Catheter for prolonged access

• US 5,053,023 A
• Filed: 02/25/1991
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vas-Cath Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Vas-Cath Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Martin, Geoffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US07/662,329
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 604/43, 604/160, 604/161, 604/175, 604/280, 604/283, 604/282
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• 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 5/1582 Double lumen needles

Abstract

A flexible dual lumen catheter is provided for use especially in prolonged access. The catheter is especially used for such access in haemodialysis treatments and includes an elongate body having side-by-side lumens, distal and proximal ends, and one of the lumens being an intake lumen for receiving body fluid and other being a return lumen for leading fluid to the body. Connecting tubes are provided attached to the lumens and a tip is provided adjacent the distal end. The tip defines an intake opening spaced from the distal end of the body to provide access to the intake lumen and the return opening leads from the return lumen at the distal end of the body. The body has two portions, a distal portion adjacent the distal end for engagement within body tissue and a proximal portion extending between the connecting tubes and the distal portion, the distal portion having minimal rigidity for acceptance in the body tissue and the proximal portion having greater rigidity sufficient to minimize the risk of kinking during insertion and during normal use. A cuff is provided at the junction of the proximal and distal portions for attachment to the patient as blood clots in the cuff.

Claims

1. In a catheter for use having an elongate body defining side-by-side generally D-shaped lumens and having distal and proximal ends, one of the lumens being an intake lumen for receiving body fluid and the other being a return lumen for leading fluid to the body, a pair of connecting tubes attached one to each of the lumens, the tubes being attached one to each of the intake and return lumens, and a tip adjacent the distal end and formed from the material of the body with the tip defining an intake opening spaced from the end of the body to provide access to the intake lumen and a return opening at the end of the body, the improvement in which the body is in two portions, a distal portion adjacent the distal end for enagement within body tissue, a proximal portion extending between the tubes and the distal portion, the distal portion having minimal rigidity for acceptance in the body tissue and the proximal portion having greater rigidity sufficient to minimize the risk of kinking during insertion and during normal use;

and

a fibrous cuff engaged about the body where the proximal and distal portions meet to provide a seal in use where blood would clot in the cuff to seal the catheter to a patient.

2. A catheter comprising:

a generally cylindrical, elongate and very flexible first part having minimal rigidity for acceptance in body tissue and having distal and proximal ends and defining two D-shaped lumens, a first of the lumens being an intake lumen extending from an intake opening spaced from said distal end towards said proximal end and the other being a return lumen extending the full length of the first part and terminating at the distal end of the first part in a return opening;

a tip formed adjacent the distal end of the first part, the tip extending from the return opening towards the intake opening and having a round cross-section;

a pair of tubes;

connection means coupling the tubes one to each of the lumens at said proximal end to provide for connection to the catheter to remove body fluid via the intake lumen and to return fluid to the body via the return lumen;

a tubular second part positioned snugly about a portion of the first part and extending from adjacent said proximal to an exposed end for enhancing the rigidity of the catheter where the catheter will be external to the patient after placement to minimize the risk of kinking during insertion and during normal use;

a fibrous cuff attached to the first and second parts to cover said exposed end and to provide a seal in use where blood would clot in the cuff to seal the catheter to a patient.