Garment Wetness Detection Clips for Real-Time Incontinence Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current incontinence management systems in patient care facilities lack real-time monitoring and effective moisture detection, leading to prolonged exposure of patients to urine and feces, which causes health issues such as skin problems, infections, and increased healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring device with a clip attachable to a garment, featuring a printed circuit board and pins, and a transmitter with built-in delay mechanisms to transmit moisture and detachment data, coupled with a multi-layer sensor pad and tail for connecting to a transmitter, enabling remote data collection and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual monitoring and replacement of absorbent pads is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases due to prolonged exposure to moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pad system automatically detects moisture and transmits alerts without requiring manual checking by caregivers. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring and communicating status, eliminating the need for manual inspection and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to caregivers through wireless transmission when moisture is detected. This continuous feedback loop enables timely response to incontinence events, reducing the time between moisture occurrence and caregiver awareness.
2Measurement precision
If frequent manual checking of garments is performed, then measurement precision of wetness detection is improved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical checking with an automated electronic sensor system. The sensor pad continuously monitors wetness and transmits data wirelessly, eliminating the need for frequent manual inspections while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pad provides continuous monitoring without interruption. The useful action of detecting wetness occurs continuously rather than through periodic manual checks, ensuring no moisture events are missed while freeing caregivers from repetitive inspection tasks.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring is implemented, then reliability of incontinence detection is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: the sensor pad for detection, the transmitter for wireless communication, and the receiver for data processing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pad serves multiple functions: detecting moisture, determining location, and initiating alerts. The transmitter also performs multiple functions including wireless transmission and data processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, managing complexity while improving reliability.
4Ease of manufacture
If manual pad replacement is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors and communicates pad status without requiring manual intervention. The sensor pad and transmitter work together to detect and report moisture conditions, eliminating the time-consuming manual replacement process while the pad itself remains a simple disposable component.
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 system provides real-time moisture detection and data tracking, reducing skin exposure and infections, improving patient care by alerting caregivers to timely changes and maintaining skin health.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor may detect a change in an electrical property of the pad, such as resistance, capacitance, or conductance, based on the pad absorbing the liquid
Implementation Method 2
the pad absorbing the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring device for detecting wetness in a garment is disclosed. The monitoring device of the present disclosure includes a clip removably attachable to the garment and having a printed circuit board and a plurality of pins in communication with the printed circuit board, a portion of the plurality of pins extending through a portion of the clip, wherein the plurality of pins include a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, the first pin and the second pin aligned along a first axis of the clip and the third pin aligned along a second axis of the clip, the second axis spaced from the first axis, wherein, with the clip attached to the garment, the printed circuit board is in communication with the garment via the plurality of pins. Transmitters having built-in delay mechanisms configured to delay transmitting operational data for a period of time are disclosed.