Urinary Drainage Apparatus

Abstract

A urinary drainage system and structure providing an initial or receiving container and also a sump or storage container. The two containers are inter-connected, with the first being pivotal relative to the second so that the contents of the receiving container may be emptied into the storage container. Pivotal structure cooperating with the containers serves as journaling means and also inter-communication means to accommodate fluid flow, whether the receiving container is in its normal or tilted condition. Self-adjusting securement means is provided so the structure may be leveled regardless of the supporting structure. Independent drainage means for the containers are provided.

Description

The present invention relates to urinary drainage systems and structures and, more particularly, to a new and improved system and structure having a receiving container and a sump or storage container, the two provided with pivotal and inter-communicating structure as below delineated.

For hospital and laboratory use it has been found very desirable in urinary drainage systems to have container structure which is divided in two. This is to say, and the present invention so contemplates, there will be a recieving container that initially receives urinary drainage fluid, and also a sump or general storage container to which the receiving container is operatively connected. The receiving container may be made transparent, calibrated, and otherwise be useful to observe and/or measure incoming contents. It is noted that any particular sample of urinary or post-operative fluid can be independently collected and examined and even drained off independently; thus, prior samples, collections or drainage need not be mixed with the same in order that the most recent sample can be independently examined.

It is of course necessary to provide also a general sump or secondary storage container which is sufficiently large in interior volume to hold a large quantity of fluid. Such a container should also be provided with an adequate drain.

In the present invention the receiving container cannot only be emptied, by virtue of its own independent drain, but likewise can be tipped appropriately such that all of its contents empty into the large storage container of the system. Inter-connecting pivotal structure provides not only for the journaling of the receiving container to the sump or storage container, but also affords inter-communication between the two so that overflow of the receiving container automatically spills into the storage container, with tipping of the receiving container being operative through the journaling structure to automatically empty contents thereof into the storage container.

The structure is provided with handle and suitable elongate means such that the unit can be readily attached to bed rails or other supporting structure. A depending leg in the handle affords an adjustable retention of the elongate loop provided so that the unit may be adjusted for leveling, either from a horizontal or even an incline support. Suitable means are provided for pinching off drain lines and storing the ends of the same. Valve means is also provided for the inlet port so that the interior of the urinary drainage system is not exposed to the atmosphere in the absence of incoming fluid flow.

Accordingly, a principal object is to provide a new and improved urinary drainage system.

A further object is to provide new and improved urinary drainage structure.

An additional object is to provide in a urinary drainage system the combination of a receiving container and a sump or collection container, with the two always intercommunicating as to overflow and also selectively communicating for emptying contents of the receiving container into the latter, as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination of a receiving container and a collecting container wherein the first is made pivotal relative to the second.

An additional object is to provide a receiving container journaled to a collection container, with the journal area being constructed so as to provide fluid collection therethrough.

An additional object is to provide a receiving and collecting container combination wherein both container portions include respective drain lines.

An additional object is to provide for adequate drainline pinch-off and/or storage in collection containers.

An additional object is to provide means for suspending structures for an external object, and this in a manner and by such means that the structure may be ajusted relative to the horizontal without excessive manipulation.

An additional object is to provide storage structure having a handle provided with an elongate loop and a retainer leg, the structure being constructed such that the elongate connector may be looped over a support and be retained by the retainer leg, yet be adjustable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a urinary drainage structure having a valve inlet.

The features of the present invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 1, illustrating the receiving container thereof as being tilted upwardly, thereby to drain contents therefrom in the primary sump or storage container of the system or structure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side elevations in reduced scale of the principal portion of the structure of FIG. 1, wherein the same is shown suspended from a bed rail or other support.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of the drainage tube of the structure of FIG. 1, wherein the same is stored and pinched off.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 7, illustrating with FIG. 7 the receiving container as being in its normal vertical position.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but illustrates the receiving container as being tilted or tipped upwardly so as to accomplish drainage of the receiving container into the sump or primary storage container in a closed system.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the structure of FIG. 7, illustrating in particular the pivotal structure incorporated therein wherein drainage and over-flow are facilitated.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken along the arcuate line 11--11 in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 1 a fluid storage container or sump 10 includes a primary storage cavity 11 and a secondary storage cavity 12 communicated therewith to define a composite single interior cavity U. The storage container 10 is provided with a handle member 13 which is integral therewith, glued, or otherwise secured thereto at 14 and 15. Handle member 13 is upstanding, as indicated, and includes a central depending leg 16. Storage container 10 includes a depending drainage port 17 provided with a flexible tubular drain 18 made of neoprene, rubber, or other similar material. The storage container 10 includes legs 19-22, and interposed between legs 19 and 20 is a transverse bar 23 having a tube pinching slot 24. Accordingly, drainage tube 18 may proceed through slot 24 to be pinched thereby, see FIG. 3, with the tube 18 being interposed in cavity 25 as formed by arcuate partition 26, container wall 27, and entrance opening 28.

