Catheter assembly

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve base comprises a housing which houses the outlet element and in which the outlet element rotates.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet element is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation when in use.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet element is rotatable about an axis parallel to the longest dimension of the fluid collection bag.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet element is rotatable about an axis parallel to the plane of the panel of the fluid collection bag to which the valve base is attached, when in the closed configuration or the open configuration.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid collection bag comprises a front panel and a rear panel.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet element is rotatable about an axis parallel to the plane of a front panel of the fluid collection bag.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the catheter is an intermittent catheter.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the catheter is no more than 50 cm long.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the catheter is formed of a polyolefin material, preferably polyethylene and/or polypropylene.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the intermittent catheter is formed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 10% of the surface of the fluid collection bag is opaque.

An intermittent catheter assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid collection bag comprises a hand strap.

A method of manufacturing an intermittent catheter assembly comprising the steps of providing a catheter having a proximal end for insertion into the body and a distal end, and a fluid collection bag, arranging the fluid collection bag to receive fluid from the distal end of the catheter, wherein the fluid collection bag comprises an outlet valve configured to control release of fluid out of the fluid collection bag in use, the outlet valve comprising:

• a valve base attached to a panel of the fluid collection bag, the valve base comprising a base opening for receiving a liquid output from the fluid collection bag;
• and an outlet element configured to be laterally rotatable relative to the valve base from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

A method of unpackaging a packaged intermittent catheter assembly, the packaged intermittent catheter assembly comprising an intermittent catheter assembly comprising the steps of providing a catheter having a proximal end for insertion into the body and a distal end, and a fluid collection bag, arranging the fluid collection bag to receive fluid from the distal end of the catheter, wherein the fluid collection bag comprises an outlet valve configured to control release of fluid out of the fluid collection bag in use, the outlet valve comprising:

• a valve base attached to a panel of the fluid collection bag, the valve base comprising a base opening for receiving a liquid output from the fluid collection bag;
• and an outlet element configured to be laterally rotatable relative to the valve base from a closed configuration to an open configuration, wherein the catheter and the fluid collection bag are arranged within a pouch.