Project Description: 

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common infection in the U.S., and the most vulnerable are the elderly. One in seven people aged 65 and older will experience at least one UTI this year in the U.S. Despite these rates, the process for diagnosing UTIs, called the “clean-catch” procedure, is flawed. The current method consists of several convoluted steps that are difficult for even the average person to perform. Non-compliance issues are exacerbated in the elderly community who often have physical or mental constraints. The steps that cause the most problems are the skin cleaning step and the disposing of the first few milliliters of urine. Because the skin around our genitalia and the urethra have lots of bacteria which usually get discarded in the first 30ml of urine flow, non-compliance at this point causes contamination. Up to 30 percent of cases require a retest. This results in untimely diagnosis and treatment, as the contamination could be masking internal infections.

Our team has developed The EzPEEzy to simplify the “clean-catch” process and improve UTI diagnosis. The EzPEEzy captures and seals away the first bit of the urine stream, increasing the purity of the samples even if the user does not comply with the “clean-catch” procedure. They void into the cup, and the EzPEEzy does all the work for them. As a result, EzPEEzy reduces contamination rates by 85.7% compared to the traditional collection cups when non-compliance occurs. This will save over 820 million in UTI re-test costs. The EzPEEzy’s ergonomic design is also easier to grip, open, and close than a traditional collection container due to its modified shape and rubber grips. The EzPEEzy will help elderly patients maintain their independence in the bathroom, while reducing the cost of UTI retesting and ensuring timely treatment.