BLADDER CATHETER FOR THE MINIMALLY INVASIVE DISCHARGE OF URINE

Abstract

The invention relates to devices (1) for draining or closing a natural or artificial bladder outlet by means of a balloon body (3) made of preferably micro-scale thin-walled Polyurethane, which has a vesical anchor, is transurethrally sealing and is extended into the urethra or through the urethra. According to the invention, the balloon body is seated on a shaft body (2) supporting the balloon, and the filling of the balloon body is preferably done with air.

Claims

1. A device in the form of a tube or catheter for draining or sealing a natural or artificial bladder outlet, comprising a shaft body that can be applied extracorporeally into the bladder, as well as a balloon that surrounds it like a cuff for the vesical anchoring of the shaft body in the bladder, characterized in that the balloon is elongated into the urethra or through the urethra for the purpose of transurethral sealing.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balloon is configured with thin walls, preferably with micro-thin walls.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balloon consists of polyurethane, preferably of micro-thin-walled polyurethane.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balloon is already pre-shaped to its working dimensions during manufacture and that it rests upon the catheter shaft in an only incompletely filled, flaccid state.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized by low volumetric expandability of the balloon envelope.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the intra-vesical portion (IV) of the balloon is bulbous or conical, wherein the tip of the bulb or cone is oriented toward the trigone (BT) of the bladder so that, when partially filled, it can snugly fit as well as possible in the respective situs of the bladder outlet.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the trans-urethral portion (TU) of the balloon is preferably provided with a “residual” diameter, in particular, pre-formed, that exceeds the diameter of the urethral lumen by ca. 0.5 to 1.5 times, preferably by 0.5 to 1.0 times.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the trans-urethral portion (TU) of the balloon is dimensioned or pre-formed such that it corresponds to or falls just below the diameter of the respective urethra.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balloon is or can be filled with a gaseous medium, in particular with air.

10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the anchoring and sealing balloon is preferably filled with an incomplete or partial filling medium, which is dimensioned such that the balloon as a whole remains in a flaccid state of expansion, i.e. that the balloon wall is not exposed to a permanent expanding force.

11. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the anchoring and sealing balloon with the preferably gaseous filling medium is filled to an amount such that it fills the volume of the freely formed balloon to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure.

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized by a feed line, which is integrated into the wall of the balloon-supporting shaft body and which communicates with the balloon, for conducting the filling medium into the balloon.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized by a feed line that empties directly into the proximal end of the balloon for conducting the filling medium into the balloon.

14. The device according to claim 12, characterized by a feed line gap between the proximal end of the balloon and the outer surface of the shaft body for conducting the filling medium into the balloon.

15. The device according to claim 12, characterized by a preferably terminal one-way valve, which is integrated into a feed line to the balloon and which opens when a filling syringe is applied and automatically closes when the syringe cone is removed.

16. The device according to claim 12, characterized by a manometric pressure display that is or can be attached to a feed line to the balloon.

17. The device according to claim 1, characterized by a filling pressure within the balloon on the order of magnitude of approximately 10 mbar or 5 to 7 mmHg.

18. The device according to claim 1, characterized by an antibacterial coating on the surface of the balloon, in particular on the surface of the transurethral balloon extension (TU).

19. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balloon consists of a thin-walled tubing, preferably by blow molding from pre-extruded tubing.

20. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft body is made of polyurethane (PUR) and/or of materials with Shore hardness of 60 A to 90 A, preferably of materials in the hardness range 70 to 85 A.

21. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer diameter of the draining shaft body lies in a range of 2 to 6 mm, preferably in a range of 3 to 5 mm.

22. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall thickness lies in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably in a range of 0.15 mm to 0.3 mm.

23. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the balloon consists of a single continuous balloon envelope.

24. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transurethral portion (TU) of the balloon has one or more balloon compartment(s) that attach to a vesical balloon in the proximal direction and are constructed of separated molded balloon elements, which are arranged together in direct succession.

25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that a plurality of balloon elements are connected together and permit the communicating filling of the respective balloon compartment(s).

26. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that the vesical balloon segment is configured as a flat disk in the region of the bladder floor.

27. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that the vesical balloon portion is provided with a funnel-like outlet region in its distal region.

28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that a film element (TMV) that stabilizes the funnel shape and is shaped accordingly is arranged in the region of a funnel-like section of the balloon, in particular is attached to the balloon.

29. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distal outlet (TM) of the shaft body is located proximally to the distal end of the balloon.

30. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition from the vesical balloon portion into the distal outlet (TM) of the shaft body is located at the same level as the transition of the bladder floor or bladder trigone (BT) into the urethra.

31. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the balloon is inverted through the other.

32. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharging shaft element that is produced by means of shaping has a wavy corrugation, and so it has radial stability and kink-free flexibility.

33. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that both the shaft body and the balloon are formed from a single material blank.

34. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the distal portion of the balloon is configured such that it corresponds to the dimensions of a prostate resection cavity (PH) and preferably has a diameter that is residually dimensioned in this regard.

35. The device according to claim 34, characterized in that the distal end of the balloon, which is placed in the prostate resection cavity (PH), does not project into the bladder but instead runs approximately flush with the bladder floor.

36. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the urethral balloon segment is between 3 and 10 cm long, preferably between 5 and 8 cm.

37. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the proximal end of the trans-urethral balloon segment transitions to a preferably spherical or discoidal expansion (PU) of the balloon, which is deployed directly upstream of the outer urethral opening.

38. The device according to claim 37, characterized by a closure element, e.g. in the form of a disk and/or a sleeve, which is mounted on the shaft body like a cuff and which is disposed outside at the proximal end of the transurethral balloon segment upstream of the preferably spherical or discoidal expansion (PU).

39. The device according to claim 38, characterized in that the closure element can be displaced relative to the shaft body and can be arrested on it so that the extracorporeal end can be compressed toward the orifice in a length-adapting way, wherein the displaceable closure element advantageously immerges into the pre-urethral, spherically or discoidally expanded segment (PU) and is thereby protected from direct contact with the sensitive orifice.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further features, properties, advantages and effects based on the invention arise from the following description of several embodiments of the invention and with the aid of the accompanying drawing.

[0031] The following is shown:

[0032] FIG. 1 an embodiment variant of the device with transurethral placement in the male urethra;

[0033] FIG. 2a a preferred embodiment with free deployment of the balloon, wherein the balloon body has a conical or cone-like shape in the transition from the intravesical to the transurethral segment, and the urethral portion extends into the upper portion of the urethra;

[0034] FIG. 2b a particular embodiment of the balloon body with the balloon freely deployed, wherein the balloon body does not form a bearing surface in the region of the bladder floor or trigone, and is instead positioned within a prostate resection cavity, and transitions from there into a portion of the balloon that is positioned urethrally or transurethrally;

[0035] FIG. 2c a horizontal section of a balloon segment described in FIG. 2b for the tamponade of a surgically created prostatic fossa

[0036] FIG. 3a a single-lumen shaft variant, wherein the transurethral segment of the balloon body extends beyond the outer urethral opening and is filled directly from the proximal end of the balloon body;

[0037] FIG. 3b a modified embodiment of the device described in FIG. 3a, wherein the proximal balloon end that extends beyond the outer orifice can be fixed or caught by a sleeve- or disk-like element;

[0038] FIG. 3c a further embodiment of the device described in FIG. 3a;

[0039] FIG. 4a an embodiment variant of the catheter for the transurethral sealing of the female urethra;

[0040] FIG. 4b a modification of the device described in FIG. 4a, with a conical embodiment of the urethrally tamponaded transurethral balloon segment;

[0041] FIG. 5 a particular embodiment of a catheter shaft, wherein crystalline deposits on the inner and outer shaft surfaces can be avoided by the bellows-like corrugation of the shaft;

[0042] FIG. 6 a particularly cost-effective embodiment of the catheter, which is constructed out of a single continuously molded element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a male urinary tract, with a transurethrally placed device 1 according to the invention in the form of an indwelling bladder catheter with a catheter shaft. In this embodiment, the shaft body 2 of said shaft is covered by a balloon 3, which surrounds the shaft body 2 like a cuff over its entire vesical and urethral extent. Preferably, all sections of the balloon 3—both in the vesical region and in the urethral region—are completely formed to the working dimensions that are necessary for the untensioned tamponade of the particular hollow organ. In an especially preferred embodiment, the diameter in the urethral region slightly exceeds the diameter of the urethra. The anchoring and sealing balloon 3 has a bulbous or conical expansion in its intravesical portion IV. According to the invention, configurations of the balloon are preferred that permit the balloon to fit into the outlet portion of the bladder such that it seals as large an area as possible and in this way, in addition to subjecting the bladder trigone BT to force that is as uniform and atraumatic as possible, permit the most efficient seal possible with the lowest possible filling pressure.

[0044] The urethra-side end of the balloon element 3 transitions into a streamlined urethral extension TU. As is shown here, the urethral extension can extend over the entire length of the urethra and beyond the outer ostium.

[0045] The diameter ratio of the vesical expansion IV to the urethral extension TU is preferably 2:1 to 6:1, especially preferably 3:1 to 4:1. The wall thickness in the region of the intravesicular expansion IV is preferably 5 to 30 micrometers, especially preferably 10 to 15 micrometers. In the transurethral segment TU, the balloon is preferably 10 to 30 micrometers, and especially preferably 12 to 20 micrometers.

[0046] In the embodiment shown, the balloon element 3 is filled through a filling channel, which is integrated into the catheter shaft and transitions to a tube-like filling line 6 at the proximal end of the shaft. For the greatest possible reduction of the filling pressure or of the forces exerted on the adjacent tissue by the device, the balloon body is filled only incompletely, e.g. to 60 to 80% of its freely formed and unpressurized volume. The conceptually preferred flaccid or untensioned property of the balloon 3 filled in this way permits the flaccid balloon envelope to nestle intravesicularly against the individually distinct wall of the outlet portion of the bladder in a way that creates an optimal seal. The pressure taken on intravesicularly from the flaccidly filled balloon 3 has a sealing effect over the surface in the urethral segment TU of the balloon 3. Ideally, the lower urinary tracts can thereby be sealed while placing the catheter in a way that is nearly pressure-neutral overall.

[0047] The balloon 3 can be filled both with gaseous and with liquid media.

[0048] In the preferred polyurethane embodiment of the balloon element 3, gaseous media, such as ambient air, offer the further advantage of tissue-conserving compressibility. Additionally, in contrast to liquids, they can be applied easily and can also be monitored and adjusted with the aid of a pressure regulator.

[0049] The urethral extension TU can project directly out of the vesical segment 4 of the balloon 3, but it can also be affixed to the vesical balloon in the proximal extension as a structurally independent compartment. The vesical balloon segment 4 and the adjoining urethral balloon segment 5 are then communicatingly connected with each other.

[0050] In a sequential arrangement such as this, various materials can optionally also be combined. If required, extremely thin walls in the range of 5 to 10 micrometers can also be produced in the urethral balloon section 5, and they correspondingly improve the urethral sealing performance over the wall thickness-related seal that is achieved by molding from a single blank.

[0051] In addition to polyurethane, the balloon element 3 can be manufactured from comparably thin-walled soft films, alternative materials such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or TPE-based basic materials. However, the specific properties of polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 70A to 95A are preferred, and Shore hardness of 85 A to 90 A are especially preferred. The production is preferably carried out by blow molding pre-extruded tubing material. Coextruded starting materials, which combine e.g. PUR and PVC in a coaxially extruded way, can also be considered for the blow molding.

[0052] FIG. 2a presents a preferably molded balloon body 3 that is freely deployed. Here the intravesical portion IV of the balloon 3 tapers conically in the transition area toward the transurethral extension TU of the balloon 3. In this particular embodiment for the male urethra, the transurethral extension TU extends only up to the transition from the upper third to the central third of the urethra.

[0053] The distal end of the balloon is preferably provided with a funnel-like inversion TM, the outlet SM of which is positioned approximately at the level of the transition or bladder trigone BT when filled and placed in the vesicle. The stability of the funnel formation can be stabilized by a separate funnel-like element TMV consisting, for example, of reinforcing film.

[0054] In this instance, the filling line 6 to the catheter balloon is provided with a display mechanism 7 at its free end that displays the filling pressure and allows changes to be made in vesicular, and largely analogously, in intra-abdominal pressure in a simple way. For this purpose, the balloon is preferably filled with an incomplete filling volume, which leaves the balloon in a flaccid and unexpanded state, which in turn allows it to accurately take on the respective prevailing vesical and intra-abdominal pressures. The device can thus be used as a technically simple alternative to systems with complex designs for measuring the absolute intra-abdominal pressure and can display relative changes in pressure in the abdomen.

