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Urine Flow Meter

The Problem

A constriction or obstruction in the urethra reduces the rate of flow of urine. There are many conditions that can cause this, such as prostate disorders which affect approximately 50% of the male population over 40 years of age according to current estimates. Diagnosis of urodynamic obstruction by a GP is currently difficult due to a reliance on patient awareness and an accurate description of the flow relative to the patients ‘norm’. In general, a peak flow rate of greater than 15ml/sec is considered normal for a man, and a peak flow of less than 10ml/sec has an 80% chance of being associated with urodynamic obstruction. These levels are used internationally by urologists for diagnostic purposes. Many current devices for measuring urine flow rate are expensive and cumbersome and can only be used by trained personnel. They are therefore normally only available within secondary care urology clinics.

The Solution

The UFlow™Meter was invented by Professor Douglas Newton of Newcastle University and developed in collaboration with NHS Innovations North and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It is designed to enable patients to view their flow rate without assistance. It is a low cost, disposable, single piece unit which a GP can issue to a patient they suspect may be at risk or suffering from a urodynamic obstruction. This not only assists the GP in the management of their clinical time, but also reduces the patient distress typically associated with invasive examination. To simplify the procedure, the UFlow™Meter has three sections. If the highest level of flow is in the lowest section (<10ml/sec), a severe constriction or obstruction is highly probable, whereas a flow level in the central section indicates a lesser obstruction that should be monitored. A peak flow level in the third section or higher (>15ml/sec) would generally be accepted as normal.

Benefits to the NHS

The UFlow™Meter is a low-cost device for the assessment of urine flow rate that gives a patient the ability to monitor their symptoms in private, thereby reducing patient anxiety. The device is cost effective and fully disposable, thereby negating hygiene concerns and in-house cleaning requirements. It can also help to reduce the number of expensive referrals to urological consultants, and assists patients in the identification of urodynamic obstructions early, when treatment can be most effective. The device is being manufactured and sold under licence by Medical Device Technology International Limited (MDTI), a UK based SME dedicated to enhanced patient centred care www.mdti.co.uk. 
 

For further information please contact Anna Taylor on 0191 5164400 or email anna.taylor@nhsinnovationsnorth.org.uk

24/Feb/2010

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