Distal closing catheters and methods for same

Abstract

A catheter for insertion into a body cavity of a subject (such as the urinary bladder), and having a drainage tube extending from a drainage opening adjacent a distal end of the catheter to a drainage outlet adjacent a proximal end of the catheter; a closure member mountable for sliding movement within the drainage tube between a first position such that said drainage opening is in fluid communication with the drainage outlet and a second position wherein the closure member blocks fluid communication between the drainage opening and the outlet port; and an actuator, operable from the proximal end of the catheter, to move the closure member between the first and second positions. The closure member can comprise a second tube, sliding within the drainage tube, or a slideable plug.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A connector assembly configured to connect a syringe to a catheter, the connector assembly comprising:
 an adapter including:
 a first end having a tapered recess to receive a syringe outlet from the syringe; 
 a second end having a male connector including recessed channels and raised ribs disposed on a surface of the male connector; and 
 wherein the male connector including the recessed channels and raised ribs is a first contoured profile configured for complementary secure fitting with corresponding contoured profiles. 
   
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly of  claim 2  comprising a one-way valve fitting having a valve fitting recess, a recess wall of the valve fitting recess having raised ribs and recessed channels as the corresponding contoured profile. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the one-way valve fitting is configured for fitted to an instillation port of a catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly of  claim 4  comprising the catheter, and the catheter includes a urinary catheter. 
     
     
         6 . A connector assembly configured for coupling a syringe with a catheter, the connector assembly comprising;
 a valve fitting configured for coupling between the syringe and the catheter, the valve fitting includes:
 a valve, and 
 a recess in communication with the valve, a recess wall of the recess including a first contoured fitting profile, and the adapter configured for coupling with the valve fitting and a syringe outlet of the syringe, the adapter includes: 
 a first end having an adapter recess configured to receive the syringe outlet, and 
 a second end having a second contoured fitting profile complementary to the first contoured fitting profile of the valve fitting, the second end and the second contoured fitting profile configured to securely fit with the recess wall and the first contoured fitting profile. 
   
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second contoured fitting profiles include one or more ribs or channels, and
 the one or ribs or channels of the first contoured fitting profile are configured to securely fit with one or more channels or ribs, respectively, of the second contoured fitting profile.   
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first contoured fitting profile includes one or more of first ribs or channels, and the second contoured fitting profile includes one or more of second ribs or channels complementary to the first ribs or channels. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more first ribs or channels of the first contoured fitting profile include:
 ribs arranged at opposing positions along the recess wall of the recess, and   channels arranged at opposing positions along the recess wall of the recess; and the one or more second ribs or channels of the second contoured fitting profile include:   ribs arranged at opposing positions along the second end, and   channels arranged at opposing positions along the second end.   
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second contoured fitting profiles are non-circular. 
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second contoured fitting profile are configured to permit secure fitting between the valve recess and recess wall of the valve fitting and the second end of the adapter only. 
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the a recess wall of the adapter recess is tapered. 
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly of  claim 6  comprising the syringe and the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the catheter includes a urinary catheter. 
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the valve includes a one way valve. 
     
     
         16 . A method for administering a fluid to the body comprising:
 coupling an adapter with a syringe outlet of a syringe;   securely fitting the adapter with a catheter including:
 receiving an end of the adapter within a recess of the catheter having a recess wall, and 
 engaging a first contoured fitting profile of the recess wall with a complementary second contoured fitting profile of the end of the adapter, wherein the first contoured fitting profile is configured to prevent secure fitting with a circular profile; and 
   dispensing a liquid from the syringe through the adapter to the catheter according to the engagement between the first and second contoured fitting profiles.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein engaging the first contoured fitting profile with the complementary second contoured fitting profile includes:
 receiving one or more ribs of the end of the adapter within one or more complementary channels of the recess wall of the recess, and   receiving one or more ribs of the recess wall within one or more complementary channels of the end of the adapter.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein engaging the first contoured fitting profile with the complementary second contoured fitting profile includes receiving a non-circular second contoured fitting profile of the end of that adapter within a complementary non-circular first contoured fitting profile of the recess wall of the recess. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  comprising a valve fitting associated with the catheter, and the valve fitting includes the recess having the recess wall and a one-way valve, and
 dispensing the liquid from the syringe through the adapter to the catheter includes delivering the liquid through the one way valve. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  comprising preventing the secure fitting of a syringe outlet having a circular profile with the catheter.