GB2573034A - Drainage bottle with shroud - Google Patents

Abstract

The bottle 201 comprises at least one drainage inlet 209 for receiving drained air and fluid from a patient, at least one suction port 207 for connecting to a suction source, and a shroud 212. In use the shroud is positioned within the bottle, possibly on an inward facing surface of a lid 203. It covers at least an air outlet of the suction port, and possibly an outlet 204 for a pressure relief valve, thus preventing fluid from exiting the bottle through the air outlet whilst permitting airflow between the interior of the bottle and the air outlet. The shroud may comprise inner and outer peripheral walls 213a, 213b, with castellations forming a plurality of air gaps. A non-castellated inner wall (216, fig 3a) may surround a spigot (217) which may be inserted in the suction port for securing the shroud to the bottle.

Description

DRAINAGE BOTTLE WITH SHROUD

Technical Field

The present invention relates to drainage bottles, and particularly, but not exclusively underwater seal drainage bottles.

Background

The build-up of excess air and fluids in patients can cause numerous medical conditions such as pneumothorax where air and fluid fills the space between the lung and the chest wall, (the pleural space). In many cases, in order to alleviate these conditions, the air and fluid must be removed from the patient.

One method of removing air and fluid from the pleural space involves use of a drainage bottle such as an underwater seal drainage bottle. These bottles are arranged such that the patient is connected to the bottle via external tubing. This external tubing is terminated with a catheter which is inserted into the patient. The bottle contains a predetermined volume of fluid and the external tubing is connected to one end of an internal tube. The other end of the internal tube is submerged, typically by around 2 cm, below the surface of the fluid. In use, the bottle is positioned at a point lower than the patient. The underwater seal formed by the submerged internal tube causes a hydrostatic resistance within the tubing. The trapped air and fluid present in the pleural cavity results in the normally negative intrapleural pressure becoming positive. The air and fluid trapped in the intrapleural space moves from the higher pressure intrapleural space to the lower pressure drainage bottle along a pressure gradient and is therefore drawn from the patient and into the bottle. Successful removal of air from the patient can be seen by bubbles present in the fluid.

Further to this, suction can also be applied to the bottle to increase the rate of removal of air and fluid. The application of suction within the bottle can cause turbulence of the fluid. As a result, fluid can splash onto the air outlet of a suction pump port to which a suction source is applied and on to other air outlets, for example an air outlet of a oneway pressure relief valve. The fluid present in a drainage bottle may contain patient material and therefore presents a contamination risk. Often, as a result of fluid splashing within the bottle, fluid containing patient material can potentially leak or be drawn through outlets onto the surface of the bottles increasing contamination risk for example, for staff handling the bottles.

It is an aim of embodiments of the invention to at least partly mitigate problems 5 associated with fluid leaking from drainage bottles.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention addresses issues with the prior art by providing a drainage bottle with improved resistance to leaks through air outlets.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a drainage bottle comprising: at least one drainage inlet for receiving drained air and fluid from a patient; at least one suction port for connecting to a suction source, and a shroud. The shroud is positioned within the bottle covering at least an air outlet of the suction port thereby in use, substantially preventing fluid from exiting the bottle through the air outlet, said shroud further configured to permit airflow between the interior of the bottle and the air outlet.

Optionally, the drainage bottle further comprises a one-way pressure relief valve and the shroud is positioned within the bottle further covering an air outlet of the one-way pressure relief valve.

Optionally, the drainage bottle further comprises a lid, said drainage inlet, suction port for connecting to the suction source and one-way pressure relief valve disposed on the lid and the shroud is disposed on an inward facing surface of the lid.

Optionally, the shroud further comprises a peripheral wall disposed around the periphery of a cover surface, said cover surface covering the air outlets.

Optionally, the peripheral wall comprises a plurality of air gaps for permitting airflow between the interior of the bottle and the air outlets of the suction port and one-way pressure relief valve.

Optionally, the peripheral wall comprises a first castellated section, castellations of said first castellated section abutting an inner surface of the lid thereby forming a first plurality of the air gaps.

Optionally, the peripheral wall further comprises an inner peripheral wall section disposed inwardly from the first castellated section. The inner peripheral wall section is castellated, castellations of said castellated inner peripheral wall section abutting the inner surface of the lid thereby forming a second plurality of air gaps.

