Non-occluding catheter bolus

摘要

An improved catheter for delivering fluid to a body cavity or aspirating the cavity. The catheter includes a cylindrical tube having a proximal end for joining the tube to a source of fluid or suction and a distal end connected to a bolus. The bolus includes a tubular shaped body formed of semi-rigid plastic. The body includes a tube connector section at one end, a tip section at the other end and a passage section between the connector section and the tip section. The passage section also contains a radial passage portion adjacent the tip section that forms a port through the side of the body. The port extends around more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the body. A bolus body segment forms a portion of the passage section opposite the port and connects the tip section with the tube connector section. The body segment includes side walls having a height which is less than 50 percent of the outside radius of the body. The body segment includes an arcuate base in the radially extending passage portion below the port. The body segment also includes a structural component protruding radially outwardly therefrom that is effective to prevent the body segment from bending and restricting the port.