CA1161717A - Male incontinence device and method of applying - Google Patents

Abstract

MALE INCONTINENCE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING

Abstract A male incontinence device is provided including a flexible, thin sheet including a rim positioned along the outer edge of the sheet and a covering layer overlying the space within the rim. The rim comprises a first surface and a second surface with a foam layer connected therebetween.
The rim also includes an inner and outer periphery. Portions of the inner periphery are positioned in the coronal sulcus of the penis. A drainage tube is placed adjacent the urethra opening. Portions of the rim, together with the covering layer, are folded over the head of the penis. Portions of the rim are joined together along the first surface thereof to tightly secure the device and drainage tube to the penis so that the escape of urine, other tilan through the drainage tube, is greatly minimized.

Description

'71~7 LI~ INCO~INL~L`~C~:~ DE:VICE ~'lD ~ rl'HOD FOR I~PPLYING

Field of Invention This invention relates to male incontinence devices and, in particular, to a Male incontinence device fastenable along 05 tlle coronal sulcus of the penis of the male.
-Background Art ~ arious male incontinence devices are disclosed. ~any ofthese devices use a tube or a condom-shaped piece to surround the penis. In U.S. Patent l~os. 3,835,357 and 3,863,638 to 10 ~ogers, II, et al., a sheath is integrally joined to a conical portion to surround the penis head and portions of the penis shaft. In U.S. Patent ~o. 2,789,560 to ~eimer, a cap having an opening and a nozzle inserted into the opening is dis- !
closed. The cap surrounds the penis head while a sheath is 15 connected to the cap and tile penis. Infant urine collectors utilizing foam pads underlying adhesive surfaces for attacil-ment near the penis are shown in U.S. Patent l~o. 3,340,876 to ~ill and U.S. Patent l~o. 3,406,690 to Iget, et al. ~lany of the condom-like devices are irritating to the penile skin 20 and cannot ~e worn for long periods of time because of the increasing discomfort. Occasionally, these devices do impede some of the blood flow through the penis. ~ale incontinence devices are also of a type which use a leg bag collector in combination with a condom over the penis and a 25 drainaye tube attached therebetween. Often times, the urine contacts the penile skin causing severe excoriation and maceration to the penis.

Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with this invention, a male incontinence 30 device and method for applying the device to the penis is provided. 'l`he device includes a generally flat, thin sheet or film having a rim. The rim has a first surface and a second surface with a covering layer attached to the second t~

Lt7:17 surface. Portions of the rim are seated in the coronal sulcus of the penis. Remaining portions of the rim are joined together around the head of the penis while a drain-age tube is held in the device adjacent the urethra to 05 receive urine.
~ ore particularly, a device is provided to be worn by a male patient who is unable to control his urination, and also has application as a condom. The device includes a ring having a first an~ a second adhesive layer with a layer 10 of foam therebetween. A thin, covering layer covers tlle space formed within the ring and is attached to the second adhesive layer WhiCIl overlies a second surface. A first surface is coated with the first adhesive layer overlying which is a release backing. In operation, the release 15 backing is removed and portions of the ring are seated in the coronal sulcus wllich is located between the penis head and the shaft of the penis. An end of a drainage tube is positioned adjacent the urethra opening. Subsequently, the device is folded so that remaining portions of the ring are 20 joined together along the second adhesive layer thereby securing the device and the drainage tube to the penis.
Alternatively, the device may be held on the penis without the drainge tube. In such an application, the device is of a larger size to hold the fluid therein. '~hen the device 25 acts as a condom without the drainage tube connected, it is of a relativèly smaller size to fit about the penis head and block the passage of the male sperm.
In light of the foregoing, a number of worthwhile ad-vantages are readily apparent. An incontinence device is 30 provided to prevent the passage of fluid therethrough while connected adjacent the head of the penis. In a first embodi-ment, the device holds a drainage tube adjacent the urethra opening to receive the urine and carry it to a receptacle.
In a second embodiment, the device itself holds the urine 35 since the discharge tube is not attached. This is particu-larly useful when fluid leakage from the urethra is minimal 1'71i7 so that, upon becoming fillecl with fluid over a pcriod of time, the device is discarded and replaced. In a third em-bodiment, the device acts as a condom to prevent the passage of male sperm. Generally, the device is tightly secured to 05the penis along tlle coronal sulcus so that impairment of the blood supply to the penis head is yreatly minimized. ~'he device provides a tight seal to prevent the passage of urine onto the penile skin thereby virtually eliminating the excoriation and maceration thereof. Discomfort to the l0wearer of the incontinence device over a long period of time is also greatly minimized. Furtherr.1ore, the device is easily manufactured while being quickly and efficiently attached to the penis. Additionally, the device of this invention is readily disposable since it is inexpensively 15 made. ~dditional advantages of this invention will become readily apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompany-ing drawings.

Brief Descliption of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the incontinence ~evice 20 having a generally circular shape;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the incontinence device having a generally hexagonal shape;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the incontinence device attached at thç coronal sulcus with a drainage tube extending 25 therefrom;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, lateral section, taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing details of the rim;
Fig. 5 is a lateral section, taken along line 5-S of Fig. 3, showing details of the incontinence device attached 30 to the penis with a drainage tube extending therefrom; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the incontinence device attached at the coronal sulcus showing fluid contained therein;
Fig. 7 is a frontal view of the incontinence device show-ing details of the incontinence device attached to the penis 35 and holding fluid therein; and L7~

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the incontinence device showinc3 the deviee acting as a condom.

~escrip~ion o~ the Pre~erred ~mbodiment In accordance with the present invention, a device is 05 provided whieh is of benefit to a male unable to control the flow of urine from his urethral passage as well as for use as a eondom. As depieted in Fig. 1, a generally thin, flat, flexible, eireular sheet or film 10 is provided. Sheet 10 inelucies a rim or peripheral edge 12 in the form of a ring 10 provided alons the edge of the sheet 10. Rim 12 includes a first surface 14 and a seeond surface 16. Interposed be-tween first surface 14 and second surfaee 16 is a foam layer 18, as shown in Fig. 4. Foam layer 18 is preferably made of a soft, closed cell foam having a thickness of 1/16 ineh to r 15 1/8 ineh. Rim 12 further includes an inner or first periphery 20 and an outer or seconcl periphery 22. A first aclhcsive layer 24 is appliecl over first surface 14 while a second adhesive layer/ls applied over seeond surface 16. A space 2b iS formed within the confines of inner periphery 20 of 20 ri~ 12. A eovering layer 28 is eontiguously eonnected to r the i~st adhesive layer/and extends over space 26. Covering layer 28 preferably is made of a thin, transparent sheet of plastic which is elastic, such as vinyl or polyester. A
release backincJ 30 is provided over the seeo~-.d adhesive layer 25 25 of rim 12 to protect the adhesive quality thereof until the deviee is ready for use.
Although Fig. 1 shows the shape of the sheet 10 to be generally circular, it is understood that many other shapes are equally feasible to act as an ineontinenee device as 30 described herein. A generally hexagonal sheet 10 can also be provided, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Similar to the eireular sheet, hexagonal sheet 1~ ineludes a rim 12 having the same strueture AS shown in Fig. 4 and a eovering layer

2~. ~urthermore, sheet 10 may have an ovaL, octagonal or any 35 other configuration which is adaptable for the application whieh is to be subsequently deseribed in detail.

