Urine Analysis Device Scheduling for Reliable Biomarker Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing urine analysis devices require users to actively remember to perform biomarker monitoring, leading to a high mental load and risk of forgetting, especially for regular monitoring tasks.

Innovation Solution

A urine analysis device with control circuitry and an internal clock that implements a personalized measurement plan with temporal analyzing windows, automatically collecting and analyzing urine samples at predetermined times based on user profiles, reducing the need for user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the user actively remembers to perform biomarker monitoring, then the monitoring can be carried out, but the mental load is high and the risk of forgetting increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring reliabilityVSAvoiduser mental load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The urine analysis device performs self-service by automatically executing measurement plans without requiring user intervention. The control circuitry autonomously collects urine samples, performs analyses, and manages scheduling based on predetermined temporal windows, eliminating the need for users to remember or manually trigger measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements preliminary action by pre-configuring measurement plans with temporal analyzing windows before use. These plans are stored in memory and automatically executed when conditions are met, allowing the device to initiate measurements proactively rather than passively waiting for user prompts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the device continuously monitors biomarkers, then monitoring coverage is maximized, but cartridge consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoidcartridge consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs periodic action by executing measurements only during predetermined temporal analyzing windows defined in measurement plans. This periodic execution pattern ensures comprehensive monitoring coverage while avoiding continuous operation, thereby reducing unnecessary cartridge consumption during periods when monitoring is not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If the device analyzes urine samples continuously, then all possible biomarker data is captured, but privacy protection is compromised by analyzing samples not belonging to the registered user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidprivacy intrusion
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by restricting measurement execution to specific temporal windows associated with registered users. The control circuitry identifies users and activates measurement plans selectively based on temporal criteria, ensuring that only samples from authorized users are analyzed during their designated windows, thereby protecting privacy while maintaining data completeness for legitimate users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables easy and regular biomarker monitoring without user reminders, optimizing cartridge usage by avoiding unnecessary tests and protecting privacy by ensuring samples are collected only during designated windows.

Implementation Method 1

collecting, by the urine analysis device, a urine sample from a urine stream of a peeing user

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUrine stream collection:

Implementation Method 2

analyzing, by the urine analysis device, the urine sample to obtain measurement data relative to the predetermined biomarker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical analysis:

Data Source

PatentEP4386383B1A method of monitoring a biomarker with a urine analysis device
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 WITHINGS SAS
  • EP4386383B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4386383B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4386383B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a method of monitoring (800) at least one biomarker with a measurement plan comprising a datum related to a predetermined biomarker (710) to analyze and at least one temporal analyzing window to analyze the predetermined biomarker (710). At least one of collecting (918) a urine sample and analyzing (919) the urine sample is performed at least in response to determining that an internal time value is within the at least one temporal analyzing window of the measurement plan.