Absorbent Sensor Pad for Urinary Voiding Parameter Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with urinary incontinence face challenges in accurately tracking and recording voiding events, leading to incomplete and inaccurate data, which hampers clinical diagnosis and therapy effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An absorbent sensor pad with integrated sensors that measure urinary voiding parameters, such as volume, temperature, and pH, automatically logs this information, eliminating the need for manual diaries and providing objective data for clinicians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a manual voiding diary is used by the patient, then the patient can record voiding events, but the data becomes inaccurate and incomplete due to patient neglect, forgetfulness, and subjective bias
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of patient diary-keeping with an automated sensor-based measurement system. Sensors detect voiding events, volume, temperature, and pH objectively without requiring patient intervention, thereby eliminating errors from neglect, forgetfulness, and subjective bias while ensuring complete and accurate data collection.
2Loss of information
If multiple voiding parameters are monitored, then more comprehensive diagnostic information is obtained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions (voiding detection, volume measurement, temperature sensing, and pH measurement) into a single integrated sensor pad system. This consolidation approach captures comprehensive voiding parameters for accurate diagnosis while minimizing device complexity through unified design rather than separate measurement systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate, objective data on urinary voiding parameters, enhancing the diagnosis of urinary incontinence and enabling immediate adjustments to electrical stimulation therapy, improving treatment efficacy and patient convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors may include various types of sensors such as impedance sensors, strain gauges, temperature sensors, accelerometers, pH sensors, and chemical sensors that measure wetness, volume, temperature, pH, and contents of urine
Implementation Method 2
the pad may be constructed with a transport layer adjacent to the patient that transports fluid voided by the patient to a sensor area of the pad
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes an absorbent pad worn by a patient that measures one or more urinary voiding parameters. One or more sensors that measure voiding parameters are integrally formed with the pad, e.g., interwoven with the absorbent pad material or positioned to form one or more sensor layers between layers of absorbent material. The sensors store measured parameters as information in a memory, e.g., as a log, locally or in a separate device. In some embodiments, the pad includes an electrical stimulator that provides stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence based on measured parameters.