Non-contaminating probe and methods of making and using same

A catheter for effectively preventing the passage of infectious material when inserted into an anatomical canal, said catheter comprising:

• a hollow catheter tube having first and second open ends;
• a membrane formed from a sintered, tensilized, modified polytetrafluoroethylene generally tubular resin, said membrane having a thickness of less than about 0.004 in. and an operative length of about 10 cm;
• and
• wherein said membrane is disposed within said catheter tube and is suitably removed from said first open end of said catheter tube such that said membrane is interposed between said catheter and said anatomical canal as said catheter is inserted into said anatomical canal.

A catheter assembly comprising:

• a catheter tube having first and second open ends;
• a modified polytetrafluoroethylene membrane;
• a guide assembly;
• wherein said membrane is suitably attached to said guide assembly and inverted over said first open end of said catheter, the majority of said membrane being contained within the lumen of said catheter;
• wherein, as said catheter is inserted into an anatomical canal, the membrane is withdrawn from said catheter first open end such that the frictional force exerted by the membrane on the catheter at the tip of said catheter tube is less than the frictional force by the catheter on the membrane
• wherein said catheter and said membrane are not lubricated;
• and
• wherein the membrane is not withdrawn through the use of hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical assists.

A probe system useful for inserting a probe into a cavity, said system comprising:

• a probe having first and second ends and a substantially hollow body spanning therebetween;
• an unfolding sheath comprising polytetrafluoroethylene, said sheath having first and second ends, said second end and a major portion of said sheath initially substantially contained within said hollow body of said probe, said sheath suitably configured such that when said probe is inserted into the cavity said sheath is withdrawn from said hollow body and interposed between the cavity and said probe along said exterior of said probe as said probe is inserted into the cavity without use of lubricants;
• and
• a guide attached to said first end of said sheath, said guide and first end being disposed about the exterior of said probe first end in sealing engagement with the exterior surface of said probe, said guide comprising a grip portion, a retaining portion, a nipple portion, and a retaining member engageable with said retaining portion.

A catheterization method comprising the steps of:

• providing a polyvinyl chloride catheter having open leading and trailing edges and a substantially hollow body spanning therebetween, said catheter including an unfolding membrane comprising a modified polytetrafluoroethylene resin, said membrane having first and second ends, said second end being substantially contained within said hollow body and said membrane first end being attached to a guide, said membrane attached to said guide being initially unfolded and encircling the exterior of said catheter leading edge;
• inserting said leading edge of said catheter into the urethral canal of a patient;
• maintaining said first unfolded end of said membrane encircling said leading edge outside of the patient's urethral canal;
• pushing said catheter into the urethral canal of the patient until said catheter leading edge reaches the patient's bladder, thereby causing said membrane to be withdrawn, further unfold and be interposed between said catheter and the patient's urethral canal;
• and
• extracting said membrane from the patient's urethral canal after said catheter has been introduced into the patient's bladder.

A catheter for insertion into an anatomic canal, the catheter comprising:

• a generally hollow catheter tube having respective oppositely disposed leading and trailing edges, an axial lumen extending through the length thereof;
• said catheter tube having a tip which includes said leading edge of said catheter tube and which is configured to have a generally smooth configuration;
• said catheter tube being made of a flexible polymeric material having sufficient strength such that said catheter tube does not collapse during insertion into the anatomic canal as well as sufficient elasticity to permit maneuverability of said catheter during insertion into the anatomic canal;
• an elongated tubular and sufficiently flexible membrane disposed within said lumen having first and second open ends and a body spanning there between, said membrane being made of a thin polymeric material having sufficient lubricity to smoothly slide out of the opening of said tip and over said leading edge of said catheter tube and subsequently slide back along the exterior of said tube;
• a guide being configured in the shape of a ring and being made of a plastic material having a relatively low frictional coefficient, said first end of said membrane being securely affixed to said guide;
• wherein said guide and said membrane first end are initially disposed about the exterior of said tube leading edge, and said membrane second end in a major portion of said membrane body are positioned inside said tube lumen, such that as said catheter is manually inserted into the anatomic canal, further pushing of said catheter tube into said canal results in continued extraction of said membrane from said catheter tube so that finally said membrane is withdrawn from said tube lumen and interposed between said tube and said anatomic canal.