Optionally, a first space comprising a channel is formed between the first castellated section and the castellated inner peripheral wall section, said channel arranged to collect fluid drawn into the shroud through the first plurality of air gaps.

Optionally, the channel terminates at a first end at an exit open to the interior of the bottle and through which collected fluid can return to the interior of the bottle.

Optionally, the channel terminates at a second end, where the first castellated section of the outer peripheral wall and the castellated inner peripheral wall section meet.

Optionally, a floor of the channel is inclined towards the exit.

Optionally, the shroud further comprises an inner wall disposed centrally within the shroud and in a position corresponding to a position on the lid of the air outlet of the suction port.

Optionally, the shroud further comprises a spigot positioned within the inner wall and which is inserted in the suction port for securing the shroud to the bottle.

Optionally, wherein the spigot comprises a plurality of flanges, each flange supported by a buttress.

Optionally, the castellated inner peripheral wall section and a non-castellated outer peripheral wall section of the outer peripheral wall define a second space forming a collection reservoir for collecting fluid drawn into through the second plurality of air gaps, and said inner wall is disposed within the collection reservoir.

Optionally, the collection reservoir is of an extended depth relative to the first space comprising the channel.

Optionally, the shroud substantially consists of KR03 K-Resin.

Optionally, the drainage bottle is an underwater seal drainage bottle.

In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, a drainage bottle is provided which includes a shroud disposed within the bottle (for example on an inward side of a lid of the drainage bottle) covering at least the suction port air outlet of the bottle, and in some embodiments, additionally covering a one-way pressure relief valve air outlet. The shroud is configured to permit airflow thus enabling the suction port air outlet, and any other air outlet it covers (such as the one-way pressure relief valve air outlet), to operate whilst reducing the risk of contaminated fluid leaking from the bottle.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the shroud is provided with one or more castellated peripheral wall sections. When the shroud is fitted in place, for example to the inward facing side of a lid of the bottles, castellations of the castellated peripheral wall sections abut an inner surface of the bottle thereby forming openings providing air gaps permitting airflow between the interior of the bottle and the air outlet. Advantageously, forming air gaps in this way means that the shroud need only have castellated wall sections which are easier to manufacture than, for example, punching, drilling or otherwise forming fully enclosed apertures for providing air gap openings.

In certain embodiments, a channel is formed between inner and outer peripheral castellated wall sections with an exit opening back into the interior of the bottle. Fluid entering the shroud collects in this channel and returns to the bottle interior via the exit, further reducing the likelihood that contaminated fluid exits the bottle. In certain embodiments, a floor of the channel is inclined towards the exit to further assist in fluid collected in the channel returning to the bottle interior

Various further features and aspects of the invention are defined in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings where like parts are provided with corresponding reference numerals and in which:

Figure 1 provides a simplified schematic diagram of a conventional underwater seal drainage bottle;

Figure 2 provides a simplified schematic diagram of an exploded view of a drainage bottle arrangement in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 3a provides a simplified schematic diagram of a first view of a shroud in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 3b provides a simplified schematic diagram of a second view of a shroud in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 4 provides a simplified schematic diagram of a cross section view of part a drainage bottle in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, and

Figure 5 provides a schematic diagram providing two views of the shroud shown in Figures 1 to 4 showing exemplary dimensions of a typical embodiment.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 provides a simplified schematic diagram of a conventional underwater seal drainage bottle for removal of air and/or fluid from a patient. The bottle 101 comprises a bottle body 102 and a removable lid 103. In use, the bottle is filled with a predetermined amount of fluid 104, typically sterile water. A tube 105 is present in the bottle at the distal end is submerged in the fluid 104. The tube 105 extends to the lid 103 of the bottle at the proximal end and here it is connected to external tubing 106 which is connected to the patient by means of a catheter at its terminal end. A suction pump can be attached to the bottle by means of the suction port 107 which is located on the lid 103 of the bottle 101. A one-way pressure relief valve 108 is also typically provided on the lid 103 of the bottle 101.

Prior to use on a patient, for example for removal of pleural air in a pneumothorax, a bayonet cap 109 is removed from the lid 103 and an appropriate level of fluid 104 is added. A pleural catheter (not shown) is connected to the patient and fixed to the terminal end of the external tubing 106 and the external tubing is connected to the bottle at the lid 103.

