Urine Testing Pad with Integrated Colorimetric Reagents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for obtaining urine samples from animals and some individuals are cumbersome and potentially traumatic, as they often require catching urine in a receptacle or invasive medical procedures, especially when the subject is non-cooperative.

Innovation Solution

A urine testing pad with integrated reagents and an adjustable pole system that allows animals or individuals to urinate on a testing pad, which changes color to indicate the presence, absence, or levels of specific substances, eliminating the need for manual urine collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional methods of catching urine in a receptacle are used, then urine samples can be obtained for testing, but the process becomes cumbersome and potentially traumatic to the animal or person

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of urine collectionVSAvoidstress and trauma to subject

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The testing pad enables the subject to urinate directly onto the testing surface without requiring manual collection by the owner or service provider. The subject essentially performs the collection themselves by voiding on the pad, which eliminates the need for chasing or restraining the subject while still obtaining the urine sample for immediate testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The testing pad extracts the harmful elements of traditional collection methods by removing the need for receptacles, chasing, and manual handling. By placing the testing surface directly in the path of urination, the method extracts only the essential function (urine collection for testing) while eliminating the traumatic aspects of the traditional approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If invasive medical procedures are used to obtain urine samples from non-cooperative subjects, then samples can be obtained, but the procedure becomes more complex and traumatic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to obtain sampleVSAvoidcomplexity of collection method

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pad allows non-cooperative subjects to provide urine samples without requiring restraint or invasive procedures. The subject's natural urination behavior is sufficient to collect the sample, eliminating the need for complex collection devices or procedures while maintaining reliability in obtaining the sample.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to collect urine from the subject using traditional methods (receptacles, catheters, etc.), the approach is inverted by placing the testing surface in the subject's path and allowing the urine to flow onto it naturally. This reversal of the collection approach simplifies the process while ensuring sample acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If manual urine collection methods are used, then samples can be obtained, but immediate visual diagnostic results cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidtime to obtain results

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The testing pad merges the urine collection function and the diagnostic testing function into a single integrated device. The urine sample is collected and tested simultaneously on the same surface, eliminating the time delay associated with transferring samples to separate testing containers or equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The testing reagents are pre-applied to the pad surface in advance, so that when urine contacts the pad, the chemical reactions occur immediately without requiring additional preparation steps. This preliminary preparation of the testing surface enables instant visual results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Facilitates non-invasive and efficient urine sampling, providing immediate visual diagnostic results for various parameters without the need for manual urine collection, reducing stress for both animals and individuals.

Implementation Method 1

testing areas can change color and/or otherwise visually indicate the presence, absence, value, content and/or level of specific substances within the urine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColor change: Thermochromism

Data Source

PatentUS11874269B2Test pad and system

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 GOODMAN BONNIE

AI summary

A testing pad comprising a water-resistant base layer, a water-transmissive top layer coupled with said base layer, an hydrophilic intermediate layer contained between said top layer and said base layer, and a color-changing chemical reagent contained between said top layer and said base layer adapted an configured to allow an animal or person to urinate on the testing pad and the chemical reagent to present testing results related to the presence, absence and/or concentration of substances within the urine.