Method and device for female urinary incontinence
A method and device for use in stress female urinary incontinence. A small, flexible adhesive patch is applied directly to the clitoris of a person suffering from stress female urinary incontinence. The adhesive is of a type sufficient to stimulate the mechanoreceptors located in the clitoris whereby to inhibit discharge from the bladder. The patch is formed of a backing sheet of an impervious material containing adhesive on one side. A release liner prevents the adhesive from drying out.
1. A patch for treating female urinary incontinence, the patch sized and configured to fit directly on and cover a clitoris without covering a urethra, the patch configured when applied to physically stimulate the clitoris to inhibit discharge from a bladder.
2. The patch of claim 1 , comprising an adhesive layer on a side of the patch.
3. The patch of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer is removably attached to a release sheet.
4. The patch of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
5. The patch of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a silicone adhesive.
6. The patch of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a bioadhesive.
7. The patch of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a combination of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a bioadhesive.
8. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a viscous gel.
9. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a substantially solid composition.
10. The patch of claim 1 , having a length of approximately 1.5 inches.
11. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch is impervious to body fluids.
12. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch comprises an arcuate shape.
13. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch comprises an oval shape.
14. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch comprises a triangular shape.
15. The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch comprises a rectangular shape.
16. A method for treating female urinary incontinence, comprising applying a flexible patch having a substantially flat skin-contacting surface directly onto a clitoris of a person suffering from female urinary incontinence, wherein applying the patch is sufficient to mechanically stimulate the clitoris, thereby inhibiting discharge from a bladder of the person, wherein applying the patch does not comprise covering a urethra of the person with the patch.
17. The method of claim 16 , for treating stress female urinary incontinence.
18. The method of claim 16 , for treating urge female urinary incontinence.
19. The method of claim 16 , for treating overflow female urinary incontinence.
20. The method of claim 16 , for treating continuous female urinary incontinence.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the patch comprises an adhesive layer on a side of the patch.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the patch when applied contacts a clitoral hood of the person.
23. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing the patch from a release sheet prior to applying the patch directly to the clitoris.