Urine collecting implement

Abstract

This urine collecting implement comprises a recessed collecting portion 11 for temporarily storing urine, and a first band portion 12 and a second band portion 13 which are for fixing to a toilet seat and which extend outward from an upper end outer peripheral edge of the collecting portion, wherein the collecting portion can also have a pyramid-like inner peripheral surface having a tapered lower end. The collecting portion comprises a collecting portion base material 21 obtained by laminating a plurality of sheets of water-disintegrable paper, and a water permeability reducing material 28 disposed in a region of the collection base material on the upper side of the inner surface of the collecting portion, and a bottom portion side of the collecting portion is configured such that the collecting portion base material is exposed. Moisture constituting the urine stored in the collecting portion passes through the bottom portion side of the exposed collecting portion base material and is discharged to the outside, and cells of a predetermined infectious disease contained in the urine do not pass through and can adhere to the surface. As a result, the cells of the infectious disease can be collected and inspected.

Description

Urine collection device

[0001] The present invention relates to a urine collection device that is useful for collecting urine in various places, such as homes, medical institutions, and the like.

[0002] For example, when collecting urine for a urinalysis or the like at a medical institution, a disposable urine collection cup or the like is used, and the user urinates while holding the urine collection cup in their hand so that the urine collects in the urination cup. A paper cup is generally used as the urine collection cup. Furthermore, urine tests for various medical examinations, including health checkups and comprehensive medical checkups, require urine to be collected immediately after waking up in the morning, so collection is usually performed outside a medical institution, such as at home. Urine collection devices used for urine collection at home or the like include plastic urine collection devices that can be folded flat to allow for compact storage when not in use, such as the foldable urine collection container disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Registered Utility Model No. 3088494

[0004] Conventionally, commonly used urine collection devices are generally unisex, such as paper urine collection cups and the urine collection container disclosed in Patent Document 1. In either case, the user holds the cup portion of the urine collection device directly in their hand and moves the device to a predetermined position at the time of urination so that urine collects in the cup portion, which can result in urine accidentally getting on hands or clothing, creating hygiene problems.

[0005] Furthermore, conventional urine collection devices come in a variety of shapes and materials, but all have a cup-shaped storage portion for collecting urine. Because the voided urine remains in the storage portion, some of the collected urine is transferred to a separate container for submission, which is then sealed with a lid and sent to a medical institution or testing facility, while the urine remaining in the storage portion is disposed of, for example, into a toilet. Disposing of this remaining urine into a toilet or similar is a complicated process, and there is a risk of urine splashing onto fingers, palms, or other surfaces during the disposal process.

[0006] At medical institutions and testing facilities, urine is removed from the received container and various tests are performed using specified testing equipment, etc. However, the concentration is not constant depending on the user's physical condition, the time elapsed since the last urination, the amount of water held in the body, etc., so pre-processing is performed before testing or concentrated urine is produced, and there is a demand to simplify such processing.

[0007] Furthermore, one type of urine-based test involves detecting bacteria contained in urine and identifying the type of bacterial infection. This test can be performed, for example, using a genetic analysis technique known as STH (Single-Stranded Tag Hybridization). Specifically, a test sample (filled in a test container) generated based on urine is mixed with a predetermined reagent and set in a PCR amplifier (actually, the test container is set) for PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplification. A predetermined developer is added to the amplified test sample, and the bottom end of a strip-shaped PAS (Printed-Array Strip) is immersed in the test sample. If the test sample contains the desired bacteria, a visually identifiable line appears at a predetermined position on the PAS. There is also a demand for easily obtaining samples for such tests.

[0008] Furthermore, urine collection devices such as paper urine collection cups and the plastic urine collection container disclosed in Patent Document 1 are both flammable and can be disposed of as combustible waste after use. However, they must be temporarily disposed of in a household trash can or garbage bag. Urine collected with the urine collection device is transferred to a container for submission, and the remainder is disposed of in the toilet, but some remains on the device, adhering to the inner or outer walls. During the process of moving the device after use to a trash can or other container, residual urine may drip and soil the room. Even if the used urine collection device can be disposed of in a trash can or other container without dripping, it must be stored indoors until it is discarded as combustible waste, which can be unpleasant.

[0009] Furthermore, if the user has an infectious disease and the urine contains bacteria or viruses, the urine remaining in the urine collection device will be temporarily stored in a trash can or the like, which is unhygienic.

[0010] The above-mentioned problems are described as being independent of each other, and the present invention does not necessarily have to solve all of the problems described, but it is sufficient if it can solve at least one of the problems. Furthermore, we intend to obtain rights to the configurations for solving these problems separately through divisional applications, amendments, etc.

[0011] (1) The urine collection device of the present invention includes a concave collection portion for temporarily storing urine, a band portion for securing a toilet seat extending outward from the upper outer periphery of the collection portion, or a handle portion extending outward from the periphery of the collection portion. The collection portion has a tapered lower end with a base that is smaller than the upper opening, allowing at least the bottom portion of the collection portion to permeate the water constituting the temporarily stored urine while preventing infectious disease cells contained in the urine from permeating and adhering to the surface. This configuration allows for the removal of water from the urinated urine temporarily stored in the collection portion, allowing infectious disease cells contained in the urine to adhere to the surface. Furthermore, by collecting urine remaining in the collection portion before all of the water is discharged to the outside, concentrated urine can be collected. Direct collection of infectious disease cells contained in urine facilitates testing based on the collected urine. The function of blocking infectious disease cells is sufficient to at least prevent the permeation of infectious disease cells; for example, when non-infectious disease cells and infectious disease cells are mixed, it is not necessary to selectively allow the permeation of infectious disease cells. For example, if the outer dimensions of the cells are 20 to 50 μm, it is sufficient that the membrane is impermeable to cells of that size, and if, for example, non-infectious disease cells and infectious disease cells are mixed as exemplified above, the mixed cells may remain in the collection area. Infectious disease cells are, for example, cells that contain or have been invaded by infectious disease bacteria.

[0012] (2) The collection section may comprise a member formed by laminating multiple mesh sheets, and a permeability-reducing material may be disposed in an upper region of the inner surface of the collection section, with the material exposed on the bottom side of the collection section. In this way, urine can be guided to the bottom side below the collection section without water leaking out from the area where the permeability-reducing material is disposed.

[0013] (3) The sheet may be made of nonwoven fabric or water-disintegrable paper. Water-disintegrable paper is particularly advantageous because it can be disposed of in a toilet after collection.

[0014] (4) The lower end of the permeability-reducing material should be lower than the expected water level when urine is collected. This allows the water in the urine to be discharged from a narrow area at the lower end of the collection part, and the residue is concentrated in that narrow area, making collection easy.

