CA2223963A1 - Urethral cap - Google Patents

Urethral cap Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2223963A1
CA2223963A1 CA002223963A CA2223963A CA2223963A1 CA 2223963 A1 CA2223963 A1 CA 2223963A1 CA 002223963 A CA002223963 A CA 002223963A CA 2223963 A CA2223963 A CA 2223963A CA 2223963 A1 CA2223963 A1 CA 2223963A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cap
urethral
user
accordance
meatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002223963A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert W. Schaefer
Robert Schlesinger
Sergei Bogojavlensky
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Insight Medical Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Insight Medical Corp filed Critical Insight Medical Corp
Publication of CA2223963A1 publication Critical patent/CA2223963A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/0004Closure means for urethra or rectum, i.e. anti-incontinence devices or support slings against pelvic prolapse
    • A61F2/0009Closure means for urethra or rectum, i.e. anti-incontinence devices or support slings against pelvic prolapse placed in or outside the body opening close to the surface of the body
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S128/00Surgery
    • Y10S128/25Artificial sphincters and devices for controlling urinary incontinence

Abstract

A urethral cap is provided for alleviating urinary incontinence when attached to the body of the user. The cap has at least a partially deformable cap body with a hand gripping portion and a body contacting encircling surface. The body defines a chamber so as to allow for a vacuum seal when applied to the body so that there is an atmospheric air pressure seal between the urethral cap and the body to prevent urinary flow beyond the urethral cap.

Description

W 096/39990 PCT~US96/08034 URETHRAL CAP

k~round of the Invention Urinary incontinence, such as stress incontinence, in females is a substantial problem throughout the world. A variety of mech~ni~m~ have been suggested for use to alleviate the condition which can be a social as well as medical problem to those afflicted with the problem.
Many suggested medical devices to alleviate urinary incontinence in females require the use of internal components such as catheters, balloons, pessary or the like which pass into the urethra and are positioned within the body in use. Such internal components can be a source of o irritation to the body and in some cases can result in infection or other unwanted body reactions.
Moreover, such devices as are known can be expensive and/or inconvenient to use and transport for use.

~ummary of the Invention It is an object ofthis invention to provide a urethral cap for alleviating urinary incontinence such as stress incontinence in females which cap is inexpensive to provide, is simple to apply and remove and which does not create a high risk of body infection.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a urethral cap in accordance with the preceding cap which utilizes atmospheric pressure to m~inl~in the cap in position on the body of a user.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a urethral cap in accordance with the preceding objects which can incorporate a sealing m~teri~l which can be a lubricant or adhesive to aid ~tt~.hment to the body.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of alleviating urinary incontinency in a user by applying a urethral cap blocking the outer orifice of the urethra at the meatus, and ~ltilizing an air pressure difference to m:~int~in the cap on the body of a user.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a method in accordance with the preceding method wherein an adhesive is used in conjunction with holding the cap on the body.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a method in accordance with the preceding objects which can be rapidly carried out by a user and provides safe and certain protection against incontinency in women.

W O 96~9990 PCT~US96/08034 According to the invention, a urethral cap for alleviating urinary incontinency when attached to the body of a user has a resilient at least partially deformable cap body with a hand gripping portion. The body defines a chamber sized to allow for reciprocal resilient deformation of the cap body to provide a vacuum therein to hold the urethral cap on the body of a user. A
s lower portion of the chamber acts to contact the meatus to constrict the meatus when the cap is L
applied to the body. The cap body further defines an encircling flange having a body contacting surface to act as a sealing surface with the body of a user.
Preferably, this encircling flange has a diameter of about 3 centimeters and preferably in the range of about 2.4 to 3.3 centimeters to allow proper positioning on the female body at the o orifice of the urethra. Preferably, the cap is formed of a resilient body compatible rubbery material such as silicone rubber and can be sterilized and packaged under sterile conditions.
According to the method of this invention, urinary incontinence in women is alleviated and unwanted urinary flow prevented by applying a urethral cap having an internal chamber, over a urethra outer body orifice of the user. The cap defines a hand gripping portion and an 15 encircling flange having a body contact surface which aids in sealing the urethral cap to the body of the user. Air pressure is employed below atmospheric air pressure to mziintziin the cap in place and compress the meatus. The urethral cap is removed to allow voiding when desired and can be reapplied.
It is a feature of this invention that the chance of infection and internal irritation to a user 20 is reduced since no components of the cap pass into or through the urethra of the user and the cap iS ~terrizil to the body. The cap can be made of standard no~ irlg body compatible materials such as silicone rubbers and the like. In use, the air pressure difference between the chamber of the cap and the atmosphere holds the cap in place. This positioning can be enhanced by use of an adhesive sealing material if desired, and/or is preferably enhanced by the use of a non-adhesive 25 sealing mzit~rizil. The sealing material can be preapplied. The cap allows for collection of a small amount of urine in an internal chamber as well as ease of removal to allow urinary flow and ease of replacement. In ordinary use, the meatus is closed by the urethral cap and no urine leakage occurs to the chamber or outside of the body. The cap can be made relatively inexpensively of inexpensive materials in proper sizing as required. A small number of sizes can 30 be used to fit the vast majority of users.

