Urinary event detection, tracking, and analysis
The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for generating a void profile for user void events. The method includes receiving by a processing element a plurality of outputs from a fluid level sensor corresponding to a plurality of levels of fluid flowing through a voiding device during a flow event; determining by the processing element a beginning and an end time of the fluid flow into the voiding device during the flow event; analyzing the plurality of outputs of the fluid level sensor over a time interval defined by the beginning and end time of the fluid flow to determine at least one of a fluid flow rate data and an accumulated volume data for the fluid flowing through the voiding device; and storing the fluid flow rate data and the accumulated flow volume data in a memory.
1. A method for validating a flow event detected by a voiding device as corresponding to a urinary event, comprising:
receiving from a fluid sensor and a validation sensor flow characteristics of a fluid flow through the voiding device during the flow event;
determining that the flow event corresponds to a urinary event;
for the urinary event transmitting unanalyzed data to a server; and
outputting a void profile corresponding to the flow event.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing one or more detected characteristics comprises at least one of:
comparing a detected orientation of the fluid sensor to a urinary event position to determine that the detected orientation is valid;
comparing a detected fluid flow rate to a characteristic urinary event flow rate to determine that the detected flow rate is valid;
comparing a detected temperature to a characteristic urinary temperature to determine that the detected temperature is valid.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving from the validation sensor an orientation value for the voiding device; and
determining that the flow event corresponds to a urinary event based on the orientation value.
4. A system for assessing the urinary health of a patient, comprising:
a handheld voiding device comprising:
a flow sensor;
a device processing element; and
a flow chamber wherein the handheld voiding device receives patient urine and receives by the device processing element a plurality of outputs of the flow sensor corresponding to a plurality of levels of a fluid flowing through the handheld voiding device during a flow event;
a server in communication with the handheld voiding device, wherein the server receives flow event data from the voiding device and by a server processing element analyzes the flow event data to validate a void event, and determines a parameter associated with the valid void event, and associates the parameter with a void diary stored in a memory, and outputs a urinary health report; and
a healthcare provider device in communication with the server, wherein the healthcare provider device receives the urinary health report from the server.
5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a charging station in communication with an interface of the voiding device.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the device processing element receives firmware via the interface.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the device processing element determines a status of the handheld voiding device;
receives information from the charging station via the interface; and
indicates readiness for continued use through an indicator.
8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the handheld voiding device further comprises:
a GPS assembly in communication with the device processing element, and the device processing element determines a relative position of the voiding device.
9. A method of correlating a voiding device with a patient, comprising:
receiving by a processing element patient data corresponding to the patient;
generating by the processing element a patient identifier corresponding to the patient data;
generating by the processing element a first device identifier corresponding to a first portion of the voiding device;
generating by the processing element a second device identifier corresponding to a second portion of the voiding device;
associating the first portion of the voiding device with the second portion of the voiding device;
generating by the processing element a linkage between the patient identifier and the first device identifier to associate the patient data with the voiding device; and
outputting to a display by the processing element a confirmation display confirming the linkage between the patient identifier and the device identifier.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
activating by the processing element a urinary diary for the patient, the urinary diary displayable on a user device and configured to receive patient input;
receiving by the processing element diary information via the urinary diary;
accessing by the processing element void data detected by the voiding device during flow events by the patient; and
outputting by the processing element a void profile corresponding to the void data.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
dissociating by the processing element the voiding device from the patient by deactivating the linkage between the patient identifier and the first device identifier.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the voiding device contains an RFID element storing either of the first or second device identifier.