Product and method to treat female incontinence

• US 5,509,889 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irvin M. Kalb, Michael J Ram, Robert H. Shaw
• Original Assignee: Irvin M. Kalb, Michael J Ram, Robert H. Shaw
• Inventors: Kalb, Irvin M., Ram, Michael J., Shaw, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, CHALIN A
• Application Number:
  US08/471,788
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96-106, 604/93, 604/246, 604/247, 604/55, 604/329-330, 600/29-31, 606/191, 606/192, 606/193, 606/194
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/202 Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0009 placed in or outside the body opening close to the surface of the body plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ A61B17/0057

Abstract

A system for controlling drainage of the female bladder comprising a valved catheter, a stylet for placing the catheter in the female urethra, and a spike for opening the valve in the catheter to allow voiding of the contents of the bladder. The system also includes a sizing device for determining the length of the urethra so that the proper fitting catheter is used. The catheter comprises a hollow shaft with a extendable holding portion on one end for placement through the urethra and a crown on the other end for placement external of the body. The valve nay integral with the shaft or insertable after the catheter is placed in the urethra.

Claims

1. A urinary drainage catheter for placement in the female urethra, the urethra having an exterior opening at the point of exit from the body and an interior opening at the point of entry into the urinary bladder, the catheter comprising a hollow shaft, a holding portion on a first end of the shaft and a cap on a second end of the shaft, wherein:

the shaft has a length sized to approximate the length of the urethra and an outer diameter approximating the diameter of the urethra such that the shaft does not extend beyond the exterior of the urethra,

the holding portion having

a) upper and lower struts separated by openings therebetween so that fluid in the bladder can enter the shaft, and

b) a width greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, the width of the holding portion being reducible so that the holding portion can be readily passed through the urethra,

lower struts of said holding portion resting against the interior end of the urethra, and

the cap having a width greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, an upper surface of said crown resting against the exterior opening of the urethra, no portion of the urinary catheter extending exterior of the urethra cap.

2. The urinary drainage catheter of claim 1 further including a valve within the hollow shaft to control flow of fluid through the catheter.

3. A urinary drainage control system comprising a valved urinary drainage catheter for placement in the female urethra, the urethra having an exterior opening at the point of exit from the body and an interior opening at the point of entry into the urinary bladder, a stylet for use in placing the catheter, and a hollow spike for opening the valve to allow drainage of fluid from the bladder,

the catheter comprising a hollow shaft with a lumen longitudinally through its center, a holding portion on a first end of the shaft, a cap on a second end of the shaft, no portion of the urinary drainage catheter extending exterior of the urethra beyond the cap, and a valve located within the lumen of the shaft, wherein:

the shaft has a length approximating the length of the urethra and an outer diameter approximating the diameter of the urethra such that the second end of the shaft is located at the exterior opening of the urethra,

the holding portion has a width greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, there being openings through the holding portion so that fluid in the bladder can enter the shaft lumen, the width of the holding portion being reducible so that the holding portion can be readily passed through the urethra,

the cap has a hole therethrough in line with the lumen of the shaft and a width greater than the outer diameter of the shaft,

the stylet is a stiff rod with a diameter less than the inner diameter of the shaft and a length greater than the length of the catheter such that insertion of the stylet through the lumen of the catheter and pushing the styler against the holding portion causes the holding portion to elongate and the width to reduce to a diameter suitable for passing through the urethra,

the spike having an insertion portion, an exterior portion, a flange on an outer surface thereof separating the insertion portion from the exterior portion, a diameter approximating the inner diameter of the shaft and a length sufficient to enter the valve, the exterior portion of the spike being sized for grasping in the fingers of a user such that when the insertion portion is passed through the hole in the cap and the flange is in contact with the cap the valve opens allowing fluid to drain from the bladder through the shaft, valve and the lumen of the spike without soiling the fingers of the user.