CASTELLÓN, 6 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) – –
Research staff from the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Design of the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló and the Nursing Innovation Group associated with Fisabio from the Health Departments of Alcoy and Xàtiva-Ontinyent have developed ERGOMIC, a urination device for women in supine position – lying face up -, which facilitates the flow of fluid to the outside and prevents spills. The new invention is aimed at industries that manufacture and market urination devices and those related to hygiene products.
The devices known so far present comfort and sealing problems, which is why leaks occur due to poor tightness, lack of adjustment and fixation. The particular configuration of the invention avoids losses in the use of the device as it is specifically designed for the female anatomy in the supine position.
“Many female people find it unpleasant and uncomfortable to urinate in the current bedpan, our objective has been to help them by trying to solve this problem,” commented Ana Mesa, Fisabio researcher in the Nursing Innovation group of the Departments of Health of Alcoy and Xàtiva-Ontinyent.
As explained by one of the creators, researcher Jaume Gual from the UJI, “its volumetric configuration is designed to solve aspects of coupling to the patient’s body and circulation of the urination fluid.” Thus, on the one hand, in its proximal area it presents a specific toroidal geometry that is tightly coupled to the female body, while, on the other hand, the rest of the volumetry of the device presents a specific trajectory, made using NURBS-type curves, to that the urination fluid is efficiently decanted towards any collection device, he said.
The device is simple, economical, non-invasive and reusable. It is not necessary to leave it in place because it is only used at the time of urination; It is configurable for various sizes and adjustable to any collection device; and is applicable to various pathologies.
“The final shape obtained,” explained Gual, “has been the consequence of a geometric refinement process based on the results obtained with a series of prototypes made in the laboratory using additive manufacturing.” It is validated on an experimental scale in the laboratory environment and seeks its development and adaptation to specific applications through specific agreements.
The Universitat Jaume I, through the Office of Cooperation and Technological Development and the Vice-Rectorate of Transfer, Innovation and Scientific Dissemination, and the Fisabio Foundation facilitate the scientific and technological transfer of its research staff with the purpose of advancing in its vocation of transmission and dissemination of scientific, technical, social and humanistic knowledge.
The research is being carried out within the framework of the UniSalut program and is funded by the UJISABIO subprogram of collaboration between Fisabio and the UJI. The UniSalut program aims to generate synergies between the research staff and professionals of Fisabio and the UJI, among other universities, which give rise to research and innovation projects with great scientific-technical potential oriented towards innovative topics, with attractiveness to obtain public investment. and deprived of national and international calls of interest.