Bodily Fluid Drainage Assembly with Segmented Covers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bodily fluid drainage assemblies lack efficient methods to determine fluid volume without direct visualization, and they often obscure the fluid, making it difficult to assess the volume accurately without removing covers or viewing the fluid directly.

Innovation Solution

The proposed bodily fluid drainage assembly features a fluid bag with translucent panels and multiple covers that allow for volume determination through graduations and fluid level indicators, enabling approximate volume assessment without direct fluid viewing by sliding covers and using perforations for partial removal of covers to reveal the fluid level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If covers are added to obscure the fluid, then privacy is improved, but fluid volume visibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprivacyVSAvoidfluid volume visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into a removable first cover and a permanent second cover, allowing selective removal to reveal fluid level indicators while maintaining privacy when covers are in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fluid level indicators serve as intermediaries that transmit fluid volume information through the cover material, allowing visibility without direct fluid exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If translucent panels are used, then fluid volume assessment is improved, but complete obscuration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid volume assessmentVSAvoidcomplete obscuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover incorporates both translucent panels for volume assessment and opaque panels for privacy, with each region serving its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cover is segmented into different material regions (translucent vs opaque) to provide both measurement capability and privacy protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If direct fluid viewing is required for volume determination, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume determination accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-measuring capability through integrated fluid level indicators that automatically display volume information without requiring direct fluid viewing or complex measurement procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8092436B2Bodily fluid drainage assembly

Publication Date: 2012.01.10 STERIGEAR LLC

AI summary

A bodily fluid drainage assembly having one or more covers and a fluid bag. The fluid bag has a first and a second volume indicator. The first volume indicator is employed by comparing a top level of a fluid with graduations that make up the first volume indicator. The second volume indicator and one of the covers can be used to appreciate an approximate volume of the fluid without directly observing the fluid. Any covers present on the assembly can be removed.