Abstract:
This invention is directed to a coupler which comprises an actuator housing and a plunger housing each formed with a passageway for transmitting fluid entering an indwelling catheter to a collection bag. As the housings are connected together, a plunger located in the passageway of the plunger housing is moved from a closed position to an open position by an actuator mounted in the actuator housing in such a way that a seal is continuously maintained in the plunger housing to prevent the escape of fluids from its passageway. A quick-release locking mechanism maintains the two housings in a locked position when the plunger is in the open position, and may be easily activated to permit separation of the housings from one another when it is desired to empty or replace the collection bag.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to couplers, and, more particularly, to a quick-release coupler particularly adapted to connect a catheter to a collection bag in a bladder management system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A variety of medical conditions require the use of collection bags to receive bodily fluids, which must be periodically emptied or replaced. For example, following surgery or due to certain medical conditions, many patients are provided with a Foley catheter or other type of indwelling catheter until such time as normal bladder function returns. The catheter is typically connected by tubing, or directly, to a collection bag. It is advantageous for the catheter or tubing to be quickly disconnected from the collection bag, with a minimum of effort and without leakage, in order to empty or replace the bag. 
         [0003]    Coupling devices have been proposed for connecting catheters or tubing to collection bags in bladder management systems, and other medical applications in which bodily fluids must be collected, such as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,899; 6,706,027; 6,471,680; and 6,296,627. Each of these patents discloses a quick-disconnect coupler interposed between a collection bag and a catheter in a fluid collection system, allowing the bag to be removed from the system for emptying or replacement. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,300 to Hirsch et al teaches a bladder management system including a coupler comprising male and female coupling elements each having a valve located within a flow passageway extending through respective coupling elements. When the coupling elements are interconnected, both valves are moved to an open position allowing fluid to flow from the upstream side of the coupler, through the passageways in the coupling elements and then into a collection bag. A seal is created between the two coupling elements when they are connected, but a relatively long flow path exists between the seal and the inlets of the valves. Fluid may collect along this flow path, and leak out, after the coupling elements are separated. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention is directed to a coupler which comprises an actuator housing and a plunger housing each formed with a passageway for transmitting fluid entering an indwelling catheter to a collection bag. As the housings are connected together, a plunger located in the passageway of the plunger housing is moved from a closed position to an open position by an actuator mounted in the actuator housing in such a way that a seal is continuously maintained in the plunger housing to prevent the escape of fluids from its passageway. A quick-release locking mechanism maintains the two housings in a locked position when the plunger is in the open position, and may be easily activated to permit separation of the housings from one another when it is desired to empty or replace the collection bag. 
         [0006]    In the presently preferred embodiment, fluid from the catheter enters the inlet end of the passageway formed in the plunger housing. With the plunger in a closed position, a seal is created at the outlet end of the passageway to prevent leakage of fluid from the plunger housing. A second seal is mounted near the outlet end of the passageway which extends outwardly from the exterior surface of the plunger housing. 
         [0007]    The actuator housing is movable relative to the plunger housing. 
         [0008]    An inner section of the actuator housing slides along the exterior surface of the plunger housing and engages the second seal protruding from the exterior surface of the plunger housing. A seal is created at that interface throughout substantially the entire period of contact between the two housings. The actuator is located downstream within the passageway of the actuator housing such that it does not contact the leading end of the plunger until after a seal is formed between the inner section of the actuator housing and the exterior surface of the plunger housing. Consequently, when the actuator does move the plunger to an open position, unseated from the outlet end of the passageway in the plunger housing, the two housings are sealed together preventing the escape of any fluids from the plunger housing except into the passageway of the actuator housing. 
         [0009]    The locking mechanism is coupled to the exterior surface of the plunger housing and is effective to maintain the two housings connected to one another while the plunger is in the open position. A release button of the locking mechanism allows the two housings to be separated from one another so that the collection bag may be emptied or replaced. In the course of separating the two housings from one another, the plunger moves to the closed position prior to disengagement of the inner section of the actuator housing from the seal on the exterior surface of the plunger housing. This ensures that any fluid within the plunger housing is captured and maintained within its passageway before the two housings are separated from one another, thus preventing dripping of fluid from the plunger housing when the two housings are connected to one another or separated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of the plunger housing and actuator housing separated from one another; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the coupler depicted in  FIG. 1 , with the housings separated; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken generally along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the coupler similar to  FIG. 3 , except with the two housings assembled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings, the coupler  10  of this invention includes an actuator housing  12  and a plunger housing  14  which may be releasably connected to one another preferably to interconnect a catheter with a collection bag in a bladder management system (not shown). For purposes of the present discussion, the terms “inner” and “outer” refer to an orientation in the longitudinal direction as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , i.e. “inner” refers to the center of such Figs. and “outer” refers to a location toward the edges of the sheet on which such Figs. are drawn. The terms “interior” and “exterior” refer to radially spaced locations in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it begin understood that “interior” surfaces are located toward the center of the housings  12  and  14 , as shown. Additionally, the terms “inlet” and “outlet” refer to the direction of fluid flow through the coupler  10 , e.g. from the left to the right in the orientation of the coupler  10  depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0016]    The actuator housing  12  comprises an inner section  16 , a longitudinally spaced outer section  18  and a tapered section  20  between the inner and outer sections  16 ,  18 . The outer section  18  includes a number of longitudinally spaced, protruding barbs  21  which engage tubing or the like to secure one side of the coupler  10  in place. The actuator housing  12  is formed with a passageway  22  having an inlet  24  at the inner section  16 . The passageway  22  defines a generally cylindrical-shaped wall  26  with an interior surface  28  and an exterior surface  30 . An annular recess  31  is formed in the inner section  16  which extends inwardly from the exterior surface  30  of the wall  26  toward the interior surface  28 . The passageway  22  reduces in diameter through a transition area  32  along the tapered section  20  of actuator housing  12  to the outer section  18  where it terminates at an outlet  34 . A disc  36  extends radially inwardly into the passageway  22  from the area where the inner and tapered sections  16 ,  20  meet. A plunger actuator  38  is mounted to the center of the disc  36 , extending in a direction toward the inlet  24  of the passageway  22 , and a number of bores  40  are formed in the disc  36  encircling the actuator  38 . It should be noted, for purposes to become apparent below, that the actuator  38  is longitudinally spaced from the inlet  24  of the passageway  22  and the innermost edge  39  of the inner section  16  of the actuator housing  12 . 
         [0017]    The plunger housing  14  generally comprises an inner body  42 , an outer body  44  and a plunger  46 . A locking mechanism  48  is coupled to the plunger housing  14 , as described in detail below. A passageway  50  extends through the plunger housing  14  having an inlet  52  at the outer body  44  and an outlet  54  at the inner body  42 . See  FIG. 4 . The passageway  50  is defined by an interior surface  56  in the, plunger housing  14 . The inner body  42  has an exterior surface  58  spaced from the interior surface  56 , and the exterior surface  60  of the outer body  44  is formed with barbs  21  as in the outer section  18  of actuator housing  12 . 
         [0018]    As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the inner body  42  has a reduced diameter at the outlet  54  of the passageway  50  forming an elongated seat  62  which receives the leading end  64  of the plunger  46 , when the plunger  46  in the closed position as described below in connection with a discussion of the operation of the coupler  10 . The seat  62  terminates at a shoulder  66  upstream from the outlet  54  of the passageway  50 . A groove extends radially inwardly from the exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42 , adjacent to the outlet end of the inner body  42 , and this groove mounts an  0 -ring  70  or similar seal. An annular ring  72  extends from the exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42  near its outer end. 
         [0019]    The plunger  46  is formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced ribs  74  and  76 , and a groove adjacent to its leading end  64 . The groove mounts an  0 -ring  80 , or a similar seal, in position to engage and seal against the seat  62  at the outlet of the inner body  42 . With the plunger  46  in the closed position  10  shown in  FIG. 3 , the rib  76  rests against the shoulder  66  of the inner body  42 . A spring  82  extends along the exterior surface of the plunger  46  between the rib  74  and a shoulder  84  formed in the outlet end of the outer body  44  within the passageway  50 . The longitudinal spacing between the rib  74  and shoulder  84  is chosen so that the spring  82  exerts sufficient force on the plunger  46  to  15  maintain it in the closed position. 
         [0020]    The plunger housing  14  is assembled by placing the spring  82  over the plunger  46  and then inserting the leading end  64  of the plunger  46  into the outlet end of the inner body  42  so that the  0 -ring  80  on the plunger  46  seals against the seat  62  of the inner body  42 . The inner and outer bodies  42 ,  44  are then connected to one another, such as by adhesive or the like, along a joint  86  formed by mating annular surfaces at the ends of the bodies  42 ,  44 . 
