Infusion catheter with composite tip

• US 7,976,530 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Skakoon, James G., Adams, Matthew H., Johnson, Benjamin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilbert; Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US11/799,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 604/524, 604/527
• US Class Current: 604/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3407 including a base for support on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/347 Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/103 Cranial plugs for access to brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6864 Burr holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/025 through bones or teeth, e.g. through the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0261 Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/027 having a particular valve, seal or septum septum A61M2039/0036
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0279 for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0687 Skull, cranium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0067 characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips A61M25/0054, A61M25/04 take precedence; balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 : Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 : Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 : adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 : Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/22 : in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 : Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A catheter for use with a medical infusion or other fluid system. The catheter may include a flexible elongate tubular core that is resistant to radial collapse, and a separate tubular tip member forming the catheter distal tip. The catheter may further include a flexible, e.g., elastomeric, jacket that surrounds at least a portion of the tubular core. The jacket may have a radial compliance that is greater than that of the tubular core. The jacket may further define an outer diameter that is about 4 to about 6 times greater than an outer diameter of the core.

Claims

1. An implantable catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body, the catheter comprising:

an elongate tubular core comprising a first material that comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) tubing, the core having a distal end and a proximal end;

an elongate tubular tip comprising a second material, the tip also having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the tip is positioned to abut or be near the distal end of the core such that a generally continuous lumen extends from the proximal end of the core to the distal end of the tip, the tip defining a cylindrical outer surface of uniform diameter extending from the distal to the proximal end of the tip, and further wherein a ratio of bending stiffness of the tip to bending stiffness of the core is about 24;

1;

an elastomeric jacket surrounding and bonded to longitudinal portions of both the tip and the core, wherein the distal end of the tip protrudes beyond a distal end of the elastomeric jacket, and wherein the elastomeric jacket has an outside diameter that is larger than the uniform outside diameter of the tip and about three or more times larger than an outside diameter of the core;

strengthening members wound about the core and at least a portion of the tip; and

one or more longitudinal markers located along the elastomeric jacket.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the strengthening members are surrounded by, or embedded within, the elastomeric jacket.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the strengthening members comprise a tubular braid located coaxially about portions of the core and the tip.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the tubular braid comprises a plurality of polyethylene terepthalate (PET) fibers.

5. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising one or more longitudinal members extending along portions of one or both of the core and the tip.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the strengthening members terminate a distance short of the distal end of the elastomeric jacket.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the strengthening members comprise a plurality of first braided members helically wound about a longitudinal portion of the catheter in a first direction, and a plurality of second braided members helically wound about the longitudinal portion of the catheter in a second, opposite direction.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises glass tubing.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises stainless steel tubing.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric jacket comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone and polyurethane.