LIQUID-VOLUME MEASURING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hand-held volume measuring device configured for being clamped onto part of a urinary catheter and for measuring the volume of urine miming through the urinary catheter over a period of time.

Claims

1. A hand-held liquid-volume measuring device configured for being clamped onto part of an intermittent urinary catheter and for measuring the volume of a liquid running through the urinary catheter, the hand-held volume measuring device having a housing (1) comprising a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) being pivotably connected to each other, the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) each comprising a contact surface (4, 5) having an indentation (7, 8) running through the portion (4, 5) being shaped and dimensioned for partly receiving an intermittent urinary catheter, the indentation, in a closed configuration of the device, having an inner diameter between 2.7 and 6 mm, the housing (1) further comprising liquid-volume measuring means configured for measuring the volume of liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time; user interaction means (11) for activating and/or deactivating the liquid measuring means; a wireless transmission means, which allows data from the liquid-volume measuring means to be transmitted to a personal terminal, such as a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone; and an energy source, such as a rechargeable battery.

2. A hand-held volume measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the channel has a diameter between 2.7 mm and 6 mm.

3. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the liquid-volume measuring means comprises an ultrasound emitting unit, configured for emitting at least one beam or pulse of ultrasound through part of a urinary catheter an ultrasound receiving unit, configured for receiving the at least one beam or pulse of ultrasound when it has been emitted through the urinary catheter.

4. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the device further comprises a processing unit, configured for receiving data from the liquid-volume measuring means and processing the data to obtain processed data inlcluding the volume of liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time.

5. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the wireless transmission means allows data from the liquid-volume measuring means and/or the processed data to be transmitted to a terminal, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

6. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the housing further comprises a display unit (10), configured to display processed data from the processing unit, including the volume of a liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time.

7. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the housing (1) has a longitudinal shape and less than 15 cm in all dimensions, such as less than 10 cm in all dimensions.

8. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the housing (1) comprises a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) being pivotably connected to each other and each comprising a contact surface (4, 5) having an indentation (7, 8) running through the portion, shaped and dimensioned for partly receiving a urinary catheter.

9. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the device has an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein in the open configuration, the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) are only in contact with each other through a pivotable section, in the closed configuration, the contact surface of the first portion (4) and the second portion (5) are in contact with each other such that the indentations (7, 8) running through the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) together enclose the channel (6) which is adapted to be fitted around part of an outer surface of a urinary catheter.

10. A hand-held volume measuring device according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the device further comprises a locking mechanism (9), configured such that, in the closed configuration, the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) are interlocked by means of the locking mechanism (9).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0042] The hand-held measuring device according to the present invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The FIGS. show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0043] FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of a hand-held volume measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0044] Reference is made to FIG. 1A illustrating an embodiment of a hand-held liquid-volume measuring device according to the present invention. The hand-held liquid-volume measuring device (also referred to as “the device”) of the present invention is configured for being clamped onto part of a urinary catheter and for measuring the volume of a liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time. The hand-held volume measuring device has a housing 1 comprising a channel 6 running through the housing 1. The channel 6 is shaped and dimensioned to be fitted around part of an outer surface of a urinary catheter.

[0045] The size of the channel 6 may vary, depending on the urinary catheter used by the specific user.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the housing 1 may have a longitudinal shape. Preferably, the device is less than 15 cm in all dimensions, such as less than 10 cm in all dimensions. In that way, the device is small enough to be easily transportated in a bag or a pocket, and small enough to be handled with one hand by the user. However, the device cannot be too small, as it has to contain different elements such as an energy source sizable enough to provide long term use. Preferably, the device is made from a material such as plastic, which allows the device to be dropped without breaking. Furthermore, the device has to be water resistant.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the housing 1 may comprise a first portion 2 and a second portion 3 being pivotably connected to each other, such as by a hinge of some kind. Both the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 comprise a contact surface 4, 5 having an indentation 7, 8 running through the portion 2, 3, shaped and dimensioned for partly receiving a urinary catheter. Thus, the indentation can, in a closed configuration of the device, have an inner diameter between 2.7 and 6 mm, reflecting common sizes of (intermittent) urinary catheters.

