Patent ID: 9074920
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: A61B,G01F

Abstract:
1. Non-transitory computer readable media having recorded thereon program instructions for controlling a bedside apparatus to collect and measure body liquid issuing from a patient, the bedside apparatus composed of a holder for holding a collecting and measuring rigid vessel in a horizontal orientation, said holder defining a vertically oriented optical segment having opposite sides, a vertical array of spaced LEDs mounted in the holder on one said opposite side of said optical segment, a single vertically oriented photodetector device having an output mounted in said holder on the other opposite side of said optical segment to receive light from said vertical array of spaced LEDs, the light from each said LED overlapping adjacent vertically spaced LEDs, wherein the disposable collecting and measuring rigid vessel having an inlet and a configuration whereby a portion of the vessel fits in said optical segment for light to pass therethrough and wherein the inlet can be connected to a catheter outputting liquid from a patient in order to collect liquid in the vessel; a disposable rigid collecting and measuring vessel of a preselected set of types having an inlet at its top connectable via an inlet valve to a catheter outputting liquid from a patient and an outlet at its bottom and defining a transparent optical part extending vertically from bottom to top of said measuring vessel that is geometrically configured such that light as it passes through the optical part of the measuring vessel has a predetermined refraction in dependence on whether there is liquid present in the light path, which predetermined refraction causes said light to by-pass the photodetector device; said apparatus including an identifier capable of differentiating between different types of measuring vessels; said program instructions including instructions operative (a) for serially and cyclically at defined intervals scanning the LEDs in succession to detect the intensity or luminance of light from each LED detected by the single vertically oriented photodetector device and to output signals correlated to the detected intensity or luminance for each LED, (b) for storing said output signals in memory, (c) for processing said output signals according to the predetermined algorithm to determine the height of collected liquid in the optical part of the measuring vessel, and (d) for storing information about the height of collected liquid in memory; said program instructions including further instructions for operatively determining via a microprocessor and a preselected algorithm based on the output of the single vertically oriented photodetector device of the level of liquid in said optical segment (e) for calculating and outputting an indication of the volume of liquid in said measuring vessel; (f) for actuating a valve controller for opening an outlet valve in response to a signal generated by a sensed condition of the liquid volume in the measuring vessel for draining liquid contained in said vessel; and (q) for outputting the calculated value of liquid volume contained in said vessel at the time of the sensed condition and storing same in memory; wherein the program instruction include still further instructions for carrying out multiple scans for each defined interval scanning with recording of results in a temporary memory; analysis of temporary recorded results and correction by removal of artifacts; averaging of corrected temporary recorded results; and storing of the remaining averaged results for data processing to control draining of liquid from said vessel according to a sensed condition of one of (i) predetermined time intervals and (ii) predetermined fluid level thus enabling clinical staff to view the measuring vessel with respect to collected liquid characteristics including color, blood in the fluid and sedimentation.