Packaged precision-lubricated ready-to-use intermittent urinary catheter

A method of hermetically packaging an intermittent urinary catheter having an insertion end, an insertion end length defining an exterior surface area, a fixture end, and a fixture end length, comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a base film having a pocket with a first end and a second end, wherein the pocket is configured to retain the intermittent urinary catheter with the insertion end proximate the first end and the fixture end proximate the second end,
• (b) injecting a limited amount of lubricant into the pocket proximate the first end of the pocket so as to form a lubricant containing pocket,
• (c) placing the intermittent urinary catheter into the lubricant containing pocket so as to form a catheter containing pocket, with the insertion end of the intermittent urinary catheter proximate the first end and the fixture end of the intermittent urinary catheter proximate the second end,
• (d) sealing a cover film to the base film with an unsealed opening proximate the second end of the pocket so as to form an enclosed catheter containing retention chamber accessible through the opening,
• (e) drawing a vacuum on the enclosed catheter containing retention chamber through the opening sufficient to compress the retention chamber and cause lubricant to circumferentially flow around and coat a portion of the exterior surface area of the insertion end length of the catheter within the retention chamber without reaching and coating the fixture end length of the catheter within the retention chamber, and thereafter
• (f) sealing the opening so as to form a hermetically packaged intermittent urinary catheter having a circumferentially lubricated insertion end length and a lubricant-free fixture end length.