The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP2003-340487, filed on Sep. 30, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
The present invention relates to an automatic urine disposal device of the type worn by the elderly who have difficulty walking, hospitalized patients, physically disabled people, and others who are unable to voluntarily control their bladder or to clean up urine on their own.
In general, the elderly who have difficulty walking, physically disabled people, and those who are hospitalized due to injuries or illness sometimes become unable to voluntarily control their bladder or to clean up urine on their own. In order for such people to handle urination, an automatic urine disposal device, which uses a vacuum pump to suction urine absorbed by a urine absorbent material and which discharges the aforementioned urine into a urine tank, has been developed. The vacuum pump sucks air out of a sealed urine tank to create a pressure difference between the inside of the tank and the atmosphere in order to draw urine, which has been absorbed by the urine receptacle, into the urine tank through a urine drainage tube. Automatic urine disposal devices having such a configuration have been disclosed in Japanese Application Patent Laid-open Publications No. Hei 07-171182 and No. 2003-126242.
An automatic urine disposal device proposed prior to the present invention sucks urine while a urine receptacle is in contact with the wearer's urinating part, or, in other words, while the urine absorbent material of the urine receptacle is exposed to the atmosphere, and this causes a lowering of the percentage of urine collection from the urine receptacle (urine absorbent material). This, in turn, causes an increase in the amount of residual urine in the urine receptacle (urine absorbent material), resulting in great discomfort for the wearer. The capacity of the vacuum pump must be made higher in order to reduce the amount of residual urine in the urine receptacle; however, this means that the automatic urine disposal device must be made heavier and larger. For this reason, the automatic urine disposal device proposed prior to the present invention has not been considered practical as a portable urine disposal device.
As an aside, in order to draw urine into a urine tank in response to a negative pressure inside the urine tank, a urine drainage tube must be connected to the urine tank. Conventionally, for example, a joint is attached to the tip of a guide tube of the urine tank so that a urine drainage tube can be inserted and connected to the guide tube via the joint. Such a configuration has been disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Application Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-126242.
In the prior system described above, a guide tube is provided on the urine tank to be connected to the urine drainage tube. When replacing the urine drainage tube, it is necessary to directly handle the parts in contact with the urine, and thus the operation tends to be unclean. Also, the urine drainage tube is tightly and deeply inserted in order to prevent urine leakage; therefore, it is troublesome when removing/inserting it. Typically, a portable automatic urine disposal device requires replacement of the urine drainage tube every day or every other day, and it is desirable that the tube replacement interval be made longer when making the device fit for practical use.
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic urine disposal device which allows easy and clean replacement of urine drainage tubes.
To achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention is characterized in that a tube guide hole is formed in the lid that seals the urine tank such, that a urine drainage tube may be inserted into the hole, and the urine drainage tube is connected to the urine tank by a mounting fixture that fixes the urine drainage tube to the tube guide hole while maintaining the airtightness of the urine tank.
Furthermore, the present invention is also characterized in that a tube guide hole is formed in the top surface of a sealed urine pack contained in the urine tank such that a urine drainage tube may be inserted into the hole while being held by the hole, and the urine drainage tube is connected to the urine pack by a mounting fixture that fixes the urine drainage tube to the tube guide hole while maintaining the airtightness of the urine pack.
The preferred shape of the mounting fixture is a funnel shape with a hole for inserting and holding the urine drainage tube, and also it is desirable that the fixture be made of flexible material and be attachable to/detachable from the tube guide hole.
Urine of a device wearer is absorbed by a urine receptacle. A urine tank is sealed by a lid with tube guide holes, and its bottom plate provides an elastic suspension to the support plate. A urine pack with a thread that opens and closes the pack is placed on the support plate and is contained in the urine tank. A urine drainage tube is designed to draw urine to the urine pack from a urine drainage port, which is formed on the urine receptacle, through the tube guide hole. The urine pack contains superabsorbent polymers that absorb urine and become gelatinized. A vacuum pump lowers the pressure inside the urine tank to create a negative pressure in the urine drainage port of the urine receptacle in order to suck urine into the urine tank to store it in the urine pack. A mounting fixture connects the urine drainage tube to the urine tank by fixing the urine drainage tube to the tube guide hole while maintaining the airtightness of the urine tank. The mounting fixture is made of a flexible material and has a funnel-like shape, and it is designed to be attachable to/detachable from the tube guide hole on the urine tank lid.