[0015] (5) The collection part may have a pyramidal, conical, or elliptical conical inner surface. In this way, the collection part has a tapered bottom end, which guides the stored urine and the specific cells contained therein toward the bottom, allowing most of the water to be discharged to the outside from the bottom side, and allowing the cells to be stored at the bottom side.

[0016] (6) The lower end of the collection portion may be formed into a downwardly convex curved surface, which allows infectious disease cells and debris to accumulate in the curved, narrow area, making it easier to collect infectious disease cells.

[0017] (7) The collection part may be provided with a mark indicating the position where the bottom side should be cut off. In this way, when cutting off the bottom side of the collection part using scissors or the like, the cutting position can be easily understood and the cut can be made without excess or deficiency.

[0018] (8) It is preferable to provide a circumferentially extending perforation at the position where the bottom side of the collection part is to be cut off. In this way, when cutting off the bottom side of the collection part, it is possible to cut at an appropriate position without using scissors or the like, and to cut off the bottom side without excess or deficiency.

[0019] (9) It is preferable that the inner surface of the sampling portion be coated with a drug or reagent for testing. This allows the user to perform simple tests at home, etc., and easily manage their health.

[0020] (10) It is preferable that the surface of the permeability-reducing material be coated with a drug or reagent for testing. This allows users to perform simple tests at home, etc., and facilitates health management. Furthermore, because residue accumulates at the bottom of the collection section, where the permeability-reducing material is not provided, there is no risk of drugs or reagents being collected during the collection of infectious disease cells.

[0021] Furthermore, the configurations shown in (1) to (10) above can be configured by combining them as appropriate, and based on such a combined configuration, it is advisable to combine the components described in the embodiments and drawings.

[0022] The present invention can achieve at least one of the following effects: Water from voided urine temporarily collected in a collection container can be removed, and infectious disease cells contained in the urine can be collected. In addition, concentrated urine can be collected by leaving some of the water in the collection container.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of a urine collector according to the present invention, with (a) showing a plan view of the urine collector and (b) showing a cross-sectional view thereof. FIG. 2 shows a bottom view thereof. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the state in use. FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of a urine collector according to the present invention in a usable state, with (a) showing a plan view of the urine collector, (b) showing a front view thereof, (c) showing a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows c-c in (a), and (d) showing a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows d-d in (b). FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of a urine collector according to the present invention in an unused state, with (a) showing a plan view thereof and (b) showing a front view thereof. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the state in use. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a urine collector according to the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a third preferred embodiment of a urine collector according to the present invention in a usable state, with (a) showing a plan view of the urine collector and (b) showing a front view thereof. Figure 9 shows a preferred third embodiment of the urine collector of the present invention in an unused state, with (a) being a plan view and (b) being a front view. Figure 10 shows modifications based on the preferred first embodiment of the urine collector of the present invention, with (a) being a plan view and (b) being a front view. Figure 11 shows various modifications based on the preferred third embodiment of the urine collector of the present invention.

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various changes, modifications, and improvements can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of a urine collection device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the urine collection device 10 comprises a collection section 11 having a rectangular recessed portion in plan view, first band sections 12 provided on the left and right sides of the collection section 11, and a second band section 13 provided in front of the collection section 11. Furthermore, the rear side of the collection section 11 does not have a band section, but does have a protruding piece-like section 14 that protrudes outward in the shape of a canopy.

[0026] The collection portion 11 has a concave portion recessed downward from its outer periphery. The shape of this concave portion is a generally pyramidal shape tapering toward the bottom, and the front wall portion 11a, left and right side wall portions 11b, and rear wall portion 11c each have an inclined surface sloping toward the center at their lower ends. The inner periphery of the upper opening of the concave portion is generally rectangular with four rounded corners. Accordingly, the boundaries between the left and right side wall portions 11b and the front wall portion 11a and rear wall portion 11c are also rounded. The lower end of the collection portion 11 has a tapered, narrow curved surface. As described below, the urine collection device 10 is molded by hot pressing multiple stacked sheets sandwiched between male and female molds from above and below. The predetermined curved surface is then formed for removal after molding.

[0027] The first band part 12 and the second band part 13 further include an adhesive layer 15 formed on the underside of the distal end (the side away from the sampling part 11) of the band part base material 22. This adhesive layer 15 is also preferably made of a water-soluble material. The adhesive layer 15 is covered with a release paper before use.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a border DL is formed around the periphery of the collection portion 11, the first band portion 12, and the second band portion 13, where linear areas of high pressure appear as dashed lines (the border DL is not shown in Figure 2, but appears similarly to Figure 1). Although not shown, a grid or other pattern where linear areas of high pressure appear as dashed lines can be formed across the entire surface of the first band portion 12 and the second band portion 13. Forming such perforations makes the laminated urine collection device less likely to peel and adjusts the strength of the collection portion and / or band member during use. On the other hand, applying high pressure can cause parts to break and become perforated, which promotes water penetration. Therefore, the rate at which the urine collection device dissolves in water can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of perforations and adjusting the thickness and pitch of the dashed lines.

[0029] Furthermore, an appropriate number of linear portions 18 extending in the left-right direction and exerting a high pressure are formed on the front and rear of the second band portion 13. These linear portions 18 function like ribs, preventing the second band portion 13 from twisting, and by bending along these linear portions 18, the tip of the second band portion 13 can be raised slightly above the collection portion 11, for example.

[0030] 1 and 2, the border DL makes it difficult for the water-soluble and water-decomposable paper that makes up the urine collection device 10 to peel off, ensuring the strength of the collection part 11, first band part 12, and second band part 13. Furthermore, the rate at which the urine collection device dissolves in water can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of patterns such as lattices in which linear areas with high pressure appear as dashed lines, and by adjusting the thickness and pitch of the dashed lines.

[0031] When manufacturing the urine collector 10 of this embodiment, the integrated product of the collection part base material 21 and the band part base material 22 can be manufactured by overlapping appropriate layers of water-soluble paper and / or water-disintegrable paper, punching this into the desired shape, and simultaneously molding it by hot pressing. It is also advisable to impregnate (impregnate) the urine collector 10 with at least one of a disinfectant, deodorant, deodorizer, and fragrance before, during, or after the hot pressing process.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the external shape of the urine collector 10 may be based on a specific character, particularly a character that children are likely to be interested in, such as an animal. In this embodiment, the shape is modeled after the face of an elephant, which is one example of an animal. Specifically, the collection section 11 resembles the elephant's face, the first band sections 12 located on the left and right correspond to the elephant's ears, the second band section 13 corresponds to the elephant's trunk, and the protruding piece 14 located at the rear corresponds to the elephant's head. The outer periphery of the first band section 12 is appropriately curved to resemble an ear, and a large hole 12a is provided in the center to resemble an earhole.

[0033] The inner periphery of the hole 12a is appropriately curved to fit the ear canal. Furthermore, given the large size of elephant ears, the outer shape of the first band portion 12 can be enlarged and the distal frame portion 12b can be relatively long in the front-to-rear direction. The adhesive layer 15 formed on the underside of the distal frame portion 12b allows the adhesive layer 15 to be elongated. This allows for a long adhesive section while ensuring sufficient adhesive surface area when attaching the first band portion 12 to the toilet seat 32, as described below, and supports the sampling portion 11 in a stable position. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the large hole 12a in the first band portion 12 reduces the total amount of paper used, resulting in a structure that is less susceptible to paper jams. Furthermore, because the hole 12a is modeled after an ear canal, it can be enlarged without creating a sense of incongruity.

[0034] Furthermore, because an elephant's trunk is thick and long, the second band portion 13 can also be made wide and of a certain length without appearing unnatural. The outer periphery of the protruding piece 14 is gently curved to resemble a head. When using the face as a reference, the ears are located on the left and right, and the nose is in front of the face and extends forward, so it can be intuitively understood that the second band portion 13 is on the front side of the urine collection device 10. Furthermore, by providing the protruding piece 14 corresponding to the head, it can be understood that the second band portion 13 is on the front side by comparison with the head.

[0035] In this embodiment, the sampling unit base material 21 that constitutes the sampling unit 11 and the band unit base material 22 that constitutes the first band unit 12 and the second band unit 13 are made of laminated paper formed by stacking multiple sheets of paper, and the sampling unit base material 21 and the band unit base material are formed from a continuous (i.e., the same) laminated paper base material. The paper may be water-disintegrable paper that decomposes in water or water-soluble paper that dissolves in water, and may be formed by stacking either one or both. In this embodiment, laminated paper is used by stacking multiple sheets of water-disintegrable paper.

[0036] Furthermore, the number of layers of the collection portion base material 21, which is constructed by stacking layers of water-disintegrable paper or the like, is set to a value that allows the collection portion base material 21 to maintain its shape without being decomposed or dissolved in water for a predetermined period of time, for example, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. In other words, if the number of layers is small, for example, urine collected in the collection portion 11 may cause the collection portion 11, particularly the lower end of the concave portion, to decompose or dissolve, resulting in loss of shape and making collection impossible. On the other hand, if the number of layers is large, collection is reliable, but, for example, when discarded in a toilet after use, it takes time for the paper to decompose or dissolve, which may clog the toilet pipes, etc., and is also undesirable because the increased amount of paper used increases costs. Therefore, it is advisable to set the number of layers so that such a situation does not occur.

[0037] Furthermore, each sheet of paper constituting the laminated paper of this embodiment has a water-permeable function, for example, in a mesh-like structure. For example, if a user has a certain infectious disease, urine discharged from the user contains certain cells of the bacteria causing the infectious disease. The size of these cells is approximately 20 to 50 μm. The laminated paper is configured to allow water (moisture) to pass through but not the cells. This configuration can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the size of the mesh openings or the number of layers stacked, and is preferably configured to block the passage of substances larger than 20 μm. Furthermore, to ensure that 20 μm cells do not pass through, it is preferable to configure the laminated paper to block the passage of substances larger than 10 μm.

[0038] Urine is more than 90% water, and contains waste products such as uric acid, urea, and ammonia produced by protein metabolism. The laminated paper is designed to allow water (moisture) to pass through but not waste products. This can be achieved by, for example, adjusting the mesh size or the number of layers.

[0039] Because the collection part base material 21 is made of a moisture-permeable material, when urine is dropped on the exposed surface of the collection part base material 21, i.e., the inner part of the concave portion, the moisture constituting the urine passes through the collection part base material 21, reaches the back side, and is discharged to the outside. Meanwhile, infectious disease cells cannot pass through the collection part base material 21 and remain on the surface. Therefore, when urine is collected in the collection part 11, the moisture in the collected urine passes through the collection part base material 21 and is discharged to the outside of the collection part 11 over time, gradually increasing the concentration of urine stored in the collection part 11. Once all the moisture is discharged, the specific infectious disease cells contained in the urine stored in the collection part 11 adhere to the surface of the collection part base material 21. In other words, the collection part base material 21 filters the urine.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a permeability-reducing material 28 is provided in an upper region of the surface portion located inside the recessed portion of the sampling portion 11. This permeability-reducing material 28 may be formed, for example, by applying a predetermined paint to the surface of the sampling portion base material 21. The paint used for this permeability-reducing material 28 may be, for example, a paint containing polyethylene terephthalate or polyolefin, or a paint whose main component is cellulose.

[0041] Because the permeability-reducing material 28 is water-repellent and does not dissolve or tear easily, when urine urinated into the collection part 11 by a user hits the area where the permeability-reducing material 28 is provided, it flows downward along the surface of the permeability-reducing material 28 without passing through the permeability-reducing material 28 and reaching the collection part base material 21 hidden by the permeability-reducing material 28, and remains in the narrow bottom area at the lower end of the collection part 11. Because the lower end of the collection part 11 does not have a permeability-reducing material 28 and the collection part base material 21 is exposed, when the urine that has traveled downward reaches the area where the collection part base material 21 is exposed, the water in the urine that comes into contact with the collection part base material 21 flows out of the collection part 11. Cells of a specific infectious disease adhere to the bottom area of ​​the collection part 11 where the collection part base material 21 is exposed and remain as residue. Therefore, infectious disease cells contained in urine concentrate and adhere to the inner circumferential surface of the narrow bottom of the tapered collection part 11 and remain as residue, making collection easy.

[0042] The recovery process can be performed by, for example, using scissors to cut the lower portion of the collection section 11 and then cutting off the bottom portion from the main body. This leaves the surface of the cut sheet piece with infectious disease cells attached. The sheet piece with the bottom portion of the collection section 11 cut off can be placed in a testing container, or transported to a testing institution or the like in a sealed bag or container and placed in a testing container there. The sheet piece can then be immersed in a specified solution and set in a PCR amplifier, and subsequently subjected to testing for the presence or absence of bacteria based on the STH method. This STH method can be performed using, for example, a product provided by TBA Co., Ltd.

