Catheter kit

Abstract

The invention provides a kit comprising: i) a catheter; ii) a catheter cannula; and iii) a handle; wherein the catheter comprises a catheter body and a funnel, and the funnel comprises a handle connecting part; and the handle is configured to be connected with the handle connecting part of the catheter funnel. A method of inserting a catheter using the kit is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a kit comprising a catheter for intermittent urinary catheterization and a method of using such a kit. Background Art

[0002] Intermittent self-catheterization is a procedure that helps people urinate when they are unable to do so. People who have difficulty emptying their bladder may need self-catheterization for a variety of reasons.

[0003] This may be short-term, for example, in patients who have had bladder surgery or urinary incontinence surgery to stop urine leakage.

[0004] Alternatively, patients who have or have had a central nervous system tumor, benign prostatic hyperplasia, multiple sclerosis, neurogenic bladder, stroke, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, or urethral stricture may require long-term self-catheterization.

[0005] In some patients, intermittent catheterization may be performed by a caregiver, for example, if the patient is vulnerable due to age or disability. In most cases, intermittent catheterization is performed by the patient themselves if they are able, and is therefore called intermittent self-catheterization.

[0006] The procedure involves inserting a flexible tube (called a catheter) into the urethra until it reaches the bladder. Urine can then be drained from the bladder through the catheter, where it can be collected in a toilet, collection bag, or container. Once the bladder is empty, the catheter is removed.

[0007] Intermittent catheterization is typically repeated at regular intervals throughout the day, for example every 4 to 6 hours. This process should be repeated frequently enough so that the user's bladder does not fill more than 500 ml, and the user should adjust the frequency of this process based on their daily fluid intake.

[0008] While many types of intermittent catheters exist, many are difficult to handle and insert. This is partly because the catheters are often lubricated to aid insertion. However, as a result, they are difficult to handle and can be slippery.

[0009] Additionally, self-catheterization can carry a risk of urinary tract infection due to the transfer of bacteria from the user's hands to the catheter before insertion. Patients are advised to thoroughly clean their hands before insertion and to replace the catheter with a new one as needed. Intermittent catheters are typically single-use, so patients should use the catheter only once before discarding it and replacing it with a new one, but the risk of infection remains high.

[0010] An example of an existing catheter kit is the one described in WO 2019 / 224263 The Elle catheter. This kit consists of a catheter body and a catheter sleeve, with the catheter body attached to a cap. When the cap is removed from the catheter sleeve, the catheter slides out of the body, allowing the body to be attached to the cap at a perpendicular angle to the catheter body, serving as a handle for inserting the catheter.

[0011] The main problem with this type of catheter kit is that the catheter hub cannot maintain a stable upright position if the user does not hold it. Therefore, if the user needs to put the catheter down before insertion, such as when preparing for catheterization (e.g., when washing hands), there is no clean, safe place to place the catheter, resulting in a high risk of infection.

[0012] Another problem with this type of catheter kit is that because the catheter sleeve cap also acts as the catheter funnel, the user must grasp the funnel when removing the catheter sleeve and attaching the handle. This poses a further risk of infection because the funnel / cap is in close proximity to the user's body.

[0013] Another issue with this type of catheter kit is that because the main body of the catheter sleeve also serves as the handle, the catheter tubing cannot be returned to the sleeve while the handle is in use. For example, one reason a user might want to lower the catheter before inserting it is to prepare the catheter before removing it from the sleeve and attaching the handle. Alternatively, the user may simply want to lower the catheter briefly while adjusting their grip or reconnecting the handle to the catheter. Self-catheterization can be difficult, and users often adjust their grip while attempting to insert the catheter. This makes catheterization difficult without a secure sleeve to return the catheter while using the handle. Furthermore, because lubricants are typically used during catheterization, the catheter and handle can become very slippery, making it easy to drop the catheter, for example, while adjusting the grip during insertion. If the catheter is dropped, the risk of infection is high, and the user may need to start the procedure over with another catheter tubing.

[0014] Therefore, there is a need for improved catheter sets, preferably ones that are easier to handle and reduce the risk of infection, for use by patients requiring intermittent self-catheterization. Summary of the Invention

[0015] The present invention provides kits including catheters for intermittent intubation and methods of using such kits.

[0016] Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising:

[0017] i) catheter;

[0018] ii) catheter cannula; and

[0019] iii) handle;

[0020] wherein the catheter comprises a tube body and a funnel, wherein the funnel comprises a handle connecting portion;

[0021] And the handle is configured to be connected to the handle connecting portion of the catheter funnel.

