Occlusion resistant medical catheter with flexible core

• US 20030216700A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pearson, Robert Mark, Morris, Mary M., Hankner, Douglas Owen
• Application Number:
  US10/463,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/266
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/06 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/18 Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0081 Soft tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0021 characterised by the form of the tubing A61M25/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

A medical catheter comprising a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area; and a flexible core within the lumen substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.

Claims

1. A medical catheter comprising:

(a) a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area;

(b) a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway, the flexible core having at least one end being free to move within the lumen.

4. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core is initially attached to the flexible tube, but is free to break away from the flexible tube at a point of attachment.

5. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is circular in shape.

8. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is non-circular in shape.

11. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the passageway is circular in shape.

14. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the passageway is non-circular in shape.

17. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core has a different shape than the longitudinal cross-section of the lumen.

20. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is radiopaque.

23. The medical catheter of claim 20, wherein the flexible core has a first longitudinal portion having a cross-sectional shape or size different from a second longitudinal portion of the flexible core in series with the first longitudinal portion.

26. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core is made of a heavy metal and polyurethane.

29. The medical catheter of claim 26, wherein the heavy metal is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, nickel, and alloys thereof.

32. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 95% by weight of a heavy metal.

35. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 80-85% by weight of a heavy metal.

38. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core has a jacket.

41. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the jacket of the flexible core comprises polyurethane resin.

44. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core has a first longitudinal portion having radiopaque material and a second longitudinal portion in series with the first longitudinal portion, wherein the second longitudinal portion does not contain radiopaque material.

47. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core is electrically conductive.

50. The medical catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible core comprises a wire bundle.

52. The medical catheter of claim 50, wherein the wire bundle comprises at least one twisted wire.

55. The medical catheter of claim 52, wherein the wire bundle comprises outer wires twisted around at least one inner wire.

58. The medical catheter of claim 50, wherein the wire bundle is covered with a jacket.

61. The medical catheter of claim 58, wherein the jacket comprises polyurethane resin.

64. The medical catheter of claim 50, wherein the wire bundle comprises a heavy metal alloy.

67. The medical catheter of claim 64, wherein the heavy metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, and nickel alloys.

2. A medical catheter comprising:

(a) a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area;

(b) a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway, the flexible core being permanently attached to the inner wall of the flexible tube.

6. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is circular in shape.

9. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is non-circular in shape.

12. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the passageway is circular in shape.

15. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the passageway is non-circular in shape.

18. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core has a different shape than the longitudinal cross-section of the lumen.

21. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is radiopaque.

24. The medical catheter of claim 21, wherein the flexible core has a first longitudinal portion having a cross-sectional shape or size different from a second longitudinal portion of the flexible core in series with the first longitudinal portion.

27. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core is made of a heavy metal and polyurethane.

30. The medical catheter of claim 27, wherein the heavy metal is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, nickel, and alloys thereof.

33. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 95% by weight of a heavy metal.

36. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 80-85% by weight of a heavy metal.

39. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core has a jacket.

42. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the jacket of the flexible core comprises polyurethane resin.

45. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core has a first longitudinal portion having radiopaque material and a second longitudinal portion in series with the first longitudinal portion, wherein the second longitudinal portion does not contain radiopaque material.

48. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core is electrically conductive.

51. The medical catheter of claim 2, wherein the flexible core comprises a wire bundle.

53. The medical catheter of claim 51, wherein the wire bundle core comprises at least one twisted wire.

56. The medical catheter of claim 53, wherein the wire bundle comprises outer wires twisted around at least one inner wire.

59. The medical catheter of claim 51, wherein the wire bundle is covered with a jacket.

62. The medical catheter of claim 59, wherein the jacket comprises polyurethane resin.

65. The medical catheter of claim 51, wherein the wire bundle comprises a heavy metal alloy.

68. The medical catheter of claim 65, wherein the heavy metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, and nickel alloys.

3. A medical catheter comprising:

(a) a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area;

(b) a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway, the flexible core comprising a wire bundle.

7. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is circular in shape.

10. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is non-circular in shape.

13. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the passageway is circular in shape.

16. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the passageway is non-circular in shape.

19. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core has a different shape than the longitudinal cross-section of the lumen.

22. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal cross-section of the flexible core is radiopaque.

25. The medical catheter of claim 22, wherein the flexible core has a first longitudinal portion having a cross-sectional shape or size different from a second longitudinal portion of the flexible core in series with the first longitudinal portion.

28. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible core is made of a heavy metal and polyurethane.

31. The medical catheter of claim 28, wherein the heavy metal is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, nickel, and alloys thereof.

34. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 95% by weight of a heavy metal.

37. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 80-85% by weight of a heavy metal.

40. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible core has a jacket.

43. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the jacket of the flexible core comprises polyurethane resin.

46. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible core has a first longitudinal portion having radiopaque material and a second longitudinal portion in series with the first longitudinal portion, wherein the second longitudinal portion does not contain radiopaque material.

49. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible core is electrically conductive.

54. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the wire bundle comprises at least one twisted wire.

57. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the wire bundle comprises outer wires twisted around at least one inner wire.

60. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the wire bundle is covered with a jacket.

63. The medical catheter of claim 60, wherein the jacket comprises polyurethane resin.

66. The medical catheter of claim 3, wherein the wire bundle comprises a heavy metal alloy.

69. The medical catheter of claim 66, wherein the heavy metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, and nickel alloys.

70. A method of assembly of a medical catheter comprising placing a flexible core within a flexible tube, the flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, the flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core comprising a heavy metal and polyurethane and having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and the flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, the flexible core having at least one end that is free to move within the lumen, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the longitudinal cross-sectional area of the flexible core is substantially constant.

72. A method of removing fluid from a target site of a patient comprising:

(a) implanting into a patient a catheter, the catheter having a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall and defining at least one opening at a target site within a patient, the at least one opening providing fluid transfer from outside the outer wall to inside the inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway; and

(b) drawing fluid away from the target site of the patient.

73. A method of making an occlusion resistant medical catheter, comprising:

(a) co-extruding polyurethane over a heavy metal loaded polyurethane to comprise the flexible core; and

(b) placing a flexible core within a flexible tube, the flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, the flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and the flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the cross-sectional area of the flexible tube is substantially constant.

75. The method of claim 73 further comprising the step of co-extruding the flexible core and the flexible tube in a manner that results in the flexible core being attached to the inner wall of the flexible tube.

76. The method of claim 73 wherein step (a) comprises co-extruding polyurethane over a heavy metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum, iridium, silver, and nickel, and alloys thereof.

77. A method of assembly of a medical catheter comprising placing a flexible core within a flexible tube, the flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, the flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 95% by weight of a heavy metal, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and the flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein the cross-sectional area of the flexible core is substantially constant.