Liquid removal system

• US 5,911,222 A
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Convatec Technologies, Inc. (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Inventors: Lawrence, W. Thompson, Strohl, Clair L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US08/730,589
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 604/347, 604/327, 604/329, 604/355, 604/48.54, 604/55.73, 604/378, 604/313, 604/331, 604/317, 120/761, 120/760, 120/765, 4/144.1, 4/144.3
• US Class Current: 600/574
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/455 for collecting urine or discharge from female member

Abstract

A liquid removal system having an interface device and a vacuum source are described. The interface device has a porous membrane with an entrance zone on one side. The vacuum source maintains a vacuum on the side of the membrane opposite the entrance zone when the membrane is wetted. Liquid which contacts the wetted porous membrane is removed from the interface device by the vacuum source.

Claims

1. A liquid removal system which comprises an interface device, said interface device comprising a first zone and a second zone and having a porous membrane separating said first zone from said second zone, said second zone being adapted to be connected to a vacuum source,

said porous membrane being capable of maintaining a vacuum in said second zone without permitting air from said first zone to pass through said membrane into said second zone when said membrane has been wetted with a first liquid;

said vacuum being maintained until said membrane is contacted with a second liquid;

and wherein said second liquid upon entering said first zone and contacting said porous membrane is removed from said first zone by said vacuum in said second zone by passing through said membrane into said second zone.

2. A liquid removal system which comprises:

a) an interface device, said interface device having a body contact surface and a bottom surface said surfaces being connected to each other by means of upper and lower edges and a pair of side edges extending from said upper and lower edges, said interface device having a porous membrane connected to said edges and being separated from said surfaces, said porous membrane thereby forming an entrance zone and second zone in said interface device

said porous membrane being capable of maintaining a vacuum in said second zone without permitting air from said entrance zone to pass through said membrane into said second zone when said membrane has been wetted with a first liquid;

said vacuum being maintained until said membrane is contacted with a second liquid;

and wherein said second liquid upon entering said entrance zone and contacting said porous membrane is removed from said entrance zone by said vacuum in said second zone by passing through said membrane into said second zone.

3. The liquid removal system according to claim 2 wherein said side edges have concave surfaces.

4. The liquid removal system according to claim 2 wherein said second zone is connected to a vacuum source.

5. The liquid removal system according to claim 4 wherein said vacuum source comprises bag having a pair of drain tubes extending therefrom and a pair of check valves connected to said drain tubes, said bag having one or more springs therein.

6. The liquid removal system according to claim 4 wherein said vacuum source comprises a valve connected to one end of a T shaped tubing, said tubing having a second valve connected at a second end of said T shaped tubing and a pump connected to the third end of said T shaped tubing, said second valve being connected to a receptacle.

7. The liquid removal system according to claim 6 wherein said first and second valves are duck bill valves.

8. The liquid removal system according to claim 6 wherein said pump is a bellows.

9. The liquid removal system according to claim 4 wherein said pump is a peristaltic pump.

10. The liquid removal system according to claim 4 wherein said pump has a disposable pump head.

11. The liquid removal system according to claim 2 wherein first and second lengths of hollow tubing are connected to said second zone of said interface device at a first end of each of said tubing, said first length of tubing being connected to a vacuum bottle at the opposite end of said tubing and said second length of said tubing being connected at its opposite end to a pressure transducer, said system further comprising a third length of tubing extending from said second length of tubing to a pressure relief valve, said vacuum bottle being connected to a pump by a fourth length of tubing.

12. The liquid removal system according to claim 2 wherein first and second lengths of hollow tubing are connected to said second zone of said interface device at one end of each of said lengths of tubing, the first length of tubing being connected at its opposite end to a pressure relief valve, the second length of tubing being connected at its opposite end to a pump, said pump being connected to a collection bag and said pressure relief valve being separably connected to said collection bag.

13. The liquid removal system according to claim 2 adapted to be retained in place on a patient by retaining means.

14. The liquid removal system of claims 2 wherein said interface device is an external catheter.

15. A female catheter system which comprises

a) an interface device, said interface device having a patient contact surface comprised of a flexible, fluid impervious material and being provided with an opening to receive urine, said interface device having a first zone and a second zone and having a porous membrane separating said first zone from said second zone, said first zone being capable of directing said urine to the porous membrane, said porous membrane being capable of supporting a vacuum in said second zone without permitting air from said entrance zone to pass through said membrane into said second zone when said membrane has been wetted with a first liquid,

b) A vacuum source which is capable of maintaining a vacuum in said second zone until said membrane is contacted with urine, said vacuum source being capable of removing said urine from said interface device.

16. A female external catheter according to claim 15 wherein an open-surfaced, shape retaining material is in at least one of said first and second zones.

17. A female external catheter according to claim 16 wherein said open-surfaced, shape retaining material is an open celled reticulated foam.

18. A female external catheter according to claim 16 wherein said open-surfaced, shape retaining material is a wicking material.

19. A female external catheter according to claim 15 wherein said porous membrane has been wetted with glycerin.

20. A female external catheter according to claim 15 wherein said porous membrane has a pore size of about 5 to 30 microns.

21. A female external catheter according to claim 15 wherein said vacuum source comprises a pump.

22. A female external catheter according to claim 21 wherein said pump is connected to a pressure transducer which maintains a preselected vacuum.

23. A female external catheter according to claim 15 wherein said urine passes from said interface device to a vacuum bottle between said interface device and said pump.

24. A female external catheter according to claims 15 further comprising an external dam around said entrance zone.

25. A female external catheter according to claim 24 wherein said dam is comprised of a foam material.

26. A female external catheter according to claim 25 wherein said dam is contains a bump at the portion of the dam that contacts the region of the body between the anus and the vagina.

27. A method of removing liquid comprising

a) Contacting the liquid with an interface device, said interface device comprising a first zone and a second zone and having a porous membrane separating said first zone from said second zone, said second zone having a vacuum source connected thereto

b) Maintaining a vacuum in said second zone without permitting air from said first zone to pass through said membrane into said second zone when said membrane has been wetted with a second liquid, aid vacuum being maintained until said membrane is contacted with said first liquid.

c) passing said first liquid from said first zone through said porous membrane such that said first liquid is removed from said first zone.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said first liquid is urine.

29. The method according to claim 27 further comprising said porous membrane retaining liquid therein after said first liquid passes through said porous membrane such that said porous membrane remains capable of maintaining a vacuum in said second zone, without permitting air to enter said second zone through said porous membrane.