Patent ID: 7625355

Claim:
A pre-assembled drainage catheter assembly for two-step insertion of a drainage catheter percutaneously, to be operated between a pre-assembled condition, a step-one condition and a step-two condition, comprising: an elongated trocar having a distal pointed end, a proximal end, a uniform cross-sectional shape between said distal pointed end and said proximal end, and a means located at said proximal end for releasably connecting with a cannula; an elongated cannula having a distal end, a proximal end, a cannula lumen extending therethrough, and a means located at said proximal end for releasably connecting with said trocar and a catheter stiffener, said cannula disposed over said trocar and longitudinally movable relative thereto; an elongated catheter stiffener having a distal end, a proximal end, a body portion comprising stiff material, a catheter stiffener lumen extending therethrough, and a means located at said proximal end for releasably connecting with said cannula and a catheter, said catheter stiffener disposed over said cannula and longitudinally movable relative thereto; and an elongated catheter having a distal end containing a tapered tip, a proximal end, a catheter lumen extending therethrough, and a means for releasably connecting with said catheter stiffener, said catheter disposed over said catheter stiffener and said cannula, and longitudinally movable relative thereto; wherein in the pre-assembled condition, the distal end of said catheter and the distal end of said catheter stiffener are configured to terminate in linear spaced relationship short of the distal end of said cannula and the distal end of said trocar; whereby in the first of the two-step insertion said trocar and said cannula are configured to be inserted into a patient's body for obtaining a specimen fluid before the insertion of said catheter; and whereby in the second of the two-step insertion, said catheter is inserted into the patient's body for collecting fluid.