U.S. patent number 3,705,575 [Application Number 05/074,350] was granted by the patent office on 1972-12-12 for incontinence device for female use.
Invention is credited to Lynn Euryl Edwards.
United States Patent |
3,705,575 |
Edwards |
December 12, 1972 |
INCONTINENCE DEVICE FOR FEMALE USE
Abstract
An incontinence device for female use comprises a member adapted
to apply pressure to the urethra, preferably from inside the
vagina, so as to prevent the flow of urine therefrom. The device
may include means for stimulating the muscle action of the tissue
controlling the urethra so as to improve the natural urine
retention of the wearer of the device.
Inventors: |
Edwards; Lynn Euryl (London
N.W. 5, EN) |
Family
ID: |
26258680 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/074,350 |
Filed: |
September 22, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Sep 26, 1969 [GB] |
|
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47,541/69 |
Jun 5, 1970 [GB] |
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27,195/70 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/29;
128/DIG.25; D24/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
2/005 (20130101); A61N 1/0452 (20130101); Y10S
128/25 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
2/00 (20060101); A61N 1/04 (20060101); A61b
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/1R,127,128,295,303,346,407,408 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Truluck; Dalton L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A female incontinence device comprising a first portion having
an end insertable into the vagina and adapted to contact the
urethra during use of the device; a second portion including an
engaging portion adapted to bear against the external pubic area of
the female body when said end of said first portion is positioned
within the vagina, said engaging portion having a breadth greater
than the breadth of the remainder of said second portion so as to
correspond to said external pubic area; a coupling portion
connecting said first and second portions and defining with said
first and second portions a generally U-shaped structure, at least
said coupling portion being resilient and urging said first and
second portions towards each other whereby said first portion is
biased against the urethra while said second portion bears against
the external pubic area, said first and second portions converging
in direction toward one another and spaced away from said coupling
portion so that said first portion tends to penetrate deeper into
the vagina due to said bias and as a result of its inclination
relative to said second portion, and said first, second and
coupling portions constituting the sole means of support of the
device on the female body.
2. A female incontinence device as defined in claim 1, wherein said
second portion comprises an engaging portion adapted to bear
against the external pubic area of the female body and comprising
two supporting portions which diverge in direction away from said
coupling portion in correspondence to the increase breadth of the
external pubic area in direction away from the vagina, and which
define between themselves a clearance for the pubic bone.
3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling portion is
positionable at least partly in the vulva between the labia, during
use of said device.
4. A device as defined in claim 2, and wherein said engaging
portion is of substantially triangular configuration.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for stimulating
the muscle action of the tissue controlling the urethra so as to
improve the natural urine retention of the wearer of the
device.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which said muscle-stimulating
means comprises electrode means for applying intermittent electric
current impulses to the internal wall of the vagina in the region
of the muscle tissue controlling the urethra.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which said electrode means
comprises a pair of metal foil strips or a pair of small metal
contacts mounted on said first portion of said device, with at
least a part of each strip or contact on the surface of said first
portion.
Description
This invention relates to an incontinence device for female use,
hereinafter referred to simply as an incontinence device.
Hitherto known incontinence devices have comprised a
urine-collecting vessel which is supported between the legs of the
wearer by some form of body belt, the open end of this vessel being
held in contact with the vulva. Such a device has many
disadvantages. Thus it is difficult to maintain a water-tight joint
between the vessel and the vulva, especially when the wearer is
walking. The presence of the vessel between the legs of the wearer
is a source of irritation and discomfort. Again, it is necessary to
remove the vessel periodically to empty it, which is an
objectionable task. Devices of this nature also tend to have an
objectionable smell, however careful the wearer is with her
personal hygiene.
An object of the present invention is to provide a completely new
form of incontinence device which does not have the disadvantages
outlined above.
According to the invention an incontinence device comprises a
member adapted to apply pressure to the urethra so as to prevent
the flow of urine therefrom.
In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, said
member is arranged to apply pressure to the urethra from inside the
vagina, preferably in a region above the sensitive point of no
return. The member may be secured to the free end of one limb of a
spring clamp, the other limb being formed as a support which bears
against the external pubic area of the lower abdomen of the wearer.
The two limbs may be connected by a spring-like, preferably
arcuate, member which, in use of the device, is positioned at least
partly in the vulva between the labia.
The device may be made from plastics material, which may be
reinforced if necessary. Alternatively, it may be made from a
non-corrodible metal or alloy, e.g. stainless steel.
