Improving urine sample collection when clean-catch specimens are not possible

Tinkleguard® is a patented urine sample collection technology under development, designed to support more reliable diagnostic samples from patients who cannot comply with conventional clean-catch collection methods.

Reliable urine sample collection remains a persistent challenge across healthcare systems worldwide when patients are unable to provide a clean-catch specimen, particularly in infants and people living with cognitive impairment.

Patented | Clinically Informed | In Development | Collaborative

The Clinical Challenge

Obtaining a reliable urine sample remains a common challenge in clinical practice, particularly when patients cannot provide a clean-catch specimen.

This challenge commonly arises when collecting urine samples from:

  • infants and young children
  • people living with dementia
  • individuals with cognitive impairment
  • patients unable to follow clean-catch instructions

In these situations, parents, carers and healthcare professionals are often required to collect the sample, and traditional methods can lead to high contamination rates, repeat testing and delays in diagnosis. Published studies report contamination rates of 30–64% for non-invasive urine collection methods in pre-continent children, highlighting the scale of this challenge.

The Innovation

Tinkleguard® is a non-invasive urine sample collection technology under development, designed to support improved diagnostic sampling where conventional methods are difficult or impractical.

  • A positioning interface
  • An absorbent capture layer
  • A method for retrieving urine for laboratory testing

The innovation is currently progressing through prototype development and refinement.

Intended Use Cases

Tinkleguard® is being developed to support urine sample collection in patients who are unable to provide a clean-catch specimen.

FOR PEDIATRICS

  • Stress-free for children and parents.
  • Ideal for routine and emergency situations.
  • Perfect for hospitals, clinics, and home care.

FOR ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

  • Designed for individuals with dementia, brain injuries, or incontinence.
  • Reduces caregiver burden in hospitals, long-term care, and home settings.
  • Maintains dignity while providing accurate diagnostic samples.

Why It Matters

Reliable urine samples are essential for diagnosing urinary tract infections and other conditions.

However, when patients are unable to provide a clean-catch specimen, contamination can occur, often resulting in repeat testing, delays in diagnosis and increased burden on healthcare services.

By supporting improved urine sample collection in these situations, the technology under development aims to contribute to more reliable diagnostic samples, improved patient and carer experience, and more efficient clinical decision-making.

Exploring the Tinkleguard® Concept

Tinkleguard® is a patented urine sample collection technology currently under development. The short animation below illustrates the concept and the intended approach to urine sample collection for patients who cannot comply with conventional clean-catch methods.

Concept demonstration. Prototype shown for illustration. Final design subject to further development and regulatory approval.

Patented Innovation

Tinkleguard® is protected by granted patents in the United Kingdom and Europe.

The intellectual property covers the core concept of a non-invasive urine collection interface designed to capture urine samples from patients who cannot comply with conventional clean-catch collection methods.

This protection supports the continued development of the technology and future opportunities for collaboration, licensing and commercialisation as the innovation progresses towards potential clinical adoption.

COLLABORATION

We welcome conversations with organisations and individuals interested in supporting the continued development, evaluation and future implementation of this innovation, including NHS and academic partners.

Tinkleguard® is progressing through structured early-stage development, with activities focused on refining the design and preparing for further evaluation.

  • Patented technology granted in the UK and Europe
  • Prototype design and development
  • Clinician engagement and design refinement
  • Preparation for laboratory testing and usability evaluation

Further development activities will help inform future clinical evaluation and evidence generation, supporting regulatory and clinical adoption pathways.

GET IN TOUCH

    Founder Story

    Tinkleguard® was founded by Angela Davidson, who began exploring new approaches to urine collection after encountering a real-world challenge obtaining a reliable urine sample within her own family.

    Recognising the challenges faced by parents, carers and clinicians when collecting urine samples from infants and people living with cognitive impairment, she established Tinkle Guard Ltd to develop a non-invasive urine collection technology designed to support more reliable diagnostic samples.

    The development of the technology now draws on collaboration with clinicians, designers, regulatory specialists and patient and public involvement (PPIE) contributors to help ensure the innovation reflects real-world clinical needs and user experience.

    Angela brings a background in leadership and innovation, working alongside clinical, design and regulatory partners to progress the development of Tinkleguard®.

    FAQS

    Yes. Tinkleguard® is being developed in collaboration with clinicians, researchers, designers and regulatory specialists.

    This includes engagement with NHS clinicians and innovation teams to help ensure the technology reflects real-world clinical workflows, patient needs and diagnostic requirements.

    This ongoing input supports design refinement, usability considerations and the planning of future evaluation and evidence generation.

    Tinkleguard® is a urine sample collection technology currently under development. The concept is designed to capture urine in a way that may help reduce contamination compared with some traditional collection methods, particularly where obtaining a clean-catch sample is difficult.

    Further development and evaluation will determine how the technology performs in practice.

    Tinkleguard® is being developed to support urine sample collection in patients who cannot comply with conventional clean-catch methods.

    This includes infants and young children, individuals living with dementia, patients with cognitive impairment, and others who are unable to provide a clean-catch sample.

    The technology is being developed with the aim of supporting urine sample collection across a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, care environments and community healthcare settings.

    No. Tinkleguard® is a technology under development and is not yet approved for clinical use or available for commercial sale.

    Many existing urine collection methods rely on the patient being able to provide a clean-catch sample or involve techniques that can lead to contamination.

    Tinkleguard® is being developed as a non-invasive approach designed to support urine collection in situations where conventional methods are difficult or impractical.

    Tinkleguard® is currently progressing through early-stage development, including prototype refinement and preparation for further evaluation.

    Future availability will depend on the outcomes of development, testing and regulatory processes.

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