URINE COLLECTION APPARATUS

DISPOSITIF DE COLLECTE DE L'URINE

English Abstract

Urine collection apparatus is provided which can be used to assist bedridden and/or incontinent patients, particularly female patients. The apparatus includes a urine collector which is shaped for location against the perineal region of a patient adjacent the urethra. The urine collector comprises a hollow body having opposed ends in which an inlet for air and an outlet for air and urine are formed, respectively. The body has a central region between the end regions with a reduced cross-sectional area. This effectively creates a venturi adjacent the patient's urethra when air passes through the collector. The apparatus includes a urine receptacle with an inlet for receiving air and urine from the collector, and an outlet for air which is connectable to a source of low pressure. The source of low pressure will typically be an impeller driven by an electric motor, which creates a sufficiently strong air flow through the apparatus to entrain urine and transport it to the receptacle.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de collecte d'urine qui peut servir à aider les patients consignés au lit ou incontinents, en particulier des femmes. Le dispositif comprend un collecteur d'urine qui est formé de façon à être placé dans la région périnéale d'une patiente, à côté de l'urètre. Le collecteur d'urine comprend un corps creux muni d'extrémités opposées, dans lequel une entrée d'air et une sortie d'air et d'urine respectives sont formées. Le corps comporte une région centrale entre les extrémités, avec une surface transversale réduite, ce qui a pour effet de créer une buse adjacente à l'urètre du patient lorsque l'air traverse le collecteur. Le dispositif comprend un réceptacle d'urine avec une ouverture pour admettre de l'air et de l'urine du collecteur, ainsi qu'un orifice de sortie de l'air pouvant être raccordé à une source de dépression. Cette source est généralement une turbine entraînée par un moteur électrique, qui crée un flux d'air suffisamment intense à travers le dispositif pour entraîner l'urine et l'amener au réceptacle.

Claims

-7-
The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is
claimed are defined as follows:
1. Urine collection apparatus comprising:
a urine collector shaped for location against the perineal region of a
patient adjacent the urethra, the urine collector having an inlet for air
and an outlet for air and urine; and
a urine receptacle having an inlet for receiving air and urine from the
urine collector, and an outlet for air which is connectable to a source
of low pressure,
wherein the urine collector is shaped to define a venturi between the inlet
and
the outlet thereof, the venturi being locatable adjacent the patient's urethra
when the urine collector is correctly located, so that air passing through the
inlet of the urine collector entrains urine for delivery to the urine
receptacle.
2. Urine collection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the urine collector
is
shaped for use by a female patient.
3. Urine collection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the urine
collector comprises a hollow body having opposed ends in which the inlet and
the outlet are formed, the urine collector having first and second end regions
and a central region between the end regions having a cross sectional area
less than that of the end regions.
4. Urine collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein
the
urine collector is formed from a flexible plastics material.
5. Urine collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 including
a
source of low pressure in the form of an impeller or pump arranged to apply
suction to the outlet of the urine collector when the inlet of the urine
receptacle is connected to the outlet of the urine collector, thereby to cause
an airflow through the urine collector.

-8-
6. Urine collection apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the source of low
pressure comprises an impeller arranged to be driven by an electric motor
and located in a housing, the urine receptacle being locatable in an opening
defined in the housing so that the outlet of the urine receptacle is in
communication with an air inlet of the impeller.
7. A urine collector suitable for use with the apparatus of any one of claims
1 to
6, the urine collector being shaped for location against the perineal region
of a
patient adjacent the urethra and comprising a hollow body defining an inlet
for
air and an outlet for air and urine, wherein the body is shaped to define a
venturi between the inlet and the outlet thereof, the venturi being locatable
adjacent the patient's urethra when the urine collector is correctly located.
8. A urine collector according to claim 7 wherein the body has opposed ends in
which the inlet and the outlet are formed, the urine collector having first
and
second end regions and a central region between the end regions having a
cross sectional area less than that of the end regions.
9. A urine collector according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the body is
formed
from a flexible plastics material.

Description

CA 02488296 2004-11-23
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to urine collection apparatus.
When a patient is bedridden and/or incontinent, urination may be problematic.
Depending on the patient's condition, it may be difficult to urinate without
assistance.
It would be desirable to provide an apparatus which would assist a bedridden
patient to urinate without assistance, at any time.

CA 02488296 2004-11-23
_2_
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Urine collection apparatus comprising:
a urine collector shaped for location against the perineal region of a
patient adjacent the urethra, the urine collector having an inlet for air
and an outlet for air and urine; and
a urine receptacle having an inlet for receiving air and urine from the
urine collector; and an outlet for air which is connectable to a source of
low pressure,
so that air passing through the inlet of the urine collector entrains urine
for
delivery to the urine receptacle.
The urine collector is preferably shaped to define a venturi between the inlet
and the outlet thereof, the venturi being locatable directly adjacent the
patient's
urethra when the urine collector is correctly located.
The urine collector may be shaped for use by a female patient.
The urine collector may comprise a hollow body having opposed ends in which
the inlet and the outlet are formed, the urine collector having first and
second
end regions and a central region between the end regions having a cross
sectional area less than that of the end regions.
The urine collector is preferably formed from a flexible plastics material.
The apparatus preferably includes a source of low pressure in the form of an
impeller or pump arranged to apply suction to the outlet of the urine
collector

