Suprapubic catheter placement apparatus (lyell sound)

A surgical apparatus for placement of a suprapubic catheter within the bladder of a patient by a surgical procedure which involves inserting an end of the surgical apparatus through the urethra of the patient into the bladder, making an incision through the abdomen and bladder, pushing the end of the apparatus out through the incision, releasably coupling the end of the apparatus to a catheter, pulling the coupled apparatus and catheter into the bladder, releasing the catheter from the apparatus in the bladder and withdrawing the apparatus out of the patient, said apparatus, comprising:

• an elongate element defining a hollow tube having a gripping portion for gripping and manipulating the apparatus and a curved portion for insertion through the urethra into the bladder of the patient, said gripping portion terminating in a first end and said insertion portion terminating in a second end,
• a flexible wire disposed within said elongate element, said flexible wire having first and second ends corresponding to said first and said second ends of said elongate element and having a length substantially extending from said first end to said second end of said elongate element, said second end of said flexible wire including a coupling portion which can be inserted through an opening in a catheter tip to releasably couple said flexible wire to the catheter tip, and
• a means for reciprocating said flexible wire within said elongate element, said reciprocating means including a handle operatively connected to said first end of said flexible wire, so that when said handle is in a first position, said second end of said flexible wire projects from said second end of said elongate element for coupling with the catheter tip, and when said handle is in a second position, said second end of said flexible wire and the catheter tip are retracted within said second end of said elongate element.