Flexible Liquid Collection Pouch with Non-Return Valve Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for collecting liquids, such as urine or vomit, face challenges in ensuring safe and reliable collection and analysis while minimizing contamination risks due to the need for multiple handling steps and potential premature contact with analysis devices, which can degrade measurement quality.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a flexible pouch with a reactive element for analysis and an absorbent material, protected by a non-return valve, allows for controlled contact with the analysis device and absorbent material, reducing contamination risks and facilitating safe collection and analysis by preventing premature contact and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the reactive device is placed directly in contact with the liquid collection area, then the analysis can be performed immediately, but the reactive device may come into premature contact with the liquid jet causing degradation of measurement quality
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional zones: a liquid collection area, a protective arrangement barrier, and a reactive device analysis area. This segmentation prevents premature contact between the liquid jet and the reactive device while allowing controlled interaction when needed for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective arrangement acts as an intermediary barrier between the liquid collection area and the reactive device. This mediator protects the reactive device from direct exposure to the liquid jet during collection, preventing degradation of measurement quality while still allowing the system to function.
2Reliability
If multiple handling steps are used to transfer liquids between containers, then the collection and analysis process can be thorough, but the risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: liquid collection, protection of the reactive device, and analysis capabilities all within one pouch structure. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate containers and transfer steps, reducing contamination risk while maintaining thorough collection and analysis processes.
3Measurement precision
If the reactive device is protected from liquid contact during collection, then measurement quality is maintained, but the device cannot perform analysis until additional handling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The protective arrangement is designed to be dynamic rather than static. It automatically responds to changes in liquid volume and pouch orientation, opening to allow liquid contact with the reactive device when the pouch is inverted or when sufficient liquid has been collected, and closing to protect during the collection phase. This dynamic behavior maintains measurement quality while simplifying operation.
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 ensures safe and reliable collection and analysis of liquids, reducing handling steps and maintaining measurement quality by protecting the analysis device and absorbent material from premature contact, enabling controlled exposure and efficient disposal of collected liquids.
Implementation Method 1
a non-return valve configured to obstruct a flow of liquids collected in the flexible pouch towards the outside of the flexible pouch
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent material
Implementation Method 3
an absorbent material provided in a soluble envelope
Data Source
AI summary
A device for collecting and analysing liquids is described. The device includes a flexible pouch comprising two walls configured to form an opening therebetween to introduce liquids, a reagent device that includes at least one element that is reactive with at least one component of a liquid, and a protective arrangement configured to protect the reagent device from contact with a jet of liquid coming from the opening to introduce the liquids.