BALLOON CATHETER FOR DILATING A PROSTRATIC URETHRA

摘要

FLEXIBLE BALLOON CATHETER FOR DILATING A PROSTATIC URETHRA A catheter system for dilating the prostatic urethra of a male patient. The catheter has an elongated tubular catheter body with an inner lumen extending therein, an inflatable relatively inelastic balloon on the distal extremity of the catheter body, a core member extending through the balloon interior and at least to and preferably out the distal end of the catheter body where a flexible body such as a helical coil is disposed about and secured thereto. The catheter body proximal to the balloon has a diameter which is sufficiently small to allow the catheter shaft to be slidably disposed within the working channel of a flexible cystoscope. The flexible cystoscope can be utilized to allow the physician performing the dilatation to observe the external sphincter to ensure that there is no dilation thereof.