KR-20260067959-A - APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MEASURING DRAINAGE VOLUME USING LOAD CELL-BASED SENSOR

KR20260067959AKR 20260067959 AKR20260067959 AKR 20260067959AKR-20260067959-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device, system, and method for measuring the volume of drainage using a load cell-based sensor. More specifically, an apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a drainage tube providing a path for the movement of drainage generated in a patient; a first sensor module based on a load cell that detects the weight of the drainage; a memory storing at least one process related to an operation of calculating the volume of the drainage using the weight of the drainage; and a processor that performs an operation according to the process. The processor may identify the type of drainage, calculate the volume of the drainage by applying a density value set according to the identified type of drainage, and store drainage data including the volume of the drainage in the memory to form a database. Other embodiments are also possible.

Inventors

김상희
김대은
장효은
전미선
전희정
강병문
왕성진

Assignees

연세대학교 산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20250515
Priority Date: 20241104

Claims (20)

A drainage tube that provides a pathway for the drainage generated in the patient; A first sensor module based on a load cell for detecting the weight of the above-mentioned drainage fluid; A memory storing at least one process related to an operation of calculating the volume of a drain using the weight of the drain; and It includes a processor that performs operations according to the above process, The above processor is, Check the type of drainage, Calculate the volume of the drainage by applying a density value set according to the type of drainage identified above, and A device characterized by storing drainage data including the volume of the drainage in the memory and creating a database.
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sensor module includes a customized adapter for the type of drainage and the patient being measured.
In claim 1, an application providing a function to monitor the drainage data and the patient's condition is stored in the memory, and The above processor is, A device characterized by displaying the drainage data and the patient's condition in real time through the above application.
In claim 3, the processor is, Compare the pre-set first threshold value with the current accumulated volume of drainage, and A device characterized by outputting an alarm warning of an abnormality in the drainage through the application when, as a result of comparison, the accumulated volume of the current drainage exceeds the first threshold value.
In claim 3, the processor is, Compare the preset second threshold value with the current drainage volume increase rate, and A device characterized by outputting an alarm warning of an abnormality in the drainage through the application when, as a result of comparison, the current drainage volume increase rate exceeds the second threshold value.
In claim 3, the processor is, Compare the preset third threshold value with the current decrease in drainage, and A device characterized by outputting an alarm warning of an abnormality in the drainage through the application when, as a result of comparison, the decrease in the current drainage is less than the third threshold value.
In claim 3, the processor is, Compare the preset fourth threshold value with the current accumulated volume of drainage, and A device characterized by outputting an alarm recommending the removal of the drainage tube through the application when, as a result of comparison, the accumulated volume of the current drainage is less than the fourth threshold value.
In claim 3, the processor is, Compare the preset fifth threshold value with the current drainage volume increase rate, and A device characterized by outputting an alarm recommending the removal of the drainage tube through the application when, as a result of comparison, the current drainage volume increase rate is less than the fifth threshold value.
In Paragraph 3, A device characterized by further including a second sensor module for measuring the direction and speed of airflow inside the drainage tube.
In Article 9, A device characterized by further including a third sensor module that measures the internal pressure of the drainage tube to measure the condition of the pleural cavity.
In claim 10, the processor is, Airflow data is acquired through the second sensor module above, and The above third sensor module acquires pleural pressure data, and A device characterized by displaying the airflow data and pleural pressure data in real time through the above application.
In claim 11, the processor is, Analyze the above airflow data, and A device characterized by outputting a patient condition warning alarm through the application when the above analysis result satisfies a first condition specified in advance.
In claim 11, the processor is, Analyze the above pleural pressure data, and A device characterized by outputting a patient condition warning alarm through the application when the above analysis result satisfies a pre-specified second condition.
In claim 11, the processor is, Analyze the above airflow data and the above pleural pressure data, and A device characterized by outputting an alarm recommending the removal of the drainage tube through the application when the above analysis result satisfies a pre-specified third condition.
A method performed by a device comprising: a drainage tube providing a path for the movement of a drainage generated in a patient; a first sensor module based on a load cell for detecting the weight of the drainage; a memory storing at least one process related to an operation of calculating the volume of the drainage using the weight of the drainage; and a processor performing an operation according to said process. The above processor includes the step of identifying the type of drainage fluid; The above processor calculates the volume of the drainage by applying a density value set according to the type of the identified drainage; and A method characterized by comprising the step of the processor storing drainage data, including the volume of the drainage, in the memory to form a database.
A method according to claim 15, wherein the first sensor module comprises a customized adapter for the type of drainage and the patient being measured.
In claim 15, an application providing a function to monitor the drainage data and the patient's condition is stored in the memory, and A method characterized by further including the step of the processor displaying the drainage data and the patient's condition in real time through the application.
In Article 17, The above processor compares a preset first threshold value with the current accumulated volume of the drainage; and A method characterized by including the step of outputting an alarm warning of an abnormality in the drainage through the application when, as a result of comparison, the accumulated volume of the current drainage exceeds the first threshold value.
In Article 17, The above processor compares a preset second threshold value with the current drainage volume increase rate; and A method characterized by including the step of the processor outputting an alarm warning of an abnormality in the drainage through the application when, as a result of comparison, the current drainage volume increase rate exceeds the second threshold value.
In Article 17, The above processor compares a preset third threshold value with the current amount of drainage reduction; and A method characterized by including the step of: the processor outputting an alarm warning of an abnormality in the drainage through the application when, as a result of comparison, the reduction amount of the current drainage is less than the third threshold value.

