Disposable urinary catheterization assembly
First Claim
1. A urinary catheterization assembly comprising:
- a catheter introducer member having a first end adapted for contacting a urethral opening and a second end adapted for receiving a catheter;
a throughbore extending from a first opening at said first end to a second opening at said second end;
a reservoir portion containing a lubricant chamber, said lubricant chamber disposed within said throughbore and terminating adjacent said first opening;
a guide portion joined to said reservoir portion and terminating at said second end;
a piercable membrane disposed in said throughbore at a position between said lubricant chamber and said guide portion and capable of retaining a lubricant in said lubricant chamber,wherein said first end of said catheter introducer member includes a body-contacting collar, and wherein said introducer member includes a frustoconical segment having its smallest outer diameter adjacent to said collar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable self-lubricating catheterization assembly for inserting a catheter into the urethra of an individual for the purpose of evacuating the bladder is disclosed. The catheter assembly includes a substantially rigid catheter introducer member for positioning the introducer against the urethral opening, a flexible catheter and a flexible thin-walled sheath surrounding the catheter and partially covering the catheter introducer. The catheter introducer comprises a reservoir portion, a guide portion, lubricant and a membrane. The lubricant essentially fills the reservoir and is prevented by the membrane from prematurely coating the catheter, in order to facilitate grasping of the catheter and feeding of the tube along the urethra and into the bladder. A catheterization assembly in accordance with the present invention is suitable for use for self-catheterization in the home or in a public restroom, and deters contamination and subsequent infection of the urinary tract. The improved easy-to-use disposable catheterization kit is also economically practical for use for temporary catheterizations in hospitals, mobile emergency facilities, doctors'"'"' offices, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and the like.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A urinary catheterization assembly comprising:
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a catheter introducer member having a first end adapted for contacting a urethral opening and a second end adapted for receiving a catheter; a throughbore extending from a first opening at said first end to a second opening at said second end; a reservoir portion containing a lubricant chamber, said lubricant chamber disposed within said throughbore and terminating adjacent said first opening; a guide portion joined to said reservoir portion and terminating at said second end; a piercable membrane disposed in said throughbore at a position between said lubricant chamber and said guide portion and capable of retaining a lubricant in said lubricant chamber, wherein said first end of said catheter introducer member includes a body-contacting collar, and wherein said introducer member includes a frustoconical segment having its smallest outer diameter adjacent to said collar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A urinary catheterization assembly comprising:
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a flexible catheter having a proximal end; a catheter guide portion having proximal and distal ends and a first throughbore; a reservoir portion having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end including a body-contacting collar adapted for contacting a urethral opening, an aperture in said proximal end, and a second throughbore defining an interior cavity, said reservoir portion being releasably joined to said catheter guide portion such that said first and second throughbores are aligned, and said reservoir portion including a frustoconical segment having its smallest outer diameter adjacent to said collar; a membrane disposed between said guide portion and said interior cavity; a lubricant initially disposed in said interior cavity; and a flexible sheath covering a predetermined length of said catheter and said guide portion distal end, said sheath having a proximal end circumferentially enclosing and fixedly joined to said guide portion distal end, a distal end circumferentially enclosing and fixedly joined to said catheter at a predetermined point spaced apart from said catheter proximal end, said sheath length being such that said sheath and said guide portion throughbore initially hold said catheter proximal end within said guide portion throughbore between said guide portion proximal and distal ends, said throughbores being able to slidingly receive said catheter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A kit for catheterizing a urinary bladder comprising:
a sterilizable catheterization assembly having a catheter introducer assembly with a catheter receiving end and a urethra contacting end; a throughbore in said introducer assembly extending from a first opening adjacent said urethra contacting end to a second opening adjacent said catheter receiving end, a reservoir portion disposed between said first and second openings and comprising a lubricant chamber that is axially aligned with said reservoir portion in said throughbore, said reservoir portion including a body-contacting collar adjacent said first opening and said reservoir portion including a frustoconical segment having its smallest outer diameter adjacent to said collar, a lubricant in said lubricant chamber, and a guide portion disposed between said reservoir and said second opening, a membrane in said throughbore disposed at a location between said lubricant chamber and said guide portion and capable of retaining said lubricant in said lubricant chamber, and a catheter having a proximal end, a body insertable portion and a distal end, a sheath member joined to said catheter guide and covering at least all of said catheter insertable portion, said sheath and said guide together holding said catheter proximal end in place within said catheter guide portion until said catheter is forced through said membrane when said catheter is used for its intended purpose; a sterility maintaining package enclosing said catheterization assembly; and at least one antiseptic swab.
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22. A catheter introducer comprising:
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a catheter receiving end and a body contacting end, said body contacting end including a body-contacting collar, and said introducer member including a frustoconical segment having its smallest outer diameter adjacent to said collar; a throughbore extending from a first opening adjacent said body contacting end to a second opening adjacent said catheter receiving end; a reservoir portion containing a lubricant chamber in said throughbore and terminating adjacent said first opening; a guide portion joined to said reservoir portion and containing an elongated restricted diameter portion of said throughbore commencing adjacent said second opening and terminating adjacent said lubricant chamber, said restricted diameter portion adapted for supporting a sliding catheter tip; and a membrane sealingly disposed in said throughbore between said lubricant chamber and said guide portion.
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Specification