Patent Publication Number: US-2022226604-A1

Title: Reusable urinary catheter kits

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/861,155, filed Jun. 13, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure generally relates to urinary catheters. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to reusable urinary catheter kits. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Catheters are used to treat many different types of medical conditions and typically include an elongated shaft that is inserted into and through a passageway or lumen of the body. Catheters, and in particular intermittent catheters, are commonly used by those who suffer from various abnormalities of the urinary system, such as urinary retention or incontinence. With the advent of intermittent catheters, individuals with urinary system abnormalities can self-insert and self-remove intermittent catheters several times a day. 
     Urinary catheters are frequently provided as disposable, single-use items. A user will remove the catheter from a package, use the catheter once, and then dispose of the catheter and the package. Reusable urinary catheters could, thus, be advantageous in reducing the amount of waste created by the use disposable catheters, but there are various challenges associated with the use of reusable catheters (including storage, transport, and sterilization) that must be overcome before widespread acceptance and use of reusable catheters. 
     SUMMARY 
     There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the devices and systems described and claimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as set forth in the claims appended hereto. 
     In one aspect, a reusable urinary catheter kit including a housing having a base defining a disinfecting chamber. The base having a bottom end and a top end wherein the top end of the base defines an opening of the disinfecting chamber. The housing also including a lid associated with the top end of the base. The lid being movable between a closed condition and an open condition. In the closed condition, the lid overlaying the base and covering the opening of the disinfecting chamber and in the open condition the lid is moved away from the base to uncover the opening of the disinfecting chamber. The kit also including a chassis removably positioned within the housing and a reusable urinary catheter removably secured to the chassis. The kit also including a removable supply of sterilization fluid in fluid communication with the disinfecting chamber and a waste tank in communication with the disinfecting chamber. 
     In another aspect, a method for sterilizing a reusable urinary catheter that includes securing a reusable urinary catheter to a chassis. The chassis is then positioned into a housing including a base and a lid. The lid is moved from an open condition to a closed condition overlaying the base. The reusable catheter is then sterilized within the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a reusable urinary catheter kit according to an aspect of the present disclosure, with a housing of the kit in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 1 , shown with the sterilization supply and waste tank removed from the housing; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 1 , with the housing of the kit in an open configuration; 
         FIGS. 6-8  are perspective views of a chassis and reusable urinary catheter of the kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the reusable urinary catheter kit  FIG. 1 , with the chassis being placed into the housing; 
         FIGS. 10 a -10 d    illustrate the controls and user interface of the housing; 
         FIGS. 11-13  are perspective views of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 1 , showing the removal and replacement of the sterilization fluid supply and the waste collection tank; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a reusable urinary catheter kit according to an aspect of the present disclosure, with a housing of the kit in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 14 , with the housing of the kit in an open condition; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 14 , shown with the sterilization supply and waste tank removed from the housing; 
         FIG. 17  is a partial cross-sectional view of the kit of  FIG. 14 ; and 
         FIGS. 18-20  are perspective views of a chassis and reusable urinary catheter of the kit of  FIG. 14 ; and 
         FIGS. 21-23  are perspective views of the reusable urinary catheter kit of  FIG. 14 , showing the removal and replacement of the sterilization fluid supply and the waste collection tank. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments disclosed herein are for the purpose of providing a description of the present subject matter, and it is understood that the subject matter may be embodied in various other forms and combinations not shown in detail. Therefore, specific embodiments and features disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the subject matter as defined in the accompanying claims. 
     Reusable urinary catheter kits according to the present disclosure and their individual components may be variously configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, but in one embodiment, a reusable urinary catheter kit  10  is configured as shown in  FIG. 1-4 .  FIGS. 5-13  illustrate a method of using and then sterilizing a reusable urinary catheter  12  ( FIGS. 6-8 ) of the kit  10 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5, 9 and 11-13 , the kit  10  includes a housing or body  14  having a base  16  with top and bottom ends  18  and  20 . The outer shape of the kit is generally cylindrical or conical in shape. The base  16  defines a disinfecting chamber  22  ( FIGS. 4, 5 and 9 ) that has an opening  24  defined by the top end  18  of the base  16 . 
     The kit  10  also includes a supply of the sterilization fluid, such as the illustrated cartridge or tank  26 , and a waste collection tank  28 , which are both removably attachable to the housing  14  ( FIGS. 2, 4, 12 and 13 ). One or both of the cartridge  26  and waste tank  28  may be disposable. The sterilization fluid may be any suitable biocompatible sterilization fluid. Such fluids may include antimicrobial agents, such as agents that kill bacteria, viruses or other microbes, agents that prevent microbial growth, anti-adherence agents that prevent microbes from adhering to the surfaces, etc. Furthermore, when the catheter  12  includes a hydrophilic catheter tube that has an outer hydrophilic surface that becomes lubricous when wetted or hydrated, the sterilization fluid may also serve as a hydration fluid that hydrates the hydrophilic surface. The lubricious hydrophilic outer surface assists in inserting the catheter into and retracting the catheter out of the urethra. In other embodiments, the sterilization fluid may include a lubricant, such as oil or water based lubricants that lubricates the outer surface. In yet other embodiments, the user may apply a lubricant just prior to use. 
     The sterilization fluids also may be a fluid that can be formed into a foam. Such fluids may include a surface tension reducing agent and a foam stabilization agent. The surface tension reducing agent may assist in adding or incorporating gas bubbles into the sterilization fluid to form a foam. In one embodiment, the surface tension reducing agent may be a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants. The surface tension reducing agent may be a foaming agent. The foam stabilizer may slow coalescence of the foam. In one embodiment, the sterilization fluid may include an antimicrobial agent and a surfactant (e.g., sodium dodecyl sulphate or sodium methyl cocoyl taurate) and a stabilizer (e.g., Xanthan gum). The sterilization fluid can be transformed into a foam by homogenizing air with the fluid. The air may be homogenized with the sterilization fluid by agitation of the fluid in the presence of air. The agitation can be a result of an agitation mechanism, such as a pump, restriction, homogenizer, etc. 
     Turning back to  FIGS. 2, 4, 12 and 13 , the cartridge  26  and waste tank  28  also may have complementary shapes that allow the cartridge  26  and waste tank  28  to engage, nest, dovetail or otherwise fit together. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the waste tank  28  has a generally outer u-shaped configuration wherein the cartridge  26  has a generally outer curved configuration that is commensurate with the inner curvature of the u-shape of the waste tank  28 . This allows the cartridge  26  to nest with the waste tank  28 . In one embodiment, there is a friction fit between the cartridge  26  and waste tank  28 , such that the two are removably attached to each other. In another embodiment, the two may also be attached with a peg in slot attachment. The shapes of the cartridge  26  and the waste tank  28  could be switched and the waste tank  28  could nest within the cartridge  26 . In yet another embodiment, the waste tank  28  and cartridge  26  may not be in any physical contact. 
     When attached to the housing  14 , the cartridge  26  and the waste tank  28  may be in selective fluid communication with the disinfecting chamber  22 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , sterilization fluid  30  may flow from the cartridge  26  through a supply flow path  32  to a pump  34 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , optionally, the base  16  may include an upright  33  that extends into bottom opening  35  of the cartridge  26 . The upright  33  may include one or more eyelets or opening  37  to allow fluid flow. The pump  34  may pump a select amount of sterilization fluid  30  through fill/drain flow path  36  into the disinfecting chamber  22 . After disinfecting, the sterilization fluid  30  may flow through fill/drain flow path  36  back to pump  34 , which may be a revisable pump. Pump  34  pumps the sterilization fluid  30  through waste flow path  38  to waste tank  28 . The waste tank  28  may include a reclosable valve  39 , such as a lift check valve, that allows spent fluid into the waste tank  28 , but does not allow fluid out of the tank. Also, the supply flow path  32  and the waste flow path  38  may include valves  40  and  42  that are actuated during the filling and draining of the sterilization chamber  22 . For example, when sterilization fluid  30  is being pumped from the cartridge  26  to the sterilization chamber  22 , valve  40  may be open and valve  42  may be closed. When sterilization fluid  30  is being drained from the sterilization chamber  22 , valve  42  may be open and valve  40  may be closed. 
