Catheter systems having flow restrictors

• US 20050245887A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hegland, Michael, Olsen, James M., Morris, Mary M., Blanco, Justin A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/284
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1005 Detection of disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0021 characterised by the form of the tubing A61M25/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0071 Multiple separate lumens multiple separate lumens throughout the catheter A61M25/0026
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line

Abstract

Catheter systems including one or more flow restrictors are disclosed. The catheter systems may include two or more delivery branches. The delivery branches may be connected to a supply catheter section using a branching catheter connector that may include one or more flow restrictors. The flow restrictors may include a restrictor body located within a lumen with a channel located between the restrictor body and interior surface of the lumen, the channel restricting flow through the lumen past the flow restrictor. The channel may be defined by a groove formed in the restrictor body and/or the interior surface of the lumen. Methods of providing pressure relief by flowing fluid past a flow restrictor are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A medical catheter comprising:

a lumen comprising an interior lumen surface;

a flow restrictor located within the lumen, the flow restrictor comprising a restrictor body located within the lumen;

a channel located between an outer surface of the restrictor body and the interior lumen surface of the lumen, wherein the channel extends from an upstream end of the restrictor body to a downstream end of the restrictor body, such that fluid passing through the lumen flows through the channel when the fluid is delivered to the flow restrictor below a selected pressure.

2. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the channel is defined by a groove formed in the outer surface of the restrictor body, wherein the groove extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the restrictor body.

3. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the channel is defined by a groove formed in the interior lumen surface of the lumen, wherein the groove extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the restrictor body.

4. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a helical channel.

5. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a first notch in the first end of the outer surface of the restrictor body, the first notch in fluid communication with the channel at the upstream end of the restrictor body.

6. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a second notch in the second end of the outer surface of the restrictor body, the second notch in fluid communication with the channel at the downstream end of the restrictor body.

7. A medical catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a fitting body attached to the restrictor body proximate the second end of the restrictor body, wherein the fitting body comprises:

a fitting lumen, at least a portion of which is located within the lumen, the fitting lumen comprising a proximal end proximate the restrictor body and a distal end distal from the restrictor body;

a transverse passageway in fluid communication with the proximal end of the axial passageway, wherein the transverse passageway comprises an opening proximate the second end of the restrictor body such that fluid exiting the groove at the second end of the restrictor body enters the transverse passageway through the opening and is passed through the axial lumen to the distal end of the fitting body.

8. A medical catheter according to claim 7, wherein the fitting body and the restrictor body are a one-piece, completely integral unit.

9. A medical catheter according to claim 7, wherein the fitting body comprises a suture groove formed in an exterior surface of the fitting body.

10. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor body has an interference fit within the lumen.

11. A medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a pressure relief valve such that when the fluid is delivered to the flow restrictor above the selected pressure, fluid flows between the outer surface of the flow restrictor and the interior lumen surface of the lumen outside of the channel.

12. A medical catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a pump mechanism and reservoir in fluid communication with the lumen.

13. A branching catheter connector for use in a branched medical catheter, the connector comprising:

an inlet port;

two or more outlet ports in fluid communication with the inlet port;

wherein each of the outlet ports comprises;

an outlet port lumen comprising an interior surface;

a flow restrictor located within the outlet port lumen, the flow restrictor comprising a restrictor body located within the outlet port lumen;

a channel located between an outer surface of the restrictor body and the interior surface of the outlet port lumen, wherein the channel extends from an upstream end of the restrictor body to a downstream end of the restrictor body, such that fluid passing through the outlet port lumen flows through the channel when the fluid is delivered to the flow restrictor below a selected pressure.

14. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the channel is defined by a groove formed in the outer surface of the restrictor body, wherein the groove extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the restrictor body.

15. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the channel is defined by a groove formed in the interior surface of the outlet port lumen, wherein the groove extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the restrictor body.

16. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the channel comprises a helical channel.

17. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a first notch in the upstream end of the outer surface of the restrictor body, the first notch in fluid communication with the groove at the upstream end of the restrictor body.

18. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a second notch in the downstream end of the outer surface of the restrictor body, the second notch in fluid communication with the groove at the downstream end of the restrictor body.

19. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, further comprising a fitting body attached to the restrictor body proximate the downstream end of the restrictor body, wherein the fitting body comprises:

a fitting lumen, at least a portion of which is located within the outlet port lumen, the fitting lumen comprising a proximal end proximate the restrictor body and a distal end extending out of the outlet port;

a transverse passageway in fluid communication with the proximal end of the fitting lumen, wherein the transverse passageway comprises an opening proximate the downstream end of the restrictor body such that fluid exiting the groove at the downstream end of the restrictor body enters the transverse passageway through the opening and is passed through the fitting lumen to the distal end of the fitting body.

20. A branching catheter connector according to claim 19, wherein the fitting body and the restrictor body are a one-piece, completely integral unit.

21. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13 that further comprises a connector body, wherein the inlet port and the two or more outlet ports are located within the connector body, and wherein the connector body comprises one or more suture grooves formed in an exterior surface of the connector body.

22. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the inlet port comprises a filter element located therein, wherein fluid passing from the inlet port to any of the two or more outlet ports passes through the filter element.

23. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the restrictor body has an interference fit within the outlet port lumen.

24. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, wherein the flow restrictor within at least one of the outlet ports comprises a pressure relief valve such that when the fluid is delivered to the flow restrictor above the selected pressure, fluid flows between the outer surface of the flow restrictor and the interior surface of the outlet port lumen outside of the channel.

25. A branching catheter connector according to claim 13, further comprising a pump mechanism and reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port.

26. A medical catheter system comprising:

a lumen;

a flow restrictor located within the lumen, the flow restrictor comprising one or more capillaries within the lumen, wherein each capillary of the one or more capillaries comprises a first opening at an upstream end of the flow restrictor and a second opening at a downstream end of the flow restrictor, wherein each capillary of the one or more capillaries comprises one or more coils within the lumen, and wherein fluid passing through the lumen from the upstream end to the downstream end of the flow restrictor flows through the one or more capillaries when the fluid is delivered to the upstream end of the flow restrictor below a selected pressure.

27. A medical catheter system according to claim 26, wherein each capillary of the one or more capillaries comprises a substantially uniform diameter along a length of the capillary from the first opening to the second opening.

28. A medical catheter system according to claim 26, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a plug in which the one or more capillaries are contained, wherein the plug occludes the lumen such that fluid passing through the lumen from the upstream end of the flow restrictor to the downstream end of the flow restrictor passes through the one or more capillaries.