US3630206A

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Publication number: US3630206A
Application number: US259A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce Gingold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-01-02
Filing date: 1970-01-02
Publication date: 1971-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-28

Abstract

A bladder catheter for males including an elongated flexible core element having first and second end portions and an outer surface provided with one or more grooves extending along said element, means at the first end portion of said element for being received and retained within the bladder of a subject to be treated, and a flexible tubular member with an opening therethrough for being received about said core element, whereby after said element with its member about it are inserted into the urethra of the subject with the first end of the element received and retained within the bladder, the member is partially withdrawn from about the element to an extent allowing the urethra to be flushed by the draining urine while still remaining in position over the second end portion of the element to receive the urine into the member for external disposal.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Bruce Gingold 4046 Ford Road, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131 [21] Appl. No. 259 [22] Filed Jan. 2, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] BLADDER CATHETER 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 128/349 B, 128/240, 128/246 511 Int. Cl ..A6lm 25/00 [50] Field of Search [28/349 R, 349 B, 349 BV, 350 R, 348, 343, 239-241, 246

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,912,981 12/1959 Keough 128/349 B 550,238 11/1895 Allen 128/246 3,503,400 3/1970 Osthagen et al.. 128/349 R 2,450,217 9/1948 Alcom 128/350 R Primary Examiner-Dalton L Truluck Attorney-Jacob Trachtman ABSTRACT: A bladder catheter for males including an elongated flexible core element having first and second end portions and an outer surface provided with one or more grooves extending along said element. means at the first end portion of said element for being received and retained within the bladder of a subject to be treated, and a flexible tubular member with an opening therethrough for being received about said core element, whereby after said element with its member about it are inserted into the urethra of the subject with the first end of the element received and retained within the bladder the member is partially withdrawn from about the element to an extent allowing the urethra to be flushed by the draining urine while still remaining in position over the second end portion of the element to receive the urine into the member for external disposal.

PATENTEIB W28 2m INVE'N TOR BRUCE G/NGOL 0 ATTORNEY 1 BLADDER CATHETER The invention relates to a bladder catheter, and more particularly to a bladder catheter for males for minimizing infection transmitted through the urethra.

Heretofore, bladder catheters, such as the Foley catheter, have been utilized for draining the bladder. Such catheters drain fluid from the bladder out of contact with the urethra. Since normal drainage from the bladderunder such circumstances does not flush the urethra, infection of the urethra and bladder have resulted by the growth and spread of bacteria along the urethral cavity toward the bladder.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bladder catheter for males which will minimize infection during its use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bladder catheter for males which may easily be in- 1 ofFlG. 1,

serted for use and made operative with a minimum of possible injury to the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bladder catheter for males which is reliable in operation and inexpensive to produce.

The above objects, as well as many other objects of the invention are achieved by providing bladder catheter for males including an elongated core element having first'and second end portions and an outer surface provided with one or more grooves extending along the element. Means at the first end portion of the element is provided for being received and retained within the bladder of the subject to be treated, and a flexible tubularv member with an opening therethrough is received about the core element when it is inserted into the urethra and then partially withdrawn from about the element to an extent allowing the urethra to be flushed by the draining urine while still remaining in position for the second end portion of the element for receiving urine into the member for external disposal. The surface of the core may be provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves and a spiral groove for assuring a passageway for urine from the bladder while still allowing contact of the urine with the surrounding urethra in its passage therealong, until the urine is received into the member for being externally disposed.

The first end of the element may be provided with a bulb which may be expandedwhen received into the bladder for retaining the end of the element in position within the bladder and preventing it from being inadvertently withdrawn or dislodged. The bulb may be of an inflatable type with the end of the core element provided with a valve for transmission and retention of a measured amount of air through a central opening extending along the element to the bulb. Alternatively the bulb may bea resilient preformed bulb which is compressible for being passed through the urethra and automatically expands to its preformed enlarged configuration upon entering into the bladder, for the similar purpose of retaining the end of the element in position during use of the catheter.

