Title:
INCONTINENT APPLIANCE
United States Patent 3749096
Abstract:
An improved incontinent appliance which may be easily and quickly fitted to the male patient and which is inexpensive, sanitary and light in weight. The invention provides a device for securing a rubber sheath or drainage condom on the human penis. This device is particularly well suited for use with roll-on, commercially available rubber condoms of the type having a rolled-up ring at the open end thereof. These condoms are inexpensive and are simply discarded after use. The device for securing the rubber sheath or condom on the penis comprises an annular retainer having a central aperture therein of sufficient diameter to permit the annular retainer to be slipped over the penis to which a condom has been applied and brought into contact with the patient's body. The annular element is provided with an outer peripheral portion. In use, the condom, which was previously rolled on to the patient, is manually stretched so as to draw the rolled up portion of same outwardly between the patients' body and the rear face of the annular element and around and over the above mentioned outer peripheral portion thereof thus securing the condom to the annular element. Connectors are provided on the front face of the annular element to permit the latter to be securely fastened to the patient by means of belts, straps or the like which are passed around the patients' body in appropriate fashion and secured to the above mentioned connectors.
US Patent References:
Ileostomy pouch holder and skin protector
Shull - December 1953 - 2663299
Irrigator assembly
Perry - September 1959 - 2902036
Male urine drain
Witt et al. - June 1960 - 2940450
Colostomy devices
Camillis - May 1956 - 2746456
Colostomy device
Dickson - October 1956 - 2765790
Ileostomy pouch holder and skin protector
Shull - December 1953 - 2663299
Irrigator assembly
Perry - September 1959 - 2902036
Male urine drain
Witt et al. - June 1960 - 2940450
Colostomy devices
Camillis - May 1956 - 2746456
Colostomy device
Dickson - October 1956 - 2765790
Application Number:
05/175713
Publication Date:
07/31/1973
Filing Date:
08/27/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A61F5/453; A61F5/451; A61F5/44
Field of Search:
128/295,283,294
US Patent References:
Other References:
Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics Vol. 93, Issue 5, pages 558-559, Nov. 1951..
Primary Examiner:
Medbery, Aldrich F.
Claims:
I claim
1. A device for retaining a condom on the penis of a human suffering from urinary incontinency comprising a disc-like ring member of rigid synthetic plastics having an outer periphery and an inner periphery defining an aperture sufficiently large as to permit passage of said penis therethrough, said disc-like member having a rear face suitable to be positioned near to the body of the wearer and a frontal face, a plurality of elements formed integrally with said disc-like member and mounted on said frontal face and projecting outwardly therefrom and being spaced inwardly from said outer periphery such as to permit the rolled end portion of a rubber condom which has been applied to said penis to be stretched outwardly and brought over said rear face and around said outer periphery whereby to secure the condom to said disc-like member, said rolled end portion having a strong tendency to contract radially inwardly toward said penis, a plurality of said outwardly projecting elements constituting means for securing said disc-like member to the body of the wearer, said outwardly projecting elements being spaced apart from one another and around said frontal face such that, in use, said radially inwardly contracting rolled end portion of the condom contacts against the outwardly projecting elements thus to prevent said rolled end portion from contacting the penis and exerting undue pressure thereon.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said disc-like member has a generally circular outer periphery smoothly rounded to prevent damage to the condom.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said elements are located between said inner and outer peripheries.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer peripheries are substantially circular in outline, said disc-like member being generally dished so that the rear face is convex and the frontal face concave.
5. The device of claim 1 in combination with belt means for connection to portions of the patient's body, said belt means being connected to said elements.
1. A device for retaining a condom on the penis of a human suffering from urinary incontinency comprising a disc-like ring member of rigid synthetic plastics having an outer periphery and an inner periphery defining an aperture sufficiently large as to permit passage of said penis therethrough, said disc-like member having a rear face suitable to be positioned near to the body of the wearer and a frontal face, a plurality of elements formed integrally with said disc-like member and mounted on said frontal face and projecting outwardly therefrom and being spaced inwardly from said outer periphery such as to permit the rolled end portion of a rubber condom which has been applied to said penis to be stretched outwardly and brought over said rear face and around said outer periphery whereby to secure the condom to said disc-like member, said rolled end portion having a strong tendency to contract radially inwardly toward said penis, a plurality of said outwardly projecting elements constituting means for securing said disc-like member to the body of the wearer, said outwardly projecting elements being spaced apart from one another and around said frontal face such that, in use, said radially inwardly contracting rolled end portion of the condom contacts against the outwardly projecting elements thus to prevent said rolled end portion from contacting the penis and exerting undue pressure thereon.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said disc-like member has a generally circular outer periphery smoothly rounded to prevent damage to the condom.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said elements are located between said inner and outer peripheries.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer peripheries are substantially circular in outline, said disc-like member being generally dished so that the rear face is convex and the frontal face concave.
