Systems and methods for uroflowmetry

Abstract

A system for uroflowmetry is disclosed. The system can include an audio device configured to obtain audio data of urination. The system can include a machine learning module with at least one processor and associated memory, wherein the system is configured to: process the audio data of urination via a machine learning model that is trained based on simulated urine flow data and associated audio data received from a urine flow simulator, and real urine flow data and associated audio data received from a urine flow measuring device, and output the processed audio data of urination to be used in uroflowmetry.

1 . A system for uroflowmetry, the system comprising:
 a microphone configured to obtain time-varying audio data of urination; and   a processor and an associated memory, the processor is configured to:
 process the audio data of urination via a machine learning model that is trained based on simulated urine flow data and associated audio data received from a urine flow simulator, and a human's real-time unaltered urine flow data received from a urine flow measuring device and the audio data of urination obtained from the microphone. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to output the processed audio data of urination. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to store the processed audio data of urination in the memory. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio data of urination includes a sound recording of urine impacting a surface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the urine flow measuring device comprises:
 an imaging device configured to capture multiple image frames of urine flow; and   one or more processors and associated memory configured to:
 apply an image segmentation algorithm on each of the image frames to obtain an image segment for each image frame, wherein the image segment includes image pixels associated with the urine flow, and 
 combine consecutive image segments to generate the real urine flow data. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a toilet that receives the urine flow, wherein the imaging device includes two cameras arranged perpendicularly in a plane over the toilet.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the urine flow simulator comprises:
 a basin that contains water and/or synthetic urine;   a pump configured to pump the urine from the basin at one or more volumetric flow rates;   a container that receives the urine from the pump to provide the simulated urine flow data; and   an audio device configured to obtain the audio data associated with the simulated urine flow data.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a flow meter configured to measure volumetric flow rates of the urine;   a tube positioned between the basin and the container, wherein the tube carries the urine from the basin to the container; and   a display to receive user input to operate the urine flow simulator, wherein the processor configured to operate the pump to synchronize the volumetric flow rates and associated audio data of the urine.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the basin is temperature controlled. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the urine flow simulator is portable. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for uroflowmetry, the method comprising:
 obtaining time-varying audio data of urination from a microphone; and   processing the audio data of urination via a machine learning model that is trained based on simulated urine flow data and associated audio data received from a urine flow simulator, and a human's real-time unaltered urine flow data and the audio data of urination obtained from the microphone.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 outputting the processed audio data of urination.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 storing the processed audio data of urination.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the audio data of urination includes a sound recording of urine impacting a surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the urine flow measuring device comprises:
 an imaging device configured to capture multiple image frames of urine flow over the time period;   one or more processors and associated memory configured to:
 apply an image segmentation algorithm on each of the image frames to obtain an image segment for each image frame, wherein the image segment includes image pixels associated with the urine flow, and 
 combine consecutive image segments to generate the real urine flow data, wherein the audio device is configured to obtain the associated real audio data of the urine flow. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving the urine flow at a toilet, wherein the imaging device includes two cameras arranged perpendicularly in a plane over the toilet.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the urine flow simulator comprises:
 a basin that contains water and/or synthetic urine;   a pump configured to pump the urine from the basin at one or more volumetric flow rates;   a container that receives the urine from the pump to provide the simulated urine flow data; and   an audio device configured to obtain the audio data associated with the simulated urine flow data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the basin is temperature controlled. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the urine flow simulator is portable. 
     
     
         20 . A system for uroflowmetry, the system comprising:
 a microphone configured to obtain time-varying audio data of urination; and   a processor and an associated memory, the processor is configured to:
 process the audio data of urination via a machine learning model that is trained based on simulated urine flow data and associated audio data received from a urine flow simulator, and/or a human's real-time unaltered urine flow data received from a urine flow measuring device and the audio data of urination obtained from the microphone.