Medical fluid infusion and aspiration

• US 6,723,075 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Navilyst Medical Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Matthew N., Davey, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US10/186,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30-31, 604/33-35, 604/43-45, 604/118, 604/164, 604/246, 604/247, 604/264, 604/533, 604/236, 604/237, 604/537, 604/539, D24/110.6, 623/2, 137/849, 137/843, 137/846, 137/848
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7884 Side vent

Abstract

In an embodiment, a slit valve catheter has a generally tubular catheter body with an exterior surface exposed to an environment and an interior surface defining a lumen. The catheter further includes a valve which has a protuberance projecting radially from the catheter body.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular catheter body comprising;

an exterior surface exposed to an environment;

an interior surface defining at least one lumen;

a valve comprising a protuberance projecting from the catheter body and a slit through the protuberance and catheter body; and

an opening for receiving a guidewire, the opening disposed in the catheter body.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve is on a forward facing distal tip of the catheter.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a slit extending through the exterior surface.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the opening is disposed at a proximal hub of the catheter.

5. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a guidewire extending through the opening and the valve.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the protuberance projects from the exterior surface of the catheter body into the environment.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the protuberance projects from the interior surface into the at least one lumen.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the protuberance is generally hemispherical.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the protuberance has a geometrical inflection near its point of maximum projection.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the protuberance is an integral extension of the catheter body.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a region having a convex exterior surface portion and the protuberance projects outwardly from the convex portion into the environment.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a region having a convex exterior surface portion and the protuberance projects inwardly from an interior surface portion opposite the convex surface portion.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a region having a concave exterior surface portion and the protuberance projects outwardly from the convex portion into the environment.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a region having a concave exterior surface portion and the protuberance projects inwardly from an interior surface portion opposite the concave exterior surface portion.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a region having a flat exterior surface portion and the protuberance projects inwardly from an interior surface portion opposite the flat exterior surface portion.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a region having a flat exterior surface portion and the protuberance projects outwardly from the flat exterior surface portion.