Abstract:
A catheter retaining system for a container is disclosed. The system may be utilized with a wide variety of containers for receiving catheterized fluids. Each embodiment of the system includes a structure for selectively securing at least one catheter to the container. The structure assists in maintaining the catheter in the proper location with respect to the container to minimize or eliminate spills, prevent contamination of sterile environments or the specimen, facilitate the catheterization process for patients and prevent patient embarrassment.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is claiming the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of the provisional application filed Jul. 30, 2008 titled Catheter System under 35 U.S.C. §111(b), which was granted Ser. No. 61/137,344. This provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a catheter system designed to provide a quickly made but secure connection between the system and any liquid receiving container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel. Catheters allow drainage, injection of fluids or access by surgical instruments. In most uses a catheter is a thin, flexible tube (“soft” catheter), although in some uses it is a larger, solid tube (“hard” catheter). The catheter may be left inside the body either temporarily or permanently. 
         [0004]    Frequently, catheters are used to drain urine from a bladder. The process of inserting one end of the catheter in one&#39;s body, while maintaining the other end in a container for receiving the urine, can be difficult for one person to do on their own. Even when the catheter is already inserted in a patient&#39;s body, the inserted end may fall out of the container as the patient moves, the container moves, the tube moves or when catheterized fluid begins to flow through the tube. Typically, this is because there is no mechanism for maintaining the container end of the catheter in the container. When the container end leaves the container, urine, or other fluids, spill in beds, on cloths, on the patient and on health care providers. Such spills are highly undesirable as they can lead to bacterial contamination of sterile environments or urine specimens and patient embarrassment. 
         [0005]    In view of the above disadvantages of permitting the end of the catheter to remain unsecured in the container, it would be advantageous to have the end secured. It would be further advantageous for a catheter security device to be easy to use, inexpensive, capable of being used by a single person and readily adaptable to current bodily fluid containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, a catheter retaining system comprises a container for receiving catheterized fluids. A conical end piece receiving portion is located on an inside surface of a mouth portion of the container. The end piece receiving portion has an inner surface shaped to selectively secure an end piece of a catheter therein. The conical end piece receiving portion may be also located on alternative containers, as described herein. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a flexible hook-like structure is located on the inside surface of the mouth portion. The structure selectively extends at least partially about an end piece of a catheter to selectively secure the catheter within the mouth portion. The structure may be also located on alternative containers, as described herein. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment, the system comprises a lid that at least partially selectively closes a fluid collection portion of a container. An aperture is located through the lid where the aperture selectively secures an end piece of a catheter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic depiction of a front view of the present invention located in a urinal bottle; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic, partial, cut-away side view of the invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, partial, cut-away side view of the invention of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic depiction of a front view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a plan, schematic view of another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a plan, schematic view of a variation on the invention of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic front and side views of another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic front and side views of another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are schematic front and side views of another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic front and side views of another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined herein. Hence, specific dimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise. 
         [0022]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , one embodiment of the present invention is depicted. This embodiment comprises a catheter system  10  having a drain tube  12 , an end piece  14  and an end piece receiving portion  16  located within a container. The container may be, but is not limited to, a bottle-type urinal  18 . A bottle-type urinal  18  is used herein merely for illustrative purposes. 
         [0023]    The container may comprise any receptacle capable of collecting and holding a fluid. Containers within the scope of the invention may comprise, but are not limited to, bottles, plastic urinals, cups, or trays. As can be appreciated herein, the invention may work with containers without further modification or the container may be adapted for convenient use with the invention. 
         [0024]    The fluid may comprise any known fluid but is likely to be bodily fluids, such as urine or blood, whether from a human or an animal. 
         [0025]    The drain tube  12  may be such as surgical tubing which typically is both relatively small in diameter and flexible. A channel  20  extends continuously from a first end  22  of the tube  12  to a second end  24  of the tube  12 . 
         [0026]    At, or proximate, the first end  22  of the tube  12 , at least one aperture (not shown) is provided. There may be more than one aperture at the first end  22  and the aperture or apertures may be oriented and located about the first end  22  as known by those skilled in the art. 
         [0027]    The end piece  14  is attached to the second end  24  of the tube  12 . Preferably, the end piece  14  is securely attached to the second end  24  such that it will not easily become detached from the tube  12 . Alternatively, the end piece  14  may be unitary and one-piece with the tube  12 . The tube  12  may terminate anywhere within the end piece  14 . 
