Integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research

Abstract

The utility model relates to a urine integrated collection and storage device for medical research. To improve the quality and efficiency of collection and storage, the electric bottomless drawer of the refrigerated storage cabinet is provided with an electronic scale supported urine tank support, the disposable urine tank is provided with a stirring paddle and a non-contact stirring drive, the lower part of the side wall of the urine tank is provided with a self-sealing sampling port, the side of the bottomless drawer is provided with a sampling hand port, and the main control system of the communication connection research database of the refrigerated storage cabinet controls the electric bottomless drawer, the electronic scale and the stirring drive mechanism of the urine tank corresponding to the urine sample according to the identity information of the urine sample collected or recorded. The device has the advantages of integrated error-free collection and storage, no spoilage and no odor overflow, stirring to avoid sampling error, no urine smell leakage from the tank, real-time monitoring of urine sample storage, improved urine sample storage efficiency and reduced management labor load.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a urine collection and storage device for research purposes, and more particularly to an integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research. Background Technology

[0002] In research wards, cryogenic storage of urine is crucial for scientific research and clinical analysis. Urine contains abundant metabolites, proteins, microorganisms, and extracellular vesicles—biomarkers that are easily degraded at room temperature. Cryogenic storage (e.g., -80°C) stabilizes samples, ensuring the accuracy of subsequent metabolomics, proteomics, and microbiome analyses. Furthermore, cryogenic storage supports long-term longitudinal studies, multi-center collaborations, and retrospective analysis, providing reliable samples for disease mechanism exploration, drug metabolism monitoring, and biomarker discovery. Standardized cryogenic storage also reduces sample variability, improves research reproducibility, and contributes to the development of precision medicine. Therefore, standardized cryogenic storage of urine is a vital foundation for translational medicine and clinical trials. Current equipment involves storing multiple subjects' urine containers in a single storage cabinet (single door), with subjects manually transferring their own urine into their containers. This places high demands on subjects; mishandling or incorrect placement of samples can contaminate the urine samples, providing erroneous data for research. More advanced devices use sensors to monitor whether the subject has picked up the correct urine container. However, if the subject picks up the wrong one, even if it is later discovered, the sample has already been damaged and cannot be salvaged, thus affecting the research.

[0003] A urine storage device for urological testing, document number CN 208679207U, includes a storage box. An exhaust device is embedded in the top of the storage box, and a lamp holder is installed at the upper end of the inner side wall of the storage box. An ultraviolet lamp is fixedly connected to the side wall of the lamp holder. A baffle is installed between the two outer walls of the storage box, at a position perpendicular to the ultraviolet lamp. A tray is installed on the upper surface of the baffle. A door is installed on the front side wall of the storage box, and a hinge connects the storage box and the door. A sealing rubber strip is fixedly installed on the surface of the door, and a connecting post is fixedly installed on the surface of the baffle. As a further embodiment of this invention, detachable mesh covers are installed on both the inner and outer sides of the exhaust device, and an exhaust fan is installed between two mesh covers. Ammonia-absorbing sheets are fixedly installed on the surface of the mesh covers. As a further embodiment of this invention, nine trays are provided, evenly distributed within the storage box. As a further improvement of this utility model: the surface of the holding tray is embedded with urine collection dish slots, and each holding tray has six urine collection dish slots on its surface, with a bearing embedded in the center of the holding tray. As a further improvement of this utility model: there are a total of six connecting columns, which are evenly distributed on both sides of the lower end of the baffle. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: 1. This utility model is equipped with an ultraviolet lamp, which can kill common bacteria and harmful microorganisms in the urine collection dish, preventing the growth and reproduction of microorganisms due to prolonged placement of urine, which is detrimental to the health of medical staff and patients. 2. This utility model is equipped with a rotatable holding tray. When one side of the urine collection dish slot on the circular holding tray is full, the patient can rotate the tray to place the urine collection dish into the empty space, increasing the number of urine collection dishes that can be stored. When the slot is full, medical staff can directly remove the tray along with the urine sample, improving the work efficiency of medical staff. Since it is a detachable structure, it is also convenient for medical staff to clean. 3. This utility model features a detachable ventilation and exhaust fan at the top, and an ammonia-absorbing sheet is fixed to the surface of the device, significantly reducing ammonia concentration and minimizing harmful gases in the laboratory, which is beneficial to the health of medical staff and patients. However, its ultraviolet light kills common bacteria and harmful microorganisms in the urine collection dish, which can distort the urine sample and render it unusable for research. Furthermore, its significant reduction in ammonia concentration exposes the drawback of large amounts of ammonia being generated and released, both of which need to be addressed.

[0004] To address this, the inventors have developed a research-grade urine and feces separation and collection sampler, document number CN112704424A. This device consists of a toilet seat with a hinged rear end, mounted on a toilet frame. A rear electronic balance and a front electronic balance are positioned below the central opening of the toilet seat. Each balance has a laterally removable and replaceable rear feces collection cup and front urine collection cup. The rear and front electronic balances are connected to a computer or smartphone via wired or wireless communication. The rear feces collection cup collects feces vertically, while the front urine collection cup collects urine without splashing. A seating sensor, perceptible to the user's buttocks, is positioned above the centerline between the rear feces collection cup and the front urine collection cup on the toilet seat. The rear electronic balance and the front electronic balance automatically transmit the weight data of the automatically weighed stool and urine to a computer or smartphone. The computer or smartphone automatically converts the received urine weight data into milliliters and performs statistical management together with the received stool weight data. The seat sensing object is a horizontal convex strip that can be felt by the user's skin to be squeezed upwards, or an infrared horizontal strip lamp that can be felt by the user to be heated horizontally, or a horizontal electric heating film that can be felt by the user to be heated horizontally. The rear electronic balance is equipped with a data conversion circuit that automatically converts the measured urine weight data into milliliters. Both the rear and front electronic balances automatically transmit the automatically converted stool (milliliters) and urine (weight) data to a computer or smartphone. The computer or smartphone then statistically manages the received urine (milliliters) and stool (weight) data. The seat sensor is either a horizontally protruding strip that can be felt by the user's skin, an infrared horizontal light that emits horizontal heat radiation, or a horizontally heated film that emits horizontal heat radiation. The rear and front electronic balances are electrically connected to a delayed-start / off switch that automatically shuts off after a delayed start when the user gets up from the toilet. This delayed-start / off switch is located on the toilet seat, toilet lid, or toilet seat ring. The infrared horizontal light is an infrared horizontal light installed in a recess under a transparent glass cover on the toilet seat ring. This infrared horizontal light is electrically connected to a normally closed switch controlled by the toilet lid. Each of the rear and front electronic balances is equipped with a pressure switch or micro switch that activates when the delayed start / stop switch is closed, and closes when the rear and front urine collection cups are removed. The pressure switch or micro switch also activates a buzzer or voice reminder to promptly remove the rear and front urine collection cups. The rear urine collection cup has a vertical handle with its center facing upwards, and a cylindrical container with a flat opening is fixed to the upper end of the handle. The front urine collection cup has a vertical handle with its center facing upwards, and a rear-angled conical hopper with a slanted opening is fixed to the upper end of the handle.The rear-sloping conical bucket is fixed to the bottom end of the upper-opening conical barrel at the top of the vertical handle. The front and side walls of the upper-opening conical barrel extend obliquely backward to form a rear-sloping circular opening with the rear wall. The toilet seat consists of a top frame fixed to the upper ends of four legs, on which the toilet seat ring is mounted; a base frame is fixed to the lower parts of the four legs, on which a rear electronic balance and a front electronic balance are mounted; the rear feces collection cup and the front urine collection cup are polished stainless steel. The base frame and the top frame are a top ring beam fixedly connected by a rear crossbeam and a forward U-shaped beam. The upper ends of two of the four rear legs are fixed to the two rear corners of the top ring beam, and the upper ends of two of the four front legs are fixed to the front sides of the forward U-shaped beam, respectively. The rear and front electronic balances mounted on the base frame are located behind and in front of the two front legs, respectively; vibration damping pads are installed at the bottom of the four legs. After conversion, it was found that the urine collection cup had the drawback of being inconvenient for centralized storage, which needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art and provide an integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this novel integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research is characterized by a refrigerated storage cabinet with multiple parallel, electrically operated bottomless drawers, each equipped with a sealed, insulated front panel. Each drawer contains a urine storage tank support with an electronic scale. Disposable urine storage tanks, each with a sealed cap and handle, have a stirring paddle at their bottom. Below the urine storage tanks on the supports within the electrically operated bottomless drawers, a stirring mechanism is located that drives the stirring paddle, ensuring it is not in contact with the urine storage tanks in the non-stirring state. A self-sealing sampling port is located on the lower side wall of each urine storage tank, and a corresponding sampling handpiece is located on one side panel of the electrically operated bottomless drawer. The refrigerated storage cabinet is equipped with a main control system connected to a research database, which controls the electrically operated bottomless drawer, its electronic scale, and the stirring mechanism corresponding to the urine sample's storage tank based on the urine sample's identification information. The sealed, insulated front panel is a panel body with a layer of heat-insulating material sandwiched between its panels. A concave elastic sealing ring and a self-absorbing frame, corresponding to the outer edge of the drawer opening, are located on the outer periphery of the panel body. The storage cabinet is designed to prevent urine fermentation, ensuring stable urine storage and preventing gas leakage. The bottomless drawer facilitates air circulation, preventing icing and minimizing internal temperature differences. This allows for a closer temperature range (closer to 0°C) and a narrower temperature control range, further enhancing the protection against fermentation and extending shelf life. Compared to freezing, it is less prone to spoilage. An electronic scale holder allows for easy weighing of the urine tanks, providing data for research. Disposable urine tanks with sealing caps and handles prevent odor and leakage, especially during stirring, and the handles facilitate easy access and can be used directly as a collection container. The disposable urine storage tank has a stirring paddle at the bottom and an electric bottomless drawer located on the support below the urine storage tank. A stirring mechanism, which drives the stirring paddle and is at least non-contact with the urine storage tank in the non-stirring state, facilitates pre-sampling before urine sample collection, ensuring thorough mixing and minimizing sampling errors. A self-sealing sampling port is located on the lower side wall of the urine storage tank, and a corresponding sampling handpiece is located on one side panel of the electric bottomless drawer. This allows the needle of the sampling syringe to pierce the self-sealing sampling port through the sampling handpiece for sample collection. The main control system of the refrigerated storage cabinet controls the electric bottomless drawer, electronic scale, and stirring mechanism of the urine storage tank corresponding to the urine sample based on the collected or recorded urine sample identification information. This allows the main control system to collect or record the urine sample identification information when the sample is placed in the storage tank, perform corresponding storage management, push out the electric bottomless drawer corresponding to the urine sample identification information, place the sample in the storage tank for weighing, and record the urine weight after tareing under the urine sample identification information.When sampling is required, the main control system first operates the stirring drive mechanism of the urine storage tank to mix the samples thoroughly. Then, an electric bottomless drawer is pushed out, and a sampling syringe is used for needle puncture sampling. After sampling, the electric bottomless drawer is pulled back into its original position. The sample is then weighed, and the system records the weight of the remaining urine sample in the storage tank and the sample weight, thus achieving efficient management. It features integrated, error-free storage and sampling management of urine samples for research purposes; airtight refrigeration prevents spoilage and odor leakage; automatic stirring avoids sampling errors; sealed sampling prevents urine odor leakage; and real-time monitoring of urine sample levels. It significantly improves urine sample storage efficiency while greatly reducing the manual workload of storage and retrieval.

