Collection apparatus

Abstract

A bodily discharge collection apparatus 20 comprising; a collection receptacle 22 and a container 24 removably attached to the receptacle. The receptacle and container are configured to guide bodily d

Description

The invention relates to a bodily discharge collection apparatus, particularly a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus. 5 A person experiencing or at risk of miscarriage may experience vaginal bleeding, passing of tissue from their vagina and more blood clots than usual. Typically, they are advised to collect and store any miscarriage discharge in a container for subsequent examination by a medical professional. The process of collecting and storing the 10 miscarriage discharge can be stressful and traumatic to the person, particularly due to the amount of manual handling involved. Accordingly, the invention seeks to reduce the stress and trauma experienced by the person by simplifying the collection and storage process. 15 According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a bodily discharge collection apparatus comprising: a collection receptacle configured to, in use, receive bodily discharge from a user; and 20 a container removably attached to the collection receptacle at a lowermost location of the collection receptacle, wherein the container is configured to be suspended from the collection receptacle when removably attached to the collection receptacle, wherein the collection receptacle and container are configured to, in use, guide 25 at least part of the bodily discharge from the collection receptacle into the container, and wherein the container includes at least one first filter configured to, in use, permit one part of the bodily discharge to exit the container while preventing another part of the bodily discharge from exiting the container, wherein the at least one filter includes filter holes located in a floor of the container, 30 wherein the bodily discharge collection apparatus includes one or more support members configured to, in use, support the collection receptacle in, on or over a toilet. The configuration of the invention results in a bodily discharge collection apparatus that automatically collects bodily discharge in a container, which is easily removed 35 from the collection receptacle for subsequent storage and, if needed, examination by a medical professional. This obviates or minimises the need to manually handle and move the bodily discharge from the collection receptacle to a separate container not forming part of the bodily discharge collection apparatus. Such manual handling and 05 06 25 moving of bodily discharge, either by hand or by using a tool, can be difficult and stressful for the user, especially if the user is required to sift through the bodily discharge in order to separate the wanted bodily discharge from the unwanted bodily discharge. 5 In addition, the provision of the at least one first filter in the container helps to ensure that the wanted bodily discharge is collected in the container while allowing the unwanted bodily discharge to exit the container. This in turns avoids the need for the user to manually separate the wanted and unwanted bodily discharge collected in a 10 container. The invention may be used in a healthcare setting by a medical professional or by a user with the help of a medical professional. The invention may be used in a domestic setting by a user, who may or may not be a medical professional. 15 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bodily discharge collection apparatus is a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus. The collection receptacle may be configured to, in use, receive miscarriage discharge from the user. The collection receptacle and container may be configured to, in use, guide at least part of the 20 miscarriage discharge into the container. The invention is particularly helpful to miscarriage patients experiencing a stressful time by eliminating or minimising the amount of manual handling required to collect the miscarriage discharge in the container. Furthermore, the container may be used as a burial container for any embryonic or fetal tissue, if desired by the user. 25 In embodiments of the invention, the collection receptacle may include at least one second filter configured to, in use, permit one part of the bodily discharge to exit the collection receptacle while preventing another part of the bodily discharge from exiting the collection receptacle. Configuring the collection receptacle in this manner helps 30 unwanted bodily discharge to leave the collection receptacle before it reaches the container. The container may consist of a single chamber. Alternatively, the container may be divided into a plurality of compartments by at least one third filter. The or each third 35 filter may be configured to permit one part of the bodily discharge to pass therethrough while preventing another part of the bodily discharge from passing therethrough. 