JP2012533399A - Pre-wet hydrophilic / intermittent catheter and its use - Google Patents

Abstract

The catheter assembly (5) includes a tubular member (16) having a first end (18) and a second end (20). The catheter (10) has a first end (12) and a second end (14). At least a portion of the catheter (10) is disposed inside the tubular member (16). The first end (18) of the tubular member (16) can be opened by the axial movement of the catheter. A sealing engagement (34) is provided between the tubular member (16) and the catheter (10). The method includes releasing the protective cap (30), advancing the catheter (10) through the first cap (24) and into the body, and draining fluid from the living body using the catheter (10). I will provide a.

Description

(Cross-reference to related applications)
This application is an international application based on US Provisional Application No. 61 / 227,564, filed July 22, 2009. It is expressly stated here that the entire disclosure of the above document is included in this application by reference.
(Declaration on government ownership)

  Not applicable.

  Suitable catheters for bladder excretion include both intermittent use catheters and indwelling catheters. Indwelling catheters include Foley catheters. Foley catheter insertion is typically indicated for surgical and medical patients who need assisted bladder excretion at least temporarily. Common indications for catheterization in patients include acute or chronic urinary stagnation (which may damage the kidneys), medical procedures that may at least temporarily limit patient movement (ie , Surgery), the need for accurate monitoring of inputs (intakes) and outputs (emissions) (eg in the ICU), benign hyperplasia of the prostate, incontinence, and various surgical procedures involving the bladder and prostate The effect is mentioned.

  The standard Foley catheter design includes a balloon placed at the distal end of the catheter to keep the catheter within the bladder. The catheter includes at least one cavity for draining urine from the bladder and at least one cavity for inflating the balloon (eg, with sterile water). The proximal end of the Foley catheter is connected to the two cavities--the excretory cavity, a first cavity having an interface with the junction for excretion and sampling, and when filled, expand into the cavity and balloon It includes at least two ports in communication with a second cavity connected to an inflation cavity with a valve to ensure that liquid remains. The tip of a standard Foley catheter includes one or more openings or “eyelets” that extend beyond the side of the balloon into the bladder and drain fluid and other debris from the bladder. This standard design has been unchanged for almost 100 years, although various additions (eg, mechanical anchors) and improvements have been proposed and studied so far.

  A typical intermittent use catheter differs from an indwelling catheter primarily in that the intermittent use catheter does not have a retention balloon or associated inflation lumen. Rather, an intermittent use catheter is typically a single lumen device having multiple excretory eyelets at the proximal end and a funnel at the distal end. Intermittent catheter insertion is often used for individuals with dysfunctional urinary systems (eg, suffering from stenosis and trauma) and disabled persons who may not be able to urinate spontaneously (paraplegic or quadriplegic) ) Is executed. Such individuals often insert their own catheters with intermittent use catheters several times a day.

  An intermittent use catheter is generally a catheter or tube having a chamfered, non-injury distal tip that is inserted into the patient's bladder. Typically, a shaped funnel is connected to the distal end that remains outside the patient or user's body. The distal tip may include a slot or opening on the shaft to facilitate drainage of urine therefrom when the tip is placed in the bladder.

  A pre-wetted (wet-before-use) intermittent use catheter is an intermittent use catheter having a highly lubricious coating on its outer surface, which is attached to the catheter to facilitate insertion into the body of a patient or user. Either packaged with the liquid to provide a slippery outer surface or otherwise contacted with the liquid.

  Existing pre-moistened intermittent use catheters fall into three broad categories. In the first type, the catheter is packaged in a dry environment but includes a lubricious coating that requires a wetting liquid to be hydrated. This wetting liquid is obtained by the user from an external source (eg, a sink, bottled water, etc.), and the catheter is placed in the wetting liquid for a period of time to be hydrated. The use of this type 1 intermittent use catheter can be difficult if clean water or wetting fluid is not readily available. Furthermore, when applying a wetting fluid, the sterility of the catheter may be compromised depending on how the user operates the catheter.

  A second type of pre-wetted intermittent use catheter is also packaged in a dry environment and includes a lubricious coating. However, the wetting liquid is contained in a pouch or container in the catheter package itself. To hydrate the catheter, the pouch or container is opened when the user is ready. A suitable example of such a catheter is disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,087,048, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Like the first type, this second type may be inconvenient. This is because the catheter is exposed to a wetting liquid for a period of time to ensure hydration of the lubricious coating. During insertion, the sterility of the catheter may be compromised.

  A third type of pre-wet intermittent use catheter is packaged in a humid environment. That is, the catheter is exposed to the wetting fluid within the catheter package, thereby hydrating the coating. However, although the user may find it difficult to operate the catheter due to its slippery surface, excessive or inaccurate operation can lead to contamination of the catheter by the user. This in turn can expose the user to urinary tract infections.

  Current intermittent use catheter products are often unsuitable for patients who self-insert catheters in environments other than home (eg, public toilets). For such patients, separate and compact packaging is important in terms of privacy, the ability to transport multiple intermittently used catheters, and easy disposal of used catheters. is there. The subject of the present invention is a handy urinary catheter assembly that achieves separate delivery and disposal and eliminates or alleviates some of the disadvantages of conventional devices.

  In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention, provided herein is a urinary catheter assembly that includes a tubular member having a first end and a second end. The urinary catheter has a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the urinary catheter is coaxially disposed within the tubular member. The first cap is disposed at the first end of the tubular member, where the first cap can be opened by axial movement of the first end of the urinary catheter passing therethrough. A sealing member is disposed proximal to the second end of the tubular member, wherein the sealing member provides a seal between the inner diameter of the tubular member and the outer diameter of the urinary catheter.

  According to another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided herein a method for draining urine from a bladder comprising a tubular member having a first end and a second end. Is provided. The urinary catheter has a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the urinary catheter is coaxially disposed within the tubular member. The cap is disposed at the first end of the tubular member, where the cap can be opened by axial movement of the first end of the urinary catheter therethrough. A sealing member is disposed proximal to the second end of the tubular member, wherein the sealing member provides a seal between the inner diameter of the tubular member and the outer diameter of the urinary catheter. The clip secures the tubular member relative to the urinary catheter such that the assembly has a substantially U shape. The method further includes removing the clip from one of the tubular member and the urinary catheter, inserting at least a portion of the cap into the urethra, advancing the urinary catheter through the cap and into the urethra, and guiding. Excreting the bladder through a urinary catheter.

  The present invention further relates to a catheter assembly, a tubular member having a first end and a second end; a catheter having a first end and a second end; at least a portion of the catheter disposed within the tubular member; A first cap disposed at a first end of the tubular member and releasable by axial movement of the first end of the catheter; and a sealing member forming a seal between the tubular member and the catheter A catheter assembly is provided.

  The catheter assembly may be at least one of a urinary catheter assembly and a flexible, stretchable, pre-wet hydrophilic intermittent use catheter. The sealing member may form and / or provide a seal between the inner diameter of the tubular member and the outer diameter of the catheter. The portion of the catheter may be disposed within the tubular member substantially coaxially. The sealing member may be disposed in a region at the second end of the tubular member to provide a seal between the inner diameter of the tubular member and the outer diameter of the catheter. The tubular member may contain a wetting liquid contained therein. The tubular member may be substantially rigid. The tubular member may have a substantially circular cross section and / or be substantially cylindrical. The catheter may include a hydratable coating. The catheter may include a hydrophilic biocompatible coating on the entire surface and / or its outer surface. At least a portion of the first cap may be configured for insertion into the urethral orifice. The first cap may include at least one bendable and / or deflectable flap member.

  The catheter assembly is further adapted to secure the catheter assembly in a storage or pre-use configuration, adapted to secure the catheter assembly in a generally U-shaped configuration, and at least a tubular member and a catheter. It may include a clip that is associated with at least one of the ones.

  The catheter assembly may further include a clip configured to secure the tubular member to the catheter such that the catheter assembly forms a substantially U shape.

  The second end of the catheter may include a second cap configured to seal the end. The second cap may be at least one of removable or disposable (disposable), may be a breakable member disposed within the second end of the catheter, and may be external to the second end of the catheter. A part arranged around the diameter may be included. The second end of the catheter may be adapted to be coupled to the funnel. The second end of the catheter may be adapted to be coupled to a disposable liquid collection member. The second end of the catheter may be adapted to be coupled to a disposable urine collection member.

