Irrigation Adapter

Abstract

An irrigation adapter which is connectable to a catheter and a drainage tube in a liquid drainage system. The adapter includes a flexible body member having a longitudinally extending main channel, a side arm having a channel extending through the side arm and communicating with the main channel through an opening intermediate the ends of the body member, and a pouch having an elongated cavity communicating with the main channel through an opening. The adapter also includes a control tube having an outside diameter of a size to sealingly engage the inside of the body member in the main channel of the distal portion of the body member, a first end fixed in the main channel adjacent a proximal end of the body member, and a second free end extending into the body member past the openings. The free end is movable between a first position in the main channel and a second position in the pouch by flexing or extending the body member. Thus, the free end sealingly engages the inside of the body member in the first position to prevent passage of liquid into the side arm and permit liquid drainage through the adapter, and the free end is receivable in the pouch cavity in the second position to close the drainage tube and permit irrigation of the catheter through the side arm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

"Irrigation Connector with Shut-Off Valve", Serial No. 166,877, filed July 28, 1971, invented by F. K. Villari and B. C. Patel, and assigned to The Kendall Company, the assignee of the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to connectors for liquid drainage systems, and more particularly to an adapter for selectively irrigating such systems.

Description of the Prior Art

In the past, various types of systems have been utilized to drain liquids from a cavity in a patient's body, such as the urinary bladder. The procedure generally utilized to accomplish drainage is to introduce one end of a catheter into the cavity, and connect the catheter through a drainage tube to a receptacle for collecting the liquid.

However, during use of such systems it is sometimes necessary to periodically irrigate the catheter, or force liquid through the catheter to alleviate a blocked condition in the catheter due to the accumulation of sediments and clots, or to apply medication to the cavity through the catheter. Since it is necessary to minimize the possibility of infection to the patient, such systems are preferably of the closed type to prevent contamination to the system and possible infection to the patient. Consequently, it has proven difficult to irrigate the catheter, while maintaining aseptic conditions in the drainage system.

In an attempt to solve this problem Vaillancourt et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,849 discloses an adapter which is connected between a catheter and a drainage tube. However, it is desirable to have a straight line path through such a connector for the drainage liquid to permit the unrestricted flow of liquid, and such a device may be susceptible to leakage into the drainage tube during irrigation, particularly where different size syringe tips are utilized for irrigation. The related application "Irrigation Connector with Shut-Off Valve" discloses an irrigation connector having a valve to control the passage of fluid through the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of an irrigation adapter for a liquid drainage system to selectively control the passage of drainage liquid from a catheter to a drainage tube through the adapter.

The adapter of the present invention includes a flexible body member having a main channel extending longitudinally through the body member, a distal end for attachment to the catheter with the main channel communicating with a drainage lumen in the catheter, and a proximal end for attachment to the drainage tube. The body member has an irrigation side arm having a channel extending through the side arm and communicating with the main channel through an opening intermediate the ends of the body member. The body member also includes a pouch having an elongated cavity which communicates with the main channel through an opening. The adapter includes a control tube having an outside diameter of a size to sealingly engage the inside of the body member in the main channel of the distal portion of the body member. A first end of the control tube is fixed in the main channel adjacent the proximal body member end, with a lumen in the control tube communicating with the drainage tube through the first end. A second free end of the control tube extends from the first end into the body member past the openings, with the free end of the tube being movable between a first position in the main channel and a second position in the pouch by flexing or extending the body member. A cap is removably positioned on the outer end of the side arm.

Another feature of the present invention is that the free end of the control tube sealingly engages the inside of the body member in the first position to prevent passage of liquid into the side arm and permit liquid drainage from the catheter to the drainage tube.

A further feature of the invention is that the free end of the control tube is receivable in the pouch cavity in the second position to close the drainage tube and permit irrigation of the catheter through the side arm.

Still another feature of the invention is that the control tube may be integral with the drainage tube.

Yet another feature of the invention is that in one embodiment the outer end of the pouch flexes to receive the free end of the control tube in the second position and frictionally engages the control tube to seal its free end from liquid during irrigation of the catheter.

Another feature of the invention is that the sealed control tube in the second position prevents contamination to the drainage tube when the cap is removed from the side arm for irrigation of the system.

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 perspective view of a liquid drainage system, taken partly in section, having an irrigation adapter of the present invention, with the adapter being in position to drain liquid from a catheter to a drainage tube in the system;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, of the drainage system of FIG. 1, with the adapter being placed in position for irrigating the catheter;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, taken partly in section, of the drainage system of FIG. 1, with the tip of a syringe inserted into a side arm of the adapter for irrigating the catheter;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, taken partly in section, of a liquid drainage system having another embodiment of the adapter of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the adapter of the present invention showing alternative sealing means in the main channel of the adapter;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the adapter of the present invention showing alternative sealing means in a pouch of the adapter;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a liquid drainage system, generally designated 20, is shown having an irrigation adapter designated generally 22 which is connected between a catheter 24 and a drainage tube 26. The adapter 22 includes a flexible body member 28 which may be constructed of any suitable material, having flexible properties, such as rubber or rubberized plastic, to provide the body member with flexible characteristics for purposes described below.

The body member 28 has a main channel 30 which extends longitudinally through the body member 28, a distal end 32 for attachment to the catheter 24 such that the main channel 30 communicates with a drainage lumen 34 in the catheter, and a proximal end 36 for attachment to the drainage tube 26. The body member 28 also includes an irrigation side arm 38 extending outwardly from the main channel 30 and having an irrigation channel 40 extending through the side arm 38 and communicating with the main channel 30 through an opening 42 intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the body member. The body member 28 also includes a closed-end pouch 44 extending outwardly from the main channel 30 and having an elongated cavity 46 which communicates with the main channel 30 through an opening 48 which preferably faces the side arm opening 42. Preferably, the elongated cavity 46 and main channel 30 generally define an acute angle relative to the distal body member end 32 for a purpose described below. A cap 47 is removably positioned on the outer end of the side arm 38 to prevent possible contamination to the system when the side arm is not in use for irrigation, and a strap 49 connects the cap 47 to the side arm 38 to retain it to the side arm when the cap is removed for irrigation.

The adapter 22 also includes a control tube 50 which preferably has an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the main channel 30 in the distal portion of the body member, and which may be flexible although a relatively rigid control tube is preferred. A first end 52 of the control tube 50 is fixed in the main channel 30 adjacent the proximal body member end 36, and a lumen 54a in the control tube communicates with a lumen 54b in the drainage tube 26 through the first end 52 of the control tube 50. In one embodiment, the control tube 50 is an integral extension of the drainage tube 26, as shown in FIG. 1. However, as shown in FIG. 4, it is also contemplated that the control tube may be a separate tube, with the drainage tube 26 being removably connected to the proximal end 36 of the body member 28 such that the lumens 54a and b communicate with each other. In either case, the first end 52 of the control tube 50 may be secured to the inside of the proximal body member end 36 by suitable means, such as adhesive 53.

The control tube 50 also has a second free end 56 which extends from the first end 52 of the control tube 50 into the body member 28 past the side arm and pouch openings 42 and 48 when the control tube is in position for draining the catheter. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the free end 56 of the control tube 50 is movable between a first position with the free end 56 in the main channel 30 and a second position in the pouch cavity 46 by flexing the body member 28. In the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the free end 56 sealingly engages the sides of the main channel 30 intermediate the distal body member end 32 and the openings 42 and 48. Thus, in the first position of the free end 56, liquid is permitted to drain from the catheter 24 to the drainage tube 26 through the control tube 50, while liquid is prevented from passing through the opening 42 into the side arm 38 and into the cavity 46.

If desired, sealing in the main channel with the control tube in the first position may be accomplished in various other manners. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the body member has an inner ring 57 in the main channel 30 intermediate the distal end 32 of the body member and the pouch and side arm openings 48 and 42, respectively. The outside diameter of the free end 56 of the control tube 50 is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the ring 57, such that the free end of the control tube sealingly engages the ring 57 in the first position. Alternatively, it is apparent that a sealing ring may be positioned on the outside of the control tube adjacent its free end to sealingly engage the inside of the main channel. Also, the pouch and side arm openings 48 and 42, respectively, may be arranged such that the control tube 50 closes and seals them around their perimeters in the main channel when the control tube is in the first position.

When it is desired to irrigate the catheter 24, the body member 28 is flexed and twisted slightly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, until the free end 56 of the control tube 50 passes from the main channel 30 into the pouch cavity 46. Also, as discussed above, the pouch cavity 46 preferably defines an acute angle with the main channel 30, to facilitate movement of the free end 56 into the cavity.

