Abstract: A protective sleeve for a urinary catheter includes a sleeve configured to extend over an outer surface of the urinary catheter shaft from a proximal insertion end of the catheter shaft to a distal end of the catheter shaft. The protective sleeve includes a protective sleeve tip defining the proximal end portion of the sleeve. The sleeve and the protective sleeve tip are of a single unitary construction and the sleeve and protective sleeve tip are formed of the same thin, flexible film.

Abstract: A catheter package includes an elongated case. A cap is attached to the case by a flexible strap. The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. The funnel may include ridges or a tactile ring to improve the user’s grip on the funnel. An adaptor may be disposed between the funnel and case to allow mating of different cross sectional shapes of the funnel and case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

Abstract: A compact catheter assembly and methods of making such a catheter are disclosed. The catheter assembly incudes a receiver and a catheter sub-assembly. The catheter sub-assembly includes a gripping member and a catheter tube carried by the gripping member.

Abstract: A catheter package includes an elongated case. A cap is attached to the case by a flexible strap. The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. The funnel may include ridges or a tactile ring to improve the user's grip on the funnel. An adaptor may be disposed between the funnel and case to allow mating of different cross sectional shapes of the funnel and case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

Abstract: An intermittent urinary catheter assembly (20) comprises a catheter tube (22) having a proximal insertion end (24) and a distal end (26) remote from the proximal insertion end and a lumen (28) which extends from at or near the proximal insertion end to the distal end for draining urine from a human bladder. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly includes a urine discharge sleeve (34) associated with the discharge opening (30) of the catheter tube, and the urine discharge sleeve has a compact stowed configuration and is extendable into a deployed configuration for directing urine flow. Alternatively, an adapter assembly (50?) comprises a fitting or nipple (52?) having a urine passageway for insertion into a funnel (40?) associated with a urine discharge end of an intermittent urinary catheter, and a discharge funnel (42?) associated with the fitting or nipple, and an extendable urine discharge sleeve (34?) within the discharge funnel.

Abstract: Kits are provided for storing, transporting, and sterilizing reusable urinary catheters. A reusable urinary catheter stored within a housing of the kit may be sterilized between uses using a sterilization fluid or sterilizing light. If the reusable urinary catheter is sterilized using a sterilization fluid, the housing may include a manually actuated or electro-mechanical pump to circulate the sterilization fluid through the housing. The reusable urinary catheter may include a funnel secured to a catheter shaft, with a plurality of lateral openings defined in the funnel, which provide fluid communication between an interior of the funnel and an external surface of the catheter shaft. By allowing fluid communication between the interior of the funnel and the external surface of the catheter shaft, the lateral openings allow for fluid sterilization of both internal and external surfaces of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A trans-anal irrigation (TAI) system adapted for self-use includes an irrigation head supplied with water from a reservoir by a pump or by gravity feed. The irrigation head has either internal or external structures for releasably retaining the head in a user's rectum during the water flow portion of a TAI process. A guide member arm may be provided for manipulating the irrigation head for both insertion and removal. The irrigation head is reliably attached to the guide member arm. The guide member arm may include an integral manual pump.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for a urinary catheter includes a sleeve configured to extend over an outer surface of the urinary catheter shaft from a proximal insertion end of the catheter shaft to a distal end of the catheter shaft. The protective sleeve includes a protective sleeve tip defining the proximal end portion of the sleeve. The sleeve and the protective sleeve tip are of a single unitary construction and the sleeve and protective sleeve tip are formed of the same thin, flexible film.

Abstract: A catheter package includes an elongated case. A cap is attached to the case by a flexible strap. The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. The funnel may include ridges or a tactile ring to improve the user's grip on the funnel. An adaptor may be disposed between the funnel and case to allow mating of different cross sectional shapes of the funnel and case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

Abstract: A ready-to-use urinary catheter assembly (20) includes a catheter (26) comprising a shaft (28) having a proximal insertion end (30) and a distal end (32) spaced from the proximal insertion end. The assembly also includes a protective sleeve (54) including a protective sleeve tip (36) being configured to cover the proximal insertion end of the catheter shaft as the proximal insertion end of the catheter shaft is inserted into a distal portion of the urethra. The proximal insertion end (30) of the catheter shaft (28) is advanced proximally to rupture the protective sleeve tip (36) and to be advanced through the remainder of the urethra.