FIG. 2 is a plane view of the first end portion of the catheter shown in FIG. I after insertion of same into the urethra with its distal end retained within the bladder, FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the member clamped with the element in its withdrawn position,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 illustrating the connection of the member for externally disposing of drained urine,

FIG. 6 is a plane view with portions broken away illustrating a bladder catheter for males which is of a modified form from the catheter shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Like numerals designate like parts of the several views.

Refer now to FIGS. 1 through 5 inclusive, which illustrate abladder catheter 10 for males embodying the invention. Thecatheter 10 comprises a-coreelement 12 of elongated form made of a resilient flexible material such as rubber or plastic and sized for being received through the urethra. Oneend portion 14 of theelement 12 is provided with means such as aninflatable bulb 16 for being received and retained within the bladder, while theother end portion 18 is provided with avalve 20. Theelement 12 has acentral opening 24 extending between thevalve 20 and thecavity 22 of thebulb 16 for allowing the controlled inflation and deflation of thebulb 16 through thevalve 20.

Thecore element 12 has anouter surface 26 which may have a substantially circular cross section and is provided with a plurality of narrow deep linear longitudinal grooves 28 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) which extend between the first and

second end portions

16 and 18 of thecore element 12. It is particularly noted that thegrooves 28 which are continuations of thegrooves 28 also extend over the outside surface of thebulb 16. Aspiral groove 30 is also provided in thesurface 26 of thecore 12. extending between the first and

second ends

16 and 18 and intersecting thelongitudinal grooves 28. The spiral grooves are also narrow and deep, in the manner of the longitudinally extendinggrooves 28. This prevents their blockage by being contacted within the grooves by the contracting urethra, when positioned in the urethral passage.

The end of the member receiving drainage fluids may also 7 be provided with an enlarged collar for contacting the urethra and minimizing seepageof fluid or urine between the urethra and the outer surface of the member.

In a modified form the bladder catheter may also be made with the core element having two sections, with the section including the bulb at its end provided with a larger cross-sectional circumference than the other section. The member has an opening therethrough sized for being received over the second or smaller section of the core element with its end abutting the first section of larger circumference, while providing an outside circumference which is substantially equal to the outside circumference dimension of the first section.

Since the outer member is partially withdrawn after the catheter is inserted in position with its first end received and retained within the bladder, urine in passing from the bladder along the urethra flushes the urethra and therebyv removes sources of infection in a manner similar to that which occurs in the absence of the catheter. Such flushing action, of course,

A hollow elongatedtubular member 32 which is flexible and may be made of rubber or plastic material has anopening therethrough 34 sized to receive thecore element 12 therein. Themember 32 is substantially the same length as thecore element 12, with itsend 36 extending proximate to thebulb 16 at thefirst end portion 14 of theelement 12 and itsother end portion 38 extending proximate thevalve 20 at the end portion l8of theelement 12. Themember 32 may be made of a clear plastic if desirable, allowing the core element to be seen therethrough when assembled as shown in FIG. 1, although such clear plastic is not required for operation of the invention. Theend 36 of themember 32 is provided with an enlarged or thickenedcollar 38 for minimizing leakage between it and the urethra when the catheter is in operation, which will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIG. 3.

In operation, thecatheter 10 in its assembled form as shown in FIG. 1 and with its bulb I6 deflated, is inserted into the urethral cavity with thebulb 16 received first. After thebulb 16 has entered into the bladder of the patient to be treated, a measured amount of air is dispensed through thevalve 20 and thepassage 24 to raise the pressure in thecavity 22 extending and inflating the bulb 16- The position of the catheter in the urethra 40of themale organ 42, with thebulb 16 extending trated in dashed lines. FIG. 2 also illustrates themember 32 in the process of being withdrawn from about thecore element 12 with itsend 36 slightly displaced from thebulb 16 of theelement 14.