[0043] In this embodiment, the collection section 11 is not particularly printed, but it is preferable to print a mark (indicia) indicating the cutting position on the bottom side at a predetermined position on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the collection section 11. The mark may be, for example, one or more asterisks or other marks at the cutting position. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , a continuous solid line 57 or various dashed lines circumferentially following the cutting position may be used. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10 , it is particularly preferable to provide the mark (solid line 57 in the illustrated example) on both surfaces, and in one case, it is preferable to provide the mark on the outer surface. Furthermore, while it is preferable to print the mark on the surface of the outermost sheet of a stack of multiple sheets, this is not necessarily limited to this. It is also preferable to print the mark on the inside, or to print it on an internal sheet that is visible from the outside. These configurations may also be applied to the various embodiments and modifications described below.

[0044] Another collection method involves using, for example, a medicine spoon, spatula, or spoon to scrape the surface of the collection portion base material 21 exposed at the bottom of the collection portion 11. The collected residue can be placed in a designated container for submission, but because transferring the residue is cumbersome, it is recommended that the medicine spoon with the scraped bottom be placed in a container or bag and submitted to a medical institution, testing institution, etc. However, because the cells to be collected are small, measuring 20 to 50 μm, it is best to collect them in the form of a sheet piece with the bottom cut off.

[0045] The permeability-reducing material 28 is not necessarily required. In other words, if the permeability-reducing material 28 is not provided, the collection portion base material 21 will be exposed across the entire surface of the concave portion of the collection portion 11. Therefore, for example, if urination strikes one of the slopes of the collection portion 11 midway up or down, the urine will move downward along the slope toward the bottom. However, some of the urine will permeate the collection portion base material 21 at the point where it struck or on its way downward, resulting in the water being expelled. Furthermore, residual matter (cells) will adhere to the side surface of the collection portion base material 21 (above the bottom). Therefore, in order to collect more residual matter, it is necessary to apply the medicine spoon or the like to the side surface or to cut off a wide area of ​​the collection portion 11, including the bottom, thereby widening the collection work area. Therefore, providing the permeability-reducing material 28 is preferable for efficient collection operations.

[0046] Furthermore, even if the permeability-reducing material 28 is not provided, most of the urine will collect at the bottom of the collection part 11, and the water will also flow out from the bottom side, so many infectious disease cells will adhere as residue to the surface of the permeability-reducing material 28 near the bottom. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is possible to collect a certain amount of urine by concentrating the rinsing near the bottom without necessarily rinsing the entire area with the medicine spoon.

[0047] 3, it is preferable to position the bottom end of the permeability-reducing material 28 below the top surface 61 of the collection part 11 where urination-induced urine 60 temporarily accumulates. In this way, the water content of the temporarily accumulated urine 60 is not discharged directly to the outside from the sides, but is instead concentrated and discharged from the bottom.

[0048] Furthermore, because the permeability-reducing material 28 is a water-soluble material, although it does not dissolve immediately in water, after collecting urine and residue, the urine collection device 10 can be disposed of directly in the toilet and flushed with water. This minimizes the occurrence of situations where urine drips and soils the surrounding area while carrying the urine collection device 10 after use. Furthermore, even if the user has an infectious disease or the like and their urine contains bacteria or viruses, the urine collection device 10 can be disposed of directly in the toilet and flushed with water, which eliminates the need for temporary storage of urine remaining in the urine collection device in a trash can, as in conventional devices, and is therefore more hygienic.

[0049] The urine collection device 10 configured as described above is used, for example, as follows. Prior to use, the release paper on the adhesive layer 15 provided at the tip of each of the first and second band portions 12 and 13 of the urine collection device 10 is peeled off, and the device is then attached and fixed in place on the toilet seat 32 (see FIG. 2 ). That is, for example, the adhesive layer 15 at the tip of the second band portion 13, from which the release paper has been peeled off, is first attached to the upper surface of the front side of the toilet seat 32. In this state, the adhesive layer 15 at the tip of the first band portion 12 is then attached to the left and right upper surfaces of the toilet seat 32. In this state, the collection portion 11 is suspended from the toilet seat 32 by the first and second band portions 12 and 13. In this suspended state, the collection portion 11 is positioned lower than the tips of the first and second band portions 12 and 13. In other words, the second band part 13 slopes upward from the collection part 11 to the tip, like an elephant's trunk being raised, and the first band part 12 slopes upward from the collection part 11 to the tip. Furthermore, the dimensions and shape of each band part and collection part 11 are set so that when the urine collection device 10 is attached to a predetermined position on the toilet seat 32, the centre of the collection part 11 is located forward of the centre of the toilet seat 32 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0050] As described above, with the urine collection device 10 attached to the toilet seat 32, the user sits on the toilet seat 32 and urinates. The urine voided by the user then collects in the collection part 11. That is, because the collection part 11 has a relatively large upper opening, most of the voided urine reaches the inside of the collection part 11. And because the collection part 11 has a generally pyramidal shape tapering at the bottom, the urine ultimately collects at the bottom of the collection part 11.

[0051] Furthermore, if the force of urination is strong or if urination is directed forward, the urine may hit the second band portion 13. In such cases, the urine moves downward along the second band portion 13 and reaches the collection portion 11. Therefore, the urinated urine can be reliably collected in the collection portion 11.

[0052] The length of the second band portion 13 is preferably such that when the adhesive layer 15 at its tip is attached to the upper surface of the front side of the toilet seat 32 and the collection portion 11 is positioned slightly lower, and the first band portion 12 is attached to the toilet seat 32, the front side of the collection portion 11 comes into contact with or is close to the inner peripheral edge of the front side of the toilet seat 32, and there is little gap S between the outer peripheral edge of the collection portion 11 and the second band portion 13 and the toilet seat 32 in a plan view. Similarly, the width of the second band portion 13 is preferably set to a length that minimizes gap S. In this way, urination is preferably conducted directly to the collection portion 11 or via the second band portion 13, and then guided into the collection portion 11, where it accumulates.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is preferable to collect urine immediately after urination. Therefore, the user sets the urine collection device 10 on the toilet seat 32, sits on the toilet seat 32, and urinates, allowing urine immediately after urination to be collected in the collection part 11.

[0054] As described above, urinated urine is temporarily stored in the collection section 11. However, water permeates the collection section base material 21 exposed within the collection section 11 and is discharged to the outside, while certain cells and other substances that do not permeate remain as residue on the surface of the collection section base material 21. Therefore, after urinating, the user steps off the seated toilet 31 (toilet seat 32) and cuts off the bottom using a cutting tool such as scissors, collecting the cells and other substances along with the sheet piece. The sheet piece to be cut should be, for example, approximately 2 cm square, but it can also be larger. If the sheet piece is too small, there is a possibility that not enough cells will adhere to the cut sheet piece, so it is recommended to cut it to a certain size. Furthermore, when cutting the sheet piece, it is recommended to use appropriate gloves or the like to prevent the cells from adhering to the hands and fingers. The cut sheet piece is placed in a container filled with culture medium, such as a flask, and immersed in the culture medium. Cells are then cultured and the required tests can be performed.