     A lid  44  is associated with the top end  18  of the base  16 . The lid  44  is movable between a closed condition, in which the lid covers the opening  24  of the disinfecting chamber  22  (as in  FIG. 1 ) and an open condition in which the lid  44  does not cover opening  24  (as in  FIG. 5 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the lid  44  is pivotally secured to the top end  18  of the base  16 . The lid  44  is movable between the closed condition, in which the lid  44  is pivoted toward the base  16  (as in  FIG. 1 ) and an open condition in which the lid  44  is pivoted away from the base  16  (as in  FIG. 5 ). More particularly, in the closed condition, the lid  44  is positioned to contact and overlay the base  16 , covering the disinfecting chamber opening  24 . The base  16  and lid  44  may be formed of a generally rigid material, such as a plastic material. The lid may also include the user interface  46 , which the user interacts with to commence sterilization and which provides the user with an indication of stages of the sterilization process. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-9 , chassis  48  is removably positioned within the disinfecting chamber  22  ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ). The chassis  48  may be formed of a generally rigid material, such as a plastic material, with a reusable urinary catheter  12  removably secured to the chassis  48 , such as by being at least partially wrapped around the chassis  48 . The chassis  48  includes a body  50  having a frame  52  for holding the catheter  12  and a hook  54  extending from the frame  52  for handling and hanging the chassis  48 . 
     The chassis  48  may be variously configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  52  of the chassis  48  includes opposed catheter clips  56  and  58 , with catheter tube  60  of the reusable urinary catheter  12  removably received by clips  56  and  58 . The illustrated chassis  48  further includes at least one wall  60  between the clips  56  and  58 . The wall  60  may be arcuate and it has a groove  62  that receives the catheter tube  64  to maintain the tube in a bent configuration. 
     To secure the reusable urinary catheter  12  to the illustrated chassis  48 , one of the proximal end  66  and the distal end  68  of the catheter tube  64  is pressed into one of the clips  56  and  58 , followed by wrapping the catheter tube  64  around wall  60  of the frame, with a middle portion of the catheter tube received by the groove  62  of the wall ( FIG. 8 ). The other end of the proximal and distal ends  66  and  68  of the catheter tube  64  is pressed into the other one of the clips  56  and  58  ( FIG. 6 ). The installation process may be reversed to dissociate the reusable urinary catheter  12  from the chassis  48  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     In use, the lid  44  of the housing  14  is opened and the user removes the chassis  48  from the disinfecting chamber  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the housing  14  includes a lifting mechanism  70  ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ) that lifts the chassis  48  upward to allow easier access to the chassis for the user. The lifting mechanism  70  may include an arm that is connected to the lid  44 , such that the arm moves upward when the lid is opened. The chassis  48  may be attached to the arm by engaging the hook portion  54  of the chassis  48  with a receiving groove on the arm, such that the chassis  48  hangs from the arm. 
     Next, the chassis  48  is removed from the base  16  ( FIG. 5 ) and the reusable urinary catheter  12  is all or partially dissociated from the chassis  48  ( FIG. 7 ), as described above. During dissociation of the catheter  12  from the chassis  48 , the user may use the hook  52  to hang the chassis  48  on for example a towel bar  72  ( FIGS. 6-8 ). The user then uses the reusable urinary catheter  12  for catheterization. Following catheterization, the reusable urinary catheter  12  is reconnected to the chassis  48  ( FIG. 8 ) and then the chassis  48  is returned to the disinfecting chamber  22 , as in  FIG. 9 . The lid  44  is then moved from its open condition to its closed condition, as in  FIG. 1 . The user then initiates the sterilization process in which the sterilization fluid flows from the cartridge  26  into the disinfecting chamber  22 . The sterilization fluid remains within the disinfecting chamber  22  for a period time sufficient to sterilize the catheter. Optionally, an agitator or fluid circulator may be included in the disinfecting chamber  22  to move the sterilization fluid within the chamber. If the sterilization fluid comprises a foam, the agitator or fluid circulator may foam the sterilization fluid and/or the sterilization fluid may be foamed by the pump or a restriction in the supply line. 
     The sterilization fluid then is drained from the disinfecting chamber  22  and flows into the waste tank  28 . After the sterilization fluid has been drained from the chamber  22  to the waste tank, the sterilization process in completed and the catheter  12  is ready to be reused for catheterization. 
