Patent ID: 6428521
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A female external catheter device in the nature of a ladle-like solid body, the device comprising:(a) a hollow elongate neck having a hollow bulbous nob integrally dependent from a distal end thereof, an axis of elongation of said neck also defining a common axis of substantial radial symmetry of both said neck and nob, the interior of said neck and nob comprising a single internal cavity extending proximally downward to define a drain channel, said nob including apertures therethrough, (b) an elongate hollow cup, integrally dependent from a proximal end of said neck, said cup having an axis of elongation generally normal to said neck axis, said cup defining a U-shaped cross-section in a plane transverse to a plane of symmetry of said solid body defined by said axes of elongation of said cup and said neck, said sidewalls of said cup sized for intra-labial placement to thereby surround the urethral opening of a female user, said cup further having a transverse interior dimension in a range of about two to about four centimeters, and a greatest linear dimension along said plane of symmetry of about six to about ten centimeters; and (c) a drain output nozzle, including a central channel thereof, in fluid communication with a lower interior surface of said cup, which channel, during use by a patient, is preferably positioned in general alignment with the gravity vector, and said nozzle further includes a second channel comprising said drain channel of said internal cavity of said neck and nob, whereby said nob of said neck will, upon insertion into the vaginal opening, comfortably and securely engage the interior sphincter muscles thereof, thus securing said device within the vagina and the cup thereof in substantially fluid-tight communication with the intra-labial region, while permitting hygienic fluid venting of the vagina.