The bottle is placed below the patient and the resulting difference in hydrostatic pressure draws air and fluid from the pleural space into the fluid 104 present within the bottle 101. The air and fluid drawn from the patient typically includes “patient material” (e.g. blood and tissue) some of which is collected in the fluid 104. Air bubbles can be observed in the fluid 104 to indicate successful drainage. Air extracted from the patient exits the bottle via the suction port 107.

If required, additional suction can be applied by attaching a suction pump to the suction port 107. The addition of suction via a suction pump attached to the suction port 107 causes an increase in the difference in negative pressure between the pleural space in the patient and the bottle body 102. The one-way pressure relief valve 108 can be provided on the bottle to prevent excess positive pressure build up within the bottle.

When suction is applied the bottle 101, turbulence can be induced in the fluid 104. This turbulence may lead to the fluid 104 (and potentially patient material) splashing onto the underside of the lid 103. There is therefore a risk that splashed fluid on the underside of the lid 103 is drawn through the suction port 107 or one-way pressure relief valve 108. Such fluid, which may contain patient material, can therefore leak outside the bottle presenting a contamination risk.

Figure 2 provides a schematic diagram showing an exploded view of part of a drainage bottle arranged in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. Figures 3a and 3b provide, respectively, schematic diagrams providing more detailed first and second views of the shroud shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 provides a schematic diagram of a cross sectional and assembled view of the drainage bottle shown in Figure 1.

A drainage bottle in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 2, 3a, 3b and 4. The drainage bottle, and specifically the lid of the drainage bottle, is adapted to reduce the likelihood of patient material leaking from the bottle during use.

A drainage bottle 201 is provided comprising a body 202 and a lid 203. The bottle and lid can be made from any suitable material, for example KR03 K-Resin. Typically, the bottle and lid are manufactured by injection moulding.

The lid 203 comprises a one-way pressure relief valve 204 which includes a flexible rubber cap 205 and a vented cover 206 mounted over an air outlet.

The lid 203 further comprises a suction port 207 mounted over an air outlet and a handle 208.

A tubing connection interface 209 is provided on the lid 203 and comprises a removable bayonet cap 210 and a rubber O-ring 211.

The bottle substantially corresponds to conventional drainage bottles except that positioned on an inward facing side of the lid 203 is a splash guard provided by a shroud 212, configured to cover the underside of the suction port 207 (i.e. the suction port air outlet) and the underside of the one-way pressure relief valve 204 (i.e. the oneway pressure relief valve air outlet). The shroud 212 is typically injection moulded and made from a suitable resin such as KR03 K-Resin, a thermosetting plastic or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

The shroud 212 comprises a cover surface 220 which substantially covers a portion of the inner surface of the lid 203 and in particular parts of the inner surface of the lid 203 on which the underside of the one-way pressure relief valve 204 and suction port 207 are disposed.

The shroud 212 further comprises a peripheral wall 213 which extends upwardly from a perimeter of the cover surface and when the shroud 212 is fixed in place abuts the inward facing surface of the lid 203 of the bottle 201.

The peripheral wall 213 comprises a “castellated” outer wall section 213a. That is, the castellated outer wall section 213a comprises a series of regularly spaced “notches” (castellations), which, when the when the shroud 212 is fixed on the underside of the lid 203 of the bottle 201, abut the inward facing surface of the lid 203 and form air gaps. That is, openings through which air can flow.

The shroud 212 has a second castellated inner peripheral wall section 213b which is similarly castellated to the castellated outer wall section 213a and which similarly, when the shroud 212 is fixed on the underside of the lid 203 of the bottle 201, form openings through which air can flow.

In use, air and fluid from a patient is drawn into the bottle 201 through external tubing attached to the lid 203 of the bottle 201 via the tubing connection interface 209.

Suction is applied via a suction pump which is attached to the lid 203 of the bottle 201 at the suction port 207.

As explained above, in use, collected fluid which may contain patient material may be splashed onto the inward facing portion of the lid 203 of the bottle 201.

