Time-sensitive catheter alarm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016361516-A1
Application number	US-201615070229-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 18, 2012
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

1 - 50 . (canceled)

51 . 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; an activation device coupled to the timing device; wherein the activation device provides a signal to activate a controller of the timing device to begin measuring an elapsed time; packaging surrounding the elongated tube and/or the timing device, wherein removal of the packaging from the elongated tube and/or the timing device causes the activation device to activate the controller of the timing device to begin measuring the elapsed time; 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, and wherein a portion of the pull strip is coupled to the packaging such that removal of the packaging from the elongated tube and/or the timing device removes the pull strip from the timing device; and wherein the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time the catheter has been removed from the packaging.

52 . The catheter system of claim 51 , 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.

53 . The catheter system of claim 51 , wherein the catheter is a catheter for draining urine from the bladder of the subject.

54 . The catheter of system claim 51 , wherein the timing device is a light that provides a visual signal that indicates the amount of time that the catheter has been removed from the packaging.

55 . The catheter of system claim 54 , 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.

56 . The catheter of system claim 54 , 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.

57 . The catheter of system claim 51 , wherein the timing device provides an audio signal that indicates the amount of time that the catheter has been removed from the packaging.

58 . The catheter of system claim 51 , wherein the timing device comprises a display indicating the amount of time that the catheter has been removed from the packaging.

59 . The catheter of system claim 1 , wherein the timing device is connected to the elongated tube.

60 . The catheter of system claim 1 , wherein the timing device is connected to the collection container.

61 . The catheter of system claim 51 , wherein the pull strip comprises a pull strip magnetic contact coupled to a timer magnetic contact, wherein removal of the packaging from the elongated tube and/or the timing device separates the pull strip magnetic contact from the timer magnetic contact.

62 . The catheter of system claim 51 , wherein the timing device produces a signal that indicates that the catheter needs to be removed from the subject.

63 . The catheter of system claim 51 , 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.

64 . The catheter of system claim 63 , wherein the timing device produces pulse of light at increasing frequency the longer the catheter is disposed in the subject.

65 . A method of removing bodily fluids from a subject with a catheter comprising:
obtaining a catheter system, 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;
a timing device coupled to a portion of the catheter system;
an activation device coupled to the timing device; wherein the activation device provides a signal to activate a controller of the timing device to begin measuring an elapsed time; and
packaging surrounding the elongated tube and/or the timing device, wherein removal of the packaging from the elongated tube and/or the timing device causes the activation device to activate the controller of the timing device to begin measuring the elapsed time;
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, and wherein a portion of the pull strip is coupled to the packaging such that removal of the packaging from the elongated tube and/or the timing device removes the pull strip from the timing device;
removing the packaging from the catheter system, wherein removal of the packaging activates the timing device, wherein the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time the catheter has been removed from the packaging; and inserting a distal portion of the elongated tube into the subject.

66 . 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; a timing device coupled to the elongated tube; an activation device coupled to the timing device; wherein the activation device provides a signal to activate a controller of the timing device to begin measuring an elapsed time; and packaging surrounding the elongated tube, wherein removal of the packaging from the elongated tube causes the activation device to activate the controller of the timing device to begin measuring the elapsed time; 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, and wherein a portion of the pull strip is coupled to the packaging such that removal of the packaging from the elongated tube and/or the timing device removes the pull strip from the timing device; and wherein the timing device provides an indication of the amount of time the catheter has been removed from the packaging.

Assignees

• Univ Texas

Inventors

• Aydelotte Jayson

Classifications

• A61M25/002 Primary

  Packages specially adapted therefor (combined with means for introducing catheters, e.g. dispensers, A61M25/0113); catheter kit packages (for surgical articles A61B50/30) · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

  User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards · CPC title

• A61M2205/18

  with alarm · CPC title

• A61M2205/587

  Lighting arrangements · CPC title

• A61M2205/3306

  Optical measuring means · CPC title