RETENTION CATHETER

• US 3,799,172 A
• Filed: 09/25/1972
• Issued: 03/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roman Szpur
• Original Assignee: Roman Szpur
• Inventors: Szpur, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/291,675
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 128/348,349R,35R,351,243 27/24,24A
• US Class Current: 604/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence

Abstract

A plurality of circumferentially spaced slits are formed within the inlet end portion of an elongated flexible plastic tube adjacent a resilient tip portion. The slits define links which flex outwardly to expanded retaining positions in response to a pulling force exerted on the tip portion by a small diameter flexible actuating line extending within the tube. A Y-shaped fitting is connected to the outlet end portion of the tube and slidably supports an actuating member which is connected to the corresponding end of the actuating line to provide for remotely flexing the links and locking them in their expanded positions. The actuating member also serves to close the outlet within the fitting during insertion and withdrawal of the tube, and the tube is adapted to compress axially in the event the actuating member is pulled before the inlet end portion of the tube enters the bladder.

Claims

1. An improved catheter adapted for insertion into a bladdEr through the urethra, comprising an elongated flexible resilient tube of uniform cross-section and including an open inlet end portion and an open outlet end portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally axial extending cuts within said inlet end portion of said tube to form a plurality of axially extending links therebetween, said links being movable between normal collapsed positions and outwardly projecting expanded positions, an elongated flexible actuating element extending within said tube, a plug member closing said open inlet end portion of said tube and connected to one end of said actuating element, a substantially rigid valve body defining a valve chamber, means attaching said valve body to said open outlet end portion of said tube, means defining an outlet for said chamber, a valve member supported for movement within said valve chamber for opening and closing said outlet, means connecting the opposite end of said actuating element to said valve member, said links being movable from said collapsed positions to said expanded positions in response to axial movement of said actuating element from a released position to a latched position for retaining said inlet end portion of said tube within the bladder, and means providing for axial movement of said actuating element from said released position to said locked position without moving said links to said expanded positions in response to application of a tension force on said actuating element when said links are restrained from being moved to said expanded positions by surrounding body tissue.

2. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible tube compresses axially in response to said application of said tension force on said actuating element when said links are restrained from moving to said expanding position.

3. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug member includes a reduced portion cooperating to form a circumferential shoulder receiving the end of said inlet end portion of said tube, and the radial width of said shoulder being substantially equal to the wall thickness of said tube.

4. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a flexible polyurethane material.

5. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein and said plug member has a tip surface with a resiliency greater than the resiliency of said tube.

6. An improved catheter adapted for insertion into a bladder through the urethra, comprising an elongated flexible resilient tube of uniform cross-section and including an open inlet end portion and an open outlet end portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally axial extending cuts within said inlet end portion of said tube to form a plurality of axially extending links therebetween, said links being movable between normal collapsed positions and outwardly projecting expanded positions, an elongated flexible actuating element extending within said tube, a plug member closing said open inlet end portion of said tube and connected to one end of said actuating element, a substantially rigid valve body defining a valve chamber, means attaching said valve body to said open outlet end portion of said tube, means defining an outlet for said chamber, a valve member supported for movement within said valve chamber for opening and closing said outlet, means connecting the opposite end of said actuating element to said valve member, and said links being movable from said collapsed positions to said expanded positions in response to axial movement of said actuating element from a released position to a latched position for retaining said inlet end portion of said tube within the bladder.