System and method for removing an implanted catheter from a patient

Abstract

A method comprising removing a port from a patient through an incision and coupling a rod disposed in a sheath to the end of a catheter. The method also includes sliding the sheath along the rod and catheter into tissue surrounding the catheter in a rotating manner to separate the tissue from the catheter until the catheter is able to freely be removed from the patient, and removing the catheter from the patient. The method may also include making a shorter second incision on the patient and exposing a portion of the catheter through the patient's skin to facilitate coupling of the rod with the catheter and retrieval of the catheter.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A system for removing an implanted catheter comprising:
 a rod containing a rod body and a rod handle, wherein the rod body is substantially straight; and   a hollow sheath containing a sheath body and a sheath handle, wherein the sheath body is capable of bending to at least 90 degrees, and   wherein both the rod handle and the sheath handle are made of a non-slip material.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the hollow sheath's inner diameter at the tip is approximately the diameter of a catheter that has been implanted into a patient. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sheath body does not have a longitudinal rip-apart-seam embedded along the sheath body's length. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the hollow sheath does not have a valve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rod handle is constructed of a rubber material. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rod handle is constructed of a textured metal or plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sheath handle is constructed of a rubber material. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sheath handle is constructed of a textured metal or plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rod is at least 22 centimeters in length. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rod's diameter is 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the hollow sheath is at least 15 centimeters in length. 
     
     
         14 . A system for removing an implanted catheter comprising:
 means for coupling a rod to a catheter; and   means for separating tissue from the catheter so that the catheter is able to freely be removed from a patient.