Disposable urine collector with pad and shell

A disposable urine collection device may include an absorbent pad disposed proximate to the inner surface of a shell. The device may be contoured to be positioned against and enclose the urinary area of a user such that the absorbent pad may absorb a quantity of urine associated with a complete urinary discharge from the user. The absorbent pad may be formed from one or more commercially available diapers. One or more elastic cuffs may be provided to conform to the user's urinary area and to help contain the flow of urine as it is discharged from the user. An invertible bag may be attached to the bottom of the shell so that the user may conveniently enclose the absorbent pad after use and dispose of the device in a sanitary manner.

FIELD

This application relates generally to a urine collecting device, and more particularly to a self-contained disposable urine collecting device which allows for comfortable and hygienic urination.

BACKGROUND

A number of urinary devices exist which cater to infants and incontinent adults. These devices, such as diapers worn around the waist, catheters, and bedpans, all serve to direct the flow of urine away from the user when the user is incontinent. Much less common are urinary devices which cater to users who are continent but who nonetheless require a convenient and sanitary method of urine disposal. Such people often face a dilemma regarding the issue of where to urinate, especially while traveling in a car, airplane, or other vehicle. For example, individuals caught in traffic jams or snowstorms have limited options available for urination, and in remote areas public restrooms are often unavailable. Even when public restrooms are available, they are sometimes so filthy or unsafe that use of these facilities is undesirable. While some users may resort to outdoor urination, this option can be uncomfortable and socially stigmatizing. The problem is particularly troublesome for female aircraft pilots who frequently must endure several hours without the ability to urinate.

The alternative of delaying urination for extended periods of time while waiting to arrive at a suitable destination presents other undesirable problems. Apart from the obvious discomfort, the practice of delaying urination can result in medical problems for certain individuals who are at risk for bladder and kidney infections. Additionally, for certain individuals suffering from urinary urgency, loss of sphincter control, and various other conditions, delaying urination for extended periods of time may not be possible.

Another important use of a disposable urinary device catering to continent users is in medical settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, where individuals are often unable or reluctant to make use of restroom facilities or to use a bedpan due to discomfort or weakness from surgery, illness, or other mobility constraints. It is preferable to avoid catheterization of such individuals whenever possible. Additionally, such individuals often decline to wear disposable diaper products around the waist due to chaffing, odor, and discomfort.

SUMMARY

A disposable urine collection device for use by a person may include an absorbent pad disposed proximate to the inner surface of a relatively stiff shell. The device may be contoured to be positioned against and enclose the urinary area of the user such that the absorbent pad may absorb and retain a quantity of excreted urine associated with a complete urinary void by the user. The absorbent pad may be formed from one or more commercially available diapers, which may comprise double-layered elastic cuffs. The ends of the absorbent pad and the outer layers of the elastic cuffs may be attached to the shell such that the inner layers of the elastic cuffs stand upright and help contain the flow of urine as it is discharged from the user. An invertible bag may be attached to the bottom of the shell so that the user may conveniently enclose the absorbent pad after use and dispose of the device in a sanitary manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the following terms should be understood to have the indicated meanings:

When an item is introduced by “a” or “an,” it should be understood to mean one or more of that item.

“Absorbent pad” means a mass of compressible material having a capacity for absorbing a quantity of liquid.

“Attached” means fastened or held in place in any manner, including but not limited to one or more stitches, staples, brads, rivets, nails, screws, glue, adhesive, welding, melting, fusing, tape, tension, compression, friction, or a combination thereof.

“Biodegradable” means capable of being broken down into substantially harmless products by the action of living things.

“Comprises” means includes but is not limited to.

“Comprising” means including but not limited to.

“Cuff” means a flexible barrier.

“Elastic” means having a capacity for stretching and a tendency to return to an initial state after deformation.

“Having” means including but not limited to.

“Hydrophilic” means having a substantial affinity for water or other liquids comprising water, including but not limited to urine.

“Hydrophobic” means lacking a substantial affinity for water or other liquids comprising water, including but not limited to urine.

“Shell” means a generally concave structure that tends to retain its shape over a substantial period of time. A shell may or may not be biodegradable.

“Trough” means an open conduit adaptable for channeling a liquid.

