Device for preventing involuntary micturition

• US 5,082,006 A
• Filed: 03/15/1990
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linda Jonasson
• Original Assignee: Linda Jonasson
• Inventors: Jonasson, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US07/469,533
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 128/760-762, 128/768, 128/769, 128/885, 604/280, 604/282, 604/8, 604/54, 604/55, 600/29, 600/30, 623/12
• US Class Current: 128/885
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0022 placed deep in the body opening occluding blood vessels by internal devices A61B17/12022

Abstract

A device for preventing involuntary micturition, preferably in human females, comprises an oblong, comparatively thin shaft (1). This shaft (1) carries at least one knob (2, 3, 4) forming a thickening on the shaft (1) and being arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the shaft (1). The proximal end of the shaft (1) is provided with a comparatively thin, transverse flap (5).

Claims

1. A device for preventing involuntary micturition, preferably in human females, comprising a substantially solid oblong, substantially form-stable flexible body with varying cross-sectional area depending on the distance from an end of the body and providing at least one knob forming a thickening arranged at a distance from a first end of the body, said knob sized to pass into the urethra and to retain the device in the urethra, and that the first end of the oblong body is provided with a comparatively thin, transverse flap, extending perpendicular to the axis of the body.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the oblong body is a shaft (1) having three mutually spaced knobs (2, 3, 4).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the knob or knobs (2, 3, 4) are of a substantially ellipsoid shape.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the thin, transverse flap (5) has the shape of an annular disc.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is made in form of one integral part of a plastic material.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) is provided with a cavity (6) with an opening at the flap (5).

7. A device for preventing involuntary micturition, comprising a thin shaft having a first end, a second end and a closed-ended cavity, said shaft having three mutually spaced, ellipsoidal knobs arranged near the second end, said knobs being sized to pass into the urethra and to retain the device in the urethra, said cavity having an opening at said first end to receive an insertion means, said first end being attached to a thin, transverse flap in the shape of an annular disc, and said device being formed from a single piece of soft plastic.

8. A micturition controlling device comprising:

means for preventing involuntary micturition, said means comprising a closed shaft and having a first end and a second end;

means for positioning the preventing means in the urethra, said positioning means being located on the preventing means near the second end, said positioning means shaped and situated to cooperate with urethral muscles, said positioning means being sized to pass into the urethra and to retain the device in the urethra; and

means for facilitating withdrawing the preventing means, said facilitating means being attached to the first end of the preventing means, said facilitating means further preventing the device being too deeply inserted into the urethra.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein said preventing means comprises a shaft of variable diameter.

10. A device as in claim 9, wherein said shaft comprises at least one knob which is located near the second end of the shaft and which facilitates positioning of the device within the urethra.

11. A device as in claim 10, wherein said knob is of a substantially ellipsoidal shape.

12. A device as in claim 9, wherein said shaft comprises three mutually spaced knobs which are located near the second end of the shaft and which facilitate positioning of the device within the urethra.

13. A device as in claim 8, wherein said facilitating means comprises a transverse flap.

14. A device as in claim 13, wherein said transverse flap has the shape of a thin, annular disk.

15. A device as in claim 8, further comprising means for insertion, said insertion means comprising a cavity in said shaft having an opening at the first end of the shaft and a means for filling the cavity.

16. A device as in claim 15, wherein said filling means is a long, thin pin.

17. A device as in claim 8, wherein said device is made of one integral piece of soft plastic.

18. A device for preventing involuntary micturition comprising:

a substantially solid shaft of variable diameter for preventing micturition, said shaft having a first end and a second end;

at least one knob for positioning the shaft in the urethra, said knob being located on the shaft near its second end, said knob being shaped and situated to cooperate with urethral muscles, and said knob being sized to pass into the urethra and to retain the device in the urethra;

a transverse flap for facilitating withdrawing the shaft, said flap being attached to the first end of the shaft, said flap further preventing the device being too deeply inserted into the urethra.

19. A device as in claim 18, wherein at least one knob comprises three mutually spaced knobs.

20. A device as in claim 18, wherein said knob is of a substantially ellipsoidal shape.

21. A device as in claim 18, wherein said transverse flap has the shape of a thin, annular disk.

22. A device as in claim 18, wherein the shaft, knob, and transverse flap are made of one integral piece of soft plastic.

23. A device as in claim 18, further comprising a pin for insertion, said pin being inserted into a cavity with an opening at the first end of the shaft.

24. A method for controlling involuntary micturition, comprising the following steps:

providing an elongated shaft, said shaft having a first end and a second end, a transverse flap being attached to the first end, and at least one knob being located on the shaft near the second end, said knob being sized to pass into the urethra and to retain the shaft in the urethra;

grasping the shaft by the first end;

inserting the second end of the shaft into the urethra;

leaving the shaft in the urethra until micturition is to be performed; and

then

removing the device from the urethra to empty the bladder.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the provided shaft further comprises a longitudinal cavity opening at the first end of the shaft, said method further comprising the following steps:

after grasping the shaft, inserting a long, thin pin into the longitudinal cavity; and

after inserting the shaft, withdrawing the long, thin pin from the longitudinal cavity.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of grasping the shaft comprises grasping the transverse flap.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of inserting comprises advancing the shaft into the urethra until only the transverse flap remains outside the urethra.