Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor unit that is positioned at a location in a conduit for measuring a property of a fluid flowing through the conduit, the sensor unit comprises: a sensor support; a body section including proximal and distal sides and a center having a chamber, the chamber having a lower part and a top part with the lower part providing an open path between the proximal and distal sides of the body section, providing a flow channel through the body section; a socket in the top part of the chamber, the socket configured to receive the sensor support; a gasket located on top of the sensor support; e) a clamp configured to compress and hold the gasket and sensor support in place in the socket; and at least one sensor configured to measure a property of the fluid; wherein the sensor support maintains the at least one sensor in position relative to the walls of the flow channel through the sensor unit and at a constant depth relative to the fluid flowing through the sensor unit.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for inline urine analysis comprising a control unit and at least one image capture unit comprising an image sensor and an optical assembly. The apparatus is configured to be coupled with an indwelling urinary catheter or conduit leading from the catheter. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise a dispenser configured to dispense inert or reactive matter into the urine stream to aid in the analysis of properties of the urine and an illumination device configured to illuminate the urine stream. Also described is a system comprising at least one of these apparatuses and at least one image analyzer unit operatively connected to it. The image analyzer unit comprises a processor and software adapted to analyze the captured images to derive information therefrom relating to identification of properties of the urine and/or objects of interest in the urine stream. Embodiments of the system may comprise other peripheral devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor unit that is positioned at a location in a conduit for measuring a property of a fluid flowing through the conduit, the sensor unit comprises: a sensor support; a body section including proximal and distal sides and a center having a chamber, the chamber having a lower part and a top part with the lower part providing an open path between the proximal and distal sides of the body section, providing a flow channel through the body section; a socket in the top part of the chamber, the socket configured to receive the sensor support; a gasket located on top of the sensor support; e) a clamp configured to compress and hold the gasket and sensor support in place in the socket; and at least one sensor configured to measure a property of the fluid; wherein the sensor support maintains the at least one sensor in position relative to the walls of the flow channel through the sensor unit and at a constant depth relative to the fluid flowing through the sensor unit.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for inline urine analysis comprising a control unit and at least one image capture unit comprising an image sensor and an optical assembly. The apparatus is configured to be coupled with an indwelling urinary catheter or conduit leading from the catheter. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise a dispenser configured to dispense inert or reactive matter into the urine stream to aid in the analysis of properties of the urine and an illumination device configured to illuminate the urine stream. Also described is a system comprising at least one of these apparatuses and at least one image analyzer unit operatively connected to it. The image analyzer unit comprises a processor and software adapted to analyze the captured images to derive information therefrom relating to identification of properties of the urine and/or objects of interest in the urine stream. Embodiments of the system may comprise other peripheral devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor unit that is positioned at a location in a conduit for measuring a property of a fluid flowing through the conduit, the sensor unit comprises: a sensor support; a body section including proximal and distal sides and a center having a chamber, the chamber having a lower part and a top part with the lower part providing an open path between the proximal and distal sides of the body section, providing a flow channel through the body section; a socket in the top part of the chamber, the socket configured to receive the sensor support; a gasket located on top of the sensor support; e) a clamp configured to compress and hold the gasket and sensor support in place in the socket; and at least one sensor configured to measure a property of the fluid; wherein the sensor support maintains the at least one sensor in position relative to the walls of the flow channel through the sensor unit and at a constant depth relative to the fluid flowing through the sensor unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor unit that is positioned at a location in a conduit for measuring a property of a fluid flowing through the conduit, the sensor unit comprises: a sensor support; a body section including proximal and distal sides and a center having a chamber, the chamber having a lower part and a top part with the lower part providing an open path between the proximal and distal sides of the body section, providing a flow channel through the body section; a socket in the top part of the chamber, the socket configured to receive the sensor support; a gasket located on top of the sensor support; e) a clamp configured to compress and hold the gasket and sensor support in place in the socket; and at least one sensor configured to measure a property of the fluid; wherein the sensor support maintains the at least one sensor in position relative to the walls of the flow channel through the sensor unit and at a constant depth relative to the fluid flowing through the sensor unit.

Abstract: The invention is a catheter, which is formed from flexible material and has two basic configurations: An initial configuration, in which the catheter is supplied to the surgeon for insertion into the lumen of a patient, resembles a tension coil spring and a final configuration, which is an essentially linear configuration that is much longer and has a considerably smaller outer diameter than when it is in its initial configuration. The catheter is adapted to undergo a transformation from the initial configuration to the final configuration as it is pulled from its proximal end in order to withdraw it from the lumen of the patient.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for measuring the flow rate of a liquid through a conduit. The apparatus is based on a flow rate meter which is adapted to accurately measure the volumetric flow rate of a liquid using a simple, cost and energy effective, and accurate method using only one temperature sensor. The method is based on applying a pulse of thermal energy to the flowing liquid and measuring the temperature increase as a function of time and energy input. By comparing these measurements to a calibration table made by performing similar measurements for known flow rates, the rate of flow can be determined. One application, which will be described to illustrate the features of the method and apparatus of the invention, is measurement of the flow rate of urine excreted by a catheterized patient.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for inline urine analysis comprising a control unit and at least one image capture unit comprising an image sensor and an optical assembly. The apparatus is configured to be coupled with an indwelling urinary catheter or conduit leading from the catheter. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise a dispenser configured to dispense inert or reactive matter into the urine stream to aid in the analysis of properties of the urine and an illumination device configured to illuminate the urine stream. Also described is a system comprising at least one of these apparatuses and at least one image analyzer unit operatively connected to it. The image analyzer unit comprises a processor and software adapted to analyze the captured images to derive information therefrom relating to identification of properties of the urine and/or objects of interest in the urine stream. Embodiments of the system may comprise other peripheral devices.

Abstract: The invention is a catheter, which is formed from flexible material and has two basic configurations: An initial configuration, in which the catheter is supplied to the surgeon for insertion into the lumen of a patient, resembles a tension coil spring and a final configuration, which is an essentially linear configuration that is much longer and has a considerably smaller outer diameter than when it is in its initial configuration. The catheter is adapted to undergo a transformation from the initial configuration to the final configuration as it is pulled from its proximal end in order to withdraw it from the lumen of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention is flow rate meters which are able to accurately measure the volumetric rate of flow of a liquid through a conduit without requiring foreknowledge of the physicochemical characteristics of the liquid, e.g., for the purpose of calibration of the thermal mass flow rate. One application of the flow meters of the invention is to incorporate them in a system for measuring the flow rate of urine excreted by a catheterized patient. The invention also provides methods for using the flow rate meters.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for measuring the flow rate of a liquid through a conduit. The apparatus is based on a flow rate meter which is adapted to accurately measure the volumetric flow rate of a liquid using a simple, cost and energy effective, and accurate method using only one temperature sensor. The method is based on applying a pulse of thermal energy to the flowing liquid and measuring the temperature increase as a function of time and energy input. By comparing these measurements to a calibration table made by performing similar measurements for known flow rates, the rate of flow can be determined. One application, which will be described to illustrate the features of the method and apparatus of the invention, is measurement of the flow rate of urine excreted by a catheterized patient.

Abstract: The present invention is flow rate meters which are able to accurately measure the volumetric rate of flow of a liquid through a conduit without requiring foreknowledge of the physicochemical characteristics of the liquid, e.g., for the purpose of calibration of the thermal mass flow rate. One application of the flow meters of the invention is to incorporate them in a system for measuring the flow rate of urine excreted by a catheterized patient. The invention also provides methods for using the flow rate meters.