Abstract: A diagnostic method and apparatus for detecting at least one change in a urinary parameter indicative of a body malfunction, the method comprising at least semi-continuously monitoring in real time at least one of a sodium level, an oxygen level, a potassium level, and combinations thereof in the urine of a catheterized patient; whereby at least one parameter is monitored so as to detect one or more changes in the at least one parameter to reflect at least one of a fluid state, an electrolyte balance, a kidney state, a kidney perfusion and an organ perfusion in the patient, indicative of the body malfunction in the patient, in which the monitoring is preferably performed through electrodes that are arranged perpendicularly to the flow of urine through a patient's catheter system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic method comprising continuously monitoring and transmitting urine output and urine flow rates of a catheterized patient to means which correlate the same with at least one of renal perfusion, renal function, fluid status, polyuria, oleguria, hypoperfusion, hemorrhage shock and GFR.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic method comprising continuously monitoring and transmitting urine output and urine flow rates of a catheterized patient to means which correlate the same with at least one of renal perfusion, renal function, fluid status, polyuria, oleguria, hypoperfusion, hemorrhage shock and GFR.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement (200) adapted for enhanced continuous flow of urine in a catheterized patient, the arrangement comprising a catheter tube (204) having an inner diameter of less than six millimeters, said tube having an inner surface which is hydrophobic at least along a first segment thereof and being adapted to provide a continuously negative fluid pressure therein.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical drop detection system (10), for a low-flow metering device of the type having a drop generator 12, 24, (19), the system comprising at least one optical transmitter (26) which produces a plurality of light beam pulses (28) of microsecond duration and at millisecond intervals, and at least one optical receiver (33) positioned to register receipt of the light pulses (28) transmitted through the path of drops (18) generated by the drop generator (12, 24, 19) and to record the number of pulses which hit a given drop and which do not register on the receiver (32), the frequency and strength of the pulses being calibrated so that a single drop is impinged upon by a plurality of pulses, and further comprising automatic feed-back means for adjusting the parameters of interaction between the at least one optical transmitter (26) and the at least one optical receiver (32) to produce and maintain a predetermined minimum and a predetermined maximum number of hits per drop.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical drop detection system (10), for a low-flow metering device of the type having a drop generator 12, 24, (19), the system comprising at least one optical transmitter (26) which produces a plurality of light beam pulses (28) of microsecond duration and at millisecond intervals, and at least one optical receiver (33) positioned to register receipt of the light pulses (28) transmitted through the path of drops (18) generated by the drop generator (12, 24, 19) and to record the number of pulses which hit a given drop and which do not register on the receiver (32), the frequency and strength of the pulses being calibrated so that a single drop is impinged upon by a plurality of pulses, and further comprising automatic feed-back means for adjusting the parameters of interaction between the at least one optical transmitter (26) and the at least one optical receiver (32) to produce and maintain a predetermined minimum and a predetermined maximum number of hits per drop.