# US 11,026,829 B2 · Hydro-block air vent combination catheter system and method of use

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- Number: US 11,026,829 B2
- Document ID: US11026829B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/153,730
- Filed: 2018-10-06
- Published: 2019-02-07
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-06
- Applicants: Mark Harvie
- Inventors: Mark Harvie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026829B2

## CPC

- A61F 5/441: having {venting or} deodorant means, e.g. filters {; having antiseptic means, e.g. bacterial barriers}
- A61F 5/453: for collecting urine or other discharge from male member (A61F6/04 takes precedence {; devices for taking sperm samples A61B10/0058})
- A61F 5/455: for collecting urine or discharge from female member
- A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections}
- A61M 1/73: {comprising sensors or indicators for physical values}
- A61M 1/80: {Suction pumps (A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence)}
- A61M 25/0043: {characterised by structural features}
- A61M 2025/0213: {where the catheter is attached by means specifically adapted to a part of the human body}
- A61M 2025/0266: {using pads, patches, tapes or the like}
- A61M 2202/0496: Urine
- A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- 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

This invention is a device utilizing hydro-block venting material in various external male and female catheter configurations permitting adequate airflow into the catheter thereby permitting efficient and complete drainage of urine away from the user following urination. In two embodiments user's expelled urine is automatically detected by a sensor and drawn away from the user by a pump means to a user selected storage means as a pressure relief balloon prevents air interference with the sensor. In another embodiment gravity is utilized to draw user's expelled urine away from user to a user selected storage means. An adhesive, garment or strap attachment means are disclosed as attachment means to secure the external male and female catheter to user and prevent leakage. The external male and female catheters are engineered to also be able to be connected to and used in combination with an indwelling catheter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydro-block air vent combination catheter system comprised of:
an external catheter selected from the group consisting of: a condom catheter or a catheter capable of covering the female genitalia and containing urine therein;
an external catheter attachment means attached to the external catheter;
an indwelling catheter attachment means attached to the external catheter such that the hydro-block air vent combination catheter system can be used by a user with either the external catheter alone or in combination with an indwelling catheter attached to the external catheter;
a liquid sensor;
a liquid hose;
a pressure relief balloon capable of regulating liquids in the liquid hose such that the liquid sensor will detect the presence of liquids without air bubble interference;
a liquid blocking air vent attached to the external catheter wherein the liquid blocking air vent permits ambient air to enter into or escape from the external catheter and prevents liquid from escaping from within the external catheter; and
a collection means attached to the external catheter wherein the collection means facilitates the passage of urine from the external catheter to a user selected disposal means;
the collection means is comprised of a pump and sensor connector wherein the pump and sensor connector is capable of being connected to a user selected pump, wherein the collection means is attached to the external catheter by the external catheter attachment means thereby permitting a user's urine to: pass out of the external catheter; be detected by the liquid sensor thereby electronically transmitting data regarding the presence of the user's urine to the pump and sensor connector through the sensor hose thereby facilitating the activation of the user selected pump which when attached and activated draws urine away from the external catheter exiting the external catheter into the liquid hose, then through the pump and sensor connector and then through the user selected pump to a user selected disposal means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hydro-block air vent combination catheter system of claim 1 wherein the liquid sensor is located in the external catheter such that it will sense the presence of a user's urine upon urination.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method of using the hydro-block air vent combination catheter system of claim 1 consisting of the steps of:
selecting the external catheter;
attaching the external catheter on the user's body for use by the external catheter attachment means;
positioning the collection means to facilitate a flow of urine from the external catheter to the disposal means;
selecting a pump;
connecting the pump to the pump and sensor connector; and
turning the pump on such that when the liquid sensor detects the presence of the user's urine the pump will turn on and draw the urine away from the condom through the liquid hose then through the pump to be discharged in the user selected disposal means.

### Claim 4

A hydro-block air vent combination catheter system comprised of:
an external catheter selected from the group consisting of: a condom catheter or a catheter capable of covering the female genitalia and containing urine therein;
an external catheter attachment means attached to the external catheter;
an indwelling catheter attachment means attached to the external catheter such that the hydra-block air vent combination catheter system can be used by a user with either the external catheter alone or in combination with an indwelling catheter attached to the external catheter:
the indwelling catheter attachment means is comprised of:
a locking mechanism that permits a user to snap into place or remove an indwelling catheter;
the locking mechanism being further comprised of a multiplicity of spacers that will maintain the indwelling catheter in a position that urine may also pass around the indwelling catheter as well as through the indwelling catheter during user;
a liquid sensor;
a liquid hose;
a pressure relief balloon capable of regulating liquids in the liquid hose such that the liquid sensor will detect the presence of liquids without air bubble interference;
a liquid blocking air vent attached to the external catheter wherein the liquid blocking air vent permits ambient air to enter into or escape from the external catheter and prevents liquid from escaping from within the external catheter; and
a collection means attached to the external catheter wherein the collection means facilitates the passage of urine from the external catheter to a user selected disposal means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The hydro-block air vent combination catheter system of claim 4 wherein the collection means is comprised of:
a drain tube attached to the external catheter; and
a storage bag attached to the drain tube wherein urine being discharged by a user will pass out of the external catheter into the drain tube and then pass into the storage bag.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The hydro-block air vent combination catheter system of claim 5 wherein the drain tube is further comprised of:
a liquid blocking air vent attached to the drain tube wherein the liquid blocking air vent permits ambient air to enter into or escape from the drain tube and prevents liquid from escaping from within the drain tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A method of using the hydro-block air vent combination catheter system of claim 4 consisting of the steps of:
selecting the external catheter;
attaching the external catheter on the user's body for use by the external catheter attachment means;
positioning the collection means to facilitate a flow of urine from the external catheter to the disposal means.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

A method of using the hydro-block air vent combination catheter system of claim 4 consisting of the steps of:
selecting the external catheter;
attaching the external catheter on the user's body for use by the external catheter attachment means;
inserting an indwelling catheter into the bladder of the user;
attaching the indwelling catheter to the external catheter; and
positioning the collection means to facilitate a flow of urine from the external catheter to the disposal means.