Urinary Drainage Air-Pressure Apparatus for Clearing Retained Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urinary drainage systems face issues with retained urine in tubing due to patient movement, leading to inaccurate measurements and increased bladder pressure, which can cause injury if not alleviated promptly.
Innovation Solution
An air pressure apparatus with a connector and adapter system that uses positive air pressure to create a vortex, clearing residual urine from the drainage tube by drawing it into the collecting bag through a connector and adapter lumen configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gravity alone is used for urine transport, then the system is simple and passive, but urine may be retained in tubing loops due to patient movement, leading to inaccurate measurements and increased bladder pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by introducing pressurized air through an air pressure apparatus to actively push urine through the drainage tubing. The air pressure creates a fluid dynamic force that overcomes the passive gravity-dependent flow, ensuring complete urine transport even when tubing loops form due to patient movement. This resolves the contradiction by adding a controlled active mechanism (pneumatic pressure) to guarantee reliable urine delivery.
2Ease of operation
If the collection bag is positioned at a lower height than the patient's bladder, then gravity facilitates urine flow, but patient movement creates tubing loops that retain urine volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the air pressure apparatus is activated in response to detected urine retention in the tubing. The system monitors the drainage process and provides corrective action (air pressure pulses) when loops form or urine flow stalls, ensuring complete and accurate urine measurement. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision while preserving the simple gravity-based positioning.
3Device complexity
If retained urine is cleared by manually lifting the tubing, then the system requires minimal additional components, but the process is time-consuming and requires clinician intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the air pressure apparatus automatically clears retained urine from the tubing without requiring manual clinician intervention. The system self-activates to push urine through loops and obstructions, eliminating the time-consuming manual lifting process. This resolves the contradiction by automating the clearing function, reducing time loss while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
4Productivity
If increased pressure is applied to expel retained urine, then urine flow is improved, but bladder injury risk increases if pressure is not carefully controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the parameters of air pressure application, using regulated pressure levels that are sufficient to clear tubing loops but controlled enough to prevent bladder injury. The system adjusts pressure parameters dynamically based on the drainage needs, ensuring effective urine expulsion while maintaining patient safety. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing pressure parameters to achieve high productivity without harmful side effects.
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
Ensures complete urine transport to the collection bag, preventing backflow and reducing bladder pressure, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
providing a volume of positive air pressure into the luminal space of the adapter, and clearing a first drainage tube of a residual volume of fluid... creating a vortex of positive air pressure within the luminal space
Data Source
AI summary
A urinary drainage system can include an air pressure apparatus with a connector having an elongate connector body. The connector includes a lumen having a larger proximal lumen diameter and a smaller distal lumen diameter. The system includes an air intake adapter having an elongate adapter body, including a proximal end having a proximal opening configured to be coupled to the distal end of the connector. The adapter can include an air intake port in fluid communication with the adapter lumen, the adapter lumen having a larger proximal lumen diameter and a smaller distal lumen diameter.