Systems, devices and methods for draining and analyzing bodily fluids
Systems, devices and methods for draining and analyzing bodily fluids are disclosed where one variation of the catheter system may generally comprise a catheter having at least one opening near or at a distal end of the catheter, a barb in fluid communication with a proximal end of the catheter, a drainage tube in fluid communication with the at least one opening, and a vent tube in fluid communication with the barb. A one-way valve may be positioned in-line with the vent tube and at a location proximal to the barb and a controller may be in communication with the one-way valve, wherein the controller is programmed to apply a negative pressure to the drainage tube resulting in the one-way valve being opened and fluid passing through the vent tube.
1 . A catheter system, comprising:
a catheter having at least one opening near or at a distal end of the catheter;
a barb coupled to a proximal end of the catheter;
a drainage tube having a drainage lumen in fluid communication with the at least one opening;
a vent tube having a vent lumen in fluid communication with the barb, wherein the vent lumen is positioned external to a fluid reservoir and the vent lumen and drainage lumen are separated from one another;
a passive one-way valve positioned in-line with the vent tube; and
a controller programmed to apply a negative pressure to the drainage tube and the vent tube causing the one-way valve to open by the application of the negative pressure directly upon the one-way valve and fluid passing through the vent tube.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to periodically alter the negative pressure such that the one-way valve is closed and fluid is prevented from passing through the vent tube.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid is received through the one-way valve when opened such that the fluid flows through the vent tube and into the drainage tube via the barb.
4 . The system of claim 3 wherein the fluid received through the one-way valve comprises atmospheric air.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the one-way valve is configured to open when a pressure differential across the valve exceeds a predetermined crack pressure of the valve.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the one-way valve is further configured to close when the pressure differential across the valve is below the predetermined crack pressure of the valve.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein a first section of the vent tube defined between the barb and one-way valve defines a first diameter and a first length and a second section of the vent tube defined proximally of the one-way valve defines a second diameter and a second length.
8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter.
9 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first length is less than the second length.
10 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first length and the second length approximately equals a length of the drainage tube.
11 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are equal.
12 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first diameter is less than 4 mm.
13 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first diameter is less than 2 mm.
14 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first diameter ranges between 0.2-5 mm.
15 . The system of claim 7 wherein the second diameter is greater than 2 mm.
16 . The system of claim 7 wherein the second diameter ranges between 0.2-5 mm.
17 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first length is less than 10 cm.
18 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first length is greater than 2 cm.
19 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first length ranges between 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, or 30-50 cm.
20 . The system of claim 7 wherein the second length ranges between 50-150 cm.
21 . A method for draining fluid, comprising:
positioning a catheter system in proximity to a body of a subject, the catheter system having a catheter with at least one opening near or at a distal end of the catheter, a barb coupled to a proximal end of the catheter, and a drainage tube having a drainage lumen in fluid communication with the at least one opening;
actuating a controller in communication with a passive one-way valve which is positioned in-line with a vent tube having a vent lumen and which is in fluid communication with the barb, wherein the vent lumen is positioned external to a fluid reservoir and the vent lumen and drainage lumen are separated from one another; and
applying a negative pressure to the drainage tube and the vent tube causing the one-way valve to open by the application of the negative pressure directly upon the one-way valve and fluid passing through the vent tube.
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein applying a negative pressure comprises actuating the controller to periodically alter the negative pressure such that the one-way valve is closed and fluid is prevented from passing through the vent tube.
23 . The method of claim 21 wherein applying a negative pressure comprises receiving the fluid through the one-way valve when opened such that the fluid flows through the vent tube and into the drainage tube via the barb.
24 . The method of claim 23 wherein receiving the fluid comprises receiving atmospheric air through the one-way valve.
25 . The method of claim 21 wherein applying a negative pressure comprises increasing a pressure differential across the valve until a predetermined crack pressure of the valve is exceeded.
26 . The method of claim 25 further comprising closing the valve when the pressure differential across the valve falls below the predetermined crack pressure of the valve.
27 . The method of claim 21 wherein a first section of the vent tube defined between the barb and one-way valve defines a first diameter and a first length and a second section of the vent tube defined proximally of the one-way valve defines a second diameter and a second length.
28 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter.
29 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first length is less than the second length.
30 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first length and the second length approximately equals a length of the drainage tube.
31 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are equal.
32 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first diameter is less than 4 mm.
33 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first diameter is less than 2 mm.
34 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first diameter ranges between 0.2-5 mm.
35 . The method of claim 27 wherein the second diameter is greater than 2 mm.
36 . The method of claim 27 wherein the second diameter ranges between 0.2-5 mm.
37 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first length is less than 10 cm.
38 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first length is greater than 2 cm.
39 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first length ranges between 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, or 30-50 cm.
40 . The method of claim 27 wherein the second length ranges between 50-150 cm.