Hollister, Inc.

John S Biersteker

Donald J Therriault

Robert G Olach

Lawrence J Lustig

A tubular elastic sheath for a condom catheter, the sheath taking the form of a thin, flexible, cylindrical member of elastic material having inner and outer surfaces and being rolled outwardly upon itself to form a torus having successively larger turns. A thin, flexible, multi-layered tape is interposed between successive turns of the rolled torus with such layers, all adhering to each other and to the catheter member, comprising a first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer, and a highly-stretchable elastomeric layer disposed between the first and second adhesive layers. The first adhesive layer adheres to the inner surface of the catheter member and the second adhesive layer adheres to the outer surface of that member, and the relationship is such that the elastomeric layer adheres more securely to the second adhesive layer than to the first adhesive layer, and the first adhesive layer has less affinity for the elastomeric layer than each of the adhesive layers has for the surfaces of the catheter member. As a result, when the sheath is unrolled, the tape undergoes delamination with the first adhesive layer remaining upon the sheath's inner surface and the second adhesive layer, covered by the elastomeric layer, remaining on the sheath's outer surface.

Adhesive-lined elastic condom cathether

A method of making a tubular elastic sheath having an adhesive-coated inner surface and particularly suitable for use as an external male catheter in a urine-collection system. In such method, the sheath is supported upon a mandrel and a flexible laminated tape, composed of first and second adhesive layers separated by an elastomeric layer, is placed in adhesive contact with the inner surface of the sheath or, alternatively, with its outer surface. Thereafter, the cylindrical body of the sheath is rolled upon the mandrel so that the tape is interposed between successive turns of the sheath, with the first adhesive layer in engagement with the sheath's inner surface and the second adhesive layer of the tape in contact with the sheath's outer surface. The tape's elastomeric core layer has a greater affinity for the second adhesive layer than for the first adhesive layer, and the first adhesive layer has less affinity for the elastomeric layer than for the contiguous surface of the sheath, so that unrolling of the sheath during application results in a delamination of the tape with the first adhesive layer adhering to the sheath's inner surface for securing the sheath to the wearer and with the second adhesive layer, along with the elastomeric layer, remaining on the sheath's outer surface.

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Prospect Heights, IL, United States of America

John S Biersteker