SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTING A CATHETER

摘要

A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra. The element is extendible and retractable to position the catheter between stressed and relaxed states while maintaining engagement to the catheter proximal portion. The tool, element and tip member are removable from the catheter after implantation of the catheter in the urethra.

主权项

1. A catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter including a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an internal channel extending from the catheter proximal portion to the catheter distal portion; an extendible element which includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, and extends through the internal channel of the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter and which includes an internal channel and has an outer surface, and at least one opening in the proximal portion of the extendible element between the internal channel of the extendible element and the outer surface thereof; an extendible element/catheter proximal locking element comprising a member engaged with the proximal portion of the catheter and with the proximal portion of the extendible element and a locking filament slidably disposed within the internal channel of the extendible element from the distal portion to the proximal thereof, exiting the internal channel of the extendible element through the at least one opening, engaging the member engaged with the proximal portion of the catheter, returning to the internal channel of the extendible element and extending to the distal portion of the extendible element so as to releasably attach the extendible element and the proximal portion of the catheter so that the proximal portions of the extendible element and the catheter can be detached; and a handle engaged with the distal portion of the extendible element and the distal portion of the assembly which releasably engages the distal portion of the extendible element and the distal portion of the assembly, the handle being movable relative to the assembly when not engaged therewith; wherein: when the extendible element is releasably attached to the proximal portion of the catheter and releasably engaged with the distal portion of the assembly, one or more of push, pull and rotational forces applied to the extendible element are transmitted to the proximal and distal portions of the catheter while the catheter is being inserted into the lumen; and when the extendible element is released from attachment with the proximal portion of the catheter and from engagement with the distal portion of the assembly, the extendible element can be axially withdrawn from the catheter.