Patent ID: 7947019

Claim:
A catheter retention assembly for use with a catheter having an outer surface, wherein the catheter retention assembly comprises: a cuff positioning device having a distal end configured for insertion into a patient's body and an opposed proximal end configured to remain outside of a patient's body, the cuff positioning device comprising: a cuff positioning device wall having an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface defining a lumen extending between the distal end and proximal end that is configured to receive at least a portion of the catheter therein, wherein the cuff positioning device wall has a first constant wall thickness at the proximal end, a second, constant smaller wall thickness at the distal end, and an intermediate wall thickness between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the intermediate wall thickness continuously decreases from the proximal end to the distal end, an in-growth cuff coaxially mounted at the distal end, and a clamp configured to exert a compressive force on at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the lumen, wherein at least a portion of the lumen of the cuff positioning device is selectively biasable between a first expanded radial state and a second radial state, and wherein the second radial state has an operative diameter that is less than the first expanded radial state and is less than the diameter of the outer surface of the catheter; and a unitary carrier system configured to be selectively received therein the lumen of the cuff positioning device in its first expanded radial state, wherein a portion of the carrier system extends distally of the cuff positioning device, wherein the carrier system is configured for selectively positioning the cuff positioning device axially relative to the outer surface of the catheter, and wherein, when the carrier system is removed, at least a portion of the cuff positioning device biases to the second radial state and compressively and coaxially contacts the outer surface of the catheter to selectively fix the position of the cuff positioning device relative to the catheter.