Urine control device
First Claim
1. An inflatable collar for a urethra insertion device, the collar comprising:
- a cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical tube being formed of an inflatable material wherein the thickness of the material of the cylindrical tube varies by at least 50 percent; and
a sealing element at each end of the cylindrical tube that seals the tube to the insertion device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An involuntary urine control device (IUCD) having an inflatable collar membrane. The IUCD is inserted a short distance into the distal end of the urethra of a subject user. The IUCD includes the collar membrane which comprises an open ended tube of inflatable membrane material, typically about 30% to 90% of the length of the device. The collar membrane, in its inflated state, serves the purpose of providing sealing between the periphery of the urine control device and the urethra wall. The collar membrane is inflated to move radially outward once the urine control device is inserted into the distal end of the urethra of a patient by the external supply of a fluid. The collar membrane in its deflated state, namely with the inflating fluid removed, is substantially flush with the external diameters of the outer jacket of the urine control device to accommodate the thickness of the collar membrane.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An inflatable collar for a urethra insertion device, the collar comprising:
-
a cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical tube being formed of an inflatable material wherein the thickness of the material of the cylindrical tube varies by at least 50 percent; and a sealing element at each end of the cylindrical tube that seals the tube to the insertion device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An urine control valve apparatus comprising
a cylindrical jacket having an outlet end and an inlet end; -
the cylindrical jacket having a pair of grooves around the outer diameter; an inflatable collar membrane having a cylindrical tube having a pair of open ends and a sealing ring at each end of the cylindrical tube for securing within the grooves on the outer diameter of the cylindrical jacket, the cylindrical tube formed of an inflatable material of varying thickness. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of positioning an urine control device in a urethra comprising the following steps:
-
providing the urine control device having a cylindrical jacket having an outlet end and an inlet end, the cylindrical jacket having a pair of grooves around the outer diameter and an inflatable collar membrane having a cylindrical tube having a pair of open ends and a sealing ring at each end of the cylindrical tube for securing within the grooves on the outer diameter of the cylindrical jacket, the cylindrical tube formed of an inflatable material of varying thickness; slideably inserting the urine control device into the open distal end of the urethra; positioning a flange of the urine control device adjacent to the open distal end of the urethra; and inflating the inflatable collar membrane to retain the urine control device in the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification