Fluid Collection Assembly With Movement-Stable Leak Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional urinary catheters and bedpans are uncomfortable, prone to leaks, and pose hygiene issues for individuals with limited mobility, while existing fluid collection assemblies discourage movement due to shifting and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A fluid collection assembly with a fluid impermeable barrier, chamber, and porous material, featuring movement-enhancing designs such as a flat contact surface, flexible structure, and protrusions to maintain positioning during movement, combined with a conduit for fluid removal, minimizing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional urinary catheters and bedpans are used, then fluid collection is achieved, but comfort and hygiene are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous absorbent material within the collection assembly that wicks bodily fluids away from the contact surface through capillary action. This porous structure enables reliable fluid collection while maintaining comfort by preventing fluid accumulation against the user's skin, thus resolving the contradiction between fluid collection reliability and comfort/hygiene.
2Reliability
If fluid collection assembly is designed to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but movement freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a flexible barrier layer that can dynamically adapt to body movements and positioning changes. This flexible design allows the assembly to maintain its seal and prevent leakage during various movements, thereby achieving both leak prevention and movement freedom simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an absorbent material with specific porosity parameters that change the fluid dynamics. The porous structure allows the material to absorb and retain fluids through capillary forces, maintaining leakage prevention while accommodating movement through its flexible, conforming nature.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid structure is used to maintain positioning, then stability is improved, but comfort and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible barrier layer that provides structural stability to maintain positioning while being soft and adaptable to body contours. This flexible film structure resolves the contradiction by offering both positional stability and comfort/adaptability, unlike rigid structures would.
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
Enables increased mobility and reduced leakage risk by conforming to the user's anatomy, allowing for fluid collection without significant shifting, thus enhancing comfort and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
at least one porous material disposed in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An example fluid collection assembly (100) includes a fluid impermeable barrier (102) defining at least one opening (104), a chamber (106) in fluid communication with the at least one opening (104), and at least one fluid outlet (108). The fluid collection assembly (100) also includes at least one porous material (110) disposed in the chamber (106). The fluid collection assembly (100) also includes at least one conduit (112) attached to the fluid outlet (108). The fluid collection assembly (100) includes one or more movement enhancing features (118).