Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
35~
71139-7
The present invention relates to adap-ters, and more
particularly to adapters for liquid drainage systems.
Urine drainage systems have been known ln the past.
Such systems normally comprise a receptacle having a chamber,
a drainage tube having a downstream end communicating with the
chamber, and a catheter having a proximal end connected to an
upstream end of the drainage tube. The catheter is passed
through the urethra of a patient until a distal end of the
catheter is located in the patient's bladder. In use, urine
drains through the catheter and drainage tube into the
receptacle chamber for retention therein.
The receptacles of such sys-tems normally have a tubu-
lar section communicating with a lower portion of the chamber.
In use, the tubular section is opened in order to periodically
drain urine from the receptacle chamber. However, it is
believed that the tubular section is a source of entry of
bacteria into the system, since the tubular section is periodic-
ally opened to the atmosphere, and is manipulated by the non-
sterile hands o:E hospital personnel. Hence, it is desirable to
eliminate th:is source o.E bacteria, since the bacteria by retro-
grade movement may pass into the bladder with possible
deleterious results to the patient.
SUMMARY OE' THE INVENTION
.
A principal Eeature of the present invention is the
provision of an adapter for a liquid drainage system.
The invention provides an adapter, comprising: an
outer tube or having a pair of nipples defining an inlet port
and an outlet port; an inner tube defining a cavity between the
inner and outer tube, said inner tube having a plurality of
openings extending therethrough said inner tube communicating
directly with said inlet and outlet ports; and a solid anti-
septic agent in said cavity.
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71139-7
The invention also provides an adapter comprising: a
tube defining a chamber; and a sheet wound into a roll and
received in the chamber, said sheet having a coating of an anti-
septic agent.
The invention further provides an adapter, comprising:
a tube defining a chamber; a vial received in the chamber and
having liquid pervious walls; a cap releasably closing the vial;
and a solid antiseptic agent received in the vial.
As used herein, the term solid will include semi-
solid, such as a gel. I'he antiseptic agent is activated to kill
bacteria when urine drains through the inner tube and through
the openings onto the antiseptic agent.
The adapter may be connected to a tubular section
which communicates with a lower portion of the receptacle. The
adapter may be connected to an upstream portion of a drainage
tube which communicates with an upper portion of the receptacle.
F'urther features will become more fully apparent in
the following description of the embodiments of this invention
and Erom the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
E'igure 1 is a fraymentary elevatiollal view oE a
liquid drainage system containing an adapter of the present
invention; and
Figures 2-6 are sectional views illustrating various
embodiments of the adapter of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
... .
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a
liquid drainage system 10 comprising a receptacle 12, a drain-
age tube 1~, a catheter 16, and an adapter 18. The receptacle
12 has a front wall 20 of flexible plastic material, and a back
1~23~5~i
wall 22 of flexible plastic material, with the front and back
walls 20 and 22 being joined at their periphery in order to
define a chamber 24 intermediate the front and back walls 20 and
22. The receptacle 12 may have a vent 26 having a bacteria fil-
ter of known type in order to filter bacteria from the air pass-
ing from the atmosphere through the vent 26 into the chamber 24.
The receptacle 12 has a connector 28 attached to the front wall
20, such that the connector 28 communicates with an upper por-
tion of the chamber 24. The receptacle 12 has a tubular section
30 communicating with a lower portion of the chamber 24, and a
clamp 32 of known type on the tubular section 30. When it is
desired to drain urine from the chamber 24, the clamp 32 is
opened in order to permit passage of the urine through the tubu-
lar section 30. As shown, the adapter 18 is connected to an
outer end of the tubular section 30, and the adapter 18 may be
placed in a pocket 34 OIl the front wall 20 in a storage position
of the tubular section 30 and adapter 18 after the clamp 32 has
been closed.
The drainage tube 14 has a downstream end 36 connected
to the connector 28, such that the drainage tube 14 communicates
with the chamber 24 through the connector 28. The drainage tube
14 also has an upstream end 38, and the catheter 16 has a proxi-
mal end 40 located outside the patient's body.
The adapter 18 has an outer cylindrical tube 42 having
opposed hollow tapered ends 44 and 46. The adapter 18 has an
inner cylindrical tube 48 which is spaced from the outer tube 42
in order to define a cavity 50 therebetween,with the inner tube
48 defining a channel 51. As shown, the inner tube 48 has a
plurality of openings 52 extending therethrough which communi-
cate between the channel 51 and the cavity 50. The adapter 18
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has a solid antiseptic agent 54 received in the cavity 50. A
suitable antiseptic agent comprises the following: polyvinyl-
pyrrolidone-iodine, hexachlorophene, chlorhexidine gluconate,
paraformaldehyde, hypochlorous acid salts, metal peroxides,
p-chlorometaxylenol, or phenylmercuric acetate.
As shown, the adapter 18 may be connected to the outer
end of the tubular section 30. Also, the adapter 18 may be con-
nected between the upstream end 38 of the drainage tube 14 and
the proximal end 40 of the catheter 16. In both cases, the tap~
ered outer ends 44 and 46 of the adapter 18 are received in the
tubes or catheter.
In use, when urine drains through the adapter 18, the
urine passes through the openings 52 and onto the antiseptic
agent 54 in order to activate the agent 54 and thus kill bac-
teria in the urine. In this manner, the passage of bacteriathrough the tubular section 30 and into the chamber 24 is mini-
mized. Also, the adapter 18 minimizes the passage of bacteria
into the catheter 16.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in Fig. 3, in which like reference numerals designatelike parts. In this embodiment, the adapter 18 also has an
outer tube 42 defining a chamber 56. The adapter 18 has an
elongated cylindrical solid antiseptic agent 58 of the type pre~
viously discussed, with the agent 58 having a bore 60 extending
therethrough. In use, the urine passes through the bore 60 in
order to activate the agent 58 and kill bacteria in a manner as
previously described.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in Fig. 4, in which like reference numerals designate
like parts. In this embodiment, the adapter l~ also has an
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outer tube 42 defining a cha~ber 56. The adapter 18 has a sheet
62, such as paper, wound into a roll and defining a bore 64
extending therethrough. The sheet 52 has a coating of an anti-
septic agent as previously discussed on a surface of the sheet
62, such that urine passing through the sheet 62 activates the
antiseptic agent on the sheet 62 in order to kill bacteria in a
manner as previously discussed.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in Fig. 5, in which like reference numerals designate
like parts. In this embodiment, the adapter 18 has an outer
tube 42 defining a chamber 56. The adapter 18 has an elongated
generally cylindrical solid antiseptic agent 66 of the type pre-
viously discussed received in the chamber 56, with at least a
portion of the agent 66 being spaced from the tube ~2. In use,
urine drains around the agent 56 in order to activate the agent
66 and kill bacteria in the urine in a manner as previously
discussed.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in Fig. 6, in which like reference numerals designate
like parts. In thi5 embodiment, the adapter 18 also has an
outer tube ~2 defining a chamber 56. The adapter 18 has a vial
68 with walls o~ liquid pervious material, such as cellulose
paper. The vial has a cap or stopper 70 received in an open end
o~ the vial 68 in order to close the vial 68. As shown, the
vial 68 has a solid antiseptic agent 72, pre~erably in particu-
late ~orm, received in the vial 68. In use, urine passes into
the chamher 56 and through the walls of the vial 68, and the
agent 72 leaches through the vial walls 68 in ordex to kill bac-
teria in the urine in a manner as previously discussed. In this
embodimen~, a suitable antiseptic agent 72 is povidone iodine
powder.
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The foregoing detailed description is given for clear~
ness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations
should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious
to those skilled in the art.
