Volyymi – Enable Ireland · SUGAR project 2019/20

The project · from brief to prototype

What happened, step by step.

01

Challenge

Catheter users cannot tell how full their bag is during the day. Fear of an overfilled bag causes constant anxiety and dependence on others, which lowers quality of life. Enable Ireland set the brief.

02

What the team learned

Many wheelchair users drink less for fear of an overflowing bag. The catheter bag's design has barely changed in 70 years, and not knowing the fill level erodes independence.

03

What they built

Volyymi attaches to existing catheter bags with a leg holster, storage tank, pinch valve and twist-on cap. It measures urine volume and hydration and sends real-time data to an app with personal alerts, UTI detection and an accessible bathroom locator.

04

Impact

Knowing exactly when to empty the bag lets users drink more, which the team links to a stronger immune system and fewer urinary tract infections.

In their words

I feel very anxious everyday because I don't know how full my bag is

Catheter user, user research

Full project text

The team’s original texts from the project page.

A discrete novel design that reduces anxiety experienced by catheter users, providing independence through smart technology.

Challenge

An ever-increasing percentage of the population requires the use of a catheter. There are, however, potentially detrimental effects of using a catheter on both the mental and physical health of the person. Recently conducted research shows that catheter users experience negative mental health impact due to prolonged use of catheter bags. One of the reasons for this is the inability of a person to determine the fill level of their bag throughout the day. Prolonged anxiety concerning potential health repercussions from a full bag and dependence on others, can lead to a significantly lower quality of life. Our solution restores independence, granting users power over their daily lifestyle.

Solution

Volyymi is a discrete, smart solution that measures the volume of urine in a catheter bag as well as determining the hydration levels of the person throughout the day. Real-time information is easily accessible through an interactive, easy to use app, allowing the user to personally tailor fullness and hydration alerts. This information allows users to monitor their bag fullness and eliminate fears of overfilling. Hydration level monitoring allows users to maintain healthy hydration levels and monitor indicators of dehydration.
The solution can be easily attached to pre-existing catheter bags requiring minimal alteration of current leg bag positioning.

Impact

If it can’t be measured it can’t be managed. By giving the user vital information about their urine output levels, they can take more control of their lives and regain some of their independence.
Wheelchair users will commonly dehydrate themselves due to fear or anxiety that the bag will overflow. By giving the user the peace of mind that they know exactly when the bag needs to be emptied, they can increase their liquid intake, which is proven to improve the immune system and reduce the likelihood of contracting a UTI.

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