URINE-DETECTION DEVICE WITH ADHESIVE TAPE AND EMITTER SENSOR

Abstract

A urine-detection device with adhesive tape and an emitter sensor allows the easy and economic provision of a urine detector, preventing the need for special nappies, sanitary towels or pad. The device has a strip of tape equipped with two parallel, longitudinal metallic conductors to which a 90 k resistor is connected by means of superposition, adhesion or printing. The resistor is situated at one end of the tape strip, close to a pre-marked fold, near to an area intended to connect a unit formed by a supporting member and the emitter sensor, which produces in-situ visual warnings by means of LEDs when a control button is pressed and which is programmed to continually transmit data to a control centre panel by means of a wireless connection, to facilitate normality information and information regarding the need for attention because of a wet nappy.

Claims

1. A urine-detection device comprising a tape strip (1) equipped with two parallel, longitudinal metallic conductors (2) to which a 90 K resistor (11) is connected by means of superposition, adhesion or printing, the resistor being situated at one end of the tape strip (1), close to a pre-marked fold (13), near an area a configured for connecting a unit formed by a support (10) and an emitter sensor (6), which produces in-situ visual warnings by means of LEDs (9) when a control button is pressed (7) and which is programmed to continually transmit data to a control centre panel by means of a wireless connection, to facilitate normality information and information regarding a need for attention due to a presence of urine.

2. The urine-detection device according to claim 1, wherein the tape strip (1) is presented as a wound tape roll (1.1), with a plurality of resistors (11) which is connected to the conductors (2), separated by a distance of about 50 centimetres with pre-marked folds (13) and pre-marked cuts (13.1).

3. The urine-detection device according to claim 1, wherein the tape strip (1) is made of textile material, plastic material, or non-woven fabric, and the two conductors (2), which are integrally joined together by one of their faces, are made of copper, aluminium, steel, or a similar metal and wherein an opposite face of the tape has an adhesive layer (3), said layer being continuous or discrete due to the presence of notches or lines to increase its permeability.

4. The urine-detection device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter sensor (6) internally houses an electronic circuit for reading the resistors between the conductor (2), an alarm generator/emitter and a power supply battery externally presenting the control button (7), one, two or more indicator LEDs (9), and two connection terminals (8) operating while inserted in a clamp-type supporting member (10) for immobilising the supporting member on a garment.

5. The urine-detection device according to claim 4, wherein the conductors (2) of the tape strip (1) establish contact with the emitter sensor (6) through the connection terminals (8).

6. The urine-detection device according to claim 3, wherein the tape strip (1) is presented in segments having lengths of about 50 centimetres, the adhesive layer (3) being protected with a protective sheet of paper or plastic that is unnecessary for the tape roll (1.1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] To complement the preferred embodiment described below and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings, which must always be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, is attached as an integral part of said description.

[0045] FIG. 1 schematically shows the tape of the invention presented in the form of a strip, where the following is indicated: [0046] 1. Tape strip [0047] 2. Conductor [0048] 3. Adhesive layer [0049] 4. Protective sheet

[0050] FIG. 2 schematically shows a nappy with a tape strip that is adhered along its middle area, where it can be seen that the resistor is close to the front end. An enlarged view is shown for better viewing purposes. [0051] 5. Nappy [0052] 11. Resistor [0053] 12. Contact point [0054] 13. Pre-marked fold

[0055] FIG. 3 shows the nappy unit and an emitter sensor with its supporting member before it is coupled on the nappy. [0056] 6. Emitter sensor [0057] 7. Control button [0058] 9. Indicator LED [0059] 10. Supporting member

[0060] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 schematically show the nappy, the tape strip with its resistor, and the emitter sensor in situations reflecting a dry nappy (FIG. 4), a wet nappy (FIG. 5), and an improperly placed sensor (FIG. 6), where the following is indicated: [0061] 8. Connection terminal [0062] 5.1. Wet nappy [0063] 14. Ohmic reader

[0064] FIG. 7 shows the tape of the invention presented in the form of a roll [0065] 1.1. Tape roll [0066] 13.1. Pre-marked cut

[0067] FIG. 8 separately depicts a front view of the emitter sensor and the supporting member which will serve for obtaining a firm attachment on the nappy.

[0068] FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the same elements as in the preceding figure. [0069] 8. Connection terminal

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0070] The urine-detection device with adhesive tape and an emitter sensor (FIGS. 1 to 9) allows the easy provision of a unit urine detector, preventing the need for higher-priced special nappies, sanitary towels, or pads.

[0071] In an embodiment preferred by the inventor, said invention comprises two well distinguished parts that complement one another and are referred to as tape and an emitter sensor. As will be shown, the tape is presented in the two forms of tape strip (1) and tape roll (1.1)

[0072] The tape strip (1) (FIG. 1) is shown for supplying packs or groups of independent strips having a length of about 50 centimetres, which is slightly larger than the largest-sized nappy available on the market in this field. It has an approximate width of 1.5-2.5 centimetres, being equipped on one face with two longitudinal conductors (2) made of copper, aluminium, steel, or a similar material which, developed in parallel, are situated a few millimetres from the edges of the tape and are integrally jointed to same by any common method, such as adhering, stitching, stamping, or the like. The other face of the tape strip (1) is equipped with an adhesive layer (3), which can be continuous or discrete (with notches or lines), such as in surgical tape, to favour the permeability, said strip being protected by means of a protective sheet (4) of paper or thin plastic until the latter is removed when the strip is applied on the nappy (5).

