Claims
- 1. An apparatus for providing a running indication of the dynamic flow rate of a bodily fluid by measuring the pressure exerted upon a column of air by the fluid as the fluid accumulates, comprising:
- an air pressure transducer responsive to the air pressure of the column of air for producing an output signal representative thereof, said air pressure transducer having a measuring port and a gauge port;
- a unitary container for receiving the flow of bodily fluid and for connection to the air pressure transducer, said container comprising:
- a chamber to receive the accumulating bodily fluid;
- inlet means for admitting the bodily fluid into the chamber;
- drainage means for siphoning accumulated bodily fluid from said chamber when said fluid reaches an upper level;
- a sealed substantially vertical measurement conduit for enclosing the column of air, said conduit sharing a wall in common with the chamber and being in communication with the chamber through an opening in the common wall at the base of the conduit;
- air pressure outlet means for providing sealed communication between the measuring port of the air pressure transducer and the measurement conduit above the upper level; and
- chamber pressure outlet means for providing communications between the gauge port of the air pressure transducer and the interior of the chamber above the upper level;
- wherein a dynamic flow rate of a bodily fluid into the chamber provides a corresponding dynamic air pressure at the air pressure outlet means to which the air pressure transducer is responsive; and
- processor means for converting the air pressure transducer output signal into a running indication of the instantaneous flow rate of the bodily fluid as the chamber fills to the upper level.
- 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the chamber pressure outlet means comprises a vent in the upper portion of the chamber so that the interior of the chamber and the gauge port of the air pressure transducer are in communication by both being exposed to the atmosphere.
- 3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the drainage means includes a substantially vertical drainage conduit having a wall in common with the chamber and having an inside end in communication with the chamber through said common wall above where the measurement conduit is in communication with the chamber, said drainage conduit extending above said inside end and having an end opening outside the container below the air pressure outlet means, said outside end being sealable to a downwardly depending tube.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 666,358 filed Oct. 30, 1984, U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,280 issued May 20, 1986, which application was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 447,759 filed Dec. 8, 1982, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (22)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2031158 |
Apr 1980 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
"Uroflometry in Urological Diagnosis", by Joseph J. Kaufman, M.D. California Medicine, vol. 95, Aug. 1961, pp. 100-103. |
"Analysis of Micturition, A New Method of Recording the Voiding of the Bladder", Acta Chirargica Scandinavica (1956), von Garrelts, B., pp. 326-340. |
"A New Uroflowmeter For Routine Clinical Use", by N. J. Randall, Biomedical Engineering, vol. 10, No. 1., Jan. 1975, pp. 21-24. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
666358 |
Oct 1984 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
447759 |
Dec 1982 |
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