Drainage Catheter With Retractable Internal Drains

Abstract

A drainage catheter with retractable internal drains for fluid drainage and irrigation. The drainage catheter with retractable internal drains generally includes a primary catheter for insertion within a subject, a lumen within the primary catheter for conducting fluid flow between a source of fluid drainage or irrigation and the subject, and a plurality of selectively retractable and deployable drains in fluid communication with the lumen. Retraction and deployment of the drains within a subject is accomplished remotely via a specially shaped stylet and common drain connector within the primary catheter. The plurality of drains are enclosed within the primary catheter in the retracted state and extend radially outwardly from the primary catheter in the deployed state. In the retracted state, insertion and location of the primary catheter in a subject are facilitated. In the deployed state, expanded and improved drainage and irrigation area and a plurality of fluid flow paths and locations are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter for fluid drainage or irrigation, comprising:
 a primary catheter having a proximal end adapted for connection to a fluid drainage or irrigation source, a distal end adapted for insertion within a subject, a first lumen providing a first fluid flow path adapted to conduct a fluid between the proximal end and the distal end, and a plurality of second lumens providing a plurality of second fluid flow paths adapted to conduct the fluid;   wherein the primary catheter is elongated;   wherein the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens are in fluid communication by at least one channel radially extending between the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens;   a plurality of drain ports located in the distal end of the primary catheter; and   a plurality of drains in fluid communication with the plurality of second lumens, wherein the plurality of drains are selectively retractable and deployable, and wherein the plurality of drains are enclosed within the primary catheter in a retracted state and extend outwardly from the primary catheter through the plurality of drain ports in a deployed state;   whereby when the catheter is inserted into the subject and the plurality of drains are in the deployed state, the fluid can be conducted by the proximal end of the primary catheter and the plurality of drains.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drains comprise a plurality of elongated open-ended drain tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drains are enclosed within the plurality of second lumens in the retracted state and extend outwardly from the plurality of second lumens through the plurality of drain ports in the deployed state. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens are located within the primary catheter and the plurality of second lumens are spaced around the first lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the primary catheter comprises a common drain connector and wherein each of the plurality of drains is connected in common to the common drain connector. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 5 :
 wherein the common drain connector is selectively movable between a first proximal position and a second distal position within the primary catheter; and   wherein in the first proximal position the plurality of drains are in the retracted state, and in the second distal position the plurality of drains are in the deployed state.   
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the common drain connector is disposed within the first lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the primary catheter has a distal end tip, wherein the plurality of second lumens each have a proximal end and a distal end located near the distal end tip of the primary catheter, and wherein the plurality of drain ports are radially spaced about the primary catheter adjacent to the distal ends of the plurality of second lumens. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the primary catheter comprises a plurality of drain deployment guides with each drain deployment guide of the plurality of drain deployment guides positioned between the distal end of a second lumen of the plurality of second lumens and a drain port of the plurality of drain ports to guide a drain of the plurality of drains radially outwardly through a drain port of the plurality of drain ports at an angle with respect to the primary catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , comprising:
 wherein the primary catheter comprises a common drain connector and wherein each of the plurality of drains is connected in common to the common drain connector;   an elongated stylet having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal end tip, wherein the stylet is adapted to be inserted in the primary catheter and the distal end tip of the stylet moved between the proximal and distal ends of the primary catheter;   wherein the distal end tip of the stylet is adapted to selectively engage a common drain connector to selectively move the common drain connector to the first proximal position to place the plurality of drains in the retracted state and to the second distal position to place the plurality of drains in the deployed state.   
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the distal end tip of the stylet is angularly rotatable;   the common drain connector has an opening; and   the opening is adapted to allow the distal end tip to pass through without engaging the common drain connector when the distal end tip is in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to the opening and for the distal end tip to engage the common drain connector without passing through the opening when the distal end tip is not in the predetermined angular orientation with respect to the opening.   
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the distal end tip of the stylet comprises at least one projection; and   the opening in the common drain connector includes at least one portion adapted to receive the at least one projection and to allow the at least one projection to pass through without engaging the common drain connector when the distal end tip is in an angular orientation with respect to the opening such that the at least one projection is aligned with the at least one portion of the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the primary catheter comprises a body with an exterior and an interior, wherein the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens are disposed within the interior, and wherein the body has a plurality of drain openings providing a plurality of third fluid flow paths to conduct the fluid between the exterior of the primary catheter and the first lumen and plurality of second lumens. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drains comprise a plurality of elongated drain tubes, wherein the drain tubes have an interior with open ends, and an exterior surface, and wherein the exterior surface has a plurality of perforations in addition to the open ends to conduct the fluid between the interior and exterior of the drain tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drains comprise a plurality of elongated solid members with proximal and distal ends, peripheral surfaces between the proximal and distal ends, and a plurality of elongated grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces for conducting the fluid between the proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end tip of the primary catheter has a guidewire port adapted for a guidewire to pass through for guiding the primary catheter into the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the primary catheter has an elongated cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         18 . A catheter for fluid drainage or irrigation, comprising:
 a primary catheter having a proximal end adapted for connection to a fluid drainage or irrigation source, a distal end adapted for insertion within a subject, a first lumen providing a first fluid flow path adapted to conduct a fluid between the proximal end and the distal end, and a plurality of second lumens providing a plurality of second fluid flow paths adapted to conduct the fluid;   wherein the primary catheter is elongated;   wherein the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens are in fluid communication by at least two channels between the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens;   a plurality of drain ports located in the distal end of the primary catheter; and   a plurality of drains in fluid communication with the plurality of second lumens, wherein the plurality of drains are selectively retractable and deployable, and wherein the plurality of drains are enclosed within the primary catheter in a retracted state and extend outwardly from the primary catheter through the plurality of drain ports in a deployed state;   whereby when the catheter is inserted into the subject and the plurality of drains are in the deployed state, the fluid can be conducted by the proximal end of the primary catheter and the plurality of drains.   
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of drains are enclosed within the plurality of second lumens in the retracted state and extend outwardly from the plurality of second lumens through the plurality of drain ports in the deployed state. 
     
     
         20 . A catheter for fluid drainage or irrigation, comprising:
 a primary catheter having a proximal end adapted for connection to a fluid drainage or irrigation source, a distal end adapted for insertion within a subject, a first lumen providing a first fluid flow path adapted to conduct a fluid between the proximal end and the distal end, and a plurality of second lumens providing a plurality of second fluid flow paths adapted to conduct the fluid;   wherein the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens are located within the primary catheter and the plurality of second lumens are spaced around the first lumen;   wherein the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens are in fluid communication by at least one channel radially extending between the first lumen and the plurality of second lumens;   wherein the primary catheter comprises a common drain connector and wherein each of the plurality of drains is connected in common to the common drain connector;   a plurality of drain ports located in the distal end of the primary catheter; and   a plurality of drains in fluid communication with the plurality of second lumens, wherein the plurality of drains are selectively retractable and deployable, and wherein the plurality of drains are enclosed within the primary catheter in a retracted state and extend outwardly from the primary catheter through the plurality of drain ports in a deployed state;   whereby when the catheter is inserted into the subject and the plurality of drains are in the deployed state, the fluid can be conducted by the proximal end of the primary catheter and the plurality of drains;   wherein the plurality of drains are enclosed within the plurality of second lumens in the retracted state and extend outwardly from the plurality of second lumens through the plurality of drain ports in the deployed state.