REINFORCED URINARY CATHETER

1 . A urinary catheter assembly comprising:

a urinary catheter having a tubular shaft extending between a insertable end and a discharge end, wherein said tubular shaft is provided with an elastic reinforcement element having an extension in the axial direction of the tubular shaft; and

a receptacle arranged to accommodate and maintain the urinary catheter in a curled storage state, in which the tubular shaft of the catheter is arranged in at least one coil;

wherein said reinforcement element is arranged to provide a force to uncurl the catheter when removed from said receptacle.

2 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is arranged to accommodate and maintain the urinary catheter in a curled storage state, in which the tubular shaft of the catheter is arranged in at least two coils, and preferably at least three coils.

3 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element extends essentially only in an axial direction of the tubular shaft.

4 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element extends both in an axial and circumferential direction of the tubular shaft.

5 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement element is helically shaped.

6 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged embedded in the tubular shaft.

7 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged inside a lumen of the tubular shaft.

8 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged on an outer wall of the tubular shaft.

9 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element forms a non-separable, monolithic unit with the tubular shaft.

10 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is removably connected to the tubular shaft.

11 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular shaft and the reinforcement element are formed of different materials.

12 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tubular shaft is formed of a plastic material, and wherein the reinforcement element is formed of a metal and/or a relatively rigid plastic material.

13 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular shaft is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, said hydrophilic polymer exhibiting a low friction when wetted.

14 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 13 , wherein the assembly further comprises a wetting fluid for activation of said hydrophilic surface coating, said wetting fluid being accommodated by said package.

15 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle forms a circular compartment.

16 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises an open-ended compartment and a removable lid.

17 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is formed of two sheets of foil material being joined along the edges of the foils, thereby forming a closed compartment therein for housing said catheter.

18 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged embedded in the tubular shaft.

19 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the tubular shaft and the reinforcement element are formed of different materials.

20 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the tubular shaft is formed of a polymer material.

21 . The urinary catheter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element is formed of at least one of steel, polyester or nylon.