[0022] The kit may comprise at least three separate components, namely a catheter, a catheter hub and a handle. Suitably, the kit comprises four separate components, namely a catheter, a catheter hub body, a catheter hub cover and a handle.

[0023] The handle can be used in conjunction with the catheter funnel so that when the handle is lifted, the catheter can be removed from the catheter cannula, allowing the user to use the catheter (i.e., remove the catheter from the cannula and insert it into the body and / or remove the catheter from the body and insert it into the cannula) without having to touch the catheter with their hands. This reduces the risk of the catheter being contaminated by pathogens that may have come into contact with the user's hands.

[0024] As described above, the handle can be a separate component of the catheter kit, i.e., it can be separate from the catheter and catheter cannula. Thus, the handle can be detachably connected to the catheter funnel, rather than being fixedly connected to the catheter funnel. For example, the handle can be configured to be connected to the catheter funnel and then detached from the catheter funnel.

[0025] The catheter comprises a catheter body and a funnel. The catheter can be a hydrophilic catheter, meaning the catheter body has a hydrophilic coating that forms a lubricated surface when exposed to water. Alternatively, the catheter may not have a hydrophilic coating but instead have a separate lubricant.

[0026] As is well known, a catheter typically comprises a tubular body and a funnel, wherein the tubular body serves as a conduit for transporting urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Therefore, the tubular body can be made of a flexible material. Typically, the tubular body is made of a soft but durable plastic, such as a polymer, rubber, or silicone. Preferably, the tubular body is made of a medical-grade polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethane. The length of the tubular body can range from 8 cm to 20 cm, preferably from 8 cm to 10 cm. The diameter of the tubular body is typically measured in charrières, where 1 ch is equal to 1 / 3 mm. The outer diameter of the tubular body can range from 8 ch to 20 ch, preferably from 10 ch to 16 ch. The inner diameter of the tubular body can range from 6 ch to 18 ch, preferably from 8 ch to 12 ch.

[0027] It is accepted that the size of the catheter tube may vary depending on the suitability of the patient. For example, pediatric patients require a smaller sized catheter. A pediatric catheter may appropriately have an outer diameter of 6C to 8C.

[0028] The funnel can have multiple functions. It can be used to secure or connect a handle when handling a catheter. It can also be used to help guide urine into the toilet, even allowing for connection to a urine bag for self-catheterization when a bathroom is unavailable or the user needs to measure urine output. Alternatively, the funnel can be used to connect a catheter extension tube to the catheter, useful for wheelchair users who need to extend the catheter to ensure the length reaches the toilet. The funnel, or at least a portion of the funnel, can be concave, with a reduced diameter in the middle compared to its ends. This allows the handle to remain securely connected to the funnel without the funnel slipping through the funnel-connecting portion of the handle.

[0029] Preferably, the catheter in the kit of the present invention is a female catheter. The main difference between a female catheter and a male catheter is that the female catheter is shorter. Male catheters are typically about 40 cm long, while female catheters are generally only 15 cm to 20 cm long or less.

[0030] The catheter kit of the present invention may provide a catheter cannula, wherein the cannula comprises a body having a hollow channel and a cover detachably connected to the body. The cannula is typically made of thermoplastic, preferably polypropylene.

[0031] The cover of the catheter cannula can be removable and reattachable to the cannula body. Preferably, the cover can be attached to the body, and a removable seal can be formed between the cover and the body, thereby containing or sealing the catheter within the cannula. The cover can then be removed from the body, disassembling the seal and removing the catheter from the cannula. The cover can then be reattached or reattached to the body, and the seal between the cover and the body can be re-established. Thus, both the cover and the body of the cannula can be reused.

[0032] Typically, the cover can be removed from the body by pulling it away from the body and reattached by pushing it toward the body. For example, the cover can be connected to the body using a snap-fit ​​mechanism, where the cover snaps into place / snaps onto the body. Alternatively, the cover can be removed from the body by twisting the cover in one direction and reattached to the body by twisting the cover in the opposite direction. For example, the cover can be connected to the body using a threaded fit. In one example, the sleeve may include threaded cap threads, and the cover can be screwed or twisted onto the body.

[0033] The inner dimensions of the cover can accommodate the bottom of the catheter body so that the cover can serve as a stand for the body. In this manner, the catheter cannula can stand upright on a flat surface, enabling the user to set the cannula down (e.g., when removing the handle from a bag) without the risk of the cannula falling sideways and the catheter falling out of the hollow passageway, leading to contamination of the catheter.

