Slit valves for catheter tips and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A slit valve catheter comprising:
- a catheter tube comprising at least one lumen;
a closed distal tip at the distal end of the catheter tube;
at least one normally closed slit valve comprising a slit which normally prohibits fluid flow but which opens when indwelling under a predetermined fluid pressure differential to accommodate fluid flow through the open slit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Slit valves placed in normally closed distal tips at the leading end of catheter tubes are disclosed whereby tube passageway occlusion problems and body cavity interference problems are greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
135 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A slit valve catheter comprising:
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a catheter tube comprising at least one lumen;
a closed distal tip at the distal end of the catheter tube;
at least one normally closed slit valve comprising a slit which normally prohibits fluid flow but which opens when indwelling under a predetermined fluid pressure differential to accommodate fluid flow through the open slit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. A combination comprising a normally closed distal catheter tip comprising a tip wall and at least one normally closed but selectively openable slit valve disposed in the tip wall.
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28. A method of using a normally closed catheter tube comprising a distal normally closed tip having at least one normally closed slit valve comprising the acts of:
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placing the tip indwelling in a patient;
creating a fluid pressure differential across the normally closed slit valve such that the slit valve flexes to an open position to accommodate fluid flow through the slit valve between an interior and an exterior of the indwelling tip.
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29. A method of making a normally closed catheter comprising the acts of:
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forming a catheter tube comprising at least one lumen and a distal end;
integrally forming a tip at the distal end of the catheter tube;
causing at least one slit valve to be formed in the tip.
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Specification