Vacuum system to clear standing column of fluid
A vacuum system can include a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with each of a catheter, a suction tube, and a fluid collecting bag. The vacuum chamber can include a proximal opening covered by a lid, a lateral opening coupled to a first drainage tube configured to receive a volume of fluid, and a distal opening coupled to a proximal opening of a valve.
1 . A vacuum system, comprising:
a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with each of:
a catheter coupled with the vacuum chamber at a lateral opening disposed on a lateral side of the vacuum chamber,
a suction tube coupled with the vacuum chamber at a proximal opening disposed on a top side of the vacuum chamber, and
a fluid collecting bag coupled with the vacuum chamber at a distal opening disposed on a bottom side of the vacuum chamber,
wherein:
the lateral opening is disposed between the proximal opening and the distal opening,
the vacuum chamber remains in continuous fluid communication with the catheter and the suction tube, and
the suction tube is coupled to a motor configured to provide a change in air pressure within the vacuum chamber; and
a valve configured to control a fluid flow between the vacuum chamber and the fluid collecting bag;
wherein:
whenever an atmospheric pressure is present in the vacuum chamber, the valve is disposed in an open configuration such that fluid is allowed to continuously flow from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag, and
a negative air pressure applied to the vacuum chamber through the suction tube transitions the valve to a closed configuration to prevent the fluid flow from the fluid collecting bag into the vacuum chamber and draws a fluid flow from the catheter into the vacuum chamber.
2 . The vacuum system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a one way ball valve.
3 . The vacuum system according to claim 2 , wherein the one way ball valve includes a valve body having a first opening coupled to the vacuum chamber, a second opening coupled to the fluid collecting bag, a ball valve lumen extending therethrough and defining a ball valve lumen diameter, an O-ring, a ball, two or more ball stoppers and one or more fluid channels.
4 . The vacuum system according to claim 3 , wherein the O-ring, the ball, the two or more ball stoppers and the one or more fluid channels are located within the ball valve lumen.
5 . The vacuum system according to claim 4 , wherein the ball, the two or more ball stoppers, and the one or more fluid channels are located between the fluid collecting bag and the O-ring.
6 . The vacuum system according to claim 5 , wherein the O-ring includes an inner ring diameter.
7 . The vacuum system according to claim 6 , wherein the ball includes a ball diameter.
8 . The vacuum system according to claim 7 , wherein the ball diameter is smaller than the ball valve lumen diameter but greater than the inner ring diameter of the O-ring.
9 . The vacuum system according to claim 8 , wherein the motor and the suction tube are configured to generate the negative air pressure within the vacuum chamber by removing a volume of first air from the vacuum chamber.
10 . The vacuum system according to claim 9 , wherein the negative air pressure draws the ball towards the O-ring, engaging the O-ring and creating a fluid tight seal therebetween.
11 . The vacuum system according to claim 10 , wherein the motor and the suction tube are configured to generate the atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber by adding the volume of first air back into the vacuum chamber.
12 . The vacuum system according to claim 11 , wherein the atmospheric pressure disengages the ball from the O-ring, allowing fluid flow through the ball valve lumen.
13 . The vacuum system according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum system is configured to drain the fluid via gravity from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag when the atmospheric pressure is applied to the vacuum chamber.
14 . The vacuum system according to claim 1 , wherein the catheter is one of a Foley catheter, balloon catheter, or a peritoneal drainage catheter configured to drain the fluid from a body of a patient.
15 . The vacuum system according to claim 1 wherein the suction tube is in fluid communication with the motor that is configured to remove a volume of air from or add the volume of air into the vacuum chamber.
16 . The vacuum system according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum chamber includes a lid that creates an airtight seal with the vacuum chamber.
17 . The vacuum system according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum chamber is configured to receive a volume of fluid from the catheter, and drain the volume of fluid via gravity to the fluid collecting bag.
18 . A method for clearing a standing column of fluid from a drainage tube, comprising:
providing a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the drainage tube coupled with the vacuum chamber at a lateral opening disposed on a lateral side of the vacuum chamber, a suction tube coupled with the vacuum chamber at a proximal opening disposed on a top side of the vacuum chamber, and a fluid collecting bag coupled with the vacuum chamber at a distal opening disposed on a bottom side of the vacuum chamber,
wherein:
the lateral opening is disposed between the proximal opening and the distal opening, and
the vacuum chamber remains in continuous fluid communication with the drainage tube and the suction tube;
passing a first volume of fluid from the drainage tube into the vacuum chamber;
generating a negative pressure within the vacuum chamber by activating a motor coupled with the suction tube, the motor configured to draw air out of the vacuum chamber through the suction tube to define the negative pressure within the vacuum chamber;
transitioning a valve to a closed position, the valve controlling fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and the fluid collecting bag;
drawing a second volume of fluid from the drainage tube into the vacuum chamber; and
transitioning the valve to an open position to empty at least the second volume of fluid from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag by generating an atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber, wherein whenever the atmospheric pressure is present in the vacuum chamber, the valve is disposed in the open position such that fluid is allowed to continuously flow from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the first volume of fluid transitions to the fluid collecting bag before the motor generates the negative pressure within the vacuum chamber.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the valve includes a one way ball valve.
21 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the drainage tube is in fluid communication with a catheter.
22 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the first volume of fluid flows via gravity from the drainage tube into the vacuum chamber.
23 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the motor and the suction tube generate the negative pressure by removing a volume of air from the vacuum chamber.
24 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein transitioning the valve to the closed position includes creating a fluid tight seal within the valve, preventing a fluid flow from the fluid collecting bag into the vacuum chamber.
25 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein transitioning the valve to the open position further includes generating the atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber.
26 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein generating the atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber further includes breaking the fluid tight seal within the valve.
27 . The method according to claim 26 , wherein breaking the fluid tight seal further includes disengaging a ball from an O-ring.
28 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein generating the atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber includes adding a volume of air to the vacuum chamber.