“Waterproof” means substantially impervious to water or other liquids comprising water, including but not limited to urine.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, a disposable urine collection device10may comprise an absorbent pad20attached to a relatively stiff shell30. The shell30and absorbent pad20may be preformed, shaped, and sized such that the absorbent pad20generally conforms to the inner surface32of the shell30. The absorbent pad20may have two double-layered elastic cuffs26,28, each of which has an inner layer26a,28aand an outer layer26b,28b, respectively. Alternatively, the elastic cuffs26,28may be attached to the shell30in addition to or in lieu of attachment to the absorbent pad20. The absorbent pad20may be attached to the shell30by wrapping the ends22,24of the absorbent pad20over the ends34,36of the shell30such that the elastic cuffs26,28are placed in tension in order to hold the absorbent pad20in place on shell30. The absorbent pad20may also be attached to shell30with glue, adhesive, epoxy, stitching, staples, or any other suitable fastener, either in lieu of or in addition to the tension of elastic cuffs26,28. Similarly, the outer layer26b,28bof each double-layered cuff26,28may be wrapped about and attached to the respective side edge of the shell30. The attachment of the outer layers26b,28bto the shell30helps cause the respective inner layers26a,28ato stand substantially upright with respect to the shell30, which creates a barrier to urine flow, yet the elastic nature of inner layers26a,28aallows the device10to conform comfortably to the user's body and effectively seal the device10about the user's urinary area during use to substantially prevent splattering of urine outside the device10. Although one illustrated embodiment is shown having double-layered elastic cuffs26,28, the elastic cuffs may have only a single layer or more than two layers, and some embodiments may not have any elastic cuffs. The shell30may be constructed from molded paper pulp, biodegradable plastic, or another suitable biodegradable material, but the shell30may also be manufactured from any other desirable material that is relatively stiff and retains its shape either indefinitely or at least for a substantial period of time to allow use and disposal of urine collection device10. The shell30, which may be manufactured by molding, casting, or any other suitable method, provides a relatively stiff substrate which supports the absorbent pad20during use and which a user may readily grasp in order to urinate into the urine collection device10as described further below.

Referring more particularly toFIG. 3, the absorbent pad20may have multiple layers, one or more of which may be absorbent and one or more of which may be nonabsorbent. For example, a bottom layer40, which engages the shell30, may be a waterproof lining composed of materials such as nylon, polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene film, thermoplastic polymers, or other suitable materials to hold the urine within the absorbent pad20and prevent the urine from contacting the shell30. Alternatively, the bottom layer40may not be waterproof and may allow the urine to contact shell30, which may be desirable if the shell30is biodegradable, for example. The absorbent pad20may also comprise one or more intermediate layers42having one or more absorbent materials44. In one embodiment, the absorbent material44may be a hydrophilic gel, which may comprise super-absorbent polymer particles containing water-absorbing resins, for example, but the absorbent material44may be any suitable material that has a capacity for absorbing or adsorbing urine, such as cloth, fabric, fibers, shavings, gauze, or combinations thereof. The absorbent pad20may also comprise a top layer46designed to allow urine to pass through layer46and into the absorbent pad20to be absorbed by the absorbent material44. For example, layer46may comprise a hydrophobic material that allows urine to pass through it but maintains a relatively dry outer surface after wetting.

Referring now toFIG. 4, in one embodiment of a urine collection device10, the absorbent pad20may be formed from a commercially available diaper50, such as a Huggies brand baby diaper, for example, which may have a pair of elastic leg cuffs54,56and may or may not have a pair of tabs58a,58bcomprising tape or hook and loop fasteners. In one embodiment, an unmodified diaper50may be used as an absorbent pad20for a urine collection device10as described above. In another embodiment, a suitable absorbent pad20may be formed from diaper50by simply cutting off the tabs58a,58b, which may be either discarded or used to fasten the absorbent pad20to the shell30. The tabs58a,58bmay be cut off along cut lines60or any other suitable cut lines. Alternatively, the diaper50may be cut along a suitable cut line, such as cut line52, for example, to form the absorbent pad20of the urine collection device10as described above. In any of these embodiments formed from a diaper50, the leg cuffs54,56of the diaper50may conveniently serve as the elasticized cuffs26,28of the absorbent pad20as described above. Additionally, the absorbent pad20may be cut along an edge62, for example, so that additional absorbent materials may be inserted into the one or more intermediate layers42of the absorbent pad20to achieve a desired urine absorption capacity. For example, the absorptive capacity of the absorbent pad20may be increased by adding an additional amount of super absorbent polymer or other absorbent material. The ends of the absorbent pad20formed from diaper50may be slipped over and attached to the ends of the shell30as described above.

