Occlusion Resistant Catheter

• US 20110172642A1
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Navilyst Medical Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lareau, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0019 Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure

Abstract

Catheters configured to minimize, prevent, disrupt, and/or treat thrombus accumulation and subsequent occlusion are disclosed. Such catheters include at least one sidewall cut extending to the catheter distal end that forms catheter sidewall portions that move relative to each other when subjected to a force greater than a threshold force.

Claims

1. A catheter for inserting into a patient, comprising:

a proximal section, a distal end, and a tubular sidewall extending from said proximal section to said distal end and defining a lumen for the passage of fluid;

a distal section that includes said distal end and a length of said sidewall extending proximally from said distal end; and

at least one cut in said sidewall in said distal section and extending to said distal end, said at least one cut separating said sidewall into sidewall portions that move relative to each other when at least a portion of said distal section is subjected to a force greater than a threshold force.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said force is caused by fluid passing through said lumen.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein said sidewall portions move away from each other when at least a portion of said distal section is subjected to a force higher than a threshold force.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said force is caused by an anatomy of the patient.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein said anatomy is the superior vena cava.

6. The catheter of claim 4, wherein said sidewall portions move toward each other when at least a portion of said distal section is subjected to a force higher than a threshold force.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said at least one cut extends substantially parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of said lumen.

8. The catheter of claim 2, further comprising a semi-circular opening in said sidewall in said distal section.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein said at least one cut extends from said distal end to said circular opening.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said at least one cut extends as a spiral along said distal section.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said at least one cut extends at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said distal section.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said at least one cut is curved.

13. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a dividing wall extending between said proximal section and said distal end, said dividing wall separating said lumen into a first portion and a second lumen portion.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein said catheter comprises a first cut in said sidewall and a second cut in said sidewall, said first cut being made in said sidewall over said first portion of said lumen, and said second cut being made in said sidewall over said second portion of said lumen.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter comprises a single cut.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter comprises at least two cuts.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter is a peripherally-inserted central catheter.

18. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter is a drainage catheter.

19. A catheter for inserting into a patient, comprising:

a proximal section, a distal end, and a tubular sidewall extending from said proximal section to said distal end and defining a lumen for the passage of fluid;

a distal section that includes said distal end and a length of said sidewall extending proximally from said distal end;

two cuts in said sidewall in said distal section and extending to said distal end, said two cuts separating said sidewall into sidewall portions that move away from each other when fluid is passed through said lumen at pressures higher than a threshold pressure; and

a semi-circular opening in said sidewall in said distal section.