Uroflowmetry systems having wearable uroflowmeters, and methods of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12290366-B2
Application number	US-202017078999-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2020
Priority date	Oct 24, 2019
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

Wearable uroflowmetry systems having wearable uroflowmeters are disclosed. A disclosed example uroflowmetry system comprises a wearable uroflowmeter including: a funnel portion having an end configured to secure the funnel portion against a person, an outlet opposite the end, and a funnel configured to capture urine excreted by the person when the end is secured against the person, and to direct the captured urine into the outlet; a fluid passage portion having an opening configured to receive the urine from the outlet of the funnel portion, and a fluid channel to pass the received urine along a length of the fluid passage portion; and a measuring portion having a sensor in the fluid channel configured to collect one or more measurements of the urine as the urine passes the sensor, the measurements representative of at least one of a property of the urine, or a flow characteristic of the urine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A uroflowmetry system, comprising:
a wearable uroflowmeter including:
a funnel portion having an end configured to secure the funnel portion against a person, an outlet opposite the end, and a funnel, wherein the funnel is configured to (i) capture urine excreted by the person when the end is secured against the person, and (ii) direct the captured urine into the outlet;
a fluid passage portion having an opening configured to receive the captured urine from the outlet of the funnel portion, and a fluid channel to pass the received urine along a length of the fluid passage portion, wherein the fluid passage portion includes a plurality of vanes that (i) are arranged radially around a longitudinal axis of the fluid channel, and (ii) extend inward from a wall of the fluid channel, such that the captured urine passes the plurality of vanes; and
a measuring portion having a sensor in the fluid channel configured to collect one or more measurements of the captured urine as the captured urine passes the sensor, wherein the measurements are representative of at least one of a property of the captured urine, or a flow characteristic of the captured urine.

2. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid passage portion includes a flow restrictor at an outlet of the fluid channel, the flow restrictor includes a flexible membrane, and the flexible membrane includes a plurality of slits.

3. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a filament of a planar conductive material formed on a planar substrate according to a geometric pattern, and wherein the planar substrate is angled such that the planar substrate is neither parallel nor orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid channel.

4. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the funnel includes an elastic material intended to be responsive to pressure changes in the funnel.

5. The uroflowmetry system of claim 4 , further comprising an additional sensor that measures a change in a shape of the funnel.

6. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , further comprising a data logger configured to collect and store measurements taken by the sensor.

7. The uroflowmetry system of claim 6 , further comprising at least one of a conductor or a wireless transceiver coupling the sensor to the data logger.

8. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , wherein the end is collinear with and proximate to a distal urethral meatus when the end is secured against a body of a female.

9. The uroflowmetry system of claim 8 , wherein the funnel portion is configured to be held in place, when the end is secured against the body, by at least one of a suspensory strap, a vacuum, an adhesive, an absorbent dressing or a dry adhesive to form a seal between the body and the end around the distal urethral meatus.

10. The uroflowmetry system of claim 8 , wherein the end is formed of a pliable material to conform to a shape of at least one of the distal urethral meatus, vestibule, or an adjacent labia.

11. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , wherein the end includes an extension to be inserted into a vaginal vestibule when the wearable uroflowmeter is worn.

12. The uroflowmetry system of claim 1 , wherein the funnel portion has a condom shape.

13. A method of operating a wearable uroflowmeter, the method comprising:
channeling urine excreted by a person through a funnel portion of a wearable uroflowmeter having an end to secure the funnel portion to the person;
directing the urine channeled in the funnel portion through a fluid channel of the wearable uroflowmeter;
guiding the urine in the fluid channel with a plurality of vanes in the fluid channel that (i) are arranged radially around a longitudinal axis of the fluid channel, and (ii) extend inward from a wall of the fluid channel, such that the captured urine passes the plurality of vanes; and
collecting a measurement of the urine with a sensor in the fluid channel of the wearable uroflowmeter, the measurement representing at least one of a property of the urine, or a characteristic of a flow of the urine during a micturition or urine leakage event.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
passing a first constant electrical current through a first filament of the sensor;
measuring a first voltage across the first filament;
passing a second constant electrical current through a second filament of the sensor, wherein the second constant electrical current is lower than the first constant electrical current;
measuring a second voltage across the second filament;
determining a temperature of the urine based on the second voltage; and
determining a first velocity of the urine based on the first voltage and the temperature.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
entering a standby mode; and
exiting the standby mode based on a presence of urine in the fluid channel.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining an instantaneous flow velocity of the urine based on a velocity of the urine and a cross-section area of the fluid channel at the sensor.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
restricting flow at an outlet of the fluid channel using a flexible membrane that includes a plurality of slits.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein collecting the measurement of the urine with the sensor in the fluid channel of the wearable uroflowmeter includes:
collecting the measurement of the urine with a filament of a planar conductive material formed on a planar substrate according to a geometric pattern, the planar substrate being angled such that the planar substrate is neither parallel nor orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the fluid channel.

19. A method of operating a wearable uroflowmeter, the method comprising:
channeling urine excreted by a person through a funnel portion of a wearable uroflowmeter having an end to secure the funnel portion to the person;
directing the urine channeled in the funnel portion through a fluid channel of the wearable uroflowmeter;
collecting a measurement of the urine with a sensor in the fluid channel of the wearable uroflowmeter, the measurement representing at least one of a property of the urine, or a characteristic of a flow of the urine during a micturition or urine leakage event;
passing a first constant electrical current through a first filament of the sensor;
measuring a first voltage across the first filament;
passing a second constant electrical current through a second filament of the sensor, wherein the second constant electrical current is lower than the first constant electrical current;
measuring a second voltage across the second filament;
determining a temperature of the urine based on the second voltage; and
determining a first velocity of the urine based on the first voltage and the temperature.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan Regents
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Attari Ali
• Ashton-Miller James A
• Delancey John O
• Burns Mark A
• Kirkbride Tana Marie
• Carlin Edward Paul
• Ramachandran Alexzandra Joan
• Day Carol A

Classifications

• A61B10/007 Primary

  for taking urine samples (measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006) · CPC title

• G01N33/493

  urine · CPC title

• G01G17/04

  for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes · CPC title

• A61B5/14507

  specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood (devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045) · CPC title

• A61B2560/0223

  of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors · CPC title