A further embodiment of the device according to the invention
incorporates means for stimulating the muscle action of the tissue
controlling the urethra so as to improve the natural urine
retention of the wearer of the device. Thus the embodiment of the
device comprises a member adapted to apply pressure to the urethra
from within the vagina, and electrode means for applying
intermittent electric current impulses to the internal wall of the
vagina in the region of the muscle tissue controlling the
urethra.
The electrode means may comprise a pair of metal foil strips or a
pair of small metal contacts mounted on the pressure applying
member of the device, with at least a part of each strip or contact
on the surface of the pressure-applying member which bears against
the internal wall of the vagina.
Embodiments of incontinence devices in accordance with the
invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the device,
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a plan of the device of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified embodiment of the
device, and
FIG. 5 is a front elevation of part of the device of FIG. 4.
The incontinence device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises two limbs
generally designated by the reference numerals 1 and 2, these limbs
being joined by an elongated arcuate member 3.
The second portions limb 1 consists of a triangular support 4 which
is curved to bear snugly against the pubic area of the lower
abdomen of the wearer.
The first portion or limb 2 consists of a tube 5 having a
rectangular pad or pressure portion 6 at its free end. The pad 6 is
curved with its convex surface 7 facing the support 4. This convex
surface 7 is provided with shallow corrugations 8.
The tube 5 is connected to the support or engaging portion 4 by the
arcuate member 3. Preferably, the arcuate member 3 is also formed
from a length of tube, and in this case the parts 3 and 5 may be
formed integrally with one another. The combined coupling portion 3
and 5 may be made of a resilient plastics material and including a
reinforcing wire 9 passing through the tubular member. The ends of
the wires 9 may project from the tubular member and be embedded in
the pad 6 at one end and in the support 4 at the other end. In
addition the pad 6 and the support 4 may be secured to the ends of
the tubular member with an adhesive.
In use of the above described device, the limb 2 is inserted
carefully into the vagina until the arcuate member 3 is located
between the labia and the support 4 rests snugly against the
external pubic area of the lower abdomen. By careful adjustment of
the curvature of the arcuate member 3, the pad 6 can be made to
exert sufficient pressure on the urethra, within the vagina, to
prevent the flow of urine.
When it is desired to release urine from the bladder, the device
may be removed or the curvature of the member 3 is temporarily
changed to relieve the pressure of the pad 6 against the
urethra.
In one embodiment of the device shown in the drawing, the support 4
and the pad 6 were made of a rigid plastics material, for example
the material known under the Trade Mark "Perspex." The arcuate
member 3 and the tube 5 were formed as a single tubular member of
polyvinyl chloride. The presence of the wires 9 in this tubular
member imparted a springless thereto, but it was possible to bend
the arcuate member so that the device could be adapted for wear by
users of different physical proportions.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modified form of the device of FIGS. 1 to 3,
and the same reference numerals have been employed in FIGS. 4 and 5
as in FIGS. 1 to 3 to designate items in common to the two
embodiments.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 two metal foil electrode
strips 10 are secured in spaced relationship to the convex surface
7 of the pad 6 and are connected by insulated electric conductors
11 to a two-pin female electric socket 12 mounted on the support 4.
The electric conductors may be attached to the outer surface of the
tubular members 3 and 5, as shown, or may be accommodated in these
members. In the latter case the conductors can also serve as the
reinforcing wires 9.
The metal foil electrode strips 10 may be stuck to the surface 7 of
the pad 6 or they may be moulded into the surface 7 at the time of
manufacture of the pad 6. The strips 10 may be disposed parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the pad 6, or substantially at right
angles to this axis, as shown.
Alternatively, the electrode means may be in the form of wire wound
around the pad 6, or a pair of metal contact buttons mounted on the
surface 7 of the pad 6.
In use of the device of FIGS. 4 and 5 an intermittent current is
fed to the socket 12 from a suitable power pack (not shown) carried
by the wearer of the device, the output from the power pack being
led via electric conductors to a two-pin plug which is engageable
with the socket 12 on the support 4. A suitable power pack for the
purpose has an output voltage of from 1 to 20 volts and delivers
current pulses of approximately 1 millisecond duration at a
frequency of approximately 20 pulses per second. Power packs of
this nature are commonly employed in electronic stimulator units
used for the control of incontinence of urine.
The invention is not, of course, limited to the particular
embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. Thus,
for example, it may be desirable in some cases to provide the pad 6
with a layer of soft material, or to make the entire pad of soft
material, to guard against irritation in the vagina, particularly
if the wearer has internal operation scars in the region where the
pad 6 bears. Examples of suitable soft materials for this purpose
are sponge rubber and expanded polystyrene.
* * * * *