Time-sensitive catheter alarm

Abstract

A catheter includes an elongated tube, wherein a portion of the elongated tube is positionable inside the body of a subject such that, during use, bodily fluids travel from the subject through the elongated tube. A timing device is coupled to the elongated tube, wherein, after the catheter is inserted into the body of the subject, the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject.

1 . A catheter system comprising:
 an elongated tube, wherein a portion of the elongated tube is positionable inside the body of a subject such that, during use, bodily fluids travel from the subject through the elongated tube;   a collection container coupled to the elongated tube, wherein bodily fluids from the subject are collected in the collection device; and   a timing device coupled to a portion of the catheter system, wherein, after the catheter is inserted into the body of the subject, the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time the catheter has been disposed inside the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated tube comprises a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being positionable inside the body of a subject during use, and the proximal end being coupleable to a collection container such that, during use, the bodily fluids travel through elongated tube to the collection container. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is a catheter for draining urine from the bladder of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device is a light that provides a visual signal that indicates the amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of system  claim 4 , wherein the light is an LED light, and wherein the LED light produces pulses of light, the frequency of the pulses of light providing a visual indication of the amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of system  claim 4 , wherein the timing device is a light that provides different colors of light, each color representing a predetermined amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device provides an audio signal that indicates the amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device comprises a display indicating the amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device is connected to the elongated tube. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device is connected to the collection container. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the timing device comprises an activation device, and wherein the activation device provides a signal to activate a controller of the timing device to begin measuring the elapsed time. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter system of  claim 11 , wherein the activation device comprises a pull strip, wherein removal of the pull strip from the timing device causes a signal to be produced that activates the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of system  claim 11 , wherein the activation device comprises a magnetic contact coupled to the timer, wherein removal of the magnetic contact causes a signal to be produced that activates the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device produces a signal that indicates that the catheter needs to be removed from the subject. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of system  claim 1 , wherein the timing device comprises a blinking light, wherein the blinking light provides pulses of light at a frequency that is representative of the amount of time that the catheter has been disposed inside the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of system  claim 15 , wherein the timing device produces pulse of light at increasing frequency the longer the catheter is disposed in the subject. 
     
     
         17 . A method of removing bodily fluids from a subject with a catheter comprising:
 inserting a distal portion of a catheter system into a subject, the catheter system comprising:
 an elongated tube, wherein a portion of the elongated tube is positionable inside the subject such that, during use, bodily fluids travel from the subject through the elongated tube; 
 a collection container coupled to the elongated tube, wherein bodily fluids from the subject are collected in the collection device; and 
 a timing device coupled to a portion of the catheter system, wherein, after the catheter is inserted into the body of the subject, the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time the catheter has been disposed inside the subject; and 
   activating the timing device.   
     
     
         18 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A catheter comprising:
 an elongated tube, wherein a portion of the elongated tube is positionable inside the body of a subject such that, during use, bodily fluids travel from the subject through the elongated tube; and   a timing device coupled to the elongated tube, wherein, after the catheter is inserted into the body of the subject, the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time the catheter has been disposed inside the subject.   
     
     
         35 - 50 . (canceled)