ANTISEPTIC CATHETER

• US 3,848,603 A
• Filed: 11/02/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Guy C. Throner
• Original Assignee: Guy C. Throner
• Inventors: Throner, Guy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Medbery, Aldrich F.
• Application Number:
  US05/412,310
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 128/349R,35R,275,276,278,35V
• US Class Current: 604/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00

Abstract

Medical apparatus and method for preventing infectious organisms from entering the body of a patient through or along a catheter. The apparatus includes a tubular receptacle through which body fluids flow from the catheter to a collecting reservoir, the receptacle adapted in various ways to facilitate introduction of antiseptic compositions from either liquid or solid form into the body fluids to preclude survival therein of infectious organisms. Also disclosed is apparatus for maintaning an antiseptic barrier on the outside of the catheter where it enters the patient'"'"''"'"'s body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing infectious organisms from entering the body of a medical patient through or along a catheter for removing body fluids, comprising:

a. a catheter having an inner end portion for insertion into a patient'"'"''"'"'s body and an outer end portion for conducting body fluids to a collection reservoir, and b. a means for preventing the migration of infectious organisms through and around said catheter from a body fluid flow collection means to a fluid flow discharge source in said body comprising a receptacle having an antiseptic discharge contacting and mixing means in the path of flow of said fluids whereby because of said mixture of antiseptic and body fluids infectious organisms in said body fluids are prevented from migrating through the catheter and into the patient.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes an inlet for admission of body fluids and an outlet for maintaining a liquid seal between said receptacle and the collection reservoir.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the receptacle includes a perforate screen between said inlet and outlet.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said outlet comprises an inverted cone-shaped wall with a central opening at the bottom end of said receptacle, said wall thereby functioning as a funnel to collect and conduct the mixture of body fluids and antiseptic to the central opening for subsequent passage therethrough in droplet form.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the inlet includes valve means for preventing flow of liquid from said receptacle into the catheter towards its inner end portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the receptacle includes an inlet for an antiseptic solution.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the receptacle includes means for supporting an antiseptic cartridge in its interior for dissolution thereof by body fluids.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 including an antiseptic cartridge comprising an antiseptic and a water soluble matrix therefor.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the antiseptic cartridge is replaceable.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 including an antiseptic ointment retainer through which the catheter'"'"''"'"'s inner end portion extends, said retainer including means for retaining an antiseptic ointment in place between the catheter and the adjacent surface of a patient'"'"''"'"'s body when the catheter is properly installed in functional position.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the ointment retainer includes a flexible sheath portion for use with male patients.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the ointment retainer includes a shallow cup portion for use with female patieNts.

13. A method for preventing infectious organisms from entering a medical patient'"'"''"'"'s body by the way of a catheter connected to a collection reservoir, comprising mixing an antiseptic with discharged body fluids flowing through the catheter to form an antiseptic liquid barrier between the catheter and the body fluid collection reservoir.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the antiseptic is in liquid form.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the antiseptic is in water soluble, solid form.

16. A method according to claim 13 including establishing and retaining an antiseptic ointment seal between the outside of the catheter and the adjacent surface of the patient'"'"''"'"'s body.