Fecal Collection Interface With Removable Applicator for Secure Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fecal collection systems face challenges in managing impaired or restricted bowel movement processes, particularly for individuals with limited mobility or in clinical settings, often leading to difficulties in maintaining a secure seal and efficient waste collection without causing discomfort or skin irritation.

Innovation Solution

A fecal collection system comprising a user interface assembly with an adhesive sheet, a drainage conduit, and a collection reservoir, where the user interface is coupled to the skin using a removable applicator, allowing for secure attachment and easy replacement of components, and featuring one-way valves to prevent backflow and transparent reservoirs for volume measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional fecal collection system uses a permanent seal against the skin, then the seal reliability is improved, but the risk of skin irritation and pressure sores increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidskin irritation and pressure sores
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collection system is divided into separate components: a removable collection bag and a separate adhesive interface. This segmentation allows the adhesive to be applied only to necessary areas while enabling easy removal without prolonged pressure on the skin, thus maintaining seal reliability while reducing skin irritation risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static, permanent seal to a dynamic, removable seal. The adhesive interface can be applied and removed as needed, allowing the system to adapt to skin conditions and reducing prolonged pressure exposure while maintaining effective sealing during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the collection system uses a complex attachment mechanism, then the seal reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidease of attachment and removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the collection bag from the adhesive interface, allowing each component to be optimized independently. The adhesive interface uses simple pressure-sensitive adhesive technology for easy application, while the collection bag can be easily detached and replaced without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collection bag is designed as a disposable component that can be easily attached and removed. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning and sterilization mechanisms, simplifying operation while maintaining reliable sealing through the adhesive interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If the drainage conduit is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the adaptability to different body positions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidadaptability to body positions
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage conduit is constructed from flexible materials that can bend and conform to different body positions and movements. This flexibility maintains structural integrity while allowing the system to adapt to various user positions, whether sitting, lying down, or moving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the collection reservoir is made opaque to protect privacy, then the object-generated harmful factors are reduced, but the ease of monitoring waste volume deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy exposureVSAvoidease of volume monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collection reservoir incorporates a transparent or translucent window or section that allows visual monitoring of waste volume. This localized transparency provides monitoring capability while the rest of the reservoir remains opaque to maintain privacy, combining both requirements in different regions of the same component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 system provides a secure, comfortable, and efficient means of collecting feces, reducing the risk of pressure sores and leakage, while enabling easy maintenance and monitoring of waste volume without disturbing the user interface.

Implementation Method 1

The user interface assembly includes a user interface and an applicator. The user interface has a proximal side and a distal side. The proximal side is configured to couple to skin of a user.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4374833B1Fecal collection system
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SAGE PROD LLC
  • EP4374833B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4374833B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4374833B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A fecal collection system comprises a user interface assembly, a drainage conduit extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a collection reservoir coupled to the distal end of the drainage conduit. The user interface assembly comprises a user interface having a proximal side and a distal side. The proximal side is configured to couple to skin of a user. The user interface comprises an adhesive sheet including an adhesive on the proximal side. The user interface assembly further comprises an applicator coupled to the distal side of the user interface, wherein the applicator is removable from the user interface while the user interface is coupled to the user. The user interface assembly further comprises a first release liner removably coupled to a first half of an adhesive sheet of the user interface, and a second release liner removably coupled to a second half of the adhesive sheet. The first release liner comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the first release liner covers the first half of the adhesive sheet, wherein the second portion of the first release liner has a first end that is coupled to the first portion of the first release liner at an inner portion of the user interface and a second end that is separate from the first portion of the first release liner at an outer portion of the user interface. The second release liner comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the second release liner covers the second half of the adhesive sheet, and wherein the second portion of the second release liner has a first end that is coupled to the first portion of the second release liner at an inner portion of the user interface and a second end that is separate from the first portion of the second release liner at an outer portion of the user interface. The proximal end of the drainage conduit is configured to couple to the distal side of the user interface, wherein the drainage conduit defines a lumen configured to guide feces from the proximal end to the distal end.