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13:45 - 13:48
S1-6
(PP)
PROTOTYPE OF A NOVEL UROFLOWMETER SYSTEM UTILIZING DIAPER-
EMBEDDED SENSOR
Akihiro KANEMATSU
1
, Ippei TORIGOE
2
and Shingo YAMAMOTO
1
1) Hyogo College of Medicine, Urology, Nishinomiya, JAPAN - 2) Kumamoto University, Mechanical Systems Engineering,
Kumamoto, JAPAN
PURPOSE
Method for non-invasive recording of micturition is limited in infants before potty-training. We devised a prototype of
novel uroflowmeter system utilizing a sensor for urine soaking to be embedded in diaper, and investigated whether this
system can effectively record electrolyte fluid as surrogate of urine.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Sixty-four pairs of electrodes are arranged in an 8x8 matrix on a glass epoxy circuit board. This sensing system
multiplexes the electrodes’ pairs to acquire an impedance value of each pair. Electric impedance through a diaper is
highly capacitive (insulated) under dry condition. When urine soaks and makes the diaper wet, it’s internal impedance
changes conductance. For evaluating the system, multiple cotton cloths are placed on the sensor board as an absorbing
layer, and 1% phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as a test liquid was dropped on it. The dropping flow rate was controlled
with a syringe pump and change in impedance distribution was recorded.
RESULTS
Time variations of admittance value (inverse of impedance) could be captured for each electrode pair. Admittance
distribution varied along with the diffusion of the test liquid, and diffusing speed of the admittance distribution
conformed to the flow rate in a linear correlation at the rate between 1 to 11ml/sec.
CONCLUSIONS
This prototype can create novel and non-invasive diaper-embedded sensor system for infants before potty-
training. Such system may enable precise analysis of post-natal development of micturition, congenital neurogenic
bladder, and pre-and post surgical status of hypospadias repair in infancy.