05 06 25 Different third filters may be configured to permit different sizes of matter to pass therethrough so as to enable each compartment to receive and store differently sized bodily discharge, which may vary depending on the stage of miscarriage or type of miscarriage discharge. This enables automatic allocation of differently sized bodily 5 discharge to different compartments of the container while enabling unwanted bodily discharge to leave the container. The or each third filter may be integral to the container. Alternatively, the or each third filter may be removable from the container. In such embodiments, the container 10 may be configured to temporarily locate the or each third filter at a predetermined depth inside the container in a variety of ways. The container may include at least one protrusion (e.g. rib or ridge) or at least one opening (e.g. slot or groove) to engage the or each third filter and thereby locate the or each third filter at a predetermined depth inside the container. The container may be tapered so that a size of the or each 15 third filter relative to the taper of the container determines the height at which the or each third filter is located inside the container. The one part of the bodily discharge may include urine. The another part of the bodily discharge may include body tissue such as blood clots and embryonic or fetal tissue. 20 The configuration of the or each filter may vary. The or each filter may include filter holes. The or each filter may include elongate filter holes. The or each filter may include filter holes, wherein a width or diameter of each filter hole may be equal to or larger than 2 mm. The or each filter may include a combination of elongate and round 25 filter holes. Preferably the bodily discharge collection apparatus is used in combination with a toilet, which may be a fixed bathroom fixture or may be a portable toilet such as a commode, a chamber pot or a bedpan. Preferably the bodily discharge collection apparatus 30 includes one or more support members configured to, in use, support the collection receptacle in, on or over a front end of a toilet. Non-limiting examples of a support member include a rim, an overhang, an anchor, a gripper or a fastening band. The collection receptacle is preferably concave in shape. For example, the collection 35 receptacle may be in the shape of a bowl. 05 06 25 The collection receptacle and container may be configured in a variety of ways to improve the manner in which at least part of the bodily discharge is guided into the container. 5 A lip of the container may be flush with, or lower than, a floor of the collection receptacle. In a third non-limiting example, the collection receptacle may include a sloped surface to, in use, guide at least part of the bodily discharge into the container. 10 In a fourth non-limiting example, the container may include a sloped lip to, in use, guide at least part of the bodily discharge into the container. In some embodiments of the invention, the container may have a fixed volume. In 15 other embodiments of the invention, the container may have an adjustable volume. The container may be adjustable in length, width and / or height in order to adjust its volume. The container may have a telescopic container body, a foldable container body or a collapsible container body. 20 In embodiments of the invention, the bodily discharge collection apparatus may further include a lid for closing the container. The lid may be configured to permit closing of the container by the lid when the container is still attached to the collection receptacle. Alternatively, the lid may be configured to permit closing of the container by the lid only after the container is removed from the collection receptacle. The lid may be 25 opaque. In further embodiments of the invention, the container may include a handle operable to remove the container from the collection receptacle. The handle may be in the form of a ridge or rib on a surface of the container. Alternatively, the handle may be in the 30 form of a loop handle. Further alternatively, the handle may be in the form of a lipped edge of the container. The container may include a single handle or a plurality of handles. Preferably a thickness of a handle is equal to or less than 2 mm. This is to avoid the handle from obstructing the flow of bodily discharge into the container. 35 Preferably the container includes a cylindrical container body. Other shapes of the container body, such as polygonal container bodies, are envisaged. Preferably the container includes a rigid container body. 05 06 25 The bodily discharge collection apparatus may include at least one fastener (e.g. a lock, latch or bayonet connector) to secure the container to the collection receptacle. The container may include a screw thread that is threadingly engaged with a 5 corresponding screw thread of the collection receptacle. The material of the container may vary in type and number. The container may be made of a single material or a composite material. The container may be made of or may include at least one of: 10 • a natural material; • a biodegradable material; • a sterile material; • an antibacterial material; • an antimicrobial material; 15 • an opaque material; • a material having a light or neutral colour (e.g. white, grey, beige, cream). The container may be coated with a protective coating. The protective coating may be at least one of the following: a sterile coating, an antibacterial coating; an antimicrobial 20 coating; an opaque coating. The bodily discharge collection apparatus may include a single container or a plurality of containers. The plurality of containers may include the container and at least one replacement container. The or each replacement container may be removably 25 attachable to the collection receptacle. The ability to replace the container with one or more replacement containers is particularly beneficial to a user that requires multiple uses of the bodily discharge collection apparatus at different times. Thus, the bodily discharge from each use of the bodily discharge collection apparatus can be stored in a respective separate container, instead of reusing the same container. 