JP2005030788A - Urine flow measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a urine flow measuring device carried easily to a home, a workplace or the like, for acquiring, recording and displaying urine flow data, performing data processing of the data, and drawing the chart of a urine flow rate characteristic table to be served to urination function diagnosis. <P>SOLUTION: Urine urinated into a collection container 11 falls freely from the lowest part to an inclined downspout 12. The urine flows out into a funnel 14 at a speed determined by a tilt angle of the inclined downspout 12, and is discharged from a lower outlet. The mass of the urine flow rate corresponding to its flow velocity is measured by a load sensor 13 and a load sensor 3a installed on a lower part of the inclined downspout 12. The measurement data are recorded in a memory card 9 on a data processing substrate 8 and displayed. Data processing of the measurement data recorded in the memory card 9 is performed by a data processing device 11 installed separately, and the urine flow rate characteristic table chart 4 as urination diagnostic data is drawn. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a urine flow rate characteristic table used for urinary function diagnosis and a urine flow measurement device that acquires urine volume.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of urine flow rate measuring apparatus has a disk drive type as shown in FIG. In this method, the container 19 is fixed by the stand 23. The collected urine is dripped onto the disc 20 arranged at the lower part of the container 19.
The disk 20 has a high circular center, and grooves are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and urine flows along the grooves. The disk 20 is directly connected to the drive shaft of the motor 21. If the motor 21 is driven at a constant rotational speed, the motor drive current changes in proportion to the urine flow rate due to the urine flow rate flowing through the disk. By measuring this amount of change, the urine flow rate can be converted.
[0003]
There is also a method of measuring the amount of change in mass due to the amount of urine collected by placing a load sensor at the bottom of the container. In addition, there is a type in which the liquid level of urine collected in a container is measured by an ultrasonic sensor, and the liquid level change is converted into a urine flow rate. Since either method is usually a fixed installation method, it will be a hospital installation.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional method described above is usually installed in hospitals and the like, and it is difficult to reduce the size and weight because of its simple use at home and at work.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, the flow of the urine is passed through the inclined tub 2 without collecting urine, and the urine mass of the flow is measured by the load sensor 3 as a continuous analog amount. The mass of the measured urine flow rate is sampled at regular intervals and acquired as mass data. The data is digitally converted by the data processing board 8 and recorded in the memory card 9 in time series as urine flow rate data.
[0006]
By sampling the mass of urine flowing into the inclined tub 2 and measuring the mass, the urine volume per hour, that is, the urine flow rate can be obtained by the following calculation formula. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.
The urine flow velocity V flowing through the inclined tub 2 is determined by the length L through which the urine of the inclined tub 2 flows and the inclination angle Β according to the following equation.
V = √2GH
H = L * tanΒ
V = √2G * L * tanΒ
Here, G is the gravitational acceleration. H is the height in the gravity direction of urine flowing in the slanting tub.
On the other hand, the time (T) for the urine flowing in the inclined tub 2 to stay in the inclined tub 2 is determined by the shape of the inclined tub 2 as shown in the following equation.
T = L / V
T = L / √2G * L * tanΒ
T = √L / 2G * tanΒ
Therefore, the urine mass flowing per unit time is measured by measuring the urine mass flowing in the measuring bowl 2 every T time (sampling time = T). In practice, sampling data several times (three times or more) of the residence time T may be acquired and the average value taken in consideration of fluctuations in urine flow rate and the like.
[0007]
From the urine flow rate data stored in the memory card 9, a urine flow rate characteristic table (FIG. 4) necessary for urination function diagnosis is obtained by the data processing device 11 installed separately.
[0008]
With this configuration, the structure of the urine flow rate measuring device is simpler and smaller and lighter than other methods. By providing the load sensor a3 and the subtracter 13, the error signal due to the fluctuating load accompanying carrying can be canceled.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
By measuring the urine flow rate by the method of the present invention, a reduction in size and weight is realized. In addition, a portable urine flow rate measuring device provided with a load sensor a and a subtractor 13 will be described in detail below for variable load errors due to vibrations and the like accompanying carrying. In the case of using the fixed type, the load sensor a3a and the subtractor 13 for canceling the fluctuating load are excluded.
