Coaxial dual lumen catheter

• US 5,480,380 A
• Filed: 06/23/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Med-Pro Design, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Med-Pro Design, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Geoffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STRIGHT, RONALD K
• Application Number:
  US08/264,285
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 604/39, 604/43, 604/44, 604/283, 604/284, 604/264, 604/280, 604/281, 604/282, 604/27, 604/29, 604/30, 604/35, 604/45
• US Class Current: 604/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0039 characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0014 Connecting a tube to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0028 characterized by features relating to at least one lumen located at the proximal part of the catheter, e.g. alterations in lumen shape or valves catheter hubs A61M25/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1582 Double lumen needles

Abstract

The invention provides a dual lumen catheter comprising outer and inner tube materials. A main portion extends axially and has a selected first cross-section. The main portion includes main portions of the respective outer and inner tube materials which together define an annular intake lumen and a main portion of a return lumen contained inside the intake lumen. A tubular transition portion is made up integrally of both the outer and inner tube materials and has a second cross-section smaller than the first cross-section. The transition portion extends axially from the distal end of the main portion and this can be extended to include a tip portion made up only of outer tube material and which extends axially from the transition portion. The transition portion on its own, or with the tip portion, defines a tip section which is a continuation of said main part of the return lumen to complete the return lumen.

Claims

1. A dual lumen catheter comprising:

outer tube material and inner tube material;

a main portion extending axially between proximal and distal ends and having a selected first cross-sectional area, the main portion of the catheter including respective main portions of the outer tube material and the inner tube material and defining an annular intake lumen between the main portions of the inner and outer tube materials and a main part of a return lumen defined by the inner tube material, the main portion of the outer tube material terminating at the distal end of the main portion of the catheter in a converging tapered portion, and the main portion of the catheter having a plurality of side openings in the outer tube material adjacent the distal end of the main portion of the catheter, the openings being spaced around the main portion of the catheter to provide access into the intake lumen;

a tubular transition portion made of both outer and inner tube materials blended together integrally, and having a second cross-section smaller than said first cross-sectional area, the transition portion extending distally from said tapered portion;

a tip portion made up exclusively of outer tube material and extending distally from the transition portion and being a continuation of the transition portion whereby the tip portion and the transition portion define a tip section which includes a return lumen part which, together with said main part of the return lumen, forms a return lumen having substantially constant cross-section;

a connector attached to the proximal ends of the inner and outer tube materials; and

intake and return tubes attached to the connector for continuous fluid communication with the respective intake and return lumens whereby the catheter can be used for procedures requiring dual flow through a single catheter.

2. A catheter as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner tube material has a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the outer tube material.

3. A catheter as claimed in claim 2 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

4. A catheter as claimed in claim 1, in which the tip section defines at least one further side opening to permit flow from the return lumen.

5. A catheter as claimed in claim 1 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

6. A coaxial catheter comprising:

a main portion of inner tube material defining a main part of a return lumen extending axially;

a main portion of outer tube material containing the main part of the return lumen and spaced radially from the inner tube material to define an annular intake lumen;

a transition portion integrally attached to respective inner and outer tube materials and forming a smooth continuation axially of said main portion of the return lumen and including portions of said inner and outer tube materials blended into a unitary wall;

a tip portion extending axially from the transition portion and forming a smooth continuation of said transition portion of the return lumen and also having the same cross-section as the return lumen, the tip portion being exclusively of said outer tube material, and defining a distal end of the catheter;

openings in the main part of the outer tube material adjacent the transition portion to provide access into the intake lumen;

a connector attached to the proximal ends of the respective main portions of the inner and outer tube materials; and

intake and return tubes attached to the connector for continuous fluid communication with the respective intake and return lumens whereby the catheter can be used for procedures requiring dual flow through a single catheter.

7. A catheter as claimed in claim 6 in which the inner tube material has a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the outer tube material.

8. A catheter as claimed in claim 7 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

9. A catheter as claimed in claim 6 in which the tip portion defines at least one further side opening adjacent said distal end of the catheter to permit flow from the return lumen.

10. A catheter as claimed in claim 6 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

11. A coaxial catheter comprising:

a main portion of inner tube material defining a main part of a return lumen extending axially;

a main portion of outer tube material containing the main part of the return lumen and spaced radially from the inner tube material to define an annular intake lumen;

a tip section including a transition portion integrally attached to the distal ends of the respective main portions of the inner and outer tube materials and forming a smooth continuation axially of said main part of the return lumen, the transition portion being made of said inner and outer tube materials;

openings in the main portion of the outer tube material adjacent the transition portion to provide access into the intake lumen;

a connector attached to proximal ends of the main portions of the inner and outer tube materials; and

intake and return tubes attached to the connector for continuous fluid communication with the respective intake and return lumens whereby the catheter can be used for procedures requiring dual flow through a single catheter.

12. A catheter as claimed in claim 11 in which the main portion of the inner tube material has a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the main portion of the outer tube material.

13. A catheter as claimed in claim 12 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

14. A catheter as claimed in claim 11 in which the tip portion defines at least one further side opening to permit flow from the return lumen.

15. A catheter as claimed in claim 11 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

16. A coaxial catheter comprising:

a main portion having a selected cross-section and extending axially between proximal and distal ends;

a tip section extending axially from said distal end and blending smoothly into said main portion;

the main portion having inner and outer tube materials defining an outer annular intake lumen and a main part of an inner return lumen contained within the intake lumen;

the tip section defining a further part of the return lumen and extending continuously from said main part to combine with said main part to define a continuous smooth return lumen free of irregularities, the tip section including material from both the inner and outer materials blended together;

openings in the outer tube material adjacent the tip section to provide access into the annular intake lumen;

a connector attached to the proximal ends of the inner and outer tube materials; and

intake and return tubes attached to the connector for continuous fluid communication with the respective intake and return lumens whereby the catheter can be used for procedures requiring dual flow through a single catheter.

17. A catheter as claimed in claim 16 in which the return lumen is round in cross-section and in which the main portion of the outer tube material is round in cross-section.

18. A catheter as claimed in claim 16 in which the inner tube material has a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the outer tube material.

19. A catheter as claimed in claim 16 in which the inner tube is located against the outer tube inside the connector.

20. A catheter as claimed in claim 16 in which the tubes leave the connector with an angle of divergence between 15 and 30 degrees.