Device for protecting a catheter, and a method for locating a catheter in a remote location in a human or animal body

摘要

A device (1) comprises a sheath (9) for protecting a balloon catheter (2) from contamination with bodily fluids and other matter during the carrying out of a procedure or investigation at a remote site in a human or animal body. The sheath (9) defines a catheter accommodating portion (14) and a balloon accommodating portion (15) for accommodating a catheter (4) and a balloon (8) of the balloon catheter (2) therein. The sheath (9) is of a flexible material having a closed distal end (11) and a proximal opening (13) at a proximal end (10) thereof to a hollow interior region (12) within which the balloon catheter (2) is accommodated. A guide wire engaging distal portion (19) engages and locates a guide wire (7) within the sheath (9). The balloon accommodating portion (15) permits inflating of the balloon (8) to a predefined volume.

主权项

1. A combination comprising a balloon catheter, and a device for protecting the balloon catheter, the balloon catheter comprising:
an elongated catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a balloon located on the catheter adjacent the distal end thereof, the device comprising an elongated sheath extending between a proximal end and a closed distal end and defining a hollow interior region, the proximal end of the sheath defining a proximal opening to the hollow interior region, the sheath defining a balloon accommodating portion and a catheter accommodating portion extending from the balloon accommodating portion to the proximal end of the sheath, the balloon catheter being located in the hollow interior region with the balloon located in the balloon accommodating portion and the catheter located in the catheter accommodating portion, the balloon accommodating portion of the sheath being configured to be urgeable by the balloon of the balloon catheter from a collapsed state with the balloon of the balloon catheter deflated to an erect state with the balloon of the balloon catheter inflated to a predefined maximum volume, the balloon accommodating portion having a circumferential length sufficient to accommodate unimpeded inflating of the balloon to the predefined maximum volume with substantially no stretching of the balloon accommodating portion, and the catheter accommodating portion being adapted to accommodate the catheter of the balloon catheter therein and to accommodate the balloon of the balloon catheter therethrough into the balloon accommodating portion with the balloon of the balloon catheter deflated, so that with the balloon deflated on the balloon catheter, the balloon is urgeable through the catheter accommodating portion into the balloon accommodating portion.