Urinary Catheters Having Varying Flexibility

摘要

A urinary catheter has a body and an outer layer surrounding at least a portion of the body. The structure of the body is varied and non-uniform so as to impart a varying flexibility along the length of the catheter. The frame may be injection molded, while the outer layer may be extruded. The frame may also, or alternatively, have selected regions or portions that include planar or spiral cuts or a coiled filament or corrugations or a multifilament braid or weave or mesh to impart a desired flexibility profile. The flexibility profile of a male urinary catheter may include alternating rigid and flexible regions, with proximal and distal rigid regions being configured to be positioned within the bladder and penis, with two flexible regions separated by a rigid region positioned between the penis and bladder when the catheter is deployed within a male urethra.

主权项

1. A male urinary catheter, comprising:
a proximal first section; a second section adjacent to and distal from the proximal section; a third section adjacent to and distal from the second section; a fourth section adjacent to and distal from the third section; and a distal fifth section adjacent to and distal from the fourth section, wherein the first section, the third section and the fifth section are relatively rigid, and the second and fourth sections are relatively flexible.