Urethra gauge and methods of manufacture, and operation thereof

摘要

A urethra gauge for measuring an inner size of a urinary tract. The gauge permits a clinician to measure the size of the urethral lumen (proximal to an outer orifice of the urethra) before a catheterization is performed. Selecting a properly-sized catheter for insertion into a patient by measuring the size of the urethral lumen before performing a catheterization is believed to reduce: (1) catheter-associated-urinary-tract infections; (2) urethral injuries due to inserting a catheter that is too large for the urethra; and/or (3) leakage associated with catheters that are too small for a particular patient.

主权项

1. A system for determining a measured internal size of a urinary tract lumen proximate to a urethral oval outer opening of a patient, prior to urinary catheterization of said patient, the system comprising:
a gauge for insertion into the urethra, constructed of a single rod-shaped measuring device having
a distal-end, configured for insertion into a urethra and which forms the point of initial insertion into the outer opening of the urethra;a proximal-end of progressively increasing cross-sectional circumference relative to the distal end, until an inner circumference of the urethra is coextensive with an inserted portion of the gauge; anda solid or semisolid oval cross-section, wherein length of a cross-section of the gauge is greater than width at a widest point thereof; andwherein an array of indicia are located on an outer-peripheral surface of the gauge, such that each indicia corresponds to a potential measured internal circumference, area, diameter, perimeter or boundary of the urethral lumen; andwherein the gauge is contoured for insertion into the urethra only until resistance is first encountered without injury to the patient; and a stain for application to an outer surface of the urethra and a portion of the gauge coextensive with the stained outer surface of the urethra when the gauge has been inserted into the urethra only until resistance is first encountered without injury to the patient.