GB2168252A - Fluid collection device for use by females - Google Patents

Abstract

A urine collecting device for use by disabled or bed-ridden ladies comprises a smooth edged upper portion (1), adapted to enclose the vulva, and a lower reservoir portion (4) having at its base a drainage pipe (6) for connection to a drainage tube. In a preferred embodiment the two portions are fabricated separately and joined together. The device has a fluid capacity from 200 to 700 ml. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid collection device for use byfemales This invention relates to devices forthe collection of fluids such as urine.

The care of elderly and disabled female patients frequently centres around the problems associated with urination. Where the patients are bed-ridden or confined to a wheel chair they are frequently catheterised as it seldom possible to provide, at short notice, the necessary assistance wheneverthey need to urinate. In many cases the patients are able to sit up in the bed but unable to cope with the traditional slipper bed pan on their own. Catheterisation for long periods is unpleasantforthe patient and may lead to infection or irritation and generally lowers the quality of life.

Various devices have been proposed for collecting or directing the flow of urine from females. United States patent 3,613,122 proposes the use ofa funnel shaped urine collection device butthis is can onlybe used satisfactorily if the user is in a more or less vertical position; it is unsuitableforthedisabled.

Other devices, such as those described in United States patents 3,601,125; 3,776,235; 4,198,979; 4,233,978 and 4,270,539 are designed to be worn continuously by mobile patients. United Kingdom patent application 2,137,507 proposes the use of a non#invasive catheter which also is intended for continuous wear.

None of th e proposed devices are satisfactory for use by a female patient who wishes to urinate at will and without assistance.

The present invention provides a urine collecting device comprising a smooth edged upper portion, adapted to enclose the vulva, and a lower reservoir portion having at its base a drainage pipe for connection to a drainage tube.

In the most preferred embodiment the drainage pipe initially has a direction of flow parallel to the base.

The drainage pipe is connected by a flexible pipe to a urine receiving vessel. The receiving vessel may be a flexible polymer bag such as those regularly used by catheterised patients. Preferably the receiving vessel is a hollow collecting vessel such as a bottle.

In a preferred form of the invention the drainage pipe is connected to a flexible pipe during manufactureto ensure a fluid tightseal.The nature ofthe connection to the flexible pipe is dependant upon the materials chosen for the two components. An adequate fluid tight seal will usually be obtained if the flexible pipe is pushed over the drainage pipe while theformer is in a state of enhanced flexibility due to heat or immersion in a low boiling point solvent. The length of flexible pipe will depend upon the situation in which the device is used. In general it is believed that a length of 750 mm is more than adequate for most purposes and any surplus can be cut off before connection to the collection vessel. The flexible pipe may be fabricated from a polyvinyl ester, polyolefin or similarmaterial.It is mostimportantthatthe material can withstand some sterilisation treatment, chemical orthermal, during the lifetime ofthe associated device.

The smooth edged upper portion of the device preferably comprises sheet material inwardly curved towards a central aperture. In this configuration the urine discharged by the patient enters through the central aperture and the underside ofthe edge catches splashed fluid and reduces the possibility of spillage after use. While itis possibletoconstructtheupper portion of the device from a suitable metal it is preferably, for reasons of comfort, fabricated from a material with low thermal conductivity, such as a synthetic polymer, so that it is warm to the touch.

The lower reservoir portion receives and retains the discharged urine until it has flowed through the drainage pipe. The rate at which urine is discharged from a patient may often be greaterthan the rate at which it can flow away so that the device must be able to hold an appreciable volume offluid. In general a capacity of about 200 ml is adequate for the embodiment ofthe device used by seated patients but up to 600ml or more is necessary in the embodiment used by prone patients. The capacity is dependant upon thf calibre of the drainage pipe and, as flow is normally under the action of gravity, the vertical distance between the device and the collecting vessel.

In orderthatthedevicecan lie flat on a supporting surface, e.g. a bed ortheseatofa chair, when in use the drainage pipe should project from the side of the base ofthe lower reservoir portion. Preferably the drainage pipe projects from the front of the device when in use. The outer end of the pipe may be smooth ribbed, tapered or otherwise adapted to allow the flexible drainagetubeto be connected. The urine flows th rough the flexible drainage pipe into the collecting vessel. Flexible polymeric tubing is com- monly used having an internal diameter of 8m m to 1 Omm.Urine collecting bags are well known and widely used bythe nursing profession.Awide range of such bags is available both calibrated and uncalibrated. In the preferred embodimentthe collecting vessel isa rigid orsemi-rigid bottle. For reasons of cost and weight bottles fabricated, for instance by the blow-moulding technique, of synthetic polymers suc as olefins or polyesters are convenient. Alternatives such as disposable papier mache containers can be used.

Due to the comparatively small bore of the tubing used to carry urine to the collecting bags in common use air-locks can occurwhich may impede the flow of the fluid. In one preferred form ofthe device air relief means are used to allowthe airto escapefrom the tube and attached collection vessel. The air-relief means comprises a small tube which leads from the drainage pipe to the upper portion with its exit below the curved surface. Urine collection bags are availabl which include an air relief valve. In the case of bottles small airventatthetop is sufficient. There are many well known techniques for assisting fluid flow using air relief valves and tubes which are suitable.

