Auto-inflating catheter cuff

• US 5,395,330 A
• Filed: 09/04/1992
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: DLM Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: DeVries, James H., Marcadis, Stuart J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): STRIGHT, RONALD K
• Application Number:
  US07/940,632
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96-101, 604/282, 606/191-194
• US Class Current: 604/102.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10181 Means for forcing inflation fluid into the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation

Abstract

A perfusion catheter for use in open heart surgery having an inflatable cuff adjacent the distal end in communication with the lumen of the catheter to self-inflate when perfusion liquid is introduced into the lumen. A plug in the lumen within the cuff causes lumen flow to by-pass from the proximal end of the cuff to the distal end of the cuff through transverse parts in the lumen. A flow restriction at the distal end of the lumen causes pressure build-up to inflate the cuff. A pressure monitoring lumen splices to the catheter tube to parallel the tube down to the distal end where it is in communication with the end of the catheter and also with the distal end of the cuff to register cuff pressure. An introducer shaft is provided to be inserted into the lumen to abut the plug to stiffen the catheter, thus facilitating insertion, and a stiffener spine at the cuff area of the catheter also provides rigidity to compensate for the weakening of the lumen resulting from the transverse ports. A cross-port between the pressure monitoring lumen and the main lumen distally of the cuff will register lumen pressure if both the main lumen and the monitoring lumen become occluded at the distal end of the catheter.

Claims

1. A perfusion catheter for introduction into a body cavity comprising:

a catheter tube of flexible plastic composition having a tube wall with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central lumen,

said central lumen having a proximal end for introduction of a lumen fluid and a distal end with an opening for introducing the lumen fluid into a body cavity,

a self-inflating cuff adjacent to said distal end externally enclosing a portion of said tube and sealed to said outer surface,

a pair of openings extending through said tube wall from said central lumen into said cuff, said openings being spaced from each other lengthwise of said tube and being sized relative to each other to inflate said cuff with lumen fluid,

an elongated linear stiffening element embedded within said tube wall between said inner and outer surfaces parallel to said central lumen and extending lengthwise of said tube to stiffen said tube against bending and kinking, and

a plug in said central lumen between said pair of openings for directing lumen fluid through said cuff.

2. The catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said stiffening element extends within said tube wall between proximal and distal ends of said cuff.

3. A catheter as defined in claim 2 further comprising an introducer shaft in said lumen having a blunt end in contact with said plug in an axial area underlying said stiffening element.