Patent ID: 8029462

Claim:
A method of implanting a medical catheter, said method comprising the steps of: (a) using a medical catheter assembly, said medical catheter assembly comprising (i) a medical catheter, said medical catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore, said distal end being shaped to include an internal bolster, said internal bolster having an anchoring state and a non-anchoring state; (ii) a suture extending from said internal bolster through said longitudinal bore to exit said medical catheter at said proximal end wherein proximal displacement of said suture maintains said internal bolster in said anchoring state; and (iii) a protective sleeve made of a rigid material, said protective sleeve being removably insertable into said medical catheter through said proximal end, said suture being inserted through said protective sleeve; (b) with the internal bolster in said non-anchoring state, inserting the distal end of said medical catheter into the patient, the proximal end of said medical catheter extending out of the patient; (c) transforming said internal bolster from said non-anchoring state to said anchoring state; (d) inserting the protective sleeve into the proximal end of the longitudinal bore of said medical catheter to a desired depth; (e) then, while maintaining said protective sleeve at said desired depth, cutting the medical catheter at said desired depth to yield a proximal portion and a distal portion of the cut medical catheter, whereby the protective tube protects the suture from being cut.