5. The device of claim 1 in combination with belt means for connection to portions of the patient's body, said belt means being connected to said elements.
Description:
This invention relates to improvements in devices for use on male patients suffering from urinary incontinency.
Urinary incontinency is a common problem which must be dealt with by hospitals and like institutions. Over the years, numerous devices have been used to collect and contain the urine of males suffering from incontinency in such a way as to avoid undue wetting of the patients' clothing and bedding. In general, these devices left much to be desired. Many of them were prone to leakage; others required difficult adjustments in order to suit the varying sizes of penis having to be fitted; others presented sanitation problems and virtually all of them required an undue amount of time on the part of nurses and orderlies in order to keep same in proper working condition.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved incontinent appliance which may be easily and quickly fitted to the male patient and which is inexpensive, sanitary and light in weight.
The invention, in one aspect provides a device for securing a rubber sheath or condom on the human penis. This device is particularly well suited for use with roll-on, commercially available rubber condoms of the type having a rolled-up ring at the open end thereof. These condoms are inexpensive and are simply discarded after use.
The device for securing the rubber sheath or condom on the penis comprises a disc-like retainer having a central aperture therein of sufficient diameter to permit the annular retainer to be slipped over the penis to which a condom has been applied and brought into contact with the patients' body. The disc-like element is provided with an outer peripheral portion. In use, the condom, which was previously rolled on to the patient, is manually stretched so as to draw the rolled up portion of same outwardly between the patients' body and the rear face of the disc-like element and around and over the above mentioned outer peripheral portion thereof thus securing the condom to the disc-like element. Connectors are provided on the front face of the disc-like element to permit the latter to be securely fastened to the patient by means of belts, straps or the like which are passed around the patients' body in appropriate fashion and secured to the above mentioned connectors.
The invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of same, reference being had to drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the overall apparatus incorporating the principles of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top or plan view of the disc-like condom securing element;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the element shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken diametrically through a slightly different arrangement;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a device for connecting the condom to a drainage tube;
FIGS. 6 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate the method of connecting the condom to the connector arrangment of FIG. 5;
FIGS. 8 and 9 diagrammatically illustrate the method of applying the condom and its retaining means on a male patient.
FIG. 1 illustrates the device of the invention installed on the patient. The condom 10, of a standard thin rubber roll-on variety, is secured on the penis by the disc-like retainer 12, the latter having connectors 14 thereon to which are attached elastic belts 16 which pass around the patients' body to secure the retainer 12 and condom 10 on the patient.
The end of condom 10 remote from the patients' body is connected to a receptacle 18 for urine by means of a flexible tube 20 which is connected to the condom by a connector assembly 22 to be more fully described hereinafter.
The condom retainer 12 is shown, per se, in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Basically it comprises a somewhat dished disc having an outer periphery 24 of circular outline and an inner periphery 26 also circular in outline defining a central aperture sufficiently large as to accommodate the human penis. The inner and outer peripheral portions are smoothly contoured in cross-section to remove sharp edges which might cause injury to the patient or the condom. The rear convex face 28 of the disc-like retainer 12 is adapted, in use, to lie against the patients' body while the frontal, concave face 30 carries the above-mentioned connectors 14, the latter each being disposed intermediate the inner and outer peripheral portions 26, 24 in radially spaced relation therewith, with the connectors being spaced from one another around the retainer as shown in FIG. 2.
Preferably, the retainer is made from a moulded rigid synthetic plastics with the connectors 14 being moulded integrally therewith. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the connectors 14 each take the form of a small post including a stem 32 and a somewhat flattened enlarged head 34 connected to the end thereof. In FIG. 4a modified form of connector 14' is shown. Each of these connectors 14' generally include an upright stem 32' and an offset head 34' thereon arranged to provide a hook directed inwardly towards the central aperture. A small opening 36 may extend completely through the retainer beneath the offset portion of head 34'; this opening facilitates production of the retainer 12 by injection molding processes.
