RETAINING DEVICE FOR A URINARY CATHETER AND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A RETAINING DEVICE WITH A CATHETER

Abstract

The retention device is configured to be coupled to the end outer part of a urinary catheter or feeding catheter of the type having a “T” shaped valve, the retention device comprising a body with: a first portion extending in a longitudinal direction “X” and having an inner recess for receiving and accommodating an end part of a urinary catheter or feeding tube where the first portion is closed above by an upper portion comprising an anti-leakage element of the open end of the catheter or tube connecting the catheter, a second portion extending in a second direction “Y”, transverse to the longitudinal direction “X”, wherein the second portion comprises an inner recess extending along the transverse direction “Y”, and wherein the second portion is open at one of its ends, while at the opposite end it comprises an anti-opening wall, and a fastening element, configured to releasably fasten the retention device to an element external to the user's body.

This allows the user to perform any type of sports activity with the catheter fitted and placed inside the support without any risk of accidental action.

The invention also concerns the assembly formed by this retention device and a catheter.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. Retention device configured to retain a catheter, such as a urinary catheter or a feeding catheter, in an element external to the user's body, for example, in a strap or user's underwear, wherein it comprises a body with: a first portion extending in a longitudinal direction “X” and comprising an inner recess extending along the longitudinal direction “X”, wherein the first portion is closed above by an upper portion comprising an anti-leakage element of the open end of the catheter or catheter connection tube; a second portion extending in a second direction “Y”, transverse to the longitudinal direction “X”, wherein the second portion comprises an inner recess extending along the transverse direction “Y”, and wherein the second portion is open at one of its ends, while at the opposite end comprising an anti-opening wall; and a fastening element releasably fastening the retention device to an element external to the user's body.

15. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the fastening element is arranged in the first portion.

16. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the fastening element is integrated in the first portion.

17. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the fastening element is a tab, the upper end of the tab emerging from the rear face of the retention device.

18. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the first portion has an elongated body in the form of a half-barrel.

19. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the anti-leakage element is configured by a protruding element on the inner part of the upper portion of the first portion, and wherein the anti-leakage element is configured to fit perfectly inside the open end of the catheter or the catheter connection tube.

20. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the anti-leakage element is a semi-spherical protrusion.

21. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the second portion has an elongated half-barrel-shaped body, the inner recess being created to receive inside and accommodate, in a tight manner, at least a part of the sliding valve of a catheter.

22. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the anti-opening wall comprises an opening.

23. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein the body of the second transverse portion comprises an opening in the form of a “C” in the central and lower part, wherein the opening is aligned with the longitudinal axis “X” of the first portion.

24. Retention device for a catheter, according to claim 14, wherein it has a monobloc body.

25. Assembly consisting of a urinary catheter and a retention device for the urinary catheter, wherein the retention device comprises a body with; a first portion extending in a longitudinal direction “X” and having an inner recess extending along the longitudinal direction “X”, wherein the first portion is closed at the top by an upper portion comprising an anti-leakage element of the open end of the catheter or catheter connection tube; a second portion extending in a second direction “Y”, transverse to the longitudinal direction “X”, wherein the second portion has an inner orifice extending along the transverse direction “Y”, and wherein the second portion is open at one of its ends, while at the opposite end it comprises an anti-opening wall; and a fastening element that releasably fastens the retention device to an element external to the user's body.

26. Urinary catheter assembly and retention device according to claim 25, wherein the urinary catheter comprises: a tube, the tube having at one end an introduction section for introducing it through a urethra into a urinary bladder of the patient, and having at the opposite end a connection section for connecting connection elements, wherein through the introduction section fluid can be evacuated from the urethra into the connection section, a valve that can be closed being arranged between the introduction section and the connection section, such that fluid can be prevented from leaving from the connection section when the valve is closed, and wherein the valve is configured as a slide valve and has three switching positions, the valve being closed in a closed position, and wherein the valve is air-permeable in a central position, and wherein the valve is open in a release position.

