Fluid collection and aspiration unit for management of urinary incontinence

A flexible unit for collecting and transporting liquid to a collection point or to an area of use, and especially for facilitating management of urinary incontinence is provided which includes a flexible pad adapted to be positioned under an incontinent patient or worn under an undergarment. The pad is provided with an outer liquid permeable polymeric film layer, an outer liquid impermeable polymeric film layer and an intermediate cellular layer made up of a series of individual, spaced, thin wall, liquid impermeable polymeric cells. An aspiration assembly is connected to the pad for removing urine from the interior of the pad, which collects in the spaces between the individual cells. A disposable porous sheet, preferably comprising Dry-Weave® material, is releasably positioned over the outer permeable film layer of the pad. The pad may be sanitized and reused multiple times with only replacement of the Dry-Weave® sheet being required.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to thin layer aspiration or perfusion units for collecting vapors or liquids and transferring such fluids to a receiving area. In its preferred form, the invention comprises an aspiration unit for collecting and facilitating management of urinary excretions by individuals that are incontinent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Management of excretions from incontinent patients is an ongoing and largely unsolved problem, not only in hospital and nursing home environments, but also for patients that are not hospitalized or in a care facility. Lack of control over the urinary function by incontinent patients who are not bedridden has for the most part has required the patients to wear large adult diaper pads which soon become fully sorbed and present an odor problem.

In the case of a incontinent patient lying in bed, it has largely been the practice to place an leakproof backed absorbent pad under the patient. The pad soon becomes soaked and timely changing of the soiled pad is often delayed, especially in those instances where the patient is confined to a nursing home where personnel are required to care for a large patient population that is usually the case in a hospital setting. The patient is unable to avoid contact with the wet pad, which is not only uncomfortable, but also is odorous and unsanitary and can cause undesirable skin conditions to occur such as rashes and sores.

Similarly, patients whose condition permits them to sit up in a chair or wheelchair for extended periods of time likewise must be provided with a pad to sit on to collect accidental urine excretions. Here again, changing of a pad as soon as it becomes soaked often cannot be accomplished by the patient and often results in the patient sitting on the wet pad for an extended period until a change out of the pad is ultimately accomplished after an undesirable time interval.

One asserted solution to the incontinent patient problem is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,166. In this patent, a pad is provided having an absorptive core encased within a polyethylene cover in which the normally uppermost layer of the cover is liquid permeable. A perforated tube centrally embedded in the absorptive core is connected via a tube to a urine collection vessel that is in turn coupled to a vacuum pump for withdrawing liquid from the pad absorbed into the central core. The core of the pad is described as having a number of perforated layers of absorbent cellulose tissue in the upper portion of the pad adjacent the upper, permeable layer of the cover, and a plurality of layers of defiberized wood pulp fluff below the cellulose layers. Another cellulose layer is provided below the layers of wood fiber fluff. Alternatively, the core of the pad may be expanded cellulose microcellular material.

Disadvantages of the system of the '166 patent include the cost of the pad, the need to periodically replace the pad, inability to effectively remove all of the liquid absorbed by the core of the pad because a certain proportion of the urine will be retained on the absorbent cellular material, the need for the perforated tube embedded in the core to be relatively rigid in order to preclude collapse of the perforations in the tube thereby imparting a degree of rigidity to the pad, and the impracticality of periodically cleaning the absorbent core of the pad with a cleaning and sterilizing agent.

