Technical Field

The present application concerns providing the ability to use the hospital toilets as a measurement room besides meeting needs by combining a specially designed toilet bowl with the technology and turning it into a toilet bowl that can be used both as a toilet and as a uroflowmetry.

State of the Art

The uroflowmetry test is a process that can measure the graphics of a person's urine volume and flow versus time. The aim herein is to see how different the urine rate of a person is from the standard values of the test performed in a healthy person, and to measure an approximate bladder capacity from the amount of urine produced. This gives us information about the person's lower urinary system problems. In the traditional uroflowmetry systems, the person urinates in a urine container and the speed measurements are performed with the different methods. Among these methods, the most used methods are the rotating disk method, capacitance-type and weight-based load cells. While the patent application no. US 5078012 is an example of the rotating disk method, the patent no. US 5062304 is an example of the capacitance-type uroflowmetry. The load cell-type uroflowmetry is the most used type today. An example thereof is the patent no. W02017036952A1 . In the load cell-type uroflowmetry which can be seen frequently in the market, the urine collection container is placed just above the load cell and the volume is calculated in this way. All these uroflowmetry systems have the difficulties for the user. The user has to remove the urine container and clean it. Besides the issue of hygiene, this situation causes the uncontrolled urine spillage that may occur while taking the container and creates the problems for both the person and the environment. Some patent studies to prevent this situation are CN2355679 Y, US2015/0105694A1 and WO2016153452A1 . However, these systems that have already been tested collect the urine in a pre-emptied dry container and activate the flushing mechanisms after performing the measurement process. The use of these samples in hospitals may be limited due to the fact that the dry container creates the risk factors to the hospital hygiene such as bacteria growth and odor formation over time. In addition, since these systems developed as the urinals are not suitable for use by women, the elderly, and children, they are not suitable for such patients without an apparatus. If the apparatus is applied, this patient group, whose excretory systems do not work properly, accidentally defecates into these systems which are designed only for the fluid intake, and cause the system to clog, the environment to become unhygienic and the device to become unusable.

Description of the Invention

The uroflowmetry test that measures the flow and strength of the urine flow while urinating is a common test and is helpful in evaluating the bladder function or testing for the obstructions in the normal urine flow.

Unlike the uroflowmetry systems that have been tested before and measure using a weight cell, the present invention provides a urinal and/or a toilet bowl with the uroflowmetry characteristic.

The present invention (Figure-1) comprises an elbow pipe (3) provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic, a small discharge pump (2), a precision liquid level sensor (1 ), discharge pump protection grate (4), a data processing unit (5), a control unit (6), a pipe (7) connected to the discharge pump, a liquid level switch (8).

The present invention (Figure-1 ) comprises a toilet discharge pipe which can be transfer the urine, water with urine, stool, and water with stool to the drain.

The parts of the uroflowmetry system according to the invention can be, but not limited to, in the following structures.

The elbow pipe (3) with the uroflowmetry characteristic can be a PVC pipe, for example. The PVC pipe can conform to a standard such as DN110.

The precision liquid level sensor (1) can conform to a standard Ip 67.

The discharge pump protection grate (4) is in the form of a stainless filter.

The data processing unit (5) can be an amplifier card that processes the sensor data. It can be the ADC or alike, that converts the analog data to the digital data.

The control unit (6) can be a single board computer (Raspberry Pi, Lattepanda, etc.). The pipe (7) connected to the discharge pump can be a silicone material, etc. with a flexible structure.

The liquid level switch (8) can be a liquid-contact or a non-contact digital sensor.

The toilet bowl (15) or urinal (17) can be made of fiberglass or thermoplastics.

The liquid level sensor which is the main component of the mechanism developed using the liquid level sensor (1) and the partial discharge system (2) is placed at the upper part of the toilet bowl elbow system, i.e., 90 degrees above the liquid that deposits on the floor. The small pump (2) which is referred to as a partial discharge system is located at the lower part of the designed toilet bowl elbow pipe (3). The universal toilet elbow system (3) designed with the liquid level sensor (1) and the partial drain (discharge pump) (2) are the main part of this invention. There are also a protection grate (4), a partial discharge pipe (7), and a liquid level switch (8). The invention comprises a data processing unit (5) and control unit (6). In an example of the invention, there is a pH sensor (16) located on the toilet bowl design. In another example of the invention, there is an EMG module (9). In the most improved example of the invention, there are a pH sensor (16) and an EMG module (9).

