FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a flow control valve. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a flow control valve for use with a catheter and urine bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Urinary catheterization is a process in which a catheter is inserted into a bladder through the urethra of the patient. The catheterization process is performed for facilitating the draining of the urine from the bladder for collection. In other use, the catherization process may be employed for injecting liquids used for treatment or diagnosis of bladder conditions.

[0003] While the catherization process may facilitate easy drainage of the urine for individuals with bladder or other related disorders, it does have some disadvantageous aspects associated therewith. For example, in some cases, a catheter and a urine bag are required to be constantly used by the user. This may directly impact the quality of life for the individual. The usage of the urine bag and catheter may be a cause of discomfort to the user. In some situations, the user may not want to have a urine bag attached to their leg, for example, while going for a walk.

[0004] As such, there is felt a need for provision of a device that allows the user to connect or disconnect the urine bag to the catheter at will. It is to these ends that the present subject matter has been envisaged.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a flow control valve for use with a catheter and a urine bag.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow control valve for use with a catheter, using which the user can disconnect the urine bag from the catheter at will.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to improve hygiene associated with the use of catheter and urine bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present subject matter envisages a flow control valve for use with a catheter. The flow control valve comprises a valve housing having an internal channel and a slot configured operatively above the internal channel, wherein the valve housing also has a first end and a second end. A catheter end nozzle extends from the first end of the valve housing. A resilient tube is disposed within the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the catheter connectable to the catheter end nozzle. A latch is pivotally disposed within the slot for facilitating selective flow of fluid through the resilient tube.

[0009] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the catheter end nozzle is integral to the valve housing. In another embodiment, the catheter end nozzle is discrete component attachable to the valve housing.

[0010] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the flow control valve further comprises a drain nozzle attachable to the second end of the valve housing.

[0011] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the attachment of the drain nozzle to the second end of the valve housing is facilitated via a connector having thread formations engageable to complementary thread formations formed on the second end of the valve housing.

[0012] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the slot is configured operatively between a pair of sidewalls of the valve housing, wherein the pair of sidewalls pivotally support the latch.

[0013] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the latch has a V-shaped configuration defined by a vertex and an actuation extension.

[0014] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the latch is actuable in an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the actuation extension is used to push the latch, pivotally connected to the pair of sidewalls, down such that the vertex portion presses the resilient tube against a bottom wall of the valve housing, thereby restricting fluid flow therethrough. In the open position, the actuation extension is used to pull the latch, pivotally connected to the pair of sidewalls, upwards to break a contact of the vertex portion with the bottom wall of the valve housing, thereby allowing the resilient tube to return to original state thereof and providing a flow channel for allowing fluid flow therethrough.

[0015] In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, a urine bag is connectable to the drain nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0016] The aspects and other features of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures. The use of the same reference number in different figures indicates similar or identical items. [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary application of a flow control valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the flow control valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the flow control valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. [0020] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate sectional views of the flow control valve operated in open and closed states, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0021] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate schematic views depicting the method of operating the flow control valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, where depictions are made, by way of illustration, of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary application of a flow control valve 100 (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as FCV 100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. As seen in FIG. 1, the FCV 100 is configured for operation between a catheter 150 and a urine bag 152. More specifically, as will be described in the subsequent sections of the present disclosure, the FCV 100 allows the user to safely disconnect the urine bag 152 from the catheter 150 without worrying about uncontrolled drainage through the catheter. Such a feature allows the user to disconnect the urine bag 152 from the catheter 150 and place the urine bag 152 at location distant from the user’s body to allow the user to do tasks like going for a walk with total comfort.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the FCV 100 and FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the FCV 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Reference hereinafter is directed to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The FCV 100 comprises a valve housing 102 having an internal channel 104 and a slot 106 configured operatively above the internal channel 102 A. More specifically, the valve housing 102 has a first end 102A and a second end 102B. The slot 106 is defined between a pair of walls 102C, 102D of the valve housing 102. The internal channel 104 is configured within the body of the valve housing 102 operatively below the slot 106, as seen in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the internal channel 104 has a cylindrical configuration.

[0025] The FCV 100 further comprises a catheter end nozzle 108 extending from the first end 102 A of the valve housing 102. In one embodiment, the catheter end nozzle 108 may be integral to the valve housing 102. In another embodiment, the catheter end nozzle 108 may be a discreet component attachable to the first end 102A of the valve housing 102. In one embodiment, the catheter may be attached to the valve housing via engagement formations, including but not limited to, thread formations, snap fitment formations, push fitment formations, and the like. Referring back to FIG. 1, the catheter 150 is connectable to the catheter end nozzle 108, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] The FCV 100 further comprises a resilient tube 110 configured for placement within the internal channel 104 to be in fluid communication with the catheter 150 connectable to the catheter end nozzle 108. The FCV 100 further comprises a latch 112 pivotally disposed within the slot 106 for facilitating selective flow of fluid through the resilient tube 110. More specifically, the slot 106 is formed operatively between the pair of walls 102C, 102D, wherein the pair of walls 102C, 102D include apertures 102E configured on each of the walls 102C, 102D for facilitating pivotal connection of the latch 106 thereto via a hinge pin fitted into the apertures 102E.

