Microfluidic Pad Waste Detection for Timely Patient Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical patients unable to control bowel movements face challenges with involuntary movements leading to pressure ulcers, skin integrity breakdown, and infections, requiring manual detection methods that are inefficient and invasive.
Innovation Solution
A waste detection system with a pad and intake manifold that uses microfluidic channels and reagents to automatically detect the presence of waste, such as urine, stool, or Clostridioides difficile, by analyzing fluid samples through chemical reactions or biochemical assays, indicating results with visible color changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual visual inspection or questioning the patient is used to detect bowel movements, then the detection method is simple and non-invasive, but it is inefficient and requires frequent caretaker intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical caretaker intervention with an automated detection system using optical sensors, microfluidic channels, and chemical reagents. The system automatically detects bowel movements through chemical analysis of fluid samples, eliminating the need for frequent manual checks while maintaining non-invasive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system performs self-monitoring by automatically collecting fluid samples through the pad, analyzing them through microfluidic channels with reagents, and triggering alerts when bowel movements are detected. This self-service capability reduces the burden on caretakers while maintaining continuous monitoring.
2Reliability
If frequent manual inspection is performed to detect bowel movements, then patient care can be timely, but it increases caretaker workload and may compromise patient comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the patient through the pad and provides immediate feedback when bowel movements are detected. The optical sensors detect chemical changes in real-time, triggering automated alerts to caretakers, ensuring timely patient care without requiring frequent manual inspection or compromising patient comfort.
3Loss of time
If visual detection methods are used, then the detection process is straightforward, but it may lead to delayed detection and increased risk of complications
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is pre-positioned under the patient to immediately capture and analyze fluid samples as soon as bowel movements occur. The microfluidic channels and reagents are pre-configured to automatically detect and identify bowel movements, reducing detection time while the system complexity is managed through integrated design.
4Measurement precision
If the pad includes absorbent and wicking layers with microfluidic channels, then fluid sample acquisition is effective, but the pad structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the absorbent layer, wicking layer, and microfluidic channels into a single integrated pad structure. This combination allows effective fluid sample acquisition and transport while managing structural complexity through unified design, ensuring precise fluid sample detection for bowel movement identification.
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 timely and non-invasive detection of bowel movements, reducing the need for manual inspection and improving patient care efficiency by alerting caretakers to immediate cleaning needs.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring the fluid sample excreted from the patient on the pad... including the pad being placed under a lower abdominal region of the patient... acquiring includes wicking away the fluid sample from a patient using a wicking portion of the pad and absorbing the fluid sample into pad using an absorbing portion of the pad
Implementation Method 2
detecting the presence of waste within the fluid sample... detecting includes using the one or more reagents in a chemical reaction or biochemical assay to detect the presence of waste... The one or more reagents may be configured to emit a visible color or undergo a visible color change
Implementation Method 3
transferring the fluid sample from the pad to the intake manifold... transferring the fluid sample from the pad to the intake manifold includes using capillary action, gravity flow or negative pressure flow to transfer the fluid sample
Data Source
AI summary
A waste detection system includes a pad configured to acquire a fluid sample excreted from a patient. The pad can include one or more layers and at least one microfluidic channel configured to receive the fluid sample. The waste detection system can further include an intake manifold in fluid communication with the at least one microfluidic channel. The intake manifold can be configured to receive the fluid sample and can include one or more reagents configured to detect the presence of waste within the fluid sample excreted from the patient.