External male catheter and applicator

Claim 2

An external catheter and applicator combination, said catheter comprising a sheath of thin, stretchable, elastic material having a generally cylindrical section merging at one end with a tapered neck section terminating in an outlet section of reduced diameter; said applicator comprising a relatively rigid open-ended tube having a length substantially less than that of said sheath and having an outside diameter slightly greater than the maximum inside diameter of said sheath in an unstretched state; said sheath having its neck and outlet sections extending axially within said applicator tube; said sheath extending outwardly through an end opening of said tube with said cylindrical section being disposed externally of the tube and being slidably supported in everted condition upon the outer surface of said tube, whereby, said cylindrical section of said sheath is slidably supported by said applicator tube with the exposed surface of said cylindrical section constituting the inner surface of that section when said catheter is properly fitted upon a patient.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which said applicator tube is tapered and has an enlarged end and a reduced end; said end opening through which said catheter sheath extends being provided at said reduced end of said tube.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 in which said taper falls within the range of 1 to 4 degrees measured from the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which said outlet section projects axially from a second end opening of said tube opposite from said first-mentioned end opening.

Claim 6

The combination of claims 1, 2, or 4 in which antifriction means are provided between said cylindrical section and said applicator tube to facilitate axial sliding movement of said sheath upon said tube when said tube is used to apply said catheter to a patient.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 in which said antifriction means comprises a lubricant material between said sheath and said applicator tube.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 in which said lubricant material is a dry lubricant.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 in which said antifriction means includes said applicator tube having a textured outer surface.

Claim 10

The combination of claims 1, 2, or 4 in which said applicator tube has a wall with an end surface of rounded configuration, when viewed in longitudinal section, about said end opening through which said sheath extends.

Claim 11

An external catheter and applicator combination, wherein said catheter comprises a sheath of thin, stretchable, elastic material having a generally cylindrical section merging at one end with a tapered neck section terminating in an outlet section of reduced diameter; said applicator comprising a relatively rigid open-ended tube having a length substantially less than that of said sheath and having an outside diameter slightly greater than the maximum inside diameter of said sheath in an unstretched state; said sheath having its neck and outlet sections axially disposed within said applicator tube; said sheath extending outwardly through an end opening of the tube with said cylindrical section being disposed externally of the tube and being slidably supported in everted condition upon the tube's outer surface; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating extending circumferentially about the exposed surface of said everted cylindrical section.

Claim 12

An external catheter and applicator combination, wherein said catheter comprises a sheath of thin, stretchable, elastic material having a generally cylindrical section merging at one end with a tapered neck section terminating in an outlet section of reduced diameter; said applicator comprising a relatively rigid open-ended tube having a length substantially less than that of said sheath and having an outside diameter slightly greater than the maximum inside diameter of said sheath in an unstretched state; said sheath having its neck and outlet sections axially disposed within said applicator tube; said sheath extending outwardly through an end opening of the tube with said cylindrical section being disposed externally of the tube and being slidably supported in everted condition upon the tube's outer surface; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating extending circumferentially about the exposed surface of said everted cylindrical section.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 in which said coating comprises an adhesive band having an axial dimension less than that of said cylindrical section.

Claim 14

The combination of claims 10 or 11 in which a removable release strip covers the adhesive coating upon said cylindrical section.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10 in which said applicator tube is tapered and has an enlarged end and a reduced end; said end opening through which said sheath extends being provided at said reduced end of said applicator tube.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13 in which said tube is tapered at an angle within the range of 1 to 4 degrees measured from the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 14 in which said taper is approximately 2 degrees.

Claim 18

The combination of claims 10 or 13 in which said cylindrical section has a length less than that of said applicator tube.

Claim 19

The combination of claims 10 or 13 in which said applicator tube has a wall with an end surface of rounded configuration, when viewed in longitudinal section, about said end opening through which said sheath extends.

Claim 20

The combination of claims 10 or 13 in which antifriction means are provided between said cylindrical section and said applicator tube to facilitate axial sliding movement of said cylindrical sections relative to said tube when said tube is used to apply said catheter to the penis of a patient.