CA 02223963 1997-12-0~

Brief Description of the Drawin~
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
s FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the urethral cap in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken through line 2-2 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3is a bottom view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a section of the flange of a cap in accordance o with FIG. 1 having a plurality of sealing layers applied thereto;
FIG. 5 is a semi-diagrammatic top plan view of the urethral cap of FIG. 1 in place on the body of the user; and FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view as through line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of the urethral cap when in place on the body of the user.
Detailed Description A pler~ d embodiment of a urethral cap or incontinence device is illustrated at 10 as best shown in FIGS. 1-3. The cap comprises a body 11 defining an inner chamber 12 with an outer flange 13 and an intermediate frustoconical portion 14.
The body of the urethral cap in the pl~f~ d embodiment of FIG. 1 has a cylindrical wall 15 around a central axis 40 of the cap, with a rounded outer end wall 16, a finger gripping ledge 17 and a body contacting encircling surface 18 are provided.
The urethral cap is preferably integrally formed as by conventional molding but can be made by dipping, spraying or other techniques. The material of the integral cap is preferably an 25 FDA approved medical grade silicone rubber. However, elastomeric materials such as medical grade silicone rubber sold by Dow Corning Co., elastomeric urethanes, polyvinyl chlorides, natural and other rubbery material or synthetic polymeric materials can be used. In some cases, the body need not be integrally formed but can be formed of rigid materials which can be polymeric or metallic. In these cases, at least a portion of the body opening into the interior 30 chamber 12 is formed of a resilient material which can be elastically and reciprocally moved by the fingers from the at rest position as shown in FIG. 2 to a compressed or reduced chamber position and then allowed to expand to the at rest position. This is necessary in order to provide CA 02223963 1997-12-0~

