IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0117076
(2011-05-26)
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등록번호 |
US-9775556
(2017-10-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- DiMino, Andre′ A.
- Drummer, Matthew Edward
- Campbell, Jeffrey M.
- Malik, Awais
- Curameng, Lindley
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Leonard B. Taylor, Patent Attorney
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
▼
The present invention generally pertains to an apparatus and a method for uroflowmetry. Uroflowmetry can generally be defined as the collection and measurement of a patient's urination for the purpose of determining urine flow data that are necessary to analyze the patient's urination by comparing t
The present invention generally pertains to an apparatus and a method for uroflowmetry. Uroflowmetry can generally be defined as the collection and measurement of a patient's urination for the purpose of determining urine flow data that are necessary to analyze the patient's urination by comparing the patient's urine flow data to standardized urine flow data of healthy individuals. The present invention allows medical professionals to non-invasively diagnose a patient's urination by collecting, measuring and computing urine flow data to determine if any medical conditions and symptoms that affect urine flow are present. The within invention is designed and constructed in such a manner as to allow for the collection and measurement of urination to be done quickly, easily and at a reduced cost.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method for uroflowmetry comprising: entering patient data into a data entry area of a uroflowmetry device with user input keys, wherein the patient data includes name, date of birth and sex;positioning a cup onto a cup support of the uroflowmetry device, wherein the cup support includes a force
1. A method for uroflowmetry comprising: entering patient data into a data entry area of a uroflowmetry device with user input keys, wherein the patient data includes name, date of birth and sex;positioning a cup onto a cup support of the uroflowmetry device, wherein the cup support includes a force sensor;positioning a funnel into a funnel support in a body of the uroflowmetry device to drain into the cup;adjusting the distance of the funnel from the ground with an adjustment mechanism of the uroflowmetry device in response to a signal from user input keys; urinating into the funnel such that the urine flows through the funnel into the cup thereby activating the force sensor;measuring the increase in gravitational force on the cup by the force sensor at a first time interval due to the increase in volume of urine by converting the gravitational force obtained by the force sensor into a first electronic output;measuring the increase in gravitational force on the cup by the force sensor at a second time interval due to the increase in volume of urine by converting the additional gravitational force obtained by the force sensor into a second electronic output; andcomputing flow versus time urination data using a central processing unit that is electronically connected to the force sensor and digital memory, processing the first electronic output received from the force sensor, the second electronic output received from the force sensor and flow versus time equations previously stored in the digital memory,wherein the funnel includes a narrow end, a funnel body, a wide end, at least two scored seams originating at the narrow end and extending along the funnel body to the wide end and two elongated tabs adjacent to one of the at least two scored seams at the wide end which protrude above a top of the wide end,wherein the funnel body is positioned substantially horizontal to the funnel support in the body of the uroflowmetry device such that the funnel has a downgrade which is less than 45 degrees from the horizontal and slopes downward front the wide end of the funnel to the narrow end, andwherein the funnel support is formed from the body of the uroflowmetry device and has an internal shape that is substantially the same as an external shape of the funnel so than when the funnel is positioned into the funnel support the adjacent elongated tabs on the wide end of the funnel are positioned downward relative to the ground to catch and prevent bodily fluids from contaminating the uroflowmetry device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow versus time urination data include at least one of maximum flow, average flow, total volume, total test time, and the time to peak flow. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein an interior of the funnel is coated with a friction reducing substance, a pH testing substance and a blood presence indicator. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying the flow versus time urination data and patient data in the display area of the uroflowmetry device;displaying an upper urine flow limit and a lower urine flow limit in the display area of the uroflowmetry device for a male when the sex entered is male; anddisplaying the upper urine flow limit and the lower urine flow limit in the display area of the uroflowmetry device for a female when the sex entered is female. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the body of the uroflowmetry device includes: an upper portion having the display area, the data entry area and funnel insertion area; anda lower portion connected to a base such that the base supports the body in a vertical position relative to the ground, and the lower portion has a narrower perimeter relative to an inside perimeter of the upper portion such that the lower portion is positioned within the upper portion, the lower portion including the adjusting mechanism connected to the upper portion on one end and the lower portion on the other end and able to pull the upper portion closer toward the adjusting mechanism or push the upper portion away from the adjusting mechanism. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the force sensor includes at least one of magnetic solenoids, two element strain gauges, four element strain gauges, electrostatic devices, capacitive devices, electrorestrictive devices, magnetorestrictive devices, piezoelectric devices, optical devices. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the funnel is constructed from at least one of plastic having a low surface energy coating, paper having a low surface energy coating, cardboard having a low surface energy coating and rubber having a low surface energy coating, and has a flat profile when not used and a funnel shape obtained by folding at the scored seams when in use.
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