Dry to the touch vapor hydration sleeve

A dry-to-the touch, ready-to-use hydrophilic intermittent catheter assembly, comprising:

• a catheter having an insertable portion with a hydrophilic outer surface in an activated condition;
• a liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve covering at least the insertable portion of the catheter;
• an amount of liquid disposed between the sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter;
• the amount of liquid being contained within a liquid flow interfering element that substantially interferes with liquid flow;
• a vapor atmosphere contained within the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve wherein the vapor atmosphere is produced by vapor donated from the amount of liquid contained within the liquid flow interfering element;
• the liquid flow interfering element being formed of a material and disposed between the sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter in a manner that substantially prevents direct liquid contact between the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element and the hydrophilic outer surface of the catheter while permitting sufficient direct vapor contact to place the hydrophilic outer surface in the activated condition;
• and
• the liquid flow interfering element comprising a liquid impermeable, vapor permeable membrane sealed to an inner surface of the sleeve with the liquid being confined between the membrane and the inner surface of the sleeve, the sleeve being sealed in a manner defining a closed cavity containing at least the insertable portion of the catheter, the liquid flow interfering element, and the amount of liquid contained within the liquid flow interfering element.

A dry-to-the touch, ready-to-use hydrophilic intermittent catheter assembly, comprising:

• a catheter having an insertable portion with a hydrophilic outer surface in an activated condition, the catheter including an eyed inlet end and a funnel at an opposite end;
• a liquid water impermeable, water vapor permeable inner sleeve covering the insertable portion of the catheter and being sealed to a collar of the funnel;
• a liquid water impermeable and water vapor impermeable outer sleeve enclosing at least the inner sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter;
• an amount of liquid water disposed between an exterior of the inner sleeve and an interior of the outer sleeve;
• a vapor atmosphere located within the inner sleeve wherein the vapor atmosphere is produced by vapor donated by the amount of liquid;
• and
• the inner sleeve substantially preventing direct liquid contact between the amount of liquid disposed between the inner and outer sleeves while permitting sufficient direct vapor contact to place the hydrophilic outer surface in the activated condition.