Urethral catheter applicator

Claim 2

A urethral catheter applicator device comprising: a container for storing a catheter in preparation for use having an exit opening at one end thereof; a pair of relatively reciprocal one-way-motion-permitting members, one of which is connected to and in axial alignment with said container, said members located adjacent to said opening but distinct from the container for ultimately withdrawing the catheter from the container through said opening and extending it forwardly for application to a patient, said reciprocal members including one member of said pair being in axial spaced alignment with respect to the other member permitting axial reciprocation between both of said members; and guide means connected forward of the reciprocal members for contacting and depressing the area of the patient immediately surrounding the urethra opening to facilitate the progressive insertion of the catheter into the urethra.

Claim 3

An improved catheter applicator device capable of one-hand-operation comprising: a. a self-supporting cartridge defining a cavity for storing a catheter; b. a self-supporting hollow container disposed over and extending forward of said cartridge; c. first and second unidirectional control means defining catheter passageways disposed within the area defined by said container forward of said cavity; d. resilient means resiliently interconnecting said first and second unidirectional control means and biasing the same apart for reciprocation thereof between a mutually relatively closely spaced position and a mutually relatively distantly spaced position; and, e. a flexible catheter stored in said cartridge and extending forward through said catheter passageways in engagement with said control means.

Claim 4

An improved catheter applicator device capable of one-hand-operation comprising: a. a self-supporting cartridge defining a cavity for storing a catheter; b. a self-supporting hollow container disposed over and extending forward of said cartridge; c. first and second unidirectional control means defining catheter passageways disposed within the area defined by said container forward of said cavity; d. resilient means resiliently interconnecting said first and second unidirectional control means and biasing the same apart for reciprocation thereof between a mutually relatively closely spaced position and a mutually relatively distantly spaced position; and, e. a flexible catheter stored in said cartridge and extending forward through said catheter passageways in engagement with said control means.

Claim 5

a hollow containeR generally circular in transverse cross-section and having an open rear end and a front end containing second unidirectional control means defining a catheter passageway disposed forward of said first unidirectional control means, and

Claim 6

a hollow containeR generally circular in transverse cross-section and having an open rear end and a front end containing second unidirectional control means defining a catheter passageway disposed forward of said first unidirectional control means, and

Claim 7

resilient means resiliently interconnecting said first and second unidirectional control means in spaced relation for reciprocation thereof between a mutually relatively closely spaced position and a mutually relatively distantly spaced position; c. a hollow nose portion generally circular in transverse cross-section connected adjacent said front end of said container and extending forward therefrom and including a front end defining a catheter passageway; and, d. a hollow flexible tubular catheter disposed in coiled array in said rear storage compartment and extending longitudinally forward through said catheter passageways.

Claim 8

resilient means resiliently interconnecting said first and second unidirectional control means in spaced relation for reciprocation thereof between a mutually relatively closely spaced position and a mutually relatively distantly spaced position; c. a hollow nose portion generally circular in transverse cross-section connected adjacent said front end of said container and extending forward therefrom and including a front end defining a catheter passageway; and, d. a hollow flexible tubular catheter disposed in coiled array in said rear storage compartment and extending longitudinally forward through said catheter passageways.

Claim 9

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 2 wherein said container is in slideable engagement with said cartridge and wherein spaced grip means are disposed adjacent said control means for one-hand reciprocation of said control means, said grip means including a first finger grip secured to the outer surface of said container and a second finger grip secured to said cartridge rearward of said container.

Claim 10

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 2 wherein a hollow tapered nose portion is disposed adjacent to the front end of said container, extends forwardly of said container and defines a catheter passageway in the front end thereof, wherein said catheter is disposed in coiled array in said cartridge and wherein said cartridge includes a closed rear end wall defining a catheter passageway.

Claim 11

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 4 wherein said first unidirectional control means comprises a plurality of forwardly and inwardly directed flaps disposed in the front end of a second hollow container located between said nose portion and said first container and connected thereto, wherein said containers, cartridge and nose portions are transparent and wherein said second unidirectional control means comprises a plurality of forwardly and inwardly directed flaps disposed in the front end of said first hollow container.

Claim 12

An improved urethral catheter applicator comprising, in combination: a. A hollow cartridge generally circular in transverse cross-section, including a rear storage compartment adapted to receive a catheter in coiled array, a substantially closed rear end and a necked-down open front portion; b. means for advancing a tubular catheter unidirectionally through said applicator including:

Claim 13

An improved urethral catheter applicator comprising, in combination: a. A hollow cartridge generally circular in transverse cross-section, including a rear storage compartment adapted to receive a catheter in coiled array, a substantially closed rear end and a necked-down open front portion; b. means for advancing a tubular catheter unidirectionally through said applicator including:

Claim 14

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 6 wherein said applicator is dimensioned for use in one hand of an operator, wherein said first unidirectional control means is disposed in the front end of a second hollow container generally circular in transverse cross-section, wherein said front end of said nose portion is smoothly contoured and dimensioned for efficient approximation to an urethral opening and is spaced forwardly of said front end of said first container to define therewith a reservoir for reception of lubricant.

Claim 15

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 7 wherein said cartridge, said containers and said nose portion are of clear, transparent, smooth, self-supporting material and wherein said first container includes finger grip means to facilitate said reciprocation.

Claim 16

The improved catheter applicator of claim 7 wherein said second container has an open rear end, is disposed in nested abutting relation to said cartridge and extends forward thereof, and wherein said first container is disposed in nested spaced relation to said second container and extends forward thereof.

Claim 17

The improved catheter applicator of claim 9 wherein said cartridge, first and second containers and nose portion are of generally frusto-conical configuration, wherein said first and second unidirectional control means each comprise at least one forwardly and inwardly directed flap adapted to contact the exterior of said catheter, wherein said resilient means comprises a coiled spring extending between the outer surface of the front end of said second container and the inner surface of the front end of said first container, and wherein said first container includes finger grip means disposed adjacent the outer surface thereof.

Claim 18

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 9 wherein said first and second unidirectional control means each comprises a forwardly and inwardly sloped neck bounding said catheter passageway, wherein each of said first and second containers has a peripheral rim adjacent the rear end thereof, and wherein said resilient means comprises at least one flexible strip connected to both of said rims.

Claim 19

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 10 wherein said rear end of said cartridge defines an opening through which said catheter extends for connection to urine collection means, wherein said reservoir includes a third container having a necked-down front portion defining an opening axially aligned with said catheter passageways, and wherein said first, second and third containers and said cartridge each contain longitudinally extending tear strips to facilitate stripping of said applicator from said catheter.

Claim 20

The improved urethral catheter applicator of claim 8 wherein said cartridge is said second container, wherein said first container and said nose portion are of generally cylindrical configuration, wherein said first container is disposed in nested relation over said cartridge and extends forward thereof, wherein said cartridge and said first container each have a peripheral rim adjacent the rear end thereof, whereiN said resilient means comprises a coiled spring disposed over the exterior surface of said cartridge and secured to the front surface of said cartridge rim and the rear surface of said container rim, wherein said first and second unidirectional control means each comprise at least one forwardly and inwardly directed flap adapted to contact the exterior of said catheter, and wherein said cartridge defines an opening through which the rearward portion of said catheter extends tangentially outward for connection to urine collection means.