US4233978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
External female catheter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-10-05
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Granted: 1980-11-18
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Expires: 1998-10-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention is an improved female catheter that is applied and used externally. It is particularly useful for the incontinent patient. The external female catheter is an extremely thin-walled device that is of substantially flat configuration that completely covers the entire vulva area of the female. The extremely thin walls expand easily and readily for temporary surges of expelled urine that increase the volume, but the thin walls return to the substantially flat configuration as the urine is drained out of the device. The device is reinforced at the edges by a thickening of the thin walls. The device is attached to the patient with an adhesive. Once attached to the female, it can remain in place for a considerable period of time and is capable of being flushed for sanitary purposes without removing it. The device is fitted with a drainage system to carry off expelled urine to a container attached to the leg.
Inventors
- 👤 Glen A. Hickey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/44; A61F5/451; A61F5/455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A female catheter (as recited in claim 4, wherein) for external application, comprising: a receiving means, said receiving means being substantially flat and elongated in configuration, said receiving means receiving and containing a liquid, said receiving means being constructed from an extremely thin-walled stretchable and expandable material, said thin-walled stretchable and expandable material being capable of readily expanding to provide a greater volume and readily returnable to its original configuration, said receiving means having the edges thereof reinforced by a substantially flat planar thickening of the periphery of said stretchable and expandable material to form a reinforced edge; an attaching means, said attaching means being applied to the surface on one side of said receiving means at the outer peripheral edges thereof for attaching said female catheter to a female patient; and a drainage means, said drainage means being formed monolithically with said receiving means said drainage means and said receiving means of said female catheter being thereby of one-piece construction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The female catheter as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means for attaching said female catheter to a patient are adhesive means, said adhesive means being applied to the substantially flat thickening of the material forming the reinforced edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The female catheter as recited in claim 5, and additionally a storage means, said drainage means being connected to said storage means said storage means consisting of: a transporting element, said transporting element being connected to said drainage means and conducting liquid from said drainage means, said drainage means being located in the lower portion of said receiving means; a storage container, said storage container being connected to said transporting element and storing liquid received from said transporting element; and a securing element, said securing element connected to said storage container to attach said storage container to said patient's leg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The female catheter as recited in claim 1, wherein said female catheter may be flushed, for purposes of cleaning and sanitizing, through said drainage means, while in place on a patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
The female catheter as recited in claim 1, wherein said substantially flat receiving means has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a third portion, said third portion being located between said first and second end portions, said first end portion being wider than said second end portion, said first end portion being arc-like across the end thereto, said second end portion being point-like across the end thereto, said point-like end being rounded, said third portion being narrower than said first end portion and wider than said second end portion, said third portion being of a substantially elongated thickened "T" configuration with the thickened "T" end nearer to said first end portion, said structure of said receiving means tapering in configurartion from said third portion to the extreme lateral ends of said first and said second end portions, said substantially flat and elongated receiving means completely surrounding and covering the vulva area of the female patient and avoiding covering the anus of the female patient when attached to the body of the female patient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-18 | 1984-05-19 | 1984-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-18 | 1988-05-19 | 1988-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-18 | 1992-05-19 | 1992-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |