Methods of producing an intermittent urinary catheter package
First Claim
1. A method of producing an intermittent urinary catheter package, comprising:
- a) providing an intermittent urinary catheter having a flexible catheter tube with a distal tip and at least one discharge opening proximate the distal tip, and a catheter outlet provided at a proximal end of the catheter tube,b) providing a gel receptacle defining a cavity therein and having a distal opening at a distal end with an inner diameter corresponding to a catheter tube diameter, and a proximal opening at a proximal end with an inner diameter larger than the catheter tube diameter, wherein a side wall of the gel receptacle is made of a deformable material and configured to collapse inward in a relaxed state to a collapsed shape,c) inserting the catheter distal tip through the proximal opening, cavity and out of the distal opening of the gel receptacle to a stored position so as to deform the side wall outward from the collapsed shape to an enlarged shape, in the process enlarging the cavity,d) filling the enlarged cavity of the gel receptacle with a lubricating agent gel so that the gel surrounds a portion of the catheter tube within the cavity, wherein withdrawing the catheter distal tip proximally from the stored position in the gel receptacle permits the side wall of the gel receptacle to collapse inward to the collapsed shape so as to coat the distal tip of the catheter tube with the lubricating agent gel, ande) sealing the gel-filled gel receptacle and catheter within an inner space of an outer container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A package or container for a catheter having a catheter tube with a proximal end provided with a catheter outlet and a distal opening at a distal end thereof. A gel receptacle is provided with a cavity for holding an amount of a lubricating agent, and the catheter tube extends therethrough. The gel receptacle is configured such that as the catheter is withdrawn from a stored position therein, a leading tip of the catheter is immersed in the lubricating agent, thus automatically coating the leading tip. The gel receptacle may be held within a rigid body or may be a standalone item packaged in a sterile bag solely with the catheter. A side wall of the gel receptacle is deformable so that as the catheter is withdrawn proximally the side wall is collapsed inward to displace the lubricating agent gel and coat an exterior surface of the catheter tube.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of producing an intermittent urinary catheter package, comprising:
-
a) providing an intermittent urinary catheter having a flexible catheter tube with a distal tip and at least one discharge opening proximate the distal tip, and a catheter outlet provided at a proximal end of the catheter tube, b) providing a gel receptacle defining a cavity therein and having a distal opening at a distal end with an inner diameter corresponding to a catheter tube diameter, and a proximal opening at a proximal end with an inner diameter larger than the catheter tube diameter, wherein a side wall of the gel receptacle is made of a deformable material and configured to collapse inward in a relaxed state to a collapsed shape, c) inserting the catheter distal tip through the proximal opening, cavity and out of the distal opening of the gel receptacle to a stored position so as to deform the side wall outward from the collapsed shape to an enlarged shape, in the process enlarging the cavity, d) filling the enlarged cavity of the gel receptacle with a lubricating agent gel so that the gel surrounds a portion of the catheter tube within the cavity, wherein withdrawing the catheter distal tip proximally from the stored position in the gel receptacle permits the side wall of the gel receptacle to collapse inward to the collapsed shape so as to coat the distal tip of the catheter tube with the lubricating agent gel, and e) sealing the gel-filled gel receptacle and catheter within an inner space of an outer container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification