[Computers in urology].

Abstract

The present state of computer utilization in urology has been described. Nowadays, use of computer is becoming essential in the urological diagnosis and treatment. Recently computers have been so rapidly developed so that it became much smaller and yet offers higher performance. The methods and problems of utilizing computers have been explained by presenting actual examples. An important point that must be recognized in utilizing computers is that the computer is meant to be a part of method in resolving problems and its use itself is not conclusion. In other words, computers are a means of methodology. Computers have been used for frequency analysis in urophonograms, diagnosis in a simultaneous pressure-flow study in lower urinary tract, and for supporting the data entry by photoscanner. Moreover, computers have been used for digital differentiation to materialize higher performance uroflowmeter. Computers have also been applied to litholytic fluid pressure-flow control system for renal stones, and played important role in long hours's intra pelvic pressure monitoring system in support of the large amount of data accumulation and noise reduction. Recently, in the expert system in the pressure-flow study etc., computer plays an essential role which covers most territory of the system. Finally, its future applications have also been speculated.