[0010]
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this apparatus. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of sampling measurement of urine flow rate. These drawings will be described in detail.
Urine collected in the collection container 1 using the handle 7 flows out from the lower opening. The urine is received by the inclined ridge 2 held by the load sensor 3, and flows out of the inclined ridge 2 after a residence time T determined by the inclination angle Β of the inclined ridge 2 and the flow path length L flowing through the inclined ridge 2. 5 and flows out from the lower exit. The mass of urine flowing through the inclined ridge 2 is measured by the load sensor 3 as a mass including the mass of the inclined ridge 2. By subtracting the output signal value corresponding to the mass of the inclined rod 2 from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, it can be measured as the mass of the urine flow rate. This mass is recorded in the memory card 9 as a digital value by the data processing board 8 at a constant period. On the other hand, since the urine flow measuring device is held by the handle 7, the urine flow measuring device itself vibrates and is measured by the load sensor 3 as a fluctuating load. This fluctuating load is an error load not related to the urine flow mass. In order to cancel this error signal, a load sensor a3a is installed on the same sensor base plate 4 as the load sensor a13a. The same fluctuating load is also measured for this load sensor a3a. By subtracting the output signal value of the load sensor a3a from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, this fluctuating load is cancelled. The mass signal of the canceled urine flow rate is recorded in the memory card 9 as a digital numerical value at a fixed period on the data processing board 8. In addition, the numerical value is displayed on the display 10. In some cases, a scattering prevention guide 6 for preventing scattering at the time of urination is attached and used. Moreover, in order to cope with use on a bed or the like, the urine storage cassette 6a may be used.
[0011]
[Example 2]
Details will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG.
Urine collected in the collection container 1 using the handle 7 flows out from the lower opening. The urine is received by the inclined tub 2 held by the overload sensor 3, flows out of the inclined tub 2, is received by the funnel 5, and flows out of the lower outlet. The mass of urine flowing through the tilted ridge 2 is measured by the load sensor 3 as a sum including the mass of the tilted ridge 2. By subtracting the output signal value corresponding to the mass of the inclined rod 2 from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, it can be measured as the mass of the urine flow rate.
Since the urine flow measuring device itself is held by the handle 7, the urine flow measuring device itself vibrates and is measured by the load sensor 3 as a fluctuating load. This fluctuating load is an error load that is not related to the mass of the urine flow rate. A load sensor a3a is mounted on the same sensor base plate 4 as the load sensor 3 for mounting a simulated load 13b corresponding to the inclined rod 2 applied to the load sensor 3. The same fluctuating load is also measured for this load sensor a3a. By subtracting the output signal value of the load sensor a3a from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, the fluctuating load is cancelled. The canceled mass signal of the urine flow rate is digitally converted by the data processing board 8 and recorded in the memory card 9 as the mass of the urine flow rate. The urine flow rate characteristic table shown in FIG. 4 is displayed by the data processing device 11 in which the memory card 9 is separately installed.