[0055] Alternatively, a medicine spoon or the like may be used to collect residues (cells) filtered from urine adhering to the surface of the collection portion base material 21. If urine remains in the collection portion 11, the remaining concentrated urine can be collected using a dropper or the like.

[0056] After collection, the adhesive layer 15 of the first band part 12 and the second band part 13 is removed from the toilet seat 32, and the urine collection device 10 can be discarded by, for example, dropping it directly into the toilet bowl 31 and flushing it with water. Even if it does not wash away with a single flush, it can be flushed by, for example, leaving it as it is and then flushing it again after a short time has passed.

[0057] Furthermore, the first band part 12 and the second band part 13 may be composed of only the band part base material 22, but it is preferable to provide a water-permeability-reducing material 28 on its surface. In particular, because the second band part 13 is positioned at the front of the toilet bowl and fixed to the toilet seat 32, there is a risk that urination may get on the second band part 13. If the water-permeability-reducing material 28 is provided in the event that urine gets on the second band part 13, it will smoothly guide the urine toward the collection part 11 and will take longer for the second band part 13 to hydrolyze, etc., allowing it to remain fixed to the toilet seat 32 for a relatively long period of time.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, the first band portion 12 is provided on the left and right sides of the collection portion 11, and the second band portion 13 is provided on the front side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the first band portion 12 alone may be fixed to the toilet seat with two band portions extending to the left and right, and the external shape does not necessarily have to be based on a character.

[0059] Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a urine collection device according to the present invention in a usable state, and Figure 5 shows the unused state when distributed to a user. The urine collection device of this embodiment is designed for convenience, for example, for women. Therefore, if the urine collection device 40 of this embodiment can be held by hand and positioned as desired, urine can be appropriately collected by moving the urine collection device 40 to the specified position. The specific configuration is as follows.

[0060] As shown in Figure 4, the urine collection device 40 comprises a collection section 41 having a generally triangular pyramidal recessed portion, protruding pieces 42 that protrude outward like eaves and are provided on two sides of the upper edge of the collection section 41, and a handle 43 that extends outward and is provided on one side of the collection section 41 that does not have the protruding pieces 42. As will be described later, the collection section 41, protruding pieces 42, and handle 43 are manufactured as a single integrated unit by molding a single sheet-like material under heated conditions. The urine collection device 40 is also composed of a laminate of water-degradable or water-soluble paper.

[0061] The upper opening of the collection section 41 has two sides on which the protruding portions 42 are provided and one side on which the protruding portions 42 are not provided, forming a substantially isosceles triangle with the one side serving as the base. The collection section 41 has a substantially triangular pyramidal recess and is formed by one first side wall 41b formed from a slope extending from the one side toward the apex of the bottom 41a, and two second side wall portions 41c formed from slopes extending from the two sides on which the protruding portions 42 are provided toward the apex of the bottom 41a. The bottom 41a has a narrow curved surface that allows it to be cut out.

[0062] The handle portion 43 is disposed on the first side wall portion 41b side. This handle portion 43 is connected via the first side wall portion 41b. The left and right second side wall portions 41c, which are formed so as to connect to the two oblique sides that do not face the handle portion 43, are connected at the vertices facing the bottom side. The left and right side edges of the first side wall portion 41b are each connected to the second side wall portions 41c. The first side wall portion 41b is generally slightly tilted toward the rear, i.e., outward, and the left and right second side wall portions 41c form inclined surfaces that slope upward and outward. As a result, the space surrounded by the bottom portion 41a, the first side wall portion 41b, and the two second side wall portions 41c forms a generally triangular pyramid-shaped recess, as described above.

[0063] The protruding pieces 42 are disposed contiguous with the upper edges of the two second side wall portions 41c. The protruding pieces 42 are formed to extend horizontally. The protruding pieces 42 function as a type of rib, reinforcing the second side wall portions 41c, preventing them from bending, and maintaining the inclined surface.

[0064] The handle portion 43 is configured by folding multiple (four in this embodiment) strip-shaped portions 43a, each with its long sides connected, up and down at the long sides and stacking them together (see FIG. 4(d), etc.). By folding the strips up and down and stacking them in this manner, the handle portion 43 maintains a consistent thickness in the left-right direction, increasing its strength in the thickness direction (left-right direction) and effectively preventing the handle portion 43 from bending left and right. Furthermore, because the strip-shaped portions 43a stand upright in a substantially vertical plane, stress in the vertical direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the handle portion 43 is high, preventing the handle portion 43 from bending up and down. The handle portion 43 is made of paper or the like, and a single strip-shaped portion 43a, for example, may be deformed by the force of the user's grip. However, stacking multiple strips as described above increases the strength, allowing the handle portion 43 to maintain its strip-like shape without excessive deformation even when gripped.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 43 is provided to extend rearward relative to the collection portion 41 and is positioned perpendicular to the bottom edge of the bottom 41a of the collection portion 41 in a plan view. The handle 43 is tilted upward toward the tip, i.e., rearward, in a vertical plane when the bottom 41a is considered to be a horizontal plane. As a result, for example, when a user holds the tip side of the handle 43 (the side farthest from the collection portion 11) in their hand (pinch it with their fingers) and positions the urine collection device 40 so that the bottom 41a is horizontal, the upper edge of the collection portion 41 is positioned a predetermined distance below the position of the hand. Therefore, for example, while sitting on a Western-style toilet seat, the collection portion 41 can be easily inserted into the toilet bowl from the front side and positioned below the user's body.

[0066] Therefore, for example, by positioning the collection part 41 in an appropriate position below the body before starting to urinate, it is possible to reliably collect the urine required for testing immediately after starting. Also, after a certain amount of urination has been completed, it is advisable to move the position of the collection part 41 to prevent new urine from accumulating. At this time, the user can adjust the position of the collection part 41 while sitting on the toilet and holding the handle part 43 away from the collection part, thereby minimizing the risk of urine getting on the user's hands or other parts.

[0067] The handle portion 43 is formed by bending the long sides of a rectangular portion in which multiple strip-shaped portions 43a are connected together, but one long side of the strip-shaped portions 43a located at both the left and right ends is not connected to another strip-shaped portion 43a. Therefore, in this embodiment, a rectangular fixing portion 47 is provided continuously on the unconnected long side of one of the strip-shaped portions 43a on either the left or right side (e.g., the right side). The long side of the fixing portion 47 is shorter than the long side of the strip-shaped portion 43a that constitutes the handle portion 43, and the position of the tip side away from the collection portion 41 is aligned with the tip of the handle portion 43.

