Method and an apparatus for recording bladder volume

Abstract

A non-invasive method and apparatus for monitoring the bladder volume in humans or animals. The monitoring measurements are based on the analysis of ultrasound signals from at least two individual ultrasound transducer arrays. Each one individual ultrasound transducer array has a contact face, which is arranged in order to transmit an ultrasonic signal through an abdominal surface of an individual being monitored. The method and apparatus includes the arranging of each individual transducer array on the abdominal surface around an axis which extends from a point on the abdominal surface through a point on or within the urinary bladder. The method and apparatus further comprises that each individual transducer array is arranged to scan the bladder using a two-dimensional scan plane which extends radially from the transducer array through the bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-invasive method of monitoring the bladder volume in humans or animals by transmitting ultrasonic signals through an abdominal surface to the bladder and receiving by reflection ultrasonic signals from the bladder wall of an individual being monitored, the method includes the steps of:
 arranging at least two individual transducers, each being a stand-alone array of ultrasound transducer elements combined into a single unit, around but not in line with an axis which extends from a point on the abdominal surface and through a point on or within the bladder, and   analyzing the ultrasonic signals from the at least two individual transducers so that the monitoring measurements define the bladder wall.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are arranged along a path of a closed curve having an area corresponding to at least the area of the largest section of an empty bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder wall includes the side walls of the bladder and the monitoring measurements include side wall measurements. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are phased-array transducers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are one-dimensional phased-array transducers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound elements of the phased-array transducers are arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers perform a scanning sweep in a scan plane without mechanical rotation of any of the individual transducers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scan plans transmitted from two different independent individual transducers of the arrangement of individual transducers section the bladder at different angle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are arranged such that the surface normal of a contact face of one individual transducer converges towards the surface normal of a contact face of another individual transducer of the arrangement of individual transducers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of individual transducers are at least three. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of individual transducers are seven. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are operated sequentially. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are operated sequentially along a path of a closed curved defined by the arrangement of said individual transducers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers operate in a random order. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers operate one at a time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual transducers are positioned on a closed curve upon the abdominal surface around the said axis in a pattern, wherein the closed curve is selected from the group consisting of a circle, an ellipse and an n-sided polygon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , including operating the individual transducers in combination with a dressing for increasing the transmission and reception efficiency of ultrasound signals to and from the body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dressing is an ultrasonic gel pad. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dressing is an adhesive dressing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive dressing is provided on a contact face of a housing for the individual transducers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive dressing encircles the contact face of the housing.