U.S. patent number RE30,607 [Application Number 06/049,060] was granted by the patent office on 1981-05-12 for combination urine meter and drainage receptacle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Plastronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to James G. Manschot, Byron L. Mather, Larry A. Salvadori.
United States Patent |
RE30,607 |
Manschot , et al. |
May 12, 1981 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Combination urine meter and drainage receptacle
Abstract
A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle including a
liquid meter of semi-rigid transparent material and a flexible
liquid drainage receptacle. The meter and drainage receptacle are
connected together at the upper portions thereof by a semi-rigid
tubular assembly having a flow conduit therethrough of relatively
large diameter and short longitudinal length. Drainage of liquid
from the meter to the receptacle can be simply and effectively
accomplished by tilting the meter with respect to the flexible
receptacle from a vertical hanging position to a drainage position.
When so tilted, the drainage bag will retain its substantially
vertical hanging position to insure a positive drainage flow
between the two containers.
Inventors: |
Manschot; James G. (Eagle,
WI), Mather; Byron L. (Milwaukee, WI), Salvadori; Larry
A. (Milwaukee, WI) |
Assignee: |
Plastronics, Inc. (Milwaukee,
WI)
|
Family
ID: |
21957859 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/049,060 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1979 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
573853 |
May 20, 1975 |
04095589 |
Jun 20, 1978 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/575; 600/580;
600/581; 600/584; 604/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
5/20 (20130101); A61F 5/44 (20130101); A61B
5/208 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/44 (20060101); A61B 5/20 (20060101); A61B
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/761,762,767,768,771,275,295 ;4/113.1,144.2 ;73/427 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Howell; Kyle L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Michael, Best & Friedrich
Claims
We claim:
1. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle
comprising:
a liquid meter of semi-rigid material having at least one volume
calibrated chamber and an inlet opening through which liquid may be
introduced into the interior thereof, said meter having an upper
portion in which said inlet opening is located and a lower portion
in which said liquid can accumulate;
a liquid draining receptacle in the form of a bag made of flexible
material, said bag having an upper portion positioned adjacent said
meter upper portion; and
a liquid communication means for said meter and drainage receptacle
comprising a liquid conduit extending from the upper portion of
said meter to the upper portion of said drainage receptacle, said
liquid communication means adapted to permit relative movement of
said meter with respect to said drainage receptacle to thereby
facilitate drainage of liquid from the interior of the meter
through said liquid conduit and into said drainage receptacle by
simply tilting said meter with respect to said drainage receptacle,
said liquid communication means including a semi-rigid tubular
assembly fastened at one end to said meter and fastened at its
other end to said liquid drainage receptacle, said semi-rigid
tubular assembly comprised of a tubular fitting having a flange
sealed to one wall of said liquid drainage receptacle, said tubular
fitting having a pair of concentrically spaced circular walls
providing a groove therebetween, said tubular assembly further
including a collar formed integrally with one wall of said meter,
said collar being sealed in said groove by said tubular fitting to
thereby provide a fluid tight liquid conduit between said meter and
said receptacle.
2. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 1 in which there is a depression formed on the inside surface
of said one wall of said liquid meter around said collar to
facilitate flow of liquid through said collar.
3. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 2 in which said liquid receptacle is provided with a closable
drainage valve mounted in the lower portion thereof which may be
opened and closed to permit liquid to be drained out of the
interior of said liquid receptacle.
4. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle
comprising:
a liquid meter of a semi-rigid material having at least one volume
calibrated chamber and an inlet opening through which liquid may be
introduced into the interior thereof, said meter having an upper
portion in which said inlet opening is located and a lower portion
in which said liquid can accumulate;
a liquid drainage receptacle in the form of a bag made of flexible
material, said bag having an upper portion positioned adjacent said
meter upper portion; and
a liquid communication means for said meter and drainage receptacle
extending from the upper portion of said meter to the upper portion
of said drainage receptacle, said liquid communication means
including a semi-rigid tubular assembly fastened at one end to said
meter and fastened at its other end to said liquid drainage
receptacle, said semi-rigid tubular assembly of said liquid
communication means comprised of a tubular fitting having a flange
sealed to one wall of said liquid drainage receptacle, said tubular
fitting having a pair of concentrically spaced circular walls
providing a groove therebetween, said tubular assembly further
including a collar formed integrally with one wall of said meter,
said collar being sealed in said groove of said tubular fitting to
thereby provide a fluid tight liquid conduit between said meter and
said receptacle.
5. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 4 in which there is a depression formed on the inside surface
of said one wall of said liquid meter around said collar to
facilitate flow of liquid through said collar.
6. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle
comprising:
a liquid meter having at least one volume calibrated chamber and an
inlet opening through which liquid may be introduced into the
interior thereof, said meter having an upper portion in which said
inlet opening is located and a lower portion in which the liquid
entering through said opening can accumulate;
a liquid drainage receptacle in the form of a bag made of flexible
material, said bag having an upper portion positioned adjacent said
meter upper portion; and
a liquid communication means for said meter and drainage receptacle
comprising a liquid conduit extending from the upper portion of
said meter to the upper portion of said drainage receptacle, said
liquid communication means adapted to permit relative movement of
said meter with respect to said drainage receptacle to thereby
facilitate drainage of liquid from the interior of the meter
through said liquid conduit and into said drainage receptacle by
simply tilting said meter with respect to said drainage receptacle,
said liquid conduit of said liquid communication means comprised of
a short, semi-rigid, horizontally extending tubular assembly
fastened at one end to said liquid meter and fastened at its other
end to said liquid drainage receptacle, .Iadd.said tubular assembly
having no part which moves relative to any other part of said
assembly, said tilting of said meter with respect to said drainage
receptacle being accomplished by the flexing of said drainage
receptacle in the area at which it is fastened to said tubular
assembly, .Iaddend.said tubular assembly serving to at least
partially support said liquid meter on said liquid drainage
receptacle in a side-by-side relationship with the meter and
receptacle positioned at substantially the same elevation;
said combination further characterized by a hollow tube which opens
into the interior of said liquid meter through a drip tube assembly
mounted in the top wall of the meter, said drip tube assembly
comprised of an upper tubular member and a lower tubular drip
projection formed integrally with said top wall, said tubular
member being telescopically engaged with said projection and sealed
therein, said drip projection portion further having an opening in
the bottom portion thereof through which liquid flowing through
said tube enters the interior of said meter.
7. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 6 in which said drip projection is in the form of a tube
having a rounded end with said end having a cut-out portion to
provide said opening therein.
8. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle
comprising:
a liquid drainage receptacle in the form of a bag made of flexible
material, said bag having a support means fastened to the upper
portion thereof which is adapted to support said receptacle in a
vertical hanging position when in operative use;
a liquid meter of a semi-rigid material having at least one volume
calibrated chamber and an inlet opening through which liquid may be
introduced into the interior thereof, said meter having an upper
portion in which said inlet opening is located and a lower portion
in which said liquid entering through said opening can accumulate,
said meter positioned in substantially parallel, closely adjacent
relationship with said receptacle with the upper portion of said
receptacle positioned opposite the upper portion of said meter;
and
a liquid communication means for said meter and said drainage
receptacle extending from the upper portion of said meter to the
upper portion of said drainage receptacle, said liquid
communication means including a short semi-rigid horizontally
extending tubular assembly fastened at one end to said meter and
fastened at its other end to said liquid drainage receptacle, said
communication means operable to facilitate drainage of liquid from
the interior of said meter through said tubular assembly and into
said drainage receptacle by tilting said meter from its normal
position parallel to said receptacle to its drainage position at an
angle with respect to said receptacle, said tilting of said meter
for drainage being accomplished without altering the vertical
hanging position of said receptacle so that complete drainage of
said meter can be accomplished without detachment of the meter from
the receptacle, .Iadd.said tubular assembly having no part which
moves relative to any other part of said assembly, said tilting of
said meter with respect to said drainage receptacle being
accomplished by the flexing of said drainage receptacle in the area
at whch it is fastened to said tubular assembly, .Iaddend.said
tubular assembly further serving to at least partially support said
liquid meter on said drainage receptacle in a side-by-side
relationship with the meter and receptacle positioned at
substantially the same elevation.
9. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 8 wherein said liquid meter includes a sampling valve mounted
in the lower portion thereof which may be opened and closed to
permit liquid to be drained out of the interior of said meter.
10. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 8 in which there is a hollow tube which opens into the
interior of said liquid meter through a drip tube assembly mounted
in the top wall of the meter, said drip tube assembly comprised of
an upper tubular member and a lower tubular drip projection formed
integrally with said top wall, said tubular member being
telescopically engaged with said projection and sealed therein,
said drip projection portion further having an opening in the
bottom portion thereof through which liquid flowing through said
tube enters the interior of said meter.
11. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 10 in which said drip projection is in the form of a tube
having a rounded end with said end having a cut-out portion to
provide said opening therein.
12. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 8 in which the longitudinal length of said semi-rigid tubular
assembly is less than 0.5 inches and the diameter of said liquid
conduit is at least 0.3 inches.
13. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 8 in which said liquid meter has an arm formed thereon in the
upper portion thereof and spaced from said liquid communication
means, said arm adapted for engagement with said liquid drainage
receptacle.
14. A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle according to
claim 8 wherein said semi-rigid material of said liquid meter is
transparent in the area on which it is calibrated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combination urine meter and drainage
receptacle.
II. Description of the Prior Art
The most pertinent prior art known to applicants is shown and
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,683,984, 3,601,119 and 3,345,980. The
principal advantages of the present invention over such prior art
is its simplicity of design and the ease and effectiveness of the
means of draining the urine from the meter into the drainage
receptacle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A combination urine meter and drainage receptacle comprising a
liquid meter having at least one volume calibrated chamber and an
inlet opening through which liquid may be introduced into such
chamber. A liquid drainage receptacle of flexible material is
connected to the meter and is in fluid communication therewith by
means of a fluid communication means connected between the upper
portions of the meter and drainage receptacle. The liquid
communication means is adapted to permit relative movement of the
meter with respect to the drainage receptacle to thereby facilitate
drainage of liquid from the interior of the meter through the fluid
conduit and into the drainage receptacle by simply tilting the
meter with respect to the receptacle, such tilting movement of the
meter being accomplished without disturbing the relative vertical
hanging position of the receptacle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view (with parts broken away) of a
preferred embodiment of the combination urine meter and drainage
receptacle of this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line
2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line
3--3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the combination urine meter and
drainage receptacle shown in FIG. 1 with the parts thereof shown in
the meter drainage position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The combination of the present invention is comprised of two basic
parts, namely a urine meter 10 and a drainage receptacle 12.
The urine meter 10 is comprised of a front wall 14, a rear wall 16,
a top wall 18, a bottom wall 20 and side walls 22,22 defining a
semi-rigid container with an upper section 24, an intermediate
section 26 of smaller internal volume per unit of height than the
upper section and a lower section 28 of smaller internal volume per
unit of height than the intermediate section.
As shown in FIG. 1, a scale 30 is molded in or printed on the
surface of the front wall 14 of the urine meter 10. The scale 30
serves as an indication of the volume of liquid in the meter. Since
the lowermost section 28 of the meter is of smaller volume than the
intermediate section 26, the scale markings for a given unit of
volume measurement will be spaced further apart on such lower
section than on the intermediate section to thereby facilitate the
accurate measurement of smaller volumes of liquid in the lower
section. The same is true with respect to the relationship of
intermediate section 26 and the upper section 24. In the preferred
embodiment the meter is made of transparent material such as clear
cellulose propionate plastic. The use of a transparent material
permits a volume reading to be made on the scale 30 and also
permits the determination of urine coloration changes which may
occur.
A hollow tube 32 opens into the interior of the meter 10 through a
drip tube assembly 34 mounted in the top wall 18 of the meter. The
tube 32 serves as a conduit through which fluid such as urine may
pass into the meter from a body, such fluid originally being
removed from the body through a catheter or similar device (not
shown).
Drip tube assembly 34 is comprised of an upper tubular member 36
and a lower tubular drip projection 38 formed integrally with the
top wall 18 of the meter. Member 36 is telescopically engaged with
the projection 38 and is sealed therein by a suitable adhesive. A
shoulder 40 is provided on member 36 to facilitate its installation
in projection 38. Projection portion 38 has an opening 42 in the
bottom portion thereof through which liquid flowing through tube 32
enters the interior of the meter. Said drip projection 38 is in the
form of a sealed tube having a rounded end with said end having a
cut-out portion to provide the opening 42.
Mounted in the bottom wall 20 of urine meter 10 is a sampling valve
44 which may be opened and closed to drain fluid from the interior
of the meter. Any one of a number of commercially available valves
such as push-pull valves or faucet type valves may be suitable for
use as a drainage valve 44. Valve 44 shown in the drawings is a
push-pull type valve which is opened by pulling down on its lower
portion and closed by a reverse movement thereof.
Drainage receptacle 12 is comprised of a front sheet 46 and a back
sheet 48 of fluid impervious flexible material. The front sheet 46
and back sheet 48 are sealed along their marginal edge portions 50
to form a flexible bag container. Receptacle 12 is also provided
with a drainage valve 52 mounted in the lower portion thereof which
may be of identical construction to the drainage valve 44 installed
on the meter. In the preferred embodiment sheets 46 and 48 are made
of polyvinyl chloride plastic film. The front sheet 46 of
receptacle 12 is provided with scale 54 for purposes of indicating
the approximate amount of liquid therein.
As best shown in FIG. 2, a liquid communication means 56 is
provided between the upper portions of meter 10 and drainage
receptacle 12. Communication means 56 is comprised of a tubular
fitting 58 and a mating collar 60 surrounding an opening 62 in the
rear wall 16 of meter 10 and formed integrally therewith. A slight
depression 63 is formed on the inside surface of the rear wall 16
around the opening into collar 60 to facilitate flow of liquid
through the opening. Fitting 58 has a flange portion 64 sealed to
the front sheet 46 of receptacle 12 and a pair of concentrically
spaced circular walls 66,68 providing a groove 70 therebetween in
which collar 60 is sealed to complete the communication means
between the two containers. An opening 72 in the front sheet 46 of
receptacle 12 completes a liquid conduit 73 between the two
containers having a relatively large diameter (approximately 0.6
inch) and a short longitudinal length (approximately 0.37
inch).
As best shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the liquid conduit
connection 56 between the upper left hand portions of meter 10 and
receptacle 12 (as viewed in FIG. 1), a strictly mechanical
connection is provided between the upper right hand portions of the
meter and receptacle. Such mechanical connection is in the form of
a projecting arm 74 formed on the top wall 18 of the meter. Arm 74
has a transverse lip 75 formed at the end thereof adapted for
engagement in an opening 76 formed in the receptacle. The sheets 46
and 48 of receptacle 12 are sealed to each other around opening 76
to prevent leakage of fluid from inside the receptacle. The
combination of the fluid and mechanical connection 56 and the
strictly mechanical connection arm 74 between the meter 10 and
receptacle 12 serves to stabilize the mechanical connection between
the containers.
In use the combination urine meter and drainage receptacle of the
present invention is supported in a vertical hanging position
adjacent the patient by a suitable cord support means 77 fastened
to the top portion of receptacle 12. Urine draining into meter 10
through tube 32 and drip chamber assembly 34 will collect first in
lower section 28, then in intermediate section 26 and then in upper
section 24 of the meter. The amount of urine drained into the meter
and its rate of flow can be measured by reference to scale 30. As
drainage continues the level of liquid in the meter will eventually
rise to the level of liquid communication means 56 after which
liquid will flow through conduit 73 from meter 10 into drainage
receptacle 12.
It is often desirable (particularly when measuring flow rate) to
drain urine from meter 10 into receptacle 12 at some point before
meter 10 becomes completely filled. This can be simply and
effectively accomplished by tilting meter 10 with respect to
flexible receptacle 12 from its vertical hanging position (FIG. 1)
to its drainage position shown in FIG. 4. When so tilted, liquid in
meter 10 will readily flow from the meter into depression 63 and
then through conduit 73 into receptacle 12. It will be noted that
due to the relative movement between meter 10 and receptacle 12
provided by the particular construction of the combination, when
meter 10 is tilted as shown in FIG. 4, receptacle 12 willremain in
substantially vertical hanging position to thereby insure a
positive drainage flow between the two containers.
The body of urine meter 10 can be manufactured from any variety of
materials which are impervious to water. In addition to cellulose
propionate as specified previously, examples of materials suitable
for this purpose are polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate,
cellulose butyrates and styrene. The meter 10 may be formed by any
variety of methods well known in the art such as injection molding,
blow molding, rotational molding or vacuum forming.
As indicated previously, drainage receptacle 12 may be comprised of
a bag made by sealing together front and back sheets of flexible
material along their outer edges. In addition to polyvinyl chloride
as specified previously, examples of materials suitable for
construction of the front and back sheets forming the receptacle
include flexible films of polyethylene, polypropolene and the
like.
Although the present invention is concerned mainly with the
provision of a meter and drainage receptacle for urine, it should
be understood that it could also be utilized in the measurement and
storage of other liquids.
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