Omentum diffusion catheter

• US 4,826,480 A
• Filed: 04/29/1987
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davis, Mark W., Diaz, Raul
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/043,796
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/48, 604/49, 604/93, 604/175, 604/240, 604/266, 604/280, 604/283, 604/275, 604/264, 285/260, 285/294, 285/297, 285/304
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked

Abstract

An implantable catheter for use in delivering insulin or other therapeutic fluids is disclosed which uses a novel terminator design to prevent the growth of fibrotic tissue from obstruction the catheter. The catheter takes advantage of fibrotic encapsulation by utilizing a depression in the surface of the terminator which will effectively keep fibrotic tissue spaced sufficiently away therefrom to allow fluid to be infused. In addition to being capable of long term implant, the catheter is implantable in the omentum, enabling the body'"'"'s natural absorption of insulin to be successfully mimicked.

Claims

1. An implantable catheter for placement in the omentum tissues, comprising:

a length of tubing;

means for connecting said infusion pump to one end of said length of tubing to supply fluid from said infusion pump to said length of tubing;

a catheter terminator having a recessed area thereon, said catheter terminator having a diminishing taper at the proximal end thereof, said catheter terminator maintaining fibrotic tissue growth away from said recessed area, said catheter terminator for implantation in the omentum tissue;

a passageway within said catheter terminator, the other end of said length of tubing being attached to said catheter terminator to supply fluid from said tubing to said passageway, said passageway leading to an aperture located near to said recessed area;

a cylindrical recess in the proximal end of said catheter terminator for receiving said other end of said length of tubing said cylindrical recess communicating with said passageway at the end of said cylindrical passageway closest the distal end of said catheter terminator;

a plurality of small apertures on the top bottom, and sides of said proximal end of said catheter terminator leading into said cylindrical recess; and

medical adhesive installed in said small apertures after said other end of said length of tubing is installed into said cylindrical recess to retain said other end of said length of tubing is said cylindrical recess.

2. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubing is made of medical grade silastic.

3. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubing is of multiwall construction and has an annular inner layer of polyethylene and an annular outer layer of silicone rubber.

4. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises:

a pump connector for connection to an infusion pump, said pump connector in fluid communication with a fluid output of said pump.

5. An implantable terminator catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said catheter terminator is made of polyethylene.

6. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said catheter terminator has a first recessed area on one side thereof and a second recessed area on the other side thereof, said passageway leading to a first aperture located near to said first recessed area and a second aperture located near to said second recessed area.

7. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said recessed area is defined at least in part by a wall rising from the edge of said recessed area.

8. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 7, wherein said aperture is located in said recessed area near to said wall.

9. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 7, wherein said aperture is located in said wall near to said recessed area.

10. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 7, wherein said aperture is located at the intersection between said recessed area and said wall.

11. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 7, wherein said wall extends circumferentially around said recessed area.

12. An implantable catheter for placement in the omentum tissues, comprising:

a pump connector for connection to an infusion pump, said pump connector being in fluid communication with a fluid output of said pump;

a length of tubing connected at one end thereof to said pump connector, said length of tubing being in fluid communication with said pump connector;

a catheter terminator having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said catheter terminator being connected to the other end of said length of tubing, said catheter terminator having a diminishing taper at the proximal end thereof, said catheter terminator having a passageway disposed therein which passageway is in fluid communication with said length of tubing, said catheter terminator also having a recessed area extending from said distal end of said catheter terminator to a point intermediate said proximal and distal ends of said catheter terminator, said recessed area being surrounded by a wall portion of said catheter terminator extending above said recessed area to maintain fibrotic tissue growth away from said recessed area, said passageway terminating in an aperture in said recessed area near the edge of said recessed area; and

means for fixedly receiving said other end of said length of tubing, said receiving means being constructed integrally with said catheter terminator.

13. An implantable catheter for supplying fluid from an infusion pump to the omentum tissues, comprising:

a pump connector for removable connection to said infusion pump, said pump connector being in fluid communication with a fluid output of said pump;

a length of hollow tubing connected at one end thereof to said pump connector, said length of tubing being in fluid communication with said pump connector;

a catheter terminator having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said catheter terminator including means for connection to the other end of said length of tubing, said catheter terminator having a passageway disposed therein which passageway is in fluid communication with said length of tubing, said catheter terminator having a diminishing taper at the proximal end thereof;

