Releasable coupling device between catheter and collection device

An improved catheter system comprising:

• a catheter having a discharge outlet being permanently connected to a first coupling device;
• a collection device having a second end of a first flexible tube being connected to an inlet of the collection device while a first end of the first flexible tube being permanently connected to an outlet of a second coupling device;
• one of the first and the second coupling devices comprising a male cylindrical sleeve and the other of the first and the second coupling devices comprising a female cylindrical sleeve, the female cylindrical sleeve being sized to receive and form a fluid tight seal with and around the male cylindrical sleeve, and one of the male and the female cylindrical sleeve supporting an O-ring for forming the fluid tight seal therebetween;
• the first coupling device carrying a first portion of a connection mechanism while the second coupling device carrying a mating second portion of the connection mechanism, and the connection mechanism facilitating releasable connection and disconnection of the first and the second coupling devices from one another by simultaneously disconnecting the first and the second portions of the connecting mechanism and sliding the first and the second coupling devices away from one another and out of engagement with one another;
• and
• when the first and the second portions of the connection mechanism are disconnected from one another, a valve of the first coupling device automatically interrupts the flow of urine out through the discharge outlet and past the first coupling device.

A method of providing an improved catheter system, the method comprising:

• permanently connecting a first coupling device to a discharge outlet of a catheter;
• permanently connecting a second end of a first flexible tube to an inlet of a collection device and permanently connecting a first end of the first flexible tube to an outlet of a second coupling device;
• providing one of the first and the second coupling devices with a male cylindrical sleeve and providing the other of the first and the second coupling devices with a female cylindrical sleeve, sizing the female cylindrical sleeve to receive and form a fluid tight seal with and around the male cylindrical sleeve, and supporting an O-ring on one of the male and the female cylindrical sleeves for forming the fluid tight seal therebetween;
• carrying a first portion of a connection mechanism on the first coupling device and carrying a mating second portion of the connection mechanism on the second coupling device, and facilitating releasable connection and disconnection of the first and the second coupling devices from one another, via the connection mechanism, by simultaneously disconnecting the first and the second portions of the connecting mechanism from one another and sliding the first and the second coupling devices away from one another and out of engagement with one another;
• and
• automatically interrupting, via a pair of movable valves, the flow of fluid through the first and the second coupling devices when the first and the second portions of the connection mechanism are disconnected from one another.