Catheter and methods of use and manufacture

• US 20060047247A1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3FI Products LLC
• Original Assignee: 3FI Products LLC
• Inventors: Anders, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/924,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.80
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters

Abstract

In an embodiment, a catheter apparatus includes a catheter and a substantially soluble insertion point extending beyond a distal end of the catheter. The substantially soluble insertion point may be connected to a substantially soluble needle shaft or to a non-soluble needle shaft. The catheter apparatus includes a partial retraction mechanism, in an embodiment, which enables the substantially soluble insertion point to be retracted to a position within the catheter. In other embodiments, the substantially soluble insertion point is fully retractable (i.e., removable) or is non-retractable.

Claims

1. A catheter apparatus comprising:

a catheter having a hollow catheter interior, a proximal catheter end, and a distal catheter end; and

a substantially soluble insertion point extending beyond the distal catheter end, wherein the substantially soluble insertion point is formed from one or more substantially soluble materials.

2. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes one or more bio-compatible materials.

3. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes a soluble glass.

4. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes a soluble bioceramic.

5. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes a natural biopolymer.

6. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes a protein.

7. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes a polysaccharide.

8. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes a synthetic biopolymer.

9. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials is selected from a group of materials that includes a soluble glass, a soluble bioceramic, a natural biopolymer, and a synthetic biopolymer.

10. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials is selected from a group of materials that includes alumina, calcium phosphate, a silica-based glass, a glass ceramic, and a pyrolytic carbon.

11. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials is selected from a group of materials that includes an ester, a polyether-ester, a poly(ε

-caprolactone), a polyanhydride, a polyorthoester, a polyphosphazene, a polyamide, a poly(dioxanone), a poly(trimethylene carbonate), a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), a poly(amino acid), a polyesteramide, and a polyester.

12. The catheter apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials is selected from a group of materials that includes polyglycolide (PGA), polylactide (PLA), poly(dl-lactide) (DLPLA), poly(l-lactide) (LPLA), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PGA-PLA), poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PGA-LPLA), poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PGA-DLPLA), poly(l-lactide-co-dl-lactide) (LPLA-DLPLA), poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PGA-TMC), poly(glycolice-co-trimethylene carbonate-co-dioxanone) (PDO-PGA-TMC), modified starches, modified cellulose, and polyvinylalcohols.

13. The catheter apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a needle shaft coupled to the insertion point at a first end of the needle shaft; and

a needle hub coupled to a second end of the needle shaft.

14. The catheter apparatus of claim 13, wherein the needle shaft is formed from a substantially soluble material that includes one or more bio-compatible materials.

15. The catheter apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a catheter hub coupled to the catheter at the proximal catheter end; and

a retraction mechanism to enable retraction of the insertion point into the hollow catheter interior.

16. The catheter apparatus of claim 15, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises:

a first portion of the retraction mechanism attached to the needle hub; and

a second portion of the retraction mechanism attached to the catheter connector.

17. The catheter apparatus of claim 13, wherein the needle hub comprises:

a connector portion to attach the catheter apparatus to fluid-delivery tubing.

18. A catheter apparatus comprising:

a catheter having a hollow catheter interior, a proximal catheter end, and a distal catheter end; and

a substantially soluble needle, to fit within the hollow catheter interior, and which includes a hollow needle channel, a proximal needle end, a distal needle end, and an insertion point proximate to the distal needle end, and wherein the substantially soluble needle is formed from one or more substantially soluble materials.

19. The catheter apparatus of claim 18, wherein the insertion point extends beyond the distal catheter end.

20. The catheter apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a needle hub coupled to the proximal needle end;

a catheter hub coupled to the catheter at the proximal catheter end; and

a retraction mechanism to enable retraction of the insertion point into the hollow catheter interior.

21. The catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises:

a first portion of the retraction mechanism attached to the needle hub; and

a second portion of the retraction mechanism attached to the catheter connector.

22. The catheter apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials includes one or more bio-compatible materials.

23. The catheter apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of the one or more substantially soluble materials is selected from a group of materials that includes a soluble glass, a soluble bioceramic, a natural biopolymer, and a synthetic biopolymer.

24. A method for using an apparatus that includes a catheter, the method comprising:

inserting a substantially soluble insertion point of the apparatus into a body,

wherein the substantially soluble insertion point extends beyond a distal end of the catheter.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

partially retracting the substantially soluble insertion point into the distal end of the catheter.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

completely removing the substantially soluble insertion point from the apparatus; and

disposing of the substantially soluble insertion point in a solution to dissolve the substantially soluble insertion point.

27. A method for making a catheter apparatus, the method comprising:

forming a substantially soluble insertion point;

attaching a proximal end of a needle to a needle hub, wherein a distal end of the needle is connected to the substantially soluble insertion point; and

inserting the needle into a catheter.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein forming the substantially soluble insertion point comprises:

forming the substantially soluble insertion point from one or more substantially soluble materials selected from a group of materials that includes a soluble glass, a soluble bioceramic, a natural biopolymer, and a synthetic biopolymer.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein inserting the needle comprises:

inserting the needle so that the substantially soluble insertion point extends beyond a distal end of the catheter.