  The present invention is also a method for draining liquid from a living body using the catheter assembly described herein, wherein the protective cap is released and the catheter is advanced through the first cap into the body. And a method comprising draining a liquid from a living body using a catheter.

  The liquid may be urine from the bladder. Release may include removing the protective cap to expose the first cap, and the method may further include installing the catheter assembly from a stored configuration to a usable configuration. Excretion may include draining the bladder through the catheter, and the method may further include inserting a first cap into the urethral orifice prior to advancement. The method may further include wetting at least a portion of the catheter with a wetting liquid disposed in the tubular member as the catheter is advanced through the tubular member. The method may further include wetting at least a portion of the catheter with a wetting liquid disposed in the tubular member as the catheter is advanced through the tubular member during advancement. The method may further include removing the cap from the second end of the catheter to facilitate drainage therethrough. The method may further include wetting at least a portion of the coating of the catheter with a wetting liquid disposed within the tubular member to facilitate insertion of the catheter. The method may further include collecting the fluid drained by the catheter using a disposable collection member coupled to the second end of the catheter.

  The present invention further includes at least one feature shown in the drawings of the application and / or described in the specification, most of the features shown in the drawings of the application and / or described in the specification, In any combination of features shown in the drawings and / or described in the specification, and substantially all of the features shown in the drawings and / or described in the specification of this application. A catheter assembly including at least one is provided.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary catheter assembly. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a catheter assembly being delivered. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an exemplary catheter assembly in an extended configuration. FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway perspective view of an exemplary catheter assembly. FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of an exemplary catheter assembly. FIG. 6 shows another partial perspective view of an exemplary catheter assembly. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the exemplary catheter assembly along line 5 shown in FIG.

  The following description should be read with reference to the drawings. In this case, the same element in different drawings is represented by the same numeral. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, but depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This detailed description is an example of the principles of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. This description is intended to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is directed to several embodiments, adaptations, including those currently considered the best way of carrying out the invention. Describe modifications, alternatives, and uses.

  As used herein, the reference terms “proximal” and “distal” (proximal is closer than distal) indicate proximity with respect to a medical professional inserting a catheter into the patient. For example, at the time of catheter insertion, the region or section of the catheter device that is closest to the medical professional is referred to herein as “proximal”, while the region or section of the catheter device that is closest to the patient's bladder is , Called “distal”. For a catheter self-installing patient, proximal refers to a point outside the patient's body and distal refers to a point within the patient's body (ie, the bladder).

  The catheter assembly described herein is discussed in the premise of a urinary catheter inserted into the bladder for drainage of urine therein. However, the catheter assembly may also be used for other applications not specifically designated herein. Thus, the present invention is not limited to urinary catheter applications.

  1 and 2 show an exemplary urinary catheter assembly 5 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows the catheter in a deployed and ready-to-use configuration, and FIG. 2 shows the catheter in a substantially U-shaped delivery configuration. The urinary catheter 10 has a distal end 12, a proximal end 14, and a cavity 13 (FIG. 7) extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction. The distal end 12 includes a plurality of open eyelets 36 configured to receive urine from the bladder. The number of open eyelets 36 may be in the range of 1 to 10, for example in the range of 2 to 6. According to various non-limiting embodiments, the open eyelet 36 is circular or oval in shape and its edges may be polished or chamfered to minimize tissue trauma upon insertion.

  The proximal end of the cavity 13 is closed by a removable cap 32. The cap 32 can take any form as long as it is suitable to block the flow of liquid (ie, wet liquid or urine) through the catheter 10 until the cap 32 is removed by the user. . As a non-limiting example, the cap 32 is a fragile material disposed within the inner diameter of the cavity 13 and can be broken by the user when the catheter 10 is ready for use. It is possible to build.

  According to another embodiment, the removable cap 32 is constructed from a rigid, relatively inflexible material that engages at least the inner diameter of the catheter 10. According to various embodiments, the proximal end 14 of the catheter 10 includes a standard funnel (not shown) in many intermittent use catheters. The cap 32 may be placed in the funnel. According to another embodiment, the proximal end 14 includes a mechanism that engages an optional urine collection chamber (not shown). As a non-limiting example, the proximal end 14 is further complementary and opposed to an outwardly extending hook or any urine collection chamber for penetrating and securing the distal end of the chamber. A radially extending flange configured to engage the target surface may be included.

