SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHUNTING FLUID

• US 20140207045A1
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anuncia Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcyone Lifesciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Anand, PJ, Singh, Deep Arjun, Degon, Robert, Wong, Anthony, McIntyre, Jon T., Brophy, Morgan, Fallon, Timothy, Attar, Matthew, Waller, Allison, East, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,629,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• 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 2039/0018 designed for flushing a line, e.g. by a by-pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0205 Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0071 Multiple separate lumens multiple separate lumens throughout the catheter A61M25/0026
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/225 Flush valves, i.e. bypass valves for flushing line

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked. Systems and methods for flushing a shunt system are also disclosed herein, as are various systems and methods for opening auxiliary fluid pathways through a shunt system.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A flusher comprising:

a body having an upstream port and a downstream port;

a flush channel extending from a ventricle channel and a drain channel to a dome, the ventricle channel extending from the upstream port to the flush channel and the drain channel extending from the downstream port to the flush channel; and

a valve disposed in the flush channel having a first position in which the ventricle channel and the drain channel are in fluid communication with one another and the dome is not in fluid communication with the ventricle channel or the drain channel via the flush channel, and a second position in which the dome is in fluid communication with the ventricle channel via the flush channel and the drain channel is not in fluid communication with the dome or the ventricle channel;

wherein the dome is collapsible to move the valve to the second position and flush fluid through the ventricle channel.

39. A flushing system, comprising:

a flush component having a collapsible dome;

a valve component coupled to the flush component by a first catheter and having a flush valve and a flapper valve disposed therein; and

a Y adapter coupled to the valve component by a second catheter and coupled to the flush component by a third catheter;

wherein the flush valve is configured to open when a pressure differential across the flush valve exceeds a predetermined threshold;

wherein the flapper valve is configured to open when the flush valve opens to block fluid flow from the valve component to the Y adapter; and

wherein the dome is collapsible to create a pressure differential across the flush valve.

40. A flusher comprising:

a body having an upstream port and a downstream port;

a ventricle channel that extends from the upstream port to a flush valve chamber;

a drain channel that extends from the downstream port to a refill valve chamber;

a flush channel that extends from the flush valve chamber to a dome;

a refill channel that extends from the refill valve chamber to the dome;

a bypass channel that extends from the flush valve chamber to the refill valve chamber;

a flush valve disposed in the flush valve chamber and configured to allow fluid communication between the flush channel and the ventricle channel when a pressure differential cross the flush valve exceeds a predetermined threshold;

a refill valve disposed in the refill valve chamber and configured to allow fluid to flow from the bypass channel into the refill channel and prevent fluid from flowing from the refill channel into the bypass channel; and

a bypass valve disposed in the bypass channel configured to prevent fluid flow through the bypass channel when the fluid pressure in the bypass channel exceeds a predetermined threshold;

wherein the dome is collapsible to force fluid through the flush valve and the ventricle channel while causing the bypass valve to close to prevent fluid from being forced through the drain channel.

41. The flusher of claim 40, further comprising a spring configured to bias the dome to an un-collapsed configuration.

42. A catheter, comprising:

a primary fluid inlet port through which fluid external to the catheter can flow into an inner lumen of the catheter;

an auxiliary fluid inlet port covered by a membrane such that fluid external to the catheter cannot flow through the auxiliary inlet port;

wherein the membrane is configured to rupture when a predetermined threshold force is applied to the membrane by fluid in the inner lumen of the catheter to open the auxiliary fluid inlet port and allow fluid to flow therethrough.

43. The catheter of claim 42, wherein the auxiliary fluid inlet port comprises a rectangular slot with rounded corners.

44. The catheter of claim 42, wherein the primary fluid inlet port includes at least one slit extending therethrough such that the periphery of the inlet port is configured to deform outwards when the catheter is flushed.