27. Urinary catheter assembly and retention device, according to claim 26, wherein the fastening element is arranged in the first portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] For a better understanding of the description made herein, a set of drawings has been provided wherein, schematically and solely by way of a non-limiting example, a practical case of an embodiment of the retention device of the invention is represented.

[0058] FIGS. 1 to 9 show different views of an example of embodiment of the retention device, wherein:

[0059] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view,

[0060] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view,

[0061] FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view,

[0062] FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view,

[0063] FIG. 5 is a top plan view,

[0064] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view,

[0065] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view,

[0066] FIG. 8 is a front left perspective view, and

[0067] FIG. 9 is a right front perspective view.

[0068] FIGS. 10 to 16 show different views of the example of embodiment of the retention device of FIGS. 1 to 9 in which the free end part of the urinary catheter has been inserted, wherein:

[0069] FIG. 10 is a right front perspective view,

[0070] FIG. 11 is a front left perspective view,

[0071] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view,

[0072] FIG. 13 is a left side elevation view,

[0073] FIG. 14 is a right side elevation view,

[0074] FIG. 15 is a front elevation view, and

[0075] FIG. 16 shows the same view as the previous figure, in a longitudinal section.

[0076] FIG. 17 shows a left front perspective view of the embodiment of the retention device of FIGS. 1 to 9 with the free end part of the urinary catheter inserted into and in use position on a user, i.e., wherein the tab is hanging, for example, from the top of the user's underwear.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

[0077] Some examples of embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, according to a possible example of the present invention, a retention device (50) is provided configured to be coupled to the free end of a urinary catheter and retain this free end on an element external to the user's body, wherein the retention device (50) is formed by a rigid body having a monobloc body with: [0079] a first portion (51) extending in a longitudinal direction “X” and having an inner recess (54) for receiving and accommodating an end part of a urinary catheter, [0080] wherein from the rear part and upper end of the first portion (51) emerges a tab (53) configured to releasably fasten the retention device (50) to an element external to the user's body, and [0081] a second portion (52), which extends in a second transverse “Y” direction, and wherein the second portion (52) has an interior recess (62) for receiving and accommodating at least a portion of the sliding valve of the urinary catheter.

[0082] In this embodiment, the tab (53) extends from the uppermost end of the first portion (51) downward to almost the lowermost portion of the first portion 51. The extension direction of the tab (53) is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction “X”, that is, the tab (53) moves slightly away from the surface of the first portion (51) as it extends downwards (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0083] In this embodiment, the first portion (51) is constituted by an elongated half-barrel body (i.e. with a “C” shaped cross section), which is closed at the top by a stop portion (55) and where the recess (54) inside the groove has dimensions such as to receive, in a tight manner, a part of the connection section (70a) of a urinary catheter. This stop portion (55) at the top has the function of supporting an anti-leakage element to isolate the outlet port of the catheter. As shown in FIG. 1, the first portion (51) decreases in width from the upper part to the lower part where it is coupled to the second portion (52), that is, it has a body in the form of a conical throne segment.

[0084] The stop portion (55) is formed by a flat element of low thickness that acts as a support for an anti-leakage element (56), with a convex surface, which protrudes from the inner part of the stop portion (55) of the first portion of the retention device, see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. This stop portion 55 may have, for example, a circular shape (see FIG. 5).

[0085] Preferably, the anti-leakage element (56) or sealing element is configured by a protruding element on the inner part of the stopper portion (55) of the first portion (51) of the retention device, and wherein the anti-leakage element (56) is configured to fit perfectly inside the extreme opening of the catheter or urinary catheter connection tube, thereby producing its sealing and thereby preventing any amount of liquid from leaving the outside of the retention device. FIG. 16 shows how the anti-leakage element (56), with a slightly semi-circular contour, has entered through the opening and is mounted inserted in the end of the catheter or urinary catheter connection tube.

