Female urinary device

• US 6,716,181 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Spencer, Dudley W. C., Ivansons, Ivars V., Preston, Theresa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/155,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/574, 600/575, 600/29, 604/317, 604/327, 604/328, 604/329, 604/330, 604/331, 604/346, 604/347, 604/355
• US Class Current: 600/574
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/455 for collecting urine or discharge from female member

Abstract

A female urinary system includes an appliance which has a hollow urinary receiving open top body. The upper edge of the body is shaped to fit under the urethra. The body has an outlet passage for discharging urine flowing into the body from the urethra. A vaginal area locating bulb is mounted posteriorly of the body. The locating bulb has an arcuate outer surface having a contact portion which fits against the labia minora at the vestibule outwardly of the vagina. At least one longitudinal groove is provided on the posterior portion of the outer surface of the bulb from a location above the contact portion to the base of the bulb. A vent extends through the appliance from the hollow body below the upper edge to the base of the locating bulb.

Claims

1. A female urinary system comprising an appliance, said appliance being a hollow open top urine receiving body, said body having an upper edge for fitting under the urethra whereby urine may flow into said body, said body having an outlet passage for discharging the urine flowing into said body, a vaginal locating bulb extending posteriorly of said body, said locating bulb having an outer surface, said outer surface including a contact portion for fitting against the labia minora at the vestibule outwardly of the vagina, and at least one longitudinal groove on the posterior portion of said outer surface of said locating bulb intersecting said contact portion and extending downwardly therefrom for permitting the flow of fluid to flow outwardly from the vagina when said locating bulb is mounted in place.

2. The system of claim 1 including a vent extending through said appliance from said hollow body to function as a vacuum break.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said vent extends from said hollow body to the base of said locating bulb.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said longitudinal grooves.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said locating bulb has an arcuate surface upwardly from said contact portion for extending slightly into the vestibule but spaced from the vagina.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said locating bulb posteriorly of said body is of oblong ball shape with said outer surface being completely arcuate.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said grooves are confined to the posterior portion of said outer surface and extend from above said contact portion of said locating bulb to the base of said locating bulb.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said body is in the form of a discharge bowl, said outlet passage being a drain extension communicating with said discharge bowl, and said discharge bowl having a tapered inner wall which tapers downwardly toward said extension.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said locating bulb and said body are integrally molded of one-piece construction.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein a radially extending rib is located outwardly of said body below said upper edge for providing a location over which the labia may fold.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein a drain tube is mounted in said outlet passage for conveying the urine away from said body, said drain tube communicating with a collection bag, fasteners on said bag for mounting said bag to the user, a sanitary napkin, said appliance being disposed on said sanitary napkin, a belt for being mounted on the user, and said sanitary napkin being secured to said belt.

12. A female urinary system comprising an appliance, said appliance being a hollow open top urine receiving body, said body having an upper edge for fitting under the urethra whereby urine may flow into said body, said body having an outlet passage for discharging the urine flowing into said body, a vaginal locating bulb extending posteriorly of said body, said locating bulb having an outer surface, said outer surface including a contact portion for fitting against the labia minora at the vestibule outwardly of the vagina, and a vent extending through said appliance from said body to function as a vacuum break, wherein said vent extends from a location below said upper edge of said body to the base of said locating bulb.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein one end of said vent is located in said body at a wall common to said bulb.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said locating bulb has an arcuate surface upwardly from said contact portion for extending slightly into the vestibule.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said body is in the form of a discharge bowl, said outlet passage being a drain extension communicating with said discharge bowl, and said discharge bowl having a tapered inner wall which tapers downwardly toward said extension.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said locating bulb and said body are integrally molded of one-piece construction.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein a radially extending rib is located outwardly of said body below said upper edge for providing a location over which the labia may fold.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said locating bulb posteriorly of said body is of oblong ball shape with said outer surface being completely arcuate.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein a drain tube is mounted in said outlet passage for conveying the urine away from said body, said drain tube communicating with a collection bag, fasteners on said bag for mounting said bag to the user, a sanitary napkin, said appliance being disposed on said sanitary napkin, a belt for being mounted on the user, and said sanitary napkin being secured to said belt.

20. A method of collecting urine from a female user comprising providing an appliance having a hollow open top urine receiving body with a posteriorly extending vaginal locating bulb mounted to the body, disposing the locating bulb against the labia minora at the vestibule outwardly of the vagina, disposing the upper edge of the hollow open top body under the urethra, folding the labia over an outwardly extending rib on the body, providing at least one longitudinal groove on the outer surface of the locating bulb extending from above a contact portion of the bulb with the labia minora to the base of the bulb, and permitting the urine to flow from the urethra into the body and to pass from the body through an outlet passage in the body to be collected in a collection container.

21. The method of claim 20 including providing a vent which extends through the appliance from a location within the body below the upper edge to the base of the locating bulb, and utilizing the vent as a vacuum break.