A Novel Low-Cost Uroflowmetry for Patient Telemonitoring

Savio Domenico Pandolfo, Federica Crauso, Achille Aveta, Simone Cilio, Biagio Barone, Luigi Napolitano, Antonio Scarpato, Benito Fabio Mirto, Francesco Serino, Francesco Del Giudice, Benjamin I. Chung, Fabio Crocerossa, Erika Di Zazzo (), Francesco Trama, Ruggero Vaglio, Zhenjie Wu, Paolo Verze, Ciro Imbimbo and Felice Crocetto
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Savio Domenico Pandolfo: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Federica Crauso: Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80125 Naples, Italy
Achille Aveta: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Simone Cilio: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Biagio Barone: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Luigi Napolitano: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Antonio Scarpato: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Benito Fabio Mirto: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Serino: NexsusTLC SRLS, 80010 Quarto, Italy
Francesco Del Giudice: Department of Maternal-Infant and Urologic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, 00161 Rome, Italy
Benjamin I. Chung: Department of Urology, Stanford Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Fabio Crocerossa: Urology Unit, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Erika Di Zazzo: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Francesco Trama: Andrological and Urogynecological Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy
Ruggero Vaglio: Department of Physics, University of Naples “Federico II”, and CNR SPIN, 80125 Naples, Italy
Zhenjie Wu: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Paolo Verze: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, 84081 Fisciano, Italy
Ciro Imbimbo: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
Felice Crocetto: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Uroflowmetry (UF) is a crucial guideline-recommended tool for men with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Moreover, UF is a helpful decision-making tool for the management of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the last few years, telemedicine and telehealth have increased exponentially as cost-effective treatment options for both patients and physicians. Telemedicine and telehealth have been well positioned during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent healthcare system overload and to ensure adequate management of patients through screening, diagnosis, and follow-up at home. In the present manuscript, the main characteristics and performance of a novel and low-cost device for home-based UF have been analyzed. The simple weight-transducer method has been applied to perform UF. An inexpensive load cell connected to a 24 bit analogic digital converter (ADC) sends data to a cloud server via SIM card or home Wi-Fi. Data are processed and shown in graphics with both volume and flow rate as a function of time, allowing for measurement of average flow rate, maximum flow rate, voided volume, and voiding time. A numerical algorithm allows for filtering of the dynamic effect due to the urine gravity acceleration and for removing the funnel to simplify the home measurement procedure. Through an online platform, the physician can see and compare each UF data. The device’s reliability has been validated in a first laboratory setting and showed excellent performance. This approach based on domiciliary tests and an online platform can revolutionize the urologic clinic landscape by offering a constant patient cost-effective follow-up, eliminating the time wasted waiting in the office setting.

Keywords: uroflow; home uroflowmetry; urodynamics; software; BPH (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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