Central venous catheter having a soft tip and fiber optics
First Claim
1. A multiple lumen central venous catheter having a soft tip, comprising:
- a generally tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining therein at least one primary lumen and at least one medical implement lumen;
a soft, tapered distal catheter tip having a distal end and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the catheter body, the catheter tip defining therein at least one primary lumen aligned with the at least one primary lumen of the catheter body and at least one medical implement lumen aligned with the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body, wherein the catheter tip has a proximal region and a distal region, and wherein the proximal region is more flexible than the distal region and more flexible than the catheter body and forms a bending portion of the catheter tip; and
at least one optical fiber extending through the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body and the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter tip, and being secured thereto only at the distal end of the catheter tip.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple lumen catheter having a soft, tapered multiple lumen distal tip for insertion into a body vessel. One of the lumens is sized to pass over a guidewire such that the catheter can be inserted into the body vessel using the Seldinger technique. At least one medical implement lumen is used for placement or positioning of a biomedical sensor or other medical implement. For example, at least one optical fiber passing through the medical implement lumen may transmit and receive light at the distal tip for measuring oxygen saturation of the blood. The catheter may have a cylindrical catheter body to which the soft distal tip attaches. The soft tip reduces the possibility of vessel or tissue puncture and abrasion. The tip is constructed of a soft plastic or pliable material that yields easily when force is applied. For example, the tip may be made of a softer material than the catheter body, or if made of the same material, the tip can be configured with thinner walls or a higher air-to-material ratio cross-section. Various geometrical configurations and combinations of materials can be used to decrease the resistance of the tip to an applied load. One particular useful application for the catheter of the present invention is as a central venous catheter equipped with fibers for measuring oximetry. The fibers extend to the distal end of the tip and are preferably secured therein with minimal adhesive so as to limit the stiffness added to the tip. One particular useful construction is to secure the fibers within the medical implement lumen using adhesive only along a length of between about 0.5–3.5 mm.
141 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A multiple lumen central venous catheter having a soft tip, comprising:
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a generally tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining therein at least one primary lumen and at least one medical implement lumen; a soft, tapered distal catheter tip having a distal end and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the catheter body, the catheter tip defining therein at least one primary lumen aligned with the at least one primary lumen of the catheter body and at least one medical implement lumen aligned with the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body, wherein the catheter tip has a proximal region and a distal region, and wherein the proximal region is more flexible than the distal region and more flexible than the catheter body and forms a bending portion of the catheter tip; and at least one optical fiber extending through the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body and the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter tip, and being secured thereto only at the distal end of the catheter tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multiple lumen central venous catheter having a soft tip, comprising:
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a generally tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining therein at least one primary lumen and at least one medical implement lumen; a soft, tapered distal catheter tip having a distal end and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the catheter body, the catheter tip defining at least one primary lumen aligned with the at least one primary lumen of the catheter body and at least one medical implement lumen aligned with the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body, wherein the catheter tip has a proximal region and a distal region and wherein the proximal region is more flexible than the distal region and is more flexible than the catheter body, and wherein the proximal region has a larger air-to-material ratio in transverse cross-section than the distal region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multiple lumen central venous catheter having a soft tip, comprising:
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generally tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining therein at least one primary lumen and at least one medical implement lumen; a soft, tapered distal catheter tip having a distal end and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the catheter body, the catheter tip defining at least one primary lumen aligned with the at least one primary lumen of the catheter body and at least one medical implement lumen aligned with the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body, wherein the catheter tip has a proximal region and a distal region, and wherein the proximal region has a larger air-to-material ratio in transverse cross-section than the distal region, wherein the catheter tip has sufficient column strength to resist buckling during insertion using the Seldinger technique over a guidewire, but is sufficiently flexible to deform when the tip is subjected to axial or radial loads in the body in the absence of the guidewire; and a sensor extending through the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body and the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter tip. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A multiple lumen central venous catheter having a soft tip, comprising:
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a generally tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining therein at least one primary lumen and at least one medical implement lumen; a soft, tapered distal catheter tip having a distal end and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the catheter body, the catheter tip defining at least one primary lumen aligned with the at least one primary lumen of the catheter body and at least one medical implement lumen aligned with the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body, wherein the catheter tip has sufficient column strength to resist buckling during insertion using the Seldinger technique over a guidewire, but is sufficiently flexible to deform when the tip is subjected to axial or radial loads in the body in the absence of the guidewire; and a sensor extending through the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body and the at least one medical implement lumen of to catheter tip and secured only at the distal end of the catheter tip. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A multiple lumen central venous catheter having a soft tip, comprising:
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a generally tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining therein at least one primary lumen and at least one medical implement lumen; a soft tapered distal catheter tip having a distal end and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the catheter body, the catheter tip defining therein at least one primary lumen aligned with the at least one primary lumen of the catheter body and at least one medical implement lumen aligned with the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body; and at least one optical fiber extending through the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter body and the at least one medical implement lumen of the catheter tip, and being secured thereto only at the distal end of the catheter tip, wherein the optical fiber is secured using adhesive that is only applied along a short portion of the medical implement lumen of the catheter tip having an axial length of between 0.5–
3.5 mm, wherein the adhesive is cured by ultraviolet light, and wherein the catheter tip is formed of two materials, one material comprising a portion of the catheter tip that permits passage of ultraviolet light therethrough into the medical implement lumen, and another material that provides a radiopaque marker.
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Specification