Biodegradable Urine Collection Device with Configurable Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine specimen collection devices are often large, expensive, and not designed for biodegradability, making them unsuitable for routine medical use, especially for pregnant, overweight, or elderly females, as they are difficult to use and result in unsanitary contamination.
Innovation Solution
A novel, disposable, biodegradable device with a grasping end and a collection vessel securing end connected by a selectively configurable connecting arm, made from flexible and resilient materials, allowing adaptation to different body shapes and sizes, and designed for easy use with conventional urine collection vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional urine collection devices are used, then specimen collection can be performed, but the devices are large, expensive, and difficult to use for pregnant, overweight, or elderly females
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into three main segments: a collection vessel securing end, a connecting arm, and a grasping end. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the securing end can be small and adaptable, the connecting arm provides flexible linkage, and the grasping end offers ergonomic handling. The segmented design enables the device to be compact yet functional, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting arm is designed to be selectively configurable, allowing it to be bent or adjusted to different angles and positions. This dynamic capability enables the device to adapt to various body shapes and sizes, making it easier to use for pregnant, overweight, or elderly females while maintaining a compact overall structure. The arm can be configured to reach different positions without requiring a large fixed structure.
2Reliability
If conventional urine collection devices are used, then specimen collection can be performed, but they result in unsanitary contamination and are repugnant for patients and technicians
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the collection vessel securing function with the handling mechanism into a single integrated unit. The securing end is designed to firmly attach to standard collection vessels, ensuring sanitary connection without requiring separate components. This integration maintains reliability by ensuring secure, contamination-free connection while improving ease of operation by providing a unified device that is simple to handle and dispose of.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a disposable product, which ensures sanitary collection by eliminating cross-contamination risks between patients. Each new device is sterile and single-use, maintaining high reliability for sanitary collection. The disposable nature also simplifies handling for technicians, as contaminated devices can be easily discarded without complex cleaning or sterilization procedures, improving ease of operation.
3Productivity
If conventional urine collection devices are used, then specimen collection can be performed, but they are expensive to produce and not suitable for routine medical use
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes flexible materials for the connecting arm and securing end components, which can be manufactured using cost-effective processes such as molding or forming. These flexible components require minimal material and can be produced efficiently at scale, reducing production costs. The thin-film nature of some components further reduces material costs while maintaining functional integrity, making the device suitable for routine medical use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be compatible with standard urine collection vessels, making it universally applicable across different medical settings. This multi-functionality allows a single device design to serve multiple purposes and patient needs, increasing productivity by enabling routine medical use without requiring multiple specialized devices. The universal design simplifies manufacturing by standardizing components, thereby reducing production costs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional urine collection devices are used, then specimen collection can be performed, but they are not biodegradable and environmentally unfriendly
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs composite materials that combine biodegradable components with necessary functional properties. The connecting arm and securing end can be made from biodegradable polymers or plant-based materials that maintain flexibility and strength during use but decompose environmentally after disposal. This composite approach enables environmental compatibility while still allowing for effective manufacturing through established biodegradable material processing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameters of the device are specifically selected to achieve biodegradability without compromising manufacturing feasibility. By adjusting parameters such as polymer composition, thickness, and structural density, the device maintains adequate mechanical properties during use while ensuring environmental breakdown after disposal. These parameter changes enable the use of biodegradable materials that can still be manufactured cost-effectively using conventional processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a novel, disposable urine collection vessel securing device that can be used in combination with any standard urine containment vessel and configured to provide an inexpensive, sanitary, convenient device for the collection of urine from a subject. Also provided is a method of use and can be included as one of the items in a sample collection kit.