Vacuum-Assisted Urine Collection Device with Flexible Adhesive Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urine collection devices for individuals with impaired mobility or restricted urinary functions, such as condom catheters, often cause discomfort, require a snug fit, and are difficult to attach, leading to issues like skin breakdown and infection risks.
Innovation Solution
A urine collection device with a backing member and collection member that includes flexible members to accommodate varying penis sizes, an adhesive on the proximal side for secure attachment, and a vacuum system to direct urine away, minimizing contact and enhancing comfort and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a snug fit is used to ensure secure attachment, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in attachment and skin breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible condom-shaped catheter made of thin film material that can be easily rolled and unrolled for attachment. The flexible nature allows it to conform to different penis sizes without requiring a snug fit, while the thin film structure maintains secure attachment through adhesion to the skin surface.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a vacuum system is added to direct urine away, then object-generated harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (urine) from the system by using a vacuum source to actively suction urine away from the collection device. This separates the urine collection function from the wearability function, allowing the catheter to remain simple while the vacuum system handles urine removal externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vacuum source as an intermediary system that mediates between the urine collection catheter and the waste container. This intermediary actively transports urine through a conduit, reducing direct contact between the user and urine while maintaining system simplicity through externalization of the vacuum mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible members are used to accommodate varying sizes, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to variable geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic aperture design where the opening size can adjust based on the inserted penis diameter. The flexible material and structural design allow the aperture to expand or contract, accommodating different sizes without requiring multiple fixed-size components, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving adaptability.
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 provides a universal fit, reduces skin contact and infection risk, and improves user comfort by allowing easy attachment and effective urine diversion using a vacuum system.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source, which can be coupled to the waste container by a conduit
Implementation Method 2
urine discharged from the body of the user, collect in the collection member, and the vacuum source can draw the urine from the collection member through the conduit to the waste container
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A urine collection device (900, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600) comprises a collection member (912, 1012, 1212, 1512, 1612) extending from a proximal end (932, 1032, 1432, 1532, 1632) to a distal end (934, 1034, 1434, 1534, 1634), wherein the proximal end (932, 1032, 1432, 1532, 1632) comprises an opening (936, 1036, 1536, 1636) that provides access to an internal cavity (938, 1038, 1538, 1638) of the collection member (912, 1012, 1212, 1512, 1612), wherein the internal cavity (938, 1038, 1538, 1638) comprises a first chamber (938A, 1038A, 1538A, 1638A), wherein the first chamber (938A, 1038A, 1538A, 1638A) is in fluid communication with a second chamber (938B, 1038B, 1538B, 1638B). The device further comprises a spacer (994, 1094, 5194, 1694) in the second chamber (938B, 1038B, 1538B, 1638B), one or more attachment members (996A, 996B; 1096A, 1096B; 1496A, 1496B; 1596A, 1596B; 1696A, 1696B) suitable to secure the urine collection device (900, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600) to a user, and an outlet (930, 1030, 1530, 1630) for egressing urine from the internal cavity (938, 1038, 1538, 1638) of the collection member (912, 1012, 1212, 1512, 1612). The outlet (930, 1030, 1530, 1630) is at a distalmost point of the collection chamber (912, 1012, 1212, 1512, 1612) and comprises a tube (252) extending through a seam at the distal end (934, 1034, 1434, 1534, 1634) of the collection member (912, 1012, 1212, 1512, 1612). The tube (252) extends within the spacer (994, 1094, 5194, 1694). The collection member (912, 1012, 1212, 1512, 1612) is suitable to (i) direct urine from the first chamber (938A, 1038A, 1538A, 1638A) to the second chamber (938B, 1038B, 1538B, 1638B), and (ii) direct the urine in the second chamber (938B, 1038B, 1538B, 1638B) distally toward the outlet (930, 1030, 1530, 1630).