External Urethral Compression Pump for Self-Operated Bladder Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bladder emptying methods for underactive bladder patients are cumbersome, invasive, and prone to complications such as urinary infections, requiring trained operators and bulky equipment.
Innovation Solution
A urinary pumping device with an activation arrangement that intermittently compresses and releases the urethra, allowing for non-invasive self-application, using mechanisms like peristaltic or impedance pumps to manage fluid flow through the urethra.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pipe or catheter is introduced through the urethra into the bladder to remove residual urine, then the bladder can be sufficiently emptied, but the procedure becomes invasive, complicated, and requires trained operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patient can independently operate the device by themselves without requiring trained medical personnel. The activation arrangement is designed to be self-operable by the patient through simple actions such as pressing a button or pulling a cord, enabling autonomous bladder emptying at home.
Solution Approach 2:
The device extracts and removes the need for invasive catheters and complex medical equipment. Instead of introducing pipes into the bladder, the activation arrangement compresses the urethra externally to pump urine out, eliminating the need for surgical or semi-surgical intervention.
2Reliability
If a pipe or catheter is introduced through the urethra into the bladder, then residual urine can be removed, but urinary infections may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the invasive catheter from the system entirely. By compressing the urethra externally rather than introducing foreign objects into the bladder, the source of infection risk is eliminated while maintaining effective urine removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism that achieves urine pumping without direct contact with the bladder interior. The compression of the urethra creates a peristaltic effect that moves urine outward without requiring invasive instruments to enter the sterile bladder environment.
3Reliability
If bulky and heavy equipment is used for bladder emptying, then sufficient emptying can be achieved, but the equipment becomes difficult to access and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of bladder emptying from bulky hospital equipment and concentrates it into a compact, lightweight activation arrangement that can be easily transported and used at home.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be portable and self-operable, allowing patients to perform bladder emptying independently without requiring access to large, stationary medical equipment or assistance from medical personnel.
4Ease of operation
If a pipe or catheter is introduced through the urethra, then bladder emptying can be performed, but the procedure becomes delicate and requires training to avoid patient injury
Solution Approach 1:
The invasive catheter is removed from the system. The activation arrangement compresses the urethra from the outside, eliminating the risk of internal injury, perforation, or improper insertion that accompanies catheter-based methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The urethra itself serves as the conduit, and the activation arrangement applies external compression as an intermediary action to pump urine without introducing foreign objects that could cause trauma or injury to the patient's urinary tract.
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
Facilitates convenient and efficient bladder emptying or filling, reducing discomfort and infection risk, with self-operable designs suitable for both male and female patients, enhancing treatment acceptance.
Implementation Method 1
By being capable of compressing and releasing the urethra, the device can operate as a peristaltic pump or as an impedance pump. When being operated as a peristaltic pump the activation arrangement can be configured to compress and/or expand neighbouring sections of the urethra one after the other.
Implementation Method 2
When being operated as an impedance pump the activation arrangement can be configured to compress and/or expand the urethra at specific frequency and location.
Data Source
AI summary
An urinary pumping device for generating a fluid flow through a urethra of a patient includes an activation arrangement configured to induce intermittent compression and release of the urethra, and a mounting structure to mount and unmount the activation arrangement to a body of the patient. The mounting structure is configured to position the activation arrangement on the body of the patient such that the urethra of the patient can be intermittently compressed and released by the activation arrangement.