CATHETER DEVICE

• US 20070232981A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phase One Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Phase One Medical, LLC
• Inventors: YANG, Yimin, RAVENSCROFT, Adrian, IGOE, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/6.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 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 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• 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 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool

Abstract

A catheter device has an elongate body and a chamber positioned within the elongate body. The chamber has a chamber opening, and a barrier, such as a gate, moves over the chamber opening. The barrier moves between an uncovered position uncovering the chamber opening and a covered position covering the chamber opening. The catheter has at least one cutting edge by the chamber opening. In particular, the at least one cutting edge may be on the barrier, where the at least one cutting edge is guided over the chamber opening with movement of the barrier between the uncovered position and the covered position. The cutting edge cuts away a fibrin sheath blocking the chamber opening. The catheter may have multiple chambers connected by channels that allow the chambers to be flushed to prevent microbial colonization.

Claims

1. A catheter device, the device comprising:

an elongate body with a distal end and a proximal end;

a chamber positioned within the elongate body, the chamber having a chamber opening;

a barrier movable over the chamber opening, the barrier moving between an uncovered position uncovering the chamber opening and a covered position covering the chamber opening; and

at least one cutting edge positioned by the chamber opening.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting edge is positioned on at least one of the elongate body and the barrier.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting edge is positioned on the barrier, and the at least one cutting edge is guided over the chamber opening with movement of the barrier between the uncovered position and the covered position.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier moves longitudinally.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier moves along a plane substantially transverse to a longitudinal line of the elongate body.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a gate positioned in the chamber.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier is a portion of a cap positioned on the distal end of the elongate body.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the cap has a cap opening that aligns with the chamber opening when the barrier is in the uncovered position.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one cutting edge is positioned on an edge of the cap opening.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein rotation by the cap about a longitudinal line of the elongate body moves the barrier between the uncovered and covered positions.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein longitudinal movement by the cap moves the barrier between the uncovered and covered positions.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the cap includes a rounded end.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a control wire connected to the barrier, the control wire controlling movement of the barrier.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the control wire extends from the barrier to the proximal end and is operated from the proximal end.

15. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a guide wire; and

a guide wire channel extending through the control wire from the proximal end to the distal end, the guide wire channel being adapted to accommodate the guide wire for positioning the catheter in a body passageway.

16. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a control wire, the control wire controlling movement of the cap.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a centering mechanism for spacing the catheter device from walls of a body passageway.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the centering mechanism has a contact portion extending away from a longitudinal line of the elongate body.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the centering mechanism comprises a plurality of elongate wires, the elongate wires expanding from a collapsed configuration and forming a centering basket.

20. A catheter device, the device comprising:

an elongate body with a distal end and a proximal end;

a chamber positioned within the elongate body, the chamber having a chamber opening;

a barrier movable over the chamber opening; and

a control wire connected to the barrier, the control wire controlling movement of the barrier.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the control wire extends from the barrier to the proximal end and is operated from the proximal end.

22. The device according to claim 21, further comprising a control wire channel in the elongate body, the control wire being positioned in the control wire channel.

23. The device according to claim 21, further comprising a control mechanism positioned at the proximal end, the control mechanism operating the control wire.

24. The device according to claim 20, further comprising a guide wire channel extending through the control wire from the proximal end to the distal end, the guide wire channel being adapted to accommodate a guide wire for positioning the catheter in a body passageway.

25. A catheter device, the device comprising:

an elongate body, the elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first chamber and a second chamber positioned within the elongate body, the first chamber having a first chamber opening and the second chamber having a second chamber opening;

a first barrier movable over the first chamber opening;

a first cutting edge positioned by the first chamber opening;

a second barrier movable over the second chamber opening; and

a second cutting edge positioned by the second chamber opening. with movement of the second barrier over the second chamber opening.

26. The catheter device according to claim 25, wherein the first cutting edge is positioned on one of the first barrier and the elongate body, and the second cutting edge is positioned on one of the second barrier and the elongate body.

27. The catheter device according to claim 25, wherein the first cutting edge is positioned on the first barrier and is guided over the first chamber opening with movement of the first barrier over the first chamber opening, and the second cutting edge is positioned on the second barrier and is guided over the second chamber opening with movement of the second barrier over the second chamber opening.

28. The device according to claim 25, further comprising an interior dividing wall positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber.

29. The device according to claim 28, further comprising at least one connecting channel positioned in the interior dividing wall and extending between the first chamber and the second chamber.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the at least one connecting channel comprises micro-holes.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one connecting channel comprises a valve.

32. The device according to claim 29, further comprising a gate movable to a position closing the connecting channel.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the gate is operably connected to the first barrier and the second barrier.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the gate closes the connecting channel when the first barrier is moved from being positioned over the first opening and the second barrier is moved from being positioned over the second opening, and the gate opens the connecting channel when the first barrier is moved over the first opening and the second barrier is moved over the second opening.

35. The device according to claim 25, further comprising at least one control wire that controls movement of at least one of the first barrier and the second barrier.

36. The device according to claim 35, further comprising a control wire channel positioned in the interior dividing wall, the at least one control wire positioned within the control wire channel.

37. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a control wire operably connected to the gate, the first barrier, and the second barrier, the control wire controlling coupled movement of the gate, the first barrier, and the second barrier.

38. The device according to claim 37, further comprising a guide wire channel extending through the control wire from the proximal end to the distal end, the guide wire channel being adapted to accommodate a guide wire for positioning the catheter in a body passageway.

39. The device according to claim 35, wherein the at least one control wire is operated from the proximal end.

40. The device according to claim 35, further comprising:

a hub positioned at the proximal end, the hub having a first port connected to the first chamber, a second port connected to the second chamber, and a control mechanism connected to the at least one control wire; and

a seal between the at least one control wire and the hub.

41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the seal is formed by a rolling membrane.

42. The device according to claim 25, wherein the first barrier comprises a first gate within the first chamber, and the second barrier comprises a second gate within the second chamber.

43. The device according to claim 25, further comprising a cap at the distal end of the elongate body, the first barrier and the second barrier being positioned on the cap.

44. The device according to claim 43, wherein the cap has a first cap opening that aligns with the first chamber opening, and a second cap opening that aligns with the second chamber opening.

45. The device according to claim 44, wherein the first cutting edge is positioned on an edge of the first cap opening, and the second cutting edge is positioned on an edge of the second cap opening.

46. The device according to claim 43, wherein rotation by the cap about a longitudinal line of the elongate body moves the first barrier over the first chamber opening and the second barrier over the second chamber opening.

47. The device according to claim 43, wherein longitudinal movement by the cap moves the first barrier over the first chamber opening and the second barrier over the second chamber opening.

48. The device according to claim 43, wherein the cap forms a rounded end on the distal end of the elongate body.

49. A method of operating a catheter device, the catheter device including an elongate body;

a chamber positioned within the elongate body, the chamber having a chamber opening;

a barrier movable over the chamber opening, the barrier moving between an uncovered position uncovering the chamber opening and a covered position covering the chamber opening; and

at least one cutting edge positioned by the chamber opening, the method comprising cutting fibrin near the chamber opening by moving the barrier from the uncovered position to the covered position.

50. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

moving the barrier to the uncovered position; and

applying a vacuum in the chamber to draw fibrin near the opening into the chamber.

51. The method according to claim 49, wherein moving the barrier comprises moving the barrier longitudinally.

52. The method according to claim 49, wherein moving the barrier comprises moving the barrier along a plane substantially transverse to a longitudinal line of the elongate body.

53. The method according to claim 49, wherein the barrier comprises a gate positioned in the chamber.

54. The method according to claim 49, wherein the barrier is a portion of a cap positioned on the distal end of the elongate body, and the cap has a cap opening that aligns with the chamber opening when the barrier is in the uncovered position.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein moving the barrier comprises rotating the cap about a longitudinal line of the elongate body.

56. The method according to claim 54, wherein moving the barrier comprises moving the cap longitudinally.

57. A method of deploying a catheter device in a body passageway, the catheter device including a control wire controlling a valve mechanism;

a guide wire; and

a guide wire channel extending through the control wire, the method comprising;

extending the guide wire to a location in the body passageway;

positioning the guide wire within the guide wire channel;

guiding the catheter along the guide wire to the location in the body passageway; and

extracting the guide wire from the catheter and the body passageway.

58. The method according to claim 57, further comprising closing the guide wire channel after extracting the guide wire from the catheter and the body passageway.

59. A method of flushing a catheter device, the catheter device including a first chamber and a second chamber fluidically connected with at least one connecting channel, a first barrier movable over a first opening of the first chamber, a second barrier movable over a second opening of the second chamber, the method comprising:

moving the first barrier over the first chamber opening;

moving the second barrier over the second chamber opening; and

introducing fluid into the first chamber to cause fluid circulation through the first chamber, the at least one connecting channel, and the second chamber.