US3797478A - Multi-functional valve for use in the urethra - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve adapted to be positioned in the channel of the urethra for the maintenance of such channel at a predetermined size in a substantially sterilized condition relative to bacteria, such valve controlling the flow of urine from the bladder through the channel of the urethra to the atmosphere.

Description

United States Patent [191 Walsh et a1.

[ MULTI-FUNCTIONAL VALVE FOR USE IN THE URETHRA Inventors: Michael Adrian Walsh, 81

Witherbee Ave., Pelham Manor, NY. 10808; Edward F. Costigan, 348 Central Ave., Scarsdale, NY. 10583 Filed: July 11, 1972 Appl. No.:,270,866

US. Cl. 128/1 R, 128/D1G. 25, 128/349 R Int. Cl.A6lb 19/00, A6lm 25/00 Field of Search 128/349 R, 349 B, 349 BV,

128/1 R, DIG. 25, 285, 129, 344, 325; 251/5 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1967 Rocchiet al 8/1971 128/349 B Wepsic 128/349 R [4 1 Mar. 19, 1974 3,503,400 3/1970 Osthagen et a1. 128/349 R 2898,917 8/1959 Wallace 128/350 R 3,640,354 2/1972 Rassieur 251/5 X 3,402,710 9/1968 Paleschuck 128/348 X OTHER PUBLICATIONS Livingston Amer. Jour. of Surgery Vol. 51, 1941, pg. 494.

Primary Examiner--Dalton L. Truluck Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdward F. Costigan 5 7 ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MULTI-FUNCTIONAL VALVE FOR USE IN THE URETHRA This invention relates to the flow of urine from the bladder of a female patient through the channel of the urethra to the atmosphere.

More particularly, this invention relates to a valve for use in the control of the aforesaid flow of urine.

In the past, it has been found that in some patients,

the channel of the urethra is subject to diminishment in size through natural traumatic or disease processes. As a result, this process leads to a condition which not only restricts the flow of urine through the channel but may lead to discomfort and even a dangerous condition relative to infection if the bladder is not properly voided. In other conditions, the patient may have no voluntary control over the process of voiding urine. Urinary leakage through the urethra in such cases may be constant or intermittent.

In situations such as that described above, the Practitioner usually dilates the channel of the urethra through the use of successive insertions of sounds of a progressively increasing circumference..When the desired circumference is attained through such dilation,

the channel will maintain this size for a time until the process of dilation must be repeated again to bring the channel to the desired size. If, perchance, the channel was blocked for any appreciable period of time, a pool of stagnant urine would form in the bladder and might produce an infection in situs which could be transmitted to the channel of the urethra.

What is needed in the art is a device which would maintain the channel of the urethra at the circumference desired for a relatively extended period of time without any attendantsusceptibility to infection while naturally controlling the flow of urine from the bladder to the atmosphere through such channel, and preventing uncontrolled urinary leakage.

The subject invention answers the needs of the art with special emphasis on a device which may be positively placed and securely held in position in the channel of the urethra but which may. be easily removed when so desired. v

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device of improved construction which functions as a valve when placed in a fixed position in the channel of the urethra.

Another object of this invention is to provide the aforesaid device with the ability to substantially maintain the channel of the urethra at a predetermined size.

An still another object is to provide the aforesaid device with the propensity to maintain the channel in a relatively clear state relative to bacteria when in place in the channel.

A still further object is to provide such device with the ability to control the flow of urine from the bladder to the atmosphere through the channel by functioning as a naturally controlled valve.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed specification accompanied by the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is asectional side elevation of the female torso.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the device of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 in the inflated condition.

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

' FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sideview of the inflation means provided on the device of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. a

For a better understanding, refer to FIG. 1 where a cross-sectional view is shown of thedevice 10 in place in the body of a patient. As may be seen from this view, thedevice 10 is held in a substantially stationary position in the channel of the urethra u by inflatedcollars 24 and 26 at each extremity of the device. However, a rupture of the inflatedcollar 26 at the extremity of thedevice 10 which is adjacent the outer surface of the A body will completely void bothcollars 24 and 26 and thedevice 10 may then be easily removed from the channel of the urethra u.

As shown in FIG. 2, thedevice 10 is in condition for insertion into the urethra u of the female patient by the specialist. Theaforesaid device 10 is provided with a hollow plastic cylinder 11 of the flexible variety having anupper end 12 and alower end 14 both of which are in open-end construction. Alongitudinal tube 13 of the elastical variety such as rubber is fitted into the cylinder 11 withextremital end portions 16 and 18 extending beyond theends 12 and 14 of the cylinder 11.

Thelongitudinal tube 13 consists of twoabutting walls 15 and 17 of closed end construction forming an inflatable annular ring which circumscribes area when the device is in the deflated state. This may be clearly seen in FIG. 4. Referring again to FIG. 2, the 7lower end 18 of thetube 13 is fitted with a valve of the needle type punctural variety for use in the inflation of thearea 22 formed by the abutment ofwalls 15 and 17 of thetube 13. Thelongitudinal tube 13 may be inserted in the cylinder 11 and theinner surface 19 of the cylinder 11 may be secured or affixed to theouter surface 21 of thetube 13 by conventional procedures.

As may now be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, thedevice 10 is in the inflated state. Thisma y be accomplished by injecting a fluid throughvalve 20 by means of asyringe 32. Thefluid may be sterilized distilled water. Note should be taken that theextremital ends 16 and 18 of thetube 13 by its unique construction within cylinder 11 form two hollowinflatable collars 24 and 26 which maintain the device in position in the urethra u. It may also be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 that thespace 22 between thewalls 15 and 17 is now in the form of a longitudinalannular chamber 22 within the cylinder 11. Further, as may be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, theformer area 20 of relatively large size circumscribed by thewall 15 is diminished in size to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 by inflation ofannular chamber 28.

Referring to FIG. 6, the body of thevalve 30 is provided with alongitudinal channel 34 of closed-end construction within the inflated area of thecollar 26. Thevalve 30 is provided with aflange 36 upon which a force is exerted by theadjacent lining 18 of such amagnitude that thechannel 34 is forced closed even after the insertion andwithdrawalof syringe 32. However,

valve or pressure-type valve.

In operation, the device of FIG. 2 is inserted into the urethra u of the female as shown in FIG. 3. After insertion, asyringe 32 is inserted intochannel 34 of thevalve 30 until the tip penetrates the area adjacent thereto. Thelongitudinal tube 13 is then inflated to form anannular ring 28 within the cylinder 11 and theportions 16 and 18 of thetube 13 extending beyond the cylinder 11 are inflated into the form of anannular collar 24 and 26. The latter collars maintain the device in position in the urethra u.

When it is desired to remove thedevice 10, the inflatedcollar 26, which communicates with thelongitudinal area 28 andcollar 24, is ruptured or serrated. As a result, the innertube l3 collapses and the device may be easily removed from the body channel. However, in

an improvement of the above thevalve 30 may be of inflatable and deflatable variety which may be more economical to the Practitioner when fitting a device of the proper size to the patient.

The cylinder 11 is relatively flexible but when in the urethra, it is securely fixed in place. In the initial stage of the process of extruding this cylinder, bactericidal metallic solids or cations or other bacteriostatic or bactericidal substances tolerated by human tissues may be introduced in the melting pot. Cations such as Cu or Ag have been found to kill bacteria of even the most stubborn variety. As a result, the urethra may be maintained bacteria free when the device of the present invention is placed therein.

The volume of liquid necessary to inflate the device will be such that the pressure exerted by the fluid will approximate a force of approximately 90 cm to the linear passageway of FIG. 3. When such force is exceeded the urinating process takes place. And, the patient after a relatively short period of time may find it easy to control the voiding of the bladder by natural processes.

