DRAINAGE CATHETER

摘要

A drainage catheter (10) is adapted to drain fluid from the body cavity through a body conduit and includes an elongate tube (34) having a distal en d and a retention member (36) disposed at the distal end and adapted for movement between the low-profile state facilitating insertion of the cathete r and a high-profile state facilitating the tension of the catheter (10) in it s operative position. A woven mesh forms at least a portion of one of the tube and the retention member, and can be made permeable or impermeable in variou s regions of the catheter. The woven mesh (38) can be formed of filaments heat - settable so that the catheter automatically moves to the high-profile state. Insertion of the catheter (10) can be facilitated using an obturator (121) a nd a guidewire (127) in an associated method, an obturator (121) facilitating insertion of the catheter (10) can be removed to permit the catheter (10) to automatically return to a normal, high-profile state.