AN IMPROVED TUBE FOR A URETHRAL CATHETER AND CATHETER COMPRISING IT

Abstract

The invention is enclosed in the area of multi-way urethral catheters suitable for draining urine or blood from the bladder of a patient. The invention comprises a tube for a urethral catheter (1) comprising at least three channels, wherein an instillation opening (2), at least one drainage opening (3), and a distal balloon (4) are formed in the tube and connected to different channels, the distal balloon (4) is formed in the tip of the tube and the instillation opening (2) is arranged in such a way that instillation liquid exiting such opening directly hits the distal balloon (4), when the distal balloon (4) is inflated. The relative positioning of the instillation opening (2) and the distal balloon (4), combined with the distal balloon (4) positioned in the tip of the tube, provide that instillation liquid exiting the opening is spread through the bladder, after hitting the distal balloon (4).

Claims

1. A tube for a urethral catheter (1) characterised in that it comprises at least three channels, wherein: an instillation opening (2), at least one drainage opening (3), and a distal balloon (4), are formed in the tube and connected to different channels, the distal balloon (4) is formed in the tip of the tube and each instillation opening (2) are arranged in such a way that instillation liquid exiting such openings hits directly the distal balloon (4), when the distal balloon (4) is inflated.

2. A tube according to the previous claim wherein it further comprises a proximal balloon (5) which consists of a Foley type balloon, the instillation opening (2) being arranged between the two balloons.

3. A tube according to claim 1 wherein the distal balloon (4) has a shape with a circumferential cross section, and the surface of the distal balloon (4) is striated by a plurality of grooves and lumps (6) arranged on such surface, the grooves and lumps (6) being longitudinally, circumferentially or spirally arranged.

4. A tube according to claim 2 wherein the distal balloon (4) has a substantially conical shape and its least diameter area faces the tube.

5. A tube according to claim 2 wherein the distal balloon (4) has a spherical shape.

6. A tube according to claim 2 wherein it comprises only three channels and the two balloons are connected to a same channel, the distal balloon (4) being inflatable at the same time or after inflation of the proximal balloon (5) through such channel.

7. A tube according to claim 2 wherein it comprises at least four channels and the two balloons are connected to two different channels, each of the two balloons thereby being independently inflatable through each of said two different channels.

8. A tube according to claim 1 wherein the drainage openings have an oval shape and/or are uniformly arranged/distributed between the two balloons and on the circumference of the surface of the tube.

9. A tube according to claim 1 wherein it further comprises an additional drainage opening, located in the tip of the tube.

10. A tube according to claim 1 wherein the material it is made of consists of latex, silicone or a silicone polymer, optionally an inert silicone polymer.

11. A tube according to claim 2 wherein the drainage openings (3) are arranged between the two balloons, preferably each instillation opening (2) being arranged between the distal balloon (4) and the drainage openings (3).

12. A urethral catheter (1) characterised in that it comprises at least three external openings (7) and a tube for a urethral catheter (1), the tube comprising at least three channels and: an instillation opening (2), at least one drainage opening (3), and a distal balloon (4), which are formed in the tube and connected to different channels, the distal balloon (4) is formed in the tip of the tube and each instillation opening (2) are arranged in such a way that instillation liquid exiting such openings hits directly the distal balloon (4), when the distal balloon (4) is inflated, and wherein each channel of the tube being connectable to one of the external openings (7).

13. A catheter according to the previous claim, wherein it comprises only three external openings (7) and the tube comprises only three channels and the two balloons are connected to a same channel, the distal balloon (4) being inflatable at the same time or after inflation of the proximal balloon (5) through such channel, or the catheter comprises at least four external openings (7) and the tube comprises at least four channels and the two balloons are connected to two different channels, each of the two balloons thereby being independently inflatable through each said two different channels.

14. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein the tube further comprises a proximal balloon (5) which consists of a Foley type balloon, the instillation opening (2) being arranged between the two balloons and wherein each inlet which is connectable to the channel of the tube which in turn is connected to the two balloons has a valve, said valve being such that it has a minimum pressure threshold which prevents any of the balloons from deflating.

