WO2014011111A1

WO2014011111A1 - A device for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine or medical liquids, and a catheter bag

Info

Publication number: WO2014011111A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/050886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingela SKOGVALL SVENSSON; Olle Svensson
Original assignee: Skogvall Svensson Ingela
Priority date: 2012-07-13
Filing date: 2013-07-10
Publication date: 2014-01-16
Also published as: SE1250833A1

Abstract

A device (1) for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine or medical liquids before being drained into the sewage system is described. The device comprises a receiving unit (2) for receiving the urine or medical liquid and a center unit (3) comprising activated carbon. A catheter bag comprising an activated carbon filter is also described.

Description

A device for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine or medical liquids, and a catheter bag.

Field of the invention

5 The present invention relates to a device for removal of various

unwanted substances from human urine and/or various medical liquids, thereby preventing the substances from reaching the sewage system.

Background Art

Today, there is a growing concern regarding the discharge of pharma-

10 ceuticals into the sewage water. The excretion of various substances from urine and/or various medical liquids is a large contributing factor. Such substances can for instance be antibiotics, anti-mycotics (against fungi), NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs), hormones and cytostatic drugs. A large amount of these substances, after given to a patient, are

15 released from the body via the urine. The release of such substances into the sewage water has several drawbacks. For instance the release of antibiotics can promote the development of multi resistant bacterias, a problem that has become very serious, resulting in that patients infected with these resistant bacterias cannot be cured, thereby risking death.

20 Naturally, this also has an enormous environmental impact. The

problem includes not only antibiotics, but also other pharmaceuticals such as for example, but not exclusively, cytostatics, NSAIDs and hormones.

Fish that have been swimming in purified waste water experience changes e.g. in their hormone system and in their liver. These changes are

25 caused by the more than thousand different active ingredients, which originate from pharmaceuticals consumed.

Furthermore, the release of NSAIDs into the sewage water can harm various eco-systems and the release of various hormones has been suggested to affect the development of children and result in premature puberty and

30 obesity. The release of cytostatic drugs is also of great concern since these are highly toxic and carcinogenic. Since the waste water purification plants are not constructed to remove drugs, hormones etc from the waste water, the substances end up in the environment.

It has previously been shown in for example a report by Stockholm Vatten (Title: Lakemedelsrester i Stockholms vattenmiljo Forekomst, fore- byggande atgarder och rening av avloppsvatten, by Cajsa Wahlberg, Berndt Bjorlenius and Nicklas Paxeus) that it may be possible to achieve some level of purification with biofilm systems (MBBR), membrane bioreactors (MBR), and also with the aid of ozone or active carbon, but so far no functioning and economically feasible ways to carry out the purification have been found.

At hospitals, large amounts of the above mentioned substances are used for treatment of various diseases. However, since many drugs are excreted in the urine and there are no means for removing the substances from the patient^'s urine, the drugs end up in the sewage system. Examples of drugs are antibiotics, hormones, cytostatics, blood pressure lowering pharmaceuticals, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving pharmaceuticals (NSAID).

A similarly important problem is various drugs released into the sewage system by urine from persons using these drugs at home for treatment of various illnesses.

Further, other non-medical drugs, such as narcotics, are also released into the sewage system by urine from persons using these drugs

Summary of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the problems described above regarding the release of potentially harmful substances into the sewage system.

This is done by means of a device for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine or medical liquids before reaching the sewage system, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving the urine or medical liquid and

transporting said urine or medical liquid to a center unit, and

a center unit comprising activated carbon, having a diameter within the range of 0.1 - 3 mm. In one embodiment the device also comprises a draining unit collecting the purified urine and/or medical liquid, where the draining unit can be connected directly to a sewage pipe, be put in a sink or otherwise be in contact with the sewage system.

In one embodiment the draining unit is a drainage pipe or hose.

In a further embodiment the activated carbon is granular or in the form of rods.

In one embodiment the activated carbon in the center unit comprises more than one layer of activated carbon.

According to one embodiment the center unit has a helical shape.

In one embodiment of the present invention the device further comprises a means for obtaining a pressure gradient through the center unit, thereby increasing the flow of the urine and/or the medical liquid through the device.

In a further embodiment, the center unit comprising the activated carbon is equipped with a net/web placed above and/or under the activated carbon to hold the activated carbon in the center unit.

In one embodiment the activated carbon is surrounded by a net/web. In another embodiment, the device comprises at least one fastening means.

In one embodiment, the fastening means is/are chosen from hooks, loops, tape, rubber band, Velcro, buttons, ribbon, string or stick-on material.

In a further embodiment the receiving unit comprises a lid.

In another embodiment the activated carbon has been pre-treated to improve its absorbing effectiveness.

In one embodiment the improved absorbing effectiveness comprises improved affinity for water-soluble substances and/or fat-soluble substances.

In another embodiment the activated carbon comprises one or more layers of activated carbon, which layers may be pre-treated or not pre-treated.

In one embodiment the surface area of the orifice at the top of the receiving unit is larger than the surface area of the orifice at the bottom of the receiving unit. In one embodiment the receiving unit is conically shaped.

In a further embodiment the center unit has a helical shape.

In a further embodiment the device further comprises at least one suspension device for suspension of at least one catheter bag or urine bottle.

The present invention further relates to a device for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine before reaching the sewage system, comprising:

a center unit comprising activated carbon,

a first connecting unit for attachment to a catheter tube, and

a second connecting unit for attachment to another catheter tube or to a catheter bag.

Further, the present invention relates to a catheter bag comprising a filter comprising activated carbon, for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine before reaching the sewage system.

In one embodiment, the activated carbon used in the devices and in the catheter bag has been impregnated with elemental sulphur.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a device according to the present invention suitable for removal of substances from urine from e.g. a chamber pot, urine bottle or a catheter.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of a device according to the present invention mounted on a toilet.

Fig. 3 shows a device according to the present invention mounted on a toilet, seen from above.

Fig. 4 shows a device according to the present invention for removal of susbtances from urine before the urine is collected in a catheter bag.

Fig. 5 shows a catheter bag comprising a filter comprising activated carbon.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The device 1 according to the present invention concerns removal of substances from urine or various medical liquids before being drained into the sewage system. The substances being removed from the urine or medical liquids are preferably medical substances. Examples of medical substances that can be removed are antibiotics, hormones, cytostatics, blood pressure lowering pharmaceuticals, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving pharmaceuticals such as NSAIDs.

Other substances to be removed are for instance different types of narcotics.

The device 1 comprises a receiving unit 2 for receiving the urine or medical liquid, and a center unit 3 comprising activated carbon. The receiving unit 2 may also comprise activated carbon.

The device 1 may further comprise a draining unit 4 collecting the purified urine and/or medical liquid, which draining unit 4 can be connected directly to a sewage pipe, be put in a sink or otherwise be in contact with the sewage system.

The draining unit 4 may for instance be a drainage pipe or hose or other suitable device.

The activated carbon has a diameter of 0.1 -3 mm. The activated carbon may be granular, in the form of rods or any other shape.

The flow of liquid through the device 1 can be increased by including means (not shown) for generating a positive pressure above the center unit 3 comprising activated carbon and/or a means (not shown) for generating a negative pressure applied below the center unit 3 comprising activated carbon. A pressure gradient through the device is thereby generated. Such a gradient may speed up the process of urine progressing through the device 1 , thereby enhancing the usefulness of the device 1 . Examples of such means could be pumps, compressors, etc, capable of affecting local pressure. The skilled man knows how to select suitable such means.

The center unit 3 comprising activated carbon may be equipped with a net/web 5 or other means for holding the activated carbon in the center unit 3. Examples of materials for the net/web 5 are textile fabric, cloth or plastic, but other materials are also possible. The net/web 5 is placed above and/or under the activated carbon to hold the activated carbon in the center unit 3. Alternatively, the activated carbon can also be surrounded by the net/web 5. The mesh size of the net/web 5 is suitably adapted to the size of the activated carbon, so that the activated carbon remains in the center unit 3.

The center unit 3 may have virtually any shape, e.g. circular, square, rectangular, triangular, etc. It may preferably be helical since the urine or medical liquid then is forced to follow the shape of the helix, increasing the length/amount of activated carbon that the urine or medical liquid has to pass, thereby utilizing the cleaning effect of the activated carbon in a better way.

Another aspect of the center unit 3 is that if the surface area of it is too big, the urine and/or medical liquid will probably create a narrow path where most liquid will pass, resulting in a loss of effectiveness in the filter. This can be negated by introducing walls in the center unit 3 to increase the number of pathways that the urine will take in the activated carbon.

The receiving unit 2 may be rigid or flexible. The stiffness, size and shape thereof is adapted to the particular use. The surface area of the orifice at the top of the receiving unit 2 is preferably larger than the surface area of the orifice at the bottom of the receiving unit 2, to facilitate the inflow of urine and/or medical liquid into the receiving unit 2 and the transportation of the urine and/or medical liquid to the center unit 3.