The external circumference of the cylinder 11 of FIG. 2 may be manufactured in individual sizes from 10 mm to 36 mm, in this manner, the device is customized to the channel of the individual patient. Also, the device may be manufactured in individual lengths between 2 cm to 4 cm as a means of customization of the device to individual patients.

What is claimed is:

1. A valving device adapted for placement in the channel of the urethra of a female for use in controlling the flow of urine from a bladder to the atmosphere by way of such channel,

consisting essentially of:

a. a first flexible tube having solid sidewalls, an exte- 'rior surface and an interior surface of open-end construction,

b. a second flexible tube having sidewalls provided with an exterior surface and an interior surface of open-end construction,

1. said sidewalls of said second tube being hollow between the latter surfaces,

2. said second tube inserted into said first tube and extending beyond both ends of said first tube, 3. said second tube secured in position in said first tube, and

0. means provided on the portion of said second tube which extends beyond the end of said first tube for the inflation of the hollow area of such second tube,

whereby, (I) said second tube when inflated substantially closes the area circumscribed by the interior surface'of said second tube except for a relatively thin longitudinal passageway formed by the abutting surface of said interioral surface of said second tube, and Whereby, (2) said second tube when inflated forming a circular collar surrounding each end of said first tube, said collars adapted to maintain said first tube in position in said urethra.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first flexible tube is provided with sidewalls impregnated with bactericdal cations.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said sidewalls are made from a flexible plastic such as polyvinyl ethylene.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said secondtube is made of inflatable material, such as plastic or rubber.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the uniform length of said first tube lies between 2 cm to 4 cms.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 'g o l+78 Dated 19 May 197 lnventorfis) pni n 'i- A wslqh Xr Edward F. Costigan It is certifiedn that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

In Claim 2; as set forth inColumn lines 32 to 33. the word "bactericdal" is deleted and the word bactericidal-- --is substituted therefor.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN MCCOY M. GIBSON JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer FORM PO-105O (10-69) c DC 76 H I S OMM- 3 P 9 fi' U.S. GOVERNMENT I RIN'I'IING OFFICE: I969 O-JGi-Jll

Claims (8)

1. A valving device adapted for placement in the channel of the urethra of a female for use in controlling the flow of urine from a bladder to the atmosphere by way of such channel, consisting essentially of: a. a first flexible tube having solid sidewalls, an exterior surface and an interior surface of open-end construction, b. a second flexible tube having sidewalls provided with an exterior surface and an interior surface of open-end construction, 1. said sidewalls of said second tube being hollow between the latter surfaces, 2. said second tube inserted into said first tube and extending beyond both ends of said first tube, 3. said second tube secured in position in said first tube, and c. means provided on the portion of said second tube which extends beyond the end of said first tube for the inflation of the hollow area of such second tube, Whereby, (1) said second tube when inflated substantially closes the area circumscribed by the interior surface of said second tube except for a relatively thin longitudinal passageway formed by the abutting surface of said interioral surface of said second tube, and Whereby, (2) said second tube when inflated forming a circular collar surrounding each end of said first tube, said collars adapted to maintain said first tube in position in said urethra.

2. said second tube inserted into said first tube and extending beyond both ends of said first tube,

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first flexible tube is provided with sidewalls impregnated with bactericdal cations.

3. said second tube secured in position in said first tube, and c. means provided on the portion of said second tube which extends beyond the end of said first tube for the inflation of the hollow area of such second tube, Whereby, (1) said second tube when inflated substantially closes the area circumscribed by the interior surface of said second tube except for a relatively thin longitudinal passageway formed by the abutting surface of said interioral surface of said second tube, and Whereby, (2) said second tube when inflated forming a circular collar surrounding each end of said first tube, said collars adapted to maintain said first tube in position in said urethra.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said sidewalls are made from a flexible plastic such as polyvinyl ethylene.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said second tube is made of inflatable material, such as plastic or rubber.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the exterioral circumference of said first tube in individual units lies uniformly between 10 mm and 36 mm in circumference.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the uniform length of said first tube lies between 2 cm to 4 cms.

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