Urethral catheter and guide

Abstract

An indwelling catheter for insertion into a patient's urinary tract is provided that includes first and second tubular members that enable drainage of physiological fluids. An inflatable balloon is attached to the second tubular member. The first and second tubular members are interconnected by a connecting tube forming a gap between the first and second tubular members. The connecting tube is in fluid communication with the balloon to enable the balloon to be inflated via the connecting tube. When the balloon is anchored within the urinary bladder the second tubular member is located within the prostatic urethra with one end in close proximity to the sphincter and the other end protruding into the urinary bladder. The first tubular member is located within the penile urethra with one end in close proximity to the sphincter so that the connecting tube traverses the sphincter permitting voluntary control of the sphincter.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method of inserting and positioning a catheter having a hollow shaft in a male urethra, the male urethra having a natural conduit comprising in ascending anatomical order, a penile meatus, a penile urethra, a sphincter, a prostate urethra, a bladder neck, and a bladder, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a detachable insertion guide with a first elongated inflatable portion positioned circumferentially about a perimeter portion thereof;    positioning the insertion guide into the hollow shaft of the catheter;    expanding the elongated inflatable portion of the insertion guide such that the insertion guide is affixed to the catheter;    inserting the guide with the catheter affixed thereto responsive to said expanding step into the male urethra;    advancing the insertion guide with the catheter affixed thereto into a desired position in the subject's urethra; such that a distal end portion of the catheter is positioned in the prostate urethra;    collapsing the elongated inflatable portion;    detaching the guide from the catheter based on said collapsing step; and    removing the guide from the subject leaving the catheter in its desired location.    
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the guide further comprises a second bladder anchoring inflatable portion, and wherein said advancing step continues until the distal end of the insertion guide enters the bladder a sufficient distance, the method further comprises the steps of: 
 inflating the second anchoring inflatable portion of the insertion guide after said advancing step and before said collapsing step;    anchoring the second inflatable portion of the insertion guide on the bladder neck to locate the catheter in a desired location in the subject's urethra; and    deflating the second inflatable portion prior to said removing step.    
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the catheter comprises hollow core upper and lower spaced apart attached tubular members, the core having an associated inner wall, the upper tubular member comprising a bladder anchoring inflatable portion, wherein said expanding step is carried out by expanding the inflatable portion of the guide until it presses against the core inner wail of the upper mad lower tubular members, and wherein the method further comprises the step of: 
 inflating the upper tubular anchoring inflatable portion of the catheter after said inserting and advancing steps and before said collapsing step; and    anchoring the upper tubular member bladder-anchoring inflatable portion against the bladder neck before said collapsing step.    
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the catheter upper tubular member includes a second circumferentially disposed elongated inflatable portion disposed thereon, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: 
 inflating the upper tubular second elongated inflatable portion after said advancing step;    locating the second elongated inflatable portion of the upper tabular element proximate the prostate urethra; and    dilating the prostate urethra responsive to said inflating step of the second elongated inflatable portion.    
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the first and second elongated inflatable portions of said upper tubular member are in fluid communication.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said step of inflating the second elongated inflatable portion is carried out by introducing liquid medicaments therein to expand the inflatable portion.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the second elongated inflatable portion is permiable and wherein said method further comprises delivering the medicaments through the second inflatable portion to the prostatic urethra tissue.  
   
   
       33 . An inflatable insertion guide configured and sized to detachably couple to a hollow core catheter, said insertion guide comprising: 
 an elongated tubular member with opposing proximal and distal end portions, said tubular member comprising a generally cylindrical outer surface and an axially-extending inner lumen;    an elongated inflatable segment attached to said tubular member outer surface, said elongated inflatable segment having a length and being movable between a first collapsed condition and a second expanded condition; and    an inflation source in fluid communication with said elongated inflatable segment adapted to inflate said inflatable segment to the expanded configuration, wherein, in the expanded condition, said inflatable segment expands radially outwardly from said tubular member outer surface a distance sufficient to affix to an inner wail of a hollow core catheter, the expanded distance and length of the inflatable segment being selected so that the hollow core catheter and the tubular member move in concert during insertion of the hollow core catheter into a body lumen of a subject, and wherein, in the collapsed condition, said inflatable segment collapses sufficiently to disengage from the inner wall of the hollow core catheter, thereby enabling said insertion guide to be removed from the subject as the hollow core catheter remains in position in the body lumen of the subject.    
   
   
       34 . An insertion guide according to  claim 33 , wherein in the expanded condition, said inflatable segment is elongate with an annular cross-section of generally constant thickness.  
   
   
       35 . An insertion guide according to  claim 33 , wherein said elongated inflatable segment is configured on said tubular member such that, in position, said inflatable segment is adapted to enter a major distance into the catheter.  
   
   
       36 . An insertion guide according to  claim 33 , wherein said inflatable segment is dimensioned with a length which corresponds to a distance within the subject which is above the sphincter urethra muscles and below the bladder of the subject.  
   
   
       37 . An insertion guide according to  claim 33 , wherein said insertion guide is adapted to attach to a catheter with spaced apart hollow core upper and lower tubular members, and wherein said elongated inflatable segment has an axial length which is sufficient to extend through both the upper and lower tubular elements, and wherein, when expanded and in use, said elongated inflatable segment is adapted to securely contact an inner wall of each of the upper and lower tubular members to affix said insertion guide thereto.