Patent ID: 7458964

Claim:
A device for controlling movement of a catheter that is at least partially disposed therein a urinary catheter pouch, comprising: a) a catheter housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a longitudinally extending catheter tube pathway configured for receipt of the catheter, wherein the catheter tube pathway comprises an egress end and an ingress end; and b) a means for selectively engaging the catheter to permit longitudinal movement of the catheter relative to the catheter tube pathway in a first direction and to resist longitudinal movement of the catheter relative to the catheter tube pathway in a second, opposite direction, wherein the means for selectively engaging the catheter comprises: i) a leveling surface positioned within the catheter tube pathway of the catheter housing proximate the egress end of the catheter tube pathway, wherein the leveling surface is positioned substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter housing; ii) a biasing surface positioned within the catheter tube pathway of the catheter housing at an acute angle with respect to the leveling surface, wherein the biasing surface is spaced from the leveling surface, and wherein the biasing surface and leveling surfaces define an interior cavity within the catheter tube pathway of the catheter housing; and iii) a tube gripper positioned within the interior cavity of the catheter housing, the tube gripper having a top face, a bottom face, and defining a catheter orifice extending between the top face and the bottom face, wherein the catheter orifice comprises a gripping surface configured to frictionally engage an exterior surface of the catheter; and wherein movement of the catheter in a first direction moves the tube gripper into a first position, in which at least a portion of the top face of the tube gripper is in contact with the leveling surface such that the catheter orifice of the tube gripper is positioned substantially co-axial to the axis of the catheter tube pathway, and movement of the catheter in a second direction moves the tube gripper into a second position, in which the top face of the tube gripper is spaced therefrom the leveling surface and at least a portion of the bottom face of the tube gripper is in contact with the biasing surface such that the catheter orifice is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the catheter tube pathway.