15. A catheter according to claim 12 wherein the tube further comprises a proximal balloon (5) which consists of a Foley type balloon, the instillation opening (2) being arranged between the two balloons and wherein the external openings (7) and the tube with the balloons are formed in a single piece, or the external openings (7) are separated from the tube with the balloons, and are connectable to the tube with the balloons.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1—representation of an embodiment of the urethral catheter (1) of the present invention, comprising three external openings (7) and the tube of the present invention with three channels, each channel of the tube being connected to one of the external openings (7). The tube comprises an instillation opening (2), several drainage openings (3) and a distal balloon (4). These are connected to different channels. In FIG. 1, the catheter is not presented in its entirety, which can be longer or shorter. The balloons are not filled. Although not seen in the present figure, the catheter contains a distal balloon (4) and a proximal balloon (5) (see FIG. 2).

[0021] FIG. 2—representation of the same embodiment of the urethral catheter (1) as of FIG. 1, in the present case in which air was inserted through the opening connected by a channel to the distal and proximal balloons (5), by means of a syringe (8), the balloons thereby being filled.

[0022] FIG. 3—representation of the distal part of the catheter/tube, containing the distal and proximal balloons (5). The distal balloon (4) which has a shape with a circumferential cross section, and the surface of the distal balloon (4) is striated by a plurality of circumferential grooves and lumps (6) arranged on such surface, the grooves and lumps (6) being spirally arranged. Such shape and striated configuration provide that instillation liquid entering the bladder acquires a swirl movement, in particular a helical movement, by hitting the grooves and lumps (6) arranged spirally in the surface. The distal balloon (4) has a substantially conical shape and its least diameter area faces the tube.

[0023] FIG. 4—representation of the distal part of the catheter/tube, containing the distal and proximal balloons (5). In this case, and with regard to FIG. 3, the grooves and lumps (6) are arranged longitudinally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The more general and advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the Summary of the invention. Such configurations are detailed below in accordance with other advantageous and/or preferred embodiments of implementation of the present invention.

[0025] In a preferred and inventive embodiment of the tube of the present invention, it comprises only three channels and the two balloons are connected to a same channel, the distal balloon (4) being inflatable at the same time or after inflation of the proximal balloon (5) through such channel. Therefore, a same channel may be used to inflate the two balloons, thus avoiding the (more complicated) formation of an additional channel (for the second balloon) in the tube, which would decrease the section of the tube available for drainage. Alternatively, and although more complicated to produce, it is also possible to provide a tube which comprises at least four channels and the two balloons are connected to two different channels, each of the two balloons thereby being independently inflatable through each of said two different channels.

[0026] Preferably, the drainage openings have an oval shape and/or are uniformly arranged/distributed between the two balloons and on the circumference of the surface of the tube. Between the balloons there may be 2 or 3 orifices. In case of two orifices, each are separated by 5 to 10 mm, on opposite sides of the catheter, with their centre 180° apart from each other (seen from a sectional view of the catheter). In case of 3 orifices, their centre are 120° apart from each other, when seen from a sectional view of the catheter. An additional opening may be located at the tip of the tube (on the centre of the catheter and of the balloon).

[0027] Preferably, the material the tube is made of consists of latex, silicone or a silicone polymer, optionally an inert silicone polymer (that is, the same materials the other standard bladder catheters are made of), or other similar materials.

[0028] Preferably, the drainage openings (3) are arranged between the two balloons, preferably each instillation opening (2) being arranged between the distal balloon (4) and the drainage openings (3). There may be an additional orifice at the tip of the catheter, within the distal balloon (4).

[0029] The catheter of the present invention may take two main configurations as regards the number of external openings (7): it comprises only three external openings (7)—which consist of two inlets and one outlet and the tube is according to claim 6, or it comprises at least four external openings (7)—which consist of three inlets and one outlet—and the tube is according to claim 7.

[0030] In an inventive aspect of the catheter of the present invention, it comprises a tube with a distal and a proximal balloon (5), and each inlet which is connectable to the channel of the tube, which in turn is connected to the two balloons has a valve, said valve being such that it has a minimum pressure threshold which prevents any of the balloons from deflating. It thus provides a single inlet/channel for the two balloons. Alternatively, the catheter comprises a tube with a distal and a proximal balloon (5), the external openings (7) and the tube with the balloons being formed in a single piece, or the external openings (7) are separated from the tube with the balloons, and are connectable to the tube with the balloons.

[0031] As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein, and a number of changes are possible which remain within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] Of course, the preferred embodiments shown above are combinable, in the different possible forms, being herein avoided the repetition all such combinations.