  The distal portion of the catheter 10 is coaxially disposed within a tubular member 16 having a distal end 18 and a proximal end 20. By way of non-limiting example, the tubular member 16 can be substantially transparent or translucent. According to various embodiments, the volume or liquid space 17 disposed between the catheter 10 and the tubular member 16 includes a wetting liquid in a volume sufficient to wet the outer surface of at least the distal portion of the catheter 10.

  4-7, the distal end 18 of the tubular member 16 includes a cap 24 having a portion 23 that sealingly engages the inner diameter of the distal end 18 of the tubular member 16. Moreover, the cap 24 includes a member 25 configured to be inserted into the urethral orifice. The distal surface of member 25 is depicted as being substantially flat in FIGS. 1-7. According to various embodiments, member 25 can further have a non-injuring tip that is generally chamfered to facilitate insertion into the urethral orifice. The distal surface of member 25 is depicted in FIGS. 1-7 as having a plurality of flexible baffles or flaps 26. This flap forms or takes the shape of an expandable opening 28 when the distal end 12 of the catheter 10 is pushed distally through the cap 24 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Can be deflected and released.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the protective cap 30 releasably seals the distal end 18 of the tubular member 16 and the member 25. According to various embodiments, the cap 30 may have grasping characteristics to facilitate removal by the patient. The clip 22 functions to removably secure the proximal portion of the catheter 10 to the tubular member 16. The clip 22 allows the assembly 5 to take the form shown in FIG. 2 in the fixed position. According to various embodiments, the clip 22 can be permanently attached to either the catheter 10 or the tubular member 16 and removably attached to the other. Referring to FIG. 1, the clip 22 can function as a handle for the patient to self-install the catheter so that the patient can move the catheter 10 distally through the tubular member 16. It is possible to push forward. Clip 22 can be mechanically or chemically associated with tubular member 16 and / or catheter 10.

  According to various embodiments, the catheter 10 includes a biocompatible, hydrophilic coating on at least a portion of its surface (suitable hydrophilic coatings are well known in the art). Wetting fluids, such as water, saline, or any other suitable wetting fluid, can be used with catheter 10 and tubular member 16 to hydrate the coating just prior to storage, transportation, and use. In the liquid space 17. One purpose of this wetting liquid is to maintain the hydration of the lubricious coating, which facilitates insertion when at least the outer portion of the catheter is extremely slippery when inserted into the user's body. According to another embodiment, the catheter assembly 5 including the catheter 10 includes a biocompatible antimicrobial coating on at least its outer surface. Suitable, non-limiting examples of such lubricious, antimicrobial coatings are US Pat. No. 4,585,666; US Pat. No. 5,558,900; US Pat. No. 5,077,352; US Pat. No. 5,179,174; US Pat. No. 6,329,488 (eg, Suitable for polysiloxane substrates), U.S. Patent No. 6,716,895; U.S. Patent No. 6,949,598; and U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0116551. The entirety of each of these documents is hereby incorporated by reference.

  To place the catheter 10 in use, the clip 22 is removed from at least one of the catheter 10 and the tubular member 16 to allow the assembly 5 to take the form shown in FIG. The cap 32 is removed from the distal end of the catheter, and any urine collection chamber (not shown) is placed in fluid communication with the proximal end 14 of the catheter 10. At this point, at least some volume of wetting liquid may be drained from the volume 17 via the eyelet 36.

  As shown in FIGS. 3-6, when the caps 30 and 32 are removed, the member 25 is inserted into the urethral opening as needed, optionally grasping the clip 22 and manipulating it distally, 10 is advanced distally through the tubular member 16. At the beginning of this movement, the distal tip 38 of the catheter 10 penetrates the cap 24 by rocking or deflecting the baffle 26 in the distal direction. The remaining portion of the catheter 10 inserted into the living body is lubricated by the wetting liquid in the volume 17 when the catheter is moved in the distal direction. The sealing member 34 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) provides a substantially fluid tight seal between the outer diameter of the catheter 10 and the inner diameter of the tubular member 16, so that the wetting fluid is on the outer surface of the catheter 10. Along the proximal direction, does not spill or leak, or at least substantially does not spill or leak. When the distal end 12 of the catheter 10 is inserted into a urine-filled bladder, urine flows through the catheter 10 and is expelled from the proximal end 14.

