Urine Collection Bag Tear Tab and Dissolvable Drain Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users with limited dexterity due to neurological conditions face challenges in easily, cleanly, and comfortably emptying urinary catheter collection bags.
Innovation Solution
A urinary catheter collection bag design featuring a flexible wall structure with a perimeter seal, a tear starting member that extends beyond the bag boundary to facilitate easy opening, and a water-soluble cover over a drain hole that dissolves upon submersion, allowing for effortless drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the collection bag uses a sealed perimeter structure to maintain integrity and hygiene, then the bag's reliability and cleanliness are improved, but the difficulty of opening the bag increases for users with limited dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter seal includes a pre-formed tear initiation feature that prepares the seal for easy separation. The tear initiation feature creates a starting point that reduces the force and dexterity needed to break the seal, allowing users with limited dexterity to open the bag by simply pulling on the tab without requiring complex manual manipulation of the sealed perimeter.
2Reliability
If the drain hole remains covered to prevent contamination, then the hygiene and reliability are improved, but the ease of emptying the bag deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is designed to automatically open the drain hole when the bag is emptied. As urine flows into the bag and accumulates, it naturally lifts or dissolves the cover member, exposing the drain hole without requiring any manual intervention from the user. This self-activating mechanism maintains hygiene by keeping the drain hole covered during transport while enabling easy emptying when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the bag structure is made simple for easy handling by users with limited dexterity, then the ease of operation is improved, but the functionality and completeness of the system may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The collection bag is divided into distinct functional segments: a sealed perimeter portion for maintaining integrity, a tear initiation feature for easy opening, a drain hole for emptying, and a cover member for hygiene protection. Each segment performs a specific function that can be independently optimized. The segmentation allows the bag to provide comprehensive functionality while maintaining simplicity in each individual component, making the overall system easy to handle despite having multiple features.
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
Enables users with limited dexterity to easily and hygienically empty the collection bag by providing a simple tear mechanism and automatic exposure of the drain hole, enhancing user convenience and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The water soluble cover member is configured to dissolve after being submerged in water
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2~4
AI summary
Urinary catheter collection bags and methods for using the same are provided. The collection bags allow users to more easily, cleanly and comfortably open and empty the bags.