Continuous flow catheters, diffusers for catheters, catheters having a diffuser, and methods for continuous flow peritoneal dialysis are provided. The continuous flow catheter includes at least two lumens, of which one is short and the other is long. The long lumen is coiled and contains a plurality of openings. Another similar continuous flow catheter also includes a diffuser for the dispensing of fluid in a diffused manner. The catheters are used for peritoneal dialysis. The diffuser, for use ...

This new catheter minimizes the exposure of attendant personnel to contaminated materials. The catheter enables the withdrawal of the catheter from the patient and subsequent disposal thereof in a safe, easy to perform, and sanitary manner. The catheter includes a hollow tube made of a material that is inflatable and nonporous. A main passage is located within the tube and extends throughout the tube, from an open end of the tube and through an aperture located near a closed end of the tube. An ...

A catheter adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel is disclosed which comprises a flexible tube-like sheath including a fluid passage therein and a radially expansive and contractive balloon disposed about the peripheral surface of the distal end portion of said sheath and communicating with said fluid passage. The catheter is characterized in that a light guide formed by extrusion for transmitting illumination light to the leading end of the catheter has disposed therein, an image guide for ...

An improved catheter construction having a distal end and a proximal end, with a tip disposed at the distal end, the catheter having a complex "multi-planar" curvature to automatically position the distal end at a desired internal location within a biological subject, the catheter being formed of a resilient material having a memory, enabling deformation from and subsequent automatic return to the predetermined shape. Torque applied to the proximal end of the catheter, about the longitudinal axi...

A catheter intended for insertion into a canal or canal-like organ, for example into the urethra leading to the urinal bladder of a human being, for the purpose of emptying the contents of the urinal bladder of that person into the catheter. The catheter comprises a preferably flexible, tubular catheter body incorporating a urine inlet and provided with an insertion section together with means for holding the catheter within the urethra. The catheter body also includes a discharge section spaced...

A catheter having a proximal end provided with a nonreturn valve consisting of the catheter tubing end and of a rigid insert body whose rearward end is fixed in the catheter tubing. Bypass channels extend passed the end. The front end of the insert body is a cylindrical plug whose peripheral surface is joined by the catheter end acting as a valve hose. In case of overpressure in the catheter tubing, the tubing end is lifted from the plug and the pressure medium may escape accordingly.

A catheter having a curved distal end portion or a flexible distal end portion able to bend when being used, which comprises at least one radio opaque ring member provided on the circumference of the catheter, for indicating the direction of the end portion. The radio opaque ring member has an outer diameter approximately equal to that of the catheter, and a width (or a length along the axial direction of the catheter) L which satisfies the following relationship with the magnitude of the inner ...

A nutritive catheter is assembled by attaching a head to the distal end of a main tubing having a duct therethrough, the head being formed from a composition comprising a flexible synthetic resin and a finely divided metal material in a ratio by volume of resin to metal material of at least 2 and having a specific gravity of at least 2. An opening is provided in the head in communication with the tubing duct.

A catheter comprising a tubular structure having a channel extending through it. A connector is attached to one end of the structure, and adapted to be connected to an energy source. Energy guide fibers extend through the connector and are embedded in the tubular structure, and are adapted to be connected to the energy source. The connector has at least one inlet port connected to the channel. A shaped memory alloy is woven with certain portions of the energy guide fibers on one side of the tubu...

A catheter has a flexible tubular body and a reinforcing coil embedded in a wall of said body, wherein said catheter has an outer diameter not larger than 1.5 mm at a front end thereof, said body has a first region disposed within a range of 1-30 mm from said front end of said catheter and a second region nearer to a rear end of said catheter than said first region; said coil extends from a position inside said first region to said second region; a part of said coil disposed in said second regio...