Method of implanting a multi-lumen catheter

• US 20070049960A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Stephens, John, Schweikert, Timothy, Raulerson, J.
• Application Number:
  US11/525,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/190
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0194 Tunnelling catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

A catheter tunneling device (100) including a tunneler (110) including a proximal tip (112), a distal end (114), and an elongated body (118) extending between the proximal tip and the distal end. The device further includes an adapter (120) including a generally elongated body (122) having a distal end (126) and a proximal end (124) and a longitudinal axis (128) extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end. The proximal end (124) of the adapter (120) is connected to the distal end (114) of the tunneler (110). The distal end (126) of the adapter (120) comprises a connector for connecting a plurality of catheter lumens (200,202) thereto. A method of subcutaneously tunneling a catheter under a patient'"'"'s skin using the tunneling device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. to 32. (canceled)

33. A method of implanting a catheter having a plurality of lumens into a patient comprising:

inserting a distal end of each of the plurality of lumens into a blood vessel in the patient;

connecting a proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens to a tunneling device;

forming a subcutaneous tunnel with the tunneling device;

drawing the proximal ends of each of the plurality of lumens simultaneously through the tunnel;

disconnecting the tunneling device from the proximal ends of each of the plurality of lumens; and

connecting the proximal ends of each of the plurality of lumens to a catheter hub.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein connecting a proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens comprises connecting a proximal end of each of a first and a second lumen.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein connecting a proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens to a tunneling device comprises connecting a distal end of a tunneling adapter to the proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens and then connecting a proximal end of the tunneling device adapter to the distal end of a tunneler.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising, after connecting the distal end of the tunneling adapter to the proximal end of each of the plurality of lumens, injecting a priming solution into the catheter lumens through the distal end of the tunneling adapter.