Urinary catheter for female dogs

Abstract

In animal urinary catheterization procedures, the position of the urethral opening can be visually confirmed, allowing for proper introduction of the catheter into the urethra. [Solution] A urinary catheter 1 is inserted into the vagina of an animal and used for urinary catheterization, comprising: a cylindrical main body 3 having a tip portion inserted into the vagina on one end; a base portion 5 located on the other end of the main body 3; and a guide wall 31 forming a guide portion 310 that penetrates from the tip portion 301 to the base portion 5 inside the urinary catheter 1, the path of the guide portion 310 being curved on the tip portion 301 side, and the opening of the guide portion 310 on the tip portion 301 side being visible from the opening on the base portion 5 side of the guide wall 31.

Description

Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to a urinary catheter for female dogs.

Background Art

[0002] The urinary catheterization operation for dogs and cats is a procedure of inserting a catheter into the bladder to discharge urine.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a catheter for a cat's urethra that disintegrates foreign substances such as urinary calculi clogged in the urethra by fluid injection.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is configured to eliminate urethral obstruction by fluid injection of the catheter, and the alignment when introducing the catheter into the urethra still depends on the experience and sense of the operator, and the insertion operation into the urethral orifice itself could not be easily performed. The inventor has found that the difficulty of this catheterization operation is particularly due to the fact that in female individuals such as female dogs and female cats, the urethral orifice is located deep in the vagina, making it difficult to visually confirm the urethral orifice.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a urinary catheter that can appropriately introduce a catheter into the urethra while visually recognizing the position of the urethral orifice in the urinary catheterization operation of animals.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, a urinary catheter according to a first aspect of the present invention is a urinary catheter that is inserted into the vagina of an animal and used for urinary catheterization, comprising: a cylindrical main body having a tip portion inserted into the vagina on one side; a base portion located on the other side of the main body; and a guide wall forming a guide portion that penetrates from the tip portion to the base portion inside the urinary catheter, the path of the guide portion being curved at the tip portion side, and the opening of the guide portion on the tip portion side being visible from the opening on the base portion side.

[0008] Furthermore, in a second aspect of the present invention, the guide wall has an intermediate guide portion formed on the opening side of the tip end of the guide portion, and the opening on the tip end side is visible from the opening on the base end side through the intermediate guide portion.

[0009] Furthermore, in a third aspect of the present invention, the width of the intermediate guide portion is smaller than the width of the opening on the tip side.

[0010] Furthermore, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, the guide wall forms a bent portion on the tip end side of the guide portion where the direction of the path is discontinuously switched.

[0011] Furthermore, in a fifth aspect of the present invention, the opening on the tip side has an opening surface that is inclined from a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body.

[0012] Furthermore, in a sixth aspect of the present invention, a handle portion is provided at the base end portion, which is V-shaped when viewed from the base end portion side along the axial direction of the main body portion.

[0013] Furthermore, in a seventh aspect of the present invention, the animal is a female dog.

[0014] Furthermore, in an eighth aspect of the present invention, the tip portion has an inclined tip surface, the inclined tip surface comprises an acute-angled edge portion and an obtuse-angled edge portion, and the path of the guide portion on the tip portion side has a directional component toward the obtuse-angled edge portion side.

[0015] Furthermore, a ninth aspect of the present invention is a urinary catheter used for catheterization procedures to be inserted into the vagina of a female dog, comprising: a cylindrical main body having a tip portion inserted into the vagina on one end; a base end located on the other end of the main body; and a guide wall forming a guide portion penetrating from the tip portion to the base end inside the urinary catheter, wherein the path of the guide portion bends at the tip end, and the opening of the guide portion at the tip end is visible from the opening at the base end, wherein the guide wall forms an intermediate guide portion on the opening side of the guide portion at the tip end, and the opening at the tip end The intermediate guide portion is visible from the opening on the base end side, the width of the intermediate guide portion is smaller than the width of the opening on the tip end side, the guide wall forms a bent portion where the direction of the path is discontinuously switched on the tip end side of the guide portion, the base end is provided with a handle portion that is V-shaped when viewed from the base end side along the axial direction of the main body portion, the tip has an inclined tip surface, the inclined tip surface comprises an acute-angled edge portion and an obtuse-angled edge portion, and the path on the tip end side of the guide portion has a directional component toward the obtuse-angled edge portion.

[0016] Furthermore, in a tenth aspect of the present invention, the guide wall forms a bent portion on the tip end side of the guide portion where the direction of the path is continuously switched.

