Self-inflating catheter with means to prevent loss of inflation fluid

Claim 2

In combination, a self-inflatable retention bag catheter comprising an elongated flexible thin-walled drainage tube open at its proximal end and having at least one lateral opening in its distal end, a thin-walled elastic sleeve adjacent the distal end of said drainage tube, said sleeve being bonded along its marginal zones to the exterior surface of said drainage tube to form a fluidtight seal along said marginal zones of said sleeve and being unattached to said drainage tube along its central region whereby the central region of said sleeve is free to expand laterally of said drainage tube upon the introduction of an inflating fluid into the space formed between the unattached central region of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the drainage tube adjacent thereto, a flexible inflation tube opening at its distal end into the space formed between the unattached central region of said sleeve, and the exterior surface of the drainage tube adjacent the central region of the said sleeve, the proximal end of said inflation tube terminating in an elastic inflation arm offset from the proximal end of said drainage tube, said inflation arm being expanded into a resilient inflated reservoir throughout a portion of its length by a fluid enclosed therein under pressure, and a sleeve containing said reservoir, the interior surface of said sleeve making separable contact with a substantial external part of the inflated portion of said reservoir.

Claim 3

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the inflated reservoir has its resilient inflated portion distorted by contact with said sleeve.

Claim 4

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is internally cylindrical at least in that portion contacting the inflated portion of said reservoir.

Claim 5

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the reservoir is situated adjacent the end of said inflation tube containing the inflation arm of said catheter and wherein said sleeve has a closed end and contains the end portion of said side arm including said reservoir.

Claim 6

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is a shrink-fit with said inflated reservoir.

Claim 7

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 4 wherein an open end of the sleeve form a tight circumferential fit with the side arm of said catheter.

Claim 8

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is formed of metal foil.

Claim 9

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve consists of an internally ovoid central portion except for substantially internally cylindrical end portions.

Claim 10

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 4 wherein the open end of the sleeve is clamped shut by a clamp which simultaneously clamps shut the lumen of said side arm.

Claim 11

The inflatable retention catheter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve consists of an internally ovoid central portion except for an internally cylindrical open end and a closed end at least internally cylindrical where it meets the ovoid portion.

Claim 12

In combination, a self-inflatable bag catheter comprising an elongated flexible thin-walled drainage tube open at its proximal end and having at least one lateral opening in its distal end, a thin-walled elastic sleeve adjacent the distal end of said drainage tube, said sleeve being bonded along its marginal zones to the exterior surface of said drainage tube to form a fluidtight seal along said marginal zones of said sleeve and being unattached to said drainage tube along its central region whereby the central region of said sleeve is free to expand laterally of said drainage tube upon the introduction of an inflating fluid into the space formed between the unattached central region of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the drainage tube adjacent thereto, a flexible inflation tube opening at its distal end into the space formed between the unattached central region of the said sleeve and the exteRior surface of the drainage tube adjacent the central region of the said sleeve, the proximal end of said inflation tube terminating in an elastic inflation arm offset from the proximal end of said drainage tube, means in the mouth of said inflation arm for maintaining the proximal end of the inflation arm normally closed, a fluid-impervious flexible envelope positioned over the said inflation arm, said envelope being closed at the sides and along its proximal end, means disposed over the distal end of said envelope and over said inflation arm at a location spaced from the proximal end of the inflation arm for collapsing and closing the passage of the inflation arm to form a sealed chamber in the inflation arm and for closing the distal end of said envelope, said sealed chamber in said inflation arm containing an inflating fluid under pressure in sufficient quantity to cause inflation of the said sleeve adjacent the distal end of said drainage tube upon removal of the said means for collapsing and closing the passage of the inflation arm.

Claim 13

In combination, a self-inflatable bag catheter comprising an elongated flexible thin-walled drainage tube open at its proximal end and having at least one lateral opening in its distal end, a thin-walled elastic sleeve adjacent the distal end of said drainage tube, said sleeve being bonded along its marginal zones to the exterior surface of said drainage tube to form a fluidtight seal along said marginal zones of said sleeve and being unattached to said drainage tube along its central region whereby the central region of said sleeve is free to expand laterally of said drainage tube upon the introduction of an inflating fluid into the space formed between the unattached central region of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the drainage tube adjacent thereto, a flexible inflation tube opening at its distal end into the space formed between the unattached central region of the said sleeve and the exteRior surface of the drainage tube adjacent the central region of the said sleeve, the proximal end of said inflation tube terminating in an elastic inflation arm offset from the proximal end of said drainage tube, means in the mouth of said inflation arm for maintaining the proximal end of the inflation arm normally closed, a fluid-impervious flexible envelope positioned over the said inflation arm, said envelope being closed at the sides and along its proximal end, means disposed over the distal end of said envelope and over said inflation arm at a location spaced from the proximal end of the inflation arm for collapsing and closing the passage of the inflation arm to form a sealed chamber in the inflation arm and for closing the distal end of said envelope, said sealed chamber in said inflation arm containing an inflating fluid under pressure in sufficient quantity to cause inflation of the said sleeve adjacent the distal end of said drainage tube upon removal of the said means for collapsing and closing the passage of the inflation arm.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 in which said envelope disposed over the said inflation arm is transparent.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12 in which said envelope disposed over the said inflation arm is formed of a heat-sealable material and is sealed along its proximal end by a heat-seal.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13 in which said envelope disposed over the said inflation arm is a tubular member sealed along its proximal end by a heat-seal.

