TRANSURETHRAL CATHETER DEVICE FOR BLEEDING CONTROL IN PELVIC FRACTURES

Abstract

The inventions relates to a transurethral catheter device for bleeding control in pelvic fractures. The catheter device comprises an expandable body assembly with at least one expandable body. The expandable body assembly comprises a proximal portion, a center portion and a distal portion. The expandable body assembly is configured to be expanded from a collapsed state to an expanded state by expanding the at least one expandable body. The expandable body assembly is further configured to be inserted into the urinary bladder of a patient via the urethra in the collapsed state. In the expanded state, the proximal portion has a length l.sub.1 and a width w.sub.1, the center portion a length l.sub.2 and a width w.sub.2, the distal portion a length l.sub.3 and a width w.sub.3, and the expandable body assembly a total length l. A displacement volume V of the expandable body assembly in the expanded state is larger than 0.5 liters. The width w.sub.2 is smaller than 50% of the width w.sub.3. The width w.sub.1 is larger than a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.1 of the proximal portion in the collapsed state and the width w.sub.3 is larger than a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.3 of the distal portion in the collapsed state. The length l.sub.1 is smaller than 25% of the total length l. This allows for arranging the expandable body assembly in the expanded state in the urinary bladder such that the proximal portion is adjacent to the internal urethral orifice of the urinary bladder and the center portion is adjacent to the ureter orifices of the urinary bladder, but not in contact with the ureter orifices.

Claims

1. Transurethral catheter device for bleeding control in pelvic fractures, the catheter device comprising an expandable body assembly with at least one expandable body, wherein the expandable body assembly comprises a proximal portion, a center portion and a distal portion; the expandable body assembly is configured to be expanded from a collapsed state to an expanded state by expanding the at least one expandable body; the expandable body assembly is configured to be inserted into the urinary bladder of a patient via the urethra in the collapsed state; in the expanded state, the proximal portion has a length l.sub.1 and a width w.sub.1, the center portion a length l.sub.2 and a width w.sub.2, the distal portion a length l.sub.3 and a width w.sub.3, and the expandable body assembly a total length l; a displacement volume V of the expandable body assembly in the expanded state is larger than 0.5 liters; the width w.sub.2 is smaller than 50% of the width w.sub.3; the width w.sub.1 is larger than a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.1 of the proximal portion in the collapsed state and the width w.sub.3 is larger than a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.3 of the distal portion in the collapsed state; and the length l.sub.1 is smaller than 25% of the total length l, thereby allowing for arranging the expandable body assembly in the expanded state in the urinary bladder such that the proximal portion is adjacent to the internal urethral orifice of the urinary bladder and the center portion is adjacent to the ureter orifices of the urinary bladder, but not in contact with the ureter orifices.

2. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the following applies: the displacement volume V of the expandable body assembly in the expanded state is larger than 0.8 liters; the width w.sub.2 is smaller than 20% of the width w.sub.3; the width w.sub.1 is at least two times as large as the width {tilde over (w)}.sub.1; the length l.sub.1 is smaller than 15% of the total length; and the width w.sub.2 is smaller than 50% of the width w.sub.1.

3. (canceled)

4. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the catheter device is configured to adjust the total length l such that, when the expandable body assembly is arranged in the urinary bladder in the expanded state, the proximal portion is in contact with a bottom portion of the wall of the urinary bladder and the distal portion is in contact with an upper portion of the wall of the urinary bladder.

5. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the catheter device is configured to adjust the width w.sub.3 such that, when the expandable body assembly is arranged in the urinary bladder in the expanded state, the distal portion is in contact with a lateral portion of the wall of the urinary bladder.

6. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the catheter device is configured to adjust the total length l, the width w.sub.1 and/or the width w.sub.3 such that, when the expandable body assembly is arranged in the urinary bladder in the expanded state, the expandable body assembly is in contact with at least 50% of a surface area of the wall of the urinary bladder.

7. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the width w.sub.2 is smaller than 2 cm.

8. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the length l.sub.2 is between 10% and 30% of the total length l.

9. (canceled)

10. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the width w.sub.3 is larger than the width w.sub.1.

11. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein one or both of an outer surface of the proximal portion and/or an outer surface of the distal portion has positive principal curvatures over at least 50% of the surface area of the respective portion in the expanded state.

12. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the center portion has at least one principle curvature equal to or smaller than zero over at least 50% of the surface area of the center portion in the expanded state.

13. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the expandable body assembly is rotationally symmetric around a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion.

14. The catheter device of claim 1, further comprising an urine extraction tube, wherein the urine extraction tube has at least one distal opening arranged in the center portion of the expandable body assembly.

15. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the expandable body assembly comprises an expandable body extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion.

16. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the at least one expandable body comprises an inflatable balloon comprising a flexible material enclosing an inner volume that is configured to receive an inflation medium.

17. (canceled)

18. The catheter device of claim 16, wherein the center portion of the expandable body assembly comprises at least one constraining element configured to limit a width of the center portion.

19. (canceled)

20. The catheter device of claim 16, further comprising a volume control unit configured to adjust the volume of the inflatable balloon by adjusting one or both of a pressure in the inner volume of the inflatable balloon and an amount of inflation medium supplied to the inner volume of the inflatable balloon wherein the volume control unit is configured to adjust the volume of the inflatable balloon in the expanded state at least within a range between 1 liter and 1.5 liters.

21. (canceled)

22. The catheter device of claim 16, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to determine one or both of a pressure in the inner volume of the inflatable balloon and/or a pressure on an outer surface of the expandable body assembly.

23. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the expandable body assembly comprises a distal expandable body arranged in the distal portion of the expandable body assembly and a proximal expandable body arranged in the proximal portion of the expandable body assembly.

