Abstract: A ureteral catheter includes a drainage lumen having a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and/or bladder and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis, and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis. The distal portion includes a retention portion for maintaining positioning of the distal portion of the drainage lumen. The retention portion includes a plurality of sections, each section having one or more openings on a sidewall of the retention portion for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen. A total area of openings of a first section of the plurality of sections is less than a total area of openings of an adjacent second section of the plurality of sections. The second section is closer to a distal end of the drainage lumen than the first section.

Abstract: A catheter includes an elongated tube having a distal portion having a distal end and a sidewall defining at least one drainage lumen. The catheter also includes a permeable material. The permeable material is configured to be deployed in the urinary tract to maintain the distal end of the elongated tube at a predetermined position in a bladder, a ureter, a renal pelvis, or a kidney of the patient. When deployed, the permeable material defines a three-dimensional shape of sufficient size to permit flow of at least a portion of fluid from the urinary tract through the permeable material and the at least one drainage lumen.

Abstract: A catheter includes an elongated tube having a distal portion having a distal end and a sidewall defining at least one drainage lumen. The sidewall includes a drainage portion which allows fluid to pass through the sidewall and into the drainage lumen. The catheter also includes a permeable tissue support. The tissue support is configured to be deployed in the urinary tract to maintain the distal end of the elongated tube at a predetermined position in a bladder, a ureter, a renal pelvis, or a kidney of the patient. When deployed, the permeable tissue support defines a three-dimensional shape of sufficient size to permit flow of at least a portion of fluid from the urinary tract through the tissue support and drainage portion of the elongated tube to the at least one drainage lumen.

Abstract: Ureteral catheters and assemblies are provided including: a proximal portion; and a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion, wherein the retention portion includes an inwardly facing side including one or more drainage ports and an outwardly facing side, and wherein, when negative pressure is applied through the ureteral catheter, fluid is drawn into the ureteral catheter through the one or more drainage ports while mucosal tissue is prevented from appreciably occluding the one or more drainage ports.

Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating urine output from the kidney, including: (a) inserting a catheter including: a drainage lumen including a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis and a proximal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion including a funnel support including at least one sidewall, wherein the funnel support includes a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter, the second diameter being closer to an end of the distal portion of the drainage lumen than the first diameter, wherein the proximal portion of the drainage lumen is essentially free of or free of openings; and (b) applying negative pressure to the proximal portion of the drainage lumen for a period of time to facilitate urine output from the kidney.

Abstract: Ureteral or bladder catheters are provided, including (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion that includes one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations and is configured to establish an outer periphery or protective surface area that inhibits mucosal tissue from occluding the one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations upon application of negative pressure through the catheter. Systems, kits and methods for inducing negative pressure to increase renal function also are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating urine output from the kidney, including: (a) inserting a catheter including: a drainage lumen including a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis and a proximal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion including a funnel support including at least one sidewall, wherein the funnel support includes a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter, the second diameter being closer to an end of the distal portion of the drainage lumen than the first diameter, wherein the proximal portion of the drainage lumen is essentially free of or free of openings; and (b) applying negative pressure to the proximal portion of the drainage lumen for a period of time to facilitate urine output from the kidney.

Abstract: A pump assembly for increasing urine output from a patient includes at least one ureteral catheter including: a distal portion having a retention portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis, and/or ureter; and a proximal portion defining a drainage lumen. The retention portion includes at least one drainage port which permits fluid flow into the drainage lumen. The pump assembly further includes a pump configured to provide negative pressure to at least one of the renal pelvis or kidney through the drainage lumen of the at least one ureteral catheter. The pump includes at least one fluid port in fluid communication with the drainage lumen of the proximal portion of the ureteral catheter for receiving fluid from the patient's kidney, wherein at least a portion of the pump is configured to be positioned within a patient's body.

Abstract: A method for increasing urine output rate from a patient having venous congestion is provided. The method includes: deploying a urinary catheter into the patient such that flow of urine from the ureter and/or kidney is transported within a drainage lumen of the catheter; applying negative pressure to the ureter and/or kidney through the drainage lumen of the catheter to extract urine from the patient; periodically measuring an edema value of the patient; and if the measured edema value is less than or equal to Grade 1 in which the depth of indentation is less than about 2 mm after about 10 seconds, ceasing the application of the negative pressure to the ureter and/or kidney.

Abstract: A bladder catheter is provided. The bladder catheter includes: a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra; and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's bladder, the distal portion including a retention portion, wherein the retention portion includes an inwardly facing side including one or more perforations and an outwardly facing side, and wherein, when negative pressure is applied through the bladder catheter, fluid is drawn into the bladder catheter through the one or more perforations while bladder walls are prevented from appreciably occluding the one or more perforations by contact with the outwardly facing side of the retention portion.

Abstract: Ureteral or bladder catheters and systems are provided, including (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion including an outer periphery or protective surface area which prevents mucosal tissue from occluding one or more protected drainage holes, ports, or perforations disposed within the outer periphery or protective surface area upon application of negative pressure through the catheter.

