Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
07:24
Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
A MEMS accelerometer-based real-time motion-sensing module for urological diagnosis and treatment
Hongzhi Sun1, Guoqing Fu, Huikai Xie
1Department of Eectrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology
|January 31, 2013
Summary
A novel motion-sensing Foley catheter uses MEMS accelerometers to track urethral shape and bladder neck movement in real-time, aiding diagnosis of urinary incontinence.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Devices
- Urology
Background:
- Stressed urinary incontinence diagnosis and treatment can be improved with better real-time monitoring.
- Current methods may lack precision in capturing dynamic urethral and bladder neck movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a real-time motion-sensing module integrated into a Foley catheter.
- To enable precise tracking of urethral shape and bladder neck dynamics for diagnostic assistance.
Main Methods:
- Integration of multiple Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometers into a standard Foley catheter.
- Development of a specialized algorithm to extract tilting, position, and shape data from accelerometer readings.
- Establishment of a measurement error model for both static and dynamic testing conditions.
Main Results:
- The motion-sensing module successfully tracked Foley catheter movement in real-time.
- Experimental results demonstrated high accuracy, with static measurement errors not exceeding 1.1° within the operational range.
Conclusions:
- The developed MEMS accelerometer-based module offers a viable real-time solution for monitoring urethral and bladder neck dynamics.
- This technology has the potential to significantly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of stressed urinary incontinence.
