JPH0399675A - Internal urethral catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an incontinence device under a user's control by burdening with a magnetic excursion force on a forcing means, separating a valve member from a valve seat to have a valve means in a released state, removing the magnetic excursion force and having a functional means for the forcing means to push automatically the valve member to a normal closure position. CONSTITUTION: An incontinence valve 60 installed in an incontinence part 12 at a pre-determined distance from the end 28 of the cylinder member 16, contains a ball member 64 which is under tension normally against a valve seat part 66 having conical plane and a valve inlet 68. A forcing means 70 which forces the ball member 64 in order to close the valve inlet 68, contains a forcing spring 72 and a cylinder-type magnetically operational member 74 fixed to one end of the forcing spring 72. The spring seat member 76 is installed at a pre-determined distance from the valve seat 66 and maintains the other end of the forcing spring 72. Normally, the incontinence valve 60 at a closure position is operated in a released state by a magnet 77 which can be moved by an exterior hand. The magnet 77 is positioned by a hand in close proximity with a phallus 79 which causes the magnetically operational member 74 is drawn and the ball 64 is kept away from the valve seat 66 and a fluid can flow by way of the valve inlet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to user-controlled incontinence devices for men, and more particularly to indwelling catheters with magnetically actuatable drainage valves.

(7) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Male urinary incontinence is a common problem that can result from muscle weakness, post-operative surgical damage to the urinary sphincter, or a variety of other debilitating problems. To date, there has been no satisfactory surgical treatment to correct incontinence to the extent that bladder control is substantially restored.

Known devices for treating the problem of male incontinence include urinary catheters that allow the bladder to urinate continuously into a collection bag without the user controlling urine output. Such devices therefore limit the physical activity of the user.

Other known devices for dealing with male incontinence problems are U.S. Pat.
, No. 026,298 and No. 4,350,161, which are intended for some type of urinary control and include user-controlled valves.

The patent requires manipulation of the valve through the penis to place it in an open position through which urine can flow. Manipulating the penis to activate the valve to the open position to allow urine to pass (8) can sometimes be painful or compress the urethra and prevent bladder emptying.

US Pat. No. 3,812,841 shows a magnetically controlled valve placed near the bladder. This valve is
It is actuated to the open position by an external battery-powered magnetic actuator packaged in a relatively large housing that is cumbersome for use. This device interferes with the user's activities because it requires access to a magnetically actuated device to urinate from the bladder. The user must therefore carry the magnetically actuated device himself at all times, or his activities are restricted to locations where the magnetically actuated device can be used. U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,620 also shows a magnetic valve system requiring external actuation of the valve by a battery-powered magnetic actuator.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,670 shows a magnetically actuated two-barrel duct valve having two valve seats that respectively place the valve in an open position and a closed position (9). ing. The valve is actuated into an open or closed position by an external magnet. However, it does not automatically stop fluid flow when urine output is complete. Therefore, the user may inadvertently forget to actuate the valve from its open position to its closed position. Another problem is that the user may not be able to tell when the valve is actuated to the closed position and may think that the valve is in the closed position when it is actually in the open position. It is.

U.S. Patent No. 3,419,008, No. 3.926.17
No. 5, No. 3,939,821 and No. 4,024,85
No. 5 relates to a magnetically actuated valve clamp for pinching or constricting a body passageway, such as the urethra, in a closed position.

Such devices require surgical implantation of the tightening device and are not easily removed for repair or replacement.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a user-controlled incontinence device having a vent valve that can be actuated without the need for battery wiring or other bulky and cumbersome attachments that interfere with user activity. (10) is desired. It would further be desirable to provide a user-controlled incontinence device that is magnetically actuated to an open position to permit the release of urine and that automatically returns to a closed position when magnetic actuation is no longer performed. ing.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Among several objects of the present invention, a novel internal urinary catheter capable of controlling incontinence, a novel internal urinary catheter having a reservoir magnetically operable control valve for controlling bladder drainage; Novel internal urinary catheters for incontinence control that can be placed entirely inside the penis, making it impossible to carry them inside the penis; Novel internal urinary catheters with incontinence control valves that are small enough to be carried in a pocket and that can be easily activated by a magnet; a novel internal urinary catheter with a valve that automatically closes when the magnetically actuated device is removed from the penis;
It is noted that a novel magnetically actuated valve and a novel method of fluid evacuation from the bladder are provided.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent in part and are set forth in part below.

