Ureteral and bladder catheters and methods of inducing negative pressure to increase renal perfusion

A system for inducing negative pressure in a portion of a urinary tract of a patient, the system comprising:

• a ureteral catheter comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a retention portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, wherein a radially outwardly facing portion of the retention portion inhibits kidney tissue and/or ureteral tissue from contacting drainage port(s) on a radially inwardly facing portion of the retention portion when fluid is drawn into the ureteral catheter through the drainage port(s) the outwardly facing portion being essentially free or free of drainage ports;
• and
• a pump for application of negative pressure to the proximal portion of the ureteral catheter, wherein the pump induces negative pressure through the ureteral catheter, which in turn causes fluid from the kidney to be drawn into the ureteral catheter, and then outside the patient's body.

A method for extracting urine from a ureter and/or kidney of a patient for effecting interstitial pressure in the kidney, the method comprising:

• positioning a distal end of a ureteral catheter at a fluid collection position within a patient's ureter and/or kidney, the catheter comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a retention portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, wherein a radially outwardly facing portion of the retention portion inhibits kidney tissue and/or ureteral tissue from contacting drainage port(s) on a radially inwardly facing portion of the retention portion when fluid is drawn into the ureteral catheter through the drainage port(s), the outwardly facing portion being essentially free or free of drainage ports;
• and
• inducing a negative pressure through the ureteral catheter to extract urine from the patient, thereby altering interstitial pressure within the patient's kidney.