     Optionally, at least one light source is associated with the base  16  and/or the lid  44  and is configured to irradiate at least a portion of the reusable urinary catheter  12  with light to refresh the hydrophilic coating, if one is present. 
       FIGS. 10 a -10 d    provide an exemplary user interface of the kit  10 . After the chassis  48  and catheter  12  have been placed in the disinfecting chamber  22  and the lid  44  has been closed, the user interacts with the interface to commence sterilization. Referring to  FIG. 10 a   , the interface may include a visual indicator indicating that the kit  10  is ready for use. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring  76  may be completely one color, indicting the kit is ready for use. The user may press a start button, such as the button  78 , to commence sterilization. Referring to  FIGS. 10 b  and 10 c   , as the sterilization process progresses, the ring  76  may gradually change colors to indicate the progress of the sterilization process. Optionally, an icon  80  may change appearance to indicate filling and draining of the disinfecting chamber  22 . Referring to  FIG. 10 d   , the ring  76  may change completely to the different color to indicate the completion of sterilization, and if an icon  80  is present, the icon also may indicate the completion. In the illustrated embodiment, the icon  80  includes a checkmark. The interface may also include buttons  82 ,  84  which allows the user to cycle through the different stages of sterilization, as needed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 11-13 , after the cartridge  26  is spent or otherwise needs to be changed, the cartridge  26  and waste tank  28  may be detached from the housing  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the waste tank  28  includes a handle  86 , which is grasped and pulled by the user to detach the waste tank  28  and cartridge from the housing  14 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the waste tank  28  may include a self-closing valve  39 , such as a lift check valve, that closes or is already closed when the waste tank  28  is detached from the housing  14 . This prevents spent sterilization fluid from draining from the bottom of the waste tank  28 . Referring back to  FIGS. 11-13 , the cartridge  26  may include a ring or handle  88  which the use may grasp to separate the cartridge  26  from the waste tank  28 . The waste tank  28  then is emptied by, for example, pouring the fluid out of a top opening  90  in the tank  28 , and the cartridge  26  is disposed of. A new cartridge  26  is nested with the waste tank  28 , and the cartridge and waste tank are attached to the housing  14 . The cartridge  28  may include an openable barrier initially covering the opening  35  which is in communication with flow path  32 . In one embodiment, the openable barrier may be a breakable foil, which may be pierced by upright  33  extending from the housing  14  to initial fluid communication between the cartridge  28  and the flow path  32 . The upright  33  may have an eyelet or opening  37  in communication with the flow path  32 . 
     It should be understood that the kits described herein are merely exemplary and that the kits may include additional components, such as a magnet configured to secure the lid of the housing in its closed condition, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 14-23  illustrate another embodiment of a reusable urinary catheter kit  110 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 14-17 and 21-23 , the kit  110  includes a housing or body  114  having a base  116  with top and bottom ends  118  and  120 . The outer shape of the kit is generally rectangular or trapezoidal in shape. The base  116  defines a disinfecting chamber  122  ( FIGS. 15 and 17 ) that has an opening  124  defined by the top end  118  of the base  116 . 
     The kit  110  also includes a supply of the sterilization fluid, such as the illustrated cartridge or tank  126 , and a waste collection tank  128 , which are both removably attachable to the housing  114  ( FIGS. 16 and 21-23 ). One or both of the cartridge  126  and waste tank  128  may be disposable. The cartridge  126  and waste tank  128  also may have complementary shapes that allow the cartridge  126  and waste tank  128  to engage, nest, dovetail or otherwise fit together. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the waste tank  128  may include a hollow  127  ( FIGS. 16 and 22 ) wherein the cartridge  126  is sized and shaped to fit within the hollow  127 . In the illustrated embodiment the hollow  127  and cartridge  126  both have generally rectangular shapes. This allows the cartridge  126  to nest with the waste tank  128 . In other embodiments, the cartridge  126  and hollow  127  could be other various shapes. In one embodiment, there is a friction fit between the cartridge  126  and waste tank  128 , such that the two are removably attached to each other. The shapes and positions of the cartridge  126  and the waste tank  128  could be switched and the waste tank  128  could nest within the cartridge  126 . In yet another embodiment, the waste tank  128  and cartridge  126  may not be in any physical contact. 
