Catheter and guide tube for intracerebral application

• US 8,128,600 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Original Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Inventors: Gill, Steven Streatfield
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto, Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US10/505,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,283 Days
• Field of Search: 604174-178, 604/180, 604/93.01, 604/284, 604/8, 604/9, 604/19, 604/164.04, 606/72, 606/73, 606/75, 606300-308, 606/319
• US Class Current: 604/175
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/103 Cranial plugs for access to brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/025 through bones or teeth, e.g. through the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0273 for introducing catheters into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0282 with implanted tubes connected to the port
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• 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: A61P 25/28 for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Abstract

A catheter for use in neurosurgery, and a method of positioning neurosurgical apparatus. The catheter has a fine tube arranged for insertion into the brain parenchyma of a patient with an external diameter of not more than 1.0 mm. The catheter and method may be used in stereotactically targeting treatment of abnormalities of brain function, and for the infusion of therapeutic agents directly into the brain parenchyma. This is advantageous when a therapeutic agent would have widespread unwanted effects which could be avoided by confining the delivery to the malfunctioning or damaged brain tissue.

Claims

1. Neurosurgical apparatus comprising:

a guide tube for insertion into the brain of a patient towards a desired target, the guide tube having distal and proximal ends;

a head assembly disposed at or in contact with the proximal end of the guide tube, the head assembly having an opening;

a single fine tube neurosurgical catheter with an external diameter of not more than 0.7 mm for insertion into the brain parenchyma of the patient, the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter being configured to be inserted into the guide tube through the opening in the head assembly; and

a hub device fixedly secured to the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter, the hub device being non-movably configured with respect to the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter to abut a stopping surface on the head assembly to stop the insertion of the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter in the opening, the hub device thereby allowing the distal end of the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter to be advanced to, stopped and accurately located at the desired target.

2. A method of accurately positioning a catheter at a desired target location in the brain parenchyma of a patient, comprising:

fixedly securing a hub device to a single fine tube neurosurgical catheter in a manner that the hub device is non-movable with respect to the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter, the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter having an external diameter of 0.7 mm or less;

inserting a neurosurgical guide into the brain toward the desired target location, the neurosurgical guide including a guide tube having distal and proximal ends,

stopping the inserting of the neurosurgical guide when the distal end of the guide tube falls short of the desired target by between 5 and 20 mm;

securing a head assembly to the neurosurgical guide at or in contact with the proximal end of the guide tube, the head assembly having an opening;

inserting the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter through the opening in the head assembly and through the guide tube;

advancing the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter such that a distal end of the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter is advanced past the distal end of the guide tube toward the desired target; and

abutting the hub device against the head assembly to accurately locate the distal end of the single fine tube neurosurgical catheter at the desired target.