Garment-Integrated Urine Stool Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring urine and stool secretion in infants and adults are often bulky, complex, and unreliable, failing to provide timely alerts to caregivers, which is a significant concern for parents and individuals with incontinence issues.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system integrated into garments, utilizing photodetectors and capacitive detectors to monitor light reflection and capacitance changes caused by urine and stool, which triggers alerts through audio, visual, or tactile means, allowing for real-time detection and notification of secretion events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional urine detection devices are used, then detection function is provided, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from complex conventional devices and implements it using simple optical components (LED and photodetector) that can be integrated into garment layers. The detection circuit is simplified to monitor only light reflection changes caused by urine/stool presence, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining reliable detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects both urine and stool secretion, provides real-time alerts to caregivers, and can be integrated into various garment types. The same optical detection mechanism handles different secretion types, reducing the need for separate specialized devices.
2Reliability
If conventional detection systems are implemented, then secretion detection is enabled, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the detection components within the garment structure itself. The LED and photodetector are integrated into the fabric layers, with the detection circuit positioned to monitor light reflection through the garment layers. This nesting approach eliminates separate bulky detection devices while maintaining reliable secretion detection.
3Loss of time
If real-time detection is implemented, then timely alerts are provided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system uses periodic light emission from the LED rather than continuous illumination. The photodetector monitors light reflection at intervals, enabling real-time detection of urine/stool secretion events while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation. The system activates alerts only when secretion is detected, not continuously.
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 sensor system effectively detects urine and stool secretion through multiple layers of garments, providing timely and reliable alerts, enhancing caregiver awareness and improving incontinence management.
Implementation Method 1
at least one photodetector configured to output an indication of the amount of light reflected from said garment
Implementation Method 2
at least one capacitive detector, said detector configured to output an indication of the magnitude of the capacitance of said capacitive detector
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor for detecting urine and stool secretion mounted over two or more layers of garment, said sensor comprising: at least one light source configured to illuminate said garment; at least one photodetector configured to output an indication of the amount of light reflected from said garment; and an electronic circuit configured to detect said secretion by monitoring said output of said photodetector and identifying a temporal pattern being characteristic of said secretion event.