Dialysis catheter having rigid and collapsible lumens and related method
First Claim
1. A method of exchanging fluids with a blood vessel of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first flexible tube surrounding a first lumen, the first flexible tube having a generally-cylindrical shape and having opposing first and second ends, while ensuring that the first tube is sufficiently rigid to maintain its generally-cylindrical shape when negative pressure is applied to the second end of the first lumen when aspirating fluid from the blood vessel;
b. providing a second flexible tube surrounding a second lumen, the second flexible having opposing first and second ends, and extending generally parallel to the first flexible tube;
c. forming the first end of the second tube to be sufficiently pliable to collapse and flatten in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second end of the second lumen, and sufficiently pliable to expand and assume a generally-cylindrical shape upon the application of a positive fluid pressure to the second end of said second lumen when introducing fluid into the blood vessel;
d. forming the second end of the second tube to be sufficiently rigid and non-collapsible to maintain a generally-cylindrical shape in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second end of said second lumen;
e. inserting the first ends of the first and second tubes through the patient'"'"'s skin and into a blood vessel, while leaving the second ends of the first and second tubes outside the patient'"'"'s body in order to access the first and second lumens externally;
f. forming a transition region within the second tube separating the collapsible first end of the second tube from the remaining non-collapsible portion of the second tube; and
g. inserting the first ends of the first and second tubes sufficiently far into the blood vessel to include the transition region of the second tube within the blood vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-lumen catheter includes a first generally-cylindrical flexible lumen extending between a first distal end and a second proximal end; the first lumen is sufficiently rigid to maintain its generally-cylindrical shape when negative pressure is applied thereto for aspirating fluid from the blood vessel. A second flexible lumen also extends between a first distal end and a second proximal end alongside the first lumen. The first distal end of the second lumen is sufficiently pliable to collapse and flatten in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second lumen; upon the application of a positive fluid pressure to the second lumen, the collapsible first, distal end of the second lumen expands and assumes a generally-cylindrical shape for introducing fluid into the blood vessel. The first collapsible end of the second lumen can extend beyond the-first non-collapsible end of the first lumen for introducing fluid into the blood vessel through the second lumen at a point spaced apart from the first end of the first lumen. In hemodialysis applications, the first lumen is used to aspirate blood, and the second lumen is used to return cleansed blood.
413 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of exchanging fluids with a blood vessel of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first flexible tube surrounding a first lumen, the first flexible tube having a generally-cylindrical shape and having opposing first and second ends, while ensuring that the first tube is sufficiently rigid to maintain its generally-cylindrical shape when negative pressure is applied to the second end of the first lumen when aspirating fluid from the blood vessel; b. providing a second flexible tube surrounding a second lumen, the second flexible having opposing first and second ends, and extending generally parallel to the first flexible tube; c. forming the first end of the second tube to be sufficiently pliable to collapse and flatten in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second end of the second lumen, and sufficiently pliable to expand and assume a generally-cylindrical shape upon the application of a positive fluid pressure to the second end of said second lumen when introducing fluid into the blood vessel; d. forming the second end of the second tube to be sufficiently rigid and non-collapsible to maintain a generally-cylindrical shape in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second end of said second lumen; e. inserting the first ends of the first and second tubes through the patient'"'"'s skin and into a blood vessel, while leaving the second ends of the first and second tubes outside the patient'"'"'s body in order to access the first and second lumens externally; f. forming a transition region within the second tube separating the collapsible first end of the second tube from the remaining non-collapsible portion of the second tube; and g. inserting the first ends of the first and second tubes sufficiently far into the blood vessel to include the transition region of the second tube within the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multiple lumen catheter for placement into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising in combination:
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a. a first flexible tube having a generally-cylindrical shape and having opposing first and second ends, the first end of said first tube being adapted to extend within the blood vessel of the patient, the second end of said first tube being adapted to remain outside the patient'"'"'s body for exchanging fluids with the blood vessel of the patient, said first tube being sufficiently rigid to maintain its generally-cylindrical shape when negative pressure is applied to the second end of said first tube to aspirate fluid from the blood vessel, said first tube defining a first lumen; b. a second flexible tube extending generally parallel to said first flexible tube, said second tube having opposing first and second ends, the first end of said second tube being adapted to extend within the blood vessel of the patient generally proximate the first end of said first tube, the second end of said second tube being adapted to remain outside the patient'"'"'s body for exchanging fluids with the blood vessel of the patient, the first end of said second tube being sufficiently pliable to collapse and flatten in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second end of said second tube, and sufficiently pliable to expand and assume a generally-cylindrical shape upon the application of a positive fluid pressure to the second end of said second tube when introducing fluid into the blood vessel, said second tube defining a second lumen; c. the second end of said second tube being sufficiently rigid and non-collapsible to maintain a generally-cylindrical shape in the absence of any positive fluid pressure applied to the second end of said second tube; and d. said second tube including a transition region separating the collapsible first end of said second tube from the remaining non-collapsible portion of said second tube, wherein said transition region is adapted to extend within the blood vessel of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification