Bladder wash method and apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for aseptically washing the bladder of an individual having an indwelling catheter, said apparatus comprising a. means for aseptically washing a bladder, for facilitating mechanical washing action of liquid in washing a bladder, and for preventing removal of too much liquid from a bladder, said means comprising (i) a hollow body member having the interior thereof prefilled with a predetermined amount of liquid for washing a bladder, and having first and second ends thereof, (ii) a tubular tip portion extending from said hollow body member at the first end thereof and adapted to be attached to said catheter to allow liquid communication between the bladder and the hollow body member but to prevent air from being admitted thereto, (iii) means for contracting and expanding the volume of said body member from a first position wherein said body member is prefilled with liquid, to a second position wherein substantially all of said liquid is expelled from said body member, to a third position wherein said liquid is drawn back into said body member and said body member is substantially filled, and (iv) means for releasably locking said body member in said second position thereof wherein said volume thereof is contracted and the prefilled liquid therein is substantially expelled therefrom, said means including a plate having a pair of projections thereon, said plate terminating the second end of said body member and located exteriorly of said body member, and a pair of locking surfaces, said locking surfaces being spaced from but adjacent to the first end of said body member, said locking surfaces being disposed in the path of movement of said projections of said plate as said body member is moved from said first to said second position, said body member being twistable so that said projections may be moved out of interferring relationship with said locking surfaces, and after having moved past said locking surfaces said body member being twistable back into its normal path of movement so that said plate projections abut said locking surfaces whereby said body member assumes said second position whereby movement of said body member from said second position to said third position is prevented, and b. means for maintaining said prefilled volume of liquid within said body member until use thereof.

Claim 11

A method of aseptically washing the bladder of an individual having an indwelling catheter, said method comprising the steps of a. attaching the tip of a bladder washing device prefilled with bladder washing liquid in air-tight liquid communication with the indwelling catheter, b. reducing the volume of said bladder washing device to cause said liquid therein to enter the catheter and bladder, c. latching said bladder washing device in a reduced volume position, d. maintaining said bladder washing device in its latched position a predetermined amount of time, e. withdrawing said solution from said bladder by unlocking said bladder washing device and expanding the volume thereof, and f. removing said bladder washing device from attachment with the catheter.

Claim 12

A method of aseptically washing the bladder of an individual having an indwelling catheter, said method comprising the steps of a. attaching the tip of a bladder washing device prefilled with bladder washing liquid in air-tight liquid communication with the indwelling catheter, b. reducing the volume of said bladder washing device to cause said liquid therein to enter the catheter and bladder, c. latching said bladder washing device in a reduced volume position, d. maintaining said bladder washing device in its latched position a predetermined amount of time, e. withdrawing said solution from said bladder by unlocking said bladder washing device and expanding the volume thereof, and f. removing said bladder washing device from attachment with the catheter.