Catheter

Claim 2

A catheter comprising an axially elongated tubular inner part defining a single fluid drainage passageway having a fluid inlet opening at one end and a fluid outlet opening at the other end thereof, an axially elongated elastomeric outer tubular retention sleeve integrally connected to said tubular inner part at only said one end and extending in the direction of said other end in concentric surrounding relation to said tubular inner part, said retention sleeve having a normal retention configuration characterized by an undulated outer peripheral surface defined by an axial series of annular portions including alternately arranged radially enlarged annular portions and radially reduced annular portions for engaging the peripheral wall of an associated body passageway to releasably retain said catheter in preselected position within the body passageway, said radially reduced portions of said retention sleeve being in general annular engagement with the peripheral surface of said tubular inner part when said sleeve is in its retention configuration, said retention sleeve being stretchable in the direction of said other end to an insertion configuration to permit said catheter to be freely inserted into the body passageway and removed therefrom, said retention means having gripping means at its free end providing surfaces for manual gripping to stretch the retention sleeve axially of said inner tubular part and to its insertion configuration, valve means for closing the outlet end of said passageway to prevent passage of fluid therethrough, and fluid pressure relief means associated with said tubular inner part and disposed between said inlet end and said valve means for venting fluid from said fluid drainage passageway in response to a predetermined fluid pressure condition therein.

Claim 3

A catheter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressure relief means comprises a frangible portion of said tubular inner part for rupture in response to the occurance of said predetermined fluid pressure within said fluid passageway.

Claim 4

A catheter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said frangible portion comprises a weakened portion of the wall of said tubular inner part.

Claim 5

A catheter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a valve element partially disposed within said fluid passageway for providing a closure within said passageway.

Claim 6

A catheter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said valve element comprises a stopcock.

Claim 7

A catheter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises a generally radially disposed tab integrally connected to said retention sleeve.

Claim 8

A catheter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve in its normal retention condition is further characterized by a generally conical configuration.

Claim 9

A catheter as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sleeve in its normal retention condition converges from said one end toward said other end.

Claim 10

A catheter as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sleeve in its normal retention condition diverges from said one end toward said other end.

Claim 11

A catheter comprising an axially elongated generally cylindrical tubular inner part defining a single fluid passageway and having a fluid inlet opening at one end and a fluid outlet opening at the other end thereof, an axially elongated elastomeric outer tubular retention sleeve of substantially uniform thickness integrally connected to said inner part at only said one end and extending in the direction of said other end in generally concentric surrounding relation with an associated portion of said inner part, said retention sleeve being substantially imperforate and having a normal retention configuration characterized by an undulated outer peripheral surface defined by an axially spaced series of alternately arranged radially enlarged annular portions and radially reduced annular portions for engaging the peripheral wall of an associated body passageway to releasably retain said catheter in preselected position with the body passageway, said radially reduced portions of said sleeve being in general annular engagement with the peripheral surface of said tubular inner part, said retention sleeve being stretchable in one axial direction and toward said other end to an insertion configuration for effecting radial contraction of said enlarged annular portions to permit said catheter to be freely inserted into the body passageway, said retention sleeve having a pair of diametrically opposed tabs at its free end projecting generally radially outwardly therefrom to provide means for gripping the retention sleeve to move it relative to said tubular inner part, valve means associated with said inner part and partially disposed within said fluid passageway and movable within said fluid passageway and relative thereto for closing said fluid passageway for closing the outlet end of said fluid passageway, and fluid pressure relief means comprising a frangible portion of said inner part for rupture in response to a predetermined fluid pressure within said fluid passageway to vent fluid from said fluid passageway.

Claim 12

A catheter comprising an axially elongated generally cylindrical tubular inner part defining a single fluid passageway and having a fluid inlet opening at one end and a fluid outlet opening at the other end thereof, an axially elongated elastomeric outer tubular retention sleeve of substantially uniform thickness integrally connected to said inner part at only said one end and extending in the direction of said other end in generally concentric surrounding relation with an associated portion of said inner part, said retention sleeve being substantially imperforate and having a normal retention configuration characterized by an undulated outer peripheral surface defined by an axially spaced series of alternately arranged radially enlarged annular portions and radially reduced annular portions for engaging the peripheral wall of an associated body passageway to releasably retain said catheter in preselected position with the body passageway, said radially reduced portions of said sleeve being in general annular engagement with the peripheral surface of said tubular inner part, said retention sleeve being stretchable in one axial direction and toward said other end to an insertion configuration for effecting radial contraction of said enlarged annular portions to permit said catheter to be freely inserted into the body passageway, said retention sleeve having a pair of diametrically opposed tabs at its free end projecting generally radially outwardly therefrom to provide means for gripping the retention sleeve to move it relative to said tubular inner part, valve means associated with said inner part and partially disposed within said fluid passageway and movable within said fluid passageway and relative thereto for closing said fluid passageway for closing the outlet end of said fluid passageway, and fluid pressure relief means comprising a frangible portion of said inner part for rupture in response to a predetermined fluid pressure within said fluid passageway to vent fluid from said fluid passageway.