UROFLOWMETER

Typical Number in Hospital: 1

Cost Bands: 4

References:

A recording of urine flow during bladder emptying is sometimes performed to investigate disorders of bladder control. The subject urinates into the uroflowmeter and a recording of flow rate and volume voided is made. The device may work by:

1. Recording the height of a column of urine in a tall measuring cylinder. The height of the column is detected by measuring pressure at the bottom, or by recording electrical conductance or capacitance using a pair of long electrodes immersed in the urine. In both cases the flow rate is calculated by electronic differentiation.

2. The urine is directed on to a rotating disc with vanes. The drag on the motor rotating the disc is detected electronically and the flow rate is calculated from this.

3. The urine is directed on to a pressure plate which detects the force of the flow and the flow rate is calculated from this force.

4. The flow is directed into a series of cuvettes. The volume in each cuvette is calculated and the flow profile is plotted.

Such devices are used in the urodynamic clinic which may be situated in the urology, gynaecology or X-ray department.