US 12,144,933 B2
Methods of monitoring urinary catheter usage
Timothy A. Palmer, Stillwater, MN (US)
Assigned to CONVATEC INC., Bridgewater, IN (US)
Filed by ConvaTec Inc., Bridgewater, NJ (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/202,756.
Application 17/202,756 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/097,941, filed on Nov. 13, 2020, granted, now 10,946,168.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/936,994, filed on Nov. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0196923 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/0017 (2013.01) [A61B 5/208 (2013.01); A61B 5/6852 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3334 (2013.01); A61M 2210/1085 (2013.01); A61M 2210/1089 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of monitoring urinary catheter usage, comprising:
a) providing a urinary catheter having a flexible catheter tube with a length and diameter sized for introduction and advancement through a user's urethra to the user's bladder, the urinary catheter having a flow indicator affixed therein so as to be exposed to urine, the flow indicator comprising a porous substrate configured to pass an electrolytic ion flow between an anode and cathode pair thereon when wetted, the flow indicator further including an output transducer connected to the anode and cathode such that an electrical current which energizes the output transducer is created when urine flows through the catheter and wets the indicator, the output transducer being configured to generate an output signal adapted to be received at a remote location;
b) monitoring the output signal at the remote location.