Systems and methods for incontinence control

• US 9,408,684 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soft Health Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Soft Health Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Berryman, Thomas J., Taylor, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US14/870,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20160095684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 128/DIG.25, 604/358, 604/359, 604/385.01, 604/385.17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47227 for interlabial use
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/005 with pressure applied to urethra by an element placed in the vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15121 for mild incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/00 Particular material properties of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0078 Gender-specific, e.g. different for male and female patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00389 The prosthesis being coated or covered with a particular material
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/28 Polysaccharides or their derivatives A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/34 Oils, fats, waxes or natural resins A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/40 containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof , e.g. plant or animal extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/425 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 : Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/58 : Adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/102 : Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/108 : Elemental carbon, e.g. charcoal
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/216 : with other specific functional groups, e.g. aldehydes, ketones, phenols, quaternary phosphonium groups
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/30 : Compounds of undetermined constitution extracted from natural sources, e.g. Aloe Vera
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/406 : Antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 : Coatings

Abstract

A system for managing female incontinence includes a body of biocompatible material configured to fit between the labia minora and the vestibule floor, the body having a surface configured to occlude the urethral meatus, an adhesive carried on at least a first portion of the surface and configured to provide a sealing engagement between the body and the urethral meatus, and a substance carried by at least one of the body and the adhesive and configured for controlling the odor of the general vaginal-urethral area of a female.

Claims

1. A system for managing female incontinence comprising:

a body of biocompatible material configured to fit between the labia minora and the vestibule floor, the body having a surface configured to occlude the urethral meatus;

an adhesive carried on at least a first portion of the surface and configured to provide a sealing engagement between the body and the urethral meatus; and

a substance carried by at least one of the body and the adhesive and configured for controlling the odor of the general vaginal-urethral area of a female,

wherein the substance is contained within a pellet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises one or more heat-reactive deodorant particles.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a foam, and wherein the substance is embedded or impregnated within the foam.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance is configured for controlling urethral tract odor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance is configured for controlling vaginal odor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the vaginal odor is associated with vaginal discharge.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance is configured for controlling sweat gland odor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises one or more fragrances.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises an oil.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the oil comprises lavender oil.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the oil comprises rose hip oil.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the oil comprises lemon verbena oil.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises vitamin E.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises an odor neutralizer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the odor neutralizer comprises activated charcoal.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises PHEMA.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the PHEMA is formed from a HEMA monomer having a purity of about 96% to about 98%.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a silicone hydrogel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the silicone hydrogel is a water gradient silicone hydrogel.

2. A system for managing female incontinence comprising:

a body of biocompatible material configured to fit between the labia minora and the vestibule floor, the body having a surface configured to occlude the urethral meatus;

an adhesive carried on at least a first portion of the surface and configured to provide a sealing engagement between the body and the urethral meatus;

a substance carried by at least one of the body and the adhesive and configured for controlling the odor of the general vaginal-urethral area of a female;

a manipulation member coupled to at least one of the body and the adhesive and configured to be engaged by at least one finger, wherein the manipulation member comprises a tether coupled to at least one of the body and the adhesive, and wherein the tether comprises a first end and a second end, the first end of the tether incorporated into the at least one of the body and the adhesive and the second end of the tether configured for grasping, such that a tensile force can be placed on at least a portion of the body to aid its removal from between the labia minora and the vestibule floor; and

a woven fabric incorporated into at least one of the body and the adhesive, wherein the first end of the tether is at least partially combined into the woven fabric.

21. The system of claim 2, wherein the adhesive comprises PHEMA.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the PHEMA is formed from a HEMA monomer having a purity of about 96% to about 98%.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein the adhesive comprises a silicone hydrogel.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the silicone hydrogel is a water gradient silicone hydrogel.

25. The system of claim 2, wherein the body includes a longitudinal ridge.

26. The system of claim 2, wherein the tether is incorporated into the body.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the tether has an undulating pattern within the body.

28. The system of claim 2, wherein the woven fabric comprises a scrim.

29. The system of claim 2, wherein the tether is partially woven into the woven fabric.

30. The system of claim 2, wherein the tether is at substantially woven into the woven fabric.