WO2002094126A1

WO2002094126A1 - Drainage bag

Info

Publication number: WO2002094126A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/002126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marius Jordaan
Original assignee: Marius Jordaan
Priority date: 2001-05-22
Filing date: 2001-11-13
Publication date: 2002-11-28

Abstract

The invention concerns a drainage bag for body fluid which has a reusable outer bag containing an inner pouch containing a hydrophilic material, the pouch and bag being made of polyethylene material. The pouch has an inlet tube in sealing engagement therewith and the inlet tube includes a three-way valve and, where desired, a volume measuring chamber.

Description

DRAINAGE BAG

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drainage bag used in medical treatments.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Body fluid drainage bags are well known in the treatment of people suffering from bladder and other complaints where it is necessary that body fluids be drained through catheters from the body. These bags are packed in sterilized packages and used only once.

Recently these bags have been made to include a liquid permeable pouch containing a liquid absorbent polymer in granular form.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to make the use of these bags more convenient and the used material less trouble to dispose of.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a drainage bag including a replaceable pouch containing a hydrophilic material and made of polyethylene. An aspect of the invention also provides for the hydrophilic material to be a polymer in granular form which has antimicrobial properties.

Further features of this invention provide for the drainage bag inlet tube to extend directly and connect into the inner pouch and for the bag to have an opening with closure means near the top of the bag.

Still further features of the invention provide for the inlet tube to be sealed to the pouch preferably by means of an adapter sealed to the pouch and to have a three-way valve locatable outside the bag, the tube being made of polyvinyl chloride and the valve of polyethylene. The adapter and valve can be made from hard or soft material.

The closure means for the bag may be provided by hook and loop plastics material or by a series of holes oppositely disposed in each top edge of the bag.

The invention also provides for the closure means to be a reusable plastics material seal integral with the bag.

The invention further provides for a series of holes along the top of the bag to form means for suspending the bag, for the bag to be extended beyond the top and bottom of the container part of the bag with a series slots through the extended parts adapted to receive securing straps and for the pouch to carry a scale indicating the fluid content thereof.

Another aspect of the invention provides for the inlet tube to include in its length a container of predetermined volume with its bottom connected to the three-way valve and having a flexible overflow for direct connection to the pouch.

Still further features of this invention provide for the inlet to the container to include a valve permitting sample tapping from the inlet tube, for the valve to be similar to that in the outlet tube and for the container overflow to be connected to the valve below the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and other features of this invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which

FIG.1 illustrates a drainage bag ready to use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a drainage bag adapted to be carried by a patient;

FIG. 3 illustrates a drainage bag particularly suited to the requirements of intensive care; and

FIG.4 illustrates an alternative modified drainage bag for use with intensive care.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in Fig 1 the drainage bag assembly (1) has an outer bag (2) which is fabricated from polyethylene sheet material suitably folded to form an open top (3) with a double seal (4) provided down each side. The bag (2) is designed to support, in use, the weight of an inner pouch (5).

The top (3) of the bag (2) is provided with a series of holes (6) so that the open end of the bag may be held together over the pouch (5) and hung from a suitable support (not shown).

Alternatively the top (3) of the bag (2) may be provided with closure means in the form of strips of hook and loop material (7) such as that sold under the trade name "VELCROX The pouch (5) contains a predetermined quantity of a hydrophilic material which may be a polymer (8) in granular form. The end of a draining tube (9) is sealingly engaged with the pouch (5) through an adapter (10) made of a suitable plastics material which ensures the free flow of body fluids into said inner pouch (5). The hydrophilic material may be made to have antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties.

The tube (9) projects through the top of the bag (2) and is fitted with a three-way valve (11). This valve is releasable from the tube (9) and is attached to the connection from the source being drained, usually a catheter. The tube may conveniently be made of poly vinyl chloride.

The pouch (5) is also made of liquid impervious polyethylene material and from a folded condition is expandable to accommodate the swollen gel formed by the hydrophilic material absorbing the body fluids.

A clamp (not shown) may be provided between the pouch (5) and the three-way valve (11) to facilitate a used pouch (5) being removed from the assembly (1). This need not be necessary as the valve (11) can be closed and the tube (9) can be discarded with the pouch (5).

A cap (not shown) made of a suitable plastics material may be provided to seal off the end of the tube (9) or adapter (10) of the inner pouch (5) after use to prevent any possible leakage, backflow or contamination and used for general hygienic purposes.

In use the drainage assembly (1) is connected in the usual manner to a catheter operatively positioned in a patient. The body fluid drains from the patient directly into the pouch where it is absorbed by the hydrophilic material. The three-way valve (11) enables free flow to take place into the pouch (5) or alternative no flow while the pouch is being changed. Importantly it also enables mid-stream fluid samples to be taken.

When the hydrophilic material in the pouch (5) has reached its absorption capacity of the body fluid, usually urine, the closure means is opened and the pouch removed and replaced. The outer bag (2) is re-closed and the closure wiped off with antiseptic.

