Abstract: A safety balloon catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen balloon catheter and a hollow barbell-shaped stretch valve. The balloon catheter has a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining a balloon interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon interior and shaped to convey the inflation fluid to and from the balloon interior, and a hollow second lumen parallel to the inflation lumen; and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the second lumen. The stretch valve is shaped to permit a fluid to pass therethrough and positioned in the second lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, a distal barbell end of the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, in an actuated state, the distal barbell end slides within the second lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen.

Abstract: To perform a prostatectomy, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a proximal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area at the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a prostatectomy is performed at the portion of the procedure area.

Abstract: A safety catheter for draining a given fluid includes a hollow stretch valve and a flexible, multi-lumen, balloon drainage catheter having a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining a balloon interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, a drain lumen. and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the drain lumen. The hollow stretch valve is shaped to permit the given fluid to pass therethrough and is positioned in the drain lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port, and, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the distal sliding portion slides within the drain lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the drain lumen.

Abstract: A safety balloon catheter includes a stretch valve and a balloon catheter having a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining an interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, an inflation lumen extending through the shaft to the interior and shaped to convey inflation fluid thereto and from, a second lumen parallel to the inflation lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the second lumen. The hollow stretch valve is shaped to permit a fluid to pass therethrough and is positioned in the second lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, in an over-inflated state, the distal sliding portion slides within the second lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having an outer diameter, a distal tip, a proximal catheter end with a drain end and a proximal inflation end. The multi-lumen shaft defines a drain lumen, a distal hollow balloon portion, at least one inflation lumen, and a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve is coaxially disposed in the inflation or drainage lumen, or both, has a fixed portion within the inflation or drainage lumen, or both, and prevents fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state and has a sliding portion slidably disposed within the inflation or drainage lumen, or both, such that, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the sliding portion slides within the inflation or drainage lumen, or both to permit fluid to pass through the balloon drainage port and/or wall of the catheter.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having an outer diameter, a distal tip, a proximal catheter end with a drain end and a proximal inflation end. The multi-lumen shaft defines a drain lumen, a distal hollow balloon portion, at least one inflation lumen, and a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve is coaxially disposed in the drainage lumen and has a radially self-expandable proximal section fixedly connected within the drain lumen by self-expansion, a flexible intermediate section longitudinally movable within the drain lumen, and a distal plug movably positioned in the drain lumen to prevent fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state and being slidably disposed within the drain lumen such that, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the distal plug slides within the drain lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having an outer diameter, a distal tip, a proximal catheter end with a drain end and a proximal inflation end. The multi-lumen shaft defines a drain lumen, a distal hollow balloon portion, at least one inflation lumen, and a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve is coaxially disposed in the drainage lumen, has a fixed portion within the drainage lumen just proximal of an increased stretching portion, and prevents fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state. The stretch valve has a sliding portion slidably disposed within the drainage lumen such that, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the sliding portion slides within the drainage lumen to permit fluid to pass through the balloon drainage port and/or inner wall of the catheter.

Abstract: A directionally limited illuminating balloon catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft having a distal end and a hollow balloon portion disposed at the distal end and inflated through the shaft, the balloon portion having a light source illuminating only a portion of the environment outside the balloon portion. The balloon portion can have a directionally limited light source directing substantially all illumination towards the shaft. Also provided is a directionally illuminating balloon catheter kit including a set of illuminating catheters each having the light source with different sized illuminating areas to illuminate a different sized partial portion of the environment outside the balloon portion.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft. The shaft has a proximal shaft portion with a distal end having a given outer diameter and a distal tip portion having an outer diameter less than the given outer diameter. A hollow balloon is disposed at a junction of the proximal shaft portion and the distal tip portion. The balloon has a distal leg fixedly secured to the distal tip portion and a proximal leg removably secured to the proximal shaft portion.

Abstract: To perform a prostatectomy, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a proximal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area at the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a prostatectomy is performed at the portion of the procedure area.

Abstract: A directionally limited illuminating balloon catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft having a distal end and a hollow balloon portion disposed at the distal end and inflated through the shaft, the balloon portion having a light source illuminating only a portion of the environment outside the balloon portion. The balloon portion can have a directionally limited light source directing substantially all illumination towards the shaft. Also provided is a directionally illuminating balloon catheter kit including a set of illuminating catheters each having the light source with different sized illuminating areas to illuminate a different sized partial portion of the environment outside the balloon portion.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft. The shaft has a proximal shaft portion with a distal end having a given outer diameter and a distal tip portion having an outer diameter less than the given outer diameter. A hollow balloon is disposed at a junction of the proximal shaft portion and the distal tip portion. The balloon has a distal leg fixedly secured to the distal tip portion and a proximal leg removably secured to the proximal shaft portion.

Abstract: A directionally limited illuminating balloon catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft having a distal end and a hollow balloon portion disposed at the distal end and inflated through the shaft, the balloon portion having a light source illuminating only a portion of the environment outside the balloon portion. The balloon portion can be have a directionally limited light source directing substantially all illumination towards the shaft. Also provided is a directionally illuminating balloon catheter kit including a set of illuminating catheters each having the light source with different sized illuminating areas to illuminate a different sized partial portion of the environment outside the balloon portion.