24. The catheter device of claim 23, wherein the proximal expandable body and the distal expandable body each comprise an inflatable balloon configured to receive an inflation medium, the catheter device further comprising a proximal inflation tube and a distal inflation tube, wherein the inflatable balloon in the proximal portion is configured to receive an inflation medium through the proximal inflation tube and the inflatable balloon in the distal portion is configured to receive an inflation medium through the distal inflation tube.

25. The catheter device of claim 23, further comprising an insertion tube that extends through the proximal portion and the center portion of the expandable body assembly, wherein the distal portion of the expandable body assembly is configured to be inserted into the urinary bladder through the insertion tube in the collapsed state.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0031] In the following, a detailed description of the invention and exemplary embodiments thereof is given with reference to the figures. The figures show schematic illustrations of

[0032] FIG. 1a: a transurethral catheter device in an expanded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 1b: the transurethral catheter device of FIG. 1a in a collapsed state;

[0034] FIG. 2: a transurethral catheter device with an inflatable balloon and a constraining element in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIG. 3: a transurethral catheter device with two expandable bodies according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0036] FIG. 4: a transurethral catheter device with a supply unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 5: a flow diagram illustrating a method for using a transurethral catheter device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 6a: a transurethral catheter device with two expandable bodies and an insertion tube in a partially expanded state in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0039] FIG. 6b: a cross section of the center portion of the catheter device of FIG. 6a in an expanded state;

[0040] FIG. 6c: the transurethral catheter device of FIG. 6a in the expanded state; and

[0041] FIG. 7: a flow diagram illustrating a method for using a transurethral catheter device with two independent catheter assemblies according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIGS. 1a and 1b depict a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a sectional view of a transurethral catheter device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The catheter device 100 comprises an expandable body assembly 102 with at least one expandable body. By expanding the at least one expandable body, the expandable body assembly 102 can be expanded from a collapsed state to an expanded state. The catheter device 100 is shown with the expandable body assembly 102 in the expanded state in FIG. 1a and with the expandable body assembly 102 in the collapsed state in FIG. 1b.

[0043] The expandable body assembly 102 has a proximal portion 104, a center portion 106 and a distal portion 108. In the expanded state, the portions 104, 106, and 108 are arranged along a longitudinal axis 103 of the expandable body assembly 102 such that the proximal portion 104 is directly adjacent to the center portion 106 and the center portion 106 is directly adjacent to the distal portion 108. The longitudinal axis 103 may e.g. be defined as the axis around which the expandable body assembly has the smallest moment of inertia in the expanded state and is aligned with the y-axis in the example shown in FIG. 1a. The portions 104, 106, and 108 differ in their physical dimensions as detailed below. In some examples, the portions 104, 106, and 108 may have an identical internal structure, e.g. comprise or consist of the same materials. The portions 104, 106, and 108 may in particular be virtual axial segments of the expandable body assembly 102 along the longitudinal axis 103 as in the example shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, in which the virtual borders between the portions 104, 106, and 108 are indicated by horizontal dotted lines. In other examples, the portions 104, 106 and 108 may have different internal structures, e.g. comprise or consist of different materials.

[0044] The at least one expandable body may for example comprise one or more expandable elements, e.g. an inflatable balloon as described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one expandable body may comprise other expandable elements, e.g. an element comprising a mechanically extendable element like a spring as detailed below.

[0045] The at least one expandable body may be arranged in the proximal portion 104, the center portion 106 and/or the distal portion 108. In one example, the expandable body assembly 102 may comprise an expandable body that extends from the proximal portion 104 through the center portion 106 to the distal portion 108. The expandable body assembly 102 may comprise a plurality of expandable bodies, each being configured to be expanded, e.g. one expandable body arranged in the distal portion 108 and another expandable body arranged in the proximal portion 104. In some examples, the catheter device 100 may be configured such that each of the expandable bodies may be expanded independently of the other expandable bodies.

[0046] The catheter device 100 further comprises a catheter tube assembly no that is attached to the proximal portion 104. In one example, the catheter tube assembly no may be formed integrally with the expandable body assembly 102. In another example, the catheter tube assembly no may be detachably connected to the expandable body assembly 102 through a connector. The catheter tube assembly no may for example be similar to the catheter tube assembly of the catheter device 200 of FIG. 2 or the catheter device 300 of FIG. 3 described below. Preferably, the catheter tube assembly no comprises an urine extraction tube that is in communication with the inner volume of the urinary bladder 112, e.g. similar to the urine extraction tube 214 of the catheter device 200. In the example shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the expandable body assembly 102 has been inserted into the urinary bladder 112 of a patient via the urethra 114. Correspondingly, the catheter tube assembly no may extend through the urethra 114 and may provide a connection to the expandable body assembly 102 and/or to the urinary bladder 112 from the outside. The catheter tube assembly no may furthermore facilitate arranging the extendable body assembly 102 in the urinary bladder 112 as detailed below.

[0047] In one example, the catheter device 100 may comprise an insertion tube (not shown) that is configured to be arranged in the urethra 114, wherein the expandable body assembly 102 or a part thereof may be configured to be inserted into the urinary bladder 112 through said insertion tube. The insertion tube may e.g. be configured to compress a mechanically extendable element of the expandable body assembly 102 when the expandable body assembly 102 is inside the insertion tube. When the expandable body assembly 102 leaves the insertion tube and enters the urinary bladder 112, the mechanically extendable element may extend, thereby expanding the expandable body assembly 102. In one example, a mechanically extendable element may be arranged in the proximal portion 104, wherein the mechanically extendable element extends when entering the urinary bladder 112, thereby increasing the width of the proximal portion 104. This may e.g. be advantageous to prevent the proximal portion 104 from accidentally being retracted into the urethra 114 again as a force exceeding a certain threshold may be required to compress the mechanically extendable element in order to pull the proximal portion 104 into the urethra 114.

[0048] The proximal portion 104 has a length l.sub.1 and a width w.sub.1 in the expanded state and a length {tilde over (l)}.sub.1 and a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.1 in the collapsed state. The center portion 106 has a length l.sub.2 and a width w.sub.2 in the expanded state and a length {tilde over (l)}.sub.2 and a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.2 in the collapsed state. The distal portion 108 has a length l.sub.3 and a width w.sub.3 in the expanded state and a length {tilde over (l)}.sub.3 and a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.3 in the collapsed state. The length of a portion is defined as the largest extent of the respective portion in the direction of the longitudinal axis 103. The width of a portion is defined as the largest radially averaged width of the respective portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 103, wherein radial averaging of the width corresponds to taking the average of the width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 103. In some examples, the expandable body assembly 102 may be rotationally symmetric around the longitudinal axis 103 and may e.g. exhibit a continuous rotational symmetry such that the width of the expandable body assembly 102 is the same in every direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 103 at a given point along the longitudinal axis 103. In other examples, at least one of the portions 104, 106, and 108 may be rotationally symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis 103.

[0049] In the example shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a total length l of the expandable body assembly 102 in the expanded state is given by l=l.sub.1+l.sub.2+l.sub.3 and a total length {tilde over (l)} of the expandable body assembly 102 in the collapsed state is given by {tilde over (l)}={tilde over (l)}.sub.1+{tilde over (l)}.sub.2+{tilde over (l)}.sub.3, wherein the total length of the expandable body assembly 102 is the largest extent of the expandable body assembly 102 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 103. The total widths w and {tilde over (w)} of the expandable body assembly are the largest width among the widths of the individual portions, i.e. equal to w.sub.3 and {tilde over (w)}.sub.3, respectively, in the example shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

[0050] The lengths and widths in the expanded state are larger than the respective quantities in the collapsed state such that a displacement volume V of the expandable body assembly 102 in the expanded state is larger than a displacement volume {tilde over (V)} of the expandable body assembly 102 in the collapsed state. Thereby, a volume of the urinary bladder 112 may be increased by expanding the expandable body assembly 102 from the collapsed state to the expanded state. Furthermore, the dimensions of the expandable body assembly 102 in the collapsed state are sufficiently small in order to insert the expandable body assembly 102 into the urinary bladder 112 through the urethra 114. The displacement volume in the collapsed state V may therefore be much smaller than the displacement volume V, e.g. less than 5%, preferably less than 1% of V. In one example, the total width {tilde over (w)} of the expandable body in the collapsed state may be less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm.

[0051] The displacement volume V may for example be in the range between 0.5 liters and 3 liters, e.g. 1.5 liters. The width w.sub.2 is smaller than 50%, preferably smaller than 20% of the width w.sub.3. As shown in FIG. 1a, the width w.sub.2 may also be smaller than 50%, preferably smaller than 30% of the width w.sub.1. In one example, the width w.sub.1 may be 5 cm, the width w.sub.2 may be 1.5 cm and the width w.sub.3 may be 15 cm. The length l.sub.1 is smaller than 25%, preferably smaller than 15% of the total length l. The total length l may for example be 15 cm and the length l.sub.1 may e.g. be 2 cm. The length l.sub.2 may be between 10% and 30% of the total length l, e.g. 3 cm. Correspondingly, the length l.sub.3 may for example be 10 cm. The displacement volume of the distal portion 108 may be more than 75%, in some examples more than 90% of the displacement volume V.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 1a, the expandable body assembly 102 is arranged such that the proximal portion 104 is adjacent to a bottom portion 116 of the wall of the urinary bladder 112 that is in the vicinity of the internal urethral orifice 118, and the distal portion 108 is adjacent to an upper portion 120 and a lateral portion 122 of the wall of the urinary bladder 112. In some cases, the proximal portion 104 may even be in contact with the bottom portion 116 and the distal portion 108 may be in contact with the upper portion 120 and/or the lateral portion 122. The catheter tube assembly no may facilitate arranging the expandable body assembly 102 in the urinary bladder 112 into the configuration shown in FIG. 1a since the catheter tube assembly no is connected to the proximal portion 104 and thus may ensure that the proximal portion 104 is located adjacent to the internal urethral orifice 118.

[0053] The shape of the expandable body assembly 102 in the expanded state is such that the center portion 106 is located adjacent to the ureter orifices 124 of the urinary bladder 112 when the expandable body assembly 102 is arranged in the urinary bladder 112 as shown in FIG. 1a. Due to the smaller width w.sub.2 of the center portion 106, which is preferably smaller than the typical distance between the ureter orifices 124, the center portion 106 is not in contact with the ureter orifices 124. In this way, an uninterrupted flow of urine through the ureters into the urinary bladder 112 may be ensured. A rotationally symmetric shape of the center portion 106 and/or of the expandable body assembly 102 around the longitudinal axis 103 may facilitate arranging the expandable body assembly 102 in the urinary bladder 112 such that the ureter orifices 124 are not blocked by the expandable body assembly 102 irrespective of the orientation of the expandable body assembly 102 around the longitudinal axis 103.

[0054] The catheter device 100 may be configured to adjust at least one of the parameters comprising the widths w.sub.1, w.sub.2, w.sub.3 and w, the lengths l.sub.1, l.sub.2, 1.sub.3 and l and the displacement volume V, e.g. in order to facilitate arranging the expandable body assembly 102 within the urinary bladder 112. The catheter device 100 may for example be configured to adjust the at least one parameter such that the proximal portion 104 is in contact with the bottom portion 116 of the wall of the urinary bladder 112 and/or such that the distal portion 108 is in contact with the upper portion 120 and/or the lateral portion 122 of the wall of the urinary bladder 112, e.g. by changing the lengths l.sub.1 and l.sub.3 and/or the width w.sub.3. In one example, the catheter device 100 may be configured to adjust the at least one parameter such that expandable body assembly 102 is in contact with at least 50%, preferably with at least 75% of the surface area of the wall of the urinary bladder 112.

[0055] The shape of the expandable body assembly 102 may be adapted to the shape of the urinary bladder 112 of a human, e.g. in order to reduce the mechanical stress on the urinary bladder 112 when expanding the expandable body assembly 102 and/or to ensure that the expandable body assembly 102 is securely fitted in the urinary bladder 112. An outer surface of the proximal portion 104 and/or an outer surface of the distal portion 108 may for example have positive principle curvatures over at least 50%, preferably over at least 75% of the surface area of the respective portion in the expanded state, e.g. as in the example shown in FIG. 1a. In other examples, the proximal portion 104 may have a cylindrical shape, e.g. a cylinder with an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis 103, or may be a partial cylinder. Preferably, the proximal portion 104, the distal portion 108, and/or the expandable body assembly 102 comprises or consists of a flexible material, e.g. such that the shape of the expandable body assembly 102 adapts to the shape of the urinary bladder 112 when expanding the expandable body assembly 102.

[0056] In the expanded state, an outer surface of the center portion 106 may have at least one principle curvature equal to or smaller than zero over at least 50%, preferably over at least 75% of the surface area of the center portion 106. In the example shown in FIG. 1a, the center portion 106 has a negative principle curvature, i.e. a concave shape, along the longitudinal axis 103, which may e.g. be advantageous to increase the distance to the ureter orifices 124. In other examples, the center portion 106 may be a cylinder, i.e. exhibit a principle curvature of zero along the longitudinal axis 103.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a sectional view of a transurethral catheter device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Similar to the catheter device 100, the catheter device 200 comprises an expandable body assembly 102 having a proximal portion 104, a center portion 106 and a distal portion 108 and a catheter tube assembly no. In FIG. 2, the catheter device 200 is shown with the expandable body assembly 102 in the expanded state.

[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the expandable body assembly 102 comprises an inflatable balloon 202 as an expandable body and the portions 104, 106, and 108 are virtual axial segments of the inflatable balloon 202 that differ in their physical dimensions as detailed above with reference to FIG. 1a. The inflatable balloon 202 comprises a wall 204 that consists of a flexible material and encloses an inner volume 206. The wall 204 may for example be made of latex, polyurethane, silicone and/or a combination thereof. An inner surface and/or an outer surface of the wall 204 may be coated, e.g. to reduce friction or to decrease the hydrophobicity of the respective surface. The coating may for example include a silicone elastomer, a hydrogel, polytetrafluoroethylene or a combination thereof.

[0059] The inner volume 206 is configured to receive an inflation medium, wherein a volume of the inflatable balloon 202 may e.g. be adjusted by adding inflation medium to the inner volume 206 or extracting inflation medium from the inner volume 206. The flexible material of the wall 204 may allow for changing V, l.sub.1, l.sub.2, l.sub.3, l, w.sub.1, w.sub.2, w.sub.3 and/or w in the expanded state by adjusting the amount of inflation medium supplied to the inner volume 206. Preferably, the inflation medium is a fluid, in particular an incompressible fluid like a liquid, for example a physiological salt solution. In other examples, the inflation medium may be a gas. In one example, the inflation medium may be supplied to the inner volume 206 in a liquid phase and a phase transition to a gas phase may be induced to expand the expandable body assembly, e.g. through a chemical reaction and/or a change in temperature.

[0060] The inflatable balloon 202 may be configured to be expanded up to a volume of at least 150%, preferably of at least 200% of the displacement volume V by supplying inflation medium to the inner volume 206 without creating leaks in the wall 204 or otherwise damaging the inflatable balloon 202, e.g. by choosing an appropriate thickness and/or material composition of the wall 204. This may provide a safety margin when expanding the expandable body assembly 102 to the expanded state. The inflatable balloon 202 may e.g. be configured to be expanded up to a volume of at least 2.5 liters without creating leaks in the wall 204 or otherwise damaging the inflatable balloon 202. A minimum thickness of the wall 204 in the expanded state may for example be larger than 0.5 mm, preferably larger than 1 mm.

[0061] The shape of the inflatable balloon 202 in the expanded state may for example be determined by a surface area of the wall 204, a thickness of the wall 204 and/or a material composition of the wall 204 in the collapsed state in different parts of the inflatable balloon 202. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the inflatable balloon 202 extends from the proximal portion 104 through the center portion 106 to the distal portion 108. In one example, the thickness of the wall 204 may be larger in the center portion 106 than in the proximal portion 104 and/or in the distal portion 108 in order to achieve a smaller width w.sub.2 in the center portion 106 than in the proximal portion 104 and in the distal portion 108. Alternatively or additionally, the surface area of the wall 204 may be larger in the distal portion 108 than in the center portion 106 and/or in the proximal portion 104. As the wall 204 consists of a flexible material, the shape of the inflatable balloon 202 may adapt to the shape of the urinary bladder 112, e.g. when the wall 204 comes in contact with the wall of the urinary bladder 112.

[0062] The expandable body assembly 102 of the catheter device 200 further comprises constraining elements 208 that are configured to limit the width w.sub.2 of the center portion 106. In this example, the constraining elements 208 are ring-shaped reinforcements of the center portion 106. The constraining elements 208 may be integral parts of the center portion 106, e.g. regions with a thicker wall 204 and/or with a different material composition. The constraining elements 208 may for example comprise or consist of a material with a smaller elasticity than other parts of the center portion 106. In other examples, the constraining elements 208 may be separate from the center portion 106 and may for example be ring-shaped elements that are attached to the center portion 106 and surround the center portion 106.

[0063] The catheter device 200 may further comprise a removable cover (not shown), which may cover at least a part of the expandable body assembly 102, e.g. an outer surface of the distal portion 108. The cover may for example be removed after inserting the expandable body assembly 102 into the urinary bladder 112 and prior to expanding the expandable body assembly 102. A surface of the cover may be coated, wherein the coating may e.g. include a silicone elastomer, a hydrogel, polytetrafluoroethylene or a combination thereof.

