Catheter Grip Sheath

Abstract

An improved tubular sleeve for handling urinary catheters includes a number of features that make the use of urinary catheters easier and less uncomfortable. The sleeve can be formed from sheets of flexible material bonded together with rounded distal ends. Alternatively, the sheets can be bonded only at proximal portions, with their distal portions unattached. In another version, the distal end of one sheet terminates at a position shorter than the distal end of the other sheet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to an intermittent urinary catheter, and more particularly to an improved grip sleeve for manually advancing a lubricated intermittent urinary catheter. Background Art

[0002] Intermittent catheters are often used by patients who suffer from urinary incontinence, or those who are unable to urinate on their own. In our highly mobile culture, being able to be away from home for a day or more is an important part of life. To accommodate this need, disposable catheters have been developed to allow patients to self-catheterize, and are referred to as intermittent catheters.

[0003] Most intermittent urinary catheters are lubricated in some way to facilitate their placement and passage through the urethra. The two main lubrication techniques are to apply a gel to the outside of the catheter, either automatically or manually, or to break the water bag inside the sealed catheter package to activate the hydrophilic surface coating on the catheter. Hydrophilic catheters have a polymer coating that is bonded to the surface of the catheter. When the polymer coating is immersed in water, it attracts and binds the water to the catheter, making the catheter slippery and very slippery.

[0004] Regardless of how the catheter is lubricated, once it is removed from the packaging, it becomes slippery and difficult to handle. The rounded tip of the catheter must be inserted into the urethra, and users of intermittent catheters often have limited dexterity. For example, spinal cord injuries resulting in partial quadriplegia and limited use of the fingers sometimes lead to the need for catheters. The somewhat difficult process of manipulating a catheter, especially given the need to maintain sterility, makes it difficult for even able-bodied users to grasp and insert a lubricated catheter into the urethra.

[0005] Various solutions to this problem have been developed in the art. For example, U.S. Patent No. 9,884,127 to Gustavsson discloses a resilient tubular insertion aid that is mounted on a catheter and has external ribs to act as a handle to move the catheter back and forth without touching it (see, e.g., Figure 3 b). The insertion aid slides back and forth over the catheter while the patient adjusts the catheter forward. However, this molded design is relatively complex and therefore too expensive for a product that is used multiple times a day and is disposable.

[0006] US Pat. No. 7,476,223 to McBride discloses another urinary catheter kit having a tubular Dacron sleeve 40 configured to move along the length of the catheter (see Figure 2). The Dacron sleeve 40 is a flat, compressed plastic sheet tube that is tapered at the front end and has welded longitudinal edges, much like the structure of a plastic bag. This has the advantages of being inexpensive to manufacture and having a low profile for easy storage within the package. However, the Dacron sleeve 40 can sometimes cause discomfort, particularly to male users, which has limited widespread use.

[0007] Although many solutions for manually manipulating hydrophilic urinary catheters are known in the art, there remains a need for a more comfortable and therefore acceptable gripping Dacron sleeve or cannula. Summary of the invention

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide an enhanced sleeve for handling a urinary catheter. The present application provides a number of features that make the use of a urinary catheter easier, and in particular reduce discomfort.

[0009] In one embodiment, a sleeve for handling a urinary catheter comprises a pair of sheets of flexible flat material, each sheet having a proximal end and a distal end, defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and being joined together at longitudinal edges to form a sleeve that can be expanded into a tubular shape sized to loosely accommodate a urinary catheter. The sheets each have a rectangular proximal portion extending from the proximal end and a tapered distal portion terminating at the distal end. The tapered distal portion of each sheet comprises an elongated constant tapered portion that transitions to a rounded portion before the distal end.

[0010] The two sheets may be identical, or the two sheets may be of different lengths, or the sheets may be offset relative to one another, with the distal end of the first sheet terminating at a position shorter than the distal end of the second sheet. For example, the distal end of the first sheet terminates at a position 1-3 mm shorter than the distal end of the second sheet. The sheets are ideally joined at the longitudinal edges along the proximal portion, while at least some of the tapered distal portions, including the distal end, are not joined. In one configuration, the entire distal end of each sheet of material is rounded, with no discrete corners. Preferably, the sheets each have a textured inner or outer surface.

