Drainage catheter

Abstract

A catheter includes a tubular body, a ring member, and at least one elongate member. The tubular body has a distal region. The ring member encircles at least a portion of the circumference of the tubular member. The one elongate member has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the elongate member being coupled to the distal region of the tubular body and the proximal end being attached to the ring member. Forming a loop in a distal end of a catheter includes pulling a ring that encircles at least a portion of the circumference of the catheter. The ring is attached to a proximal end of an elongate member, a distal end of the elongate member is attached to a distal end of the catheter, and the elongate member is positioned along the outside surface of the catheter.

1 . A method of forming a loop in a distal end of a catheter, the method comprising: 
 pulling a ring encircling at least a portion of the circumference of the catheter, wherein the ring is attached to a proximal end of an elongate member, a distal end of the elongate member is attached to a distal end of the catheter, and the elongate member is at least partially positioned along the outside surface of the catheter.    
   
   
       2 . A method of forming a loop in a distal end of a catheter, the method comprising: 
 inserting an introducer into a body cavity, the introducer comprising a hub and a sheath having a longitudinal channel passing between a proximal end and a distal end, the hub having a longitudinal channel and being joined to the proximal end of the sheath, and the joined hub and sheath having a length;    inserting a catheter into the introducer, the catheter comprising a hub, a tubular body, at least one elongate member and a ring member, the tubular body having a distal region, the elongate member having a length, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the elongate member being mounted to the distal region of the tubular body and the proximal end of the elongate member being attached to the ring member; and    advancing the catheter into the introducer until the ring member is adjacent to the introducer hub;    advancing the catheter into the introducer until the catheter hub is adjacent to the ring member,    wherein advancing the catheter into the introducer until the catheter hub is adjacent to the ring member causes the ring member to contact the introducer hub and form a loop in the distal region of the tubular body.    
   
   
       3 . The method of forming a loop of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the elongate member is between approximately 1 mm and 10 mm longer than the length of the hub and sheath.