[0086] In this example of embodiment, the second portion (52) is constituted by an elongated body extending in a transverse direction, but of shorter length than the first portion (51), also shaped as a half-barrel (i.e., with a “C”-shaped cross section, see FIG. 3). The rear part of the half-rod-shaped surface is represented by (61) and the inner recess by (62), where the inner recess (62) that is created inside this “C” shaped section has dimensions such as to receive, in a tight manner and inserted under pressure, at least a part of the sliding valve (71) of the urinary catheter (which corresponds to the part where the activation button (72) is located). Further, as clearly seen in FIGS. 8 to 9, the transverse body of the second portion (52) is open at one of its ends, forming an open left side section (60) so that a portion of the slide valve (71) can protrude along with the activation button (72) that is at the end. On the other end, the transverse body of the second portion (52) is closed by an anti-opening wall (57), wherein the anti-opening wall (57) has an inner face (57a) and an outer face (57b), and has a small opening (58) at its bottom, wherein this opening (58) is for accommodating a tactile recognition system of the position of the catheter for use by people with reduced vision. In addition, the second portion (52) has an opening (59) in the form of a “C”-shaped inlet in its central and lower part for the passage of the lower connection section (70b) of the catheter. FIG. 1 clearly shows that the central opening (59) is fully aligned with the longitudinal axis “X” of the first portion (51).

[0087] With reference to FIGS. 10 to 16, the same example of a retention device (50) as the previous figures are depicted therein, but in this case with the free end part of a urinary catheter (10) conveniently inserted into the retention device (50). In the specific case illustrated, a urinary catheter (10) known as a two-way catheter is shown, where only the free end of the catheter and a small part of the flexible tube (74) have been depicted, but not the rest of the flexible tube (74) and the introduction section (14), shown in FIG. 17, through a urethra in a user's urinary bladder. The urinary catheter (10) has at its free end or connection end a valve (71-72) configured as a slide valve in the form of a plunger that moves inside a cylinder, arranged transversely. In the case of the urinary catheter (10) shown, this is a two-way type catheter. FIGS. 10 to 16 of the catheter (10) also show a junction section (73) that connects a balloon arranged at the introduction end (not shown) that inflates with a liquid that enters through a secondary channel of the tube towards the introduction end where the balloon is. At the end of the body 70a an opening is formed in which a connection element (not depicted in the figures), such as a urine bag, can be connected. Using this balloon, the urinary catheter (10) can be fixed to the urinary bladder in its position.

[0088] This specification does not explain the internal functioning of the urinary catheter (10) or the valve (71-72), since it is the same as that described in European patent no. EP2872194A1.

[0089] In particular FIG. 16 shows a possible configuration of the end part of the catheter (10), which has an end provided with a central orifice (76) in a staggered form that decreases in diameter, and which ends above in a mouth (76a). In this figure it is clearly seen how the convex protuberance (56) fits perfectly within the upper mouth (76a) of the central orifice (76).

[0090] FIG. 16 also shows how the part opposite the button of the valve (71-72) is arranged in contact with the inner face (57a) of the anti-opening wall (57). In this position the valve is closed, that is, preventing the passage of fluid through the interior of the central orifice (76).

[0091] In particular FIG. 17 shows the retention device (50) with the end part of the urinary catheter inserted therein, which is hung upside down by means of the tab on the top of the underwear (75) of a user. It is seen how the tube (74) is hidden underneath the underwear until reaching the bladder. The direction of urine flow towards the discharge end has also been illustrated. In this way, by being fixed at a point of the user's clothing (75) such that the tube (74) is not uncomfortable, it is possible to prevent the undesirable traction of the tube (74), which generally causes injury and bleeding of the user, allowing the user to perform a physical activity with total normality and comfort.

[0092] Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the retention device and retention device assembly described are susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.