Suprapubic catheter system using an internal stylet

Claim 2

Apparatus for suprapubic catheterization comprising: a flexible catheter tube extending out from a catheter hub having an opening in the top thereof in communication with said tube, said catheter tube having a particular and predetermined internal diameter, and having at least one opening thereon at and end portion thereof opposite from said catheter hub; a hollow elongated stylet positioned within said catheter tube, said stylet having an external diameter slightly less than said internal diameter of said catheter tube and having a point on the closed end portion thereof protruding from said catheter tube, said stylet having at least one opening on the end portion thereof closest said point and being in congruous relationship with said at least one opening on said catheter tube; a flexible drainage tube extending out from an interconnecting cap that can be fitted over the opening on the top of said catheter hub thereby permitting the flow therethrough of fluid; and a slidable locking mechanism disposed on said catheter tube for stabilizing the catheter and for use in securing the catheter to a body, said locking mechanism including a rigid plastic male part that tapers in to squeezably fit into a rigid plastic female part having a tapered opening in the bottom thereof that is congruent with and is substantially the same size as said tapered male part having at least one slit on said tapered portion thereof.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said catheter tube has said end portion thereon tapered in toward said point.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said end portion of said catheter tube has a coiled configuration thereon.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said opening in the top of said catheter hub is tapered to accept the luer end of a syringe.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said catheter hub has a protuberance on an upper side portion thereof, said stylet has a plastic head at the top thereof in open communication with said hollow stylet, said plastic head and said inter-connecting cap have inverted ''''L'''' shaped cutouts on a side thereof that can each be slid over said catheter hub and be lockably engaged by said protuberance thereon.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said male part of said locking mechanism has a winged portion thereon and said locking mechanism has at least one flat surface thereon.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said at least one flat surface of said locking mechanism has a layer of adhesive material disposed on said flat surface and is covered by a sheet of release paper.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said opening in the top of said catheter hub is tapered to accept the luer end of a syringe.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said catheter tube is a plastic material having an internal diameter of from 0.030 inch to 0.125 inch, and an external diameter of from 0.050 inch to 0.145 inch, and said stylet is a hollow cannula having an external diameter of between 0.025 inch and 0.120 inch and an internal diameter of between 0.015 inch and 0.110 inch.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said catheter tube has an external diameter of 0.107 inch and an internal diameter of 0.067 inch and said stylet has an external diameter of 0.065 inch and an internal diameter of 0.047 inch.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 having a rigid plastic sleeve removably disposed over said catheter tube for straightening said tube prior to insertion of said stylet therethrough.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claiM 11 wherein at least one surface of said catheter hub is substantially flat and has a layer of adhesive material disposed on said flat surface, said adhesive material being covered by a sheet of release paper.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said catheter tube has said end portion thereon tapered in toward said point on said stylet.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said end portion of said catheter of said catheter tube has a coiled configuration thereon.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said catheter tube is a plastic material, having an internal diameter of between 0.030 inch to 0.125 inch, and an external diameter of between 0.050 inch to 0.145 inch, and said stylet is a hollow cannula having an external diameter of between 0.025 inch and 0.120 inch and an internal diameter of between 0.015 inch and 0.110 inch.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cap has a thumb tab thereon for facilitating the opening and closing thereof.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said catheter tube has an external diameter of 0.107 inch and an internal diameter of 0.067 inch, and said stylet has an external diameter of 0.065 inch and an internal diameter of 0.047 inch.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said opening in the top of said catheter hub is tapered to accept the luer end of a syringe, and said opening can be covered with a removable cap.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18 including an entry port disposed on a lower portion of said tapered hub opening and extending out at approximately right angles therewith to said flexible drainage tube which can be fitted on said port, said port being disposed so that the luer end of a syringe placed in said tapered opening blocks off said entry port thereby permitting liquids to pass from the syringe directly to the bladder area.

Claim 21

Apparatus for suprapubic catheterization comprising: a flexible catheter tube extending out from a catheter hub having a tapered opening in the top thereof in communication with said tube, said catheter tube having a particular and predetermined internal diameter, said catheter tube having at least one opening thereon at an end portion thereof opposite from said catheter hub; a hollow elongated stylet positioned within said catheter tube, said stylet having an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of said catheter tube and having a point on the closed end portion thereof protruding from said catheter tube, said stylet having at least one opening on the end portion thereof closest said point and being in congruous relationship with said at least one opening on said catheter tube; an entry port disposed on a lower portion of said tapered hub opening and extending out at approximately right angles therewith, said port being disposed so that the luer end of a syringe placed in said tapered opening blocks off said entry port permitting liquids to pass from the syringe directly to the bladder area; a flexible drainage tube extending out from an interconnecting cap attached to said hub so that said cap can be fitted over the opening on the top of said hub and interchangeably over the opening of said entry port; a removable cover attached to said hub that can be fitted over the opening on the top of said hub when said flexible drainage tube is in communication with said entry port; and, a slidable locking mechanism disposed on said catheter tube for stabilizing the catheter and is used in securing the catheter to a body, said mechanism including a rigid plastic male part that tapers in to squeezably fit into a rigid plastic female part having a tapered opening in the bottom thereof that is congruent with and substantially the same size as said tapered male part, said male part having at least one slit on said tapered portion thereof.

Claim 22

Apparatus for suprapubic catheterization comprising: a flexible catheter tube extending out from a catheter hub having a tapered opening in the top thereof in communication with said tube, said catheter tube having a particular and predetermined internal diameter, said catheter tube having at least one opening thereon at an end portion thereof opposite from said catheter hub; a hollow elongated stylet positioned within said catheter tube, said stylet having an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of said catheter tube and having a point on the closed end portion thereof protruding from said catheter tube, said stylet having at least one opening on the end portion thereof closest said point and being in congruous relationship with said at least one opening on said catheter tube; an entry port disposed on a lower portion of said tapered hub opening and extending out at approximately right angles therewith, said port being disposed so that the luer end of a syringe placed in said tapered opening blocks off said entry port permitting liquids to pass from the syringe directly to the bladder area; a flexible drainage tube extending out from an interconnecting cap attached to said hub so that said cap can be fitted over the opening on the top of said hub and interchangeably over the opening of said entry port; a removable cover attached to said hub that can be fitted over the opening on the top of said hub when said flexible drainage tube is in communication with said entry port; and, a slidable locking mechanism disposed on said catheter tube for stabilizing the catheter and is used in securing the catheter to a body, said mechanism including a rigid plastic male part that tapers in to squeezably fit into a rigid plastic female part having a tapered opening in the bottom thereof that is congruent with and substantially the same size as said tapered male part, said male part having at least one slit on said tapered portion thereof.