[0017] Furthermore, in an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the outer circumferential surface of the main body is formed by a curved surface without corners.

[0018] Furthermore, in a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the base end portion has a gripping portion having a bulge that extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end portion.

[0019] Furthermore, in a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the bulging portion forms a concave region by being recessed radially with respect to the axis of the main body.

[0020] Furthermore, in a 14th aspect of the present invention, the base end portion has a positioning portion that is symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the opening on the base end portion side.

[0021] Moreover, in the 15th aspect of the present invention, the positioning portion includes a plurality of cutouts that pass through the center of the opening on the base end portion side and extend radially from the center.

[0022] Moreover, in the 16th aspect of the present invention, a urinary catheterization device is inserted into the vagina of a female dog and used for urinary catheterization operations. The device includes a cylindrical main body portion having a tip portion inserted into the vagina on one side, a base end portion located on the other side of the main body portion, and a guide wall that forms a guide portion penetrating from the tip portion to the base end portion side inside the urinary catheterization device. The path of the guide portion bends on the tip portion side, and the opening on the tip portion side of the guide portion is visible from the opening on the base end portion side through the guide wall. The guide wall forms an intermediate guide portion on the opening side of the tip portion side of the guide portion, and the opening on the tip portion side is visible from the opening on the base end portion side through the intermediate guide portion. The guide portion has a bent portion where the direction of the path continuously changes on the tip portion side. The outer peripheral surface of the main body portion is formed by a curved surface without corners. The base end portion has a bulging portion that bulges radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion toward the axis of the main body portion. The bulging portion forms a concave region by being concave radially inward with respect to the axis. The base end portion has a positioning portion that includes a plurality of cutouts that pass through the center of the opening on the base end portion side and extend radially from the center.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the urinary catheterization device of the present invention, in the urinary catheterization operation of an animal, the catheter can be appropriately introduced into the urethra while visually recognizing the position of the urethral orifice.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a urinary catheterization device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure along the longitudinal direction of the urinary catheterization device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a bottom view showing the state of the urinary catheterization device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the base end portion side. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the urinary catheterization device shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the vagina of a female dog. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a bottom view showing the urinary catheter inserted into the vagina of a female dog. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing a urinary catheter device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the longitudinal cross-sectional structure of the urinary catheter device. [Figure 8] Figure 6 is a bottom view showing the urinary catheter device as viewed from the proximal end. [Figure 9] This figure shows a modified example of the urinary catheter according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same reference numerals are used for identical components in each drawing whenever possible, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0026] ---First Embodiment--- First, a urinary catheter device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0027] <Overall Structure> Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a urinary catheter device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the urinary catheterization device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body portion 3 and a base portion 5. The urinary catheterization device 1 is a urinary catheterization device that can be inserted into the vagina of a female dog, allowing the urethral opening to be visualized and the catheter to be guided in the appropriate direction.

[0029] The main body portion 3 is a cylindrical member extending in the longitudinal direction. A tip portion 301, which is the side to be inserted into the vagina, is formed at one end of the main body portion 3 in the longitudinal direction. A tip opening 303 that communicates with the inside of the main body portion 3 is formed in the tip portion 301. The tip opening 303 is provided by opening to the end face of the tip portion 301. The tip portion 301 may be formed in a rounded shape from the viewpoint of facilitating handling during insertion.

[0030] The base end 5 is provided on the other end of the main body 3 in the longitudinal direction from the tip end 301. The base end 5 is provided with a handle portion 510 that forms an X shape when viewed from the other end of the main body 3 in the longitudinal direction. The handle portion 510 is configured to protrude from the base end 5 into a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body 3. The handle portion 510 has a plurality of handles 511, 513, 515, and 517. Here, of the plurality of handles 511, 513, 515, and 517, the handles 511 and 513 located on the side where the tip opening 303 is not formed (the far side in Figure 1) are arranged to form a V shape. This V-shaped arrangement allows the operator to grasp the insertion point of the urinary catheter 1 by visually confirming the orientation of the V-shaped portion while holding the handle 515. Specifically, by aligning the V-shaped opening formed by handles 511 and 513 with the central axis of the female dog's tail, the urinary catheter 1 can be inserted into the correct insertion point in the vagina. Handle 515 is positioned on the extension of the axis of the V-shaped opening formed by handles 511 and 513. However, the position of the handle 515 is not limited to the extension of the axis, and may be positioned eccentrically from the axis, taking into consideration the operator's dominant hand and ease of operation. For example, to make it easier for an operator who grasps the device with their right hand to operate, the handle 515 may be positioned to protrude to the right with respect to the axis of the V-shaped opening formed by the handles 511 and 513.

[0031] Furthermore, the tip portion 301 of the main body portion 3 is formed at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the insertion direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 3. This angle of inclination may be in the range of 10 degrees to 70 degrees, preferably 20 degrees to 60 degrees. By using such an inclined shape, when the urinary catheter 1 is inserted into the vagina, the tip opening 303 is more likely to face the urethral opening, thereby improving the visibility of the urethral opening and the ease of catheter insertion.

[0032] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the longitudinal cross-sectional structure of the urinary catheter device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, a guide portion 310 is provided inside the main body portion 3, extending from the tip portion 301 to the base portion 5. The guide portion 310 is formed as an internal space surrounded by guide walls 31 that constitute the inner surface of the main body portion 3.

[0034] The guide section 310 includes a tip guide section 311 located on the tip end 301 side, a base end guide section 313 located on the base end 5 side, and an intermediate guide section 315 located between them. The tip guide section 311 communicates with a tip opening 303 formed in the tip end 301, and the base end guide section 313 communicates with a base end opening 503 formed in the base end 5. The tip end 301 also includes an acute-angled edge section 305 and an obtuse-angled edge section 307 formed by inclination.

[0035] A bent section 317 is formed at the point connecting the tip guide section 311 and the base guide section 313, where the direction of the path is discontinuously switched. The bent section 317 is a part formed in the internal space of the guide section 310 such that the direction of the path changes from the tip guide section 311 side to the bent section 317 side. Because the guide section 310 has a bent section 317, when the urinary catheter 1 is inserted into the vagina of a female dog, the tip opening 303 is positioned to correspond to the position of the female dog's urethral opening. The guide section 310 also functions as a passage for guiding the catheter during urinary catheterization. That is, it is sufficient for it to have a shape in which the axial direction changes along the path from the base opening 503 to the tip opening 303. Furthermore, the tip opening 303 and the base opening 503 are positioned such that at least a portion of the straight line drawn from the base opening 503 to the tip opening 303 is not obstructed by the guide wall 31.

[0036] The direction of catheter exit is guided by the shape of the guide wall 31 on the tip end 301 side. That is, the shape of the path is designed so that the catheter exiting from the tip opening 303 is oriented in a way that facilitates insertion into the urethral opening. Specifically, the path on the tip end 301 side of the guide section 310 is formed to face the obtuse edge 307 side rather than the acute edge 305 side. For example, the predetermined angle of the path on the tip end 301 side of the guide section 310 with respect to the axial direction of the main body 3 may be set in the range of 10 degrees to 70 degrees, more preferably 20 degrees to 60 degrees, with respect to the axial direction of the main body 3. For example, the angle can be approximately 45 degrees. With the above configuration, the catheter insertion operation into the urethral opening can be performed smoothly.

[0037] Figure 3 is a bottom view showing the urinary catheter 1 shown in Figure 1, viewed from the proximal end 5 side.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, a proximal opening 503 is formed in the center of the proximal end 5, which communicates with the guide section 310. The proximal opening 503 is configured so that the operator can see inside the guide section 310 from the proximal end 5 side.

[0039] The inner diameter (width) of the tip guide portion 311 and the base guide portion 313 is shaped to continuously change along the longitudinal direction of the guide portion 310, corresponding to the dimensions of the base opening 503 and the tip opening 303. On the other hand, the intermediate guide portion 315 is formed in such a shape that, when viewed from the base end 5 side, a portion of the space from the base guide portion 313 to the tip guide portion 311 on the base opening 503 side is cut out. Due to this cutout shape of the intermediate guide portion 315, the tip opening 303 and the tip guide portion 311 exhibit the shape of a keyhole, as shown in Figure 3. In this keyhole shape, the outside is visible from the tip opening 303 side, while the outside is not visible from the base guide portion 313 side. When the urinary catheter 1 is properly inserted into the vagina of a female dog, the operator can visually see the female dog's urethral opening, located outside the tip opening 303, from the proximal opening 503 side through the intermediate guide section 315. Furthermore, the operator can bend the catheter by bringing it into contact with the guide wall 31 on the tip side, and insert the catheter at an appropriate angle toward the urethral opening through the visible tip opening 303.