A receiving container 29 may be of transparent plastic and calibrated at 30 in suitable increments for volumetric readings. The receiving container 29 is provided with inlet port 31 and also the housing element 32 contiguous and communicated therewith. Housing element 32 is provided with an air inlet aperture 33 and interiorly contains a filter 34 such as a piece of cotton, porous sponge plastic, or the like.

Drainage port 35 may likewise be provided the receiving container 29, and drainage hose 36 may be connected thereover and positioned for storage within receptacle 37. The latter may simply comprise an arcuately-formed portion cemented in place or otherwise formed relative to the underside 38 of receiving container 29.

Receiving container 29 is pivoted by the structure S to storage container 10 and is generally illustrated in FIG. 2.

Storage container 10 includes an ear 35 having a cover-plate 36 glued thereto. Cemented to the cover-plate and also the wall W of aperture 37 is an interior tubular journal 38, the latter being provided with side-wall aperture 39. Exterior tube 40 is cemented to tube 38, and includes a wall aperture 41 communicating with aperture 39. The latter tube 40 forms seats 43 and 55 for receiving O-rings 45 and 46, as packing rings, frictionally engaging the receiving container.

Accordingly, apertures 46' and 47 of the receiving container 29 accommodate the inner placement of tube 38 and supply journal apertures for receiving container 29. Wall section 48 provided the receiving container 29 simply completes the journaling construction and its transverse span. Accordingly, it is seen that the structure including elements 35 and 36, 38 and 40 will be fixed or cemented together, with the receiving container 29 being journaled thereto.

In operation, the urinary drainage structure will be coupled by hose or other conduit, now shown, at inlet port 31 to the patient area. Drainage received by the hose and inlet port 31 will drop into receiving container 29 and there may be measured as to volume, visually examined, and so forth. In the event of solely a small amount of liquid being received, then the drainage conduit or hose 36 may be released from its retainer 37 such that liquid may be drained out of the receiving container 29.

In the event that liquid received is in excess of the interior volume of receiving container 29, then liquid will rise and proceed through openings 39 and 41 in FIG. 2 to drain out of opening 49 at the end of tube 38, and into portion 12 of storage container 10.

If the receiving container contains fluid that does not reach the structure S and yet it is desired that such fluid be emptied into storage container 10, then the receiving container 29 need only be tipped in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 so that fluid tube therein will proceed through openings 39 and 41 into tube 38 and out the end 49 thereof.

Openings 41 and 39 proceed peripherally about the tube walls such that communication is had for all intended dispositions of receiving container 29. Normally this will be about 100.degree. of arcuate surface.

When the primary storage container 10 is to be emptied, then tube 18 will be released from its position as shown at 27 in FIG. 3 and released from the pinch-off at slot 24 so that the same will be disposed downwardly for drainage as seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates in an enlarged fragmentary view, shown in section, the manner in which tube 18, see FIG. 1, is pinched off at pinch-off slot 24 in transverse bar member 23.

FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 illustrate that the handle member 13 is provided with a pair of opposite apertures 50 and 51 which accommodate the knotted ends 52 and 53 of flexible elongate connector 54. The latter may comprise simply a length of twine, a plastic cord, or other similar article. FIG. 4 illustrates that the loop configured elongate member 54 may be simply looped over a bed rail 55 and be disposed about retainer leg 16 in the manner shown. Slight variations in positioning of the composite structure D relative to the horizontal may be adjusted by simply tipping in an appropriate direction such structure D so that the central portion of elongate connector 56 will slip in appropriate degree around the leg 16. Accordingly, it is seen in FIG. 4 that the device is easily adjusted to obtain the horizontal positioning desired.

Even should the supporting rail be tilted, as at 56' in FIG. 5, the device may be adjusted properly so that the same achieves a horizontal disposition. Again, this is accomplished by the elongate connector looping around leg 16 and being adapted to slip therearound in desired adjustment.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 there is illustrated a new embodiment of the invention wherein the primary or storage container 58 this time assumes a U-configurement relative to its horizontal cross section. The medial open area R thereof accommodates the positioning of a receiving container 59, the same being journaled to the primary structure by structure S1.

