Thoracic catheter

• US 4,883,474 A
• Filed: 06/16/1987
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David S. Sheridan
• Original Assignee: David S. Sheridan
• Inventors: Sheridan, David S., Alley, Ralph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US07/062,844
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164, 604/165, 604/170, 604/264, 604/272, 604/273, 604/274, 604/280, 604/281, 604/282, 128/339
• US Class Current: 604/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32

Abstract

A thoracic catheter is provided with a distal end and a proximal end. The catheter is formed by a tube of flexible material having at least one radial opening at the distal end for draining a body cavity. The proximal end of the tube has a stiffened and sharpened portion whereby pressure applied to the stiffened proximal end from inside the body cavity leads the catheter outwardly through body tissue whereupon the sharpened stiffened proximal end can be severed and the catheter left in situ. The stiffened end is a rigid rod that extends outward of the proximal end of the tube and terminates in the tube short of a cut-off point whereby the tube is severed and the rod and severed proximal end portion is disposed of. The rigid rod may extend a substantial distance inside the tube and be shapable into a grippable shape to assist the user in maneuvering the rod and tube into and through a desired path in the surgical site.

Claims

1. A catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, comprising tubing of flexible material having a passageway extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof and having at least one radial opening communicating with the passageway at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tubing tapering toward the proximal end thereof, a longitudinally facing opening aligned with the passageway in the tubing at the proximal end thereof, and sharpened stiffening means connected with the inside of the passageway at the proximal end portion of the tubing and projecting outwardly from the longitudinally facing opening, said stiffening means extending inwardly beyond said connection with the tubing into the passageway in the tubing, said stiffening means being spaced from the wall of the passageway in the tubing, said spacing extending from the connection of the tubing with the stiffening means to the inner end of the stiffening means, whereby pressure applied to the tubing and underlying stiffening means from inside the body cavity forces the stiffening means and the catheter proximal end portion outwardly through body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the sharpened stiffening means can be severed from the catheter and the catheter distal end portion positioned in situ.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said stiffening means comprises a rigid rod disposed within and fixed to the inside of the tubing at the proximal end portion of the tubing.

3. The catheter of claim 2 wherein said rigid rod includes a sharpened distal end projecting from the proximal end of the tubing.

4. The catheter of claim 2 wherein said tubing includes an enlarged portion extending axially from the proximal end, said enlarged portion including said portion tapering toward the longitudinally facing opening at the proximal end, said rigid rod being fixed to the tubing within the longitudinally facing opening.

5. The catheter of claim 4 wherein said rigid rod includes a sharpened distal end projecting from the proximal end of the tubing.

6. The catheter of claim 2 wherein said rigid rod is solid.

7. A catheter of claim 1 wherein the stiffening means is comprised of a rigid rod of plastic, metal, wood, bone, ivory or the like.

8. A catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, comprising a tube of flexible plastic material having at least one radial opening at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, said tube includes a tapered enlarged portion extending axially of the proximal end thereof, and stiffening means at the proximal end portion of the tube, said stiffening means comprises an integral hardened length of the tube extending only partially into the enlarged portion of the tube, said hardened proximal end portion of the tube terminates at an angle to provide a sharpened proximal end to the stiffening means whereby pressure applied to the hardened length forming the stiffening means from inside the body cavity leads the catheter outwardly through body tissue whereupon the stiffening means can be severed from the catheter and the catheter left in situ.

9. A thoracic catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion comprising tubing of flexible material having a passageway extending from a distal end to a longitudinally facing opening at a proximal end thereof, said tubing having at least one radial opening communicating with the passageway at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, said tubing having an enlarged portion extending axially of the proximal end and tapering toward the opening at the proximal end, and a rigid rod aligned with and disposed within at least a portion of the length of the passageway in the tubing, said rod being fixed to the inside of the tubing at the proximal end of the catheter, said rod inside said tubing being spaced from the wall of the passageway in the tubing, a second portion of the rigid rod extending from the longitudinally facing opening at the proximal end and having a sharpened outer end, whereby pressure applied to the tubing and rigid rod where the rigid rod is disposed within the tubing from inside the body cavity forces the rigid rod with the catheter proximal end portion outwardly through the body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the catheter can be severed in the proximal end portion and the rod and proximal end of the catheter can be discarded.