In “the uroflowmetry system measuring with the real-time volume increase method” according to the present application, the device starts measuring as the patient begins to urinate and the first drop of the urine increases the volume considered to be zero after the liquid level sensor calibrates the liquid volume in the empty elbow to a zero value after the small discharge pump on the lower base of the elbow pipe creates enough space for the measurement by pumping the excess water in the elbow into the drain of the building after a urinal or toilet bowl which waits for a barcode and/or start command to allow the person to start the test applied in the toilet bowl or urinal receives a start command. When the patient's urine discharge process is finished, the measurement process ends, and after the uroflow test results are transferred to the system, the universal flushing system fills the previously determined amount of the liquid into the elbow pipe in the toilet bowl or urinal, and the device then goes into the standby mode. When the device is in the standby mode, it works as a universal toilet bowl or urinal. If there is an unintentional stool incontinence during the test, the sudden increase in volume is taken into consideration and the uroflowmetry test is canceled with a report and the device is made ready for the new test. The present invention relates to a urinal and/or a toilet bowl provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic, characterized in that it comprises an elbow pipe (3) depositing water, a liquid level sensor (1), a discharge pump (2), a protection grate (4), a control unit (6), a data processing unit (5), a liquid level switch (8).

An example of the present invention relates to a urinal and/or a toilet bowl provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic, characterized in that it comprises an elbow pipe (3) depositing water, a liquid level sensor (1 ), a discharge pump (2), a protection grate (4), a control unit (6), a data processing unit (5), a liquid level switch (8), and a pH measurement sensor (16).

Another example of the present invention relates to a urinal and/or a toilet bowl provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic, characterized in that it comprises an elbow pipe (3) depositing water, a liquid level sensor (1), a discharge pump (2), a protection grate (4), a control unit (6), a data processing unit (5), a liquid level switch (8), and an EMG module (10).

Another example of the present invention relates to a urinal and/or a toilet bowl provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic, characterized in that it comprises an elbow pipe (3) depositing water, a liquid level sensor (1), a discharge pump (2), a protection grate (4), a control unit (6), a data processing unit (5), a liquid level switch (8), an EMG module (10) and a pH measurement sensor (16).

The present invention comprises an elbow pipe (3) with a uroflowmetry characteristic, a small discharge pump (2), a precision liquid level sensor (1), a toilet bowl (15) or urinal (17), a discharge pump protection grate (4), an amplifier card (5) processing the sensor data as a data processing unit, a single board computer (6) as a control unit, a pipe (7) connected to the discharge pump, a liquid level switch (8) and a pH sensor (16).

The precision liquid level sensor used in the present invention can be in the standard Ip 67.

As it is known, there is an elbow-shaped deposition reservoir at the bottom of the toilet bowls to prevent the malodor coming from the mains drain. The function of the developed technique is to obtain the result of the uroflowmetry (Urine flow and volume measurements) by measuring the amount of the liquid in the deposition reservoir. In addition, if there is a pH sensor, it measures the pH of the urine that contacts the system. If the system does not receive a test start command, it will remain passive and will be used as a toilet bowl without making the measurements of the deposited stool or urine in the water as is in the universal toilets. Then, the clean water will be filled into the deposition reservoir, also called the elbow pipe, at the bottom as is in the universal toilets and it will wait in ready position. If the next process starts with the test command, more than the determined amount of liquid in the deposition reservoir is drawn by a pump and pumped into the drain system. Afterwards, the volume of the remaining liquid in the deposition reservoir is calibrated and the device is made ready for the test, then the measurement is started with the patient's urination.

In “the universal toilet bowl/urinal-like uroflowmetry system measuring with the real-time volume increase principle” according to the invention, the discharge pump (2) located on the elbow pipe (3) of the toilet bowl and/or urinal begins to operate and discharges the excess water in the elbow (3) after the hospital staff and/or the patient scans a barcode and/or commands the toilet bowl and/or urinal system with the uroflowmetry characteristic to start the electronic test. When enough water is discharged, the liquid level switch (8) turns off the power to the pump. Then, the patient starts urinating into the urinal and/or toilet bowl and upon the contact of the urine with the water deposited in the predetermined level in the toilet elbow (3), the liquid level sensor located 90 degrees above the elbow pipe starts the precise measurement. When the patient's urine discharge process is completed, the measurement process is terminated, and upon the uroflow test results are transferred to the system, the flushing system is operated and transmits the waste water to the drain, and the system goes into the standby mode for the next toilet and/or uroflowmetry service. If the system does not receive any commands for the new test, it goes into the sleep mode and the system is used as a universal toilet. When the system receives the start command, the discharge pump (2) located under the elbow is operated, discharges a certain amount of liquid, and becomes ready for testing. This process constitutes the operating algorithm of the device.