In addition to the problem of accumulating and disposing of fluid wastes from a bedridden or disabled person, there is a long standing need for inexpensive and efficient apparatus for collecting a variety of fluids, or to deliver fluid from a source to a relatively large surface area in a controlled low volume perfusion transfer manner. Such areas of need include, as an example, dispersion of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) in a shallow subsurface underground installation serving as an alternative to a conventional leachfield, to effect evaporation or vertical dispersion of the water in a waste effluent solution, as well as to provide underground irrigation water to the root systems of plants. Another embodiment may be used to control oil slicks on ocean water or the like, as well as aspirating oil out of sand. A further use is to introduce cooled or heated air or water between the layers of structural components such as multilayered roofs, walls or floors to effect heating or cooling, or to provide positive or negative buoyancy of floating structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vapor and/or liquid collection unit may comprise a thin flexible pad having a liquid permeable first outer polymeric layer and a liquid impermeable second outer polymeric layer, which cooperate to form an interior space. The outer perimeter portions of the permeable and impermeable polymeric layers are heat sealed to form a liquid tight pad. An intermediate cellular layer is positioned in the interior space of the pad between the first permeable outer layer and the liquid impermeable outer layer. The cellular layer is defined by a series of spaced, side-by-side discrete liquid impermeable cellular components containing an entrapped fluid, such as air, which substantially maintains the shape of each cellular component. Each of the cellular components extend from the liquid impermeable outer layer to the permeable outer layer of the pad. The cellular components collectively define inter-communicating liquid passages between the cellular components. These passages also extend from the liquid impermeable outer layer to the permeable outer layer of the pad. The cellular components preferably are made up of a series of individual, thin wall, liquid impermeable, polymeric cells which are joined by a common base sheet.

A disposable liquid permeable porous sheet may be replaceably mounted in overlying relationship to the permeable outer layer of the pad. In a preferred embodiment, the porous sheet is of Dry-Weave® material which has a wicking action for facilitating flow of urine that comes into contact with the porous sheet to the outermost surface of the permeable outer layer of the pad. Snap fasteners may be provided on the perimeter of the pad for releasably affixing the porous sheet to the permeable outer layer of the pad.

A flexible conduit or tube connected to the impermeable layer of the pad, preferably in the center thereof, inter-communicates the interior of the pad with a collection vessel that in turn is operably coupled to an pressure differential device, which for example may be an aspiration unit in the nature of a vacuum pump. The outlet of the vacuum pump may also be joined to a filter adapted to absorb odoriferous constituents in the air emitted from the vacuum pump.

In the preferred embodiment of the vapor and/or liquid collection unit, the cellular layer in the interior space between the permeable outer layer and the impermeable outer layer of the flexible pad comprises a bubble defining sheet consisting of a series of impermeable cellular bubbles, which entrap air, and therefore remain inflated during use of the unit and serve to substantially maintain the integrity of the passages therebetween so that liquid collecting in the pad may be readily and rapidly removed from the interior space of the pad by the differential pressure device. If used, at least two configurations of the flexible pad hereof may be provided. In one configuration, the pad may be square shaped and of dimensions to be used as a bed pad or somewhat smaller as a chair pad. Alternatively, the pad may be of rectangular shape and of a size to be worn by a non-bedridden person beneath an undergarment. In addition, the bed or chair type pads may be provided with grommet openings in the perimeter openings thereof for receiving the hook of flexible retainers for securing the pad in place on an underlying structure such as a bed, or the seat of a chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED THIN LAYER FLUID COLLECTION UNIT OF THE INVENTION

A unit10for facilitating management of urinary incontinence is depicted inFIG. 3and includes as its primary component, a flexible pad12. The pad12includes an outer liquid impermeable layer14and a liquid permeable layer16in overlying relationship to layer14. The peripheral margins14aof layer14and16aof layer16of layers14and16are joined by a liquid tight heat seal18. The innermost face14bof layer14and the innermost face16bof layer16within the confines of the heat seal18joining layers14and16define an interior space20.