10. The thoracic catheter of claim 9 wherein said rigid rod is solid.

11. The catheter of claim 9 wherein the rigid rod is metal or the like.

12. A catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, comprising tubing of flexible material having a passageway extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof and having at least one radial opening communicating with the passageway at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tubing tapering toward the proximal end thereof, a longitudinally facing opening aligned with the passageway in the tubing at the proximal end thereof, and sharpened stiffening means connected with the inside of the passageway at the proximal end portion of the tubing and projecting outwardly from the longitudinally facing opening, said stiffening means extending inwardly beyond said connection with the tubing into the passageway in the tubing, the stiffening means is comprised of a rod of malleable but substantial rigid metal whereby pressure applied to the tubing and underlying stiffening means from inside the body cavity forces the stiffening means and the catheter proximal end portion outwardly through body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the sharpened stiffening means can be severed from the catheter and the catheter distal end portion positioned in situ.

13. A thoracic catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion comprising tubing of flexible material having a passageway extending from a distal end to a longitudinally facing opening at a proximal end thereof, said tubing having at least one radial opening communicating with the passageway at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, said tubing having an enlarged portion extending axially of the proximal end and tapering toward the opening at the proximal end, and a rigid rod aligned with and disposed within at least a portion of the length of the passageway in the tubing at the proximal end of the catheter, the rigid rod is a malleable metal, a second portion of the rigid rod extending from the longitudinally facing opening at the proximal end and having a sharpened outer end, whereby pressure applied to the tubing and rigid rod where the rigid rod is disposed within the tubing from inside the body cavity forces the rigid rod with the catheter proximal end portion outwardly through the body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the catheter can be severed in the proximal end portion and the rod and proximal end of the catheter can be discarded.

14. A thoracic catheter comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end and a proximal end, at least one radial opening at the distal end thereof for draining a body cavity, an enlarged portion axially spaced from the proximal end and tapering toward both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube, and a rigid rod fixed to the inside of the tube at the proximal end and extending at least in part within the enlarged portion of the tube and being spaced from the wall of at least a portion of the enlarged portion of the tube to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tube adjacent the proximal end, the rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end of the tube and having a sharpened tip at the distal end of the rigid rod.

15. A thoracic catheter comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end and a proximal end, at least one radial opening at the distal end thereof for draining a body cavity, an enlarged portion axially spaced from the proximal end and tapering toward both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube, and a rigid rod fixed to the inside of the tube at the proximal end to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tube adjacent the proximal end, the rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end of the tube and having a sharpened tip at the distal end of the rigid rod, the rigid rod extending into said tube to a point short of the center of the enlarged portion of the tube.

16. The thoracic catheter as claimed in claim 15 wherein said tube has a cut-off line for severing the tube without intersecting said rod.

17. A thoracic catheter comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end and a proximal end, at least one radial opening at the distal end thereof for draining a body cavity, an enlarged portion axially spaced from the proximal end and tapering toward both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube, and a rigid rod fixed to the inside of the tube at the proximal end to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tube adjacent the proximal end, the rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end of the tube and having a sharpened tip at the distal end of the rigid rod, the rigid rod extending into and through a substantial portion of the length of the tube, said rigid rod being shapable to desired configurations both inside said tube and outside said tube.

18. A thoracic catheter comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end and a proximal end, at least one radial opening at the distal end thereof for draining a body cavity, an enlarged portion axially spaced from the proximal end and tapering toward both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube, and a rigid rod fixed to the inside of the tube at the proximal end to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tube adjacent the proximal end, the rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end of the tube and having a sharpened tip at the distal end of the rigid rod, said rod inside said tube being formed into a flat S shape to provide a handle for controlling the direction the sharpened distal tip is following.

19. A thoracic catheter comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, at least one radial opening at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, an enlarged portion axially spaced from the proximal end portion and tapering toward both the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the tube, a rigid rod disposed within and fixed to the inside of the tube at the proximal end portion to stiffen the proximal end portion of the tube, the rigid rod having a sharpened distal end, the rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end portion of the tube and extending axially from the distal end portion a substantial length on the inside of the tube, the rigid rod inside the tube being shapable into a handle shape along with the tube so as to provide the surgeon with a positive grip on the tube and rod thereby preventing turning of the tube and rod as it is manipulated into place.

20. A thoracic catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion comprising tubing of flexible material having a passageway extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof and having at least one radial opening communicating with the passageway in the portion of the tube adjacent the distal end thereof for draining a body cavity, and a rigid rod disposed within and fixed to the inside of the tubing at the portion of the tubing adjacent the proximal end to provide a stiffening means for the tubing overlapping the rigid rod, a cut-off line in the tubing beyond the proximal end of the rigid rod, the rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end of the tubing and having a sharpened outer end, whereby pressure applied to the tubing and rigid rod from inside the body cavity first forces the rigid rod and then the rigid rod and catheter proximal end portion outwardly through body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the catheter distal end portion is positioned in situ and the tubing can be severed at the cut-off line short of the end of the rod to assure that the end of the rod is not severed and lost in the body cavity.

