Female urine strainers and samplers

Abstract

The present invention includes strainers used to gather solids from voided urine. Embodiments include urinary bowl strainers, hand-held strainers and disposable hand-held urine strainers, all of which are particularly useful for gathering kidney stones passed in urine that are intended for verification of passing said kidney stones, and for laboratory analysis which may be used to guide clinical treatment to prevent recurrent kidney stone formation. Embodiments of disposable urine samplers are also disclosed. The embodiments of urine strainers and samplers disclosed herein are particularly adapted for use by female patients, though male patients may also use the devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand-held urine strainer, comprising:
 a bowl-shaped frame having a rim disposed around an upper opening, the rim including two opposed convex lips disposed at a distal end and a central end, two opposed concave lips disposed between the convex lips, the two opposed concave lips configured for placement between thighs of a user and an opening in a planar surface of a bottom end below the rim, wherein the opening is covered by mesh; and   a handle having a handle base attached to the central end of the rim, the handle extending from the handle base outward to a proximate end of the handle.   
     
     
         2 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein shape of the opening is selected from the group consisting of: circular, oval-shaped and D-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the mesh further comprises 800 micron polypropylene mesh having 58% open area, with hole size 0.032″×0.032″ and having thickness, 0.016″. 
     
     
         4 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein an axis of the handle extends at an angle, ϕ, measured from a perpendicular to the planar surface of the bottom end the strainer. 
     
     
         5 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the planar floor is disposed closer to the distal end than the proximal end of the rim. 
     
     
         6 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a hole passing through the handle at a location closer to the proximate end than the handle base of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises lightweight plastic, or plastic-like material. 
     
     
         8 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the strainer is configured to be washable and re-usable. 
     
     
         9 . A hand-held urine strainer, comprising:
 a bowl-shaped frame having a rim disposed around an upper opening and a mesh-covered opening in a planar surface of a bottom end below the rim; and   a handle having a handle base attached to the central end of the rim, the handle extending from the handle base outward to a proximate end of the handle, wherein an axis of the handle extends at an angle, ϕ, measured from a perpendicular to the planar surface of the bottom end the strainer.   
     
     
         10 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein the rim further comprises:
 two opposed convex lips, one disposed at a distal end and another disposed at a central end; and   two opposed concave lips disposed between the two convex lips, the two opposed concave lips configured for placement between, and adjacent to, thighs of a user.   
     
     
         11 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein shape of the opening comprises a D-shaped opening. 
     
     
         12 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein the mesh further comprises 800 micron polypropylene mesh having 58% open area, with hole size 0.032″×0.032″ and having thickness, 0.016″. 
     
     
         13 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein the opening in the planar floor is disposed closer to the distal end than the proximal end of the rim. 
     
     
         14 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein the handle further comprises a hole passing through the handle at a location closer to the proximate end than the handle base of the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein the strainer comprises lightweight plastic, or plastic-like material. 
     
     
         16 . The hand-held urine strainer according to  claim 9 , wherein the strainer is configured to be washable and re-usable. 
     
     
         17 . A urinary bowl strainer, comprising:
 a bowl-shaped frame having an opening covered by mesh, the mesh configured to pass urinary fluid but retain solids; and   four support members extending from the bowl-shaped frame, each of the four support members planar in shape and configured to rest upon a top surface of a toilet bowl basin underneath a toilet seat.   
     
     
         18 . The urinary bowl strainer according to  claim 17 , wherein the mesh further comprises 800 micron polypropylene mesh having 58% open area, with hole size 0.032″×0.032″ and having thickness, 0.016″. 
     
     
         19 . The urinary bowl strainer according to  claim 17 , wherein shape of the opening is selected from the group consisting of: circular, oval-shaped and D-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The urinary bowl strainer according to  claim 17 , wherein the strainer comprises lightweight plastic, or plastic-like material and is configured to be washable and re-usable.