Urine collection monitor with temperature sensing

An apparatus for measuring temperatures and flow rates of a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a wall defining an interior and an exterior, said interior for collecting an amount of the fluid;
• a first electrode comprising a first electrical conductor disposed adjacent said wall at said exterior;
• a second electrode carried in said interior of said vessel;
• a first dielectric disposed adjacent said first electrode for insulating said first electrode from said second electrode and from said fluid;
• a second dielectric disposed adjacent said second electrode and in communication with said vessel interior, such that said first and second electrodes and said first and second dielectrics together comprise a variable capacitor with a capacitance value which varies with said amount of fluid;
• means connected to said variable capacitor for determining the flow rates of the fluid as a function of said capacitance value and for providing an output reflecting said flow rates;
• means for displaying said flow rates;
• means in communication with said interior for removing a sample of the fluid from said vessel;
• means in communication with said interior for draining the fluid from said vessel;
• means for sensing temperatures of the fluid within the vessel, wherein said temperature sensing means comprises an infrared optical sensor directed at a portion of said vessel;
• and
• means connected to said sensing means for recording said temperatures as a function of time.

An apparatus for measuring temperatures and flow rates of a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a wall defining an interior and an exterior, said interior for collecting an amount of the fluid;
• a first electrode comprising a first electrical conductor disposed adjacent said wall at said exterior;
• a second electrode carried in said interior of said vessel, wherein said first electrode comprises a plate conforming to an exterior shape of said vessel, and said second electrode comprises a wire vertically disposed in the interior of said vessel and near said wall substantially opposite said plate;
• a first dielectric disposed adjacent said first electrode for insulating said first electrode from said second electrode and from said fluid, wherein said first dielectric comprises at least a portion of said wall;
• a second dielectric disposed adjacent said second electrode and in communication with said vessel interior, wherein said second dielectric comprises an air space, such that said first and second electrodes and said first and second dielectrics together comprise a variable capacitor with a capacitance value which varies with said amount of fluid, wherein said second electrode is carried within said interior and adjacent said air space, such that as the fluid is collected in said vessel, the fluid displaces air in said air space, thereby varying the capacitance of said capacitor;
• means connected to said variable capacitor for determining the flow rates of the fluid as a function of said capacitance value and for providing an output reflecting said flow rates;
• means for displaying said flow rates;
• means in communication with said interior for removing a sample of the fluid from said vessel;
• means in communication with said interior for draining the fluid from said vessel;
• and
• means for sensing temperatures of the fluid within the vessel.

An apparatus for measuring temperatures and flow rates of a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a wall defining an interior and an exterior, said interior for collecting an amount of the fluid;
• a first electrode comprising a first electrical conductor disposed adjacent said wall at said exterior;
• a second electrode carried in said interior of said vessel;
• a first dielectric disposed adjacent said first electrode for insulating said first electrode from said second electrode and from said fluid, wherein said first dielectric comprises at least a portion of said wall;
• a second dielectric disposed adjacent said second electrode and in communication with said vessel interior, wherein said second dielectric comprises an air space, such that said first and second electrodes and said first and second dielectrics together comprise a variable capacitor with a capacitance value which varies with said amount of fluid, wherein said second electrode is carried within said interior and adjacent said air space, such that as the fluid is collected in said vessel, the fluid displaces air in said air space, thereby varying the capacitance of said capacitor;
• means connected to said variable capacitor for determining the flow rates of the fluid as a function of said capacitance value and for providing an output reflecting said flow rates;
• means for displaying said flow rates;
• and
• means in communication with said interior for removing a sample of the fluid from said vessel, wherein said removing means includes:
• a tube extending into the said interior of said vessel, said tube including a closure;
• means for opening said tube;
• and
• means for drawing a sample of the fluid through said tube for transfer to a container separate from the vessel;
• the apparatus further including:
• means in communication with said interior for draining the fluid from said vessel;
• and
• means for sensing temperatures of the fluid within the vessel.

An apparatus for measuring temperatures and flow rates of a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a wall defining an interior and an exterior, said interior for collecting an amount of the fluid;
• a first electrode comprising a first electrical conductor disposed adjacent said wall at said exterior;
• a second electrode carried in said interior of said vessel;
• a first dielectric disposed adjacent said first electrode for insulating said first electrode from said second electrode and from said fluid, wherein said first dielectric comprises at least a portion of said wall;
• a second dielectric disposed adjacent said second electrode and in communication with said vessel interior, wherein said second dielectric comprises an air space, such that said first and second electrodes and said first and second dielectrics together comprise a variable capacitor with a capacitance value which varies with said amount of fluid, wherein said second electrode is carried within said interior and adjacent said air space, such that as the fluid is collected in said vessel, the fluid displaces air in said air space, thereby varying the capacitance of said capacitor;
• and
• means connected to said variable capacitor for determining the flow rates of the fluid as a function of said capacitance value and for providing an output reflecting said flow rates, wherein said flow rate determining means includes:
• a capacitance circuit connected to said variable capacitor and including a first point and a second point, wherein said first point and said second point have a predetermined potential difference when said vessel contains no fluid and, as the fluid is collected in said vessel, have varying potential differences which vary as a function of said capacitance value;
• means connected to said first and second points for detecting said predetermined potential difference and said varying potential differences between said first and second points at predetermined time intervals;
• means connected to said detecting means for converting said predetermined potential difference and said varying potential differences into numerical values related to said plow rates, wherein said converting means is also for converting said predetermined potential difference and said varying potential differences into numerical values representing initial and final volume readings of said vessel;
• and
• a microprocessor for generating retrospective averages of said flow rates for a first block of said predetermined time intervals, for generating prospective averages of said flow rates for a second block of said predetermined time interval, where said second block has an overlap with said first block, and for generating combined averages for said overlap, said combined averages being derived from said retrospective averages and said prospective averages, with one said combined average relating to each of said predetermined intervals in said overlap, and for substituting said retrospective averages, said prospective averages, and said combined averages for said flow readings in said memory;
• the apparatus further including:
• means for displaying said flow rates;
• means in communication with said interior for removing a sample of the fluid from said vessel;
• means in communication with said interior for draining the fluid from said vessel;
• and
• means for sensing temperatures of the fluid within the vessel.