Importance

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Abstract

An electronic control unit and tubing assembly system for automatically controlling urinary irrigation is provided, including a tubing assembly and two embodiments of an electronic control unit. The tubing assembly includes tubing to connect to an irrigant supply source feeding a supply line, to a urinary catheter, and to a vent line connected to a fluid sensor assembly. The vent line is arranged so that irrigant flows into the vent line should the catheter drain become obstructed or should the supply line become kinked, and actuates a fluid sensor. An electronic control unit is in communication with the fluid sensor, and generates a control circuit that is responsive to the fluid sensor. When the fluid sensor detects a catheter obstruction, the circuit changes states and closes a pinch valve to shut off the flow of irrigant. In this manner, the system prevents the patient from suffering bladder distension, perforation, or rupture due to a 'runaway' urinary catheter. The first embodiment of the electronic control unit automatically resumes the flow of irrigant once the obstruction or kink is cleared, with or without human intervention. The second embodiment provides an electromechanical device that must be manually cocked to initiate irrigant flow, that is shut by a mechanical trigger should an obstruction occur, and that must be manually re-cocked to resume irrigant flow.

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First Claim