Patent ID: 8323255

Claim:
A waste collection catheter having at least two sections for receiving, carrying and removing bowel waste from a patient, comprising: a rectal catheter section having a patient proximal opening that, when in a position for normal use, opens into a patient's rectum to receive bowel waste, the rectal catheter section being sufficiently pliable to permit folding for ease of insertion into a patient's rectum while also being sufficiently stiff following insertion to maintain an open position in a patient's rectum for free flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening; a trans-sphincter catheter section distal to the rectal catheter section that can be collapsed by a patient's anal sphincter muscles when in a position for normal use; the trans-sphincter catheter section being sufficiently soft to be retained in a patient's anal canal for extended periods, without distending a patient's anal sphincter muscles or otherwise causing discomfort, and extending from internally of a patient, through the anal sphincter muscles, to externally of a patient; a third catheter section extending from a distal end of the trans-sphincter catheter section and which is positioned patient distal in normal use; an inflatable balloon extending radially outwardly of the patient proximal opening for retaining the patient proximal opening in a position for normal use in an open position for flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening; and a connector assembly in communication with a distal end of the third catheter section, wherein a proximal end of the connector assembly fits in a distal end of the third catheter section.