[0048] The device has an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, which is illustrated in FIG. 1B, the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 are only in contact with each other through a pivotable section, such as a hinge. In the closed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1D, the contact surface of the first portion 4 and the contact surface of the second portion 5 are in contact with each other such that the indentations 7, 8 running through the first and the second portion together enclose the channel 6 which is adapted to be fitted around part of an outer surface of a urinary catheter. In that way, when the device is in the open configuration, the user can arrange a urinary catheter within an indentation of either the first portion or the second portion and close the device, by pivoting the contact surface of the first portion and the second portion towards each other. FIG. 1C illustrates a see-through view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where part of a urinary catheter is arranged within the channel 6. Preferably, the device is configured such that it allows the user to secure the device in the closed configuration with one hand and to open the device with one hand. Thereby, the user would be able to measure the volume of urine running through a urinary catheter by clamping the device onto the urinary catheter before urinating and thereafter use the normal procedure to empty the bladder, using only one hand for holding the urinary catheter comprising the device. Furthermore, the device will not be in direct contact with urine, as it is clamped upon the outer surface of the urinary catheter. Thus, the user would in many instances not need to wash the device after use.

[0049] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the device may further comprise a locking mechanism 9, configured such that in the closed configuration, the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 are interlocked by means of the locking mechanism 9. Preferably, the locking mechanism 9 is a simple locking mechanism allowing the user to secure the device in the closed configuration with one hand and to open the device with one hand.

[0050] Furthermore, the hand-held liquid-volume measuring device comprises a liquid-volume measuring means configured for measuring the volume of liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time (not illustrated). Preferably, the liquid-volume measuring means uses ultrasound to measure the volume of urine running through the urinary catheter over a period of time and based on a series of measurements throughout the urinating period to measure time of flight and thus the flow of urine. Thus, the liquid-volume measuring means may comprise an ultrasound emitting unit, configured for emitting at least one beam or pulse of ultrasound through part of a urinary catheter and an ultrasound receiving unit, configured for receiving the at least one beam or pulse of ultrasound when it has been emitted through the urinary catheter. The volume of liquid running through the urinary catheter can then be calculated based on data from the liquid-volume measuring means, as well as the diameter of the urinary catheter and the density of the urine running through the urinary catheter. In some embodiments, the liquid measuring device is a ultrasonic flow meter.

[0051] Preferably, the device comprises wireless transmission means (not illustrated) allowing data from the liquid-volume measuring means to be transmitted to a terminal, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone, which provides the processing power needed to calculate the volume of liquid running through the urinary catheter. The wireless transmission means may for example be wifi, Bluetooth, or infared connection means.

[0052] In some embodiments, the device itself comprises a processing unit (not illustrated), configured for receiving data from the liquid-volume measuring means and processing the data to obtain processed data including the volume of liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time.

[0053] If the device comprises a processing unit, the processed data may also be transmitted to a personal terminal, such as a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone via the wireless transmission means. The data from the liquid-volume measuring means and/or the processed data may also be transmitted or uploaded to a server or a cloud.

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the device may further comprise an user interaction means 11 and a display unit 10.

[0055] The display unit 10 may be configured to display processed data, including the volume of a liquid running through the urinary catheter over a period of time.

[0056] The user interaction means 11 may be configured for activating and/or deactivating the liquid measuring means. The interaction means may for example be a button which activates the device, including the liquid measuring means when pressed and deactivates the liquid measuring means when released.

[0057] The device further comprises an energy source (not illustrated), such as a rechargeable battery, which provides power to the device, such as to the liquid-volume measuring means and the wireless transmitter.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms “comprising” or “comprises” do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as “a” or “an” etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS USED

[0059] 1 housing

[0060] 2 first portion of housing

[0061] 3 second portion of housing

[0062] 4 contact surface of first portion

[0063] 5 contact surface of second portion

[0064] 6 channel

[0065] 7 indentation in first portion

[0066] 8 indentation in second portion

[0067] 9 locking mechanism

[0068] 10 display unit

[0069] 11 user interacting means