Air embolization prevention system

• US 20050113805A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WL Gore and Associates Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Original Assignee: WL Gore and Associates Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Inventors: Devellian, Carol A., Opolski, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/539
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers

Abstract

The invention generally relates to an intravascular catheter that includes a proximal hub and a distal elongated tubular member. In one embodiment, the hub is designed to mitigate the introduction of air into a patient'"'"'s vasculature during the delivery of a second device through the catheter into the patient'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. An intravascular catheter, comprising:

an elongated tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a hub comprising a first end, a second end, and a reservoir comprising at least one pocket, wherein the second end of the hub is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated tubular member, the hub reservoir extends from the first end of the hub to the second end of the hub, and the at least one pocket of the hub reservoir is partially shielded from the lumen of the elongated tubular member.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the hub reservoir comprises a cross-sectional diameter greater in size than a cross-sectional diameter of the lumen of the elongated tubular member.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a valve.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises an air permeable membrane.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the air permeable membrane is positioned through a surface of the hub between the first end of the hub and the second end of the hub.

6. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the air permeable membrane is positioned through a surface of the hub at at least one of the first end and the second end of the hub.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a first sealing gland.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the first sealing gland is positioned at the first end of the hub.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of a distal surface of the first sealing gland is angled towards the first end of the hub.

10. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the first sealing gland comprises a plurality of pores.

11. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the hub further comprises a second sealing gland.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the second sealing gland is positioned at the second end of the hub.

13. The catheter of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of a proximal surface of the second sealing gland is angled towards the second end of the hub.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a flushing port.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises an opening at the first end of the hub and wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the hub reservoir.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a transparent material.

17. An intravascular catheter, comprising:

an elongated tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a hub comprising a first end, a second end coupled to the proximal end of the elongated tubular member, a second lumen extending from the first end of the hub to the second end of the hub, and an air permeable porous member.

18. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the air permeable porous member comprises a gland positioned at the first end of the hub.

19. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the air permeable porous member comprises a membrane positioned between the first end of the hub and the second end of the hub.

20. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the air permeable porous member comprises a low thrombogenicity material.

21. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the low thrombogenicity material comprises heparin.

22. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the low thrombogenicity material comprises hyaluronic acid.

23. A method for inserting an intravascular catheter into the body of a patient, comprising:

providing the intravascular catheter comprising;

an elongated tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a hub comprising a first end, a second end, and a reservoir comprising at least one pocket, wherein the second end of the hub is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated tubular member, the hub reservoir extends from the first end of the hub to the second end of the hub, and the at least one pocket of the hub reservoir is partially shielded from the lumen of the elongated tubular member; and

inserting the intravascular catheter into a vessel of the patient.

24. A method for inserting an intravascular catheter into the body of a patient, comprising:

providing the intravascular catheter comprising;

an elongated tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a hub comprising a first end, a second end coupled to the proximal end of the elongated tubular member, a second lumen extending from the first end of the hub to the second end of the hub, and an air permeable porous member; and

inserting the intravascular catheter into a vessel of the patient.