Urinary Catheter Drainage Members for Selective Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing urinary catheters suffer from uncontrollable and rapid urine drainage, leading to messy and embarrassing situations for users with limited dexterity.

Innovation Solution

The urinary catheter drainage members are designed with various configurations, including weakened portions, valves, and flexible materials that allow users to selectively control and restrict urine flow by bending, kinking, or pinching, enabling controlled drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the catheter drainage member allows free flow of urine, then drainage efficiency is improved, but urine flows too quickly and uncontrollably causing leaks and splatter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine drainage efficiencyVSAvoidcontrollability of urine flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage member incorporates a flexible pinching section that can dynamically change its configuration from an open state (allowing free flow for high drainage efficiency) to a constricted state (restricting flow for controllability). This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the user to switch between high productivity and ease of operation modes as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pinching section changes the physical parameter of the drainage lumen diameter by collapsing or constricting the flexible walls. When pinched, the lumen diameter decreases to restrict flow; when released, it returns to full diameter for unrestricted drainage. This parameter change enables the user to control urine flow rate while maintaining efficient drainage capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the drainage member is made flexible for easy manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulability of drainage memberVSAvoidstructural strength of drainage member

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage member employs local quality by making only the pinching section flexible while keeping other portions (such as the insertion tip and proximal end) rigid or more structurally robust. This localized flexibility allows easy manipulation for controlling urine flow without compromising the overall structural strength needed for insertion and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage member may utilize composite construction combining flexible materials (for the pinching section) with more rigid materials (for structural portions). This composite approach enables the flexible section to be easily manipulated for flow control while the rigid sections maintain sufficient structural strength for catheter function and insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3952974B1Urinary catheter drainage members that restrict fluid drainage

Publication Date: 2025.10.01 HOLLISTER INCORPORAED

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A urinary catheter drainage member (410), comprising: a body (417) having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal end being configured to be located at the distal end of a catheter such that the lumen of the body is in fluid communication with a drainage lumen of the catheter, the distal end of the body defining an opening for urine drainage; the body being configured to selectively restrict urine drainage from the opening