Urinary incontinence device and a method of making the same

A urinary incontinence device comprising:

• a) a resilient member;
• b) a non-absorbent at least partially enclosing said resilient member, said non-absorbent being constructed from a fibrous material wherein said fibers do not absorb significant quantities of moisture within said fibers, said non-absorbent and said resilient member being formed into an elongated softwind having a first end and a second end, said softwind being folded upon itself such that said first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and said softwind contains at least two folds therebetween, said resilient member extending between at least two of said folds, said softwind being compressed into an elongated pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end with said resilient member located at least in said insertion end and said resilient member capable of expanding at least a portion of said pledget to provide a supportive backdrop for a woman's urethra when inserted into a woman's vagina;
• and
• c) withdrawal means for removing said incontinence device from the woman's vagina.

A urinary incontinence device comprising:

• a) a resilient member;
• b) a non-absorbent at least partially enclosing said resilient member, said non-absorbent being constructed from a fibrous material wherein said fibers do not absorb significant quantities of moisture within said fibers, said non-absorbent and said resilient member being formed into an elongated softwind having a first end and a second end, said softwind being folded upon itself such that said first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and said softwind contains at least two folds therebetween, said resilient member extending between at least two of said folds, said softwind being compressed into an elongated pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end with said resilient member located at least in said insertion end and said resilient member capable of expanding at least a portion of said pledget to provide a supportive backdrop for a woman's urethra when inserted into a woman's vagina;
• c) a cover enclosing said softwind;
• and
• d) withdrawal means for removing said incontinence device from the woman's vagina.

A method of making a urinary incontinence device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) cutting a non-absorbent into a configuration having a central longitudinal axis, said non-absorbent being constructed from a fibrous material wherein said fibers do not absorb significant quantities of moisture within said fibers;
• b) aligning a resilient member adjacent to said central longitudinal axis of said non-absorbent;
• c) folding said non-absorbent and said resilient member to form an elongated softwind having a first end and a second end;
• d) folding said softwind upon itself such that said first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and said softwind contains at least two folds therebetween, said resilient member extending between at least two of said folds;
• and
• e) compressing said softwind into an elongated pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end with said resilient member located at least in said insertion end, whereby said resilient member is capable of expanding at least a portion of said pledget to provide a supportive backdrop for a woman's urethra when said pledget is inserted into a woman's vagina.

A method of making a urinary incontinence device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) cutting a non-absorbent into a rectangular configuration having a central longitudinal axis, said non-absorbent being constructed from a fibrous material wherein said fibers do not absorb significant quantities of moisture within said fibers;
• b) aligning a rectangular strip of resilient member parallel and adjacent to said central longitudinal axis of said non-absorbent;
• c) folding said non-absorbent around said resilient member to form a combination and folding said combination again to form an elongated softwind having a first end and a second end;
• d) folding said softwind upon itself such that said first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and said softwind contains at least two folds therebetween, said resilient member extending between at least two of said folds;
• e) radially compressing said softwind into an elongated pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end with said resilient member located at least in said insertion end, whereby said resilient member is capable of expanding at least a portion of said pledget to provide a supportive backdrop for a woman's urethra when said pledget inserted into a woman's vagina;
• and
• f) securing a withdrawal string to said pledget to form a urinary incontinence device.