US3924634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety catheter and method
Assignee: Kendall Co
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Filing: 1974-09-11
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein. The catheter has an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inflation lumen. The catheter also has an elongated flexible balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, with the balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon. The balloon has a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and a proximal end portion being sufficiently elastic to maintain the distal end portion inflated when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity. The proximal end portion is also sufficiently elastic to inflate outside the body canal when the distal end portion is obstructed by the body canal.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn M Taylor
- 👤 Harish A Patel
- 👤 Daniel M Mcwhorter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation to enlarged proportions in the body cavity relative a longitudinal portion of the balloon in the body canal, and a proximal end portion being sufficiently elastic to maintain the distal end portion inflated in its enlarged proportions when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity, and being sufficiently elastic and free to inflate outside the body canal to enlarged proportions relative the portion of the balloon in the body canal when the distal end portion is obstructed by the body canal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation to enlarged proportions in the body cavity relative a longitudinal portion of the balloon in the body canal, and a proximal end portion being sufficiently elastic to maintain the distal end portion inflated in its enlarged proportions when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity, and being sufficiently elastic and free to inflate outside the body canal to enlarged proportions relative the portion of the balloon in the body canal when the distal end portion is obstructed by the body canal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheteR of claim 1 wherein said balloon is made from a latex material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said balloon is made from a silicone material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said proximal end portion of the balloon is located outside the body canal when the distal end portion of the balloon is located in the body cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said proximal end portion of the balloon is located outside the body canal when the distal end portion of the balloon is located in the body cavity and the proximal end of the catheter shaft is stretched.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the pressure required to inflate the proximal end portion of the balloon is greater than the pressure required to inflate the distal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein the pressure required to inflate the proximal end portion of the balloon is less than the pressure required to inflate the distal end portion of the balloon when the proximal end portion of the balloon is stretched.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein the difference in pressures required to inflate the proximal and distal end portions of the balloon is sufficiently low to prevent damage to the body canal when the distal end portion of the inflated balloon is obstructed by the body canal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the lateral radius of the distal end portion of the balloon is greater than the lateral radius of the proximal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the wall thickness of the balloon is substantially uniform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the wall thickness of the proximal end portion of the balloon is greater than the wall thickness of the distal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the proximal end portion of the balloon extends to adjacent the distal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the proximal end portion of the balloon comprises a plurality of layers of a flexible material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the elasticity of the distal end portion of the balloon is greater than the elasticity of the proximal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the inflation lumen communicates with the space intermediate the balloon and shaft adjacent the distal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the inflation lumen communicates with the space intermediate the balloon and shaft adjacent the proximal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter shaft includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves in its outer surface, said grooves communicating between the proximal and distal end portions of the balloon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said balloon is sufficiently elastic to retract adjacent the outer surface of the shaft responsive to deflation of the balloon through the inflation lumen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, and a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible, elastic balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and an inflatable proximal end portion being sufficiently elastic to maintain the distal end portion inflateD when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity, said distal end portion having a greater lateral radius than the lateral radius of the proximal end portion prior to inflation of the balloon, whereby the pressure required to inflate the proximal end portion of the balloon is greater than the pressure required to inflate the distal end portion of the balloon
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible, elastic balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and an inflatable proximal end portion being sufficiently elastic to maintain the distal end portion inflateD when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity, said distal end portion having a greater lateral radius than the lateral radius of the proximal end portion prior to inflation of the balloon, whereby the pressure required to inflate the proximal end portion of the balloon is greater than the pressure required to inflate the distal end portion of the balloon
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 20 wherein a distal end portion of the inflation lumen communicates with said space adjacent the distal end portion of the balloon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
185 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible, elastic balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and a proximal end portion inflatable outside the body canal, the wall thickness of the proximal end portion being greater than the wall thickness of the distal end portion, said proximal end portion of the inflated balloon maintaining the distal end portion inflated when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity, and inflating to enlarged proportions when the distal end portion of the balloon is obstructed by the body canal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
185 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible, elastic balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and a proximal end portion inflatable outside the body canal, the wall thickness of the proximal end portion being greater than the wall thickness of the distal end portion, said proximal end portion of the inflated balloon maintaining the distal end portion inflated when the distal end portion is located in the body cavity, and inflating to enlarged proportions when the distal end portion of the balloon is obstructed by the body canal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 22 wherein the durometer hardness of the proximal end portion is greater than the durometer hardness of the distal end portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 22 wherein the proximal end portion of the balloon comprises a plurality of layers of an elastic material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 22 wherein a distal end of the inflation lumen communicates with said space adjacent the proximal end of said balloon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 25 wherein said shaft includes a plurality of grooves in its outer surface communicating between the proximal and distal end portions of the balloon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
141 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible, elastic balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and a proximal end portion inflatable at a greater pressure than the distal end portion when unstretched and at a lesser pressure than the distal end portion when stretched.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
141 words
A catheter for insertion through a body canal to a body cavity and retention therein, comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a drainage eye adjacent the distal end of the shaft, a drainage lumen communicating with the drainage eye and extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, and an inflation lumen; and an elongated flexible, elastic balloon overlying the shaft and having a length approximating or greater than the length of the body canal, said balloon and shaft defining a space communicating with the inflation lumen for inflation of the balloon, said balloon having a distal end portion for placement and inflation in the body cavity, and a proximal end portion inflatable at a greater pressure than the distal end portion when unstretched and at a lesser pressure than the distal end portion when stretched.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of catheterizing a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter having a common elastic balloon with a length approximating or greater than the length of the urethra into the urethra; inflating a distal end portion of the balloon in the bladder without significantly inflating a proximal end portion of the balloon when the distal end portion is located in the bladder; inflating the proximal end portion of the balloon outside the urethra when the distal end portion of the balloon is located in the urethra to prevent damage to the urethra; and obstructing a central portion of said balloon in the urethra during both of said inflating steps.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of catheterizing a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter having a common elastic balloon with a length approximating or greater than the length of the urethra into the urethra; inflating a distal end portion of the balloon in the bladder without significantly inflating a proximal end portion of the balloon when the distal end portion is located in the bladder; inflating the proximal end portion of the balloon outside the urethra when the distal end portion of the balloon is located in the urethra to prevent damage to the urethra; and obstructing a central portion of said balloon in the urethra during both of said inflating steps.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of catheterizing a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter having an elastic balloon with a length approximating or greater than the length of the urethRa into the urethra; inflating a distal end portion of the balloon in the bladder to retain the catheter in the patient; and deflating the distal end portion and substantially simultaneously inflating a proximal end portion of the balloon outside the urethra responsive to withdrawal of the distal end portion into the urethra.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of catheterizing a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter having an elastic balloon with a length approximating or greater than the length of the urethRa into the urethra; inflating a distal end portion of the balloon in the bladder to retain the catheter in the patient; and deflating the distal end portion and substantially simultaneously inflating a proximal end portion of the balloon outside the urethra responsive to withdrawal of the distal end portion into the urethra.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |