SELF-DILATING CANNULA

• US 20110213316A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sorin Group USA Incorporated (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sorin Group USA Incorporated (LivaNova Plc)
• Inventors: Sites, Jeffrey P., Ibrahim, Tamer
• Granted Patent: US 9,339,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• 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 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• 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 self-dilating cannula for introduction into a patient'"'"'s vasculature includes an elongate body and an atraumatic tip. The elongate body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a fluid-flow lumen extending therebetween. The atraumatic tip is positioned at the elongate body'"'"'s distal end and has a blunted end and a conical shape. The atraumatic tip includes a plurality of fluid-flow openings proximal to the blunted nose that are configured to disperse fluid from the fluid-flow lumen in a plurality of directions with respect to the atraumatic tip. The atraumatic tip also includes an opening in the blunted nose that is sized to a guidewire.

Claims

1. A self-dilating cannula for introduction into a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:

an elongate body, the elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a fluid-flow lumen extending therebetween;

an atraumatic tip positioned at the elongate body'"'"'s distal end, the atraumatic tip having a blunted end and a conical shape,

wherein the atraumatic tip comprises a plurality of fluid-flow opening proximal to the blunted nose and configured to disperse fluid from the fluid-flow lumen in a plurality of directions with respect to the atraumatic tip, and

wherein the atraumatic tip further comprises an opening in the blunted nose sized to a guidewire.

2. The self-dilating cannula of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic tip is configured to dilate a small incision in a wall of a blood vessel when advanced therethough.

3. The self-dilating cannula of claim 1, further comprising an obturator configured to reduce fluid flow through the fluid-flow lumen during introduction of the cannula into a blood vessel, the obturator sized to slide within the fluid-flow lumen from the proximal end towards the distal end.

4. The self-dilating cannula of claim 3, wherein the obturator comprises a lumen sized to receive a stylet.

5. The self-dilating cannula of claim 1, further comprising a stylet, the stylet comprising an incising end, wherein the opening of blunted nose is sized to the stylet.

6. The self-dilating cannula of claim 5, wherein the stylet is configured to provide a predetermined shape to elongate body when inserted therein.

7. The self-dilating cannula of claim 5, wherein the stylet is configured to provide stiffness to facilitate insertion in a vessel lumen.

8. The self-dilating cannula of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing element configured to provide increased stiffness to the elongate body.

9. The self-dilating cannula of claim 8, wherein the reinforcing element comprises a wire.

10. The self-dilating cannula of claim 8, wherein the reinforcing element comprises a spring.

11. A method of introducing the cannula of claim 1 into a blood vessel of a patient'"'"'s vascular.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the blood vessel is selected from the group comprising one or more of an axillary artery, an aorta, a femoral artery, a subclavian artery, an inferior vena cava, a superior vena cava, a chamber of the heart, a right atrium, a left atrium, a right ventricle and a left ventricle.