Catheter with protective sleeve

• US 6,830,561 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert M., Jansen, Lex P., Olson, Stanley W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US10/142,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20030212411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/159, 604/163, 604/199, 604/164.01, 604/171, 604/164.08, 604/164.09, 604/165.01, 604/165.02
• US Class Current: 604/163
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0007 Epidural catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0119 Eversible catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

A device for accessing the spinal canal of a patient includes an introducer and a protective sleeve that is attached at one end thereof to a proximal end of the introducer. The protective sleeve has an outer stationary portion and an inner moveable portion. The outer and inner portions of the protective sleeve are separated by a crown region. A catheter is disposed inside the protective sleeve. During operation, the protective sleeve is advanced within the spinal canal to form a protective barrier between the catheter and the spinal cord. The catheter is advanced and retracted within the protective sleeve.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an introducer having proximal and distal ends;

a protective sleeve having one end attached to the distal end of the introducer, the sleeve having an outer stationary portion and an inner moveable portion; and

a catheter disposed within the protective sleeve adjacent to the moveable portion, the catheter having a distal end that is movable relative to a proximal end of the movable portion.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a crown region located between the outer stationary portion of the protective sleeve and the moveable inner portion of the protective sleeve.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an advancement mechanism for advancing the protective sleeve within the spinal canal.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a retraction mechanism for retracting the protective sleeve within the spinal canal.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the advancement mechanism advances the protective sleeve at a rate that is at least twice the advancement rate of the catheter.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the retraction mechanism retracts the protective sleeve at a rate that is at least twice the retraction rate of the catheter.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the distal tip of the catheter is disposed adjacent to the crown region during advancement.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the distal tip of the catheter is disposed proximal to the crown region during advancement.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the protective sleeve includes a plurality of ports in the outer stationary portion and the inner moveable portion.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a lumen therethrough.

11. The device according to claim 3, wherein the advancement mechanism comprises a motor.

12. The device according to claim 4, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a motor.

13. The device according to claim 3, wherein the advancement mechanism also advances the catheter.

14. The device according to claim 4, wherein the retraction mechanism also retracts the catheter.

15. The device according to claim 1, the protective sleeve including a series of longitudinal pleats.

16. A device comprising:

an introducer having proximal and distal ends;

a protective sleeve having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the distal end of the introducer, the protective sleeve projecting distally so as to form a moveable crown region at the distal end; and

a catheter disposed within the protective sleeve, the catheter having a distal end that is movable relative to the second end of the protective sleeve.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the distal tip of the catheter is disposed adjacent to the moveable crown region.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the distal tip of the catheter is disposed proximal to the moveable crown region.