Penile Sheath Catheter Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for stabilizing male catheters during bladder drainage or medical procedures often lead to issues of infection, contamination, and catheter dislodgment due to inadequate stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A medical device comprising a sheath with a flow structure and circumferential retainer that covers the penis, allowing fluid communication with the urethra and providing a secure, adjustable fit using a strap with a hook and loop fastener to prevent movement and maintain position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional catheter stabilization methods (taping to leg or accessory devices) are used, then the catheter can be positioned in the urethra, but the catheter is prone to dislodgment, infection, and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the catheter with an enclosing sheath structure that covers the penis, merging the catheter positioning function with the stabilization and protection functions into a single integrated device. This eliminates the need for separate taping or accessory devices and creates a sealed environment that reduces infection and contamination risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is nested within the enclosing sheath, with the sheath providing an outer protective layer that stabilizes the catheter position. The circumferential retainer is positioned within the sheath structure, creating a nested configuration where each component supports the others to maintain catheter stability and prevent dislodgment.
2Reliability
If the sheath is tightened to secure the catheter position, then catheter stability improves, but patient comfort may deteriorate due to excessive constriction
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential retainer is designed to be adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the degree of tightening to be dynamically controlled. The retainer can be positioned at different locations along the sheath and tightened to different degrees, enabling optimization between catheter stability and patient comfort based on individual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The tightening force is applied locally at the circumferential retainer position rather than uniformly along the entire sheath. This allows stabilization to be achieved at the critical location near the urethral meatus while leaving other areas of the penis less constricted, thereby maintaining patient comfort.
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 device effectively reduces contamination and infection risks while ensuring the catheter remains securely in place, facilitating procedures like retrograde urethrogram by allowing fluid exchange and maintaining axial stability.
Implementation Method 1
The flow structure can be in fluid communication with or can pass through the distal opening in the distal end of the sheath to allow fluid to flow through the sheath to or from the urethra
Implementation Method 2
The retainer can be a strap including a hook and loop fastener that can be configured to allow selective tightening of the strap using the hook and loop fastener
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a medical device can include a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end. The sheath can be configured to receive a penis through the proximal end, and can at least partially cover the penis. The sheath can include a distal opening in the distal end of the sheath. The sheath can include a flow structure comprising a proximal flow structure portion extending proximally relative to an interior surface of the distal end of the sheath and configured to be inserted into the urethra of the penis. The flow structure can be in fluid communication with or can pass through the distal opening in the distal end of the sheath to allow fluid to flow through the sheath to or from the urethra.