Self-deploying catheter assembly

Abstract

A catheter having an elongate drainage tube with a proximal end and a distal end, is adapted to extend through a body conduit and into a body cavity. An anchor disposed the distal end of the tube is disposed in the body cavity and is adapted to be moved from an insertion position to a withdrawal position. The anchor in the insertion position has a low profile when the tube is moved distally and in the withdrawal position has a low profile when the tube is moved proximally. The first end of the anchor is attached to the tube, and a tension member is provided to extend distally of the tube to releasably hold the second end of the anchor in a fixed relationship with the tube. In an associated method, this tension member is severed to release the second end of the anchor from the tube and permit withdrawal of the tube and the anchor in a low-profile state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.