Urine analysis device, method and system

• US 9,068,968 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Gordon Drury
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gordon Drury
• Inventors: Drury, Daniel Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nur, Abdullahi
• Application Number:
  US13/933,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20150009502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 356402-425
• 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 5/207 Sensing devices adapted to collect urine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/293 with colour charts, graduated scales or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/493 urine
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72

Abstract

A device, method and system are provided for analyzing urine color to determine the hydration level of an individual. The device is nonabsorbent and includes a water-resistant adhesive configured to adhere the device to a urine receptacle such as a urinal or toilet. The device includes a color scale possessing a plurality of shades of yellow arranged from lightest to darkest. Each shade of yellow corresponds to a hydration level. The device allows the individual to assess their hydration level while simultaneously urinating into the urine receptacle.

Claims

1. A nonabsorbent urine analysis device to be adhered to a urine receptacle for determining a hydration level based on urine color, the nonabsorbent urine analysis device comprising:

a base possessing a front side and a back side;

a color scale applied to the front side of the base, the color scale including at least a plurality of shades of yellow, each of the shades of yellow corresponding to a hydration level based on urine color; and

a water-resistant adhesive applied to the back side of the base, the water-resistant adhesive being configured to adhere the base to the urine receptacle, wherein the urine analysis device is nonabsorbent.

2. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hydration level indicators applied to the front side of the base, each hydration level indicator being positioned adjacent to and/or overlapping at least one of the shades of yellow.

3. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 2, wherein each hydration level indicator includes text and/or a graphic describing the hydration level corresponding to at least one of the shades of yellow.

4. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 2, further comprising a transparent, water-resistant layer covering at least the color scale and the plurality of hydration level indicators.

5. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 1, wherein the color scale progressively changes from lighter shades of yellow to darker shades of yellow so that each shade of yellow blends into an adjacent shade of yellow.

6. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shades of yellow are linearly arranged from lightest to darkest.

7. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 6, a first end of the color scale including the lightest shade of yellow and a second end of the color scale including a brownish-green color.

8. The nonabsorbent urine analysis device of claim 1, wherein the color scale possesses a circular shape, and the plurality of shades of yellow are arranged concentrically with the darkest shade of yellow being radially inward of the lightest shade of yellow.

9. A method for determining a hydration level based on urine color comprising:

applying a stream of urine to a water-resistant color scale adhered to a urine receptacle so that the urine flows over the water-resistant color scale;

visually comparing the urine color to a plurality of colors included on the water-resistant color scale while the urine flows over the water-resistant color scale;

identifying a color included on the water-resistant color scale which most closely matches the urine color; and

determining the hydration level by referencing a hydration level indicator corresponding to the identified color.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hydration level indicator is included on the water-resistant color scale adjacent to and/or overlapping the identified color.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the hydration level indicator includes text and/or a graphic describing the hydration level corresponding to the identified color.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of colors of the water-resistant color scale include a plurality of shades of yellow arranged from lightest to darkest.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a first end of the water-resistant color scale includes a yellow color and a second end of the water-resistant color scale includes a brownish-green color.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the hydration level indicator is included on a second color scale positioned exteriorly of the urine receptacle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the water-resistant color scale adhered to the urine receptacle and the second color scale positioned exteriorly of the urine receptacle each include an identical arrangement of colors and hydration level indicators.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the urine receptacle is a urinal mounted on a wall, and the second color scale is positioned above the urinal on the wall.

17. A urine analysis system comprising:

a urinal including a urine reception surface;

a first color scale adhered to the urine reception surface by a water-resistant adhesive, the first color scale being water-resistant and including a plurality of shades of yellow;

a second color scale positioned exteriorly of the urinal and including a plurality of shades of yellow arranged from lightest to darkest; and

the second color scale including a plurality of hydration level indicators positioned adjacent to and/or overlapping at least one of the shades of yellow on the second color scale.

18. The urine analysis system of claim 17, wherein the urinal is mounted on a wall, and the second color scale is positioned on the wall above the urinal.

19. The urine analysis system of claim 17, wherein the first color scale includes an identical arrangement of shades of yellow and hydration level indicators as the second color scale.

20. The urine analysis system of claim 17, wherein the hydration level indicator includes text and/or a graphic describing the hydration level corresponding to at least one of the shades of yellow on the second color scale.