Project Details

[Return to Previous Page]

Development of a Uroflow Generator

Company: Penn State Hershey Medical Center - Urology

Major(s):
Primary: BME
Secondary: ME
Optional: EE, ESC, MATSE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: NO

I plan use the Center for Biodevices Innovation Grant to develop a device to mimic different urine flow patterns consistently in order to evaluate and share information about new apps on the market that can assist Urology patients. With an aging population, the risk of developing lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia is increasing in the United States. One objective way of diagnosing and evaluating treatment (medical and surgical) for this condition is documenting uroflowmetry. Currently, patients come to the PSU Urology Clinic and urinate into a machine that generates a flow curve (mL/s on the y-axis plotted against time on the x-axis) and calculates maximum urine flow, average urine flow as well as total voided volume. The time and travel involved with this process, as well as trying to come to the appointment time with a relatively full bladder can be challenging for our patients. There are apps available for the smartphone whose developers claim to be able to accurately generate a uroflow curve based on the sound of the urine hitting the toilet bowl water. If the claims of the developers of these uroflow apps can be validated, it would be an advancement in patient care and would allow PSU patients to use the uroflow apps at home at their convenience when their bladders are full. Although a goal of this project is to develop the device that can consistently mimic different uroflow patterns, the primary goal of our work will be is to use our machine to help validate the claims of the makers of the sound-based uroflow smartphone apps regarding its accuracy. If we are able to verify the accuracy of the apps in generating flow curves using sound, after the results are published and shared, both PSU and other institutions would be able to confidently use or recommend these apps to improve patient care and experience.