Bowel management system and waste collection bag therefor

Abstract

A bowel management system includes a waste collection catheter having at least two distinct sections. The first section is patient proximal when disposed in the patient's rectum and has durometer hardness in the range of about 50 A to about 90 A. The second catheter section is connected to the first section and has durometer hardness in the range of about 5 A to about 49 A. A selectively collapsible, substantially spherical retention balloon is attached coaxially and exterior of the first catheter section such that the proximal-most end of the retention balloon is coincident to the proximal-most end of the first section of the waste collection catheter, the substantially spherical retention balloon having an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large enough to retain the patient proximal end of the catheter in the patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The combination of a bowel management system for use in a non-ambulatory patient and a waste collection bag, the bowel management system comprising: a waste collection catheter having at least two distinct sections including: a patient proximal first section, which is disposed in the patient's rectum in a normal use position, having a first end and a second end, and a durometer hardness so that the patient proximal first section is stiff enough to automatically maintain an open position for free flow of bowel waste when in the normal use position, yet is soft and pliable enough to permit folding longitudinally for ease of insertion into the rectum of a patient; a second section having a first end connected to the second end of the patient proximal first section, and a second end sufficiently spaced from the first end that the second section can be positioned and retained in the anal canal of the patient and having a durometer hardness to permit the retention of the second section in the patient for extended periods; and a waste collection bag adapted for secure, leak-proof connection to the waste collection catheter and which is sized sufficiently large enough to receive fecal waste from the patient for extended periods. 
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 21 , and further comprising a patient distal third section having a first end connected to the second end of the second section, and a second end, which is patient distal-most when in use, the patient distal third section being flexible enough to remain open for flow-through of waste through the catheter to a waste collection bag and being adapted for secure, leak-proof connection to the waste collection bag. 
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 22 , the system further comprising a selectively collapsible retention balloon attached around the patient proximal first section such that a proximal-most end of the retention balloon is coincident to a proximal-most first end of the patient proximal section of the waste collection catheter, the retention balloon having a size when not collapsed sufficiently large to retain the patient proximal end of the catheter in the patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 23 , the system further comprising a lumened member which is substantially smaller in diameter than the waste collection catheter and which has a first end and a second end, the first end of the lumened member being connected to the patient proximal first section of the waste collection catheter and being in fluid communication with the selectively collapsible retention balloon. 
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 22 , the system further comprising a connector at the second end of the patient distal third section of the waste collection catheter, to thereby permit removable connection of the system to the waste collection bag. 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein the waste collection bag has attached a closeable drainage hose and a closure member for sealing a free end of the drainage hose when the drainage hose is not in use. 
     
     
         29 . A waste collection bag for use with a patient bowel management system, the waste collection bag comprising: a body portion having a volume of approximately three liters, the body portion having an end which is positioned upwardly when connected to the system for use, the upper end defining an opening adapted for releasable connection to an end of a patient waste collection catheter; an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the waste collection bag to a support device for the patient; a retention mechanism for permitting the waste collection bag to be folded against itself and releasably retained in such position in order to prevent the bag from dragging on the ground or other support surface; a closeable drainage hose; and a closure member for sealing a free end of the drainage hose when the drainage hose is not in use for emptying waste from the waste collection bag. 
     
     
         30 . The waste collection bag of  claim 29 , wherein the bag is provided on an external surface thereof with indicia for indicating the approximate volume of patient body waste material in the waste collection bag. 
     
     
         31 - 42 . (canceled)