Valved catheter

• US 20050261636A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Barron, William R., Hamatake, Bret, Rome, Guy T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,854,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/247
• 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 39/286 Wedge clamps, e.g. roller clamps with inclined guides

Abstract

A valved catheter that allows placement and withdrawal of an accessing device or attachable unit without the risk of air embolism or blood loss. In one variation, the valved catheter includes a catheter tube having a necked portion in its proximal end that forms an integral valve, the necked portion being surrounded by a compression sleeve that biases the valve in a closed position. In another variation, the valved catheter is a dual lumen catheter with a corresponding bifurcating extension for engaging the valves in the catheter in order to establish fluid communication through the catheter.

Claims

1. A valved catheter comprising:

a catheter tube including two lumens, a proximal portion of each of the two lumens comprising a collapsed or necked lumen wall section forming a valve; and

an attachable bifurcate including two stems, each of the two stems being configured for insertion into one of the two lumens to displace the collapsed or necked wall section and establish fluid communication through the valve.

2. The valved catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the two lumens comprises a rounded cross-sectional shape.

3. The valved catheter according to claim 2, wherein each of the two stems comprises at least a partially rounded circumferential profile.

4. The valved catheter according to claim 2, wherein each of the two stems comprises a rounded circumferential profile which matches the rounded cross-sectional shape of the lumens.

5. The valved catheter according to claim 2, wherein the catheter tube further comprises a compression sleeve disposed over a proximal section of the catheter tube to compress the collapsed or necked lumen wall.

6. The valved catheter according to claim 5, wherein the catheter tube further comprises a connector hub attached to the proximal end of the catheter tube.

7. The valved catheter according to claim 6, wherein the catheter tube further comprises a retaining ring positioned distal of the compression sleeve to secure the compression sleeve between the retaining ring and the connector hub.

8. The valved catheter according to claim 1, wherein the attachable bifurcate further comprises a locking mechanism for securing the attachable bifurcate to the proximal end of the catheter tube.

9. The valved catheter according to claim 8, further comprising an adaptor including a distal end configured for engaging the interface on the connector hub, and a proximal portion configured for coupling to a tunneler, wherein the catheter tube further comprises a connector hub attached to the proximal end of the catheter tube, the connector hub being configured with an interface for engaging the locking mechanism, wherein the catheter tube further comprises a compression sleeve disposed over a proximal section of the catheter tube to compress the collapsed or necked lumen wall, wherein the catheter tube further comprises a retaining ring positioned distal of the compression sleeve to secure the compression sleeve between the retaining ring and the connector hub.

10. A fluid infusion apparatus, comprising:

a catheter including a plurality of lumens;

a compression mechanism positioned over a proximal portion of the catheter forcing a portion of the catheter wall to collapse or neck, and form a seal within each of the plurality of lumens; and

an attachable unit that displaces the seal within each of the lumens and establishes fluid communication channels through the proximal end of the catheter when connected thereto.

11. The fluid infusion apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the attachable unit further comprises a locking mechanism for securing the attachable unit to the proximal end of the catheter, and a plurality of extension tubes extending from a proximal end of the attachable unit.

12. The fluid infusion apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a metal latch partially embedded within the attachable unit.

13. The fluid infusion apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the lumens comprises a proximal portion with a rounded cross-sectional shape.

14. The fluid infusion apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the lumens comprises a proximal portion with a “

D”

-shaped cross-section.

15. A method of accessing a patient'"'"'s circulatory system, comprising implanting the fluid infusion apparatus as recited in claim 10 to establish a fluid conduit into the patient'"'"'s circulatory system.

16. A method for establishing a fluid conduit into a patient'"'"'s circulatory system comprising:

inserting a catheter within the patient'"'"'s circulatory system, the catheter including a plurality of lumens;

connecting an attachable unit onto the proximal end of the catheter; and

displacing a collapsed or necked portion of the lumen wall within each of the plurality of lumens to establish fluid communication through the catheter.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of securing the attachable unit to the proximal end of the catheter.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the attachable unit comprises a bifurcating extension.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the catheter further comprises a compression sleeve disposed over a proximal portion of the catheter.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of reverse tunneling a proximal portion of the catheter prior to the connecting step.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of reverse tunneling further comprises coupling a tunneler to the proximal end of the catheter through an adaptor.

22. A valved catheter comprising:

a catheter tube including a plurality of lumens; and

means for collapsing a proximal portion of a catheter tubing wall of the catheter tube to form a valve within each of the plurality of lumens.

23. A valved catheter comprising:

a dual lumen catheter;

a polymeric valve unit coupled to the proximal end of the dual lumen catheter, wherein the polymeric valve unit comprises two lumens, and each of the lumens comprises a valve mechanism for sealing the lumen from fluid communication; and

a bifurcation configured with two cannulas for engaging the valve mechanisms to establish fluid communication into the dual lumen catheter.

24. The valve catheter according to claim 23, wherein the dual lumen catheter comprises polyurethane, and the polymeric valve unit comprises silicone.

25. The valve catheter according to claim 23, wherein the polymeric valve unit consists of silicone.

26. The valve catheter according to claim 23, further comprises a bridge coupling the polymeric valve unit to the dual lumen catheter.

27. The valve catheter according to claim 26, further comprises a valve housing for securing the polymeric valve unit, and an oversleeve for securing the bridge, the polymeric valve unit, and the valve housing at the proximal end of the dual lumen catheter.

28. The valve catheter according to claim 27, wherein the polymeric valve unit comprises silicone.

29. The valve catheter according to claim 23, wherein the polymeric valve unit comprises a compressed or necked portion which serves as the valve mechanisms.