After the free end 56 of the control tube 50 has been received in the pouch cavity 46, the body member 28 is released to securely position the free end in the cavity, as shown in FIG. 3. The inside diameter of at least a portion of the pouch cavity 46 is approximately equal to the outside diameter of the control tube 50 in order to achieve a close fit in the second position of the free end 56. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the pouch also includes an end portion 60 which defines an end portion 62 of the cavity 46 which is generally aligned with the main channel 30. When the free end 56 of the control tube 50 is inserted into the cavity 46, the end portion 60 of the pouch receives the free end 56 and frictionally engages the tube 50 in order to seal the free end 56 of the tube 50 from liquid during irrigation of the catheter. Although the pouch 44 is preferably flexible, it is also contemplated that the pouch may be made in the form of a rigid cup, such that it frictionally engages.

Another embodiment of the adapter pouch is shown in FIG. 6, in which the pouch 44 has an internal plug 63 projecting into the cavity from its outer end. The plug 63 and the outer wall of the pouch define an annular slot 65, and the outside or lateral diameter of the plug 63 is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the free end 56 of the control tube 50. Thus, the plug is received in the free end of the control tube when it is moved to the second position, and the plug sealingly engages the inside of the free end of the control tube to prevent drainage through the control tube in the second position. If desired, the width of the slot 65 intermediate the plug 63 and pouch wall may be approximately equal to the width of the control tube adjacent its free end, as shown, such that the free end of the control tube sealingly engages both the plug and the pouch wall.

To accomplish irrigation of the catheter, the cap 47 is removed from the outer end of the side arm 38, and the tip T of a syringe S is inserted into the irrigation channel 40 of the side arm 38 with the control tube in its second position, as shown in FIG. 3. Irrigation fluid is then injected from the syringe S through the syringe tip T into the main channel 30 of the adapter 22 and the drainage lumen 34 of the catheter 24. Thus, since the control tube 50 is sealed in the pouch cavity 46, irrigation liquid is prevented from passing into the drainage tube during irrigation. Also, in the embodiment of the adapter shown in FIG. 5, the ring 5 57 be arranged to sealingly engage the tip of the syringe, if desired.

Frequently, liquid columns form in drainage tubes and cause a negative pressure. Consequently, when the systems are opened to the atmosphere for irrigation, the negative pressure results in an inrush of air into the drainage tubes, and since the air from the atmosphere may be contaminated, possible contamination to the systems may result. However, in the adapter of the present invention, the free end 56 of the control tube 50 is sealed in the pouch prior to removing the cap 47 for irrigation of the system, and the drainage tube is sealed from the upstream portion of the system. Hence, negative pressure which is present in the drainage tube does not cause an inrush of air into the drainage tube when the cap 47 is removed from the side arm.

Once irrigation of the catheter is complete, the free end 56 of the control tube 50 is reinserted into its first position in the main channel 30 by again flexing or extending the body member 28, and the body member 28 is released. The control tube 50 is then located in its first position, as shown in FIG. 1, and liquid drainage of the system 20 continues as before. Accordingly, it is readily apparent that irrigation and drainage of the system 20 is accomplished by the adapter of the present invention in such a manner that possibility of contamination to the system is minimized.

The alternate embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4 and described above, is utilized in a manner similar to the embodiment of the adapter shown in FIGS. 1-3 to accomplish irrigation and drainage of the system.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7, which is similar to the adapter and drainage system shown in FIG. 4, except that a tube 70 is removably connected to the outer end of the side arm 38. A lumen 72 in the tube 70 communicates with the channel 40 in the side arm 38. Thus, in the first position of the control tube 50 the lumen 54b of the tube 26 communicates through the control tube with the lumen 34 in the catheter or tube 24, and in the second position of the control tube the lumen 72 of the tube 70 communicates with the lumen 34 of the catheter 24, while the pouch 44 closes the lumen 54b of the tube 26 in this position. Each of the tubes 26 and 70 may be connected to a separate collection receptacle, and the control tube 50 may be utilized to selectively direct drainage of liquid from the catheter to either of the receptacles.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 except that the pouch 44 of the adapter of FIG. 7 has been replaced with a side arm 76 and a tube 78 which is removably attached to the outer end of the side arm 76. The side arm 76 has a channel 80 extending through the side arm which communicates with the main channel 30 through the opening 48 and which communicates with a lumen 82 in the tube 78.