[0073] A 90 K resistor (11) with contact points (12) on each of the conductors (2) is connected close to one end of the tape strip (1), as can be observed (FIG. 2), where the pre-marked fold (13) is also shown.

[0074] According to these features, the invention is simple to use and consists of taking a tape strip (1), removing the protective sheet (4), and adhering it on a nappy (5), taking care that the resistor (11) is located in the front part, matching up the pre-marked fold (13) along the edge of the nappy and folding the tape strip (1) over so as to slightly catch the nappy (5). Lastly, the excess tape is cut at the opposite end so that it can cover the entire length. It is understood that there will be more or less excess, depending on the size of the nappy.

[0075] The form of the tape roll (1.1) (FIG. 7) consists of a continuous tape identical to the tape strip (1) which is wound as if it were a roll of surgical tape, with the particularity that is has resistors (11) connected on the conductors (2) separated by about 50 centimetres, which coincides with the length of the tape strip (1). In this case, in addition to the pre-marked folds (13) there are also pre-marked cuts (13.1), such that the use thereof can be identical to the use of the tape strip (1) by simply cutting along the mentioned pre-marked cuts (13.1). In this case, the protective sheet (4) is dispensed with, offering the subsequent savings, as the tape protects itself.

[0076] The emitter sensor (6) (FIGS. 3, 8 and 9) is an electronic device which, embedded in the support (10), is designed so that the connection terminals (8) thereof establish proper electrical contact with the conductor (2), therefore the separation between the centres of said connection terminals (8) is identical to the separation between the conductors (2).

[0077] The way to couple the emitter sensor (6) to the nappy (5) once the corresponding tape strip (1) has been adhered on same and folding along the pre-marked fold (13) has been performed is schematically shown (FIG. 3). Immobility of the attachment is assured by the clamp effect of the supporting member (10) where the emitter sensor (6) is housed.

[0078] The emitter sensor (6) is equipped with electronic circuits that read the conductivity variation between conductors (2), the generation of alarm signals, and the sending, where appropriate, of such signals to a remote concentrator.

[0079] It is externally equipped with the activation button (7), with one, two, or more indicator LEDs (9) and the connection terminals (8) mentioned above.

[0080] As a whole, the device of the invention is devised to continuously measure, once installed on the patient, conductivity between the conductors (2) by the reading of the ohmic resistance between same.

[0081] To better understand the invention, the three depicted cases are schematically shown in detail (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6).

[0082] Once case (FIG. 4) corresponds to the initial situation of an emitter sensor (6) correctly placed on the tape strip (1) with its connection terminals (8) properly centred on the conductors (2) with the nappy (5) recently put on the user being dry. Under those conditions, the ohmic reader (14) of the emitter sensor (6), which is shown in the form of a display with a scale for greater clarity, offers a reading of 90 K, which corresponds to the value of the resistor (11) assembled in parallel on the conductor (2). It is therefore a case of normality which, in practice, is checked by means of pushing the control button (7) (FIG. 3) with the LEDs (9) flashing. The device remains in standby until the situation shown (FIG. 5) reflecting a wet nappy (5.1), where the ohmic reader (14) offers a reading of about 30 K or less, depending on the amount of urine released by the user. When those circumstances occur, in addition to the resistor (11), another virtual resistor between the conductors (2) appears due to the presence of urine which is theoretically assembled in parallel with the resistor (11), giving a total resistance result <30 K, generating the warning that it is necessary to change the nappy.

[0083] The depicted case (FIG. 6) is also possible, where, due to a poor initial insertion, due to accidental or even bad faith movements or pulling by the user, the emitter sensor (6) comes out of place, without there being contact between the connection terminals (8) and the conductors (2). In that case, the ohmic reader (14) gives a reading in K reaching the highest point on the scale, which is equivalent to the open circuit situation, regardless of whether the nappy (5) is dry or wet (5.1), where it is evident that the user requires attention.

[0084] Proper placement can be checked in-situ by the caregiver by pushing, as indicated above, the control button (7) with the corresponding activation of one of the LEDs (9), which flashes. If the emitter sensor is improperly placed, the lateral LEDs (9) will blink three times after pushing the control button (7).

[0085] In all cases, both the situation of normality and any other anomalous situation can be detected remotely in a control centre given that the emitter sensor (6) is wirelessly connected to a panel of said centre where acoustic and/or light signals are received, continuously recording all episodes.

[0086] The device of the invention is applicable to any number of users, which is very useful in the case of hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly, or health centres, making it possible to manage the signals over Internet or intranet networks and being concentrated in a central monitoring post.

[0087] The possibility of applying the tape strip (1) or tape roll (1.1) on any type of nappy (5), sanitary towel, or pad, whatever the type and size may be, resulting in obvious overall savings, is also very advantageous. As devised by the inventor, the tape in question can be applied to any other type of undergarment.

[0088] It is not considered necessary to further extend the content of this description for one skilled in the art to understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, and to develop and carry out to practice the object thereof. However, it must be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, so it is susceptible to modifications without this entailing any alteration whatsoever of the basis of said invention, where such modifications may affect the shape, size, and/or manufacturing materials; that is, the terms in which this preferred description of the invention has been disclosed must always be interpreted in a broad and non-limiting manner.