Catheter with block-overriding system

• US 20040260249A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kulessa, Sigmund
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0019 Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves

Abstract

A catheter is provided having a plurality of fluid entry ports formed therein and in communication with an inner lumen of the catheter. One or more of the fluid entry ports includes a fluid-permeable barrier extending there across. In a preferred embodiment, a set of conductive members is embedded in the wall of the catheter and connects each barrier to a control unit. In the event of blockage in the catheter, an external power source can non-invasively command the control unit to transmit an electric current to one or more of the barriers to dissolve or otherwise remove the barrier, thereby allowing fluid to once again flow through the catheter.

Claims

1. An implantable fluid management device, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therethrough;

a plurality of fluid entry ports formed in a sidewall of the catheter and in fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter; and

a fluid-impermeable barrier occluding selected fluid entry ports, the barrier being selectively removable with respect to each of the selected fluid entry ports.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the barrier is selected from the group consisting of a membrane, a cap, a plug, and a film.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a microprocessor coupled to the catheter and effective to selectively control the application of a stimulus to one or more of the barriers to remove the barrier; and

a plurality of conductors effective to carry an electric current, each conductor extending from the microprocessor to one or more of the barriers.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the microprocessor is effective to initiate removal of the barrier in response to a signal received from a remote device.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising a sensor disposed adjacent to one or more of the selected fluid entry ports, the microprocessor being effective to initiate removal of the barrier upon detection of a particular condition detected by the sensor.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the stimulus is an electric current, and the barrier is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver, zinc, and conductive polymers or copolymers.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid entry ports are arranged in rows that extend around a diameter of the catheter and that are positioned longitudinally apart from one another, each row including at least one fluid entry port.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a microprocessor effective to selectively remove the barrier on each fluid entry port in a particular row.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of filter members, each filter member extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the catheter member and being positioned between two rows of fluid entry ports.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a filter material disposed around an inner diameter of the catheter and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter.

11. A method of maintaining fluid flow through a catheter, comprising:

providing a catheter comprising

an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therethrough,

a plurality of fluid entry ports formed in the elongate member and arranged in rows spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal length of the elongate member, each row including at least one fluid entry port,

a disintegratable barrier extending across selected fluid entry ports,

a row of barrier-free fluid entry ports adjacent the distal end of the elongate member, and

a control member effective to selectively remove the barrier from each of the fluid entry ports;

detecting a blockage of fluid-flow through the distal-most barrier-free row of fluid entry ports;

activating the control member to remove the barrier from a row of fluid entry ports positioned just proximal to the distal-most row of fluid entry ports; and

repeating the steps of detecting and activating as necessary.