[0068] An adhesive layer 48 is further provided at a predetermined position on the underside of the fixing portion 47. This adhesive layer 48 is preferably made of a water-soluble material. The adhesive layer 48 is covered with a release paper before use. The adhesive layer 48 is provided at least near the side edge on the side not connected to the strip-shaped portion 43a (see FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the width w of the fixing portion 47 in the left-right direction is approximately twice the length of the short side of the strip-shaped portion 43a.

[0069] As a result, one long side of the fixing portion 47 is connected to the right edge of the handle portion 43, and when the multiple strip-shaped portions 43a are folded and brought around the unconnected left side surface of the handle portion 43, the free long side of the fixing portion 47 on which the adhesive layer 48 is provided goes around the handle portion 43 and covers the right side surface of the handle portion 43. At this time, the adhesive layer 48 faces the right side surface of the handle portion 43, so the fixing portion 47 and the handle portion 43 are adhesively fixed via the adhesive layer 48, and as shown in Figure 4(d) , the fixing portion 47 covers substantially the entire periphery of the handle portion 43, preventing the four strip-shaped portions 43a constituting the handle portion 43 from spreading and further increasing its strength.

[0070] It should be noted that the adhesive layer 48 does not necessarily have to be provided, and it is also possible to simply wrap the fixing portion 47. Even in this case, the strength of the handle portion 43 is maintained, and by holding the fixing portion 47 in the wrapped state with the hand, the wrapped state of the fixing portion 47 is maintained, and the handle portion 43 maintains a predetermined posture.

[0071] As shown in Figure 4(c) , in this embodiment, the collection unit 41 has a permeability-reducing material 28 disposed in an upper portion of the inner surface of a paper base material 51, and the base material 51 is exposed at the bottom of the collection unit 41 without the permeability-reducing material 28. The paper base material 51 is formed from a laminated paper material in which multiple sheets of paper are stacked together. This paper may be water-disintegrable paper that decomposes in water or water-soluble paper that dissolves in water, and in this embodiment, water-disintegrable paper is used. Furthermore, water-disintegrable paper has a mesh-like structure that allows the water that constitutes urine to pass through but prevents certain cells and the like from passing through, thereby filtering out the urine.

[0072] The permeability reducing material 28 may be formed by applying a predetermined paint to the inner surface of the base material 51. The paint used for the permeability reducing material 28 may be, for example, a paint containing polyethylene terephthalate or polyolefin, or a paint containing cellulose as a main component.

[0073] The permeability reducing material 28 is a material that does not dissolve in water immediately like paper, but dissolves in water after a certain period of time. The certain period of time can be adjusted, for example, by the amount applied, and it is preferable to configure it so that it does not dissolve for about three minutes, for example.

[0074] By using the permeability-reducing material 28, even if urination hits the upper region of the first side wall 41b or the second side wall 41c of the collection portion 41, or if the amount of urine stored in the collection portion 41 increases and the water level rises to reach the upper region, moisture does not leak out from the area where the permeability-reducing material 28 is present, but urine moisture leaks out from the bottom of the collection portion 41 where the base material 51 is exposed. As a result, certain infectious disease cells adhere to the exposed portion of the base material 51 at the bottom of the collection portion 41 and remain as residue. Therefore, infectious disease cells contained in urine concentrate and adhere to the inner circumferential surface of the narrow bottom of the tapered collection portion 41, remaining as residue. Since residue adheres to the surface of the base material 51 at the bottom side, it is recommended to cut the lower side of the collection portion 41 using scissors or the like and then remove the bottom side from the main body. Alternatively, the residue may be collected using a medicine spoon or the like. The subsequent steps may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0075] The usable urine collector 40 shown in Figure 4 may be manufactured, for example, by folding an appropriate position of an unused urine collector 40' shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5(a), the handle portion 43' in an unused state is formed in the shape of a rectangular sheet in an unfolded state with four band-shaped portions 43a connected side by side, and a fixing portion 47' unfolded into a rectangular shape is located on one side of the rectangular sheet. In the unused state, the fixing portion 47' is formed in the shape of a single sheet together with the four band-shaped portions 43a.

[0076] The collection portion 41 has been embossed to form a roughly triangular pyramidal recessed portion in advance. That is, when manufacturing the urine collection device 40 of this embodiment, sheets of a predetermined material, such as water-soluble paper and / or water-disintegrable paper, are appropriately layered together, and a predetermined paint that forms the permeability-reducing material 28 is applied to a predetermined portion of the inner surface of the collection portion 11. This sheet is then punched into the desired shape and simultaneously molded by heat pressing, thereby forming the recessed collection portion 41 and each portion in its expanded state, as shown in Figure 5. Furthermore, because the handle portion 43' is in the expanded state, its shape is wider than the width of the collection portion 41 when in use.

[0077] The long sides to which the strip-shaped portions 43a are connected form a valley fold line 55 at the center in the left-right direction, and the long sides on either side of the valley fold line 55 form mountain fold line regions 56. By making valley folds at the valley fold line regions 55 and mountain folds at the mountain fold line regions 56, the four strip-shaped portions 43a are folded up and down at the long sides and overlapped as described above, while the fixing portion 47' remains open (see FIG. 6(a)). This folding process also draws the handle portions 43 of the left and right second side wall portions 41c closer together, shortening the gap between them (see FIG. 6(a)), and the tips of the handle portions 43 rise up. Thereafter, the unfolded fixing portion 47' is folded and wrapped around the handle portion 43, and the release paper of the adhesive layer 48 is removed at an appropriate timing to adhesively fix the fixing portion 47 to the surface of the handle portion 43 facing it, thereby completing the urine collection device 40 in a usable state.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, although not shown, a border in the form of dashed linear regions of high pressure is formed along the outer periphery of the collection portion 41, the protruding portion 42, the handle portion 43, and the fixing portion 47. By alternately forming such linear regions of high pressure and non-pressurized portions, the urine collection device manufactured by layering becomes less likely to peel off, and the strength of the collection portion 41, the protruding portion 42, the handle portion 43, the fixing portion 47, etc. during use can be adjusted. Furthermore, such linear regions of high pressure do not necessarily have to be formed along the outer periphery, and strength can be increased by forming them in any appropriate position.

[0079] On the other hand, applying a high pressure may cause parts of the base material 51 to break, forming perforations, which promote water penetration. Therefore, the rate at which the urine collection device dissolves in water can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of perforations or adjusting the thickness and pitch of the dashed lines. The perforations that penetrate the thickness direction should preferably be formed in the handle portion 43, and should not be provided in the collection portion 41.

