Systems and methods for draining bodily fluids
Systems, devices and methods for draining and analyzing bodily fluids and assessing health are described generally comprising a pumping mechanism which is fluidly connectable at a first end to a portion of a drainage line and a venting mechanism having a one-way valve and which is connectable at a first end into fluid communication with a drainage catheter and the drainage line. The pumping mechanism may be configured to create a negative pressure within the drainage line when the pumping mechanism is in communication with the drainage line, and the one-way valve may be configured to open to an environment when the venting mechanism is connected at the first end and when the drainage line is at a pressure less than an environmental pressure such that an airlock is prevented from forming within the drainage line.
1 . A fluid drainage system, comprising: a pumping mechanism which is fluidly connectable at a first end to a portion of a drainage line;
a venting mechanism having a one-way valve and which is connectable at a first end into fluid communication with a drainage catheter and the drainage line; and
a bypass lumen fluidly connected along the drainage line at a first bypass end located distal to the pumping mechanism and at a second bypass end located proximal to the pumping mechanism, the bypass lumen having a one-way bypass valve positioned along the bypass lumen such that fluid passes from the first bypass end to the second bypass end and circumvents the pumping mechanism and flows further downstream beyond the pumping mechanism, such that fluid is inhibited from flowing upward within the bypass lumen,
wherein the pumping mechanism is configured to create a negative pressure within the drainage line when the pumping mechanism is in communication with the drainage line, and wherein the one-way valve is configured to open to an environment when the venting mechanism is connected at the first end and when the drainage line is at a pressure less than an environmental pressure such that air from the environment is introduced through the one-way valve and into the drainage line so that an airlock is prevented from forming within the drainage line.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising the drainage line which is fluidly connected to the pumping mechanism.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising the drainage catheter which comprises a Foley catheter.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the venting mechanism is connectable at the first end into fluid communication with the drainage line via a sampling port of the drainage system, including in the drainage line, as part of the drainage catheter, or between the drainage catheter and the drainage line.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the venting mechanism is connectable at the first end into fluid communication with a proximal end of the drainage catheter and is also connectable at a second end into fluid communication with a distal end of the drainage line.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism is configured to create the negative pressure periodically within the drainage line.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism is configured to create the negative pressure continuously within the drainage line.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism is connectable directly to the drainage line.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a peristaltic pump.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a displacement pump.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a centrifugal pump.
12 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pumping mechanism is fluidly coupled at the first end to the portion of the drainage line and is also fluidly coupled at a second end to a reservoir.
13 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a fluid flow meter which is configured to be in communication with the drainage line.
14 . A method of draining a body fluid from a subject, comprising:
providing a pumping mechanism connectable to a portion of a drainage line;
providing a venting mechanism fluidly connectable to a drainage catheter and the drainage line;
providing a bypass lumen fluidly connected along the drainage line at a first bypass end located distal to the pumping mechanism and at a second bypass end located proximal to the pumping mechanism, the bypass lumen having a one-way bypass valve positioned along the bypass lumen such that fluid passes from the first bypass end to the second bypass end and circumvents the pumping mechanism and flows further downstream beyond the pumping mechanism, such that fluid is inhibited from flowing upward within the bypass lumen,
forming a negative pressure within the drainage line via the pumping mechanism;
receiving a body fluid through the drainage catheter and into the drainage line;
opening a one-way valve fluidly coupled to the drainage line and in proximity to the drainage catheter when the drainage line is at a pressure less than an environmental pressure such that air from an environment is introduced through the one-way valve and into the drainage line; and
inhibiting formation of an airlock within the drainage line.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the drainage catheter comprises a Foley catheter.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein providing the venting mechanism further comprises connecting the venting mechanism at a first end into fluid communication with the drainage line via a sampling port of the drainage system, including in the drainage line, as part of the drainage catheter, or between the drainage catheter and the drainage line.
17 . The method of claim 14 wherein providing the venting mechanism further comprises connecting the venting mechanism at a first end into fluid communication with a proximal end of the drainage catheter and connecting the venting mechanism at a second end into fluid communication with a distal end of the drainage line.
18 . The method of claim 14 wherein forming the negative pressure comprises periodically creating the negative pressure within the drainage line.
19 . The method of claim 14 wherein forming the negative pressure comprises continuously creating the negative pressure within the drainage line.
20 . The method of claim 14 wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a peristaltic pump.
21 . The method of claim 14 wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a displacement pump.
22 . The method of claim 14 wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a centrifugal pump.
23 . The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving the body fluid at a first end of the pumping mechanism and draining the body fluid into a reservoir which is fluidly connected at a second end of the pumping mechanism.
24 . The method of claim 14 further comprising measuring a fluid flow via a fluid flow meter in communication with the drainage line.