GB2148715A

GB2148715A - Urine drainage device

Info

Publication number: GB2148715A
Application number: GB08325848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Georges Eakin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-09-27
Filing date: 1983-09-27
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB2148715B; GB8325848D0

Abstract

A urine drainage device (1) for use by females, generally shaped so as to conform to the anterior vaginal wall (11) and to extend out of the vaginal opening and being provided with means (8) to channel the urine into an external receptacle. A preferred means for urging the device against the interior vaginal wall is an external tensioning device connection between the portion of the device which extends out of the vaginal opening and for example a belt worn by the user. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Urine drainage device The present invention relates to a urine drainage device particularly adapted for the use of incontinent female patients.

The problem of incontinence in women has long been difficult to solve. In hospitals the use of a selfretaining catheter inserted into the urethra is normal practice, and while this successfully controls involuntary flow it brings with it the problem of infection. In addition, professional help is normally required in replacing the catheter, which makes it inconvenient for use when the patient is not in hospital. The use of known incontinence clothing has little more than an external cosmetic effect, and since urine flow is not prevented the patient remains continually wet and uncomfortable.

The present invention consists of a simple moulded device which can be worn in the vagina, and which significantly overcomes these problems in that it can easily be inserted and removed by the patient herself and worn, when required, at home. It may conveniently be moulded in a one-piece form which is cheap to manufacture and easy to clean.

The device is designed to collect fluid flow from the urethra and channel it to an external receptacle and thus retains one of the advantages of the catheter, in that the urine can still be observed and its volume measured for diagnostic purposes.

The device is generally shaped so as to conform with the anterior vaginal wall and to extend out of the vaginal opening, preferably forward therefrom and particularly desirably generally to conform to the outer part of the body directly forward of the vaginal opening, and being provided with means to channel the urine into an external receptacle. It preferably consists of two limbs which together form a generally U or V-shaped configuration, a first or upper limb being provided with a medially extending channel on its innerfacewhich communicates with an internal duct in a second or lower limb, which duct extends through the second limb to emerge at its outer face at or near its end, and continues as or is attached to a tube. This tube conveys the urine to a suitable receptacle, which may be attached to the patient's leg.The two limbs may be of essentially equal length, as shown in the diagrams, but this is not essential - the upper limb may be significantly shorter provided the necessary seal may be maintained.

The device in use may be held in position in several ways, one of which is by the tension of some means connecting the lower limb to an anchorage located on the user's body. This means is preferably a strap or cord, which is attached at one end to a belt, the tension being due to the elasticity of the cord or of the belt or both. It may be desirable, for comfort, for the strap to be of a soft or padded material. In a modification, the device is held in position by a rearwardly extending portion which is pressed against the dorsal vaginal wall. This rearwardly-extending portion may be either a rigid loop attached to the upper limb, or a moulded extension to the base of the U, generally shaped so as to conform to the lower vaginal wall proximate to the vaginal opening. In this case, the device is preferably provided with a second duct to allow egress of natural vaginal fluids.The device may be made of any suitable rigid or flexible material, and may be provided with soft pads or coverings for comfort. It may also be generally rigid but provided with a flexible portion between the limbs allowing hinging motion therebetween, so accommodating personal differences in vaginal shape. In order to produce a fluid-tight seal between the anterior vaginal wall and the inner face of the first, a suitable substance of putty-like consistency may be used.

The invention may be put into practice in various ways, and two specific embodiments will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a medial cross section of the embodiment of Figure 1 illustrating the drainage channel and tube outlet; Figure 3 is a medial cross section of the lower part of the female body, showing the embodiment of Figure 1 in position, in which position it is held either by an external strap (chained line) or by an internal loop (dashed line); Figure 4 illustrates one method of securing the first embodiment in position, in which a strap and belt are used; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, in which the device is shaped to conform to the vaginal opening;; Figure 6 is a medial cross section of the second embodiment, illustrating the drainage channel and tube and showing a second conduit which allows egress of the natural vaginal fluids.

In the first embodiment the invention takes the form shown in Figure 1, and consists of two integrally connected limbs 1 and 2. The limbs 1 and 2 together provide a generally U or V-shaped configuration, the inner face 3 of the lower limb of the U being generally flat or concave. The inner face 4 of the upper limb 1 affords a centrally disposed medially extending duct, channel, or groove 5 defined by the edges of the limb 1,which edges are slightly rounded at its far end 6.

The edges 4 of the channel 5 may also be rounded along its length. The channel issues out of the end 6 of the limb 1 and extends around the base of the U some distance (e.g. about 20 to 30% e.g. 25% of the length) along the lower limb 2, where it terminates on the surface of limb 2 in a rounded end 7. The channel 5 communicates with an internal duct 8, at or near its end 7, which duct extends more or less diagonally through the limb 2 to emerge through its outer face at 9, at or near the end of the limb 2. The duct 8 is there connected to, or continues as a tube 10. In use, the limb 1 of the device is inserted into the entrance of the vagina, and is positioned so as to be located in the vagina as shown in Figure 3, with the limb 1 being placed against the anterior vaginal wall 11 of the channel 5 being positioned so as to follow the course ofthe urethra 12.It is not essential for the limb 1 to extend as far into the vagina as shown in Figure 3. It may be shorter, provided an adequate seal may be maintained between the vaginal wall 11 and the edges 4 of the channel 5. The lower limb 2 points forwardly and is positioned againstthe outer surface of the body, within the vulva 13. The urethral opening 14 is thus positioned within the channel 5. Any urine escaping from the urethral opening 14 will pass along the channel 5, through the duct 8 and pass into the tube 10 where it may be collected by any suitable means such as a receptacle attached to the patient's leg.

The device may be held in position in several ways, one of which is by means of a strap 15 which is attached to or is a continuation of the second limb 2 its forward end 16. The strap 15 (which may be padded for comfort) may conveniently be attached to a belt 17 as shown in Figure 4 and is maintained in tension by its own elasticity or that of the belt 17, or both. This tension causes the limb 1 to be pressed against the anterior vaginal wall 11. The necessary seal between the vaginal wall 11 and the edges 4 of the channel 5 may be created by lining the edges 4 with any suitable material such as a soft pad, or a cohesive gum of suitable consistency may be used.

Suitable gums include a mixture of Karaya gum, glycerine and gelatine mixed to a putty-like consistency, or alternatively liquid polymers such as a cellulose-polybutene combination may be used.

In a modification of the device, the necessary support may be provided internally, in the form of a rigid loop 18, which is attached to the outer face of the limb 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 by dashed lines. In this modification the belt and strap are not required (though they may be retained), the device being placed in position with the loop 18 being pressed against the upper dorsal vaginal wall 19 behind the cervix 20. The natural elasticity of the vaginal wall 19 holds the device in place and causes the limb 1 to be pressed against the anterior vaginal wall 11 in the position previously described.

In a second embodiment, shown in Figure 5 and in cross section in Figure 6, the device is shaped so as to be held in place between the anterior and dorsal vaginal walls, 11,21 in the vaginal entrance. The limbs 1, 2 are generally as described above for the first embodiment, but the base of the U is extended to form a generally saddle-shaped protrusion 22, moulded to conform to the general shape of the lower dorsal vaginal wall 21. In use, the device is held in position by the combined pressure of the anterior wall 11 on the upper limb 1 and that of the dorsal wall 21 on the saddle-shaped protrusion 22.

The protrusion 22 is provided with a generally vertically disposed duct 27 extending between its upper and lower surfaces, which duct serves to allow egress of natural vaginal fluids, and to permit easy removal of the device.

The device may be made of any suitably flexible material such as rubber, or it may be made of a more rigid material such as polypropylene and provided with pads of compressible material for comfort, in the necessary regions. The structure should be sufficiently rigid to ensure secure location in the vagina and to enable the force exerted by the strap 15 to pull the limb 1 against the vaginal wall 11. If the device is made of a generally rigid material, the base of the U, between the limbs 1 and 2, may be made of a more flexible material to allow some hinging movement between the limbs, thus accommodating personal differences in vaginal shape. When the loop 18 is relied on to hold the device in place the hinging embodiment can be used or the device can be made of more flexible material throughout. The use of a non-reactive material may be useful to patients with allergies to rubber or silicone products.

Claims

1. A urine drainage device for use by females, generally shaped so as to conform to the anterior vaginal wall and to extend out of the vaginal opening and being provided with means to channel the urine into an external receptacle.

2. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 1 consisting of two limbs which together form a generally U or V-shaped configuration, a first or upper limb being provided with a medially extending channel on its inner face which communicates with an internal duct in a second or lower limb at or near the base of the U or V, which duct extends through the second limb to emerge at its outer face at or near its end, and continues as or is attached to a tube.

3. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 2 in which the first limb is shorter than the second limb.

4. A urine drainage device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the device in use is held in position by the tension of means connecting the second limb to an anchorage located on the user's body.

5. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 4 in which the connecting means is a strap or cord, attached at one end to a belt, the tension being due to the elasticity of the cord or of the belt, or both.

6. A urine drainage device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the device in use is held in position by a rearwardly extending portion which is pressed against the dorsal vaginal wall.

7. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 6 in which the rearwardly extending portion consists of a rigid loop attached to the first limb.

8. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 6 in which the rearwardly extending portion is generally shaped so as to conform to the dorsal vaginal wall proximate to the vaginal opening.

9. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 8 in which the rearwardly extending portion is provided with a second duct to allow the egress of natural vaginal fluids.

10. A urine drainage device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the device is made of a rigid or semi rigid substance and is provided with soft pads or coverings for comfort.

11. A urine drainage device as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 9 in which the device is generally rigid, but is provided with a flexible portion between the limbs, allowing hinging motion therebetween.

12. A urine drainage device as claimed in Claim 11 in which the device is provided with soft pads or coverings for comfort.

13. A urine drainage device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a substance of puttylike consistency used between the interior vaginal wall and the inner face of the first limb to produce a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

14. A urine drainage device for the female body substantially as specifically described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.