         [0021]    The locking mechanism  48  comprises a lock collar  88  coupled to the inner body  42 , and a release member  90  carried by the lock collar  88 . The lock collar  88  extends around the inner body  42  of the plunger housing  14 , and includes a radially inwardly projecting arm  92  affixed to the exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42  and the exterior surface  60  of the outer body  44  at the joint  86  between the two. An elongated, annular cavity  93  is formed between the lock collar  88  and exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42  which extends from the inner end of the inner body  42  toward the outer body  44 . See  FIG. 3 . The release member  90  consists of an annular ring  94  carried within a slot  96  formed in the lock collar  88 , and a button  98  extending generally perpendicularly to the ring  94 . The button  98  slides within an opening  100  formed in the lock collar  88 . A spring  102 , located within the opening  100  and seated within an annular slot  104  in the lock collar  88 , bears against the button  98  urging it radially outwardly as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . At least a portion of the annular ring  94  of the release member extends part way into the cavity  93  between the lock collar  88  and the exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42  as a result of the force exerted by spring  102  on the button  98 . 
       Operation of Coupler 
       [0022]    The coupler  10  of this invention operates as follows. The outer body  44  of the plunger housing  14  is inserted into the interior of a catheter, tubing or the like (not shown) so that the barbs  21  on its exterior surface  60  engage the interior thereof. Similarly, the outer section  18  of the actuator housing  12  is coupled directly to a collection bag (not shown) or to tubing connected to such bag. With the actuator housing  12  and plunger housing  14  separated from one another, the spring  82  urges the plunger  46  to the closed position in which the O-ring  80  at the leading end  64  of the plunger  46  contacts and seals against the seat  62  formed in the inner body  42  at the outlet  54  of the passageway  50 . Consequently, any fluid which may be present in the tubing or catheter to which the plunger housing  14  is connected will not leak from the plunger housing  14 . 
         [0023]    In order to connect the two housings  12 ,  14  to one another, and move the plunger  46  to an open position, the wall  26  of the inner section  16  of the actuator housing  12  is inserted into the cavity  93  formed between the locking mechanism  48  and the exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42  of the plunger housing  14 . After a minimum amount of travel along the cavity  93 , the interior surface  28  of the wall  26  engages and seals against the  0 -ring  70  on the exterior surface  58  of the inner body  42  of the plunger housing  14 . It is important to note that the plunger  46  is in the closed and sealed position at the time of contact between the wall  26  and  0 -ring  70 . Continued longitudinal movement of the actuator housing  12  relative to the plunger housing  14  causes the actuator  38  to engage the leading end  64  of the plunger  46 . Such movement overcomes the force exerted by the spring  82  tending to close the plunger  46 , and moves the plunger  46  to an open position, spaced from the seat  62 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . With the plunger  46  in the open position, the passageway  50  in the plunger housing  14  communicates with the passageway  22  in the actuator housing  12  thus forming a flow path through the coupler  10  from the catheter to a collection bag. 
         [0024]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the wall  26  of the inner section  16  of actuator housing  12  continues along the cavity  93  until the annular recess  31  formed in the exterior surface  30  of the inner section  16  of actuator housing  12  aligns with the annular ring  94  of the locking mechanism  48 . At that point, the spring  102  urges the ring  94  into the recess  31  thus locking the actuator housing  12  and plunger housing  14  in position relative to one another. See bottom of  FIG. 4 . In the locked position of the two housings  12 and  14 , the plunger  46  is maintained in the open position. 
         [0025]    When it is desired to disconnect the housings  12  and  14  from one another, the release button  98  is pressed radially inwardly which causes the annular ring  94  to disengage the recess  31  in the wall  26  of the inner section  16  of actuator housing  12 , e.g. to move from a locked position to an unlocked position. This allows the inner section  16  of actuator housing  12  to be slid out of the cavity  93 . As the actuator housing  12  is moved in a direction away from the plunger housing  14 , the plunger  46  is urged in the same direction by the spring  82 . As soon as the actuator  38  clears the outlet  54  of the passageway  50  in the plunger housing  14 , the plunger  46  assumes its closed position with the O-ring  80  sealed against the seat  62  in the inner body  42  of plunger housing  14 . At this juncture, the wall  26  of the inner section  16  of the actuator housing  12  remains sealed to the O-ring  70  on the exterior surface of the inner body  42  because of the longitudinal spacing between the actuator  38  and the innermost edge  39  of the inner section  16 . This ensures that any fluid residing within the passageway  50  of the plunger housing  14  cannot escape as the housings  12  and  14  are disconnected from one another. The actuator housing  12  is then completely disengaged from the plunger housing  14  to permit a bag connected to the actuator housing  12  to be emptied or replaced. Fluid which entered the passageway  22  of the actuator housing  12  while the housings  12  and  14  were connected to one another would have already passed into a collection bag, which typically includes a flap valve at the inlet thereof to prevent fluid from exiting the bag at its inlet. After the collection bag is emptied or replaced, the housings  12  and  14  may be re-connected to one another as described above. 
         [0026]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.