Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to liquid drainage
systems.
Liquid drainage systems of the type which drain urine
from a patient's bladder are known. Such systems generally com-
prise a catheter having a distal end received in the patient's
bladder and a drainage lumen extending through the catheter, a
hollow drainage tube, and a collection bag connected to a down-
stream end of the drainage tube, with an adapter at an upstream
end of the drainage tube being received in a connector adjacent
a proximal end of the catheter. In use, urine drains from the
bladder through the catheter and drainage tube into the collec-
tion bag for collection therein.
Such drainage systems are sterile and are closed to
the atmosphere to prevent bacteria from entering the system
which otherwise might pass by retrograde movement into the blad-
der with possible deleterious results to the patient. In partic-
ular, it is undesirable to remove the adapter from the catheter
connector since such a procedure could allow entry of bacteria
into the system. Hence, it is desirable to discourage such dis-
connection, and, at the very least, if it is necessary to make
the disconnection, such as for irrigation of the catheter, it is
desirable to know when such a disconnection has taken place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal feature of the present invention is the
provision of an improved liquid drainage system.
In accordance with the present invention the liquid
drainage system has a tamper discouraging device comprising, an
elastic catheter having an elongated shaft, a connector adjacent
a proximal end of the catheter, and a drainage lumen extending
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through a major portion of the shaft and the connector. The
device has a hollow drainaye tube having a hollow adapter at an
upstream end of the drainage tube, with the adapter being
received in the catheter connector. The device has a circumfer-
ential band being heat shrunk against the catheter over the con-
nector and adapter.
A feature of the present invention is that the band
discourages removal of the adapter from the catheter connector.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the band
becomes dislodged in the event that the adapter is removed from
the catheter connector.
Still another feature of the invention is that the
dislodged band indicates when the adapter has been removed from
the catheter connector.
Further features will become more fully apparent in
the following description of the embodiments of this invention
and from the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a tamper
discouraging device of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken partly
in section, of the device of Fig. l; and
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken partly
in section, of another embodiment of the device of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figs. l and 2, there is shown a tam-
6~3
per discouraying device generally designated 10 in a liquid
drainage system 12. The liquid drainage system 12 comprises an
elastic catheter 14, and a hollow drainage tube 16.
The catheter 14 has an elongated elastlc shaft 18, and
an elastic connector 20 at a proximal end 22 of the catheter 14.
The catheter 14 has a drainage lumen 24 extending through a sub-
stantial portion of the shaft 18 and through the connector 20.
The drainage tube 16 has an elongated conduit 26 hav-
ing a lumen 28 extendirig therethrough. The drainage tube 16 has
a hollow stepped adapter 30 at an upstream end 32 of the drain-
age tube 16. A collection bag (not shown) is connected to a
downstream end (not shown) of the drainage tube 16. In use, the
catheter shaft 18 is passed through the urethra of a patient
until a distal end of the catheter 14 is located in the
15. patientls bladder. Urine from thè bladder drains through the
catheter 14 and drainage tube 16 into the collection bag for
retention therein.
As shown, the adapter ~30 is received in the catheter
connector 20 to permit drainage from the catheter 14 to the
drainage tube 16. The system 12 is sterile prior to usej and is
closed to the atmosphere to prevent the introduction of bacteria
into the system 12 which might cause harmful results to the
patient's bladder. Thus, it is undesirable to remove the adap-
ter 30 from the catheter connector 20 since this procedure would
expose the inside of the system 12 to the atmosphere with the
possibility of entry of bacteria ~nto the syster,l 12.
In this regard, the system 12 has a circumferen-
tial band 34, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride,
which is heat shrunk against the catheter 14 over the cathe-
ter connector 20 and underlying adapter 39. In the event
that the adapter 30 is removed from the catheter connector 20,
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the band 34 becomes dislodged, and it indicates tha-t the adapter
30 has been removed from the connector 20 after reattachment of
the adapter 30 to the connector 20. In this manne~, it may be
readily determined when the system 12 has been tampered with and
exposed to the atmosphere.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illus-
trated in Fig. 3, in which like reference numerals designate like
parts. In this embodiment, the adapter 30 has a circumferential
groove 36 underlying the band 34 which is preferably substanti-
ally inelastic. Thus, the elastic connector 20 is received in
the adapter groove 36, and the band 34 is heat shrunk over the
connector 20 in order to retain the catheter 14 in place on the
adapter 30. In this embodiment, the band 34 prevents disengage-
ment of the adapter 30 from the connector 20 unless the band 34
is removed, such as by cutting. Thus, in the event that the
adapter 30 has been removed from the connector 20, the absence
of the band 34 from the catheter 14 will indicate that the sys-
tem 12 has been tampered with by removal of the adapter 30 from
the connector 20.
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
~o those skilled in the art.
