Patent ID: 8128593

Claim:
A catheter for use with a vacuum source for removing fluid from a mammalian tissue, the catheter comprising: an elongated tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall positioned circumferentially along a length of the tube, and an inner wall positioned circumferentially along the length of the tube and defining a lumen within the tube, wherein the outer wall defines a plurality of concave grooves extending at least part of the length of the tube, said grooves defined around an entire circumference of the elongated tube, and the inner wall defines at least one suction channel along the length of the tube; one or more apertures defined along the tube along the plurality of concave grooves, wherein the one or more apertures extend from the outer wall of the tube to the inner wall of the tube, the one or more apertures present at or near the distal end of the tube, wherein at least one of the one or more apertures is/are in communication with the at least one suction channel; and a vacuum port in communication with the proximal end of the tube, the vacuum port being operatively connected to the at least one suction channel and capable of operative connection to a vacuum source; wherein the suction channel is configured to allow a fluid present within a space in a mammalian body to enter the one or more apertures in communication with the at least one suction channel and be removed via the at least one suction channel when the vacuum source is operatively attached to the vacuum port.