Catheter provided with a safety-fixing member, remotely adjustable and expandible by introducing fluids

Claim 2

A catheter apparatus which comprises a tuve having a closed forward end portion disposed for insertion into a body cavity to drain fluid therefrom, the wall of said tube circumferentially extending to define a lumen for passage of said fluid; a pair of resilient inflatable bags connected to the wall of said tube at the forward end portion thereof, said bags extending circumferentially about said tube in diametrically opposed relation to each other and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion of the tube, said bags being limited in circumferential extension to define on the tube wall a pair of spaces each between said bags and disposed in diametrically opposed relation to each other; means defining a pair of opposed oblong open windows in said tube wall, each window being located in a respective one of said spaces and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion as extend said bags; a first duct communicating with said bags and extending lengthwise along the tube wall for carrying a fluid to inflate said bags, and a second duct extending circumferentially within said tube wall communicating said bags with each other to equalize the inflation thereof.

Claim 3

A catheter apparatus which comprises a tube having a closed forward end portion disposed for insertion into a body cavity to drain fluid therefrom, the wall of said tube circumferentially extending to define a lumen for passage of said fluid; a pair of resilient inflatable bags connected to the wall of said tube at the forward end portion thereof, said bags extending circumferentially about said tube in diametrically opposed relation to each other and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion of the tube, said bags being limited in circumferential extension to define on the tube wall a pair of spaces each between said bags and disposed in diametrically opposed relation to each other; means defining a pair of opposed oblong open windows in said tube wall, each window being located in a respective one of said spaces and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion as extend said bags; a first duct communicating with said bags and extending lengthwise along the tube wall for carrying a fluid to inflate said bags, and a second duct communicating said bags with each other to equilize the inflation thereof; and including a pump flow connected by a fixing ring to said first duct, said pump including a reservoir subdivided by an intermediate septum into two compartments each of a size to contain a respective predetermined amount of liquid for delivery through said first duct to inflate said bags.

Claim 4

A catheter apparatus which comprises a tube having a closed forward end portion disposed for insertion into a body cavity to drain fluid therefrom, the wall of said tube circumferentially extending to define a lumen for passage of said fluid; a pair of resilient inflatable bags connected to the wall of said tube at the forward end portion thereof, said bags extending circumferentially about said tube in diametrically opposed relation to each other and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion of the tube, said bags being limited in circumferential extension to define on the tube wall a pair of spaces each between said bags and disposed in diametrically opposed relation to each other; means defining a pair of opposed oblong open windows in said tube wall, each window being located in a respective one of said spaces and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion as extend said bags; a first duct communicating with said bags and extending lengthwise along the tube wall for carrying a fluid to inflate said bags, and a second duct communicating said bags with each other to equilize the inflation thereof; and including a pump flow connected by a fixing ring to said first duct, said pump including a reservoir subdivided by an intermediate septum into two compartments each of a size to contain a respective predetermined amount of liquid for delivery through said first duct to inflate said bags.

Claim 5

A catheter apparatus which comprises a tube having a closed forward end portion disposed for insertion into a body cavity to drain fluid therefrom, the wall of said tube circumferentially extending to define a lumen for passage of said fluid; a pair of resilient inflatable bags connected to the wall of said tube at the forward end portion thereof, said bags extending circumferentially about said tube in diametrically opposed relation to each other and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion of the tube, said bags being limited in circumferential extension to define on the tube wall a pair of spaces each between said bags and disposed in diametrically opposed relation to each other; means defining a pair of opposed oblong open windows in said tube wall, each window being located in a respective one of said spaces and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion as extend said bags; a first duct communicating with said bags and extending lengthwise along the tube wall for carrying a fluid to inflate said bags, and a second duct communicating said bags with each other to equalize the inflation thereof; and including a pump comprising a bellows body coupled to the base of said tube in such a manner as to be axially compressible parallel to said tube, said bellows body being disposed to contain liquid for delivery through said ducts to inflate said bags upon compression of said bellows body, said tube having graduations indicating the degree of compression of the bellows body and hence the amount of liquid delivered to inflate said bags, and a valve at said pump to control the outflow of liquid therefrom.

Claim 6

A catheter apparatus which comprises a tube having a closed forward end portion disposed for insertion into a body cavity to drain fluid therefrom, the wall of said tube circumferentially extending to define a lumen for passage of said fluid; a pair of resilient inflatable bags connected to the wall of said tube at the forward end portion thereof, said bags extending circumferentially about said tube in diametrically opposed relation to each other and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion of the tube, said bags being limited in circumferential extension to define on the tube wall a pair of spaces each between said bags and disposed in diametrically opposed relation to each other; means defining a pair of opposed oblong open windows in said tube wall, each window being located in a respective one of said spaces and extending lengthwise along the tube over approximately the same length portion as extend said bags; a first duct communicating with said bags and extending lengthwise along the tube wall for carrying a fluid to inflate said bags, and a second duct communicating said bags with each other to equalize the inflation thereof; and including a pump comprising a bellows body coupled to the base of said tube in such a manner as to be axially compressible parallel to said tube, said bellows body being disposed to contain liquid for delivery through said ducts to inflate said bags upon compression of said bellows body, said tube having graduations indicating the degree of compression of the bellows body and hence the amount of liquid delivered to inflate said bags, and a valve at said pump to control the outflow of liquid therefrom.

Claim 7

A catheter apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that said bags are of such thickness and resiliency as to cause the inflation liquid to automatically return through said first and second ducts as the catheter is withdrawn from the body cavity.

Claim 8

A catheter apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that there are included two of said bellows bodies each connected to a respective one of said first and second ducts by a respective valve.