The shape of the receiving unit 2 may for instance be cylindrical, square, pyramidal, conical etc. In a preferred embodiment the receiving unit 2 is conically shaped.

The receiving unit 2 may comprise activated carbon and may further have the same shape as the center unit 3.

For use of the device 1 according to the present invention when pour- ing out urine and/or other medical fluids from e.g. a chamber pot or other devices, the receiving unit 2 is preferably rigid and preferably has a conical shape, facilitating the pouring of the urine and/or other fluid into the device 1 without spillage thereof and transferring the urine and/or other fluid to the center unit 3.

When using the device 1 according to the present invention in a toilet, for direct removal of unwanted substances from urine while urinating, the receiving unit 2 is preferably thin and flexible, and the size thereof is preferably adapted to fit around the opening of the toilet, preferably under the toilet seat. The receiving unit 2 can be fastened onto the toilet via for instance hooks, or alternatively the receiving unit 2, when being made of a thin and flexible material, is folded over the outside of the opening of the toilet and the toilet seat is then placed above, holding the device 1 in place.

The same applies when using the device 1 according to the present invention in a urine bottle 1 1 for men, i.e. the receiving unit 2 is preferably thin and flexible, and the size thereof is preferably adapted to fit around the edge of the urine bottle 1 1 . The shape of the center unit 3 is prefererably the same as the shape of the opening of the urine bottle 1 1 and the size thereof is pre- ferably a little bit smaller than the diameter of the opening of the urine bottle 1 1 , to facilitate insertion of the device 1 and removal thereof after use. The receiving unit 2 can be fastened onto the urine bottle 1 1 via different fastening means, for instance hooks, or alternatively the receiving unit 1 , being made of a thin and flexible material, is folded over the outside of the opening of the urine bottle 1 1 .

The device 1 according to the present invention may further be equipped with at least one fastening means. The fastening means is/are used for holding the device in place and also for preventing it from turning over when using the device 1 for pouring urine or fluid into it at/near a sink and/or a sewage pipe. When turning over, it may result in undesirable spillage of the urine and/or medical fluid. Further, the fastening means may be used for fastening the device at a toilet when using the device 1 for direct removal of unwanted substances from urine. The fastening means may be hooks, loops, tape, rubber band, Velcro, buttons, ribbon, string or stick-on material, but also other variants of fastening means are possible.

The device 1 may also be equipped with a lid for closing the receiving unit 2. The lid prevents unpleasant odour from oozing out of the device 1 and also facilitates the handling of the device 1 without spillage of urine and/or other fluids in the device 1 .

The activated carbon used in the device 1 may also be pre-treated in various ways to improve the absorbing effectiveness thereof. One example of optimization is improved affinity for water-soluble substances and another is improved affinity for fat-soluble substances. The center unit 3 may comprise one or more layers of activated carbon, where the layers are adapted after substances to be removed. The layers may be separated from each other by separating means, suitably by net/web. The mesh size of the net/web is suitably adapted to the size of the activated carbon. Alternatively, the different types of optimized activated carbon may be mixed together.

The device 1 according to the present invention may further be equipped with at least one suspension device for suspension of at least one catheter bag, urine bottle or other container. The suspension device may for instance be a hook. For removal of medical substances from the urine com- prised in the catheter, the catheter bag is hang up on the device and the urine is allowed to drain off and into the receiving unit 2.

The present invention also involves a device 6 for removal of substances from urine before reaching the sewage system. The device 6 comprises a center unit 3 comprising activated carbon, a first connecting unit 7 for attachment to a catheter tube, and a second connecting unit 8 for attachment to another catheter tube or to a catheter bag. The activated carbon of center unit 3 of device 6 preferably has a diameter within the range of 0.1 - 3 mm. By connecting the first connecting unit 7 of the device to a catheter tube and the second connecting unit 8 to another catheter tube or to a catheter bag, the urine coming out of a body is transported through the device 6 and the unwanted substances are filtered of by the activated carbon before the urine is collected in the catheter bag. The first and second connecting unit (7;8) is preferably made of a flexible material for simplifying the connections between the device 6 and the catheter tube and the device 6 and the catheter bag.

The device 6 may also comprise a receiving unit, e.g. for collecting the urine when the volume of the urine coming out from a patient is to large to be able to pass through the center unit fast enough. The receiving unit may also comprise active carbon, and preferably activated carbon having a diameter within the range of 0.1 - 3 mm.

