Drainage catheter having an expandable retention member

Abstract

A drainage catheter is adapted to drain fluid from the body cavity through a body conduit and includes an elongate tube and a retention member disposed at the distal end of the elongate tube. The retention member is adapted for movement between a low-profile state facilitating insertion of the catheter and a high-profile state facilitating retention of the catheter in its operative position. A woven mesh forms at least a portion of one of the tube and the retention member. The woven mesh can be formed of filaments heat-settable so that the catheter automatically moves to the high-profile state. Insertion of the catheter can be facilitated using a stylet which can be removed after insertion to permit the catheter to automatically return to its high-profile state.

1 . A drainage catheter adapted to drain fluid from a body cavity through a body conduit, comprising: 
 an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and being sized and configured for insertion into the body cavity;    an expandable retention member disposed at the distal end of the elongate tube and being adapted for movement between a low-profile state facilitating insertion of the catheter into the body cavity, and an expanded high-profile state facilitating retention of the distal end of the catheter in the body cavity; and    a stylet removably insertable into the elongate tube to facilitate insertion and placement of the catheter in the body cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The drainage catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member is formed from a plurality of woven filaments, the woven filaments being permeable by the fluid to facilitate drainage of the fluid from the body cavity.  
     
     
         3 . The drainage catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the woven filaments form a mesh.  
     
     
         4 . The drainage catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said stylet further comprises an elongate body and a handle disposed along the elongate body.  
     
     
         5 . The drainage catheter of  claim 4 , wherein said elongate tube further comprises a hub sized and configured to receive said handle of said inserting stylet.  
     
     
         6 . The drainage catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said stylet is formed from one of a plastic tube, a solid rod or a malleable material incorporated within plastic.  
     
     
         7 . The drainage catheter of  claim 4 , wherein said handle is removably connected to said elongate body.  
     
     
         8 . The drainage catheter of  claim 7 , wherein said elongate body is one of a straight or a curved body stylet.  
     
     
         9 . The drainage catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising means for deploying the retention member after placement of the retention member in the body cavity.  
     
     
         10 . The drainage catheter of  claim 9 , wherein said deploying means includes a snap-fit mechanism.  
     
     
         11 . The drainage catheter of  claim 9 , wherein said deploying means comprises a one-way plug having a suture incorporated therethrough and a collar disposed at a proximal portion of the elongate tube, said suture being placed within the elongate tube and is operable to pull said plug through said collar to secure and deploy said retention member to the high-profile state.  
     
     
         12 . The drainage catheter of  claim 11 , wherein an end of said suture is attached to a handle of said stylet.  
     
     
         13 . A drainage catheter adapted to drain fluid from a body cavity through a body conduit, comprising: 
 an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal portion, and being sized and configured for insertion into the body cavity;    an expandable retention member disposed at the distal portion of the elongate tube and being adapted for movement between a low-profile state facilitating insertion of the catheter into the body cavity, and an expanded high-profile state facilitating retention of the distal end of the catheter in the body cavity; and    an energy storing member disposed at a distal end of the elongate tube and attached to the retention member to assist the retention member to collapse to the low-profile state.    
     
     
         14 . The drainage catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the energy storing member is formed from a metallic material.  
     
     
         15 . The drainage catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the energy storing member is formed from plastic.  
     
     
         16 . The drainage catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the energy storing member is a memory wire.  
     
     
         17 . The drainage catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the energy storing member is a spiral shaped wire.  
     
     
         18 . The drainage catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the energy storing member is shaped like a bellows.