[0064] The catheter tube assembly no comprises an inflation tube 210 with a distal opening 212 that is in communication with the inner volume 206, i.e. opens towards the inner volume 206. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the distal opening 212 is arranged inside the inner volume 206 of the inflatable balloon 202. Thereby, inflation medium can be supplied to the inner volume 206 through the inflation tube 210. In other examples, the distal opening 212 may be arranged in the outer wall 204 of the inflatable balloon 202. In some examples, the inflation tube 210 may comprise a plurality of openings in communication with the inner volume 206 (not shown). The inflation tube 210 may e.g. comprise or consist of latex, polyurethane, silicone and/or a combination thereof. The material composition and/or the wall thickness of the inflation tube 210 may be chosen such that a diameter of the inflation tube 210 outside of the expandable body assembly 102 changes by less than 50%, preferably by less than 25% when expanding the inflatable balloon 202 from the collapsed state to the expanded state. When the inflatable balloon 202 is in the expanded state, a diameter of the inflation tube 210 outside of the expandable body assembly 102 may for example be less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm. The inflation tube 210 may further comprises a valve, which may e.g. be opened to inject inflation medium into the inflatable balloon 202 and subsequently be closed to prevent the inflation medium from leaving the inflatable balloon 202.

[0065] The catheter tube assembly no further comprises an urine extraction tube 214 with a distal opening 216 that is arranged in the center portion 106 of the expandable body assembly 102. The distal opening 216 may for example be arranged on an outer surface of the wall 204 as shown in FIG. 2 such that the distal opening 216 is in communication with the inner volume of the urinary bladder 112 when the expandable body assembly 102 is arranged in the urinary bladder 112. In this way, the urine extraction tube 214 may be used to drain urine from the urinary bladder 112 as well as to inject a substance into the urinary bladder 112, e.g. for treatment or diagnostic purposes. In some examples, the urine extraction tube 214 may comprise a plurality of distal openings arranged in the center portion 106 (not shown). The urine extraction tube 214 may be made of the same material as the inflation tube 210 and may have the same diameter. In one example, the urine extraction tube 214 may enclose at least a part of the inflation tube 210 or vice versa, i.e. the inflation tube 210 may e.g. be arranged within the urine extraction tube 214.

[0066] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the catheter tube assembly no is attached to the proximal portion 104 and extends outwards from the proximal portion 104. The catheter tube assembly no may for example have a length between 0.5 m and 2 m such that the catheter tube can extend through the urethra 114 and can be connected to an external supply unit, e.g. as detailed below with reference to FIG. 4. In other examples, the catheter tube assembly no may terminate at a connector arranged on or adjacent to an outer wall of the expandable body assembly 102, e.g. in the proximal portion 104, wherein the connector is configured to receive an external catheter tube assembly and to connect the external catheter tube assembly to the catheter tube assembly no.

[0067] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a sectional view of a transurethral catheter device 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Similar to the catheter devices 100 and 200, the catheter device 300 comprises an expandable body assembly 102 having a proximal portion 104, a center portion 106 and a distal portion 108 and a catheter tube assembly no. In FIG. 3, the catheter device 300 is shown with the expandable body assembly 102 in the expanded state.

[0068] The expandable body assembly 102 of the catheter device 300 comprises two expandable bodies, namely a proximal inflatable balloon 302 and a distal inflatable balloon 304. The proximal inflatable balloon 302 is arranged in the proximal portion 104 of the expandable body assembly 102 and the distal inflatable balloon 304 is arranged in the distal portion 108 of the expandable body assembly 102. The center portion 106 of the expandable body assembly 102 on the other hand does not comprise an expandable body, but only comprises a part of the catheter tube assembly no. Correspondingly, the width w.sub.2 of the center portion 106 in the expanded state may be comparable to the width {tilde over (w)}.sub.2 of the center portion 106 in the collapsed state, e.g. less than 150% of {tilde over (w)}.sub.2. In other embodiments, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 may extend from the proximal portion 104 to the center portion 106 (not shown), e.g. similar to the embodiment described below with reference to FIGS. 6a-6c. A distal end of the proximal inflatable balloon 302 may e.g. be directly adjacent to a proximal end of the distal inflatable balloon 304.

[0069] Similar to the inflatable balloon 202 of the catheter device 200, each of the proximal and distal inflatable balloons 302 and 304 comprises an outer wall surrounding an inner volume that is configured to receive an inflation medium. To supply the inflation medium, the catheter tube assembly no comprises a proximal inflation tube 306 and a distal inflation tube 310 in addition to an urine extraction tube 214. The proximal inflation tube 306 has a distal opening 308 that is in communication with the inner volume of the proximal inflatable balloon 302. The distal inflation tube 310 has a distal opening 312 that is in communication with the inner volume of the distal inflatable balloon 304. In this way, the inflation medium may be supplied to the balloons 302 and 304 independently, e.g. to expand the balloons 302 and 304 to different volumes and/or pressures or to use different inflation media for the balloons 302 and 304. In particular, the balloons 302 and 304 may be expanded at different points in time when expanding the expandable body assembly 102 to the expanded state, e.g. as detailed below with reference to FIG. 5.

[0070] The proximal inflatable balloon 302 and/or the distal inflatable balloon 304 may have an ellipsoidal shape, in particular a spherical shape in the expanded state. In other examples, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 may have a cylindrical shape or the shape of a partial cylinder, e.g. as detailed below with reference to FIGS. 6a-6c. In some examples, the volume of the distal inflatable balloon 304 in the expanded state may be at least five times as large, in one example at least ten times as large as the volume of the proximal inflatable balloon 302 in the expanded state. The catheter device 300 may further comprise a removable cover (not shown), which may cover at least a part of the expandable body assembly 102, e.g. an outer surface of the distal inflatable balloon 304.

[0071] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a transurethral catheter device 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The catheter device 400 comprises an expandable body assembly 102, which may for example be similar to the expandable body assembly of the catheter device 100, 200 or 300 described above. In FIG. 4, the expandable body assembly 102 is arranged in the urinary bladder 112 of a patient such that a catheter tube assembly 110 attached to or connected to the expandable body assembly 102 extends through the urethra 114 of the patient to the outside. The catheter tube assembly no may for example comprise an urine extraction tube similar to the urine extraction tube 214 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and at least one inflation tube similar to the inflation tube 210 or 310 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, to supply an inflation medium to the expandable body assembly 102. The catheter tube assembly no is connected to an urine reservoir 402 that is configured to receive urine drained from the urinary bladder 112 via the catheter tube assembly 110, e.g. through the urine extraction tube 214.

[0072] The catheter tube assembly no is furthermore connected to a supply unit 404 that is configured to provide the inflation medium, e.g. through the at least one inflation tube 210. The supply unit 404 comprises a pump 406 that is connected with a supply reservoir 408. The supply reservoir 408 is configured to store a certain amount of inflation medium, for example 3 liters to 5 liters of inflation medium. In some examples, the supply reservoir 408 may be an infusion bag connected to the supply unit 404 and/or to the pump 406. The pump 406 may for example be configured to pump inflation medium from the supply reservoir 408 into the expandable body assembly 102. Additionally, the pump 406 may be configured to pump inflation medium from the expandable body assembly 102 into the supply reservoir 408 through the catheter tube assembly 110.

[0073] The supply unit 404 further comprises a control unit 410 that is configured to control operation of the pump 406. The supply unit 404 may for example be connected to a control panel of the supply unit 404, e.g. such that an operator of the supply unit 404 can pump inflation medium to/from the expandable body assembly 102 by pressing a button and/or control a set point value for the displacement volume V, a pressure and/or an amount of inflation medium to be supplied, e.g. by rotating a switch.

[0074] The catheter device 400 further comprises a flow meter 412 that is configured to measure an amount of the inflation medium transported through the catheter tube assembly no, e.g. a volume of the transported inflation medium. The flow meter 412 may for example be a mechanical flow meter, a pressure-based flow meter, an optical flow meter or an electromagnetic flow meter. The flow meter 412 is coupled to the control unit 410. The control unit 410 may for example be configured to determine the amount of inflation medium supplied to the expandable body assembly 102 via the flow meter 412, e.g. by measuring the volume of the inflation medium injected into and/or extracted from the expandable body assembly 102. In other examples, the control unit 410 may determine the amount of inflation medium in the supply reservoir 408 to determine the amount of inflation medium supplied to the expandable body assembly 102. The control unit 410 may furthermore be configured to supply a predetermined amount of inflation medium to the expandable body assembly 102, wherein the predetermined amount may for example be set by an operator using the control panel.

[0075] The catheter device 400 also comprises a pressure sensor 414 that is arranged in the expandable body assembly 102. The pressure sensor 414 may for example be arranged on an outer surface of the expandable body assembly 102, e.g. an outer surface of the wall 204 of the inflatable balloon 202, and may be configured to measure a pressure in the vicinity of the expandable body assembly 102. In other examples, the pressure sensor 414 may be arranged on an inner surface of the wall 204 or within the inner volume 206 of the inflatable balloon 202, e.g. to measure the pressure in the inner volume 206. Alternatively, the pressure sensor 414 may be arranged in other elements of the catheter device 400 that are in contact with the inflation medium, e.g. in a sidewall of the at least one inflation tube 210 or within the supply unit 404. The control unit 410 is coupled to the pressure sensor 414 and may be configured to read-out the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 414. The control unit 410 may also be configured to control the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 414, e.g. to a predetermined set point specified by the operator, by injecting and/or extracting inflation medium into/from the expandable body assembly 102 by the pump 406.

[0076] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of a method 500 to treat a patient using a transurethral catheter device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The method 500 may for example be performed with any one of the catheter devices 100, 200, 300 and 400 and will be described the following with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0077] In a first step 502, the expandable body assembly 102 is prepared in the collapsed state and inserted into the urinary bladder 112 of the patient via the urethra 114. The expandable body assembly 102 may for example be inserted into the urethra 114 by first inserting the distal portion 108 of the expandable body assembly 102 into the urethra 114, subsequently inserting the center portion 106 and the proximal portion 104 and finally pushing the expandable body assembly 102 through the urethra 114 into the urinary bladder 112 using the catheter tube assembly 110.

[0078] Once the expandable body assembly 102 has been fully inserted into the urinary bladder 112, the expandable body assembly 102 is expanded from the collapsed state to the expanded state by expanding the at least one expandable body in step 504. In the examples of the catheter devices 200 and 300, the expandable body assembly 102 may be expanded by injecting inflation medium into the inflatable balloons 202 and 302/304, respectively. In some examples, the expandable body assembly 102 may be expanded to a predefined displacement volume V and/or pressure, e.g. using the control unit 410. The displacement volume V and/or the pressure that the expandable body assembly 102 is expanded to may be chosen depending on a weight, size, gender and/or condition of the patient. For example, a larger displacement volume V may be used for a taller and heavier patient than for a smaller and lighter patient. Additionally or alternatively, a different catheter device may be used depending on the weight, size, gender and/or condition of the patient, e.g. a catheter device with a displacement volume V of 1.5 liters for a male patient and a catheter device with a displacement volume V of 1.2 liters for a female patient.

[0079] In one example, a catheter device is used that comprises a plurality of expandable bodies which can be expanded independently, e.g. the catheter device 300 with the distal inflatable balloon 304 and the proximal inflatable balloon 302. In this case, the expandable bodies may be expanded at different points in time. For example, after inserting the expandable body assembly 102 into the urinary bladder 112, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 may be expanded first by injecting inflation medium through the proximal inflation tube 306. This may prevent the expandable body assembly 102 from entering the urethra 114 again. Subsequently, the distal inflatable balloon 304 may be expanded by injecting inflation medium through the distal inflation tube 310. The distal inflatable balloon 304 may also be expanded to a different pressure than the proximal inflatable balloon 302, e.g. to a higher pressure to reach a larger displacement volume for the distal inflatable balloon 304.

