Folded Urinary Catheter With Bendable Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for urinary catheter assemblies that are compact, portable, and discreet for individuals with urinary incontinence, as existing catheters are not adequately designed for convenient and discreet carrying and use.
Innovation Solution
A urinary catheter assembly with an inner catheter tube partially positioned within an outer tube, featuring a bendable region that allows the catheter to be folded for compact storage and easily converted to a straight configuration for use, utilizing a bending element such as notches or a separate component to facilitate bending and straightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the catheter is designed in a straight configuration for ease of insertion and use, then the ease of operation is improved, but the volume and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The inner catheter tube is partially positioned within the lumen of the outer tube, creating a nested configuration that reduces the overall volume of the catheter assembly for portability while maintaining the full length of the catheter for proper insertion and function
2Volume of moving object
If the catheter is folded into a compact configuration for portability, then the volume is reduced, but the ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The inner catheter tube includes a bendable region that allows the catheter to dynamically change between a folded compact configuration for portability and a straight configuration for insertion, making the catheter adaptable to different operational states
3Adaptability or versatility
If a bendable region is added to enable folding, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into distinct regions including an inner catheter tube with a bendable region and an outer tube, allowing the bendable region to be selectively positioned within or outside the outer tube to achieve different configurations without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire catheter structure
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 design enables a compact and discreet catheter configuration for storage and transport, while allowing easy conversion to a straight configuration for use, reducing stress on the catheter and providing a convenient self-catheterization solution for individuals with urinary incontinence.
Implementation Method 1
The inner catheter tube includes a bendable region that is at least partially outside of the outer tube and is bent so as to place the catheter assembly into a folded configuration
Implementation Method 2
The inner catheter tube and the outer tube are movable relative to one another so that the bendable region of the inner catheter tube is moved into the lumen of the outer tube
Data Source
AI summary
A urinary catheter assembly (10) having a folded, compact configuration and a straight ready to use configuration, having an outer tube (30) and an inner catheter tube (12), the inner catheter tube comprising a bendable region (24), the inner catheter tube and the outer tube being movable relative to one another so that a bending element of the bendable region of the inner catheter tube is moved into the lumen of the outer tube, thereby straightening the inner catheter tube so as to place the urinary catheter assembly into a straight ready to use configuration.