Development of Cloud Networked Non-contact Uroflowmeter System and Basic Study on Thermal Sensor Characteristics

Abstract

We evaluated the thermal uroflow sensor characteristics of a newly designed cloud networked non-contact uroflowmeter system. The system is roughly divided into a sensor unit and a network unit. The sensor unit consists of four non-contact matrix temperature sensors, a multiplexer, and a built-in microcomputer with WiFi. These electrical devices are built into a raised toilet seat. The network unit is composed of a router, a MVNO line, a database server, and a web server. The acquired data were collected by the database server on the network via WiFi and VPN routers. As a preliminary study, water of 37ºC was tested as pseudo-urine. We obtained the data under various conditions such as different volumes of voided pseudo-urine; different pseudo-urine flow rates; and different positions of falling pseudo-urine in the x-axis, y-axis and angle in the z-axis. The observed data showed a linear relationship with the reference data. The data of pseudo-urine flow rate obtained followed the dynamic change of the reference flow rate. The body weight reduction accompanying 25 times of urination in 5 healthy males showed a linear relationship with the estimated voided volume.