Drain Mattress System for Automatic Incontinence Fluid Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bed systems for urinary incontinent patients are inadequate in managing incontinence, leading to discomfort, skin breakdown, and increased care burdens due to the inability to efficiently collect and dispose of urine, which disrupts sleep and hygiene.

Innovation Solution

A drain mattress system with a removable center inflated section and collection tubes connected to a central tank, allowing for automatic drainage and suction of fluids, designed to reduce maintenance and prevent bed sores, featuring a waterproof and easy-to-clean design with translucent components for monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If waterproof mattress covers and absorbent pads are used to manage incontinence, then urine containment is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to wet bedding and skin breakdown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine containmentVSAvoidskin breakdown and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful urine fluid from the mattress system by incorporating drain holes and collection tubes that actively remove urine from the mattress surface and channel it to a collection reservoir, preventing urine contact with the patient skin and eliminating the need for absorbent pads that trap moisture against the skin

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary drainage system consisting of drain holes, collection tubes, and a reservoir that mediates between the urine source and the mattress, allowing urine to be collected and stored separately without contaminating the patient contact surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If staff manually monitor and clean patients after incontinence incidents, then hygiene is maintained, but care time and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene maintenanceVSAvoidcaregiver time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mattress system performs self-service by automatically draining and collecting urine through its integrated drainage system, eliminating the need for staff to manually monitor and clean patients after incontinence incidents, thereby maintaining hygiene while reducing caregiver time and labor costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If bedpans and equipment are used for bed-ridden patients, then incontinence management is attempted, but patient control and dignity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincontinence management capabilityVSAvoidpatient control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mattress system provides multi-functionality by serving both as a supportive sleeping surface and as an automatic incontinence management system, eliminating the need for separate bedpans or equipment and allowing patients to maintain their normal sleeping position without requiring manual intervention or loss of dignity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If patients remain in wet bedding for extended periods, then medical establishment costs are reduced, but patient comfort and health deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedical resource efficiencyVSAvoidpatient discomfort and health issues

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage system maintains continuous functionality by constantly draining urine from the mattress surface through drain holes and collection tubes into a reservoir, ensuring the patient contact surface remains dry and comfortable throughout the night without requiring periodic interventions or resource-intensive bedding changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 collects and disposes of urine, reducing skin breakdown risks, improving patient comfort and caregiver efficiency by maintaining a dry surface and allowing for easy cleaning and monitoring of fluid levels.

Implementation Method 1

The drain mattress system is attached to a suction vacuum to pull out the fluid and fecal matter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

The drain mattress system is designed in such a way that fluid would automatically drain to the central removable collection tank enabling the mattress dry

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrainage: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11399999B1Easy drain mattress

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 NYANKIRA EZRA M

AI summary

The present invention discloses a drain mattress system which includes a mattress positioned on a bed frame. The drain mattress system is configured to have a collection tubes and a central removable collection tank. The drain mattress system configured to have drain holes that are positioned in the center of the mattress. The center section of the drain mattress system is penetrated with a series of collection tubes that protrude through a lower support surface of the bed frame and are connected to the collection tube, which is then collected in a funnel and directed to the central removable collection tank located under the bed. The drain mattress system automatically drains the fluid to the central removable collection tank enabling the mattress dry. The drain mattress system is attached to a suction vacuum to pull out the fluid and fecal matter.