Advantageously, by virtue of the provision of the shroud 212, and in particular by virtue of the fact that the cover surface 220 covers parts of the inner surface of the lid 203 on which the underside of the one-way pressure relief valve 204 and suction port 207 are disposed, fluid is substantially prevented from being drawn out of the bottle via the suction port 207 and/or the one-way pressure relief valve 204.

The provision of the castellated wall sections 213a 213b (and specifically the air gaps formed by virtue of the castellations) permit air flow through the shroud enabling the suction port 207 and one-way pressure relief valve 204 to function despite the fact they are substantially covered by the shroud.

Between the castellated outer wall section 213a and the castellated inner peripheral wall section 213b a channel 214 is formed.

The channel 214 has a floor which is inclined towards an exit 215 at one end of the channel 214 which is open to the interior of the bottle.

The channel 214, at least in part, wraps around the periphery of the shroud 212. The channel terminates at a second end where the castellated outer wall section 213a and the castellated inner peripheral wall section 213b meet.

A further inner non-castellated wall 216 is provided. When the shroud is fixed in place, the non-castellated inner wall 216 surrounds the area of the lid below the suction port air outlet. In other embodiments a similar non-castellated inner wall could be provided to surround the area of the lid below the one-way pressure relief valve 204.

The inner non-castellated wall 216 is of a lower height than the peripheral wall 213 and castellated inner peripheral wall section 213b. In this way, when the shroud is fixed in place, a gap is formed between inner non-castellated wall 216 and the lid to allow air flow into the suction port 207 and one-way pressure relief valve 204.

The inner non-castellated wall 216 is substantially circular, but any suitable configuration can be used, for example square shaped, hexagon shaped and so on.

Positioned within the inner non-castellated wall 216 of the shroud 212 is a spigot 217.

The spigot 217 is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises three flanges 218 separated by gaps. The spigot 217 provides a means of attaching the shroud 212 to the lid 203 of the drainage bottle 201. Specifically, the spigot 217 is received into the suction port 207. Typically, this is achieved by the application of a bonding agent (for example a mix of solvent 75% Cyclohexanone with 25% Butanone) to the outer surfaces of the spigot flanges 218 which bonds with a corresponding inner surface of the suction port 207 when the shroud is fitted. Alternatively, a glue could be used such as a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Alternatively, the shroud 212 could be ultrasonically welded to the lid 203. In some examples the shroud can be additionally fixed to the bottom side of the lid 203 by bonding, gluing or ultrasonic welding the upper surface of the peripheral wall 213 to the bottom side of the lid 203.

Gaps are provided between the spigot flanges 218 providing flexibility allowing the spigot 217 to be compressed when fitting into the suction port 207. When fitted, the gaps extend below the suction port 207 (that is, the entire length of the spigot 217 is not inserted into the suction port) meaning that air can flow from the bottle interior into the suction port 207.

The spigot flanges 218 are each supported by a buttress 219. Each buttress braces the corresponding spigot flange 218 and further secures the spigot 217 to the base of the shroud 212.

In use, when fluid turbulence is induced inside the bottle 201 and fluid splashes from the bottle body 202 onto the underside of the lid 203 and the shroud 212, some of the fluid may penetrate the castellated outer wall section 213a and therefore enter the shroud 212.

On entering the shroud 212, this fluid is substantially contained within the channel 218. By virtue of the inclined floor of the channel 214, such fluid will flow down the inclined floor, towards the exit portion 215 and exit the shroud 212 and return into the body of the bottle 202.

The inner non-castellated wall 216 provides a further barrier to fluid being drawn through the suction port 207, reducing the likelihood of any fluid that has been drawn through the castellated inner peripheral wall section 213b exiting the bottle 201 through the suction port 207.

The castellated inner peripheral wall section 213b and a non-castellated section 213c of the peripheral wall 213 enclose a space within the shroud 212 which forms an inner collection reservoir 221. Any fluid drawn through the inner castellated wall section 213b collects in the inner collection reservoir 221.

In this way, the shroud 212, generally comprises a first space within which the channel 214 is formed and a second space within which the inner collection reservoir 221 is formed.

The portion 220a of the cover surface 220 corresponding to the collection reservoir 221 is of extended depth relative to the rest of the cover surface 220. This enables more fluid to be collected reducing the chance that fluid will spill over the inner noncastellated wall 216.

In the embodiment described above, the shroud 212 is dimensioned to substantially cover the air outlets of the suction port 207 and one-way pressure relief valve 204 whilst leaving remaining parts of the underside of the lid 203 uncovered. Advantageously, this reduces the cost of the shroud 212. However, in other embodiments, the shroud 212 covers substantially most or all of the underside of the lid 203.

In the embodiment described above, the lid 203 and the shroud 212 are manufactured as separate components and are then fixed together. In other embodiments, rather than providing the shroud 212 and lid 203 as a separate component, the shroud 212 and the lid 203 are manufactured as a single integrated component.

Figure 5 provides a schematic diagram providing two views of the shroud described above provided with exemplary dimensions of a typical embodiment. The skilled person will understand that these dimensions are simply exemplary and embodiments with different dimensions are envisaged. The dimensions are in mm.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases at least one and one or more to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles a or an limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases one or more or at least one and indefinite articles such as a or an (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of two recitations, without other modifiers, means at least two 5 recitations, or two or more recitations).

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the 10 various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.

Claims (18)

1. A drainage bottle comprising:

at least one drainage inlet for receiving drained air and fluid from a patient;

at least one suction port for connecting to a suction source, and a shroud, said shroud positioned within the bottle covering at least an air outlet of the suction port thereby in use, substantially preventing fluid from exiting the bottle through the at least one air outlet, said shroud further configured to permit airflow between the interior of the bottle and the air outlet.

2. A drainage bottle according to claim 1, further comprising a one-way pressure relief valve, wherein the shroud is positioned within the bottle further covering an air outlet of the one-way pressure relief valve.

3. A drainage bottle according to claim 2, further comprising a lid, said drainage inlet, suction port for connecting to the suction source and one-way pressure relief valve disposed on the lid, wherein said shroud is disposed on an inward facing surface of the lid.

4. A drainage bottle according to claim 3, wherein the shroud comprises a peripheral wall disposed around the periphery of a cover surface, said cover surface covering the air outlets.

5. A drainage bottle according to claim 4, wherein said peripheral wall comprises a plurality of air gaps for permitting airflow between the interior of the bottle and the air outlets of the suction port and one-way pressure relief valve.

6. A drainage bottle according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral wall comprises a first castellated section, castellations of said first castellated section abutting an inner surface of the lid thereby forming a first plurality of the air gaps.

7. A drainage bottle according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral wall further comprises an inner peripheral wall section disposed inwardly from the first castellated section, wherein said inner peripheral wall section is castellated, castellations of said castellated inner peripheral wall section abutting the inner surface of the lid thereby forming a second plurality of air gaps.

8. A drainage bottle according to claim 7, wherein a first space comprising a channel is formed between the first castellated section and the castellated inner peripheral wall section, said channel arranged to collect fluid drawn into the shroud through the first plurality of air gaps.

9. A drainage bottle according to claim 8, wherein the channel terminates at a first end at an exit open to the interior of the bottle and through which collected fluid can return to the interior of the bottle.

10. A drainage bottle according to claim 9, wherein the channel terminates at a second end, where the first castellated section of the outer peripheral wall and the castellated inner peripheral wall section meet.

11. A drainage bottle according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a floor of the channel is inclined towards the exit.

12. A drainage bottle according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the shroud further comprises an inner wall disposed centrally within the shroud and in a position corresponding to a position on the lid of the air outlet of the suction port.

13. A drainage bottle according to claim 12, wherein the shroud further comprises a spigot positioned within the inner wall and which is inserted in the suction port for securing the shroud to the bottle.

14. A drainage bottle according to claim 13, wherein the spigot comprises a plurality of flanges, each flange supported by a buttress.

15. A drainage bottle according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the castellated inner peripheral wall section and a non-castellated outer peripheral wall section of the outer peripheral wall define a second space forming a collection reservoir for collecting fluid drawn into through the second plurality of air gaps, and said inner wall is disposed within the collection reservoir.

16. A drainage bottle according to claim 15, wherein the collection reservoir is of an extended depth relative to the first space comprising the channel.

17. A drainage bottle according to any previous claim, wherein the shroud substantially consists of KR03 K-Resin.

18. A drainage bottle according to any previous claim, wherein the drainage bottle is an underwater seal drainage bottle.