Menstrual Fluid Collection Cup With Sealed Sample Preservation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting systemic blood and endometrial tissue for diagnostic analysis are invasive, inconvenient, costly, and time-consuming, and existing menstrual cups are not designed for fluid collection and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A menstrual fluid collection system comprising a flexible receptacle with a sealing lid and optional additives for preserving the sample, which can be used with or without a stem for easy insertion and removal, and can be adapted for transporting the sample to a remote location for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive procedures such as blood draw or finger prick are used to access systemic blood for diagnostic analysis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient comfort and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diagnostic function from invasive blood collection and relocates it to non-invasive menstrual fluid collection. The menstrual cup collects fluid that contains biomarkers, allowing diagnostic analysis without requiring blood draws or finger pricks, thus maintaining diagnostic accuracy while eliminating invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses menstrual fluid as an intermediary medium that contains systemic biomarkers. Instead of directly accessing blood through invasive means, the system collects menstrual fluid that carries the same diagnostic information, serving as a non-invasive proxy for blood analysis
2Measurement precision
If biopsy or cervical scrape is used for endometrial tissue analysis, then diagnostic precision is improved, but patient discomfort and procedural complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts endometrial cells from the cervical mucus and menstrual fluid that naturally shed during menstruation. Instead of performing invasive biopsies or cervical scrapes, the system collects these naturally shed cells in the menstrual cup, enabling endometrial analysis without procedural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The body naturally sheds endometrial cells during menstruation, which are then collected by the menstrual cup. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for medical professionals to perform invasive procedures, as the diagnostic material is automatically provided by the body's natural physiological process
3Ease of operation
If traditional menstrual cups are used for fluid collection, then ease of operation is improved, but sample preservation and transport capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the menstrual cup system into functional components: the collection cup, the preservation layer with additives, and the transport container. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function - collection, preservation, and transport - thereby maintaining ease of operation while adding reliable sample preservation capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces preservation additives as intermediaries between the collected sample and the transport environment. These additives (such as buffer solutions or stabilizing agents) mediate the preservation process, maintaining sample integrity during transport without requiring complex equipment or procedures
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 allows for non-invasive, convenient, and cost-effective collection and preservation of menstrual fluid for diagnostic analysis, enabling efficient transportation and analysis of biomarkers without the need for invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent layer configured to be in proximity to a flow of vaginal fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A method of analyzing vaginal fluid includes collecting vaginal fluid in a vaginal fluid collecting system and transporting the collected vaginal fluid to a location for analysis. The analysis can be stored in and retrieved from a secure cloud storage data base.