초록 ▼

A catheter for insertion in a body orifice or blood vessel comprising an elongated tubular body with a soft, symmetrically deformable member on the distal end thereof for decreasing the likelihood of injury to body tissue upon the insertion and removal thereof. In one embodiment, the tip member comp

A catheter for insertion in a body orifice or blood vessel comprising an elongated tubular body with a soft, symmetrically deformable member on the distal end thereof for decreasing the likelihood of injury to body tissue upon the insertion and removal thereof. In one embodiment, the tip member comprises a toroidally shaped inflatable and non-distensible expandable “balloon”mounted on the end of the otherwise relatively rigid tip of the catheter. The catheter has a lumen extending the length thereof and communicating with the tip member whereby a fluid may be introduced to control the size, shape and firmness of the tip member. In a second embodiment, the soft deformable tip member comprises an annular plastic or rubber sleeve surrounding the otherwise rigid tip of the catheter and normally extending there beyond by a predetermined distance. The thickness or composition of the sleeve is varied about a circumferential ring so as to provide a preferred location for the collapse of the sleeve.

대표청구항 ▼

A catheter comprising: (a) an elongated flexible tubular member having at least one lumen extending the length thereof; and (b) a soft annular, deformable tip member affixed to the distal end of said catheter, said tip member including a circumferential preferential fold line located sufficiently cl

A catheter comprising: (a) an elongated flexible tubular member having at least one lumen extending the length thereof; and (b) a soft annular, deformable tip member affixed to the distal end of said catheter, said tip member including a circumferential preferential fold line located sufficiently close to the distal end of said tip member to allow collapse of said tip member along said preferential fold line upon being pressed against a relatively stationary surface without occluding said lumen.