[0012]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the urine flow rate measuring device of the present invention acquires urine flow rate data necessary for urinary function diagnosis by sampling and measuring urine flow rate as mass per unit time. The data is recorded on the memory card 9. As a result, a portable and small and light device is obtained. Moreover, it has a function that can cancel the fluctuation error caused by carrying. With these functions, it can be used easily at home, at work, etc., and based on the urine flow rate data recorded on the memory card 9, the urinary flow rate characteristic table can be easily used as urination diagnosis data by the data processing device. Can be created.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment (Example-2) according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for obtaining a urine flow rate by sampling measurement in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a urinary flow rate characteristic table used for urine function diagnosis according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collection container 2 Inclined gutter 3 Load sensor 3a Load sensor a
3b Simulated load 4 Sensor base plate 5 Funnel 6 Splash prevention guard 6a Urine storage cassette 7 Handle 8 Data processing board 9 Memory card 10 Display 11 Data processing device 12 Real time clock circuit 13 Subtractor 14 Analog to digital converter 15 Microcomputer 16 Connector 17 Battery 18 Guard 19 Container 20 Disc 21 Motor 22 Urine storage container 23 Stand 24 Motor controller

Claims (3)

Urine collected in the collection container 1 using the handle 7 flows out from the lower opening. The urine is received by the inclined jar 2 held by the load sensor 3, and flows out of the inclined ridge 2 with a residence time T determined by the inclination angle の of the inclined ridge 2 and the flow path length L flowing through the inclined ridge 2, and enters the funnel 5. It is received and flows out from the lower exit. The mass of urine flowing through the inclined ridge 2 is measured by the load sensor 3 as a total including the mass of the inclined ridge 2. By subtracting the output signal value corresponding to the mass of the inclined rod 2 from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, it can be measured as the mass of the urine flow rate. The mass data is recorded on the data processing board 8 at a constant cycle.
Since the urine flow measuring device itself is held by the handle 7, the urine flow measuring device itself vibrates and is measured by the load sensor 3 as a fluctuating load. This fluctuating load is an error load not related to the urine flow mass. In order to cancel this error signal, a load sensor a13a in which a simulated load 3b corresponding to the inclined rod 2 is placed on the same sensor base plate 4 as the load sensor 3 is installed. The same fluctuating load is also measured for this load sensor a3a. By subtracting the output signal value of the load sensor a3a from the output signal value of the load sensor 13, this fluctuating load is cancelled. The canceled mass signal of the urine flow rate is recorded in the memory card 9 as a digital numerical value at a fixed period on the data processing board 8. In addition, the numerical value is displayed on the display 10. Urine flow rate measuring instrument with the above functions. Urine collected in the collection container 1 using the handle 7 flows out from the lower opening. The urine is received by the inclined tub 2 held by the overload sensor 3, and flows out of the inclined tub 2 at a residence time T determined by the inclination angle 樋 of the inclined tub 2 and the flow path length L flowing through the inclined tub 2. It flows out from the lower exit. The mass of urine flowing through the inclined ridge 2 is measured by the load sensor 3 as a total including the mass of the inclined ridge 2. By subtracting the output signal value corresponding to the mass of the inclined rod 2 from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, it can be measured as the mass of the urine flow rate.
Since the urine flow measuring device itself is held by the handle 7, the urine flow measuring device itself vibrates and is measured by the load sensor 3 as a fluctuating load. This fluctuating load is an error load that is not related to the mass of the urine flow rate. A load sensor 3a is mounted on the same sensor base plate 4 as the load sensor 3 on which a simulated load 3b corresponding to the tilted rod 2 is placed. The same fluctuating load is also measured in this load sensor a 3a. By subtracting the output signal value of the load sensor a 3a from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, the fluctuating load is cancelled. The canceled mass signal of the urine flow is digitally converted by the data processing board 8 and recorded in the memory card 9 in time series as the mass of the urine flow. Urine flow rate measuring device for displaying the urinary flow rate characteristic table FIG. 4 in the data processing device 11 in which the memory card 9 is separately installed In the case of temporary placement and use as a fixed installation, the urine collected in the collection container 1 of the urine flow measuring device flows out from the lower opening. The urine is received by the inclined tub 2 held by the load sensor 3, and flows out of the inclined tub 2 at a residence time T determined by the inclination angle 樋 of the inclined ridge 2 and the flow path length L flowing through the inclined ridge 2, and enters the funnel 5. It is received and flows out from the lower exit. The mass of urine flowing through the tilted ridge 2 is measured by the load sensor 3 as a sum including the mass of the tilted ridge 2. By subtracting the output signal value corresponding to the mass of the slope 2 from the output signal value of the load sensor 3, it is measured as the mass of the urine flow rate. Since this measurement data is the mass per unit time, the urine flow measuring device that records and displays the total urine volume by integrating this recorded data

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