         [0028]    It is preferred that the end piece  14  has a means for permitting fluid to flow through it. Such means may comprise, but are not limited to, a hollow channel  26  substantially coaxial with the tube  12 . The hollow channel  26  may have a design complimentary to an exterior surface  28  of the end piece  14 , or it may have a different design. 
         [0029]    The exterior surface  28  of the end piece  14  may be such as a frusto conical design, such as a tapered cone. In this embodiment, a first end  30  having a smaller diameter is connected to a second end  32  having a larger diameter. A continuous body portion  34  connects the first end  30  with the second end  32 . 
         [0030]    The end piece  14  may be constructed of a plastic or rubber-like material that is preferably somewhat elastic, although rigid designs are also permissible. 
         [0031]    While one shape of the end piece  14  has been described, the present invention is not limited to such shapes and others may be within the scope of the present invention. By way of example only, the continuous body portion  34  may be substantially uninterrupted, as shown, or it may have steps or grooves. Further, the end piece may also comprises a body portion with a substantially constant outer diameter. 
         [0032]    The end piece receiving portion  16  is preferably located within a mouth portion  36  of the bottle urinal  18 . While the figures depict one bottle urinal design, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that there are numerous other types of such designs, all of which are within the scope of the present invention. Further, the present invention is not limited to locating the end piece receiving portion  16  in a bottle-type urinal; instead, it may be used in conjunction with any container, such as those mentioned above. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the end piece receiving portion  16  is located on an upper portion  38  of the mouth portion  36  as this may assist in maintaining the end piece receiving portion  16  out of fluid collected in the bottle  18 . While one location of the end piece receiving portion  16  is shown in the figures, it can be appreciated that other locations are permissible. For example, the end piece receiving portion  16  might be located on a side wall  40  of the mouth portion  36  or on a bottom portion  42  of the mouth portion  36 . It is also permissible for the mouth portion  36  to have one or more end piece receiving portions  16  adjacent one another or spaced apart from one another about the mouth portion  36 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment of the end piece receiving portion  16  depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the end piece receiving portion  16  is of a frusto-conical, or tapered cone, design that is complimentary to the shape of the end piece  14 . More specifically, the end piece receiving portion  16  may have a first end  44 , a second end  46 , an inner surface  48  and an outer surface  50 . The inner surface  48  defines a substantially hollow interior portion  52 . A slot  54  may be located from the first end  44  to the second end  46 . 
         [0035]    The first end  44  has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end  46 . The inner and outer surfaces  48 ,  50  may be parallel to one another, but need not be. In the preferred embodiment, the end piece receiving portion  16  defines a gradually and continuously expanding inner and outer surfaces  48 ,  50  from the first end  44  to the second end  46 . It is also within the scope of the present invention for the end piece receiving portion to have a substantially constant outside diameter. 
         [0036]    The end piece receiving portion  16  may be separately formed from and then selectively attached to the mouth portion  36  of the bottle  18 . By way of example only, the end piece receiving portion  16  may be selectively secured to the mouth portion  36  by tape, adhesive, hook and loop type fasteners, complimentary male and female connectors, clips or clamps and/or mechanical fasteners or it may be made part of the collection device itself. 
         [0037]    In the depicted embodiment, the end piece  14  has a complimentary shape to the end piece receiving portion  16 . More specifically, the frusto-conical shape of the exterior surface  28  of the end piece  14  is slightly smaller than, but in the same shape as, the frusto-conical shape of the inner surface  48  of the end piece receiving portion  16 . Thus, it can be appreciated that the end piece receiving portion  16  may selectively receive the end piece  14  therein. 
         [0038]    Preferably, the end piece receiving portion  16  is shaped so as to selectively lock the end piece  14  therein, thus portion  16  and end piece  14  selectively interlock with one another. The design of the end piece  14  described above, thus permits it to be located securely within the end piece receiving portion  16  but also permits it to be released from the end piece receiving portion  16 . 
         [0039]    In the depicted embodiment, the frusto-conical design of the end piece receiving portion  16  is oriented such that the first, smaller end  44  is adjacent the mouth portion  36  opening and the second, larger end  46  is adjacent the more significant volume of the bottle. Therefore, the smaller end  30  of the end piece  14  can be located into the smaller end  44  of the end piece receiving portion  16  and the larger end  32  of the end piece  14  can be located within the larger end  46  of the end piece receiving portion  16 . 
         [0040]    It can be appreciated that the tube  12  can be located through the slot  54  of the end piece receiving portion  16  such that it can then extend through the open end of the larger end  46  of the end piece receiving portion  16 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  depicts yet another embodiment of a catheter system  55  within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, an end piece receiving portion  56  is integrally formed and unitary with a mouth portion  58  of a bottle  60 . This end piece receiving portion  56  forms a slot  62  within the mouth portion  58  for receiving a drain tube end piece, which is not shown but it is as depicted and described above. The slot  62  connects with a substantially continuous hollow interior  64  of the portion  56  to accept the end piece. 
         [0042]    The portion  56  is depicted as being located at a top portion  66  of the bottle  60 , however, the portion  56  may be located anywhere in the mouth portion  58 . Further, more than one portion  56  may be located in the mouth portion  58  for receiving more than one end piece. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  depicts yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the end piece  14  described above is inserted into an end-piece receiving portion  68  located on another type of fluid container. In this case, the fluid container is a tray  70 . The tray  70  of  FIG. 5  is substantially rectangular, but it may be of any design, including oval, circular, rectangular and/or about any other geometric design without limitation. 
         [0044]    The end-piece receiving portion  68  is preferably of a frusto-conical, or tapered cone, design that is complimentary to the shape of the end piece  14 . More specifically, the end piece receiving portion  68  may have a first end  74 , a second end  76 , an inner surface  78  and an outer surface  80 . The inner surface  78  defines a substantially hollow interior portion  82  in the shape of a channel. A slot  84  may be located from the first end  74  to the second end  76 . The slot  84  may define the portion  68  in to two upstanding walls  85 ′ and  85 ″. 
         [0045]    The first end  74  has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end  76 . The inner and outer surfaces  78 ,  80  may be parallel to one another, but need not be. In the preferred embodiment, the end piece receiving portion  68  defines a gradually and continuously expanding inner and outer surfaces  78 ,  80  from the first end  74  to the second end  76 . 
         [0046]    The end-piece receiving portion  68  may be separate from the tray  70 . The portion  68  may be selectively attached to the tray  70  by tape, adhesive, hook and loop type fasteners, complimentary male and female connectors, clips or clamps and/or mechanical fasteners. Alternatively, portion  68  may be integrally formed and unitary with a portion of the tray  70 . By way of example, the portion  68  may be integrally formed from and unitary with a side  72  of the tray  70 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0047]    The portion  68  may be located anywhere on or in the tray  70 . In addition, while only a single portion  68  is depicted in  FIG. 5 , it can be appreciated that more than one portion  68  may be located on or in the tray  70 . Regardless of its location on or in the tray  70 , the end piece, such as item  14  described above and depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , may be engaged with the portion  68  to selectively secure the end piece  14  to the portion  68 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a curvilinear end piece receiving portion  86  is utilized to secure the end piece  14  of a catheter. As in  FIG. 5 , the portion  86  is depicted located on a tray  88 , however, the present invention also includes locating the portion  86  on trays of various sizes and shapes (as stated above) as well as on bottle-type urinals, such as that described and depicted above, any other fluid collection devices (also mentioned above). 
         [0049]    The portion  86  may be separate from the tray  88 . The portion  88  may be selectively attached to the tray  88  by tape, adhesive, hook and loop type fasteners, complimentary male and female connectors, clips or clamps and/or mechanical fasteners. Alternatively, portion  86  may be integrally formed and unitary with any portion of the tray  88 . By way of example, the portion  86  may be integrally formed from and unitary with a side  90  of the tray  88 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0050]    The portion  86  may be located anywhere on or in the tray  88 . In addition, while only a single portion  86  is depicted in  FIG. 6 , it can be appreciated that more than one portion  86  may be located on or in the tray  88 . Regardless of its location on or in the tray  88 , the end piece, such as item  14  described above and depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , may be engaged with the portion  86 . 
         [0051]    The portion  86  is preferably substantially curvilinear such that it forms a curlicue-type design. Preferably, the portion  86  curls in on itself so that it forms a selectively openable, central aperture  92  for receiving and retaining the end piece  14 . The portion  86  may be formed of any material, but preferably it is a flexible material than can be urged open, the end piece  14  can be inserted in the aperture  92  and then the portion  86  substantially returns to its original curvilinear design about the end piece  14  to secure the end piece  14  therein. 
         [0052]    The curlicue portion  86  may have a connection portion  87  adjacent the container it is attached to. The portion  86  may or may not gradually taper to an end portion  89 . 
         [0053]    The portion  86  may extend entirely about the end piece  14  one or more times, or the portion  86  may extend only partially about the end piece  14 . Regardless, the portion  86  may take on other forms as well with a more geometric design. For example, the interior and exterior surfaces may be substantially planar so as to form a J-shape or hook-type design. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict the portion  86 ′ within a bottle type urinal  98 , which has been described above. The portion  86 ′ is substantially similar to portion  86  described above. 
