Apparatus, system and method for measuring urine flow and/or quantity
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10130293-B2
Publication Date
2018-11-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring at least one measure related to urination of an individual such as urine flow rate and/or urine quantity. The apparatus is configured to produce acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals indicative of the at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover. The invention also provides systems and methods that detect the acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals originating from the apparatus being used by the individual and analyze the detected signals to calculate the at least one measure therefrom by using a designated application module operable via an end device using acoustic sensing means or data receiving means of the end device for detecting the acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for determining or measuring at least one parameter related to urination of an individual. The apparatus is configured to produce at least one of improved acoustic and electromagnetic signals indicative of the urination parameter upon having urine applied thereover. An acoustic plate is included to improve the sound of a urine flow, and the acoustic plate is configured for vibrating in response to the urine flowing thereover.
The invention further provides a system that uses an application module operable via an end device to detect acoustic signals originating from the apparatus and calculate the at least one measure related to urine flow and/or urine quantity therefrom. The application module uses acoustic sensing means and processing means of the end device and identifies urination flow rate behavior based on at least one of produced acoustic and electromagnetic signals.
In additional embodiments, the invention determines or measures urination-related parameters using a mechanical sensing device comprising a paddlewheel sensor based on Hall effect sensing. At least one magnet connected to the wheel produces electric signals upon full or partial rotation of the wheel caused by urine flow thereover, and the system combines the acoustic and electromagnetic signals for determining at least one parameter including identifying urination flow rate behavior.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an apparatus and systems for determining or measuring urination parameters using improved acoustic signals from a vibrating acoustic plate and, in other embodiments, electromagnetic signals from a Hall-effect paddlewheel sensor. Across the independent claims, the key inventive features include improved acoustic/electromagnetic signal generation upon urine application, vibrating acoustic plate acoustic improvement for urine flow, optional mechanical paddlewheel Hall-effect electric signal generation, and an end-device application module that detects acoustic signals and calculates urine flow and/or urine quantity, including identifying urination flow rate behavior.
Improved acoustic signals indicative of urination parameters from a vibrating acoustic plate
An apparatus configured to produce at least one of improved acoustic and electromagnetic signals indicative of at least one urination parameter upon having urine applied thereover, comprising an acoustic plate for improving the sound of a urine flow for improved measuring of the urine flow, the plate configured for vibrating in response to the urine flowing thereover.
Acoustic plate plus end-device application module for calculating measures from detected acoustic signals
A system comprising an apparatus configured to produce improved acoustic signals indicative of at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover using an acoustic plate vibrating in response to urine flowing thereover, and an application module operable via an end device configured to detect acoustic signals originating from the apparatus and calculate the at least one measure related to at least one of urine flow and urine quantity therefrom using acoustic sensing means and processing means of the end device, wherein determining at least one parameter includes identifying urination flow rate behavior based on at least one of produced acoustic and electromagnetic signals.
Paddlewheel Hall effect electromagnetic signal generation from urine flow
An apparatus configured to produce at least one of improved acoustic and electromagnetic signals indicative of at least one urination parameter upon having urine applied thereover, comprising a mechanical sensing device with a paddlewheel sensor based on Hall effect sensing having at least one magnet connected to the wheel, configured for producing electric signals upon full or partial rotation of a wheel caused by urine flow thereover.
System combining a Hall-effect paddlewheel sensing apparatus with end-device calculation of flow behavior
A system comprising an apparatus configured to produce improved acoustic signals indicative of at least one urination measure upon having urine applied thereover, the apparatus comprising a mechanical sensing device with a paddlewheel sensor based on Hall effect sensing having at least one magnet connected to the wheel configured for producing electric signals upon full or partial rotation caused by urine flow thereover, and an application module operable via an end device configured to detect acoustic signals originating from the apparatus and calculate the at least one measure related to at least one of urine flow and urine quantity therefrom using acoustic sensing means and processing means of the end device, wherein determining at least one parameter includes identifying urination flow rate behavior based on at least one of produced acoustic and electromagnetic signals.
Overall, the independent claims are directed to improved acoustic signal production using a vibrating acoustic plate and electromagnetic signal production using a Hall-effect paddlewheel sensor with a magnet, with an end-device application module that detects acoustic signals and calculates urine flow/quantity measures and identifies urination flow rate behavior based on produced acoustic and/or electromagnetic signals.
Stated Advantages
Improved measuring of the urine flow by improving the sound of a urine flow with an acoustic plate for improved measuring of the urine flow.
Identifying urination flow rate behavior based on at least one of produced acoustic and electromagnetic signals.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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