Urological catheter
First Claim
1. A flexible retention catheter comprising an elongated tubular body portion defining a drainage lumen, an inflatable balloon forming a sheath around said body portion adjacent one end thereof, an inflation lumen disposed in association with said tubular body portion to extend into communication with said balloon for conducting an inflating medium, and a soft, pliable cone-shaped tip at the end of said body portion adjacent said balloon, said tip having a side wall defining a drainage eyelet extending to a drainage lumen terminating at a closed end wall within the tip, said tip having a reduced urethral contact surface defined by recesses for minimizing sliding friction during travel of the tip along the lining of the human urethra.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible retention catheter includes a soft, pliable cone-shaped tip with a reduced urethral contact surface defined by spiral grooves or hair-like projections. A magneto-insert embedded within the tip is used in cooperation with an electromagnet externally of the catheter to propel the catheter along the urethra by repulsive or attractive lines of magnetic force. In one embodiment, the tip of the catheter is partially divided along one transverse line to form a hinged tip segment and in another embodiment, the tip portion is divided longitudinally along a line intersecting with a transverse dividing line forming two hinged tip segments. The segments are releasably joined by releasable fasteners. The hinged tip segments are swung about the hinge connection against the inflated surface of the balloon by tension strips that extend along the balloon and move in response to a distention thereof to expose the drainage lumen within the tip. Other string actuators also traverse the balloon and elastically spread diametrically-divided end segments of a portion of the lumen to retain a segment of the catheter in situ in the urethra while the remaining portion of the lumen disjoined therefrom is withdrawn from the urethra. The implanted portion of the catheter is adjoined with an inflation lumen that extends along the length of the urethra. A collapsible sheath is adhered to the implanted segment in a fluid-conducting relation with the drainage lumen thereof.
-
Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A flexible retention catheter comprising an elongated tubular body portion defining a drainage lumen, an inflatable balloon forming a sheath around said body portion adjacent one end thereof, an inflation lumen disposed in association with said tubular body portion to extend into communication with said balloon for conducting an inflating medium, and a soft, pliable cone-shaped tip at the end of said body portion adjacent said balloon, said tip having a side wall defining a drainage eyelet extending to a drainage lumen terminating at a closed end wall within the tip, said tip having a reduced urethral contact surface defined by recesses for minimizing sliding friction during travel of the tip along the lining of the human urethra.
- 10. A flexible retention catheter comprising an elongated tubular body portion defining a drainage lumen, an inflatable balloon forming a sheath around said body portion adjacent one end thereof, an inflation lumen disposed in association with said tubular body portion to extend into communication with said balloon for conducting an inflating medium, a soft, pliable cone-shaped tip on the end of said body portion adjacent said balloon, said tip having a side wall defining a drainage eyelet extending to a drainage lumen with a closed end within the tip, and magnetic means including a magnetoinsert supported by said tubular body portion for propelled movement of said tubular body portion into the body of a patient.
- 19. A flexible retention catheter comprising an elongated tubular body portion defining a drainage lumen, an inflatable balloon forming a sheath around said body portion adjacent one end thereof, a soft, pliable cone-shaped tip portion at the end of said body portion adjacent said balloon, said tip portion having a closed end with a side wall defining a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage lumen of said tubular body portion, the side wall of said tip portion being severed along at least one line to form a hinged tip segment, at least one tension member traversing said balloon and adhered at one end to said hinged tip segment and adhered to the other end of said body portion at the side of said balloon which is remote to said tip segment, and means forming an inflation lumen disposed in association with said body portion to extend into communication with said balloon for conducting an inflating medium to the balloon whereby inflation of the balloon moves said tensioning member to swing the hinged tip segment of said tip against the inflated surface of the balloon for exposing the drainage lumen in said tip portion.
Specification