Automated Urine Collection Device with Air-Space Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine collection methods in hospitals are inconvenient and prone to cross-contamination, leading to inaccurate detection results, as they often require manual collection and can contaminate the sample when collected from the toilet surface.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a swinging mechanism, suction tube assembly, and pump body mechanism with a liquid-level sensing mechanism that allows for automated collection of urine from the air, avoiding surface contact and ensuring accurate and contamination-free sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual urine collection is performed in hospitals, then urine detection can be conducted, but hygiene problems and cross-contamination occur leading to inaccurate detection results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the urine collection process from the toilet environment by using a suction device that collects urine directly from the air space above the toilet bowl, separating the sampling action from potential contamination sources on the toilet surface
Solution Approach 2:
The suction tube acts as an intermediary that collects urine samples from the air space without direct contact with the toilet surface, transferring the sample to a collection container while maintaining sample integrity and preventing cross-contamination
2Ease of operation
If automated urine collection is implemented using existing smart toilets, then collection convenience is improved, but cross-contamination of the urine sample occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the sampling function from the toilet bowl surface by positioning the suction tube in the air space above the bowl, allowing automated collection while avoiding contact with contaminated surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a separate collection container that receives the urine sample through the suction device, duplicating the sampling function away from the original toilet environment to prevent cross-contamination
3Device complexity
If a fixed suction device is used for urine collection, then device simplicity is maintained, but accurate sample positioning and flexible collection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The suction tube is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be extended and retracted, and positioned at different locations above the toilet bowl to accurately target the urine stream and collect samples from optimal positions
Solution Approach 2:
The suction tube can be retracted into the device housing when not in use and extended when needed, with the collection container nested within the device structure, achieving space-efficient design while maintaining positioning flexibility
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 enables accurate, flexible, and reliable automated urine collection, preventing contamination and ensuring precise sample positioning, thus improving the efficiency and reliability of urine sampling.
Implementation Method 1
the pump body mechanism is used for pumping the liquid collected in the cavity
Implementation Method 2
a suction tube assembly connected to the swinging mechanism... the suction tube component comprises a suction tube
Data Source
AI summary
A device for collecting liquid includes a suction tube assembly including a suction tube component. The suction tube component includes a suction tube including a cavity configured to collect liquid. The device for collecting liquid also includes a liquid-level sensing mechanism including a touch chip and configured to determine an amount of the liquid collected in the cavity based on a change in an input capacitance of the liquid-level sensing mechanism.