Claim 21

The combination of claims 10 or 13 in which said tube has a second end opening at the end of said tube opposite from the end having the opening through which said sheath extends; said outlet section of said sheath projecting axially beyond said second opening.

Claim 22

An external catheter and applicator combination, wherein said catheter comprises a sheath of thin, stretchable, elastic material having a generally cylindrical section merging at one end with a tapered neck section terminating in an outlet section of reduced diameter, and an inner sleeve having a proximal end merging with the distal end of said cylindrical section and an elongated tapered distal portion extending into said neck section and terminating in a distal opening spaced from said outlet section; said applicator comprising a relatively rigid open-ended tube having a length substantially less than that of said sheath and having an outside diameter slightly greater than the maximum inside diameter of said cylindrical section in an unstretched state; said sheath having its outlet section axially disposed within said applicator tube and having first parts of said neck section and sleeve disposed within said tube adjacent an entrance opening at one end of said tube; said cylindrical section and second parts of said neck sections and said sleeve being disposed externally of said tube and being folded back in everted condition at said entrance opening and along on said tube's outer surface; said everted cylindrical section and said second part of said neck section being slidably supported by said applicator tube.

Claim 23

An external catheter and applicator combination, wherein said catheter comprises a sheath of thin, stretchable, elastic material having a generally cylindrical section merging at one end with a tapered neck section terminating in an outlet section of reduced diameter, and an inner sleeve having a proximal end merging with the distal end of said cylindrical section and an elongated tapered distal portion extending into said neck section and terminating in a distal opening spaced from said outlet section; said applicator comprising a relatively rigid open-ended tube having a length substantially less than that of said sheath and having an outside diameter slightly greater than the maximum inside diameter of said cylindrical section in an unstretched state; said sheath having its outlet section axially disposed within said applicator tube and having first parts of said neck section and sleeve disposed within said tube adjacent an entrance opening at one end of said tube; said cylindrical section and second parts of said neck sections and said sleeve being disposed externally of said tube and being folded back in everted condition at said entrance opening and along on said tube's outer surface; said everted cylindrical section and said second part of said neck section being slidably supported by said applicator tube.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 20 in which at least a portion of the exposed surface of said cylindrical section has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer extending thereabout.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 21 in which said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is located along a band extending about the proximal end of said cylindrical section, said band having a longitudinal dimension substantially less than that of said cylindrical section.

Claim 26

The combination of claims 20 or 21 in which said applicator tube is tapered and has an enlarged end and reduced end; said entrance opening of said applicator tube being provided at said reduced end.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 23 in which said taper falls within the range of 1 to 4 degrees measured from the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 28

The combination of claims 20 or 21 in which said applicator tube has a wall which, when viewed in longitudinal section, is rounded at the end thereof defining said entrance opening.

Claim 29

The combination of claims 20 or 21 in which antifriction means is provided along the outer surface of said applicator tube to facilitate sliding movement of said sheath therealong.

Claim 30

The combination of claim 26 in which said antifriction means comprises said tube having a textured outer surface.

Claim 31

The combination of claim 26 in which said antifriction means comprises a lubricant material between said sheath and said applicator tube.

Claim 32

The combination of claims 20 or 21 in which said tube has a second end opening at the end of said tube opposite from said entrance opening; said outlet section being disposed within and projecting slightly beyond said second opening.

Claim 35

The method of claim 30 in which said everted cylindrical section of said sheath has a band of pressure-sensitive adhesive extending thereabout, said band of adhesive being covered by a removable release strip, wherein the further step of removing said release strip to expose said band of pressure-sensitive adhesive before said step of urging said applicator tube along the penis of the patient.

Claim 40

The method of claim 34 in which said everted cylindrical section of said sheath has a band of pressure-sensitive adhesive extending thereabout, said band of adhesive being covered by a removable release strip, wherein the further step of removing said release strip to expose said band of pressure-sensitive adhesive before said step of urging said applicator tube along the penis of the patient.

Claim 44

The method of claim 34 in which said cylindrical section of said sheath is supported about said tube in stretched condition.