Biological Fluid Collection System with Pneumatic Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheterization systems face challenges in accurately determining urine output due to urine pooling in conduits, which limits the reliable collection of biological fluids like urine, often requiring user intervention and manual manipulation to flush out remaining fluid.
Innovation Solution
A drainage system incorporating a conduit connected to a gas pressure source, such as a bulb syringe, to force biological fluids into a collection device, utilizing a one-way valve to prevent gas from entering the catheter, ensuring efficient drainage without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual manipulation or milking of the conduit is used to flush urine, then some trapped urine can be forced into the collection vessel, but the method is limited by difficult venting and surface tension, requiring continuous user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gas pressure source connected to the conduit system that automatically applies positive pressure to flush trapped urine from the conduit into the collection vessel. This pneumatic mechanism eliminates the need for manual manipulation or milking of the conduit, providing consistent and complete fluid evacuation without requiring user intervention or dealing with venting limitations.
2Quantity of substance
If the conduit is manipulated to force fluid into the collection vessel, then urine can be flushed via gravity, but substantial urine remains trapped due to surface tension and limited venting
Solution Approach 1:
The gas pressure source delivers controlled positive pressure directly to the fluid in the conduit, overcoming surface tension forces that prevent complete drainage. This pneumatic flushing ensures substantially all urine is forced into the collection vessel, achieving both complete collection and accurate measurement by eliminating residual trapped fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter within the conduit by introducing gas pressure from the pressure source. This pressure increase overcomes the surface tension and gravity limitations that prevent complete fluid evacuation, ensuring all urine is transferred to the collection vessel for accurate measurement.
3Productivity
If manual intervention is used to force fluid into the collection vessel, then some urine can be recovered, but the process requires continuous user involvement and is not reliable or consistent
Solution Approach 1:
The gas pressure source is integrated into the catheterization system to provide automatic flushing of the conduit. The system self-regulates the pressure application to consistently evacuate trapped urine without requiring user intervention, making the collection process reliable and consistent regardless of operator skill or availability.
4Quantity of substance
If gas pressure is applied to flush conduit, then complete fluid drainage is achieved, but gas may inadvertently enter the catheter or bladder
Solution Approach 1:
A one-way valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the gas pressure source and the catheter/conduit system. This valve allows gas pressure to be applied to the conduit for complete fluid drainage while simultaneously preventing gas from entering the catheter or bladder, thus eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining the beneficial drainage function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system enables accurate and reliable collection of biological fluids by using gas pressure to flush out remaining fluids from the conduit, reducing the need for user intervention and improving measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a gas pressure source configured to feed a gas into the at least one conduit between the catheter and the collection device. The gas causes the biological fluid arranged in the at least one conduit to drain into the collection device
Data Source
AI summary
A drainage and/or collection system (1) for biological fluids includes at least one conduit (40) for transporting a biological fluid (F) from a catheter (10) to a collection device (50) and a gas pressure source (70) configured to feed a gas (G) into the at least one conduit (40) between the catheter (10) and the collection device (50). The gas (G) causes the biological fluid (F) arranged in the at least one conduit (40) to drain into the collection device (50). A method includes inserting a catheter (10), draining a fluid (F) into a collection device (50) via a conduit (40), and introducing gas (G) into the conduit (40) so as to force fluid (F) remaining in the conduit (40) into the collection device (50).