Urinary Drainage System with Air Pressure Apparatus

Abstract

A urinary drainage system includes an air pressure apparatus. The air pressure apparatus includes a connector and an adapter. The connector includes a reduced diameter portion, a connector lumen extending from an upstream opening to a downstream opening in the reduced diameter portion, and a lateral port configured for drawing a fluid sample from the connector lumen. The adapter is sealing coupled to the connector and includes an adapter lumen receiving the reduced diameter portion, the downstream opening in fluid communication with the adapter lumen. A luminal space is defined in the adapter lumen around the reduced diameter portion of the connector. The adapter further includes an air intake port including a port lumen orthogonal to the adapter lumen, which is configured to provide a positive air flow to the luminal space to draw a fluid through the downstream opening in the reduced diameter portion of the connector.

Claims

1. A urinary drainage system, comprising: an air pressure apparatus comprising: a connector comprising: a reduced diameter portion; a connector lumen extending from an upstream opening to a downstream opening in the reduced diameter portion; and a lateral port configured for drawing a fluid sample from the connector lumen; and an adapter sealing coupled to the connector, the adapter comprising: an adapter lumen receiving the reduced diameter portion of the connector, the downstream opening in fluid communication with the adapter lumen, wherein a luminal space is defined in the adapter lumen around the reduced diameter portion of the connector; and an air intake port including a port lumen orthogonal to the adapter lumen, the air intake port configured to provide a positive air flow to the luminal space to draw a fluid through the downstream opening in the reduced diameter portion of the connector.

2. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, further comprising a drainage tube coupled to a urine collection bag, wherein the adapter further comprises a downstream end configured to be coupled to the drainage tube.

3. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, further comprising a urinary catheter, wherein the connector further comprises a catheter attachment portion configured to be coupled to the urinary catheter, and wherein the upstream opening is in the catheter attachment portion.

4. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the positive air flow to the luminal space is configured to create a vortex around the reduced diameter portion of the connector.

5. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is sealingly coupled to the connector via a threaded engagement.

6. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is sealingly coupled to the connector via a press fit or interference fit engagement.

7. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the lateral port includes a lateral port lumen orthogonal to the connector lumen.

8. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises an additional lateral port having an additional lateral port lumen orthogonal to the connector lumen.

9. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the lateral port is positioned upstream of the reduced diameter portion.

10. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the lateral port is configured to detachably couple to a Luer lock syringe.

11. The urinary drainage system according to claim 1, wherein the air pressure apparatus is configured to be disposable.

12. A method of draining urine from a patient, comprising: coupling a downstream end of a catheter to an upstream end of an air pressure apparatus, the air pressure apparatus comprising: a connector comprising a connector lumen extending from an upstream opening to a downstream opening in a reduced diameter portion of the connector and a lateral port; and an adapter sealing coupled to the connector, the adapter comprising an adapter lumen receiving the reduced diameter portion of the connector, the downstream opening in fluid communication with the adapter lumen, wherein a luminal space is defined in the adapter lumen around the reduced diameter portion of the connector, and an air intake port including a port lumen orthogonal to the adapter lumen; coupling an upstream end of drainage tubing to the adapter; inserting an upstream end of the catheter into a bladder of a patient; providing a positive air pressure into the luminal space via the air intake port; and drawing urine through the downstream opening of the reduced diameter portion of the connector and into the drainage tubing.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising drawing a fluid sample from the connector lumen through the lateral port.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising attaching a urine collection bag to a downstream end of the drainage tubing and drawing urine into the urine collection bag.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising disposing of the air pressure apparatus after finishing drawing urine into the urine collection bag.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein providing the positive air pressure includes coupling an air hose connected to a motor to the air intake port of the adapter.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein providing the positive air pressure includes creating a vortex of positive air pressure around the reduced diameter portion of the connector.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein drawing urine through the downstream opening of the reduced diameter portion of the connector includes using the vortex of positive air pressure to draw fluid from the catheter into the connector lumen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] A more particular description of the present disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. Example embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a urinary drainage system including an air pressure apparatus, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the air pressure apparatus, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the air pressure apparatus, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method of transporting an entirety of a volume of fluid through the air pressure apparatus, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the air pressure apparatus, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method of clearing a volume of fluid from a drainage tube, in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

[0039] Before some particular embodiments are disclosed in greater detail, it should be understood that the particular embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. It should also be understood that a particular embodiment disclosed herein can have features that can be readily separated from the particular embodiment and optionally combined with or substituted for features of any of a number of other embodiments disclosed herein.

[0040] Regarding terms used herein, it should also be understood the terms are for the purpose of describing some particular embodiments, and the terms do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are generally used to distinguish or identify different features or steps in a group of features or steps, and do not supply a serial or numerical limitation. For example, first, second, and third features or steps need not necessarily appear in that order, and the particular embodiments including such features or steps need not necessarily be limited to the three features or steps. Labels such as left, right, top, bottom, front, back, and the like are used for convenience and are not intended to imply, for example, any particular fixed location, orientation, or direction. Instead, such labels are used to reflect, for example, relative location, orientation, or directions. Singular forms of a, an, and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0041] With respect to proximal, a proximal portion or a proximal-end portion of, for example, an apparatus disclosed herein includes a portion of the apparatus intended to be near a patient when the apparatus is used on the patient. Likewise, a proximal length of, for example, the apparatus includes a length of the apparatus intended to be near or in the patient when the apparatus is used on the patient. A proximal end of, for example, the apparatus includes an end of the apparatus intended to be near or in the patient when the apparatus is used on the patient. The proximal portion, the proximal-end portion, or the proximal length of the apparatus can include the proximal end of the apparatus; however, the proximal portion, the proximal-end portion, or the proximal length of the apparatus need not include the proximal end of the apparatus. That is, unless context suggests otherwise, the proximal portion, the proximal-end portion, or the proximal length of the apparatus is not a terminal portion or terminal length of the apparatus.

[0042] With respect to distal, a distal portion or a distal-end portion of, for example, an apparatus disclosed herein includes a portion of the apparatus intended to be near or in a clinician when the apparatus is used on the patient. Likewise, a distal length of, for example, the apparatus includes a length of the apparatus intended to be near clinician when the apparatus is used on the patient. A distal end of, for example, the apparatus includes an end of the apparatus intended to be near the clinician when the apparatus is used on the patient. The distal portion, the distal-end portion, or the distal length of the apparatus can include the distal end of the apparatus; however, the distal portion, the distal-end portion, or the distal length of the apparatus need not include the distal end of the apparatus. That is, unless context suggests otherwise, the distal portion, the distal-end portion, or the distal length of the apparatus is not a terminal portion or terminal length of the apparatus.

[0043] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a urinary drainage system 100 including an air pressure apparatus 110, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the urinary drainage system 100 may include a catheter 102 in fluid communication with an air pressure apparatus 110 and a fluid collecting bag 104. In some embodiments, the catheter 102 may be configured to be coupled to the air pressure apparatus 110 by a first drainage tube 160. In some embodiments, the air pressure apparatus 110 may be configured to be coupled to the fluid collecting bag 104 by a second drainage tube 162. In some embodiments, the urinary drainage system 100 may be configured to drain a volume of fluid from a patient and allow fluid flow from the catheter 102 into the fluid collecting bag 104. For example, the catheter 102 may be configured to be inserted into an orifice within the body of a patient to drain body fluid from the catheter 102 to the fluid collecting bag 104. Exemplary catheters include indwelling catheters, Foley catheters, balloon catheters, peritoneal drainage catheters, or the like. Exemplary body fluids can include urine, blood, interstitial fluid, peritoneal fluid, saliva, mucus, or the like.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the air pressure apparatus 110, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the air pressure apparatus 110 includes a connector 120 and an air intake adapter 140 (adapter) configured to be coupled together. In some embodiments, the air pressure apparatus 110 may be configured to clear a volume of fluid from a drainage tube. In some embodiments, the connector 120 and the adapter 140 may be coupled together in a press fit, a snap fit, an interference fit or the like. In some embodiments, the connector 120 includes a connector body 122, having a proximal end 124, a distal end 126 and a connector lumen 128 therethrough. The connector body 122 may include an elongate body. In some embodiments, the proximal end 124 includes a catheter attachment 130, configured to couple to a catheter 102. In some embodiments, the catheter attachment 130 may be configured to slidably receive a catheter 102 thereon. In some embodiments, the catheter attachment 130 may be configured to slidably receive the first drainage tube 160 thereon.

