IP Library › Granted Patent US 12691250
Granted Patent B2
US 12691250 · App. 18/019,647 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Intermittent-catheter assemblies and methods thereof

Inventors: James David Hughett, Sr. (Monroe, GA); Ronald N. Legaspi (Alpharetta, GA); Kyle Daw (Smyrna, GA); Steven M. Breen (Decatur, GA)
Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
A61M25/002A61M25/0043A61M2025/0046A61M2025/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12691250
App. No.
18/019,647
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are an intermittent-catheter assemblies and packages, carrying cases, and methods thereof. For example, an intermittent-catheter assembly can include an intermittent catheter and a catheter housing. The intermittent catheter can include a proximal piece ( 106 ), a cap ( 110 ) configured to cap a proximal opening of the proximal piece, and a catheter tube ( 114 ) fluidly connected to the proximal piece. The catheter housing can be around at least the catheter tube. The catheter housing can include a distal piece ( 130 ) and a collapsible sheath ( 148 ). The distal piece can include a lubricating means for lubricating the catheter tube when the distal piece is proximally slid over the catheter tube. The collapsible sheath can include a distal portion ( 146 ) coupled to the distal piece and a proximal portion ( 148 ) coupled to a neck of the proximal piece. An entirety of the catheter tube can be disposed in the catheter housing in a packaged state of the intermittent-catheter assembly.

Claims (37)

1 . An intermittent-catheter assembly, comprising:

an intermittent catheter including:

a proximal piece including a neck;

a cap coupled to the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter by a living hinge, the cap configured to cap a proximal opening of the proximal piece after voiding urine through the intermittent catheter; and

a catheter tube fluidly connected to the proximal piece; and

a catheter housing coupled to the intermittent catheter, the catheter housing comprising:

a distal piece including:

a ribbed portion configured to ouroborosly insert into a receptacle located in a proximal portion of the cap coupled to the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter while the cap caps the proximal opening of the proximal piece; and

a chamber or a receptacle including a lubricant or a lubricating sponge for lubricating the catheter tube when the distal piece is proximally slid over the catheter tube;

an internal piece slidably disposed around the catheter tube, wherein the distal piece and the internal piece form a slidable two-piece handle for placing the intermittent catheter after sliding the distal piece proximally over the catheter tube to the internal piece, thereby exposing a distal portion of the catheter tube; and

a collapsible sheath including a distal portion coupled to the distal piece and a proximal portion coupled to the neck of the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter, wherein an entirety of the catheter tube is disposed in the catheter housing in a packaged state of the intermittent-catheter assembly.

2 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap is configured to sit over a flange in a proximal portion of the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter, and wherein the flange includes a gasket thereover configured to sit between the cap and the proximal piece and form a fluidly tight seal when the cap caps the proximal piece.

3 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal piece inserted into the receptacle of the cap forms an after-use storage state of the intermittent-catheter assembly configured to prevent urine leakage from the intermittent-catheter assembly after voiding urine therewith.

4 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the catheter tube includes a plurality of eyelets proximate a catheter tip, the plurality of eyelets in fluid communication with the proximal opening of the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter.

5 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a removable foil seal over a distal opening of the distal piece in the packaged state of the intermittent-catheter assembly, wherein the removable foil seal is configured to maintain sterility of the intermittent catheter prior to use thereof.

6 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the removable foil seal is further configured to retain the lubricant in the intermittent-catheter assembly while the intermittent-catheter assembly is in the packaged state thereof.

7 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal piece is coupled to the collapsible sheath between a proximal portion of the collapsible sheath and a distal portion of the collapsible sheath providing support thereto.

8 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the proximal portion of the collapsible sheath is pleated or bellowed, and wherein the distal portion of the collapsible sheath is not pleated or bellowed.

9 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slidable two-piece handle has a proximal position over the catheter tube in an insertion state of the intermittent-catheter assembly.

10 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the slidable two-piece handle has a distal position over the catheter tube in an after-use storage state of the intermittent-catheter assembly.

11 . An intermittent-catheter assembly, comprising:

an intermittent catheter including:

a proximal piece including a neck;

a cap coupled to the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter by a living hinge, the cap configured to cap a proximal opening of the proximal piece after voiding urine through the intermittent catheter; and

a catheter tube fluidly connected to the proximal piece; and

a catheter housing coupled to the intermittent catheter, the catheter housing comprising:

a distal piece configured to proximally slide over the catheter tube, the distal piece including a ribbed portion configured to ouroborosly insert into a receptacle located in a proximal portion of the cap coupled to the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter while the cap caps the proximal opening of the proximal piece;

an internal piece slidably disposed around the catheter tube, wherein the distal piece and the internal piece form a slidable two-piece handle for placing the intermittent catheter after sliding the distal piece proximally over the catheter tube to the internal piece, thereby exposing a distal portion of the catheter tube; and

a collapsible sheath including a distal portion coupled to the distal piece and a proximal portion coupled to the neck of the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter, wherein an entirety of the catheter tube is disposed in the catheter housing in a packaged state of the intermittent-catheter assembly.

12 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the catheter tube includes a plurality of eyelets proximate a catheter tip, the plurality of eyelets in fluid communication with the proximal opening of the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter.

13 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a removable foil seal over a distal opening of the distal piece in the packaged state of the intermittent-catheter assembly, wherein the removable foil seal is configured to maintain sterility of the intermittent catheter prior to use thereof.

14 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 13 , wherein the removable foil seal is further configured to retain a lubricant in the intermittent-catheter assembly while the intermittent-catheter assembly is in the packaged state thereof.

15 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 14 , wherein the distal piece includes a chamber or a receptacle including the lubricant for lubricating the catheter tube when the distal piece is proximally slid over the catheter tube.

16 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the internal piece is coupled to the collapsible sheath between a proximal portion of the collapsible sheath and a distal portion of the collapsible sheath providing support thereto.

17 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion of the collapsible sheath is pleated or bellowed, and wherein the distal portion of the collapsible sheath is not pleated or bellowed.

18 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cap is configured to sit over a flange in a proximal portion of the proximal piece of the intermittent catheter, and wherein the flange includes a gasket thereover configured to sit between the cap and the proximal piece and form a fluidly tight seal when the cap caps the proximal piece.

19 . The intermittent-catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the distal piece of the catheter housing inserted into the receptacle of the cap forms an after-use storage state of the intermittent-catheter assembly configured to prevent urine leakage from the intermittent-catheter assembly after voiding urine therewith.