In
The urine receptacle 1 in accordance with present invention is the one that is able to provide an improved urine collection efficiency, to reduce the amount of residual urine, and to allow vacuuming of urine by a small-capacity vacuum pump. On the urine receptacle 1, a urine drainage port 2 is formed. Also, on the urine receptacle, a urine sensor 20 is formed for urination detection. The urine sensor 20 is an electrical conductor that detects the wearer's urination based on a change in resistance resulting from electric conduction triggered by urination.
One of the ends of a urine drainage tube 12 is bonded to the urine drainage port 2 formed on the urine receptacle 1. The other end of the urine drainage tube 12 is connected to a one-touch joint 11. The one-touch joint 11 is fixed to one of the end of a urine drainage tube 13, and thus the one-touch joint 11 connects one end of the urine drainage tube 12 to one end of the urine drainage tube 13. The urine drainage tubes 12 and 13 are formed by soft, flexible materials made of soft resins. The one-touch joint 11 is made of soft materials.
A urine detection signal detected by the urine sensor 20 is inputted to a control board 52 via signal lines 22 and 23. The control board 52 controls a vacuum pump 51. The signal lines 22 and 23 are connected to each other by a one-touch connector 21.
A urine tank 30 is made of resins and has the shape of a rectangular solid with an opening on the top. A spring 33 is located at each corner of the bottom plate of the urine tank 30 to provide elastic suspension to a support board 32. A urine pack 31 which serves as a urine storage container is sealed with a sheet of heavy paper like that of a milk carton, and two tube guide holes 31a and 31b are formed on a top surface 31c of the urine pack 31. Although not shown, the urine pack 31 contains particulate superabsorbent polymers, such as cross-link polyacrylic acid soda, that become gelatinized after absorbing urine. The superabsorbent polymers provide a urine swaying motion control means that prohibits urine from swaying (rippling) inside the urine pack 31.
The urine pack 31 is made with, for example, a sheet of heavy paper like that of a milk carton, and is shaped like a rectangular solid. A partition plate (not shown) is placed inside the pack so that the pack will not cave in when vacuumed. The capacity of the urine pack 31 is approximately 500 ml, which is sufficient for storing the fluid produced during two instances of urination. As a portable device, however, it is desirable that its dimensions be adjusted to 110 mm×110 mm×50 mm (605 ml). Also, for long time use, such as clinical use or nighttime use, it is desirable that the capacity be made 1000 ml or more. Note that the shape of the urine tank 30 and the urine pack 31 can be changed in order to fit them to the shape of the wearer's body.
A lid plate 41 is located on the top opening of the urine tank 30, and a lid case 40 is provided so as to cover the lid plate 41. In the space defined by the lid case 40 and the lid plate 41, a vacuum pump 51 is provided. The vacuum pump 51 is driven by a motor 50. One end of a suction tube 14 and an air release tube 15 are linked to the vacuum pump 51. Just as with the urine drainage tubes 12 and 13, the suction tube 14 and the air release tube 15 are formed of soft, flexible materials.
The motor 50 uses a battery placed inside a battery box 42, as shown in
On the top surface of the lid case 40, a manual switch 43 for manually driving the motor 50 is provided. A one-touch lock mechanism 44 is used for fixing the lid case 40 to the urine tank 30. On the lid plate 41, a cutout section 41a for guiding the urine drainage tube 13 and another cutout section 41b for guiding the suction tube 14 are formed. Both the urine drainage tube 13 and the suction tube 14 have a diameter of approximately 5 mm, and the width of each of the cutout sections 41a and 41b is approximately 6 mm.
On the end of the urine drainage tube 13 which passes through the cutout section 41a, a mounting fixture 16 is attached for fixing the urine drainage tube 13 to the urine pack 31. As seen in
The mounting fixture 16 has its outer surface and inner surface in the shape of a taper. For example, the mounting fixture 16 has a taper angle of 30 degrees from its axis, the largest diameter of the outer surface taper is 8.0 mm, and the smallest diameter is approximately 6.1 mm. As mentioned earlier, the width of the cutout section 41a on the lid plate 41 is approximately 6 mm. When the urine drainage tube 13 is guided into the cutout section 41a, the tube 13 cannot be pulled upwards due to the mounting fixture 16, as seen in
The mounting fixture 16 is inserted into the tube guide hole 31a formed on the top surface 31c of the urine pack 31 from the side with the smallest diameter (6.1 mm), while holding the inserted urine drainage tube 13. The diameter of the tube guide hole 31a is approximately 6.5 mm, which is somewhere between the largest and smallest diameters of the taper provided on the outer surface of the mounting fixture 16. When the mounting fixture 16 is fixed to the tube guide hole 31a, the urine pack 31 becomes sealed while maintaining its airtightness. The mounting fixture 16 is fitted to the tube guide hole 31a by insertion, and it is configured to be detachable from/attachable to the tube guide hole 31a. The urine drainage tube 13 becomes connected to the urine pack 31 by the mounting fixture 16 becoming fitted to the tube guide hole 31a.
The suction tube 14 has one end linked to the vacuum pump 51, and a filter 17 is attached on the other end. The filter 17 serves to remove the odor, but it also prevents fluid that may spread in the urine pack 31 at the time of urine suction from being vacuumed into the vacuum pump 51. A mounting fixture 18 is attached to the other side of the suction tube 14 to fix the suction tube 14 to the urine pack 31. This mounting fixture 18 has the same configuration as the mounting fixture 16 attached to the urine drainage tube 13. The mounting fixture 18 is fitted to the tube guide hole 31b by insertion, and it is configured to be detachable from/attachable to the tube guide hole 31b. The mounting fixture 18 becomes fitted to the tube guide hole 31b while maintaining the airtightness of the urine pack 31.
Meanwhile, the urine pack 31 is pressed upward by the support plate 32, which is elastically supported by the springs 33. This mechanism allows an increase in the degree of adhesion between the mounting fixtures 16 and 18, on the one hand, and the tube guide holes 31a and 31b provided on the urine pack 31, on the other hand. Note that, application of a soft material on the surface 31c of the urine pack 31 having the tube guide holes 31a and 31b can also improve the degree of adhesion between the mounting fixtures 16 and 18, and the tube guide holes 31a and 31b.
In this configuration, the urine receptacle 1 is attached to the wearer (not shown) such that it touches his/her urinating part inside their underwear. The lid case 40 containing the urine tank 30, vacuum pump 51, and motor 50 will be carried around by the wearer, or it is placed on or under the bed when the wearer is lying on a bed.
When the wearer urinates, the urine sensor 20 on the urine receptacle 1 becomes electrically conductive, and it sends a urine detection signal to the control board 52. The controller mounted on the control board 52 activates the motor 50 and then drives the vacuum pump 51. When the vacuum pump 51 is activated, air pressure inside the urine pack 31 becomes lower due to air release, creating negative pressure in the urine drainage port 2 of the urine receptacle 1. When negative pressure is created in the urine drainage port 2, urine absorbed by the urine receptacle 1 is efficiently vacuumed by the urine drainage tube 12 due to suction power generated by negative pressure. Urine, vacuumed by the urine drainage tube 12, is then drawn by negative pressure into the urine pack 31 via the urine drainage tube 13 and is stored therein. Note that, upon urinating, the wearer also can use the manual switch 43 to activate the motor 50 to draw the urine into the urine pack 31.
Urine, drawn into the urine pack 31, then undergoes a chemical reaction with particulate superabsorbent polymers (not shown) and becomes gelatinized. Gelatinization of the urine can prevent the swaying (rippling) motion of the urine inside the urine pack 31. Therefore, it is possible to configure a portable automatic urine disposal device in a preferred form, in which urine will not leak even if it is carried around.
When urination by the wearer is completed and the urine detection signal from the urine sensor 20 is no longer sent out, the controller mounted on the control board 52 stops the motor 50, which stops the vacuum pump 51. It is also possible to stop the motor and vacuum pump by using the manual switch 43. If the urine pack 31 has sufficient capacity for holding two-times-worth of urine, the next urination process is conducted in the same manner.
After urine is stored in the urine pack 31, the urine pack 31 must be discarded by first unlocking the lock mechanism 44 to separate the urine tank 30 and the lid case 40, and then by removing the mounting fixtures 16 and 18 from the urine pack 31. The urine pack 31 is made of paper and thus can be disposed of as burnable waste.
After using the urine receptacle 1 for a day, or if it becomes dirty due to defecation, the urine receptacle 1 must be discarded and replaced with a new urine receptacle 1 by separating the urine drainage tubes 12 and 13 from the one-touch joint 11 and then by disconnecting the signal lines 22 and 23 from the one-touch connector 21. The urine receptacle can be disposed of as burnable waste.