-The application of the male incontinence device with a ~rainge tube is best seen in Fig. 3. ~ penis 32 is illustra-ted which anatomically includes a shaft 34 and a llead or ylans 36. A depression 38, which is defined as the coronal 05 sulcus, is formed on the shaft 34 and is located immediately adjacent the head 36 between the shaft 34 and the head 36.
The depression 38 completely encirclès the penis and is present-in both circumcised and uncircumcised males. Of significance -to the application of this invention is the 10 fact that the blood sup~ly to the shaft 34 of the penis 32 is virtually separate froM the ~lood supply to the head 36.
Conse~uently, a relatively tigllt constriction of the coronal sulcus 38 does not restrict the vascular supply to the head of the penis. This conclusion of minimal or no effect on 15 blood supply to the penis head when a relatively tight constriction is imposed on the coronal sulcus has been verified through experimentation. Furthermore this conclusion has been supported by the effects of a condition naturally occuring in uncircumcised males medically termed paraphynosis.
20 Paraphynosis is the retraction of an already constricted foreskin to the coronal sulcus. l`he band of constriction in the foreskin cannot be dislodged and the foreskin becomes markedly edernatous, thereby losing its usual appearance and can become gangrenous. When this condition has occurred, it 25 was noticed that the penis head essentially maintained its usual appearance and fitness as tlle blood supply was virtually unimpeded thereto.
In applying t~le incontinence device of this invention the release backing 30 is initially removed from the first 30 surface 14 of rim 12 to expose first adhesive layer 24. l`he sheet 10 is placed over a first or front side of the penis 32, wllich is the side of the penis opposite that side adjacent the scrotum of the male. Portions of the inner periphery 20 of rim 12 are seated in the coronal sulcus 38 while those 35 portions of the rim 12 laterally adjacent the seating por- !
tions of inner periphery 20 are adhesively connected to the shaft 34. ~ drainage tube 40 is placed adjacent the urethra opening. The sheet 10 is then folded around the head 36 of t71,,7 the penis 32 in the direction of the underside of -the penis towards the scrotum so that portions of rim 12 adhesively contact each other, as shown in Fig. 5. The sheet 10 is thereby maintained on the penis head 36 and the drainage 05tube 40 held therein. Conveniently, a collector (not shown) is attached to the end of the drainage tube 40, opposite -the end adjacent the urethra opening, to catch the urine flowing through drainage tube 40. The sheet 10 is of a size to comfortably but sealingly cover the penis head 36 so that 10 urine or fluid cannot escape from the urethra opening except through draina(je tube 40.
Although the incontinence device has been described for use with a drainage tube 40, Figs. 6 and 7 show another embodiment in which the device is attached to the penis 15 without the drainage tube 40. The embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 is virtually identical to the device previously described except that the incontinence device is relatively larger ln size to accommodate the fluid F passing from tlle urethra. Con-sequently, the device can be used to trap fluid over a period 20 of time when the leaka~e from the urethra opening is minimal.
After becoming filled with fluid, the device is discarded and replaced.
A third embodiment of the device is depicted in Fig. 8.
Again, the embodiment of Fig. 8 is virtually identical to the 25 device previously described except that it is relatively smaller in size to fit closely about the penis head. The device acts as a condom to trap sperm with the rim 12 formed of a very soft foam and the covering layer 28 made of a very soft and thin polypropylene material.
Based on the foregoing description, a number of worthwhile adv~ntages for the present invention are readily apparent. A device is provided which is tightly and sealing-ly applied to the penis head to aid an incontinent male as well r as for use as a condom. The device is tightly seated in the 35 coronal sulcus so that the blood supply to the head of the penis is minimally impeded. The incontinence device may be used together with a drainage tube to deliver urine escaping L r7 ~ 7 the urethra to a receptacle or the device may be used by it-self to trap and hold urine which passes from the urethra in small amounts over a period of time. Furthermore, the tight seal about the penis head greatly minimizes the escape of 05 urine except through the drainage tube tllereby substantially minimizing the excoriation and maceration of the penis. The incontinent device is quickly and efficiently applied and is inexpensively made so that it can be readily disposed of.
The device is also lightweight and of simple construction so 10 that it is comfortable to the wearer. In addition, the device has application as a condom wherein it is attached closely about the penis head to prevent tlle passage of sperm there-through.
This invention has been described iJI detail with 15 reference to a plurality of embodiments thereoE, but it will be understood that various other modifications can be effec-ted within the spiri-t and scoye of this invention.

Claims (2)

1. A method for attaching an incontinence device to the penis of a male using a discharge tube therewith, comprising the steps of:
providing a discharge tube and a flexible planar sheet having a closed circumferentially planar rim attached in an overlying relationship to said planar sheet with an inner periphery and an outer periphery;
seating said inner periphery of said rim immediately adjacent the coronal sulcus of the penis while said outer periphery of said rim surrounds the shaft of the penis;
placing an end of the discharge tube adjacent the penis head;

folding said sheet around the penis head and the end of the drainage tube;
forming secured portions and unsecured portions of said rim; and connecting the unsecured portions of said rim together along the entire width of said rim portions, the width being defined as the distance between said outer periphery and said inner periphery, to tightly secure the device and the discharge tube to the penis to greatly minimize the escape of fluid from the penis except through the discharge tube.

2. A method adapted for attaching a device to the penis of a male, comprising the steps of:
providing a single, flexible, substantially planar sheet impervious to the passage of fluid having a closed circumferen-tially planar rim attached in an overlying relationship to said planar, sheet, said rim having an inner periphery and an outer periphery;
folding said sheet to surround the penis head;
forming secured portions and unsecured portions of said rim; and connecting the unsecured portions of said rim together along the entire width of said rim portions, the width being defined as the distance between said outer periphery and said inner periphery, to tightly secure the device to the penis so that fluid escaping the urethra opening of the penis is contained in the device.