The structure S 1 comprises a pair of concentric tubes 60 and 61 which respectively include congruent wall apertures 62 and 63. These side apertures continue for an arcuate distance approximating 100.degree. of the tubes and are designed for receiving liquid from the receiving container 59 when the same is tilted upwardly into a new position as shown in FIG. 9. In returning to FIG. 10 it is seen that the aforementioned tubes form seats 66 and 67 which accommodate the placement of o-rings 68 and 69 as well as the side walls of the receiving container 29. Such side Walls 64 and 65 are provided with respective apertures 01 and 02 which serve as journaling means. End 03 is open and provides for the transmission of contents from the receiving container 59, when the same is tilted upwardly as shown in FIG. 9, such that the same proceeds through congruent apertures 62 and 63. Inlet port P joins an elbow structure P1 which communicates with and is fastened to end E on inner-tube 61. Drainage tube 73 is pinched off and stored, see FIG. 10, in the same manner as is tube 18 in FIG. 3 of the prior embodiment. Likewise, receiving container 59 may be provided with a tube 76 which can be appropriately stored in the manner shown in connection with tube 36 in FIG. 1, see 78.

In operation, the structure of FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 performs as follows: In the position shown in FIG. 7 the receiving container is positioned to admit liquid therein for calibration, observation, and so on. Should such container be filled to overflowing, then the liquid will proceed upwardly through apertures 62 and 63 and out the end O3. When it is desired to drain the entire content within receiving container 59, then the same is simply tilted upwardly as shown in FIG. 9 such that the contents will proceed out of congruent apertures 62 and 63 and out end O3 into the primary container. It is noted that the medial space R provides a storage area for the pivotal receiving container 59, see FIG. 9. This storage area R is formed by the general U-configurement of the primary storage container 58.

What is had, therefore, is a new and improved urinary drainage system and structure wherein a portion of the structure can be pivotally displaced so as to empty the contents within the primary sump or storage container of the structure. The same facilitates, hence, calibration and reading of the receiving container contents, secondary collection thereof by the primary storage container, and independent drainage of the same. The filtered air intake in both of the embodiments, see for example 33 in FIG. 1, provide for air inlet and evacuation into the interior of the container.

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the acruate line 11--11 in FIG. 10 and shows a valve plate 75 which is secured at 76 within the structure. This valve plate opens upon the presence of an incoming stream of fluid as at X but thereupon will close to cover the opening &. Accordingly, the interior of the urinary drainage system is closed by the valve 75 in the absence of an incoming liquid stream filling the same.

What is had, therefore, is a new and improved drainage system and structure wherein primary and secondary, intercommunicating containers are obtained, this so that the initial or receiving container may independently measure incoming fluid and yet may be emptied conveniently such that its contents may pour into the sump or storage container. The receiving container may be calibrated or otherwise facilitated to provide desired readings, observation, and so forth. Elongate connector means provides for easy attachment to bed rails and similar articles and is made easily adjustable.

Either or both of the pivot structures in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 7, can be constructed to be tilted slightly, approximately 3.degree. - 4.degree., downwardly relative to the horizontal and toward the outlet leading into the respective storage chamber, this to aid in fluid flow.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art the various changes and modifications which may be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A urinary drainage structure including, in combination, a tiltable receiving container having an inlet port for receiving external incoming liquid, a storage container, pivot means for pivoting said receiving container to said storage container whereby said receiving container may be pivoted to a tilting position for drainage purposes, said pivot means having a through aperture providing communication from said receiving container through said pivot means and into the interior of said storage container.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said storage container has a U-configurement, as to its horizontal cross-section, such as to define a medial side opening, said pivot means being horizontally disposed across said side opening.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said storage container is configured with an end indentation, said pivot means extending transversely, relative to said storage container, into said indention.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means is rigidly secured to said storage container, said receiving container including aligned apertures circumscribing said pivot means, said pivot means including O-ring seals disposed proximate said apertures.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes side wall aperture means and an open end communicating with the interior of said storage container.

6. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said receiving container includes means for draining liquid therefrom, said storage container also including drainage means for draining liquid therefrom as well.

7. Structure according to claim 1 wherein the storage container includes depending leg means disposed at opposite ends of the structure, one of said leg means including a bar having a slot, said storage container including a compressible drain constructed for pinchable disposition through said slot.

8. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said inlet port includes a self-closing valve, and an air filter disposed proximate said valve.

9. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said inlet port is contiguous with said pivot means and is sealingly attached thereto, said pivot means including a downwardly facing wall aperture and also an open-end communicating with the interior of said storage container.

10. A portable urinary drainage liquid container constructed for suspension in horizontal dis-position from an external object, of whatever orientation, and including a handle having an upper smooth contour and a medial, integral, planar, depending leg, and a flexible elongate connector connected at its ends to said handle on opposite sides of said leg and constructed to be looped around said ex-ternal object and be medially looped over and around said leg.