Female urinary incontinence device

A female uninary incontinence device is provided for preventing uncontrolled flow of urine. The device is in the form of a hollow plastic tube having an open proximal end for insertion into the bladder and a control device at the distal for controlling the flow of urine. The proximal end has an extensible and retractable mushroom shaped plastic which maintains the device in the bladder. The distal end is provided with a valve and a timer for automatically closing the valve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a female intraurethral urinary 
incontinence device. More particularly, there is provided a soft 
semi-collapsible urinary incontinence device which can be inserted and 
activated for drainage by the user. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The female urethra is two inches long. It is situated between the labia and 
at the entrance of the vaginal tract. It is anatomically difficult or 
impossible to place an external device on the urethra if the device around 
the penis in incontinent. In the male, the presence of the penis will 
facilitate placing an external device around the penis if the male patient 
is incontinent. Therefore, incontinent female patients uses pads or 
diapers to conceal their incontinence problem. Sometimes they have a 
permanent indwelling catheter. In young incontinent females, sexual 
intercourse is almost impossible. 
It is therefore desirable to have a device that will prevent leakage of the 
urine, in addition, the female can have a normal life including 
intercourse, pregnancy and delivery without the smell of urine or the 
hazard of an indwelling catheter. 
It is ideal that this device is soft and in a semi-collapsed state. The 
device thus will be less irritant and can be easily tolerated. The device 
should be completely concealed and does not interfere with sexual 
intercourse, pregnancy or delivery. The device should be easily inserted 
by the female patient, controlled by the patient and removed by the 
patient at any time she wishes to do so. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a female urinary incontinence catheter or 
device. The device comprises a hollow tube having an open proximal end and 
an open distal end. At the proximal end is an extensible means for 
insertion and maintaining the device in the bladder. At the distal end is 
a means for controlling the flow of urine from the bladder. The control 
means comprises a valve which is normally closed to prevent the flow of 
urine and is manually opened to allow the flow of urine. 
Advantageously, the valve means contains offset apertures which when 
aligned can permit urine flow or an insertion of a means for extending the 
maintenance means for inserting into the uninary tract. 
Preferably, the hollow tube is soft and collapsible so as to provide 
comfort for long periods of time. 
It is a general object of the invention to provide a device for controlling 
female uninary incontinence. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a female incontinence 
device which can be inserted and/or removed by the patient. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a soft semi-collapsed 
catheter that is completely concealed by the incontinent female patient. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a hollow tube that 
drains the bladder by a mechanism activated by the female patient. 
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a simple way to 
keep the catheter indwelling and could be removed by the female patient at 
any time she wishes to do so. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide methods to minimize 
and prevent the migration of the device into the bladder. 
These and other objects of the instant invention will become obvious from 
the description of the invention contained herein and more particularly 
with reference to the following detailed description of the invention and 
the drawings where like elements are referred to by like reference numbers 
.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the female urinary incontinence catheter or 
device 10 has an elongated hollow tube 11. At the proximal end of the tube 
11 is a flexible plastic member 16 which is normally in a retracted 
mushroom shape. The member 16 can be extended by use of an applicator 12 
having a rod 13 which passes through the tube 11 and pushes against the 
reinforced tip 17 of the member 16. In the extended position the device 10 
can be placed into the bladder. When the applicator 12 is removed the 
member 16 will retract into its normal balloon or mushroom shape and be 
maintained within the bladder. To remove the device 10 the patient 
reinserts the applicator into the tube 10 and extends member 16. 
Preferably, the rod 13 is hollow so that when the tip is inside the 
bladder urine will come out indicating that the proximal end is within the 
bladder. 
At the proximal end of the tube 10 there is also a soft elastomeric seal 18 
which prevents leakage from the bladder. 
At the distal end of the tube 10 there is a control means 14 which is 
manually operated by the patient so as to permit the flow of urine out of 
the tube or to reinsert the applicator 12 to remove the device 10. 
As shown in FIGS. 3-5 a timer control means 14 can be formed by a rotating 
timing spring control valve or system 20 or other suitable valve which has 
a soft elastomeric coating. The timer control system 20 is constructed in 
two sections which contain two apertures 21a and 22a which are aligned as 
seen in FIG. 4 so as to allow urine to flow out of the tube or to insert 
the applicator 12 with the rod 13 therethrough. The part 21 can be 
manually rotated to place the aperture 21a in alignment with the aperture 
22a on part 22. The timing spring 20 will rotate part 21 so that the 
apertures 21a and 22a are no longer aligned so as to close the system and 
prevent urine flow. 
The outer portion of control means 14 and the seal 18 should be of soft 
elastomeric material so as to be comfortable for the patient when normally 
used and during sexual intercourse. Nonporous expanded 
polytetrafluoroethylene or similar material may be used. Pharmacological 
silicone or latex elastomers are other such elastomeric members which can 
be used. 
The tube 11 should also be formed from a soft deformable plastic such as a 
polyolefin, i.e. polyethylene and polypropylene. The tube 11 may be fully 
collapsible but sufficiently open to permit urine flow. 
The proximal end member 16 can be integral with the tube 11 or attached 
thereto. One form of the member 16 may be formed by cutting longitudinal 
slits in the tube and then providing the slits with a memory while in a 
retracted and mushroom shape such as by heating. 
The applicator 12 can comprise a plastic or metal hollow rod which has a 
plastic gripping member on the end. 
METHOD OF USE 
The device 10 can be inserted through the urethra into the bladder by the 
patient with the applicator 12 in position as shown in FIG. 1. When the 
device is sufficiently inserted urine will come out of the bladder. The 
applicator 12 is then removed and the control means 14 automatically by 
spring action moves into the closed position. The proximal end member 16 
becomes mushroom shaped and prevents the device from shipping out of the 
bladder. When member 16 becomes mushroom shaped it forms the seal with the 
soft elastomeric sealing means 18. In order for the patient to empty her 
bladder she will manually activate the control means 14 so that there is 
an opening for the urine to flow. Preferably, the control means 14 
comprises a timer which maintains the opening for the urine to flow 30 to 
45 seconds. 
It is to be understood, however, that even though specific characteristics 
and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the 
foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function 
of the invention, it will be appreciated that the disclosure is 
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in detail, especially in 
matters of shape, size, arrangement of parts or sequence or elements of 
events within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated 
by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are 
expressed.