Implantable catheter having an improved check valve
First Claim
1. A system for injecting a liquid into a blood vessel of a human subject, the system including an elongated tube catheter and a check valve formed from a generally cylindrical, elastomer tube that is placed into a groove formed into the wall of the catheter near the catheter'"'"'s distal end, the outer surface of the check valve and catheter forming together a continuously smooth outer surface, the catheter also having at least one opening through the catheter'"'"'s wall and within the groove through which opening pressurized liquid can cause the check valve to open thereby allowing the liquid to be injected into the blood of the human subject.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a check valve for placement near the distal end of a catheter. A continuously smooth outer surface for the catheter with check valve system assures that there is no propensity for a blood clot to form in cracks on the system'"'"'s outer surface. The check valve is a formed from a low durometer, highly elastic, elastomer cylindrical tube that is shrunk into a cylindrical groove that would typically be located near the catheter'"'"'s distal end. When pressurized fluid is injected through the catheter, the cylinder that is placed over one or more holes in the cylindrical groove in the catheter is forced to expand radially outward which allows the fluid to be injected into the blood vessel. When the pressure is removed, the elastomer tube retracts to its normal position which position tightly covers the holes thereby preventing any blood from entering the catheter.
173 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A system for injecting a liquid into a blood vessel of a human subject, the system including an elongated tube catheter and a check valve formed from a generally cylindrical, elastomer tube that is placed into a groove formed into the wall of the catheter near the catheter'"'"'s distal end, the outer surface of the check valve and catheter forming together a continuously smooth outer surface, the catheter also having at least one opening through the catheter'"'"'s wall and within the groove through which opening pressurized liquid can cause the check valve to open thereby allowing the liquid to be injected into the blood of the human subject.
- 11. A subcutaneously implanted drug port for the long-term administration of a liquid into a human subject, the drug port including an elastomer septum placed just below the skin of the human subject, the septum being part of the main body of the drug port to which is attached the proximal end of a catheter that has a check valve located near the catheter'"'"'s distal end, the check valve being formed from a cylindrical tube of a highly elastic elastomer that is placed within a groove located in the catheter near its distal end and the catheter also having at least one hole through the catheter'"'"'s wall and within the groove in the catheter, the check valve and the catheter forming together a continuously smooth outer surface to preclude the formation of blood clots on the outer surface of the catheter and check valve.
Specification