Catheter assembly
AssigneeAstra Tech AB
InventorsDaniel Nestenborg, Andrea Schmid
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catheter assembly is provided comprising a catheter including a catheter tube and a connector arranged in one end of the catheter tube. The catheter is preferably a urinary, hydrophilic catheter. Further, the assembly comprises a catheter receptacle, a compartment accommodating the wetting fluid, the compartment being an integrated part of the receptacle but is separated from the cavity, the separation between the wetting fluid compartment and the cavity accommodating the catheter providing a rupturable sealed enclosure with at least one point of weakness.
Claims33
A catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter having on at least part of its surface a hydrophilic surface layer intended to produce a low-friction surface character of the catheter by treatment with a wetting fluid prior to use of the catheter;
- a catheter receptacle forming a cavity for accommodation of at least part of the catheter and a compartment accommodating said wetting fluid, wherein said compartment is monolithic to the receptacle, but being separated from said cavity;
- and
- a rupturable sealed closure separating the cavity and the compartment,
- wherein said rupturable sealed closure is a welded joint arranged in a non-linear arrangement so that the welded joint is arranged with at least one knee directed toward the wetting fluid compartment, and wherein a peak portion of said at least one knee provides a corresponding at least one point of maximized weakness, in order for an induced rupture to occur in a predetermined position, thereby enabling fluid communication between the compartment and the cavity housing the catheter.
A method for producing a catheter assembly, comprising:
- providing a receptacle forming a cavity and a compartment, wherein said compartment is monolithic to the receptacle, but being separated from said cavity;
- providing a hydrophilic catheter having on at least part of its surface a hydrophilic surface layer intended to produce a low-friction surface character of the catheter by treatment with a wetting fluid prior to use of the catheter;
- arranging at least part of the catheter tube in the cavity of the receptacle;
- arranging a wetting fluid in the compartment;
- and
- providing a rupturable sealed closure to separate the cavity and the compartment,
- wherein said rupturable sealed closure is a welded joint arranged in a non-linear arrangement so that the welded joint is arranged with at least one knee directed toward the wetting fluid compartment, and wherein a peak portion of said at least one knee provides a corresponding at least one point of maximized weakness, in order for an induced rupture to occur in a predetermined position, thereby enabling fluid communication between the compartment and the cavity housing the catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.