In “the universal toilet bowl/urinal-like and pH-measuring uroflowmetry system measuring with the real-time volume increase principle” according to the invention, the discharge pump (2) located on the elbow pipe (3) of the toilet bowl and/or urinal begins to operate and discharges the excess water in the elbow (3) after the hospital staff and/or the patient scans a barcode and/or commands the toilet bowl and/or urinal system with the uroflowmetry characteristic to start the electronic test. When enough water is discharged, the liquid level switch (8) turns off the power to the pump. Then, upon the patient starts urinating into the urinal and/or toilet bowl and upon the first contact of the urine with the pH sensor (16) on the surface of the toilet bowl and/or urinal, the pH of the urine is analyzed, then upon the first contact of the urine with the water deposited in the predetermined level in the toilet elbow (3), the liquid level sensor located 90 degrees above the elbow pipe starts the precise measurement. When the patient's urine discharge process is completed, the measurement process is terminated, and upon the pH level and uroflow test results are transferred to the system, the flushing system is operated and transmits the waste water to the drain, and the system goes into the standby mode for the next toilet and/or uroflowmetry service. If the system does not receive any commands for the new test, it goes into the sleep mode and the system is used as a universal toilet. When the system receives the start command, the discharge pump (2) located under the elbow is operated, discharges a certain amount of liquid, and becomes ready for testing. This process constitutes the operating algorithm of the device.

The test start command to the device is given by the staff or the patient via a barcode reader and/or a remote computer. The device which serves as a urinal or toilet bowl in the sleep mode discharges the excess water via a discharge pump (2) placed on the lower base of the deposition elbow immediately after receiving the start command. After enough liquid is discharged and the required amount of space is provided in the elbow, the liquid level switch (8) turns off the power of the pump and calibrates the volume value read by the precision liquid level sensor (1) to a zero value. The device then commands the patient to start. The device starts to measure the flow and volume when the patient starts to urinate and the urine contacts with the surface of the previously deposited liquid in the lower drain elbow (3). Except for the clean water level considered to be zero in the reservoir, the resulting volume change will increase relative to the urine flow and the average of the volume increase data of the urine deposited in the elbow (3) with the uroflowmetry characteristic is calculated, and this value change is transmitted to the control unit (6) as an electrical signal and if the control unit (6) is connected to a monitor that displays an image, it can visually reflect the change in the urine flow rate and increase in volume with the help of the interface. After the urine flow is completed, the control unit (6) waits for a predefined time and stops the data transfer. With the test end command, the Control Unit (6) opens the lid of the universal flushing system operating with the gravity and pushes the deposited liquid towards the waste water drain (3). This system is not different from the toilet bowl systems of the universal toilet bowl or urinal systems. The deodorizer or disinfectant tablets such as the mothballs can be thrown into the toilet bowl and/or urinal (15,17) and the reusable detergent collection containers to be added later can be integrated. After the cleaning is completed, the system goes into the sleep mode and serves as a toilet and/or becomes ready for the next test according to the principle in which it is defined. If the device has a sensor for the pH measurement, the pH of the urine is determined when the patient starts to urinate and the first drop of the urine contacts with the pH sensor (16) on the outer surface. Then, the device starts to measure the flow and volume when the urine contacts with the surface of the previously deposited liquid in the lower drain elbow (3).

According to the present invention, by supporting the control unit (6) with a monitor that will process and visualize the information, the urine flow rate and volume can be graphically displayed. In addition, the urine rate and volume can be printed out as a report with the help of a printer to which the control unit (6) is connected. In order to show, in the report, the personal information of the person whose urine has been taken, the information can be entered into the control unit (6) with the help of a touch screen/keyboard/barcode reader. When said inventions and the models presented, for example, are established in a hospital and integrated into the hospital information system, the reports can be sent to the computers of the physicians.

The present invention can be supplemented with a disinfectant module to be used for cleaning.

