Indwelling ureteral catheter

Claim 1

An indwelling ureteral catheter comprising a medical-grade, flexible tube of sufficient strength to minimize collapse of the walls of the tube, a plurality of apertures adjacent opposite ends of the tube, and a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced, flexible, directional anchoring means provided generally adjacent the longitudinal center of the tube for allowing movement of the tube in one direction but resisting movement of the tube in the opposite direction, said anchoring means including soft, flexible, resilient, laterally and axial outwardly directed tips of a length sufficient to span the distance between the tube and the sidewall of the ureter and flexed radially outwardly with sufficient force to wedge against the sidewall of the ureter and hold the tube against axial outward movement caused by gravity or peristaltic activity, said tips having sufficient flexibility and softness to flatten outwardly against the tube during intentional outward movement of the tube during withdrawal so as not to penetrate the sidewall of the ureter, whereby the tube can be inserted into the ureter in one direction, remain lodged against outward movement caused by peristaltic activity, but be safely removed when required.