Urinary catheter and method with increased resistance to obstructions

Abstract

A catheter for draining urine from a bladder is made more resistant obstructions and blood clot accumulations by configurations of urine inlet openings into an interior urine drainage passageway. The inlet opening configurations include a whistle tip, a multiple opening tip, a couvelaire tip, and a beveled tip with a direct opening into the passageway. A low friction coating also resists blood clot accumulation. A single-use or multiple-use clearing device moves within the interior drainage passageway to contact, disintegrate, and facilitate movement of the accumulated clots and obstructions out of the urine inlet opening and interior passageway.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 665,742, filed Sep. 17, 2003, by the inventors hereof and assigned to the assignee hereof. The subject matter of this prior application and invention is incorporated herein by this reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to an urinary catheter and the use of an urinary catheter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved catheter that reduces the incidence of obstructions in the urine flow path through the catheter, such as those arising from blood clots, and to a new and improved catheter that facilitates removing and disintegrating blood clot obstructions should they occur. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Prostate problems, such as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and malignant prostate cancer, are common occurrences among older men. The effects of these diseases are generally accompanied by swelling or enlargement of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about a urinary catheter that can be used to drain urine from the bladder through the urinary tract. The catheter is designed to prevent the accumulation of blood clots and other obstructions, which can cause difficulties in urine drainage. This is achieved by an inlet opening that allows blood clots and other debris to pass through the catheter and be removed with the urine. The catheter can also include a clearing device to help disintegrate any blood clots or other obstructions that may accumulate in the catheter. Overall, this design improves the efficiency and durability of the catheter, reduces the risk of infection and irritation, and promotes better healing of the prostate gland after surgery."

Problems solved by technology

Apart from the life-threatening aspects of malignant prostate cancer, the everyday symptoms and effects of these diseases are usually troublesome.

One such problem relates to the ability to control and achieve normal urine discharge.

When the prostate gland enlarges to the extent that it obstructs the prostatic urethra through the prostate gland, considerable difficulties arise in discharging urine at will.

Surgical operations offer a high probability of an excellent clinical outcome, but they are associated with a high degree of morbidity.

Thereafter, the destroyed or damaged tissue sloughs off, is absorbed in the body, and otherwise results in an enlargement of the urinary passageway through the prostate gland.

TURP and the different prostate heat treating techniques cause temporary side effects, for example inflammation and swelling of the prostate.

The tissue of the prostate gland which remains viable after a TUMT or a heat treatment is quite raw and tender, and direct contact from urine can aggravate the inflammation and increase the risk of infection.

In those cases where the diseased prostate gland cannot be treated by a TURP or a heat treatment, the obstruction may become so significant that normal urinary functions are not possible or are only possible with great difficulty.

TURP and heat treatment surgical procedures usually destroy the internal urinary sphincter muscle.

In addition to the patient lacking the ability to naturally control urine flow when using a full-length urinary catheter, the extension of the catheter out of the exterior opening of the urinary canal and the presence of the clamp valve and the reservoir cause discomfort, are awkward to deal with and may be embarrassing for the patient.

The full-length urinary catheter may create limitations from a social standpoint and almost always creates quality of life issues which must be confronted.

Sexual activity is impossible.

An increased risk of infection also results.

Either type of unintended movement may require serious medical intervention to correct.

However, the balloon cannot prevent the partial-length urinary catheter from moving out of the prostatic urethra and into the bladder.

Treatment of the prostate gland with a TUMT or a heat treatment usually causes the destruction of the bladder neck and results in blood clots which enter the bladder.

Replacement of the catheter shortly after treatment causes irritation to the treatment area, can be painful for the patient, typically prolongs of the healing time period, and creates greater medical expense if the catheter must be removed and replaced.

Another possibility of blockage of the catheter is due to obstructions from other natural body substances in the bladder or the urine.

While such risks are not as significant as those risks which arise because of blood clots after a surgical procedure, such risks are nevertheless significant for those individuals who must utilize an urinary catheter on a full-time basis, because of the continual possibility of obstruction to the urine passageway through the catheter.

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