Patent ID: 7857807
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A catheter for intra-urethral catheterisation of a male patient, the catheter comprising: an elongate tube having a length to extend throughout the patient's urethra, the tube comprising a tubular wall defining upper and lower lumen-parts of the tube spaced apart along the length of the tube from one another; a distal end of the tube for location in the patient's bladder, the distal end having an inlet opening to drain urine from the bladder into the upper lumen-part of the tube, and the distal end of the tube including an inflatable balloon for retention of the distal end of the tube in the patient's bladder; a proximal end of the tube for location exiting the patient's penis to discharge urine from the lower lumen-part of the tube; and a portion of the length of the tube, extending between the upper and lower lumen-parts of the tube, for location within the prostatic part of the patient's urethra during catheterisation, and the portion of the length of the tube extending between the upper and lower lumen-parts of the tube; wherein the tube has an upper by-pass opening through the tubular wall of the tube from the upper lumen-part of the tube, the upper by-pass opening draining urine from the upper-lumen part of the tube into the prostatic part of the patient's urethra to flush secretions from the prostatic part, and a lower by-pass opening through the tubular wall of the tube into the lower lumen-part of the tube, the upper by-pass opening and the lower by-pass opening are configured to be located sufficiently adjacent one another so that, during use of the catheter for intra-urethral catheterisation of a male patient, at least the lower by-pass is accommodated within the prostatic part of the patient's urethra for draining urine carrying the secretions flushed from the prostatic part of the patient's urethra into the lower-lumen part of the tube for discharge from the proximal end of the tube; and the tube is sealed closed by a blockage extending throughout the intermediate portion of the length of the tube between the upper by-pass opening and the lower by-pass opening to block passage of urine within the tube between the upper lumen-part and the lower lumen-part of the tube.