Catheter having insertion control mechanism

• US 20040186429A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcove Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcove Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Jenkins, Cary P., Hawes, William R., Owens, Warren D., Hargett, Ken D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1035 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 Aseptic insertion devices

Abstract

The present invention is a catheter having a tube and including mechanisms that provide precision control over insertion and retraction of the catheter tube. The catheter is particularly adapted for introduction into the pulmonary system. The catheter includes an insertion depth control mechanism that acts as a stop and provides a tactile indication to the person inserting the catheter tube that a predetermined position has been reached. The catheter also includes an anti-bunching mechanism to prevent bunching of a protective sleeve disposed around the catheter tube, thereby reducing interference from the sleeve during insertion of the catheter tube.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end receivable by a first connector coupled to a medical device and the second end receivable by a second connector in fluid communication with an anatomical passageway of a patient, the second end being movable in a direction of insertion toward the patient so that a variable portion of the tube is disposed between the first connector and the second connector; and

an insertion controller adjustably positioned on the variable portion of the tube, the insertion controller having a tube engagement member and a biasing member, the biasing member operable to cause the tube engagement member to be movable between;

(a) a predisposed first position engaged with the tube; and

(b) a second position disengaged from the tube.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tube has a diameter.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the biasing member of the insertion controller includes a flexible wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a tube passageway having a plurality of variable diameters.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the flexible wall is flexible between:

(a) a predisposed position wherein at least one of the variable diameters is less than the diameter of the tube; and

(b) another position wherein each of the variable diameters is greater than the diameter of the tube.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the outer surface of the flexible wall has a plurality of grip portions which assist a user in pinching the insertion controller in order to reposition the insertion controller on the tube.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the insertion controller has a tactile indicator which provides a signal to a user that the tube has been moved a certain distance.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the second connector is adapted to be operatively coupled to an endotracheal tube receivable by the patient.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes negative pressure produced by a suction apparatus.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the second connector is in fluid communication with a ventilation circuit.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the ventilation circuit includes positive pressure produced by a ventilation device.

11. A catheter comprising:

a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end receivable by a first connector coupled to a medical device and the second end receivable by a second connector in fluid communication with an anatomical passageway of a patient, the second end being movable in a direction of insertion toward the patient so that a variable portion of the tube is disposed between the first connector and the second connector;

indicia located on at least part of the variable portion of the tube; and

an insertion controller adjustably positioned on the variable portion of the tube, the insertion controller having a tube engagement member and a biasing member, the biasing member operable to cause the tube engagement member to have;

(a) a predisposed first position engaged with the tube; and

(b) a second position disengaged from the tube.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the tube has a diameter.

13. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the biasing member of the insertion controller includes a flexible wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a tube passageway having a plurality of variable diameters.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the flexible wall is flexible between:

(a) a predisposed position wherein at least one of the variable diameters is less than the diameter of the tube; and

(b) another position wherein each of the variable diameters is greater than the diameter of the tube.

15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the outer surface of the flexible wall has a plurality of grip portions which assist a user in pinching the insertion controller in order to reposition the insertion controller on the tube.

16. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the insertion controller has a tactile indicator which provides a signal to a user that the tube has been moved a certain distance.

17. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the second connector is adapted to be operatively coupled to an endotracheal tube receivable by the patient.

18. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the medical device includes negative pressure produced by a suction apparatus.

19. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the second connector is in fluid communication with a ventilation circuit.

20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the ventilation circuit includes positive pressure produced by a ventilation device.

21. A catheter comprising:

a tube having a diameter, a first end and a second end, the first end receivable by a first connector coupled to a medical device and the second end receivable by a second connector in fluid communication with an anatomical passageway of a patient, the second end being movable in a direction of insertion toward the patient so that a variable portion of the tube is disposed between the first connector and the second connector;

indicia located on at least part of the variable portion of the tube; and

an insertion controller adjustably positioned on the variable portion of the tube, the insertion controller including a flexible wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a tube passageway having a plurality of variable diameters, the flexible wall being flexible between;

(a) a predisposed position wherein at least one of the variable diameters is less than the diameter of the tube; and

(b) another position wherein each of the variable diameters is greater than the diameter of the tube, the insertion controller further including a plurality of substantially flattened grip portions positioned at opposite sides of the flexible wall.

22. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the insertion controller has a tactile indicator which provides a signal to a user that the tube has been moved a certain distance.

23. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the second connector is adapted to be operatively coupled to an endotracheal tube receivable by the patient.

24. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the medical device includes negative pressure produced by a suction apparatus.

25. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the second connector is in fluid communication with a ventilation circuit.

26. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the ventilation circuit includes positive pressure produced by a ventilation device.