[0080] In addition, the valley fold line portions 55 and the mountain fold line portions 56 may be marked with, for example, printing marks to indicate the folding positions, but it is more preferable to add creases. Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the linear portions of the valley fold line portions 55 and the mountain fold line portions 56 are formed so that the linear portions with high pressure described above appear as dashed lines, the linear portions will be in a state where creases have been added, making it easier to fold along the arrangement direction of the linear portions.

[0081] In the above-described embodiment, the protruding portion 42, the handle portion 43 and the fixing portion 47 are made of the base material 51 without the water-permeability-reducing material 28 placed thereon, but it is preferable to apply the water-permeability-reducing material 28 to part or all of the protruding portion 42, the handle portion 43 and the fixing portion 47.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the width of the fixing portion 47 is approximately twice the length of the short side of the strip-shaped portion 43a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the width may be more than twice the length, or may be approximately the length of the short side of the strip-shaped portion 43a, as shown in FIG. 7( a). When the width is approximately the length of the short side, as shown in FIG. 7( c), the fixing portion 47 is folded over the strip-shaped portion 43a on the non-connecting side and fixed using an adhesive layer 48. In this case, the two central strip-shaped portions 43a that are folded in a valley and facing each other are free to contact each other. The fixing portion 47 may be left free as in the illustrated example, or the strip-shaped portions 43a may be bonded to each other using an adhesive layer or the like.

[0083] Furthermore, unlike the embodiment described above, it is not necessary to provide the fixing portion 47 wound around the handle portion 43, and the multiple strip-shaped portions 43a may remain folded and overlapped. In this case, it is preferable to adhesively fix the strip-shaped portions 43a to each other, thereby increasing the strength of the handle portion 43.

[0084] The adhesive fixation may be performed by applying double-sided adhesive tape so as to extend in the long side direction of the belt-shaped portion 43 a, as in the above-described embodiment, to form an adhesive layer 48. Alternatively, for example, the adhesive layer 48 may be disposed so as to extend in the short side direction of the belt-shaped portion 43 a. When the adhesive layer 48 is formed so as to extend in the short side direction in this manner, a single adhesive layer 48 can adhere a plurality of belt-shaped portions 43 a.

[0085] In each of the above-described embodiments, the adhesive layer 48 may not be provided.

[0086] Figure 8 shows a usable state of a third embodiment of a urine collector according to the present invention, and Figure 9 shows the unused state when distributed to a user, etc. Like the second embodiment described above, the urine collector of this embodiment also has a handle 43, and is of a type that is convenient for women, for example.

[0087] In the urine collection device 40 of this embodiment, the collection portion 41 is formed based on a circular shape. That is, the upper opening is elliptical, with side surfaces 41d tapering gradually toward the bottom 41a. The bottom 41a is formed as a flat surface. This gives the collection portion 41 an elliptical truncated cone shape. In this embodiment, the bottom 41a is flat, but it may also be curved as in the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, although not shown, in this embodiment as well, a permeability-reducing material is applied to the upper portion of the inner surface of the collection portion 41, while the bottom 41a and the lower end of the side surfaces 41d adjacent to the bottom 41a are not coated with the permeability-reducing material, allowing moisture to pass through and be discharged to the outside.

[0088] As a result, similar to the above-described embodiments, if urine hits the upper portion of the collection unit 41 where the permeability-reducing material is provided, the urine will reach the lower portion without passing through the collection unit 41. The water content of the urine temporarily stored in the collection unit 41 is discharged to the outside from the bottom side where the base material 51 is exposed, and the cells of the specified infectious disease will adhere to the exposed portion of the collection unit base material 21 at the bottom of the collection unit 11 and remain as residue. The procedure for recovering the cells by cutting the specified portion with scissors or the like may be performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11( a), a specified mark (solid line 57 in the figure) may be formed at the cutting position. Although not shown, this also applies to the second embodiment and various other modified examples.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the collection portion 41 has an elliptical planar shape, so that when the width is the same as, for example, the triangular shape of the second embodiment, the volume can be made larger than that of the second embodiment. This makes it possible to prevent urine stored in the collection portion 41 from overflowing from the upper end, even if, for example, the amount of urine excreted per unit time becomes greater than the amount that passes through the bottom portion 41a and is discharged to the outside.

[0090] A protruding piece 42 is provided around the upper edge of the collection part 41, providing strength and maintaining the shape of the elliptical opening.

[0091] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9 , in the unfolded state before use, the handle portion 43 has a substantially rectangular handle portion 43′ extending along the outer periphery of the protruding portion 42, and is folded in half at the center in the width direction to form a shape that is wider in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 8 . Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9 , the handle portion 43′ is formed with linear portions 49 that apply high pressure and portions that are not pressurized, extending longitudinally, alternately, and multiple such linear portions are formed parallel to each other in the width direction. These linear portions 49 function like ribs and prevent the handle portion 43 from twisting. The linear portions 49 may be formed by applying stronger pressure to the linear portions 49 when multiple predetermined sheets, such as water-disintegrable paper, are stacked and pressed to form the predetermined outer shape and concave collection portion 41 shown in FIG. 9 .

[0092] In this way, the desired strength can be achieved without multiple folding as in the second embodiment, and the user can form the urine collection device 10 by simply folding the handle portion 43' in one place when using it, making it easier to use.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 43' is used by simply folding it in half from the center and holding it as is. The handle 43' in this embodiment is not provided with an adhesive layer or the like, but it may be provided as in the above-mentioned embodiments. Furthermore, to increase strength, a fixing portion may be provided next to the handle 43' in the unfolded state. However, providing a fixing portion would increase the amount of unusable material in the urine collection device 10 that would be discarded during press processing, so it is preferable not to provide a fixing portion as in this embodiment.

[0094] In each of the above-described embodiments, it is preferable to apply various test agents or reagents for pregnancy tests or urine tests to a predetermined portion of the inner surface of the collection portion 11, 41, such as the bottom, which is in contact with the stored urine. This allows the user to perform simple tests at home, etc., and facilitates health management. The predetermined portion is not limited to the bottom, and may be the first side wall portion, the second side wall portion 41c, or the side surface 41d, where a permeability-reducing material is applied.

[0095] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the collection of the desired cells is performed by cutting a predetermined position in the collection section using scissors or the like. However, it is also possible to provide, for example, a perforation 58 for separation along the circumferential direction at a predetermined position in the collection section (see FIG. 11( b)). By providing the perforation 58, for example, it is possible to hold the bottom side and the upper side of the collection section by pinching the perforation 58, cut along the perforation 58, and separate and collect the bottom portion. In this way, the bottom side can be collected without using a jig or tool such as scissors. While FIG. 11( b) shows a modification based on the third embodiment, the same applies to other embodiments and various other modifications.

