Patent US4043346A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4043346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter
Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
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Filing: 1976-03-10
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Granted: 1977-08-23
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Expires: 1996-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A catheter is disclosed which is simple to use, avoids the problems with prior catheters, which is fail-safe and fool-proof and one by which the patient cannot injure himself. The catheter comprises a flexible inner tubular member forming a flow duct, snuggly and slidably disposed in an outer tubular member, and having a rounded expansion tip at its inner end comprised of a plurality of prongs biased outwardly and operable to expand and open on inward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member to a position where the prongs are beyond the inner end of the outer member and to retract on movement of the inner tubular member outwardly in the outer tubular member to a position where at least a portion of the prongs are within the outer tubular member. The outer end of the inner tubular member extends outwardly sufficiently for this movement and has a circumferentially and outwardly extending shoulder adjacent its outer end to engage and secure an end of a resilient drain tube to the inner tubular member. Detents, preferably axially spaced, circumferentially extending mating rings and grooves, are disposed on the inner and outer tubular members which releasably lock them in a position where the prongs are expanded and in a position where the prongs are retracted. Drain holes are provided in the outer and inner tubular members and are arranged to register when the inner tubular member is locked in a position where the prongs are expanded. An outwardly facing circumferential shoulder is provided on the expansion tip and intermediate the prongs which limit outward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member. Preferably, the prongs are formed by longitudinally extending slits in the expansion tip and a portion of the inner tubular member adjacent thereto. Other features and details are disclosed throughout.
Inventors
- 👤 David F. Mobley
- 👤 Neil H. Baum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/02; A61M25/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A catheter comprising, a flexible outer tubular member having open inner and outer ends, a flexible inner tubular member forming a flow duct snugly and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, and the inner tubular member having a rounded expansion tip at its inner end and being open at its outer end, the expansion tip including a drain opening and being comprised of a plurality of prongs biased outwardly and operable to expand and open on inward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member to a position where the prongs are beyond the inner end of the outer member and to retract on movement of the inner tubular member outwardly in the outer tubular member to a position where at least a portion of the prongs are within the outer tubular member, the outer end of the inner tubular member being extendable outwardly and inwardly of the outer end of the outer tubular member a distance sufficient for the movement of the inner tubular, member to expand and to retract the prongs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A catheter comprising, a flexible outer tubular member having open inner and outer ends, a flexible inner tubular member forming a flow duct snugly and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, and the inner tubular member having a rounded expansion tip at its inner end and being open at its outer end, the expansion tip including a drain opening and being comprised of a plurality of prongs biased outwardly and operable to expand and open on inward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member to a position where the prongs are beyond the inner end of the outer member and to retract on movement of the inner tubular member outwardly in the outer tubular member to a position where at least a portion of the prongs are within the outer tubular member, the outer end of the inner tubular member being extendable outwardly and inwardly of the outer end of the outer tubular member a distance sufficient for the movement of the inner tubular, member to expand and to retract the prongs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 1, including releasable detents on the inner and the outer tubular members releasably locking them in a position where the prongs are expanded and in a position where the prongs are retracted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The catheter of claim 1 including, a circumferentially and outwardly extending shoulder adjacent the outer end of the inner tubular member arranged to engage and secure an end of a resilient drain tube, and a circumferentially extending and outwardly facing shoulder intermediate the ends of the prongs engaging the inner end of the outer tubular member when the prongs are in the retracted position thereby limiting outward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The catheter of claim 1 including, releasable detents on the inner and outer tubular members releasably locking the inner tubular member in a position in the outer tubular member where the prongs are expanded and in a position where the prongs re retracted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 4 where the releasable detents comprise axially spaced circumferentially extanding mating rings and grooves on the tubular members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The catheter of claim 1 where, the inner and outer tubular members have drain holes arranged to register when the inner tubular member is in a position in the outer tubular member where the prongs are expanded, thereby permitting drainage into the inner tube, the drain holes being adjacent the expansion tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
The catheter of claim 1 where, the rounded expansion tip projects beyond the inner end of the outer tubular member, the expansion tip and a portion of the inner tubular member at its inner end and adjacent the expansion tip being slotted longitudinally to form the prongs, the prongs expanding when the expansion tip and the slotted portion is moved inwardly beyond the inner end of the outer tubular member and retracting when the slotted portion is moved outwardly and into the inner end of the outer tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The catheter of claim 1 where, the inner and outer tubular members are tapered outwardly adjacent their outer ends, and the inner tubular member includes a circumferentially and outwardly extending shoulder adjacent its outer end arranged to engage and secure an end of a drain tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
236 words
A catheter comprising, a flexible outer tubular member having open inner and outer ends, a flexible inner tubular member forming a flow duct snugly and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member having a rounded expansion tip at its inner end comprised of a plurality of prongs biased outwardly and operable to expand and open on movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member to a position where a portion of the prongs are within the outer tubular member, the outer end of the inner tubular member extending outwardly of the outer end of the outer tubular member a distance sufficient for the movement of the inner tubular member to expand and to retract the expansion tip, the expansion tip including a restricted drain opening when retracted and providing an unrestricted drain opening when expanded, a circumferentially extending shoulder on the outer end of the outer tubular member and providing means for securing an end of a drain tube to the inner tubular member, a circumferential and outwardly facing shoulder on the expansion tip engageable with the inner end of the outer tubular member thereby limiting outward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member, and releasable detents on the inner and the outer tubular members releasably locking them in a position where the prongs are expanded and in a position where the prongs are retracted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
236 words
A catheter comprising, a flexible outer tubular member having open inner and outer ends, a flexible inner tubular member forming a flow duct snugly and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member having a rounded expansion tip at its inner end comprised of a plurality of prongs biased outwardly and operable to expand and open on movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member to a position where a portion of the prongs are within the outer tubular member, the outer end of the inner tubular member extending outwardly of the outer end of the outer tubular member a distance sufficient for the movement of the inner tubular member to expand and to retract the expansion tip, the expansion tip including a restricted drain opening when retracted and providing an unrestricted drain opening when expanded, a circumferentially extending shoulder on the outer end of the outer tubular member and providing means for securing an end of a drain tube to the inner tubular member, a circumferential and outwardly facing shoulder on the expansion tip engageable with the inner end of the outer tubular member thereby limiting outward movement of the inner tubular member in the outer tubular member, and releasable detents on the inner and the outer tubular members releasably locking them in a position where the prongs are expanded and in a position where the prongs are retracted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 9 where, the releasable detents comprise axially spaced circumferentially extending mating rings and grooves on the tubular members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 9 where, the inner and outer tubular members have drain holes adjacent the prongs arranged to register when the inner tubular member is in a position where the prongs are expanded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The catheter of claim 9 where, the releasable detents comprise axially spaced circumferentially extending mating rings and grooves on the inner and outer tubular members, and the inner and outer tubular members have drain holes adjacent the prongs arranged to register when the inner tubular member is in a position where the prongs are expanded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
The catheter of claim 9 where, the rounded expansion tip projects beyond the inner end of the outer tubular member, the expansion tip and a portion of the inner member at its inner end and adjacent the expansion tip being slotted longitudinally to form the prongs, the prongs expanding when the expansion tip and the slotted portion is moved inwardly beyond the inner end of the outer tubular member and to retract when the slotted portion is moved outwardly and into the inner end of the outer tubular member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 9 where, the rounded expansion tip has an opening for flow of body fluid.
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) | 1980-08-22 | 1981-02-21 | 1981-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-22 | 1985-02-21 | 1985-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-22 | 1989-02-21 | 1989-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |