Moisture-Wicking Urine Collection via Vacuum-Driven Capillary Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for collecting and transporting urine from a person or animal are inefficient and not suitable for various circumstances such as incontinence, mobility impairments, or restricted travel conditions, as they do not effectively draw urine into a collection device from a moisture-wicking article in contact with the urethral opening.
Innovation Solution
A urine collection device with a closed container having an array of openings for urine intake and an outlet port, combined with a moisture-wicking article secured over the openings, utilizes a vacuum pump to draw urine from the article into the container, enhancing urine collection efficiency and reducing the feeling of wetness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vacuum pump is used to draw urine into a collection device, then urine collection efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A moisture-wicking article serves as an intermediary component between the user's body and the collection device. This article draws urine through capillary action and delivers it to the collection device, simplifying the overall system by separating the collection function from the transport function and reducing the complexity of the vacuum pump system needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes a vacuum pump to create negative pressure that draws urine through the moisture-wicking article and into the collection device. This pneumatic mechanism enables efficient urine collection and transport while maintaining a relatively simple device structure through the use of pressure differentials.
2Reliability
If a moisture-wicking article is used to contact the urethral opening region, then urine collection effectiveness is improved, but the feeling of wetness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts urine rapidly from the moisture-wicking article using vacuum pressure, removing the harmful wetness sensation by quickly transporting the urine away from the article and into the collection device, while maintaining the article's effectiveness at collecting urine from the urethral region.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation by keeping the vacuum pump engaged to constantly draw urine from the moisture-wicking article into the collection device. This continuous action prevents urine accumulation in the article, thereby eliminating the wetness feeling while sustaining effective urine collection.
3Productivity
If the container is made closed with an array of openings, then urine transport efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device incorporates a closed container with an array of openings that function as a porous structure. This design enables efficient urine transport through the openings while maintaining a simple closed-container geometry, avoiding the need for complex internal channels or pathways.
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 system effectively collects and transports urine by creating a partial vacuum to draw urine from the moisture-wicking article into the container, improving efficiency and usability for individuals with incontinence or mobility issues, and is adaptable for various applications including clinical testing.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes a vacuum pump to draw urine from the article into the container
Implementation Method 2
creating a partial vacuum to draw urine from the moisture-wicking article into the container
Implementation Method 3
drawing the urine into a moisture-wicking article that is disposed in contact with a region of the person or animal surrounding an urethral opening
Data Source
AI summary
A urine collection device and a moisture-wicking article for use in a system for transporting urine voided from a person or an animal by collecting the urine in a moisture-wicking article that is disposed in contact with a region surrounding an urethral, opening, and drawing the urine into the collection device from the moisture-wicking article. The urine collection device includes a container defining an empty chamber for collecting urine. An elongated exterior of the container is configured and dimensioned for enabling a moisture-wicking article to be secured over the array of openings of the container by wrapping the article over the array and securing the wrapped article, and for enabling a said secured moisture-wicking article to be disposed in contact with the region of a female body surrounding the urethral opening.