at least a partial vacuum in the chamber to seal the cap to the body by an air pressure differential between the air within the chamber and the atmospheric air pressure as will be described.
The side wall thickness of the cap is arranged so that side wall 15 has a thicker section and is more resistant to collapse or deformation by atmospberic pressure than is the fiange 5 portion 13 which tapers from the wall 15. The thickness of wall 15 can be, for example, 1.75 millimeter thick with a preferred range of 1.~ to 2.5 millimeter, with a flange 13 thickness I of, for example, 0.75 millimeter in the l~lef~l-ed embodiment and a plere~l~d range of 0.5 to 1.5 millimeter and can be formed of an FDA approved medical grade silicone rubber. This difference in wall thickness prevents collapse on itself of the device in use, yet, allows for o movement of the flange towards the body in use.
As best seen in the cross section of FIG. 6, the flange 13 can be deformed towards or closely contact the body at the planar area of the body surrounding the meatus or urethra orifice.
A portion of orifice of the urethra indicated at 20 can be drawn into contact with the flange 13 and the frustoconical portion 14 which acts to close the meatus in order to m~int~in position of 5 the cap, to form a good seal with the body at flange 13 and to close the meatus to urine flow.
In use, the meatus is preferably closed by a gentle compression of the area around the meatus to form a closure m~int~ined in position by an air pressure difference. Any structure that provides a closure of the meatus to urine flo-v, yet allows comfort in use and ease of reuse, can provide the advantages of this invention. These advantages can be obtained by the device 10 20 acting solely exten~zllly of the body without any part thereof entering the body of a user.
The end wall 16 of the cap preferably provides a hand gripping wall l 7 although any configuration which allows for finger gripping of the cap to allow positioning on the body and removal therefrom by the fingers of the user is acceptable. Thus, although the cap is shown as a cylin~1ric~l side wall, rounded end wall top with frustoconical section 14 and encircling flange 25 13, the shape can vary greatly. The section 14 is important to provide the closure ofthe meatus.
Generally, the angle of the interim wall surface 141 with the surface 18 is obtuse to ~nh~nee closure of the meatus. This internal wall surface 141 is a lower portion of chamber 12 and closes the meatus by pressure thereof.
It is preferred that the flange 13 provide a body contacting surface 18 forming a 30 continuous ring about the opening or meatus of the urethra of the body. However, other portions of the cap can be square, round, oblong, bulbous, or of any shape desired. Flat, rather than rounded end wall 16 can be used. In all cases, sufficient interior space is provided at the inner CA 02223963 1997-12-0~
W O 96/39990 PCT~US96/08034 chamber 12 which extends to the tip of the flange, to provide for forming an at least partial vacuum in the chamber by finger compression, and allowing resilient rebound to the positioning as in FIG. 6.
The ~limen~ions of the urethral cap can vary greatly.
However, consistent with normal anatomy of females in the United States, it is preferred that the diameter A be in the range of 2.3 to 3.4 centimeters and more preferably 2.4 to 3.3 centimeters with 3 centimeters being used in the ~ r~ d embodiment. Where the flange 13 is oval or of other encircling shapes such as square, oblong, triangular or the like, the m~x;~
flange width corresponding to the diameter of flange 13 between the labia is about 3.4 o centimeters. Diameter B is preferably in the range of 1 centimeter to 2.5 centimeters with 1.5 millimeters being preferred. The height D of the device is preferably I to 3 centimeters and in the ~-~f~ d embodiment 2 centimeters. This height can vary greatly but by mzlint~ining the device approximately 1 to 3 centimeters in height, the device can be worn without discomfort, positioned easily and is resistant to dislodging by g~rrnent~ worn by the user.
Distance E can be, for example, 1.35 centimeters in the preferred embodiment with the chamber diameter of chamber 12 shown at F being 75 millimet~rs in the l lerell~d embodiment.
Distance H which defines in part the interior chamber can be 5.25 millimeters in the preferred embodiment but again can vary greatly. The most important dimensions relate to the range of 2.3 to 3.4 centimeters in outer diameter of flange 13 for proper positioning in the body and 20 preferably the height is no more than about 3 centimeters to allow ease of use and reuse.
In the preferred embodiment, Silastic HS-30, manufactured by Dow-Corning Corp. of Midland, Michigan, is used as the elastomeric m~t~?ri~l for the integral cap 10. The Silastic HS-30 preferably has a Durometer Shore A of 32, tensile strength psi (Mpa) 1325(9.13) and an elongation of 1020%. The Silastic silicone rubber can be cured with conventional peroxide 25 curing agents such as Lupersol 101, a product of Penwalt Corp. of Buffalo, New York.
Conventional colorants can be used to add color as, for example, organic and inorganic pigments.
In use, a sealant material which can be an adhesive but need not be an adhesive, is applied to the body cont~ting surface 18. The purpose of this material shown in FIG. 4 at 30 is to provide an air and liquid seal between the skin of the body and the flange. If the seal is 30 adhesive, it not only seals against air and liquid pressure leakage, but can also act to hold the device in contact with the body. However, it is pl~r~ d not to use solely an adhesive as the body adhering portion since this could be irritating to the body if sufficient adhesive is used to WO 96/39990 PCT~US96/08034 provide proper protection. On the other hand, when substantially no adhesive properties are used in the sealing material, sufficient protection against urinary leakage is provided by the inc~-ntinence device 10 ofthis invention.
The cap preferably is symmetrical about a central axis 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3although it need not be symmetrical in all embo~lim~nts. b The sealing m~t~?ri~l 30 can be known adhesives which are nollhliL~Li~lg to the body and can be used in contact with the body over a period of time Such adhesives include the water soluble paste FIXADENT(~ or CONFIDENT an adhesive produced by Block Drug of Jersey City, New Jersey. However, sealing m~teri~l~ such as conventional lubricants including 0 petrolatum or petroleum jelly such as Vaseline(~) can be used without adhesive properties. The sealing material such as petroleum jelly compensates for irregularities in the skin or cap sealing surface flange and thus provides for protection against air and urine leakage in use of the device when the device is applied to the body.
The sealing material 30 can be applied by the user using a Q-tip applicator or the fingertip to rub the vaseline or adhesive over the body sealing surface just prior to use. In some cases, the lubricant or adhesive can be prepositioned on the device with a cover or release strip 31 applied thereover to prevent sticking or removal of the sealant or adhesive prior to application. In some cases, a plurality of sealant and cover strips can be used as suggested in FIG. 4 at 32 and 33. Thus, in the first application, the lower strip 33 is removed exposing an 20 underlying surface 32 of adhesive or lubricant sealing m~teri~l for a first application to the body.
