PRESSURE CONTROL FOR CATHETER DRAIN TUBING

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a first conduit with at least a first lumen, the first lumen having a first cross-section area size and stretching between a first end and a second end of the first conduit, the first end being adapted to receive a fluid discharged from a urinary catheter, the second end being adapted to communicate the fluid toward a siphon-break device, the first lumen being configured to maintain plug-flow of a fluid flowing therethrough;

a siphon-break device, configured and arranged to resist plug-flow of the fluid flowing there-through, disposed in fluid communication with the second end of the first conduit; and

a second conduit arranged to communicate the fluid from downstream of the siphon-break device toward a container in which to receive the fluid; wherein the second conduit is configured and arranged to resist coupling the potential energy of fluid flowing downstream from the siphon-break device from fluid flowing in the first lumen.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second conduit comprises a second lumen having a second cross-section area that is sized larger than the first cross-section area size, and is configured and arranged in space effective to maintain particle-flow of the fluid downstream from the siphon-break device.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an effective length of the second conduit adjusts to accommodate a plurality of elevations between a siphon-break location and the container to permit disposing the siphon-break device at approximately the same elevation as a subject's bladder while providing an uninterrupted downward-sloping drain path toward the container.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second conduit comprises a telescopic structure adapted for extension along an axis effective to lengthen a drain path between the siphon-break device and the container while providing an uninterrupted downward-sloping drain path toward the container.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second conduit comprises a stretch of conduit coiled about an axis and adapted for extension along the axis effective to lengthen an effective drain path between the siphon-break device and the container while providing an uninterrupted downward-sloping drain path toward the container.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second conduit comprises a serpentine labyrinth of substantially in-plane curved flow sections adapted for extension along an axis by changing a radius of curvature of at least one of the curved flow sections effective to lengthen an effective drain path between the siphon-break device and the container while providing an uninterrupted downward-sloping drain path toward the container.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the siphon-break device is configured and arranged in harmony with the first conduit to visually indicate a corner approximately corresponding to the location of the siphon-break; and further comprising:

an anchor effective to maintain the corner in approximate registration with a top surface edge of a bed on which the apparatus may be installed.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

a discharge end of the second conduit is placed in fluid communication with the container; and

anchoring structure associated with the container is configured to permit making a vertical adjustment of the container with respect to suspension structure associated with a bed effective to facilitate disposing the siphon-break device at a desired elevation with respect to the bladder.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first conduit comprises a stretch coiled about an axis and adapted for extension along the axis effective to lengthen an effective drain path between the first end and the second end.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first conduit comprises a serpentine labyrinth of substantially in-plane curved flow sections adapted for extension by changing a length of lumen stretched between first and second of the curved flow sections effective to lengthen an effective drain path between the first end and the second end.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first conduit comprises a serpentine labyrinth of substantially in-plane curved flow sections adapted for extension by changing a radius of curvature of at least one of the curved flow sections effective to lengthen an effective drain path between the first end and the second end.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a hose management tool adapted to confine the serpentine labyrinth to a desired location in space, the tool being structured to permit transverse installation of a portion of the first conduit between gripping structure of the tool and configured for attachment to structure associated with a bed.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-section shape of the first lumen comprises at least one internally projecting arm configured to resist separation of a meniscus from the lumen wall.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a pressure indicator disposed in proximity to the siphon-break device and in fluid communication with the first conduit.

15 . A method for using the apparatus according to claim 1 to measure the fluid output of a subject, the method comprising:

installing a urinary catheter in fluid communication with the bladder of the subject;

coupling the first end of the first conduit in fluid communication with a discharge end of the catheter;

disposing the siphon-break device at an elevation with respect to the bladder effective to induce a substantially constant pressure having a value selected from between about positive 1 inch (2.5 cm) water column and about negative 6 inches (15 cm) water column at a drain entrance of the catheter; and

placing a discharge from the siphon-break device into fluid communication with structure adapted to measure fluid flow rate.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the structure adapted to measure fluid flow rate comprises an automated fluid flow rate determining device.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein:

the structure adapted to measure fluid flow rate comprises a container adapted to indicate a volume of fluid held therein; and wherein the method further comprises:

waiting for a first period of time during which a charge-volume at least fills a drain conduit disposed between the bladder and the siphon-break device, and determining a first volume contained in the container at the conclusion of the first period of time;

waiting for a second period of time, and determining a second volume contained in the container at the conclusion of the second period of time; and

calculating a fluid flow rate using the difference between the first and second volumes divided by the second period of time.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the structure adapted to measure fluid flow rate comprises a container adapted to indicate a volume of fluid held therein;

and wherein the method further comprises:

establishing a fully charged condition in the first conduit and ensuring that the container is empty;

waiting for a first period of time during which a first volume is discharged into the container;

determining the amount of first volume discharged;

calculating the volumetric flow rate by dividing the amount of first volume by the first period of time; and

emptying the first volume from the container into a downstream bulk container.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

measuring bladder pressure to infer abdominal pressure while permitting uninterrupted flow of fluid draining from the bladder.

20 . A method for placing a urinary catheter in fluid communication with a drain container, the method comprising:

installing the urinary catheter in position to drain a patient's bladder;

placing a first end of a siphon conduit into fluid communication with a discharge end of the catheter, the siphon conduit being constructed to maintain plug-flow of a fluid flowing therethrough;

routing the siphon conduit along a path to dispose the siphon conduit discharge end elevated with respect to the drain container and at an elevation in general agreement with the bladder;

placing a first end of a siphon-break device in fluid communication with the discharge end, the siphon-break device being constructed to resist plug-flow of a fluid flowing therethrough; and

placing a second end of the siphon-break device in fluid communication with the drain container.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , further comprising:

anchoring structure associated with the siphon-break device effective to dispose a siphon-break location at an elevation between about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above, to about 4 inches (10 cm) below, the nominal elevation of the bladder.

22 . The method according to claim 20 , further comprising:

anchoring structure associated with the siphon-break device effective to maintain a consistent negative pressure through the catheter for operable effect of the negative pressure inside the bladder subsequent to complete charging of the siphon conduit.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the negative pressure has a value selected from between about ½ inch (1.27 cm) and about 6 inches (15 cm) of water column.

24 . An apparatus for draining a urinary catheter installed in a medical patient's bladder effective to maintain the bladder in a substantially empty state, the apparatus comprising:

a siphon conduit adapted to maintain plug-flow of a fluid flowing therethrough, a first end of the siphon conduit being adapted to receive a fluid discharged from the urinary catheter, a second end of the siphon conduit being adapted for fluid communication toward a siphon-break device;

a siphon-break device disposed in fluid communication with the second end, and operable to define a drain path for fluid received from the siphon conduit, extending toward a container in which to receive the fluid, the siphon-break device further being effective to decouple the potential energy of fluid flowing along the drain path from fluid in the siphon conduit; and

anchor structure operable to dispose a siphon-break location, caused by operation of the siphon-break device on fluid discharged from the siphon conduit, at a desired and substantially fixed elevation with respect to a nominal position of the bladder.

25 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein:

the anchor is configured for attachment to bedclothes effective to dispose the siphon-break location at an elevation effective to induce a substantially constant pressure, having a value selected from between about positive 1 inch (2.5 cm) water column and about negative 6 inches (15 cm) water column, at a drain entrance of the catheter.

26 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein:

a portion of the apparatus, in proximity to the siphon-break device, is structured to define a shape that is complementary to the edge of a bed and effective to facilitate installation of the siphon-break device at a desired elevation.