Methods for using catheter connectors and portals, and methods of assembly

• US 5,743,873 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sims Deltec, Inc.
• Inventors: Cai, Qingsheng, Johnson, Theodore A., Beling, William L., Glantz, Jerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US08/716,560
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93, 604/283, 604/175, 285/278, 285/280
• US Class Current: 604/288.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0211 with multiple chambers in a single site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment

Abstract

A portal assembly includes a port with at least one resealable septum, and a tube extending from the port with the tube being sized to be received inside a catheter, an angled surface surrounding the tube wherein the angled surface diverges away from the tube in a direction away from the port, and sleeve structure for forcing the end of the catheter into the angled surface, thereby forcing the end of the catheter radially inwardly toward the tube and forming a thickened portion adjacent the end of the catheter to seal and hold the catheter. In a dual port construction, the outlet tube are parallel to one another at their distal ends, and the sleeve structure forces the end of the catheter into the angled surface, thereby forcing the end of the catheter radially inwardly toward the tubes and forming a thickened portion adjacent the end of the catheter to seal and hold the catheter and to prevent cross-talk between lumens of a dual lumen catheter.

Claims

1. A method of using a connector comprising the steps of:

providing a base arrangement with a first tube extending therefrom;

positioning an end of a catheter on the first tube;

compressing the end of the catherter against a surface of the base arrangement, the surface positioned to constrain the end of the catheter from outward radial expansion; and

forming the end of the catheter into a thickened wedge shape by compression against the surface, the thickened wedge shape having a wall portion with a thickness greater than the thickness of a catheter wall in the uncompressed state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base arrangement includes a second tube extending from the base arrangement in a direction parallel to the first tube, and the catheter is a dual lumen catheter, and the method further comprises simultaneously positioning the end of the catheter on the first and second tubes prior to forming the end of the catheter into a thickened wedge shape.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the base arrangement forms a portion of an implanted portal assembly including a resealable septum.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the base arrangement forms a portion of an implanted portal assembly including a resealable septum.

4. A method of using a connector comprising the steps of:

providing a base arrangement with a first tube extending therefrom, the port including a concavely shaped surface surrounding the first tube, the concavely shaped surface diverging away from the first tube in a direction away from the port;

positioning an end of a catheter on the first tube; and

forcing the catheter into the concavely shaped surface to force the end of the catheter generally radially inwardly toward the first tube and to form a thickened portion adjacent the end of the catheter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the port includes a second tube extending from the base arrangement in a direction parallel to the first tube, and the catheter is a dual lumen catheter, and the method further comprises the steps of positioning the end of the catheter on the first and second tubes, and forcing the catheter into the concavely shaped surface to force the end of the catheter generally radially inwardly toward the first tube and the second tube and to form a thickened portion adjacent the end of the catheter.

6. The method of claim 4, where a movable sleeve forces the catheter into the concavely shaped surface.

7. The method of claim 6, where the sleeve is rotated relative to the first tube.

9. A method of assembly of a port comprising the steps of:

providing a port with first and second internal recesses and a central opening, the central opening connected to one of the first and second internal recesses by one of first and second connecting passages;

inserting a proximal end of a first angled tube into the central opening and the first connecting passage;

inserting a proximal end of a second angled tube into the central opening and the second connecting passage; and

rotating a distal end of the first angled tube opposite the proximal end of the first tube about an axis defined by the proximal end of the first tube such that the distal end of the first tube is generally parallel to a distal end of the second tube opposite the proximate end of the second tube.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

providing an insert including at least one longitudinal passage;

inserting the distal end of the first tube into the at least one longitudinal passage;

sliding the insert toward the port; and

inserting an end of the insert into the central passage of the port.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

welding the first tube and the second tube to the port; and

welding the insert to the port.