30 In embodiments of the invention, the plurality of containers may be configurable as a stack of containers. The ability to stack the containers allows for ease of storage and transport of the containers. 35 In further embodiments of the invention, the collection receptacle may be foldable or collapsible. This allows the user to reconfigure the collection receptacle to a more compact form that not only is more easily carried but also is more discreet when it comes to storage and transport. 05 06 25 In still further embodiments of the invention, the bodily discharge collection apparatus may include a thermally insulated storage unit for holding the container. This allows the contents of the container to be kept at a stable desired temperature during storage 5 and transport, thereby maintain the integrity of the contents of the container. There is provided a kit of parts for a bodily discharge collection apparatus, the kit of parts comprising a collection receptacle, a container and at least one first filter, wherein the collection receptacle, the container and the at least one first filter are combinable 10 to form the bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the first aspect of the invention and its embodiments. The features and advantages of the first aspect of the invention and its embodiments apply mutatis mutandis to the second aspect of the invention and its embodiments. 15 It will be appreciated that the use of the terms "first" and "second", and the like, in this patent specification is merely intended to help distinguish between similar features, and is not intended to indicate the relative importance of one feature over another feature, unless otherwise specified. 20 Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, and the claims and / or the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all 25 embodiments and all features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. 30 Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 show a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus according to a 35 first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; 05 06 25 Figure 5 illustrates a removal of a container from a collection receptacle of the miscarriage discharge collection apparatus of Figures 1 to 3; and Figures 6 to 19 show various examples of containers for use in a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic form in the interests of clarity and conciseness. It will be appreciated that every embodiment is not pictured and that embodiments which are not included in the figures will nonetheless fall within the scope of the claims. The following embodiments of the invention are described with reference to a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus for receiving and collecting miscarriage discharge. It will be appreciated that the following embodiments of the invention apply mutatis mutandis to other types of bodily discharge collection apparatus. A miscarriage discharge collection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The miscarriage discharge collection apparatus 20 comprises a collection receptacle 22 and a container 24. The collection receptacle 22 is in the shape of a bowl. The miscarriage discharge apparatus 20 includes a support member 26 to support the collection receptacle 22 over a front end of a toilet and partially inside a toilet bowl at the front end of the toilet. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the support member 26 is in the form of a semicircular rim that is wider than, and sits on, a rim of the front end of the toilet. The semicircular rim may include one or more overhang members that extend downwards to grip the rim of the toilet in order to minimise movement of the collection receptacle 22. The semicircular rim may be sandwiched between the rim of the front end of the toilet and a toilet seat so as to secure the position of the collection receptacle 22. It will be appreciated that the collection receptacle 22 and the support member 26 may be shaped and sized differently depending on the shape, size and type of toilet used, so as to ensure that the collection receptacle 22 is secured to the toilet. 05 06 25 The container 24 has a cylindrical container body 28 with a circumferential lip 30 defining an access aperture 32 of the container 24. The container 24 of the invention preferably has a rigid container body 28. The cylindrical shape and rigidity of the 5 container body 28 is chosen for easier handling by a user. The container 24 is insertable into a correspondingly shaped opening at a lowermost location of a floor of the collection receptacle 22. The correspondingly shaped opening includes an annular inner shoulder portion 34. The lip 30 of the container 24 defines a flange that engages the inner shoulder portion 34 so that the inserted container 24 is suspended from the 10 collection receptacle 22. In addition, the inner shoulder portion 34 is recessed from the floor of the collection receptacle 22 so that an uppermost edge of the lip 30 of the inserted container 24 is flush with the floor of the collection receptacle 22. Other non-limiting examples of securing or fastening the container 24 to the collection 15 receptacle 22 are described throughout the specification. Hence, in use, the collection receptacle 22 is positioned to receive vaginal discharge and urine from a user. The vaginal discharge may include miscarriage discharge such as embryonic or fetal tissue or blood clots. The collection receptacle 22 may have a 20 volumetric capacity of up to 1.5 litres to accommodate varying amount of urine and miscarriage discharge. Since the collection receptacle 22 is located over the front end of the toilet and partially inside the toilet bowl at the front end of the toilet, any faecal matter bypasses the collection receptacle 22 and is directly discharged into the toilet. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments of the invention, the miscarriage 25 discharge collection apparatus may include an additional collection receptacle for collecting discharged faecal matter. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the miscarriage discharge collection apparatus 20. To direct the miscarriage discharge to the container 24, the floor of the collection 30 receptacle 22 is sloped towards the inserted container 24 so as to guide the miscarriage discharge into the container 24. Furthermore, the lip 30 of the container 24 is sloped to help guide the miscarriage discharge into the container 24. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention, the lip of the container may be flat, as shown in Figure 4. 35 The container 24 includes a first filter having filter holes 36 that are sized to permit urine to exit the container 24 while preventing the miscarriage discharge from exiting the container 24. The filter holes 36 are located in a floor of the container 24 and 05 06 25 optionally in the walls of the container 24. Figures 1 to 4 show containers 24 with filter holes 36 in the floor and walls, while Figure 5 shows a container 24 with filter holes 36 in the floor. In this way the container 24 is configured as a sieve insert. 5 The collection receptacle 22 also includes a second filter having filter holes 38 that are sized to permit urine to exit the collection receptacle 22 while preventing the miscarriage discharge from exiting the collection receptacle 22, thereby clearing some of the urine before it reaches the container 24. The filter holes 38 are located in a floor of the collection receptacle 22. In this way the collection receptacle 22 is configured io as a sieve. The filter holes 36,38 are preferably elongate filter holes to effectively sieve viscous liquids while preventing clogging of the filter holes 36,38. A length of each elongate filter hole may vary. A width of each elongate filter hole 36,38 may be equal to or 15 larger than 2 mm. The size of the filter hole may be selected so that the filters are capable of retaining miscarriage discharge arising from miscarriage events occurring at a specific time since the start of pregnancy, e.g. from four weeks onwards since the state of pregnancy. 20 The provision of the first and second filters prevents urine from over-accumulating inside the container 24, thereby effectively separating the miscarriage discharge from most, if not all, of the urine. As a result, there is little to no need for a user to manually separate the miscarriage discharge from the urine, either by hand or by using a tool. 25 After use, the container 24 may be removed from the collection receptacle 22 by lifting the container 24 or pushing the container 24 from underneath the collection receptacle 22, as shown in Figure 6. Optionally the container 24 may include at least one handle 40 that is operable to lift 30 the container 24 and thereby remove the container 24 from the collection receptacle 22, as shown in Figure 7. This helps the user avoid touching the miscarriage discharge contents of the container 24 when removing the container 24 from the collection receptacle 22. The handle 40 (or handles as the case may be) may be attached or integral to the lip of the container 24. The handle 40 may be in the form of a ridge or 35 rib, or in the form of a loop handle. Preferably the handle 40 is sufficiently small, e.g. having a thickness of 2 mm or less, so as to not block the miscarriage discharge from entering the container 24. 05 06 25 The miscarriage discharge collection apparatus 20 further includes a lid 42 for closing the container 24, as shown in Figure 8. The lid 42 is preferably opaque to conceal the contents of the container 24. The container 24 may be housed inside a storage unit 44 that is preferably opaque for discreet and hygienic storage (e.g. inside a 5 refrigerator) and waterproof to prevent any leakage during storage and transport. Additionally, the storage unit 44 may be thermally insulated to maintain the contents of the container 24 at a stable temperature during storage and transport. The miscarriage discharge collection apparatus 20 may include one or more 10 replacement containers 24, each of which is configured in the same manner as the aforementioned container 24. The user may need to use multiple containers 24 when using the miscarriage discharge collection apparatus 20 at different times. Thus, the miscarriage discharges from the different uses of the miscarriage discharge collection apparatus 20 are stored in different containers 24. 15 In other embodiments, one or more replacement containers 24 may be configured differently, e.g. to have a respective different volume, to have different sizes or types of filter holes. Non-limiting examples of variations of containers are described throughout the specification and may be used as the or each replacement container. 