[0027] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate sectional views of the flow control valve 100 operated in open and closed states, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the resilient tube 110 is placed within the internal channel 104. In one embodiment, the resilient tube 110 may be made of a resilient material, e.g., silicon or any polymeric materials suitable for use in manufacturing catheters. The resilient tube 110 includes tube ends 110A, HOB formed for facilitating snug fitment at channel ends 104 A, 104B of the internal channel 104. More specifically, the tube ends 110A are formed as nipple formations designed for snug fitment into channel ends 104 A, 104B.

[0028] As mentioned previously, the resilient tube 110 is made of a resilient material. As such, to stop the flow of a fluid through the resilient tube 110, the resilient tube 110 may simply be pressed to close of the flow channel formed within the resilient tube 110. To this end, the present subject matter envisages the usage of the latch 112. The latch 112 is operable in two positions, as seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, the latch 112 has a V-shaped configuration defined by a vertex 112A and an actuation extension 112B. The latch 112 also includes a connection extension 112C for facilitating pivotal connection of the latch 112 to the pair of walls 102C, 102D. In the open position of the latch 112, the actuation extension 112B is used to pull the latch 112, pivotally connected to the pair of sidewalls 102C, 102D, upwards to break a contact of the vertex portion 112A with the bottom wall of the internal channel 104 of the valve housing 102, thereby allowing the resilient tube to return to original state thereof and providing a flow channel for allowing fluid flow therethrough.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, the latch 112 is in the closed position. In the closed position, the actuation extension 112B is used to push the latch 112, pivotally connected to the pair of sidewalls 102C, 102D, down such that the vertex portion 112A presses the resilient tube 110 against the bottom wall of the internal channel 104 of the valve housing 102, thereby closing the flow channel formed in the resilient tube 110 and restricting fluid flow therethrough. [0031] The FCV 100 further comprises a drain nozzle 114 attachable to the second end 102B of the valve housing 102. In an embodiment, the attachment of the drain nozzle 114 to the second end 102B of the valve housing 102 is facilitated via a connector 116 having thread formations 116A engageable to complementary thread formations 102F formed on the second end 102B of the valve housing 102. The drain nozzle 114 includes a flange portion 114A that allows the drain nozzle 114 to be securely held within the connector 116 by a web portion 116B of the connector 116. More specifically, the web portion 116B of the connector 116 ensures that the drain nozzle 114 is not accidentally popped out of the connector 116. The urine bag 152 is connectable to the drain nozzle 114, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In an alternative embodiment, the drain nozzle 114 may be integral to the valve housing 102, similar to the catheter end nozzle.

[0032] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate schematic views depicting the method of operating the flow control valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The operative configurations of the FCV 100 are hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of the steps involved in disconnecting the connector 116 and the drain nozzle 114 from the FCV 100 to disconnect the urine bag 152 from the catheter 150. As seen in FIG. 6, the user simply needs to use the latch 112 to put the FCV 100 in its closed configuration by pushing the latch 112 to press the resilient tube placed within the internal channel for closing off the flow channel of the resilient tube. Subsequent to that, the user needs to disengage the connector 116 and the drain nozzle 116 by turning the connector 116 to disengage thread formations 116A and 102F. Once the thread formations are disengaged, the urine bag 152 is safely disconnected from the catheter 150 and the FCV 100 in its closed state ensures that there is no undesired drain of urine from the catheter 150. [0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of the steps involved in connecting the connector 116 and the drain nozzle 114 to the FCV 100 to connect the urine bag 152 to the catheter 150. As seen in FIG. 7, the user simply needs to establish connection between the connector 116 and the valve housing 102, which is facilitated by thread formations 116A and 102F. After establishing the connection between the connector 116 and the valve housing 102, the user is required to simply pull the latch 112 into its open configuration for allowing the resilient tube 110 to return to its original state in which the flow channel is formed to facilitate the flow of the fluid from the catheter 150 into the resilient tube 110, and from the resilient tube through the drain nozzle 114 into the urine bag 152.

[0034] Such an operation of the FCV 100 allows the user to disconnect the urine bag from the catheter at will to ensure maximum comfort in doing some everyday tasks such as going for a walk. Another advantageous aspect of the FCV 100 is that FCV 100 may be used for a short-term use such as, for example, in post-surgery scenario. In such a scenario, the catheter may be disconnected from the urine bag using the FCV 100 to allow the user to use the washroom naturally, where the urine may be passed naturally through the catheter. Another disadvantageous aspect is that the FCV 100 may also be used (with catheter and urine bags) as an alternative to other conventional long-term catheter-urine bag setups as it allows selective disconnection between the catheter and the urine bag. It is to be noted that FCV 100 may be used under a doctor’s guidance.

[0035] The benefits and advantages which may be provided by the present invention have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. These benefits and advantages, and any elements or limitations that may cause them to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features of any or all of the embodiments.