Multi-lumen catheter with separate distal tips

• US 8,152,951 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Zawacki, John A., Powers, Kelly B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNally, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/859,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 156/272.2, 156/290, 156/296, 156/344, 264/512, 604/284, 604/42
• US Class Current: 156/290
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 for haemodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable

Abstract

A multi-lumen catheter including tip sections distal to a dividing point, the tip sections releasably joined by a method that produces a variable separation force between the tip sections along a length thereof. An increasing separation force may be imparted to the tip sections by providing an increasing bond strength in fusion zones from a distal portion of the tip sections toward the dividing point.

Claims

1. A method of producing a variable separation force between adjacent inner surfaces of tip sections distal to a dividing point in a split-tip catheter, comprising creating two or more distinct fusion zones between the inner surfaces, each fusion zone including a different bond strength caused by a different density of fusion points such that fusion points in one fusion zone are closer together than fusion points in another fusion zone, the fusion points made by applying a pattern of adhesive to each fusion zone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applying step includes disposing a plurality of fusion points in each pattern of adhesive, each fusion zone including a different number of fusion points.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the disposing step includes progressively increasing the number of fusion points in the fusion zones in a proximal direction.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the disposing step includes progressively increasing the number of fusion points within each fusion zone from a distal end to a proximal end of the fusion zone.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step includes the step of applying a different type of adhesive to each of the fusion zones.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the bond strength of each type of adhesive progressively increases in a proximal direction.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fusion zones extend from a distal end of at least one of the inner surfaces to the dividing point.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step includes progressively increasing the bond strength of the fusion zones in a proximal direction.

9. A method of joining tip sections of a split-tip catheter to impart a variable separation force, comprising creating two or more fusion zones between the tip sections distal to a dividing point, the fusion zones including a progressively greater bond strength in a proximal direction through a reduction in separation distance between adjacent fusion points, the fusion points made by applying a pattern of adhesive to each fusion zone.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pattern of adhesive is generally in a geometric pattern of discrete points across the tip sections and longitudinally along the tip sections.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the pattern of adhesive in a proximal fusion zone has discrete points closer together both laterally across the tip sections and longitudinally along the tip sections than the pattern of adhesive in a distal fusion zone.