# US 2021/0330938 A1 · Wetting Mechanism For A Catheter

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- Number: US 2021/0330938 A1
- Document ID: US20210330938A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/238,697
- Filed: 2021-04-23
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-24
- Assignees: Convatec Limited
- Applicants: Covatec Limited
- Inventors: Andrew Kendrick; Julie Lambrethsen; Oliver Walter Pfleger; Michal Wroblewski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330938A1

## CPC

- A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections}
- A61M 25/0075: {Valve means}
- 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 25/0113: {Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers}
- 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 2025/0046: {Coatings for improving slidability}
- A61M 2025/0062: {having features to improve the sliding of one part within another by using lubricants or surfaces with low friction}
- A61M 2025/0078: {for fluid inflow from the body into the catheter lumen}
- A61M 2202/0496: Urine
- A61M 2210/167: Penis
- 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

The invention relates to a wetting mechanism 20 for wetting a tube 12 of a catheter 10. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a housing 16 positioned initially at or proximal to the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12. The housing 16 comprises a wetting chamber 23 into which at least a portion of the catheter tube 12 is able to be introduced and be moved therethrough to wet the catheter tube 12 in use. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a wetting applicator 40 positioned within the wetting chamber 23 configured to hold fluid therein and release said fluid to wet the catheter tube 12 upon movement of the tube 12 through the wetting chamber 23.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wetting mechanism for wetting a tube of a male urinary catheter, the wetting mechanism comprising:
a housing forming a gripping element for the catheter, the housing being configured to be positioned initially at or proximal to the tip end of the catheter tube;
wherein the housing comprises a wetting chamber into which at least a portion of the catheter tube is able to be introduced and be moved therethrough to move at least a portion of the catheter tube through the wetting chamber, in use; and
wherein the wetting mechanism comprises a wetting applicator positioned within the wetting chamber configured to hold fluid therein and release said fluid to wet the catheter tube upon movement of the tube through the wetting chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wetting applicator comprises a flexible, compressible and/or resilient material and is deformable under the application of a force thereto; and wherein deformation of the wetting applicator cause releases of fluid held therein.

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wetting applicator comprises a baffle arrangement.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the baffle arrangement defines a plurality of subregions of the wetting applicator each configured to hold a portion of the fluid held within the wetting applicator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the baffle arrangement defines a plurality of subregions within the wetting chamber in which the fluid may reside and/or be released into.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A wetting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a holding chamber containing a volume of wetting fluid therein, and wherein the wetting chamber is fluidly connected or connectable to the holding chamber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 12, comprising a fluid release control component operable, in use, to control release of the fluid from the holding chamber into the wetting chamber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fluid release control component is operable to control release of the fluid from the holding chamber onto and/or into the wetting applicator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fluid release control component comprises a moveable plug, moveable between a first position wherein it prevents release of the fluid from the holding chamber to the wetting chamber and/or the wetting applicator, and a second position wherein it allows release of the fluid from the holding chamber to the wetting chamber and/or the wetting applicator, wherein the plug is linearly moveable or is rotatable between first and second positions.

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein movement of the plug between first and second positions exposes or otherwise unblock one or more openings within the housing between the holding chamber and the wetting chamber, thereby releasing fluid from within the holding chamber and into the wetting chamber and/or into or onto the wetting applicator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in any of claim 13, wherein the fluid release control component comprises a container positioned within or at least partially defining the holding chamber and having the fluid contained therein, and wherein the container is rupturable or otherwise openable to release fluid contained therein.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein the wetting mechanism is configured such that the container may be ruptured or otherwise opened, in use, upon a user compressing, bending and/or flexing the housing.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wetting chamber comprises an inlet through which the catheter tube is able to be introduced into the wetting chamber; and wherein the wetting mechanism comprises a removeable stopper configured to block, or at least partially block, the inlet.

### Claim 21

A wetting mechanism for wetting a tube of a male urinary catheter, the wetting mechanism comprising:
a housing forming a gripping element for the catheter, the housing being configured to be positioned initially at or proximal to the tip end of the catheter tube;
wherein the housing comprises a wetting chamber into which at least a portion of the catheter tube is able to be introduced and be moved therethrough to move at least a portion of the catheter tube through the wetting chamber, in use; and
wherein the wetting mechanism is configured such that the catheter tube is wetted with wetting fluid contained within the housing upon movement of the tube through the wetting chamber.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 21, wherein the wetting fluid is contained within the wetting chamber, further wherein the wetting fluid is contained within a holding chamber within the housing, the holding chamber being fluidly connected to the wetting chamber.

### Claim 23

(canceled)

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 22, wherein the housing comprises an opening or a port located between the holding chamber and the wetting chamber, and through which the wetting fluid may flow; and wherein thee opening or port is configured such that the rate at which the wetting fluid may flow therethrough is limited by the surface tension of the wetting fluid.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

A wetting mechanism as claimed in claim 21, wherein the housing comprises an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the inlet and/or outlet comprises a valve providing a seal to retain the wetting fluid within the housing.

### Claim 26

(canceled)

### Claim 27

(canceled)

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

A wetting mechanism of claim 21, comprising:
a catheter tube having a tip end and a distal end; and
a funnel provided at or proximal to the distal end of the catheter tube, with the wetting mechanism and funnel being separate components coupled via the catheter tube;
wherein, the wetting mechanism is operably coupled at or proximal to the tip end of the catheter tube for wetting the catheter tube, in use.

### Claim 29

(canceled)

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

A wetting mechanism according to claim 28 wherein the catheter comprises a sleeve formed of a film of plastics material positioned about the catheter tube, defining an internal volume about at least a portion of the catheter tube; the sleeve being coupled at a first end to the wetting mechanism and at a second, opposing end to the funnel.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

A wetting mechanism of claim 28, comprising a sealed packaged catheter, wherein the wetting mechanism is operably coupled at or proximal to the tip end of the catheter tube within the sealed package.

### Claim 32

(canceled)