[0040] By partially limiting the visible area of ​​the tip opening 303, the operator can more easily visualize the position of the female dog's urethral opening located outside the tip opening 303, enabling urinary catheterization while suppressing unnecessary widening of the field of view. Thus, the combination of the notch shape formed in the intermediate guide section 315 and the shapes of the tip guide section 311 and the proximal guide section 313 results in a configuration in which only a predetermined area of ​​the tip opening 303 is selectively visible when viewed from the proximal opening 503 side. With the above configuration, the operator can perform urinary catheterization while maintaining the necessary field of view to confirm the position of the urethral orifice, while suppressing unnecessary areas of view. In other words, the operator is less likely to have surrounding tissues other than the urethral orifice in their field of view, allowing them to concentrate their attention on the position of the urethral orifice.

[0041] The shape of the tip opening 303 and tip guide portion 311 is not limited to the shape of a keyhole. For example, they may be formed as an arc shape, a roughly elliptical shape, a roughly egg shape that bulges downward in an arc shape, or a shape that includes a straight line in part.

[0042] Furthermore, the bend in the path at the tip of the guide section 310 is not limited to being formed by a single bent section 317, but may be formed by a combination of multiple inclined sections or gently curved sections. In other words, the shape of the bend in the path can be arbitrarily set as long as the direction of travel of the catheter led out from the tip opening 303 is at an angle with respect to the axial direction of the main body section 3 and is introduced in an appropriate orientation toward the urethral opening.

[0043] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the urinary catheter 1 shown in Figure 1 inserted into the vagina 701 of a female dog.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4, the urethra 703 and bladder 707 are located at the back of the vagina 701, and the urethral orifice 705, which is the opening of the urethra 703, is formed in the inner wall of the vagina 701. Thus, the urethral orifice 705 of a female dog is located deep inside the vagina 701 and is difficult to see directly from the outside.

[0045] The urinary catheter 1 is inserted into the vagina 701 from the tip 301 side of the main body 3. During insertion, the base 5 and handle 510 are located outside the vagina 701. When inserted into the vagina 701, the tip opening 303 is located in a position corresponding to the urethral opening 705. In this way, when the urinary catheter 1 is inserted into the vagina 701, the operator can perform the catheterization procedure while confirming the position of the urethral opening 705 by visually inspecting the inside of the guide part 310 from the base 5 side.

[0046] Figure 5 is a bottom view showing the urinary catheter 1 shown in Figure 1 inserted into the vagina 701 of a female dog.

[0047] As shown in Figure 5, the urinary catheter 1 is inserted into the vaginal cavity with its base 5 and handle 510 exposed outside the vaginal cavity. The urinary catheter 1 is positioned so that the tail 710 of the female dog is aligned with the central axis of the V-shaped opening formed by the handles 511 and 513. By adjusting the position of the tail 710 and the central axis of the V-shaped opening formed by the handles 511 and 513 in a bottom view, the operator can appropriately determine the insertion position of the urinary catheter 1.

[0048] <Effects and Effects> As described above, the urinary catheter 1, which is inserted into the vagina of an animal and used for urinary catheterization, comprises a cylindrical main body 3 having a tip portion 301 inserted into the vagina on one end, a base portion 5 located on the other end of the main body 3, and a guide wall 31 forming a guide portion 310 that penetrates from the tip portion 301 to the base portion 5 side inside the urinary catheter 1, the path of which is bent on the tip portion 301 side, and the opening of the guide portion 310 on the tip portion 301 side is visible from the opening on the base portion 5 side of the guide wall 31.

[0049] This configuration allows for the proper introduction of the catheter into the urethra while visually confirming the position of the urethral opening during urinary catheterization procedures in animals.

[0050] Furthermore, the guide wall 31 has an intermediate guide section 315 formed on the opening side of the tip end 301 of the guide section 310, and the opening on the tip end 301 side is visible from the opening on the base end 5 side through the intermediate guide section 315.

[0051] With this configuration, the opening on the tip end 301 side is viewed via the intermediate guide portion 315, which prevents the field of view from becoming excessively wide when viewed from the base end 5 side. As a result, only the field of view necessary to grasp the position of the urethral opening is secured, while unnecessary visual information is eliminated, making it easier to recognize the position of the urethral opening compared to when the intermediate guide portion 315 is not present.

[0052] Furthermore, the width of the intermediate guide section 315 is smaller than the width of the opening on the tip section 301 side.

[0053] With this configuration, when viewed from the base end 5 side, only a portion of the opening on the tip end 301 side is visible, rather than the entire opening on the tip end 301 side. This ensures that only the field of view necessary to determine the position of the urethral orifice is secured, while more effectively eliminating unnecessary visual information compared to the case where the width of the intermediate guide portion 315 is greater than the width of the opening on the tip end 301 side.

