Patent ID: 8834453
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A wound drainage device comprising: a flexible catheter having a body and a plurality of drainage ducts defined therein; a steering conduit, wherein the body of the catheter encloses the steering conduit, wherein the plurality of drainage ducts are arranged around the steering conduit and extend circumferentially relative to the steering conduit, and wherein only the body of the catheter is located directly between an outer circumference of the steering conduit and the plurality of drainage ducts; an internal steering apparatus at least partially disposed within the steering conduit and structured to controllably position the catheter within a body by causing deviation of the catheter into a plurality of configurations and directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter; and at least one lateral opening is defined in a bottom surface of a corresponding longitudinal duct of the plurality of longitudinal ducts; wherein the internal steering apparatus is configured to selectively alter an effective rigidity of the catheter while the internal steering apparatus is disposed within the steering conduit.