Specialized Reusable Menstrual Discharge Collection Devices for Niche Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857455_0004_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Specialized Reusable Menstrual Discharge Collection Devices for Niche Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857455_0004_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857455_0004_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,455.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

A reusable menstrual discharge collection device adapted for use in specific, challenging environments, such as high-altitude, extreme cold, disaster relief, and high-security settings.

Background and Problem Solved

The original reusable menstrual discharge collection device patent provided a solution for feminine hygiene, but it lacked adaptability for unique operational environments. This inventive concept addresses the limitations of the original patent by introducing specialized variations tailored to specific niche markets, ensuring reliable performance and user comfort in diverse settings.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises a range of reusable menstrual discharge collection devices, each designed for a specific niche environment. For high-altitude environments, the device is adapted to function optimally in low air pressure conditions. For extreme cold temperatures, the device is formed from a specialized thermoplastic rubber material that retains its shape and flexibility. In disaster relief situations, the device is compact, portable, and lightweight, with a waterproof storage compartment for storing sanitary wipes and other hygiene essentials. Additionally, the device may include a built-in UV-C light sanitizer for sanitizing the device and stored hygiene essentials. For high-security environments, the device features an integrated RFID tag or other tracking device, allowing for secure and discreet tracking of the device.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of this inventive concept lies in the adaptation of the original reusable menstrual discharge collection device for specific, challenging environments. The inventive step is the introduction of specialized materials, designs, and features that enable reliable performance and user comfort in niche markets, thereby providing a unique solution for diverse operational environments.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include devices with adjustable hardness levels, varying sizes, or customizable shapes to accommodate different user preferences and needs. Additionally, the device could be designed with interchangeable components, allowing users to adapt the device to different environments or situations.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The specialized reusable menstrual discharge collection devices have significant commercial potential in various industries, including outdoor gear and apparel, disaster relief and humanitarian organizations, and high-security facilities. The devices can be marketed as premium products, offering users a reliable and comfortable solution for feminine hygiene in diverse environments.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61F5/4553
A A61 A61F5/4404

Field of Art

Feminine hygiene devices, specifically reusable menstrual collection devices, involving materials science, ergonomic design, and medical device engineering

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A professional with expertise in polymer engineering, medical device design, and manufacturing techniques for intimate health products, typically holding a BS/MS in materials science or biomedical engineering with 3-5 years of experience in medical device development

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent establishes a foundational design for a reusable menstrual disc using dual-durometer thermoplastic materials, which inherently suggests adaptability for specialized environments. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the original device's core principles, utilizing known engineering techniques to modify material properties and add functional features that address specific use contexts.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Dual-durometer thermoplastic rubber construction with variable hardness levels
PTD Variation
Specialized thermoplastic rubber adapted for high-altitude and extreme cold environments
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that material selection for temperature resilience is a standard design optimization technique, with predictable methods for adjusting polymer formulations to maintain mechanical properties across environmental conditions
Source Patent Element
Single continuous piece menstrual discharge collection device
PTD Variation
Integrated storage compartment and UV-C sanitization feature
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding auxiliary functional elements to a medical device is a routine design enhancement, with known techniques for incorporating storage and sanitization capabilities without fundamentally altering the core device structure
Source Patent Element
Injection molded device with configurable geometric parameters
PTD Variation
Device with integrated RFID tracking for high-security environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Incorporating electronic tracking components into medical devices is a predictable design evolution, utilizing standard manufacturing techniques for embedding tracking technologies without compromising device functionality
Source Patent Element
Disc-shaped design with half-spherical dome catch
PTD Variation
Customizable device with adjustable hardness levels and interchangeable components
Obviousness Reasoning
Modular design and adjustable material properties are well-established engineering approaches for creating adaptable medical devices, representing a logical extension of the original patent's manufacturing methodology
Source Patent Element
Reusable feminine hygiene device with ergonomic configuration
PTD Variation
Environment-specific device variants for disaster relief and specialized settings
Obviousness Reasoning
Developing context-specific medical device variants is a standard design practice, leveraging known engineering principles to address niche market requirements through targeted material and structural modifications
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857455's disclosure of a reusable menstrual discharge collection device, the present publication demonstrates that a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art would find the claimed variations obvious through routine engineering design choices, material science techniques, and predictable technological adaptations, thereby establishing prior art that anticipates substantially similar device configurations and functional enhancements.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,455
TitleReusable dual durometer polymeric menstrual discharge collection device