FIG. 3 illustrates the member withdrawn to its final position and secured by aclamp 46 with theend portion 18 of theelement 12. FIG. 5 illustrates the connection of theend 38 of themember 32 with an extendingtube 48 for delivering fluids or urine to acontainer 50. With the catheter applied and con nected as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, fluid or urine is drained from thebladder 44, with thegrooves 28 on the bulb l6 serving to provide a passageway between the bulb and the bladder walls, assuring that the bulb willv not block and prevent drainage of fluid. The urine then passes along the outside of thecore element 12 and within the

grooves

28 and 30 along and in contact with the urethra. The narrow and deep configuration of the

grooves

28, 30 assures that the urethra which is a conforming member will not extend into and block the passages provided by the grooves..The outward or drainage movement of fluids acts to flush the urethra and thereby prevent the growth and spread of infection or bacteria along the urethral passage towards the bladder. When the fluid reaches a region close to the end of the urethral cavity and specifically to where theend 36 of themember 32 has been withdrawn, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the fluid is caused to be received into the cavity or opening 34 of themember 32 passing therealong within the

grooves

28 and 30. The enlargedcollar 38 of themember 32 by exerting an increased pressure against the urethra at its location minimizes seepage of urine past it and about the outside of themember 32. The urine which is now received into theopening 34 in themember 32 passes about the valve and continues along toward theother end 38 of themember 32 where it may be, as illustrated in FIG. 5, connected to an extendingtube 48 which connects with a container 50'for the drained fluid.

As already noted, thebulb 16 in its inflated condition prevents the withdrawal of thecore element 12 after its application, while theclamp 46 positions themember 32 in its partially withdrawn position with respect to thecore element 12 and with theend 36 proximate thehead 52 of themale organ 42.

When thecatheter 10 is to be removed, theclamp 46 is released, allowing themember 32 to be completely withdrawn. Thevalve 20 which is now exposed is opened to reduce the pressure in thebulb 16 causing it to deflate and allowing the bulb and core elements to be withdrawn from the bladder and urethra, completing the operation.

Refer to FIGS. 6 and 7, which illustrate a catheter 54 embodying the invention comprising a modification of the catheter l0. The structure and operation of the catheter 54 is essentially identical to that of thecatheter 10 except for such differences which will now be specifically noted.

The core element 12' of the catheter 54 has provided at itsend 55, a hollow enlargedpreformed bulb 56 which has a cavi-v ty 58 which communicates externally by thecentral opening 60. The opening 60 extends from thebulb cavity 58 to theend 62 of the element 12' where it is extemallyvented. The element 12' has first and

second sections

64 and 66, the first section being provided with a larger cross-sectional circumference than that of the second section. The first and second sections are approximately equal in length and are joined at alocation 68 forming a shoulder 70 therebetween (see FIG. 7). A tubular member 32' is provided with an opening 71 therethrough sized for themember 32 to be received over and about thesecond section 66 of the element 12', but too small to be received over thefirst section 64. When received over thesecond section 66 of the core element 12' as shown particularly in FIG. 7, theend 72 of the member 32' is in abutment with the shoulder 70 formed at thelocation 68 joining the first and

second sections

64 and 66 of theelement 12, and the outside circumference, of the member 32' is substantially equal to that of thefirst section 64 of the core element l2.

Thefirst section 64 is-provided with the longitudinal and

spiral grooves

28a and 30a as in thecatheter 10, while thesecond section 66 of reduced cross section is also provided with similar grooves 28b and 30 b. Thebulb 56 is also provided withgrooves 28a.

