Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11006880-B2
Publication Date
2021-05-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided a urine analysis device for bed side monitoring of a patient, comprising: an inlet sized and shaped for fluid communication with a urine collecting tube that receives urine from a patient; a drip chamber through which the urine flows towards an outlet; at least one sensor that analyzes each drop of urine and estimates a respective volume of each drop; a timing element that measures a reference time for each drop; a program store storing code; and at least one processing unit coupled to the program store for implementing the stored code, the code comprising: code to calculate a urine output flow rate of the urine output flowing through the chamber according to the estimated volume of each drop of the urine and the reference time for each drop; and code to output the urine output flow rate.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a urine analysis device for bed side monitoring of a patient that includes a drip chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with a urine collecting tube. Urine received from the patient is received through the inlet and forms falling drops along the drip chamber into a drop zone under the inlet. The device periodically turns a rotating mechanical assembly within the drip chamber to position different measuring members into contact with respective falling drops in sequence.
The core mechanism is the sequential placement of a plurality of measuring members beneath the inlet, where each measuring member provides at least one of an indication of presence and a measurement of concentration of a different urine constituent at each event of multiple sequential events. This arrangement allows constituent-specific sensing to occur repeatedly as the rotating assembly periodically changes which measuring member is located in the drop zone. The measuring members are brought into contact with falling drops by the rotating motion.
In the described embodiments, each measuring member is configured to provide constituent information that can include measuring concentration and/or presence. Further refining features include sensing-based interpretation, such as using an indication of presence and measurement of concentration for a different urine constituent, and generating an indication for display, including graphical user interface indications. The disclosed system is oriented toward monitoring urine constituents for abnormal conditions, including acute kidney injury (AKI) trend detection.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00017, with the inventive features focused on a drip chamber that uses a periodically rotating mechanical assembly to sequentially place multiple measuring members into a drop zone for constituent presence and/or concentration measurements.
Rotating mechanical assembly to sequentially intercept falling urine drops
A drip chamber receives urine through an inlet, and a rotating mechanical assembly periodically turns within the drip chamber to intercept falling drops and bring a respective one of a plurality of measuring members into contact with the falling drops positioned under the inlet, with the plurality of measuring members sequentially placed in a drop zone of the falling drops by the rotating.
Measuring members providing constituent presence and concentration
Each of the plurality of measuring members provides at least one of an indication of presence and a measurement of concentration of a different urine constituent in the urine.
Periodically instructed rotation during operation for sequential events
A method provides a drip chamber with an inlet receiving urine and instructs a rotating mechanical assembly to periodically turn a plurality of measuring members within the drip chamber below the inlet so falling drops are intercepted by the rotating mechanical assembly, bringing a respective measuring member into contact with the falling drops, with the plurality of measuring members sequentially placed in a drop zone by the rotating.
Sequential events measuring different urine constituents
Each measuring member provides at least one of an indication of presence and a measurement of concentration of a different urine constituent in the urine at each event of multiple sequential events.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on periodic rotation of a mechanical assembly within a drip chamber to sequentially expose different measuring members to falling urine drops and on using those measuring members to provide constituent-specific presence and concentration information across multiple sequential events.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?