a recessed area in said catheter terminator, said recessed area extending from a location near said distal end of said catheter terminator to a point intermediate said proximal and distal ends of said catheter terminator, said recessed area being surrounded on at least three sides by a wall portion which is raised with respect to said recessed area, said passageway terminating in an aperture in said recessed area near to the edge of said recessed area, said raised portion of said catheter terminator thereby extending above said recessed area to maintain fibrotic tissue growth away from said recessed area to allow fluid to freely exit said aperture;

a cylindrical recess in the proximal end of said catheter terminator for receiving said other end of said length of tubing, said cylindrical recess communicating with said passageway at the end of said cylindrical passageway closest the distal end of said catheter terminator;

a plurality of small apertures on the top bottom, and sides of said proximal end of said catheter terminator leading into said cylindrical recess; and

medical adhesive installed in said small apertures after said other end of said length of tubing is installed into said cylindrical recess to retain said other end of said length of tubing is said cylindrical recess.

14. A method of supplying fluid from an infusion pump to the omental tissue, comprising:

connecting said infusion pump to a length of tubing to supply fluid from said infusion pump to said length of tubing;

providing a catheter terminator having a recessed area thereon, said catheter terminator having a diminishing taper at the proximal end thereof, said catheter terminator maintaining fibrotic tissue growth away from said recessed area, said catheter terminator for implantation in the omentum tissue;

attaching said length of tubing to said catheter terminator to supply fluid from said tubing to a passageway within said catheter terminator; and

supplying fluid from said catheter terminator through an aperture leading from said passageway, said aperture being located near to said recessed area.

15. An implantable catheter for placement in the omentum tissues, comprising:

a length of tubing;

means for connecting said infusion pump to one end of said length of tubing to supply fluid from said infusion pump to said length of tubing;

a catheter terminator having a recessed area thereon, said catheter terminator having a diminishing taper at the proximal end thereof, said catheter terminator maintaining fibrotic tissue growth away from said recessed area, said catheter terminator for implantation in the omentum tissue;

a passageway within said catheter terminator, the other end of said length of tubing being attached to said catheter terminator to supply fluid from said tubing to said passageway, said passageway leading to an aperture located near to said recessed area;

means for fixedly receiving said other end of said length of tubing, said receiving means being constructed integrally with said catheter terminator; and

a plurality of tapered frictional ridges integrally constructed with said catheter terminator at the proximal end thereof, said tapered frictional ridges allowing said other end of said length of tubing to be slideably installed thereover, and resisting the removal of said other end of said length of tubing from said tapered frictional ridges once installed, said passageway extending centrally through the portion of said catheter terminator containing said tapered frictional ridges.

16. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 15, wherein said tubing is of multiwall construction and has an annular inner layer of polyethylene and an annular outer layer of silicone rubber.

17. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 15, wherein said catheter terminator has a first recessed area on one side thereof and a second recessed area on the other side thereof, said passageway leading to a first aperture located near to said first recessed area and a second aperture located near to said second recessed area.

18. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 15, wherein said recessed area is defined at least in part by a wall rising from the edge of said recessed area.

19. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 18, wherein said aperture is located in said recessed area near to said wall.

20. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 18, wherein said aperture is located in said wall near to said recessed area.

21. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 18, wherein said aperture is located at the intersection between said recessed area and said wall.

22. An implantable catheter as defined in claim 18, wherein said wall extends circumferentially around said recessed area.

23. An implantable catheter for supplying fluid from an infusion pump to the omentum tissues, comprising:

a pump connector for removable connection to said infusion pump, said pump connector being in fluid communication with a fluid output of said pump;

a length of hollow tubing connected at one end thereof to said pump connector, said length of tubing being in fluid communication with said pump connector;

a catheter terminator having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said catheter terminator including means for connection to the other end of said length of tubing, said catheter terminator having a passageway disposed therein which passageway is in fluid communication with said length of tubing, said catheter terminator having a diminishing taper at the proximal end thereof;

a recessed area in said catheter terminator, said recessed area extending from a location near said distal end of said catheter terminator to a point intermediate said proximal and distal ends of said catheter terminator, said recessed area being surrounded on circumferentially by a wall portion which is raised with respect to said recessed area, said passageway terminating in an aperture in said recessed area near to the edge of said recessed area, said raised portion of said catheter terminator thereby extending above said recessed area to maintain fibrotic tissue growth away from said recessed area to allow fluid to freely exit said aperture; and

a plurality of tapered frictional ridges integrally constructed with said catheter terminator at the proximal end thereof, said tapered frictional ridges allowing said other end of said length of tubing to be slidably installed thereover, and resisting the removal of said other end of said length of tubing from said tapered frictional ridges once installed, said passageway extending centrally through the portion of said catheter terminator containing said tapered frictional ridges.