The connector assembly 22 is shown in FIG. 5. Basically this includes a tubular sleeve 40 into an end of which snugly fits a plug 42 having a bore 44 extending axially therethrough. To connect assembly 22 to the end of condom 10 the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is used. The sleeve 40 is held with its end in contact with the center end portion of the condom, the rolled up portion of the condom facing downwardly. The plug 42 is then forced into the sleeve from the other side carrying the condom rubber down with it such that the latter is wedged between the sleeve interior and the plug. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a needle or other sharp object is pushed along the bore 44 of the plug to rupture the condom rubber portion which is stretched over the inner end of the plug to permit liquid to pass from the condom into the sleeve. The sleeve 40 is then connected to a suitable receptacle 18 e.g a standard urinal leg or overnight bag, by means of a tube 20 which is preferably, but not necessarily, formed integrally with sleeve 40.
To install the apparatus, the condom to which the connector assembly 22 has been attached, is rolled onto the penis, as shown in FIG. 8, until the rolled up part of the condom 10a contacts the patients' body. The disc-like retainer 12 is then slipped over the penis and shifted along until it is near to the patients' body. Then the rolled up end of the condom is grasped with the fingers and stretched outwardly in the direction of arrows "A" in FIG. 9 and brought forwardly and over the rear face 28 of the retainer around the outer peripheral edge 24 of the latter. Because of the strong tendency of this rolled condom edge 10a to contract radially, the condom becomes firmly secured to the retainer 12. At the same time, the connector elements 14 (being spaced about the entire retainer as shown in FIG. 1) restrict the degree of radial contraction allowed as the rolled condom edge 10a comes to rest against them, (each rolled edge 10a being shown in outline by the dashed lines in FIG. 1) thus preventing the rolled edge 10a from contacting the penis and exerting undue pressure thereon. After this, elastic belt 16 having metal loops attached to its ends, is brought around the patients' body and the metal loops hooked on to opposed connectors 14a and 14b. Then the two small straps 16a, which are attached to the belt 16 adjacent the patients' back, are brought between the patients' legs and connected to connectors 14c and 14d all as shown in FIG. 1.
The appliance is easily removed from the patient simply by reversing the procedure described above. Since the condoms are inexpensive, they are simply discarded every time the apparatus is changed. The remaining components of the device can easily be sterilized.
The device described possesses numerous advantages. It is extremely comfortable to wear and permits a greater degree of freedom of movement. The inexpensive disposable condoms are applied in such a way as to fit any length of individual with no loss in effectiveness. The condoms are held on securely and there is little possibility of leakage occurring. The appliance is easy to apply to the patient and it has been found that a great saving in time of orderlies and nurses is achieved. Other advantages will be apparent to those familiar with the type of equipment under consideration.
Urinary incontinency is a common problem which must be dealt with by hospitals and like institutions. Over the years, numerous devices have been used to collect and contain the urine of males suffering from incontinency in such a way as to avoid undue wetting of the patients' clothing and bedding. In general, these devices left much to be desired. Many of them were prone to leakage; others required difficult adjustments in order to suit the varying sizes of penis having to be fitted; others presented sanitation problems and virtually all of them required an undue amount of time on the part of nurses and orderlies in order to keep same in proper working condition.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved incontinent appliance which may be easily and quickly fitted to the male patient and which is inexpensive, sanitary and light in weight.
The invention, in one aspect provides a device for securing a rubber sheath or condom on the human penis. This device is particularly well suited for use with roll-on, commercially available rubber condoms of the type having a rolled-up ring at the open end thereof. These condoms are inexpensive and are simply discarded after use.
The device for securing the rubber sheath or condom on the penis comprises a disc-like retainer having a central aperture therein of sufficient diameter to permit the annular retainer to be slipped over the penis to which a condom has been applied and brought into contact with the patients' body. The disc-like element is provided with an outer peripheral portion. In use, the condom, which was previously rolled on to the patient, is manually stretched so as to draw the rolled up portion of same outwardly between the patients' body and the rear face of the disc-like element and around and over the above mentioned outer peripheral portion thereof thus securing the condom to the disc-like element. Connectors are provided on the front face of the disc-like element to permit the latter to be securely fastened to the patient by means of belts, straps or the like which are passed around the patients' body in appropriate fashion and secured to the above mentioned connectors.
The invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of same, reference being had to drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the overall apparatus incorporating the principles of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top or plan view of the disc-like condom securing element;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the element shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken diametrically through a slightly different arrangement;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a device for connecting the condom to a drainage tube;
FIGS. 6 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate the method of connecting the condom to the connector arrangment of FIG. 5;
FIGS. 8 and 9 diagrammatically illustrate the method of applying the condom and its retaining means on a male patient.
