Automatic urine monitoring for heart failure patients in the hospital
Transforming Urine Output Tracking in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients
A toilet-based sensor will automatically measure urine output to help people hospitalized with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135330 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is building a toilet-mounted sensor that detects when a patient urinates and measures urine volume automatically. They have iterated on prototypes with volunteer testing and will adapt the device for use by cardiology patients in the hospital. The goal is to send timely, accurate urine data to clinical teams so diuretic dosing and fluid care can be adjusted more precisely. This approach also aims to reduce manual handling of waste that can expose staff to hazardous substances and infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults hospitalized for heart failure who can use a toilet (not requiring an indwelling urinary catheter) and need close fluid-status monitoring are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are bedbound, incontinent, require a urinary catheter, or cannot safely use a toilet are unlikely to benefit from this device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could provide faster, more accurate urine measurements to better guide fluid management and diuretic treatment for hospitalized heart failure patients.
How similar studies have performed: Early prototype tests with human volunteers reportedly showed high sensitivity for detecting urination and low measurement error, but applying this technology in hospitalized heart failure patients is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: David, Lawrence Anthony — Duke University
- Study coordinator: David, Lawrence Anthony
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.