Device and method for reducing urinary retention

Abstract

A device to facilitate urination by a male includes a vessel having a contact surface area at and adjacent a top edge of the vessel configured to be placed in contact with the penis. The contact surface area includes a thermally conductive material and has a shape configured to reduce pressure requirements for urination from a standing position as compared with urinating into a toilet from a standing position. A method of reducing urinary retention in a male includes contacting the penis of the male with a contact surface area of a device, which may be as described above, and urinating while the male is in a standing position with the penis in contact with the contact surface area, wherein the contact surface area comprises a thermally conductive material and is at an initial temperature at least 14° F. lower than a temperature of the penis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for initiating urination in a male comprising contacting the penis and-or scrotum with a contact surface area, wherein said contact surface area has thermal conductivity greater than 20 watts per meter-kelvin, the contact surface area and initial temperature being capable of producing sufficient thermal transfer to assist with the release of the urinary sphincter and initiate urination 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface area is at least 0.5 square inches. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface area is part of a vessel configured to reduce urine stream pressure requirements. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to reduce the time interval between double voiding. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to reduce retained urine in the bladder. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the method is carried out to reduce retained urine for a given urination protocol for a given patient population by at least 10% 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to increase total sleep time. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein average sleep times are increased by 15% or more 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to reduce the activity of antidiuretic hormone. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface area is chilled. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces the risk and frequency of urinary tract infections. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein prevalence of urinary tract infections is reduced at least 10%