Urine-Powered Flow Indicator for Catheter Compliance Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spinal cord injuries often result in loss of bladder control, leading to urinary tract infections and incontinence due to inadequate use or misuse of urinary catheters, necessitating a system to ensure compliance with catheter usage.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost, urine-powered flow indicator integrated into urinary catheters that sends a signal to a smartphone when used, allowing for tracking of catheter usage and compliance, with unique signatures for each catheter to monitor usage history and intervene if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow indicator with transmitting antenna is integrated into the catheter, then catheter usage can be tracked and compliance monitored, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with a chemical sensing mechanism. The flow indicator uses a chemical reaction between urine components and a test substance that changes color or produces a signal, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sensors, power sources, and transmitting antennas while maintaining the ability to track catheter usage and ensure compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the disposable principle by making the flow indicator a single-use component integrated into the catheter. The indicator is activated upon first contact with urine and provides a permanent visual record of usage. This eliminates the need for expensive, complex, reusable electronic systems while ensuring reliable compliance monitoring for each catheter usage event
2Loss of information
If a flow indicator is integrated into the catheter, then usage monitoring is enabled, but the manufacturing cost of the catheter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive electronic monitoring systems with a simple chemical indicator mechanism. The flow indicator uses readily available chemical substances that change state or color when exposed to urine, providing usage data without requiring complex electronics, power sources, or data transmission components, thereby maintaining low manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The flow indicator is self-activating and self-reporting. Upon first contact with urine, the indicator automatically undergoes a chemical change that provides a permanent visual record of usage. This eliminates the need for external power sources, complex data collection systems, or additional manufacturing steps, keeping production costs low while ensuring usage information is captured
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 patient compliance by tracking catheter use, reducing urinary tract infections and incontinence, and providing valuable data for medical professionals to address noncompliance, while maintaining the affordability and disposability of urinary catheters.
Implementation Method 1
the flow indicator comprising a porous substrate configured to pass an electrolytic ion flow between an anode and cathode pair thereon when wetted
Implementation Method 2
an output transducer connected to the anode and cathode such that an electrical current which energizes the output transducer is created when urine flows through the catheter and wets the indicator
Data Source
AI summary
A urinary catheter having a sensor or indicator affixed therein in a location that will be in the flow of urine when catheter is in use. The indicator comprises an electrolytic wicking material having an anode and a cathode thereon separated across the gap. The wicking material may be paper. The indicator further includes an output transducer positioned and connected relative to the anode and cathode such that a circuit which energizes the output transducer is created when urine flows. The indicator is configured to generate an output signal received at a remote location so that a medical practitioner can monitor proper usage of the catheter. There may be multiple anode/cathode pairs connected in series or parallel to increase voltage or current. Also, a capacitor and/or an antenna may be provided for the output transducer to boost the output signal.