This can be done where the sealant directly contacting the flange directly is an adhesive and, thus, the product is m~int~ined on the body. After first removal, the second cover strip 31 can be removed to expose the underlying adhesive 30 for a second application. Any number of protective strips and sealant layers can be used as desired. In the plcfellcd embodiment, the 25 sealant m~t~ri~l is applied just prior to use by the user as when vaseline petroleum jelly is used.
FIGS. 5 and 6 diagramrnatically show placement on the body. In FIG. 5, the labia 41 are diagrarnmatically illustrated with the urethral opening or meatus 42 being shown with the flange 13 positioned thereover. In FIG. 6, the cap 10 is shown in position with the skin of the body about the meatus pulled into direct contact with the body contacting surface 18 of the flange and 30 the underside ofthe frustoconical portion 14. This closes the urethral orifice and the positioning of the skin below the flange acts to aid in centering and m~int~inin~ the cap in position on the body as well as to prevent urine outflow. Similarly, because the flange 13 is positioned to lie WO 96/39990 PCT~US96/08034 --7--substantially just within the labia 41 at a planar area around the meatus, positioning is mzlint~ined and this spacing aids in locating and placing the urethral cap in position.
In the method of applying the urethral cap of this invention, the cap is deformed inwardly by the fingers of the user and then applied to the orifice of the urethra and allowed to expand to 5 its original shape as shown in FIG. 2. This creates a vacuum within the inner chamber 12 causing outside atmospheric pressure to push against the flange 13 and frustoconical portion 14 and m~int~in the urethral cap in good sealing engagement with the body. The skin or tissue imme~ tely surrounding the meatus is compressed by the air pressure difference and a seal is formed with the cap 10 at the surface 141. The sealing material preapplied to the body 0 contacting surface 18 aids in m~int~ining the seal. The pressure dirre~ lial between the inside of the cap and the atmosphere can vary greatly. This depends in part on atmospheric conditions as well as how much depression is applied to the chamber before it resiliently returns to its normal position shown in FIG. 2. In some cases, the full repositioning of FIG. 2 is not achieved after compression of the side wall in application, but in all cases, some chamber vacuum or 5 partial vacuum remains inside the cap. The interior cha_ber 12 can act as a reservoir if there is some leakage while the cap is in place, although this does not n~rmzllly occur.
As previously noted, the skirt size is such that it aids in positioning the skirt in proper position over the urethral orifice and also mz1int~ining the cap in place. The finger grip is important for placement particularly in older patients. The finger grip can be simply the 20 cylindrical outer surface of chamber 12.
The differential in air pressure between the inside of the cap and the atmosphere is difficult to deterrnine. In many cases, the air pressure differential may be as little as 1 psi or can be 2-5 psi or 6-10 psi or more. Preferably, the pressure is applied by the depression of the cap and the expansion thereof towards its original shape since the walls are resiliently deformable.
25 This can result in different amounts of pressure when even the same cap is used depending on how it is applied and how much depression occurs. Surprisingly, it has been found that even with small caps following the method of this invention, sufficient air pressure difference is obtained to m~int~in the cap in position and avoid urine flow.
Thus, a user can alleviate urinary incontinence such as stress incontinence by applying 30 the cap over the urethral orifice using the labia spacing to help position the cap. Prior to contact with the body, the cap is resiliently depressed at the hand gripping portion and the encircling flange is brought into contact with the skin surrounding the orifice opening. The body contacting WO 96/39990 PCT~US96/08034 portion of the flange has been previously treated with petroleum jelly or an adhesive as previously described. Slight pressure on the skin and release of the pressure deforming the cap causes a suction within the cap and provides the air pressure difference on the outside of the flange and frustoconical portion 14 that m~int~in~ the cap in place on the body and closes the s meatus as shown in Fig. 6. The cap can be easily removed to allow voiding when desired. In some cases, the cap can merely be pulled off the skin although a slight depression of the finger gripping portion is desired to alleviate the pressure difference first. The device is comfortable in use, can be easily applied by a majority of patients and has been found to prevent urinary leakage and thus alleviate urinary incontinence in women, including stress urinary incontinence.
o In the pl~r~lled embodiment, the cap is packaged in a surrounding clear plastic container or envelope diagrammatically illustrated at 50. This m~int~in.s the cleanliness of the cap prior to usage. Such envelopes are known in the art and can comprise thin plastic films which can be see through or opaque. Other conventional packages can be used to store and transport the urethral cap to m~int~in cle:~nlines~ In some cases, a plurality of caps can be packaged in a single package or no package need be used. In some cases, the caps of this invention can be sterilized.
Preferably, the caps 10 of this invention are manufactured and packaged under and meeting ISO
9000 standards to provide cle~nlin~ss, m~nllf~cturing quality and lot control. Thus, cont~min~tion, including bacterial cont~min~tion, is minimi7~
The urinary caps of this invention can be sterilized to reduce the risk of infection or 20 irritation to the skin. Sterilization is not required since the device is external to the body and does not have any component passing within the urethra.
It has been found that caps of this type are useful for long periods of time and m~int~in the contact with the skin in sealing arrangement for periods of 2 to 6 hours or more in some cases.
While specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations are possible. The particular materials, integral nature, geometric configuration of the devices of this invention can vary greatly. In all cases, a pressure differential is instrurnental in providing a body contacting seal to alleviate conditions of incontinency which seal acts along with a mechanical closure of the meatus. The 30 seal formed by the flange 13, portion 14 and the body by the air pressure difference between the chamber and atmosphere and the adhesive contact if used, is sufficiently strong to withstand and WO 96/39990 PCT~US96/08034 _g to prevent urinar,v flow out of the cap over long periods of time at urinary pressures normally encountered at the urethral orifice.

