Device for women suffering from incontinence

Abstract: The device comprises a cylindrical sleeve provided, at one end, with an extension for closing the neck of the bladder, which extension has transverse openings for communicating with the axial hole of the sleeve, and having, at the opposite end, a removable plugging means, for the said axial hole, and in that it also has a semi-rigid rod provided with a rounded end and with a flange and a holding grip at the other end, for the introduction of the cylindrical sleeve until the neck of the bladder has been closed.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for women suffering from incontinence. The aim of the device forming the subject-matter of the present invention is, in cases of feminine incontinence, to provide the patient with a simple and practical means of avoiding the effects of said incontinence, enabling the flow of urine to be controlled by the user as desired. WO 93/24075 discloses a urinary drainage cathether which has a flat disc-like closing end which flexes in the sides to allow introduction into the urethra. WO 92/19192 discloses a device for preventing involuntary urination having an oblong body with diameter increasing enlargements and a disc-like closing portion, the device needing full extraction to release the contents of the bladder. The device forming the subject-matter of the present invention is basically formed by a cylindrical sleeve, the top of which is provided with a closure head for the neck of the bladder, which head has openings communicating with the inside of the sleeve which is inserted from the outside into the patient's body until it reaches a stop position, and which has a small closure plug, preferably connected to the sleeve by a laminar extension, which enables the device to be kept closed, as desired by the patient, until, by opening the lower plug, it is possible to control the emission of urine without having to withdraw the device once it has been positioned. In order to introduce the device, a small rod is provided which can be introduced into the sleeve and which is sufficiently rigid and strong to be able, with the aid of a small lower grip, to be used manually for the introduction of the device for controlling incontinence. The device is preferably produced from a silicone rubber material or the like which, apart from its known features of a low coefficient of friction, can additionally be sterilised and cleaned and also recycled. In order to clarify the invention, some explanatory drawings of the present invention are appended by way of example. Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side, front and plan views, respectively, of the device forming the subject-matter of the present invention. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are, respectively, a bottom view, two longitudinal sections and a top view of an embodiment of the device for feminine incontinence forming the subject-matter of the present invention. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the incontinence device with its internal applicator rod. Figures 9 and 10 are each sections through the feminine incontinence device in the closed position. Figure 11 shows diagrammatically the application of the feminine incontinence device forming the subject-matter of the present invention. Figures 1 to 3 show the applicator element of the incontinence device, comprising a preferably cylindrical rod 1 produced from a material having a certain rigidity, the end 2 of which is rounded and which is provided with a stop flange 3 near its lower end and with a small grip 4 which may be in the form of a holding and/or recovery ring. The closure element of the incontinence device comprises a cylindrical sleeve 5 provided, at its upper end, with a closure head 6 which is substantially frustoconical and which is rounded both at the base and at the apex and is provided with various transverse communication openings, such as 7, 8 and 9, preferably at two levels, which communicate with the axial hole 10 of the sleeve 5. The mentioned closure element can be introduced into the position for plugging the neck of the bladder, as shown in Figure 11, the plugging of the axial hole 10 being effected by means of a lower plugging means which may be formed by a projection 11 of an appendage 12 which is an extension of the lower portion of the actual casing 5, thus enabling plugging to be achieved without requiring elements which are separate and therefore easily mislaid. The positioning of the incontinence device is effected, as shown in Figure 8, by manipulating the internal rod 1 accommodated in the hole 10 of the sleeve 5. The mentioned introduction takes place until a stop position on the user's body is reached, at which moment the axial hole of the sleeve 5 is closed so that the device can correctly carry out its function of controlling incontinence. As and when desired by the user, the flow of urine can be permitted by unplugging the axial duct 10 without having to remove the incontinence device in its entirety. The device forming the subject-matter of the present invention may be produced from a suitable material, such as silicone rubber, which has a small wall thickness and can be sterilised and cleaned as well as recycled.

Claims: Device for women suffering from incontinence, of the type which comprises a cylindrical sleeve (5) provided, at one end, with a closure head (6) for closing the neck of the bladder, which closure head (6) has transverse openings (7, 8, 9) for communicating with the axial hole (10) of the sleeve (5), and having, at the opposite end, a removable plugging means (11, 12), for the said axial hole (10), and having also a semi-rigid rod (1) provided with a rounded end (2) and with a flange (3) and a holding grip (4) at the other end, for the introduction of the cylindrical sleeve (5) until the neck of the bladder has been closed, characterized in that the closure head (6) for closing the neck of the bladder has a rounded frustoconical structure with various openings (7, 8, 9) communicating at different levels the axial hole (10) of the sleeve (5) with the internal cavity of the bladder. Device for women suffering from incontinence according to Claim 1, characterised in that the means (11, 12) for plugging the lower end of the sleeve is formed by a projection of a resilient laminar extension (12) of said end of the sleeve, which end is remote from the closure head (6) for the neck of the bladder.

Inventors: DOLADE GUARDIA JOSE MANUEL, DOLADE GUARDIA, JOSE MANUEL, Doladé Guardia, José Manuel
Applicants: DOLADE GUARDIA JOSE MANUEL, DOLADE GUARDIA, JOSE MANUEL
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61F2
IPC codes: A61F2, A61F5