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Chemical Method of Urine Volume MeasurementA system has been developed and qualified as flight hardware for the measurement of micturition volumes voided by crewmen during Gemini missions. This Chemical Urine Volume Measurement System (CUVMS) is used for obtaining samples of each micturition for post-flight volume determination and laboratory analysis for chemical constituents of physiological interest. The system is versatile with respect to volumes measured, with a capacity beyond the largest micturition expected to be encountered, and with respect to mission duration of inherently indefinite length. The urine sample is used for the measurement of total micturition volume by a tracer dilution technique, in which a fixed, predetermined amount of tritiated water is introduced and mixed into the voided urine, and the resulting concentration of the tracer in the sample is determined with a liquid scintillation spectrometer. The tracer employed does not interfere with the analysis for the chemical constituents of the urine. The CUVMS hardware consists of a four-way selector valve in which an automatically operated tracer metering pump is incorporated, a collection/mixing bag, and tracer storage accumulators. The assembled system interfaces with a urine receiver at the selector valve inlet, sample bags which connect to the side of the selector valve, and a flexible hose which carries the excess urine to the overboard drain connection. Results of testing have demonstrated system volume measurement accuracy within the specification limits of +/-5%, and operating reliability suitable for system use aboard the GT-7 mission, in which it was first used.
Document ID
19670025484
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Petrack, P.
(Arde, Inc. Paramus, NJ, United States)
Date Acquired
September 2, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1967
Subject Category
Spacecraft Instrumentation And Astrionics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-65682
Report No. 8642-FR
Accession Number
67N34813
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-3904
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
URINE
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TRACER
VOLUME
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