Flushable catheter and method for producing such a catheter

Abstract

A flushable medical device for short term use, such as a urinary catheter, is disclosed, and also a method for producing such a medical device. The medical device comprises at least an elongate shaft made of a degradable material, the degradability being such that the material becomes essentially totally dissolved if maintained in turbulent water at room temperature for at least 6 hours, but retains its structural integrity in water for at least 5 minutes, and preferably at least 10 minutes. Hereby, the medical device can be used for the intended short term use, and then be flushed in an ordinary toilet after use. The degradable material preferably comprises at least one of monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide and polysaccharide. In a preferred embodiment, the degradable material primarily comprises water, at least one of sugar and starch and gelatin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.