Urinary catheter with check valve

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel construction for a catheter that includes backflow prevention in the form of a check valve, which keeps the flow of drained fluid material from reentering the patient. The catheter construction of the present invention provides a standard single or multiple lumen tube assembly that extends rearwardly from the insertion end of the catheter to the contact end wherein on the discharge lumen a one way check valve is provided. It is an important feature of the present invention that the check valve is provided as close to the terminal end of the contact end as possible without interfering with the necessary accessory attachment that is typically made thereto. Further, an interlock mechanism may be provided at the terminal end of the catheter for connecting accessories in a positive locking manner. The combination of the valve and the interlock mechanism provides a notable safety and performance improvement that has been previously unknown in the prior art.

1 . A catheter for the transfer of body fluids comprising:
 a tubular catheter having a first end, a second end and at least one hollow passageway within said tubular catheter extending from said first end to said second end, and having at least one inlet disposed proximate said first end and at least one outlet disposed proximate said second end, wherein an interior diameter of said hollow passageway has a tapered transition from a first diameter to a second diameter larger than said first diameter proximate said second end;   a valve integrally formed within said hollow passageway in said catheter between said first end and said outlet downstream from said smaller first lumen at said tapered transition, said check valve substantially limiting the fluid flow therethrough to a single direction from said first end to said second end; and   an interlocking means at said second end of said catheter for selectively connecting a collection apparatus thereto.   
   
   
       2 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1 , said interlocking means further comprising:
 a screw thread pattern at said second end of said catheter, said screw thread pattern corresponding to a mating screw thread pattern on said collection apparatus, wherein said screw thread pattern facilitates a positive interlocking connection between said second end of said catheter and said collection apparatus.   
   
   
       3 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1 , said interlocking means further comprising:
 a raised ridge extending around said second end of said catheter, and   hooks extending from said collection apparatus, wherein said hooks engage said ridge to facilitate a positive interlocking connection between said second end of said catheter and said collection apparatus.   
   
   
       4 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1 , wherein said first end is inserted into a human body into a body cavity contained therein to drain fluids contained in said cavity, said second end and said check valve remaining entirely outside said human body. 
   
   
       5 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one hollow tube is exactly one hollow tube. 
   
   
       6 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1 , said at least one hollow tube further comprising:
 a first hollow tube providing means for transferring body fluids from a body cavity into which said first end of said catheter is inserted;   a second hollow tube providing means for retaining said catheter in said body cavity; and   a third hollow tube providing means for introducing irrigation fluid to said body cavity.   
   
   
       7 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1  said at least one hollow tube further comprising:
 a hollow passageway extending from said first end to said second end and having at least one inlet disposed proximate said first end, a first outlet disposed proximate said second end and a check valve disposed within said hollow passageway in said catheter between said first end and said outlet proximate said second end, said check valve substantially limiting the fluid flow therethrough to a single direction from said first end to said second end;   a second outlet proximate said second end of said catheter between said first end and said second end, said second outlet allowing the introduction of irrigation fluid into said catheter.   
   
   
       8 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 1  wherein said valve is a check valve. 
   
   
       9 . A catheter including an integrally formed check valve for the transfer of body fluids comprising:
 a tubular catheter having a first end, a second end and at least one hollow passageway within said tubular catheter extending from said first end to said second end, and having at least one inlet disposed proximate said first end and at least one outlet disposed proximate said second end, wherein an interior diameter of said hollow passageway has a tapered transition from a first diameter to a second diameter larger than said first diameter proximate said second end; and   a valve integrally formed within said hollow passageway in the catheter between said first end and said outlet downstream from said smaller first lumen at said tapered transition, said check valve substantially limiting the fluid flow therethrough to a single direction from said first end to said second end while freely and automatically allowing fluid flow in said single direction, wherein said first end of said catheter is inserted into a human body into a body cavity contained therein to drain fluids contained in said cavity, said second end and said check valve remaining entirely outside said human body.   
   
   
       10 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an interlocking means at said second end of said catheter for selectively connecting a collection apparatus thereto.   
   
   
       11 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 10 , said interlocking means further comprising:
 a screw thread pattern at said second end of said catheter, said screw thread pattern corresponding to a mating screw thread pattern on said collection apparatus, wherein said screw thread pattern facilitates a positive interlocking connection between said second end of said catheter and said collection apparatus.   
   
   
       12 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 10 , said interlocking means further comprising:
 a raised ridge extending around said second end of said catheter, and   hooks extending from said collection apparatus, wherein said hooks engage said ridge to facilitate a positive interlocking connection between said second end of said catheter and said collection apparatus.   
   
   
       13 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 9 , said at least one hollow tube further comprising:
 a first hollow tube providing means for transferring body fluids from said body cavity;   a second hollow tube providing means for retaining said catheter in said body cavity; and   a third hollow tube providing means for introducing irrigation fluid to said body cavity.   
   
   
       14 . The catheter for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 9  wherein said valve is a check valve. 
   
   
       15 . A triple lumen catheter device for the transfer of body fluids comprising:
 a tubular catheter having a first end, a second end;   a first hollow passageway within said tubular catheter extending from said first end to said second end, and having at least one inlet disposed proximate said first end and at least one outlet disposed proximate said second end, wherein an interior diameter of said hollow passageway has a tapered transition from a first diameter to a second diameter larger than said first diameter proximate said second end, a valve integrally formed within said hollow passageway in the catheter between said first end and said outlet downstream from said smaller first lumen at said tapered transition, said check valve substantially limiting the fluid flow therethrough to a single direction from said first end to said second end while freely and automatically allowing fluid flow in said single direction from said first end to said second end, and an interlocking means at said outlet for selectively connecting a collection apparatus thereto;   a second hollow tube providing means for retaining said catheter in said body cavity; and   a third hollow tube providing means for introducing irrigation fluid to said body cavity,   wherein said first end of said catheter is inserted into a human body into a body cavity contained therein to drain fluids contained in said cavity, said second end and said check valve remaining entirely outside said human body.   
   
   
       16 . A triple lumen catheter device for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 15 , said interlocking means further comprising:
 a screw thread pattern at said second end of said catheter, said screw thread pattern corresponding to a mating screw thread pattern on said collection apparatus, wherein said screw thread pattern facilitates a positive interlocking connection between said second end of said catheter and said collection apparatus.   
   
   
       17 . A triple lumen catheter device for the transfer of body fluids of  claim 15  said interlocking means further comprising:
 a raised ridge extending around said second end of said catheter, and   hooks extending from said collection apparatus, wherein said hooks engage said ridge to facilitate a positive interlocking connection between said second end of said catheter and said collection apparatus.