U.S. patent number 3,805,794 [Application Number 05/316,412] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-23 for antegrade-retrograde retention catheter.
Invention is credited to Robert M. Schlesinger.
United States Patent |
3,805,794 |
Schlesinger |
April 23, 1974 |
ANTEGRADE-RETROGRADE RETENTION CATHETER
Abstract
A catheter has two detachable segments to allow passage of one
segment through an orifice in an animal body from a direction
opposite to the normal direction, that is, passage from the
interior to the exterior of the body. A detachable cap is provided
for the leading edge of the segment during its passage through the
orifice, after which the cap is removed and the segments are
rejoined for normal use.
Inventors: |
Schlesinger; Robert M.
(Brookline, MA) |
Family
ID: |
26820717 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/316,412 |
Filed: |
December 18, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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122606 |
Mar 1, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/534; 604/103;
604/921 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/0069 (20130101); A61M 25/1025 (20130101); A61M
39/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/10 (20060101); A61M 39/10 (20060101); A61M
39/00 (20060101); A61m 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/348,349R,349B,35R,351,35V,247 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Truluck; Dalton L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cesari and McKenna
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 122,606, filed Mar.
1, 1971 now abandoned.
Claims
Having illustrated and described my invention, I claim:
1. A catheter assembly unit for insertion through a body segment in
either an antegrade or a retrograde direction, comprising:
A. a first tubular catheter segment for insertion into an animal
body and having an insertion tip and being provided with at least
two fluid passages extending longitudinally therethrough, one of
said passages communicating with the exterior of the tube through
an aperture in the insertion tip for receiving fluid
therethrough;
B. a second tubular catheter segment:
i. detachably connected to said first segment and forming a
fluid-tight seal therewith when so connected;
ii. having fluid passages therein corresponding to the fluid
passages in said first segment and aligned therewith when said
segments are connected;
iii. having a portion thereof of larger cross section than any
cross section of said first segment and adapted for connection to
fluid transfer means; and
C. closure means detachably connectable to said first segment to
close said fluid passages when the first segment is to be passed
through said animal body in a retrograde direction, said closure
means being connected to said first segment upon removal of said
second catheter segment from said first catheter segment.
2. A catheter unit according to claim 1 in which one of said
segments has at least one recess therein positioned to mate with a
corresponding protuberance on the other of said segments and to
provide a locking force when so mated.
3. A catheter unit according to claim 1 in which said second
segment includes a tubular insert snugly fitting into a
corresponding fluid passage in said first segment.
4. A catheter unit according to claim 1 in which at least one of
said fluid passages on at least one of said segments has a tubular
extension coextensive with the walls defining said passage and
projecting beyond said segment for insertion into a corresponding
fluid passage on the other of said segments.
5. A catheter unit according to claim 1 in which said closure means
is:
i. separable from said first segment but mateable therewith;
ii. has a cross section generally corresponding to that of the
first segment;
iii. has a smooth surface on a side facing away from said first
segment whereby said third segment may be detachably connected to
said first segment for movement therewith through a body orifice
without enlarging said orifice.
6. A catheter assembly for fluid drainage from an animal body and
adapted to be inserted through a body orifice having a cross
section of comparable dimension to the cross section of the
catheter segment and in a direction proceeding from the interior to
the exterior of said body, said catheter comprising:
A. a first tubular segment:
i. of a length sufficient to extend through said orifice from the
interior of said body to the exterior thereof;
ii. having a fluid passage extending therethrough for draining
fluid from the interior of said body; and
B. a second tubular segment:
i. having at least a portion thereof of substantially larger
cross-section than said orifice whereby its passage through said
orifice is prevented;
ii. having a fluid passage therein aligned with the passage in said
first segment when said segments are so connected and adapted to
receive fluid therefrom;
iii. detachably connected to said first segment and forming a
fluid-tight seal therewith when so connected;
iv. whereby said second segment may be detached from said first
segment during passage of said first segment through said
orifice,
C. a third segment:
i. detachably connectable to said first segment along a first face
thereof;
ii. having a cross-section comparable to that of said first
segment;
iii. having a generally smooth face opposite said first face;
iv. whereby said third segment forms a smooth leading edge for
moving said first segment through said orifice from the exterior of
the body when said segments are connected together, and
D. locking means on at least one of said first and second segments
for tightly but removably joining said segments together.
7. A catheter according to claim 6 in which said first and second
segments have mating faces inclined at an acute angle to a
centerline extending longitudinally along said segments.
8. A catheter according to claim 6 in which said second segment has
a beveled ring-shaped portion around the outer periphery of a face
thereof and in which said first segment has a corresponding beveled
portion on a face thereof adapted to mate snugly with said face of
said second segment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention comprises a catheter, and more particularly, a
catheter capable of passage through an orifice of an animal body
from either the interior or the exterior thereof.
2. Prior Art
A catheter serves to conduct fluids, generally body fluids, from a
cavity within an animal body. For example, one commonly used
catheter, known as a "Foley" retention catheter, has a number of
fluid passages extending through a flexible tube, generally of
rubber or plastic material. The distal end of the tube is inserted
into the body cavity to be drained through an orifice, either
natural or artificial, whose diameter is roughly comparable to the
inserted end of the catheter. This end has an opening through the
side walls at the tip communicating between the body cavity and one
or more of the fluid passages, so that fluids may be transferred
between these passages and the body cavity. A distensible section
communicating with an air passage is also provided in the tip;
inflation of the distensible section by a pre-determined amount
prevents inadvertent removal of the catheter from the cavity being
drained.
The proximal end of the catheter carries a connector for each fluid
passage within the catheter. For example, in a typical catheter
there is a connector for the fluid drainage passage and another
separate connector for the inflation passage leading to the
distensible section. The latter connector carries a check valve to
maintain the distensible section in the inflated condition as long
as desired. An additional passage may be provided for injecting
fluid into the body cavity to irrigate it; an additional connector
is then also provided for this passage. These connectors branch out
from the body of the catheter and present a larger cross section
than this body.
The conventional type of catheter so far described is used by
passing it from the exterior of the body to the interior thereof
through the orifice. Due to the presence of the connectors at the
proximal end, the catheter cannot be passed through the body
orifice in the reverse direction, that is, from the interior of the
body portion to the exterior thereof, since the connectors would
not fit through the orifice without substantially enlarging it or
without becoming lodged therein. The usefulness of this type of
catheter is thereby limited.
A further disadvantage of conventional catheters is that they may
severely injure the patient if inadvertently pulled on. For
example, when a retention-type catheter is inadvertently pulled on,
the distensible tip, which is of large dimension, may rip through
body tissue and injure the patient. Further, the catheter must
again be implanted in the cavity to be drained and this may cause
additional pain or discomfort.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
OBJECTS
Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide an
improved catheter.
A further object of the invention is to provide a catheter capable
of retrograde insertion.
Another object of the invention is to provide a catheter which can
be inserted in either a retrograde or ante-grade manner.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a catheter
capable of retrograde insertion which is simple to use and
inexpensive to manufacture.
A further object of the invention is to provide a catheter which
will not injure the patient when inadvertently pulled on.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has two separate segments which are
detachably connected to each other. One segment (hereinafter called
the "fluid transport segment") has the usual fluid passages
terminating in a fluid inlet orifice and a distensible anchoring
means, while the other section (hereinafter called the "connector
segment") carries corresponding connectors for these passages. In
normal use (i.e., while draining or flushing a body cavity), both
segments are connected to each other to form a fluid-tight seal.
The same is true when the catheter is being inserted in the normal
(antegrade) manner.
However, when the catheter is to be inserted in a reverse
(retrograde) manner, the connector segment is detached from the
transport segment and that end of the transport segment which
formerly mated with the connector segment (i.e., the proximal end
of the transport segment) is then passed into the body orifice from
the inside of the body cavity which is to be drained and is pushed
through this orifice to the outside of the body. For example, it
may be desirable to insert the catheter in this manner in
connection with an operation on a body organ such as the kidney,
bladder, prostate, stomach, chest cavity, or other organ. The
connector segment is then re-attached to the transport segment and
the conventional connections are made to the connector segment to
start the drainage, flushing, or other procedure.