Claim 17

In an inflatable bag catheter device of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and said drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: means for closing the proximal end of said reservoir tube, releasable clamp means closing said reservoir tube at a point spaced from said means for closing the proximal end of the reservoir tube to form a fluid chamber therebetween, a sealing bag enclosing a portion of said reservoir tube between said releasable clamp means and said means for closing said reservoir tube, and enclosing a volume substantially greater than the enclosed portion of the reservoir tube when relaxed, said bag being constructed of fluid impervious and flexible but substantially inelastic material, and a quantity of fluid in said chamber of an amount to expand the enclosed portion of said reservoir tube into contact throughout with the inner surface of said sealing bag.

Claim 18

In an inflatable bag catheter device of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and said drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: means for closing the proximal end of said reservoir tube, releasable clamp means closing said reservoir tube at a point spaced from said means for closing the proximal end of the reservoir tube to form a fluid chamber therebetween, a sealing bag enclosing a portion of said reservoir tube between said releasable clamp means and said means for closing said reservoir tube, and enclosing a volume substantially greater than the enclosed portion of the reservoir tube when relaxed, said bag being constructed of fluid impervious and flexible but substantially inelastic material, and a quantity of fluid in said chamber of an amount to expand the enclosed portion of said reservoir tube into contact throughout with the inner surface of said sealing bag.

Claim 19

In an inflatable bag catheter of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and said drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: means blocking said reservoir tube at spaced points thereon to define an inflating fluid chamber therebetween, a quantity of fluid within said chamber of such amount as to inflate said tube, and a sealing bag enclosing the inflated portion of said tube and contacting the inflated portion of said tube throughout the outer surface thereof to form a sealing barrier at and throughout the outer surface of said inflated portion of said tube, said sealing bag being constructed of fluid impervious material.

Claim 20

In an inflatable bag catheter of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and said drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: means blocking said reservoir tube at spaced points thereon to define an inflating fluid chamber therebetween, a quantity of fluid within said chamber of such amount as to inflate said tube, and a sealing bag enclosing the inflated portion of said tube and contacting the inflated portion of said tube throughout the outer surface thereof to form a sealing barrier at and throughout the outer surface of said inflated portion of said tube, said sealing bag being constructed of fluid impervious material.

Claim 21

In an inflatable bag catheter of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and saId drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: means blocking said reservoir tube at spaced points thereon to define an inflating fluid chamber therebetween, a quantity of fluid within said chamber of such amount to inflate said tube, and a substantially inelastic bag enclosing the inflated portion of said tube and contacting the inflated portion of said tube throughout the outer surface thereof to form a sealing barrier at and throughout the outer surface of said inflated portion of the tube, said sealing bag being constructed of fluid-impervious material.

Claim 22

In an inflatable bag catheter of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and saId drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: means blocking said reservoir tube at spaced points thereon to define an inflating fluid chamber therebetween, a quantity of fluid within said chamber of such amount to inflate said tube, and a substantially inelastic bag enclosing the inflated portion of said tube and contacting the inflated portion of said tube throughout the outer surface thereof to form a sealing barrier at and throughout the outer surface of said inflated portion of the tube, said sealing bag being constructed of fluid-impervious material.

Claim 23

In an inflatable bag catheter device of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and said drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: a substantially inelastic sac enclosing a portion of said reservoir tube, said sac having a necked down portion at its opposite ends engaging spaced points along the reservoir tube and being bulbous therebetween, said sac being constructed of fluid impervious material, means for blocking said reservoir tube adjacent said necked down portions of the sac to define an inflating fluid chamber therebetween, and a quantity of fluid in said chamber in an amount to expand the enclosed portion of said reservoir tube into sealing contact throughout with the bulbous inner surfaces of said sac.

Claim 24

In an inflatable bag catheter device of the type having an elongate main shaft portion provided with a tip at its distal end and a drainage tube portion at its proximal end and a drainage passage communicating said tip and said drainage tube portion, an elastic reservoir tube branching from said main shaft portion, an inflatable sleeve surrounding said main shaft portion adjacent its distal end, and a distention fluid lumen communicating said reservoir tube with said sleeve, the improvement comprising: a substantially inelastic sac enclosing a portion of said reservoir tube, said sac having a necked down portion at its opposite ends engaging spaced points along the reservoir tube and being bulbous therebetween, said sac being constructed of fluid impervious material, means for blocking said reservoir tube adjacent said necked down portions of the sac to define an inflating fluid chamber therebetween, and a quantity of fluid in said chamber in an amount to expand the enclosed portion of said reservoir tube into sealing contact throughout with the bulbous inner surfaces of said sac.