[0007] As an optimization, the self-sealing sampling port is a sampling hole formed on the lower part of the side wall of the urine storage tank. The sampling hole is sealed with an ampoule rubber stopper, which can well adapt to the sealing after multiple puncture samplings. The urine storage tank support is located in the front part of the electric bottomless drawer near one side panel, and the side panel has a sampling hand opening corresponding to the area of ​​the self-sealing sampling port for easy access for puncture sampling. Preferably, the urine storage tank support and the urine storage tank are circumferentially positioned supports, so that when the urine storage tank is placed normally, the self-sealing sampling port and the sampling hand opening are aligned. The circumferential positioning support is provided by interlocking clips and grooves on the support contact surfaces between the urine storage tank support and the urine storage tank.

[0008] As an optimization, an outwardly extending tube extends from the outer peripheral wall of the sampling hole. The protruding part of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper is inserted into the sampling hole, and a ring cap fastened to the outwardly extending tube presses and seals the rear flange of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper against the end of the outwardly extending tube, ensuring the sealing strength of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper. Preferably, an external threaded tube extends from the outer peripheral wall of the sampling hole, and the protruding part of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper is inserted into the sampling hole. An internal threaded ring cap screwed into the external threaded tube presses and seals the rear flange of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper against the end of the external threaded tube, facilitating installation.

[0009] As an optimization, the disposable urine storage tank is an open-top, frustum-shaped plastic urine storage tank; it is non-corrosive, lightweight, easier to install, and takes up less space.

[0010] The bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank is equipped with a magnetically driven stirring paddle with built-in ferrous or magnetic material. The stirring drive mechanism is an electromagnetic stirring driver that drives the magnetically driven stirring paddle non-contactly through an electromagnetic field. This can relatively reduce the cost of the urine storage tank and ensure the absolute leak-proofness of the urine storage tank. Alternatively, the bottom wall of the disposable plastic urine storage tank is sealed and hinged with the lower extension shaft of the stirring paddle. An electric mechanism is provided below the urine storage tank on the support. The upper end of the upper extension shaft of the electric mechanism and the lower end of the lower extension shaft above it are driven by a temporary transmission mechanism that is only connected during stirring. There is no electromagnetic field that affects the urine.

[0011] As an optimization, the magnetic stirring paddle is placed at the bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank for easy configuration; or a vertical circular shaft is provided at the center of the bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank, and a vertical circular hole is provided at the center of the magnetic stirring paddle to fit the gap of the vertical circular shaft, which is easy to drive the stirring; it also facilitates the joint use of multiple storage tanks after disinfection and cleaning.

[0012] The temporary transmission mechanism consists of a transmission key at the lower end of the lower extension shaft, and a vertical sliding key sleeve that is circumferentially fitted onto the upper extension shaft, with its upper end engaging with the transmission key end of the lower extension shaft. A permanent magnet is located below the vertical sliding key sleeve. An electromagnetic coil drive mechanism that starts and stops synchronously with the electric mechanism on the periphery of the upper extension shaft is provided. The electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil drive mechanism is used to repel the permanent magnet upward, causing the vertical sliding key sleeve to overcome its own gravity and move upward to engage with the transmission key end of the lower extension shaft, thus easily realizing temporary transmission.

[0013] As an optimization, the disposable urine storage tank is a frustum-shaped plastic urine storage tank with an open top and an upper convex ring. The urine storage tank support is a support ring supported under the upper convex ring for easy placement. The support ring is installed inside an electric bottomless drawer by two or three circumferentially evenly distributed cantilevered single-point weighing sensors and their attached supports. The stirring drive mechanism is installed on the bottom crossbar below the urine storage tank support inside the electric bottomless drawer, which helps to achieve compatibility between support and weighing.

[0014] As an optimization, the auxiliary support includes end support frames fixed to the two inner side panels of the electric bottomless drawer. The two end support frames are then connected downwards to one end of the bottom crossbar via T-shaped support frames. The other end of the bottom crossbar is fixed to the inner side of the front panel of the electric bottomless drawer, which simplifies support and facilitates cleaning. The end support frames support the outer base end of the cantilevered single-point load cell upwards, and the inner end of the cantilevered single-point load cell is connected to the support ring. This inner cantilever design improves support stability compared to an outer cantilever design.

[0015] As an optimization, the temperature control range of the refrigerated storage cabinet is 2-5℃. This, combined with the advantage of the electric bottomless drawer for cold air circulation, can prevent urine samples from freezing and fermenting, thus extending the storage period and inhibiting urine evaporation. The electric bottomless drawer is connected to the corresponding part of the refrigerated storage cabinet body by an electric push-pull mechanism that runs horizontally alongside the urine tank support, which helps reduce the thickness of the storage cabinet. The electric bottomless drawer is located at the front of the refrigerated storage cabinet, and a display screen and card reader for the main control system are located above the electric bottomless drawer for easy access and operation.

[0016] As an optimization, the electric push-pull mechanism is an electric push rod. The base of the electric push rod is hinged to the corresponding part inside the refrigerator cabinet. This allows the electric push rod to adapt well to the front end sinking after the electric bottomless drawer is pushed out, resulting in less resistance and smoother pushing and pulling. The body of the electric push rod passes through the inner panel of the electric bottomless drawer along one side plate and is fixed to the inside of the front panel of the electric bottomless drawer away from the urine storage tank support, making full use of the available space. The main control system has three levels of access control: doctor, nurse, and subject. The three-level coordinated management significantly improves the efficiency and effectiveness of use, facilitates supervision, and better avoids errors.

[0017] As an optimization, the inner panel of the electric bottomless drawer has a through hole through which the electric push rod passes, allowing the push rod to adapt to the displacement of the front end when the drawer is pushed out. A sealing partition sleeve is installed between the inner wall of the through hole and the side panel and front panel of the inner panel, which helps to prevent contamination of the push rod. The electric push rod is equipped with a limit switch and a current limiting switch to ensure that the electric bottomless drawer is pulled back to the appropriate position so that the front panel of the drawer can be properly pressed and sealed against the corresponding outer edge of the storage cabinet. The sealing partition sleeve can replace the end support frame because it is in the same position as the end support frame. The electric push rod is equipped with a limit switch at the rear stop position for closing, and a current limiting switch is located near the front of the rear stop position to allow the drawer to close gently. This allows the concave elastic sealing ring to be slowly compressed, allowing the air in the gap to be released normally and achieving a stable suction. It also avoids strong closing vibration by closing slowly, extending the service life of the equipment, and preventing unnecessary contamination of the inner surface of the can lid and the upper part of the can by the vibration of urine inside the can.

[0018] In summary, without increasing the floor space occupied by storage cabinets, this method achieves independent control of each subject's urine collection container through structural design and information management, eliminating the possibility of subject misoperation and ensuring the accuracy of the one-to-one mapping between subjects and samples. Simultaneously, it introduces automatic weighing and stirring functions to reduce the workload of nurses in handling samples and improve sampling efficiency. Specifically, it uses a drawer-type refrigerator as the base, assigning each subject an independent refrigerator drawer. Authorized access through automatic control technology and an information management system, each subject can only open their own refrigerator drawer and operate their own urine container. Then, through automatic detection and control technology, the urine is weighed and stirred at appropriate times.

[0019] Furthermore: 1. The storage cabinet has several independent drawers, opening from the front, with a temperature control range of 2℃~5℃. 2. Each drawer has an independent door control system, specifically including guide rails, electric push rods, mechanical limit switches, and current limit switches. Each drawer contains a urine container support, with two weighing sensors and a stirring system located below the support. 3. The stirring system output shaft has a straight groove and is driven by a low-speed worm gear motor, with its axis vertical and concentric with the urine container support. 4. The urine container has a set volume greater than 3.5L, with an outwardly protruding or folded edge at the top to support its weight, and a stirring paddle at the bottom driven by a power shaft extending downwards from the bottom of the container. 5. The power shaft rotates at a relatively slow speed, and an elastic O-ring is provided between it and the urine container to achieve a rotary seal. 6. The bottom of the power shaft uses a straight spline, suspended in the Z-axis direction, and cooperates with the stirring system of the drawer through an electromagnetically controlled vertical sliding spline sleeve, which can transmit torque but does not bear gravity, thus not affecting the accuracy of weighing. 7. A self-sealing sampling hole is provided on the side of the bottom of the urine container. 8. The urine container has a handle and a lid. 9. The storage cabinet has a touchscreen industrial control computer as the operating and control host computer, installed above the highest drawer, with an NFC card reader for easy user login and connection to the research ward database. 10. The storage cabinet has three levels of access control: doctor, nurse, and subject.

[0020] The refrigerated storage cabinet has a temperature control range of 2℃ to 5℃, significantly lower and narrower than the common temperature control range of 2℃ to 8℃. Using drawers instead of common hinged doors, divided into 8 independent units (drawers), and integrated with independent workstations, significantly reduces the floor space occupied by the storage cabinet, lowers mechanical complexity, and improves equipment reliability. The storage cabinet dimensions in the solution are 1180 (L) * 780 (W) * 1780 (H) mm, with the 8 workstations arranged in a 2 (L) * 4 (W) configuration. Each independent workstation has access permissions for each subject to prevent misoperation. Its main functions include an independent and reliable door control system, a stable connection for holding urine containers, automatic and accurate weighing of urine containers, and automatic stirring of urine containers. The mechanical system of each independent workstation includes the drawer and its internal integrated support system, driven by a precision electric push rod, enabling the automatic extension and retraction of the entire drawer. To ensure a sealed drawer upon retraction and prevent cold air leakage, a position switch and a current limit switch are added to the precise control of the electric push rod's position. This not only reduces the risk of overload but also creates a double closed loop of position and force, precisely achieving a sealed drawer closure. The support system also features a ring-shaped support for the urine container, precisely fitting the inverted frustum-shaped container. This guides the container during placement and provides stable support after loading. Two high-precision cantilevered single-point load cells are installed below the ring-shaped support to measure the total weight of the support and the urine container, obtaining accurate urine weight information by calculating the difference. An embedded torque output source is located below the support system. Due to the low required stirring speed, a worm gear motor is used in conjunction with the stirring head. The stirring head and the urine container's stirring paddle shaft transmit torque without supporting its weight, thus maintaining weighing accuracy. This design also facilitates easy disengagement and replacement of the urine container.

[0021] The disposable urine container has a capacity of 3.5L. Its main functions include filling, sampling, mixing, and placement. Considering the process requirements of mold production, the container features an inverted frustum design for easy demolding and stacking, reducing storage space. Combined with the independent workstation's internal space structure, the container has a relatively flat and wide design, with a height of 213mm, a bottom diameter of 190mm, and a top diameter of 210mm. Reinforcing ribs allow it to be directly placed on a ring-shaped support for weight-bearing and stability. Mounting holes are located at both ends of the reinforcing ribs for securing the handle, facilitating placement and positioning of the container circumferentially. The container has a snap-on lid that can be manually opened and closed to easily seal the urine, preventing spillage and odor spread. To facilitate syringe sampling, a sampling port is located on the side of the bottom of the urine container, facing the same direction as the handle mounting hole. Thanks to the circumferential positioning of the handle, the sampling port can be exposed at an easily accessible angle. Sampling can be performed from the side simply by pushing the container out of the station, without the need for prior operations such as removing the urine container or opening the lid. The sampling port also features a double-layered soft silicone plug, ensuring a seal even after needle removal to prevent leakage. A stirring paddle is mounted on the bottom of the urine container, with its shaft passing through the bottom and connecting to the stirring head. A rotary sealing device is installed at the through-hole, allowing the stirring head to drive the stirring action while ensuring a seal on the bottom of the urine container during shaft rotation. The disposable urine container and station support are designed for easy placement and removal, and also facilitate cleaning up any accidental spillage from the subject.

