Zero-pressure balloon catheter and method for using the catheter
A safety catheter includes a shaft. The shaft has a proximal shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal tip portion defining a junction with the proximal shaft portion, a fluid drain lumen, and a balloon inflation lumen. The fluid drain lumen defines a distal fluid drain opening at the distal tip portion distal of the junction and a proximal fluid drain opening adjacent the proximal end and fluidically connected to the distal fluid drain opening. A hollow zero-pressure balloon is disposed at the junction and has an interior fluidly connected to the balloon inflation lumen, a distal leg fixedly secured to the distal tip portion, and a proximal leg temporarily secured to the proximal shaft portion.
1. A safety catheter, comprising:
a shaft having:
a proximal shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end;
a distal tip portion defining a junction with the proximal shaft portion;
a fluid drain lumen defining:
a distal fluid drain opening at the distal tip portion distal of the junction; and
a proximal fluid drain opening adjacent the proximal end and fluidically connected to the distal fluid drain opening; and
a balloon inflation lumen;
a hollow balloon disposed at the junction and having:
an interior fluidly connected to the balloon inflation lumen;
a distal leg fixedly secured to the distal tip portion; and
a proximal leg temporarily secured to the proximal shaft portion.
2. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the proximal shaft portion adjacent the junction has a given outer diameter; and
a portion of the junction adjacent the proximal shaft portion has an outer diameter less than the given outer diameter.
3. The safety catheter according to claim 2 , wherein the distal tip portion adjacent the junction has an outer diameter one of:
less than the given outer diameter;
equal to the given outer diameter; and
equal to the outer diameter of the junction.
4. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein:
a proximal portion of the junction adjacent the proximal shaft portion has a given outer diameter; and
the proximal shaft portion adjacent the proximal portion of the junction has an outer diameter greater than the given outer diameter.
5. The safety catheter according to claim 4 , wherein the distal tip portion adjacent the junction has an outer diameter one of:
greater than the given outer diameter;
equal to the given outer diameter; and
equal to the outer diameter of the junction.
6. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a length sufficient to perform urinary catheterization.
7. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the proximal leg of the hollow balloon is relatively inflexible in relation to the distal end of the proximal shaft portion; and
the distal end of the proximal shaft portion and the proximal leg of the hollow balloon form a removable compression seal therebetween.
8. The safety catheter according to claim 7 , wherein the removable compression seal has a breakaway point at a pull force of between approximately 1 pound and approximately 15 pounds applied to the proximal shaft portion.
9. The safety catheter according to claim 8 , wherein the hollow balloon folds back upon itself when removed from the proximal shaft portion.
10. The safety catheter according to claim 7 , wherein the removable compression seal has a breakaway point at a pull force of between approximately 1 pound and approximately 5 pounds applied to the proximal shaft portion.
11. The safety catheter according to claim 7 , wherein the removable compression seal has a breakaway point at a pull force of between approximately 1.5 pounds and approximately 2 pounds applied to the proximal shaft portion.
12. The safety catheter according to claim 7 , wherein, when the balloon is inflated with a fluid and a pull force of greater than approximately 15 pounds is applied to the proximal shaft portion, the compression seal exceeds a breakaway point and thereby deflates the inflated hollow balloon.
13. The safety catheter according to claim 7 , wherein, when the balloon is inflated with a fluid and a pull force of greater than approximately 5 pounds is applied to the proximal shaft portion, the compression seal exceeds a breakaway point and thereby deflates the inflated hollow balloon.
14. The safety catheter according to claim 7 , wherein, when the balloon is inflated with a fluid and a pull force of greater than approximately 2 pounds is applied to the proximal shaft portion, the compression seal exceeds a breakaway point and thereby deflates the inflated hollow balloon.
15. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal leg is temporarily secured to the proximal shaft portion in an inverted orientation.
16. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow balloon inflates with and withstands pressures of between approximately 0.2 atmospheres and 0.5 atmospheres without an appreciable increase in diameter.
17. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft has an internal balloon valve selectively opening a channel between the fluid drain lumen and the balloon interior.
18. The safety catheter according to claim 17 , wherein the internal balloon valve opens the channel when a pressure in the balloon is between approximately 0.3 atmospheres and approximately 1.5 atmospheres.
19. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal leg of the balloon is temporarily secured at the distal end of the proximal shaft portion.
20. The safety catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the the hollow balloon is a zero-pressure balloon.