Method and apparatus for introducing catheters

• US 20040220584A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atrium Medical Corporation (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Atrium Medical Corporation (Getinge AB)
• Inventors: Want, Nicholas, McGill, Jeffrey P., Muto, Rudolph
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• 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: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for introducing a catheter through a body opening along an insertion axis. The apparatus includes an arm having an end portion configured to extend into the body opening along the insertion axis, wherein the arm is configured to extend adjacent an external catheter surface. The apparatus also includes a surface extending from the end portion of the arm at an angle to the insertion axis, wherein the surface is configured to extend at least partially within an aperture formed in the catheter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for introducing a catheter through a body opening along an insertion axis, said apparatus comprising:

at least one arm having an end portion configured to extend into the body opening along the insertion axis, said arm being configured to extend adjacent an external catheter surface; and

a surface extending from said end portion of said arm at an angle to said insertion axis, said surface being configured to extend at least partially within an aperture formed in the catheter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm of said apparatus is offset from said insertion axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm of said apparatus defines a concavity for accommodating a portion of the catheter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of said arm and into said concavity defined by said arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of said arm and beyond an end of said arm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of said arm at a location that is spaced from an end of said arm.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said end of said arm is configured to extend beyond a leading end of the catheter, thereby shielding the leading end of the catheter as it is introduced into the body opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said end of said arm is configured to separate tissue as said apparatus is advanced along the insertion axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of said arm in a direction toward the insertion axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said surface also extends from said end portion of said arm in a direction substantially parallel to the insertion axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is configured to introduce the catheter in an insertion direction, and said surface extending from said end portion of said arm extends toward the insertion axis and substantially parallel to said insertion direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a grip portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of arms each-configured for insertion into a body opening along an insertion axis, each said arm having a surface extending from said end portion of said arm at an angle to said insertion axis, said surface being configured to extend at least partially within an aperture formed in the catheter.

14. An apparatus for introducing a catheter through a body opening along an insertion axis, said apparatus comprising:

a body;

a plurality of arms extending from said body, each of said arms having an end portion configured to extend into the body opening along an insertion axis, and each of said arms being configured to extend adjacent an external catheter surface; and

a surface extending from said end portion of each of said arms, said surface of each of said arms being configured to extend at least partially within an aperture formed in the catheter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of said arms of said apparatus defines a concavity for accommodating a portion of the catheter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of said at least one arm and into said concavity defined by said at least one arm.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of at least one of said arms and beyond an end of said at least one arm.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said surface extends from said end portion of at least one of said arms at a location that is spaced from an end of said at least one arm.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said end of said at least one arm is configured to extend beyond a leading end of the catheter, thereby shielding the leading end of the catheter as it is introduced into the body opening.

20. An apparatus for introducing a catheter into a patient through a body opening along an insertion axis and in an insertion direction, the apparatus comprising:

at least one arm having an end portion configured for insertion into the body opening, said arm defining a concavity for receiving an external surface portion of the catheter; and

a projection extending from said end portion of said arm, toward said insertion axis, and at least partially along said insertion direction to releasably engage an aperture formed in the catheter.

21. A catheter system comprising:

a catheter configured for introduction into a body opening, said catheter having a tubular wall with an end portion and at least one aperture defined in said tubular wall in said end portion; and

an apparatus for introducing said catheter through a body opening along an insertion axis, said apparatus having at least one arm with an end portion configured to extend into the body opening along the insertion axis, said end portion of said arm being positionable adjacent an exterior surface of said tubular wall of said catheter, and said apparatus also having a surface extending from said end portion of said arm at an angle to said insertion axis, said surface being configured to extend at least partially into said aperture formed in said catheter.

22. The catheter system of claim 21 wherein said catheter is configured for drainage.

23. The catheter system of claim 22 wherein said catheter is configured for drainage of the chest or thorax.

24. The catheter system of claim 21, said apparatus further comprising a grip portion from which said at least one arm extends.

25. The catheter system of claim 24 wherein said grip portion is textured.

26. The catheter system of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is formed from plastic.

27. The catheter system of claim 26 wherein said apparatus is formed from nylon.

28. The catheter system of claim 21 wherein said at least one arm of said apparatus defines a concavity for receiving an external surface portion of the catheter.

29. The catheter system of claim 28 wherein said concavity provides a substantially continuous support surface for the catheter.

30. The catheter system of claim 21 wherein said apparatus has two or more arms and each of said arms is provided with one or more indicia of a characteristic of said arm.

31. The catheter system of claim 30 wherein said indicia is indicative of the configuration or location of said surface, extending from said end portion of said at least one arm.

32. The catheter system of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is curved along its length.

33. A method for introducing a catheter into a body opening, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a surface of an introducer at least partially within an aperture formed in an end portion of a catheter, thereby engaging the catheter;

nesting an external surface of the catheter at least partially within a concavity defined in the introducer; and

advancing the introducer into the body opening, thereby applying tension to the catheter to introduce the catheter at least partially into the body opening.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

restraining the catheter to resist removal of the catheter from the body opening, and

withdrawing the introducer from the body opening.

35. A method for introducing a catheter into a body opening along an insertion axis, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a surface of an introducer at least partially within an aperture formed in an end portion of a catheter, thereby engaging the catheter;

orienting the introducer adjacent an external surface of the catheter and substantially parallel to the insertion axis; and

advancing the introducer into the body opening in a direction substantially parallel to the insertion axis, thereby applying tension to the catheter to introduce the catheter at least partially into the body opening.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the steps of:

restraining the catheter to resist removal of the catheter from the body opening, and

withdrawing the introducer from the body opening.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of:

nesting the external surface of the catheter at least partially within a concavity defined in the introducer.