Foldable Male Urinary Catheter Package with Integrated Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing male urinary catheter packaging lacks a compact, discrete, and sterile storage solution that facilitates easy and risk-free insertion and withdrawal, often leading to complications such as urinary tract infections and urethral strictures.
Innovation Solution
A male urinary catheter package comprising a tubular vessel with three parts – two rigid and one flexible – that can be folded for compact storage, incorporating a lubrication agent and a cap for sterilization, and an insertion device to maintain sterility, allowing for a complete self-catheterization solution without separate pouches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate pouch or container for lubricant or activator is used, then the lubrication function is provided, but the device complexity increases and discreteness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the lubricant reservoir directly into the catheter assembly by forming a pouch from the inner layer of the packaging material that contains lubricant and is positioned to contact the catheter. This merging of the lubricant container with the catheter structure eliminates separate pouches or containers, providing a complete self-catheterization solution while maintaining device simplicity and discreteness.
2Strength
If the package is made rigid for structural integrity, then strength is improved, but compactness and foldability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible packaging structure comprising an outer layer and an inner layer that can be folded and collapsed. The outer layer provides structural integrity and protection, while the inner layer contains the lubricant and interfaces with the catheter. This flexible shell structure enables compact storage and portability while maintaining sufficient strength for handling and sterilization.
3Ease of operation
If the catheter is exposed during handling, then ease of insertion is improved, but sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates lubricant into the packaging structure beforehand, with the inner layer containing lubricant positioned to automatically contact the catheter upon opening. This preliminary preparation of the lubrication interface allows the catheter to remain sterile within the sealed packaging until the moment of use, when the lubricant is already in position to facilitate immediate insertion without requiring separate lubrication steps that would compromise sterility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for complete catheterization, then functionality is improved, but ease of manufacture and assembly are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified structure: the outer layer provides structural protection and sterilization barrier, the inner layer contains lubricant and forms the interface with the catheter, and the catheter itself is positioned within this integrated assembly. This merging of packaging and functional components into a single manufactured unit simplifies the assembly process while providing a complete self-catheterization solution with lubrication and sterility protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The package provides a compact, hygienic, and risk-free solution for intermittent self-catheterization, ensuring sterility and ease of use by eliminating the need for additional containers and minimizing contact with the catheter surface, thereby reducing infection risks.
Implementation Method 1
the cap allows sterilization gas from outside the catheter package to pass into the inner volume of the package, so that sterility of the urinary catheter is guaranteed
Implementation Method 2
the package is foldable by means of the flexible third part
Implementation Method 3
The integrated vessel provides a lubrication agent or activating fluid, so that users have a complete intermittent self catheterization solution
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
Package (10) for holding an intermittent, male urinary catheter (1). The package (10) has a vessel (5) which is tubular in shape allowing the urinary catheter (1) to be movably arranged in an inner volume of the vessel (5). An enveloping housing of the package entirely encloses the urinary catheter (1) when packaged. The enveloping housing has three tubular parts (2, 3, 6) of which a first and second straight part (2, 3) are of a hard plastic material, and a third part (6) is of a flexible material. The first straight (2) part is closed off at a bottom end thereof and the second straight part (3) is closeable by the cap (4) and comprises the vessel (5).