Self-inflating catheter with deflating means and reservoir

Claim 1

A self-inflatable retention balloon catheter comprising a main shaft having a drainage lumen extending from the proximal end of said shaft to a first lateral opening adjacent the distal end thereof and an inflation lumen extending from a first point spaced from said proximal end to a second point proximal of said first lateral opening, an inflatable balloon surrounding said shaft at said second point, a second lateral opening connecting the distal end of the inflation lumen with the interior of said balloon, a tubular inflation arm communicating with the proximal end of the inflation lumen at said first point, valve means having an inlet communicating with the interior of said inflation arm, means for selectively closing said inflation arm at a point spaced from said valve to form an inflation reservoir in said arm adapted to contain inflation fluid, an auxiliary reservoir loosely enclosing said valve means inlet, and a valve opening device in said auxiliary reservoir and manually movable to a valve opening position, the capacity of the auxiliary reservoir being at least substantially equal to the inflated volume of the balloon.