Package for a urinary catheter

Abstract

A package including an intermittent urinary catheter and a protective sleeve is provided. The protective sleeve is adapted to cover the surface of the catheter prior to use, thereby preventing contamination of the surface. The protective sleeve is compressed in a storage-position, and in a use-position it is extended to cover most of the insertable length of the catheter. In the compressed state, the urinary catheter may be wetted if the catheter is provided with a hydrophilic coating. The protective sleeve may be made of flexible material, which may be folded or pre-folded into a concertina-like configuration. A package which includes an intermittent urinary catheter with a protective sleeve is provided. An assembly, which includes a package with an intermittent urinary catheter, and a compartment containing a fluid medium, is provided. Finally, a method for wetting an intermittent urinary catheter including a protective sleeve is provided.

1 . A package comprising a urinary catheter comprising
 a proximal end and a distal end   a protective sleeve adapted to be compressed into a storage-position when the catheter is stored, and to be extended into a use-position to cover most of the surface of the catheter, when the catheter is to be used   where the distal end of the protective sleeve is attached to the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the protective sleeve is attached to the package by a weak attachment   where the attachment of the protective sleeve is such that when the catheter is removed from the package, the protective sleeve will pulled over a length of the catheter until the sleeve is extended, where-after the weak attachment between the sleeve and the package will break and the catheter including the sleeve can be completely removed from the package.   
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a hydrophilic coating at a surface thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a foldable material, and where the protective sleeve in a storage-position is folded, and in a use-position the folds are straightened. 
     
     
         4 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve is pre-folded into a concertina pleated configuration. 
     
     
         5 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the compressed protective sleeve in a storage-position is approximately 20 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the extended protective sleeve in a use-position corresponds to at least ¾ of the insertable length of the catheter. 
     
     
         7 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the protective sleeve is between 1-15 mm larger than a diameter of the catheter. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly for wetting an intermittent urinary catheter comprising a compartment for containing a fluid medium and a package for containing the catheter, wherein the compartment and the package are separate elements joined together, where the compartment comprises an outlet and the package an inlet for the fluid medium, where the package is according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid medium comprises hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         10 . A method of wetting an intermittent urinary catheter including the protective sleeve and the package according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 a. wetting the catheter below the compressed protective sleeve; and   b. extending the protective sleeve to cover the catheter.