         [0055]    Preferably, portion  86 ′ is located on an upper portion  94  of the mouth portion  96  as this may assist in maintaining the portion  86 ′ out of fluid collected in the bottle  98 . While one location of the portion  86 ′ is shown in the figures, it can be appreciated that other locations are permissible. For example, the portion  86 ′ might be located on a side wall  100  of the mouth portion  96  or on a bottom portion  102  of the mouth portion  86 ′. It is also permissible for the mouth portion  96  to have one or more portions  96  adjacent one another or spaced apart from one another about the mouth portion  96 . 
         [0056]    The portion  86 ′ may be separately formed from and then selectively attached to the mouth portion  96  of the bottle  98 . By way of example only, the portion  86 ′ may be selectively secured to the mouth portion  96  by tape, adhesive, hook and loop type fasteners, complimentary male and female connectors, clips or clamps and/or mechanical fasteners or it may be made part of the collection device. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7B  depicts an end piece  14 , such as described above, engaged with the portion  86 ′. The end piece  14  is inserted into a central aperture  92 ′, and the portion  86 ′ wraps at least partially about the end piece  14 . The portion  86 ′ selectively holds the end piece  14  so that fluid can be drained into the bottle  98 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  depict yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a selectively removable lid  104  is provided on a bottle  106 , such as a bottle type urinal described above. The lid  104  may be securely, but removably, engaged with the bottle  106 . The lid  104  may be formed of a polymeric material that preferably has both resilience and flexibility. 
         [0059]    An aperture  108  may be located within the lid  104 . The aperture  108  is depicted as being located substantially centered in the lid  104 , but it may be located anywhere in the lid  104 . The aperture  108  may be comprised of two portions—a main portion  110  and a minor portion  112 . In this embodiment, the main portion  110  and the minor portion  112  are connected to one another and share a common perimeter  111 . 
         [0060]    The main portion  110  may have a larger diameter D than a diameter d of the minor portion  112 . The larger diameter D of the main portion  110  facilities locating the end piece  14  of the catheter into the aperture  108 . Once the end piece  14  is located within the lid  104 , the drain tube  14  may be dropped down into the minor portion  112 . The end piece  14  can then be partially withdrawn through the minor portion  112  so that the exterior surface  28  of the end piece  14  can be selectively secured by inner circumference  114  of the minor portion  112 . 
         [0061]    To withdraw the end piece  14  from the minor portion  112 , the end piece  14  may be urged slightly into the bottle  106  so that the inner diameter  114  is no longer in gripping contact with tapered exterior surface  28  of the end piece  14 . The end piece  14  may then be lifted out of the aperture  108 . 
         [0062]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  depict yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, at least one aperture  116  is provided in a lid  118 . The lid  118  may be substantially as disclosed above, except for the cited differences. While the aperture  116  may be located anywhere in the lid  118 , in the depicted embodiment, the aperture  116  is located in a lower portion  120  of the lid  118 . 
         [0063]    The aperture  116  has a diameter d′ that approximates the outer diameter of the exterior surface  28  of the end piece  14 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , the end piece  14  may be selectively inserted into the aperture  116  to be secured within the lid  118 . The flexible nature of the lid  118  permits the end piece  14  to be removed therefrom by pulling the end piece  14  through the lid  118 . The aperture  116  expands as the larger end of the end piece  14  is withdrawn through it. The aperture  116  then returns substantially to its original size. 
         [0064]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  depict yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein a selectively removable lid  122  is provided on a container, such as a bottle type urinal described above. The lid  122  may have two apertures  124 ,  126 . A first aperture  124  may have a larger diameter  128  than a diameter  130  of the second aperture  126 , however, this is not a requirement of the present invention. Further,  FIG. 10A  depicts the second aperture  126  above the first aperture  124 . Again, this is not a requirement of the present invention and the second aperture  126  may be located in any relationship about the first aperture  124 . 
         [0065]    Preferably, a slot  132  connects the first aperture  124  and the second aperture  126 . The slot  132  may have a width W that is less than both of the diameters  128 , 130  of the apertures  124 , 126 . 
         [0066]    The end piece  14  described above may interlock with the lid  122  by locating it initially through the larger diameter aperture  124 . The tube  12  may be slid up the slot  132  until it is located in the aperture  126 . Next, the end piece  14  may be withdrawn from the bottle through the aperture  126  until the diameter  130  of the second aperture  126  securely retains the end piece  14  therein. 
         [0067]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.