[0011] Another embodiment of a sleeve for handling a urinary catheter includes a pair of sheets of flexible flat material, each sheet having a proximal end and a distal end, defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and joined together at parallel longitudinal edges to form a sleeve that can be expanded into a tubular shape sized to loosely accommodate a urinary catheter. The sheets are joined at the longitudinal edges along the proximal portion, while at least some of the distal portion, including the distal end, is not joined. The sheets have a rectangular proximal portion extending from the proximal end and a tapered distal portion terminating at the distal end.

[0012] Another embodiment of a cannula for handling a urinary catheter includes a pair of sheets of flexible flat material, each sheet having a proximal end and a distal end, defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and joined together at longitudinal edges to form a cannula that can be expanded into a tubular shape sized to loosely accommodate a urinary catheter. The sheets have different lengths or offset ends, with the distal end of the first sheet terminating at a position shorter than the distal end of the second sheet. The sheets may have a rectangular proximal portion extending from the proximal end and a tapered distal portion terminating at the distal end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1A is an exploded view of an intermittent urinary catheter packaging assembly of the prior art, comprising an outer packaging, a catheter with a grip sleeve, and a water bag;

[0014] Figure 1B is an enlarged stereoscopic view of the distal end of a urinary catheter of the prior art, the urinary catheter being provided with a gripping sleeve;

[0015] Figure 2 shows advancement of a prior art urinary catheter and gripping cannula prior to insertion into the male's external urethral opening;

[0016] Figure 3 The urinary catheter and the grasping sleeve of the present application are shown to be advanced toward the external urethral opening of a male;

[0017] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A top plan view of an exemplary grip sleeve for use in;

[0018] Figure 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a grip sleeve of the present application;

[0019] Fig. 6A is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the grip sleeve of the present application, Figure 6B is a perspective view of a grasping sleeve surrounding a urinary catheter;

[0020] Fig. 7A is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the grip sleeve of the present application, Figure 7B is a perspective view of a grasping sleeve surrounding a urinary catheter;

[0021] Fig. 8A and 8B A urinary catheter is shown with two gripping sleeves thereon in use;

[0022] Fig. 9 An exemplary configuration of two gripping sleeves nested on a urinary catheter for transport is shown;

[0023] Figures 10A-10C An alternative combination to double grip sleeves on urinary catheters; and

[0024] Figures 11A-11F is a perspective view of alternative shapes and configurations of exemplary grip sleeves. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present application provides an improved gripping polyester sleeve or cannula for intermittent urinary catheters. Once the hydrophilic coating is hydrated and smooth, hydrophilic catheters typically use a cannula-like gripping device to help the user advance the catheter. The user typically uses the gripping device to grasp the catheter tubing and can then push the catheter forward to insert it into the urethra. This provides greater friction and avoids the mess that would otherwise be caused by contact with a lubricated catheter. In addition, the gripping device provides a sanitary barrier between the user's hand and the catheter, helping to avoid the transfer of bacteria to the urethra, which could lead to infection.

[0026] As mentioned in the background, existing catheter handling or gripping of polyester sleeves or cannulas can cause discomfort. Specifically, some patients complain that the sharp corners on the front of the grip cannula can cause irritation to the patient's skin when they come into contact with the skin, which can be uncomfortable. The improved grip cannula described herein is particularly beneficial for urinary catheters designed for men, but it should be understood that the same principles can be easily incorporated into urinary catheters used by women.

[0027] Figure 1A An exploded view of a prior art intermittent urinary catheter package assembly 20 is shown, including an outer package 22, a catheter 24 having a grip sleeve 28 that can slide thereon, and a water bag 26. When packaged, the catheter 24 having the grip sleeve 28 and the water bag 26 are contained in a sterile manner within the outer package 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the prior art urinary catheter package assembly 20 is a HydrophilicCure for men available from Cure Medical, LLC of Newport Beach, California.