[0080] Subsequently, in step 506, the displacement volume V and/or the pressure is maintained, e.g. by injecting and/or extracting inflation medium to/from the expandable body assembly 102 using the supply unit 404 and/or by the pump 406. The control unit 410 of the supply unit 404 may for example be configured to regulate the displacement volume V and/or the pressure to the predefined set point. In one example, the control unit 410 is configured to regulate the pressure to the predefined set point and may thereby react to a pressure change in the patient's abdomen, e.g. resulting from a release of urine.

[0081] While the expandable body assembly 102 is arranged in the urinary bladder 112, urine may be drained from the urinary bladder 112 via the urine extraction tube 214 in step 508. Urine may for example be drained from the urinary bladder 112 as a result of the increased pressure created by the expansion of the expandable body assembly 102. To account for this, the control unit 410 may be configured to stabilize the pressure to the predefined set point as mentioned above. In other examples, urine may be actively drained from the urinary bladder 112, e.g. using a pump.

[0082] FIGS. 6a-6c depict another example of a transurethral catheter device 600 according to an embodiment of the invention (not to scale). The catheter device 600 is similar to the catheter device 300 and also comprises an expandable body assembly 102 with two expandable bodies, namely a proximal inflatable balloon 302 and a distal inflatable balloon 304. In contrast to the catheter device 300, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 and the distal inflatable balloon 304 of the catheter device 600 are parts of independent catheter assemblies, wherein the distal inflatable balloon 304 is configured to be inserted through an insertion tube 602 extending through the proximal inflatable balloon 302 as detailed below. FIG. 6a schematically illustrates a sectional view of the catheter device 600 in a partially expanded state, in which the proximal inflatable balloon 302 is in an expanded state while the distal inflatable balloon 304 is in a collapsed state and is being inserted through the insertion tube 602. FIG. 6b shows a radial cross section 106r of the center portion 106 of the catheter device 600 in the expanded state, wherein the radial cross section 106r is the cross section in the x-z-plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 103, which may e.g. be aligned with the y-axis. FIG. 6c depicts the catheter device 600 in the expanded state. The expanded state of the catheter device 600 is the state in which both the proximal inflatable balloon 302 and the distal inflatable balloon 304 are expanded.

[0083] The proximal inflatable balloon 302 extends from the proximal portion 104 to the center portion 106. In the expanded state, a distal end of the proximal inflatable balloon 302 is directly adjacent to a proximal end of the distal inflatable balloon 304. The proximal inflatable balloon 302 may for example increase the rigidity of the center portion 106 and thereby may prevent excessive bending of the center portion 106.

[0084] In the example shown in FIGS. 6a-6c, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 forms a partial cylinder in the expanded state, wherein the axis of the partial cylinder is aligned with the longitudinal axis 103. The proximal inflatable balloon 302 in particular forms a partial cylinder whose radial cross-section is a circular sector as shown in FIG. 6b. The circular sector may for example have a central angle between 210° and 330°, e.g. 270°. In other examples, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 may form a partial cylinder having a recess or cut-out with a different shape, e.g. a circular or rectangular cut-out. In some examples, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 may only be arranged in the proximal portion 104 and/or may have a different shape, e.g. an ellipsoidal shape, a cylindrical shape or a shape similar to the proximal inflatable balloon 302 of the catheter device 300 shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the catheter device 600 may comprise a central inflatable balloon (not shown) in addition to the proximal inflatable balloon 302, wherein the central inflatable balloon is arranged in the center portion 106 and may e.g. form a partial cylinder in the expanded state.

[0085] The proximal inflatable balloon 302 partially encloses the catheter tube assembly no, which comprises the urine extraction tube 214 and the proximal inflation tube 306. The urine extraction tube 214 has a plurality of distal openings 216, which are located within the recess formed by the partial cylinder, i.e. within the circular sector that is not covered by the proximal inflatable balloon 302. In the example shown in FIGS. 6a-6c, the catheter tube assembly no is located in the center of the proximal inflatable balloon 302. In other examples, the catheter tube assembly no may be located at a different position, e.g. in a cut-out adjacent to an outer edge of the proximal inflatable balloon 302.

[0086] The catheter tube assembly no further comprises the insertion tube 602, which extends through the proximal inflatable balloon 302, i.e. through the proximal portion 104 and the center portion 106. The insertion tube 602 comprises a distal opening 604, which is in communication with the inner volume of the urinary bladder 112 when the proximal inflatable balloon 302 is arranged in the urinary bladder 112. In some examples, the insertion tube 602 may be a trocar, i.e. may further comprise a removable obturator that is configured to block the distal opening 604 (not shown). An inner diameter of the insertion tube 602 is chosen such that the distal portion 108 of the expandable body assembly 102, i.e. the distal inflatable balloon 304, can be inserted through the insertion tube 602 in the collapsed state as shown in FIG. 6a.

[0087] In the example of FIGS. 6a-6c, the distal inflatable balloon 304 and the distal inflation tube 310 are not attached or connected to the other elements of the catheter device 600, i.e. the remaining elements of the catheter device 600 and the distal inflatable balloon 304 with the distal inflation tube 310 are independent catheter assemblies. This allows for first inserting the proximal inflatable balloon 302 into the urinary bladder 112 and expanding the proximal inflatable balloon 302, e.g. to provide access to the interior of the urinary bladder 112 via the urine extraction tube 214 similar to a conventional urinary catheter, and subsequently inserting and expanding the distal inflatable balloon 304 if needed. A method 700 for treating a patient with such a catheter device with two independent catheter assemblies is illustrated as a flowchart in FIG. 7.

