Abstract:
Foley catheter bag support sleeves for receiving and securing a catheter bag that can be secured to the inside of a user&#39;s clothes, including flexible support sleeves preferably made with fabric that are equipped with a lining on at least one side to avoid irritation to the user&#39;s skin. In some examples, the catheter bag support sleeve is secured using hook or loop material (such as Velcro®) that mates with corresponding material that is attached to the interior of a garment worn by the user, such as a pair of pants. In other examples, the catheter bag support sleeve can be secured to the user&#39;s garment using any removable attachment means. In some further examples, the support sleeve includes ends that can be opened or secured shut to provide alternative or additional securing of an enclosed catheter bag.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to medical appliances for patients that require the use of a foley catheter bag. In particular, support sleeves for securely holding catheter bags that can be comfortably worn underneath a user&#39;s clothing are described. 
         [0002]    Patients that suffer from urinary incontinence or, for any number of medical reasons are unable to relieve their bladders conventionally, may need to resort to a medical device kit(n a foley catheter bag. The device uses a tube that discharges into the catheter bag for collection. The user wears the catheter bag continuously while going about the user&#39;s daily routine. 
         [0003]    Known approaches and equipment for wearing foley catheter bags are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed, For example, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , prior art methods of wearing a catheter bag typically involve strapping the bag to some portion of the user&#39;s leg under the user&#39;s clothes, or carrying the bag externally, which discloses its existence. The discharge tube is typically secured to the user at some intermediate point between the bag and the catheter to isolate the catheter from unwanted (and potentially painful) movement.  FIG. 2  shows a dose-up view of the catheter bag with the prior art straps for securing the bat directly to a user&#39;s leg, as well as an adhesive strip for securing the tube and isolating the catheter from movement. 
         [0004]    These means of attaching and wearing a catheter Dag are not entirely reliable. Strapping a bag to a user&#39;s leg carries with it a substantial risk that the catheter bag could inadvertently slip down and be exposed, causing both embarrassment and, if the tube is not sufficiently secured, pain from a moving catheter. The straps are limited in how tightly they may be cinched to avoid interfering with the user&#39;s circulation. Consequently, a user must take care in day day activities to avoid inadvertently dislodging the bag. Furthermore, the catheter bag, by definition being made of a waterproof material, traps sweat and may irritate some user&#39;s skin when worn in direct contact, along with repeated use of an adhesive strip for securing the relief tube. Finally, inadvertent slipping of the catheter bag and/or failure of an adhesive strip to sufficiently hold the relief tube in place can increase the likelihood of the user developing a urinary tract infection. 
         [0005]    Thus, there exists a need for devices for wearing catheter bags that improve upon and advance the design of known devices for wearing catheter bags. Examples of new and useful catheter bag support sleeves relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below. 
         [0006]    Disclosure addressing one or more of the identified existing needs is provided in the existing detailed description below. Examples of references relevant to the disclosed catheter bag support sleeves include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,118, 5,935,116, 6,887,223, and 7,077,833. The complete disclosures of the above patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. These references disclose alternatives to using straps to secure catheter bags to a user; however, most require the user to wear some additional undergarment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present disclosure is directed to foley catheter bag support sleeves that receive and secure a catheter bag, and in turn can eke secured to the inside of a user&#39;s clothes. The support sleeve is flexible and preferably made with fabric, and can be equipped with a lining on at east one side to avoid irritation to the user&#39;s skin. The catheter bag can be secured within the support sleeve, which is substantially tubular, using buttons or another type of removable attachment means. The support sleeve may be equipped with at least One cutout that allows the enclosed catheter bag to be drained without removal from the sleeve. In some examples, the catheter bag support sleeve is secured using hook or loop material (such as Velcro®) that mates with corresponding material that is attached to the interior of a garment worn by the user, such as a pair of pants. in other examples, the catheter bag support sleeve can be secured to the user&#39;s garment using any removable attachment means. in some further examples, the support sleeve includes ends that can be opened or secured shut to provide alternative or additional securing of an enclosed catheter bag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a series of diagrams that depict several ways in which catheter bags are worn by users as known in the prior art. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a catheter bag and associated straps and tube support for wearing a catheter bag as presently done in the prior art. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of a first example of a catheter bag support sleeve. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a back view of the catheter bag support sleeve shown in  FIG. 3A  depicting the portion of the sleeve that is lined with a non-irritating material for direct contact with a user&#39;s skin. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3C  is a front view of the catheter bag support sleeve shown in  FIG. 3A  depicting a catheter bag in perspective with the catheter bag support sleeve. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3D  is a front transparent view of the catheter bag support sleeve shown in  FIG. 3A  depicting the catheter bag as inserted and secured into the catheter bag support sleeve. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of the catheter bag support sleeve shown in  FIG. 3A  depicting its usage by a user. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pair of jeans that may be worn by a user of the catheter bag support sleeve shown in  FIG. 3A , depicting the interior surface of the jeans and associated mounting point for the catheter bag support sleeve. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the catheter bag support sleeve shown in  FIG. 3A  depicting the catheter bag mounted and attached to the interior surface of a pair of jeans that may be worn by the user. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The disclosed foley catheter bag support sleeves will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation s not individually described in the following detailed description. 
         [0018]    Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various foley catheter bag support sleeves are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 3A-6  first example of a catheter bag support sleeve, sleeve  100 , will now be described. Sleeve  100  functions to provide a pouch that surrounds a catheter bag and secures it into place in a comfortable fashion for the user, while riot impeding its functionality or in any way requiring the user to limit his or her daily activities. The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that sleeve  100  addresses shortcomings of conventional catheter bag apparatuses and methods. 
         [0020]    For example, by securing the catheter bag within a pouch that is preferable made of a fabric that is non-irritating to skin, sleeve  100  makes wearing the catheter bag for extended periods of time more comfortable, alleviating the irritation and trapping of sweat that can be induced when a catheter bag is in direct contact with a user&#39;s skin. Sleeve  100  also is preferably secured to the interior of a user&#39;s garment using a means not subject to easy slippage, thereby eliminating a user&#39;s concerns that the catheter bag my become inadvertently exposed in public. By eliminating the possibility of accidental slippage, the user is also freed from the need to potentially limit daily activities, previously needed to avoid accidental slippage, Further, by reliably securing the catheter bag, the need to employ adhesive strips to immobilize the collection tube can be eliminated. Where sleeve  100  is secured to the user&#39;s garments relatively close to the crotch region, the movement of the collection tube is relatively minimal, reducing, if not altogether eliminating, any associated pain and the increased risk of urinary tract infections. 
         [0021]    Turning particularly to  FIGS. 3A-3D , catheter bag support sleeve  100  includes a pouch  102  sized to receive a catheter bag  104  and allow for its normal operation. Pouch  102  is comprised of a flexible material, and further incorporates one or more bag attachment points  106  for securing catheter bag  104  within pouch  102 . Pouch  102  can be equipped with one or more openings  108  to allow catheter bag  104  to be drained without removal from pouch  102 , and one or more pouch attachment points  110  for removably securing pouch  102  to an article of clothing  112  worn by a user  114 . 
         [0022]    As depicted in  FIG. 3A , pouch  102  is essentially a flattened tube, constructed out of flexible material and sized to receive a catheter bag  104  of dimensions typical to the type of catheter bag  104  that user  114  normally uses. Pouch  102  must be sized so as to not interfere with the normal operation of catheter bag  104  as it receives urine. Pouch  102  is preferably constructed out of a material that is lightweight and breathable and will resist trapping sweat and heat, so as to improve user comfort while wearing. The material also should be suitably durable so as to withstand the frictions of being held between article of clothing  112  and user&#39;s  114  body, as well as preferably be machine washable. Examples of such materials include natural or synthetic fabrics such as cotton, silk, polyester, nylon, rayon, or a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, or any other material now known or later developed that offers durability, washability, breathability, and is non-irritating. Pouch  102  can optionally be printed with patterns or prints if user  114  desires a degree of customization or individualization. 
         [0023]    The back side of pouch  102 , depicted in  FIG. 3B , may optionally be covered by a layer of material  126  that is designed specifically to minimize irritation when in direct contact with user&#39;s  114  skin. Layer of material  126  may be constructed from natural or synthetic materials, including materials such as flannel, velvet, microfiber, or any other suitable non-irritating material now known or subsequently developed. Where pouch  102  is equipped with layer of material  126 , pouch  102  may be constructed of material where non-irritation is less of a consideration. Pouch  102  may also be constructed such that layer of material  126  is integral to the construction, viz, the side of pouch  102  that faces article of clothing  112  is constructed of one type of durable and flexible material, while the side of pouch  102  that faces the user is constructed from the above-discussed material designed to minimize irritation to the user&#39;s skin. it will be understood that where pouch  102  is so constructed, layer of material  126  is an integral part of pouch  102 , as opposed to a covering layer. A person skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that when layer of material  126  is an integral part of the construction of pouch  102 , the material chosen for layer of material  126  should have a degree of structural durability that might not otherwise be required when layer of material  126  is a covering over pouch  102 . 
         [0024]    Catheter bag  104 , depicted in  FIG. 3C  next to pouch  102 , is typically equipped with one or more receiving slits  118 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , these receiving slits  118  are used in the prior art to secure catheter bag  104  with a series of elastic straps. In sleeve  100 , receiving slits  118  can be used to secure catheter bag  104  into pouch  102  by aligning them with bag attachment points  106 . In the example depicted in  FIG. 3C , bag attachment points  106  are equipped with buttons  116 , which are each sized so as to fit through receiving slits  118  to effectively secure catheter bag  104  within pouch  102 . Catheter bag  104  typically is equipped with orifices on each end for the introduction and drainage of urine. A relief tube running from a catheter typically attaches to one orifice, while a drain valve  132  attaches to the orifice on the opposite end. 
