Methods of producing an intermittent urinary catheter package
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10639449-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
A package or container for a catheter having a catheter tube with a proximal end provided with a catheter outlet and a distal opening at a distal end thereof. A gel receptacle is provided with a cavity for holding an amount of a lubricating agent, and the catheter tube extends therethrough. The gel receptacle is configured such that as the catheter is withdrawn from a stored position therein, a leading tip of the catheter is immersed in the lubricating agent, thus automatically coating the leading tip. The gel receptacle may be held within a rigid body or may be a standalone item packaged in a sterile bag solely with the catheter. A side wall of the gel receptacle is deformable so that as the catheter is withdrawn proximally the side wall is collapsed inward to displace the lubricating agent gel and coat an exterior surface of the catheter tube.
Core Innovation
The intermittent urinary catheter package is provided with a gel receptacle that defines a cavity and includes a distal opening and a proximal opening. The gel receptacle has a side wall made of a deformable material configured to collapse inward in a relaxed state to a collapsed shape, and insertion of a catheter distal tip expands the cavity to an enlarged shape.
The catheter distal tip is inserted through the proximal opening into the cavity and out of the distal opening to a stored position so as to deform the side wall outward from the collapsed shape to the enlarged shape. The enlarged cavity is filled with a lubricating agent gel so that the gel surrounds a portion of the catheter tube within the cavity, and withdrawing the catheter distal tip proximally permits the side wall to collapse inward to the collapsed shape so as to coat the distal tip of the catheter tube with the lubricating agent gel.
The gel-filled gel receptacle and the catheter are sealed within an inner space of an outer container. The outer container is a flexible sterile bag containing only the catheter and the gel receptacle, or a rigid housing/main body with an inner space, and the gel receptacle includes specialized geometries such as offset distal/proximal openings, a tunnel formed behind the catheter, serpentine or bent pathways, internally configured fulcrums, spring fingers or flaps, collapsible indented sections with protrusions, and scalloped concave sections with fins to improve lubricating gel coverage.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage centers on four inventive features: a deformable gel receptacle with distal and proximal openings, loading of lubricating agent gel in an enlarged cavity, collapse during proximal withdrawal to coat the catheter distal tip, and sealing within an outer container inner space.
Collapsible gel receptacle with distal and proximal openings
Providing a gel receptacle defining a cavity therein and having a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end, wherein a side wall of the gel receptacle is made of a deformable material and configured to collapse inward in a relaxed state to a collapsed shape.
Loaded lubricating gel cavity that coats the distal tip upon withdrawal
Filling the enlarged cavity of the gel receptacle with a lubricating agent gel so that the gel surrounds a portion of the catheter tube within the cavity, wherein withdrawing the catheter distal tip proximally from the stored position in the gel receptacle permits the side wall to collapse inward to the collapsed shape so as to coat the distal tip of the catheter tube with the lubricating agent gel.
Sealed packaging within an outer container inner space
Sealing the gel-filled gel receptacle and catheter within an inner space of an outer container.
Catheter insertion expands the gel receptacle cavity
Inserting the catheter distal tip through the proximal opening, cavity and out of the distal opening of the gel receptacle to a stored position so as to deform the side wall outward from the collapsed shape to an enlarged shape, in the process enlarging the cavity.
Across the independent-claim basis, the package is produced by expanding a deformable gel receptacle cavity around a catheter tube portion with lubricating agent gel loaded in the enlarged cavity, then withdrawing the catheter to trigger inward collapse of the gel receptacle side wall to coat the catheter distal tip, followed by sealing within an outer container inner space.
Stated Advantages
Coats the distal tip of the catheter tube with lubricating agent gel during proximal withdrawal.
Improves gel coverage even in a rigid housing or standalone sterile bag.
Benefits users with limited dexterity.
Documented Applications
Provision/use as an intermittent urinary catheter package in a sterile package/container environment, including in a rigid housing or a standalone sterile bag.
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