Urinary drainage appliance

Claim 1

A device for draining bodily wastes from a natural or artificial bladder in a patient's body through a stoma connected with said bladder by a passage, said device comprising: conduit means insertable into said bladder through said stoma and said passage, for allowing the passage of bodily wastes from said bladder to the exterior of the body through said stoma, said conduit means having a distal end adapted to be received in said bladder and a proximal end axially spaced from said distal end so as to extend to the exterior of the body through said stoma; external retention means, attached to said proximal end of said conduit means, for sealing said stoma around said proximal end and forming an outlet for wastes discharged from said proximal end; an inflatable balloon enclosing the exterior of said conduit means along a substantially portion of its length from said distal end thereof, said balloon having a bulbous tip portion surrounding said distal end and a ribbed portion extending proximally from said tip portion, said balloon and said conduit means defining a space therebetween; and passage means, communicating with said space, for providing a flow path for a fluid into said space to inflate said balloon; said balloon having a wall which is thicker in said tip portion than in said ribbed portion so as to allow said ribbed portion to be substantially fully inflated before said tip portion is inflated when said ribbed portion is situated in said passage and said tip portion is situated in said bladder.

Claim 2

A device for draining bodily wastes from a natural or artificial bladder in a patient's body through a stoma connected with said bladder by a passage, said device comprising: conduit means insertable into said bladder through said stoma and said passage, for allowing the passage of bodily wastes from said bladder to the exterior of the body through said stoma, said conduit means having a distal end adapted to be received in said bladder and a proximal end axially spaced from said distal end so as to extend to the exterior of the body through said stoma; external retention means, attached to said proximal end of said conduit means, for sealing said stoma around said proximal end and forming an outlet for wastes discharged from said proximal end; an inflatable balloon enclosing the exterior of said conduit means along a substantially portion of its length from said distal end thereof, said balloon having a bulbous tip portion surrounding said distal end and a ribbed portion extending proximally from said tip portion, said balloon and said conduit means defining a space therebetween; and passage means, communicating with said space, for providing a flow path for a fluid into said space to inflate said balloon; said balloon having a wall which is thicker in said tip portion than in said ribbed portion so as to allow said ribbed portion to be substantially fully inflated before said tip portion is inflated when said ribbed portion is situated in said passage and said tip portion is situated in said bladder.

Claim 9

A device for draining bodily wastes from a natural or artificial bladder in a patient's body through a stoma connected with said bladder by a passage, said device comprising: a flexible tube insertable into said bladder through said stoma and said passage, and having a distal end adapted to be received in said bladder, a proximal end axially spaced from said distal end so as to extend to the exterior of the body through said stoma; external retention means, attached to said proximal end of said tube, for (a) resisting axial displacement of said tube, (b) sealing said stoma around said proximal end, and (c) forming an outlet for the discharge of wastes flowing through said tube; first inflatable means on said distal end of said tube, which, when inflated, extends radially outwardly from said distal end and axially beyond said distal end, for (a) resisting, with said external retention means, the axial displacement of said tube, (b) providing a fluid-tight seal around said distal end of said tube, and (c) providing a cushion around said distal end substantially to prevent direct contact between said tube and the tissues of said bladder; second inflatable means, enclosing a substantial portion of the length of said tube extending proximally from said first inflatable means, for providing, when inflated, a substantially fluid-tight seal between said tube and said passage; and passage means in said external retention means and said tube, for providing a flow path for a fluid into said first and second inflatable means for the inflation thereof; said first and second inflatable means each having an expandable wall, the expandable wall of said first inflatable means being thicker than the expandable wall of said second inflatable means, so that said first inflatable means is permitted to begin inflating only after said second inflatable means is substantially fully inflated when said tube is inserted into said bladder through said stoma and said passage.

Claim 10

A device for draining bodily wastes from a natural or artificial bladder in a patient's body through a stoma connected with said bladder by a passage, said device comprising: a flexible tube insertable into said bladder through said stoma and said passage, and having a distal end adapted to be received in said bladder, a proximal end axially spaced from said distal end so as to extend to the exterior of the body through said stoma; external retention means, attached to said proximal end of said tube, for (a) resisting axial displacement of said tube, (b) sealing said stoma around said proximal end, and (c) forming an outlet for the discharge of wastes flowing through said tube; first inflatable means on said distal end of said tube, which, when inflated, extends radially outwardly from said distal end and axially beyond said distal end, for (a) resisting, with said external retention means, the axial displacement of said tube, (b) providing a fluid-tight seal around said distal end of said tube, and (c) providing a cushion around said distal end substantially to prevent direct contact between said tube and the tissues of said bladder; second inflatable means, enclosing a substantial portion of the length of said tube extending proximally from said first inflatable means, for providing, when inflated, a substantially fluid-tight seal between said tube and said passage; and passage means in said external retention means and said tube, for providing a flow path for a fluid into said first and second inflatable means for the inflation thereof; said first and second inflatable means each having an expandable wall, the expandable wall of said first inflatable means being thicker than the expandable wall of said second inflatable means, so that said first inflatable means is permitted to begin inflating only after said second inflatable means is substantially fully inflated when said tube is inserted into said bladder through said stoma and said passage.

Claim 17

A device for draining bodily wastes from a natural or artificial bladder in a patient's body through a stoma connected with said bladder by a passage, said device comprising: a flexible tube, insertable into said bladder through said stoma and said passage, and having a distal end adapted to be received in said bladder, a proximal end axially spaced from said distal end so as to extend to the exterior of the body through said stoma, and an axial bore extending from said distal end to said proximal end; a retainer plug attached to said proximal end of said tube and having an axial bore aligned with the axial bore of said tube; an inflatable balloon enclosing the exterior of said tube along a substantial portion of its length from the distal end thereof, said balloon having a bulbous tip portion surrounding the periphery of said distal end and a ribbed portion extending proximally from said tip portion, said balloon and said tube defining a space therebetween, said bulbous tip portion being inflatable to form a donut-shaped cushion extending radially outwardly from said distal end and axially beyond said distal end, said ribbed portion being inflatable to form a substantially fluid-tight seal between said tube and said passage, said balloon having an expandable wall which is thicker in said tip portion than in said ribbed portion, thereby allowing said ribbed portion to be substantially fully inflated before said tip portion is inflated when said ribbed portion is situated in said passage and said tip portion is situated in said bladder; and passage means, in said retainer plug and said tube, for providing a flow path for a fluid from a fluid source into said space between said balloon and said tube to inflate said balloon.

Claim 18

A device for draining bodily wastes from a natural or artificial bladder in a patient's body through a stoma connected with said bladder by a passage, said device comprising: a flexible tube, insertable into said bladder through said stoma and said passage, and having a distal end adapted to be received in said bladder, a proximal end axially spaced from said distal end so as to extend to the exterior of the body through said stoma, and an axial bore extending from said distal end to said proximal end; a retainer plug attached to said proximal end of said tube and having an axial bore aligned with the axial bore of said tube; an inflatable balloon enclosing the exterior of said tube along a substantial portion of its length from the distal end thereof, said balloon having a bulbous tip portion surrounding the periphery of said distal end and a ribbed portion extending proximally from said tip portion, said balloon and said tube defining a space therebetween, said bulbous tip portion being inflatable to form a donut-shaped cushion extending radially outwardly from said distal end and axially beyond said distal end, said ribbed portion being inflatable to form a substantially fluid-tight seal between said tube and said passage, said balloon having an expandable wall which is thicker in said tip portion than in said ribbed portion, thereby allowing said ribbed portion to be substantially fully inflated before said tip portion is inflated when said ribbed portion is situated in said passage and said tip portion is situated in said bladder; and passage means, in said retainer plug and said tube, for providing a flow path for a fluid from a fluid source into said space between said balloon and said tube to inflate said balloon.