Simplified, automatic opening and closing type urination device

• US 6,090,087 A
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsukada Medical Research Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tsukada Medical Research Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakajima, Yasuhiko, Tsukada, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheney, Kelly M
• Application Number:
  US09/254,278
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 604/327-331, 604/349, 604/544, 604/540, 604/317, 604/318, 600/573, 600/574, 600/579, 600/581
• US Class Current: 604/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0018 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/44 Devices worn by the patient for reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge; Portable urination aidsabsorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, A61F13/15; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00; emptying devices for urine bags B65B69/0016; Colostomy devices adhesives for colostomy devices A61L24/00; materials for colostomy devices A61L28/00

Abstract

A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus (10) comprises a flexible tube (110), a plunger (120), a bearing table (130), an elastic member (140), an electromagnetic solenoid (150), and an actuator (160). The flexible tube (110) has an inlet port (111) and an outlet port (112). The plunger (120) has a pushing portion (121) at one end and a contact portion (122) at the other end. The bearing table (130) is disposed below the pushing portion (121) of the plunger (120) for supporting the flexible tube (110). The elastic member (140) normally biases the pushing portion (121) of the plunger (120) onto the flexible tube (110) on the bearing table (130) to squeeze the flexible tube (110) between the pushing portion (121) and the bearing table (130). The electromagnetic solenoid (150) selectively attracts and repulses the contact portion (122) of the plunger (120). The actuator (160) selectively couples the electromagnetic solenoid (150) to a power source (170). The inlet port (111) of the flexible tube (110) is connected through a catheter (11) to a urinary bladder (12) and the outlet port (112) of the flexible tube (110) is connected through a conduit tube (13) to a urine-collecting bag (14). The electromagnetic solenoid (150) is energized when a urine pressure in the urinary bladder (12) reaches a given value, thereby retracting the pushing portion (121) of the plunger (120) to release the flexible tube (110) from being squeezed.

Claims

1. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus, comprising:

a flexible tube having an inlet port and an outlet port;

a plunger having a pushing portion at one end and a contact portion at the other end;

a bearing table disposed below said pushing portion of said plunger for supporting said flexible tube;

an elastic member for normally biasing said pushing portion of said plunger onto said flexible tube on said bearing table to squeeze said flexible tube between said pushing portion and said bearing table;

an electromagnetic solenoid for selectively attracting and repulsing said contact portion of said plunger; and

an actuator for selectively coupling said electromagnetic solenoid to a power source;

wherein said inlet port of said flexible tube is connected through a catheter for connection to a urinary bladder and said outlet port of said flexible tube is connected through a conduit tube to a urine-collecting bag;

wherein said electromagnetic solenoid is energized when a urine pressure in the urinary bladder reaches a given value, thereby retracting said pushing portion of said plunger to release said flexible tube from being squeezed.

2. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a balloon type pressure sensor.

3. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a timer.

4. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a push button.

5. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power source is an AC source.

6. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a dry battery.

7. A simple automatic opening and closing type of urination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a storage battery.