[Failure to solve the problem]

In one embodiment, the incontinence control internal urinary catheter of the present invention includes a flexible elongated tubular member having a fluid evacuation passageway. The tubular member has bladder engaging means and urethral stop means that cooperate to prevent movement of the tubular member from its position in the urethra and bladder.

Valve means for controlling incontinence is provided at the opposite end of the tubular member for controlling movement of fluid through the drainage passageway. The valve means includes a valve member having a normally closed position. The valve member is magnetically actuatable to an open position by a small magnetic member held near the penis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve means includes a magnetically actuatable member, an axially aligned ball valve and a valve opening in a valve seat under the action of a biasing spring. This magnetically actuatable member is biased by a magnet that is manually placed on the outside of the penis near the valve means. This outer magnet biases the magnetically actuatable member out of alignment with the valve orifice, allowing the ball valve to disengage from the valve seat and allowing fluid to flow through the valve orifice and exit the penis.

Removal of the outer magnetic member from a position proximate the valve means in the penis allows the valve means to automatically assume its normal closed position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the valve seat is at the upstream end of the fluid flow path. When the fluid pressure within the fluid outlet passageway of the incontinence device increases to a predetermined pressure, this pressure acts to move the valve ball away from the valve seat. Fluid can then be expelled from the penis without external magnetic valve actuation. The incontinence device thus has a pressure relief feature that ensures release of fluid at a pressure intensity that does not damage the bladder, kidneys or other parts of the urinary system.

In another embodiment of the invention, the valve ball and seat are located in a downstream portion of the fluid discharge passage. This embodiment does not include a pressure relief feature (13) and evacuation of fluid through the valve always requires actuating the valve to the open position with an external magnet.

The invention therefore consists of the structure and method described below, and the scope of the invention is defined in the claims.

〔Example〕

A catheter assembly comprising one embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 4-9, catheter assembly I
O includes an incontinent portion 12 and an inflatable evacuation member 14 adapted to be removably joined to the incontinent portion 12.

The incontinence portion 12 includes an enlarged tubular member 16 which may be made of silicone. The tubular member 16 has an outer tubular surface 18 and an inner fluid evacuation passageway 20. Exhaust passageway 20 extends from end portion 22 of tubular member 16 to opposite end portion 2B. End portion 2 of tubular member 16
2 has a drainage part (14) and an oppositely arranged bladder drainage opening 2 communicating with the tract 20.
4 and 26 are provided.

Inflatable bladder balloon 3, preferably made of silicone
0 is joined to the periphery of the tubular member 16 at a predetermined distance from the end portion 22. An inflatable urethral cuff 32, also made of silicone, is joined to the periphery of tubular member I6 at a predetermined distance from bladder balloon 30. bladder balloon 30
and urethral cuff 32 are initially contracted as shown in FIG.

Opposite end portions 34 and 36 of bladder balloon 30 are secured to tubular member 16 in a leaktight manner using a suitable conventional silicone adhesive.
is fixed to the outer surface 18 of. Urethral cuff 3 in a similar manner
2 opposite ends 38 and 40 of tubular member 16
It is fixed to prevent liquid leakage.

As best seen in FIG. 8, a pair of inflation lumens (conduits) 42 and 44 are formed inside the tubular member 16. Inflation lumen 42 communicates with bladder balloon 30, for example, and inflation lumen 44 communicates with urethral cuff 32.

Distal portion 46 of inflation lumen 42 is provided with a spring-loaded ball valve 48 which is normally in a closed position relative to valve seat 50 . Similarly, inflation lumen 44 extends to distal portion 52.
includes a spring-loaded ball valve 54 which is normally in a closed position relative to a valve seat 56.

An incontinence valve 60 connects the incontinence portion 12 to the end portion 28 of the tubular member 16.
is provided at a predetermined distance from the

The incontinence valve 60 includes a ball member 64 that is normally biased against a valve seat portion 66 having a conical surface and a valve port 68.
Contains. Ball member 64 can be formed of, for example, gold-plated stainless steel, plastic, silicone, or borosilicate glass.

Biasing means 70 for biasing ball member 64 to close valve port 68 includes a biasing spring 72 and a magnetically actuatable member 74 in the form of a cylinder secured to one end of biasing spring 72. I'm here. The biasing spring 72 is made of stainless steel (MP35
(N), a corrosion resistant alloy of Monel, Nickel and Copper) or any other non-magnetic spring material.

A spring seat member 76 is provided at a predetermined distance from the valve seat 66 to hold the opposite end of the biasing spring 72. Spring seat 76 can be made of stainless steel or plastic, for example.

The incontinence valve 60, which is normally in the closed position, is actuated to the open position by an external manually movable magnet 77 (FIGS. 3, 11 and 13). Magnet 77 can be formed from a rare earth element magnet such as neodymium-iron-boron or samarium-cobalt. The magnetically actuating member 74 may be formed of neodymium-iron-boron or samarium-cobalt.

When the incontinence valve 60 is normally open as shown in FIG.
Fluid is prevented from passing through the valve port 68 from the fluid discharge passage 20, so that the excretion suppressing ability can be maintained. Biasing spring 7
2 and the magnetically actuated member 74 provide a predetermined biasing force on the ball member 64 sufficient to maintain the ball member 64 in a closed position during activities associated with a relatively active person. (17) is selected. Therefore, there is a small chance that the ball member 64 will inadvertently disengage from the valve seat 66 due to the user's physical activity or exercise.

However, once the fluid pressure within fluid passageway 20 reaches a predetermined height that overcomes the biasing force of biasing spring 72, ball member 64 separates from valve seat 66 and magnetically actuated member 74 is actuated or not. Fluid is now allowed to flow through the incontinence valve 60 regardless. This effect is intended to avoid the formation of excessive pressure in the bladder, which would be harmful to the bladder or other parts of the body, such as the kidneys. The incontinence valve 60 thus provides an automatic pressure relief safety feature whose relief pressure is a function of spring force.

When it is desired to operate the incontinence valve 60 in the open condition, a magnet 77 is manually placed proximate the penis 79 as shown in FIG. 11, thereby moving the magnetic actuating member 74 from the position of FIG. To pull (or push back). Movement of magnetically actuating member 74 from the aligned position of ball 64 and valve port 68 allows ball 64 to move away from valve seat 66, allowing fluid (18) to pass through the valve port as shown in FIG. can flow.

Magnetically actuating member 74 and ball member 64 are sized such that the ball cannot pass between magnetically actuating member 74 and the wall of tubular member 16 .

Therefore, for all possible deviations of the magnetically actuating member 74, the ball member 64 is always retained between the free end portion of the magnetically actuating member 74 and the valve seat 66.

When the hand-actuated magnet 77 is drawn from the base toward the incontinence valve 60, the biasing spring 72 and magnetic actuation member 74 force the ball member 64 against the valve seat 66 into the normal closed position, where the ball member 64 closes valve port 68.

The externally movable magnet 77 is preferably, e.g. 1 inch (2.54 cm) x 3 inches (7.62 cm)
At 3/16" (0.48 cm) thick, it has dimensions that allow it to fit in a pocket without getting in the way.

If desired, this externally movable magnet 77 can be housed in a non-magnetic bag or container.

(19) The inflation/evacuation member 14 includes an evacuation conduit member 78 having an internal conduit passageway 80 extending from an end portion 82 (FIG. 4) to an opposite end portion 84. The discharge conduit member may be formed of silicone, polyvinyl chloride, or any other suitable known biocompatible thermoplastic.

A pair of inflation lumens 86 and 88 (FIGS. 5-8), corresponding to inflation lumens 42 and 44, are formed on the inner surface of conduit passageway 80.

An engagement assembly 90 formed of a suitable plastic or metal, such as stainless steel, is attached to the end portion 8 of the discharge conduit member 7B.
2 includes a camp portion 92 adapted to form a leaktight seal around the 2. Extending longitudinally from cap portion 92 is a pair of inflation needles 94 and 96 having respective inflation openings 98 and 100. These inflation needles 94 and 9
6 is aligned with and forms an extension of inflation lumens 86 and 88. Rounded ends 102 and 104
are formed at each free end of inflation needles 94 and 96.

A conduit extension piece 106, which may be formed of plastic or stainless steel (20), projects from cap portion 92 intermediate inflation needles 94 and 96. This conduit extension 106 is an extension of the conduit passage 80 and is an extension of the tubular member 1
6 defines a conduit extension passageway 107 of complementary cross section with a discharge passageway 20.

Discharge extension 1 with branch section 110 (FIGS. 1 and 4) joining end section 84 of discharge conduit member 78 and communicating with conduit passageway 80.
Contains 12. Branch member 110 further includes syringe receiver portions 114 communicating with inflation lumens 86 and 88, respectively.
and 116.

When using catheter assembly 10, inflation/evacuation member 1
4 is joined to incontinence portion 12 by aligning inflation needles 94 and 96 with lumen portions 42 and 44 of tubular member 12 as shown in FIG.

The free end portion of the conduit extension 106 is therefore connected to the inflation needle 9
4 and 96 are inserted into the lumen portions 42 and 44 to engage as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.
The receiver is inserted into the fluid passage 20 downstream from the incontinence valve 60. The circumference of tubular member 120 (21) substantially conforms to the circumference of cap portion 92 to provide a smooth continuous surface for mating of tubular member 12 and engagement assembly 90.

As the inflation needles 94 and 96 enter the distal ends 46 and 52 of the lumen portions 42 and 44, they are inserted into the respective balls 48 and 5.
4 away from each valve seat 50 and 56 and into the inflation lumens 42 and 44 of tubular member 16 as shown in FIG.

A collection bag 118 (FIG. 4) is connected to the discharge extension 112 and the syringe receivers are connected to sections 114 and 11 with each syringe 120 and 122 carrying a suitable predetermined amount of any suitable known inflation fluid.
6.

After the incontinent portion 12 and the inflation/evacuation member 14 are joined together, a suitable conventional lubricant (not shown) is applied to the tubular member 16.
is applied to the tubular surface 18 of. The tubular member 16 is connected to the urethra 12
The deflated bladder balloon 30 inserted into the bladder 130 is positioned within the bladder 130. Tubular member 16 is sized such that incontinence valve 60 is substantially aligned with the penile canal. A variety of different lengths of tubular member 16 are available in stock to ensure alignment of the penile canal (22).

With the deflated bladder balloon 30 thus placed in the bladder 130, the syringes 120 and 122 direct fluid to each lumen passageway 8.
actuated to push through 6-42 and 88-44;
The bladder balloon 30 and urethral cuff 32 are inflated as shown in FIG.

Once inflation is complete, the syringes 120 and 122 are removed and the syringe receivers allow the self-sealing valves 124 and 126 on portions 114 and 116 to ensure that the inflated volumes of the bladder balloon 30 and urethral cuff 32 are maintained. Guarantee.

Bladder fluid 132 (FIG. 4) thus flows through openings 24 and 2.
6, passes through the fluid discharge passage 20, flows into the conduit extension passage 107, and passes through the conduit passage 80 to the collection bag 11.
You can fit into 8. Fluid passage 20.107.
There is no communication between 80 and inflation lumens 42.44 and 86.88.

Under this structure, an external magnet 77 is used to hold the magnet 77 close to the penis, such as a prolapse band device (not shown).
When held close to the penis in any suitable manner, such as, bladder fluid 132 can continuously drain from the bladder 130 through the incontinence valve 60 into the collection bag 118. If continuous emptying is not preferred and a collection bag 118 is used, the incontinence valve 60 is held in its normal closed position and activated using the magnet 77 in the manner already described. The filled collection bag 118 can be emptied or replaced as needed.

When the patient is able to control his or her own bladder emptying without the collection bag 118, the inflation/evacuation member 14 is removed from the incontinence portion 12 as shown in FIG. The patient can thus manually control bladder emptying by selectively opening the incontinence valve 60 using the magnet 77.

As inflation/evacuation member 14 is separated from incontinence portion 12, inflation needles 94 and 96 are withdrawn from lumens 42 and 44 and spring-loaded ball valves 48 and 54 assume their normal closed positions. The inflated volumes of bladder balloon 30 and urethral cuff 32 are thus maintained.

Bladder fluid 132 is in bladder 130 where bladder emptying is desired (2
4) As the penis builds up to the point where the patient holds the magnet 77 in his hand near the penis, as shown in FIG. The magnet 77 does not need to be positioned accurately, but the reason is that
When this magnet is placed next to the penis near the penile canal, the valve 6
This is because it has sufficient magnetic flux to open 0.

When bladder emptying is complete, removal of magnet 77 from the region of the penile canal allows valve 60 to resume its normal closed position, thereby blocking fluid drainage passageway 20 and allowing bladder fluid 132 to flow through bladder 130. to be able to accumulate in the

The patient is thus able to control and limit bladder release as he or she chooses. As will become clear below, the incontinent portion 12 that allows this control is placed entirely within the penis and is rendered virtually inseparable.

If the need arises to remove the incontinent portion 12 from the urethra 128, the penis is folded back against the pubic bone to expose the distal end of the incontinent portion 12. Tube member 16 is cut proximate valves 48 and 54 to allow bladder balloon 30 and urethral (25) cuff 32 to be deflated. The incontinence part 12 can then be removed.

