Catheter Assembly Having Protective Sheath

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for a catheterization process, particularly useful for self-performed catheterizations. A catheter is enclosed in a sheath made from a gas-permeable material. This sheath maximizes gas permeability to prevent air build-up at the distal end of the sheath, resulting in easy self-catheterization for even those with limited manual dexterity.

1 . A device for catheterization, the device comprising:
 a catheter, the catheter having a urethra-insertable portion;   a guide tip, the guide tip surrounding the catheter such that the catheter slides through a throughbore of the guide tip during insertion of the catheter into a urethra; and   a gas-permeable sheath, a proximal end of the sheath attached to the guide tip, the combination of the sheath and the guide tip covering at least the urethra-insertable portion of the catheter before use of the catheter, the sheath made from a material that allows air to pass through the sheath in order to prevent excess air build-up when the sheath is retracted during insertion of the catheter into the urethra.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is filled with a lubricant. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter has a hydrophilic coating. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide tip has a collar which rests on the outside of the urethra during insertion of the catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide tip has a reservoir portion towards a distal end of the guide tip. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the reservoir portion has a textured surface to hold during insertion of the catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is a microporous polyolefin. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is a silicon-based organic polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is liquid-impermeable. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the sheath attaches to a distal end of the urethra-insertable portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet at a distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein a distal end of the sheath attaches to the outlet. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a catheter for urinary catheterization, the method comprising:
 enclosing a urethra-insertable portion of the catheter within a sheath, the sheath being gas-permeable such that air may pass through the sheath in order to prevent excess air build-up when the sheath is retracted during insertion of the catheter into a urethra; and   filling the sheath with a lubricant, the amount of lubricant sufficient to coat the urethra-insertable portion of the catheter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coating the urethra-insertable portion with a hydrophilic substance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sheath is liquid-impermeable. 
     
     
         16 . A device for urinary catheterization, the device comprising:
 a catheter having a urethra-insertable portion; and   a sheath covering at least the urethra-insertable portion before use of the catheter, the sheath made from a gas-permeable material that allows air to pass through the sheath in order to prevent excess air build-up when the sheath is retracted during insertion of the catheter into a urethra.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the gas-permeable material of the sheath is liquid-impermeable. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the gas-permeable material is a silicon-based organic polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the gas-permeable material is a microporous polyolefin. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein a proximal end of the sheath surrounds a proximal tip of the catheter and a distal end of the sheath is attached near a distal end of the urethra-insertable portion of the catheter.