[0054] Furthermore, the guide wall 31 has a bent section 317 on the tip end 301 side of the guide section 310 where the direction of the path changes.

[0055] With this configuration, when inserting the catheter from the guide portion 310 into the urethral opening, the bent portion 317 makes it easier to orient the catheter in the direction corresponding to the position of the urethral opening, thereby enabling smooth catheter insertion into the urethral opening.

[0056] Furthermore, the bent portion 317 is located on the tip portion 301 side in the axial direction of the main body portion 3.

[0057] With this configuration, the direction of the catheter to be inserted can be aligned to a position closer to the urethral opening, and the catheter insertion operation into the urethral opening can be performed more stably than when the bent portion 317 is located towards the proximal end 5 in the axial direction of the main body portion 3.

[0058] Furthermore, the opening on the tip portion 301 side has an opening surface that is inclined from a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body portion 3.

[0059] With this configuration, when the urinary catheter 1 is inserted, the opening on the tip end 301 side is more likely to face the direction of the urethral opening, allowing for smoother insertion of the catheter into the urethral opening.

[0060] Furthermore, the urinary catheter 1 is provided with a handle portion 510 at its base end 5, which is V-shaped when viewed from the base end 5 side along the axial direction of the main body portion 3.

[0061] With this configuration, the operator can appropriately determine the insertion position of the urinary catheter 1 by adjusting the position of the tail portion 710 and the central axis direction of the V-shaped opening formed by the handle portion 510 when viewed from below.

[0062] Furthermore, the urinary catheter device 1 is inserted into the vagina 701 of the female dog and used for the urinary catheterization procedure.

[0063] This configuration provides a urinary catheterization device 1 that is adapted to the unique vaginal structure and urethral orifice position of female dogs, allowing for more stable identification of the urethral orifice position and insertion of the catheter during urinary catheterization procedures in female dogs.

[0064] Furthermore, the tip portion 301 has an inclined tip surface, which includes an acute-angled edge portion 305 and an obtuse-angled edge portion 307, and the path of the guide portion 310 on the tip portion 301 side has a directional component toward the obtuse-angled edge portion 307.

[0065] This configuration allows the catheter to be introduced from a direction that is easy to insert into the urethral opening, enabling smooth urinary catheterization procedures.

[0066] Furthermore, the urinary catheter 1 comprises a cylindrical main body 3 having a tip 301 inserted into the vagina on one end, a base end 5 located on the other end of the main body 3, and a guide wall 31 forming a guide portion 310 that penetrates from the tip 301 to the base end 5 inside the urinary catheter 1, the path of which bends on the tip 301 side, and the opening of the guide portion 310 on the tip 301 side of the guide wall 310 which is visible from the opening on the base end 5 side. The guide wall 31 forms an intermediate guide section 315 on the opening side of the guide section 310 on the tip end 301 side. The opening on the tip end 301 side is visible from the opening on the base end 5 side through the intermediate guide section 315. The width of the intermediate guide section 315 is smaller than the width of the opening on the tip end 301 side. The guide wall 31 forms a bent section 317 on the tip end 301 side of the guide section 310 where the direction of the path is discontinuously switched. A handle section 510 is provided on the base end 5, which is V-shaped when viewed from the base end 5 side along the axial direction of the main body section 3. The tip end 301 has an inclined tip surface, which has an acute-angled edge 305 and an obtuse-angled edge 307. The path on the tip end 301 side of the guide section 310 has a directional component toward the obtuse-angled edge 307.

[0067] With this configuration, the inclination of the tip 301 causes the urethral opening to rise in a direction that is visible when inserted along the vagina. The position of the urethral opening can be confirmed through the observation structure formed on the tip 301 side, and the catheter can be guided towards the urethral opening by the guide section 310 within the same field of view. This makes it possible to perform urinary catheterization by introducing the catheter while confirming the urethral opening, unlike the operation of inserting the catheter while guessing the urethral opening. Furthermore, the V-shaped handle 510 provided on the base end 5 allows the posture of the urinary catheterization device 1 to be grasped from the outside, making it easier to keep the opening on the tip 301 side facing the urethral opening. As described above, the visualization of the urethral opening, determination of the introduction route, and catheter insertion function in conjunction with each other, enabling reliable urinary catheterization.

[0068] ---Second Embodiment--- Next, the urinary catheter 1A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

[0069] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a urinary catheter 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] In this embodiment, the urinary catheter 1A has a shape that extends along its longitudinal axis as a whole. As a result, the urinary catheter 1A has a configuration that minimizes lateral protrusion.

[0071] The base end 5 is provided with a gripping portion 530 for the operator to grasp. The gripping portion 530 includes a bulge 520 that bulges radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end 5 relative to the axis of the main body 3. The bulge 520 is positioned where the operator's fingertips naturally make contact when grasping, and its shape guides the position of the fingers. This allows the operator to easily recognize the gripping position of the urinary catheter 1A. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bulge 520 is formed in an annular shape, and its inner circumferential surface is recessed radially inward relative to the axis of the main body, forming a concave region. This configuration suppresses slippage during grasping and improves stability during prolonged operation.

[0072] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the longitudinal cross-sectional structure of the urinary catheter 1A shown in Figure 6.

[0073] As shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the main body 3 and the outer shape of the tip portion 301 are rounded and do not have corners. In other words, the urinary catheter 1A has no corners in its external shape and is composed of continuous curved surfaces. Furthermore, the shape of the bent portion 317 of the guide portion 310 and the guide wall 31 around it are also formed of continuous curved surfaces that do not have corners. In other words, the change in direction of the path of the guide portion 310 is composed of smooth curved surfaces. In this way, in this embodiment, by making both the external and internal shapes rounded, handling is made easier externally, and snagging near the bent portion 317 is suppressed internally as the catheter 901 advances.

[0074] Furthermore, the curved shape of the outer surface and the guide portion 310 is not limited to a single circular arc shape, but can be appropriately designed to have a shape in which the curvature changes continuously.

[0075] Figure 8 is a bottom view of the urinary catheter 1A shown in Figure 6, viewed from the proximal end 5 side.

[0076] As shown in Figure 8, in this embodiment, the proximal end 5 is provided with a positioning section 540 for identifying the orientation or position of the urinary catheter 1A. The positioning section 540 consists of a plurality of notches formed around the proximal end opening 503, and in this embodiment, they are arranged in a cross shape that intersects with each other. By providing such a positioning section 540, the operator can visually confirm the appropriate insertion position and / or direction of the urinary catheter 1A when grasping the urinary catheter 1A.

[0077] The shape of the positioning portion 540 is not limited to the cross shape described above. For example, it may be configured with multiple grooves, protrusions, recesses, or notches around the proximal opening 503, as long as the operator can recognize the appropriate insertion position and / or direction of the urinary catheter 1A by visually inspecting the positioning portion 540. For example, the positioning portion 540 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the proximal opening 503, and may be formed by multiple groove-like portions, protrusions, or recesses.

[0078] <Effects and Effects> In the urinary catheter 1A according to the second embodiment, the guide wall 31 forms a bent portion 317 on the tip portion 301 side of the guide portion 310, where the direction of the path is continuously switched.

[0079] With this configuration, the direction of catheter advancement changes smoothly, which suppresses the occurrence of snagging near the bent portion 317 and allows for smooth catheter introduction.

[0080] Furthermore, the urinary catheter 1A has a curved outer surface on the main body 3 that does not have any corners.

[0081] This configuration makes it easier to handle the urinary catheter 1A when it is inserted.

[0082] Furthermore, the urinary catheter 1A is equipped with a gripping portion 530 at its base end 5, which has a bulge 520 that bulges radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end 5 relative to the axis of the main body 3.

[0083] This configuration ensures sufficient contact area for the operator to grasp the device, allowing for stable holding of the urinary catheter 1A.

[0084] Furthermore, the bulging portion 520 forms a concave region by being recessed radially inward with respect to the three axes of the main body.

[0085] This configuration allows the operator's fingers to naturally fit into the shape, suppressing slippage during gripping and improving stability during urinary catheterization.

[0086] Furthermore, the urinary catheter 1A has a positioning portion 540 at its proximal end 5, which is symmetrically positioned with respect to the center of the proximal end opening 503.

[0087] This configuration makes it easier to determine the reference direction of the urinary catheter 1A when viewed from the proximal end 5 side.

[0088] Furthermore, the positioning portion 540 includes a plurality of notches that pass through the center of the base end opening 503 and extend radially from the center.

[0089] With this configuration, the central position of the proximal opening 503 can be recognized, and the urinary catheter 1A can be inserted in the appropriate position and / or direction.

