Easy-exchange drainage catheter system with integral obturator channel

Abstract

A drainage catheter system, for draining fluids from body organs such as a kidney or a liver in patients whose natural drainage pathways are blocked, has a main drainage lumen and an obturator channel which may be integral with each other. This system can be easily exchanged for a new catheter system when the main drainage lumen of the initially placed catheter system becomes obstructed or occluded by encrusted deposits or tumor ingrowth. Catheter system exchange is initiated by withdrawal of a pre-installed obturator from the obturator channel of the catheter systems. Obturator withdrawal can be used to actuate release of a catheter loop-retaining thread or drawstring from its loop-retaining state in catheter systems which have pigtail loops. Once the obturator has been completely removed, a conventional flexible-tip guidewire is inserted through the now open or un-obturated, obturator channel. The occluded drainage catheter system is removed over the guidewire, a new (exchange) drainage catheter system is positioned by advancing its main drainage lumen along the guidewire, and the guidewire is removed from the new system. Loop formation and loop retention (for looped catheters), and body-external connection to a suitable drainage collector conclude the exchange of drainage catheter systems.