[0028] Hydrophilic Cure for Men The outer package 22 is a simple tubular sleeve made of a flexible, water-impermeable material, such as thin polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, the front side of the outer package 22, such as Figure 1A As shown, it is opaque and has many markings on it, such as the attached product, instructions for use and size (e.g., 12Fr). The back side (not shown) can be transparent so that the contents can be easily viewed. The length of male catheters is usually between 12-18 inches, so the outer package 22 is slightly longer.

[0029] Figure 1AThe catheter 24 shown in FIG. 1 has a catheter tube 30 having a polymer hydrophilic coating on the outside thereof, the catheter tube 30 terminating at the front or distal end of a rounded distal tip 32. One or more drainage ports 34 are formed near the rounded distal tip 32. An elastic funnel 36 is attached to the rear or proximal end of the catheter tube 30.

[0030] In use, before opening the sterile package 22, the user squeezes or bends the water bag 26 filled with purified water, causing the water bag to rupture and distribute the water within the package and around the catheter tubing 30. This activates the hydrophilic coating on the catheter tubing 30, thereby making it lubricated. The user typically opens the sterile package 22 by tearing apart the two pieces of material forming the front and back sides, just like opening a band-aid. The user can handle the catheter 24 at the non-slip funnel 36, or by grasping the grip sleeve 28, which is typically conveniently placed near the distal end of the catheter tubing 30. Manipulating the catheter 30, and particularly by aiming the distal tip 32, the catheter can be inserted into the urethra.

[0031] Figure 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the distal end of a prior art urinary catheter 24 with a gripping sleeve 28 on the catheter tubing 30. Hydrophilic Cure for Men The grip sleeve 28 has a textured inner surface 40, which enhances the frictional qualities and thus the user's grip. Two drainage ports 34 are shown axially spaced near the distal end 32. In a preferred embodiment, the drainage ports 34 have rounded edges that are recessed into the wall of the catheter tube 30 for greater user comfort.

[0032] The structure of the grip sleeve 28 is Figure 1B 28. Specifically, the sleeve includes two identical flexible planar sheets 42 that are bonded (e.g., heat welded) together along the entirety of their juxtaposed longitudinal edges 44. The flexible material sheets 42 remain unconnected at the front and rear ends 46, 48 of the sleeve 28 to form a tubular shape that is sized to loosely accommodate the urinary catheter 24 so that the urinary catheter 24 can slide therein.

[0033] The grip sleeve 28 also includes a tapered portion 50 that narrows slightly toward the front end 46, but has a constant transverse dimension, such as Figure 1A Best shown.

[0034] Figure 1B The enlarged view of 44 shows welds formed along the juxtaposed longitudinal edges 44. These welds terminate at relatively sharp corners 52 at the front end 46 of the grip sleeve 28. As described below, these corners 52 tend to cause discomfort to the patient when they come into contact with the external urethral opening.

[0035] Figure 2The prior art urinary catheter 24 and gripping sleeve 28 are shown being advanced prior to insertion into the external urethral opening 54 of a male penis 56. Typically, the user will hold the gripping sleeve 28 with one hand to manipulate the distal catheter tip 32 near the urethral opening 54, and then use the other hand, which typically holds the rear funnel 36, to advance the urinary catheter tubing 30 ( Figure 1A ). The process of aiming the distal tip 32 to successfully enter the urethral opening 54 requires the user to bring the gripping cannula 28 holding the tip 32 into close proximity with the opening. Some patients complain that the sharp corner 52 at the front of the cannula 28 irritates the patient's skin when it comes into contact with the skin; typically this is at the opening of the user's penis 56, which is a sensitive area. The sharp corner 52 is reinforced by the rigidity of the welded side 44 extending to the distal end of the cannula 28. After experiencing this discomfort a few times, the natural behavior is to be more careful and therefore more time-consuming during the catheterization process. In extreme cases, the user may choose not to use a cannula and directly touch the catheter with a bare hand.

[0036] To alleviate this discomfort and facilitate the procedure, the present application proposes a number of different catheter grasping sleeves having a front end that eliminates any sharp corners and, in some cases, are more flexible than existing sleeves.

[0037] For example, Figure 3 The urinary catheter 24 and gripping sleeve 60 of the present application are shown advanced toward the male urethral opening 54. The construction of the urinary catheter 24 is preferably the same as that of the prior art, and therefore like elements will be given like reference numerals.

[0038] Figure 4 6 is a top plan view of an exemplary grip sleeve 60, which includes a generally tubular body 62 extending from a proximal end 64 to a tapered portion 66 adjacent a distal end 68. As previously described, the tubular body 62, which is ideally formed from a pair of identical strips of flexible material, such as polyethylene, has a textured inner or outer surface 70 to increase friction. The texturing can be on the inner or outer surface of the sheet, and can conceivably be on the inside of one sheet and the outside of the other sheet. Ideally, the texturing site would be on both the inner and outer surfaces, but manufacturing constraints limit it to one or the other. The texturing is typically formed by a heated knurling or biasing roller on one side of a large blank of material, which is then cut to the size and shape for the sheet to form each side of the tubular body 62. Alternatively, it may be more efficient to first bond the two blanks together and add the texture to the outside of both before or after forming the individual sleeve sheets.

[0039] The juxtaposed longitudinal edges 72 of the strip are joined together, such as by heat welding, to form a sleeve 60 that can be expanded into a tubular body 62 that is sized to fit loosely around a urinary catheter. As will be explained below, the entire length of adjacent longitudinal edges 72 can be joined, or only parallel longitudinal portions can be joined, with some or all of the distal tapered portion 66 remaining unattached. It should also be noted that the distal tapered portion 66 includes an elongated constant tapered portion 74 that transitions to a shorter circular portion 76 that terminates at a transversely oriented distal end 68.

[0040] refer to Figure 3 , advancing the catheter 24 using the grip sleeve 60 proceeds as normal. If the user brings the grip sleeve 60 into contact with the penis 56 during this process, the distal end 68 and the relatively shallow angle leading to the rounded portion 76 will first contact. Since the 90° sharp corner 52 in the prior art sleeve is eliminated, the user's discomfort is greatly reduced. Specifically, the intersection of the rounded portion 76 with the transversely oriented distal end 68 can form an angle having an included angle of 60° or less. In addition, as will be clearly shown in certain embodiments below, the sleeve that constitutes the tubular body 62 of the sleeve 60 can be unattached in the tapered portion 66. This eliminates the adhesive seam that would extend to the distal end 68, leaving two relatively flexible tabs that are easy to bend without the user feeling it.

[0041] Back to Figure 4 , certain exemplary dimensions are provided. As will be appreciated, these dimensions are provided as a guide only, to indicate relative dimensions, and each dimension may vary by up to 20%. An exemplary overall length L is 80 ± 5 mm, and an exemplary overall width W is 22 ± 1 at the proximal end 64. The length L of the tapered portion 66 is t Ideally, it is between 30-40% of the total length L, for example 27 mm. For example, the length L of the short circular portion 76 is t ' may be 7 mm, while the length L of the longer tapered portion 74 may be t” The width W of the tapered portion 66 at the narrow end may be 20 mm. t Ideally between 55-75% of the total width, for example 13-15mm.

[0042] Figure 58 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a grip sleeve 80 of the present application. The grip sleeve 80 has the same shape as the prior art grip sleeve 28, with a proximal portion 82 beginning at a proximal end 84 having parallel and longitudinally oriented sides 86, and a distal tapered portion 88 terminating at a distal end 90. In this embodiment, the distal tapered portion 88 has a constant narrow taper outward to the distal end 90. Although the intersection of the distal tapered portion 88 and the distal end 90 forms a sharp corner 92, the two strips of material constituting the grip sleeve 80 are only bonded together along the sides 86 in the proximal portion 82, but remain separated in the distal tapered portion 88. It should be noted that as long as there is at least about 1-3 mm of separation near the distal end 90, it is possible that there will not be unbonded conditions along the entire length of the tapered portion 88.