An intermediate cellular layer22is confined within interior space20between innermost faces14band16bof layers14and16respectively. Layer22is made up of a series of individual, thin wall, liquid impermeable polymeric cells24, which contain an entrapped fluid, such as air, and that are integral with a polymeric base sheet26as is apparent fromFIG. 2. Each of the cells24has liquid impermeable wall structure28, which is integral with base sheet26, and that projects upwardly from sheet26into proximity to the innermost face16bof layer16. It is to be observed fromFIG. 2that cells24in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, are arranged in a series of parallel linear rows with each of the cells24of each row being offset longitudinally with respect to adjacent cells in proximal rows. It is to be understood that the individual cells24may be of various configurations, as for example, generally cylindrical or of polygonal shape. Each of the cells24will be of generally pillow shaped configuration until inserted into the space20and confined between layers14and16, whereupon the individual cells normally would assume the shape thereof as shown inFIG. 2. The sheet portion26of cellular layer22has a plurality of openings34therein aligned with passages30between cells24.

The cells24of intermediate cellular layer22collectively cooperate to define a grid-like series of inter-communicating passages30which extend from the upper surface of layer14to the underlying surface of impermeable layer16of pad12. Cellular layer22may most be conveniently and economically be a form of bubble wrap in which each of the bubbles contains entrapped air so that the bubbles essentially retain their shape when force is applied to the upper face of the permeable upper layer16of pad12.

As best seen inFIG. 2, it will be seen that the base sheet26has an outer periphery with the cells24located within a cellular of the base sheet inwardly of the base sheet outer periphery; moreover, the maximum lateral dimensions of the cells24are greater than the height of the cells24above the base sheet26, with the cell wall structure28being free of connection with the upper layer16. Thus, an unrestricted upper zone is defined between the cell wall structure28and upper layer16, so as to permit fluid to move laterally above the cells24. In addition, an unrestricted lower zone is defined between the base sheet26and the bottom layer14. Finally, it will be observed that the upper layer openings32have a diameter than the thickness of the upper layer16, and that the base sheet openings34have a diameter less than the thickness of the base sheet26.

The layers14and16of pad12are preferably fabricated of 9 mm thick polymeric material and the overall pad may have length and width dimension of, for example, 28 in. ×28 in. for hospital bed use, and 14 in.×14 in. for use on the seat of a chair or for wheel chair seat use.

The upper layer16of pad12has a plurality of openings32arranged in a gridlike pattern as shown inFIG. 1. The openings32in permeable polymeric layer16may strategically be located in a 1 in. spacing pattern and preferably are pinhole size.

A porous sheet member36overlays the outermost face of permeable layer16and is releasably secured to pad12by a series of snap fasteners38. As is most evident fromFIGS. 1 and 2, each of the snap fasteners38has a female portion40extending through and carried by the peripheral margins14aand16aof layers14and16, and a removable male portion42, which affixes the sheet member36to pad12. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1, it is to be observed that snap fasteners38are to be provided at each of the corners of rectangular pad12and at points midway between the corner snap fasteners38.

The resilient porous sheet member36desirably is of disposable material with Proctor & Gamble's Dry-Weave® material being preferred because of its liquid wicking characteristics. The Dry-Weave® sheet member36is shown schematically inFIG. 2and may for example have a normally innermost apertured polymeric layer44and a normally outermost film layer46provided with three-dimensional open ended liquid conveying capillary passages48communicating with the passages of the polymeric film layer44. It is to be appreciated in this respect that the passages48are shown schematically with only a few of the passages only present being depicted for clarity, in that Dry-Weave® material has a large number of such passages in closely spaced relationship. The passages48, for example, are each configured to present generally conical surfaces oriented such that the smallest open end thereof is directed toward the innermost polymeric film layer44to enhance the wicking action of sheet member36. Thus, it will be seen that the conical surfaces of the passages48are proximal to the upper layer16, i.e., the smaller open ends of the passageways are closer to the upper layer16than the larger open ends thereof. A fitting50heat-sealed to the outer face of a central portion of liquid impermeable layer14has L-shaped passage52therethrough which communicates with the interior space20of pad12. An elongated flexible conduit54, which for example, may be latex or polymeric surgical hose, is affixed to fitting50and communicates with passage52. Conduit54leads to the input of a liquid collection vessel56illustrated schematically inFIG. 3. A tubular line58communicates the interior of liquid collection vessel56with input port of a differential pressure device such as a vacuum pump60, also shown schematically inFIG. 3. If desired, the air output port of vacuum pump60may be connected to a filter unit62via line64. Filter62is preferably of a type capable of removing odoriferous agents contained in the air output from vacuum pump60. Alternatively, unit10may be provided with a positive pressure pump in lieu of vacuum pump60for perfusion of sanitizing fluid for sterilization and ultimate extraction and drying for storage.

The pad12is also preferably provided with grommets66in the corner areas of the pad permitting the hook portions of elastic straps, such as bungee cords, to be inserted in respective grommets66and affixed to the underside of a supporting structure, such as the patient's bed or components underlying a chair seat or a wheelchair seat. In this manner, the position of the pad12will maintain its flat condition even when a patient rests on the pad and assures that the pad will not shift into a crumpled or folded condition, which would be uncomfortable to the patient.

In use, the pad12of unit10is placed beneath the patient on the surface of a bed or a chair or wheelchair seat, and preferably affixed in a desirable position with suitable fasteners such as bungee cords using the openings of grommet66for that purpose. In the event of unintended urinary discharges by the patient, the liquid is received on the surface of porous sheet member36. If the vacuum pump is activated, the vacuum created in interior space20will cause the inadvertently discharged urine to rapidly be drawn through the capillary passages48of porous sheet member36, the perforations in film layer46, the openings32in permeable layer16of pad12, passages30, openings34in base sheet26, the passage52through fitting50and conduit54leading to collection vessel56. It is noteworthy in this respect that because of the inflated nature of cells24, opposed innermost faces of layers14and16of pad12will retain their desired spatial relationship to prevent collapse of passages30. In addition, because of the inter-connected nature of passages30as defined by the individual cells24, there is no tendency for the urine to be trapped in areas of pad12where the vacuum created by pump60is incapable of removing the liquid from interior space20.

It is also to be appreciated that although unit10is illustrated as having its own separate vacuum source, such as vacuum pump60, in a hospital setting, line58may be connected to the vacuum line normally present in the wall of the hospital room.

Bed ridden patients can be repeatedly washed on the mats as the excess liquid will be drawn away by the vacuum.

If desired, the porous sheet member36may be replaced as necessary to maintain a sanitary environment free of undesirable odors. This replacement may be accomplished by the simple expedient of unfastening snap fasteners38and placing the new porous sheet member36in place.

An important feature and advantage of the present invention over previously available incontinent management devices is the fact that the pad36may be repeatedly washed and cleaned with a suitable deodorizing and sanitizing agent by connecting a pressurized source of such agent to conduit54after removal of the porous sheet member36. Any excess liquid cleaning agent introduced into interior space20of pad12will simply flow out through the openings32in layer16. Agent remaining in the interior space20of pad12following the treatment procedure may be removed by recoupling vacuum pump60or a source of vacuum to line58which will withdraw the sanitizing agent from pad12.

Alternate Embodiment of the Invention

The pad112illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5of the drawings is of construction similar to pad12except for its overall size and the manner of attachment of the porous sheet member136to the permeable layer116of pad112. In order to permit wearing of pad112by an ambulatory patient under his or her undergarment, pad112is preferably of a size having overall dimensions of about 10 in.×5 in. The porous sheet member136, which is also preferably Dry-Weave® material may be removably affixed to the outermost face of permeable layer116by use of double-stick tape located around the perimeter of the porous sheet member136, and at least at the corners of the sheet member136. Although not shown inFIG. 4, it is to be understood that pad112is adapted to be connected to a collection vessel and vacuum pump similar to vessel56and pump60, except for relative sizes, through the medium of a conduit154, which is again connected to the central portion of liquid impermeable layer114of pad112through the medium of a passage defining fitting150. The perimeter margin116aof layer116and perimeter margin of114aof layer114are liquid tight heat sealed as previously with respect to seal18. The internal space120of pad112contains a cellular layer122preferably formed of bubble wrap material identical in construction to cellular layer22described in detail herein above.

