KR-20260064553-A - ASSESSING URINARY AND PELVIC-FLOOR FUNCTION

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described comprising one or more sensors (76) configured to detect the flow of urine from the subject's body without contacting the subject's body when the subject pauses urination during the subject's urination. A processor (44, 96) calculates one or more parameters of the pause based on the detection and outputs a score based on the parameters. Other applications are also described.

Inventors

• 카프-바네아, 야라

Assignees

• 아웃센스 다이아그나스틱스 엘티디.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251023

Priority Date

20241030

Claims (20)

1. As a system, One or more sensors configured to detect the flow of urine from the subject's body without contacting the subject's body when the subject pauses urination during the subject's urination; and A processor; comprising, wherein the processor: Calculate one or more parameters of the pause based on the above detection, and Configured to output a score based on the above parameters, System.
2. In claim 1, A system in which the above processor is additionally configured to prompt the subject to pause urination.
3. In claim 1, The above sensors include a microphone configured to detect the sound of the flow, in a system.
4. In claim 1, A system comprising imaging sensors configured to image the flow.
5. In claim 1, A system configured such that the urine flows into the toilet bowl and the sensors are connected to the toilet bowl.
6. In claim 1, The above processor is: Receive input representing the measurement of the subject's urinary incontinence, and Calculate the score based on the measurement of urinary incontinence A system configured additionally.
7. In claim 1, The above parameters include the duration required for the urine flow rate to decrease below a predefined threshold, in a system.
8. In claim 1, The above parameters include the flow rate before the subject pauses urination, in a system.
9. In claim 1, A system in which at least one of the above parameters quantifies urine leakage during the pause.
10. In claim 1, The above parameters include a system in which the urine flow rate is smaller than a predefined threshold for a duration.
11. In any one of claims 1 to 10, The above parameters include the estimated force applied by the subject's pelvic floor when the flow is paused, in a system.
12. In claim 11, The above processor is: By calculating the estimated pressure applied to the subject's external urethral sphincter by urine, By calculating the estimated diameter of the subject's urethra at the aforementioned external urethral sphincter, and By calculating the estimated force based on the above estimated pressure and the above estimated diameter, A system configured to calculate the above-mentioned estimated force.
13. In claim 12, A system configured such that the processor calculates the estimated pressure by solving the Navier-Stokes equations describing the flow of urine.
14. In claim 12, The above processor is: Based on the above detection, by calculating the estimated diameter of the urethra at the outer boundary of the urethra, and By calculating the estimated diameter of the urethra at the external urethral sphincter based on the estimated diameter of the urethra at the external boundary of the urethra, A system configured to calculate the estimated diameter of the urethra at the external urethral sphincter.
15. As a method, A step of using one or more sensors that detect the flow of urine from the subject's body without contacting the subject's body when the subject pauses urination during the subject's urination; and A step of using a processor; comprising, wherein the processor: Based on the above detection, one or more parameters of the above pause are calculated, and Outputting a score based on the above parameters, method.
16. In claim 15, A method comprising the step of using the above processor to further urge a subject to pause urination.
17. In claim 15, A method comprising the above sensors including a microphone configured to detect the sound of the flow.
18. In claim 15, A method comprising the above sensors including imaging sensors configured to image the flow.
19. In claim 15, A method in which the urine flows into a toilet bowl and the sensors are coupled to the toilet bowl.
20. In claim 15, The step of receiving an input representing a measurement of the subject's urinary incontinence by the above processor; and Step of calculating a score based on urinary incontinence measurements A method that further includes.

Description

Assessment of Urinary and Pelvic-Floor Function Cross-reference regarding related applications This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/713,852, filed by Kapp-Barnea on October 30, 2024, titled “Assessment of Urinary and Pelvic-Floor Function,” which is incorporated herein by reference. Technology field The embodiments generally relate to medical devices, specifically, devices and methods for evaluating urinary-system and pelvic-floor function to facilitate the improvement of the function through appropriate exercise, for example. The urinary system includes the bladder, urethra, and other organs. The bladder wall contains the detrusor muscle, which is continuous with the internal urethral sphincter. Both the detrusor muscle and the internal urethral sphincter are involuntary muscles. The pelvic floor muscles, including voluntary muscles such as the external urethral sphincter, support the pelvic organs and maintain urinary control. The pelvic floor muscles can be damaged or weakened due to injury, excessive weight gain, or, in women, life factors such as hormonal changes, pregnancy, and vaginal delivery. This can lead to urinary incontinence, constipation, genital prolapse, and other symptoms that negatively affect quality of life. Embodiments provide a system for calculating a voiding-related score. The system includes one or more sensors configured to detect the flow of urine from a subject during the subject's voiding, and a processor configured to calculate a score based on the detection performed by the sensors. The sensors do not come into contact with the subject's body; for example, in some embodiments, the sensors include a microphone and/or imaging sensor mounted on the rim of a toilet bowl. In some embodiments, the subject pauses urination in response to being prompted to do so, for example, via a smartphone application, and a sensor detects the flow of urine when the subject pauses urination. Based on the detection, the processor calculates one or more parameters of the pause, such as the duration required for the urine flow rate to decrease below a predefined threshold, a parameter quantifying the leakage of urine during the pause, the duration for which the flow rate is below the predefined threshold, and/or an estimated force exerted by the subject's pelvic floor when the flow is paused. The processor then, in some embodiments, outputs a score indicating how well the subject's pelvic floor muscles are functioning based on the parameters. In some embodiments, the subject is not required to pause urination. Rather, the processor calculates one or more parameters of urination based on detection and, based on the parameters, outputs a score indicating the function of at least one of the subject's involuntary muscles, such as the subject's detrusor muscle and/or internal urethral sphincter. For example, in some embodiments, the parameters include the delay between the subject's arrival at the toilet and the onset of urination (a measure of urinary hesitation), the rate of increase in flow rate at the onset of urination, and/or the duration during which the flow rate is close to its maximum. Accordingly, according to some embodiments, a system is provided comprising: one or more sensors configured to detect the flow of urine from the subject's body without contacting the subject's body when the subject pauses urination during the subject's urination; and a processor. The processor is configured to calculate one or more parameters of the pause based on the detection and output a score based on the parameters. In some embodiments, the processor is additionally configured to prompt the subject to pause urination. In some embodiments, the sensors include a microphone configured to detect the sound of the flow. In some embodiments, the sensors include imaging sensors configured to image the flow. In some embodiments, the urine flows into the toilet bowl, and the sensors are configured to be coupled to the toilet bowl. In some embodiments, the processor is: Receive input representing the measurement of the subject's urinary incontinence, and It is additionally configured to calculate a score based on measurements of urinary incontinence. In some embodiments, the parameters include the duration required for the urine flow rate to decrease below a predefined threshold. In some embodiments, the parameters include the flow rate before the subject pauses urination. In some embodiments, at least one of the parameters quantifies urine leakage during the pause. In some embodiments, the parameters include a duration during which the urine flow rate is smaller than a predefined threshold. In some embodiments, the parameters include the estimated force applied by the subject's pelvic floor when the flow is paused. In some embodiments, the processor is: By calculating the estimated pressure applied to the subject's external urethral sphincter by urine, By calculating the estimated dia