Catheter assembly having protective sheath
Devices and methods are disclosed for a catheterization process, particularly useful for self-performed catheterizations. A catheter is enclosed in a sheath made from a gas-permeable material. This sheath maximizes gas permeability to prevent air build-up at the distal end of the sheath, resulting in easy self-catheterization for even those with limited manual dexterity.
1. A catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter; and
a sheath, made of a liquid-impermeable material that is sterile or able to withstand sterility treatment, impermeable to bacteria and other contaminants, and gas-permeable, surrounding and enclosing at least an insertable portion of the catheter, the sheath composed of a microporous polyolefin material, the microporous polyolefin material made by taking a microporous polyolefin matrix and filling pores of the microporous polyolefin matrix with a moisture-vapor permeable, liquid-impermeable, hydrophilic material to prevent the passage of liquids through the microporous polyolefin material while readily permitting passage of moisture vapor, the sheath preventing air buildup at a distal end of the sheath as the sheath bunches up during insertion of the catheter, the sheath preventing the air buildup by transferring air through a wall of the sheath to an outside atmosphere, wherein a gap in the sheath at the proximal end created during insertion is not of such size to allow venting into the sheath.
2. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sheath has a gas-permeability great enough to, while under pressure, relieve air from inside the sheath so that the sheath decreases in volume at a rate visible to the naked eye.
3. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.
4. The catheter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the polypropylene density is 0.87 to 0.9 g/cm.sup.3.
5. A urinary catheter assembly comprising:
a urinary catheter; and
a sheath, made of a liquid-impermeable material that is sterile or able to withstand sterility treatment, impermeable to bacteria and other contaminants, and gas-permeable, surrounding and enclosing at least an insertable portion of the catheter, the sheath composed of a microporous polyolefin material, the microporous polyolefin material made by taking a microporous polyolefin matrix and filling pores of the microporous polyolefin matrix with a moisture-vapor permeable, liquid-impermeable, hydrophilic material to prevent the passage of liquids through the microporous polyolefin material while readily permitting passage of moisture vapor, the sheath preventing air buildup at a distal end of the sheath as the sheath bunches up during insertion of the catheter, the sheath preventing the air buildup by transferring air through a wall of the sheath to an outside atmosphere, wherein a gap in the sheath at the proximal end created during insertion is not of such size to allow venting into the sheath.
6. The urinary catheter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sheath has a gas-permeability great enough to, while under pressure, relieve air from inside the sheath so that the sheath decreases in volume at a rate visible to the naked eye.
7. The urinary catheter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.
8. The urinary catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the polypropylene density is 0.87 to 0.9 g/cm.sup.3.
9. An intermittent urinary catheter assembly comprising:
a flexible, urinary catheter; and
a sheath, made of a liquid-impermeable material that is sterile or able to withstand sterility treatment, impermeable to bacteria and other contaminants, and gas-permeable, surrounding and enclosing at least an insertable portion of the catheter, the sheath composed of a microporous polyolefin material, the microporous polyolefin material made by taking a microporous polyolefin matrix and filling pores of the microporous polyolefin matrix with a moisture-vapor permeable, liquid-impermeable, hydrophilic material to prevent the passage of liquids through the microporous polyolefin material while readily permitting passage of moisture vapor, the sheath preventing air buildup at a distal end of the sheath as the sheath bunches up during insertion of the catheter, the sheath preventing the air buildup by transferring air through a wall of the sheath to an outside atmosphere, wherein a gap in the sheath at the proximal end created during insertion is not of such size to allow venting into the sheath.
10. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly in claim 9 , wherein the sheath has a gas-permeability great enough to, while under pressure, relieve air from inside the sheath so that the sheath decreases in volume at a rate visible to the naked eye.
11. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly in claim 9 , wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.
12. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly in claim 11 , wherein the polypropylene density is 0.87 to 0.9 g/cm.sup.3.