Urine collection apparatus

Abstract

A urine collection apparatus is disclosed to include an expandable bag connected to a urinary catheter, the bag being adapted to receive urine expelled from the person using the apparatus. The apparatus also has a check valve associated with the bag, which opens to admit gas to the interior of the bag to equilibrate the pressure within the bag with the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere whenever a partial vacuum occurs in the bag.

1 . A urine collection apparatus for collecting urine expelled from a person fitted with a urinary catheter, the urine collection apparatus comprising:
 a bag defining an interior volume in fluid communication with the urinary catheter, said bag being capable of expanding from an empty collapsed condition to an enlarged non-collapsed condition upon receipt of urine from the urinary catheter, wherein in the enlarged non-collapsed condition the interior volume of the bag is occupied at least in part by urine; and   a check valve operatively associated with the bag, said check valve being in a closed position to seal said interior volume from a surrounding atmosphere when the pressure within said bag is approximately equal to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere, but opening to an open position to admit gas from the surrounding atmosphere into the bag when the pressure within said bag is less than the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere, wherein said check valve functions to substantially equilibrate the pressure within the bag with the pressure of said surrounding atmosphere as urine is received from the urinary catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said check valve is a one-way check valve. 
     
     
         3 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said one-way check valve is located in an upper portion of said bag. 
     
     
         4 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an entry tube located in said upper portion and being operatively connected to said urinary catheter, said entry tube defining a passageway to the interior volume of the bag.   
     
     
         5 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an entry tube located in said upper portion and being operatively connected to said urinary catheter, said entry tube defining a passageway to the interior volume of the bag.   
     
     
         6 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the check valve is located in said entry tube. 
     
     
         7 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the check valve is located in a gas-filled passageway that surrounds said entry tube. 
     
     
         8 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag is formed of plastic film. 
     
     
         9 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the check valve is welded to the plastic film that forms the bag. 
     
     
         10 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1  further including an outlet tube located in a lower portion of said bag. 
     
     
         11 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is configured for attachment to a leg of a person fitted with the urinary catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the check valve has an interior side that faces the interior volume of the bag and an exterior side that faces the surrounding atmosphere, and wherein the check valve continues to function notwithstanding that the interior side of the check valve has been contacted by urine. 
     
     
         13 . The urine collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said check valve is a two-way check valve. 
     
     
         14 . A method for collecting urine expelled from a person fitted with a urinary catheter, comprising:
 attaching a first urine collection apparatus to the urinary catheter, wherein the first urine collection apparatus comprises:
 a bag defining an interior volume in fluid communication with the urinary catheter, said bag being capable of expanding from an empty collapsed condition to an enlarged non-collapsed condition upon receipt of urine from the urinary catheter, wherein in the enlarged non-collapsed condition the interior volume of the bag is occupied at least in part by urine; and 
 a check valve operatively associated with the bag, said check valve being in a closed position to seal said interior volume from a surrounding atmosphere when the pressure within said bag is approximately equal to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere, but opening to an open position to admit gas from the surrounding atmosphere into the bag when the pressure within said bag is less than the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere, wherein said check valve functions to substantially equilibrate the pressure within the bag with the pressure of said surrounding atmosphere as urine is received from the urinary catheter; 
   detaching the first urine collection apparatus from the urinary catheter after the bag of the urine collection apparatus has collected urine expelled from the person; and   attaching a second urine collection apparatus to the urinary catheter, wherein the first urine collection apparatus comprises:
 a bag defining an interior volume in fluid communication with the urinary catheter, said bag being capable of expanding from an empty collapsed condition to an enlarged non-collapsed condition upon receipt of urine from the urinary catheter, wherein in the enlarged non-collapsed condition the interior volume of the bag is occupied at least in part by urine; and 
 a check valve operatively associated with the bag, said check valve being in a closed position to seal said interior volume from a surrounding atmosphere when the pressure within said bag is approximately equal to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere, but opening to an open position to admit gas from the surrounding atmosphere into the bag when the pressure within said bag is less than the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere, wherein said check valve functions to substantially equilibrate the pressure within the bag with the pressure of said surrounding atmosphere as urine is received from the urinary catheter.