Wearable Urinary Collection with Passive Backflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable urinary collection apparatuses face challenges in effectively preventing backflow and leakage of urine, particularly during activities involving pressure changes, and may inhibit urine flow, causing discomfort and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wearable urinary collection apparatus with an expandable entrance opening and a simplified backflow prevention system, featuring a constriction and a check valve, ensures urine flow while preventing backflow, using plastic sheet materials for durability and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backflow prevention system is added to the urinary collection apparatus, then backflow and leakage are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the backflow prevention function into a separate, dedicated check valve component that can be independently positioned within the collection receptacle. This separation allows the main collection body to remain simple while the specific backflow prevention function is handled by a specialized subsystem, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve acts as an intermediary component between the urine flow path and the collection receptacle walls. It mediates the conflict between allowing free urine flow and preventing backflow by providing a passive mechanical solution that requires no external control systems, thus maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.
2Reliability
If the collection receptacle is made more restrictive to prevent leakage, then leakage is reduced, but urine flow may be inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a constricted region with a smaller diameter than the main collection receptacle. This localized restriction is strategically positioned to prevent backflow and leakage at critical points, while the majority of the receptacle maintains a larger diameter to ensure efficient urine collection and flow, thus resolving the contradiction between leakage prevention and flow efficiency.
3Reliability
If a complex backflow prevention system is implemented, then backflow is prevented, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is designed as a self-regulating passive component that automatically opens to allow urine flow and closes to prevent backflow based solely on pressure differential. It requires no user intervention, adjustment, or complex operation, thus maintaining ease of use while providing reliable backflow prevention. The device serves itself through its inherent mechanical design.
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 apparatus effectively collects and stores urine without backflow or leakage, maintaining comfort and ease of use, even during physical activities, and is cost-effective for single-use or reusable designs.
Implementation Method 1
The check valve is configured to permit urine to freely pass from the constricted opening into the tubular member. The check valve is also configured to block urine from flowing from the tubular member into the constricted opening.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable urinary collection apparatus includes an inner collection member configured to receive at least a portion of a length of a penis of a user, a urine collection receptacle configured to collect urinary fluid therein, and a harness configured to support the urine collection receptacle relative to the user. The urine collection receptacle includes a redundant urine collection area formed from inverting a portion of the urine collection apparatus inward and configured to receive the urine collection receptacle. A contractile tube is disposed within the redundant urine collection area. When the inner collection member is received in the redundant urine collection area, a guide tube of the inner collection member extends through the contractile tube into the urine collection receptacle to define a fluid flow path from the inner collection member to the urine collection receptacle.