Antegrade-retrograde retention catheter

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

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.

Claim 4

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.

Claim 5

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.

Claim 6

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.

Claim 7

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.

Claim 8

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.

Claim 9

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.

Claim 10

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.