Automatic self cleaning bladder relief with battery pad system

• US 20060241553A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark R. Harvie
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Harvie
• Inventors: Harvie, Mark R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,335,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/355
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/451 Genital or anal receptacles A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence ; other body securing means A61F5/4408; devices for taking faeces samples A61B10/0038; devices for taking urine samples A61B10/007

Abstract

This invention is an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief system which increases sanitation and comfort for users requiring a means to dispose of urine in the absence of sanitary facilities, such as aircraft pilots and incontinent individuals. This invention incorporates an inflatable urine collection means that may be deflated after use. The power unit incorporates a battery that is integrated into a disposable urine storage bag or into a disposable female pad or male cup. This invention utilizes a disposable urine storage bag with an isolated cleaning fluid chamber with a directional valve and pump system automatically rinsing and sanitizing the pump, hoses, collection means and the user with a cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid chamber of the disposable urine storage bag. The disposable urine storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals absorbing the urine as it is deposited in the bag during use.

Claims

1. An automatic bladder relief system comprised of:

a urine depository means;

a urine transport means attached to the urine depository means;

a urine storage means attached to the urine transport means wherein the urine storage means is comprised of;

a leakproof storage bag wherein the leakproof storage bag is comprised of a urine storage compartment and a cleaning fluid compartment;

a power source means;

a cleaning means wherein the cleaning means is comprised of;

a urination completion sensor capable of detecting the completion of a user'"'"'s urination in the urine depository means;

a cleaning fluid pump;

a cleaning fluid contained in the cleaning fluid compartment; and

a urination completion detection signal transmission means attached to the urination completion sensor and the cleaning means capable of activating the cleaning fluid pump by transmitting a signal thereto when the urination completion sensor detects the user'"'"'s completion of urination, thereby pumping the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid compartment through the urine transport means to the urine depository means to the user and then to the urine storage compartment thereby cleaning away a user'"'"'s residual urine from the automatic bladder relief system and depositing the user'"'"'s residual urine and the pumped cleaning fluid in the urine storage compartment of the leakproof storage bag;

the urine depository means is comprised of;

a base pad;

at least one air cushion tubing attached to the base pad; and

an air pump attached to the air cushion tubing such that when the air pump is activated the air cushion tubing inflates from a generally flat condition to an inflated condition thereby forming with the base pad an area where urine discharged by a user can pool generally away from contact with the user'"'"'s body and then the pooled urine can be transported by the transport means and upon deactivation of the air pump the air cushion tubing discharges the pumped air by means of compression caused by the user'"'"'s seated body weight and returns to the generally flat condition.

3. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is a fluid pump.

5. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 3 wherein the fluid pump further comprises the cleaning means wherein the pump also functions as a cleaning fluid pump.

7. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is a suction pump.

9. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is controlled manually by a user by the means of a switch.

11. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the leakproof storage bag is comprised of:

at least one air vent that allows only air to escape.

13. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 11 wherein the leakproof storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals.

15. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is powered by DC electrical current.

17. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is powered by AC electrical current.

19. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 11 wherein the power source means is attached to the leakproof storage bag.

21. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 19 wherein the power source means is at least one battery.

23. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the air cushion tubing is also comprised of:

a foam insert of open cell composition which when placed under compression by the user'"'"'s seated body weight allows the air cushion tubing to maintain a generally flat condition and the foam of open cell composition when relieved of the user'"'"'s seated body weight causes the air cushion tubing to expand to a condition resembling the air cushion tubing inflated condition.

25. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the power source means is attached to the urine depository means.

27. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 25 wherein the power source means is at least one battery.

2. An automatic bladder relief system comprised of:

a urine depository means;

a urine detection means attached to the urine depository means;

a urine transport means attached to the urine depository means and the urine detection means wherein the urine transport means is activated to transport urine from the urine depository means by the urine detection means when urine is present in the urine depository means;

a urine storage means attached to the urine transport means wherein the urine storage means is comprised of;

a leakproof storage bag wherein the leakproof storage bag is comprised of a urine storage compartment and a cleaning fluid compartment;

a power source means;

a cleaning means wherein the cleaning means is comprised of;

a urination completion sensor capable of detecting the completion of a user'"'"'s urination in the urine depository means;

a cleaning fluid pump;

a cleaning fluid contained in the cleaning fluid compartment; and

a urination completion detection signal transmission means attached to the urination completion sensor and the cleaning means capable of activating the cleaning fluid pump by transmitting a signal thereto when the urination completion sensor detects the user'"'"'s completion of urination, thereby pumping the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid compartment through the urine transport means to the urine depository means to the user and then to the urine storage compartment thereby cleaning away a user'"'"'s residual urine from the automatic bladder relief system and depositing the user'"'"'s residual urine and the pumped cleaning fluid in the urine storage compartment of the leakproof storage bag;

the urine depository means is comprised of;

a base pad;

at least one air cushion tubing attached to the base pad; and

an air pump attached to the air cushion tubing such that when the air pump is activated the air cushion tubing inflates from a generally flat condition to an inflated condition thereby forming with the base pad an area where urine discharged by a user can pool generally away from contact with the user'"'"'s body and then the pooled urine can be transported by the transport means and upon deactivation of the air pump the air cushion tubing discharges the pumped air by means of compression caused by the user'"'"'s seated body weight and returns to the generally flat condition.

4. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is a fluid pump.

6. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 4 wherein the fluid pump further comprises the cleaning means wherein the pump also functions as a cleaning fluid pump.

8. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is a suction pump.

10. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine detection means is comprised of:

a urine sensor capable of detecting the presence of a fluid in the urine depository means; and

a urine detection signal transmission means attached to the urine sensor and the urine transport means activating the urine transport means by transmitting a signal thereto when the urine sensor detects the presence of the fluid.

12. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the leakproof storage bag is comprised of:

at least one air vent that allows only air to escape.

14. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 12 wherein the leakproof storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals.

16. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is powered by DC electrical current.

18. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is powered by AC electrical current.

20. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 12 wherein the power source means is attached to the leakproof storage bag.

22. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 20 wherein the power source means is at least one battery.

24. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the air cushion tubing is also comprised of:

a foam insert of open cell composition which when placed under compression by the user'"'"'s seated body weight allows the air cushion tubing to maintain a generally flat condition and the foam of open cell composition when relieved of the user'"'"'s seated body weight causes the air cushion tubing to expand to a condition resembling the air cushion tubing inflated condition.

26. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the power source means is attached to the urine depository means.

28. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 26 wherein the power source means is at least one battery.