An apparatus and a method for urological measurements
The invention relates to an apparatus for the performance of urological measurements with one or more measuring apparatuses.
The invention also relates to a method for the performance of urological measurements with one or more measuring apparatuses.
It is known to perform urological measurements, which are e.g. used as part of the diagnosis of urinary tract diseases.
There are several types of measuring equipment which are incorporated in ordinary clinical practice, including equipment for measuring the bladder volume, equipment for measuring the bladder pressure, and equipment for measuring the urination rate.
It has been found, however, that this prior art involves some drawbacks, as the known apparatuses are separate units which make individual measurements without reference to another measuring apparatus, and frequently require electrical wiring to e.g. computer systems which are to process the measurement results.
The cables included in the measuring apparatus restrict the freedom of movement for the patients being measured, which in turn restrits the clinical examination options. Thus, it will frequently be very difficult to examine patients e.g. in a normal everyday or work situation, which might otherwise give important clinical information.
The absent synchronization between several different types of measuring equipment also means that it is very difficult in practice to make several different measurements at the same time. The absent synchronization
means inter alia that a common time reference is lacking, and consequently the individual data cannot be compared temporally.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to improve the prior art apparatus and the prior art method for urological measurements.
The object of the invention is achieved by an apparatus of the type defined in the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the measurements are controlled wirelessly by a central control unit.
Hereby, it is thus possible to avoid the cables which otherwise restrict the patient's freedom of movement, which, inter alia, allows urological measurements to be performed in situations where the patient moves freely about.
This might e.g. be in the normal private surroundings or at the patient's place of work or in other environments where it is considered essential to have an insight into the possible impact of the environment on the patient.
As stated in claim 2, it is moreover characteristic of the invention that the wireless communication is carried out according to the Bluetooth standard.
The use of the Bluetooth standard ensures that the apparatuses communicating wirelessly with each other can do so with a minimized risk of unin- tentional interference with other irrelevant electronic equipment, while minimizing the hardware costs.
It is stated in claim 3 that the invention is unique in that the control unit is portable.
This provides additional flexibility in a clinical measurement situation, as the person operating the central unit may move about freely in relation to the patient being measured.
It is moreover stated in claim 4 that it is a special property of the central unit of the invention that the control unit contains a hand-held computer.
This e.g. opens up the possibility of programming the control of the urological measurements such that these are optimized for the given patient and the given clinical situation.
At the same time, the central unit may be programmed to process the recorded measurement results, so that the user may have essential clinical information during as well as immediately after the measurements.
Other expedient embodiments of the apparatus are defined in claims 5 and 6.
As mentioned, the invention also relates to a method.
This method is characterized in that the measurements are controlled wirelessly from a central control unit.
This makes it possible to perform urological measurements in new clinical situations which require unrestricted freedom of movement for the patient being measured.
The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a typical measurement situation, where a central unit controls a bladder volume measurement and a urination measurement as well as communicates with an external main computer.
Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the wireless coupling of a central control unit and four other units.
Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of the course of a typical measuring sequence for the recording of urine flow and volume.
Fig. 4 shows the relation between urine volume change over time and the flow rate which forms the basis for data processing.
In fig. 1 , the numeral 1 designates a central control unit in the form of a hand-held computer provided with a wireless Bluetooth interface for communication with other units.
The figure shows a patient 2 provided with a belt which accommodates an ultrasound based sensor for the recording of bladder volume. The ultra- sound sensor is battery-powered and is provided with a Bluetooth interface such that the measuring equipment can communicate wirelessly with the central unit.
A urine volume meter 4 can record the urination of the patient and can also communicate with the central unit via Bluetooth.
5 designates a main computer, which can likewise communicate wirelessly with the central unit via a Bluetooth interface.
Of course, the invention may also be worked with other wireless technologies than the Bluetooth standard, which thus does not restrict the scope of protection of the invention.
The central unit 1 can temporally synchronize the other units and start as well as stop measurements according to the user's specific needs, whereby one or more examinations may be performed with optimum clinical information as a result.
During and after the measurements, data may optionally be transferred to a main computer 5, where demanding clinical algorithms can process the measured data in real time.
The central unit 1 may also be provided with algorithms for the processing of data with a view to presenting clinical valuable information to the user during and after the recording of measurement data.
As will be seen from fig. 1 , the patient is not wired to external units. Therefore, the patient has unrestricted freedom of movement and may therefore be measured in situations which are not possible where cables are to transmit measurement data to other equipment.
Fig. 2 shows a block diagram where 1 is the central control unit which wirelessly controls a urine flow meter 2, a bladder volume monitor 3, a bladder pressure meter 7 and a PC with clinical data programs 5.
It is shown in fig. 3 how a process for the measurement of urine volume and urine flow rate may proceed. The process is started via a wireless signal from the central control unit. The volume of urine is determined by a bal- ance and the weight is converted into a volume value.
Differentiation of volume data provides the flow rate, and data may now be presented to the user who can include the information as part of the basis for the making of a diagnosis.
It is part of the invention that data may currently be sent to the central control unit where the data processing may be carried out and the results be presented to the user/clinician.
Data may also be processed in the measuring unit, from where the proc- essed data are then passed on to the central control unit.
Finally, the central control unit may transfer raw data or partially processed data to a main computer, in which the clinical calculations may then be performed, be presented to the clinician, and optionally be saved in an electronic patient record.
The central control unit may also send raw data as well as processed clinical information directly to an external computer, where data may be stored in an electronic patient record.
Fig. 4 shows a typical course of data collected from a patient's urination, where (a) shows how the urine volume changes over time, and where (b) shows the first derivative of (a), thereby producing the urine flow rate.
The algorithm forming the basis for the data processing, as shown in fig. 4, may e.g. be programmed in the central control unit, which may then give the clinician the relevant information in real time.
It is part of the present invention to derive optimum information from the measured values, including e.g. by differentiating the found values of urine
flow rate, thereby producing the urine flow acceleration from which new clinically relevant information may be derived.