[0022] To ensure convenient information management and human-computer interaction, the main control system of the fully automated urine storage cabinet uses a 15.6-inch industrial control tablet computer as the host computer. This provides an easy-to-understand and familiar user experience, reducing reliance on subject training. The computer is installed high up in the storage cabinet for easy operation. The slave computer uses a multi-axis data acquisition card and motion control card to achieve real-time acquisition of data from various sensors and precise control of the position status and stirring action of each station. Through self-developed application software, the host computer transmits instructions to the slave computer and establishes a database and various levels of operation management permissions. The control system consists of the host computer's industrial tablet computer communicating in parallel with the slave computer's motion control card, data acquisition card, and NFC card reader. The motion control card controls the push rod motor and the stirring motor with an electromagnetic coil drive mechanism for each drawer. The data acquisition card connects to the weighing sensor, current sensor, and position sensor. The operation flow and permission hierarchy of the main control system are as follows: Subject permission flow: Subject swipes card, corresponding workstation pops out, subject urinates, subject touches the screen to control the closing of drawers or opening doors. This is achieved by using an electric actuator with elastic support at the head and forward sliding short-circuiting the drawer, and the door-closing switch activated only when the drawer is opened by overcoming the elastic support force. This enables pushing and closing doors, retracting workstations, weighing and recording, and ending the process. Nurse permission flow: Nurse swipes card, touches to select a number, corresponding workstation automatically stirs, corresponding workstation automatically pops out, nurse samples, nurse touches the screen to control the opening and closing of drawers or opening doors. This is achieved by using an electric actuator with elastic support at the head and forward sliding short-circuiting the drawer, and the door-closing switch activated only when the drawer is opened by overcoming the elastic support force. This enables pushing and closing doors, retracting workstations, weighing and recording, and ending the process. Doctor permission flow: Doctor swipes card, views records, exports to USB drive, and ends the process.

[0023] After adopting the above technical solution, this novel integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research has the advantages of enabling efficient and error-free integrated collection, storage and sampling of urine samples for research, preventing deterioration and odor leakage through sealed refrigeration, avoiding sampling errors through automatic stirring, preventing urine odor leakage from the tank during sealed sampling, and monitoring urine sample volume at any time. It significantly improves the efficiency of urine sample storage and greatly reduces the manual workload of management. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research of this utility model. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electric bottomless drawer and its auxiliary parts of the integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research of this utility model. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the urine tank of the integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research of this utility model. Figure 4 yes Figure 2 An inward view of the position of a cantilevered single-point load cell. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the control system of the integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research of this utility model. Figure 6 This is a schematic flowchart of the access control system of the integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Example 1, as Figure 1-4As shown, this utility model of an integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research consists of a refrigerated storage cabinet 1 with multiple parallel electrically operated bottomless drawers 2, each equipped with a sealed, insulated front panel. Each drawer 2 contains a urine storage tank 3 supported by an electronic scale. The disposable urine storage tank 3, equipped with a sealed cap 30 and a handle 31, has a stirring paddle 4 at its bottom. Below the urine storage tank 3 on the support, within the electrically operated bottomless drawer 2, is a stirring mechanism that drives the stirring paddle 4 and, at least in a non-stirring state, does not contact the urine storage tank 3. The lower side wall of the urine storage tank 3 has a self-sealing sampling port 32. A corresponding sampling hand port 22 is located on one side panel of the electrically operated bottomless drawer 2. The refrigerated storage cabinet 1 is equipped with a main control system connected to a research database, which controls the electrically operated bottomless drawer 2, its electronic scale, and the stirring mechanism corresponding to the urine storage tank 3 based on the urine sample identification information collected or recorded. The sealed, insulated front panel is a panel body with a heat-insulating material layer sandwiched between the front panel and a concave elastic sealing ring buffer self-priming frame on the outer periphery of the back panel body, corresponding to the outer edge of the drawer opening. The storage cabinet is designed to prevent urine fermentation, ensuring stable urine storage and preventing gas leakage. The bottomless drawer facilitates air circulation, preventing icing and minimizing internal temperature differences. This allows for a closer temperature range (closer to 0°C) and a narrower temperature control range, further enhancing the protection against fermentation and extending shelf life. Compared to freezing, it is less prone to spoilage. An electronic scale holder allows for easy weighing of the urine tanks, providing data for research. Disposable urine tanks with sealing caps and handles prevent odor and leakage, especially during stirring, and the handles facilitate easy access and can be used directly as a collection container. The disposable urine storage tank has a stirring paddle at the bottom and an electric bottomless drawer located on the support below the urine storage tank. A stirring mechanism, which drives the stirring paddle and is at least non-contact with the urine storage tank in the non-stirring state, facilitates pre-sampling before urine sample collection, ensuring thorough mixing and minimizing sampling errors. A self-sealing sampling port is located on the lower side wall of the urine storage tank, and a corresponding sampling handpiece is located on one side panel of the electric bottomless drawer. This allows the needle of the sampling syringe to pierce the self-sealing sampling port through the sampling handpiece for sample collection. The main control system of the refrigerated storage cabinet controls the electric bottomless drawer, electronic scale, and stirring mechanism of the urine storage tank corresponding to the urine sample based on the collected or recorded urine sample identification information. This allows the main control system to collect or record the urine sample identification information when the sample is placed in the storage tank, perform corresponding storage management, push out the electric bottomless drawer corresponding to the urine sample identification information, place the sample in the storage tank for weighing, and record the urine weight after tareing under the urine sample identification information.When sampling is required, the main control system first operates the stirring drive mechanism of the urine storage tank to mix the samples thoroughly. Then, an electric bottomless drawer is pushed out, and a sampling syringe is used for needle puncture sampling. After sampling, the electric bottomless drawer is pulled back into its original position. The sample is then weighed, and the system records the weight of the remaining urine sample in the storage tank and the sample weight, thus achieving efficient management. It features integrated, error-free storage and sampling management of urine samples for research purposes; airtight refrigeration prevents spoilage and odor leakage; automatic stirring avoids sampling errors; sealed sampling prevents urine odor leakage; and real-time monitoring of urine sample levels. It significantly improves urine sample storage efficiency while greatly reducing the manual workload of storage and retrieval.

