Female External Catheter Applicators for Secure Self-Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intermittent female external catheters (FECs) require intuitive and easy placement by patients for urine voiding, as they are self-placed more frequently than other FECs.
Innovation Solution
The development of applicators for FECs, including finger pockets, clips, handles, ridges, pads, and extendable buttons, which facilitate easy and secure application and retention of the catheter during urine voiding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If FECs are designed for self-placement by patients, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for intuitive applicators and user-friendly features
Solution Approach 1:
The FEC system enables patients to independently place and secure the catheter using self-service mechanisms. The applicator includes features like finger pockets, clips, and handles that allow the user to perform the entire application process without medical professional assistance, directly implementing the self-service principle for improved ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator is divided into distinct functional segments including finger pockets for insertion, clips for securing, and handles for manipulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall device more intuitive to use while managing complexity through modular design
2Reliability
If applicators are designed with multiple features for secure holding, then reliability of catheter retention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention features (finger pockets, clips, handles) are merged into a single integrated applicator structure. This combination allows the device to provide secure catheter retention through multiple mechanisms simultaneously while presenting a unified, manageable structure to the user, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing perceived complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator is pre-configured with all necessary retention features (clips, pockets, handles) in their correct positions before use. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the patient applies the catheter, the retention mechanisms are already optimally positioned, improving reliability of retention while simplifying the user's task of proper positioning
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are applicators for female external catheters (“FECs”) and methods thereof. For example, an FEC can include a sidewall encircling a cavity that extends along a length of the FEC, a knoll of the sidewall that extends over the cavity in a sump end of the FEC, a catheter back opposite the cavity, and an applicator over the catheter back. The cavity can be configured to open toward a patient for voiding urine into the cavity. The knoll can be configured to be disposed over a vaginal introitus of the patient when the FEC is tucked between inner labia of the patient. The catheter back can extend from the sump end of the FEC to a drainage end of the FEC opposite the sump end of the FEC. The applicator can be configured for applying the FEC and holding the FEC in place during the voiding of the urine.