The operation and use of pad112is the same as described with respect to pad12with the understanding that the liquid collection vessel should be of such nature that it can be attached by suitable means to the body of the patient and a battery operated, commercially available, relatively small vacuum pump provided as a source of vacuum. The porous sheet member136may be removed and replaced as necessary by simply pulling on the pad to displace the double-stick tape connection of the Dry-Weave® sheet member136from layer116of pad112. Sanitizing and deodorizing of pad112may be accomplished in the same manner as described with respect to pad12.

In the case of pad112, it is desirable that at least the layer114of the pad be fabricated of a polymeric material which is non-irritating to the skin of the user. In addition, in the instance of a disposable pad112, not intended for successive reuses, a line of adhesive may be provided on the peripheral portion of layer114, which is normally protected by a peelable paper protective strip. The patient can remove the protective strip before positioning of the pad112thereby allowing the adhesive line to cause the pad112to fully conform to the surface of the patient's body and prevent leakage of liquid around the perimeter edges of the pad112.

Further Alternative Embodiments of the Invention

The thin layer aspiration or perfusion units for vapor and/or liquid collection have utility for collection and transfer vapors and liquids other than in the management of waste products from an incontinent patient.

Exemplary in this respect is use of the units to distribute septic tank treated effluent waste products from a home, a business or a sewage treatment facility, through an array of shallowly buried (8 to 12 inches deep), mats or pads (long rolls 8 to 20 feet wide) serving as an alternative for a leachfield (to effect vertical evaporation of the water portion of the effluent and to provide nutrient at the base of roots of associated plants to facilitate a Bio-Enhanced Treatment System (BETS). These industrial units are preferably fabricated using heavy (industrial-grade) plastic sheets. The units should include as component parts a perforate top layer, a perforated bubble layer and an imperforate bottom layer, an opening into the bottom layer and a tube connected to that opening. The nature of the outer liquid impermeable layer and the opposed liquid permeable layer of the unit, on opposite sides of the intermediate cellular layer, as previously described, remains the same, except in this instance, the porous Dry-Weave or the like layer is omitted and the tube or tubes connected to the lowermost impermeable layer of the assembled components is adapted to be joined to a septic tank outflow pipe leading from a residence or other source of waste effluent products. Because of the construction of the individual layers, including the bubble layer, each may be manufactured as a substantially continuous component with the longitudinal opposed edges, and respective end edges being joined to provide leak proof edge seals (e.g., long rolls of the order of 8 to 20 feet wide).

Thus, by digging a wide, shallow, elongated trench in the ground 10 to 12 inches deep, of a dimension that accommodates the width of the dispersion unit selected, leveling the exposed surface and unrolling the elongated dispersion unit in the trench with an additional layer of gravel (2 to 3 inches) and soil thereover, treated effluent waste from the septic tank of a residence, etc., delivered to the dispersion unit through the lower imperforate layer will flow along the length and width of the dispersion unit and then leak (perfuse) out through the various openings in the top liquid permeable layer. It is contemplated that a pump be provided in the treated effluent line leading to the dispersion unit to positively direct treated effluent liquid to the inlet of the dispersion unit in a controlled fashion. A buried holding vessel having a liquid level controller may be provided in the treated effluent line between the septic tank and the dispersion unit to assure uniform delivery of treated effluent to the dispersion unit. In addition, a number of dispersion units may be provided in the underground leach bed with lines leading from the holding vessel to respective dispersion units.

