Self-cleansing portable urine collection device

A method of collecting urine in a self-cleansing portable urine collection device, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a urine collection device including:
• a housing including a housing access door;
• a urine collection receptacle movable between a stored position in which the receptacle is stored within the housing and a use position in which the receptacle is positioned outside of the housing and configured to collect urine from a user;
• a cleansing container disposed within the housing and configured to supply a cleansing solution to the receptacle when in the stored position;
• a reservoir disposed within the housing and coupled to the receptacle, the reservoir adapted to receive the urine and the cleansing solution collected by the receptacle;
• a first pump disposed within the housing downstream of the reservoir, the first pump being coupled to the reservoir and configured to transport the urine and the cleansing solution from the receptacle to the reservoir by way of the application of a vacuum to the reservoir;
• a second pump configured to transport the cleansing solution from the cleansing container to the receptacle when the receptacle is in the stored position;
• and
• a control device coupled to the first and second pumps configured to provide automatic activation and deactivation of the first and second pumps;
• opening the housing access door;
• moving the receptacle to the use position;
• collecting urine within the receptacle;
• transferring the urine from the receptacle to the reservoir via suction applied through a first conduit to the reservoir;
• positioning the receptacle in the stored position;
• supplying the cleansing solution from the cleansing container to the receptacle via a second conduit;
• and
• transferring the cleansing solution from the receptacle to the reservoir via suction applied through the first conduit thereby flushing any residual urine within the collection device to the reservoir.