A Prospective Case Series Analysis of Initial Users of the Urovac Device

The Urovac device holds the promise of improving care for many of these patients in a manner
that may also significantly decrease costs. The aim of the study is to determine if this
device may increase quality of life for patients by reducing urine spills, reducing falls by
avoiding urgent situations where patients try to ambulate to the bathroom to avoid wetting
sheets, reducing skin breakdown by avoiding urine spills, reducing excoriation of the glans
penis, and reducing urinary tract infections.

The Urovac is simply a regular plastic handheld urinal attached by tubing to a pump that
evacuates urine to a reservoir. There is also a removable cloth-covered platform to reduce
spills. Allowing for the evacuation of urine from the urinal significantly improves its
functionality. The Urovac can be left in place without risk of overflow or other spillage,
such that a patient with UI requires less assistance. Improving the handheld urinal in this
manner should thus allow for reduced usage of diapers, catheterization, and
institutionalization. For patients with UI requiring hospitalization or institutionalization
for other reasons, the Urovac could potentially reduce the associated labor and complication
costs. Despite the clear clinical promise of the Urovac, it has only been used by a small
number of patients to date. This study will document usage of the Urovac among 30 of the
initial users of the device to better understand the benefits and challenges.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male patients who identify as having difficulty with functional urinary incontinence,
such that it may be difficult to get to the toilet in time to urinate

- Patients age 18 or older

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients with leg wounds or dysfunction which could be worsened by Urovac device
placement

- Patients under age 18