Catheter and method of fluid removal from a body cavity

Abstract

A catheter comprises a catheter body having a wall defining a lumen therein and having plural holes defined through the wall in a pattern which prevents loculation, migration and blockage of a fluid flow through the lumen, the catheter body having a tissue-puncture resistant shape; and a port having a reservoir capable of multiple needle accesses. The catheter is useful for draining fluids from a patient's body cavity, for example the peritoneal cavity.

1 . A catheter for removing fluid from a body cavity, comprising: 
 a catheter body extendible substantially within the body cavity having a wall defining a lumen therein and having at least one hole defined in the catheter body in a location that is within the body cavity when implanted, and which in combination with a shape of the catheter body prevents loculation, migration and blockage of a fluid flow through the lumen when the fluid flow is induced in a direction defined as running from a distal end to a proximal end thereof, the catheter body having a tissue-puncture resistant shape; and    a port having on a first surface a septum capable of multiple needle accesses, and having on a second surface an outlet in communication with the catheter body and arranged so the catheter body extends substantially without bends in a direction perpendicular to the first surface, into the body cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plural holes are located in a protected region of the catheter body.  
   
   
       3 . The catheter of  claim 2 , having a pigtail coil shape.  
   
   
       4 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the plural holes are located in a protected region defined by an inner curve of the pigtail coil.  
   
   
       5 . The catheter of  claim 2 , having a helix coil shape.  
   
   
       6 . The catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the plural holes are located in a protected region defined by an inner curve of the helix coil.  
   
   
       7 . The catheter of  claim 2 , having a T-bar shape.  
   
   
       8 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the plural holes are located in a protected region defined adjacent an angle between a stem and a crossbar of the T-bar.  
   
   
       9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , having a tulip shape.  
   
   
       10 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the plural holes are located on a broad surface of a petal of the tulip.  
   
   
       11 . The catheter of  claim 10 , the tulip collapsible when advanced by a pusher rod.  
   
   
       12 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 another port coupled to the first port and to the body of the catheter for fluid communication therewith.    
   
   
       13 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising:  
     a cage surrounding at least part of the catheter body including the plural holes.  
   
   
       14 . The catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the cage is integral with the catheter body.  
   
   
       15 . The catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the cage is memory metal.