Patent · US Expired

Medical fluid measuring system

US4448207A · kind A · utility

118Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 1981
Grant dateMay 15, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 3, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F23/2962
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A urine discharge measuring system for medical use which includes a gimbal mounted frame supporting a urine container of fixed dimensions to collect urine from a urinary catheter attached to a patient. An ultrasonic transceiver mounted above the container and operated in conjunction with a microprocessor based control unit, positioned adjacent to the transceiver, periodically and automatically measures the height of the urine collected within the container. The measured fluid height is converted to fluid volume by the control unit. To maintain the sterility of the container, the transceiver transducer(s) is mechanically isolated from the urine container by elements which allow the ultrasonic energy to be transmitted to and received from the interior of the container. In one described embodiment, desired measured volume accuracy is achieved by employing a reflective target within the urine container at a known fixed distance from the transceiver transducer. Comparison by the control unit of the measured distance with the actual distance to the target allows generation of corrections for variations of the speed of sound in air due to temperature and humidity to be applied when obtain…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.