[0090] Furthermore, the urinary catheter 1A comprises a cylindrical main body 3 having a tip 301 inserted into the vagina on one end, a base end 5 located on the other end of the main body 3, and a guide wall 31 forming a guide portion 310 that penetrates from the tip 301 to the base end 5 inside the urinary catheter 1A, the path of which bends on the tip 301 side, and the opening of the guide portion 310 on the tip 301 side of the guide wall 310 which is visible from the opening on the base end 5 side. The guide portion 310 has a shape in which the path bends on the tip portion 301 side, and the opening on the tip portion 301 side is visible from the opening on the base portion 5 side. An intermediate guide portion 315 is formed on the tip portion 301 side, and the opening on the tip portion 301 side is visible through the intermediate guide portion 315. Furthermore, the guide wall 31 has a bent section 317 on the tip end 301 side of the guide section 310 where the direction of the path is continuously switched, and the outer surface of the main body 3 is formed by a curved surface without corners. Furthermore, the base end portion 5 has a bulge portion 520 that bulges radially outward with respect to the axis of the main body portion 3, and this bulge portion 520 is recessed radially inward with respect to the axis, thereby forming a concave region. Furthermore, the base end portion 5 has a positioning portion 540 that includes a plurality of notches that pass through the center of the base end opening 503 and extend radially from the center.

[0091] According to this configuration, the urinary catheterization device 1A of the second embodiment can simultaneously improve the positioning of the urethral opening, the smooth introduction of the catheter, and the stability of posture control, thereby improving the reproducibility of the entire urinary catheterization procedure.

[0092] ---Variations--- It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0093] For example, Figure 9 shows a modified example of the urinary catheter according to the present invention. In this modified example, the handle portion 510 provided at the base end 5 is formed in a substantially Y-shape that branches to the left and right. Specifically, the handle portion 510 has a pair of handles 518 and 519 extending from the base end 5. This configuration allows the roughly Y-shaped branch formed by the handles 518 and 519 to be positioned in accordance with the position of the animal's tail, making it easy for the surgeon to grasp the orientation and position of the urinary catheter 1. This enables the surgeon to smoothly align the urinary catheter 1 when inserting it into the vagina. Furthermore, in this modified example, a bulge 520 is included that extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end portion 5 relative to the axis of the main body portion 3. In this modified example, the bulge 520 does not have a concave region. Thus, the shape of the handle portion 510, the presence or absence of the bulging portion 520, and the presence or absence of the concave area can be changed as appropriate, and various forms can be adopted depending on the operator's method of positioning, operability, or manufacturing requirements.

[0094] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to female dogs, but can be similarly applied to female mammals of other species that have a vagina and whose urethral opening is located within the vagina or vaginal vestibule.

[0095] Furthermore, the outer shape of the handle portion 510 is not limited to the roughly Y-shape shown in Figure 1, but may be formed in a roughly X-shape when viewed from the base end portion 5 side, as shown in Figure 6.

[0096] Furthermore, the handle portion 510 may be provided with a marker or protrusion to make it easier for the operator to grasp the insertion position of the urinary catheter 1. The marker or protrusion may be provided at a position corresponding to the direction of the female dog's tail portion 710, thereby making it possible to intuitively grasp the insertion position of the urinary catheter 1.

[0097] Furthermore, the inner surface of the guide portion 310 may be formed as a matte surface or a diffuse reflective surface to suppress light reflection. By having such a surface, the reflected light when viewing the inside of the guide portion 310 from the base end opening 503 side is reduced, and the visibility near the tip opening 303 is improved.

[0098] Furthermore, the bent portion 317 is not limited to being formed in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the guide portion 310, but may also be formed closer to the tip portion 301 or the base portion of the intermediate guide portion 315. Moreover, the bent portion 317 may be formed as a multi-stage structure consisting of a series of inclined or curved portions.

[0099] Furthermore, the mode of switching the direction of the path at the bent portion 317 is not limited to the embodiments described above. That is, the bent portion 317 may be configured in which the direction of the path switches discontinuously, or it may be configured in which it switches continuously. If the direction of the path switches discontinuously, a clear point of direction change is formed at the bent portion 317. With this configuration, it becomes easier to change the direction of catheter advancement to a predetermined angle, making it easier for the operator to actively guide the catheter in the direction they intend. On the other hand, if the direction of the path is continuously switched, the path changes smoothly with curvature. With this configuration, sudden stress concentrations are less likely to occur during catheter advancement, and snagging is suppressed. In addition, no sharp corners are formed on the guide wall 31, which also contributes to improved cleanability. Therefore, the shape of the bent portion 317 can be appropriately selected according to the feel during urinary catheterization, the manufacturing method, the usage environment, etc.

