A CATHETER, PROBE OR SIMILAR DEVICE

Abstract: A catheter, probe or a similar device intended to be inserted into a body cavity. The catheter (1) is double-walled over a substantial portion of its length, at which the inner wall (5) on the outside and/or the outer wall (6) on the inside is provided with longitudinal profilings for forming separate longitudinal passages (3) between the walls (5, 6). The passages (3) are perforated from the outside of the catheter by means of plurality of capillary holes (4). Into at least some of the passages (3) a fluid, i.e. compressed air or liquid, or a cream- or gel-like substance is intended to be inserted for obtaining a lubrification of the mucous membranes of the cavity during the insertion. Thus irritation of the mucous membranes of the body cavity is avoided during the insertion and longer insertion periods are permitted without risk of infection.

Description: A CATHETER, PROBE OR SIMILAR DEVICE Background of the invention The present invention relates to a catheter, probe or similar device intended to be inserted into a body cavity and which over a substantial portion of its length is double-walled, at which the outer wall through a plurality of capillary holes communicates with the outside of the catheter. A problem which occurs at the insertion of a catheter, probe and the like is dessication and irritation of the mucous membranes on the inside of the body cavity, which can lead to infections . In the US-A-3 , 981 , 299 there is shown an urethral catheter which over a portion of its length is covered by a thin flexible membrane having a plurality of holes. In the space between the membrane and the catheter a liquid or other substance can be. inserted. All the holes communicate with each other. The object and most important features of the invention The object of the present invention is to provxde a catheter, probe or the like which is easy to insert without irritating the mucous membranes and which also permits longer insertion periods without any risk of infection. It is desireable that all the holes do not communicate with each other but that some holes can be used for supplying of i.e. a washing agent, while others are used for draining thereof and of possible secretion or the like. Besides the catheter should be simple to manufacture. According to the invention this has been achieved by the fact that the inner wall on the outside and/or the outer wall on the inside is provided with longitudinal profilings for making separate longitudinal passages between the walls, said passages having the said capillary holes. The invention will be described below in details with reference to a pair of embodiments shown in the enclosed drawings . Fig. 1 shows in a broken perspective a catheter according to the invention , Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the catheter according to ig . 1 , Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the insertion end of the catheter according to a somewhat modified design, Fig. 4 shows a partly broken section through the rear end of the catheter, Fig. 5 shows a section through a further embodiment of the catheter Description of the embodiments The catheter 1 shown in fig. 1 has a central flow channel 2 and a plurality of axial passages 3 arranged radially outside said channel and regularly arranged along the circumference therof . The passages 3 are perforated with a large number of very small capillary holes from the ouside of the catheter. These can be located in longitudinal cavities 9 on the outside of the catheter 1 as is shown in fig. 1 and 2 or have a chamferred edge outwards ( ig. 3) in order to avoid damages of the mucous membranes. To the axial passages 3 there is intended to be connected e.g. a compressed air source or a fluid pressure, so that a lubrication of the outside of the catheter can be obtained during the insertion thereof. It is als ossible that during the insertion time a continuous or intermittent washing of the catheter can be performed in order to reduce the irritation of the mucous membrane and eliminate the risk of infection. It is also possible to alternately connect the passages 3 to a pressure- resp. suction source or that some of the passages 3, i.e. every other, is connected to a pressure source while the other are connected to a suction source. In this way a draining of the washing agent and possible secretion and the like can be obtained. Another possibility to utilize tha capillaries 4 i s to fill the axial passages 3 with a gel- or cream like agent, which is wiped against the walls of the body cavity at the contact therewith and provides a lubrcation of the outside of the catheter 1. The capillaries 4 are by capillary action filled with more agent as long as sufficient amount of agent is present in the axial passages 3. This implies that the passages 3 are closed at t e introduction end of the catheter, as is shown in fig 3. The manufacturing of the catheter can be done in different ways, one of them is co xtrusion of two tubes, an inner circular tube 5 and an outer tube 6, which on the inside has longitudinal profiling 7 or making the axial passages 3. Of course it would be possible to instead provide the inner tube 3 with longitudinal profilings on the outside, at which the outer tube 8 can be plane. 8y making the outer tube 6 somewhat shorter than the inner tube 3 it is possible to connect a connecti n mpmber 8 (fig. 4) for supplying compressed air, liquid or cream u the axial passages 3. The catheter 1 can of course a 1 <-.*-> b manufactured in nly ne piece. The invention is not limited to the shown and described embodiments but a plurality of variants ..re possible within the scope of the claims. BAD ORIGINAL

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A catheter, probe or similar device intended to be inserted into a body cavity and which over a substantial portion of its length is double-walled, at which the outer wall (6) through a plurality of capillary holes (4) communicates with the outside of the catheter , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the inner wall (5) on the outside and/or the outer wall (6) on the inside is provided with longitudinal profilings (7) for making separate longitudinal passages (3) between the walls (5,6) , said passages (3) being provided with said capillary holes. 2. A catheter according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that some of the passages (3) are arranged to be connected to a pressure source and others are arranged to be connected to a suction source. 3. A catheter according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the capillary holes (4) have chamferred edges at the outside of the catheter. 4. A catheter according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the capillary holes are arranged in cavities (9) on the outside of the catheter. 5. A catheter according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that it is made of two coextruded tubes, an inner (5) and an outer tube (6) , at which the inner tube on the outside and/or the outer tube on the inside is provided with longitudinal profilings (7) for making said cavity (-ies) (3) . A catheter according to claim 5 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the outer tube (6) is shorter than the inner tube (5) at the rear end of the catheter in order to permit connection of a connection membeer (8) to the outer tube.

Inventors: EKHOLMER ERIK, EKHOLMER, ERIK
Applicants: MEDIPLAST AB
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61M25
IPC codes: A61M25