Portable Uroflowmeter With Magnetic Float Sensing for Home Voiding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional uroflowmeters are not portable and inconvenient for patients to use, leading to incomplete data collection and reduced quality of care due to their bulkiness, lack of portability, and the need for manual recording of urination data, which often results in delayed or inaccurate information.
Innovation Solution
A handheld uroflowmeter with a flow chamber, sensor, and optional funnel, designed for easy use and data transmission, featuring a magnet and float system for fluid level detection, and automatic power-on capabilities, allowing for portable and discreet urination data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional in-office uroflowmeters are used, then measurement precision is maintained, but device portability and ease of operation deteriorate due to bulkiness and lack of portability
Solution Approach 1:
The uroflowmeter is divided into separate functional components: a reusable handle containing electronics and a disposable flow chamber assembly with funnel and sensor. This segmentation allows the device to be compact and portable while maintaining measurement precision through the integrated sensor system in the flow chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical float-based measurement systems are replaced with electronic sensors (optical, capacitive, or resistive) that detect fluid level and flow rate. This substitution enables more precise measurements in a compact handheld form factor, improving both portability and measurement accuracy.
2Device complexity
If manual recording methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases due to delayed or inaccurate data recording
Solution Approach 1:
The uroflowmeter automatically records voiding data including flow rate, volume, and duration without requiring manual intervention. The sensor system continuously monitors urine flow and the electronics automatically log all parameters, eliminating transcription errors and ensuring complete data capture for every voiding event.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides real-time feedback to the patient through visual or audible signals during voiding, and automatically transmits recorded data to healthcare providers. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate data capture and immediate verification, preventing information loss while maintaining relatively simple device operation.
3Ease of operation
If portable handheld design is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases due to integration of sensors and electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates complex electronic components into a reusable handle while the disposable flow chamber contains only the essential sensing elements. This segmentation allows the portable handheld design to incorporate sophisticated electronics without increasing overall device complexity for the patient, as the handle is pre-assembled and the flow chamber is simple to attach and dispose.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable handle is designed to accommodate multiple disposable flow chamber assemblies, making the electronic component universal and multi-functional. This approach consolidates complex electronics into a single unit that can be reused with multiple simple disposable sensors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining portability and ease of operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If disposable flow chambers are used, then ease of manufacture and cleaning improve, but loss of substance increases due to single-use components
Solution Approach 1:
The flow chamber is designed as a disposable component that is inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily sterilized if reused. This allows for simple manufacturing processes and ensures hygiene without requiring complex cleaning procedures, while the low cost minimizes the impact of single-use disposal on overall system cost.
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 handheld uroflowmeter enables accurate and timely collection of urine flow rate, volume, and duration data, improving patient convenience and clinical data quality by facilitating portable and automatic data recording.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor detects an angular orientation of the magnet assembly to determine a fluid level of the urine in the flow chamber
Implementation Method 2
a float and a magnet are positioned between a side wall of the flow chamber and a side wall of the funnel. Optionally, the magnet is coupled to the float such that movement of the float causes rotation of the magnet
Implementation Method 3
a light emitting diode ("LED") is integrated with the elongated handle. The LED indicates an orientation of the uroflowmeter corresponding to a target condition
Data Source
AI summary
Uroflowmeters and methods for processing data generated therefrom are disclosed. In one aspect, the uroflowmeter is a handheld device. The uroflowmeter includes a handle, a flow chamber coupled to the handle, and a sensor associated with the flow chamber that detects a parameter of urine received in the flow chamber. The uroflowmeter may include both reusable and disposable components. As a uroflowmeter it can identify and record data corresponding to the rate of flow over the measured duration of a void of urine, but may also timestamp the voiding act and communicate the data to an external data collection center for additional analysis and incorporation into a comprehensive voiding report or voiding diary.