Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Splint or brace
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-07-17
Lewis, Kim M. (Department: 3761)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Splint or brace
C604S317000, C604S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261254
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to urine collection containers and relates more specifically to a drain assembly for such a container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to discharge urinary catheters into urinary drainage bags for collecting urine from catheterized patients. Such bags are typically attached to the hospital bed below the level of the patient such that urine flows into the bag under force of gravity. To permit fluid to be drained from the bag, either when the bag becomes overly full or when a specimen is needed, a drain assembly is provided adjacent the lower end of the bag. Typically the drain assembly comprises a flexible, resilient outlet tube having one end in fluid communication with the interior of the bag. To prevent fluid from flowing through the outlet tube, some means for closing off the outlet tube is provided, such as a clamp which slides over the end of the tube and clamps the walls of the tube to occlude its lumen. Fluid is discharged through the outlet port by releasing the clamp from the outlet tube.
With the growing concern over the spread of diseases such as AIDS which are spread by contact with body fluids, it is important that the discharge end of the outlet tube be protected against accidental contact by attending healthcare personnel. At the same time, because urinary drainage bags must be attended by healthcare personnel who have many other duties, it is imperative that a urinary drainage bag be capable of being operated quickly, preferably a single step operation which can be accomplished with only one hand. Any means provided to prevent the attending healthcare personnel from accidentally contacting the contaminated discharge end of the outlet tube should not interfere with single step, single handed operation. Furthermore, because of the single-patient, disposable nature of urine collection bags, it is important that the urinary drainage bag be low cost and easy to manufacture.
Thus there is a need for an improved drain assembly for urinary collection bags.
There is a further need for a urinary drainage bag which has a drain assembly which protects attending healthcare personnel against accidental contact with the contaminated end of the discharge tubing.
There is also a need for a urinary drainage bag which has a drain assembly which operates quickly and easily, which requires only a single step to operate, and which can be operated with only one hand.
Finally there is a need for a urinary drainage bag which has a drain assembly which satisfies all of the foregoing needs while being inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Stated generally, the present invention comprises a urinary drainage bag which has a drain assembly which protects attending healthcare personnel against accidental contact with the contaminated end of the discharge tubing. The drainage bag of the present invention operates quickly and easily, requires only a single step to operate, and can be operated with only one hand. The drainage bag of the present invention provides all of these advantages while being inexpensive to manufacture.
Stated somewhat more specifically, the present invention comprises a fluid collection bag and drain assembly. A container has an interior chamber for collecting fluid. A compressible, resilient outlet tube is mounted to the container and has a passage in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the container. A housing surrounds the outlet tube and has an open lower end. The discharge end of the outlet tube is disposed to discharge fluid through the open lower end of the housing. A lever is pivotably mounted to the housing and has a closure member operative to clamp off the outlet tube when the lever is in a closed position and to permit the outlet tube to open when the lever is in an open position. A cover member is also pivotably mounted to the housing and is normally operative to close the open lower end of the housing. The cover member is operatively linked to the lever such that when the lever is opened, the cover member is opened to uncover the open lower end of the housing concurrent with the outlet tube being permitted to open. In the disclosed embodiment the cover member is operatively linked to the lever by means of a follower on the lever which rides within a cooperating slot in the lever. Thus the cover member prevents accidental contact with the discharge end of the outlet tube when fluid is not being discharged from the container.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drain assembly for urine collection containers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a drain assembly for urine collection containers which can easily and reliably be operated with only one hand.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a drain assembly for urine collection containers which provides the operator with control over the direction in which fluid is discharged, especially during opening and closing of the drain assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a drain assembly for urine collection containers which is intuitive to operate.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an outlet tube device which can be operated without the fingers and hands of the operator being in the proximity of the discharge tube so as to minimize or eliminate the possibility of transferring bacteria, fungus, or other contaminant from the operator's hands to the tube, where the contaminant could find its way into the bag and hence to the patient, or from the tube to the operator's hands, causing an unsanitary situation and exposing the operator to the possibility of infection or disease.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
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Arndt Richard
Baron Robert J.
Blinow Igor
C. R. Bard Inc.
Kilpatrick Strockton LLP
Lewis Kim M.
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