Urine Output Monitor With Load Cells and Flow Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine-output measurements in ICUs are often inaccurate, untimely, and can go undocumented, leading to erroneous treatment decisions.
Innovation Solution
An automated urine-output-measurement system using load cells, flow meters, ultrasonic or optical liquid-level sensors, RFID units, and integrated display screens for accurate, timely, and consistent urine-output measurements, with integration into electronic medical records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automated measurement systems are implemented, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement processes with automated electronic measurement systems. Load cells and flow meters automatically detect urine output, eliminating the need for manual collection and measurement, thereby improving precision while the electronic automation reduces operational complexity despite increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system performs self-measurement without requiring manual intervention. The load cell and flow meter automatically detect and record urine output, and the system self-documented the measurements in electronic medical records, improving both precision and reducing the complexity of manual documentation processes.
2Reliability
If manual urine-output measurements are performed, then device complexity remains low, but measurement reliability and documentation consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic feedback by continuously monitoring urine output through load cells and flow meters, and automatically documenting measurements in electronic medical records. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures consistent documentation and improves reliability by eliminating human error in recording and reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electronic medical records as an intermediary between the measurement process and documentation. The automated system interfaces with the electronic medical record system to automatically transfer and store measurement data, ensuring consistent documentation without requiring manual transcription or intervention.
3Loss of information
If automated measurement with electronic medical records integration is implemented, then information accuracy improves, but device complexity and integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a precise measurement device and an automated documentation system that integrates with electronic medical records. This universal design improves information accuracy by eliminating manual transcription while the standardized interface reduces integration complexity across different healthcare 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
Provides accurate, timely, and consistent urine-output measurements, improving treatment decisions and workflows by ensuring data accuracy and documentation.
Implementation Method 1
The load cell is a tension load cell located within the housing of the urine monitor. The load cell is coupled to a load-bearing hook located in a back of the cavity such that a load of the drainage receptacle is applied to the load cell
Implementation Method 2
the urine-measurement means is a contactless ultrasonic liquid-level sensor for volume-based urine-output measurements from above the drainage receptacle
Implementation Method 3
the urine-measurement means is a contactless optical liquid-level sensor for volume-based urine-output measurements from a side of the drainage receptacle
Data Source
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AI summary
An automated urine-output-measurement system can include single-patient equipment and multi-patient equipment. The single-patient equipment can include a urinary catheter and a urine-collection system. The urine-collection system can include drainage tubing and a drainage receptacle. The multi-patient equipment can include a urine monitor. The urine monitor can include a housing having a cavity configured to house the drainage receptacle, a urine-measurement means for measuring urine-output into the drainage receptacle, and an integrated display screen configured to display patient information including measurements of the urine output. A method of the automated urine-output-measurement system can include placing the drainage receptacle in the urine monitor of the automated urine-output-measurement system, and confirming a volume of urine in the drainage receptacle with that indicated on the urine monitor once a patient has produced urine.