From the standpoint of proper hygiene, the urine drainage tube 13 must be replaced after one or two days of use. Replacement of the urine drainage tube 13 can be carried out by first disconnecting the urine drainage tubes 12 and 13 from the one-touch joint 11 and then by disconnecting the signal lines 22 and 23 from the one-touch connector 21. Then, after separating the urine tank 30 and the lid case 40 by unlocking the lock mechanism 44, the mounting fixture 16 must be removed from the tube guide hole 31a on the urine pack 31 as shown in
The drainage tube 13 must then be removed from the cutout section 41a and disposed of with the mounting fixture 16, followed by installation of a new urine drainage tube 13 into the tube guide hole 31a provided on the urine pack 31. Note that air leakage of the suction tube 14 can be examined in the same manner as replacement of the urine drainage tube 13.
The urine of the wearer is treated in the aforementioned manner. The urine drainage tube can be easily and cleanly replaced since the mounting fixture, with a urine drainage tube inserted, fixes the urine drainage tube to the tube guide hole, while maintaining the airtightness of the urine pack, and connects the urine drainage tube to the urine tank. This structure is significantly effective when used as a portable automatic urine drainage disposal device.
Also, insertion/removal of the mounting fixture into/from the tube guide hole is particularly easy since the fixture has a funnel-like shape, or a taper shape, on the outer surface. Furthermore, the urine drainage tube can be easily inserted into the insertion hole since the inner surface also as a taper shape.
A groove 30a, for receiving the lid plate 35, is formed on the top opening of the urine tank 30. Also, inside the urine tank 30, an area 30b in which the urine drainage tube 13 is placed and an area 30c in which the suction tube 14 is placed are separated by a partition plate 36, with space provided on the top and bottom. A urine bag 34 serving as a urine storage container is contained in the area 30b.
The urine bag 34 is made of a material such as polyethylene resin and has a square-shaped bottom. A thread 34a is provided at the opening of the urine bag 34 for opening and closing the bag. The thread 34a is locked by a plurality of hooks (not shown) provided on the inner wall surfaces of the urine tank 30. The urine bag 34 is kept open and is fixed such that it will not be dislocated in the urine tank 30. Superabsorbent polymers 37 are contained in the urine bag 34.
When the mounting fixtures 16 and 18 are attached to the tube guide holes 35a and 35b, respectively, the urine tank 30 can be sealed with high airtightness. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
After storing urine in the urine bag 34, the top opening of the urine bag 34 can be closed like a purse by hand 40 to pull the thread 34a upward such that the thread 34a comes off the hooks. It is thus possible to dispose of the urine bag 34 without causing the hand 40 to become dirty.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, too, the urine drainage tube can be easily and cleanly replaced since the mounting fixture, with a urine drainage tube inserted, fixes the urine drainage tube to the tube guide hole while maintaining the airtightness of the urine bag and connects the urine drainage tube to the urine tank. The urine bag which serves as a urine storage container can be cleanly disposed of without causing the hands to become dirty. Note that, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
FIGS. 7(a), 7(b) and FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) show other examples of mounting fixtures. As shown in
With such a mounting fixture 19, it is possible to connect the urine drainage tube 13 to the urine tank 30 or the urine pack 31 by fixing the urine drainage tube 13 to the tube guide hole, while maintaining the airtightness of the urine tank 30 or the urine pack 31. Therefore, replacement of the urine drainage tube can be carried out easily as well as cleanly.
As described above, in accordance with the present invention, a urine drainage tube can be replaced easily and cleanly since a mounting fixture, with a urine drainage tube inserted, fixes the urine drainage tube to a tube guide hole, while maintaining the airtightness of a urine tank or a urine pack, and connects the urine drainage tube to the urine tank or the urine pack.
Note that, although a one-touch joint is used on the urine drainage tubes that connect the urine receptacle and the urine tank in the embodiments of the present invention as described above, it is clear that the use of a one-touch joint can be omitted. Also, it is possible to use an IC chip as a urine sensor, so that a urine detection signal can be transmitted wirelessly.
In accordance with the present invention, a urine drainage tube can be replaced easily and cleanly since a mounting fixture, with a urine drainage tube inserted, fixes the urine drainage tube to a tube guide hole, while maintaining the airtightness of a urine tank or a urine pack, and connects the urine drainage tube to the urine tank or the urine pack.
The preferred embodiments described herein are therefore illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims and all variations which come within the meaning of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-340487 | Sep 2003 | JP | national |