Patent ID: 6899703

Claim:
A method of treating a disease or disorder, said method comprising: a) providing an intraurethral device that comprises a urethral element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a connecting section therebetween, the distal end defining a first outer cross-sectional dimension and a height and the connecting section defining a second outer cross-sectional dimension, wherein the outer cross-sectional dimension of the distal end is greater than the outer cross-sectional dimension of the connecting section, said distal end of said urethral element being adapted to be inserted into a urethra, said distal end containing a chemical compound capable of treating or detecting the presence or absence of a disorder or disease, wherein the shape of said distal end forms a recess that is closed at the interior terminus of the recess, the recess defining a height that is less than the height of the distal end such that said recess is contained within the distal end and does not extend into the connecting section of the urethral element; b) inserting said urethral element into the urethra so that said chemical compound is not substantially contaminated prior to insertion of said urethral element in the urethra; and c) allowing said chemical compound to be released from said urethral element into the urethra.