Microbore catheter with velocity reducing chamber

• US 6,139,539 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Baudino, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/170,019
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 604/264, 604/523, 604/534, 604/27
• US Class Current: 604/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0102 Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod

Abstract

A catheter having minimal dead volume due to a "micro" or very small internal diameter for the majority of its length. The distal tip of the catheter, which is the end disposed within the body proximate the location at which the pharmaceutical agent or other fluids are to be delivered, includes a chamber, compartment or other relatively wider internal diameter section, so that the internal diameter rapidly expands in the transitional region between the proximal portion of the catheter (with the very small or micro internal diameter) and the distal portion of the catheter (which includes the catheter tip). The expanding internal diameter causes the velocity of fluid being delivered to decrease prior to its ejection through a distal opening. Also disclosed is a fluid delivery system comprising a stylet lumen separate from a delivery lumen. Separate stylet and delivery lumens permit these different portions of the catheter to be independently constructed to maximize the suitability of each lumen for its intended purpose. The catheter of the present invention may be employed within fully implantable or partially implantable applications depending upon the type of fluid supply device used to introduce fluids into the catheter for delivery to the distal tip disposed at the fluid ejection site.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

a generally elongated tubular member including a first lumen portion having a first inner diameter, a second lumen portion having a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter of said first lumen portion, and a transitional lumen portion extending between said first lumen portion and said second lumen portion and having a transitional inner diameter that expands along its length between said first lumen portion and said second lumen portion such that the velocity of the fluid being transported from said first lumen portion toward said second lumen portion will be reduced upon entering said transitional lumen portion,

said second lumen portion including a fluid exit opening that is proximate said transitional lumen portion and is substantially open to fluid flow when said second lumen portion is not deformed.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the ratio of said second inner diameter of said second lumen portion to said first inner diameter of said first lumen portion is about 3:

1.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the internal diameter of said second lumen portion is substantially the same throughout its length.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the end of said second lumen portion remote from said transitional lumen portion is substantially closed to fluid flow.

2. A catheter, comprising:

a generally elongated tubular member including a first lumen portion having a first inner diameter, a second lumen portion having a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter of said first lumen portion, and a transitional lumen portion extending between said first lumen portion and said second lumen portion and having a transitional inner diameter that expands along its length between said first lumen portion and said second lumen portion such that the velocity of the fluid being transported from said first lumen portion toward said second lumen portion will be reduced upon entering said transitional lumen portion, the length of said transitional lumen portion being approximately 20 times the magnitude of said first inner diameter of said first lumen portion.

4. An improved microbore catheter, comprising:

a first lumen for receiving fluid to be delivered to a fluid ejection site within a living body;

a second lumen to be disposed at said fluid ejection site within said living body, said second lumen having an internal diameter greater than an internal diameter of said first lumen; and

a transitional lumen extending between said first lumen and said second lumen, said transitional lumen having an internal diameter that expands between the point of connection with said first lumen and the point of connection with said second lumen such that, when fluid is being delivered through said first lumen toward said second lumen, the velocity of said fluid will reduce upon entering said transitional lumen,

said second lumen including a fluid exit opening that is proximate said transitional lumen and is substantially open to fluid flow when said second lumen portion is not deformed.

6. The microbore catheter of claim 4, wherein the ratio of said internal diameter of said second lumen to said internal diameter of said first lumen is about 3:

1.

14. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the internal diameter of said second lumen is substantially the same throughout its length.

18. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the end of said second lumen remote from said transitional lumen is substantially closed to fluid flow.

5. An improved microbore catheter, comprising:

a first lumen for receiving fluid to be delivered to a fluid ejection site within a living body;

a second lumen to be disposed at said fluid ejection site within said living body, said second lumen having an internal diameter greater than an internal diameter of said first lumen; and

a transitional lumen extending between said first lumen and said second lumen, said transitional lumen having an internal diameter that expands between the point of connection with said first lumen and the point of connection with said second lumen such that, when fluid is being delivered through said first lumen toward said second lumen, the velocity of said fluid will reduce upon entering said transitional lumen,

the length of said transitional lumen being approximately 20 times the magnitude of said internal diameter of said first lumen.

7. A method of reducing the velocity of fluid being injected within a living body, comprising:

(a) providing a catheter having a first lumen, a second lumen, and a transitional lumen extending in between said first lumen and said second lumen, said second lumen having a greater internal diameter than said first lumen, and said transitional lumen having an internal diameter that expands between said first lumen and said second lumen said second lumen portion including a fluid exit opening that is proximate said transitional lumen portion and is substantially open to fluid flow when said second lumen portion is not deformed;

(b) positioning said second lumen at a predetermined ejection site within a living body; and

(c) introducing fluid into said first lumen for delivery toward said second lumen.

8. An apparatus for delivering fluid to an ejection site within a living body, comprising:

a generally tubular member having a first lumen for receiving fluid to be delivered to said ejection site, a second lumen disposed at said ejection site for ejecting said fluid into said living body at said ejection site, and a transitional lumen extending between said first lumen and said second lumen and having an expanding internal diameter between the point of connection with said first lumen and the point of connection with said second lumen such that fluid being delivered from said first lumen toward said second lumen experiences a reduction in velocity upon entering said transitional lumen, said second lumen including a fluid exit opening that is proximate said transitional lumen and is substantially open to fluid flow when said second lumen portion is not deformed.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ratio of the internal diameter of said second lumen to the internal diameter of said first lumen is about 3:

1.

15. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the internal diameter of said second lumen is substantially the same throughout its length.

19. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the end of said second lumen remote from said transitional lumen is substantially closed to fluid flow.

9. An apparatus for delivering fluid to an ejection site within a living body, comprising:

a generally tubular member having a first lumen for receiving fluid to be delivered to said ejection site, a second lumen disposed at said ejection site for ejecting said fluid into said living body at said ejection site, and a transitional lumen extending between said first lumen and said second lumen and having an expanding internal diameter between the point of connection with said first lumen and the point of connection with said second lumen such that fluid being delivered from said first lumen toward said second lumen experiences a reduction in velocity upon entering said transitional lumen, the length of said transitional lumen being approximately 20 times the magnitude of the internal diameter of said first lumen.

11. A catheter, comprising:

a generally tubular member having a microbore lumen and a velocity reduction chamber, said microbore lumen being for receiving fluid from a fluid supply device to be delivered into said velocity reduction chamber, said velocity reduction chamber being positioned at an ejection site within a living body for delivering said fluid into said living body, said velocity reduction chamber having an internal diameter greater than an internal diameter of said microbore lumen such that said fluid being delivered through said microbore lumen reduces in velocity upon entering said velocity reducing chamber,

said velocity reduction chamber including a second lumen having an internal diameter greater than said internal diameter of said microbore lumen, and a transitional lumen extending between said microbore lumen and said second lumen, said transitional lumen having an internal diameter that increases progressively between the point of connection with said microbore lumen and the point of connection with said second lumen,

said velocity reduction chamber including a fluid exit opening that is proximate said transitional lumen and is substantially open to fluid flow when said second lumen is not deformed.

16. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the internal diameter of said second lumen is the substantially same throughout its length.

20. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the end of said second lumen remote from said transitional lumen is substantially closed to fluid flow.

12. A catheter, comprising:

a generally tubular member having a microbore lumen and a velocity reduction chamber, said microbore lumen for being receiving fluid from a fluid supply device to be delivered into said velocity reduction chamber, said velocity reduction chamber being positioned at an ejection site within a living body for delivering said fluid into said living body, said velocity reduction chamber having an internal diameter greater than an internal diameter of said microbore lumen such that said fluid being delivered through said microbore lumen reduces in velocity upon entering said velocity reducing chamber,

said velocity reduction chamber including a second lumen having an internal diameter greater than said internal diameter of said microbore lumen, and a transitional lumen extending between said microbore lumen and said second lumen, said transitional lumen having an internal diameter that increases progressively between the point of connection with said microbore lumen and the point of connection with said second lumen,

the length of said transitional lumen portion being approximately 20 times the magnitude of said internal diameter of said microbore lumen.

21. A catheter, comprising:

a generally elongated tubular member including a first lumen portion having a first inner diameter, a second lumen portion having a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter of said first lumen portion, a transitional lumen portion extending between said first lumen portion and said second lumen portion and having a transitional inner diameter that expands along its length between said first lumen portion and said second lumen portion such that the velocity of the fluid being transported from said first lumen portion toward said second lumen portion will be reduced upon entering said transitional lumen portion, and a stylet lumen for accommodating a stylet, said stylet lumen being positioned substantially alongside said first lumen portion,

the length of said transitional lumen portion being approximately 20 times the magnitude of said internal diameter of said microbore lumen.

22. The catheter of claim 21, wherein said second lumen portion includes a fluid exit opening.

23. The catheter of claim 22, wherein said transitional lumen portion is proximate said fluid exit opening.

24. The catheter assembly of claim 21, wherein the ratio of said second inner diameter of said second lumen portion to said first inner diameter of said first lumen portion is about 3:

1.