External Catheter with Absorbent Sleeve for Fluid Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter devices for incontinence care in immobile or bedridden patients often require frequent changing, leading to complications such as skin breakdown, bedsores, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Innovation Solution
A catheter sleeve with a flexible material enclosed within, featuring an insertion end, a tapered end with a drainage tube, and an adhesive member for secure placement, designed to absorb and drain fluids efficiently without invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional catheter devices are used for incontinence care, then fluid evacuation is achieved, but frequent changing is required leading to skin breakdown and infections
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is segmented into distinct functional components: an external catheter portion for urine collection, an absorbent material layer for fluid management, and a skin barrier layer for protection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, reducing skin exposure to harmful fluids while maintaining effective fluid evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
An absorbent material acts as an intermediary between the catheter and the skin, absorbing excess fluid to prevent direct contact with the skin. This intermediary layer reduces the harmful effects of prolonged fluid exposure while maintaining the catheter's fluid evacuation function.
2Reliability
If traditional catheter devices are used, then fluid evacuation is achieved, but frequent changing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is pre-assembled with absorbent and barrier materials integrated into the structure, allowing for extended wear without frequent changing. The preliminary configuration of these components enables the device to maintain effectiveness over longer periods, reducing the time loss associated with frequent changes.
3Reliability
If invasive catheter procedures are used, then fluid management is achieved, but patient comfort and hygiene are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the invasive internal catheter component and replaces it with an external catheter system that achieves fluid management without penetrating the body. This extraction eliminates the discomfort and hygiene issues associated with invasive procedures while maintaining effective fluid evacuation through external collection and absorption mechanisms.
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 catheter sleeve provides a non-invasive, efficient solution for fluid management, reducing the frequency of changes and minimizing complications like skin breakdown and UTIs, while maintaining user comfort and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible material enclosed within the catheter sleeve provides a filling configured to absorb a fluid evacuated through the penile shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An external catheter assembly for improved incontinence care for immobile or bedridden patients includes a catheter sleeve and a flexible material enclosed within the catheter sleeve. The catheter sleeve may include an insertion end and a tapered end. The catheter sleeve has an internal cavity extending into the catheter sleeve and outwardly through the insertion end. The internal cavity being configured to receive a penile shaft of a user. The flexible material enclosed within the catheter sleeve provides a filling configured to absorb a fluid evacuated through the penile shaft. A drainage tube is attached to the tapered end. The drainage tube is in fluid communication with the flexible material and is configured to drain the fluid out of the catheter sleeve.