Urethra protection device

• US 8,663,237 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N.M.A., Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: N.M.A., Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ueda, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Flick, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US13/589,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 600/121, 600/208, 606/108
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate mechanical stimulation caused by insertion and extraction of such devices as a bladder endoscope and a urethral catheter into and from a urethra. It is a further object of the present invention to make it possible to simultaneously insert such devices as a bladder endoscope and a urethral catheter into the urethra without causing pain. A urethra protection device of the present invention which can be inserted into a urethra includes a first hollow tube in which a bladder endoscope can be inserted, a second hollow tube in which a urethral catheter can be inserted, and a flange provided on an outer peripheral part of the urethra protection device at a position separated from a forward end thereof which is first inserted into the urethra.

Claims

1. A urethra protection device comprising:

a first hollow tube in which a bladder endoscope can be inserted;

a second hollow tube in which a urethral catheter can be inserted; and

a flange configured to allow fixing of the urethra protection device to a perineum, the flange being provided on an outer peripheral part of the urethra protection device at a position separated by 3 to 6 cm from a forward end thereof which is first inserted into the urethra, wherein no protrusions or hollows are present on the outer peripheral part from the flange to the forward end and the urethra protection device is configured for insertion into a urethra of a female, has a tubular shape and is made of a flexible material.

2. The urethra protection device according to claim 1, wherein the forward end is formed to be round in side view and the flange is circular or approximately circular.

3. The urethra protection device according to claim 1, wherein the flange is provided at a rear end of the urethra protection device and wherein the urethra protection device is smooth.

4. The urethra protection device according to claim 2, wherein the flange is provided at a rear end of the urethra protection device and the flange is configured to allow fixing of the device to the perineum using tape affirmed to the flange and perineum.

5. The urethra protection device of claim 1, wherein a check valve is provided in the first hollow tube.

6. The urethra protection device of claim 2, wherein a check valve is provided in the first hollow tube.

7. The urethra protection device of claim 3, wherein a check valve is provided in the first hollow tube.

8. The urethra protection device of claim 5, wherein the check valve is provided at a position separated from the forward end of the urethra protection device.

9. The urethra protection device according to claim 5, wherein the check valve is provided at a rear end of the urethra protection device.

10. The urethra protection device according to claim 1, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

11. The urethra protection device according to claim 2, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

12. The urethra protection device according to claim 3, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

13. The urethra protection device according to claim 4, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

14. The urethra protection device according to claim 5, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

15. The urethra protection device according to claim 6, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

16. The urethra protection device according to claim 7, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

17. The urethra protection device according to claim 8, wherein the second hollow tube has a diameter not exceeding that of the first hollow tube.

18. The urethra protection device of claim 1, wherein the urethra protection device is configured to be fixed to a body by the flange without use of a balloon.