ASPIRATION SYSTEM FOR REMOVING URINE DISCHARGED BY THE HUMAN BODY, AND LIQUID SENSOR THEREFOR
An aspiration system for removing urine from the human body comprises a disposable body interface device having a liquid collection chamber. A detachable or permanently attached non-contact liquid sensor disposed outside the liquid collection chamber detects the presence of urine within the chamber. The non-contact sensor is selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-resonant sensor; and a temperature sensor.
1 . An aspiration system for removing urine discharged by the human body, the aspiration system comprising:
a. a body interface device having a liquid collection region for collecting urine discharged by the human body; and
b. a liquid sensor disposed or disposable adjacent to but outside the liquid collection region, for detecting the presence of discharged urine in the liquid collection region without contact with the urine, the sensor generating an electrical output indicative of detected urine.
2 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the body interface device is a disposable device.
3 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is separate or separable from the body interface device.
4 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is permanently attached to the body interface device.
5 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured to be used a plurality of times with different body interface devices.
6 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , further comprising an attachment part for detachably attaching the liquid sensor to the body interface device.
7 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , further comprising a garment wearable over the body interface device, the garment being configured to hold the liquid sensor captive in an operative sensing position adjacent to the body interface device.
8 . The aspiration system according to claim 7 , wherein the body interface device comprises a male or female urinal, and the garment comprises a pair of briefs.
9 . The aspiration system according to claim 7 , further when at least one of the garment and the liquid sensor comprises a retainer for retaining the liquid sensor captive to the garment.
10 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; an electro-optic sensor; and a temperature sensor.
11 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the body interface device comprises a pocket or recess for receiving the liquid sensor adjacent to the liquid collection region.
12 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is a capacitance sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a wall or wall portion made of material through which the capacitance sensor can project an electric field.
13 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a wall or wall portion made of material through which an ultrasonic wave can be passed.
14 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is an electro-optic sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a wall or wall portion made of material through which optical radiation can be passed.
15 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is a temperature sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a membrane for permitting the temperature sensor to be exposed to the temperature of urine in the liquid collection region and contacting the membrane.
16 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , further comprising a skin adhesive for releasably attaching the body interface device to the body.
17 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the body interface device is selected from: a female urinal; a male urinal; a male condom; a urostomy body fitment; and a catheter.
18 . An aspiration system for removing urine discharged by the human body, the aspiration system comprising:
a. a body interface device having a liquid collection region for collecting urine discharged by the human body; and
b. a liquid sensor disposed or disposable adjacent to but outside the liquid collection region, for detecting the presence of discharged urine in the liquid collection region without contact with the urine, the sensor being separate or separable from the body interface device.
19 . An aspiration system for removing urine discharged by the human body, the comprising:
a. a liquid sensor configured to detect urine discharged from the body in the proximity of the sensor without contact with the urine, the sensor generating an electrical output indicative of detected urine, and the sensor being selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; an optical sensor; a temperature sensor; and
b. a brief configured to be worn on the body and to hold the liquid sensor in an operative position at the genital area for sensing urine discharged by the body.
20 . The aspiration system according to claim 18 , further comprising a body interface device having a liquid collection region for receiving the urine, and wherein the liquid sensor is disposed outside the liquid collection region and configured to detect urine within the liquid collection region.
21 . The aspiration system according to claim 19 wherein the brief is further configured to hold the body interface device in an operative position against the body.
22 . The aspiration system according to claim 19 , further comprising an aspiration unit responsive to the output from the liquid sensor, and configured to generate suction to aspirate liquid from the body interface device when liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
23 . The aspiration system of claim 19 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured to detect liquid discharged from the body in the proximity of the sensor without contact with the liquid, the sensor being selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; and an optical sensor.
24 . The aspiration system of claim 19 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured, when disposed adjacent to but outside a liquid collection region of a body interface device for collecting liquid discharged from the body, to detect the presence of liquid in the liquid collection region.
25 . The aspiration system of claim 19 , further comprising an attachment part for detachably attaching the liquid sensor to a body interface device or to an over-garment.
26 . A method of preparing an aspiration system for removing liquid discharged by the human body, the method comprising:
a. providing a body interface device having a liquid collection region for receiving liquid discharged by the human body;
b. providing a liquid sensor for detecting the presence of discharged liquid in the liquid collection region without contact with the liquid, the sensor generating an electrical output indicative of detected liquid; and;
c. providing an aspiration unit couplable to the body interface device and to the liquid sensor, the aspiration unit being operable to generate suction to aspirate liquid from the body interface device in response to detection of liquid by the liquid sensor.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is separate or separable from the body interface device.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is permanently attached to the body interface device.
29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the body interface device is selected from: a female urinal; a male urinal; a male condom; a urostomy body fitment; and a catheter.
30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; an electro-optic sensor; and a temperature sensor.
31 . (canceled)