In this regard, it is to be understood that the openings provided in the upper permeable layer are sized to provide for proper and desired delivery of treated liquid effluent through the top permeable layer that collects in the dispersion unit and is received from the building's septic tank treated effluent drain pipe (to effect vertical evaporation through the soil and delivery of nutrient to plant roots). Furthermore, it is to be understood that the sheets of polymeric film should be somewhat thicker (e.g., industrial grade) and the cells of the permeable cellular layer normally are larger than the cells of the cellular layer used in the unit for managing urinary excretions of individuals. The cells of the intermediate permeable layer which contain trapped air prevent the dispersion unit from collapsing even when a layer of gravel (2 to 3 inches) and then dirt (up to 12 inches) is filled in over the top of the buried dispersion unit.

An underground dispersion unit similar to the one just described for delivery of treated effluent waste liquid products to a shallow leach bed, may be used to direct fresh irrigation water to the roots of plants. The fresh water underground watering unit normally would not be buried along with layers of gravel and typically would be of a smaller size than the size of the septic field dispersion units. In that connection, it is to be recognized that the fresh water dispersion unit may be sized as appropriate for outdoor watering of plants, as well as for indoor use with plotted plants and the like. Again, a pump is preferably provided to direct the irrigation water to the dispersion unit for delivery through the perforate unit to the surrounding ground.

Alternatively, heated and cooled water or air may be introduced and recollected between layers of gunnite sprayed or poured concrete multi-layered walls, buildings, roofs, ceilings and floors by placing an imperforate dispersion unit plumbed with inlet and outlet only as described, between the layers of the walls, roofs, floors, etc., thus permitting heated or cooled water or air to be introduced uniformly across the surface area and withdrawn. In addition, a perforated dispersion unit as described herein with perforate layer out board may be laminated near the outer surface in a concrete structure such that liquid that is introduced into and then passes through the dispersion unit is expelled from a perforated layer thereof so that it may then weep outwardly into and through the concrete to effect evaporation of the water and consequent cooling of the concrete. In this manner, heating and air conditioning requirements for confined building spaces may be decreased as a result of the heated/cooled air or water being supplied into such spaces via a unit of this invention.

The same type of multi-layered unit used for the dispersion of treated effluent waste liquid in a leach bed, watering of plants and introducing treated water or air into building structural components is also useful in collecting oil from an oil slick released onto the surface of a lake, ocean or another body of water. Conventional inflated tubular rolls are placed around the perimeter of the oil slick and then one or more of the units described herein as having a permeable layer, an intermediate cellular layer and an opposed impermeable layer, are oriented such that the perforated layer faces downward so that the oil floating on the surface of the water is pulled into the interior of the unit through the permeable layer openings. A tube joined to and communicating with the upper imperforate layer of the unit is connected to an aspiration device which causes the oil to be drawn into the dispersion/aspiration unit where it collects in the perforated bubble layer of the unit between the lower permeable layer and the upper impermeable layer. This collected oil is then withdrawn through a tube connected to the aspiration device, and then directed to a suitable collection point or device.

The multi-layered units of this invention are useful in a variety of veterinary and agriculture applications, e.g., use under animals during transport to collect urinary out put in transit. Incorporation or placement of a multi-layered unit as described herein in an indoor cat litter box will thereby eliminate tons of used cat litter now going into landfills annually. Additionally, these multi-layered mats can be placed under leaky hazardous waste containers for spill containment during storage or transport.

It is therefore apparent that the present device is operable to collect a vapor or a liquid product or to deliver a product to a suitable site either by suction created by an aspiration device or under perfusion pressure using a pressure pump. In all instances, the perforated bubble layer prevents the unit from collapsing, regardless of whether a negative pressure or a positive pressure is applied to the unit. An elongated roll unit as described herein and adapted for vertical evaporative dispersion of treated sewage effluent may be manufactured of any desired length and width, and can even be supplied in roll form with the installer cutting segments from the roll of selected lengths and then sealing the transverse edges in the field using a conventional thermal sealing device.