[0034] Alternatively, the user may wish to hold the catheter in a vertical position while washing their hands. Thus, the user can remove the cannula from its bag (which is not sterile and may have bacteria on it), hold it in a vertical position, prepare for insertion, and then wash their hands without having to touch the catheter cannula again. This results in a very limited risk of infection.

[0035] In another aspect of the invention, the closed end of the cannula body may include a flat bottom surface for standing the cannula in an upright position without requiring the body to be stood in an inverted lid.

[0036] The hollow passage in the catheter cannula can be circular with a diameter greater than the diameter of the catheter body but smaller than the diameter of the funnel, such that the catheter body can be inserted into the hollow passage in the cannula but the funnel cannot. Thus, the funnel protrudes from the hollow passage so that the user can grasp the funnel when removing the catheter from the cannula.

[0037] The diameter of the hollow passageway can be at least 0.5 mm larger than the outer diameter of the catheter body, or preferably at least 1 mm larger than the outer diameter of the catheter body, or more preferably at least 3 mm larger than the outer diameter of the catheter body, to allow space for lubricant in the catheter cannula, so that when the catheter body is in the cannula, a layer of lubricant is present between the catheter body and the catheter cannula. Typically, the catheter cannula can contain 1-5 ml of lubricant, preferably 2-3 ml of lubricant. Alternatively, if the catheter is a hydrophilic-coated catheter, water can be used instead of the lubricant to activate the hydrophilic coating.

[0038] The body of the catheter cannula may include a main portion having an open end and an insert that is partially or completely inserted into the hollow passageway at the open end of the main portion. The insert may be permanently attached to the cannula body. For example, the insert may be welded to the cannula body. Alternatively, the insert may be non-permanently attached to the cannula body. For example, the insert may be attached to the cannula body via a snap-fit ​​arrangement. In one example, although typically not intended to be removed during use, the insert may be removable from the cannula body.

[0039] The insert can be designed with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the catheter body but smaller than the diameter of the funnel, so that the insert acts as a barrier, preventing the funnel from entering the hollow passage. The insert is also tapered to wipe away excess lubricant from the catheter as it is removed from the cannula.

[0040] The insert can be a hollow cylindrical piece with openings at both ends, allowing the catheter tubing to pass through the insert and into the cannula body. For example, the insert can be very short and inserted into the open end of the cannula body, enclosing only a small portion of the catheter tubing, such as the end of the catheter tubing that contacts the catheter funnel. The insert can be welded to the cannula body to secure it in place.

[0041] Alternatively, the insert can be hollow and cylindrical with one open end and one closed end. For example, the insert can be positioned within the cannula body such that the closed end of the insert is aligned with the closed end of the cannula body, and the open end of the insert is aligned with the open end of the cannula body. The insert can be equal to or longer than the catheter body, so that it can wrap around the entire catheter body. The insert may not be permanently attached to the cannula body; for example, it can be connected to the cannula body via a snap-fit ​​mechanism. Optionally, the insert can contain a liquid or gel, such as a lubricating fluid.

[0042] The insert can also secure the cover to the body via a snap-fit ​​or threaded mechanism. When the cover is secured to the body, an O-ring may be secured in a groove on the outer surface of the insert. This O-ring can contact the inner surface of the cover to prevent lubricant within the cannula from leaking out. The O-ring is typically made of an elastomeric material, preferably nitrile or silicone. It acts as a seal to ensure a sterile barrier.

[0043] The lid typically includes a hollow interior space sized to accommodate the catheter funnel. Thus, the lid is at least 2 cm long, preferably at least 3 cm long. The lid can be less than 4 cm long, preferably less than 4 cm long. The diameter of the hollow interior space within the lid can be greater than the diameter of the funnel, typically greater than 0.5 cm in diameter, and preferably greater than 1 cm in diameter.

[0044] The cap may include a flat surface on one side and an open end on an opposite side of the flat surface, the open end forming a hollow interior space, wherein the open end is sized to receive a bottom portion of a catheter hub body such that the catheter hub body may be placed within the cap to support the catheter hub without requiring a user to grasp the catheter hub body.

[0045] The funnel can be made of a flexible plastic. Typically, the funnel can be made of polyvinyl chloride. The funnel can include an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion can be concave or straight (meaning its diameter is constant along its length) and can include a handle connection portion for connecting to the handle of the catheter kit, preferably for removable connection to the handle of the catheter kit. The handle connection portion can be located at the upper portion of the catheter funnel or at the lower portion of the catheter funnel. Alternatively, the handle connection portion can constitute the entire catheter funnel, allowing the handle to be connected to any part of the funnel. Typically, the handle connection portion of the catheter funnel can be flat or concave, and its shape is designed to limit the upward and downward movement of the handle along the length of the funnel when connected to the funnel. The handle connection portion of the catheter funnel can be made of a resiliently biased material. Preferably, the handle connection portion of the catheter funnel is the upper portion of the funnel. Typically, a portion of the funnel may not be connected to the handle and may be raised or ribbed to help the user grip the funnel. Preferably, this portion is the lower portion of the funnel.

[0046] The handle can be connected to the catheter funnel at an angle relative to an axis passing through the center of the catheter. Thus, when connected to the catheter funnel, the handle may be angularly displaced relative to the axis passing through the center of the catheter. For example, the handle can be connected to the catheter funnel at an angle of 45° to 135°, or preferably at an angle of 70° or 110°, or more preferably at an angle of 80° to 100°. Suitably, the handle can be connected to the catheter funnel at a right angle or a 90° angle relative to the axis passing through the center of the catheter, such that when connected, the handle and the catheter are perpendicular to each other.

[0047] Typically, the handle includes a stem and a pair of jaws at one end of the stem that grip the handle-connected portion of the catheter funnel. This allows the handle to be used to remove the catheter from the cannula for use or to replace the catheter in the cannula for safe disposal. The jaws are typically immovable, meaning they are fixed relative to the handle and extend from the stem. The jaws are typically sized to form a roughly semicircular opening at the end of the handle that can be connected to the funnel. The handle stem may have one or more protrusions and / or a textured surface to make the handle easier to grip.

[0048] It will be understood that catheters and catheter cannulas are typically disposable products. However, the handle is easy to disinfect and does not require regular replacement. Therefore, the present invention also provides a kit comprising a handle and two or more catheter cannulas, each containing a catheter, wherein the handle, catheter cannulas, and catheter are as defined herein. Typically, the catheter kit of the present invention may have one handle and ten or more catheter cannulas, each containing a catheter. Preferably, the catheter kit of the present invention may have one handle and twenty or more catheter cannulas, each containing a catheter. The catheter kit may also include disinfectant / antibacterial wipes to allow the user to clean the reusable handle between uses.

[0049] A user of the catheter kit of the present invention may carry multiple catheters and catheter cannulas on their person (i.e., in their bag) at any given time. Therefore, a label is needed to indicate to the user which catheters are in use and which are not. Therefore, the catheter kit of the present invention may also include a tamper-evident label that is removed or destroyed when the catheter cannula is opened. The tamper-evident label may be placed between the cap and the body of the catheter cannula.

[0050] The present invention also provides a method for inserting a catheter, the method comprising:

[0051] i) providing a kit as described herein;

[0052] ii) Connect the handle to the catheter funnel;

[0053] iii) removing the catheter from the catheter sleeve and inserting the catheter into the human body (eg, into the patient's urethra).

[0054] The method may further include steps involving removing the cover from the sleeve, inverting the cover and placing the inverted cover on a flat surface, and then placing the sleeve body in the inverted cover.

[0055] The method may further include the steps of removing the catheter from the user using the handle after use, replacing the catheter into the hollow passage of the catheter cannula, and detaching the handle from the funnel. The method may also include a final step in which the cannula cover is replaced on the body and the cannula is closed to securely place the catheter.

[0056] The method may further comprise an intermediate step in which the tamper evident label is removed or destroyed upon opening the catheter cannula. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Figure 1 An exploded view of a catheter kit according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0058] Figure 2A catheter kit according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the catheter is positioned within the body of a catheter hub, wherein the cover of the catheter hub acts as a stand to hold the catheter hub in an upright position, wherein the handle is connected to the handle connection portion of the catheter funnel.

[0059] Figure 3 A catheter kit according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the catheter is positioned within a catheter cannula and the handle is connected to a handle connection portion of the catheter funnel.

[0060] Figure 4 A catheter hub is shown including a body and a cover.

[0061] Figure 5 A catheter including a body and a funnel is shown.

[0062] Figure 6 The handle for connecting to the handle connection portion of the catheter funnel is shown.