[0026] Specifically, the self-sealing sampling port 32 is a sampling hole formed on the lower part of the side wall of the urine storage tank 3, and the sampling hole is sealed with an ampoule rubber stopper; the urine storage tank 3 support is located in the front part of the electric bottomless drawer 2 near a side panel, and the side panel has a sampling hand opening 22 corresponding to the area of ​​the self-sealing sampling port. Preferably, the urine storage tank support and the urine storage tank are circumferentially positioned supports, so that after the urine storage tank is placed normally, the self-sealing sampling port and the sampling hand opening are aligned. The circumferential positioning support is provided with interlocking clips and grooves on the support contact surfaces between the urine storage tank support and the urine storage tank. More specifically, an external threaded tube extends outward from the outer peripheral wall of the sampling hole, and the protruding part of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper is inserted into the sampling hole. The internal threaded cap that is screwed into the external threaded tube squeezes and seals the rear flange of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper at the end of the external threaded tube.

[0027] Specifically, the disposable urine storage tank 3 is an open-top, frustum-shaped plastic urine storage tank 3; the bottom wall of the disposable plastic urine storage tank 3 is sealed and hinged with the lower extension shaft 41 of the stirring paddle 4, and an electric mechanism 44 is provided below the urine storage tank 3 on the support. The upper end of the upper extension shaft of the electric mechanism 44 and the lower end of the lower extension shaft 41 above it are driven by a temporary transmission mechanism that is only connected during stirring. Alternatively, the disposable plastic urine storage tank may have a magnetically driven stirring paddle with built-in ferrous or magnetic material at the bottom, and the stirring drive mechanism is an electromagnetic stirring driver that drives the magnetically driven stirring paddle non-contactly through an electromagnetic field; the magnetically driven stirring paddle is placed at the bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank, or a vertical circular shaft is provided at the center of the bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank, and a vertical circular hole is provided at the center of the magnetically driven stirring paddle that fits with the vertical circular shaft. More specifically, the temporary transmission mechanism has a transmission key at the lower end of the lower extension shaft 41, and a vertical sliding key sleeve 40 that is circumferentially fitted on the upper extension shaft and is driven by the transmission key end of the lower extension shaft 41. A permanent magnet is provided below the vertical sliding key sleeve 40. An electromagnetic coil drive mechanism that starts and stops synchronously with the electric mechanism 44 on the periphery of the upper extension shaft is provided. The electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil drive mechanism is used to repel the permanent magnet upward, so that the vertical sliding key sleeve 40 overcomes its own gravity and moves upward to engage with the transmission key end of the lower extension shaft 41.

[0028] Specifically, the disposable urine storage tank 3 is a frustum-shaped plastic urine storage tank 3 with an open top and an upper convex ring. The support ring 5 of the urine storage tank 3 is a support ring 5 supported below the upper convex ring. The support ring 5 is installed inside the electric bottomless drawer 2 by two (or three circumferentially evenly distributed) symmetrical cantilever single-point weighing sensors 6 and their auxiliary supports. The stirring drive mechanism is installed on the bottom crossbar 71 below the urine storage tank 3 support inside the electric bottomless drawer 2. More specifically, the auxiliary supports include end support frames 72 fixed to the two side plates inside the electric bottomless drawer 2. The two end support frames 72 are then fixed downward to one end of the bottom crossbar 71 by T-shaped support frames 73. The other end of the bottom crossbar 71 is fixed to the inside of the front panel of the electric bottomless drawer 2. The end support frames 72 support the outer base end of the extended cantilever single-point weighing sensor 6 upward, and the extended end of the cantilever single-point weighing sensor 6 is connected to the support ring 5.

[0029] Specifically, the temperature control range of the refrigerated storage cabinet 1 is 2-5℃. An electric push-pull mechanism, horizontally parallel to the urine storage tank 3 support, is configured between the corresponding part of the electric bottomless drawer 2 and the inner body of the refrigerated storage cabinet 1. The electric bottomless drawer 2 is located at the front of the refrigerated storage cabinet 1, and a display screen 8 of the main control system and a card reader are located above and in front of the electric bottomless drawer 2. More specifically, the electric push-pull mechanism is an electric push rod. The base 9 of the electric push rod is hinged to the corresponding part of the inner body of the refrigerated storage cabinet 1, and the body 91 of the electric push rod passes through the inner panel of the electric bottomless drawer 2 along one side plate and is fixed to the inner side of the front panel of the electric bottomless drawer 2 away from the urine storage tank 3 support. The main control system has three levels of access control: doctor, nurse, and subject, for three-level coordinated management. Further specifically, the inner panel of the electric bottomless drawer 2 has a through hole 90 through which the electric push rod body 91 passes. A sealing partition sleeve 72-1 is provided between the inner wall of the through hole 90 and the side plate and front panel. The sealing partition sleeve 72-1, being in the same position as the end support frame 72, can replace the end support frame 72. The electric actuator is equipped with a limit switch and a current limiting switch. A limit switch at the rear stop position is used for closing, and a current limiting switch is located near the front of the rear stop position to ensure the drawer closes gently. This allows the concave elastic sealing ring to buffer the self-priming frame, which is slowly compressed, allowing for proper release of air from the gaps and achieving a secure closing. Furthermore, the slow closing prevents strong closing vibrations, extending the equipment's lifespan and preventing unnecessary contamination of the inner surface of the tank lid and the upper part of the tank caused by urine vibrations.

[0030] The details are as follows: Without increasing the floor space occupied by storage cabinets, through mechanical design and information management, independent control of the subjects' urine storage tanks is achieved, eliminating the possibility of subject misoperation and ensuring the accuracy of the one-to-one mapping between subjects and samples. Simultaneously, automatic weighing and automatic stirring functions are introduced to reduce the workload of nurses in handling samples and improve sampling efficiency. Specifically, a drawer-type refrigerator is used as the base, with each subject assigned an independent refrigerator drawer. Authorized access is granted through automatic control technology and an information management system, allowing each subject to only open their own refrigerator drawer and operate their own urine tank. Automatic detection and control technologies then weigh and stir the urine at appropriate times.

[0031] Furthermore: 1. The storage cabinet has several independent drawers, opening from the front, with a temperature control range of 2℃~5℃. 2. Each drawer has an independent door control system, specifically including guide rails, electric push rods, mechanical limit switches, and current limit switches. Each drawer contains a urine container support, with two weighing sensors and a stirring system located below the support. 3. The stirring system output shaft has a straight groove and is driven by a low-speed worm gear motor, with its axis vertical and concentric with the urine container support. 4. The urine container has a set volume greater than 3.5L, with an outwardly protruding or folded edge at the top to support its weight, and a stirring paddle at the bottom driven by a power shaft extending downwards from the bottom of the container. 5. The power shaft rotates at a relatively slow speed, and an elastic O-ring is provided between it and the urine container to achieve a rotary seal. 6. The bottom of the power shaft uses a straight spline, suspended in the Z-axis direction, and cooperates with the stirring system of the drawer through an electromagnetically controlled vertical sliding spline sleeve, which can transmit torque but does not bear gravity, thus not affecting the accuracy of weighing. 7. A self-sealing sampling hole is provided on the side of the bottom of the urine container. 8. The urine container has a handle and a lid. 9. The storage cabinet has a touchscreen industrial control computer as the operating and control host computer, installed above the highest drawer, with an NFC card reader for easy user login and connection to the research ward database. 10. The storage cabinet has three levels of access control: doctor, nurse, and subject.

[0032] The refrigerated storage cabinet has a temperature control range of 2℃ to 5℃, significantly lower and narrower than the common temperature control range of 2℃ to 8℃. Using drawers instead of common hinged doors, divided into 8 independent units (drawers), and integrated with independent workstations, significantly reduces the floor space occupied by the storage cabinet, lowers mechanical complexity, and improves equipment reliability. The storage cabinet dimensions in the solution are 1180 (L) * 780 (W) * 1780 (H) mm, with the 8 workstations arranged in a 2 (L) * 4 (W) configuration. Each independent workstation has access permissions for each subject to prevent misoperation. Its main functions include an independent and reliable door control system, a stable connection for holding urine containers, automatic and accurate weighing of urine containers, and automatic stirring of urine containers. The mechanical system of each independent workstation includes the drawer and its internal integrated support system, driven by a precision electric push rod, enabling the automatic extension and retraction of the entire drawer. To ensure a sealed drawer upon retraction and prevent cold air leakage, a position switch and a current limit switch are added to the precise control of the electric push rod's position. This not only reduces the risk of overload but also creates a double closed loop of position and force, precisely achieving a sealed drawer closure. The support system also features a ring-shaped support for the urine container, precisely fitting the inverted frustum-shaped container. This guides the container during placement and provides stable support after loading. Two high-precision cantilevered single-point load cells are installed below the ring-shaped support to measure the total weight of the support and the urine container, obtaining accurate urine weight information by calculating the difference. An embedded torque output source is located below the support system. Due to the low required stirring speed, a worm gear motor is used in conjunction with the stirring head. The stirring head and the urine container's stirring paddle shaft transmit torque without supporting its weight, thus maintaining weighing accuracy. This design also facilitates easy disengagement and replacement of the urine container.

[0033] The disposable urine container has a capacity of 3.5L. Its main functions include filling, sampling, mixing, and placement. Considering the process requirements of mold production, the container features an inverted frustum design for easy demolding and stacking, reducing storage space. Combined with the independent workstation's internal space structure, the container has a relatively flat and wide design, with a height of 213mm, a bottom diameter of 190mm, and a top diameter of 210mm. Reinforcing ribs allow it to be directly placed on a ring-shaped support for weight-bearing and stability. Mounting holes are located at both ends of the reinforcing ribs for securing the handle, facilitating placement and positioning of the container circumferentially. The container has a snap-on lid that can be manually opened and closed to easily seal the urine, preventing spillage and odor spread. To facilitate syringe sampling, a sampling port is located on the side of the bottom of the urine container, facing the same direction as the handle mounting hole. Thanks to the circumferential positioning of the handle, the sampling port can be exposed at an easily accessible angle. Sampling can be performed from the side simply by pushing the container out of the station, without the need for prior operations such as removing the urine container or opening the lid. The sampling port also features a double-layered soft silicone plug, ensuring a seal even after needle removal to prevent leakage. A stirring paddle is mounted on the bottom of the urine container, with its shaft passing through the bottom and connecting to the stirring head. A rotary sealing device is installed at the through-hole, allowing the stirring head to drive the stirring action while ensuring a seal on the bottom of the urine container during shaft rotation. The disposable urine container and station support are designed for easy placement and removal, and also facilitate cleaning up any accidental spillage from the subject.

[0034] To ensure convenient information management and human-computer interaction, the main control system of the fully automated urine storage cabinet uses a 15.6-inch industrial control tablet computer as the host computer, aiming for an easy-to-understand and familiar user experience, reducing reliance on subject training. The computer is installed high up in the storage cabinet for easy operation. The slave computer uses a multi-axis data acquisition card and motion control card to achieve real-time acquisition of various sensors and precise control of the position status and stirring actions of each station. Through self-developed application software, the host computer transmits instructions to the slave computer, and establishes a database and various levels of operation management permissions. The control system consists of, for example... Figure 5 The diagram shows the parallel communication between the upper-level industrial tablet computer and the lower-level computer's motion control card, data acquisition card, and NFC reader. The motion control card controls the push rod motor and the stirring motor with an electromagnetic coil drive mechanism for each drawer. The data acquisition card connects to the weighing sensor, current sensor, and position sensor. The operating procedures and access control levels of the main control system are as follows: Figure 5As shown, the patient's access control process involves the patient swiping their card, the corresponding workstation popping out, the patient emptying their urine container, and the patient touching the screen to close or open a drawer. This is achieved through an electric actuator with elastic support at the head and a forward sliding connection to the drawer. The door-closing switch, activated only when the drawer is opened against the elastic support force, closes the door, retracts the workstation, records weight, and ends the process. The nurse's access control process involves the nurse swiping their card, selecting a workstation, automatic stirring at the corresponding workstation, the corresponding workstation popping out, the nurse taking a sample, and touching the screen to open or close a drawer. This is achieved through an electric actuator with elastic support at the head and a forward sliding connection to the drawer. The door-closing switch, activated only when the drawer is opened against the elastic support force, closes the door, retracts the workstation, records weight, and ends the process. The doctor's access control process involves the doctor swiping their card, viewing records, exporting to a USB drive, and ending the process.