To prevent the transport segment from catching or snagging on
tissue while passing through the body orifice, a third segment
comprising a smooth, generally hemispherical cap mating with the
transport segment is provided to cover the exposed face of this
segment. This cap fits tightly against the exposed face and thereby
provides a smooth "leading edge" for the transport segment as it is
pulled through the orifice in the retrograde direction; it also
seals the fluid passages of this segment to prevent fluid leakage
during placement of the catheter. When the transport segment has
passed fully through the orifice to the exterior of the body, this
cap is removed so that the connector segment can be attached to the
transport segment for fluid transfer.
In addition to allowing insertion in the retrograde direction, the
catheter of the present invention prevents injury to patients by
readily snapping apart into two segments when sufficient force is
exerted on the proximal end of the catheter while it is in place.
This prevents damage to tissue which would otherwise occur when
retention-type catheters are used, since the force required to
separate the segments can be made such as to ensure that no damage
is done to the tissue on inadvertent separation. The separating
force, of course, is controlled by the selection of materials and
by the design of the fastening means holding the sections
together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing features, and other and further objects and features
of the invention, will more readily be understood on reference to
the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a sketch of the catheter of the present invention with
both the transport and the connector segments firmly connected
together;
FIG. 2A is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of the
catheter showing the mating connections between the two
segments;
FIG. 2B is a fragmentary perspective view of the catheter showing
an end cap positioned adjacent the transport segment for sealing
off the latter segment;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the cap taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG.
2B;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the mating
portions of the transport and connector segments in accordance with
an alternative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5A is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the
transport and connector segments in accordance with another
alternative embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 5B is a view in perspective of the mating face of the
connector segment of FIG. 5A.
A retention-type catheter having a single fluid transport passage
and a passage for inflating a distensible tip at the distal end
will be used to illustrate the invention, but it should be
understood that the invention applies to catheters having any
number of fluid passages and with or without retention
characteristics.
In FIG. 1, the catheter 10 of the present invention has a fluid
transport segment 12 detachably connected to a connector segment
14. The segment 12 has the usual tip 16 which carries an orifice 18
communicating with fluid passages within the catheter. The tip also
carries a distensible section 20 which connects to a separate air
passage extending through the catheter and which is inflatable to
hold the catheter within a body cavity when the catheter is
properly positioned. Although any number of passages may be
provided, for ease of illustration only a single discharge passage
and a single air passage are shown.
The connector segment 14 carries a first connector arm 22 for
receiving fluid discharge from a body orifice through the catheter
and a second connector arm 24 carrying a check valve 26 for
inflating the distensible section 20 to anchor the catheter segment
12 firmly within the body orifice.
The transport segment 12 and connector segment 14 are detachably
connected from each other at a section 28. The manner in which they
are connected is shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 through 5. In FIG.
2A, first and second fluid passages 32A and 34A, respectively, are
shown extending through the segment 12. The fluid passage 32A
transmits air to the bulbous portion 20 of the tip 16 in FIG. 1
while the fluid passage 34A drains fluid from the body cavity.
Corresponding passages 32B and 34B are formed in the segment
14.
In order to secure the segment 14 to the segment 12, the fluid
passage 32B continues through a tubular extension 36 projecting
from a face 38 of the segment 14. This face is formed at an acute
angle to a longitudinal axis (not shown) extending through the
fluid channel 34B. The tubular extension 36 is tapered in a
direction receding from the face 38 and is of such a size as to fit
snugly into the fluid passage 32A of segment 12 when the two
segments are brought together; the face 38 of segment 14 then butts
snugly against a corresponding face 40 of segment 12 to form a
fluid-tight seal. The two segments are further held firmly together
by means of protuberances 42 extending from the side walls of the
interior of fluid passage 34B on segment 14. These protuberances
mate with corresponding recesses 44 on the interior of fluid
passage 34A on segment 12. The protuberances 42 are preferably
somewhat larger than the recesses 44 so as to form a snug fit when
the two are brought together, and may be slightly tapered in a
direction receding from the face 38 so as to assist in mating the
surfaces 38 and 40.
As noted previously the segments 12 and 14 are separated from each
other when the catheter 10 is to be inserted in a retrograde
direction, that is, from the interior of the body cavity to be
drained to the exterior. When used in this manner, the face 40 of
the catheter segment 12 forms the "leading edge" of the catheter
segment as it is being passed through the body orifice to the
exterior of the body. In order to smooth the passage of the face 40
through the body orifice and prevent its catching on body tissue, a
smooth cap 50, as shown in FIG. 2B, is fitted to the segment 12.
The cap 50 is preferably in the form of a generally
semi-hemispheric portion having a face 52 cut at an acute angle to
a polar axis and adapted to mate flush against face 40 of segment
12. Protuberances 54 are provided to mate with fluid passage 32A on
segment 12, as well as with recesses 44 on this segment to hold the
cap 50 snugly against the face 40 during the passage of the segment
12 through the body orifice. In addition to providing a smooth
leading edge, the cap also "seals" the segment 12 to prevent
drainage through it while it is being positioned.
The catheter segments 12 and 14 may be formed from any of a number
of well known materials commonly used for catheters, as well as
from numerous other materials. For example, segment 12 may be
formed from any rubber, rubber-based, plastic or other material
having sufficient flexibility for passage through a body orifice
and capable of withstanding the passage of body fluids
therethrough. Heretofore, segment 14 was of one piece with segment
12 and therefore was formed from the same material. However, in the
present invention, segment 14 is separable from segment 12 and need
not be of the same material. Thus, while segment 12 is required to
be of material which imparts adequate flexibility to it, there is
no such restriction on the segment 14 and this may be molded from a
rigid plastic or other material where desired. Alternatively, it
can be formed from the same material as the segment 12.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show various modifications of locking arrangements to
secure the segments 12 and 14 firmly together and thereby form a
fluid-tight seal. In FIG. 4, the face 40' of the segment 12' is cut
generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through
the fluid passage 32' B, but has an outer beveled portion 16 which
mates with a corresponding reverse bevel 62 on the face 38' of
segment 14'. As was previously the case, a tubular protuberance 36'
extending from the face 38' snugly fits into fluid channel 32' A.
It will be understood that a corresponding tubular protuberance may
be placed around the fluid channel 34' B of segment 14' to mate
with channel 32' B on segment 12' in order to provide an even
tighter fit. However, if this additional protuberance is provided,
the liquid passing through the channel 32' B from the segment 12'
to the segment 14' will encounter a lip in the channel as it flows
from the body cavity. If this is objectionable, the interior walls
of the channel 32' B may be widened in the vicinity of the
protuberance to the extent of the wall thickness of the
protuberance so that the lip will be recessed when placed within
the segment 12'; thus an essentially smooth transition will be
provided between the segments 12' and 14'.
FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the invention having an
alternative form of locking means for firmly securing the two
catheter segments together when desired. The segment 12" has a face
40" cut perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the
fluid passage 34" A and carries protuberances 70 which mate with
recesses 72 extending into the face 38" of segment 14". As seen in
FIG. 5, the recesses 72 are distributed around the periphery of the
face 38" and provide secure seats for the protuberances 70. As was
previously the case, the protuberances 70 may be tapered in a
direction receding from the face 40" to assist locking them into
the recesses 72.
It will be understood that the various means of locking the two
catheter segments together are illustrative only and that any of a
number of locking means may be used in addition to, or instead of,
those illustrated. It will also be understood that various
combinations of bevels or other angled cuts may be used in
connection with the locking means to firmly mate the opposing faces
of the catheter segment together. Various other changes may be made
in the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from
either the spirit or the scope of the invention and it is intended
that the foregoing material be taken as illustrative only and not
in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being described in
the claims.
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