[0043] This leaves two relatively loose tabs at the distal end 90 that are easily bent and do not cause discomfort to a male user if, for example, they contact the penis 56. Once again, the benefits of the improved grip sleeve described herein are also realized when incorporated into a catheter for female use.

[0044] Fig. 6A is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the grip sleeve 100 of the present application, Figure 6B is a perspective view of a grip sleeve surrounding a urinary catheter 24. Much like the previous grip sleeves, the grip sleeve 100 is formed by attaching two strips of flexible material connected together in a tubular manner and has a proximal portion 102 starting at a proximal end 104, the proximal portion 102 having parallel and longitudinally oriented sides 106; and a tapered portion 108 terminating at a distal end. Compared to earlier embodiments, the entire distal end 110 is rounded from the ends on either side of the tapered portion 108. This mitigates any discontinuous corners and greatly reduces patient discomfort caused by inadvertent contact between the sleeve 100 and the area surrounding the urethral opening 54.

[0045] refer to Figure 6B , the cannula 100 is shown near the distal end of the catheter 24. In this version, the distal portion of the cannula 100, including the tapered portion 108, and the distal end 110 are separated from each other, thereby forming two loose flaps 112. As described above, the strips of material are only joined together at the seams along the parallel and longitudinally oriented sides 106. Therefore, there is little structural resistance and attendant discomfort when the two loose flaps 112 at the distal end 110 inadvertently contact the user's penis 56.

[0046] Fig. 7A1 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of a grip sleeve 120 of the present application. As previously described, the grip sleeve 120 includes two strips of flexible material connected together in a tubular manner to form a proximal portion 122 and a distal tapered portion 128 starting from a proximal end 124, wherein the proximal portion 122 has parallel and longitudinally oriented sides 126. Compared to the earlier embodiments, the two strips of flexible material may be different, with the first strip being shorter than the second strip, such that the first distal end 130 terminates at a point shorter than the second distal end 132. Alternatively, the strips may be the same size but offset at each end.

[0047] For example, the first distal end 130 terminates 1-3 mm shorter than the second distal end 132, preferably 2 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the first strip is located on top of the second strip, although this arrangement can be reversed. The shape of the distal tapered portion 128 is similar to Figure 4 In the shape of the grip sleeve 60 shown in FIG, an elongated constant tapered portion 134 leads to a shorter rounded portion 136 that terminates at the distal ends 130, 132. Ideally, the two strips forming the grip sleeve 120 are not connected along the sides 126 of the distal tapered portion 120, although as described below, they may also be welded together.

[0048] Figure 7B 1 is a perspective view of the grip sleeve 120 surrounding the urinary catheter 24. It is obvious that the distal end of the sleeve 120 forms two separate wings, which terminate at two distal ends 130, 132. Due to the extremely flexible nature of the separate wings and the shape of the sleeve distal ends 130, 132, if the sleeve 120 accidentally contacts the penis during use, the user will encounter almost no structural resistance. Only a soft, flexible sheet of material can contact the user.

[0049] In the prior art sleeve, the weld line between the two sheets forms a sharp angle, but even if Fig. 7A 130. The two sheets shown in FIG. 7B remain welded together, and the offset ends 130, 132 eliminate the weld in this area. That is, the juxtaposed edges of the two strips of flexible material can be joined to the termination of the shorter distal end 130. In addition, the tapered plus semi-circular front profile is further used for deflection force. In another embodiment not shown, the sleeve 120 can have a straight (constant) taper in the distal tapered portion 128 without the rounded portion 136 and be joined to the termination of the shorter distal end 130. Even if the distal corner of the second distal end 132 is sharp, the lack of bonding between the two sheets at the distal corner will significantly reduce stiffness.

[0050] Another aspect of the present application is to provide two gripping sleeves for one catheter package. Having two gripping sleeves enables the user to "worm" the catheter into the urethra. The two sleeves can be brought together to meet, and then the catheter can be advanced by grasping and moving one sleeve while the catheter slides through the other sleeve. This provides an advantage over simply grasping and pushing the catheter from the proximal funnel.