20 In the event that multiple containers 24 are used, the multiple containers 24 may be stackable on top of each other, as exemplarily shown in Figure 9. The storage unit may be configured to hold multiple containers 24. Figures 10 and 11 show non-limiting examples of storage units 44 for storing containers 24. The storage unit 44 of Figure 25 10 is sufficiently tall to store a stack of containers 24. The storage unit 44 of Figure 11 includes slots for receiving the containers 24 respectively. Furthermore, the container 24 may be used as a burial container 24 for any embryonic or fetal tissue, if desired by the user. 30 In the embodiment shown, the container 24 consists of a single chamber. In other embodiments of the invention, the container 24 may be divided into a plurality of compartments 46 by one or more third filters 48. For example, a single third filter 35 48 inserted inside the container 24 divides the container 24 into two compartments 46, as shown in Figure 12, while multiple third filters 48 inserted and spaced apart depth-wise inside the container 24 divides the container 24 into multiple compartments 46, as shown in Figure 13. The or each third filter 48 is configured to have filter holes 05 06 25 50 that are sized to permit urine to pass therethrough while preventing miscarriage discharge of a certain size from passing therethrough. When multiple third filters 48 are used, the multiple third filters 48 may have differently sized filter holes 50 so that miscarriage discharge matter of different sizes are automatically allocated to the 5 respective different compartments 46, while still allowing urine to exit the container 24. Such manner of collection further reduces the need for manual separation of the various types of miscarriage discharge. The or each third filter 48 may be integral to the container 24. Alternatively, the or 10 each third filter 48 may be removable from the container 24. For example, the or each third filter 48 may be configured as an insert, preferably a disc-shaped insert. The or each third filter 48 may be located at a predetermined depth inside the container 24 by a rib 52, ridge, slot or groove in the inner wall of the container 24, wherein the rib 52, ridge, slot or groove engages the or each third filter 48 in order to locate the or 15 each third filter 48 at a predetermined depth inside the container 24, as shown in Figures 14 and 15. Additionally or alternatively, the container 24 may be tapered so that a size of the or each third filter 48 relative to the taper of the container 24 determines the height at which the or each third filter 48 is located inside the container 24, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. 20 In the embodiment shown, the container 24 has a fixed volume. Alternatively, the container 24 may have an adjustable volume to accommodate a different amount of collected miscarriage discharge or to accommodate multiple third filters 48. In particular, the container 24 may be adjustable in length, width and / or height in order 25 to adjust its volume. In a non-limiting example, the container 24 may have a telescopic, foldable or collapsible container body, a foldable container body or a collapsible container body, which not only allows the container 24 to be sized appropriately according to the amount of miscarriage discharge collected but also allows the container 24 to be configured in a more compact form for discreet storage 30 and transport. Figure 18 shows an exemplary container 24 with a telescopic container body, while Figure 19 shows an exemplary container 24 with a collapsible container body. The collection receptacle 22 may be foldable or collapsible into a more compact form 35 that not only is more easily carried but also is more discreet when it comes to storage and transport. The collection receptacle 22 and container 24 of the invention may be made of: 05 06 25 • Eco-friendly materials, such as natural or biodegradable materials that decompose naturally without harming the environment. • Burial-compatible materials, which are chosen specifically for safe and respectful disposal through burial, ensuring that all components break down over time. • Non-toxic materials, which are preferably free from harmful chemicals and toxins, ensuring safe interaction with soil and groundwater during decomposition. • Durable materials, which are engineered to maintain structural integrity during use but designed to decompose effectively once buried. • Sterile, antibacterial or antimicrobial materials to reduce the risk of infection and enhance hygiene. Such materials may be applied to the container 24 in the form of a protective coating. • Opaque materials to help conceal the miscarriage discharge. • Light or neutral coloured materials to provide contrast and allow for easy inspection of the collected contents (e.g., white). Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), cellulose, cellulose acetate, starch-based plastics, polyglycolic acid (PGA), pulp, paper, pulp and paper with PLA coating, bio-polyester, polymorphous polylactide (PLLA), lignin-based bioplastics, soy protein isolate, corn zein, gelatin, alginate, carrageenan, seaweed, bagasse, palm leaf, bamboo fibre, hemp fibre, jute fibre, silk fibroin, wheat gluten, natural rubber, coconut coir, myceliumbased materials, rice husk, cork, areca palm sheath, candelilla wax coated paper, and beeswax coated cloth. The listing or discussion of an apparently prior published document or apparently prior published information in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. Preferences and options for a given aspect, feature or parameter of the invention should, unless the context indicated otherwise, be regarded as having been disclosed in combination with any and all preferences and options for all other aspects, features and parameters of the invention.

