Urine Collection Device With Permeable Body and Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid collection devices, such as bed pans and urinary catheters, suffer from discomfort, hygiene issues, and potential urinary tract infections, and existing urine collection devices for males are uncomfortable and prone to spills.
Innovation Solution
A urine collection device with a continuous fluid permeable body and multiple arms, featuring a fluid impermeable barrier and a fluid permeable body with arms extending from a central portion, which uses vacuum-assisted wicking to collect urine efficiently and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bed pans are used for fluid collection, then they can collect urine, but they cause discomfort, spills, and hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a fluid permeable body with porous structure that allows urine to pass through while maintaining comfort. The porous material enables capillary action to draw fluid through the device without direct contact between the user and collected urine, eliminating hygiene issues while maintaining reliable collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid permeable body is divided into multiple arms that can be positioned around the user. This segmentation allows the device to adapt to different body positions and movements, preventing spills while maintaining comfortable contact with the skin.
2Reliability
If urinary catheters are used for fluid collection, then they can collect urine, but they cause discomfort, pain, and urinary tract infections
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single invasive catheter tube, the device segments the collection function into multiple arms with a fluid permeable body. This eliminates the need for insertion into the urethra, preventing pain and urinary tract infections while maintaining effective urine collection through the permeable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid permeable body acts as an intermediary between the user's skin and the collection system. It allows urine to pass through via capillary action without requiring direct invasive contact, thereby eliminating infection risks while maintaining reliable collection.
3Reliability
If conventional urine collection devices are used, then they can collect urine, but they are prone to spills and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a flexible, dynamic structure with multiple arms that can move with the user's body position changes. This dynamic design maintains proper positioning and prevents spills during movement, while the fluid permeable body continuously draws urine through capillary action to prevent leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device pre-establishes multiple fluid collection pathways through its multiple arms before urine discharge occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that urine is immediately drawn away through the permeable structure, preventing spills and leakage before they can occur.
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 device effectively collects urine without discomfort, reduces the risk of urinary tract infections, and minimizes spills by utilizing a continuous fluid permeable body and multiple arms to distribute vacuum-assisted wicking action, ensuring efficient fluid removal.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid permeable body positioned in the chamber and having multiple arms extending from a distal or common portion... When an at least partial vacuum is applied to the tube, fluid in the chamber is drawn through the multiple arms to a sump
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein are related to fluid collection devices having a continuous fluid permeable body with multiple arms, and related systems and methods. A urine collection device includes a fluid impermeable barrier, a fluid permeable body, and a tube. The fluid permeable body is positioned within a chamber defined by the fluid impermeable barrier and includes a distal portion positioned at least partially in or proximate to the distal end of the fluid impermeable barrier, and multiple arms extending from the distal portion towards a proximal end of the fluid impermeable barrier. The tube extends into the chamber and has an end positioned proximate to the distal end of the fluid impermeable barrier. The tube includes a tube opening proximate to the end of the tube and at least a portion of the fluid permeable body is positioned between the fluid impermeable barrier and the end of the tube.