Inventors:
Mark S. Lyell - Pascagoula MS
International Classification:
A61M 5178
Abstract:
A surgical apparatus is provided for placing a suprapubic catheter within the bladder of a patient. The apparatus essentially includes an elongate element defining a hollow tube and having an end for insertion through the urethra, a flexible wire disposed within the elongate element extending along the length of the elongate element, and a means for reciprocating the flexible wire such as a spring within the elongate element. The end of the flexible wire at the insertion end of the apparatus is provided with a coupling such as a hook for coupling the flexible wire to a catheter tip. The other end of the flexible wire at the handle end of the apparatus is operatively connected to the reciprocating means. The handle has two positions, the first position being a position when the coupling of the flexible wire projects from the end of the apparatus to allow for coupling with the catheter tip, the second position being a position when the catheter is coupled with the apparatus and is retracted within the end of the apparatus.