Adjustable Drain Loop for Urine Collection Back Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urine collection systems face issues with back pressure due to the excess length of drain tubes, which restricts urine flow and causes patient discomfort, as the tubes are designed to hang below the fluid reservoir, forcing urine to flow against gravity.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable loop system for the drain tube is introduced, utilizing a clip or band to maintain the tube above the fluid reservoir, allowing for adjustable length and preventing back pressure by securing the loop to the bed or bed sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the drain tube is made longer to allow patient repositioning, then patient mobility and comfort are improved, but back pressure and urine flow restriction worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The drain tube system transitions from a fixed length configuration to a dynamic, adjustable loop system. The loop can be selectively formed and adjusted to different sizes using a clip device, allowing the effective drainage length to be modified based on patient position and reservoir location, thereby maintaining optimal drainage geometry while accommodating patient movement needs
Solution Approach 2:
The excess tube length that previously created harmful back pressure in the vertical dimension is redirected into a horizontal loop configuration. By forming a loop that extends laterally above the reservoir rather than hanging vertically below it, the system utilizes spatial reconfiguration to eliminate the gravitational back pressure problem while preserving the additional length needed for patient repositioning
2Length of moving object
If the drain tube hangs below the fluid reservoir, then the tube can be shorter, but urine flow against gravity creates back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional configuration of hanging the drain tube below the reservoir is inverted. Instead of allowing the tube to extend downward under gravity, the loop is formed to extend upward and laterally above the reservoir level. This inversion changes the drainage geometry so that urine flows horizontally or slightly downward through the loop rather than fighting upward against gravity, eliminating back pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of the loop configuration. The clip device enables the loop to be formed, adjusted to different sizes, and repositioned, allowing the drain tube geometry to adapt to different clinical situations and patient positions while maintaining the beneficial property of keeping the tube above the reservoir
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the drain tube length is adjusted, then urine flow and back pressure are optimized, but the tube can no longer accommodate patient repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The drain tube system serves multiple functions simultaneously: the loop configuration optimizes urine drainage by eliminating back pressure, while the adjustable nature of the loop using the clip device preserves the ability to accommodate patient repositioning. The single device structure provides both drainage optimization and patient mobility support
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains adaptability through dynamic adjustment capability. The clip device allows the loop to be formed and adjusted to different configurations, enabling the system to adapt to various patient positions and reservoir locations while consistently maintaining the tube above the reservoir to prevent back pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device for maintaining an adjustable loop in the drain tube of a urine collection and/or monitoring system. The clip, band or bands act to maintain the adjustable loop such that the adjustment in size of the loop created in the drain tube varies the effective length of the drain tube. Further disclosed is a method for preventing back pressure from developing in the drain tube of urine collection and/or monitoring system.