         [0025]    Pouch  102  may be equipped with one or more openings  108  through which the drain valve can be actuated for convenient emptying of catheter bag  104  without necessitating removal from pouch  102 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3A , such openings  108  can also be placed near the opening of pouch  102  that is proximate to the relief tube of catheter bag  104 , which can be used to an the relief tube if the configuration of catheter bag  104  allows, and if so desired by user  114 . 
         [0026]    Also seen in  FIG. 3C  are recloseable ends  130  of pouch  102 , which are equipped with a recloseable material such as hook and loop, a zipper, groove and channel, or any other type of mechanism for selectively opening or sealing shut the ends of pouch  102 . These recloseable ends  130  allow for catheter bag  104  to be inserted into pouch  102 , and can then be closed to seal catheter bag  104  inside pouch  102 . Thus, recloseable ends  130  add a redundant method of securement to catheter bag  104  in the event that catheter bag  104  is not correctly secured to bag attachment points  106 , such as if receiving slits  118  are torn, or if a different model of catheter bag  104  is used that lacks the ability to be secured via bag attachment points  106 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3D  depicts catheter bag  104  as it can be secured within pouch  102 . Attachment points  106  are equipped with buttons  116 , which have been passed through receiving slits  118 , thereby securely yet removably affixing catheter bag  104  within pouch  102 . It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the relevant art that while buttons  116  are presented as one means for securing catheter bag  104  within pouch  102 , they are not the only means. Attachment points  106  could be equipped with alternative means for securing catheter bag  104  within pouch  102  such as hook or loop material (with corresponding loop or hook material on catheter bag  104 ), clamps, safety pins, cords, button snaps with either the mating halves affixed to catheter bag  104  Or alternatively attached to the side of pouch  102  opposing attachment points  106  so that the two mating halves pass through each receiving slit  118 , hooks, ties, adhesive patches, or any other fastening mechanism or device that allows catheter bag  104  to be removably secured within pouch  102 . 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 4  the manner in which catheter bag support sleeve  100  is used on user  114  is depicted. Pouch  102 , with catheter bag  104  affixed inside, is in turn affixed on the inside of article of clothing  112 . As catheter bag  104  is held relatively immobile inside pouch  102  which is in turn held relatively immobile inside of article of clothing  112 , user  114  can go about daily activities without limitation and without worry that catheter bag  104  will be exposed or be subject to movement that could cause user  114  pain. Moreover, notably lacking in  FIG. 4  is an adhesive strip to secure the relief tube to user&#39;s  114  leg. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 5 , the means by which pouch  102  is removably secured to article of clothing  112  is demonstrated. Pouch  102  is fitted with one or more areas of hook or loop material on pouch attachment point  110 . A corresponding area of loop or hook material  122  is affixed to the inner surface  124  of article of clothing  112 , depicted in  FIG. 5  as inside-out. The loop or hook material  122  can be secured to article of clothing  112  in any suitable fashion that allows it to remain affixed even while bearing the weight of a partially full or full catheter bag  104  within pouch  102 , such as sewing, adhesives such as iron-heat activated or hot glue, or any other suitable fashion now known or later developed. Loop or hook material  122  could optionally be made part of or implemented as a part of inner surface  124 , such as where inner surface  124  is lined with a fabric to which hook or loop material on pouch attachment point  110  will adhere. While  FIG. 5  only depicts one area of loop or hook material  122 , multiple such areas could be employed, which could correspond to one or more pouch attachment points  110 . Moreover, multiple areas of hook or loop material  122  could be installed in an article of clothing  112 , allowing user  114  to select the leg on which he or she wishes to attach sleeve  100 . 
         [0030]    It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the relevant art that hook and loop material is only one possible means for securing pouch  102  to article of clothing  112 . Other such means could include safety pins, button snaps, buttons, hooks, cords, pockets, zippers, or any other device or method for fastening pouch to article of clothing  112  in a removably secure fashion that can hold the weight of pouch  102  with a full catheter bag  104 . 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 6 , catheter bag support sleeve  100  is depicted installed on inner surface  124  of article of clothing  112 . The hook and loop material (or other suitable pouch attachment means) located on pouch attachment point  110  is disposed upon the corresponding material  122  on article of clothing  112 . Notably, the portion  128  of pouch  102  that has non-irritating layer of material  126  (described above) is facing out from inner surface  124 , so as to be in contact with the skin of user  114  when article of clothing  112  is put on. It is also observed that, in the implementation in  FIG. 6 , pouch attachment point  110  is disposed on the surface of pouch  102  opposite portion  128 , thereby ensuring that layer of material  126  is facing towards user  114  so as to provide maximum comfort. 
         [0032]    The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
         [0033]    Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.