Rotate to advance catheterization system

Abstract

A system of rotate-to-advance medical devices including catheters, dilators, occluders, stents, suprapubic catheters and camera introducers configured with external screw threads and depending substantially on rotation for means of advancement and emplacement in mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages and organs.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A threaded catheter for catheterizing mammalian urinary passages, said catheter comprising a flexible catheter tube having a lumen extending from a drainage port at the distal end to the proximal end, said distal end of said tube configured with an external screw thread of uniform pitch, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕) of the outside diameter of said catheter tube and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of the helix formed by said thread, said tube having sufficient torsional strength to transmit rotational force applied at said proximal end of said tube to said thread.  
     
     
         2 . The threaded catheter of  claim 1 , said drainage port being axially aligned with said lumen.  
     
     
         3 . The threaded catheter of  claim 1 , said catheter tube configured to accept insertion of a flexible shaft stylet through said proximal end of said tube into said lumen, the distal tip of said stylet engagable in a non-rotational fitment secured in said lumen of said catheter near said distal end.  
     
     
         4 . The threaded catheter of  claim 1 , said catheter further comprising a thin-walled inflatable balloon encompassing and terminating on said tube at one end distally of said thread and proximally of said drainage port and at the other end proximally of said thread, an inflation lumen extending from an inflation port in said tube within the envelope of said balloon to said proximal end of said tube.  
     
     
         5 . A threaded dilator for dilating mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages, said dilator comprising a flexible shaft incorporating a tapered bulb near it's distal end with a helical thread of uniform pitch disposed thereon, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕) of the outside diameter of said shaft and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of the helix formed by said thread.  
     
     
         6 . A threaded occluder for occluding mammalian genitourinary passages, said occluder comprising a flexible shaft incorporating a tapered bulb near it's distal end with a first helical thread of uniform pitch disposed distally of the midsection of said bulb and a second helical thread of uniform pitch disposed proximally of said midsection of said bulb.  
     
     
         7 . The threaded occluder of  claim 6 , said second thread being disposed on said shaft proximally of said bulb.  
     
     
         8 . A threaded stent for supporting mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages, said stent comprising a flexible tube with an external helical thread disposed thereon, said tube further comprising means for axial engagement in a non-rotational relationship with the distal end of a stylet, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕) of the outside diameter of said tube and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of the helix formed by said thread.  
     
     
         9 . The threaded stent of  claim 8 , said thread being of uniform pitch.  
     
     
         10 . A threaded intraurethral valved catheter comprising a flexible tube with an external helical thread disposed thereon, said tube further comprising means for axial engagement in a non-rotational relationship with the distal end of a stylet, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕) of the outside diameter of said tube and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of the helix formed by said thread.  
     
     
         11 . The threaded intraurethral catheter of  claim 10 , said thread being of uniform pitch.  
     
     
         12 . The threaded intraurethral catheter of  claim 10 , further comprising external means for controlling said valve.  
     
     
         13 . A threaded suprapubic catheter for drainage of a genitourinary organ, said catheter comprising a flexible catheter tube having a first axial port at it's distal end and a second axial port at it's proximal end and a lumen communicating there between, said distal end of said tube configured with an external screw thread of uniform pitch, said thread having a thread height of at least one half (½) of the outside diameter of said catheter tube and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of the helix formed by said thread.  
     
     
         14 . The threaded suprapubic catheter of  claim 13 , said thread being no longer than six turns in length.  
     
     
         15 . The threaded suprapubic catheter of  claim 13 , said catheter having externally detectable means for determining orientation of said distal end.  
     
     
         16 . A threaded camera introducer system for accessing the gastrointestinal tract, comprising a flexible catheter tube with a lumen extending from the distal end of said tube to the proximal end of said tube, and further comprising an external thread disposed over said distal end of said tube, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕) of the outside diameter of said tube and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of the helix formed by said thread.  
     
     
         17 . The threaded camera introducer system of  claim 16 , said thread disposed over substantially the full length of said tube, said thread having a thread height at said distal end of said tube of at least one fifth (⅕) of the outside diameter of said tube and a thread pitch not greater than the maximum circumference of the helix formed by said thread.  
     
     
         18 . The threaded camera introducer system of  claim 16 , said distal end of said tube incorporating a window, said lumen terminating at said window.  
     
     
         19 . The threaded camera introducer system of  claim 18 , said system further comprising a camera attached to the distal end of a flexible hollow spine, a cable harness extending from said camera through said spine and out the proximal end thereof, said camera and said spine being insertable and securable within said tube with said camera configured to view through said window.  
     
     
         20 . The threaded camera introducer system of  claim 19 , further comprising a drum with an axial opening around which a handle is rotatably attached, said drum sized to hold said camera introducer system in a coiled configuration, said drum rotatingly dispensing said system through said axial opening while said handle is held in a non-rotational grip.