It will be appreciated that the valve (11) is closed during the changing of the pouch and switched to external flow to enable urine samples to be taken. This facility enables necessary samples to be taken at any time.

The used inner pouch (5), which now contains body fluids trapped in a gel form by the hydrophilic material, is readily disposed of. The bag (2) is also disposable but can be reused repeatedly with a new inner pouch before it needs to be replaced.

Referring to Fig 2 a "leg bag" is shown. This is a bag (12) which may be strapped to a patient's leg to enable him to be mobile while maintaining a drainage procedure.

The bag (12) has each end extended as shown at (13) and (14) and these extensions are slotted at (15). The slots (15) enable straps to be threaded there through and the bag (12) can then be secured to a patient's thigh. This is convenient as it enables the patient to be mobile either walking or in a wheelchair without interfering with the drainage of the body fluids.

A scale is marked along the edge of the pouch extending upwardly from the operatively bottom of the pouch. This scale is calculated to provide a measure of the volume of fluid absorbed by the polymer as it expands up the height of the pouch. Fig 3 shows a modification which makes the drainage bag assembly (16) particularly suitable for use with patients under intensive care. It is usually important that the drainage of urine from postoperative patients be carefully monitored at least initially. This is done to establish the functioning of internal organs such as kidneys and bladder. The measure of the flow of body fluid in a predetermined time is thus an essential piece of information that is required in postoperative care.

To enable this to be readily established the drainage bag assembly (16) includes a predetermined collection volume or bottle (17) in the tube (18) before the three- way valve (19). A flexible overflow pipe (20) is provided to which communicates directly with the pouch through an additional inlet (21) into the adaptor (22). This enables the valve to be closed and the time taken for the volume of the bottle (17) to fill. The valve is then opened and normal drainage continued. It is not necessary for the bottle to be removed from the circuit and, as with sampling of the body fluids, the measurement of the drainage can be repeated as often as may be necessary.

In Fig 4 is a modification of the drainage bag of Fig 3 which is both convenient to use and set up with a change of pouch.

The drainage bag (23) has a support system indicated generally at (24) providing attachment handles (25) whereby the bag (23) can be suitably located during use. The assembly is generally tubular and has internal longitudinally extending guides (26) which are engaged by slides (27) extending along a constricted end (28) to a measuring collection bottle (29).

A three way valve (30) is positioned in the flow connection tube (31) between the bottle (29) and the bag (23). The branch connection (32) of the valve (30) is connected to the overflow outlet (33) from the collection bottle (29). This avoids the need for special pouch inlet adaptors for pouches to be used with the intensive care drainage bag assemblies.

The inlet (34) to the collection bottle is also controlled by a three-way valve (35). This enables sampling of fluids flowing from the patient before the fluids reach the collection bottle (29). This facilitates the sampling as well as ensuring a sample direct from the patient.

As can be seen from Fig 4 shown in its in use position, the same kind of valve may be used in the connections above and below the collection bottle (29) but with the branch connection the valves oppositely directed. The upper valve will have the branch connection directed downwardly to facilitate outward flow of the sample while the lower valve will have its branch connection directed upwardly to receive overflow from the bottle (29).

The invention provides a drainage bag assembly which is simple and effective and particularly well suited as part of a urinary drainage system. It can easily be maintained in an antiseptic condition in hospitals and clinics where it can reduce the possibility of urinary tract infection and the spread of infection from inside the drainage bag. This is of importance where hospitals are insufficiently funded and staffed as well as overcrowded.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A drainage bag including a replaceable pouch containing a hydrophilic material and made of polyethylene.

2. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrophilic material is a polymer in granular form.

3. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 2 in which the polymer has anti- microbial properties.

4. A drainage bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the drainage bag has an inlet tube which extends directly and connects into the pouch.

5. A drainage bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the drainage bag has an opening provided with closure means near the operatively top of the bag.

6. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 4 in which the pouch has an adaptor sealed thereto and extending therefrom to which the inlet tube can be sealingly engaged.

7. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which a three-way valve is connected into the inlet tube.

8. A drainage bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bag and any ancillary components are made from polyethylene.

9. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 5 in which the closure means provides means whereby the bag can be supported.

10. A drainage bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bag has an extended top and bottom which is slotted to receive holding straps.

11. A drainage bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pouch carries a scale along its length to measure the volume of absorbed fluid.

12. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 7 in which the inlet tube includes in its length a collection bottle of predetermined volume with its bottom connected to the three-way valve and having a flexible overflow for connection to the pouch.

13. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 12 in which the overflow connection is directly into the pouch.

14. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which a second three way valve is included in the inlet connection to the collection bottle.

15. A drainage bag as claimed in claim 14 in which the overflow connection is through the three way valve to the pouch inlet tube.

16. A drainage bag substantially as described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.