Patent Publication Number: US-2012035577-A1

Title: Disposable urine collector with pad and shell

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/557,423 filed Nov. 7, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     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, families in cars, FEMA and Red Cross personnel, women in the field (e.g., cable, telephone, electricity, and other utility workers, plumbers, and other female field workers), emergency vehicle drivers (such as ambulance, air life, police, and tire personnel), moms on the go, elderly people, people who are wheelchair bound, military personnel, private airplane occupants, pregnant women, hospital personnel, nursing home occupants, home bound persons, hunting and fishing participants, big rig truckers, delivery workers (such as FedEx, UPS, and other couriers), commuters in automobiles who are stuck in traffic due to accidents or stranded due to mechanical difficulties or hazardous weather, campers and hikers, and many others 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, early incontinence, urinary tract infections, 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, unavailability of health care workers (much as a nurse being busy), 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, discomfort, and dignity. 
     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 shell may have a rim configured to comfortably and snugly engage the urinary area of 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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a disposable urine collection device. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the urine collection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the urine collection device of  FIG. 1  taken in the direction of arrows  3 - 3  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a commercially available diaper that may be adapted for forming an absorbent pad for the urine collection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the urine collection device of  FIG. 1  attached to an invertible bag. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of another embodiment of a disposable urine collection device. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative shell of a disposable urine collection device. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a disposable urine collection device including the shell of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the disposable urine collection device of  FIG. 8  taken in the direction of arrows  9 - 9 . 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the disposable urine collection device of  FIG. 8  taken in the direction of arrows  10 - 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another alternative disposable urine collection device. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the urine collection device of  FIG. 8  attached to an invertible bag. 
     
    
    
     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 to  FIGS. 1-3 , a disposable urine collection device  10  may comprise an absorbent pad  20  attached to a relatively stiff shell  30 . The shell  30  and absorbent pad  20  may be preformed, shaped, and sized such that the absorbent pad  20  generally conforms to the inner surface  32  of the shell  30 . The absorbent pad  20  may have two double-layered elastic cuffs  26 ,  28 , each of which has an inner layer  26   a ,  28   a  and an outer layer  26   b ,  28   b , respectively. Alternatively, the elastic cuffs  26 ,  28  may be attached to the shell  30  in addition to or in lieu of attachment to the absorbent pad  20 . The absorbent pad  20  may be attached to the shell  30  by wrapping the ends  22 ,  24  of the absorbent pad  20  over the ends  34 ,  36  of the shell  30  such that the elastic cuffs  26 ,  28  are placed in tension in order to hold the absorbent pad  20  in place on shell  30 . The absorbent pad  20  may also be attached to shell  30  with glue, adhesive, epoxy, stitching, staples, or any other suitable fastener, either in lieu of or in addition to the tension of elastic cuffs  26 ,  28 . Similarly, the outer layer  26   b ,  28   b  of each double-layered cuff  26 ,  28  may be wrapped about and attached to the respective side edge of the shell  30 . The attachment of the outer layers  26   b ,  28   b  to the shell  30  helps cause the respective inner layers  26   a ,  28   a  to stand substantially upright with respect to the shell  30 , which creates a barrier to urine flow, yet the elastic nature of inner layers  26   a ,  28   a  allows the device  10  to conform comfortably to the user&#39;s body and effectively seal the device  10  about the user&#39;s urinary area during use to substantially prevent splattering of urine outside the device  10 . Although one illustrated embodiment is shown having double-layered elastic cuffs  26 ,  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 shell  30  may be constructed from molded paper pulp, cellulose pulp, wood pulp, sugar cane pulp, grass pulp, biodegradable plastic, or another suitable biodegradable material, but the shell  30  may also be manufactured from any other desirable material (for example, regular plastic, fiberglass, composites, or the like) 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 device  10 . The shell  30 , which may be manufactured by molding, casting, or any other suitable method, provides a relatively stiff substrate which supports the absorbent pad  20  during use and which a user may readily grasp in order to urinate into the urine collection device  10  as described further below. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIG. 3 , the absorbent pad  20  may have multiple layers, one or more of which may be absorbent and one or more of which may be nonabsorbent. For example, a bottom layer  40 , which engages the shell  30 , 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 pad  20  and prevent the urine from contacting the shell  30 . Alternatively, the bottom layer  40  may not be waterproof and may allow the urine to contact shell  30 , which may be desirable if the shell  30  is biodegradable, for example. The absorbent pad  20  may also comprise one or more intermediate layers  42  having one or more absorbent materials  44 . In one embodiment, the absorbent material  44  may be a hydrophilic gel, which may comprise super-absorbent polymer particles containing water-absorbing resins, for example, but the absorbent material  44  may 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 pad  20  may also comprise a top layer  46  designed to allow urine to pass through layer  46  and into the absorbent pad  20  to be absorbed by the absorbent material  44 . For example, layer  46  may comprise a hydrophobic material that allows urine to pass through it but maintains a relatively dry outer surface after wetting. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of a urine collection device  10 , the absorbent pad  20  may be formed from a commercially available diaper  50 , such as a Huggies® brand baby diaper, for example, which may have a pair of elastic leg cuffs  54 ,  56  and may or may not have a pair of tabs  58   a ,  58   b  comprising ape or hook and loop fasteners. In one embodiment, an unmodified diaper  50  may be used as an absorbent pad  20  for a urine collection device  10  as described above. In another embodiment, a suitable absorbent pad  20  may be formed from diaper  50  by simply cutting off the tabs  58   a ,  58   b , which may be either discarded or used to fasten the absorbent pad  20  to the shell  30 . The tabs  58   a ,  58   b  may be cut off along cut lines  60  or any other suitable cut lines. Alternatively, the diaper  50  may be cut along a suitable cut line, such as cut line  52 , for example, to form the absorbent pad  20  of the urine collection device  10  as described above. In any of these embodiments formed from a diaper  50 , the leg cuffs  54 ,  56  of the diaper  50  may conveniently serve as the elasticized cuffs  26 ,  28  of the absorbent pad  20  as described above. Additionally, the absorbent pad  20  may be cut along an edge  62 , for example, so that additional absorbent materials may be inserted into the one or more intermediate layers  42  of the absorbent pad  20  to achieve a desired urine absorption capacity. For example, the absorptive capacity of the absorbent pad  20  may be increased by adding an additional amount of super absorbent polymer or other absorbent material. The ends of the absorbent pad  20  formed from diaper  50  may be slipped over and attached to the ends of the shell  30  as described above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bottom  70  of the shell  30  may be flattened such that the urine collection device  10  will remain stationary and upwardly-oriented when placed on a flat surface. Additionally, the urine collection device  10  may be attached to an invertible, flexible bag  72  for convenient and sanitary use and disposal. The flexible bag  72  may be large enough to permit complete inversion so as to completely enclose the urine collection device  10  after use. The flexible bag  72 , 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 cavity  74  into which the user may insert a hand. The flexible bag  72  may comprise a glove or mitt for receiving a user&#39;s hand. The cavity  74  allows the user to grasp the bottom  70  of the device  10  through the flexible bag  72 . Additionally, a suitable closure, such as tie flaps  76   a ,  76   b  or a twist tie, draw string, press seal, zipper, adhesive strip, or other suitable closure, for example, may be provided on the flexible bag  72  such that after the flexible bag  72  is inverted so as to enclose the urine collection device  10 , the user may seal the flexible bag  72  around the urine collection device  10  for sanitary disposal. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the ends  80  of the absorbent pad  20  may be turned upward to form a trough  82  to help catch excess urine in the event of an overflow luring an excessive discharge and redirect the overflow down toward the middle portion of the absorbent pad  20 . 
     A urine collection device  10  as described above may be used by grasping the bottom  70  of the shell  30  with one hand and positioning the urine collection device  10  against the user&#39;s urinary area in such a manner that the user is able to direct the flow of urine onto the absorbent pad  20  so that the urine is absorbed by the absorbent material  44 . The elastic cuffs  26 ,  28  of the absorbent pad  20  conform to the shape of the user&#39;s urinary area and help prevent splashing or splattering of urine outside the urine collection device  10 . After voiding urine into the urine collection device  10 , the user can remove the device  10  from the urinary area and dispose of it. If the urine collection device  10  is attached to a flexible bag  72  as described above, then the user may invert the bag  72  about the urine collection device  10  such that the bag  72  completely encloses the urine collection device  10 , and the closure may then be closed to seal the used urine collection device  10  inside the bag  72 . In some embodiments, the urine collection device  10  may be manufactured with a deodorizing substance contained within the absorbent pad  20  in order to reduce or eliminate odors. It a medical setting, if fluid intake and output measurement is important, the device  10  may be weighed before and after use to determine the quantity of urine excreted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , which is a longitudinal cross sectional view, an alternative embodiment of a urine collection device  100  is shown having an upper absorbent pad  120  overlying and in substantial juxtaposition in a lower absorbent pad  20 , which is adjacent to a shell  30  as described above in connection with urine collection device  10 . Absorbent pad  120  may be substantially the same as absorbent pad  20  as described above, except that absorbent pad  120  may have an opening  142  in its lower waterproof layer  140  to allow some urine to flow downward into lower absorbent pad  20  and be absorbed by absorbent materials in one or more intermediate layers  42  of pad  20 . Of course, some urine may also be absorbed by absorbent materials in one or more intermediate layers  42  of pad  120 . In this manner, the overall absorptive capacity of urine collection device  100  may be