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Publication Number
US-10987487-B1
Publication Date
2021-04-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
An enhanced tubular sleeve for handling a urinary catheter including a number of features that render usage of urinary catheters much easier and reduce discomfort. The sleeve may be formed of bonded sheets of flexible material having rounded distal ends. Or, the sheets may only be bonded in a proximal portion with their distal portions left unattached. In still another version the distal end of one sheet terminates shorter than the distal end of the other sheet.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a gripping sleeve for handling a urinary catheter that is formed from a pair of flexible flat sheets of material having textured inner or outer surfaces. The sheets have proximal and distal ends that define a longitudinal axis therebetween, and the sheets are bonded together at juxtaposed or longitudinal edges to form a sleeve that may be expanded into a tubular shape sized to loosely receive a urinary catheter. The sleeve is assembled around the urinary catheter to assist a user in handling the urinary catheter.
In embodiments, the sheets are bonded along proximal portions of the longitudinal edges while at least some distal portions of the longitudinal edges all the way to the distal ends are not bonded. The distal end of a first sheet terminates shorter than the distal end of a second sheet, and the distal ends are offset relative to each other so bonded corner regions are eliminated or avoided. Rounded distal ends and an absence of discrete corners are also described.
The disclosure further includes configurations where distal portions can act as flexible flaps, and embodiments using dual gripping sleeves on one catheter enabling inchworm advancement. The gripping sleeve geometry is described with an elongated constantly tapered section and proximal and distal sheet portions, including rectangular proximal portions and tapered distal portions that transition to rounded portions.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims, each directed to a gripping sleeve for handling a urinary catheter, with inventive features centered on textured flexible flat sheets forming an expandable tubular sleeve, edge bonding limited to proximal portions or coordinated distal offset, and rounded distal geometries.
Bonded textured expandable sleeve with unbonded distal edge portions and rounded transitions
Two flexible flat sheets with textured inner or outer surfaces are bonded together at juxtaposed longitudinal edges to form a sleeve expandable into a tubular shape sized to loosely receive a urinary catheter, where the longitudinal edges transition to rounded portions just before the distal ends and the sheets are bonded along proximal portions while at least some distal portions all the way to the distal ends are not bonded.
Proximal bonding with distal end offset between the sheets
The sleeve assembled around the urinary catheter includes bonding along proximal portions of the longitudinal edges while at least some distal portions are not bonded, and the distal end of a first sheet terminates shorter than the distal end of a second sheet.
Offset distal ends while forming an expandable loosely receiving tubular sleeve from textured sheets
A pair of flexible flat sheets with textured inner or outer surfaces are bonded together at longitudinal edges to form a sleeve expandable into a tubular shape sized to loosely receive a urinary catheter, wherein the distal ends of the sheets are offset with the distal end of a first sheet terminating shorter than the distal end of a second sheet, and the sleeve is assembled around the urinary catheter to assist a user in handling the urinary catheter.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is directed to textured flexible flat sheets forming an expandable tubular gripping sleeve for a urinary catheter, with rounded edge transitions near the distal ends, bonding constrained to proximal portions leaving at least some distal longitudinal edge portions unbonded, and/or a distal end offset between the two sheets so bonded corner regions are avoided, together with sleeve assembly around the urinary catheter to assist handling.
Stated Advantages
Reduces discomfort from sharp welded corners by using rounded distal ends.
Assists a user in handling the urinary catheter.
Enables inchworm advancement via dual gripping sleeves on one catheter.
Documented Applications
A gripping sleeve assembled around an intermittent urinary catheter to assist a user in handling the urinary catheter.
Use of dual gripping sleeves on one catheter to enable inchworm advancement.
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