Claims (23)

-10-
1. A urethral cap for alleviating urinary incontinence, when applied over the meatus of the body of a user;
said cap comprising a resilient at least partially deformable cap body having a hand griping portion, said body defining a chamber there within sized to allow for reciprocal resilient deformation of said cap body to provide a vacuum therein to hold said urethral cap on the body of a user and close the meatus of said body of the user, said cap body defining an encircling flange having a body contacting surface to act as a sealing surface with the body of a user.
2. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a sealing material covering said body contacting surface for aiding in preventing fluid flow between the body contacting surface and the body of an individual when said cap is in use.
3. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said encircling flange has an outer diameter of from about 2.3 to about 3.4 centimeters.
4. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 2 wherein said encircling flange has an outer diameter of about 3 centimeters.
5. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber defines a central axis passing from a top of said cap to a bottom of said cap, with said bottom being defined by said encircling flange said top to bottom having a height of about 2 centimeters.
6. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cap is integrally formed of a resilient material which allows ease of application to the body of a user by deforming said cap chamber applying said cap to the user body about the orifice of a urethra and releasing said deforming pressure to define an air pressure difference between said chamber and the atmosphere sufficient to seal said flange to the user and to prevent liquid flow therethrough at normal pressures encountered in urinary fluids expressed by the body, said cap further defining a meatus constricting surface to close said meatus when said cap is applied with said pressure difference acting to position said cap.
7. A urinary cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cap is formed of an FDAapproved silicone rubber.
8. A urinary cap in accordance with claim 1 carrying a layer of the sealing material over said body contacting surface, and a release strip covering said sealing material.
9. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 8 and further comprising a second layer of sealing material over said release strip and a second release strip overlying said second layer of sealing material.
10. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sealing material is alubricant with no adhesive properties.
11. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sealing material is an adhesive.
12. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cap conforms to ISO 9000 manufacturing standards.
13. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 12 wherein said cap is packaged in accordance with ISO 9000 manufacturing standards.
14. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cap is integrally formed of a silicone rubber material compatible with and nonirritating to the skin of the body.
15. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 2 wherein said encircling flange has an outer diameter of from about 2.3 to about 3.4 centimeters.
16. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 5 and further comprising a sealing material covering said body contacting surface for aiding in preventing liquid flow between the body contacting surface and the body of an individual when said cap is in use.
17. A urethral cap in accordance with claim 16, wherein said cap provides a generally fustroconical inner surface adjacent said flange body contacting surface to aid in closing said meatus by compression.
18. A method for alleviating urinary incontinence of a user, said method comprising:
applying a urethral cap having an internal chamber over a urethra outer body orifice of a user, said cap defining a hand gripping portion and an encircling flange having a body contacting surface area which aids in sealing said urethral cap to the body of a user, employing air pressure below ambient atmospheric air pressure to maintain said cap in place, and removing said urethral cap to allow voiding when desired.
19. A method in accordance with the method of claim 18 wherein a sealing material is applied to said body contacting surface before application of said cap to the body orifice of a user, and said air pressure acts to compress and seal the meatus to urinary flow.
20. A method in accordance with the method of claim 19 wherein said urethral cap is applied by resiliently compressing said cap, contacting said body contacting surface area with the body of the user, positioning a central axis of said cap over said urethra outer body orifice, and allowing said cap to resiliently return towards its original configuration.
21. In a method of preventing unwanted urinary flow from the body of a female user, the method comprising:
applying a urethral cap over the orifice of the urethra and maintaining said cap in place on the body of the user by the use of air pressure to prevent urinary flow beyond said cap.
22. In a method of alleviation of urinary incontinence, wherein a hand applied device is used to prevent unwanted urinary flow, the improvement comprising, using a hand applied and removable device mounted externally of the body to close the meatus of the body to urinary flow, and removing said device from the body to allow the meatus to return to its opened natural state and permit urinary flow when desired.
23. A urethral cap for alleviating urinary incontinence when attached to the body of a user, while minimizing infection of the user by avoiding the use of components of said cap passing into or through the urethra of a user, said cap comprising a hand gripping portion for use in mounting said cap over the urethra external orifice of said body, said cap having an interior surface and an exterior surface and defining an interior chamber for establishing a pressure differential between said urethral cap and the atmosphere to aid in maintaining said cap in position attached to said body, a meatus compressing and closure surface, and an encircling flange having a body contacting surface to act as a sealing surface with the body of a user, said encircling flange being constructed and arranged to surround said urethral external orifice.
CA002223963A 1995-06-07 1996-05-30 Urethral cap Abandoned CA2223963A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US47609295A 1995-06-07 1995-06-07
US55676695A 1995-11-02 1995-11-02
US08/556,766 1995-11-02
US08/476,092 1995-11-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2223963A1 true CA2223963A1 (en) 1996-12-19

