Drain Bag Valve Shield Angled Outlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urinary drain bag outlet devices often result in urine being trapped, leading to spilling, splashing, or spraying on healthcare workers, requiring two hands to manage and increasing the risk of contamination.
Innovation Solution
An outlet device with an integrated inlet, valve, and outlet portion, featuring a cylindrical connector, a slide valve, and a bell-shaped shield with an angled outlet member, which minimizes fluid collection and allows one-handed operation without the need for a drain housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional outlet devices with clamped tubing are used, then the device structure is simple, but urine is trapped on the end of the outlet causing spilling, splashing, or spraying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the outlet member, shield, and valve into a single integrated outlet device assembly. The outlet member with angled end portion is integrated with the bell-shaped shield and valve mechanism, eliminating the need for separate drain housing and reducing the number of components. This merging resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced safety through integration while actually reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bell-shaped shield acts as an intermediary component between the outlet member and the external environment. It intercepts and redirects urine flow, preventing direct contact with healthcare workers. The shield's curved geometry serves as a mediator that transforms the harmful spray trajectory into a controlled flow path, resolving the contradiction between operational safety and device simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If healthcare workers use two hands to manage the outlet device, then the risk of urine spilling is reduced, but the productivity and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet device is designed to be self-stabilizing and self-controlling through its integrated structure. The bell-shaped shield automatically positions itself to intercept urine flow, and the valve mechanism is designed for easy one-handed operation. This self-service design resolves the contradiction by providing inherent stability and control without requiring additional hands, thereby maintaining productivity while ensuring safe operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve mechanism incorporates dynamic elements that allow for easy activation and deactivation with one hand. The slide valve or push-button mechanism enables rapid opening and closing of the outlet, allowing healthcare workers to quickly collect samples and securely close the outlet without requiring continuous two-handed manipulation. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between operational control and工作效率.
3Ease of manufacture
If the outlet member has a vertical end portion, then the device structure is simple, but urine collects on the perimeter of the outlet member causing spilling
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet member features an asymmetric angled end portion instead of a simple vertical termination. This asymmetric geometry prevents urine from pooling at the end of the outlet member by creating a slope that directs urine away from the perimeter. The angled design resolves the contradiction by eliminating urine collection (reducing harmful factors) while remaining manufacturable through standard machining processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The bell-shaped shield incorporates curved surfaces that guide urine flow smoothly away from the outlet member. The curved geometry prevents urine from adhering to the outlet perimeter and directs it into a controlled flow path. This application of curvature resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and preventing urine collection, as the curved shield can be formed through standard molding or machining while effectively eliminating spilling.
4Reliability
If a drain housing is used to hold the tubing, then the risk of contamination is reduced, but the device complexity and the need for two hands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective housing function directly into the outlet device assembly itself. The bell-shaped shield and integrated valve mechanism provide both structural support and contamination protection in a single unit, eliminating the need for a separate drain housing. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through integrated protection while reducing device complexity and enabling one-handed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated outlet device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides contamination protection through the bell-shaped shield, controls urine flow through the valve mechanism, and prevents spilling through the angled outlet member. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating the protective housing function with the outlet control functions, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing overall device complexity and enabling one-handed operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain bag outlet device includes inlet, valve and outlet portions. The inlet portion includes a connector and a cylindrical portion. The connector is adapted to connect to a fluid drain bag. A second end of the connector is adapted to connect to the cylindrical portion forming a generally longitudinal opening therethrough. The valve portion is attached to a second end of the cylindrical portion and includes a valve member for moving between positions to permit and obstruct fluid flow through the longitudinal opening. The outlet portion includes an outlet member having an angled portion and a shield connected to the valve portion. The shield completely surrounds and extends below the outlet member. The shield includes upper and lower portions. The diameter of the upper is less than the diameter of the lower portion. The outlet device eliminates the fluid that is spilled, splashed or sprayed on a healthcare worker.