Threaded Urostomy Drain Valve for Spill-Free Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urostomy appliances lack a convenient and user-friendly solution for draining urine, often requiring hand repositioning and risking spillage or dripping.
Innovation Solution
A valve with a threaded connection between a first and second valve portion, allowing rotation to open and close, featuring a threaded connection between a stem and sleeve to control fluid flow without hand repositioning, ensuring no dripping or spillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional valve design is used for draining urine from a urostomy pouch, then the valve can be opened and closed, but the user requires hand repositioning and risks spillage or dripping
Solution Approach 1:
The distal end closure is nested within the second bore of the valve body, allowing it to move in and out to control the valve outlet. This nested configuration enables the closure to seal the outlet when retracted and allow flow when extended, eliminating the need for hand repositioning while preventing spillage through positive sealing engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded connection acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's rotational input and the linear movement of the distal end closure. By converting rotational motion to linear displacement through threading, the system provides controlled, precise movement of the closure without requiring the user to directly manipulate the closure itself, thereby preventing spillage while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If a threaded connection is used between stem and sleeve, then the valve can be controlled without hand repositioning, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded connection merges the stem and sleeve into a single integrated assembly where the stem is threaded directly into the sleeve. This combination eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms and hand repositioning, while the integrated design minimizes the number of parts and simplifies the overall structure despite the added threading feature.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve (10) for draining fluid from a urostomy pouch (5), where the valve (10) comprises a first valve portion (20) comprising a head portion (24), an inlet (15), a stem (6), a first bore (22), at least one outlet opening (23) and a distal end closure (15), a second valve portion (30) comprising a sleeve (7), a second bore (32) and a valve outlet (33), wherein the stem (6) and the sleeve (7) are threadedly engaged by a threaded connection (26), the first bore (22) and the second bore (32) form a channel to transport fluid from the inlet (15) to the valve outlet (33), the sleeve (7) encircles the stem (6) and is adapted to close off the channel to prevent drainage of fluid, the distal end closure (25) of the first valve portion (20) is adapted to close off the valve outlet (33) of the second valve portion (30), the threaded connection (26) between the stem (6) and the sleeve (7) is adapted for displacing the sleeve (7) away from the head portion (24) of the first valve portion (20) to open the channel and allow drainage of fluid through the valve (10), as the distal end closure (25) is displaced simultaneously into the second bore (32).