Loop-tip catheter

• US 20050261663A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Powers, Kelly B., Patterson, Ryan C., Moehle, Ryan T., Zawacki, John A., Kraus, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0034 characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores making of catheters A61M25/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• 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 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• 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 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip

Abstract

A multi-lumen catheter comprising a loop-like structure at the distal portion of the catheter is disclosed herein. In one variation, the loop-tip catheter comprises a dual lumen catheter and a loop-like structure at the distal end of the catheter. The loop-like structure includes at least one lumen, which is in fluid communication with at lease one of the two lumens in the dual lumen catheter. One or more ports are provided on the loop-like structure for accessing the lumens within the loop. In another variation, the loop-tip catheter is configured with an arterial inlet positioned on an inner surface of the loop, while a venous outlet is positioned on an outer surface of the loop. Methods for making and using variations of the loop-tip catheter are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A multi-lumen catheter, comprising:

a catheter body, comprising at least a first and second lumen, the catheter body forming a loop at a distal end thereof, the first lumen extending distally into the loop; and

a first orifice positioned on the loop, the first orifice being in fluid communication with the first lumen.

2. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, wherein the second lumen extends distally into the loop:

3. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, further comprising a second orifice positioned on the loop, wherein the second orifice includes an opening facing away from the region surrounded by the loop, and wherein the first orifice is configured with an opening facing a region surrounded by the loop.

4. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, wherein the first and the second lumens are in fluid communication with each other within the loop.

5. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 4, further comprising a valve positioned over the first orifice.

6. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 5, wherein the valve comprises a slit valve.

7. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, wherein the first orifice is positioned on an inner surface of the loop.

8. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, wherein the first and the second lumens are separated by a septum within the loop.

9. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 8, further comprising a second orifice positioned on the loop for accessing the second lumen, wherein the first orifice is positioned on an inner surface of the loop, the second orifice is positioned on an outer surface of the loop, and the first orifice is proximally positioned in relation to the second orifice.

10. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a wire positioned within the catheter body, wherein the distal end of the wire is coupled to the loop.

11. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 10, wherein the wire comprises at least a channel extending from a proximal end of the wire to a distal portion of the wire.

12. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a balloon positioned within the loop.

13. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, further comprising a string slidably positioned within the first and the second lumens, wherein the string is connected to a knob, and wherein turning of the knob circulates the string through the first and the second lumens.

14. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 13, wherein the knob is associated with a port, and wherein the string circulates through the port upon the turning of the knob.

15. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, further comprising a protruding tip connected to a distal end of the loop, wherein the protruding tip includes an atraumatic profile, and the first orifice is positioned on an inner surface of the loop.

16. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, further comprising a tube including a lumen connected to a distal end of the loop, wherein the second lumen is in fluid communication with the lumen in the tube, and the first orifice is positioned on an inner surface of the loop.

17. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a second loop connected to the distal end of the catheter body.

18. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 2, further comprising a third lumen positioned within the catheter body, wherein the third lumen extends from the proximal end of the catheter body to the distal end of the catheter body, and the third lumen includes a distal opening which opens into a region surrounded by the loop.

19. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, wherein the loop is configured with at least a corrugated section.

20. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for collapsing the loop.

21. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for removing an object obstructing the first orifice.

22. The multi-lumen catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for covering the first orifice when the first orifice is not in use.

23. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter body including two or more lumens; and

a loop connected to a distal end of the elongated catheter body, the loop being configured with an inlet for aspirating fluids from a vessel and an outlet for infusing fluids into the vessel, the loop being further configured to prevent the inlet from suctioning against a wall of the vessel.

24. The catheter according to claim 23, wherein the loop is configured to minimize recirculation through the inlet and the outlet.

25. The catheter according to claim 23, further comprising a mechanism for compressing the loop.

26. The catheter according to claim 23, wherein the loop is configured such that an overall length of the loop can be extended.

27. The catheter according to claim 23, wherein the loop is configured such that the arterial inlet can be protected when the inlet is not in use.

28. The catheter according to claim 23, further comprising a mechanism for removing an obstruction from the inlet.

29. The catheter according to claim 23, further comprising a mechanism for removing a tissue formation surrounding the loop.

30. A method of circulating blood in and out of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

aspirating blood through a loop positioned at a distal end of a catheter; and

infusing the aspirated blood back into the patient'"'"'s body.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the loop is configured to minimize recirculation.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of aspirating blood further comprises preventing the catheter from suctioning against a wall of a blood vessel.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of infusing the aspirated blood further comprises infusing the aspirated blood through the loop located at the distal end of the catheter, the step of aspirating blood further comprises aspirating blood from a region surrounded by the loop.

34. The method according to claim 30, further comprises manipulating the distal portion of the catheter to remove fibrin formation surrounding a distal portion of the catheter.

35. The method according to claim 30, further comprises covering an orifice on the loop, wherein the orifice is configured for receiving the aspirated blood into the catheter.

36. The method according to claim 30 further comprising:

compressing the loop; and

inserting the catheter into the patient'"'"'s circulatory system prior to the aspirating step.

37. The method according to claim 30, wherein the aspirating step further comprises aspirating from an inner surface of the loop, and the infusing step further comprises infusing from an outer surface of the loop.

38. The method according to claim 30, further comprises delivering a medication into a region surrounded by the loop.

39. The method according to claim 30, further comprises processing the aspirated blood prior to infusing the aspirated blood back into the patient'"'"'s body.

40. A method for fabricating a catheter, comprising:

providing a tube comprising at least one lumen;

folding the tube;

bonding a distal portion and a proximal portion of the tube together while leaving a mid-section of the tube unbonded to form a loop;

separating the lumen within the tubing into a first and a second section;

creating a first opening on the loop for accessing the first section of the lumen; and

creating a second opening on the loop for accessing the second section of the lumen.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the first opening is positioned on an inner surface of the loop, and the second opening is positioned on an outer surface of the loop.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein the first opening is proximally positioned in relation to the second opening.

43. The method according to claim 40, further comprising integrating a mechanism for manipulating a conformation of the loop.

44. A hemodialysis catheter comprising:

a dual lumen catheter body forming a loop at a distal end thereof;

an arterial inlet positioned on the loop; and

a venous outlet positioned on the loop.

45. The hemodialysis catheter according to claim 44, where the loop is configured to mechanically separate the venous outlet from the arterial inlet.

46. The hemodialysis catheter according to claim 44, further comprising means for removing a fibrin sheath that surrounds a distal portion of the catheter.

47. The hemodialysis catheter according to claim 44, further comprising means for compressing the loop.

48. The hemodialysis catheter according to claim 44, further comprising means for preventing side wall occlusion of the arterial inlet.