US 12,472,302 B2
External female catheter system and method of use
Christopher L. Radl, Malvern, PA (US); Michael Reed Vennel, Phoenixville, PA (US); and William Charles Dackis, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Assigned to Shortridge Holdings, LLC, Phoenixville, PA (US)
Filed by Boehringer Technologies, LP, Phoenixville, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/074,714.
Application 17/179,998 is a division of application No. 16/996,214, filed on Aug. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,395,871, issued on Jul. 26, 2022.
Application 18/074,714 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/750,720, filed on May 23, 2022, granted, now 12,220,520.
Application 18/074,714 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/179,998, filed on Feb. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,547,788, issued on Jan. 10, 2023.
Application 17/750,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/996,214, filed on Aug. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,395,871, issued on Jul. 26, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/924,326, filed on Oct. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0099821 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. A61M 1/00 (2006.01); A61F 5/455 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 1/743 (2021.05) [A61F 5/455 (2013.01); A61M 1/742 (2021.05); A61M 2025/0056 (2013.01); A61M 2202/0496 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An antimicrobial cover for use in an external catheter device for automatically removing by suction urine voided at urethra of a female patient, the external catheter device including an elongated suction tube configured for receipt of suction and having a distal end portion including an opening, said antimicrobial cover being held in a package and comprising a generally cylindrically shaped body having a distal end, a proximal end and a bore extending from said proximal end to a point located adjacent said distal end, said generally cylindrically shaped body having a curved external surface, said curved external surface extends around an entire circumference of the generally cylindrically shaped body, the entirety of said curved external surface being exposed when the external catheter device is used to enable any portion of said curved external surface of said antimicrobial cover to be brought into engagement with a portion of the female patient adjacent the urethra of the female patient, said generally cylindrically shaped body being formed of a sponge material which includes an antimicrobial additive configured to prevent microbial growth, whereupon when the external catheter device is used said antimicrobial agent inhibits the growth of microbes.
 
5. A method of preventing or reducing microbial growth on an external catheter device automatically removing by suction urine voided by a patient, the external catheter device including an elongated suction tube configured for receipt of suction and having a distal end portion including an opening, said method comprising:
providing antimicrobial cover comprising a generally cylindrically shaped body having a distal end, a proximal end and a bore extending from said proximal end to a point located adjacent said distal end, said generally cylindrically shaped body having a curved external surface, said curved external surface extends around an entire circumference of the generally cylindrically shaped body, the entirety of said curved external surface being exposed to enable any portion of said curved external surface to be brought into engagement with a portion of the female patient adjacent the urethra of the female patient, said generally cylindrical shaped body being formed of a sponge material and including an antimicrobial additive configured to prevent microbial growth;
providing said antimicrobial cover in a package to keep said antimicrobial cover therein until ready for use;
removing said antimicrobial cover from said package; and
applying said antimicrobial cover to bring any portion of said curved external surface into engagement with a portion of the anatomy of the patient adjacent the urethra of the patient, whereupon said antimicrobial agent inhibits the growth of microbes.