Trocar catheter

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It has now been discovered that the above and other objects of the present invention may be accomplished in the following manner.
Specifically, the present invention provides a catheter device useful for treatment of the pleural space.
The device includes a catheter tube having an internal end and an external end with the tube being formed from a clear, flexible medically inert material and sized for use in the pleural space.
The tube has a central bore forming a first lumen with a flared suction engaging portion on the external end and a tapered portion on the internal end for providing access to the pleural space.
The catheter tube includes at least one opening in the first lumen at the internal end of the tube and spaced axially from the tapered portion for providing additional access to the pleural space.
Preferably, the catheter tube includes a pair of openings in the first lumen at the internal end of the tube which are spaced axially from the tapered portion for providing additional access to the pleural space.
Also included is a stylette sized for insertion in the first lumen, the stylette having less flexibility than the tube.
In a preferred embodiment, the stylette has a plug for engagement with the suction engaging portion of the tube to provide a surface for application of axial pressure and a sharp pointed tip for extension beyond the tapered portion in the internal end of the tube to facilitate insertion into the pleural space upon application of the axial pressure.
Forming part of the device is a second lumen axially extending in the catheter tube from the external end to a closed terminal point proximate the internal end of the tube and having a substantially smaller diameter than the first lumen.
The second lumen has at least one opening proximate the closed terminal point.
Preferred are two openings in the first lumen, with the pair of openings in the first lumen being spaced axially such that one of the pair is axially internal of the one opening in the second lumen and the other of the pair is axially external of the one opening in second lumen