FIG. 1 illustrates the device of the invention installed on the patient. The condom 10, of a standard thin rubber roll-on variety, is secured on the penis by the disc-like retainer 12, the latter having connectors 14 thereon to which are attached elastic belts 16 which pass around the patients' body to secure the retainer 12 and condom 10 on the patient.
The end of condom 10 remote from the patients' body is connected to a receptacle 18 for urine by means of a flexible tube 20 which is connected to the condom by a connector assembly 22 to be more fully described hereinafter.
The condom retainer 12 is shown, per se, in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Basically it comprises a somewhat dished disc having an outer periphery 24 of circular outline and an inner periphery 26 also circular in outline defining a central aperture sufficiently large as to accommodate the human penis. The inner and outer peripheral portions are smoothly contoured in cross-section to remove sharp edges which might cause injury to the patient or the condom. The rear convex face 28 of the disc-like retainer 12 is adapted, in use, to lie against the patients' body while the frontal, concave face 30 carries the above-mentioned connectors 14, the latter each being disposed intermediate the inner and outer peripheral portions 26, 24 in radially spaced relation therewith, with the connectors being spaced from one another around the retainer as shown in FIG. 2.
Preferably, the retainer is made from a moulded rigid synthetic plastics with the connectors 14 being moulded integrally therewith. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the connectors 14 each take the form of a small post including a stem 32 and a somewhat flattened enlarged head 34 connected to the end thereof. In FIG. 4a modified form of connector 14' is shown. Each of these connectors 14' generally include an upright stem 32' and an offset head 34' thereon arranged to provide a hook directed inwardly towards the central aperture. A small opening 36 may extend completely through the retainer beneath the offset portion of head 34'; this opening facilitates production of the retainer 12 by injection molding processes.
The connector assembly 22 is shown in FIG. 5. Basically this includes a tubular sleeve 40 into an end of which snugly fits a plug 42 having a bore 44 extending axially therethrough. To connect assembly 22 to the end of condom 10 the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is used. The sleeve 40 is held with its end in contact with the center end portion of the condom, the rolled up portion of the condom facing downwardly. The plug 42 is then forced into the sleeve from the other side carrying the condom rubber down with it such that the latter is wedged between the sleeve interior and the plug. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a needle or other sharp object is pushed along the bore 44 of the plug to rupture the condom rubber portion which is stretched over the inner end of the plug to permit liquid to pass from the condom into the sleeve. The sleeve 40 is then connected to a suitable receptacle 18 e.g a standard urinal leg or overnight bag, by means of a tube 20 which is preferably, but not necessarily, formed integrally with sleeve 40.
To install the apparatus, the condom to which the connector assembly 22 has been attached, is rolled onto the penis, as shown in FIG. 8, until the rolled up part of the condom 10a contacts the patients' body. The disc-like retainer 12 is then slipped over the penis and shifted along until it is near to the patients' body. Then the rolled up end of the condom is grasped with the fingers and stretched outwardly in the direction of arrows "A" in FIG. 9 and brought forwardly and over the rear face 28 of the retainer around the outer peripheral edge 24 of the latter. Because of the strong tendency of this rolled condom edge 10a to contract radially, the condom becomes firmly secured to the retainer 12. At the same time, the connector elements 14 (being spaced about the entire retainer as shown in FIG. 1) restrict the degree of radial contraction allowed as the rolled condom edge 10a comes to rest against them, (each rolled edge 10a being shown in outline by the dashed lines in FIG. 1) thus preventing the rolled edge 10a from contacting the penis and exerting undue pressure thereon. After this, elastic belt 16 having metal loops attached to its ends, is brought around the patients' body and the metal loops hooked on to opposed connectors 14a and 14b. Then the two small straps 16a, which are attached to the belt 16 adjacent the patients' back, are brought between the patients' legs and connected to connectors 14c and 14d all as shown in FIG. 1.
The appliance is easily removed from the patient simply by reversing the procedure described above. Since the condoms are inexpensive, they are simply discarded every time the apparatus is changed. The remaining components of the device can easily be sterilized.
The device described possesses numerous advantages. It is extremely comfortable to wear and permits a greater degree of freedom of movement. The inexpensive disposable condoms are applied in such a way as to fit any length of individual with no loss in effectiveness. The condoms are held on securely and there is little possibility of leakage occurring. The appliance is easy to apply to the patient and it has been found that a great saving in time of orderlies and nurses is achieved. Other advantages will be apparent to those familiar with the type of equipment under consideration.