GB2184023A - Urinary incontinence - Google Patents

Abstract

A female urinal has a urine collecting chamber (27) having an inlet opening (14) defined by a platform (13). Within the chamber and beyond the platform is a ridged central portion (15) adapted to engage the labia majora of the user which projects through the opening when the device is worn. Since supporting tapes may not be able to keep the device in position during movement of the wearer, the ridged central portion assists location of the device and minimises leakage.

Description

SPECIFICATION Urinary Incontinence In cases of incontinence, it is preferable to collect urine in a container rather than in an absorbent pad.

Successful collection without leakage is difficult in males, due to the changes in size, or withdrawal, of the penis, and extremely difficult in females, except when using a catheter. Prolonged catheterization may lead to chronic infection in the urinary tract and ultimately lead to chronic renal failure and enventual death. Catheterization should therefore be avoided if at all possible.

The present invention comprises a container for urine having an inlet which envelops all the sexual organs. The problem of urine collection from females has been tackled in UA-A-3601 125 by providing a pouch which is snugly fitted into the flesh of the groins. The pouch is simply held against the body and the problem of sealing is tackled by providing a resilient cylindrical member around the mouth of the pouch engaging the users body.

Location of the pouch on the body is achieved by adjusting supporting straps, but such straps do not take into account movement of the wearer which may cause leakage. The present invention therefore includes a locating device for engaging the labia of the user.

British Patent Specification 1422638 discloses a personal urinal having a collecting head with an arched intralabial portion, but this portion forms part of a platform which surrounds the opening constituting the mouth of the urinal. The present invention provides better location of the device by providing an intralabial portion separate from the platform.

According to the invention there is provided a female urinal comprising a platform defining an opening and adapted to engage the outer portion of the vulva and a urine collecting chamber located beyond the platform, the chamber being formed with a ridged central portion adapted to engage the labia majora of the user which project through the opening when the device is worn. The ridge is preferably located at the lower end of the chamber when the device is in the wearing position.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a female urinal; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1 with the platform removed; Figure 3 is an underplan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device of Figure land Figure 5 shows the connection of the urinal with a collecting bag.

The device illustrated in the drawings is about 10 centimetres in length, 5 centimetres in width and about 6 centimetres in depth. It is mounted to fit over the wearer's vulva by suitable tapes 12 which are attached to a waistband 11. A platform 13 shown in Figure 1 is pressed against the flesh surrounding the vulva, and a rim 23 of resilient material which surrounds the platform 13 forms a seal to prevent leakage of urine. The platform 13 defines an opening 14 leading into a chamber 27 for collecting urine and provided with an outlet 28 to which is attached a conduit communicating through a nonreturn valve 32 with a removable urine collecting bag 31 which may for example be strapped to the user's leg. Air vents 16 allow escape of air displaced by urine.

In the worn position, the chamber 27 has an upper wall extending at about 45" to the plane of the rim 23 to the entrance of the outlet 28, the upper wall being aligned with the direction in which urine flows into the device. Above the outlet 28 the lower portion of the chamber is divided into two side portions by a ridge 15 formed in the floor of the chamber 27 over the outlet 28. The ridge 15 extends towards the opening 14 but does not extend through it.

When the device is placed in position on the user, the labia majora extend through the lower portion of the opening 14 and engage the two sides of the ridge 15. The upper portion of the opening is aligned with the urethral opening. The engagement of the ridge 15 with the labial fold at the vulval opening fixes the container firmly and does not allow it to slip in any posture of the user sitting, standing or lying down.

Claims (5)

1. Afemale urinal comprising a platform (13) defining an opening (14) adapted to engage the outer portion of the vulva and a urine collecting chamber (27) located beyond the platform (13), the urinal having a ridged central portion (15) adapted to engage the labia majora of the user, characterized in that the ridged central portion (15) is formed in the chamber and is located beyond the platform (13).

2. Afemale urinal as claimed in Claim 1,wherein the chamber (27) has an outlet (28) which is located below the said ridged central portion (15).

3. A female urinal as claimed in claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said chamber is formed with an upper wall (when in the worn position) which is inclined downwardly towards said outlet.

4. Afemale urinal as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the outlet comprises a ridged conduit (29) onto which a tube can be fitted.

5. A female urinal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a rim of resilient material around said platform.