Patent ID: 6050934
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: A61F,A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
An indwelling urinary catheter for use by a patient to manage urinary incontinence or retention, the patient having a bladder for retaining urine, the bladder communicating with a urethra, the catheter comprising:(a) a catheter body defining both an exterior surface and interior surface, the interior surface defining a central lumen through which the urine can flow from the bladder when the catheter is inserted at least partially into the urethra; and(b) a discharge valve in fluid communication with the central lumen, the discharge valve having a valve body including a valve wall defining an outer surface, the discharge valve further including a valve membrane having at least one valve opening, the valve openings having both a closed and an open position, wherein the patient can selectively manipulate the valve such that the at least one valve openings can be opened from a closed position to allow urine to pass through the valve from the bladder and the central lumen, and be closed from an open position to restrain the flow of urine from the bladder through the central lumen, such that the valve can be manipulated by the patient from the closed position to the open position where the patient compresses opposite sides of the valve wall toward one another when engaging the outer surface of the valve wall, the outer surface having a plurality of protective shoulders, the plurality of protective shoulders including at least a pair of protective shoulders, each pair of protective shoulders being separated by an unprotected portion, the plurality of protective shoulders providing structural support to the valve wall such that each of the valve opening can remain in the closed position when a force is applied to the outer surface of the valve wall proximate any of the plurality of protective shoulders, which force would be sufficient to manipulate the valve such that at least one of the valve openings would be opened from a closed position if the force was applied to the unprotected portion of the valve wall, wherein the protective shoulders provide a measure of protection against an accidental opening of the at least one valve openings due the inadvertent application of a force to the outer surface of the valve wall.