US5209726A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-lubricating urethral catheter and method for self-catheterization
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-05-04
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Granted: 1993-05-11
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Expires: 2012-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A self-lubricating urethral catheter and method for self-catheterization includes a flexible sheath enclosing a perforated tube. The catheter has an insertion end and a discharge end as well as a cavity between the sheath and the tube. The cavity and conduit in the tube is filled with lubricating fluid and sealed at the discharge end. The insertion end of the catheter is inserted into a urethra. When the catheter is inserted, the sheath collapses into the tube forcing fluid in the cavity through the aperture, into the conduit and out the insertion end. This fluid being expelled lubricates the catheter as it is inserted. After the catheter is fully inserted the seal is removed from the discharge end allowing fluid and urine in the bladder to flow through the catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl C. Goosen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0017; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0111; A61M25/0043; A61M2025/0062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A self-lubricating catheter for insertion into a urethra comprising: an elongated tube defining a conduit, said tube containing a fluid, said tube having an insertion end and a discharge end; an elongated flexible outer sheath at least partially covering said tube and having a cavity disposed between said tube and said outer sheath said cavity also containing said fluid, and said outer sheath operative to collapse toward said tube when the insertion end is inserted into the urethra; a removable plug engaging its discharge end of said tube to prevent said fluid from flowing through said discharge end when the outer sheath collapses; a removable plug engaging the insertion end of said tube and at least one aperture disposed between said conduit and said cavity, said aperture permitting said fluid to flow from the cavity through said conduit and out said insertion end upon removal of said plug engaging said insertion end to lubricate the catheter when said outer sheath collapses during insertion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A self-lubricating catheter for insertion into a urethra comprising: an elongated tube defining a conduit, said tube containing a fluid, said tube having an insertion end and a discharge end; an elongated flexible outer sheath at least partially covering said tube and having a cavity disposed between said tube and said outer sheath said cavity also containing said fluid, and said outer sheath operative to collapse toward said tube when the insertion end is inserted into the urethra; a removable plug engaging its discharge end of said tube to prevent said fluid from flowing through said discharge end when the outer sheath collapses; a removable plug engaging the insertion end of said tube and at least one aperture disposed between said conduit and said cavity, said aperture permitting said fluid to flow from the cavity through said conduit and out said insertion end upon removal of said plug engaging said insertion end to lubricate the catheter when said outer sheath collapses during insertion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated tube is completely encased by the sheath and is welded to said sheath adjacent said insertion end to form a smooth tapered bond.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures in walls of the tube between said insertion end and said discharge end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter as recited in claim 3 wherein said apertures are spaced at substantially even intervals in walls of the tube between said insertion end and said discharge end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said tube and said sheath are constructed from a low-durometer polyvinyl material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid is a dilute solution of K-Y Jelly and water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid completely fills the cavity and the conduit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of inserting a catheter into a urethra, comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube that defines a conduit and has an insertion end and a discharge end; providing an elongated flexible outer sheath; forming a cavity between said tube and said outer sheath; providing at least one aperture between said conduit and said cavity; substantially filling the conduit with fluid; inserting the insertion end of the elongated tube into the urethra of a patient; collapsing the outer sheath toward said tube with the patient's urethra when the insertion end enters into the patient's urethra; increasing pressure in the conduit when the outer sheath collapses during insertion; engaging said tube with a sealing device to prevent said fluid from flowing through said discharge end when the pressure in the conduit increases; and passing said fluid through said conduit and out said insertion end to lubricate the catheter when the pressure in the conduit increases.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of inserting a catheter into a urethra, comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube that defines a conduit and has an insertion end and a discharge end; providing an elongated flexible outer sheath; forming a cavity between said tube and said outer sheath; providing at least one aperture between said conduit and said cavity; substantially filling the conduit with fluid; inserting the insertion end of the elongated tube into the urethra of a patient; collapsing the outer sheath toward said tube with the patient's urethra when the insertion end enters into the patient's urethra; increasing pressure in the conduit when the outer sheath collapses during insertion; engaging said tube with a sealing device to prevent said fluid from flowing through said discharge end when the pressure in the conduit increases; and passing said fluid through said conduit and out said insertion end to lubricate the catheter when the pressure in the conduit increases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the steps of inserting the catheter into the patient's urethra until the insertion end passes into the patient's bladder; and collapsing the sheath into the tube to force said fluid out of the insertion end as the catheter continues to be inserted into the patient's urethra.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the steps of disengaging the plug from the discharge end of said tube after the insertion end passes into the patient's bladder; and passing the fluid and urine through the conduit of the patient's bladder inserted catheter and out the discharge end to empty the patient's bladder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the steps of filling the cavity with said fluid; and passing said fluid in the cavity through the aperture and into the conduit when the sheath collapses on the inner tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as related in claim 8 further comprising the step of encircling the tube with the sheath.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of constructing a self-lubricating catheter comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube that defines an air filled conduit and has an insertion end and a discharge end; providing a plurality of perforations along said tube between said insertion end and said discharge end; encasing said tube with an elongated flexible outer sheath to form a cavity containing air between said tube and said outer sheath; bonding one end of the outer sheath to the tube adjacent the insertion end; substantially filling the conduit with said fluid from one end of the tube until the fluid emerges at the other end of the tube: placing a plug into the insertion end of the catheter after the fluid emerges; injecting said fluid through the discharge end of the plugged catheter and the aperture until said fluid substantially fills the cavity between the tube and the sheath and air is purged; and sealing the discharge end of the tube and sheath to prevent said fluid in the filled cavity and conduit from leaking.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of constructing a self-lubricating catheter comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube that defines an air filled conduit and has an insertion end and a discharge end; providing a plurality of perforations along said tube between said insertion end and said discharge end; encasing said tube with an elongated flexible outer sheath to form a cavity containing air between said tube and said outer sheath; bonding one end of the outer sheath to the tube adjacent the insertion end; substantially filling the conduit with said fluid from one end of the tube until the fluid emerges at the other end of the tube: placing a plug into the insertion end of the catheter after the fluid emerges; injecting said fluid through the discharge end of the plugged catheter and the aperture until said fluid substantially fills the cavity between the tube and the sheath and air is purged; and sealing the discharge end of the tube and sheath to prevent said fluid in the filled cavity and conduit from leaking.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of sealing the discharge end by placing a grip ring over the sheath and tube; and inserting a plug into conduit through the discharge end that frictionally engages with the tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of preparing the fluid by diluting K-Y Jelly and water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps of forming a flange portion with an inner diameter at one end of grip ring and a main portion with an inner diameter on the other end of grip ring; maintaining the inner diameter of flange portion smaller than the inner diameter of the main portion; and forming a decompression groove on the sheath with the flange portion of the grip ring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US4186745A
Cited
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Cited
US5004455A
Cited
WO1991010466A1
Cited
US5098379A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |