Abstract:
A catheter for urinary relief of relatively incapacitated female persons has a head portion with a rim and flange to sealingly engage tissue about a urethra and an outlet tube. A slotted urinal cap facilitates entry of the tube into a urinal.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    A need has existed for an effective urinary relief device for urination by disabled, bedridden, or otherwise incapacitated or handicapped female persons.  
           [0002]    Devices of the prior art do not address or adequately meet the needs of such persons. Some prior art devices are relatively complicated and/or expensive, and some are difficult or inconvenient to utilize by such persons.  
           [0003]    The device of Ellis U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,185 is relatively complicated and somewhat intricate and expensive to fabricate. It requires an additional component or tube to conduct any urine to a urinal for disposal.  
           [0004]    Wapner U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,689 is relatively complicated, expensive, and involves a block member for insertion into a vaginal opening, which is unnecessary for purposes of the present invention. It is adapted for collection of specimens free of vaginal or anal bacteria, and lacks any tube or the like for conducting urine to disposal or to a urinal. This outlet is so directed as to not be useful for the purposes of the present invention.  
           [0005]    Davis U.S. Pat. No. 3,555,102 provides structure for insertion into a vaginal cavity, but lacks means for closely engaging tissues about a urethral opening for prevention of leakage.  
           [0006]    The present invention provides a urinary relief device for female persons who are handicapped and/or bedridden, to facilitate urination and disposal.  
           [0007]    The invention is an intra-labial catheter, with a head portion with a rim of generally oval configuration to engage the urethra and soft tissue thereabout for prevention of leakage, the head portion including a flange portion extending outwardly from the inward portion of the oval rim for engagement with the tissues of a person for leakage prevention. A generally funnel-shaped reservoir portion extends from the head portion to regulate dynamic flow, and a tube portion is connected with the reservoir portion for disposal of the urine. A detachable cover for an associated urinal is slitted to facilitate insertion of the tube therethrough.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing (1) a device of the invention in relation to the tissues of a person, shown in section, and (2) a urinal having a cap according to the invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the invention shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view showing details of a head portion of the device of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the cap shown in Figure  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    The present invention relates to improved intra-labial catheters for urinary relief of bed-ridden or otherwise handicapped females, and further to a urinal adapter for cooperation with a catheter device for easy use by impaired females.  
         [0014]    Referring to the drawings, a urinary relief device of the invention comprises an intra-labial catheter which has a generally oval intake opening  12  defined by a cup portion  14  adapted to be disposed between the labia and to cover the urethra of the person, and to engage the soft tissues of the person and prevent leakage with gentle pressure of the device relative to the person&#39;s soft tissues. A head portion  14  has a rim having the general configuration of an eye cup, and defining a generally oval opening about {fraction (11/16)}″ wide and {fraction (15/16)}″ long and about {fraction (3/32)}″ thick at its rounded edge. It is oriented or inclined relative to an adjacent funnel portion  18 , as shown. Cup portion  14  is tapered in configuration to be about {fraction (3/16)}″ thick at its outer edge and {fraction (5/16)}″ at its inner portion. A transversely or laterally extending flange  16  is disposed about the base of head portion  14 , and upon gentle application to the tissues of the person, facilitates improved sealing engagement of the device relative to the soft tissues including the labia minora and the urethral orifice. The device thus engages with the soft tissues of the person, with only gentle pressure, and is substantial assurance against leakage. The flange  16  is rectilinear in configuration and may typically be {fraction (20/16)}″ wide by {fraction (23/16)}″.  
         [0015]    A gemerally funnel-shaped or frusto-conical reservoir portion  18  extends from the flange  16  to regulate and serve as a temporary reservoir to maintain flow into a tube portion  20  from whence the urine flows into a urinal  22 , typically disposed between the legs of the user.  
         [0016]    A lid or cap  24  adapted for positioning at an end opening of the urinal, and for quick removal therefrom, preferably by a snap-fit arrangement, and has an elongated slit  26  intersected at right angles by a plurality of slits  28 . The slits enable a person, although handicapped, to easily urge the outer end of the tube  20  of the device  10  through the cap, thereby essentially eliminating leakage between the tube and the urinal.  
         [0017]    The tube portion  20  is sufficiently flexible to enable a limited degree of bending and changes of orientation, thus to ensure passage of urine into the urinal  22 . The tube portion  20  is sufficiently transparent to enable a person, such as an attendant, nurse, or the user herself, to monitor urine flow with the female user prone, or to enable the user to monitor herself, particularly in a standing position. Utilization of the device with the person in a standing position, such as in a doctor&#39;s office or a laboratory, or at home, for the purpose of collecting a urine specimen for testing, and is also useful for female persons in unsanitary restrooms or in situations where no restroom is available, such as in remote areas.  
         [0018]    The device  10  is fabricated of relatively soft, resilient and somewhat flexible plastic, and is preferably tinted, but translucent. The flexibility the different portions of the device vary in accordance with the thickness of the respective portions, thus reservoir  18  is relatively firm, and tube  20  has sufficiently thick walls as to prevent kinking, but thin enough to enable considerable bending for adjustment in directions, etc. Cup portion  14  is relatively soft to assist in a sealing action between it and the tissues of the person to prevent leakage.  
         [0019]    The device adapts itself to variations in body features while held in place gently against the body of the person.  
         [0020]    The device is preferably and typically fabricated by injection molding, and is sufficiently low in cost to be disposable after one or two uses. It is capable of withstanding sanitizing with boiling water, and ordinarily may be cleansed by washing in soapy, warm water. The orifice may be sprayed with Lysol or other disinfectant, as when the device is to be used by another or second person.  
         [0021]    In utilization of the device with the user in bed, it may be desirable to have an opened absorbent undergarment in place, or to place a folded towel beneath the hips of the user, in case of unexpected leakage. In utilizing the device during a menstrual period, the use of a tampon is appropriate.  
         [0022]    It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof: