Method and apparatus for medical fluid transfer
First Claim
1. Apparatus for transferring a selected fluid in a desired direction to or from a selected body area of a medical PATENT, the apparatus comprising:
- a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the length of the catheter between said ends being sufficiently greater than the distance from said selected body area where said distal end is adapted to be implanted to an exit point for the catheter from the patient'"'"'s body, that a length of the catheter may extend external to the patient'"'"'s body when the catheter is fully implanted;
means located at the proximal end of the catheter for sealing said catheter proximal end, said sealing means including a sealing element of a material which may be repeatedly punctured by a needle and which reseals when the needle is removed;
receptacle means adapted to function as a source or sink for said selected fluid;
a needle adapted to puncture sd sealing element;
a tubular means connecting said receptacle means and said needle; and
noninvasive pump means for pumping the selected fluid in the desired direction at a desired flow rate between said body area and said receptacle means through said catheter, needles, and tubular means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring a selected fluid in a selected direction to and from a selected body area of a medical patient. More particularly, this invention involves a surgically implanted catheter which is sealed at its proximal end with a material which may be repeatedly punctured by a needle and which reseals when the needle is removed. A needle attached through tubing to a suitable source or sink of the fluid pierces the seal and is latched thereto by suitable means. A noninvasive pump is provided to maintain a desired flow rate. To enhance seal life, a disposable seal portion may be provided having a needle which pierces the seal at the end of the catheter and is latched thereto and having a seal at its proximal end which may be pierced by the needle attached to the source or sink of fluid. When the seal on the disposable section wears out, this section may be removed and replaced, permitting the seal on the surgically implanted catheter to remain for an extended period of time. Various techniques are also provided for replacing the seal at the end of the catheter if necessary.
85 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for transferring a selected fluid in a desired direction to or from a selected body area of a medical PATENT, the apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the length of the catheter between said ends being sufficiently greater than the distance from said selected body area where said distal end is adapted to be implanted to an exit point for the catheter from the patient'"'"'s body, that a length of the catheter may extend external to the patient'"'"'s body when the catheter is fully implanted; means located at the proximal end of the catheter for sealing said catheter proximal end, said sealing means including a sealing element of a material which may be repeatedly punctured by a needle and which reseals when the needle is removed; receptacle means adapted to function as a source or sink for said selected fluid; a needle adapted to puncture sd sealing element; a tubular means connecting said receptacle means and said needle; and noninvasive pump means for pumping the selected fluid in the desired direction at a desired flow rate between said body area and said receptacle means through said catheter, needles, and tubular means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for transferring a selected fluid in a desired direction to or from a selected body area of a medical patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the distal end of a catheter in said body area; providing a length of said catheter, which length of catheter extends through the patient'"'"'s body to a body exit point, and extends for a selected length beyond said exit point, terminating in the proximal end of the catheter, which end is spaced from the exit point; sealing said proximal end of the catheter with a seal which includes a sealing element of a material which may be repeatedly punctured by a needle and which reseals when the needle is removed; puncturing said sealing element with a needle which is connected through a tubular means to a receptacle means adapted to function as a source or sink for said selected fluid; and noninvasively pumping the selected fluid int he desired direction between said body area and said receptacle means through said catheter, needle and tubular means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification