Catheter adapter having filtered air vent

Claim 1

An integral tubular adapter for use in a urinary drainage system, said adapter comprising first and second tubes joined solely by a tubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve having first and second endwalls each with an aperture therethrough, and a third aperture disposed in its sidewall and covered by a bacteria filtering material through which air can pass but body fluids cannot, said third aperture terminating a predetermined distance axially from said first endwall, said first tube having one end thereof continuously open to air passed through said third aperture and extending into said sleeve through said aperture of said first endwall a distance at least substantially equal to said predetermined distance from said first endwall at which said third aperture terminates, said first tube having its outer end adapted for engagement with a urinary drainage catheter; and said second tube having one end in communication with said aperture of said second endwall of said sleeve and the other end thereof adapted for engagement with the proximal end of a drainage tube joined at its distal end to a urine collection container, whereby a consecutive flow path through said catheter, adapter and drainage tube into said container is provided remote from said filtered third aperture, which third aperture is adapted to continuously admit filtered, atmospheric air into said flow path in the vicinity of said proximal end of said drainage tube.