Catheter

• US 7,419,479 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radius International Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Radius International Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Quinn, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHARSKI, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US10/529,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 604/43, 604/270, 604/6.16, 604/101.01, 604/101.02, 604/101.03, 604/264, 604/96.01, 604/101.04, 604/101.05, 604/103.01, 604/103.02, 604/103.04, 604/523
• US Class Current: 604/270
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/00 Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1053 Stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/106 Small intestine
• 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 25/0032 characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09025 with sliding mandrils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

An enteral feeding catheter (5) that provides access to both the stomach and the jejunum for feeding, aspiration and decompression. The catheter includes a dual lumen “D” tube (30) that joins to an external “Y” connector (25) at the proximal end of the tube. The connector serves both lumens as a source for fluid or aspiration. The gastric lumen (37) and the jejunal lumen (38) of the “D” tube both connect to a transitional connector bolus in the stomach. The gastric lumen of the “D” tube joins with a lumen in the transitional bolus that communicates with a gastric port (27). The gastric port is recessed to the level of its full internal lumen, thereby providing maximum protection against occlusion and maximum area for outflow. The “D” jejunal lumen connects in the bolus with a lumen that transitions from a “D” shape to a full circle shape. The latter provides for the attachment of a smaller, round, single lumen tube that extends into the jejunum. At the distal end of the jejunal tube is a bolus (11) containing an improved port that is also recessed to the level of the floor of the internal tube lumen to provide maximum protection against occlusion and maximum area for outflow. Both the gastric port in the transitional bolus and the jejunal port in the tip bolus may include a structural arch protruding radially outwardly therefrom. An arch is effective to prevent the body segment of either bolus from bending and restricting the ports. The invention also provides for the insertion of the tube over a guidewire (21) rather than with an internal stylet, as is normally the case with nasally inserted tubes.

Claims

1. A catheter for delivering fluid into, or aspirating fluid out of, a body cavity or cavities, comprising:

a) a multiple lumen tube containing at least first and second lumens and having a proximal end and a distal end, said tube containing a septum separating said first and second lumens, said tube being formed so that said first lumen is shorter than said second lumen at said distal end whereby said second lumen opens and said septum terminates at a predetermined distance from where said first lumen opens at said distal end of said multiple lumen tube;

b) a first bolus having a nose end and a connector end and an axial passage therethrough;

c) said first bolus being formed independently of said multiple lumen tube and said distal end of said multiple lumen tube being seated in said axial passage at said connector end of said first bolus;

d) only a single lumen catheter tube separate from said multiple lumen tube and seated in said axial passage of said first bolus at its nose end, said single lumen tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a port in said distal end; and

e) a second bolus on the distal end of said single lumen catheter tube;

f) said port in said distal end of said single lumen tube being formed in the side of said second bolus.

2. The catheter of claim 1 further characterized in that:

a) said second bolus has a nose end which is bullet shaped and which is smooth and does not contain a port.

3. The catheter of claim 1 further characterized in that:

(a) said plastic catheter tube contains a third lumen;

(b) said third lumen extending to an opening adjacent where said first lumen opens.

4. A catheter, comprising:

a) a catheter tube having a distal end and containing a first lumen and a second lumen separated by a septum;

b) said distal end of said tube being formed so that said second lumen and said septum extend beyond said first lumen for a predetermined distance whereby said septum forms a substantially flat outer wall of said tube for said predetermined distance;

c) a bolus formed independently of said multiple lumen tube, said bolus being connected to said distal end of said tube, said bolus forming at least a portion of each of a first port extending radially of said catheter over said substantially flat outer wall, said first port and communicating with said first lumen, and a second port communicating with said second lumen;

d) said septum, where it forms said outer wall of said tube, underlying at least a portion of said first port;

e) said catheter tube including a generally cylindrical wall containing said lumens, a portion of said cylindrical wall adjacent said distal end of said catheter being removed to expose said substantially flat outer wall;

f) said second lumen extending to an opening at said distal end of said tube;

g) said first lumen extending to an opening at a predetermined distance from said distal end of said tube; and

h) said bolus including an attachment section fastened to said septum where it comprises an outer wall and has a rear face defining a ramp including a surface inclined at an angle to said septum.

5. The catheter of claim 4 further characterized in that:

(a) said ramp extends rearwardly to an intersection with said first lumen opening.

6. The catheter of claim 4 further characterized is that:

a) said catheter tube contains a third lumen;

b) said third lumen extending to an opening adjacent said first lumen opening.