Granted Patent B2

US 12,667,291 · App. 18/433,274 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Inventors: Brent Laing (Greenwood Village, CO); John Green (Elizabethton, TN); Paul R. Johnson (Boulder, CO); Robert John Smith (Louisville, CO); Robert Edwin Schneider (Erie, CO); Magnus Hargis (Hudson, CO); Elise Geolat Edson (Boulder, CO); Elizabeth A. O'Brien (Louisville, CO); Joseph L. Kapushion (Westminster, CO)

Assignee: ClearTrac Technologies, LLC

A61B5/208A61B5/205A61B10/007B23Q1/5475G01D21/00G01F23/26G01M99/00G06F9/542A61B5/0059A61B5/204A61B5/7275A61B2562/0223

Abstract

Claims (28)

1 . A method of using a uroflowmeter, the method comprising:

receiving a urine stream through an inlet of a flow chamber;

measuring a fluid level of urine in the flow chamber via a sensor; and

flowing the urine out of the flow chamber via an outlet of the flow chamber,

wherein the flow chamber comprises a magnet coupled to a float, and the magnet is positionable according to the fluid level of urine in the flow chamber,

wherein the magnet is coupled to the float via an arm,

wherein the sensor detects a change in an angular position of the magnet, and

wherein the uroflowmeter comprises electronics that include the sensor, and the electronics determine a rate of flow of the urine stream using the change in the angular position of the magnet and a predetermined rate of the urine evacuated from the flow chamber via the outlet.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing a disposable funnel from engagement with the flow chamber.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising prior to the step of receiving a urine stream, automatically powering on the uroflowmeter in response to positioning the uroflowmeter in an orientation suitable for receiving the urine stream.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising prior to the step of receiving a urine stream, automatically powering on the uroflowmeter via an accelerometer and a capacitive sensor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the arm and the magnet are connected to one another about a pivot axis.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the float is pivotable about the pivot axis in response to the fluid level of urine in the flow chamber changing; and

the magnet rotates about the pivot axis in response to movement of the float such that rotation of the magnet causes the change in the angular position of the magnet.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the uroflowmeter comprises a detachable handle.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the detachable handle houses one or more electronics; and

the one or more electronics include the sensor and detects a parameter of the urine in the flow chamber.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising prior to the step of measuring a fluid level of urine, directing the urine stream into a reservoir space of the flow chamber via a funnel.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the funnel produces a smooth flow of the urine stream into the reservoir space of the flow chamber.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the funnel is at least partially received within the inlet and includes one or more contoured surfaces.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the funnel includes one or more funnel inlets.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the funnel includes at least one primary funnel inlet and at least one secondary funnel inlet.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the outlet evacuates the urine from the flow chamber at a predetermined rate.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the outlet is defined by a T-shaped slot, a triangular-shaped slot, or a V-shaped slot.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the triangular-shaped slot empties the urine from a reservoir space of the flow chamber at an increasing rate as the reservoir space fills with the urine.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the uroflowmeter comprises one or more electronics configured to provide data including at least one of data related to total volume of urine output, fluid intake, bladder leaks, bedtime, and awake time.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (170)