NON-PRESSURE TRANSDUCING FLUSHABLE CATHETER

摘要

The present invention provides catheters whose lumen may be cleared of obstructions without transducing pressure changes to the patient compartment in which its proximal end is placed. In an illustrative embodiment, the lumen is cleared by a flush fluid supplied from or to a secondary lumen, with the patient compartment isolated with a gate mechanism. In another illustrative embodiment, the lumen is cleared by a progressively expanding balloon therein.

主权项

1. A flushable drain catheter, comprising:
an elongate catheter body having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a side wall portion, a primary lumen therein, and a secondary lumen therein, with said primary lumen and said secondary lumen separated by a septum; at least one exterior drain opening formed in said catheter body side wall adjacent said proximal end portion; at least one internal flush opening formed in said septum at or adjacent said proximal end portion; and a gate operatively associated with said at least one exterior drain opening, said gate switchable between a drain configuration in which said at least one drain opening is open, and a flush configuration in which said at least one drain opening is closed.