Catheter tunneler and adapter

• US 20040176739A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Raulerson, J. Daniel, Stephens, John, Schweikert, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/736,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176739A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0194 Tunnelling catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

A catheter tunneling device is disclosed. The device includes a proximal portion including a proximal tip, a distal end, and an elongated body extending between the proximal tip and the distal end. The device further includes a distal portion including a generally elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end. The proximal end of the distal portion is connected to the distal end of the proximal portion. The distal end of the distal portion comprises a connection means for connecting a plurality of catheter lumens thereto. A method of subcutaneously tunneling a catheter under a patient'"'"'s skin using the tunneling device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A catheter tunneling adapter comprising:

a generally elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end,

wherein the proximal end includes a connection means for connecting a catheter tunneler thereto, and

wherein the distal end comprises a connection means for connecting a plurality of catheter lumens thereto.

2. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the connection means for connecting the catheter tunneler thereto comprises a passageway extending generally longitudinally through the generally elongated body from the proximal end toward the distal end.

3. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 2, wherein the passage is sized to securely retain a distal end of a catheter tunneler.

4. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the plurality of catheter lumens thereto comprises a like plurality of extensions extending generally longitudinally from the distal end, wherein each of the plurality of catheter lumens is releasably connectable to one of each of the like plurality of extensions.

8. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 4, wherein each of the like plurality of extensions comprises a barb extending therefrom, wherein the barb extends generally toward the proximal end of the adapter.

9. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of extensions comprises a first extension and a second extension.

10. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 9, wherein the first and second extensions are each disposed on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis.

11. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 10, wherein a lateral cross-section of each of the first and second extensions is generally D-shaped.

12. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of extensions comprises an extension passageway extending therethough, wherein each extension passageway is adapted to fluidly communicate the passageway in the generally elongated body with each of the plurality of catheter lumens.

13. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the generally elongated body is generally tubular.

14. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is of unitary construction.

15. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is constructed from a polymer.

16. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 15, wherein the polymer is polypropylene.

5. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 64, further comprising an angle formed between the plurality of extensions.

6. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 5, wherein the angle is between approximately 0°

and approximately 179°

.

7. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 6, wherein the angle is between approximately 35°

and approximately 45°

.

17. A catheter tunneling device comprising:

a proximal portion including;

a proximal tip;

a distal end; and

an elongated body extending between the proximal tip and the distal end; and

a distal portion including;

a generally elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end,

wherein the proximal end of the distal portion is connected to the distal end of the proximal portion, and

wherein the distal end of the distal portion comprises a connection means for connecting a plurality of catheter lumens thereto.

18. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 17, wherein the proximal portion is releasably connected to the distal portion.

19. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 17, wherein the means for connecting the plurality of catheter lumens thereto comprises a like plurality of extensions extending generally longitudinally therefrom, wherein each of the plurality of catheter lumens is releasably connectable to one of each of the like plurality of extensions.

20. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 19, further comprising an angle formed between the plurality of extensions.

21. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 20, wherein the angle is between approximately 0°

and approximately 179°

.

22. The catheter tunneling adapter according to claim 21 wherein the angle is between approximately 35°

and approximately 45°

.

23. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 19, wherein each of the like plurality of extensions comprises a barb extending therefrom, wherein the barb extends generally toward the proximal end of the distal portion.

24. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of extensions comprises a first extension and a second extension.

25. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 24, wherein the first and second extensions are each disposed on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis.

26. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 25, wherein a lateral cross-section of each of the first and second extensions is generally D-shaped.

27. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of extensions comprises an extension passageway extending therethough, wherein each extension passageway is adapted to fluidly communicate the passageway in the generally elongated body with each of the plurality of catheter lumens.

28. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 17, wherein the generally elongated body of the distal portion comprises a generally rounded exterior.

29. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 17, wherein the distal portion is of unitary construction.

30. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 17, wherein the distal portion is constructed from a polymer.

31. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 30, wherein the polymer is polypropylene.

32. The catheter tunneling device according to claim 17, wherein the proximal portion comprises a tunneler.

33. A method of inserting a catheter having a plurality of lumens into a patient comprising:

inserting a distal end of each of the plurality of lumens into a blood vessel in the patient;

connecting a proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens to a tunneling device;

forming a subcutaneous tunnel with the tunneling device;

drawing the proximal ends of each of the plurality of lumens simultaneously through the tunnel;

disconnecting the tunneling device from the proximal ends of each of the plurality of lumens; and

connecting the proximal ends of each of the plurality of lumens to a catheter hub.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein connecting a proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens comprises connecting a proximal end of each of a first and a second lumen.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein connecting a proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens to a tunneling device comprises connecting a distal end of the tunneling device to the proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens and then connecting a proximal end of the tunneling device to the distal end of the tunneling device.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising, after connecting the distal end of the tunneling device to the proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens, injecting a priming solution into the catheter lumens through the distal end of the tunneling device.