Fluid Collection Assemblies with Protrusions and Expandable Materials
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid collection assemblies, such as bed pans and urinary catheters, face issues like discomfort, spills, hygiene problems, and the risk of urinary tract infections, particularly for individuals with limited mobility or restricted travel conditions.
Innovation Solution
The development of fluid collection assemblies that incorporate a fluid impermeable barrier with a chamber, opening, and fluid outlet, along with at least one porous material that includes a protrusion or an expandable material which expands when exposed to bodily fluids, enhancing the collection efficiency and reducing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bed pans are used for fluid collection, then fluid collection capability is provided, but discomfort, spills, and hygiene issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous absorbent material within the collection chamber that absorbs bodily fluids through capillary action, preventing spills and maintaining hygiene while reliably collecting fluid. The porous structure allows fluid absorption without requiring rigid containment, eliminating discomfort and spill issues associated with traditional bed pans.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of fluid collection from liquid pooling (bed pan) to absorption (porous material). The absorbent material transforms free-flowing liquid into absorbed fluid, preventing spills and improving hygiene while maintaining reliable collection capability.
2Reliability
If urinary catheters are used for fluid collection, then fluid collection capability is provided, but discomfort, pain, and urinary tract infections occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary absorbent material layer between the collection chamber and the bodily fluids. This intermediary absorbs the fluid through capillary action, eliminating direct contact between the catheter and the fluid, thereby preventing discomfort, pain, and urinary tract infections while maintaining reliable fluid collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous absorbent material serves as a mediator that absorbs bodily fluids through capillary action, preventing direct contact between the catheter and the fluid. This eliminates discomfort and infection risks associated with traditional catheters while maintaining effective fluid collection.
3Reliability
If a fluid impermeable barrier with chamber is used, then fluid containment is improved, but leakage may occur without conforming to urethral region shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the collection chamber by incorporating expandable material that adapts its shape to conform to the urethral region. This shape adaptation ensures proper sealing and prevents leakage while maintaining effective fluid containment through the fluid impermeable barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability to the collection chamber through expandable material that changes shape in response to bodily fluids. This dynamic conforming to the urethral region shape ensures continuous sealing and prevents leakage while maintaining reliable fluid containment.
4Ease of manufacture
If porous material without protrusion is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but gaps may form between porous material and urethral region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameter of the porous material by adding a protrusion that extends into the collection chamber. This protrusion eliminates gaps between the porous material and the urethral region, ensuring reliable sealing and preventing leakage while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through straightforward additive structuring.
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 proposed solution effectively minimizes leakage and discomfort by conforming to the shape of the urethral region, preventing gaps, and ensuring efficient fluid collection, thereby improving hygiene and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
at least one expandable material that is configured to expand (e.g., increase in volume) when the expandable material is exposed to the one or more bodily fluids
Implementation Method 2
The porous material may include an absorbent and/or adsorbent material... The porous material may wick the one or more bodily fluids away from the urethral opening and into the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An example female fluid collection assembly includes a fluid impermeable barrier. The fluid impermeable barrier at least defines a chamber and an opening. The female fluid collection assembly also includes at least one porous material disposed in the chamber. The porous material extends across the opening. In an embodiment, the portion of the porous material that extends across the opening include a protrusion that extends outwardly from the opening. In an embodiment, the porous material includes at least one expandable material that is configured to expand (e.g., increase in volume) when the expandable material exposed to one or more bodily fluids (e.g., urine).