Deflating Container Volume Measurement for Edema Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring cross-sectional areas and volumes, particularly in the context of lymphedema diagnosis, are either invasive, time-consuming, prone to inaccuracies, or fail to identify specific areas of edema, making early and accurate detection challenging.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a container with a flowable medium, where the object is submerged, and the height of the medium is measured as it flows out, allowing for the calculation of cross-sectional areas and volumes using a microprocessor, providing a non-invasive, rapid, and reproducible method that identifies local changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the water tank method is used to measure volume, then the measurement includes local changes in cross-sectional area, but the method is sensitive to submersion speed and position, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a deflating container filled with fluid (hydraulic principle) where the fluid level下降 is measured as the container deflates. This approach transforms the measurement problem from direct volume displacement (sensitive to position and speed) to fluid level change in a controlled deflation process, improving reliability while maintaining the ability to detect local cross-sectional changes
Solution Approach 2:
The container is pre-filled with fluid before the object is placed inside, and the deflation process is controlled at a predetermined rate. This preliminary preparation ensures that measurements are taken under consistent conditions, reducing sensitivity to submersion speed and position variations
2Productivity
If the inverse water volumetry method is used, then the measurement is quick and includes whole extremities, but the result does not identify which part of the extremity is edemic, losing local information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement into multiple height levels along the extremity by using a deflating container where different portions of the extremity are exposed at different stages. This segmentation allows the system to capture cross-sectional area data at multiple locations, identifying local edema regions while maintaining quick measurement speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the height dimension to the measurement by tracking fluid level changes as the container deflates. This transforms a single-volume measurement into a multi-dimensional dataset that includes cross-sectional areas at different heights, enabling localization of edema while maintaining measurement efficiency
3Device complexity
If the tailor tape method is used to measure circumference, then the equipment is simple and inexpensive, but the method is time-consuming and prone to variation from different persons, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual tailor tape mechanical system with an automated deflating container system that uses fluid pressure and controlled deflation. This substitution eliminates human variation in measurement technique while maintaining equipment simplicity, significantly improving reliability and consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The deflating container system performs measurements automatically through controlled deflation and fluid level monitoring, reducing the need for operator intervention and manual measurements. This self-service approach minimizes variations caused by different persons while keeping the overall system simple and cost-effective
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
This method offers accurate, fast, and effective detection of edema severity and treatment response, providing immediate digital results and being less susceptible to temperature changes and timing errors, while allowing for the measurement of limbs of varying sizes and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
Opening the tap (8) in the container (2) to allow the flowable medium (12) to flow out of the container (2)
Implementation Method 2
at least one measuring means (7, 9, 10, 11) for measuring a height of the surface (13) of the flowable medium (12) in the container (2) relative to the reference height
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a process for the determination of the cross-sectional area and volume of an object comprising the steps of a. Providing a container (2) having a closed bottom (5), an open top (3), a side wall (4), a tap (8) at a reference height, b. Providing a flowable medium (12) having a surface (13) in the container (2), c. Providing at least one measuring means (7, 9, 10, 11) for measuring a height of the surface (13) of the flowable medium (12) in the container (2) relative to the reference height, d. Providing an object having a vertical Z-axis relative to the X,Y plane of the surface (13) and positioning the object in the container, the object being at least partly submerged in the flowable medium (12), e. Providing calculating means for calculating the cross-sectional area and/or volume of the object in the X,Y plane relative to a position on the Z-axis, f. Opening the tap (8) in the container (2) to allow the flowable medium (12) to flow out of the container (2), g. Measuring the height of the surface (13) of the flowable medium (12) relative to the reference height as a function of time (h(t)) during the outflow of the flowable medium (12), h. Calculating the cross-sectional area of the object (A0) as a function of the height relative to the reference height based on the determined height of the surface (13) as a function of time (h(t)) during the outflow of the flowable medium in step f). The invention further relates to a device for measuring the cross-sectional area and volume of an object.