Automatic Voiding Diary Using Acoustic Signal Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manual voiding diaries for urinary or fecal incontinence are prone to errors and neglect, as patients may forget to record events or provide subjective information, leading to inaccurate diagnosis and therapy assessment.

Innovation Solution

An automatic voiding diary system that detects urinary or fecal voiding events using microphones to generate electrical signals, processes these signals to identify voiding signatures, and wirelessly transmits recorded information to clinicians for accurate logging and therapy adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual voiding diaries are used, then patients can track voiding events, but accuracy and reliability of recording deteriorates due to patient neglect, forgotten entries, and subjective bias

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of voiding event recordingVSAvoidease of maintaining voiding diary

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors (microphones, accelerometers, moisture sensors) to automatically detect and record voiding events without requiring patient action. The device monitors itself and its environment continuously, eliminating the need for patients to manually enter data while maintaining high reliability in recording accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical recording (writing in a diary) with automated electronic sensing and digital recording systems. Microphones capture audio signals, accelerometers detect body movements, and moisture sensors detect fluid presence, converting physical phenomena into digital data that is automatically stored and transmitted

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If automatic sensing systems are used, then recording accuracy improves by eliminating patient bias and forgetfulness, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of voiding event detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of automatic monitoring system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is divided into separate functional modules: audio sensing module (microphone), motion sensing module (accelerometer), moisture sensing module, processing unit, and wireless communication module. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently optimized or replaced, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device integrates multiple sensing functions (audio detection, motion detection, moisture detection) into a single unified system that monitors voiding events. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices, reducing complexity while improving detection accuracy through complementary sensing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If continuous monitoring is implemented, then completeness of voiding event data improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of data collectionVSAvoidenergy consumption of monitoring device

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous active monitoring, the system uses periodic sampling where sensors actively detect events only when needed. The microcontroller enters low-power sleep modes between voiding events, waking up only when sensor triggers indicate a potential voiding event. This periodic activation maintains complete data collection while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 an objective and accurate log of voiding events, reducing patient interaction and improving diagnosis and therapy efficacy by automatically recording and analyzing voiding information, allowing for real-time adjustments to therapy parameters.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone that generates an electrical signal based on a sound associated with a voiding event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS9185489B2Automatic voiding diary

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

A device that may be used as an automatic voiding diary detects urinary and/or fecal voiding events and records voiding information indicative of the voiding events without the need for significant patient interaction. The device includes a microphone that captures internal and/or external sounds that are associated with voiding events and generates an electrical signal based the sounds. The device processes the electrical signal to determine whether the signal is indicative of the occurrence of a voiding event (i.e., the device detects voiding events) by, for example, comparing the electrical signal to a signal template or comparing an amplitude of the signal to a threshold. The device may be a device implanted within the patient or an external device that can be carried or attached to the body or clothing of the patient.