UniSUC
The Future of Urinary Incontinence Management

Finding an effective solution for a condition that affects over 200 million people worldwide is no small feat. AlPep, an innovative and agile company, has achieved just that for urinary incontinence management.

“Our patented product is universal for all body sizes, unisex, highly effective, comfortable and available at low cost designed to alleviate workloads of both patients and caregivers,” Alvin Pepito, founder and CEO said, highlighting the advantages of their solution.

An embarrassing topic for most, urinary incontinence remains under-addressed due to stigma and lack of open communication. For those affected, 30 million of which are in the U.S., it poses significant health risks, including incontinence-associated dermatitis, macerations and pressure ulcers.

AlPep’s external incontinence catheter, UniSUC, is a game-changer that enhances patient care, especially for the older people it affects most. In long-term care facilities and hospitals, the innovative device overcomes the inefficiencies of current options for geriatric and post-surgical, immobilized patients, heralding a new era of comfort and efficiency in incontinence management.

Developed from Real World Experience

Alvin Pepito’s vision and unwavering dedication fueled the creation of UniSUC, a story that exemplifies the power of human compassion. As a licensed registered and public health nurse with over two decades of engineering experience, a rare combination, Pepito’s firsthand experience with patients and a close family member’s struggle with urinary incontinence inspired him to devise a solution. Together with his brother, Allan Pepito, they founded AlPep. UniSUC stands out for its genuine utility and impact on lives. It features a V-shaped frame that encapsulates the entire area from the inguinal region to the perineal region. The design adapts to various body shapes and contours, making it effective for individuals with obesity or skin folds. Unlike adult diapers, which can cause skin redness and irritation due to a lack of oxygenation in skin folds, this frame provides unrestricted airflow and prevents skin adhesion to maintain infection control and prevent bacterial exchange.

One of UniSUC’s key components is the flexible and reusable nature of the frame. Conventional external male catheters, like condom catheters, often lead to skin damage due to moisture exposure, improper fit, or adhesive components. UniSUC’s frame overcomes these issues by sitting comfortably over the body without the need for a binding agent. This also offers an ideal solution for female urinary incontinence management, which is typically addressed by invasive catheter options that most patients do not prefer.

The second essential element of UniSUC is a disposable liner crafted from materials akin to those used in diapers or maxi pads. This liner features a water-resistant layer on the outer surface and wicking fiber technology on the inside. The fabric efficiently absorbs moisture while preventing its re-release, ensuring a dry and comfortable experience for the patient.

When combined with the flexible frame and connected to a suction pump with a fluid collection canister, the liner creates continuous negative airflow. The setup swiftly captures and removes urine from the skin, leaving a breathable environment conducive to skin health.

UniSUC seals along the sides, directing airflow from an opening at the top to the perineal area, promoting continuous ventilation and inducing dryness in under an hour. Dry tissue reduces the risk of macerations caused by prolonged exposure to moisture, highlighting the product’s efficacy in skin care.

The compatibility of UniSUC with diapers, or undergarments, makes it suitable for use for bedridden patients in both homes and long-term facilities. Diapers alone are not conducive to maintaining dry skin, but when paired with UniSUC, the device captures most of the urine, while the diaper serves as a backup. This dual function also reduces the need for frequent diaper changes, lowering costs for patients.

Our device produces less than 10 ounces of waste material per use, compared to the 50 to 60 ounces that result from diaper use

UniSUC also has a positive impact on the environment. Compared to traditional disposable liners, it uses less synthetic material, reducing landfill waste. It aligns with the U.S. government’s 2023 initiative to reduce healthcare waste and its environmental impact.

“Our device produces less than 10 ounces of waste material per use, compared to the 50 to 60 ounces that result from diaper use,” says Allan Pepito, emphasizing AlPep’s dedication to environmental stewardship in healthcare.