As shown inFIG. 5, the bottom70of the shell30may be flattened such that the urine collection device10will remain stationary and upwardly-oriented when placed on a flat surface. Additionally, the urine collection device10may be attached to an invertible, flexible bag72for convenient and sanitary use and disposal. The flexible bag72may be large enough to permit complete inversion so as to completely enclose the urine collection device10after use. The flexible bag72, which may be made from a waterproof material such as nylon, polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene film, thermoplastic polymers, plastic, fabric, or other suitable materials, may have an inner cavity74into which the user may insert a hand. The flexible bag72may comprise a glove for receiving a user's hand. The cavity74allows the user to grasp the bottom70of the device10through the flexible bag72. Additionally, a suitable closure, such as tie flaps76a,76bor a twist tie, draw string, press seal, zipper, adhesive strip, or other suitable closure, for example, may be provided on the flexible bag72such that after the flexible bag72is inverted so as to enclose the urine collection device10, the user may seal the flexible bag72around the urine collection device10for sanitary disposal. As shown inFIG. 5, the ends80of the absorbent pad20may be turned upward to form a trough82to help catch excess urine in the event of an overflow during an excessive discharge and redirect the overflow down toward the middle portion of the absorbent pad20.

A urine collection device10as described above may be used by grasping the bottom70of the shell30with one hand and positioning the urine collection device10against the user's urinary area in such a manner that the user is able to direct the flow of urine onto the absorbent pad20so that the urine is absorbed by the absorbent material44. The elastic cuffs26,28of the absorbent pad20conform to the shape of the user's urinary area and help prevent splashing or splattering of urine outside the urine collection device10. After voiding urine into the urine collection device10, the user can remove the device10from the urinary area and dispose of it. If the urine collection device10is attached to a flexible bag72as described above, then the user may invert the bag72about the urine collection device10such that the bag72completely encloses the urine collection device10, and the closure may then be closed to seal the used urine collection device10inside the bag72. In some embodiments, the urine collection device10may be manufactured with a deodorizing substance contained within the absorbent pad20in order to reduce or eliminate odors. In a medical setting, if fluid intake and output measurement is important, the device10may be weighed before and after use to determine the quantity of urine excreted.

Referring toFIG. 6, which is a longitudinal cross sectional view, an alternative embodiment of a urine collection device100is shown having an upper absorbent pad120overlying and in substantial juxtaposition to a lower absorbent pad20, which is adjacent to a shell30as described above in connection with urine collection device10. Absorbent pad120may be substantially the same as absorbent pad20as described above, except that absorbent pad120may have an opening142in its lower waterproof layer140to allow some urine to flow downward into lower absorbent pad20and be absorbed by absorbent materials in one or more intermediate layers42of pad20. Of course, some urine may also be absorbed by absorbent materials in one or more intermediate layers42of pad120. In this manner, the overall absorptive capacity of urine collection device100may be increased. As described above, if either or both of absorbent pads20and120are made from a commercially available diaper, either or both of absorbent pads20and120may be opened and additional absorbent materials, such as super absorbent polymers, may be inserted therein to increase the absorptive capacity to a desired level. In this embodiment, one or both ends80of each absorbent pad20,120may be turned upward in a nested arrangement as shown to form a trough82to help catch excess urine in the event of an overflow during an excessive discharge and redirect the overflow down toward the middle portion of the absorbent pad120, similar to the embodiment shown inFIG. 5.

A urine collection device10or100as described herein may be designed to accommodate persons of varying size, age, and gender. On average, human adult urinary discharges typically have a volume of about 240 mL to 300 mL, but adult urinary discharges may be as high as about 800 mL or more. An absorbent pad20,120of a urine collection device10,100as described herein may have any desired capacity for absorbing urine in order to absorb a complete urinary discharge from a user. For example, one embodiment may have a capacity for absorbing about 500 mL of urine in order to accommodate most adult urinary discharges. Another embodiment may have a capacity for absorbing about 1000 mL of urine in order to accommodate rather large adult urinary discharges. Alternatively, a urine collection device10,100designed for children may have a reduced capacity for absorbing urine, such as, for example, about 100 mL to 200 mL. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing urine absorption capacities are illustrative and not limiting.

Although the foregoing specific details describe certain embodiments of this invention, persons reasonably skilled in the art will recognize that various changes may be made in the details of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and considering the doctrine of equivalents. Therefore, it should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described herein.