Hydration monitors and systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In healthcare settings, ensuring proper hydration of patients is time-consuming and resource-intensive, as existing hydration monitoring systems lack accuracy in tracking fluid intake and often fail to distinguish between intended consumption and unintended fluid disposal, leading to potential dehydration and associated health complications.
Innovation Solution
A hydration monitor system that combines a container with sensors for volume, location, orientation, and temperature monitoring, using wireless communication and data processing to track fluid intake accurately and provide real-time feedback, including a hydration sensor to assess a person's hydration level, thereby ensuring accurate hydration management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional manual monitoring methods are used, then healthcare staff can directly observe patient hydration, but it requires significant time and resources from healthcare staff
Solution Approach 1:
The hydration monitoring system enables self-service by automatically tracking fluid intake through sensors that detect when the container is picked up, poured, or drunk from. The system autonomously records volume changes and calculates hydration status without requiring healthcare staff to manually monitor or record each drinking event, thus eliminating time consumption while maintaining monitoring accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring (healthcare staff visually observing and recording) with an automated sensor-based system. Volume sensors, location sensors, and orientation sensors electronically detect and record hydration events, substituting the mechanical human observation process with automated electronic detection that requires no staff time while providing continuous precise measurement.
2Measurement precision
If simple volume tracking is used, then the system is easy to operate, but it cannot distinguish between intended consumption and unintended fluid disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor types (volume sensors, location sensors, orientation sensors) into an integrated monitoring system. By combining these sensors, the system achieves precise differentiation between drinking events and disposal events through data correlation, while the merged sensor package fits within a single container unit, managing complexity through integration rather than separate distributed components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensor inputs to continuously analyze and determine the intent behind each fluid event. Location sensor data feedback indicates whether the container was taken to a patient or a sink; orientation sensor feedback shows whether the container was tilted for drinking or pouring into waste. This multi-sensor feedback loop enables accurate distinction between consumption and disposal despite the added sensor complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated into the container, then accurate differentiation between drinking and disposal is achieved, but the container design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed as a multi-functional universal platform that simultaneously serves as the fluid storage vessel, the sensor housing, and the data processing unit. The same container structure that holds the hydration fluid also integrates the volume, location, and orientation sensors, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices and reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies nesting by placing the sensor electronics and processing components inside the container's existing structural cavity. The volume sensor is nested within the container walls, while location and orientation sensors are integrated into the container's base or lid structure. This nested arrangement accommodates multiple sensors within the container's form factor without significantly increasing external dimensions or visual complexity.
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 a more accurate and efficient means of monitoring hydration, reducing the risk of dehydration and associated complications by differentiating between intended and unintended fluid use, thus minimizing the need for extensive healthcare resources and improving patient care.
Implementation Method 1
The volume sensor may be operable to derive data representative of the current quantity of hydration liquid in the container in accordance with reflections from a surface of the hydration liquid, e.g. a top-surface or an under-surface, received by a receiver of a light beam or an audio beam transmitted from a transmitter
Implementation Method 2
The volume sensor may include a transmitter such as a piezoelectric transmitter for transmitting a beam of ultrasonic pulses through the hydration liquid for downward reflection from an under-surface of the hydration liquid to a receiver
Implementation Method 3
A measure of weight may be derived electronically by one or more force-sensors located beneath, or at the bottom of, the container
Implementation Method 4
The location sensor may comprise a first part on or in the container and a second part at a relatively fixed location relative to the container. The first part and the second part may be in wireless communication with each other, e.g. via infrared, Bluetooth® or WiFi
Data Source
AI summary
A hydration monitor comprising: a container (1) for holding and dispensing a hydration liquid: a volume sensor operable to derive data dependent on the current quantity of the hydration liquid in the container: a location sensor operable to derive data dependent on the current location of the container.