21. A thoracic catheter comprising a flexible tubing having a distal end and a distal end portion, and a proximal end and a proximal end portion, openings formed in the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, and a rigid rod disposed within at least a portion of the length of the tubing and fixed to the inside of the tubing at the proximal end thereof to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tubing overlapping the rigid rod, said rigid rod extending several inches beyond the proximal end of the catheter and having a sharpened distal end, said rigid rod being shapable so as to be manipulable in the chest cavity from a remote site so as to neither disturb nor apply pressure to exposed organs in the chest cavity, whereby pressure applied to the overlapping tubing and rigid rod forces the rigid rod first and then the rigid rod and the catheter proximal end portion outwardly through the body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the catheter proximal end portion can be severed and the rigid rod and proximal end of the catheter can be disposed of.

22. A thoracic catheter comprising tubing of flexible material having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, a passageway in the tubing extending from at least one radial opening in the distal end portion to a longitudinally facing opening at the proximal end portion thereof, a rigid rod disposed within a portion of the length of the passageway and fixed to the inside of the tubing adjacent the longitudinally facing opening at the proximal end portion to stiffen the portion of the tubing overlapping the rigid rod, the rigid rod extending beyond the proximal end portion of the tubing and having a sharpened distal end, the rigid rod inside the tubing being shapable into a handle shape along with the tube so as to provide the surgeon with a positive grip on the overlapping tubing and rod thereby preventing turning of the tubing and rod as it is manipulated into place.

23. A thoracic catheter comprising tubing of flexible material having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, at least one radial opening at the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, the proximal end portion of the tubing tapering toward the proximal end of the tubing, and a rigid rod loosely positioned within a portion of the length of the tubing and fixed to the inside of the tubing at the proximal end of the tubing to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tubing overlapping the rigid rod at least adjacent the proximal end portion thereof, the rigid rod extending beyond the proximal end of the tubing and having a sharpened distal tip at the distal end thereof.

24. The catheter as claimed in claim 23 wherein said tubing has a cut-off line for severing the tubing without intersecting said rod.

25. The thoracic catheter as claimed in claim 23 wherein said rigid rod extends into and through a substantial portion of the length of the tube, said rigid rod being shapable to desired configurations both inside said tube and outside said tube.

26. A thoracic catheter having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion comprising tubing of flexible material having a passageway extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof and having at least one radial opening communicating with the passageway in the portion of the tube adjacent the distal end thereof for draining a body cavity, and a rigid rod having a portion loosely disposed within the proximal end portion of the tubing and being fixed to the inside of the tubing at the portion of the tubing adjacent the proximal end to provide a stiffening means for the portion of the tubing that overlaps the rigid rod, the rigid rod having another portion extending beyond the proximal end of the tubing and having a sharpened outer end, whereby pressure applied to the tubing and rigid rod from inside the body cavity first forces the rigid rod and then the rigid rod and catheter proximal end portion outwardly through body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the catheter distal end portion is positioned in situ and the tubing can be severed short of the end of the rod to assure that the end of the rod is not severed and lost in the body cavity.

27. A thoracic catheter comprising a flexible tubing having a distal end and a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion, openings formed in the distal end portion thereof for draining a body cavity, and a rigid rod disposed within at least a portion of the length of the tubing and fixed to the inside of the tubing at the proximal end thereof to provide stiffening means for the portion of the tubing overlapping the rigid rod, said rigid rod loosely fitting in the overlapping portion of the tubing and extending beyond the proximal end of the tubing, said rigid rod having a sharpened outer end and being shaped so as to be manipulable in the chest cavity from a remote site so as to neither disturb nor apply pressure to exposed organs in the chest cavity, whereby pressure applied to the overlapping tubing and rigid rod forces the rigid rod first and then the rigid rod and the catheter proximal end portion outwardly through the body tissue while simultaneously drawing the catheter distal end portion into the body cavity, whereupon the catheter proximal end portion can be severed and the rigid rod and proximal end of the catheter can be disposed of.

28. A thoracic catheter comprising tubing of flexible material having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, a passageway in the tubing extending from at least one radial opening in the distal end portion to a longitudinally facing opening in the proximal end portion thereof, a rigid rod loosely disposed within a portion of the length of passageway and fixed to the inside of the tubing adjacent the longitudinally facing opening at the proximal end portion to stiffen the portion of the tubing overlapping the rigid rod, the rigid rod extending beyond the proximal end portion of the tubing and having a sharpened distal end, the rigid rod loosely disposed in the passageway in the tubing being shaped into a handle shape along with the tubing so as to provide the surgeon with a positive grip on the overlapping tubing and rod thereby preventing turning of the tubing and rod as it is manipulated into place.