Customer commendations are a testament to AlPep’s reputation as it expands into a challenging and competitive market. Its customers vouch for UniSUC’s affordability, superior effectiveness and ability to comfortably cater to the geriatric population. The device demonstrates a 50 percent decrease in cost per use, lowering costs associated with disposable supplies. This has resonated with numerous customers, particularly in instances of at-home care, who have long sought a solution of this nature. “The results from the first night using UniSUC were tremendous!” said Linda, a satisfied customer. “UniSUC captured an amount in the first night that the old system did in a week. Not only is UniSUC less expensive, but the monthly maintenance costs are also close to 75 percent lower. On top of being more cost-effective overall, it also works for males and wheelchair users. My experience with the product and AlPep, a family-owned company, shows that it cares about its customers.”

Transforming Lives
To guide product use, AlPep regularly engages with customers and addresses feedback and queries. Its dominance in the market marks a significant milestone for the company, confirming it developed a device that positively impacts lives.

One particularly touching account involved a 97-year-old woman who experienced recurrent UTIs while using another device. Switching to UniSUC helped alleviate the issue, allowing her to remain comfortably at home, instead of enduring frequent hospital visits. Her son was able to care for his terminally ill mother and relayed immense gratitude for the product’s role in improving her quality of life.

“There are very few products out there that help so many people medically, and it’s heartwarming to see UniSUC making a difference in people’s lives,” says Dr. Maciej Witkos, MD, partner at AlPep.

In this case, UniSUC made a tangible difference in the patient’s well-being during her final stages, underscoring its vital role in enhancing end-of-life care experiences. Testimonials like this highlight the transformative impact on caregivers, many of whom express relief at getting uninterrupted sleep at night, without the disruptions of needing to attend to their patient. UniSUC’s effectiveness in managing incontinence has granted them peace of mind and ensured comfort and dignity for their loved ones.

Enhancing Global Healthcare

The next step is to ensure the widespread adoption of UniSUC by primary healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals. AlPep recognizes the pressing need for efficiency and improved patient care due to a critical shortage of nurses. The reduced need for frequent diaper changes alleviates one burden, improving patient care outcomes while reducing fatigue for nurses. A straightforward application simplifies the process, enhancing efficiency of use.

AlPep aims to demonstrate the value and efficacy of its product to hospital-level care through evidence-based research, including publication in Pubmed indexed journals. Despite the inherent challenges of hospital adaptation, it is confident in UniSUC’s ability to meet the industry’s objectives and standards. A strategic approach involves step-by-step implementation across hospitals nationwide, with a broader vision of global expansion. This initiative signifies the first step toward enhancing patient care on a larger scale. The company proudly sponsored the 2024 HASC annual meeting, a historically strong hospital trade association that serves the political, economic and educational needs of hospitals for the Southern California counties.

AlPep received a National Science Foundation I-Corps Grant to conduct customer research in early 2024. UniSUC was also recently featured in an episode of “ADVANCEMENTS with Ted Danson” where they showcased its effectiveness at enhancing patient care as well as its advantages over traditional methods of treating urinary incontinence.

Looking ahead, AlPep’s goal is to become a comprehensive one-stop shop for customers. The strategy is to develop multiple products associated with UniSUC to ensure continual improvement in patient care. Recognizing the challenges posed by using third-party vacuum pumps, which are expensive and often fail to meet desired standards due to inadequate suction performance and noise levels, the company is creating a new system that is cost-effective and silent.

Customers express their strong support for and satisfaction with UniSUC, often advocating for the product within their communities. Its success is a direct result of the expertise of AlPep’s team. Leveraging firsthand experience from medical and engineering perspectives, the team is keenly aware of the impact their work has on the world and the vast opportunities they have to improve lives. With the addition of their newest executive team member, Dr. Maciej Witkos, they are further expanding their reach into various medical communities.

Leading the healthcare revolution in urinary incontinence, AlPep stands as an innovator and frontrunner in the medical technology space, poised to transform the industry.