[0055] FIG. 2b shows an embodiment of the balloon body 3, in which said balloon body does not form a particular bearing surface in the region of the bladder floor or trigone, but is instead positioned within a prostate resection cavity PH, and transitions from there into a balloon segment TU that is positioned in the urethra. The balloon portion TP that is molded for placement in the cavity formed after the resection of the prostate nestles against the situs in a space-filling way. The balloon portion TP is preferably dimensioned such that it exceeds the measurements of the respective prostate resection cavity and that it lies folded against the wall of the respective cavity in such a way that it is optimally untensioned while also providing an optimal seal.

[0056] This embodiment is advantageous primarily for patients whose bladders close insufficiently as a result of a resection or in whom urine permanently penetrates into the resection cavity and from there drains into the urethra. In order to optimize the untensioned snug fit of the balloon envelope in the prostate cavity, the balloon portion TP can be provided with an axially attached, bellows-like profile TPF. Resection cavities with irregularly shaped diameters can thus be tamponaded in a particularly advantageous way with a dynamic effect on the structures abutting the balloon that is as homogeneous as possible. If the external sphincter of the bladder is also affected in addition to the internal sphincter, the insufficient closure caused by this can be efficiently sealed by the urethral extension TU of the balloon body, which is elongated beyond the structures of the pelvic floor.

[0057] FIG. 2c shows the fold F in the residually dimensioned balloon envelope TP, which is accommodated in the transversal section when positioned in the prostate cavity. In particular for prominent structures that protrude into the fossa or for parts of the cavity wall, a uniformly efficiently sealing tamponade of the resection cavity can be established by the residual sizing of the balloon.

[0058] FIG. 3a describes an embodiment of the invention in which the proximal end of the urethral balloon segment PU projects beyond the outer end of the urethra. The balloon element 3 is filled through a feed line here, which is connected directly to the extracorporeal, proximal end of the urethral balloon segment PU. The balloon envelope is closed proximally by a separate element 8, which closes the balloon 3 in the proximal direction and which is clamped into the proximal end of the envelope PU. The closure element 8 has an opening 9 that sealingly accommodates the urine-discharging catheter shaft 2. The opening 9 itself can be provided with a lip-like or ring-like sealing element 10, which makes the closure element, as well as the pre-urethral balloon end PU attached to it, displaceable relative to the shaft 2. The balloon end of the urethral tamponading balloon portion, which extends beyond the urethral opening, can thus be compressed toward the glans in the manner of a bellows or its length can be adjusted.

[0059] Alternatively, an extension of the balloon envelope itself that is suitable for connecting a flexible supply line can be formed in the region of the proximal balloon envelope.

[0060] FIGS. 3b and 3c show two alternative embodiments which concern fixing the pre-urethral portion of the tamponading balloon 3 in place and cutting it to size. For one thing, according to FIG. 3b, the proximal balloon end can be provided with a disk 11 consisting of an elastic material and having a central opening 12, said disk being mounted on the catheter shaft 2 with sealing tension. By its pressing effect on the shaft, the disk 11 limits the pre-urethral expansion of the tamponading balloon and prevents the balloon portion proximal to the disk from filling. According to FIG. 3c, a sleeve-like elongate element 13 can be integrated into the device and is displaced from the proximal end of the shaft over the pre-urethral end of the balloon PU, and the area of deployment of the balloon envelope upstream of the urethral opening is limited in this way.

[0061] FIG. 4a shows a specifically shortened embodiment of the urethral tamponade TU for the female urethra. In this embodiment, the urethral segment TU preferably extends through the urethra. It has a length of 2 to 6 cm, preferably 3 to 4 cm. The proximal end of the trans-urethral segment TU transitions to a preferably spherical or discoidal expansion of the balloon envelope 14, which is deployed directly upstream of the outer urethral opening.

[0062] Because the length of the urethra varies among individuals, this embodiment is preferably equipped with a claimed element 11 and/or 13 which, as is shown in FIG. 3a, permit a pre-urethral sizing and fixation of the balloon envelope.

[0063] Since the female urethra is generally similar in length but has a variable diameter, depending upon the individual sphincter tone, the invention proposes a conical expansion of the diameter of the trans-urethral segment TU extending from the inner entrance of the urethra to the outer outlet of the urethra, as is shown in FIG. 4b.

[0064] In the embodiments according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the closure element 8 described in FIG. 3a, which can be displaced relative to the shaft body 2, can be used advantageously to receive the proximal end of the pre-urethral segment PU. It permits the length-adapting compression of the extracorporeal end toward the orifice, wherein the element 8 advantageously immerges into the pre-urethral, spherically or discoidally expanded segment and is thereby protected from direct contact with the sensitive orifice. The elements 11 and/or 13 for fixing the extracorporeal balloon in place or cutting it to size can likewise be combined with this design.