[0046] The adapter 140 includes an adapter body 142, having a proximal end 144, a distal end 146 and an adapter lumen 148 therethrough. In some embodiments, the adapter body 142 may include an elongate body. In some embodiments, the distal end 146 may be configured to couple with the second drainage tube 162. In some embodiments, the distal end 146 may be configured to slidably receive the second drainage tube 162, the second drainage tube 162 in fluid communication with the fluid collection bag. The proximal end 144 of the adapter body 142 may be configured to couple to the distal end 126 of the connector body 122. In some embodiments, the proximal end 144 of the adapter body 142 may be configured to detachably couple to the distal end 126 of the connector body 122. In some embodiments, the proximal end 144 of the adapter body 142 may be configured slidably receive the distal end 126 of the connector body 122. In some embodiments, wherein the connector 120 is slidably engaged by the adapter 140, the connector lumen 128 and the adapter lumen 148 maintain fluid communication between the catheter 102 and the fluid collecting bag 104. In some embodiments, the adapter body 142 may include an air intake port 150 in fluid communication with the adapter lumen 148, that will be described in more detail herein. The air intake port 150 is perpendicular to the adapter lumen 148, advantageously preventing backward airflow into the connector 120 and the first drainage tube 160.

[0047] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the connector body 122 may include one or more lateral ports 132 in fluid communication with the connector lumen 128. The one or more lateral ports 132 may be configured to extend laterally from the connector body 122. The one or more lateral ports 132 may be configured to allow a clinician to withdraw a fluid sample from the connector lumen 128 as a volume of fluid sample passes therethrough. The one or more lateral ports 132 may be configured to be perpendicular to the connector lumen 128. In some embodiments, the one or more lateral ports 132 may be configured to detachably couple with a Luer lock syringe, other medical devices or the like.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the air pressure apparatus 110, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, a portion of the distal end 126 of the connector body 122 may include external threads 134 and a portion of the proximal end 144 of the adapter body 142 may include internal threads 152 configured to receive the external threads 134 configured to couple the connector body 122 to the adapter body 142. In some embodiments, the coupling of the distal end 126 of the connector body 122 to the proximal end 144 of the adapter body 142 creates an airtight and fluid seal between the connector body 122 and the adapter body 142, configured to allow a volume of fluid to pass through the connector lumen 128 and the adapter lumen 148.

[0049] In some embodiments, the connector lumen 128 has a proximal lumen diameter 129 and a distal lumen diameter 131. In some embodiments, the proximal lumen diameter 129 may be greater than or equal to the distal lumen diameter 131. In some embodiments, the adapter lumen 148 includes a proximal lumen diameter 154 and a distal lumen diameter 156. In some embodiments, the proximal lumen diameter 154 may be greater than or equal to the distal lumen diameter 156. In some embodiments, the proximal lumen diameter 156 of the adapter 140 is greater than the distal lumen diameter 131 of the connector 120. When the connector 120 is coupled to the adapter 140, the difference between the proximal lumen diameter 156 of the adapter 140 and the distal lumen diameter 131 of the connector 120 creates a luminal space 158 within the adaptor body 142, around the distal end 126 of the connector 120. The luminal space 158 is in fluid communication with the air intake port 150 and the adapter lumen 148. In some embodiments, the air intake port 150 may be configured to receive a volume of pressurized air therein and form a vortex of positive pressure air around the distal end 126 of the connector 120 within the luminal space 158, configured to push a volume of fluid from the distal end 126 of the connector 120, through the adapter 140 to the second drainage tube 162. In some embodiments, the proximal lumen diameter 154 and the distal lumen diameter 156 of the adapter 140 may be configured to be increased or decreased to ensure adequate fluid output into the fluid collecting bag 104.

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method of transporting an entirety of a volume of fluid through the air pressure apparatus 110, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, a patient may void a volume of fluid through the catheter 102 in fluid communication with the air pressure apparatus 110 and the fluid collecting bag 104. In some embodiments, the catheter 102 may be in fluid communication with the first drainage tube 160 while the first drainage tube 160 is coupled to the proximal end of the connector 120. The connector 120 is coupled to the adapter 140, maintaining fluid communication between the first drainage tube 160 and the distal end of the adapter 140. The distal end of the adapter 140 is coupled to the second drainage tube 162. An air hose 180, configured to provide the volume of pressurized air through the air intake port 150 may be coupled to the air intake port 150. A volume of fluid may flow from the catheter 102, through the first drainage tube 160, through the connector lumen 128 and the adapter lumen 148 to the fluid collecting bag 104 by gravity flow. It can be appreciated that fluid flow may occur from the catheter 102 to the fluid collecting bag 104 by other mechanisms, all of which are considered. However, a portion of the volume of fluid may remain within the first drainage tube 160. The portion of the volume of fluid remaining within the first drainage tube 160 will be referred herein as the residual volume of fluid.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 4, to remove the residual volume of fluid remaining within the first drainage tube 160, a volume of pressurized air may be received through the air intake port 150 into the luminal space 158. The volume of pressurized air may be configured to create a positive pressure vortex around the distal end 126 of the connector 120. The positive pressure vortex may be configured to draw the residual volume of fluid from the first drainage tube 160 into the connector lumen 128, through the adapter lumen 148 into the second drainage tube 162. The positive pressure vortex ensures that the entirety of the volume of fluid, including the residual volume of fluid, passes from the distal end 126 of the connector 120, through the adapter 140 to the second drainage tube 162. Advantageously, the positive pressure vortex pushes the residual volume of fluid through the adapter 140 and into the second drainage tube 162, preventing fluid backflow into the first drainage tube 160.

[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the air pressure apparatus 110, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the connector body 122 and the adapter body 142 may be made from plastic such as polypropylene, polystyrene or the like. In some embodiments, the connector body 122 and adapter body 142 may be injection molded, extruded, 3D printed or the like. In some embodiments, the proximal end 144 of the adapter 140 may be configured to be coupled to the distal end 126 of the connector 120 through snap fit, press fit, interference fit, magnetic fit or the like. In some embodiments, the adapter 140 may be configured to have a locking mechanism configured to lock the connector 120 to the adapter 140 when the proximal end 144 of the adapter 140 slidably receives the distal end 126 of the connecter 120. In some embodiments, the connector 120 and the adapter 140 may be configured to be disposable or reusable.

[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method of clearing a volume of fluid from a drainage tube, in accordance with some embodiments. The method 200 includes coupling a catheter 102 to the proximal end of an air pressure apparatus 110 of the urinary drainage system 100 and coupling a fluid collecting bag 104 to the distal end of the air pressure apparatus 110 wherein fluid communication occurs between the catheter 102 and the fluid collecting bag 104 (block 202). In some embodiments, the catheter 102 may be coupled to the proximal end of the air pressure apparatus 110 by the first drainage tube 160. In some embodiments, the fluid collecting bag 104 may be coupled to the distal end of the air pressure apparatus 110 by the second drainage tube 162. In some embodiments, the air pressure apparatus 110 includes the connector 120 being coupled to the adapter 140. In some embodiments, the connector 120 includes the connector lumen 128 and the adapter 140 includes the adapter lumen 148 wherein the connector lumen 128 and the adapter lumen 148 are in fluid communication with the catheter 102 and the fluid collecting bag 104. In some embodiments, the adapter 140 may be configured to slidably receive the connector 120 so that the luminal space 158 within the adapter 140 is around the distal end 126 of the connector 120 when the distal end 126 of the connector 120 is received by the adapter 140. In some embodiments, the adapter 140 further includes the air intake port 150 in fluid communication with the luminal space 158, the air intake port 150 configured to receive therein a volume of positive air pressure configured to create the vortex of positive air pressure within the luminal space 158.

[0054] The method 200 includes passing an acquired volume of fluid from the catheter 102 to the fluid collecting bag 104 (block 204). In some embodiments, passing includes passing an acquired volume of fluid by gravity flow. The method 200 includes providing a positive volume of air pressure through the air intake port 150 around the luminal space in the adapter (block 206). In some embodiments, providing includes creating a vortex of positive air pressure within the luminal space 158 around the distal end 126 of the connector 120. In some embodiments, providing includes providing the volume of positive air pressure until the entire acquired volume of fluid is contained within the fluid collecting bag 104. The method 200 includes clearing the first drainage tube 162 of the residual volume of fluid (block 208). In some embodiments, clearing includes using the vortex of positive air pressure to draw the residual volume of fluid through the connector lumen 148 and the adapter lumen 128 into the fluid collecting bag 104.

[0055] While some particular embodiments have been disclosed herein, and while the particular embodiments have been disclosed in some detail, it is not the intention for the particular embodiments to limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Additional adaptations and/or modifications can appear to those of ordinary skill in the art, and, in broader aspects, these adaptations and/or modifications are encompassed as well. Accordingly, departures may be made from the particular embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the concepts provided herein.