External Catheter Venting and Sealing for Leak-Free Urine Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bladder control measures are invasive, prone to urinary tract and skin infections, require frequent change management, and are susceptible to leakages.
Innovation Solution
A noninvasive, unisex external catheter designed with a flexible, hollow concave body, silicone layer for elasticity, and a drain element for urine collection, featuring a vent to allow air intake and prevent liquid exit, and a valve to maintain internal pressure, allowing for secure attachment and urine disposal without incisions or punctures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive catheter measures are used to ensure bladder control, then urine drainage reliability is improved, but infection risk and skin vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is segmented into distinct functional components: an external collection body, a separate adhesive layer for secure attachment, and a breathable membrane layer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while minimizing infection risk through reduced invasive contact with internal body structures.
Solution Approach 2:
A breathable membrane layer acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the user's skin, allowing air exchange while preventing direct contact between urine and skin. This intermediary layer maintains skin integrity and reduces infection risk while ensuring reliable urine collection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If frequent change management is implemented to maintain hygiene, then infection prevention is improved, but user convenience and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter design allows for partial cleaning and maintenance without complete removal or replacement. The modular structure enables users to refresh individual components (such as the adhesive layer or collection bag) without changing the entire system, reducing time loss while maintaining hygiene.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates self-sealing mechanisms and automatic drainage features that reduce the need for frequent manual intervention. The system maintains hygiene through passive design elements like breathable membranes and leak-proof connections, minimizing the frequency and time of change management activities.
3Reliability
If secure attachment is used to prevent leakage, then urine collection reliability is improved, but skin comfort and breathability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter utilizes a flexible, thin-walled collection body made from elastic materials that can conform to various body shapes while maintaining secure attachment. The thin film structure allows breathability and skin comfort while preventing leakage through intelligent design of the collection chamber and drainage pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the catheter have different properties: the adhesive layer provides strong local attachment to secure the device, while the collection body uses breathable, flexible materials for comfort. The drainage openings are strategically located to prevent leakage while allowing air circulation, creating local quality variations that balance reliability and comfort.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a unisex design is implemented to accommodate various body types, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is designed as a universal device with adjustable components that can accommodate both male and female anatomy. The collection body size, adhesive layer configuration, and drainage tube positioning can be adjusted to fit different body types, eliminating the need for separate male and female-specific designs while maintaining simplicity through standardized manufacturing processes.
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 external catheter effectively collects and disposes of urine noninvasively, reducing infection risk and leakage, while accommodating various body types and movements, and maintaining comfort and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a valve, wherein the valve is attached to the vent
Implementation Method 2
The silicone layer c) enables the body to be elastic. This elasticity enables the body to contour to a plurality of human bodies.
Implementation Method 3
a fiber element, wherein the fiber element is attached to the body, wherein the fiber element abuts to the drain element
Data Source
AI summary
A non-invasive unisex external catheter is provided. The device features a dressing element configured for attachment to a user and a pliable, concave body that rests upon it. A flange secures the perimeter of the body to the dressing element, creating a sealed enclosure over the user's genital area. Inside the body, a suction element, which may be a tube with at least one drainage hole, collects and guides urine away for disposal. The dressing element and flange may utilize peelable adhesive layers to ensure a secure, leak-proof attachment. The catheter's pliable construction allows it to conform to diverse body types, enhancing user comfort and offering a hygienic alternative to invasive methods.