[0096] Furthermore, in the embodiment provided with the handle 43, the user is a woman, but the user of the present invention may also be a man. For example, the effects of disposing of the urine collection device 40 directly into the toilet and flushing it with water to prevent infection to housemates and others, or applying various reagents and the like to the device to perform simple tests at home, etc., are also desirable for men.

[0097] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as with the previously described urine collection device 10 that is attached to the toilet seat 32, some of the water in the urine that has accumulated in the collection part 41 may be drained and the concentrated urine may be collected. In such a case, the urine that has accumulated in the collection part 41 may be collected with a dropper or the like, but in this embodiment, the following configuration is used to make it easy to transfer the urine to a container.

[0098] Furthermore, the connection portion 45 where the second side walls 41c are connected extends diagonally upward and forward from the apex of the bottom 41a. The upper end of this connection portion 45, i.e., the front end of the upper edge where the two second side walls 41c connect, can also be used as a spout 46 for urine stored in the collection portion 41. After urine collection, tilting the collection portion 41 so that the front side faces downward allows urine to be discharged to the outside through the spout 46. The connection portion 45 extends in a straight line from the front apex of the bottom 41a toward the spout 46, and the distance between the inner surfaces of the left and right second side walls 41c gradually decreases toward the front, i.e., toward the spout 46. This allows urine stored in the collection portion 41 to be smoothly guided toward the spout 46. Therefore, for example, if the opening of a submission container is positioned directly below the spout 46, urine stored in the collection portion 41 is guided toward the spout 46 and discharged, allowing it to be smoothly transferred to a container. In addition, the concave portion of the collection part 41 is tapered toward the spout 46, so that urine is efficiently guided to the spout 46 regardless of the amount of urine stored therein, and when the urine is discharged to the outside from the spout 46, it can be poured into a container in a narrow width without spreading.

[0099] In addition, the ends 42a of the adjacent protruding portions 42 are configured to be separated from each other. As a result, the protruding portions 42 are not present on the extension line of the upper end side of the connection portion 45 where the two second side wall portions 41c are connected, and it is possible to minimize the amount of urine discharged from the spout 46 that comes into contact with and is absorbed by the protruding portions 42.

[0100] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, water-decomposable paper or water-soluble paper is used for the sampling portion base material or base material, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a water-insoluble sheet such as nonwoven fabric may be used. In this case, it is also recommended to provide a water-permeability reducing material 28 above the sampling portion. This allows for easy and efficient collection of residue.

[0101] A urine collector of the type having a handle like the second embodiment can have various configurations, for example, as follows.

[0102] (1) A urine collection device comprising: a concave collection section capable of storing urine; and a handle section extending outward from the peripheral edge of the collection section; the handle section being configured such that multiple strip-shaped sections, each with its long sides connected, are folded up and down at the long sides and overlapped; the collection section and the handle section having a paper base material, and configured to be flushable in a toilet bowl.

[0103] (2) A fixing portion is continuously formed on one of the long sides of the plurality of strip-shaped portions that is not connected to the long side of the adjacent strip-shaped portion, and the fixing portion has an adhesive layer, and the fixing portion is further configured to adhere and fix the fixing portion to the opposing strip-shaped portion via the adhesive layer when the plurality of overlapping strip-shaped portions are wrapped around it.

[0104] (3) Based on the configuration of (2), the fixing portion has a width at least twice the width of the short side of the strip portion, faces both the left and right sides of the handle portion, and the adhesive layer is provided at least near the side edge on the side not connected to the strip portion.

[0105] (4) The handle portion is further configured to be inclined so that the tip end on the side not connected to the collection portion is positioned above the upper edge of the collection portion.

[0106] (5) The upper edge of the collection portion to which the handle portion is not connected may further include a protruding piece-like portion that protrudes like a canopy.

[0107] (6) Based on the configuration of (5), the collection section is formed in a concave shape of a triangular pyramid, and has a spout at the vertex opposite to the part where the handle part is attached, and the protruding pieces are provided on each of the two sides of the triangular pyramid, and the spout sides of the protruding pieces provided on the two sides are formed so as to be separated from each other.

[0108] In both the first embodiment and other embodiments, which have a band and are fixed to the toilet seat, and the second and third embodiments, which have a handle and are held by the user, various test chemicals or reagents for pregnancy tests or urine tests can be applied to a predetermined portion of the inner surface of the sampling portion, such as the portion that comes into contact with the collected urine. This allows the user to perform simple tests at home, etc., and facilitates health management. The predetermined portion can be the bottom or sidewall. The test chemicals or reagents can be applied to the surface of the permeability-reducing material, rather than to the bottom where the sampling portion base material 21 or base material 51 is exposed.

[0109] Various aspects of the present invention have been described above using embodiments and modifications. However, it should be noted that these embodiments and descriptions are provided to aid in understanding the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the structures and manufacturing methods explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the structures of the present invention that are sought to be patented are specified in the appended claims, it is hereby emphasized that structures not currently specified in the claims may be claimed in the future as disclosed herein.

[0110] 10: Urine collection device 11: Collection portion 12: First band portion 13: Second band portion 21: Collection portion base material 28: Water permeability reducing material 31: Toilet bowl 32: Toilet seat 40: Urine collection device 40': Urine collection device 41: Collection portion 43: Handle portion 43': Handle portion 51: Base material

Claims

1. A urine collection device comprising: a concave collection section for temporarily storing urine; and a band section for fixing to a toilet seat extending outward from the outer periphery of the upper end of the collection section, or a handle section extending outward from the periphery of the collection section, wherein the collection section has a tapered lower end with a bottom that is smaller than the upper opening, and at least the bottom of the collection section is permeable to the moisture that makes up the temporarily stored urine but not to infectious disease cells contained in the urine, allowing them to adhere to the surface.

2. A urine collection device as described in claim 1, wherein the collection section comprises a member formed by laminating multiple mesh sheets, a water-permeability reducing material is placed in the upper region of the inner surface of the collection section, and the bottom side of the collection section is configured so that the member is exposed.

3. The urine collection device according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is made of nonwoven fabric or water-disintegrable paper.

4. A urine collection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower end of the water-permeability reducing material is set lower than the anticipated water level when urine is collected.

5. A urine collection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collection section has an inner peripheral surface in the shape of a pyramid, a cone or an elliptical cone.

6. A urine collection device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower end of said collection section is formed into a downwardly convex curved surface.

7. A urine collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the collection section is provided with a mark indicating the position where the bottom side should be cut off.

8. A urine collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is provided with a circumferentially extending cuttable perforation at a position where the bottom side of the collection section is to be cut off.

9. A urine collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a drug or reagent for testing can be applied to the inner surface of the collection portion.

10. A urine collection device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which a drug or reagent for testing can be applied to the surface of the water-permeability-reducing material.

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