Urine Color Assessment System with Integrated Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine color charts for assessing hydration status lack standardization and accuracy, particularly in athletic populations, due to variations in color shades, container materials, and lighting conditions, which affects the comparability and validity of self-reported urine concentration assessments.
Innovation Solution
A 7-color urine color chart and a urine color and concentration assessment system with a housing, urine collection container, and a light source are introduced to standardize urine color scoring, allowing for immediate and non-invasive hydration status assessment without the need for lab facilities, by comparing urine color to a standardized chart under controlled lighting conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a standardized urine color chart with controlled lighting is used, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the urine collection container, color chart, and light source into a single integrated assessment system. The container has a transparent bottom that allows direct viewing of urine color against the color chart, while the light source illuminates the urine sample from below. This merging of multiple components into one device simplifies the overall system while maintaining standardized measurement conditions for accurate urine concentration assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent bottom of the container acts as an intermediary element that enables direct optical comparison between the urine sample and the color chart. This intermediary structure allows light to pass through the urine sample and illuminate the color chart simultaneously, creating a standardized viewing condition that improves measurement precision without requiring complex external equipment.
2Measurement precision
If multiple color shades are used to represent different hydration levels, then measurement precision improves, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The color chart uses distinct local color shades, each corresponding to a specific urine specific gravity range and hydration status. The seven color shades (from light yellow to dark amber) are distributed across the chart, with each color representing a localized range of concentration values. This local quality differentiation allows for precise hydration assessment while maintaining visual clarity through distinct color boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The color chart is segmented into seven distinct color zones, each representing a different level of hydration status. This segmentation divides the continuous range of urine colors into discrete, easily distinguishable categories, making it simpler for users to interpret their results by matching their urine color to the appropriate segment on the chart.
3Measurement precision
If a light source is added to illuminate the urine sample and color chart, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is merged with the urine collection container by integrating it into the container structure. The light source is positioned to illuminate the urine sample from below, passing through the transparent bottom and the urine itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate external lighting equipment, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring consistent illumination for accurate color comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is designed to create equipotential illumination conditions across the urine sample and color chart. By positioning the light source to illuminate both elements uniformly from below, the system ensures that color comparison occurs under consistent lighting conditions, improving measurement precision without requiring complex multi-point lighting arrangements.
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 reliable and inexpensive method for athletes and untrained individuals to accurately assess hydration status, with a diagnostic ability of up to 77% correct classification of low vs. high urine concentrations, improving the accuracy of hydration monitoring and education in various settings.
Implementation Method 1
a light source positioned adjacent to one or both of the color chart and the container to illuminate one or both of the color chart and the container
Data Source
AI summary
A urine color and concentration assessment system includes a housing, a color chart supported by the housing, and a urine collection container supported by the housing and positioned adjacent the color chart. The urine collection container configured to receive a urine sample for comparing a color of the urine sample to a color of the color chart.