Self-Cleansing Bladder Drainage Catheter

Abstract

An indwelling endourethral drainage catheter includes a tubular distal portion and a spiral first portion. A central lumen extends along substantially the entire length of the catheter. The spiral first portion defines an outer spiral channel in fluid communication with the central lumen. The distal end of the catheter is anchored externally so that the catheter is held against advancement into or out of the urethra. In certain methods, the diameter of the spiral first portion may be changed to address obstructions within the urethra or facilitate navigation of the catheter along the urethra.

1 . A method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter along the urethra of a patient into the bladder comprising:
 providing a drainage catheter having at least a spiral first portion and a second portion;   rotating the first portion relative to said second portion so that the diameter of the first portion changes; and   then advancing the drainage catheter along the urethra.   
     
     
         2 . The method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating step includes rotating the second portion in a first direction to decrease the diameter of the first portion to facilitate passage of the first portion through the urethra. 
     
     
         3 . The method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating step includes rotating the second portion in a second direction to increase the diameter of the first portion to bear against an obstruction within the urethra. 
     
     
         4 . The method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 3 , further comprising capturing the obstruction within the drainage catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 4 , further comprising rotating the second portion in a first direction opposite the second direction to decrease the diameter of the first portion to facilitate passage of the first portion through the urethra. 
     
     
         6 . The method or advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first portion includes a tip configured to be disposed within the bladder when the drainage catheter is fully inserted through the urethra; and   the rotating step includes advancing a stylet through the drainage catheter into contact with the tip to hold the tip against rotation.   
     
     
         7 . A method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter along the urethra of a patient into the bladder comprising:
 providing a drainage catheter having a spiral first portion and a tubular second portion, the catheter defining a central lumen therethrough and the first portion defining an outer channel in fluid communication with the central lumen;   advancing the drainage catheter into the urethra until an obstruction is encountered;   rotating said second portion to engage the obstruction within the outer channel.   
     
     
         8 . The method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter along the urethra of a patient into the bladder of  claim 7 , wherein said rotating step includes rotating the first portion in a direction that advances the obstruction along the outer channel into the central lumen. 
     
     
         9 . A method for advancing an indwelling endourethral drainage catheter along the urethra of a patient into the bladder of  claim 7 , further comprising;
 advancing the catheter toward the bladder until the first end of the first portion is within the bladder; and   rotating the first portion in a direction that advances the obstruction along the outer channel into the bladder.   
     
     
         10 . An indwelling endourethral drainage catheter comprising:
 a tubular portion having an end adapted to be situated outside the patient when the drainage catheter is indwelling, said tubular portion defining a distal lumen extending along the length thereof;   a spiral portion attached to said tubular portion, said spiral portion defining a proximal lumen in communication with said distal lumen and further defining a helical outer channel along the length of said spiral portion, said outer channel in fluid communication with said proximal lumen, said spiral portion configured to open and close said outer channel by rotation of said spiral portion; and   a blunt tip at an end of said spiral portion opposite said tubular portion, said tip adapted for insertion through the urethra of a patient,   wherein said drainage catheter has a length from said end of said tubular portion to said blunt tip that is sufficient to span the length of the urethra with the helical outer channel in communication with the bladder.   
     
     
         11 . The indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 10 , wherein said end of said tubular portion includes a fluid fitting. 
     
     
         12 . The indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 10 , further comprising an anchor assembly for anchoring the catheter within the urethra, said anchor assembly engaged to said tubular portion and adapted to be disposed externally of the bladder and urethra. 
     
     
         13 . The indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 10 , further comprising a stylet configured to pass through the proximal and distal lumens and contact the blunt tip. 
     
     
         14 . The indwelling endourethral drainage catheter of  claim 10 , wherein said length is sufficient to span the length of the urethra when said outer channel is closed.