Catheter retainer
A catheter retainer includes a spacer and an anchor that coact to maintain a catheter in a predetermined position within a mammary duct during a ductal lavage procedure. The spacer and the anchor operate together to resist angular or axial displacement of the catheter. A catheter retainer kit is disclosed as well.
1 . A catheter retainer suitable for holding a catheter in a predetermined position within a mammary duct of a human breast, the catheter retainer comprising:
a spacer positionable about the catheter sized for receiving a portion of the catheter, and having a distal end portion for contacting the breast and a proximal end; and
an anchor operatively engageable at the proximal end portion of the spacer with a catheter received within the spacer and removably securable to the breast.
2 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is flexible.
3 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is a plug of a compressible elastomer.
4 . The catheter retainer of claim 3 , wherein the compressible elastomer is polyurethane foam.
5 . The catheter retainer of claim 3 , wherein the spacer defines a slit for receiving the catheter.
6 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein the spacer includes an adhesive on the distal end thereof for removably securing the spacer to the breast.
7 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is removably engageable with the catheter.
8 . The catheter retainer of claim 7 , wherein the anchor defines an aperture through which a portion of the catheter is received.
9 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes an adhesive for removably securing the anchor to the breast.
10 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein the anchor and spacer are integral with one another.
11 . The catheter retainer of claim 1 , wherein an intermediate portion of the catheter is received by the spacer.
12 . A kit comprising:
a catheter,
a flexible spacer for receiving a portion of the catheter and having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;
an anchor operatively engageable with the catheter and removably securable to the breast; and
the spacer and the anchor, in concert, substantially maintaining a predetermined position of the catheter in the mammary duct.
13 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the flexible spacer is a substantially cylindrical plug of a compressible elastomer.
14 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein the flexible spacer defines a slit for receiving an intermediate portion of the catheter.
15 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the spacer includes an adhesive on the distal end thereof for removably securing the spacer to the human breast.
16 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the anchor is removably engageable with the catheter.
17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the anchor defines an aperture through which a portion of the catheter can extend.
18 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the anchor includes an adhesive for removably securing the anchor to the breast.
19 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the catheter includes a hub.
20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the hub defines a through passage in fluid communication with the catheter.
21 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the through passage terminates as a luer taper.
22 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the catheter includes a stop member for limiting extension of the catheter through the aperture defined by the anchor.
23 . The kit of claim 22 , wherein the stop member is an annular detent.
24 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the spacer is a spring member.
25 . The kit of claim 24 , wherein the spacer is a leaf spring.
26 . The kit of claim 12 , wherein the anchor and spacer are integral with one another.
27 . The catheter retainer of claim 12 , wherein an intermediate portion of the catheter is received by the spacer.
28 . A retainer comprising suitable for use in a ductal lavage or nipple fluid aspiration procedure in association with a catheter introduced into a mammary duct of a human breast and comprising:
a spacer for receiving a portion of the catheter, and an anchor operatively engageable with the catheter and removably securable to the breast;
the spacer and the anchor, in concert, substantially maintaining the catheter at a predetermined position in the mammary duct.
29 . The catheter retainer of claim 28 , wherein the flexible spacer is a cylindrical plug of a compressible elastomer.
30 . The catheter retainer of claim 29 , wherein the flexible spacer defines a slit for receiving an intermediate portion of the catheter.
31 . The catheter retainer of claim 28 , wherein the spacer includes an adhesive for removably securing the spacer to the human breast.
32 . The catheter retainer of claim 28 , wherein the anchor is removably engageable with the catheter.
33 . The catheter retainer of claim 32 , wherein the anchor defines an aperture for receiving a portion of the catheter.
34 . The catheter retainer of claim 28 , wherein the anchor includes an adhesive for removably securing the anchor to the breast and to the catheter.
35 . The catheter retainer of claim 28 , wherein the anchor and spacer are integral with one another.
36 . The catheter retainer of claim 28 , wherein an intermediate portion of the catheter is received by the spacer.