[0065] The embodiments described in FIGS. 4a and 4b can also advantageously be utilized for so-called supra-pubic catheters, in which the transcutaneous puncture channel is similarly tamponaded by a balloon extension that is adjacent to the vesical balloon portion. The techniques described in the invention for fixing the extracorporeal balloon segment in place and cutting it to size can be used here, as well.

[0066] Furthermore, the embodiments described in FIGS. 4a and 4b can be employed as a urethra closure device in cases of functionally insufficient sphincters and urinary incontinence. In this case, the draining shaft element can be replaced by a blind tubule, which in particular is designed to be so kink-resistant that it allows for self-catheterization by the patient. When the balloon body is correspondingly thin-walled with a thickness in the micrometer range, e.g. 5 to 15 μm, minimally irritating, easy-to-wear stopper-like closure products can be produced in particular for women with stress incontinence.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a particular embodiment of a urine-discharging catheter shaft 14 which is made of an elastic material and which has walls that are provided with a wave-like profile 15 over the entire wall, wherein the profile gives the shaft bellows-like compression and extension mechanics. The intermittent axial stretching of the bellows-like shaft body 2 makes it possible to break off the crystalloid urine deposits, which lead to a progressive narrowing of the lumen during the course of drainage in conventional urine-discharging catheters, in a way that opens the lumen and to remove them from both the inner and outer walls of the catheter. If the pulling effect decreases, the shaft's particular elastic deformation property results in a prompt restoration of the bellows-like profile. The axial increase in the length of the shaft triggered by the axial pulling effect preferably arises even in response to small relative movements between the patient and catheter or minor tensile forces.

[0068] FIG. 6 represents an embodiment of the urine-discharging device, the components of which are molded almost completely from one single material blank, preferably by blow molding. In so doing, the end of the molded balloon body 2a is inverted through the other end 2b of the balloon. The end 2b is then sealed to the surface of the end 2a that is elongated to the discharging tube. The claimed anchoring and sealing balloon body with a vesical IV and a transurethral portion TU is formed in this way. To configure the urine-discharging shaft portion 2 to be sufficiently kink-resistant and flexible, the shaft is provided with a wavy corrugation 15, in the manner of a corrugated tube, over its entire length or else only in some sections. For example, polyurethane types advantageous for balloon molding, having a higher durometer reading of 90 A to 95 A and 55 D to 65 D on the Shore scale can be used; when combined with a lumen-stabilizing, corrugated tube-like profile, these polyurethanes provide sufficient stability for the lumen in the shaft area, even in a thin-walled embodiment, as well as sufficient untensioned flexibility of the shaft. The molded shaft can comprise the following features, for instance: Outer diameter 3.5 mm, inner diameter 3.2 mm, polyurethane with Shore hardness 95 A, corrugation amplitude 0.7 mm, peak-to-peak spacing of the corrugation 0.5 mm. The molded balloon portion comprises: Wall thickness vesical −10 μm with a maximum diameter of 25 mm, wall thickness transurethral −20 μm with a maximum diameter of 10 mm. The balloon is filled preferably through a feed line 17, which is inserted into the joining region of the balloon end 2b on the shaft, between the shaft and balloon end, and empties here into the balloon. The feed line is preferably retained in an enveloping tubular film 18 that attaches to the balloon end 2b and preferably extends over the entire length of the shaft.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 1 Device

[0070] 2 Shaft body

[0071] 3 Balloon

[0072] 4 Vesical balloon segment

[0073] 5 Urethral balloon segment

[0074] 6 Filling line

[0075] 7 Display mechanism

[0076] 8 Closure element

[0077] 9 Opening

[0078] 10 Annular sealing element

[0079] 11 Disk

[0080] 12 Opening

[0081] 13 Sleeve

[0082] 14 Catheter shaft

[0083] 15 Wave-like profile

[0084] 17 Feed line

[0085] 18 Tubular film

[0086] IV Intravesical portion

[0087] BT Bladder trigone

[0088] TU Transurethral extension

[0089] TM Funnel outlet

[0090] TMV Funnel reinforcement element

[0091] PH Prostate resection cavity

[0092] TP Balloon envelope

[0093] TPF Bellows-like profile

[0094] F Fold

[0095] PU Envelope end