# US 10,118,019 B2 · Catheter cartridge assemblies and methods of using the same for intermittent catheterization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,019 B2 - Document ID: US10118019B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/105,267 - Filed: 2015-01-08 - Published: 2017-01-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-09 - Assignees: Hollister Incorporated - Applicants: Hollister Incorporated - Inventors: Michael G. Murray; Patrick Enda O'Dowd; Stephen Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118019B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0111: {Aseptic insertion devices} - A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections} - A61M 25/002: {Packages specially adapted therefor (combined with means for introducing catheters, e.g. dispensers, A61M25/0113); catheter kit packages (for surgical articles A61B50/30)} - A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A catheter cartridge assembly includes a cartridge and a catheter member. The cartridge has a cartridge housing with proximal and distal ends. A pre-loaded tip and a protective sleeve associated with the pre-loaded tip are at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing. The catheter member has a proximal end configured to be advanced proximally into and through the cartridge housing to engage a distal end of the pre-loaded tip for proximal advancement out of the proximal end of the cartridge housing with the pre-loaded tip, with the protective sleeve covering at least a portion of the catheter member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter cartridge assembly, comprising: a cartridge including a cartridge housing having proximal and distal ends; a pre-loaded tip at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing; and a protective sleeve at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing and having a proximal end secured with respect to the pre-loaded tip; and a catheter member having a proximal end configured to be advanced proximally into and through the cartridge housing to engage and become joined to a distal end of the pre-loaded tip for proximal advancement out of the proximal end of the cartridge housing as a composite catheter defined by the joined pre-loaded tip and catheter member, wherein the protective sleeve is configured to cover the portion of the composite catheter defined by the catheter member as the composite catheter is proximally advanced out of the cartridge housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alignment member at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing and configured to guide the proximal end of the catheter member into engagement with the distal end of the pre-loaded tip as the catheter member is advanced proximally through the cartridge housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein the alignment member is detachably connected to the pre-loaded tip via a snap-fit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein the alignment member is detachably connected to the pre-loaded tip via a friction fit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir at least partially positioned within the cartridge, with at least a portion of the pre-loaded tip and at least a portion of the protective sleeve positioned within the reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising an introducer connected to the proximal end of the cartridge housing, with at least a portion of the pre-loaded tip positioned within the introducer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a proximal enclosure associated with a proximal portion of the cartridge housing and a distal enclosure associated with a distal portion of the cartridge housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter member includes an internal coating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip are configured to engage and become joined as a snap-fit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The catheter cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip are configured to engage and become joined as a friction fit. ### Claim 11 A catheterization method employing a cartridge including a cartridge housing having proximal and distal ends, a pre-loaded tip at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing, and a protective sleeve having a proximal end secured with respect to the pre-loaded tip, the method comprising: proximally advancing at least a proximal portion of a catheter member into the cartridge housing via the distal end of the cartridge housing; engaging a proximal end of the catheter member and a distal end of the pre-loaded tip, thereby joining the catheter member and the pre-loaded tip so as to define a composite catheter; and advancing said composite catheter out of the cartridge housing via the proximal end of the cartridge housing, with the protective sleeve covering the portion of the composite catheter defined by the catheter member as the composite catheter is advanced out of the cartridge housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, wherein the cartridge includes an alignment member at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing, and the alignment member is configured to guide the proximal end of the catheter member into engagement with the distal end of the pre-loaded tip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The catheterization method of claim 12, wherein said advancing said composite catheter out of the cartridge housing via the proximal end of the cartridge housing includes first detaching the pre-loaded tip from the alignment member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, wherein the cartridge includes a proximal enclosure removably connected to a proximal portion of the cartridge housing, and said advancing said composite catheter out of the cartridge housing via the proximal end of the cartridge housing includes first at least partially disassociating the proximal enclosure from the proximal portion of the cartridge housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, wherein the cartridge includes a distal enclosure removably connected to a distal portion of the cartridge housing, and said proximally advancing at least a proximal portion of a catheter member into the cartridge housing via the distal end of the cartridge housing includes first at least partially disassociating the distal enclosure from the distal portion of the cartridge housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, wherein said engaging a proximal end of the catheter member and a distal end of the pre-loaded tip includes engaging and joining the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip with a snap-fit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, wherein said engaging a proximal end of the catheter member and a distal end of the pre-loaded tip includes engaging and joining the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip with a friction fit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, further comprising retracting the composite catheter distally into the cartridge housing; and detaching the catheter member from the pre-loaded tip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The catheterization method of claim 11, further comprising disposing of the cartridge after catheterization, while retaining the catheter member for reuse.