Method of Diagnosing Urological Disorders

Abstract

Parametrical analysis of uroflowmetry test results to identify urological disorders particularly to distinguish men who have low urinary tract disorder / benign prostatic hyperplasia from those who have overactive bladder. Primary urine flow dynamic parameters and secondary urine flow dynamic parameters are calculated. Patient's urological disorders can be assessed by comparing the primary and secondary urine flow dynamic parameters with a library or database of comparable data derived from healthy or normal individuals as well as comparable data derived from individuals afflicted with specific urological disorders. A predictive model of lower urinary tract function disorders can be developed from existing reference primary and secondary urine flow dynamic parameters. The model allows for complex analysis and objective disease prediction.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 62 / 068,763 that was filed on Oct. 27, 2014 and which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to techniques for diagnosing urological disorders by analyzing a patient's uroflowmetry test data.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Low urinary tract disorder symptoms / benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS / BPH) and overactive bladder (OAB) are two very common urinary disorders which result in practically the same symptoms but require different medical treatments. LUTS / BPH refers to symptoms caused by obstruction which can include various degrees of poor urine flow, hesitancy and intermittency. OAB is a syndrome or symptom complex defined as: Urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia. Urgency is defined as a sudden, compelling need to avid which is difficult to defer. Frequency is defined as...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a way to create a predictive model of lower urinary tract function disorders by analyzing existing data on urine flow patterns. This model can be applied to patients to predict if they have a urological disorder. The technical effect is the ability to objectively diagnose and predict treatment options for urinary tract function disorders.

Problems solved by technology

The combination of enlargement and muscle tightening causes compression of the urethra and obstruction of urine flow.

While men with LUTS / BPH symptoms can be effectively treated with medical therapies aimed at benign prostatic enlargement, the degree of improvement is often modest.

Moreover, a subset of men show minimal improvement.

Studies have highlighted the difficulties with linking specific LUTS with urodynamic findings, which implies that the choice of medical therapy (i.e. whether it is directed at the bladder or the prostate) is often empirical.

A role for antimuscarinic agents has been suggested for men with LUTS / BPH, although the selection of men who will benefit most from monotherapy versus combined therapy and the clarification of long-term safety concerns, remain important and somewhat contentious issues.

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