Catheter with changeable number of lumens
First Claim
1. An over-the-needle insertable multi-lumen catheter assembly, comprising:
- an attachment structure have proximal and distal end regions, first and second internal passages which join one another at a junction region to form a distal exit passage, an outer cannula attachment region of a size and construction sufficient to allow a needle to be inserted therethrough, an inner cannula attachment region, a first proximal access region providing access to the first passage, a second proximal access region providing access to the second passage and an exit passage access region providing access to the distal exit passage;
an outer cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an outer cannula lumen, the proximal end portion of the outer cannula being attached to the outer cannula attachment region, the outer cannula lumen being of a size sufficient to allow the needle to be inserted therethrough;
an inner cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an inner cannula lumen, the proximal end portion of the inner cannula being attached to the inner cannula attachment region in such a manner that fluid flow communication is blocked between the first proximal access region and the outer cannula lumen, the inner cannula being insertable axially through the first passage and the outer cannula lumen, the inner cannula being of a construction such that when inserted in to the outer cannula lumen it does not prevent flow therethrough; and
valve means associated with the attachment structure for closing communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen, the valve means being openable sufficiently for the inner cannula to pass therethrough and to open up communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter assembly is provided. An attachment structure has a proximal end portion of an outer cannula attached to it. A needle is insertable through the outer cannula and the attachment structure. An inner cannula is attached to an inner cannula attachment region of the attachment structure. The inner cannula is insertable axially through the attachment structure. The attachment structure can comprise two hubs, one for the outer cannula and the other for the inner cannula, the two hubs being attachable to one another to form the overall attachment structure. A valve structure is associated with the attachment structure, suitably with the outer cannula hub. The valve structure normally closes communication between an access passage in the attachment structure, e.g., in the outer cannula hub, and the outer cannula lumen. The valve structure opens sufficiently for the inner cannula to pass through it and to open communication between the access passage and the outer cannula lumen when the inner cannula is inserted through another passage in the attachment structure and through the outer cannula lumen. The assembly allows the removal of the inner cannula and the insertion of a replacement inner cannula, if desired, without removing the outer cannula from the blood vessel. Use of a relatively small diameter needle for a desired diameter outer cannula can also be provided if the material of the outer cannula is such that it will swell in place.
340 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An over-the-needle insertable multi-lumen catheter assembly, comprising:
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an attachment structure have proximal and distal end regions, first and second internal passages which join one another at a junction region to form a distal exit passage, an outer cannula attachment region of a size and construction sufficient to allow a needle to be inserted therethrough, an inner cannula attachment region, a first proximal access region providing access to the first passage, a second proximal access region providing access to the second passage and an exit passage access region providing access to the distal exit passage; an outer cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an outer cannula lumen, the proximal end portion of the outer cannula being attached to the outer cannula attachment region, the outer cannula lumen being of a size sufficient to allow the needle to be inserted therethrough; an inner cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an inner cannula lumen, the proximal end portion of the inner cannula being attached to the inner cannula attachment region in such a manner that fluid flow communication is blocked between the first proximal access region and the outer cannula lumen, the inner cannula being insertable axially through the first passage and the outer cannula lumen, the inner cannula being of a construction such that when inserted in to the outer cannula lumen it does not prevent flow therethrough; and valve means associated with the attachment structure for closing communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen, the valve means being openable sufficiently for the inner cannula to pass therethrough and to open up communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A catheter structure with which the number of available lumens can be changed without removal from a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an outer cannula hub having proximal and distal end portions, a passageway therethrough from the distal to the proximal end portion thereof and an outer cannula attachment region; an inner cannula hub having proximal and distal end portions, a first internal passage therethrough from the distal to the proximal end portion thereof and a second internal passage which joins the first internal passage at a junction region, an inner cannula attachment region, the distal end portion of the inner cannula hub being releasably couplable to the proximal end portion of the outer cannula hub with the first internal passage in the inner cannula hub in communication with the passageway through the outer cannula hub; an outer cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an outer cannula lumen, the proximal end portion fo the outer cannula being attached to the outer cannula attachment region so that the outer cannula extends distally from the outer cannula hub; an inner cannula attached to the inner cannula attachment region in such a manner as to block fluid flow communication between the proximal and distal end portions of the first passage, the inner cannula having proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion thereof being insertable through the passageway in the outer cannula hub from the proximal end portion thereof and out of the distal end portion thereof; and an elastomeric septum having a self-sealing opening therethrough associated with the outer cannula hub for closing communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen, the distal end portion of the inner cannula being insertable through the opening through the septum; and inner cannula sheathing means for preventing the septum from exerting inward radial pressure on the inner cannula when the inner cannula distal end portion is inserted through the opening in the septum and for providing fluid flow communication of the second passage with the outer cannula lumen. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A catheter structure, comprising:
