longitudinal axis of said handle and said at least one radial pivot allowing said container to pivot relative to said bracket.

6. The ambulatory device according to claim 1, wherein said first chamber is removable from said container.

7. The ambulatory device according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a removable cover at a base thereof for providing access to batteries of said ambulatory device.

8. The ambulatory device according to claim 1, wherein said flow-measuring device includes a sensor adapted for measuring a variation of pressure due to a variation of the urine level in said first chamber.

9. The ambulatory device according to claim 1, wherein an electronic circuit is provided in said container, said flow-measuring device being adapted to collect data that can be saved in a memory of said electronic circuit.

10. The ambulatory device according to claim 9, wherein said container includes an output connector for allowing data in said memory to be transmitted to a peripheral equipment, said data including at least one of urine volumes, urine flow rates and urine collection times.

11. The ambulatory device according to claim 9, wherein said electronic circuit includes a clock such that said data collected by said electronic circuit includes at least one of urine volumes, urine flow rates and urine collection times, whereby micturition calendars can be established by said peripheral equipment.

12. The ambulatory device according to claim 9, wherein a start button is provided to actuate said flow-measuring device.

13. The ambulatory device according to claim 12, wherein at least one luminous indicator is provided for indicating when said flow-measuring device is actuated.

14. The ambulatory device according to claim 9, wherein an urgency button is provided for indicating that an urgent urination is being received by said container.

2. An ambulatory device for measuring urine flow, remaining in a vertical direction whenever held by a handgrip assembly thereof, comprising

a container housing a first chamber adapted for receiving urine and retaining the urine;

and a second chamber adapted for receiving a flow-measuring device;

wherein said handgrip assembly comprises a handle, for a user to hold the container using a single hand as the user collects his urine in said container, and a bracket, said bracket being connected to said container by at least one radial pivot, said handle being connected to said bracket by a second pivot, said second pivot being perpendicular to said at least one radial pivot, thereby maintaining said container aligned in a vertical direction for ease of collection of the urine and accurate measurement of a variation of a liquid level in said first chamber independently of the grip of the user, said handle assembly comprising a connector between said handle and said bracket, said connector allowing a relative rotation of said handle relative to said bracket about a longitudinal axis of said handle.

3. The ambulatory device according to claim 2, wherein said connector is rotatably attached at a distal end thereof to said bracket via said second pivot and is fixedly attached at a proximal end thereof to said handle, whereby said handle and said connector can rotate relative to said bracket via said second pivot.

4. The ambulatory device according to claim 3, wherein said bracket is substantially arcuate and has opposed free ends attached to said upper end of said container via a pair of said radial pivots, said connector being rotatably attached to said arcuate bracket at a central portion thereof with said connector having at said distal end a pin journaled in a hole defined in said central portion of said arcuate bracket.

5. The ambulatory device according to claim 3, wherein said bracket is substantially arcuate and has opposed free ends attached to said upper end of said container via a pair of said radial pivots, said free ends defining openings engaged by a pair of pins extending outwardly from opposed sides of said upper end of said container.