Abstract: A catheter package includes an elongated case (210). A cap (218) is attached to the case by a flexible strap (214). The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel (224) attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

Abstract: An intermittent urinary catheter assembly (20) comprises a catheter tube (22) having a proximal insertion end (24) and a distal end (26) remote from the proximal insertion end and a lumen (28) which extends from at or near the proximal insertion end to the distal end for draining urine from a human bladder. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly includes a urine discharge sleeve (34) associated with the discharge opening (30) of the catheter tube, and the urine discharge sleeve has a compact stowed configuration and is extendable into a deployed configuration for directing urine flow. Alternatively, an adapter assembly (50?) comprises a fitting or nipple (52?) having a urine passageway for insertion into a funnel (40?) associated with a urine discharge end of an intermittent urinary catheter, and a discharge funnel (42?) associated with the fitting or nipple, and an extendable urine discharge sleeve (34?) within the discharge funnel.

Abstract: An intermittent urinary catheter assembly (20) comprises a catheter tube (22) having a proximal insertion end (24) and a distal end (26) remote from the proximal insertion end and a lumen (28) which extends from at or near the proximal insertion end to the distal end for draining urine from a human bladder. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly includes a urine discharge sleeve (34) associated with the discharge opening (30) of the catheter tube, and the urine discharge sleeve has a compact stowed configuration and is extendable into a deployed configuration for directing urine flow. Alternatively, an adapter assembly (50?) comprises a fitting or nipple (52?) having a urine passageway for insertion into a funnel (40?) associated with a urine discharge end of an intermittent urinary catheter, and a discharge funnel (42?) associated with the fitting or nipple, and an extendable urine discharge sleeve (34?) within the discharge funnel.

Abstract: A trans-anal irrigation (TAI) system adapted for self-use includes an irrigation head supplied with water from a reservoir by a pump or by gravity feed. The irrigation head has either internal or external structures for releasably retaining the head in a user's rectum during the water flow portion of a TAI process. A guide member arm may be provided for manipulating the irrigation head for both insertion and removal. The irrigation head is reliably attached to the guide member arm. The guide member arm may include an integral manual pump.

Abstract: A compact catheter assembly and methods of making such a catheter are disclosed. The catheter assembly incudes a receiver and a catheter sub-assembly. The catheter sub-assembly includes a gripping member and a catheter tube carried by the gripping member.

Abstract: A trans-anal irrigation (TAI) system adapted for self-use includes an irrigation head supplied with water from a reservoir by a pump or by gravity feed. The irrigation head has either internal or external structures for releasably retaining the head in a user's rectum during the water flow portion of a TAI process. A guide member arm may be provided for manipulating the irrigation head for both insertion and removal. The irrigation head is reliably attached to the guide member arm. The guide member arm may include an integral manual pump.

Abstract: A compact catheter assembly (10) and methods of making such a catheter assembly are disclosed. The catheter assembly includes a receiver (14) and a catheter sub-assembly (16). The catheter sub-assembly includes a gripping member (18) and a catheter tube (20) carried by the gripping member.

Abstract: A package (10) for an elongated article has a sheet material with side (1, 6), upper (2, 5) and lower (3, 4) panels. The side panels are arranged to confront one another at a fin (20) and are at least partially adhered to one another at a longitudinal fin seal (28). The upper and lower panels extend from the fin to define a package body (12) which receives the elongated article. First and second end portions of the sheet material confront one another and are adhered to one another to form first and second end seals (16, 18) which enclose the interior cavity (14) of the package body. A starter line (36) is formed in the fin and extends from a free edge (24) thereof toward non-sealed portions (32) of the panels (1, 6) of the package.