Further, the present invention also relates to a catheter bag 9 comprising a filter 10 comprising activated carbon, for removal of substances from urine or other medical liquids before reaching the sewage system. The activated carbon of filter 10 preferably has a diameter within the range of 0.1 - 3 mm. The filter 10 can be fixed in the catheter bag 9 or may be unattached to the catheter bag 9 and connected by the urine tubing. The size of the filter 10 is adapted to the volume of the catheter bag 9.

The activated carbon in the device 6, and in the catheter bag 9 may be held in place with a net/web 5 or other means for holding the activated carbon as described for the device 1 above. Examples of materials for the net/web 5 are textile fabric, cloth or plastic, but other materials are also possible. The net/web 5 is placed above and/or under the activated carbon to hold the activated carbon in place, or, alternatively, surrounds the activated carbon. The mesh size of the net/web 5 is suitably adapted to the size of the activated carbon, so that the activated carbon remains in place in the filter.

The activated carbon that is used in the devices 1 ;6, and in the catheter bag 9 according to the present invention may be inpregnated with elemental sulphur. This increases the binding of certain substances to the activated carbon.

Examples

Example 1. Flow of a liquid through a column as a function of carbon particle diameter

Background

To investigate how different particle size activated carbons (granular activated and powder activated types) influence the volumetric flow rate through a column with a diameter of 2,2 cm and 50 cm length.

Material

Norit PK 0,25-1

Norit GAC 1240 plus

PAC Sigma C7606

Deionized Water

Experimental The column was packed with the carbon using a funnel. Glass wool was used to hold the carbon. Before measurement water was added to insure that the carbon was pre-wetted.

The time was taken with a stopwatch for 100 ml liquid to run through the column.

Table 1 :

As is evident from the above experiment, the size of the carbon particles determines the flow of liquid through the column. Powder carbon, with an average size of 20 micrometers, let through only 0.2 ml liquid/minute, while some granular carbon let through almost 100 ml/minute.

Thus, powder carbon lets through only around 300 ml/day, which is of little practical use, while granular carbon can allow a flow of almost 50 litres/day. A fast flow through the carbon is essential for a practical use of the invention. Also, since granular carbon binds antibiotics quickly (In section 4 it is shown that it only takes ~5 min for granular carbon to bind 86 % of Ampicilline), a fast flow through the carbon bed is necessary in order to take advantage of the fast binding of granular carbon to antibiotics.

Example 2: HPLC analysis of antibiotics Background

The method was developed for ampicillin but could also be used for other antibiotics with probably small adjustments. Ampicillin is dissolved in synthetic urine in these experiments (see below).

Material

Column and stationary phase Kromasil 100-5C18 150 x 4,6mm E38405 Methanol

o-phosphoric acid

Triethylamine

Filter 0,2um from Whatman, diameter 47 mm

Filter GHP 0,2 um Acrodisk from Pall

Syringe 2 ml from BD PlastiPak

Preparation of mobile phase

760 ml 1 % v/v o-phosphoric acid is mixed with 240 ml methanol and pH is adjusted to 7.5 with about 1 pp (pasteur pipette) triethylamine. The mobile phase is filtered through a 0.2 um polypropylene membrane pre-wetted with methanol.

Preparation of standard curve and sample solution

Standard solutions are prepared in the range from 0. 25 to 0,.05 g/L

The sample is typically diluted 10 or 20 times with de-ionized water. Both the standard and sample is prefilter with a 0,2um syringfilter using 2 ml syringe.

HPLC

Flow 1 ml/min. Injection volume 10 uL. Approx. pressure 125 bar.

The HPLC is runned isocratic to an acceptable baseline is shown.

The standard and sample are injected on the HPLC using a wavelength of 220nm. On a DAD detector multiple wavelengths can be selected such as 210nm 230 nm 250 nm. Chromatogram

Ampicillin eluate around 18 min. A later peak at around 25 min grows with storage of the stock solution. Urea eluate around 1 -2 min close to the mobile phase. There are some unidentified peaks between urea and ampicillin. All retention time depends on the exact composition of the mobile phase.

Example 3: Synthetic urine used during these experiments

Table 2:

Component Concentration (g/L)

Sodium Chloride 8.00

Potassium Chloride 1 .64

Potassium Sulfate 2.63

Magnesium Sulfate 0,78

Potassium 0,66

Bicarbonate

Urea 14.2

Creatinine 1 .50

Uropepsine (as

Tyrosine) 0.38

Creatine 0.37

Glycine 0.32

Hippurate 1 ,25 Citrate 0,76

Glucuronate 0.66

Urate 0.52

Lactate 0.39

Simplified version of the composition of typical human urine according to David F. Putnam.

NASA CONTRACTOR REPORT: COMPOSITION AND CONCENTRATIVE PROPERTIES OF HUMAN URINE by David F. Putnam. Prepared by

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ASTRONAUTICS COMPANY - WESTERN

DIVISION, Huntington Beach, Calif. 92647 for Langley Research Center, NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION,

WASHINGTON, D.C. - JULY 1971

Example 4: Adsorption av Ampicilline by granular activated carbon Material

Granular activated carbon (PK 0,25-1 ).

Synthetic urine with Ampicilline.

100,5 g granular activated carbon was placed in a 1 liter beaker. It was then added 350 mL syntetisk urin (composition, see above) with 2.50 g Ampicilline. The suspensionen was not stirred. Tests were taken at different time intervals and were filtered. The amount of Ampicilline was determined according to the HPLC method described in section 2.

Table 3: Adsorption of Ampicillin on granular activated carbon in a 1 liter beaker with synthetic urine (without stirring).

Time (min.) % Adsorberat

0 0 5 85,6

10 97,0

15 98,2

30 99,6

45 99,6

60 99,7

Example 5

100 ml ciprofloxacin (10 mg/l) in destilled water was allowed to flow through a 50 cm long column comprising 190 g of granular activated carbon (Norit 1240 PLUS). Analysis of the solution that had passed the column by UV absorption spectrophotometry showed that >99% of the ciprofloxacin was absorbed by the activated carbon. Example 6

100 ml ciprofloxacin (100 mg/l) in destilled water was allowed to flow through a 50 cm long column comprising 190 g of granular activated carbon (Norit 1240 PLUS). Analysis of the solution that had passed the column by UV absorption spectrophotometry showed that >99% of the ciprofloxacin was absorbed by the activated carbon.

Claims

1 . A device (1 ) for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine or medical liquids before being drained of into the sewage system, comprising:

a receiving unit (2) for receiving the urine or medical liquid, transporting said urine or medical liquid to a center unit (3), and

a center unit (3) comprising activated carbon, having a diameter within the range of 0.1 - 3 mm.

2. A device (1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a draining unit (4), which draining unit (4) can be connected directly to a sewage pipe, be put in a sink or otherwise be in contact with the sewage system.

3. A device (1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the activated carbon is granular or in the form of rods.

4. A device (1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, further

comprising means for obtaining a pressure gradient through the center unit (3), thereby increasing the flow of the urine or medical liquid through the device (1 ).

5. A device (1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the center unit (3) comprising the activated carbon is equipped with a net/web (5) placed above and/or under the activated carbon to hold the activated carbon in the center unit (3).

6. A device (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the net/web (5) surrounds the activated carbon.

7. A device (1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the device (1 ) comprises at least one fastening means.

8. A device (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein said fastening means is/are chosen from hooks, loops, tape, rubber band, Velcro, buttons, ribbon, string or stick-on material.

9. A device (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said receiving unit (2) comprises a lid.

10. A device (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the activated carbon has been pre-treated to improve its absorbing effectiveness.

1 1 . A device (1 ) according to claim 10, wherein the improved absorbing effectiveness comprises improved affinity for water-soluble substances and/or fat-soluble substances.

12. A device (1 ) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the activated carbon comprises one or more layers of activated carbon, which layers may be pre-treated or not pre-treated.

13. A device (1 ) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the surface area of the orifice at the top of the receiving unit (2) is larger than the surface area of the orifice at the bottom of the receiving unit (2).

14. A device (1 ) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the receiving unit (2) is conically shaped.

15. A device (1 ) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the center unit (3) has a helical shape.

16. A device (1 ) according to anyone of the previous claims, further comprising at least one suspension device for suspension of at least one catheter bag or urine bottle or other container.

17. A device (6) for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine before reaching the sewage system, comprising:

a center unit (3) comprising activated carbon,

a first connecting unit (7) for attachment to a catheter tube, and a second connecting unit (8) for attachment to another catheter tube or to a catheter bag.

18. Catheter bag (9) comprising a filter (10) comprising activated carbon for removal of medical substances or other unwanted substances from urine before reaching the sewage system.

19. A device (1 ;6) according to anyone of claims 1 -17, or a catheter bag (9) according to claim 18, wherein the activated carbon has been inpregnated with elemental sulphur.