The present invention can be supplemented with an EMG module for monitoring the muscle behavior during the urination. During the function, the muscle contraction data are collected and can be presented as a report at the end of the test.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a number of sensors that analyze the urine to perform the chemical analysis of the urine. A pH sensor for the pH measurement can be added to this chemical analysis. The urine pH plays an important role in the early detection of the kidney stones and control of the general health of the body. In addition, the urine pH is checked regularly in the follow-up of the medications given to the patient with the complaint of the kidney stones. The present invention will also reduce the follow-up of the urine pH to the easiest possible level.

The system analyzes the data and can report it to the healthcare professionals.

Advantages of the Invention:

The present invention can be used both as a uroflow and as a toilet in terms of the space utilization which is extremely important for the hospital and will help the space saving in the hospital. In addition, thanks to its fully automatic technology, it eliminates the need for the personnel allocated for the test. It maximizes the hygiene conditions indispensable for a hospital as it has the same standards as the universal toilets. With the barcode reading system, audio navigation, advanced software integrated with the automatic start and end features, the dependency on the operator has been minimized.

The toilet bowl and/or urinal elbow (3) containing water is also intended to allow the hygienic use of the system as a toilet and provides space saving for the hospital. Since the system can also be used as a universal toilet bowl, the unintentional defecation by the patient during the test will be flushed without damaging the system and the patient will be asked to repeat the test. The dependency on the operator has been minimized via the enhanced software. Also, the EMG module integrated into the system is intended to take the efficient tests from the patients who have lost their speaking ability and/or baby patients.

The early diagnosis of the possible kidney diseases can be possible by controlling the patient's urine pH by the pH sensor integrated into the outer surface of the toilet bowl of the system, and thus the general health status of the body can be controlled the urine pH.

Description of the Figures:

Figure - 1 . The discharge pump and pipe, liquid level sensor, liquid level switch insertion plan. Figure - 2. The pipe constituting the discharge elbow to be provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic, tool, joint modes, and sensor insertion tool.

Figure - 3. The device operating algorithms of the control unit (6)

Figure - 4 The discharged and undischarged surface areas of the liquid, the measurement area, and the description of the liquid direction scheme at the end of the test.

Figure-5 The integration scheme of the discharge pipe with the uroflowmetry characteristic into the toilet bowl design, and the pH sensor insertion

Figure-6 The integration scheme of the discharge pipe with the uroflowmetry characteristic into the urinal design, and the pH sensor insertion.

Description of the References:

(1 ) Liquid level sensor (Figures 1 and 2)

(2) Small discharge pump (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(3) Discharge pipe system provided with the uroflowmetry characteristic (Figures 1 ,2, 4, 5, 6) (4) Pump protection grate (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(5) Data processing unit (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(6) Control unit (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(7) Partial discharge pipe (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(8) Liquid level switch (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(9) EMG Module (Figures 1 ,5,6)

(10) Partially discharged surface area of the liquid to start testing (Figure-4)

(11) Deposition area in which the volume is measures (at the top of Figure-4)

(12) Undischarged surface area of the liquid when the product is used as the toilet bowl/urinal in the case that it is not tested. (Figure-4)

(13) Sensor insertion tool (Figures 2 and 4)

(14) Toilet bowl intervention lid (Figure 5)

(15) Toilet bowl (Figure 5)

(16) pH sensor (Figures 5,6)

(17) Urinal (Figure-6)

(18) Barcode Reader (Figures 5,6)

(19) LCD Display (Figures 5-6)

(20) Water direction (Figures 1-4)

Liquid Flow and Volume Measurement Principle

The measurement principle is based on the equal distribution of the liquid in the U-pipe in the branches of the discharge pipe system (3). The system is brought to the predetermined liquid level (10) by means of a pump (2). Bringing the system to the liquid level is controlled by both a sensor (1) that can measure the distance continuously and the liquid level switch (8). The measurement starts at the determined liquid level (11). The necessary condition to calculate the volume change in the U-pipe is that the volume of both branches of the U-pipe can be calculated with a function that depends on the height. For example, the volume of an object which is a function depending on the base area and the height can be calculated as follows. j _n the Equation 1 refer to the surface area for any time point value, the first measurement height and the last measurement height. The volume value measured after the system starts testing in the U-pipe can be found from the relative increase of the liquid level under these conditions. The flow value entering the system can be measured from the change of the found volume value relative to time.

Q in the Equation-3 refers to the flow through the system, V _tl refers to the volume in the system at the time point t _x , and V _tz refers to the volume in the system at the time point t ₂ .