[0063] Figure 7 An exploded schematic view of a catheter kit according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0064] Figure 8 and Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the catheter cannula body is shown.

[0065] Figure 10 and 11 A schematic diagram of the insertion of the catheter cannula is shown.

[0066] Figure 12 and 13 A schematic diagram of the handle used to connect to the catheter funnel handle connection is shown.

[0067] Figure 14 and 15 A schematic diagram showing the cover of the catheter cannula.

[0068] Figure 16 and 17 A schematic diagram of the catheter funnel is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a catheter kit (1).

[0070] The kit (1) comprises a catheter (3), a catheter sleeve (7) and a handle (4), wherein the sleeve (7) comprises a body (5) and a cover (2).

[0071] The catheter (3) comprises a flexible transparent tubular body (9) made of polyvinyl chloride, with an outer diameter of 12 cm and a length of about 9 cm.

[0072] One end of the catheter body (9) is provided with a funnel (8) formed of polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethane. The funnel (8) is hollow, and one end of the funnel (8) forms a friction-fit fluid seal with one end of the catheter body (9). The lower portion of the funnel (8) (i.e., the portion connected to the body (9)) has a ribbed structure on the outside. The purpose of the ribbed surface is to help the user grip the funnel (8) if any lubricant enters the funnel, making it difficult to operate. The upper portion of the funnel (8) has no ribbed structure and has a concave profile.

[0073] The handle (4) is a single-piece molded component formed from polypropylene. One end of the handle (4) is provided with a pair of rigid jaws (10) sized to connect to the upper portion of the funnel (8). The jaw opening (i.e., the distance between the two proximal ends of the jaws (10), the proximal ends being the outermost ends) is slightly smaller than the narrowest diameter of the upper portion of the funnel (8). When force is applied to insert the funnel (8) into the jaws (10), the funnel (8) deforms so that it can be inserted into the jaws (10). Once inserted into the jaws (10), the funnel (8) can return to its usual shape, thereby remaining within the jaws (10). Similarly, when sufficient force is applied, the funnel (8) can be deformed so that it can be removed from the jaws (10).

[0074] The main body (11) of the handle (4) has a generally cylindrical profile with a flat cross section to improve the user's grip on the handle (4). To further improve grip, the flat cross section is provided with a protrusion. The end of the handle (4) opposite the jaws (10) has an increased diameter to prevent the handle from slipping out of the user's hand when gripping.

[0075] The cannula (7) comprises a cap (2) and a body (5), wherein the body (5) comprises a main portion (12), an insert (13) and an O-ring (14), and the insert (13) has a top portion (15) and an inner portion (16). Both the cap (2) and the body (5) are formed of polypropylene.

[0076] The cover (2) has a substantially cylindrical body with a flat wall at the top so that it can stand upside down on a flat surface.

[0077] The main body (5) includes a circular hollow passage that is closed at its lower end by the bottom of the main body but is open at its upper end to allow the catheter tube (9) to be inserted into the hollow passage. The length of the hollow passage (and the length of the cannula body) is at least as long as the length of the catheter tube (9) so that the catheter tube (9) can be fully inserted into the hollow passage. Similarly, the diameter of the hollow passage is at least as large as the outer diameter of the catheter tube (9).

[0078] The hollow passage can be filled with a lubricating fluid to lubricate the catheter tube (9) while it is stored in the cannula (7), thereby lubricating the catheter (3) and preparing it for use. Thus, the diameter of the hollow passage can be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the catheter tube to allow space for the lubricant between the outer wall of the catheter tube and the inner wall of the cannula body. The lubricant contained within the catheter cannula can be a water-soluble lubricant, such as a urethral lubricant gel.

[0079] At the open end of the hollow passage there is an insert (13) which may be provided with a ledge which may be formed by a portion of reduced diameter (i.e. smaller than the diameter of the hollow passage but larger than the outer diameter of the catheter). The ledge serves to scrape excess lubricant off the catheter body (9) as the catheter is removed from the cannula (7) and to provide a seat for the catheter funnel (8) when the catheter (3) is in the cannula.

[0080] The exterior of the closed end of the catheter cannula body (5) may be tapered so that it narrows towards its end. Thus, the tapered end of the catheter cannula can be placed within the flip-over cover (2) to support the catheter cannula body (5) without the user having to hold the body.