[0088] At first, in step 702, the proximal expandable body, i.e. the proximal inflatable balloon 302, of the catheter device 600 is prepared in the collapsed state and is inserted into the urinary bladder 112 of the patient via the urethra 114, e.g. by pushing the proximal inflatable balloon 302 through the urethra 114 into the urinary bladder 112 using the catheter tube assembly 110.

[0089] Subsequently, in step 704, the proximal inflatable balloon 302 is expanded from the collapsed state to the expanded state such that the catheter device 600 is in the partially expanded state. This may prevent the proximal inflatable balloon 302 from entering the urethra 114 again and may thus secure the proximal inflatable balloon 302 within the urinary bladder 112. At this point, the catheter device 600 may be used similar to a conventional urinary catheter. The urine extraction tube 214 with the openings 216 is in communication with the inner volume of the urinary bladder 112 and may e.g. be used to drain urine from the urinary bladder 112 in 706.

[0090] Depending on the state of the patient, the distal expandable body, i.e. the distal inflatable balloon 304, may be inserted into the urinary bladder 112 in 708, either directly after step 702 or 704 or at a later point in time should the need arise. The distal inflatable balloon 304 may be inserted by threading the distal inflatable balloon 304 in the collapsed state through the insertion tube 602 using the distal inflation tube 310 as illustrated in FIG. 6a. After the distal inflatable balloon 304 has been arranged in the urinary bladder 112, the distal inflatable balloon 304 may be expanded as well in step 710 via the distal inflation tube 310, see FIG. 6c.

[0091] If the distal inflatable balloon 304 with the distal inflation tube 310 is an independent catheter assembly, the distal inflatable balloon 304 may also be removed independently from the other elements of the catheter device 600, e.g. after a bleeding has been stopped successfully. The proximal inflatable balloon 304 may for example remain in the urinary bladder 112 to provide the functionality of a conventional urinary catheter.

[0092] In other examples, the urine extraction tube 214 may be used as an insertion tube to insert the distal inflatable balloon 304 into the urinary bladder 112 (not shown). In this case, the distal opening 602 of the insertion tube may be one of the distal openings 216 of the urine extraction tube 214. Preferably, an outer diameter of the distal inflation tube 314 is less than 75%, in one example less than 50% of an inner diameter of the urine extraction tube 214, e.g. such as to not block the flow of urine through the urine extraction tube 214 when distal inflation tube 314 is arranged in the urine extraction tube 214. The embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein only constitute specific examples for illustration purposes. The present invention can be implemented in various ways and with many modifications without altering the underlying basic properties. Therefore, the present invention is only defined by the claims as stated below.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0093] 100 transurethral catheter device [0094] 102—expandable body assembly [0095] 103 longitudinal axis [0096] 104 proximal portion of the expandable body assembly 102 [0097] 106—center portion of the expandable body assembly 102 [0098] 108—distal portion of the expandable body assembly 102 [0099] 110—catheter tube assembly [0100] 112—urinary bladder [0101] 114 urethra [0102] 116 bottom portion of the wall of the urinary bladder 112 [0103] 118—internal urethral orifice [0104] 120—upper portion of the wall of the urinary bladder 112 [0105] 122—lateral portion of the wall of the urinary bladder 112 [0106] 124—ureter orifices [0107] l.sub.1 length of the proximal portion 104 in the expanded state [0108] w.sub.1 width of the proximal portion 104 in the expanded state [0109] l.sub.2 length of the center portion 106 in the expanded state [0110] w.sub.2 width of the center portion 106 in the expanded state [0111] l.sub.3 length of the distal portion 108 in the expanded state [0112] w.sub.3 width of the distal portion 108 in the expanded state [0113] {tilde over (l)}.sub.1 length of the proximal portion 104 in the collapsed state [0114] {tilde over (w)}.sub.1 width of the proximal portion 104 in the collapsed state [0115] {tilde over (l)}—length of the center portion 106 in the collapsed state [0116] {tilde over (w)}.sub.2—width of the center portion 106 in the collapsed state [0117] {tilde over (l)}.sub.3—length of the distal portion 108 in the collapsed state [0118] {tilde over (w)}.sub.3—width of the distal portion 108 in the collapsed state [0119] 200—transurethral catheter device [0120] 202—inflatable balloon [0121] 204—wall of the inflatable balloon 202 [0122] 206 inner volume of the inflatable balloon 202 [0123] 208—constraining element [0124] 210—inflation tube [0125] 212—distal opening of the inflation tube 210 [0126] 214—urine extraction tube [0127] 216 distal opening of the urine extraction tube 214 [0128] 300 transurethral catheter device [0129] 304 distal inflatable balloon [0130] 302—proximal inflatable balloon [0131] 306 proximal inflation tube [0132] 308 distal opening of the proximal inflation tube 306 [0133] 310 distal inflation tube [0134] 312 distal opening of the distal inflation tube 310 [0135] 400 transurethral catheter device [0136] 402—urine reservoir [0137] 404 supply unit [0138] 406 pump [0139] 408 supply reservoir [0140] 410 control unit [0141] 412—flow meter [0142] 414 pressure sensor [0143] 500 method of using a transurethral catheter device [0144] 502—step of inserting the expandable body assembly 102 into the urinary bladder 112 [0145] 504—step of expanding the expandable body assembly 102 to the expanded state [0146] 506 step of maintaining the displacement volume and/or pressure [0147] 508 step of draining urine from urinary bladder 112 [0148] 600 transurethral catheter device [0149] 602 insertion tube [0150] 604 distal opening of the insertion tube 602 [0151] 106r radial cross section of the center portion 106 of the transurethral catheter device 600 [0152] 700 method of using a transurethral catheter device [0153] 702 step of inserting the proximal expandable body into the urinary bladder 112 [0154] 704—step of expanding the proximal expandable body to the expanded state [0155] 706 step of draining urine from urinary bladder 112 [0156] 708—step of inserting the distal expandable body into the urinary bladder 112 [0157] 710 step of expanding the distal expandable body to the expanded state