GB2181951A

GB2181951A - Drainage bag arrangements

Info

Publication number: GB2181951A
Application number: GB08526640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Charlesworth
Original assignee: Seton Products Ltd
Current assignee: SSL International PLC
Priority date: 1985-10-29
Filing date: 1985-10-29
Publication date: 1987-05-07
Also published as: GB8526640D0

Abstract

A drainage bag arrangement (10) comprises an elongate connecting tube (12) having a drip chamber (16) in which a non-return valve (17) is located. The connecting tube (12) is connected at one end (14) to a catheter (13), and the other end (15) of the tube (12), adjacent which is the drip chamber (16), is detachably connected to a drainage bag (11). A used drainage bag (11) may be discarded and replaced by a new one which is inexpensive since it does not incorporate a drip chamber and non- return valve and need not be sterilised since the connecting tube (12) has the non-return valve (17) therein. In addition the patient is fully protected by the non-return valve (17) during the bag changeover period. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drainage Bag Arrangements This invention relates to drainage bag arrangements and in particular to drainage bag arrangements such as are connected to a catheter for the purpose of collecting uring from a patient.

Drainage bags are connected to the catheter by means of an elongate, flexible, connecting tube. The bags incorporate a non-return valve to prevent urine from passing back from the bag along the connecting tube to the patient and thereby guard against cross-infection of the patient's urinary tract and infection of nursing personnel. The bags may also incorporate a drip chamber. Frequent changing of these drainage bags is necessary and this involves the discarding of the bag with its valve and drip chamber and also the connecting tube so that the patient does not become infected whilst the bag is being changed. This represents a necessary but undesirable expenditure. Furthermore the replacement bag and connecting tube must be in a sterile condition before use, and this adds to the cost of production of the bag and tube in a condition for use.However such drainage bag arrangements have been in use for very many years.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drainage bag arrangement in use of which the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided or substantially reduced.

The invention provides a drainage bag arrangement comprising an elongate connecting tube having one end thereof adapted to be secured to a catheter and the other end thereof adapted to be connected to a drainage bag, and having therein a non-return valve operable to allow fluid flow in a direction from said one end to said other end and to prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction.

Said tube may also have a drip chamber provided therein, and said valve may be located in said drip chamber, in which case said drip chamber is preferably located adjacent said other end.

The tube may have a catheter secured thereto at said one end, and may have a drainage bag attached to said other end.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a drainage bag arrangement 10 comprising a drainage bag 11, a connecting tube 12 and a catheter 13. One end 14 of the tube 12 is adapted to be secured to the catheter 13 and the tube 12 may be permanently secured to catheter 13 or detachably secured thereto as desired. The other end 15 of tube 12 is adapted to be detachably connected to the drainage bag 11.

Located within the tube 12, adjacent the end 15 thereof, is a drip chamber 16 in which is provided a non-return valve 17 which is operable to allow fluid flow from the catheter 13 to the drainage bag 11 but to prevent fluid flow in the reverse direction. This prevents, or reduces the risk of cross-infection of the patients urinary tract.

With the arrangement 10 only the bag 11 need be removed when a change thereof is required. The connecting tube 12 remains secured to the catheter and the presence of the non-return valve 17 in the tube 12 protects the patient from infection during the bag changing period. In the prior known arrangements, since the non-return valve is located in the drainage bag, the connecting tube must also be removed and discarded with the drainage bag so as to reduce the risk of infection of the patient.

However, the patient is still at some risk during the bag and tube changing period since the catheter is open to atmosphere in that period.

With the prior known arrangement a replacement drainage bag and a replacement connecting tube are required, and these must both be sterile. With the present arrangement only a replacement drainage bag 11 is required, and the bag 11 does not need to be sterile since the non-return valve 17 is located in the connecting tube 12. Furthermore the bag 11 does not need a non-return valve and/or drip chamber so that it may be a cheaper product than that used with the prior known arrangements. In consequence the drainage bag changing operation with the present arrangement is simpler and less costly than with the prior known arrangements.

Claims

1. A drainage bag arrangement comprising an elongate connecting tube having one end thereof adapted to be secured to a catheter and the other end thereof adapted to be connected to a drainage bag, and having therein a non-return valve operable to allow fluid flow in a direction from said one end to said other end and to prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction.

2. A drainage bag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a drip chamber provided therein.

3. A drainage bag arrangement according to'claim 2, wherein said valve is located in said drip chamber.

4. A drainage bag arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said drip chamber is located adjacent said other end.

5. A drainage bag arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising a catheter secured to said one end of said connecting tube.

6. A drainage bag arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5 comprising a drainage bag attached to said other end of said connecting tube.

7. A drainage bag arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.