[0081] Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the exterior of the closed end of the catheter cannula body (5) may not be tapered, thereby narrowing toward its end. Instead, the diameter of the catheter cannula body (5) may be constant throughout its length, and the bottom surface of the body (i.e., the closed end of the catheter cannula body) may be flat. In this embodiment, the cannula body (5) can be maintained in an upright position on a flat surface without the user having to hold the body or place it within the flip-up lid (2).

[0082] The insert (13) is assembled to the main part (12) of the body (5) so that the inner part (16) is located inside the main part (12) and the top part (15) protrudes from the main part (12). Inside the top (15) of the insert (13), surrounding and upright from the crosspiece, is a circular wall. The circular wall is sized to frictionally fit with the inside of the lid (2). The outer surface of the circular wall may have a small raised profile or ridge on both sides that connects with the inner wall of the lid on both sides to keep the lid firmly fixed. The circular wall may also be provided with an annular groove in which a rubber O-ring (14) is located, which seals with the lid (2) (when connected to the body (5)) to prevent any lubricant from leaking from the sleeve (7) and to ensure a sterile environment within the sleeve. The bottom edge of the lid (2) is provided with two curved cutouts on opposite sides that can be aligned with the curved protrusions of complementary shape on the outer side of the upright wall. This arrangement allows the lid (2) to be removed from the body (5) by a twisting action.

[0083] In use, the kit (1) is provided with a catheter tube (9) located within a catheter cannula (7) (with a cover (2) fixed to a body (5), optionally with an anti-tamper label between the cover (2) and the body (5)). To open the cannula (7), the cover (2) can be twisted and pulled away from the body (5) to reveal the catheter funnel (8). After opening the cannula, the anti-tamper label will be removed or destroyed. The user can then grasp the handle (4) and push the jaws (10) of the handle (4) against the concave surface of the catheter funnel (8), so that the jaws (10) are connected around the catheter funnel (8). The handle (4) can then be used to remove the catheter (3) from the body of the cannula (5) and insert it into the user's body to drain urine from their bladder. When finished, the user can dispose of the used catheter by placing the catheter (3) back into the body of the cannula (5), pulling the handle (4) to disconnect the jaws (10) from the catheter funnel (8), and placing the cap (2) back onto the body (5) of the cannula (7).

[0084] At any time, the user's hands only touch the catheter sleeve (7) and the catheter handle (4), rather than the catheter (3) itself, to reduce the risk of contamination of the catheter (3). The handle (4) is reusable and can be easily sterilized between uses.

[0085] The catheter (3) and the catheter sleeve (7) are disposable and should be discarded and replaced after each use. The handle (4) does not need to be replaced because the handle (4) can be easily sterilized and removed from and inserted into a new catheter sleeve (7) in the same manner.

Claims

1. A kit comprising: i) catheter; ii) catheter cannula; and iii) handle; The catheter comprises a tube body and a funnel, and the funnel comprises a handle connecting portion; The cannula includes a body having a hollow passage and a cover detachably connected to the body; as well as The handle is configured to be detachably connected to the handle connecting portion of the catheter funnel.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the cover of the cannula is detachable and reattachable to the cannula body.

3. The kit according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the lid has a flat top.

4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the interior dimensions of the cover are designed to accommodate the bottom of the catheter body so that the cover can serve as a support for the body.

5. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body has a flat bottom surface for standing the body upright.

6. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hollow passage is circular and has a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the tube but smaller than the diameter of the funnel.

7. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cap comprises a hollow interior space sized to accommodate the catheter funnel.

8. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the handle connection portion of the catheter funnel is made of a resiliently biased material.

9. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the handle comprises a stem and a pair of jaws at one end of the stem to clamp the handle connecting portion of the catheter funnel.

10. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cover comprises a flat surface on one side and an open end on an opposite side of the flat surface, wherein The open end is sized to receive the bottom of the catheter hub body.

11. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an insert is provided within the hollow passage in the catheter cannula body.

12. A kit comprising a handle and two or more catheter cannulas, each catheter cannula containing a catheter, wherein the handle, catheter cannula and catheter are as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A method of inserting a catheter, comprising: i) providing a kit according to any one of claims 1 to 11; ii) Connect the handle to the catheter funnel; iii) removing the catheter from the catheter sleeve and inserting the catheter into the human body (eg, into the patient's urethra).

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing a cover from the catheter hub and standing the hub body upright in the cover.

15. The method of any one of claims 13 or 14, comprising removing the catheter tubing from the person, reinserting the catheter into the hollow interior of the catheter hub, detaching the handle from the funnel, and replacing the cap on the body of the catheter hub for safe disposal.

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