     When attached to the housing  114 , the cartridge  126  and the waste tank  128  may be in selective fluid communication with the disinfecting chamber  122 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , sterilization fluid  130  may flow from the cartridge  126  through a supply flow path  132  to a pump  134 . Optionally, the supply flow path  132  may include an extension  133  that extends into opening  135  of the cartridge  126 . The pump  134  may pump a select amount of sterilization fluid  130  through fill/drain flow path  136  into the disinfecting chamber  122 . After disinfecting, the sterilization fluid  130  may flow through fill/drain flow path  136  back to pump  134 , which may be a revisable pump. Pump  134  pumps the sterilization fluid  130  through waste flow path  138  and opening  139  in waste tank  128 . Also, the supply flow path  132  and the waste flow path  138  may include valves  140  and  142  that are actuated during the filling and draining of the sterilization chamber  122 . For example, when sterilization fluid  130  is being pumped from the cartridge  126  to the sterilization chamber  122 , valve  140  may be open and valve  142  may be closed. When sterilization fluid  130  is being drained from the sterilization chamber  122 , valve  142  may be open and valve  140  may be closed. 
     For embodiments in which a sterilization fluid is circulated through the kit, the fluid path may include one or more filters or screens configured to entrap debris circulating through the fluid path. Each filter or screen may be placed in any suitable location within the fluid path and may be variously configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the filter or screen may be provided as a flat mesh with pores that are sized and configured to entrap particulates that may be present in urine. In other embodiments, the filter or screen may be differently configured (e.g., being formed of a woven or non-woven material), including having any pore size and/or porosity. If multiple filters or screens are provided, they may be substantially identical or differently configured and may be positioned at any suitable location with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the filter or screen may be placed in the return loop returning fluid to the pump for recycling. In this embodiment, the filter entraps debris prior to the fluid entering the pump and being returned back into the compartment with the catheter. 
     A lid  144  is associated with the top end  118  of the base  116 . The lid  144  is movable between a closed condition, in which the lid covers the opening  124  of the disinfecting chamber  122  (as in  FIG. 14 ) and an open condition in which the lid  144  does not cover opening  124  (as in  FIG. 15 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the lid  144  is pivotally secured to the top end  118  of the base  116 . The lid  144  is movable between the closed condition, in which the lid  144  is pivoted toward the base  116  (as in  FIG. 14 ) and an open condition in which the lid  144  is pivoted away from the base  116  (as in  FIG. 15 ). More particularly, in the closed condition, the lid  144  is positioned to contact and overlay the base  116 , covering the disinfecting chamber opening  124 . The base  116  and lid  144  may be formed of a generally rigid material, such as a plastic material. The lid may also include the user interface  146 , which the user interacts with to commence sterilization and which provides the user with an indication of stages of the sterilization process. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 18-20 , chassis  148  is removably positioned within the disinfecting chamber  122  ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ). The chassis  148  may have a shape that is generally similar to that of the chamber  122 . For example, chassis  148  may be generally rectangular. The chassis  148  also may be formed of a generally rigid material, such as a plastic material, with a reusable urinary catheter  112  removably secured to the chassis  148 , such as by being at least partially wrapped around the chassis  148 . The chassis  148  includes a body  150  having a frame  152  for holding the catheter  112  and a hook  154  extending from the frame  152  for handling and hanging the chassis  148 . 
     The chassis  148  may be variously configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  152  of the chassis  148  includes opposed catheter clips  156  and  158 , with catheter tube  160  of the reusable urinary catheter  112  removably received by clips  156  and  158 . The illustrated chassis  148  further includes at least one wall  160  between the clips  156  and  158 . The wall  160  may be arcuate and it has a groove  162  that receives the catheter tube  164  to maintain the tube in a bent configuration. 