Abstract: Ureteral catheters are provided including a drainage lumen including a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis for receiving fluid from a patient's kidney and a proximal portion for draining the fluid from the distal portion, the distal portion including a coiled retention portion including: at least a first coil having a first diameter; at least a second coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter, the second coil being closer to an end of the distal portion of the drainage lumen than the first coil; and one or more perforations on a sidewall of the coiled retention portion of the distal portion of the drainage lumen for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen, wherein the proximal portion of the drainage lumen is essentially free of or free of perforations.

Abstract: A ureteral catheter includes a drainage lumen having a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and/or bladder and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis, and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis. The distal portion includes a retention portion for maintaining positioning of the distal portion of the drainage lumen. The retention portion includes a plurality of sections, each section having one or more openings on a sidewall of the retention portion for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen. A total area of openings of a first section of the plurality of sections is less than a total area of openings of an adjacent second section of the plurality of sections. The second section is closer to a distal end of the drainage lumen than the first section.

Abstract: A pump assembly is provided, including a pump module configured to be positioned within an interior portion of a ureter and/or renal pelvis of a patient for providing negative pressure to the patient's ureter and/or kidney, the pump module including: a housing including a flow channel for conducting fluid, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned within the interior portion of the ureter and/the renal pelvis; and a pump element positioned within the channel to draw fluid through the channel; and a control module coupled to the pump module, the control module being configured to direct motion of the pump element to control flow rate of fluid passing through the channel, and including a housing configured to be positioned within at least one of a second interior portion of the patient's ureter, a second portion of the patient's renal pelvis, or an interior portion of a patient's bladder.

Abstract: Ureteral catheters are provided including a drainage lumen including a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis for receiving fluid from a patient's kidney and a proximal portion for draining the fluid from the distal portion, the distal portion including a coiled retention portion including: at least a first coil having a first diameter; at least a second coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter, the second coil being closer to an end of the distal portion of the drainage lumen than the first coil; and one or more perforations on a sidewall of the coiled retention portion of the distal portion of the drainage lumen for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen, wherein the proximal portion of the drainage lumen is essentially free of or free of perforations.

Abstract: A coated and/or impregnated urinary catheter or urinary stent device, including: (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a retention portion that includes at least one protected drainage hole(s), port(s) or perforation(s) and is configured to establish an outer periphery or protective surface area that inhibits mucosal tissue from occluding the at least one protected drainage hole(s), port(s) or perforation(s) upon application of negative pressure through the catheter; and at least one coating(s) upon and/or at least one impregnation(s) within at least a portion of the protective surface area, the at least one coating(s) and/or at least one impregnation(s) including at least one of lubricant(s), antimicrobial material(s), pH buffer(s) or anti-inflammatory material(s)

Abstract: A method for removing excess fluid from a patient with hemodilution is provided. The method includes: deploying a urinary tract catheter into the patient such that flow of urine from the ureter and/or kidney is transported within a drainage lumen of the catheter; applying negative pressure to the ureter and/or kidney through the drainage lumen of the catheter to extract urine from the patient; periodically measuring a hematocrit value of the patient; and if the measured hematocrit value is greater than a predetermined threshold value, ceasing the application of the negative pressure to the ureter and/or kidney. A system for removing excess fluid from a patient with hemodilution including a ureteral catheter and a pump is also provided.

Abstract: Ureteral or bladder catheters are provided, including (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion that includes one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations and is configured to establish an outer periphery or protective surface area that inhibits mucosal tissue from occluding the one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations upon application of negative pressure through the catheter. Systems, kits and methods for inducing negative pressure to increase renal function also are provided.

Abstract: A fluid collection catheter includes an elongated tube having a proximal portion, a distal portion having a distal end, and a sidewall extending between a proximal end and the distal end thereof defining at least one drainage lumen. The sidewall of the tube includes a drainage portion. The fluid collection catheter also includes a tissue support having at least a first flange including a central portion connected to the distal portion of the tube and an outer portion extending radially and axially therefrom. The first flange can be configured to be deployed in a patient's bladder to maintain the distal end of the tube at a position in the bladder. When deployed, the tissue support defines a three-dimensional shape of sufficient size to permit flow of fluid contained in the bladder from the bladder through the drainage portion of the tube to the at least one drainage lumen.

Abstract: A method for removing excess fluid from a patient with hemodilution is provided. The method includes: deploying a urinary tract catheter into the patient such that flow of urine from the ureter and/or kidney is transported within a drainage lumen of the catheter; applying negative pressure to the ureter and/or kidney through the drainage lumen of the catheter to extract urine from the patient; periodically measuring a hematocrit value of the patient; and if the measured hematocrit value is greater than a predetermined threshold value, ceasing the application of the negative pressure to the ureter and/or kidney. A system for removing excess fluid from a patient with hemodilution including a ureteral catheter and a pump is also provided.