  The components of the catheter assembly 5 disclosed herein can be manufactured from a variety of known materials. For example, the portions of the assembly other than the catheter 10 can be made from polyvinyl propylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and other types of suitable polymeric materials. The components can be molded or extruded according to well-known manufacturing techniques.

  Commonly used materials for manufacturing the catheter 10 include, but are not limited to, natural rubber latex (eg, Guthrie, Inc., Tucson, Arizona; Firestone, Inc., Akron, Ohio; and Centrotrade USA, commercially available from Virginia Beach, Virginia), silicon (eg, GE Silicones, Waterford, New York; Wacker Silicones, Adrian, Michigan; and commercially available from Dow Corning, Inc., Midland, Michigan) ), Polyvinyl chloride (eg, commercially available from Kaneka Corp., Inc., New York, NY), polyurethane (eg, Bayer, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Rohm & Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) State; and commercially available from Ortec, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina), plastisol (eg, GS Industries, Bassett, Virginia) ), Polyvinyl acetate (eg, commercially available from Acetex Corp., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), and methacrylate copolymers (eg, commercially available from Heveatex, Inc., Fall River, Mass.). Is mentioned. Natural rubber latex, polyurethane, and silicone are preferred materials. In addition, any combination of the aforementioned materials can be used in the manufacture of the catheter. In one embodiment, a rubberized layer comprising latex and methacrylate is used with a top layer and a finish layer comprising latex but not methacrylate. In another embodiment, a polyurethane rubberized layer is used with a latex overlay layer and a finishing layer. In another embodiment, polyvinyl acetate and a latex rubberized layer are used with a latex overlay and a finish layer. Each of the above embodiments in which specific Young's modulus values are specified can be used with any material.

  The urinary catheter 10 of the present invention can be manufactured by various known methods. For example, according to various embodiments, the catheter is manufactured by a dipping method. An elongate rod or “mold” is dipped into the first liquid coating material to form a layer of coating material on the mold. This mold has the shape and size of the catheter cavity 13. This first coating layer forms the interior of the catheter or a rubberized layer. Once the first layer is dry, the mold is then dipped into the second coating material to overlay the middle or top layer. It may be desirable to immerse multiple times in the second coating material to build up an appropriate thickness of the intermediate layer. The top layer is then dried. Subsequent dipping causes the finish layer to be overlaid and dried. The catheter may be removed from the mold and then the eyelet 36 may be formed thereon. Subsequent manufacturing steps can be found in US Patent Application No. 2004/0133156. The disclosure of this document is incorporated herein by reference.

  Caps 30, 32, and 24 rub against catheter 10 and tubular member 16, respectively, and thread engagement (i.e., either the cap or the end section includes threads, protrusions, etc., while the other is (Including grooves, recesses, depressions, etc. to receive the threads, protrusions, etc.) or other similar fixing methods known to those skilled in the art.

  The catheter 10 can have various lengths, sizes (eg, diameter, width, etc.), and configurations depending on the user's anatomy. For female users, the insertable length may be in the range of 40 to 100 mm, for example in the range of 50 to 80 mm, in particular 55 to 75 mm. For male users, the insertable length may be in the range of 170 to 260 mm, for example 190 to 240 mm, for example 230 mm. The tip design can vary according to user requirements, for example, the catheter disclosed herein can be provided with a curved tip. As long as the catheter is circular or substantially circular in cross-sectional shape, oval cross-sectional shape, or as long as it facilitates insertion into the user / patient's body, particularly through the urethra, into the user / patient's bladder, It may have any other cross-sectional shape. According to various embodiments, the shape of the catheter can vary along its length. Tubular member 16 can take any shape as long as it is suitable for inconvenient storage and use. According to various embodiments, the shape is circular or substantially triangular and / or has indentations to facilitate reliable grasping by the user.

