Valved tip catheters

• US 10,143,822 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mozarc Medical US LLC
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sansoucy, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): FARRAR, LAUREN PENG
• Application Number:
  US13/542,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20140012209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,343 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 for haemodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0076 Unidirectional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0078 for fluid inflow from the body into the catheter lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to multiple embodiments of catheters which include valved openings which are normally closed to maintain a lock solution within a catheter during periods of non-use.

Claims

1. A split-tip catheter comprising:

a body defining first and second lumens and first and second separated distal tip portions, each of the separated distal tip portions defining a lumen which communicates with one of the first or second lumens, each of the separated distal tip portions including at least one distally located normally closed, one-way valve, each of the distally located one-way valves being configured to open in response to an increase in pressure within a respective one of the first and second lumens to enable fluid to be discharged from the respective first or second lumen;

at least one proximally located normally closed, one-way valve associated with each of the first and second lumens, each of the proximally located one-way valves being spaced proximally of the distally located one-way valves and being configured to open in response to a decrease in pressure within a respective one of the first and second lumens to enable fluid to enter the respective first or second lumen; and

a support structure formed in the body adjacent at least one of the proximally located, one-way valves.

2. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the distally located one-way valves is a slit valve.

3. The catheter according to claim 2, wherein each of the proximally located one-way valves is a slit valve.

4. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the proximally located one-way valves includes a slit which extends through the body and a concavity formed about the slit.

5. The catheter according to claim 4, wherein the at least one proximally located one-way valve includes two proximally located one-way valves associated with a respective one of each of the first and second lumens.

6. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the proximally located one-way valves is a flap-valve, the flap valve including a deformable flap.

7. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the deformable flap is rectangular.

8. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the flap is triangular.

9. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the proximally located one-way valves is a duckbill valve.

10. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the separated distal tip portions include at least one of the proximally located one-way valves.

11. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the proximally located one-way valves is formed in the body proximally of the separated distal tip portions.

12. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the proximally located one-way valves includes a membrane supported within the respective one of the first and second lumens of the body, the membrane being positioned to cover a throughbore formed in the body and being inwardly movable to enable fluid to enter the throughbore, at least a portion of the membrane being secured to the body.

13. The catheter according to claim 12, further including a support rib extending across the throughbore, the support rib being positioned to prevent outward movement of the membrane.

14. A split-tip catheter comprising:

a body defining first and second lumens and first and second separated distal tip portions, each of the separated distal tip portions defining a lumen which communicates with one of the first or second lumens, each of the separated distal tip portions including at least one distally located normally closed, one-way valve, each of the distally located one-way valves being configured to open in response to an increase in pressure within a respective one of the first and second lumens to enable fluid to be discharged from the respective first or second lumen; and

at least one proximally located normally closed, one-way valve associated with each of the first and second lumens, each of the proximally located one-way valves being spaced proximally of the distally located one-way valves and being configured to open in response to a decrease in pressure within a respective one of the first and second lumens to enable fluid to enter the respective first or second lumen, wherein each of the proximally located one-way valves includes tapered inwardly deformable flaps.

15. A split-tip catheter comprising:

a body defining a venous lumen, an arterial lumen and first and second separated distal tip portions, the first distal tip portion defining a first lumen which communicates with the venous lumen and the second distal tip portion defining a second lumen which communicates with the arterial lumen, a distal end of the first distal tip portion extending distally beyond a distal end of the second distal tip portion;

a one-way valve formed in the first distal tip portion and configured to enable fluid to be discharged from the venous lumen upon an increase in pressure within the venous lumen;

a one-way valve formed in the second distal tip portion and configured to enable fluid to enter the arterial lumen upon a decrease in pressure within the arterial lumen; and

a support structure formed in the body adjacent at least one of the one-way valves.

16. The catheter according to claim 15, further comprising a catheter hub having a first end secured to a proximal end of the body, the catheter hub supporting a valve assembly having two inlet one-way valves which communicate with the venous lumen and enable fluid to flow into the venous lumen and two outlet one-way valves which communicate with the arterial lumen and enable fluid to flow from the arterial lumen.

17. The catheter according to claim 16, further comprising a conduit defining first and second lumens and having a first end connected to a second end of the catheter hub such that each of the first and second lumens communicates with one of the inlet one-way valves and one of the outlet one-way valves.

18. The catheter according to claim 17, wherein the conduit is adapted to communicate with a medical device.

19. A split-tip catheter comprising:

a body defining first and second lumens and first and second separated distal tip portions, each of the separated distal tip portions defining a lumen which communicates with one of the first and second lumens;

at least one distally located normally closed, one-way valve in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second lumens, each of the distally located one-way valves being configured to open in response to an increase in pressure within the respective first and second lumens to which the distally located one-way valve is in fluid communication to enable fluid to be discharged from the respective first or second lumen; and

at least one proximally located normally closed, one-way valve in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second lumens, each of the proximally located one-way valves being spaced proximally of the distally located one-way valves and being configured to open in response to a decrease in pressure within the respective first and second lumens to which the proximally located one-way valve is in fluid communication to enable fluid to enter the respective first or second lumen; and

a support structure formed in the body adjacent at least one of the proximally located, one-way valves.