Another embodiment of the catheter assembly is indicated generally by the reference numeral 140 in FIGS. 12 and 13. Catheter assembly 140 including incontinence portion 142 does not have pressure relief features and is structurally identical to catheter assembly 10 except for the orientation of placement of incontinence valve 150 in incontinence portion 142 .

Incontinence valve 150 includes the same components as incontinence valve 60. However, the valve seat 66 and ball member 64 are in the downstream flow portion of the tubular member 16.

Under this structure, the bladder fluid 13 in the fluid drainage passage 20
The accumulation of 2 causes the ball 64 to remain on the valve seat 66 in its closed position.

Actuation of the incontinence valve 150 to the open position requires placing a hand-operated magnet 77 near the valve 150, as shown in FIG. The operation of valve 150 is similar in all other respects to the operation of valve 60.

Accordingly, positioning magnet 77 near valve 150 biases magnetically actuating member 74 away from alignment (26) with valve port 68. When magnetically actuated member 74 is biased in this manner, ball member 64 is no longer stably positioned relative to valve port 68 and fluid discharge passageway 2
The fluid within the valve releases the ball from the valve seat and flows through the valve port 68 and out of the penis as schematically shown in FIG.

By removing magnet 77 from a position proximate to the penis, biasing spring 72 is able to push magnetic actuating member 74 toward valve port 68 and restrain ball member 64 against valve port 68 . Fluid flow through the discharge passageway 20 thus ceases without magnetic actuation of the magnetically actuated member 74.

Attachment and operation of catheter assembly 140 with inflation/evacuation member 14 is performed in the same manner as previously described for catheter assembly 10.

an incontinent portion 12, such as a non-distensible helix and a male hip portion;
Any other suitable known means of securing the and 142 within the bladder may be used, and any other suitable known non-inflatable cuff device should be used to prevent incontinence in the urethra (27). .

Certain advantages of the present invention apparent from the foregoing include an incontinence-controlled intraurethral catheter that provides continuous bladder emptying options and user-controlled bladder emptying options. Either of these options can be obtained by simply attaching the catheter assembly to the urethra and bladder.

Another advantage is that the valve means that controls the flow of fluid from the bladder.
It can be operated magnetically by a small, relatively harmless magnet, no larger than a small key case, and easily carried by the user. Another advantage is that the incontinence valve does not require manual manipulation of the penis to activate the valve. This manual operation is painful and requires manual dexterity. Use of the magnetic device of the present invention requires little manual dexterity and does not require manipulation of the penis to activate the incontinence valve and is therefore painless.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen (28) that several objects of the present invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

Since various modifications may be made to the structures and methods described above without departing from the scope of the invention, all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted in an illustrative manner and in a limiting sense. It is intended that it cannot be interpreted in any way.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of an intracorporeally inserted urinary catheter incorporating an embodiment of the present invention showing its attachment to the penis, and FIG. 2 shows its collection bag and inflation device installed. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the incontinence device being magnetically actuated to allow fluid to exit the bladder; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the urethra removed. Figure 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 in the assembled state, (29) Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the body-inserted urinary catheter before it is attached to the bladder. FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9; FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the valve means in the operative state with the valve means in the closed position; and FIG. 11 is the valve means magnetically actuated in the open position to allow fluid flow. FIGS. 12 and 13 are views similar to FIG. 10 showing valve closed and opened positions corresponding to those shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 of other embodiments of the invention. FIG. Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings. 10... Catheter assembly, 12... Incontinence part, 1
4... Inflation and discharge portion, 16... Tubular member, 2
0...Drainage passageway, 30...Bladder balloon, 32...Urethral cuff, 6
0... Incontinence valve, 64... Ball member, 6
6... Valve seat portion, 68... Valve port, (30) 70... Biasing means, 74... Magnetic actuation member, 77... Magnet. 72...Biasing spring, 76...Spring seat member,

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. (a) a flexible elongated tubular member having a fluid evacuation passage; (2) engaging means for engaging the neck portion of the bladder at one end portion of the tubular member, comprising: (c) a tubular member having an opening at said one end portion and communicating with said fluid evacuation passageway for evacuation of fluid from said bladder into said evacuation passageway; (c) said evacuation from said bladder; a valve means in said tubular member for controlling the movement of fluid through said passageway, said valve means having a normally closed condition to prevent fluid flow through said valve means; (d) said valve means comprises a movable valve member, a valve seat and said valve member when said valve means is in said normally closed position; (e) applying a magnetic biasing force on the biasing means to cause the valve member to move away from the valve seat; actuating means for placing the valve member in the open state and removing the magnetic biasing force so that the biasing means can automatically urge the valve member to the normally closed position. 2. The internal urinary catheter of claim 1, wherein the biasing means includes a spring having a fixed end portion and a biasable end portion. 3. said biasing means includes a magnetically actuatable member, said magnetically actuable member having a first predetermined position relative to said valve seat when said valve member is in said closed position; The internal urinary catheter of claim 1, wherein the internal urinary catheter is magnetically movable away from the first predetermined position relative to the valve seat when in the open state. 4. The magnetically actuated member is at a first predetermined distance from the valve seat when the valve member is in the closed position and at a first predetermined distance from the valve seat when the valve member is in the open state. 4. The internal urinary catheter of claim 3, wherein the internal urinary catheter is at a second predetermined distance greater than the distance. 5. said valve means includes a longitudinal axis, said magnetic actuating member being axially aligned with said valve seat when said valve member is in said closed position and said valve member is in said open position; The internal urinary catheter of claim 1, wherein the magnetically actuated member is adapted to move out of axial alignment with the valve seat. 6. The internal urinary catheter of claim 5, wherein the magnetically actuated member is adapted to be biased from the longitudinal axis when the valve member is in the open state. 7. The internal urinary catheter of claim 5, wherein the magnetically actuated member is adapted to be displaced relative to the longitudinal axis when the valve member is in the open state. 8. The internal urinary catheter of claim 3, wherein the magnetically actuated member is formed of a magnetic or magnetically attractive material. 9. The internal urinary catheter according to claim 3, wherein the magnetically actuated member has a cylindrical overall shape. 10. the magnetically actuating member includes opposing ends, the biasing means further including a spring having opposing ends, one end of the magnetically actuating member contacting one end of the spring; 4. The internal urinary catheter of claim 3, wherein the other end of the spring has a fixed position within the valve means and the other end of the magnetically actuated member is engageable with the valve member. . 11. The internal urinary catheter of claim 10, wherein the valve member is a ball. 12. The internal urinary catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve member is arranged within the tubular member such that the normal path of fluid flow through the tubular member is from the valve seat to the valve member. . 13. The internal urinary catheter of claim 1, wherein said valve means is arranged within said tubular member such that the normal path of fluid flow through the tubular member is in the direction from the valve member to the valve seat. . 14. (a) a valve seat having a port; (b) a valve member engageable with the valve seat to close the port; and (c) normal pressing of the valve member into engagement with the valve seat. (d) biasing means for retaining said port in a closed condition when said valve is in a first unbiased position corresponding to a closed condition of said valve and when said valve is away from said valve seat; (e) applying a magnetic biasing force on the magnetically actuating member to cause the magnetically actuating member to biasing the valve member from the first unbiased position to place the valve in the open condition such that removal of the magnetic biasing force causes the biasing means to automatically urge the valve member to the normally closed position; a valve consisting of an external actuating means for activating the valve; 15. said valve means includes a longitudinal axis, said magnetic actuating member being axially aligned with said valve seat when said valve member is in said closed position and said valve member is in said open position; 15. The internal urinary catheter of claim 14, wherein the magnetically actuated member is adapted to move out of axial alignment with the valve seat. 16. The internal urinary catheter of claim 15, wherein the magnetically actuated member is biased from the longitudinal axis when the valve member is in the open state. 17. The internal urinary catheter of claim 15, wherein the magnetically actuated member has an overall cylindrical shape. 18, said magnetically actuating member includes opposite ends, said biasing means further includes a spring having opposite ends, one end of said magnetically actuating member is in contact with one end of said spring, and said biasing means further includes a spring having opposite ends; 16. The internal urinary catheter of claim 15, wherein the other end of the spring has a fixed position in the valve means and the other end of the magnetically actuated member is engageable with the valve member. 19. The internal urinary catheter of claim 18, wherein the valve member is a ball. 20. (a) placing a catheter within the urethra and bladder; (b) incorporating in the catheter a magnetically actuated, user-controlled valve configured to be normally closed, allowing bladder drainage to occur through the catheter; (c) activating the valve in the open position by means of an external magnet placed near the penis; (d) a magnet; a method of draining fluid from the bladder comprising the steps of: removing the valve from the vicinity of the penis and allowing the valve to resume its normally closed condition.