[0100] Furthermore, the tip opening 303 and the base opening 503 are not limited to being circular, but may be formed as elliptical or substantially oval shapes. Such shapes allow for a wider field of view within the guide portion 310.

[0101] Furthermore, the edges of the tip opening 303 may be formed in a rounded shape to minimize damage when they come into contact with the inner wall of the vagina 701.

[0102] Furthermore, the position and size of the notch shape of the intermediate guide portion 315 are not limited to the form shown in Figure 3, and may be set as appropriate considering the visibility of the tip opening 303 and the ease of catheter insertion.

[0103] Furthermore, the bulging portion 520 is not limited to being formed in an annular shape, but may also be a partially enlarged structure. Also, the concave region is not limited to being formed continuously in the circumferential direction, but may be formed in only a part of that direction. For example, the concave region may be formed in a part corresponding to the position where the operator's fingers make contact. Moreover, the position, number, and shape of the concave region can be changed as appropriate, and a configuration may be provided with multiple concave regions for the thumb and other fingers.

[0104] Each of the above modifications can be appropriately combined and adopted within the bounds of non-contradictory means, and configurations combining these can also be included within the scope of the present invention, as long as they embody the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1: Urinary catheter, 3: Main body, 301: Tip, 31: Guide wall, 310: Guide section, 315: Intermediate guide section, 317: Bent section, 5: Base end, 510: Handle

Claims

1. A urinary catheter that is inserted into the vagina of an animal and used for urinary catheterization procedures, One side has a cylindrical main body having a tip that is inserted into the vagina, The base end located on the other side of the tip of the main body, A guide wall is formed inside the urinary catheter that penetrates from the tip to the base end, the path of the guide bends at the tip end, and the opening of the guide on the tip end side is visible from the opening on the base end side of the guide wall. A urinary catheter equipped with the following features.

2. The guide wall forms a bent section where the direction of the path is discontinuously switched at the tip end of the guide section. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

3. The opening on the tip side has an opening surface that is inclined from a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

4. The base end is provided with a handle portion that is V-shaped when viewed from the base end side along the axial direction of the main body. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned animal is a female dog. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned tip portion has an inclined tip surface, The aforementioned inclined tip surface comprises an acute-angled edge and an obtuse-angled edge, The path on the tip side of the guide portion has a directional component toward the obtuse-angled edge side. A urinary catheter according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A urinary catheter that is inserted into the vagina of a female dog and used for urinary catheterization, One side has a cylindrical main body having a tip that is inserted into the vagina, The base end located on the other side of the tip of the main body, A guide wall is formed inside the urinary catheter that penetrates from the tip to the base end, the path of the guide bends at the tip end, and the opening of the guide on the tip end side is visible from the opening on the base end side of the guide wall. Equipped with, The guide wall forms a bent section where the direction of the path is discontinuously switched at the tip end of the guide section. A handle portion is provided at the base end, which is V-shaped when viewed from the base end side along the axial direction of the main body. The aforementioned tip portion has an inclined tip surface, The aforementioned inclined tip surface comprises an acute-angled edge and an obtuse-angled edge, The path on the tip side of the guide portion has a directional component toward the obtuse-angled edge side. Urinary catheter equipment.

8. The guide wall forms a bent section where the direction of the path is continuously switched at the tip end of the guide section. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

9. The outer surface of the main body is formed by a curved surface without corners. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

10. The base end has a gripping portion which has a bulge that extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

11. The bulging portion forms a concave region by being recessed radially with respect to the axis of the main body. The urinary catheter according to claim 10.

12. The base end has a positioning portion that is symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the opening on the base end side. The urinary catheter according to claim 1.

13. The positioning portion includes a plurality of notches that pass through the center of the opening on the base end side and extend radially from the center, The urinary catheter according to claim 12.

14. A urinary catheter that is inserted into the vagina of a female dog and used for urinary catheterization, One side has a cylindrical main body having a tip that is inserted into the vagina, The base end located on the other side of the tip of the main body, A guide wall is formed inside the urinary catheter that penetrates from the tip to the base end, the path of the guide bends at the tip end, and the opening of the guide on the tip end side is visible from the opening on the base end side of the guide wall. Equipped with, The guide portion has a bent portion at the tip end where the direction of the path is continuously switched, The outer surface of the main body is formed by a curved surface without corners. The base end has a bulge that extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end with respect to the axis of the main body, The bulging portion forms a concave region by being recessed radially inward with respect to the axis. The base end has a positioning portion that includes a plurality of notches that pass through the center of the opening on the base end side and extend radially from the center. Urinary catheter equipment.

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