CA 02488296 2004-11-23
-3-
when the inlet of the urine receptacle is connected to the outlet of the urine
collector, thereby to cause an airflow through the urine collector.
The source of low pressure may comprise an impeller arranged to be driven by
an electric motor and located in a housing, the urine receptacle being
locatable
in an opening defined in the housing so that the outlet of the urine
receptacle is
in communication with an air inlet of the impeller.
The invention extends to a urine collector suitable for use with the above
defined apparatus, the urine collector being shaped for location against the
perineal region of a patient adjacent the urethra and comprising a hollow body
defining an inlet for air and an outlet for air and urine.
Preferably, the body is shaped to define a venturi between the inlet and the
outlet thereof, the venturi being locatable directly adjacent the patient's
urethra
when the urine collector is correctly located.
The body preferably has opposed ends in which the inlet and the outlet are
formed, the urine collector having first and second end regions and a central
region between the end regions having a cross sectional area less than that of
the end regions.
The body may be formed from a flexible plastics material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a urine collector forming part of urine
collection apparatus according to the invention;

CA 02488296 2004-11-23
-4-
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a urine receptacle and low pressure
source forming part of the apparatus of the invention; and
Figure 3 is a sectional side view of an auxiliary urine sampler of the
apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a urine collector of the invention which comprises a hollow
body 10 having enlarged opposed ends 12 and 14 and a narrowed central
region 16. The ends are smoothly rounded. The collector is curved as shown
and defines an opening 18 on its inner side which is shaped, together with the
curvature of the body of the collector, to fit snugly against the perineal
region of
a female patient. In order to accommodate different patients, the collector
body can conveniently be moulded from a flexible plastics material, and should
ideally be disposable.
An air inlet 20 is formed in the first end 14 of the collector, 'and an outlet
22 for
air and urine, which can be connected to a flexible hose or pipe 24, is formed
at the other end 12. When the collector is placed against the body of a
patient,
air flowing into the inlet 20 and out of the outlet 22 entrains urine and
carries it
away for separation from the air.
In order to enhance the efficiency of urine collection, the central region 16
of
the collector is narrowed relative to the ends 12 and 14, effectively defining
a
venturi in the central region of the collector which is located directly
adjacent
the patient's urethra in use. The venturi results in an accelerated airflow
directly adjacent the urethra, enhancing the efficiency of urine collection.

CA 02488296 2004-11-23
-5-
An elasticated strap 26 is fitted to the end 14 of the collector, which will
be
uppermost in use, to facilitate attachment of the collector to the patient.
Referring now to Figure 2, a urine receptacle comprising a container 28 with a
removable lid 30 is shown received in a housing 32. A circular aperture 34 is
formed in the upper surface 36 of the housing for this purpose, with the
container ideally having an outwardly extending lip to support it in the
aperture.
Also located within the housing is a suction source 38 in the form of an
impeller
arranged to be driven by an electrical motor, and having an air inlet 40
within
the housing and an air outlet 42 at the base of the housing. In the prototype
apparatus of the invention, the motor/impeller unit from a domestic vacuum
cleaner was used.
The container 28 has an inlet 44 for air and urine in the lid 30 thereof and a
pair of air outlets 46 formed in the side of the container near the upper rim
thereof.
The flexible hose or pipe 24 is connected between the outlet 22 of the urine
collector and the inlet 44 of the container as indicated, and the suction
source
38 is operated to cause a flow of air through the apparatus as indicated by
the
arrows in Figures 1 and 2. Air with entrained urine is drawn through the hose
24 and the urine drops into the container 28, while the air is drawn through
the
apertures 46 in the container and exhausted from the bottom of the housing
32. When the container 28 is full, it can simply be lifted out of the housing
32
to be emptied or replaced.
Figure 3 shows a urine sampling device which can be used in conjunction with
the above described apparatus. It is frequently necessary to take urine
samples from patients, and the sampling device was designed to work in
conjunction with the above described apparatus to simplify the process.

CA 02488296 2004-11-23
-6-
The sampling device essentially comprises a length of rigid tubing 48 to which
sections of hose 24 can be connected. Typically, the sampling device will be
connected between the collector 10 and the suction source. The pipe 48
defines a threaded branch 50 into which the neck of a sample bottle 52 can be
screwed as indicated. Apertures 54 and 56 are formed in the wall of the pipe
48 in communication with the bore of the branch, and an obstruction in the
form of a finger or partition 58 in the pipe between the apertures 54 and 56
causes a portion of the air flowing through the pipe to be diverted through
the
apertures 54 and 56 as indicated, thereby delivering entrained urine into the
container 52.
It will be appreciated that a number of variations of the above described
embodiment are possible. For example, the source of low pressure need not
be a motor/impeller but could be a steam vacuum line as used in hospitals, or
could even be an arrangement making use of a pressure differential such as
exists between the interior of an aircraft cabin and the outside atmosphere.
The exact shape and design of the urine collector can also be varied. In
practice it was found that it was not essential to maintain an airtight seal
between the collector and the body of the patient, and that a degree of air
leakage did not impair the functioning of the apparatus.

Representative Drawing