An automatic PDMS interface for the Urotrack Plus 220 urimeter

Abstract

Periodic measurements of urine volume and temperature in critically ill patients are time consuming, unclean procedures. These measurements may be automated with an electronic urimeter (Urotrack Plus 220, C.R. Bard Company, Murray Hill, NJ). This device contains an RS-232 output port which transmits a complete device status report once per second. We interfaced 20 Urotrack Plus urimeters to a single I/O port of a computerized patient data management system (Hewlett-Packard 78709A PDMS, Hewlett-Packard Company, Waltham, MA). This interface required daisy chained controllers for port switching and a communications adapter for flow control. The urimeters have proven to be cost-effective, labor-saving devices. The PDMS interface provides a continuous display of measured variables and completely automates data entry for flowsheet documentation. Automatic urimetry data acquisition is estimated to save approximately 27 nursing minutes per patient per day.