Flexible Anti-Collapsible Catheter Sleeve

• US 20120059335A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: InnerSpace Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: InnerSpace Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Bobo, Donald E. Sr.
• Application Number:
  US13/148,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20120059335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A thin-walled, spiral-cut sleeve is placed on a portion of a ventricular catheter that may be moved into the compression fitting (or similar securing mechanism) of a bolt in a patient. The wall of the sleeve is sufficiently thick so as to prevent the compression fitting from collapsing the drainage lumen of the catheter. A spiral cut in the sleeve allows the sleeve to flex axially, reducing torque forces on the bolt.

Claims

1. A catheter system comprising:

a bolt at least partially disposed within a patient and having a bolt passage therethrough;

a compression fitting coupled to said bolt and having a fitting passage therethrough and connected to said bolt passage;

a catheter disposed through said bolt and said compression fitting;

a catheter exoskeleton having an inner diameter and being disposed along a length of said catheter at a position contactable by said compression fitting;

said catheter exoskeleton having a plurality of rigid portions spaced apart from each other;

wherein said compression fitting is compressed against said catheter exoskeleton;

wherein said catheter exoskeleton maintains said inner diameter; and

wherein said catheter exoskeleton flexes along a longitudinal axis of said catheter exoskeleton.

2. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein said catheter exoskeleton comprises a tubular shape having a spiral cut.

3. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein said catheter exoskeleton comprises a plurality of rings dispose on a flexible tube.

4. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein said catheter exoskeleton is composed of a rigid polyimide.

5. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein said catheter exoskeleton comprises a polyimide material having a wall thickness of about 0.006 inches.

6. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein said spiral cut forms about 10 turns per inch.

7. The catheter system of claim 6, wherein said spiral cut is about 0.01 inches wide.

8. A catheter system comprising:

a bolt member having a proximal end for fixing within a patient and a distal end having a compression fitting;

a catheter framework disposed through said bolt member and compression fitting, said catheter framework comprising a rigid material and a cut in said rigid material so as to allow a portion of said rigid material to axially flex without being crushed by pressure from said compression fitting;

a catheter located within said catheter frame work.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein said cut in said rigid material further comprises a helical cut.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein said helical cut forms about 10 turns per inch.

11. The catheter of claim 10, wherein said rigid material is polyimide having a thickness of about 0.006 inches.

12. The catheter of claim 10, wherein said cut is about 0.01 inches wide.

13. A catheter system comprising:

a bolt at least having a distal end configured for anchoring within a skull of a patient and a bolt passage located through said bolt;

a compression fitting disposed on a proximal end of said bolt and having a mechanism for compressing against the contents of a fitting passage, said fitting passage in communication with said bolt passage;

a catheter disposed through said bolt passage and said fitting passage; and

,

an exoskeleton comprising a plurality of rigid sections and said exoskeleton being disposed over a length of said catheter contactable by said compression fitting.

14. The catheter system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of rigid sections are formed by a helical gap.

15. The catheter system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of rigid sections comprise a plurality of rigid ring members spaced apart from each other.

16. The catheter system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of rigid sections are unitary with each other.

17. The catheter system of claim 13, wherein said exoskeleton further comprises a helical cut forming a plurality of rigid, curved, helical sections.