[0051] Fig. 8A and 8B The urinary catheter 24 is shown with two grip sleeves 60 thereon in use. In these figures, the grip sleeves 60 are configured to be similar to the reference Figure 3-4 The gripping of the cannula 60 is shown and described similarly. The user initially grasps the front cannula 60 with a first hand near the distal tip of the catheter 24 and grasps the rear cannula 60 with a second hand at a distance therefrom. Figure 8B The advancement of the second hand relative to the first hand and the front sleeve is shown to advance the catheter 24. Although not shown, the user then holds the front sleeve 60 while sliding the rear sleeve back onto the catheter for further movement.

[0052] Fig. 9 An exemplary configuration of two grip sleeves 60 nested on a urinary catheter 24 for transport is shown. That is, the rear sleeve can be slid over the proximal funnel of the catheter 24, and the front sleeve partially slides over the rear sleeve. This conveniently places the two sleeves 60 at the clean (i.e., unlubricated) end of the catheter 24 for ease of use.

[0053] Figures 10A-10C Alternative combinations of double grip sleeves on urinary catheters are shown to illustrate several possible arrangements. Fig. 10A In a first embodiment, the two sleeves 120 are identical; in this case, the sleeves are Fig. 7A and 7B In the Fig. 10B In the embodiment of the present invention, the sleeves are different, with the sleeve 120 of the present application being at the front end, while the sleeve 28 of the prior art is at the rear end. Because the front sleeve 120 is the one that is likely to contact the user, the benefit of increased comfort is provided, and it is irrelevant what form the rear sleeve 28 takes. Finally, Fig. 10C is a version of the prior art having two sleeves 28 on a catheter 24. While this embodiment does not provide the improved comfort gripping sleeves described herein, it is included to show that the earlier sleeve also has the advantages of having two gripping sleeves on one catheter.

[0054] Figures 11A-11F is a top plan view of an alternative shape and configuration of an exemplary grip sleeve. Standard shapes for grip sleeves in the urinary catheter field are as follows: Figure 1AAs shown, it has a proximal rectangular portion and a tapered distal portion 50. The tapered distal portion 50 is provided to prevent the grip sleeve 28 from sliding completely through the proximal funnel 36 to hold the assembly together. However, other shapes of grip sleeves are possible.

[0055] For example, Fig.11A A grip sleeve 150 is shown formed of two identical rectangular sheets of flexible material juxtaposed, preferably with a texture on the inside. The longitudinal sides of the sheets are joined together except for the distal or front portion 152, which may be as little as 1-3 mm long, as described above. Because the two sheets are not joined at the distal ends, they do not present a sharp joining angle that could cause irritation to the patient.

[0056] Fig. 11B Another generally rectangular grip sleeve 160 is shown, which is formed from two sheets of flexible material joined along the longitudinal side edges. As with some of the above embodiments, the distal corner 162 of the grip sleeve 160 is rounded. The rounded corner 162 can be joined together, or the two sheets can be joined along their straight longitudinal edges all the way to the beginning of the rounded corner and 60 degree curvature.

[0057] Fig. 11C Another rectangular grip sleeve 170 is shown formed from two offset sheets of flexible material joined together along their longitudinal side edges. The top sheet 172 is offset in the proximal direction on the bottom sheet 174. This leaves only a short distance of the bottom sheet 174 at the distal end of the grip sleeve 170, which is highly flexible so that there is a distal corner that does not cause irritation to the user.

[0058] Fig.11D A fully tapered grip sleeve 180 is shown having a greater width proximal to its distal end, the width being formed by two identical sheets of flexible material joined together along a portion of their long straight side edges. Fig.11A The grip sleeve 150 in FIG. 1 is very similar to that in FIG. 1 , and the side edges along the distal or forward portion 182 remain unattached to avoid sharp engagement angles that may cause discomfort to the patient.

[0059] Fig.11E Another fully tapered grip sleeve 190 is shown, formed from the same sheets of flexible material that are larger at their proximal and distal ends. The distal corner 192 is again rounded to reduce discomfort to the patient. As before, the corners may be joined or unjoined.