  So far the invention has been described and specific examples of the invention have been outlined. Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular variations and specific drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to the variations of the drawings described. . Furthermore, although the methods and steps described above display several events that occur in a certain order, one skilled in the art can modify the order of certain steps, and such modifications are described in the present invention. You will recognize that it is consistent with this variant. Furthermore, some of the steps can be performed simultaneously in parallel processes, if possible, in addition to the time-based execution described above. Accordingly, as long as there are variations of the present invention that fall within the spirit of the disclosure or are equivalent to the present invention as found in the claims, this patent also covers those variations. It is intended to be. Finally, all publications and patent applications cited herein are cited in their entirety as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually described herein. Is included herein.

Claims (32)

A generally tubular member having a first end and a second end;
A catheter having a first end and a second end;
At least a portion of the catheter disposed within the tubular member;
A catheter assembly comprising a first end of the tubular member that is openable by axial movement of the catheter; and a portion of the catheter that is sealingly engaged with a portion of the tubular member. A first cap disposed at a first end of the tubular member and capable of being opened by axial movement of the first end of the catheter; and forming a sealing engagement between the tubular member and the portion of the catheter The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member. The catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein the sealing member forms a seal between an inner diameter of the tubular member and an outer diameter of the catheter. The catheter assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sealing member is disposed in a region at a second end of the tubular member and provides a seal between the inner diameter of the tubular member and the outer diameter of the catheter. The catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the first cap is configured for insertion into the urethral orifice. The catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein the first cap includes at least one bendable and / or deflectable flap member. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter assembly is at least one of a urinary catheter assembly and a flexible, stretchable, pre-wet hydrophilic intermittent use catheter. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the catheter is coaxially disposed within the tubular member. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a wetting liquid contained therein. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular member is substantially rigid. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a substantially circular cross section and / or is generally cylindrical. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a hydratable coating. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a hydrophilic biocompatible coating on an outer surface thereof. Adapted to secure the catheter assembly in a stored or pre-use configuration;
Adapted to secure the catheter assembly in a generally U-shaped configuration; and
The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a clip that is at least one of the tubular member and / or associated with at least one of the catheters. The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a clip configured to secure the tubular member to the catheter such that the catheter assembly forms a substantially U-shape. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the catheter includes a second cap configured to seal the end. The second cap
Removable;
Disposable;
A breakable member disposed within the second end of the catheter; and
The catheter assembly of claim 16, wherein the catheter assembly is at least one of including a portion disposed about an outer diameter of the second end of the catheter. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the catheter is adapted to be coupled to a funnel. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the catheter is adapted to be coupled to a disposable liquid collection member. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the catheter is adapted to be coupled to a disposable urine collection member. 21. A method for draining a liquid from a living body using a catheter assembly according to any one or more of claims 1-20.
Removing the protective cap;
Advancing the catheter through the first cap and into the body; and
Draining the liquid from the living body using the catheter. The method according to claim 21, wherein the liquid is urine from a bladder. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the releasing includes removing the protective cap to expose a first cap, further comprising installing the catheter assembly from a stored configuration to a usable configuration. . 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the draining comprises draining the bladder through the catheter, further comprising inserting a first cap into the urethral orifice prior to the advancement. 24. The method of claim 21, comprising wetting at least a portion of the catheter with a wetting liquid disposed in the tubular member as the catheter is advanced through the tubular member. 23. The method of claim 21, comprising wetting at least a portion of the catheter with a wetting liquid disposed in the tubular member as the catheter is advanced through the tubular member during the advancement. The method of claim 21, further comprising removing a cap from the second end of the catheter to facilitate drainage therethrough. The method of claim 21, further comprising wetting at least a portion of the coating of the catheter with a wetting liquid disposed in the tubular member to facilitate insertion of the catheter. 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising collecting the liquid drained by the catheter using a disposable collection member coupled to the second end of the catheter. An outer member having a first end and a second end and having an interior space adapted to contain a liquid;
A catheter having a first end and a second end and at least partially disposed in the interior space;
A catheter assembly comprising: the catheter configured and arranged to move relative to the outer member; and a liquid disposed in the interior space and adapted to hydrate and / or wet the catheter. 31. The catheter assembly of claim 30, wherein the first end of the tubular member is openable by axial movement of the catheter. At least one feature shown in the drawings of the application and / or described in the specification, most of the features shown in the drawings of the application and / or described in the specification, shown in the drawings of the application and And / or any combination of features described in the specification, and substantially all of the features shown in the drawings of the application and / or described in the specification,
A catheter assembly comprising one of the following.

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