| 摘要 |
An indwelling catheter having an extremely low profile proximal section. The indwelling catheter of the present invention solves the problems associated with the prior art feeding catheters by providing an extremely low profile proximal section which is situated external to the patient's body when the catheter is in place. The external portion is preferably in the form of a "trap door", including a flat base portion that lies against the patient's skin and a flat, hinged cover which is operative to seal the proximal opening of the catheter when not in use. In order to retain the catheter and prevent it from being accidentally dislodged, the catheter includes a series of helical coils which are unformed during catheter insertion and then automatically reform in order to hold the catheter in place internally. The catheter is self-adjusting in that fewer or greater loops will automatically reform depending upon the thickness of the patient's abdominal wall. The catheter of the present invention is therefore self-adjusting in order to accommodate the distance between the abdominal wall and the stomach.
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