Disposable Sensor Pad for Incontinence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for detecting urinary and fecal incontinence are limited by their inability to accurately measure the degree of wetness and distinguish between urine and fecal matter, due to variations in urine salinity and the lack of selective responses to stool properties.
Innovation Solution
The development of a wearable disposable sensor pad with multiple discrete urine sensing cells, each containing fluid absorbing wicks with ohmic connections to electrical pads, allowing for continuous measurement of conductivity. This system, in conjunction with a wearable controller device, provides real-time monitoring of incontinence, differentiation between urinary and fecal incontinence, and an estimate of urine salinity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conductivity measurement is used to detect incontinence, then the detection method is simple and low cost, but the measurement precision is poor due to variable urine salinity affecting conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (hygroscopic material with fixed salt concentration) between the electrode and the variable urine environment. This intermediary absorbs urine and provides a stable, known salt concentration that bridges the electrode to the variable urine composition, allowing accurate wetness measurement despite urine salinity variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of salt concentration in the detection medium from variable (urine salinity) to fixed (controlled salt concentration in hygroscopic material). By controlling the salt concentration in the intermediary layer, the system transforms an uncontrolled variable into a known parameter, enabling accurate conductivity-based wetness measurement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If general fluid detection is used, then both urine and feces can be detected, but the ability to distinguish between urine and fecal incontinence is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving different detection cells different functional properties. Urine detection cells use hygroscopic materials with specific salt concentrations optimized for urine, while fecal detection cells use materials with different properties optimized for fecal matter detection, enabling differentiation while maintaining general fluid detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the detection system into multiple discrete detection cells, each specialized for detecting specific fluid types. By dividing the detection function into separate specialized cells rather than using a single general-purpose detector, the system maintains versatility while preserving the ability to distinguish between different incontinence types.
3Reliability
If absorbable material layer completely covers electrodes, then fluid management is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to drainage channel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drainage function from the absorbable material layer itself and provides it separately through drainage channels in the substrate. This allows the absorbable material layer to completely cover the electrodes for reliable fluid management, while the drainage function is handled by a separate structural element (substrate with channels), reducing the complexity burden on the absorbable layer.
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
The system effectively acquires a rich array of monitoring data, providing real-time measures of incontinence severity, type, and urine salinity, with minimal dependence on fluid management methods. It is also amenable to inexpensive, high-volume manufacturing approaches.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid absorbing wick with an exposed surface that is in contact with the pair of electrodes, wherein the wick acts as the connecting material that bridges the pair of electrodes when the wick is exposed to urine
Implementation Method 2
when the first absorbable material layer is wetted, the connecting material comprises the wet first absorbable material layer, thus operably connecting the pair of electrodes and forming the closed circuit between the pair of electrodes for detecting incontinence
Data Source
AI summary
Most current incontinence detection systems are expensive, difficult to use, uncomfortable to wear, or suffer limitations in the scope of detected events. However, the present invention features an incontinence detection system that uses inexpensive technologies and is disposable. The system can indicate the degree and persistence of wetness. The degree of wetness can be measured across various factors, including geometrical coverage via multiple independent detection points, each comprising a “detection cell.” A suitably networked system can determine the time and location of wetness. Each cell might be tuned for various factors such as material fluid affinity and exposure area. An advantage of the invention is the ease with which it can be adapted to distinguish fecal incontinence as distinct from urinary incontinence; both forms of incontinence can be monitored using the same system described herein. Another advantage includes the ability to estimate urine salinity.