increased. As described above, if either or both of absorbent pads  20  and  120  are made from a commercially available diaper, either or both of absorbent pads  20  and  120  may 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 ends  80  of each absorbent pad  20 ,  120  may be turned upward in a nested arrangement as shown to form a trough  82  to 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 pad  120 , similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     A urine collection device  10  or  100  as 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 to 300 mL, hut adult urinary discharges may be as high as about 800 mL or more. An absorbent pad  20 ,  120  of a urine collection device  10 ,  100  as 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 of urine in order to accommodate rather large adult urinary discharges. Alternatively, a urine collection device  10 ,  100  designed 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. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , in some embodiments, a urine collection device  200  may have a substantially rigid shell  130 , which may have a sidewall  150 , bottom  152 , upper wall  154 , ridge  156 , and a rim  132  that is shaped to comfortably and snugly engage the urinary area of a user. One or more absorbent pads  20  and/or  120  (not shown) may be disposed in shell  130  similar to urine collection device  10  described above. Absorbent pads  20 ,  120  may or may not be attached to shell  130 , such as by glue, tape, or a suitable adhesive, for example. Although pad  20  is shown partially occupying the space below ridge  156  of shell  130 , pads  20  and/or  120  may substantially fill the interior space of shell  130  in some embodiments, and in other embodiments pads  20  and/or  120  may essentially cover only bottom  152  of shell  130 . Rim  132  may be substantially flat or curved and may be of sufficient width (for example, about one-half inch, in some embodiments, although any other suitable size may be used) in provide comfortable and snug engagement with the urinary area of a user&#39;s body. Rim  132  may also serve as a grip that is manually graspable by a user to assist a user in holding device  200  against the user&#39;s body. Shell  130  may be made of the same or similar materials as described above for shell  30 . In some embodiments, shell  130  may have sufficient strength and stiffness to support all or a substantial portion of the weight of a user during use without crushing or otherwise experiencing structural failure, such that a user may sit or partially sit on urine collection device  200  during use, which helps the user relax and feel comfortable during the voiding process. This weight-bearing feature, which may be achieved even in biodegradable embodiments such as pulp molded shells  130 , may be very appealing to some users, particularly some female users, giving the user peace of mind knowing that she may sit down and relax during the voiding process rather than having to hover over the device  200  and hold herself up. In some embodiments, shell  130  may have one or more stiffeners  134 ,  136  to help provide strength and stiffness to shell  130  to help support the weight of a user. Stiffeners  134 ,  136  may also serve as convenient gripping locations for manually grasping urine collection device  200 , either directly or through bag  72  described below. Stiffeners  134 ,  136  may be integrally molded or formed as part of shell  130 , or stiffeners  134 ,  136  may be separate elements attached to shell  130 . The thickness and other sizing of shell  130  may also be selected to help provide sufficient strength and stiffness. Urine collection device  200  may be any suitable size and shape. For example, urine collection device  200  may be provided in adult sizes and children&#39;s sizes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , which illustrates another embodiment of a urine collection device  300  having a pad  20  and a shell  130 , one or more cushions  138  may be provided on all or a portion of rim  132  for added comfort when engaging the urinary area of a user. Cushions  138  may be made of any suitable soft and compressible materials, such as cotton, soft rubber, woven fabric, soft foam, or the like. Cushions  138  may be part of absorbent pads  20 ,  120  or may be separate elements. 
     In some embodiments as shown in  FIG. 12 , urine collection device  200  may be attached to a flexible bag  72  as described above for urine collection device  10  so that a user may insert his or her hand in bag  72  to hold shell  130  without directly touching it and invert bag  72  after use and thereby enclose urine collection device  200  for neat and sanitary disposal. Flexible bag  72  may be of any desired size and shape and may have a soft, absorbent outer layer  78  that may be useful for catching inadvertent drips of urine. Outer layer  78  may be made of any suitable soft and absorbent material, such as cotton, woven fabric, or the like. Outer layer  78  may also serve to provide a softer tactile sensation and positive mental or emotional impression to the user by allowing the user to feel a “soft and warm” material with the user&#39;s hands rather than the relative “coldness” of a plastic bag. This positive mental or emotional impression may be realized even though outer layer  78  may not actually contact the urinary area of the user&#39;s body. Outer layer  78  may also be used to wipe up residual urine after voiding. 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any of the various features disclosed herein for some embodiments may also be used in other embodiments. For example, and not by way of limitation, cuffs  26 ,  28  as described in connection with urine collection devices  10  and  100  may also be included on urine collection devices  200  and  300  and may help secure absorbent pads  20 ,  120  to shell  130 . Similarly, stiffeners  134 ,  136  as described in connection with shell  130  may also be included on shell  30 . Any desired combination of features disclosed herein may be used in any desired embodiment, depending on the particular configuration needed. 
     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.