[0035] In summary, this novel integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research has the advantages of enabling efficient and error-free collection, storage, and sampling of urine samples for research purposes; preventing spoilage and odor leakage through sealed refrigeration; avoiding sampling errors through automatic stirring; preventing urine odor leakage from the container during sealed sampling; and monitoring urine sample volume at any time. It significantly improves the efficiency of urine sample storage and greatly reduces the manual workload of management.

Claims

1. An integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research, characterized in that... The refrigerated storage cabinet is equipped with multiple parallel electrically operated bottomless drawers, each with a sealed, insulated front panel. Each drawer contains a urine storage tank support for an electronic scale. A disposable urine storage tank with a sealed cap and handle has a stirring paddle at its bottom. Below the urine storage tank on the support, a stirring mechanism is located within the electrically operated bottomless drawer, which drives the stirring paddle and is at least non-contact with the urine storage tank in the non-stirring state. A self-sealing sampling port is located on the lower part of the side wall of the urine storage tank. A corresponding sampling port is located on one side panel of the electrically operated bottomless drawer. The main control system of the refrigerated storage cabinet, connected to a research database, controls the electrically operated bottomless drawer, its electronic scale, and the stirring mechanism of the urine storage tank corresponding to the urine sample based on the urine sample identification information it collects or records.

2. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 1, characterized in that... The self-sealing sampling port is a sampling hole made on the lower part of the side wall of the urine storage tank, and the sampling hole is sealed with an ampoule rubber stopper; the urine storage tank support is located in the front part of the electric bottomless drawer near one side panel, and the side panel is provided with a sampling hand opening corresponding to the area of ​​the self-sealing sampling port.

3. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 2, characterized in that... An extension tube extends outward from the outer peripheral wall of the sampling hole. The front extension tube of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper is inserted into the sampling hole, and the ring cap that is fastened to the extension tube squeezes and seals the rear flange of the T-shaped ampoule rubber stopper at the end of the extension tube.

4. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 1, characterized in that... The disposable urine storage tank is a frustum-shaped plastic urine storage tank with an open top; The bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank is equipped with a magnetically driven stirring paddle with built-in ferrous or magnetic material. The stirring drive mechanism is an electromagnetic stirring driver that drives the magnetically driven stirring paddle in a non-contact manner through an electromagnetic field. Alternatively, the bottom wall of the disposable plastic urine storage tank is sealed and hinged with the lower extension shaft of the stirring paddle. An electric mechanism is provided below the urine storage tank on the support. The upper end of the upper extension shaft of the electric mechanism is driven by the lower end of the lower extension shaft above it through a temporary transmission mechanism that is only connected during stirring.

5. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 4, characterized in that... The magnetic drive stirring paddle is placed at the bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank or the bottom of the disposable plastic urine storage tank has a vertical circular shaft facing upwards, and the center of the magnetic drive stirring paddle has a vertical circular hole that fits with the vertical circular shaft. The temporary transmission mechanism consists of a transmission key at the lower end of the lower extension shaft, and a vertical sliding key sleeve that is circumferentially fitted onto the upper extension shaft, with its upper end engaging with the transmission key end of the lower extension shaft. A permanent magnet is located below the vertical sliding key sleeve. An electromagnetic coil drive mechanism that starts and stops synchronously with the electric mechanism on the periphery of the upper extension shaft is provided. The electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil drive mechanism is used to repel the permanent magnet upward, causing the vertical sliding key sleeve to overcome its own gravity and move upward to engage with the transmission key end of the lower extension shaft.

6. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 1, characterized in that... The disposable urine storage tank is a frustum-shaped plastic urine storage tank with an open top and an upper convex ring. The urine storage tank support is a support ring supported under the upper convex ring. The support ring is installed in an electric bottomless drawer by two or three circumferentially evenly distributed cantilever single-point weighing sensors and their attached supports. The stirring drive mechanism is installed on the bottom crossbar below the urine storage tank support in the electric bottomless drawer.

7. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 6, characterized in that... The auxiliary support includes end support frames fixed to the two inner side panels of the electric bottomless drawer. The two end support frames are then fixed downward to one end of the bottom crossbar through a T-shaped support frame, and the other end of the bottom crossbar is fixed to the inner side of the front panel of the electric bottomless drawer.

8. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 1, characterized in that... The temperature control range of the refrigerated storage cabinet is 2-5℃. The electric bottomless drawer is connected to the corresponding part of the inner body of the refrigerated storage cabinet by an electric push-pull mechanism that is horizontally parallel to the urine storage tank support. The electric bottomless drawer is located at the front of the refrigerated storage cabinet, and the display screen and card reader of the main control system are located above the electric bottomless drawer.

9. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 8, characterized in that... The electric push-pull mechanism is an electric push rod. The base of the electric push rod is hinged to the corresponding part inside the refrigerated storage cabinet. The body of the electric push rod passes through the inner panel of the electric bottomless drawer along one side plate and is fixed to the inner side of the front panel of the electric bottomless drawer away from the urine storage tank bracket. The main control system has three levels of access control: doctor, nurse, and subject.

10. The integrated urine collection and storage device for medical research according to claim 9, characterized in that... The inner panel of the electric bottomless drawer has a through hole through which the body of the power supply push rod passes. A sealing partition sleeve is provided between the inner wall of the through hole and the side panel and the front panel. The electric push rod is equipped with a limit switch and a current limiting switch.

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