In use, the catheter 54 is inserted by collapsing thebulb 56 and inserting it first into the urethra. The catheter 54 is extended along the urethral passage until thebulb 56 is received into the bladder, at which time it automatically extends to its preformed enlarged configuration serving to retain the end of thecore element 12 in position by offering a minimum resistance to its withdrawal. The member 32' which now only extends over thesecond section 66 is withdrawn to a position similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 for thedevice 10. However, in this case since it only extends over thesecond section 66 of the core element 12', it will only be necessary to withdraw the member 32' to a smaller extent to position itsend 72 proximate to thehead 52 of themale organ 42. The member 32' may nowbe clamped with theend 62 of thecore element 12 to retain it in this position as described above, and may also be connected with further extending tube means for disposing of the drained fluids. As is the practice for securing catheters against dislodgement, the member 32' which extends from the male organ may also be taped to the male organ.

While only a few embodiments of the invention disclosed herein have been outlined in detail, there will be obvious to those skilled in the art, many modifications and variations accomplishing the foregoing objects and realizing many or all of the advantages, but which yet do not depart essentially from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A bladder catheter for males including an elongated flexible core element having first and second end portions and an outer surface provided with one or more grooves extending along said core element, means at the first end portion of said core element for being received and retained within the bladder of a subject to be treated, and a flexible tubular member with an opening therethrough being slidably received about said core element, whereby after said element with its tubular member about it are inserted into the urethra of the subject with the first end portion of the core element received and retained within the bladder, the tubular member is partially withdrawn from about the core element to an extent allowing the urethra to be flushed by the draining urine while still remaining in position over the second end portion of core element to receive the urine into the tubular member for external disposal.

2. The catheter of claim I in which the outer surface of said core element is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves.

3. The catheter of claim 1 in which the outer surface of said core element is provided with a spiral groove.

4. The catheter of claim 1 in which the retaining means at the first end portion of said core element is a resilient inflatable bulb, said core element having a valve at the second end portion and a central opening extending between said bulb and valve, whereby said bulb may be controllably inflated and deflated.

5. The catheter of claim 1 in which the retaining means at the first end portion of said core element is a preformed resilient collapsible bulb whereby said bulb is deformable to reduced size for insertion through the urethra and upon entering the bladder resumes its preformed configuration for retaining same therein and deforms to reduced size for removal.

6. The catheter of claim 5 in which said bulb is hollow having a cavity therein, and said core element has a central opening communicating with the cavity of said bulb and venting same externally.

7. The catheter of claim 1 in which an end of said tubular member has an enlarged outer collar for contact withthe urethra for minimizing seepage of urine thereby.

8. The catheter of claim I in which said core element is substantially circular in cross section and comprising a first secmember is received about the second section of said core element with an end to said tubular member in abutting relationship to said first section of said core element.

10. The catheter of claim 1 including clamp means for securing said tubular member with the second end portion of said core element for retaining said tubular member in its partially withdrawn position.

Claims

1. A bladDer catheter for males including an elongated flexible core element having first and second end portions and an outer surface provided with one or more grooves extending along said core element, means at the first end portion of said core element for being received and retained within the bladder of a subject to be treated, and a flexible tubular member with an opening therethrough being slidably received about said core element, whereby after said element with its tubular member about it are inserted into the urethra of the subject with the first end portion of the core element received and retained within the bladder, the tubular member is partially withdrawn from about the core element to an extent allowing the urethra to be flushed by the draining urine while still remaining in position over the second end portion of the core element to receive the urine into the tubular member for external disposal.

2. The catheter of claim 1 in which the outer surface of said core element is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves.

7. The catheter of claim 1 in which an end of said tubular member has an enlarged outer collar for contact with the urethra for minimizing seepage of urine thereby.

8. The catheter of claim 1 in which said core element is substantially circular in cross section and comprising a first section including the first portion of said core element and a second section including the second end portion joined at a point intermediate said end portions, said first section having a cross section greater than that of said second section, said tubular member being received about the second section of said core element.

9. The catheter of claim 8 in which the outer diameter of said tubular member is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first section of said core element, and said tubular member is received about the second section of said core element with an end of said tubular member in abutting relationship to said first section of said core element.