The present invention refers to a receptacle for urological use and includes a first graduated metering chamber and one with this, via a tube or the like, communicating receptacle, whereby the outlet of the metering chamber- is arranged in its upper part.

Background of the invention

It is of common use within medical servi.ce to use so called urine meter devices to measure a patients volume of urine, which gives information of among others the functioning of the patients kidneys. It is very important that a proper volume of urine is produced in order to get an opinion of the patients condition after for example an extensive operation or other illnesses. Such a urine measuring apparatus (Swedish patent No. 7703650-7) consists usually of a graduated metering chamber to which a tube or catheter is connected. The metering chamber should regularly be emptied and is designed in such a way that the volume of the fluid is easy to read off even if the metering chamber contains a little volume of fluid. Emptying of the metering chamber is executed by that the urine is transferred to _. a bigger receptacle, for example a plastic bag provided with a non¬ return, valve, via a connection tube, connected to the upper part of the metering chamber. The metering chamber and the receptacle are supported by a stand which is connected to the bed close to the patient.

At an earlier known fluid metering apparatus (US patent No. 3,888,126) is the collection bag connected to the metering chamber via a tube, which extend up to the level of 100 cubic centimeters and the inlet of which is disposed at the bottom of the metering chamber. In this way an automatic emptying is obtained by the siphon effect which occurs when liquid flows over the threshold in the tube as soon as the ' fluid level reach the level of 100 cubic centimeters. ^'

One disadvantage with manually and also automatically emptying urine meters is that air in more or less quantity always follows the liquid at every emptying which air is locked up inside the receptacle and, as times goes, creates an overpressure therein. This overpressure obstruct and even prevent transferring of urine to the receptacle and also jeopardize the functioning of the metering apparatus.

The object and the most important characteristics of the invention

The object with the present invention is to provide an aeration device by which the disadvantages mentioned above are eliminated. A further object with the invention is that it should be of a simple construction and cheap to manufacture. It is of course also important that the metering device is safe and easy to use and that it is reliable in operation. This is solved by that an air canal is disposed inside the tube whereby the upper end of the air canal is positioned inside the metering chamber at a level above its outlet and the second lower end is positioned at a distance above the inlet of the receptacle.

Description of the drawings

The invention will with reference to the enclosed drawings in the following be described in an embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a urine metering device and, Figure 2 shows a cut along the line II-II in figure 1 through the tube arranged-between the metering chamber and the receptacle.

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Description of embodiments

The receptacle 1 according to the invention includes one from a stand 2 easy detachable metering chamber 3, and one below this metering chamber mounted receptacle 4 which is connected to the metering chamber 3 via a tube 5. The metering chamber 3 is, at its upper end, provided with an air vent 6, through which the overpressure of air can pass out from the metering chamber 3, via a filter, to the atmosphere. Through this arrangement overpressure inside the metering chamber 3 is prevented when urine flows from the patient. An inlet canal 7 is arranged at the upper part of the metering chamber 3 and this inlet canal 7 is connected to the patient by a drain tube, or a catheter . (not -shown) . In this embodiment the metering chamber 3 is designed to be thinner downwards to allow a more accurate reading of small volumes of fluid. Above the highest graduated mark (not shown) at the metering chamber 3 is an outlet 8 arranged, which through the tube 5 is connected to the receptacle 4.

The tube 5, which is shown i cross-section in figure 2, is provided with a first canal 9 intended for the fluid and a second canal 14 in the form of an inner tube 10 intended for transportation of air. The inner tube 10 is mounted to the outer tube 5 for example by welding at one or more points.

The receptacle 4 consists for example b .a flexible plastic bag which at its initial state is evacuated with reference to fluid and air. The shape of the bag is thereafter automatically adjusted to the volume which the liquid occupies. The receptacle 4, the bag, is furthermore provided at its upper part with an inlet 11 and holes 12 intended to make ^' it possible to mount the receptacle 4 to the. stand 2. The inlet 11 is also provided with a non-return valve 15, which prevents liquid or air to pass out from the receptacle 4 and contaminate the system. The receptacle 4 can also be scaled (not shown) to make an estimate of the content possible.

The metering chamber 3 is manually loosened from the stand 2 when it should be emptied whereby emptying of the content to the receptacle 4 is executed by that the metering chamber 3 o is turned 90 . Its content flows thereby down to the receptacle 4.

The upper end of the air canal 14 must end above the surface of the liquid in the metering chamber 3 to obtain the desired air vent effect. For this reason the tube 10 reach inside the metering chamber, up to the center in such a way, that its end always is placed above the outlet 13 and thereby abov.e the liquid surface in the metering chamber. Furthermore the inner tube 10 should be arranged along an important part of t outer tube 5 and it should end above the inlet 11 of the receptacle 4, where the liquid stand for a short while before it flows down to the receptacle. During the short delay enclosed air will leave, which air is lead back to the metering chamber 3 via ^* the air canal 14.

The invention is of course not limited to the above described embodiment but a number of alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of the claims.

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