GB1344357A - Urethral catheter applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

1344357 Urethral catheter D H KUNTZ 19 April 1971 [25 March 1970] 26030/71 Heading A5R A urethral catheter applicator device 10 comprises a container for storing a catheter 22, an opening through which the catheter 22 may be withdrawn from said container, and relatively reciprocable elements 14, 18 adjacent the container for withdrawing the catheter for application to a patient. One embodiment of the invention comprises a storage cartridge 12, a first container 14 disposed over a cartridge 12, a coiled spring 16 disposed over container 14, a second container 18 disposed over spring 16 and first container 14, and a nose portion 20 connected to the front end of container 18, the elements assembled as in Fig. 1. The device 10, dimensioned to be manipulated with one hand only, is preferably formed of clean, transparent plastics material so that observation may be made through nose portion 20 during application. The front end 80 of catheter 22 may be inserted manually or by means of the applicator itself into the urethra and the operator, gripping the device at the base 30 and rim 62 between thumb and forefingers, Fig. 7 (not shown), moves containers 14, 18 towards each other against the action of spring 16. The pressure is then eased to allow spring 16 to return to its uncompressed state. This reciprocating action has the effect of progressively drawing catheter 22 from its coiled position in portion (24), Fig. 2 (not shown), straightening and intermittently moving it forward and out of passageway 78 and into and through the patient's urethra. Flaps (54), (66) prevent the catheter 22 from retreating each time spring 16 is released from compression. Further embodiments include the use of a pair of resilient strips (86), Fig. 3, 4 (not shown), instead of a coiled spring 16, a flexible, transparent sleeve (110), Figs. 5, 6 (not shown), and a resilient spring member (124) connecting parts (126), (128), Figs. 8, 9 (not shown).