Fluid collection and aspiration unit for management of urinary incontinence

Abstract

A flexible unit for collecting and transporting liquid to a collection point or to an area of use, and especially for facilitating management of urinary incontinence is provided which includes a flexible pad adapted to be positioned under an incontinent patient or worn under an undergarment. The pad is provided with an outer liquid permeable polymeric film layer, an outer liquid impermeable polymeric film layer and an intermediate cellular layer made up of a series of individual, spaced, thin wall, liquid impermeable polymeric cells. An aspiration assembly is connected to the pad for removing urine from the interior of the pad, which collects in the spaces between the individual cells. A disposable porous sheet, preferably comprising Dry-Weave® material, is releasably positioned over the outer permeable film layer of the pad. The pad may be sanitized and reused multiple times with only replacement of the Dry-Weave® sheet being required.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to thin layer aspiration or perfusion units for collecting vapors or liquids and transferring such fluids to a receiving area. In its preferred form, the invention comprises an aspiration unit for collecting and facilitating management of urinary excretions by individuals that are incontinent. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Management of excretions from incontinent patients is an ongoing and largely unsolved problem, not only in hospital and nursing home environments, but also for patients that are not hospitalized or in a care facility. Lack of control over the urinary function by incontinent patients who are not bedridden has for the most part has required the patients to wear large adult diaper pads which soon become fully sorbed and present an odor problem. [0003] In the case of a incontinent patient lying in bed, it has largely been the practice to place an leakproof backed absorbent pad under the patient. The pad soon be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029] An important feature and advantage of the present invention over previously available incontinent management devices is the fact that the pad 36 may be repeatedly washed and cleaned with a suitable deodorizing and sanitizing agent by connecting a pressurized source of such agent to conduit 54 after removal of the porous sheet member 36. Any excess liquid cleaning agent introduced into interior space 20 of pad 12 will simply flow out through the openings 32 in layer 16. Agent remaining in the interior space 20 of pad 12 following the treatment procedure may be removed by recoupling vacuum pump 60 or a source of vacuum to line 58 which will withdraw the sanitizing agent from pad 12.

over previously available incontinent management devices is the fact that the pad 36 may be repeatedly washed and cleaned with a suitable deodorizing and sanitizing agent by connecting a pressurized source of such agent to conduit 54 after removal of the porous sheet member 36. Any excess liquid cleaning agent introduced into interior space 20 of pad 12 will simply flow out through the openings 32 in layer 16. Agent remaining in the interior space 20 of pad 12 following the treatment procedure may be removed by recoupling vacuum pump 60 or a source of vacuum to line 58 which will withdraw the sanitizing agent from pad 12.

Problems solved by technology

Management of excretions from incontinent patients is an ongoing and largely unsolved problem, not only in hospital and nursing home environments, but also for patients that are not hospitalized or in a care facility.

Lack of control over the urinary function by incontinent patients who are not bedridden has for the most part has required the patients to wear large adult diaper pads which soon become fully sorbed and present an odor problem.

The pad soon becomes soaked and timely changing of the soiled pad is often delayed, especially in those instances where the patient is confined to a nursing home where personnel are required to care for a large patient population that is usually the case in a hospital setting.

The patient is unable to avoid contact with the wet pad, which is not only uncomfortable, but also is odorous and unsanitary and can cause undesirable skin conditions to occur such as rashes and sores.

Here again, changing of a pad as soon as it becomes soaked often cannot be accomplished by the patient and often results in the patient sitting on the wet pad for an extended period until a change out of the pad is ultimately accomplished after an undesirable time interval.

Disadvantages of the system of the '166 patent include the cost of the pad, the need to periodically replace the pad, inability to effectively remove all of the liquid absorbed by the core of the pad because a certain proportion of the urine will be retained on the absorbent cellular material, the need for the perforated tube embedded in the core to be relatively rigid in order to preclude collapse of the perforations in the tube thereby imparting a degree of rigidity to the pad, and the impracticality of periodically cleaning the absorbent core of the pad with a cleaning and sterilizing agent.

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