Claims

1. A bodily discharge collection apparatus comprising:a collection receptacle configured to, in use, receive bodily discharge from a5 user; anda container removably attached to the collection receptacle at a lowermost location of the collection receptacle, wherein the container is configured to be suspended from the collection receptacle when removably attached to the collection receptacle,10 wherein the collection receptacle and container are configured to, in use, guideat least part of the bodily discharge from the collection receptacle into the container, and wherein the container includes at least one first filter configured to, in use, permit one part of the bodily discharge to exit the container while preventing another part of the bodily discharge from exiting the container, wherein the at least one filter includes15 filter holes located in a floor of the container,wherein the bodily discharge collection apparatus includes one or more support members configured to, in use, support the collection receptacle in, on or over a toilet.

2. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding20 claims wherein the one or more support members include a rim.

3. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the rim is in the form of a semicircular rim.25 4. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the precedingclaims wherein the one or more support members include an overhang.

5. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to Claim 4 in combination with any one of Claims 2 to 3 wherein the rim includes the overhang that extends 30 downwards to, in use, grip a rim of a toilet in order to minimise movement of the collection receptacle.

6. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the one or more support members include an anchor.

357. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the precedingclaims wherein the one or more support members include a gripper.

8. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding 40 claims wherein the one or more support members include a fastening band.

9. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bodily discharge collection apparatus is a miscarriage discharge collection apparatus, and wherein the collection receptacle is configured to, in use, 5 receive miscarriage discharge from the user, and wherein the collection receptacle and container are configured to, in use, guide at least part of the miscarriage discharge into the container.

10. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding 10 claims wherein the collection receptacle includes at least one second filter configured to, in use, permit one part of the bodily discharge to exit the collection receptacle while preventing another part of the bodily discharge from exiting the collection receptacle.LDCM11. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding 15 claims wherein the container is divided into a plurality of compartments by at least one third filter, wherein the or each third filter is configured to, in use, permit one part of the bodily discharge to pass therethrough while preventing another part of the bodily discharge from passing therethrough.2012. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collection receptacle includes a sloped surface to, in use, guide at least part of the bodily discharge into the container.

13. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding25 claims wherein the container includes a sloped lip to, in use, guide at least part of the bodily discharge into the container.

14. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container has an adjustable volume.3015. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further including a lid for closing the container.

16. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding 35 claims wherein the container includes a handle operable to remove the container from the collection receptacle.

17. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is made of or includes at least one of:• a natural material;• a biodegradable material;a sterile material;an antibacterial material;an antimicrobial material;an opaque material;a material having a light or neutral colour.27 1 n 2518. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is coated with a protective coating.

19. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding 15 claims including a plurality of containers, wherein the plurality of containers includes the container and at least one replacement container, wherein the or each replacement container is removably attachable to the collection receptacle.

20. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to Claim 19 wherein the 20 plurality of containers is configurable as a stack of containers.

21. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collection receptacle is foldable or collapsible.25 22. A bodily discharge collection apparatus according to any one of the precedingclaims including a thermally insulated storage unit for holding the container.

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