Urine management system for human females
First Claim
1. A system for collecting, conveying, and storing urine discharged from a human female, said system comprising:
- means for collecting urine;
means for conveying urine, said means for conveying in fluid flow communication with said means for collecting; and
means for storing urine collected, said means for storing in fluid flow communication with said means for conveying;
wherein said means for collecting comprising;
a collection device having an inner surface and an outer structure, at least said inner surface substantially conforms to contours of the human female urogenital anatomical surface where urine discharge occurs, and when said collection device is in use, said inner surface, in wicking contact with said human female surface, being capable of imbibing urine away from said human female surface, and transporting the urine from said human female surface through said inner surface and to said outer structure; and
wherein said means for conveying comprising;
a collector extension having one end in fluid communication with said means for collecting to convey the urine from said means for collecting;
a conveyance tube having a first end connected to said one end, and a second end connected to said means for storing urine collected, comprising conveyance tube means for moving the urine in ascending and descending flow directions from said means for collecting to said means for storing urine collected.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A urine management system for human females comprising a novel collection device, a novel conveyance tube, and a novel storage container is described. The collection device is worn by the user in direct contact with the skin surfaces surrounding the urethral opening being held in place by an undergarment. The collector comprises a thin layer of pliable and water-permeable material through which leaked or voided urine passes and that is underlain by a layer of water-wicking material which may also contain one or more open channels for directing and conveying the flow of urine to a fitting connection with the conveyance tube. The conveyance tube, a novel thin-wall, flat tube, contains a spacer throughout its length to prevent the tube lumen from being completely closed and sealed off by kinks or twists in the tube. The tube can conform to the body shape of the wearer, expands as flow rate increases, and shrinks and flattens as flow drops off. Urine is retained as physically stabilized material in a storage container that can be either replaced and disposed of or emptied and reused with cleaning as needed. Physical stabilization of the fluid urine is accomplished using an absorbent or gel-forming material. The storage container'"'"'s internal structure also provides a means for unique fluid transfer and retention capabilities. To form the entire system, the devices are serially and contiguously connected to form a continuous liquid pathway that enables removal of residual pools of urine, as well as transport and storage of urine at locations higher than the source.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A system for collecting, conveying, and storing urine discharged from a human female, said system comprising:
-
means for collecting urine;
means for conveying urine, said means for conveying in fluid flow communication with said means for collecting; and
means for storing urine collected, said means for storing in fluid flow communication with said means for conveying;
wherein said means for collecting comprising;
a collection device having an inner surface and an outer structure, at least said inner surface substantially conforms to contours of the human female urogenital anatomical surface where urine discharge occurs, and when said collection device is in use, said inner surface, in wicking contact with said human female surface, being capable of imbibing urine away from said human female surface, and transporting the urine from said human female surface through said inner surface and to said outer structure; and
wherein said means for conveying comprising;
a collector extension having one end in fluid communication with said means for collecting to convey the urine from said means for collecting;
a conveyance tube having a first end connected to said one end, and a second end connected to said means for storing urine collected, comprising conveyance tube means for moving the urine in ascending and descending flow directions from said means for collecting to said means for storing urine collected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. In a urine management system for incontinent humans comprising means for collection of urine, a means for storage of urine received from said means for collection comprising
a plurality of storage containers for said urine, each said container having an outer shell and an inner cavity defined by said outer shell; -
means for conveyance of urine from said collection device to said plurality of storage containers; and
means for distributed absorption of urine disposed within each said cavity of each said storage container. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. In a urine management system for human females having a urine collection device, a flat, expandable conveyance tube, having means for spacing, a collection end means for connection, and at least one storage end means for connection;
- means for attaching said tube to said urine collection device at collection end means for connection, at least one storage container, means for attaching said at least one storage container to or near said human, means for attaching said at least one storage container to said tube at said at least one storage end means for connection, and a means for presenting at least one fresh storage container, a method for use of said urine management system comprising
attaching said urine collection device to said human;
attaching said tube to said urine collection device;
attaching said at least one storage device to or near said human through said means for attaching;
attaching said tube to said at least one storage container;
depositing urine into said urine collection device; and
removing and replacing said at least one storage container by said means for presenting said fresh storage container when said at least one storage container is full. - View Dependent Claims (38)
- means for attaching said tube to said urine collection device at collection end means for connection, at least one storage container, means for attaching said at least one storage container to or near said human, means for attaching said at least one storage container to said tube at said at least one storage end means for connection, and a means for presenting at least one fresh storage container, a method for use of said urine management system comprising
Specification