NON-PRESSURE TRANSDUCING FLUSHABLE CATHETER

• US 20140163530A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Original Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Inventors: Frenkel, Mark B.
• Application Number:
  US14/092,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0018 having a plug, e.g. an inflatable plug for closing catheter lumens
• 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 25/003 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 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

The present invention provides catheters whose lumen may be cleared of obstructions without transducing pressure changes to the patient compartment in which its proximal end is placed. In an illustrative embodiment, the lumen is cleared by a flush fluid supplied from or to a secondary lumen, with the patient compartment isolated with a gate mechanism. In another illustrative embodiment, the lumen is cleared by a progressively expanding balloon therein.

Claims

1. A flushable drain catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter body having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a side wall portion, a primary lumen therein, and a secondary lumen therein, with said primary lumen and said secondary lumen separated by a septum;

at least one exterior drain opening formed in said catheter body side wall adjacent said proximal end portion;

at least one internal flush opening formed in said septum at or adjacent said proximal end portion; and

a gate operatively associated with said at least one exterior drain opening, said gate switchable between a drain configuration in which said at least one drain opening is open, and a flush configuration in which said at least one drain opening is closed.

2. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said gate comprises a rotating gate member.

3. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said gate comprises a sliding gate member.

4. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said gate comprises an inflatable gate member.

5. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said gate comprises an expandable wire gate member.

6. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter body is rigid.

7. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter body is flexible.

8. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said gate is configured so that said at least one internal flush opening is closed when said gate is in said drain configuration, and said at least one internal flush opening is open when said gate is in said flush configuration.

9. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said gate is configured so that all of said at least one internal flush opening(s) is or are only open when all of said at least one exterior drain opening(s) is or are fully closed.

10. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter further comprises an external indicator operatively associated with said gate, said indicator configured to identify whether said catheter is in said flush configuration or said drain configuration.

11. The flushable drain catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter is an exterior ventricular drain or subdural drain

13. The drain catheter of claim 10, wherein said elongate balloon element is fixed in said lumen.

14. The drain catheter of claim 10, wherein said elongate balloon element is retractable from said lumen when in said deflated position.

15. The flushable drain catheter of claim 10, wherein said catheter body is rigid.

16. The flushable drain catheter of claim 10, wherein said catheter body is flexible.

17. The flushable drain catheter of claim 10, wherein said catheter is an exterior ventricular drain or subdural drain.

12. A flushable drain catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter body having a distal portion, an intermediate portion, a proximal end portion, a side wall and a primary lumen therein;

at least one exterior drain opening formed in said catheter body side wall adjacent said proximal end portion;

an elongate balloon element positioned in said primary lumen and extending from said proximal end portion to at least said intermediate portion, and optionally to said distal portion, said balloon having a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and optionally a distal end portion,

said balloon element configured to be progressively inflatable, from proximal to distal, from a fully deflated position in which both said drain opening and said lumen are open, through a partially inflated position in which said drain opening is closed and said lumen intermediate portion is open, to a fully inflated position in which said drain opening, said lumen proximal portion, and at least said lumen intermediate portion are closed,

with inflation of said balloon element forming a balloon face portion that progressively advances from proximal to distal in said lumen that flushes or ejects debris therefrom.