Patent US3922913A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3922913A
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Flowmeter
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-10
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A flowmeter to measure urine specimens incorporating a turntable supporting a predetermined number of beakers in underlying relation to a funnel receiving urine during each elimination cycle with the turntable being driven at a precise speed so that the rate of discharge during predetermined increments of the urine elimination cycle may be measured. Specifically, thirty beakers are supported on the turntable in close proximity to each other with the turntable being accurately rotated at two revolutions per minute so that all of the urine discharged during a single urine elimination cycle which usually requires no more than twenty-one seconds will be collected in the beakers with the beakers indicating the variation in rate of flow of the urine discharge and enabling a urine sample from predetermined portions of the elimination cycle to be analyzed to facilitate diagnosis of illnesses and the like by doctors, urologists or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman D Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/20; A61B5/207; A61B5/208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A flowmeter for measuring the rate of urine discharge during discrete increments of a urine elimination cycle of approximately 21 seconds by measuring the quantity of urine discharged during each such increment and providing a separate specimen for each such increment for analysis comprising a turntable, means rotatably supporting said turntable for rotation about a vertical axis, means driving said turntable at a predetermined constant slow speed whereby the turntable will turn less than one revolution during a complete cycle of urine elimination, a plurality of receptacles carried by said turntable circumferentially about the center of rotation, and urine guide means disposed above the receptacles for discharging urine into the receptacle, each receptacle having graduations thereon to indicate the quantity of urine discharged therein during the predetermined time increment that it is aligned with the guide means, said means driving the turntable including a motor and reduction gear unit disposed under said turntable and connected to the turntable for rotating the turntable at 2 r.p.m., said turntable including 30 receptacles mounted thereon for alignment with the guide means for a period of one second.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A flowmeter for measuring the rate of urine discharge during discrete increments of a urine elimination cycle of approximately 21 seconds by measuring the quantity of urine discharged during each such increment and providing a separate specimen for each such increment for analysis comprising a turntable, means rotatably supporting said turntable for rotation about a vertical axis, means driving said turntable at a predetermined constant slow speed whereby the turntable will turn less than one revolution during a complete cycle of urine elimination, a plurality of receptacles carried by said turntable circumferentially about the center of rotation, and urine guide means disposed above the receptacles for discharging urine into the receptacle, each receptacle having graduations thereon to indicate the quantity of urine discharged therein during the predetermined time increment that it is aligned with the guide means, said means driving the turntable including a motor and reduction gear unit disposed under said turntable and connected to the turntable for rotating the turntable at 2 r.p.m., said turntable including 30 receptacles mounted thereon for alignment with the guide means for a period of one second.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The flowmeter as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacles are in the form of transparent beakers having an open and outwardly projecting upper end resting vertically in apertures formed in the turntable to facilitate support of the beakers and enable easy removal and replacement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The flowmeter of claim 2 wherein said urine guide means is in the form of a funnel having a discharge spout disposed in close overlying relation to the receptacles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The flowmeter of claim 3 wherein said means supporting the turntable includes a portable base, shaft means supporting said turntable for rotation about a vertical axis.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of measuring the quantity of urine discharged by a patient during a large number of discrete increments in a normal urine elimination cycle having a total duration of approximatEly twenty one seconds comprising the steps of guiding the urine discharged by the patient to a vertical gravity discharge without any substantial flow restriction, moving a plurality of receptacles sequentially under the vertical discharge at an accurate constant rate for alignment of each receptacle with the vertical discharge for a predetermined time increment with each receptacle being aligned with vertical discharge for exactly the same increment of the urine elimination cycle, and measuring the quantity of urine collected in each receptacle to provide indication of any variation in the discharge rate of urine during the elimination cycle.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of measuring the quantity of urine discharged by a patient during a large number of discrete increments in a normal urine elimination cycle having a total duration of approximatEly twenty one seconds comprising the steps of guiding the urine discharged by the patient to a vertical gravity discharge without any substantial flow restriction, moving a plurality of receptacles sequentially under the vertical discharge at an accurate constant rate for alignment of each receptacle with the vertical discharge for a predetermined time increment with each receptacle being aligned with vertical discharge for exactly the same increment of the urine elimination cycle, and measuring the quantity of urine collected in each receptacle to provide indication of any variation in the discharge rate of urine during the elimination cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of moving the receptacles includes the step of supporting thirty receptacles on a turntable rotatable at 2 r.p.m. whereby each receptacle will be aligned with the vertical discharge for one second.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |