External Urine Collection Core With Suction to Avoid Catheter Infections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheterization for urinary management in healthcare settings leads to nosocomial infections and is an invasive procedure, posing significant challenges in managing urine flow for patients, particularly in acute and long-term care scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, fluid-impermeable outer surface with a fluid-permeable core and an actuatable fastener is designed for a urinary collection device, allowing supralabial or intralabial positioning, connected to a suction source for urine aspiration, reducing the need for invasive catheters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If catheterization is used for urinary management, then urine output monitoring is achieved, but nosocomial infections and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: an external collection device with fluid-permeable core that captures urine non-invasively, and a separate aspiration system with pump and canister. This segmentation eliminates the need for invasive catheterization while maintaining urine collection capability, thereby reducing infection risk while preserving monitoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The external collection device acts as an intermediary between the patient and the aspiration system. It captures urine externally through the fluid-permeable core and transfers it to the aspiration tube, eliminating direct invasive contact with the patient's urinary tract while maintaining effective urine management and monitoring.
2Ease of operation
If invasive catheterization is performed, then urine flow management is achieved, but patient comfort and infection risk deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting a catheter into the patient's body to manage urine flow, the device inverts the approach by placing the collection device externally and using a fluid-permeable core to passively capture urine. The aspiration system then actively draws urine through the external device, reversing the traditional invasive approach to a non-invasive one while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive mechanical insertion of a catheter is replaced with an active aspiration system using an electric pump. The pump creates negative pressure to draw urine through the external collection device and into the canister, substituting the invasive mechanical catheterization process with a non-invasive mechanically-driven aspiration system that improves patient comfort.
3Productivity
If traditional aspiration systems are used, then urine collection is achieved, but device complexity and adaptability to different anatomies worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable components including the aspiration rate controlled by the pump and the positioning of the external collection device that can be adjusted to fit different anatomies. The flexible tubing and adjustable fastening mechanisms allow the system to adapt dynamically to various patient anatomies while maintaining efficient urine collection through controlled aspiration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows adjustment of aspiration parameters such as suction pressure and flow rate to optimize performance for different patients and anatomical configurations. The external collection device can be positioned at different locations and the aspiration tube adjusted to accommodate varying anatomical structures, maintaining collection efficiency while enhancing anatomical adaptability through parameter modification.
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 device minimizes patient discomfort and infection risk by providing a non-invasive, effective urine management system adaptable to different anatomies, enhancing patient care and reducing catheter-related complications.
Implementation Method 1
a generally fluid-permeable core that communicates fluidically with an aspiration tube
Implementation Method 2
connected to a suction source for urine aspiration
Data Source
AI summary
A urinary collection device includes an outer surface and a generally fluid-permeable core that communicates fluidically with an aspiration tube. The outer surface includes an obverse opening to allow urine to flow into the fluid-permeable core when the device is positioned supralabially. On the reverse may be an actuatable fastener configured to retain the device in a reverse-folded intralabial position. In this manner the device may be placed supralabially or intralabially for urine collection as appropriate. The core may include a first knit fabric layer and a second knit fabric layer joined by a plurality of fibers, the fibers being oriented generally to extend from an obverse to a reverse position to thereby result in flow channels through the core.