Sacral Pad Waste Collection Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with limited or impaired mobility face challenges in bowel movements and urination, leading to soiling of clothing, beds, and bedding due to conventional urine and fecal collection devices, which can cause discomfort and hygiene issues.
Innovation Solution
A bodily waste collection apparatus featuring a sacral pad with a fluid impermeable casing and permeable material, connected to a conduit for collecting and removing bodily waste and fluids using a vacuum source, preventing skin contact and reducing the need for frequent cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional urine and fecal collection devices (bedpans) are used, then bodily waste can be collected, but clothing, beds, and bedding become soiled and users experience discomfort and hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sacral pad as an intermediary component between the user and conventional collection devices. The pad is positioned on the sacrum to intercept bodily waste before it can contact clothing or bedding, thereby preventing soiling while maintaining collection effectiveness. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by creating a protective barrier that maintains both waste collection reliability and hygiene.
2Reliability
If conventional collection devices are used, then waste can be collected, but frequent cleaning is required increasing care provider workload
Solution Approach 1:
The sacral pad system is designed to be self-contained and easily removable, allowing users to manage their own waste collection needs with minimal assistance. The pad can be quickly changed by the user or with minimal care provider involvement, reducing the frequency and complexity of cleaning operations. This self-service capability directly increases care provider efficiency while maintaining reliable waste collection.
3Reliability
If conventional collection devices are used, then waste can be collected, but skin contact with waste occurs causing irritation and bedsores
Solution Approach 1:
The sacral pad serves as a protective intermediary layer between the user's skin and bodily waste. By positioning the pad on the sacrum, it creates a barrier that prevents direct skin contact with waste, thereby eliminating skin irritation and bedsores while maintaining effective waste collection. This intermediary protection is the key resolution to the contradiction between collection effectiveness and skin health.
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 apparatus effectively collects and removes bodily waste and fluids, preventing skin irritation, bedsores, and soiling, maintaining hygiene and reducing care provider workload.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vacuum source fluidly connected to the at least one of the fluid storage container via the conduit, the at least one vacuum source configured to draw fluid into the at least one fluid storage container from the bodily waste collection device via the conduit
Implementation Method 2
a permeable material at least partially disposed in the interior region, a conduit disposed within the bodily waste collection device
Data Source
AI summary
Examples relate to apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods for collecting bodily waste and bodily fluid using a sacral pad as an attachment point. The bodily waste collection apparatus includes a sacral pad and a bodily waste collection device attached to a lower portion of the sacral pad. The bodily waste collection device includes a fluid impermeable casing defining an interior region therein, a permeable material at least partially disposed in the interior region, and a conduit disposed within the bodily waste collection device. The sacral pad secures to the wearer and the bodily waste collection devices is at least partially maintained in a position to receive bodily waste from a wearer by the sacral pad.