Catheter

• US 3,902,492 A
• Filed: 05/14/1974
• Issued: 09/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roger Malcolm Greenhalgh
• Original Assignee: Roger Malcolm Greenhalgh
• Inventors: Greenhalgh, Roger Malcolm
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasko, J.
• Application Number:
  US05/469,801
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 128/241,246,245,349,350,351,348,325,344
• US Class Current: 604/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A catheter for the continuous irrigation of the bladder which has a drainage tube for the removal of fluid from the bladder, an auxiliary axial bore extending through the wall of the drainage tube, and an irrigation tube extending from the axial bore beyond the tip of the catheter. The irrigation tube has a plurality of radial discharge outlets. During use, the irrigation tube curves around the bladder; fluid passes through the irrigation tube to provide a discharge spray and a turbulent flow of liquid in the bladder. This provides for a peripheral bladder irrigation which is an improvement over a single discharge point near the entry of a catheter into a bladder. The catheter also preferably has a second axial bore in its wall which terminates in an opening beneath a sheath of expandable material which can be inflated by fluid applied under pressure through the second axial bore, to secure the catheter in place.

Claims

1. A catheter for continuous irrigation of a body cavity, having a drainage tube for the removal of fluid from said body cavity, an auxiliary passageway extending along the catheter and terminating at or towards the tip of the catheter and a flexible irrigation tube extending from said auxiliary passageway beyond the tip of the catheter for a length of from about 4 to 6 inches and having a plurality of radial discharge outlets at least towards its free end wherein the flexibility and length of said irrigation tube are adapted to facilitate its curving around the wall of said body cavity and providing peripheral irrigation thereof.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary passageway is an axial bore extending through the wall of said drainage tube.

3. The catheter of claim 2 wherein the discharge outlets of the irrigation tube are radially distributed along the whole length thereof.

4. The catheter of claim 1 which is provided at its tip with one or more radial outlets from said drainage tube.

5. The catheter of claim 1 which has a second auxiliary passageway, said second auxiliary passageway terminating in an opening beneath a sheath of expandable material which can be inflated by fluid applied under pressure through said second auxiliary passageway.

6. The catheter of claim 5 wherein said second auxiliary passageway is an axial bore extending through the wall of said drainage tube.

7. The catheter of claim 1 manufactured from flexible polyvinyl chloride.

8. The catheter of claim 5 wherein the sheath is made from rubber latex.

9. The catheter of claim 1 having an external diameter of from 20 to 24 French gauge.

10. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the irrigation tube has an external diameter of approximately 8 French gauge.

11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said irrigation tube is adapted to fit into said drainage tube to facilitate insertion of the catheter into said body cavity.

12. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the external diameter of said irrigation tube is smaller than the internal diameter of said drainage tube.

13. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said irrigation tube is an integral part of said catheter body.

14. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the flexibility and size of said irrigation tube are adapted to facilitate placement of said irrigation tube into said drainage tube for insertion into said body cavity.