MULTI-LUMEN CATHETER

• US 20140081134A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories), Abbott Vascular
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Fortson, Aaron M., Gianotti, Marc, Milazzo, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/435
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0039 characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0076 Unidirectional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• 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 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/005 for contrast media

Abstract

A catheter comprising a first lumen for receiving a guidewire and having an exit opening at a distal tip of the catheter. A second lumen, adjacent the first lumen and separated from the first lumen by a common wall, the second lumen configured for receiving contrast fluid, wherein perforations are formed in the common wall; a guidewire in the first lumen the guidewire being configured to be capable of advancement distally to extend out of the exit opening, the guidewire having two conditions: a first condition in which the guidewire is advanced distally to block the perforations whereby fluid may not flow from the second lumen to the first lumen; a second condition in which the guidewire is withdrawn proximally to unblock the perforations whereby fluid may flow from the second lumen into the first lumen and thence out of the exit opening.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a first lumen for receiving a guidewire and having an exit opening at a distal tip of the catheter;

a second lumen, adjacent the first lumen and separated from the first lumen by a common wall, the second lumen configured for receiving contrast fluid, wherein perforations are formed in the common wall;

a guidewire in the first lumen, the guidewire being configured to be capable of advancement distally to extend out of the exit opening, the guidewire having two conditions;

a first condition in which the guidewire is advanced distally to block the perforations whereby fluid is blocked from flowing from the second lumen to the first lumen;

a second condition in which the guidewire is withdrawn proximally to unblock the perforations thereby permitting fluid to flow from the second lumen into the first lumen and thence out of the exit opening.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first lumen is defined by an inner cylinder, the inner cylinder being received within an outer cylinder, and the second lumen is a space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the outer cylinder defines a plurality of openings that are configured to permit contrast fluid to flow from the second cylinder to a space external to the second cylinder.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the openings have a slitted form, and are configured to be normally closed.

5. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the perforations follow a single helical path along the axis of the inner cylinder, in which each subsequent perforation is offset by a radial angle in relation to a preceding perforation.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the radial angle of offset is 90 degrees.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the perforations have a slitted form.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the perforations are configured to be normally open.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the guidewire is configured so that when it is advanced distally, the guidewire applies a force to the normally open perforations to close the perforations.

10. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the perforations are configured to be normally closed.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a seal is provided in the first lumen to block fluid flowing proximally in the first lumen.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the seal is an O-ring seal.

13. A method of discharging fluid from a distal end of a catheter, comprising:

advancing a guidewire distally through a first lumen of the catheter;

advancing fluid distally through a second lumen of the catheter;

initially, blocking flow of the fluid from the second lumen into the first lumen, by advancing the guidewire distally to block the flow;

then, unblocking the flow of fluid from the second lumen into the first lumen by withdrawing the guidewire proximally;

causing the fluid to flow from the second lumen to the first lumen, and thence out of the distal end of the catheter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein causing the fluid to flow from the second lumen to the first lumen includes causing the fluid to pass through openings in a common wall separating the second lumen from the first lumen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein causing the fluid to pass through openings in a common will includes forcing leaves of a slitted perforation in the common wall to move from a normally closed condition to an open condition.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein blocking flow of the fluid from the second lumen into the first lumen includes forcing leaves of a slitted perforation to move from a normally open condition to a closed condition.