Curved catheter and methods for making same
First Claim
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
- an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen; and
a tube constraint permanently included with the catheter assembly that temporarily constrains a portion of the catheter tube during a heating procedure of the catheter assembly to create a curved portion of the catheter tube, the curved portion of the catheter tube maintaining a permanent curved configuration after the heating procedure is complete and the portion of the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint, the tube constraint to remain coupled to the catheter assembly after the portion of the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-curved catheter tube of a catheter assembly or other elongate medical device and methods for forming such a device using a heating procedure is disclosed. Pre-curving of the catheter tube is desirable to impart to the catheter assembly a desired positional configuration when the catheter assembly is inserted into a patient. The heating procedure may include heat sterilization procedures commonly used to sterilize medical devices prior to use. In one embodiment, therefore, a catheter assembly is disclosed, comprising an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen, and a tube constraint. The tube constraint is included with the catheter assembly and is configured to temporarily constrain the catheter tube in a curved configuration during a heating procedure of the catheter assembly so as to permanently form the catheter tube in the curved configuration after the heating procedure is complete and the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint.
369 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen; and a tube constraint permanently included with the catheter assembly that temporarily constrains a portion of the catheter tube during a heating procedure of the catheter assembly to create a curved portion of the catheter tube, the curved portion of the catheter tube maintaining a permanent curved configuration after the heating procedure is complete and the portion of the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint, the tube constraint to remain coupled to the catheter assembly after the portion of the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A catheter assembly, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen; a bifurcation operably connecting the elongate catheter tube to at least one extension leg tube; and a tube constraint permanently included in the bifurcation, the tube constraint temporarily constraining the catheter tube in a curved configuration during a heating procedure of the catheter assembly, the heating procedure imparting a permanent curve to the catheter tube after the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification