PARTIAL-LENGTH INDWELLING URINARY CATHETER AND METHOD PERMITTING SELECTIVE URINE DISCHARGE

摘要

A partial-length catheter, or an extendable tube or sleeve member of the catheter, is selectively movable within the prostatic urethra to open a urin e drainage passageway through and obstructed portion of the prostatic urethra or to open the external urinary sphincter muscle and thereby discharge urine from the bladder. A control element is manipulated at a position exterior of the urinary canal to selectively move the catheter or the extendable tube or sleeve member, thereby selectively controlling urine discharge. The catheter may also be used to diagnose urinary retention problems caused by a weak bladder or a prostatic obstruction.