Intermittent Catheters Having Hydration/Gripper Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339205-A1
Application number	US-201515111887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An intermittent catheter has a catheter shaft extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, with a drainage funnel associated with the distal end portion of the catheter shaft. A hydration device encircles at least a portion of the drainage funnel and defines a hydrating fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with at least one fluid-release port. The hydration device is configured to be manipulated by a user to move the at least one fluid-release port from a closed condition to an open condition to flow at least a portion of the hydrating fluid out of the reservoir via the at least one fluid-release port for covering at least a portion of the catheter shaft. After or while applying hydrating fluid to the catheter shaft, the hydration device may be dissociated from the drainage funnel for handling the intermittent catheter.

First claim

1 . An intermittent catheter comprising:
a catheter shaft extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a drainage member associated with the distal end portion of the catheter shaft; and a hydration device encircling at least a portion of the drainage member and defining a hydrating fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with at least one fluid-release port, wherein the hydration device is configured to be manipulated by a user to move the at least one fluid-release port from a closed condition to an open condition to flow at least a portion of the hydrating fluid out of the reservoir via the at least one fluid-release port for covering at least a portion of the catheter shaft.

2 . The intermittent catheter of claim 1 , wherein the hydration device defines a central cavity and the at least one fluid-release port is in fluid communication with the central cavity.

3 . The intermittent catheter of claim 2 , wherein the hydration device is configured to be squeezed by a user to move the at least one fluid-release port from the closed condition to the open condition.

4 . The intermittent catheter of claim 2 , wherein the hydration device is configured to be moved proximally along the catheter shaft to move the at least one fluid-release port from the closed condition to the open condition.

5 . The intermittent catheter of claim 1 , wherein the hydration device defines a central cavity and the at least one fluid-release port is spaced away from the central cavity.

6 . The intermittent catheter of claim 5 , wherein the hydration device is configured to be squeezed by a user to move the at least one fluid-release port from the closed condition to the open condition.

7 . The intermittent catheter of claim 6 , wherein the hydration device includes a plurality of fluid-release ports and is configured to be squeezed by a user in one plane to move at least one of the fluid-release ports from the closed condition to the open condition and in a different plane to move a different one of the fluid-release ports from the closed condition to the open condition.

8 . The intermittent catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a package in which the catheter shaft, the drainage member, and the hydration device are received, wherein the hydration device is configured to be manipulated by a user to move the at least one fluid-release port from a closed condition to an open condition to flow at least a portion of the hydrating fluid out of the reservoir via the at least one fluid-release port into the package for covering at least a portion of the catheter shaft.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The intermittent catheter of claim 8 , wherein the package includes first and second sections, with the first section of the package being configured to be manipulated to partially open the second section prior to moving the at least one fluid-release port from the closed condition to the open condition and the second section of the package being configured to be more fully opened after moving the at least one fluid-release port from the closed condition to the open condition.

11 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . The intermittent catheter of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is defined between inner and outer walls of the hydration device, the outer wall including a gripping portion that is sufficiently flexible to be moved toward and into engagement with the inner wall.

14 . The intermittent catheter of claim 13 , further comprising an extension associated with the gripping portion of the outer wall and positioned within the reservoir, the extension extending toward and spaced away from the inner wall, wherein the extension is configured to engage the inner wall when the gripping portion of the outer wall is moved toward the inner wall.

15 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The intermittent catheter of claim 13 , wherein the inner wall of the hydration device is sufficiently flexible such that movement of the outer wall into engagement with the inner wall moves at least a portion of the inner wall into engagement with the catheter shaft.

18 . The intermittent catheter of claim 17 , further comprising a radially inwardly extending extension associated with the inner wall of the hydration device, wherein the extension of the inner wall is generally aligned with the gripping portion of the outer wall and configured to be moved into engagement with the catheter shaft when the outer wall of the hydration device is moved into engagement with the inner wall.

19 . The intermittent catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve secured to the hydration device and encircling at least a portion of the catheter shaft.

20 . The intermittent catheter of claim 19 , further comprising an introducer tip associated with the proximal end portion of the catheter shaft and secured to the sleeve.

21 . The intermittent catheter of claim 19 , further comprising a second sleeve secured at one end to the hydration device and at another end to the drainage member.

22 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . An intermittent catheter comprising:
a catheter shaft extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and an introducer tip associated with the proximal end portion of the catheter shaft and comprising proximal and distal sections, wherein the distal section comprises a barrel portion and a rim portion, with the rim portion surrounding the barrel portion and being in contact with the barrel portion in at least one location and spaced away from the barrel portion in at least one location to define at least one opening between the barrel and rim portions.

25 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A method of hydrating an intermittent catheter comprising:
providing an intermittent catheter including a catheter shaft extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a drainage member associated with the distal end portion of the catheter shaft, and a hydration device encircling at least a portion of the drainage member and defining a hydrating fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with at least one fluid-release port; and manipulating the hydration device to move the at least one fluid-release port from a closed condition to an open condition to flow at least a portion of the hydrating fluid out of the reservoir via the at least one fluid-release port, thereby covering at least a portion of the catheter shaft with the hydrating fluid.

29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said manipulating the hydration device includes squeezing the hydration device.

31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said manipulating the hydration device includes moving the hydration device proximally along the catheter shaft.

32 - 48 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Hollister Inc

Inventors

• Foley Adam J
• Mcmenamin Martin
• O'Flynn Padraig M

Classifications

• A61M25/002 Primary

  Packages specially adapted therefor (combined with means for introducing catheters, e.g. dispensers, A61M25/0113); catheter kit packages (for surgical articles A61B50/30) · CPC title

• A61M2202/0496

  Urine · CPC title

• A61M25/0068

  Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure · CPC title

• A61M2205/0222

  Materials for reducing friction · CPC title

• A61M25/0045 Primary

  multi-layered, e.g. coated (coating materials A61L29/08) · CPC title