In a further embodiment the collecting vessel has associated suction means to drawthefluid from the device into the vessel. Such suction means can comprise a powered pump ora partial vacuum in the collecting vessel.

The choice of materials forfabricating devices according to the invention is dependant upon the life expectancy of the device and the method of manufac ture chosen. If the device is to be regularly reused the materials from which itis made must be capable of withstanding chemical andiorthermal sterilisation treatments. Disposable or short life devices may be madefrom materials such aspapiermacheor polystyrene foam. In general mostthermoplastic synthetic polymers are suitable such as polystyrene, polyolefins, polyvinyl esters, polycarbonates, cellulose esters, acrylic polymers and copolymers such as ABS. Other materials such as thermosetting resins may be used in appropriate circumstances alone or reinforced.

The method by which the device is manufactured will depend upon the material chosen for it. In a preferred method of manufacture the device is made from two mating components comprising the upper portion and the lower portion. Each portion may be made bythewell-known vacuum forming technique from a thermoplastic sheet of material such as polystyrene sheet Afterthe drainage pipe has been fitted to the lower portion the two components are mated and a fluidtightseal is formed by use of an adhesive or ultra-sonic welding. Such sealing processesarewell known.

Where manufacture of differentfluid capacity devices is taking place it is convenient to design the upper portion so that it mates with two or more alternative lower reservoir portions, e.g. one with a capacity of 200 ml and another of 600 ml.

The drainage pipe will usually be made from thicker material thanthe upper and lower portions ofthe device. Forthis reason it is preferablyfabricated as a separate operation and added to the lower portion.

The pipe mustformafluidtightseal with the reservoir.

Such seals are easily made using adhesives orcold setting putties.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the device, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section across the device along the line a-a in Figure 2.

The top surface 1 ofthe smooth edged upper portion of the urine collecting device, see Figure 1, has a central aperture 2 to allow entry of urine. The edge 3 ofthe aperture 2 is preferably at least 10 mm lower than the upper edge ofthe top surface 1 to minimise splashing and spilling.

The nature of the top surface, 1 . of the upper portion may be more clearly seen with reference to Figure 3.

The top surface, 1. has re-entrantedges, 9, which ensure that splashes are retained and return to the base 10.

The lower reservoir portion, see Figure 2, comprises a fluid-tight container, 4, which mates with the upper portion, 1. The two portions may be fabricated separately and joined by a fluid tight seal, 5, as shown in Figures2 and 3,orbefabricated as an integral unit.

At its base the reservoir portion has a drainage pipe 6, attached by a fluid-tight seal, 7.

The bore of the drainage pipe, 6, should be as large as possible to faciiitate the flow offluid out of the reservoir portion. The outer dimension of the drain age pipe, 6, is chosen to form a fluid4ightfitwith the flexible piping, not shown, commonly used to transfer urine into collecting vessels.

In oneembodimentthedrainagepipe,6,containsa smallertube, 8, which acts as a vent and allows airto escape from the urine collecting vessel when the fluid flows underthe action of gravity. Alternatively the collecting vessel may contain its own air relief valve or vent to allow the escape ofairdisplaced by the fluid entering it.

In use the patient, usually confined to a bed or a wheel chair, presses the top surface, againstthe pubic area so that the vulva is enclosed and facesthe aperture, 2. The rate of flow of urine released by the user is frequentlygreaterthan the maximum rate of flowthrough the pipe, 6, underthe action of gravity.

Forthis reason an accumulation of urine occurs in the reservoir portion 4. After release of urine ceases the user may tip the device so that all the fluid contained in it is directed into the pipe 6. Where the user is prone the capacity of the container 4 is about 600 ml. For seated users, or users capable of sitting up in bed a capacity of 200 ml is usually sufficient.

Flow through the pipe, 6, to the fluid collection vessel, not shown, may be under the action of gravity or assisted by the action of a pump ora partial vacuum.

Claims (19)

1. A urine collecting device comprising a smooth edged upper portion, adapted to enclosethevulva, and a lowerreservoirportion having at its base a drainage pipe for connection to a drainage tube.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 in which the smooth edge comprisesafoldformed from rigid sheet material.

3. The device as claimed in either claim 1 or2 in which the drainage pipe includes venting means.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 in which the venting means comprises a tube situated within the drainage pipe.

5. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims constructed from a synthetic polymer.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 in which the synthetic polymer is thermoplastic.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 in which the polymer is a polystyrene, a polyolefin, a polyvinylester, polycarbonate, cellulose ester or an acrylic polymer or copolymer.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 in which the device is constructed from vacuum formed polystyrene.

9. The device as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 8 in which the container comprises two mating components.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 in which the lower component is a fluid tight container having the drainage pipe at its base.

11. The device as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10 in which the upper component has a central opening and is adapted to enclose the vulva.

12. The device as claimed in any of the claims 9 to 11 in which the two components are joined together byafluid-tightseal.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 in which the fluid & crtseal is formed byuitrasonicwelding.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12 in which the fluid-tight seal is formed by means of an adhesive.

15. The device as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 8 in which the upper and lower portions are an integral unit.

16. The device as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims in which the lower reservoir portion has a fluid capacity from 200 to 700 ml.

17. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the drainage pipe carries a flexible drainage tube.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17 in which the drainagetube has a diameter in the range from 8to 10 mm.

19. Devicesforthe collection of urine as herein described and illustrated.