[0060] at last, Fig.11FAnother fully tapered grip sleeve 200 is shown in which the offset flexible sheath is joined together. The top sheet 202 is offset in the proximal direction of the bottom sheet 204. The two sheets 202, 204 are joined together along their juxtaposed straight side edges. As shown, a small portion of the bottom sheet 204 extends forward and presents a very soft and flexible distal corner, thereby reducing irritation to the user.

[0061] Throughout the description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as examples, rather than limitations on the disclosed or claimed devices and programs. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method actions or system elements, it should be understood that those actions and those elements can be combined in other ways to achieve the same goals. The actions, elements, and features discussed only in conjunction with one embodiment are not intended to exclude having similar effects in other embodiments.

Claims

1. A gripping sleeve for handling a urinary catheter, comprising: A pair of sheets of flexible flat material having a textured inner or outer surface, each sheet having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and joined together at juxtaposed longitudinal edges to form a sleeve expandable into a tubular shape sized to loosely accommodate a urinary catheter, wherein said longitudinal edges transition into a rounded portion just prior to said distal ends, wherein the distal end of the first sheet terminates at a position shorter than the distal end of the second sheet.

2. The grip sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distal end of the first sheet terminates at a position 1-3 mm shorter than the distal end of the second sheet.

3. The grip sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sheets are bonded along proximal portions of the longitudinal edges, while at least some of distal portions of the longitudinal edges including the distal ends are not bonded.

4. The gripping sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The entire distal end of each of the sheets is rounded, with no discrete corners.

5. The grip sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two sheets have a rectangular proximal portion extending from the proximal end and a tapered distal portion terminating at the distal end, wherein the tapered distal portion of each sheet includes an elongated constant tapered portion leading to the circular portion just before the distal end.

6. The grip sleeve according to claim 5, characterized in that The sheets are bonded together along the rectangular proximal portion, while at least some of the tapered distal portion including the distal end are not bonded.

7. A gripping sleeve for handling a urinary catheter, comprising: A pair of sheets of flexible flat material having a textured inner or outer surface, each sheet having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and bonded together at longitudinal edges to form a sleeve expandable into a tubular shape sized to loosely receive a urinary catheter, wherein the sheets are bonded along proximal portions of the longitudinal edges and at least some distal portions of the longitudinal edges including the distal end are unbonded.

8. The grip sleeve according to claim 7, characterized in that: The sheets are all rectangular.

9. The grip sleeve according to claim 7, characterized in that: The two sheets taper at least partially in the proximal-distal direction.

10. The grip sleeve according to claim 7, characterized in that Both sheets have a rectangular proximal portion extending from the proximal end and a tapered distal portion terminating at the distal end.

11. The grip sleeve according to claim 10, characterized in that The tapered distal portion of each sheet includes a constant tapered portion leading to a rounded portion just before the distal end.

12. The grip sleeve according to claim 7, characterized in that The entire distal end of each sheet is rounded, with no discrete corners.

13. The grip sleeve according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that: The distal end of the first sheet terminates at a position shorter than the distal end of the second sheet.

14. A gripping sleeve for handling a urinary catheter, comprising: A pair of sheets of flexible flat material having a textured inner or outer surface, each sheet having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and joined together at longitudinal edges to form a sleeve expandable into a tubular shape sized to loosely accommodate a urinary catheter, wherein the sheets are of different lengths or offset relative to one another, wherein the distal end of a first sheet terminates at a position shorter than the distal end of a second sheet.

15. The grip sleeve according to claim 14, characterized in that The distal end of the first sheet terminates at a position 1-3 mm shorter than the distal end of the second sheet.

16. The grip sleeve according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The entire distal end of each sheet is rounded, with no discrete corners.

17. The grip sleeve according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The two sheets have a rectangular proximal portion extending from the proximal end and a tapered distal portion terminating at the distal end, wherein the tapered distal portion of each sheet includes an elongated constant tapered portion transitioning to a rounded portion just before the distal end.

18. The grip sleeve according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The sheets are narrowed at a constant taper from the proximal end to the distal end.

19. The grip sleeve according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The sheets are all rectangular.

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