Peritoneal fluid treatment apparatus, package and method

• US 4,553,960 A
• Filed: 07/20/1984
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1978
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harrison Lazarus, James A. Nelson
• Original Assignee: Harrison Lazarus, James A. Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, James A., Lazarus, Harrison
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott, Christa K.
• Application Number:
  US06/632,956
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/20-30
• US Class Current: 604/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 Aseptic insertion devices

Abstract

The cannula of a conventional intravascular catheter is placed into the peritoneal cavity through a small shallow incision in antiseptically prepared skin. The stylet or trocar of the conventional catheter is removed; and a stainless steel elongated flexible guide is inserted through the catheter'"'"'s cannula into the peritoneal cavity. The catheter'"'"'s cannula is removed and a flexible elongated cannula inserted into the cavity over the guide and secured in place with a suture. Fluid operation means is connected to the elongated cannula by connector means to permit fluid treatment after removal of the guide. Apparatus to effect peritoneal fluid treatment are placed in sterile openable sealed packages for storage and transport.

Claims

1. Peritoneal fluid treatment apparatus comprising:

intravascular catheter apparatus comprised of a first cannula connected to a hub and a stylet having handle means affixed at its first end and a sharp point at its second end, said stylet being removably positioned within said cannula so that said sharp point extends slightly beyond said cannula at the end opposite said hub, and wherein said stylet is removed from said cannula and hub after said cannula is positioned through the peritoneum;

flexible guide means sized from about 20 to about 50 centimeters in length and from about 0.5 millimeters to about 3 millimeters in diameter for insertion into the peritoneal cavity through said first cannula, said guide means being sized in cross-section to fit within said first cannula and in length to be substantially longer than said first cannula, said guide means having a first end which is blunt for insertion into the peritoneal cavity, and said guide means being a stainless steel piano-wire-like wire made of a refractory metal having substantial flexibility from its first end to a point from about one-third to one-half the length of said guide means measured from said first end and thereafter said guide means has less flexibility along its length to its second end;

a second cannula having a first end which remains anterior the patient and a second end which is tapered and sized in cross-section to fit slidably and snugly about said guide means, said second cannula being a flexible plastic-like tube having a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed in it from its second end to a point about one-third to one-half along its length for insertion into the peritoneal cavity with said apertures substantially therewithin, said second cannula being inserted over said guide means upon removal of said first cannula, said second cannula being sized in length to be substantially longer than said first cannula and in cross-section sufficient to allow said guide means to pass therethrough; and

connector means adapted to the first end of said second cannula for connection to peritoneal fluid operation means upon removal of said guide means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes incision means for making a nick-type incision in the skin of a patient through which incision said intravascular catheter apparatus is inserted.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fluid operation means is a fluid container connectable by means to said connector means, said fluid container having a first position in which said container is elevated above the connector so that fluid therewithin flows out into the patient, and a second position in which said container is lowered below the patient to establish a siphon to extract fluid from the patient into the container.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said peritoneal fluid operation means includes an aspirator connectable to said connector means to extract fluid from said patient.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second cannula is from about 10 centimeters to about 30 centimeters in length and from about 1.5 millimeters to about 4 millimeters in diameter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said guide means is from about 20 to about 50 centimeters in length and wherein said first cannula is from about 0.5 millimeter to about 1.5 millimeters in external diameter and from about 4 centimeters to about 10 centimeters in length.