Catheter for nasogastric intubation

Claim 2

A medical intubation assembly, a distal end of which is adapted to be inserted internally of a patient, said assembly comprising a catheter having distal and proximal ends and a length sufficient to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of the patient; a longitudinally splittable sheath tube having slightly greater rigidity than said catheter and having an internal bore slidably receiving and encasing said catheter; and a separator having distal and proximal ends that is mountable on the proximal end of said catheter at the vicinity of the nostril for longitudinally separating the sheath tube from said catheter said separator including a rigid inner tube having a bore extending through said separator, the bore of the inner tube being adapted to receive the catheter therethrough and to receive the sheath tube therearound, said separator also including a closed portion longitudinally positioned along the inner tube for occluding a space around the inner tube and for longitudinally separating the sheath tube from the catheter responsive to withdrawal of the sheath tube from around the inner tube.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said separator includes an outer tube on the distal end thereof and positioned about said inner tube to form an annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube, said outer tube having a side opening therein positioned such that the sheath tube may be withdrawn through said side opening from around said inner tube.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2, wherein said closed portion defines a first side of said side opening.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3, wherein the closed portion defining said first side opening is longitudinally inclined.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 3, wherein said sheath tube has a longitudinal tear-off line therealong substantially the full length of the sheath tube and said sheath tube is separated from the catheter by contacting the outside surface of said inner tube and said closed portion of said separator.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 8, wherein said tear-off line is formed by a longitudinal, linear weakened portion of the sheath tube.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a weighted section and a plurality of openings on the distal end thereof.

Claim 9

An assembly for facilitating the withdrawal of a sheath tube from an encasing and slidable position about a catheter, said catheter having distal and proximal ends and a length sufficient to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of a patient, said assembly comprising a catheter having distal and proximal ends and wherein said catheter is slidably received in and substantially enclosed in a longitudinally splittable sheath tube, a separator body having distal and proximal ends and a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive said catheter, a portion of said bore being formed by an inner tube of said body adapted to slidably receive said sheath tube therearound at the distal end of said body, and a separating means for longitudinally separating said sheath tube from said catheter responsive to withdrawal of the sheath tube from around said inner tube while said catheter is fixed within said inner bore.

Claim 10

An assembly for facilitating the withdrawal of a sheath tube from an encasing and slidable position about a catheter, said catheter having distal and proximal ends and a length sufficient to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of a patient, said assembly comprising a catheter having distal and proximal ends and wherein said catheter is slidably received in and substantially enclosed in a longitudinally splittable sheath tube, a separator body having distal and proximal ends and a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive said catheter, a portion of said bore being formed by an inner tube of said body adapted to slidably receive said sheath tube therearound at the distal end of said body, and a separating means for longitudinally separating said sheath tube from said catheter responsive to withdrawal of the sheath tube from around said inner tube while said catheter is fixed within said inner bore.

Claim 11

The separator of claim 8, wherein said body further includes an outer tube extending around a portion of said inner tube on the distal end of said body, said outer tube and inner tube forming an annular space therebetween within which said sheath tube extends about the inner tube, said body further including a closed portion about said inner tube occluding said annular space, and said distal end of said body having a side opening proximal to the outer tube and therein through which said sheath tube may be withdrawn from said inner tube.

Claim 12

The separator of claim 9 wherein said closed portion has a longitudinally inclined face defining a first side portion of said side opening spaced apart from said annular space.

Claim 13

A separator for facilitating the withdrawal of a sheath tube from an encasing and slidable position about a catheter, said catheter having distal and proximal ends and a length sufficient to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of a patient, said separator comprising a separator body having distal and proximal ends and a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive said catheter, a portion of said bore being formed by an inner tube of said body adapted to slidably receive said sheath tube therearound at the distal end of said body. a separating means for longitudinally separating said sheath tube from said catheter responsive to withdrawal of the sheath tube from around said inner tube while said catheter is fixed within said inner bore, and wherein the body includes an outer tube on the distal end thereof, a closed portion within said outer tube, said inner tube being positioned within said closed portion and extending from the proximal end of said body to a position near the distal end of said body and extending through and past said closed portion, a side opening having first and second sides in said outer tube wherein said side opening on said outer tube includes an inclined second side opposite the closed portion of said outer tube, and said side opening of said outer tube having an inclined first side adjacent to said closed portion of said outer tube.

Claim 14

A separator for facilitating the withdrawal of a sheath tube from an encasing and slidable position about a catheter, said catheter having distal and proximal ends and a length sufficient to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of a patient, said separator comprising a separator body having distal and proximal ends and a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive said catheter, a portion of said bore being formed by an inner tube of said body adapted to slidably receive said sheath tube therearound at the distal end of said body. a separating means for longitudinally separating said sheath tube from said catheter responsive to withdrawal of the sheath tube from around said inner tube while said catheter is fixed within said inner bore, and wherein the body includes an outer tube on the distal end thereof, a closed portion within said outer tube, said inner tube being positioned within said closed portion and extending from the proximal end of said body to a position near the distal end of said body and extending through and past said closed portion, a side opening having first and second sides in said outer tube wherein said side opening on said outer tube includes an inclined second side opposite the closed portion of said outer tube, and said side opening of said outer tube having an inclined first side adjacent to said closed portion of said outer tube.

Claim 15

The separator of claim 11, wherein the closed portion is inclined within the annular space between the outer and inner tubes.

Claim 16

An assembly for facilitating the withdrawal of a sheath tube from an encasing and slidable position about a catheter, said catheter having a length to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of a patient, said assembly comprising a longitudinally splittable sheath substantially enclosing a catheter slidably received therein, a separator body having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive said catheter, a portion of said bore being formed by an inner tube of said body adapted to slidably receive said sheath tube therearound, said inner tube being rigid and providing means for longitudinally separating the sheath tube from the catheter responsive to longitudinal withdrawal of the sheath tube from around the inner tube.

Claim 17

An assembly for facilitating the withdrawal of a sheath tube from an encasing and slidable position about a catheter, said catheter having a length to reach from externally of a patient to a desired point internally of a patient, said assembly comprising a longitudinally splittable sheath substantially enclosing a catheter slidably received therein, a separator body having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive said catheter, a portion of said bore being formed by an inner tube of said body adapted to slidably receive said sheath tube therearound, said inner tube being rigid and providing means for longitudinally separating the sheath tube from the catheter responsive to longitudinal withdrawal of the sheath tube from around the inner tube.