Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Dry closets – Urinal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-23
2002-01-15
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Dry closets
Urinal
C004S144100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06338166
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a urine collecting receptacle for a female which can be used independently without the assistance of a caretaker or assistant and can be used in any position but most specifically for the bedridden or weakened female in the supine position similar to the familiar urine receptacle available for males. The present invention is equipped with a saddle-like female adaptor portion that can be removed at a screw-off neck portion and can be used as a male urinal as well as a convenient and sanitary way to empty and clean the container.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Due to the anatomy of a male, they can conveniently insert their penis into the neck of a urinal with comfort, dignity, privacy, cleanliness, and convenience. By comparison, because of two factors, women, having those same needs of comfort, dignity, privacy, cleanliness, and convenience, have not had that option. First, a female's urethra is located more internally, being concealed beneath the labia majora and the labia minora. In addition, there is adipose tissue surrounding the perineum, internal thighs and buttocks. Secondly, upon urination, liquid will flow downward with the flow of gravity. Since the urethra is located midway up in the female genitalia, urine will exit outwardly in a seemingly non-specific direction from a lateral position immediately crossing the rectal area, through the folds of the buttocks and out onto whatever surface the female is lying or sitting on.
In order for a receptacle to be capable of an adaptive fit, it would need to allow for the lateral position of the urethra, the downward flow of urine, and allow for the folds and concealing tissue in the perineal area. It would need to have a saddle-shaped adaptive fit in a lateral front-to-back contouring configuration instead of an anterior-posterior apparatus. It would need to provide a water-tight seal, and allow for the above stated specifications.
In the hospital seeing the need for independent, comfortable, safe, and convenient urinating is equal between men and women regardless of their anatomical differences.
In congestive heart failure and other conditions, strong diuretics are administered requiring frequent and large volume voiding. Some diabetic and neurological conditions result in frequent urination. Men presently have urinals that can be used then placed on the bedside table for caretakers to empty when they are able. Women, on the other hand, must wait for the caretaker's assistance. Sometimes, two people are enquired to assist the females to and from the bathroom or bedside commode. This is complicated when the woman is elderly, confused or obese. Since healthcare workers must prioritize their decisions based on emergencies and critical patients, female patients without the convenience of the use of a urinal, may have to wait sometimes long periods of time for assistance.
If a female patent is too ill or weak to get out of bed, they must use a bedpan. This also can require two assistants to et her on and off the bedpan. This can be extremely uncomfortable, undignified, and unsanitary. Especially if the female is obese, the bedpan is easily spilled into the bed or onto the persons perineal area making hygiene difficult and can predispose the patient to infections and skin breakdown which can complicate or be complicated by other conditions.
Unfortunately, women may be at an increased risk of extending a heart attack precipitated by fatigue, stress and exertion performing these toileting tasks.
Women experiencing fractured hips are unable to move or bend their legs or hips and are required to lie supine for long periods of time. Physicians have found it necessary to insert indwelling catheters due to patient's immobility. If there were a receptacle that would allow leakproof, sanitary urinating while in a supine position, it would eliminate the need for a catheter with its potential introduction of infection, discomfort and increased risk of complications.
Many women must be admitted to nursing homes after hospitalizations because they simply need assistance with urinating. If there were a urine receptacle available that could be used without spillage, that would provide privacy, dignity, and cleanliness, many women could be discharged to their homes to care for themselves independently.
Emergency rooms, ambulances, home care and nursing homes have a need to provide convenient, water-tight urinary containers to women as they presently do for men since the need is the same.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved urine collecting receptacle for a female which can be used independently without the assistance of a caretaker or assistant and can be used in any position but most specifically for the bedridden or weakened female in the supine position similar to the familiar urine receptacle available for males. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
Examples of prior art urinals that fail to meet these needs include:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,103 to Nakao discloses a urinating receiver. In such device, fit to the female genitalia is up against the symphysis pubis area and secured into position with a handle but the posterior area is not sealed by having a concave protrusion in between the buttocks and up against the septal area so as urine is emitted into the container, it would naturally go with gravity downward and into the lower perineal area, between the buttocks and onto the bed linen. Since this invention appears to be for a supine bedridden patient, the patient would have to urinate in a lateral direction which would not happen because fluid will always go downward. The present device is a bulky and unnecessary apparatus for collecting urine as once it is collected it would still need to be emptied and there is no purpose for it to be in two parts as the section needing to be held up against the perineum to collect urine would only be used for urination and then removed. There would be no point to leave it in place and consequently no reason to have a continual collection reservoir. The present device would be expensive to provide for every patient and since it would be prohibitive, women would be denied having a needed apparatus as simple as a urinal that all men now have available.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,205 to Cummins discloses a self-contained urine collecting device for use by females. The present device must be placed inside the labia majora for proper placement. This is invasive in fact as it must come in contact with the body internally. Correct placement would be vital for it to be water-tight. Injury could occur if the patient is ill, confused, unable to reach her own perineum such as in morbid obesity and assistance would be needed for placement which could cause further injury. Placing the present device inside the labia is unsanitary as body fluids, urine, and mucous would accumulate on the surface touching the body and unless it is cleaned thoroughly with disinfectant it could introduce germs with future use. The angle of the urinal once it is placed is such that gravity would not allow urine to flow downward. Urine would consequently spill down into the perineum and between the folds of the buttocks causing hygiene problems and the potential for infection and skin breakdown due to bacteria and moisture. It would be difficult to remove the urinal from between the legs without spilling it because the angle is such that the person would have to stand to remove without spilling. The angle of the neck extending to the body of the receptacle would require the user to urinate laterally in order to fill the container and in order to remove it would be inadvertently spilled especially if it were more than ½ full. Fluid must flow downward with gravity. Women have internal urethras with surrounding soft tissue. This invention requires an internal placement inside the labia which is unsanitary and could injure the soft tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,871 t
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