# US 10,765,833 B2 · Urinary catheter assemblies with funnel-mounted gripping member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,833 B2 - Document ID: US10765833B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/552,920 - Filed: 2016-01-21 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27 - Assignees: Hollister Incorporated - Applicants: Hollister Incorporated - Inventors: Barbara J. Kearns - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765833B2 ## CPC - 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 25/0111: {Aseptic insertion devices} - 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 urinary catheter assembly includes a catheter shaft, a drainage funnel associated with the distal end of the catheter shaft, and a gripping member. The distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel, while an extendable portion of the gripping member allows its proximal end to be moved along the length of the catheter shaft toward and away from the proximal end of the catheter shaft. The extendable portion of the gripping member encircles at least a portion of the catheter shaft when the proximal end of the gripping member is moved toward the proximal end of the catheter shaft, thereby allowing for the gripping member to be used to manipulate the catheter shaft without directly touching the catheter shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A urinary catheter assembly, comprising: a catheter shaft extending between proximal and distal ends; a drainage funnel associated with the distal end of the catheter shaft; and a gripping member extending between proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel, an extendable portion of the gripping member is configured to allow the proximal end of the gripping member to be moved along the length of the catheter shaft toward and away from the proximal end of the catheter shaft, the extendable portion of the gripping member encircles at least a portion of the catheter shaft when the proximal end of the gripping member is moved toward the proximal end of the catheter shaft, and the extendable portion of the gripping member is resilient and consists only of a helix or a lattice structure arranged in a tube around the catheter shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the gripping member is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the extendable portion of the gripping member is configured to allow the proximal end of the gripping member to be moved to the proximal end of the catheter shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the extendable portion of the gripping member is configured as a helical ribbon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the extendable portion of the gripping member is configured to be moved toward and into contact with the catheter shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the extendable portion of the gripping member encircles the catheter shaft when the extendable portion is in a least extended condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft is configured for use in a male urethra. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft is configured for use in a female urethra. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel by an adhesive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel by a weld. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel by a mechanical fastener. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel by an interference fit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The urinary catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the gripping member is integrated into the drainage funnel as a single piece. ### Claim 14 A method of using a urinary catheter assembly comprising: gripping a drainage funnel associated with a distal end of a catheter shaft of a urinary catheter assembly; gripping a gripping member including a distal end fixedly secured to the drainage funnel; extending an extendable portion of the gripping member along at least a portion of the catheter shaft toward a proximal end of the catheter shaft; and advancing the proximal end of the catheter shaft into a urethra while gripping the gripping member, wherein the extendable portion of the gripping member is configured as a helix or provided in a lattice pattern arranged in a tube around the catheter shaft and configured to resiliently move from an extended condition to a substantially collapsed condition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said gripping member is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said extending an extendable portion of the gripping member includes moving a proximal end of the gripping member to the proximal end of the catheter shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said extendable portion of the gripping member comprises a helical ribbon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the extendable portion of the gripping member toward and into contact with the catheter shaft prior to said advancing the proximal end of the catheter shaft into a urethra. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said extending an extendable portion of the gripping member includes moving the extendable portion from a least extended condition in which at least a portion of the extendable portion encircles the catheter shaft.