GB1581920A - Device for use in female catheterization - Google Patents

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR USE IN FEMALE CATHETERIZATION (71) We, OUTCASTLE LIMITED, a British company of 37/41 Bedford Row, London W.C.1., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a device for use in female catheterization.

In the catheterization of women patients, i.e. the removal of urine from the bladder through a tube known as a catheter, it is important to introduce the sterile catheter into the urethra at the first attempt. If this is not done there is a high risk of causing a urinary tract infection which will cause the patient considerable discomfort and, in some cases, can result in a prolonged illness and even the death of the patient.

If the sterile catheter is not introduced into the urethra at the first attempt it should be discarded and a fresh catheter used.

However, it is not easy to identify the exact location of the urethra at the first attempt and in practice several catheters may be used before a satisfactory introduction of the catheter is effected. The discarding of several unused catheters is, of course, extremely wasteful.

In identifying the position of the urethra in a female patient the labia majora must be pulled apart and this exposes the vagina which is a non-sterile region. Consequently as the catheter is introduced into the area of the urethra there is a risk of it being inadvertently introduced into the vagina and causing infection of the urethra.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which will facilitate the introduction of a catheter into the urethra and, at the same time, reduce the likelihood of infectious contaminants passing from the vagina, and below from the rectum, into the urethra.

Accordingly the present invention provides a device for use in carrying out female catheterization comprising first and second members defining a gap between them and adapted, in use, to hold the labia majora apart, and closure means adapted, in use, to at least partially cover the vagina.

Preferably said members are movable with respect to one another to vary the size of the gap defined between them.

The device may be provided with catch means for holding the members in a plurality of pre-selected positions. The device may be provided with stops for facilitating relative movement of the members.

A specific embodiment of a device, according to the present invention, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in the fully closed position, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device in the fully open position and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the device in use.

The device comprises a pair of flat plates 11, 12, each shaped to provide an arcuate arm 13, 14. The plates are mounted one on top the other by means of a stud 15 which allows them to swivel relatively to each other. Thus the arms 13, 14 can be pulled outwardly from their fully closed position, shown in Fig. 1 to a fully open position shown in Fig. 2.

Each plate 11, 12 is provided on its inner surface with a set of teeth 16. Each set of teeth 16 on each plate are arranged in a curved formation so as to co-operate with one another. The arms 13, 14 can be pulled apart or pushed together but, in the absence of any applied force to the arms, the teeth 16 serve to hold the arms 13, 14 in any preselected position between the fully closed and fully open position.

Each arm 13, 14 is provided with a curved rib 17, 18 which projects outwardly on either side of the plate 11, 12. A stop 19, 20 projects outwardly from one side of each plate, to facilitate introduction of the device and movement of the arms 13, 14 when the device is in use.

The device is moulded from a suitable plastics material to render it easily sterilised before use. It is preferably discarded after a single use.

As shown in Fig. 3, when carrying out a female catheterization the device is inserted between the labia majora so that the ribs 17, 18 on the arms 13, 14 hold the labia majora 21 apart to leave a gabetween the arms 13, 14 in which the urethra 22 is exposed. The stops 19, 20 can be urged towards or away from one another to adjust the size of the gap between the arms 13, 14 according to the particular dimensions of the patient being treated.

The portion of the plates 11, 12 below the arms 13, 14 cover the vagina and prevent transfer of infectious contaminants from the vagina into the area around the urethra. The device will hold the labia majora apart leaving the person carrying out the catheterization free to use both hands to locate the urethra and introduce the catheter.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for use in female catheterization comprising first and second members defining a gap between them and adapted, in use, to hold the labia majora apart, and closure means adapted, in use, to at least partially cover the vagina.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said members are movable relative to one another to vary the size of the gap between them.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 comrising catch means for holding the mem ers in a plurality of pre-selecte positions.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the members are provided with stops for facilitating relative movement of the members.

5. A device for use in female catheterization substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawmgs.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. rib 17, 18 which projects outwardly on either side of the plate 11, 12. A stop 19, 20 projects outwardly from one side of each plate, to facilitate introduction of the device and movement of the arms 13, 14 when the device is in use. The device is moulded from a suitable plastics material to render it easily sterilised before use. It is preferably discarded after a single use. As shown in Fig. 3, when carrying out a female catheterization the device is inserted between the labia majora so that the ribs 17, 18 on the arms 13, 14 hold the labia majora 21 apart to leave a gabetween the arms 13, 14 in which the urethra 22 is exposed. The stops 19, 20 can be urged towards or away from one another to adjust the size of the gap between the arms 13, 14 according to the particular dimensions of the patient being treated. The portion of the plates 11, 12 below the arms 13, 14 cover the vagina and prevent transfer of infectious contaminants from the vagina into the area around the urethra. The device will hold the labia majora apart leaving the person carrying out the catheterization free to use both hands to locate the urethra and introduce the catheter. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for use in female catheterization comprising first and second members defining a gap between them and adapted, in use, to hold the labia majora apart, and closure means adapted, in use, to at least partially cover the vagina.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said members are movable relative to one another to vary the size of the gap between them.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 comrising catch means for holding the mem ers in a plurality of pre-selecte positions.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the members are provided with stops for facilitating relative movement of the members.

5. A device for use in female catheterization substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawmgs.