Valved connector assembly and sterility barriers for heat exchange catheters and other closed loop catheters
First Claim
1. A closed loop catheter device comprising:
- an elongate, flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a closed loop fluid flow circuit comprising a first lumen through which a fluid may flow into the catheter body and a second lumen through which fluid that has entered the catheter body through the first lumen may subsequently flow out of the catheter body;
a connector on the proximal end of the catheter body, said connector being having an inflow lumen which is connectable to and disconnectable from an inflow fluid source and an outflow lumen which is connectable and disconnectable from an outflow fluid receiver into which fluid may flow out of the first lumen; and
, a valving apparatus which prevents fluid from entering one of the first and second lumens when the connector is disconnected from at least the inflow source, such that fluid may then be evacuated from the closed loop circuit through the other of the first and second lumens without concurrent entry of make-up air or other fluid into the closed loop circuit.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly for catheters having closed loop flow circuits, such as some balloon catheters and heat exchange catheters. The connector assembly comprises first and second connector bodies that may be connected and disconnected from one another. When the connector bodies are disconnected, a syringe or negative pressure source may be attached to withdraw residual fluid from the catheter'"'"'s closed loop circuit and to deflate any expandable portion of the closed loop circuit (e.g., balloon or expandable heat exchanger). A one way flow valve prevents make up air or other fluid from entering the catheter while the negative pressure is being applied. Also disclosed are sterility barrier assemblies for all types of catheters. Such sterility barrier assemblies are operative to prevent contamination of the portion of a catheter that remains outside of a patient'"'"'s body so that the catheter may subsequently be further advanced into the patient'"'"'s body without introducing microbes or other contaminants into the patient'"'"'s body.
112 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A closed loop catheter device comprising:
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an elongate, flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a closed loop fluid flow circuit comprising a first lumen through which a fluid may flow into the catheter body and a second lumen through which fluid that has entered the catheter body through the first lumen may subsequently flow out of the catheter body;
a connector on the proximal end of the catheter body, said connector being having an inflow lumen which is connectable to and disconnectable from an inflow fluid source and an outflow lumen which is connectable and disconnectable from an outflow fluid receiver into which fluid may flow out of the first lumen; and
,a valving apparatus which prevents fluid from entering one of the first and second lumens when the connector is disconnected from at least the inflow source, such that fluid may then be evacuated from the closed loop circuit through the other of the first and second lumens without concurrent entry of make-up air or other fluid into the closed loop circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A catheter device that is insertable into the body of a human or veterinary patient, said catheter device comprising:
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a flexible catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, said catheter being insertable, distal end first, into the patient'"'"'s body such that a distal portion of the catheter resides within the patient'"'"'s body and a proximal portion of the catheter remains exteriorized; and
,a sterility barrier configured to substantially surround the exteriorized portion of the catheter so as to substantially prevent microbial contamination of the exteriorized portion of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification