Catheter having slit tip

• US 4,801,297 A
• Filed: 06/01/1984
• Issued: 01/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henley Operating Company
• Original Assignee: Edward Weck Incorporated
• Inventors: Mueller, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kartchner, Gene B.
• Application Number:
  US06/616,036
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93, 604/118, 604/173, 604/244, 604/257, 604/258, 604/264, 604/280, 604/105, 604/43, 604/27, 604/39, 604/247
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow general flow characteristics A61M2206/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0081 Soft tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip

Abstract

The present catheter employee a series of axial slits adjacent to its tip. The slits act to increase the flexibility of the catheter adjacent the tip thereby providing pressure relief in the event of blockage of the lumen at the tip. In addition, by forming the slits as slots, i.e. by removing material from the slits, it is possible to provide a catheter having flow through the sides adjacent to the tip for any desired purpose.

Claims

1. An improved catheter of the type having an elongated tube having an exterior wall defining at least one lumen formed therein, said tube terminating in a tip having at least one opening to said at least one lumen,

wherein the improvement comprises a soft tip which is able to easily bend within a patient'"'"'s vessel thereby reducing the probability of vessel wall injury, said soft tip being comprised of at least one slit formed through said wall of said tube adjacent said tip, whereby said at least one slit will function as both a pressure release to allow fluid under high pressure to escape from said catheter and as a tip softening means which allows said tip to flex and thereby prevents injury to a patient'"'"'s vessel.

2. The improved catheter of claim 1 wherein catheter has a single lumen, and there is a single, elongated slit adjacent to the tip.

3. The improved catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter has a single lumen and there are a plurality elongated slits adjacent to the tip which extend back along said elongated tube.

4. The improved catheter of claim 3 wherein said slits are spaced around the circumference of said catheter.

5. The improved catheter of claim 1 wherein material is removed from said at least one slit in order to improve fluid flow therethrough.

6. The improved catheter of claim 1 wherein said catheter has at least two lumens and said at least one slit is formed into at least one of said lumens.