     To secure the reusable urinary catheter  112  to the illustrated chassis  148 , one of the proximal end  166  and the distal end  168  of the catheter tube  164  is pressed into one of the clips  156  and  158 , followed by wrapping the catheter tube  164  around wall  160  of the frame, with a middle portion of the catheter tube received by the groove  162  of the wall ( FIGS. 18 and 20 ). The other end of the proximal and distal ends  166  and  168  of the catheter tube  164  is pressed into the other one of the clips  156  and  158  ( FIG. 20 ). The installation process may be reversed to dissociate the reusable urinary catheter  112  from the chassis  148  ( FIG. 19 ). 
     In use, the lid  144  of the housing  114  is opened and the user removes the chassis  148  from the disinfecting chamber  122 . Next, the chassis  148  is removed from the base  116  ( FIG. 15 ) and the reusable urinary catheter  112  is all or partially dissociated from the chassis  148  ( FIG. 19 ), as described above. During dissociation of the catheter  112  from the chassis  148 , the user may use the hook  152  to hang the chassis  148  on for example a towel bar  172  ( FIGS. 18-20 ). The user then uses the reusable urinary catheter  112  for catheterization. Following catheterization, the reusable urinary catheter  112  is reconnected to the chassis  148  ( FIG. 20 ) and then the chassis  148  is returned to the disinfecting chamber  122 . The lid  144  is then moved from its open condition to its closed condition, as in  FIG. 14 . The user then initiates the sterilization process in which the sterilization fluid flows from the cartridge  126  into the disinfecting chamber  122 . The sterilization fluid remains within the disinfecting chamber  122  for a period time sufficient to sterilize the catheter. Optionally, an agitator or fluid circulator may be included in the disinfecting chamber  122  to move the sterilization fluid within the chamber. If the sterilization fluid comprises a foam, the agitator or fluid circulator may foam the sterilization fluid and/or the sterilization fluid may be foamed by the pump or a restriction in the supply line. 
     The sterilization fluid then is drained from the disinfecting chamber  122  and flows into the waste tank  128 . After the sterilization fluid has been drained from the chamber  122  to the waste tank, the sterilization process is completed and the catheter  112  is ready to be reused for catheterization. 
     Optionally, at least one light source is associated with the base  116  and/or the lid  144  and is configured to irradiate at least a portion of the reusable urinary catheter  112  with light to refresh the hydrophilic coating, if one is present. 
     For any of the embodiments described herein that include a sterilizing light source and a hydrophilic coated catheter, the light source may be used to refresh or replenish the hydrophilic coating of the catheter. Hydrophilic catheter coatings are formed from a hydrophilic polymer. In one embodiment the sterilization fluid or hydration medium may contain a hydrophilic polymer in the fluid/medium wherein the hydrophilic polymer is the same polymer as that in the coating or one that is compatible with the hydrophilic polymer of the coating. When the sterilization fluid or hydration medium comes into contact with the hydrophilic coating of the catheter, some of the hydrophilic polymer from the fluid/medium remains on or becomes entangled with the polymer of the hydrophilic coating. Exposure to the sterilizing light source promotes or initiates cross-linking between the hydrophilic polymer of the fluid/medium and the hydrophilic coating of the catheter, thereby refreshing or replenishing the hydrophilic coating with new or additional polymer material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 21-23 , after the cartridge  126  is spent or otherwise needs to be changed, the cartridge  126  and waste tank  128  may be detached from the housing  114 . In the illustrated embodiment, the waste tank  128  includes a handle  186 , which is grasped and pulled by the user to detach the waste tank  128  and cartridge  126  from the housing  114 . The cartridge  126  may include a handle  188  which the use may grasp to separate the cartridge  126  from the waste tank  128 . The waste tank  128  then is emptied by, for example, pouring the fluid out of the opening  139  ( FIG. 17 ) of the tank  128 , and the cartridge  126  is disposed of. A new cartridge  126  is nested with the waste tank  128 , and the cartridge and waste tank are attached to the housing  114 . The cartridge  128  may include an openable barrier initially covering the opening  135  which is in communication with flow path  132 . In one embodiment, the openable barrier may be a breakable foil, which may be pierced by extension  133  to initial fluid communication between the cartridge  128  and the flow path  132 . 
     It will be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present subject matter. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter, including those combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein. For these reasons, the scope hereof is not limited to the above description but is as set forth in the following claims, and it is understood that claims may be directed to the features hereof, including as combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein.