Reinforced catheter probe

• US 5,357,955 A
• Filed: 01/24/1994
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Skarshaug, David P., Wolf, Erich H., Bankert, Charles S., Davis, Christopher L., Hannah, Richard, Riccitelli, Samuel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US08/185,777
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633-634, 128/632, 128/664-667, 128/636, 604/264, 604/280, 604/282, 604/164-165, 604/167-169, 604/273
• US Class Current: 600/341
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids

Abstract

The reinforced catheter sensor probe for intravascular use includes an aramid strand that extends along the length of the electromagnetic conduits and is bonded thereto. A greater than ten fold increase in tensile strength is thereby achieved. Additionally, the inherent strength of flexibility of the reinforcing strand ensures that a positive interconnection with the distal end of the sensor probe is maintained in the event the sensor probe is subjected to loads that cause its relatively more fragile components to sever. A protective, strain relieving introducer catheter is also provided to substantially prevent kinking and breakage of the sensor probe where the introducer catheter bends.

Claims

1. A reinforced sensor probe structure comprising:

at least one optical fiber having a distal end, an intermediate portion and a proximal portion;

an analyte sensor disposed on said distal end of said optical fiber;

an analyte permeable sleeve disposed over said distal end of said optical fiber, said analyte permeable sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;

a reinforcing strand attached to said optical fiber proximal portion and also attached to said optical fiber near said distal end of said optical fiber proximal to said analyte permeable sleeve, to maintain a positive linkage of said proximal end of said optical fiber with said distal end of said optical fiber in the event the optical fiber ruptures; and

a heat shrink tubing member extending over at least the proximal end of said analyte permeable sleeve, and a portion of said reinforcing strand, to maintain a positive linkage of said analyte permeable sleeve with said optical fiber in the event the optical fiber ruptures.

2. The sensor probe structure of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing strand is attached to said optical fiber by a melted thermoplastic material.

3. The sensor probe structure of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing strand is attached to said optical fiber by a melted nylon shrink tube.

4. The sensor probe structure of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing strand is attached to said optical fiber by an adhesive.

5. The sensor probe structure of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing strand comprises at least one aramid fiber.

6. The sensor probe structure of claim 1, further including an introducer catheter having a smooth inner lumen in which at least a portion of said optical fiber and said reinforcing strand are disposed, said introducer catheter comprising a relatively inflexible, rigid proximal introducer hub, a distal relatively flexible, elongate hollow tubular member connected to said introducer hub at a junction therebetween, and a strain relief member disposed over said junction between said introducer hub and said elongate hollow tubular member allowing said optical fiber and said reinforcing strand to bend to a limited degree therein to thereby substantially prevent kinking and breakage of said optical fiber at said junction between said introducer hub and said elongate hollow tubular member.

7. The sensor probe structure of claim 6, wherein said strain relief member is tapered from a relatively wider proximal section connected to said introducer hub, to a relatively narrow distal section connected to said elongate hollow tubular member.

8. The sensor probe structure of claim 7, wherein said strain relief member includes at least one constriction of reduced cross-sectional thickness allowing said strain relief member to bend.

9. A reinforced sensor probe structure comprising:

an analyte permeable sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;

a bundle of electromagnetic conduits disposed within and extending through said analyte permeable sleeve, said bundle of electromagnetic conduits being secured to one another and having a proximal end, an intermediate portion and a distal end;

a highly flexible reinforcing strand secured to said proximal end and said distal end of said conduit bundle, said reinforcing strand having a proximal end and a distal end; and

means for positively securing said conduits to said analyte permeable sleeve.

10. The sensor probe of claim 9 wherein said reinforcing strand comprises at least one aramid fiber.

11. The sensor probe of claim 9, wherein said means for securing said conduits to said analyte permeable tubular sleeve comprises an enveloping sheath of heat shrink tubing extending over said proximal end of said analyte permeable tubular sleeve, said distal end of said reinforcing strand, and said intermediate portion of said conduit bundle.

12. The sensor probe structure of claim 9, wherein said bundle of electromagnetic conduits includes at least one optical fiber, and further including an introducer catheter having a smooth inner lumen in which at least a portion of said optical fiber and said reinforcing strand are disposed, said introducer catheter comprising a relatively inflexible, rigid proximal introducer hub, a distal relatively flexible, elongate hollow tubular member connected to said introducer hub at a junction therebetween, and a strain relief member disposed about junction between said introducer hub and said elongate hollow tubular member allowing said optical fiber and said reinforcing strand to bend to a limited degree therein to thereby substantially prevent kinking and breakage of said optical fiber at said junction between said introducer hub and said elongate hollow tubular member.

13. The sensor probe structure of claim 12, wherein said strain relief member is tapered from a relatively wider proximal section connected to said introducer hub, to a relatively narrow distal section connected to said elongate hollow tubular member.

14. The sensor probe structure of claim 13, wherein said strain relief member includes a plurality of constrictions of reduced cross-sectional thickness allowing said strain relief member to bend.

15. An intravascular sensor probe for the sensing of a plurality of analytes, comprising:

a plurality of electromagnetic conduits each having a proximal end, an intermediate portion, and a distal end.

an analyte permeable tubular member disposed over said distal ends of said plurality of electromagnetic conduits, said analyte permeable tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end;

an aramid strand disposed in parallel with said conduits;

means for positively joining said conduits and strand to one another near said proximal and distal ends of said electromagnetic conduits; and

an external sheath disposed tightly over and securing said proximal end of said analyte permeable tubular member to said aramid strand and said intermediate portion of said electromagnetic conduits.

16. The sensor probe of claim 15 wherein said means for positively joining comprises a melted thermoplastic material.

17. The sensor probe of claim 16 wherein said joining means comprises a thermoplastic tube melted about said conduits and said aramid strand.

18. The sensor probe of claim 17 wherein said thermoplastic material comprises nylon.

19. The sensor probe structure of claim 15, wherein said electromagnetic conduits includes at least one optical fiber, further including an introducer catheter having a smooth inner lumen in which at least a portion of said optical fiber and said reinforcing strand are disposed, said introducer catheter comprising a relatively inflexible, rigid proximal introducer hub, a distal relatively flexible, elongate hollow tubular member connected to said introducer hub at a junction therebetween, and a strain relief member disposed about said junction between said introducer hub and said elongate hollow tubular member allowing said optical fiber and said reinforcing strand to bend to a limited degree therein to thereby substantially prevent kinking and breakage of said optical fiber at said junction between said introducer hub and said elongate hollow tubular member.

20. The sensor probe structure of claim 19, wherein said strain relief member is tapered from a relatively wider proximal section connected to said introducer hub, to a relatively narrow distal section connected to said elongate hollow tubular member.

21. The sensor probe structure of claim 20, wherein said strain relief member includes at least one constriction of reduced cross-sectional thickness allowing said strain relief member to bend.