Indwelling bladder catheter

Abstract

Systems and methods of cannulating a body orifice such as a bladder are disclosed. An indwelling bladder catheter having reduced trauma risk can include a proximal end, a distal end, and a flexible elongate tubular body therebetween, the distal end having at least one distal port in fluid communication with a lumen extending within the tubular body, the distal end further having a distal tip comprising a blunt shape; a first proximal port for at least one of fluid inflow or outflow, the first proximal port in fluid communication with the lumen extending within the tubular body; an inflatable balloon near the distal end of the catheter, the balloon transformable from an unexpanded to an expanded configuration, wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a low profile oblong shape suitable for anchoring within a human bladder; and a second proximal port balloon inflation, in fluid connection with the balloon.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An indwelling bladder catheter having reduced trauma risk, the catheter comprising:
 a proximal end, a distal end, and a flexible elongate tubular body therebetween,   wherein the distal end comprises a distally-facing open distal port in fluid communication with a lumen extending within the elongate tubular body, and   wherein the distal end further comprises a distal tip comprising a blunt shape;   a first proximal port for at least one of fluid inflow or outflow, the first proximal port in fluid communication with the lumen extending within the elongate tubular body;   an inflatable balloon near the distal end of the catheter, the balloon transformable from an unexpanded to an expanded configuration,   wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a low profile oblong shape suitable for anchoring within a human bladder, the low profile oblong shape comprising a first dimension in a radial direction that is at least about 1.5× of a second dimension in an axial direction, and   wherein a proximal most edge of the balloon in its expanded configuration is aligned with a point at which the balloon attaches to the elongate tubular body, the distal end of the catheter extending distally beyond the distal end of the balloon and into the bladder in an axial direction, wherein the balloon and the distal end of the catheter are coupled distinct elements; and   a second proximal port for balloon inflation, in fluid connection with the balloon.   
     
     
         22 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the open distal port comprises an opening that is a same size as the lumen extending within the elongate tubular body. 
     
     
         23 . The catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the blunt shape of the distal tip comprises a rounded edge that defines the opening of the open distal port. 
     
     
         24 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a longitudinally symmetric shape. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the low profile oblong shape of the balloon in the expanded configuration is suitable for providing a seal proximate an internal urethral orifice. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon in its unexpanded configuration is positioned such that an axial length from the distal end of the balloon to the distal tip of the distal end of the catheter comprises a first value, wherein the balloon is configured to expand in both a transverse and an axial direction when changing from the unexpanded to the expanded configuration, such that in the expanded configuration the axial length from the distal end of the balloon to the distal tip of the distal end of the catheter comprises a second value that is smaller than the first value. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein an expanded axial length of the balloon is no greater than about 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration has a volume of no more than about 5 cc. 
     
     
         29 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration has a volume of no more than about 3 cc. 
     
     
         30 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the distal end further comprises at least one distal port positioned on a side surface of the distal end. 
     
     
         31 . An indwelling bladder catheter having reduced trauma risk, the catheter consisting essentially of:
 a proximal end, a distal end, and a flexible elongate tubular body therebetween,   wherein the distal end comprises a distally-facing open distal port in fluid communication with a lumen extending within the elongate tubular body, and   wherein the distal end further comprises a distal tip comprising a blunt shape;   a first proximal port for at least one of fluid inflow or outflow, the first proximal port in fluid communication with the lumen extending within the elongate tubular body;   an inflatable balloon near the distal end of the catheter, the balloon transformable from an unexpanded to an expanded configuration,   wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a low profile oblong shape suitable for anchoring within a human bladder, the low profile oblong shape comprising a first dimension in a radial direction that is at least about 1.5× of a second dimension in an axial direction, and   wherein a proximal most edge of the balloon in its expanded configuration is aligned with a point at which the balloon attaches to the elongate tubular body, the distal end of the catheter extending distally beyond the distal end of the balloon and into the bladder in an axial direction, wherein the balloon and the distal end of the catheter are coupled distinct elements;   a second proximal port for balloon inflation, in fluid connection with the balloon;   wherein the open distal port comprises an opening that is a same size as the lumen extending within the elongate tubular body;   wherein the blunt shape of the distal tip comprises a rounded edge that defines the opening of the open distal port;   wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a longitudinally symmetric shape; and   wherein the low profile oblong shape of the balloon in the expanded configuration is suitable for providing a seal proximate an internal urethral orifice.   
     
     
         32 . A method of performing a urologic procedure, comprising:
 cannulating the urethra with a catheter, the catheter comprising:
 a proximal end, a distal end, and a flexible elongate tubular body therebetween; 
 wherein the distal end comprises a distally-facing open distal port in fluid communication with a lumen extending within the elongate tubular body, and 
 wherein the distal end further comprises a distal tip comprising a blunt shape; 
 a first proximal port for at least one of fluid inflow or outflow, the first proximal port in fluid communication with the lumen extending within the elongate tubular body; 
 an inflatable balloon near the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon and the distal end of the catheter are coupled distinct elements; and 
 a second proximal port for balloon inflation, in fluid connection with the balloon; 
   advancing the catheter distally into the bladder; and   flowing media into the balloon to expand the balloon from an unexpanded to an expanded configuration, wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a low profile oblong shape suitable for anchoring within a human bladder, the low profile oblong shape comprising a first dimension in a radial direction that is at least about 1.5× of a second dimension in an axial direction, and   wherein a proximal most edge of the balloon in its expanded configuration is aligned with a point at which the balloon attaches to the elongate tubular body, the distal end of the catheter extending distally beyond the distal end of the balloon and into the bladder in an axial direction.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the open distal port comprises an opening that is a same size as the lumen extending within the elongate tubular body. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the blunt shape of the distal tip comprises a rounded edge that defines the opening of the open distal port. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration comprises a longitudinally symmetric shape. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising positioning the balloon such that the low profile oblong shape of the balloon in the expanded configuration provides a seal proximate an internal urethral orifice. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the balloon in its unexpanded configuration is positioned such that an axial length from the distal end of the balloon to the distal tip of the distal end of the catheter comprises a first value, wherein the balloon is configured to expand in both a transverse and an axial direction when changing from the unexpanded to the expanded configuration, such that in the expanded configuration the axial length from the distal end of the balloon to the distal tip of the distal end of the catheter comprises a second value that is smaller than the first value. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein an expanded axial length of the balloon is no greater than about 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration has a volume of no more than about 5 cc. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the balloon in its expanded configuration has a volume of no more than about 3 cc.