# US 10,946,172 B2 · Urinary catheter protective tips having a fluid reservoir > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,172 B2 - Document ID: US10946172B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/914,822 - Filed: 2014-12-03 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-04 - Assignees: Hollister Incorporated - Applicants: Hollister Incorporated - Inventors: Padraig M. O'Flynn; James J. Fitzpatrick; Shamsedin Rostami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946172B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/008: {Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip} - 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 39/20: Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes - A61M 27/00: Drainage appliance for wounds or the like {, i.e. wound drains, implanted drains} ({negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90;} implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 {; middle ear drainage A61F11/202}) - A61M 2025/0062: {having features to improve the sliding of one part within another by using lubricants or surfaces with low friction} - A61M 2025/0081: {Soft tip} - 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 assembly includes a catheter at least partially positioned within a sleeve. The catheter has a coating, which produces a low-friction surface on the catheter when treated with an activating fluid. A protective tip is connected to the sleeve and has proximal and distal internal seals, with the proximal seal at the proximal end of the tip or between proximal and distal ends of the protective tip. A cap of the assembly has a projection, which is removably received within the protective tip for sealing engagement with the proximal and distal seals to define a fluid reservoir within the protective tip. An activating fluid is contained within the fluid reservoir. The projection may be partially hollow to receive a portion of the catheter. The sleeve may be relatively narrow or at least have a narrowed portion for better distribution of activating fluid to the surface of the catheter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter assembly, comprising: a sleeve; a catheter at least partially positioned within the sleeve and having a coating on at least a part of its length which produces a low-friction surface on the catheter when treated with an activating fluid; a protective tip including a distal end connected to the sleeve, a proximal end defining an opening configured to allow passage of the catheter therethrough, and proximal and distal internal seals, with the proximal seal positioned within the protective tip, distally of the proximal end of the protective tip; a cap including a projection removably received within the protective tip for sealing engagement with the proximal and distal seals to define a single, contiguous fluid reservoir within the protective tip; and an activating fluid contained within the fluid reservoir, wherein the proximal seal is not a seal between the projection and the opening of the protective tip. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the projection has a substantially uniform outer diameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the internal seals is formed of a deformable material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a grommet secured to an inner surface of the protective tip, wherein the grommet defines an opening in which the distal internal seal is positioned. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The catheter assembly of claim 4, wherein a distal side of the grommet defines a pocket, and a generally annular absorbent member is at least partially positioned within the pocket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the projection defines a cavity in which a proximal end of the catheter is positionable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The catheter assembly of claim 6, further comprising a third internal seal positioned distally of the distal internal seal, wherein the third internal seal is configured to bear against the catheter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The catheter assembly of claim 6, further comprising a third internal seal positioned distally of the distal internal seal, wherein at least a portion of the third internal seal is separated from the catheter to provide a flow-limiting arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a constriction configured to reduce the space between the sleeve and the catheter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The catheter assembly of claim 9, wherein the sleeve comprises opposing faces, and the constriction is defined by a heat seal between the opposing faces of the sleeve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The catheter assembly of claim 9, wherein the sleeve includes a second constriction configured to reduce the space between the sleeve and the catheter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising an absorbent insert positioned within the sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The catheter assembly of claim 12, further comprising a second absorbent insert positioned within the sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the projection is received by the opening of the proximal end of the protective tip, and the portion of the projection received by the opening of the proximal end of the protective tip has a smaller outer diameter than another portion of the projection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The catheter assembly of claim 14, wherein the portion of the projection received by the opening of the proximal end of the protective tip has a smaller outer diameter than any other portion of the projection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the projection has a substantially uniform outer diameter from a portion of the projection in sealing engagement with the proximal seal to a portion of the projection in sealing engagement with the distal seal. ### Claim 17 A catheter assembly, comprising: a sleeve; a catheter at least partially positioned within the sleeve and having a coating on at least a part of its length which produces a low-friction surface on the catheter when treated with an activating fluid; a protective tip including a distal end connected to the sleeve and a proximal end defining an opening configured to allow passage of the catheter therethrough, the protective tip defining a single, contiguous fluid reservoir; a cap having a projection removably received within the protective tip; an activating fluid contained within the fluid reservoir; a proximal fluid-tight film seal positioned within the fluid reservoir, distally of the proximal end of the protective tip and extending between an internal surface of the protective tip and an outer surface of the projection; and a distal fluid-tight film seal positioned within the sleeve and connected to the distal end of the protective tip, wherein the proximal fluid-tight film seal is not a seal between the projection and the opening of the protective tip. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The catheter assembly of claim 17, wherein at least one of the fluid-tight film seals is peelable or breakable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The catheter assembly of claim 17, further comprising an outer fluid-tight film seal positioned outside of the protective tip and extending between the outer surface of the protective tip and the outer surface of the cap or projection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The catheter assembly of claim 17, wherein the distal fluid-tight film seal is formed of a water-soluble material.