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ID=27045065

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002223963A Abandoned CA2223963A1 (en) 1995-06-07 1996-05-30 Urethral cap
CA002223614A Abandoned CA2223614A1 (en) 1995-06-07 1996-06-06 Urethral cap

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002223614A Abandoned CA2223614A1 (en) 1995-06-07 1996-06-06 Urethral cap

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US5908379A (en)
EP (2) EP0831750A1 (en)
JP (2) JPH11509111A (en)
AT (1) ATE227108T1 (en)
AU (2) AU5953996A (en)
BR (1) BR9609404A (en)
CA (2) CA2223963A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69624705T2 (en)
WO (2) WO1996039990A1 (en)

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WO1996039990A1 (en) 1996-12-19
CA2223614A1 (en) 1996-12-19
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DE69624705D1 (en) 2002-12-12
EP0831751A1 (en) 1998-04-01
JPH11506671A (en) 1999-06-15
AU5987096A (en) 1996-12-30
EP0831751B1 (en) 2002-11-06
AU5953996A (en) 1996-12-30
ATE227108T1 (en) 2002-11-15
DE69624705T2 (en) 2003-03-20
US5908379A (en) 1999-06-01
BR9609404A (en) 1999-12-14
JPH11509111A (en) 1999-08-17
EP0831750A1 (en) 1998-04-01

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