Patent ID: 8361057

Claim:
A catheter which is operable between a collapsed configuration for storage and transportation and an expanded configuration for draining fluid from a body via a conduit which extends axially in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end to an opposite distal end, the catheter comprising: a proximal section insertable into a urinary channel of the body and movable to form a proximal part of the conduit extending axially between the proximal end and a first transition end of the proximal section, and a distal section, a portion of which is insertable into the urinary channel, the distal section movable separately from the proximal section to form a distal part of the conduit extending axially between a second transition end of the distal section and the distal end, the first transition end being dimensioned to enable its positioning inside a receiving portion of the distal part of the conduit to enable axial movement of the sections relative to each other to operate the catheter between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration of the catheter; wherein the proximal and distal sections comprise cooperating coupling structures to support the catheter in the expanded configuration, the cooperating coupling structures comprising a slot formed in an inner surface of the distal section and a key formed on the proximal section, the key configured to be flexible such that the key is movable in a radial direction to engage with the slot; wherein the proximal section comprises an outer surface with a first surface portion with a first circumference which first surface portion, in the longitudinal direction, is followed by a second surface portion with a second circumference which is larger than the first circumference; wherein the second surface portion, in the longitudinal direction is followed by a third surface portion forming a slot and having a third circumference being smaller than the second circumference; wherein the slot is followed by a fourth surface portion with a fourth circumference being larger than the circumference(s) of the third surface portion; wherein the key forms a fifth surface portion which protrudes from an inner surface of the distal section; and wherein a gap is formed between the third surface portion and the fifth surface portion in the expanded configuration and the gap contains a hydrophilic fluid.