Catheter having valve mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter comprising:
- an elongated, flexible tube having an open end and a closed end and being constructed of surgical grade material, the tube having an outer surface and a lumen extending the length of the tube so as to define an inner surface, the inner and outer surfaces defining a wall of the tube;
a portion of the tube having a reduced thickness with respect to the remainder of the tube; and
at least one valve positioned exclusively within the portion of reduced thickness so as to communicate the lumen with an exterior of the tube, the valve being oriented in a plane which is at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the tube.
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Abstract
An improved catheter having a closed distal end and a valve adjacent the distal end which communicates the lumen of the catheter with the exterior of the catheter to permit the infusion or aspiration of fluids between the catheter and the vessel in which the catheter is positioned. The valve is preferably in a plane which is oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, and is preferably in an area of reduced wall thickness to facilitate opening and closing.
171 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated, flexible tube having an open end and a closed end and being constructed of surgical grade material, the tube having an outer surface and a lumen extending the length of the tube so as to define an inner surface, the inner and outer surfaces defining a wall of the tube; a portion of the tube having a reduced thickness with respect to the remainder of the tube; and at least one valve positioned exclusively within the portion of reduced thickness so as to communicate the lumen with an exterior of the tube, the valve being oriented in a plane which is at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated, flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end and being constructed of surgical grade material, the tube having an outer surface defining a first diameter and a lumen extending the length of the tube so as to define an inner surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining a wall of the tube; a portion of the tube adjacent the distal end having an outer surface defining a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; and at least one valve positioned in the portion having the second diameter so as to communicate the lumen with an exterior of the tube, the valve being oriented in a plane which is at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated, flexible tube having at least one open end and being constructed of surgical grade material, the tube having an outer surface, a lumen extending along the length of the tube and defining an inner surface, the inner and outer surfaces of the tube defining a wall of the tube, the lumen having a longitudinal axis which is offset and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube such that a portion of the wall of the tube has a reduced thickness along the length of the tube, and at least one slit valve extending exclusively through the portion of reduced thickness of the wall to communicate the lumen with an exterior of the tube, the slit valve being oriented in a plane which is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube and the lumen.
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Specification