FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to urinary catheters and packaging or containers for such catheters. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to female urinary catheters having a pre-attached urine collection bag and compact packaging or containers for such catheters prior to use.

BACKGROUND

Intermittent catheterization is a good option for many people who suffer from various abnormalities of the urinary system. Those with such abnormalities often find it desirable to use individually-packaged, sterile catheter assemblies designed for a single use. These catheter assemblies typically include a catheter that is advanced into the urethra to drain urine therefrom. The urine flows through the catheter and into a waste bag, i.e., urine collection bag in fluid communication with the catheter. The catheter assembly is then disposed of, optionally with urine being emptied from the bag prior to disposal.

Users of intermittent catheters are often required to self-catheterize outside the privacy of the home, such as in public rooms. Thus, for these and other reasons, it is desirable that the intermittent catheters and urine collection bag be provided in discrete packaging that is also easy to open, compact, portable and allows for easy deployment of the catheter assembly.

Preferably, the package receives the other components of the catheter assembly in a compact configuration, for reduced storage space and, as noted above, discrete transport.

SUMMARY

There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the devices, systems, and/or methods described and claimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In one aspect, a urinary catheter assembly includes a catheter tube, a connector, and a urine collection bag. The catheter tube includes proximal and distal ends, defines a flow path, and has one or more access eyelets at or adjacent to its proximal end. The connector includes a first surface associated with the catheter tube and a second surface associated with the urine collection bag, with the connector defining a flow path between the catheter tube and the urine collection bag. The connector is deformable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration in which the catheter tube is spaced a greater distance from the urine collection bag than in the compact configuration. The assembly further includes a package with a body receiving the catheter tube and urine collection bag in a compact configuration.

In another aspect, disclosed herein is a package for storing and transporting a catheter assembly. The package includes a body for receiving a catheter tube and a pre-attached urine collection bag. The body includes a cavity for receiving a catheter tube and is configured to receive the urine collection bag in a compact condition. The package may optionally include a lid attached or attachable to the body.

In other aspects, the present disclosure is directed to urine collection bags that are pre-attached to the catheter tube(s) and received in the packages, or are used as stand-alone bags that may be attached at the time of use. Such urine collection bags include one or more of the following features: an outer surface wherein at least a portion of such surface is formed from a non-woven fabric material; an outer surface wherein at least a portion of such surface includes an adhesive; a rigid section configured to provide a folding surface; a super absorbent polymer additive configured to mix within the urine to increase the viscosity of the urine.