The adapter of FIG. 8 serves as a valve to establish communication between the various tubes. In the first position of the control tube 50, as shown in FIG. 8, communication is established between the lumens 34 and 54b of the tubes 24 and 26, respectively, and the lumens 82 and 72 of tubes 78 and 70, respectively, are sealed from communication with the lumens 34 and 54b by the sealing engagement of the control tube free end 56 in the main channel 30. If desired, the control tube 50 may be arranged to seal one or both of the openings 48 and 42 in the first position of the control tube to prevent communication between the side arm channels 80 and 40. In the second position of the control tube 50, the free end 56 of the control tube is received in the channel 80 of the side arm 76. In this position, communication is established between the lumens 82 and 54b of the tubes 78 and 26, respectively, through the control tube 50, and communication is established between the lumens 34 and 72 of the tubes 24 and 70, respectively. Thus, the adapter serves as a valve to selectively control the direction of fluid through the tubes.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. An adapter for a catheter and a drainage tube in a liquid drainage system, comprising:

a flexible body member having a main channel extending longitudinally through the body member, a distal end for attachment to said catheter with said main channel communicating with a drainage lumen in the catheter, a proximal end for attachment to said drainage tube, an irrigation side arm having an irrigation channel extending through the side arm and communicating with the main channel through an opening intermediate the proximal and distal ends of said body member, and a pouch having an elongated cavity communicating with the main channel through an opening; and

a control tube having an outside diameter of a size to sealingly engage the inside of the body member in the main channel of the distal portion of the body member, a first end fixed in the main channel adjacent the proximal body member end with a lumen in said control tube communicating with the drainage tube through said first end, and a second free end extending from the first end into the body member past the openings, said free end being movable between a first position in the main channel and a second position in the pouch cavity by flexing the body member, whereby the free end sealingly engages the inside of the body member in said first position to prevent passage of liquid into the irrigation channel and permit liquid drainage from the catheter to said drainage tube, and the free end is receivable in the pouch cavity in said second position to close the drainage tube and permit passage of liquid between the side arm channel and the distal end of the main channel for irrigation of the catheter through said irrigation channel.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said control tube is integral with the drainage tube.

3. An adapter for a liquid drainage system comprising:

a flexible body member having a main channel extending longitudinally through the body member, a proximal end, a distal end, a side arm having a channel extending through the side arm and communicating with the main channel through an opening intermediate the ends of the body member, and a pouch having an elongated cavity communicating with the main channel through an opening, and

a control tube having an outside diameter of a size to sealingly engage the inside of the body member in the main channel of the distal portion of the body member, a first end fixed in the main channel adajcent the proximal end of said body member, and a second free end extending from the first end into the body member past the openings, said free end being movable between a first position in the main channel and a second position in the pouch cavity by flexing the body member, whereby the free end sealingly engages the inside of the body member in said first position to prevent passage of liquid into the side arm channel and permit liquid drainage through the main channel and control tube, and the free end is receivable in the pouch cavity in said second position to close the control tube, open the side arm channel, and permit passage of liquid between the side arm channel and the distal end of the main channel.

4. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said side arm channel and main channel define an acute angle relative to the proximal body member end.

5. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the inside diameter of at least a portion of the pouch cavity is approximately equal to the outside diameter of said control tube.

6. The adapter of claim 5 wherein said pouch includes an end portion defining a portion of said cavity generally aligned with the main channel, whereby the pouch end portion flexes to receive the free end of the control tube in the second position and frictionally engages the control tube to seal its free end.

7. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said pouch cavity extends from the main channel for a distance slightly greater than said free tube end with the control tube in said second position.

8. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said free tube end extends in the main channel slightly past the pouch and side arm openings with the control tube in said first position.

9. The adapter of claim 3 including a cap removably positioned on the outer end of the side arm.

10. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the pouch opening faces the side arm opening.

11. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the elongated cavity and main channel define an acute angle relative to the distal body member end.

12. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the outside diameter of the free end of the control tube is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the main channel in the distal portion of the body member, whereby the free end of the control tube sealingly engages the sides of the main channel intermediate the distal body member end and the pouch and side arm openings in said first position.

13. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said body member includes an inner ring in the main channel intermediate the distal body member end and the pouch and side arm openings, and the outside diameter of the free end of the control tube is approximately equal to the inside diameter of said ring, whereby the free end of the control tube sealingly engages the ring in said first position.

14. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the outer end of the pouch includes an internal plug projecting into the elongated cavity from said outer end, said plug having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the free end of the control tube and being received in the free end of the control tube in said second position, whereby the plug sealingly engages the inside of the free end of the control tube in the second position.

15. The adapter of claim 14 wherein said plug and the outer wall of the pouch defines an annular slot having a width intermediate the plug and pouch wall approximately equal to the width of the control tube wall adjacent its free end.