CATHETER DEVICE

• US 20120053564A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrian C. Ravenscroft
• Original Assignee: Adrian C. Ravenscroft
• Inventors: Ravenscroft, Adrian C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 for haemodialysis
• 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 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0177 having external means for receiving guide wires, wires or stiffening members, e.g. loops, clamps or lateral tubes
• 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 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• 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 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means

Abstract

A catheter includes an elongate body having first and second chambers extending within the elongate body from a proximal end to an intermediate section, the first chamber having a first opening and the second chamber having a second opening at the intermediate section. The catheter also includes a valve structure that may have first and second barrier elements to open or close the first and second openings, respectively. The first and the second barrier elements may be coupled by a connecting structure moving within an opening in a guide structure. Alternatively, the first and the second barrier elements may be coupled in a U-shaped structure that moves over the guide structure. To permit flushing of the chambers when the first and second openings are closed, the first and second chambers may also be connected by a connecting channel defined by an opening in a wall of the elongate body.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

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

a first chamber extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to a first chamber opening at the distal end;

a second chamber extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to a second chamber opening at the distal end;

a valve structure at the distal end of the elongate body that is configured to move relative to the elongate body between a closed position in which the first and second chamber openings are covered by the valve and an open position in which the first and second chamber openings are uncovered by the valve; and

a channel located between the proximal and the distal ends of the elongate body that extends between the first chamber and the second chamber that provides fluid communication between the first and the second chambers when the valve structure is in the closed position.

2. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising:

a dividing wall within the elongate body separating the first and second chambers, the dividing wall extending from the proximal end of the elongate body to the first and second chamber openings.

3. The catheter of claim 2 wherein the channel extends through the dividing wall

4. The catheter of claim 2, the valve structure further comprising:

a gate extending along the dividing wall, the gate configured to cover the channel when the valve is in the open position.

5. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the channel comprises a micro-hole that extends through the dividing wall.

6. The catheter of claim 5 further comprising:

at least one additional micro-hole extending through the dividing wall.

7. The catheter of claim 1, the channel between the first chamber and the second chamber comprising:

an opening cut through the outer wall the elongate body.

8. The catheter of claim 2 wherein the channel extends substantially perpendicular to the dividing wall.

9. The catheter of claim 2 wherein the channel extends from an outer surface of the wall of the elongate body into part of the dividing wall.

10. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the channel has a tapered shaped that is wider in the first chamber than in the second chamber.

11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the channel is a groove formed within the elongate body wall extending at least partially around the outer circumference of the elongate body.

12. The catheter of claim 11 wherein the groove extends all the way around the circumference of the elongate body.

13. The catheter of claim 11 wherein the groove has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the elongate body wall.

14. The catheter of claim 11 further comprising:

at least one aperture through the groove into the first chamber and at least one aperture through the groove into the second chamber.

15. The catheter of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of apertures extending through the groove and to the first and second chambers.

16. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising:

a cover along a portion of the elongate body positioned over the channel to at least partially seal the channel.

17. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the valve structure at the distal end of the elongate body is configured to move relative to the elongate body along a guide structure that extends from the distal openings of the first and second chambers to the elongate body distal end.

18. The catheter of claim 17 wherein the valve structure moves along the guide structure to an open position wherein the valve structure remains proximal to the distal most end of the guide structure.

19. The catheter of claim 17 wherein the valve structure moves along the guide structure to an open position wherein the valve structure extends beyond the distal most end of the guide structure.

20. A method for flushing a catheter, comprising:

positioning a distal valve structure to close off the distal end of a first lumen and a distal end of a second lumen of a catheter;

while the distal ends are closed off by the distal valve structure, introducing a flushing fluid into the proximal end of the first lumen;

passing the flushing fluid through a channel connecting the first lumen to the second lumen; and

withdrawing the flushing fluid from the proximal end of the second lumen.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the passing step and the withdrawing step are performed while the distal ends of the first and second lumens are closed off by the valve structure.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the steps of the method are performed while the catheter is within a vessel of a patient.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

performing the steps of the method prior to delivering a therapeutic agent using the first lumen or the second lumen.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

performing the steps of the method prior to performing a therapy with the patient while the valve is open.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the flushing fluid is any one of an antibiotic solution, an antimicrobial solution, an anticoagulant solution, a lytic solution, or a saline solution.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

opening the distal valve structure to uncover the first lumen and the second lumen; and

conducting a hemodialysis treatment using the first lumen and the second lumen.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the passing step or the withdrawing step removes a microbial colonization from within the first lumen or from within the second lumen.