Description

Apparatus, System, and Method for Measuring Drainage Volume Using Load Cell-Based Sensor The present disclosure relates to a drainage volume measuring device, system, and method. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a drainage volume measuring device, system, and method using a load cell-based sensor. Patient drainage tubes are essential tools for preventing complications and aiding wound healing by draining fluids remaining in the body after surgery. In particular, drainage tubes such as Hemovac and J-P Drain are widely used to manage patients' conditions following various surgical procedures. The key to drainage tube management is regularly measuring the volume of drainage to assess the patient's condition and removing the tube when necessary. This is essential for accurately determining the patient's recovery speed and status. However, current methods for measuring drainage volume have drawbacks, including low accuracy, increased workload for medical staff, and a higher risk of infection. For example, in medical settings, sterile urine cups or syringes are used to measure drainage volume based on scales. This method has low accuracy, and errors may occur if the drainage is emptied into multiple containers. Additionally, nurses must repeatedly measure drainage for each patient, a process that can be time-consuming. Studies indicate that managing drainage tubes accounts for a significant portion of a nurse's workload, which can hinder nursing efficiency. Furthermore, there is a risk of infection due to exposure to body fluids during the process of transferring drainage to containers. In particular, failure to maintain sterility can pose risks to both patients and medical staff. Moreover, existing methods do not systematically manage drainage volume data, making it difficult to continuously monitor a patient's condition or analyze long-term recovery trends. To address these problems, there is an increasing need for technology that automates the measurement of drainage volume through digital measurement systems. FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing an apparatus according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram briefly structuring an apparatus according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing a simplified structure of a device according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing a first sensor module according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing the capacity measurement results of a device according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a database of a device according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing an application screen according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram briefly structuring a system according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for measuring the volume of drainage according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for analyzing drainage data and outputting an alarm according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for analyzing airflow and pleural pressure data and outputting an alarm according to an example of the present invention. Throughout this disclosure, the same reference numerals denote the same components. This disclosure does not describe all elements of the embodiments, and general content in the art to which this disclosure pertains or content that overlaps between embodiments is omitted. The terms ‘part, module, component, block’ as used in the specification may be implemented in software or hardware, and depending on the embodiments, a plurality of ‘parts, modules, components, blocks’ may be implemented as a single component, or a single ‘part, module, component, block’ may include a plurality of components. Throughout the specification, when a part is described as being "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where they are directly connected but also cases where they are indirectly connected, and indirect connections include connections made via a wireless communication network. Furthermore, when it is stated that a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Throughout the specification, when it is stated that a component is located "on" another component, this includes not only cases where a component is in contact with another component, but also cases where another component exists between the two components. The terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one component from another, and the components are not limited by the aforementioned terms. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless there is an obvious e