Apparatus, system, and methods for urinalysis

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.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for inline analysis of urine excreted by a patient comprising:
 a. at least one image capture unit being placed along a longitudinal axis of a urinary catheter or a conduit that leads from the urinary catheter to a urine collection container or disposal system, wherein a continuous urine stream flows from the patient to the urine collection container or disposal system continuously through the urinary catheter and wherein the at least one image capture unit is configured to capture images of the continuous urine stream, the at least one image capture unit comprising:   a. at least one image sensor configured to capture two-dimensional images and an optical assembly, wherein in the at least one image capture unit, the optical assembly focuses light reflected from or transmitted through the continuous urine stream across a field of view of the at least one image capture unit onto the at least one image sensor; and   b. a control unit operatively connected to all other components of the apparatus by means of a wired or wireless communication channel, the control unit configured to function as an input device that allows manual control, relay of control instructions from peripheral devices or programming of software and processing means in the control unit for automatic control of the at least one image capture unit and any other components of the apparatus and also to function as an output device configured to transfer data related to the images gathered by the at least one image capture unit via wired or non-wired communication channel to peripheral devices;   c. a dispenser configured to dispense different types of matter into the continuous urine stream flowing through the urinary catheter or conduit to aid in analysis of properties of the urine; and   wherein, the apparatus is configured to be attached to the urinary catheter that is adapted to be inserted into the patient's bladder or attached to the conduit that leads from the urinary catheter to a urine collection container or disposal system; and   wherein the matter dispensed by the dispenser comprises one or more of: powders, particles, liquids, gases (e.g., bubbles), micro-particles, microspheres made of polystyrene or other materials, nano-particles, nanospheres, and nanotubes and chemical dyes or reagents injected directly into the urine stream or coated on or embedded in micro-particles, microspheres, nano-particles, nano-spheres, and nanotubes,   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising means for warming or cooling the urine to affect the rate of chemical reactions. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein a medical practitioner or software in an image analyzer or a peripheral computer analyzes the matter dispensed by the dispenser in the urine stream to determine medical conditions. 
     
     
         30 . A system comprising at least one apparatus for inline urine analysis including:
 a. at least one image capture unit being placed along a longitudinal axis of a urinary catheter and a conduit that leads from the urinary catheter to a urine collection container or disposal system, wherein the at least one image capture unit does not interrupt a continuous urine stream flowing from a patient through the urinary catheter or conduit and is configured to capture images of the continuous urine stream, the at least one image capture un it comprising at least one image sensor configured to capture two-dimensional images and an optical assembly, wherein in the at least one image capture unit, the optical assembly focuses light reflected from or transmitted through the continuous urine stream across a field of view of the at least one image capture unit onto the at least one image sensor; and   b. a control unit operatively connected to all other components of the apparatus by means of a wired or wireless communication channel, the control unit configured to function as an input device that allows manual control, relay of control instructions from peripheral devices or programming of software and processing means in the control unit for automatic control of the at least one image capture unit and any other components of the apparatus and also to function as an output device configured to transfer data related to the images gathered by the at least one image capture unit via wired or non-wired communication channel to peripheral devices;   wherein, the apparatus is configured to be attached to the urinary catheter that is adapted to be inserted into a patient's bladder or attached to the conduit that leads from the urinary catheter to a urine collection container or disposal system; and   at least one image analyzer unit operatively connected to the at least one image capture unit and/or control unit through a wired or wireless communication channel, the at least one image analyzer unit comprising a processor and software adapted to analyze one or more images captured by the at least one image capture unit to derive information therefrom relating to identification of properties of the urine and/or objects of interest in the continuous urine stream;   wherein the processor and software algorithms of the image analyzer are adapted to compare a plurality of images captured either from one image capture unit at different times or from two or more image capture units at the same or different times, thereby enabling the image analyzer to track the progress of one or more specific objects over time as the one or more images are captured by the image capture units; thereby providing data that can be used by other software algorithms to calculate the progress, speed, and velocity of the specific objects through the urinary catheter or conduit.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the processor and software algorithms of the image analyzer are adapted to use information about the physical properties of the urinary catheter or conduit and the speed and/or velocity of specific objects through the urinary catheter or conduit to calculate the volumetric flow rate of the urine through the urinary catheter or conduit. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a medical practitioner or software in the image analyzer or a peripheral computer analyzes the volumetric flow rate of the urine through the urinary catheter or conduit to determine medical conditions. 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising at least one apparatus for inline urine analysis including:
 a. at least one image capture unit being placed along a longitudinal axis of a urinary catheter and a conduit that leads from the urinary catheter to a urine collection container or disposal system, wherein the at least one image capture unit does not interrupt a continuous urine stream flowing from a patient through the urinary catheter or conduit and is configured to capture images of the continuous urine stream, the at least one image capture un it comprising at least one image sensor configured to capture two-dimensional images and an optical assembly, wherein in the at least one image capture unit, the optical assembly focuses light reflected from or transmitted through the continuous urine stream across a field of view of the at least one image capture unit onto the at least one image sensor; and   b. a control unit operatively connected to all other components of the apparatus by means of a wired or wireless communication channel, the control unit configured to function as an input device that allows manual control, relay of control instructions from peripheral devices or programming of software and processing means in the control unit for automatic control of the at least one image capture unit and any other components of the apparatus and also to function as an output device configured to transfer data related to the images gathered by the at least one image capture unit via wired or non-wired communication channel to peripheral devices;   wherein, the apparatus is configured to be attached to the urinary catheter that is adapted to be inserted into a patient's bladder or attached to the conduit that leads from the urinary catheter to a urine collection container or disposal system;   at least one image analyzer unit operatively connected to the at least one image capture unit and/or control unit through a wired or wireless communication channel, the at least one image analyzer unit comprising a processor and software adapted to analyze one or more images captured by the at least one image capture unit to derive information therefrom relating to identification of properties of the urine and/or objects of interest in the continuous urine stream; and   and one or more dispenser units, wherein the control unit controls selection and timing of release of matter by the one or more dispenser units and makes the timing information available to the at least one image analyzer unit, which is able to execute a software algorithm adapted to use a distance between the one or more dispenser units and the at least one image capture unit and a comparison of the time of release of said matter to a time of detection by the at least one image capture unit to calculate a rate of travel of the matter in the urinary catheter or conduit;   wherein the processor and software algorithms of the image analyzer are adapted to use information about the physical properties of the conduit and the rate of travel of the matter through the conduit to calculate the volumetric flow rate of the urine through the urinary catheter or conduit.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein a medical practitioner or software in the image analyzer or a peripheral computer analyzes the volumetric flow rate of the urine through the urinary catheter or conduit to determine medical conditions. 
     
     
         35 . A method of inline analysis of urine excreted by a patient comprising:
 capturing images of a continuous urine stream as it flows through a conduit that leads from a urinary catheter attached to patient to a urine container or disposal system;   introducing bubbles into the continuous urine stream to aid in determining flow properties of the urine stream;   receiving the images at a control unit; and   analyzing, at the control unit, the images to determine properties of the urine stream, including flow rate and medical conditions.