Patent ID: 8070825

Claim:
A detachable catheter apparatus for insertion into a bladder of a male living being through a urethra having a sphincter of said living being to convey urine, said catheter apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising: a) a tube assembly comprising: a distal tube section having a closed distal end and a open proximal end, said closed distal end including at least one orifice to enable the urine from the bladder to enter the distal tube section and to flow into and through the distal tube section; a proximal tube section having a distal end, a proximal end, and an expandable member being disposed circumferentially about and longitudinally along said distal end of said proximal tube section and being operative to move between: an expanded state wherein the expandable member expands radially outwardly and abuts against said sphincter, and a collapsed state wherein the expandable member collapses; and a connector connecting the open proximal end of said distal tube section and the distal end of said proximal tube section together; said connector being attached to said proximal tube section at a point of attachment located proximal to the expandable member of said proximal tube section and being attached to said distal tube section at a point of attachment located at the open proximal end, said connector having a length of approximately 36 mm, b) an insertion device slidably receivable into said tube assembly, said insertion device comprising: an elongated inner alignment rod having a contact distal end and an insertion proximal end portion, said rod being longitudinally sized to extend into the tube assembly, wherein the contact distal end contacts the closed distal end of said distal tube section while the insertion proximal end portion projects outwardly from said tube assembly; and an outer pusher tube having a bore longitudinally therethrough and sized to slidably receive said alignment rod, and c) an expansion and/or collapse controlling means of said expandable member, wherein said expandable member disposed on said proximal tube section comprises flexible tongues, each of said tongues being arranged to be elastically biased towards a radial and outward position so that a degree of the tongues opening adapts automatically to a variable diameter of the urethra during progression of the catheter apparatus inside a lumen of the urethra and said tongues being permanently abutted in spread condition against a proximal side of the sphincter once said catheter apparatus is in a correct position in order to oppose any upward movement of said catheter apparatus in said urethra.