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an attachment structure having proximal and distal end regions, first and second internal passages which join one another at a junction region to form a distal exit passage, an outer cannula attachment region, an inner cannula attachment region, a first proximal access region providing access to the first passage, a second proximal access region providing access to the second passage and an exit passage access region providing access to the distal exit passage; an outer cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an outer cannula lumen and being formulated of a material that softens with a softening ratio of greater than 2;
1, the proximal end portion of the outer cannula being attached to the outer cannula attachment region;an inner cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an inner cannula lumen, the proximal end portion of the inner cannula being attached to the inner cannula attachment region in such a manner as to block fluid flow communication between the proximal and distal end portions of the first passage, the inner cannula being insertable axially through the first proximal access region and the first passage; and valve means associated with the attachment structure for closing communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen, the valve means being openable sufficiently for the distal end portion of the inner cannula to pass therethrough and to open communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A catheter assembly, comprising:
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an outer cannula hub having proximal and distal end portions and defining a central longitudinal passageway therethrough having proximal and distal end portions, the passageway extending from the outer cannula hub proximal end portion to the outer cannula hub distal end portion; an outer cannula having proximal and distal end portions and defining an outer cannula lumen extending from the outer cannula proximal end portion to the outer cannula distal end portion, the outer cannula proximal end portion being attached to the outer cannula hub with the outer cannula lumen in flow communication with the outer cannula hub passageway; an inner cannula hub having proximal and distal end portions and defining first and second passageways therethrough; an inner cannula having proximal and distal end portions and defining an inner cannula lumen extending from the inner cannula proximal end portion to the inner cannula distal end portion, the inner cannula proximal end portion being attached to the inner cannula hub with the inner cannula lumen in flow communication with the inner cannula hub first passageway and such that fluid flow from the inner cannula hub first passageway can only proceed through the inner cannula lumen; attaching means for detachably attaching the inner cannula hub to the outer cannula hub with the inner cannula positioned within and extending longitudinally along the outer cannula lumen; and valve means associated with the outer cannula hub for blocking communication between the proximal end portion of the outer cannula hub passageway and the outer cannula lumen, the valve means being openable in response to the inner cannula hub being attached to the outer cannula hub, the valve means, when open, providing flow therethrough from the inner cannula hub second passageway to the outer cannula lumen. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A catheter structure with which the number of available lumens can be changed without removal from a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an outer cannula hub having proximal and distal end portions, a passageway therethrough from the distal to the proximal end portion thereof and an outer cannula attachment region; an inner cannula hub having proximal and distal end portion, a first internal passage therethrough from the distal to the proximal end portion thereof and a second internal passage which joins the first internal passage at a junction region, an inner cannula attachment region, the distal end portion of the inner cannula hub being releasably couplable to the proximal end portion of the outer cannula hub with the first internal passage in the inner cannula hub in communication with the passageway through the outer cannula hub; an outer cannula having proximal and distal end portions and an outer cannula lumen, the proximal end portion of the outer cannula being attached to the outer cannula attachment region so that the outer cannula extends distally from the outer cannula hub; an inner cannula attached to the inner cannula attachment region in such a manner as to block off fluid flow communication between the proximal and distal end portions of the first passage, the inner cannula having proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion thereof being insertable through the passageway in the outer cannula hub from the proximal end portion thereof and out of the distal end portion thereof; and an elastomeric septum having a self-sealing opening therethrough associated with the outer cannula hub for closing communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen, the distal end portion of the inner cannula being insertable through the opening through the septum; an opening member adapted to open the opening in the septum when positioned therein; and moving means for moving the opening member into the opening in the septum to thereby provide fluid flow communication between the second passage and the outer cannula lumen.
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Specification